To Illustrate
January 1, 2001
Time (7/24/00)
Submitted by Jerry De Luca,
Montreal West, Canada
(Charity, Giving, Money)
Luke 6:20, 21:1-4; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Givers Receive
I've been going to professional baseball games and trying to get a souvenir baseball as far back as I can remember. A foul ball, a homer, even a batting practice ball—anything would do.
At practice for the St. Louis Cardinals—watching Mark McGwire and his teammates—I got to know a five-year-old boy who was also trying to get a ball. His name was James. He tried hard to pronounce the players' names as he politely asked for a ball: "Mr. Timwin (Timlin), can I have a ball, please?"
Before I knew it, my mission became getting a ball for James. For about 20 minutes, I told him the names of the players near the fence where we stood. The players turned and smiled as James tried to say their names. Still, no ball. Finally I told James he could have my ball if I caught one (I had been unsuccessful in catching a ball for almost 28 years, so that felt like a safe promise).
I wouldn't be telling this story if you didn't know what happened five minutes later. I caught a ball, and yes, I gave it to James. I wonder how often God waits to give us something until we are willing to give it away?
Mike Herman, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
(Generosity, Promises, Surrender)
Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
I Want My NIV
MTV political correspondent Tabitha Soren says: No matter how secular our culture becomes, it will remain drenched in the Bible. Since we will be haunted by the Bible even if we don't know it, doesn't it make sense to read it? To read the Bible is to be reminded, as Bill Moyers says, "that what is in us is worth more."
USA Weekend (6/13/99)
(Bible, Popular culture, Truth)
Isaiah 40:7-8; 1 Peter 1:23-25, 2:2
Through a Glass, Darkly
On a warm, summer night, my wife and I were traveling in our car with Micah, our 3-year-old son, who sat in the back seat. After many miles of driving in the darkness, we came to a stop in a remote area. The brightness of the traffic light revealed all of the dirt, dead bugs, and insects on our windshield. Micah said, "Look how dirty!"
My wife and I didn't think much of his comment until a moment later when we drove on—away from the light and back into the darkness. Upon reentering the darkness, we could no longer see the mess on our windshield, and Micah quickly piped up and said, "Now the glass is clean!"
Before the law came, the dirt within us hid under the darkness. But when God gave the law, its light shined on the windshield of our hearts and revealed the filth of sin we'd collected on our journey. The law, then, is a light that shows us how sinful we really are. It cannot cleanse us or make us whole. But it does starkly highlight the true situation of our souls—and thus can lead us to Christ.
William Wimmer, Benton, Arkansas
(Grace, Law, Sin)
Romans 7:5-14; Galatians 3:24
Paper or Plastic?
There is an old legend about three men. Each man had two sacks, one tied in front of his neck and the other tied on his back. When the first man was asked what was in his sacks, he said, "In the sack on my back are all the good things friends and family have done. That way they're hidden from view. In the front sack are all the bad things that have happened to me. Every now and then I stop, open the front sack, take the things out, examine them, and think about them." Because he stopped so much to concentrate on all the bad stuff, he really didn't make much progress in life.
The second man was asked about his sacks. He replied, "In the front sack are all the good things I've done. I like to see them, so quite often I take them out to show them off to people. The sack in the back? I keep all my mistakes in there and carry them all the time. Sure they're heavy. They slow me down, but you know, for some reason I can't put them down."
When the third man was asked about his sacks, he answered, "The sack in front is great. There I keep all the positive thoughts I have about people, all the blessings I've experienced, all the great things other people have done for me. The weight isn't a problem. The sack is like sails of a ship. It keeps me going forward.
"The sack on my back is empty. There's nothing in it. I cut a big hole in its bottom. In there I put all the bad things that I think about myself or hear about others. They go in one end and out the other, so I'm not carrying around any extra weight at all."
What are you carrying in your sacks?
H. Norman Wright, The Perfect Catch (Bethany House, 2000)
(Forgiveness, Grace, Gratitude)
Psalm 19:14; Philippians 4:4-9
Superstar Mom's Priorities
Movie star Nicole Kidman, wife of superstar Tom Cruise, talks about the sacrifices a mother and wife must make:
It's tough being a woman and having kids and working, definitely. I see people who say, "Oh yeah, I'm doing it all"—forget it. Something is going to give—usually when you are just really, really tired. I only work now if I really feel it's worth it. And I have to say no to things I really love because it's just not the right time. Sure, you could try to do it all and try to take all the roles you want, but you wouldn't know your kids and you wouldn't know your marriage. I think that's a big thing. Distance destroys relationships. It just does.
Talk (Sept 2000)
Submitted by Dave Goetz, Wheaton, Illinois
(Career, Family, Priorities, Sacrifice)
Proverbs 31:10-31; Titus 2:4-5
Seeds of the Spirit
A woman has a dream where she wanders into a shop at the mall and finds Jesus behind a counter.
Jesus says, "You can have anything your heart desires."
Astounded but pleased, she asks for peace, joy, happiness, wisdom, and freedom from fear. Then she adds, "Not just for me, but for the whole earth."
Jesus smiles and says, "I think you misunderstand me. We don't sell fruits, only seeds."
from The Ascent of a Leader by Bruce McNichol and Bill Thrall (Jossey Bass, 1999)
(Fruit of the Spirit, Fruitfulness, Prayer)
Galatians 5:22-23; 6:7-8
Now That's a Save!
The Atlanta Braves were playing the Colorado Rockies. After nine innings, the score was tied.
The game went into extra innings. Soon, the Rockies had used all their relief pitchers, and had sent the starting pitcher from the previous night's game back out for an inning.
In the twelfth, the Rockies had a terrible choice. Should they send out one of their two remaining starting pitchers, who would have to play over the next two days, or a utility player? They chose to send an injured catcher, Kevin Mayne, to the mound.
"Can you pitch?" the catcher asked him.
"Sure" said Kevin, even though he had never pitched in his life.
A few pitches went over the catcher's head. One flew behind a batter's back, but Mayne managed to get the Braves out on two grounders and a fly ball. The catcher-turned-pitcher had kept the Braves from scoring.
Now, the Rockies were up to bat in the bottom of the twelfth inning. When Mayne's position came up, Mayne, with an injured batting hand, couldn't. So the Rockies sent out a new player who had never had a hit in the major leagues.
Of course he drove a run in to win the game.
Why tell this story? Because sometimes [Christian workers] have to fill uncomfortable positions. Sometimes you even have to do it when you are hurt. You have to go out there and take one for the team.
Dave Travis, Church Champions Update (8/25/00)
(Risk, Service, Teamwork)
John 13:1-17; Titus 3:1
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