IS YOUR CARGO REACHING ITS DESTINATION?

Clovis Chappell, a minister from a century back, used to tell the story of two paddleboats. They left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail's pace of the other. Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the Deep South.

One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship's cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo.

God has entrusted cargo to us, too: spouses and children. Our job is to do our part in seeing that this cargo reaches its destination. Yet when “our program” takes priority over people, people often suffer. How much cargo do we sacrifice in order to achieve the number one slot? How many people never reach the destination because of the aggressiveness of a competitive captain?

CLEAN BLOOD

The day is over, you are driving home. You tune in your radio. You hear a little blurb about a little village in India where some villagers have died suddenly, strangely, of a flu that has never been seen before. It's not influenza, but three or four fellows are dead, and it's kind of interesting. They're sending some doctors over there to investigate it. You don't think much about it, but on Sunday, coming home from church, you hear another radio spot. Only they say it's not three villagers, it's 30,000 villagers in the back hills of this particular area of India, and it's on TV that night. CNN runs a little blurb; people are heading there from the disease center in Atlanta because this disease strain has never been seen before.

By Monday morning when you get up, it's the lead story. For it's not just India; it's Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and before you know it, you're hearing this story everywhere, and they have coined it now as "the mystery flu." The President has made some comment that he and everyone are praying and hoping that all will go well over there. But everyone is wondering, "How are we going to contain it?" That's when the President of France makes an announcement that shocks Europe. He is closing their borders. No flights from India, Pakistan, or any of the countries where this thing has been seen. That night you are watching a little bit of CNN before going to bed. Your jaw hits your chest when a weeping woman is translated from a French news program into English: "There's a man lying in a hospital in Paris dying of the mystery flu. "It has come to Europe."

Panic strikes. As best they can tell, once you get it, you have it for a week and you don't know it. Then you have four days of unbelievable symptoms. Then you die. Britain closes it's borders, but it's too late. South Hampton, Liverpool, North Hampton, and it's Tuesday morning when the President of the United States makes the following announcement: "Due to a national security risk, all flights to and from Europe and Asia have been canceled. If your loved ones are overseas, I'm sorry. They cannot come back until we find a cure for this thing."

Within four days our nation has been plunged into an unbelievable fear. People are selling little masks for your face. People are talking about what if it comes to this country, and preachers on Tuesday are saying, "It's the scourge of God."

It's Wednesday night and you are at a church prayer meeting when somebody runs in from the parking lot and says, "Turn on a radio, turn on a radio!" While the church listens to a little transistor radio with a microphone stuck up to it, the announcement is made, "Two women are lying in a Long Island hospital dying from the mystery flu." Within hours it seems, this thing just sweeps across the country.

People are working around the clock trying to find an antidote. Nothing is working. California, Oregon, Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts. It's as though it's just sweeping in from the borders.

Then, all of a sudden the news comes out. The code has been broken. A cure can be found. A vaccine can be made. It's going to take the blood of somebody who hasn't been infected, and so, sure enough, all through the Midwest, through all those channels of emergency broadcasting, everyone is asked to do one simple thing: "Go to your downtown hospital and have your blood type taken. That's all we ask of you. When you hear the sirens go off in your neighborhood, please make to the hospitals."

Sure enough, when you and your family get down there late on that Friday night, there is a long line, and they've got nurses and doctors coming out and pricking fingers and taking blood and putting labels on it. Your wife and your kids are out there, and they take your blood type and they say, "Wait here in the parking lot and if we call your name, you can be dismissed and go home."

You stand around scared with your neighbors, wondering what in the world is going on, and that this could be the end of the world. Suddenly a young man comes running out of the hospital screaming. He's yelling a name and waving a clipboard. What? He yells it again! And your son tugs on your jacket and says, "Daddy, that's me."

Before you know it, they have grabbed your boy. "Wait a minute, hold it!" And they say, "It's okay, his blood is clean. His blood is pure. We want to make sure he doesn't have the disease. We think he has the right blood type. Your son could save the world."

Five agonizing minutes later, out come the doctors and nurses, crying and hugging one another some are even laughing. It's the first time you have seen anybody laugh in a week, and an old doctor walks up to you and says, "Thank you, sir. Your son's blood type is perfect. It's clean, it is pure, and we can make the vaccine."

As the word begins to spread all across that parking lot full of folks, people are screaming and praying and laughing and crying. But then the gray-haired doctor pulls you and your wife aside and says, "May we see you for a moment? We didn't realize that the donor would be a minor and we need...we need you to sign a consent form."

You begin to sign and then you see that the space that indicates the number of pints of blood to be taken, is empty. "H-h-h-how many pints?" And that is when the old doctor's smile fades and he says, "We had no idea it would be a little child. We weren't prepared. We need it all, sir." "But...but..." "You don't understand. We are talking about the world here. Please sign." "But can't you give him a transfusion?" "If we had clean blood we would. Can you sign? Would you sign?" In numb silence you sign.

Then they say, "Would you like to have a moment with your son before we begin?"

Can you walk away? You've asked yourself, can you walk back to that room where he sits on a table saying, "Daddy? Mommy? What's going on?" Can you take his little hands and say, "Son, your mommy and I love you, and we would never ever let anything happen to you that didn't just have to be. Do you understand that?" And when that old doctor comes back in and says, "I'm sorry, we've got to get started. People all over the world are dying." Can you leave? Can you walk out while he is saying, "Dad? Mom? Dad? Why, why have you forsaken me?"

Then the following week, when they have the ceremony to honor your son, some folks sleep through it, and some folks don't even come because they go on vacation, go fishing, go to the ballgame, stay home with company, and some folks come with a pretentious smile and just pretend to care.

Would you want to jump up and say,

"MY SON DIED FOR YOU!!! DON'T YOU CARE?"

Is that what God is saying? "MY SON DIED FOR YOU. DON'T YOU CARE? DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I CARE?"

~Author Anonymous

He asks us to set one day a week aside, in honor of His Son. How faithful have you been? Or is everything else more important? Something to think about friend.....

Someone needs a minute of your time!

How often have you talked with someone on the telephone who seemed to be in a hurry and wanted to get on with more important business? Or visited with someone on the street and received that same hurried feeling? You've undoubtedly experienced it...and didn't enjoy it. And, perhaps, you have also been guilty of this. If you have, why not decide to invest a little time, save up chunks, bits and pieces of it, and give them away to people who interrupt your pre-established plans?
It is a great principle of love that people don't interrupt, not really. Perhaps there shouldn't even be such a word as interrupt; for when people come into your existence, even for a brief time, that is a wonderful moment of experience for both of you. Relish it. Probe it. Invest some time in them. We can't afford to indulge in the luxury of "being too busy and important" for another person.
We have time for such inanimate things, as pieces of mail, vast sprawling shopping centers, the television program which starts at 7:30. But what about relationships with people? Isn't that a great deal of what life is all about--loving other people? Remember Jesus? How he raced about, hurrying from one city to another, collecting great crowds on the way, to give them a few minutes of hurried heaven-data, then dashing on to the next place?
No, that is not the picture of Jesus the New Testament gives. He had time for people. In a crowd, a woman touched his robe. Lots of people were probably pushing against him, touching his robe, but he discerned the urgency in this particular touch. He stopped, taking valuable time for this "interruption." His disciples were full of fire and computer-like- efficiency. They wanted to get on with the task of getting something done, even if they didn't always know what that "something" was.
Once a bunch of small, grimy-fingered kids came along and wanted to climb on the Master's lap. "Get those kids out of here," thought the goal-oriented disciples. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.....And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. The Son of God knew and expressed the great worth of an individual.
The next time a person "interrupts" you, think not of your work and your deadlines; rather, think of that person's needs, of his covert compliment in desiring to spend a few moments with you. Your meeting may be a significant point in each of your lives, because it is an encounter with another person God has created. You may impart something crucial to his fulfillment--or he to yours. Paul prayed: Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: Romans 15:5
Who will you make time for today?

TEARS OF REGRET

My Honey preached a great message tonight and I wanted to share just a few snippets of the notes that I took tonight in the evening service.

When you get to Heaven, how much of what you've done here on earth will endure the test of the judgement seat? How much will turn out to be wood hay or stubble and burn up right before our eyes? Will we be shocked to see the size of the pile that remains, the gold and silver?
There will for sure be some tears of regret in Heaven, will there not?


What sort of regrets will we weep over?

*Foolish priorities we've had.
Things we've spent money on: hair products (have you ever added up the amount of money you've spent on hair care products over the past, oh say, 10 years?), dog or cat food and products, home improvements, unnecessary shopping - just to shop - then once you get there, you HAVE to buy something since you're shopping.
Those things aren't bad in and of themselves. But we seriously need to strive for a balance in our lives. The cause of Christ SUFFERS today when high value is placed on LOW value things.
* Flippant positions we've held to.
Things that won't matter in eternity, like facial hair on men, eating pork, drinking coffee, etc.
We major on the minors and minor on the majors. Where is the balance in that sort of thinking?
To some Christians, church attendance, Bible reading and prayer have become optional in their life, but they would never miss a day of work or a family reunion or scheduled appt. such as the dentist. Yet when it comes to church functions or even just simple church attendance, sadly, way too many Christians these days say "I have other things to do today."
* Flippant conduct.
We don't think a thing about lying, swearing, gossip or backbiting. But we'd never say a cross word about the boss we work for. Our flippant conduct really reveals who we are.
*Flippant giving.
We don't tithe because it's a "tight week." Have we ever NOT had a tight week? Doesn't everybody have tight weeks, these days? Why is it that when the finances are strapped, tithing is the first thing to get kicked to the curb? But we make sure the union dues at work are paid up! Then there is the cell phone - gotta pay that! And *GASP!* What about the cable bill - we HAVE to pay that or they'll shut it off!

We just need to make sure Christ is in His rightful place in our lives - first place. And all our other priorities will fall into the right place. I don't know about you, but I don't want to get to Heaven and see all that I've done "for the Lord" burn up because it was only wood, hay and stubble. I want, what I do for Him, to last.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. I Cor. 11-14

SALVATION TESTIMONY

Recently I was asked about my salvation testimony. It brought back such memories, as I recounted the emotions and steps that led up to it. Once again, I thanked the Lord for people, He placed in my path, to bring me to salvation. There were so many people the Lord used to help me find the right way, but the one that I am most indebted to, is my precious father-in-law. He loved me unconditionally, even during the times I was most unlovely - those rocky, rebellious, teenage years. He made up his mind he was going to love me, no matter what, and that's what he did. Then he never got rid of me! LOL I loved him as much as my own flesh and blood.

My testimony of salvation can get a bit lengthy, but I'll try to shorten it. LOL I made a false profession at 12 yrs old. I carried that w/ me until I married the preacher's son, at 18! We were married 6 months and I was expecting our first baby. We had been showing the "Thief in the night" videos to our teen group (I see them now, and I wonder what we were thinking! YIKES at the 70's clothing in it! LOL) Anyway, they were instrumental in MY salvation. They made me begin to do a little self examination. All of a sudden I became troubled about the after life and preoccupied with the rapture. I began to worry that I might be left behind for some reason. I tried to go back in my mind and remember what had happened the night I made that profession at 12. I was at a huge crusade that was taking place in our local high school. When the invitation was given, I went forward because my friend urged me to, not because the Holy Spirit was convicting me of any sin. So consequently, it really meant nothing to me. It was all perfunctory.

But I hung onto that as my salvation experience for years. Now all of a sudden, 7 years later, married to the preacher's son, and pregnant, I couldn't remember what had happened that night. What did the preacher preach on? What verses of Scripture were shown to me? Did I pray? If so, what did I say? I couldn't remember any of it. That really bothered me. I began to get worried. But what do I do now? I married the preacher's son. I teach Sunday school. I work on a bus. I help in the nursery. EVERYBODY thinks I'm already a Christian! One day when I was at my in-laws house, my precious father-in-law (who is now in Heaven) said to me, "Chub (that was his nickname for me LOL) the best thing you can do for yourself and for that little baby you are carrying, is to keep your heart right with the Lord." Then he showed me I Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

I didn't fully understand what that verse meant, but began to wonder, if I wasn't right with God, does that mean that the Lord might judge me somehow through this pregnancy or birth? That weighed heavy on my heart. Fear and pride just continued to hold me back from saying anything. Then one hot July day, I had been at my mother's house doing laundry. I was big as a house with the baby. I came home, expecting to see my husband, home from work. But instead, what I saw, scared the daylights out of me. I walked into the house, calling for him, only to get no response. What I saw, were his clothes - pants draped on the side of the bed, socks in a pile, by the legs of the pants, and his shirt crumpled, on the bed. My first immediate thought was HE'S GONE! The rapture has happened, and I've been left behind! I got on the phone right away, to call my father in law, to see if they knew where he was. No answer! I was mortified! Later I found out that he had gone swimming with his little brothers. That night, I couldn't sleep. My emotions were through the roof. My husband was sound asleep, and I just sat there in bed, in the dark, staring out the window. Wondering, if I'm saved, then why am I so worried about the Lord's return? That event should be exciting to a believer. I argued with the Lord for hours, it seemed. Finally, it was almost as if I heard a voice - "It's now or never! If you don't take care of this tonight, you never will." I had to swallow my pride once and for all, and get it settled. In sobs, I woke my husband. His first thought was, that it had to do with the baby. But when I finally got him to understand it was my eternal soul hanging in the balance, he jumped out of bed, and we went to the living room of our little apartment, knelt by the couch, and there I TRULY repented of my sins, and asked the Lord to save me. I've never doubted it since. I still mess up, who doesn't? What a joy to pillow my head at night though, and know without a doubt that when I die, I will go to Heaven. I don't know what people do without the Lord. He gives me such peace.

*As an added note* When I delivered our first baby (our son), I had preeclampsia. To force delivery, I was admitted to the hospital 3 weeks early. I had been induced all night with Pitocin, to no avail, no labor pains had begun. My hubby, who had been by my side all night, stepped out of the room to get coffee, and get washed up. Moments later, I hemorrhaged badly, and was rushed in for an emergency C-section. We lived 30 miles from the hospital. They told me later, that had I been at home and that would have happened, I could have lost the baby or died myself. My mind went back immediately to I Timothy 2:15.....

I WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS

I have one deep supreme desire,

That I may be like Jesus.
To this I fervently aspire,
That I may be like Jesus.
I want my heart His throne to be,
So that a watching world may see
His likeness shining forth in me;
I want to be like Jesus.

Oh, perfect life of Christ my Lord,
I want to be like Jesus.
My recompense and my reward,
That I may be like Jesus.
His Spirit fill my hung'ring soul,
His power all my life control;
My deepest pray'r, my highest goal,
That I may be like Jesus.

I Want to Be Like Jesus
Thomas O. Chisholm

INTERNET CHAT

Surely I'm not the only one that is alarmed at the increasing number of Christians involved in internet chat. I wonder if these particular Christians that are involved in chatting with the opposite sex, think they are above getting into sin over the thing? I wonder how many instances there have been, where a seemingly harmless, strictly platonic, online "friendship" went much further than it was intended to go?

One thing I have covenanted to do for myself and for my marriage is to NEVER chat (IM) with or private message back and forth with the opposite sex. Couples that get involved in such things, destroy the trust that has been built in the relationship. That is the exact opposite of what you want to do. You want to BUILD trust in a marriage, not do things to eat away at it or ultimately destroy it. Married people who chat with the opposite sex are teetering on the brink of the destruction of their marriage. Even if it is a "harmless" friendship. We've all heard the horror stories of men and women alike.... "they met someone online." God have mercy!

Also, am I the only one that is troubled over the numbers of Christian young people using Myspace? Now before anybody maligns me for this, I know many responsible adults use facebook to keep up with family members and old friends who may have moved away. I'm not talking about that sort of thing. I'm mainly talking about Christian young people who get online, join Myspace, and then post uncensored pictures and chat about everything under the sun, all without parental control. They post pictures of themselves with their boyfriend or girlfriend in compromising ways. Ways that damage their testimony with others who might happen on their page.
I asked a young person the other day, "do you guys ever talk about anything spiritual on there? Do you kids that all go to the same church ever say anything about the Lord? Or do you ever say anything to help these other kids in your youth group in their walk with the Lord?" I'm not saying I think they need to get on their and have online Bible studies with each other. I'm all for having fun - good grief, we do our fair share in this family, that's for sure! But from what I've seen of it, most young people on there are just horsing around and playing on the edge of sin. I just don't think the kids really put any thought into the fact that many people will see pictures that they post, and read things that they talk about. And the effects can be far more reaching than they realize.

I don't know.... I just find it all extremely troubling these days.
So what can Christians do to protect themselves while surfing the worldwide web? Here is an excellent safe traveling guide for traveling the super highway.

RULES FOR THE ROAD

Safe Traveling Guide
For The Super Highway

PROTECTING YOUR TESTIMONY

Simple, but helpful safeguards for protecting your heart and mind from diverting from a healthy Christian Focus.

1. Open Door Policy Keep the computer in a public place with the screen facing the doorway or other viewers. If needed, commit to never using internet while alone in a room.
   
2. Use Filtering Services Subscribe to a reliable filtering service that supports your own personal values.
   
3. Be Accountable Request the help of a friend to monitor your activity regularly checking your web history to personally hold you accountable.
   
4. Use Wisdom Be committed to use the Internet for only constructive and helpful ways that will not interfere or weaken your spiritual journey with Christ.
   

PROTECTING YOUR EFFECTIVNESS

Safeguards to prevent Internet usage from interfering with healthy priorities and productivities of a purposeful life.

1. Use Self Control Avoid all unnecessary surfing or other web activity unrelated to your task at hand while on the job, or working on a specific project.
   
2. Verify Important Information Be cautious in accepting Internet information as factual, accurate, and reliable.
   
3. Honor Legal Expectations Honor local, state and federal laws regarding communications, modification of materials, unauthorized materials or fraudulent copying.
   
4. Be Respectful Respect the interest and guidelines of the company, church, or institution that you represent in ways that honor faithful Christian principles.
   
5. Be A Good Steward Define and limit the amount of leisure time allowable for web activity in correlation with the primary goals of your life and standards of Christian stewardship
   

PROTECTING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Helpful ways to nurture and promote healthy relationships through Internet usage.

1. Create A Schedule Work out a schedule limiting your usage to times that are most acceptable with those whom you are in close relationship.
   
2. Know Your Contacts Block instant/personal messages from all people you do not know and do not answer unknown contacts. If you are married, do not answer instant/personal messages from members of the opposite sex.
   
3. Watch New Relationships Be cautious and accountable to someone who cares about you should any new relationship develop through e-mail, chat rooms, or Instant Personal Messages (IMS).
   
4. Care Deeply Find ways of helping others develop healthy standards for Internet usage who you know are using it recklessly and inappropriately.
   
5. Review Your Activities Review your Internet and e-mail activities regularly with those whom you are in close relationship to help you be a responsible user.
   

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10