Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Unless you just came back from another planet, you know that just about everybody and their pets has bought in to, and even participated in, the “Ice Bucket Challenge”, or whatever it. is called I suppose that a good number of you have volunteered for that freezing cold shower as well, while a few others, like myself. see it as just another case of overblown silliness. Try all you want, but if anyone challenges me, I’ll take the coward’s way out and make a monetary donation. You would have the same luck trying to get me to ride any of today’s roller coasters. The Rock and Roll Roller Coaster at Orlando made a believer out of me a few years back and brought my roller coasting career to an end. As a good friend told me a long time ago, “I’d rather be a live chicken than a dead turkey.” Old timers don’t take dips, flips, hard turns and high speeds very well anyway. Pardon the expression, but I’m sorry if I just poured cold water on you.
That being said, please don’t think that I am against this campaign. I realize there will be many other old fuddy duddys who will holler “I’m agin it!” but if this is what it took to raise awareness to this great cause (ALS) and it succeeds in raising the money to better research this disease, then I’m all for it. It is really heartbreaking to think that since Lou Gehrig was struck with this affliction seventy five years ago and had the disease named after him after his passing, that still no cure for it has been found. Perhaps, now it will be, due in part to the raised awareness caused by this new silly fad.
There are many, many ways and means employed in the propagation of the gospel as well. There are some methods that are pretty far out to many, and quite frankly draw much criticism. I could name you a few that I heartily dislike, but here once again, I need to admit that if they are drawing people to God, its best just to button my lip and keep my nose out of it. In fact, too many preachers and churches spend so much time and energy criticizing other pastors, churches, and ministries, that they lose focus on their own obligations. They waste their spiritual ammo firing at other believers and when its time to fire at the devil, they have very little left. We need to keep in mind Christ’s words in response to Peter’s question about John’s part in the Disciples’ duties. Jesus told him: “If I will that he tarry till I come , what is that to thee? follow thou me.” This advice is for us too. We need to focus and attend to our own obligations and not worry about the way other pastors or Christians handle theirs. If we are busy doing what the Lord called us to do, we won’t have time to worry about anyone else anyway.
Memory verse for the week: (John 21:16) Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”