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An Irishman
was being tried in a Kansas town. His was a petty offense. The judge asked if
there was anyone present who would vouch for his character. "To be sure,
your Honor," he declared, "there's the sheriff." The sheriff
looked amazed. "Your Honor," he said, "I do not even know the
man." "Your Honor," came back the Irishman as quick as a flash,
"I've lived in this county for more than twelve years, and the sheriff
does not know me yet. Isn't that enough of a character reference for you?"
A leader is
one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
In the process of being more
loveable just be sure you do not seek to be loved by the wrong people. Take Archie Bunker. He was the bigot's delight.
When it comes to
being more loveable...the non-Christians point their fingers at us and say
"If you were more Christ-like maybe I'd pay more attention to you and try
to emulate you."
Which is, of course a cop out, but nevertheless a cop out
with some truth in it.
A group
of college girls were discussing, in a Bible study, the Sermon on the Mount,
and were asking why Christians are like salt.
All thought
of course of salt's preservative qualities.
Then a girl
in the group suggested quietly, "Salt creates thirst."
The truth found its mark.
The opportunistic challenge to
Christians is to provide so much joy and comfort and compassion to the lives of
others that they can do no other but turn to the following of such an
influential Christ.
Yes, it behooves us to try harder at trying harder, pray
harder than we talk about prayer, forgive even when some rage has been in us
for too long awhile, be exceptional... so we can stand out because we truly are
living tall and sun crowned above the crowd.
But such phrases
as those above, while inspiringly true, are not necessarily specific...so let me give a try at pointing
out some practical everyday things we can do to warm this sometimes cold crude
world.
To begin with and end with... in this brief composite of words...a
way of life to chase after and catch up with and give exuberant life.
Think on improving relationships
that are one on one...
As a start, be a kindly Christian not a kind of a
Christian.
Let all bitterness
and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away
from you, along with all malice.
(Ephesians 4:31)
We all know the Christian who carries a chip on his shoulder
that is infinitely larger than the love he or she carry in their hearts.
The angry zealot who is determined to convert even at the
cost of making an enemy of the person they are trying to convert.
And they are not loveable and it
certainly does not move folk toward our loveable Christ.
A
Sunday school teacher had a rather contentious Sunday school class; the
kids were always fighting with each other, they were mad at each other, they
were constantly fighting, there were bullies in the class and it just seemed
like they were all negative. They weren't anything like a Sunday School class
should be.
So one Sunday she brought in a big pile
of potatoes and a whole bunch of potato sacks and she told the class, "I
want you to come up front and I want you to pick up a potato and if there is
anyone in this class that you are angry at, you haven't forgiven, you don't
like, you haven't been reconciled to, I want you to write their name on the
potato and I want you to put it in the sack.
I want you to do the same thing if there
is anybody in your family that you are mad at.
I want you to do the same thing if there
is anyone in your neighborhood that you feel anger toward.
I want you to put each of their names on
a potato."
Well...as you might imagine, when all was
finished some of the sacks were pretty heavy.
Then the teacher told the students that
they had to keep the sack with them everywhere they went.
By their desk until they left, and then
carry it with them on the bus, and at their dinner table at home place it by
their side, and by their bed when they went to bed that night.
Do you know what potatoes are like after they have been in a
sack for a while? They stink and they grow eyes and they are as ugly as sin.
And the next
day the teacher made a point. If you keep
on caring around all your anger and bitterness and prejudice and slander (for
they were too often insulting each other) your personalities will stink as bad
as the potatoes you have been caring with you.
Which is, of course, a message to you and me and any and all
Christians. If we carry around the stink
of stinking thinking we won't be very nice and the world will say and be right
in the saying, "Who wants to be a Christian?"
So...be
loveable as an example to yourself and those around you. Think about it.
We might be often
nice if we were not so quickly judgmental without having all the facts.
A grocery store clerk once wrote to Ann Landers to complain about the
people buying luxury food items with food stamps.
She said
these people were lazy and wasteful.
In a later
column, Landers printed the response of a woman who wrote in answer to the
judgmental grocery clerk. "I’m the woman who bought the $17 cake and paid
for it with food stamps. I thought the check-out woman in the store would burn
a hole through me with her eyes.
What she
didn’t know is the cake was for my little girl’s birthday. It will be her last.
She has bone cancer and will probably be gone within six to eight months."
I guess if we
all could be more humble, "There but for the grace of God goes me."
then we might be more nice. and loveable and kind and go more gentle into both
the night and the day.
Obey the Lord...that's
what it all comes down to...doesn't..."love thy
neighbor as thyself."
He doesn't say think about it...or put off doing it until sometime in
the future....or when you are feeling more amiable.
Slander not...for
it is an atomic bomb to a reputation...do not spread gossip for it spreads like
poison ivy or poison oak...be nice...that's what it is all about isn't it..and
the last time you spread a lie you weren't being nice or loveable...but the
last time you refused to spread a lie...that part of the world you inhabit on a
regular basis was a better world to inhabit.
Think about
it.
The man shouted abuse at the old philosopher filling the air with
obscenities. When finally he had worn
himself out and succumbed to silence the old philosopher asked, "If a man
declines to accept a present to whom does it belong?"
The man
answered, "To whom offered it."
"Ah
then," the old philosopher continued, "I decline to accept your abuse
and request you keep it for yourself."
++++++++++++++++++
"If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should
cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be
giving as the angels give." --George MacDonald
"If you
want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice
compassion." (Anonymous)
"What
sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be
sure but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is
inconceivable."
–Unknown
In the
second half of my life, I have come to agree with King David when he said
"Psalm 63:3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall
praise thee." (Psalm 63:3) -Gary Amirault
,
QUOTE BELOW IS FROM WYRICK'S
WRITINGS
There
is no other organization in the world like the church. It is a breed unto itself. It is a congregation of sinners, not a
country club for saints. To become a
member you have to profess your unworthiness.
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING TO TAKE YOU THERE
(These are selected sermons from over 50 years of ministry and as a worldwide evangelist Rev. Wyrick preached them all the United States and all over the
world)
+++++++++++++++++++
A new quote below from Rev. Wyrick's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM
LINCOLN...available on
amazon.com, barnes and noble and many other book sites) (read the rave reviews below)
Everything
that happened in the war was not of blood and pain and hate. The best in man sometimes rises out of the
worst. More than likely the story of
what happened one cold day during the terrible battle of Fredericksburg reached
Abe’s ears and pleased the heart of this forgiving President. It was a dreadful battle that cried out for
some miraculous act of empathy.
A
Sergeant Richard Kirkland of Company E Carolina Regiment made a request of his
commanding officer that was almost denied.
He had looked too long at the tortured, twisted dead and dying men and
could finally stand it no more. He
sought startling permission to take water and aid to those dressed in both Blue
and Gray.
“You
may get a bullet in the back of your head, son,” he was told. The soldier replied that he wanted to go
anyway.
“May God protect you,” said Major General J.
B. Kershaw. A short time later, men on
both sides of this field of agony and despair, watched in awe as the young man vaulted
over a bloodstained stonewall and walked unarmed and seemingly unafraid among
the dead and dying. They saw him kneel
down and cradle a fallen Union soldier in his arms, offer him a drink of water,
rest his head on his knapsack and cover him with his own overcoat. And then move to another soldier nearby. This time it was a Confederate soldier.
Again
and again throughout that long, pale December afternoon, just eleven days
before Christmas, Sergeant Kirkland returned with water until every living
soldier, from both the North and the South, had felt his compassion and
concern.
General Kershaw later wrote that not one
shot was fired during that time. That
never had he heard such silent respect.
“…no doubt,” his pen etched, “all the trumpets of heaven resounded on
this monumental day.”
++++++++++++++++++++++
CLICK ON www.go60.us
IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on
"Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click
on Neil Wyrick
Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has
written for this web site are: REFLECTIONS
·
Here Comes Summer (July 2012)
·
Spring (May 2012)
·
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
(April 2012)
·
Wayward and Windy (April 2012)
Just
remember that “the pain of discipline will cost you pennies, whereas the pain
of regret will cost you millions.”
++++++++++++++++++
How can we keep our faith from being a weak and fruitless thing? How can we not be foolish little men and women groveling in the dark shadows of overeager egos.
Well, first we must do more than just pray. We must believe in our own prayers.
+++++++++++++++++++
Anxiety
out of proportion makes us become like a centipede trying to put his best foot
forward.
++++++++++++++++++
It's
an old joke, I went to the doctor and I said, “Doc, when I do this, it hurts.”
And the doctor said, “Then don't do that.”
++++++++++++++++++
How many things have you been anxious
about that were things which you knew before you got into them were probably
going to create some problems for you?
And if you asked your doctor, or your minister, or common sense and your
God, all of them would have said, “Don’t do that.”
++++++++++++++++++++
To buy into the
community of accountability we have to realize that like bikers we are divided
into two categories. Those who have fallen and those who will fall for anything. None of us are perfect.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Think
on it this way, some philosopher of old wrote it and it endures because there
is so much truth in it… every right
implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a
duty
++++++++++++++++++++++
Some
of the sermon titles posted recently
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Before you decide
to purchase or not purchase his book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN.... view his Award Winning One Man
Dramatization of Lincoln (since he wrote the script
for this drama it will give you an insight into what you will find in the book
itself)
Available on
Amazon.com in printed form and on Amazon Kindle Books. and at
many other sites
TO VIEW THE LINCOLN
One Man DRAMA and 3 other dramas; Ben Franklin, Martin Luther & Charles
Wesley
click on the
following URL
http://www.speakerneil.com/
++++++++++++++++++++++
BELOW
ARE MORE QUOTES FROM NEIL'S RECENTLY POSTED SERMONS
++++++++++++++++++
A QUOTE FROM THOUGHTS POSTED ON MY
OTHER BLOG WYRICK'S WRITINGS ENTITLED
Two stores faced each other across a very
busy street. Their owners were in constant competition
with each other. One day, the owner of
one store put out a sign that read – If
you want it, we have it!
Almost immediately the other owner put out a
sign –If we don’t have it, you don’t
need it!
A QUOTE FROM THOUGHTS POSTED ON MY
OTHER BLOG WYRICK'S WRITINGS ENTITLED
WHO ARE
YOU?
NO…WHOSE ARE YOU?
Who are you? Whose are
you?
You influence and are influenced
according to the answer you give.
Are you are the flavor of the month because
you are determined to be like everyone else no matter what? If so, consider being more independent in our
thinking and actions...because God wants you to grow up.
It may be easier being someone's shadow but
wouldn't you really rather be a sun.
QUOTE FROM THOUGHTS POSTED ON WYRICK'S WRITINGS ENTITLED "Who
Are You? Whose Are You?"
This is an old quote, and a romantic one
as well but, nevertheless, can anyone say of you, “I love you not because of who you are,
but because of who I am when I am with you.”
QUOTE FROM THOUGHT PIECE POSTED
ON WYRICK'S WRITINGS ENTITLED
" WHEN A NATION STRAYS TOO FAR FROM BEING MORAL IT IS WELL ON IT'S WAY
TO BECOMING A MESS
James 4:17
To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it,
to him it is sin.
Someone once said: “A
belief is what you hold, a conviction is what holds you!”
So what holds you,
constructs you, leads you with a push when needed?
Quotes
POSTED ON WYRICK'S WRITING ENTITLED WHO
ARE YOU?
NO…WHOSE ARE YOU?
In a Peanuts
cartoon strip Peppermint Patty is shown talking to Charlie Brown.
“Guess what, Chuck? It’s the first day
of school and I got sent to the principal’s office.
And it’s your fault!”
Charlie Brown responds, “My fault? How
could it be my fault? Why do you say everything is my fault?”
To which she declares, “You’re my
friend, aren’t you, Chuck? You should have been a better influence on me.”
In the comics, it’s funny… but in real life it’s much more
complicated.
Would you like to read the entire thought
piece? Then... TO TAKE YOU TO THE WYRICK'S WRITING'S
SITE
click on the following
Yes, God loves you the way you
are but he loves you too much to let you stay that way.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN
HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN,
CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER
To
Order and Read
Neil's 9th book THE
SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN
GO TO amazon.com
QUOTES ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL INSPIRING INFORMATIVE book
STILL RECEIVING RAVE REVIEWS 8 YEARS AFTER IT'S PUBLICATION.
"Positive,
powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understanding and appreciation
of Lincoln while revealing the Divine source of his strength."
Lt.
Colonel C.A. Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)
"The Spiritual Abraham Lincoln is
an extremely well written book that investigates what might be
termed the spiritual side of President Lincoln. It's both scholarly and very
readable. I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of the President and
with an altered and enlarged vision of the man:'
William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer; author of Blood and Guile, and
Wild Thorn
"Wyrick has authored a wonderful
examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly
religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of
information."
Maynard Pittendreigh Presbyterian
minister
"When it comes to invoking religion in
support of any of their decisions, politicians need to sit at the feet of
Abraham Lincoln. Reinhold Niebuhr once called him 'America's greatest
theologian.' Why so great? Because he invariably distinguished between human
works and the works of the Almighty. As Wyrick says, 'He wore
the mantle of humility easily: because he was more impressed with what God was
doing in the world than with what he, president of the United States in the
midst of an awful crisis, was doing. That is why in his last major speech he
distinguished between both human causes in the Civil War and the Almighty's
'own purposes.' Lincoln would have agreed that it is better to leave God-talk
out of politics than to decorate human proposals with divinity. This is a book
for our American time. Through his careful study of Lincoln's career, Wyrick
compels us to remember that piety belongs in politics only when piety
transcends politics."
Dr.
Donald W. Shriver
Emeritus professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
Author of An Ethic for Enemies: Forgiveness in Politics
"V. Neil Wyrick's fine work allows the reader to appreciate Abraham
Lincoln's Christian commitment and his prophetic role in American history.
Should have a wide readership."
James
H. Smylie Professor
of Church History (Ret.) Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia
"Neil
Wyrick's The Spiritual Abraham Lincoln should be read by anyone attempting to understand the man who was probably
the most complex person to ever hold the office of president of the United
States. Dr. Wyrick is intent on demonstrating that the spirituality so often
expressed in Lincoln's writings and speeches was not merely lip service to a
Deity, but rather expressions of a profound faith in a real God. It was this
faith that provided the wisdom, compassion, insight and sometimes steel that
Lincoln would need in full measure as he led the United States through
the Civil War. Dr. Wyrick's clear and unpretentious style of presentation is
very much in keeping with the character ofhis subject, and in so doing, Wyrick
makes his point very well that Lincoln, his beliefs, and the faith that formed
them, are as relevant to a troubled America in 2004 as they were in 1863."
Daniel Allen Butler, author
of "Unsinkable"; The Full Story of the RMS Titanic, The
Lusitania and The Age o f Cunard
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