May 8, 1982 I graduated from Freed-Hardeman College. I was 22 years old, engaged to be married, and had a preaching job in a nice, quiet small town in west Tennesse. It was an exciting day! I recieved no special honrs, just my diploma. That's ok. I didn't earn any special honors. I made good grades, but not great ones.
I took a little time between graduation and my first Sunday to preach. I really don't remember a whole lot about it. I was probably trying to get everything ready to move to Atwood. Somewhere in that time, I think, I picked up a black & white TV set (19-inch) for about $20.00. It lasted us for the next 2 and a half years. I can remember that my nephew visited us and wanted to watch our TV. Now you must remember this little boy had never seen a b&w TV before. He said, "Something's wrong! The color won't work in your TV!
I preached my first sermon at Atwood the last weekend in May. I lived and worked there by myself for about a month. Laura was in Georgia getting ready for the wedding.
I'm not sure if the following incident happened that first month or later, but it was sometime early on. I had preached that morning, and for some reason, that night, I got "wound up" and preached 45 minutes (really too long for me). Anyway, a lady who has since become a very dear friend, walked out, shook my hand, and with a deadpan (and sarcastic) expression said, "I enjoyed both those sermons, and I'm not counting the one this morning!
I enjoyed my years at Atwood. We met people who have stayed friends since that time. When we go back, they are always glad to see us. It was a good learning experience. I had time to go into my office and do some good foundational study for sermons and for classes. They helped get my master's degree and encouraged us in so many ways.
Atwood was the place where my wife and I began our life together and it was the place where my son began his life. We will forever be grateful to God for the church of Christ in Atwood, TN.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Instant vs. Delayed (or Denied) Gratification
“Give me what I want, and I want it right now,” seems to be a message that is prevalent in our world today. In years past it was normal for children to go through the stage of selfishness. It was just as normal for parents to recognize selfishness and help the child through that by taking their focus off their wants and wishes and directing them toward more responsible choices. Unfortunately, the desire for instant gratification is present in many adults.
However, taking one’s focus off their own wants and needs serves at least three purposes: 1) It helps them see the value of patience and hard work. 2) It helps them realize their responsibility to other people. 3) It helps them see that there are things they should not have—ever.
Patience and hard work have long been recognized as virtues. Employers look upon these characteristics as desirables one for current and prospective employees. But when people are not taught these virtues, goals are pursued without them. T he results will be decreased quality and productivity.
Beyond the damage to one’s own productivity and worth, is the impact that selfishness has on society. Whether we realize it or not, we depend heavily on others and they in turn, depend upon us. Going into debts which we know we cannot pay will not only hurt us, but our community as well.
Finally, there is the matter of wanting things (more specifically, relationships) we should (morally) not have. It might be reasoned, “If I can have the things I want, why can I not have the relationships I want.” Should it surprise us then, that in a materialistic society, fornication and adultery are rampant? Recent societal consequences of such behavior have been minimal at best. The need for companionship can be supplied through seeking someone who is eligible to be in a lawful relationship with us.
Often when we read of Samson, we focus upon his exploits as a strong man—He killed a lion with his bare hands, moved the gates of a city to a hill, etc. We neglect however, a very important statement, made by him, which reflects an attitude of selfishness. He saw a woman he should not have considered as “wife material.” Instead of dealing with his desires, and bring them into line with what was best for him and the people around him, he told his father, “Get her for me, for she looks good to me” (Judges 14:3). Samson’s father followed his wishes, and Samson, and those around him, suffered the consequences. Getting what we want when we want it may seem good, but it is not always best.
However, taking one’s focus off their own wants and needs serves at least three purposes: 1) It helps them see the value of patience and hard work. 2) It helps them realize their responsibility to other people. 3) It helps them see that there are things they should not have—ever.
Patience and hard work have long been recognized as virtues. Employers look upon these characteristics as desirables one for current and prospective employees. But when people are not taught these virtues, goals are pursued without them. T he results will be decreased quality and productivity.
Beyond the damage to one’s own productivity and worth, is the impact that selfishness has on society. Whether we realize it or not, we depend heavily on others and they in turn, depend upon us. Going into debts which we know we cannot pay will not only hurt us, but our community as well.
Finally, there is the matter of wanting things (more specifically, relationships) we should (morally) not have. It might be reasoned, “If I can have the things I want, why can I not have the relationships I want.” Should it surprise us then, that in a materialistic society, fornication and adultery are rampant? Recent societal consequences of such behavior have been minimal at best. The need for companionship can be supplied through seeking someone who is eligible to be in a lawful relationship with us.
Often when we read of Samson, we focus upon his exploits as a strong man—He killed a lion with his bare hands, moved the gates of a city to a hill, etc. We neglect however, a very important statement, made by him, which reflects an attitude of selfishness. He saw a woman he should not have considered as “wife material.” Instead of dealing with his desires, and bring them into line with what was best for him and the people around him, he told his father, “Get her for me, for she looks good to me” (Judges 14:3). Samson’s father followed his wishes, and Samson, and those around him, suffered the consequences. Getting what we want when we want it may seem good, but it is not always best.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
That Kind of Commitment
I think most of us have heard the fable about the chicken and the pig. It seems that both of them heard the news of a “ham & egg” breakfast. The chicken was more than willing to participate and encouraged the pig to do so. The pig answered, however, “That’s easy for you, because for you, it will just be a matter of a contribution, but for me, it will take total commitment!”
Lots of people shy away from activities or relationships because, they say, they cannot make that kind of commitment. I appreciate their honesty, because that is a more accurate statement than one made by people who say they are afraid of commitment. You see, everyone is committed to, and willing to commit to something.
Take, for example, a man who says about marriage, “I am afraid of commitment,” and then commits himself to a lifestyle of dating women with the expectation of enjoying sex without marriage. He has no intention of making the commitment of marriage, but he is very committed to fulfilling his own need for pleasure, in the way he sees fit. His energies that could be exerted toward self-discipline and devotion to a wife and family are instead spent on himself. He is not afraid of commitment; he just is not willing to make the proper kind of commitment.
Now, think about spiritual commitment. A man may say, “I am afraid I can’t live up to that standard,” and then decide to take up the sport of golf. He commits himself to pursuing the score of par. He buys good equipment, invests in comfortable shoes, pays the greens’ fees or country club dues, and he devotes time—day after day, week after week. The man who will not commit to God because he is “afraid he can’t live up to that standard,” eventually shoots par, and sets his sights for better scores. The problem was not that he could not make a strong commitment. It was that he was not willing to make it for a spiritual purpose.
So, it really comes down to a person’s values. The things that they value most in life will take personal commitment. They will think about those things, devote time and money to them—in short, they will devote their lives to those things they value most. Jesus put it this way: “...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
It is that kind of commitment that Jesus had, and wants. It is that kind of commitment that will cause us to love our wife or husband exclusively, and it is that kind of commitment that will keep us faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10).
Lots of people shy away from activities or relationships because, they say, they cannot make that kind of commitment. I appreciate their honesty, because that is a more accurate statement than one made by people who say they are afraid of commitment. You see, everyone is committed to, and willing to commit to something.
Take, for example, a man who says about marriage, “I am afraid of commitment,” and then commits himself to a lifestyle of dating women with the expectation of enjoying sex without marriage. He has no intention of making the commitment of marriage, but he is very committed to fulfilling his own need for pleasure, in the way he sees fit. His energies that could be exerted toward self-discipline and devotion to a wife and family are instead spent on himself. He is not afraid of commitment; he just is not willing to make the proper kind of commitment.
Now, think about spiritual commitment. A man may say, “I am afraid I can’t live up to that standard,” and then decide to take up the sport of golf. He commits himself to pursuing the score of par. He buys good equipment, invests in comfortable shoes, pays the greens’ fees or country club dues, and he devotes time—day after day, week after week. The man who will not commit to God because he is “afraid he can’t live up to that standard,” eventually shoots par, and sets his sights for better scores. The problem was not that he could not make a strong commitment. It was that he was not willing to make it for a spiritual purpose.
So, it really comes down to a person’s values. The things that they value most in life will take personal commitment. They will think about those things, devote time and money to them—in short, they will devote their lives to those things they value most. Jesus put it this way: “...for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
It is that kind of commitment that Jesus had, and wants. It is that kind of commitment that will cause us to love our wife or husband exclusively, and it is that kind of commitment that will keep us faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10).
What Do You Really Believe?
1. Do you believe God created the world, and is now managing it by the laws of nature and by providence?
2. Do you believe that you have personal value and significance simply because God made you?
3. Do you believe that all people around you, regardless of color, race, or creed, have personal value and Gods wants them to be saved?
4. Do you believe that God will hold you accountable for how you have spent your life?
5. Do you believe that Jesus was more than a man—that he was and is the son of God?
6. Do you believe that God transmitted his message through men, and that they wrote down the words he wanted them to use, and in so doing, gave us the Bible?
7. Do you believe that there are such things to be classified as good, and other things to be classified as evil, and that the two categories are mutually exclusive?
8. Do you believe that there is a definite way to follow God, and that by following that way, you will be saved?
9. Do you believe that there is a group of people, made up of those who have professed their belief in Christ and obeyed him in faith, who are the people for God’s own possession?
10. Do you believe there really is an eternal destination for the righteous, and another one for the unrighteous? Why or Why Not?
Why did you answer the questions the way you did? Now, I want you to read the passages below (if you are not already familiar with them) and place the letter of the group of passages beside the question it best fits. Only one letter per question, please.
A. John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:7 F. Acts 10:34, 35; 1 Timothy 2:3,4
B. John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-3 G. 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:19-21
C. John 20:30,31; 2 Corinthians 5:10 H. Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29
D. Genesis 1:26, 27; Acts 17:28, 29 I. Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9
E. Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24,25 J. Romans 12:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21
So, now tell me—what do you really believe, and why?
2. Do you believe that you have personal value and significance simply because God made you?
3. Do you believe that all people around you, regardless of color, race, or creed, have personal value and Gods wants them to be saved?
4. Do you believe that God will hold you accountable for how you have spent your life?
5. Do you believe that Jesus was more than a man—that he was and is the son of God?
6. Do you believe that God transmitted his message through men, and that they wrote down the words he wanted them to use, and in so doing, gave us the Bible?
7. Do you believe that there are such things to be classified as good, and other things to be classified as evil, and that the two categories are mutually exclusive?
8. Do you believe that there is a definite way to follow God, and that by following that way, you will be saved?
9. Do you believe that there is a group of people, made up of those who have professed their belief in Christ and obeyed him in faith, who are the people for God’s own possession?
10. Do you believe there really is an eternal destination for the righteous, and another one for the unrighteous? Why or Why Not?
Why did you answer the questions the way you did? Now, I want you to read the passages below (if you are not already familiar with them) and place the letter of the group of passages beside the question it best fits. Only one letter per question, please.
A. John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:7 F. Acts 10:34, 35; 1 Timothy 2:3,4
B. John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-3 G. 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:19-21
C. John 20:30,31; 2 Corinthians 5:10 H. Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29
D. Genesis 1:26, 27; Acts 17:28, 29 I. Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9
E. Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24,25 J. Romans 12:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21
So, now tell me—what do you really believe, and why?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)