Seeds For Thinking

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Scripture: Jesus said, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Mt. 6:20, NIV

The secret of hitting a moving target is to aim at where it will be, not at where it is at the moment. The knack of calculating the speed of the target, the distance, and even the force of the wind served the early settlers of our country well as they sought to feed their families on the abundant wild game in pioneer territory. Hunters like Daniel Boone, moving into the area of Kentucky, gave the technique the name of “Kentucky Windage.”
Annie Oakley, ‘Little Miss Sureshot,’ also started hunting to help support her family in southern Ohio. She used her prowess at hitting the target to thrill audiences at Buffalo Bill’s “Wild West Shows” by breaking glass balls tossed into the air.
Hitting the target today for most people means getting in the right lane in time so as not to miss the exit you want. Except in athletics.
The game of football pushes the technique to a whole new dimension. It seems rather strange to throw a ball at an area of the field where there are no players at the moment. The quarterback has to throw at where the receiver will be, hoping that a member of the opposing team will not be there as well. (Daniel and Annie seldom had to worry about someone trying to tackle them while they were aiming and firing.) Too high or low, too soon or too late - too bad! Incomplete pass or interception. Success comes with planning what everyone is supposed to do long before the game starts. And practice, practice, practice!
In short, whatever the endeavor, the important thing is to plan ahead. Keep your eye on the target, and don’t let anything distract you.
The Bible has much advice for those who would aim for heaven. Both John The Baptist and Jesus preached repentance. That means getting everything in order to ‘hit the target.’ No mere game with bragging rights! This is forever, for eternity. Heaven or Hell.
“Repent” means to turn toward God, and away from things that would make you ‘miss the mark.’ “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
It is a harsh saying, but Jesus’ advice to pluck out and throw away that which causes you to sin (Mt. 18:9 ) is not unlike a coach telling the quarterback to eliminate bad habits, focus, and keep with the game plan.
Paul used examples from athletics, especially in his letter to the Corinthians (1Co. 9:24-27) “Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
The successful Christian goes into “strict training.” Avoid sin in all things. Aim at where you want to be (heaven) and practice, practice, practice!
November 10, 2002

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Scripture: Daniel said, “God has numbered the days of your reign, and brought it to an end. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. “Daniel 5:26,27, NIV

One of the great axioms that I have heard quoted often in relation to business and real estate is “Location, location, location!” Picking a spot that sits along a well-traveled road or river makes a big difference in the number of customers a business can attract, or the size to which a city can grow.
Throughout history, access to transportation made large cities possible. The Babylonian Empire was built along the Euphrates, one of the major water thoroughfares of the ancient world, and still an important river today. Babylon, counted as one of the wonders of the ancient world, straddled the Euphrates River, with canals linking various areas of the city. The city is described as having broad streets, intersecting at right angles, often crossing the canals by bridges. The main area of the city was full of temples, palaces, and government structures. Numerous businesses lined the quay, or dock, along the waterfront. Palaces, including the famous Hanging Gardens built by King Nebuchadnezzar, were located on Procession Street. One of the temples, called a ziggurat, was a large tower dedicated to the gods of Babylon. The ruins of this temple still exist in modern-day Iraq.
Like most cities of that time, Babylon was surrounded by walls for protection from invaders. Its rulers felt that the city was impregnable from attack. They had a stockpile of provisions sufficient to last many years, and could live in comfort confident that Babylon could not be taken. Babylon was the most important city in the world at that time. Twenty-three years after the death of King Nebuchadnezzar, Nabonidus and his son, Belshazzar, faced an attempt by the Mede and Persian armies to conquer Babylon. Safe and confident within their walls, they looked out in amazement as King Cyrus’ soldiers spent their time digging a deep trench around the city.
According to the Book of Daniel
(Ch. 5) King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. Wanting to show off, he had the silver goblets taken from the Jewish temple brought out, and used them to praise “the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone” - idols!
Suddenly, a mysterious hand wrote on the wall, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.
God enabled Daniel to interpreted it thus: “God has numbered the days of your reign, and brought it to an end. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
Outside the city, the armies routed the mighty Euphrates into the ditch they had been digging, and walked into Babylon through the now empty river bed. The river that had brought them prosperity and greatness now brought their destruction.
October 27, 2002

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Scripture: Return to me and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you said, ‘In what way shall we return.’ (Malachi 3:7b, NKJV)

We have a Livestock Guard Dog (LGD) named Joe, who lives with our flock of sheep. Bred for centuries for the guarding trait, and imprinted on sheep as a puppy, the LGD protects against predators, such as coyotes or stray dogs looking to harm the sheep. Occasionally, the dogs will manage to get out of the pen or pasture, but will usually return to their ‘buddies’ the sheep after patrolling the neighborhood.
Joe found a way to get out of the sheep pasture on a Fourth of July evening, possibly inspired by the neighbor’s fireworks. We didn’t miss him until the next morning. We checked the fence rows to see if he was trapped somewhere, and drove the roads around our farm. Nothing.
We called the county dog pound as soon as they were open, hoping that they had found him. They asked if we had checked their web site. We did not know about it, but quickly got on-line. There, in the “Found” listing was a “big, white dog, friendly.” That sounded promising, but the location astonished us! He was found over twelve miles away! Could that be possible?
We called the finder’s telephone number. Her description sure sounded like our dog, Joe. My wife and granddaughter went to check it out.
Sure enough it was Joe, tired, with sore feet, and hair full of burrs. What a joy for the return of the wayward one, for the lost to come home.
We have no idea what adventures he had during his trip. Judging from where he started and where he was found, he possibly followed a waterway, which kept him off the highways, and near water. We suppose that once he left familiar landmarks he just kept moving, trying to find his way home, but all the while getting farther and farther away.
The scriptures are filled with accounts of persons who have wandered away from God, searching, seeking and yet lost. Malachi prophesied to Israel during a time when the nation became indifferent to God’s moral and ceremonial law. Even the priests had become spiritually insensitive and corrupt, cheating on tithes and offerings. Observances of worship were empty ritual. The prevailing attitude was one of spiritual lethargy.
Their lack of blessing was not caused by God’s lack of concern, but by their disregard of the covenant law. And yet they wondered why they were not being blessed by God.
“I have no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.” (Malachi 1:10b)
The people and the priests continued to move away from God. Their perception of God grew dim. Materialism and externalism became accepted social practices.
In spite of all this, God still loved His people, and extended His grace to any who would humbly turn to Him.
The prophet Joel writes of rescue and salvation: “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. . . . Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.” (Joel 2:12-13b)
Yes, there is hope for those who are seeking, searching, yet running away from God.
“Return to me and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. What a joy for the return of the wayward one, for the lost to come home.

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Scripture: Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
“How can I,” the eunuch replied, “unless someone explains it to me.” Acts 30-31 , NIV
I’ve been reading a collection of humor and anecdotes about the “famous and near famous” published by Bennet Cerf in 1952. My, how things have changed in fifty years! Few of the “famous” are still living, including Mr. Cerf himself. While some stories and jokes retain their humor well over the years, many others depend upon some knowledge of the personality at the base of the story. For those of us who recall the days of radio, and “stars” such as Jack Benny, Fred Allen, and Ed Wynn, the anecdotes perhaps remind us of other antics and memories of the times. We laugh because we remember.
I tried playing tapes of some of the old radio programs to students in my ‘Radio TV’ classes. Invariably, they would inquire, “Where are the pictures?” Topics that were hilarious at the time fall flat today, because the context is lost. The phrase, “Wanna’ buy a duck?” was in everybody's’ ears, and on everybody's’ lips, in the ‘thirties, but was passé by the ‘forties.
When is the last time you heard a traveling salesman called a ‘drummer’? Today’s child would immediately think of a rock band; most older folks would likely wrinkle their brows and think more toward musicians than salesmen. Traveling salesman/drummer stories tend to be a bit bawdy for polite company, anyway.
Armed Forces stories were popular in 1952. Memories of “The Big One” were still fresh, the draft was in full effect, and Korea was topping the news of the day. Jokes that begin, “A gawky new draftee . . .” don’t register with the current generation. A joke about “two effeminate-looking young men,” was fair game then; totally unacceptable today.
Many jokes were based on ethnic themes, and could be pretty stinging. Many a person has gotten into trouble today for the humor of yesterday that is now considered to be a slur or defamation of character. Even presidents and political candidates have been caught up in this one.
A good maxim to follow: “Never say anything you don’t want to be heard.” Better yet, don’t even think it! Proverbs 21:23 says it well; “He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself from calamity.”
One of the dangers of familiarity with a topic is that we forget that others may not have any idea what we are talking about. We Christians sometimes babble on about salvation and justification, grace and righteousness - terms totally unfamiliar to those we are trying to reach.
The first ‘commandment’ for speakers and teachers is, “Know your topic well.” The second, and no less important, is, “Consider your audience!” How will they understand unless you fill in all the gaps in their knowledge.
October 20, 2002

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Scripture: Tenth Commandment:, “You must not burn with desire for another man’s wife, nor envy him for his home, land, servants, oxen, donkeys, nor anything else he owns.“, Deuteronomy 5: 21, The Living Bible
I learned at a very early age that fruit is not good to eat during all stages of development. Especially apples. Little green apples literally turned me green!
It is interesting how we assign a color to many emotions, and to other objects as well. Something that is not fully mature is ‘green,’ as in most fruit. A ‘greenhorn’ is an inexperienced person. The moon is sometimes ‘blue’ - and happens only once in a while, or ‘once in a blue moon.’
If we are too cold, we may turn blue. We can also have the ‘blues’ when we are feeling depressed. A popular song a few years back concerned having “ A blue Christmas without you.”
Scared, we may turn white as a, well, a ghost. Really scared, and even the hairs on your head turn white - overnight! Now that’s scary!
Why is yellow for cowards? A cowardly person “has a yellow streak down their back.”
A black hearted individual is plainly evil.
Rage and anger are red, red hot! The planet Mars is known for its reddish color, and so had the name of the god of war slapped on it. I’ve never known Mars to declare war on anyone, but its color is prejudicial! Prejudice derives from actual colors, too, as in skin, hair, or eyes.
White is associated with heavenly beings in the Bible. Figures robed in white; intense, blinding lights signify the heavenly presence. Doves, the symbol of peace, are colored white. But let’s go back to green. . . . As in “green with envy.”
Was it envy that drove Cain to kill his brother, Abel? The word isn’t used there, but we find that Rachel envied her sister (Genesis 30:1.) Joseph’s brothers envied him, with the result that they sold him into slavery. Peter placed guile, hypocrisies, and envy together (1 Peter 2:1.)
Paul had many things to say about envy, including in his “Love” chapter, 1 Corinthians 13. “Charity (love) envieth not.”
Read Romans 1:18-32; the wrath of God is against all the godlessness and wickedness of men . . . who are “full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.”
1 Timothy 6:4, A teacher of false doctrines “has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind . . .”
Titus 3:3 , “We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.”
Proverbs: 3:31, “Do not envy a violent man, or choose any of his ways.”
14:30 “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”
27:4, “Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy (envy).”
We clearly need to pray that we do not fall prey to envy, because ‘envy’ associates with bad companions!
October 13, 2002

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Scripture: Matthew wrote, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save people from their sins.” Mt. 1:21, NIV

What’s in a name? Shakespeare said, “ A rose by another name would smell as sweet.” For most of us, a name is merely a means of identification. Many know that there are other people who share at least the same first and last name. People in some countries, such as Indonesia, use only one name. In other cultures, the name identifies not only the person, but the personality.
For example, the person we know as Peter, the headstrong disciple of Jesus, was Simon bar Jonah - Simon son of Jonah. Jesus gave him the name ‘Stone’ or ‘Rock,’ which in Latin (petros) became ‘Peter.’
But let’s go back a few centuries to some names from the Old Testament. You’ve heard of Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego. And Daniel, of course. But what about Belteshazzar, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah? Same people! We don’t know Daniel by his Babylonian name, Belteshazzar. They were given new names by the chief official of king Nebuchadnezzar (now that’s a mouthful!) Daniel’s new name meant, “O Lady Protect the King” in Babylonian. The Lady mentioned was the wife of Marduk, the god of Babylon. Daniel means ‘God has judged.’
Shadrack means ‘I am very fearful (of a god)’ while ‘Hananiah’ means “Yaweh has been gracious.”
Mishael means “Who is what God is?” but Meshach means “I am of no account.”
Better at least to be called ‘Abednego’ the Servant of the Shining one.’ Better still to be called Azariah, “Yaweh has helped.”
The king in question was Nabu-kudurri-usur, or ‘Nebo, defend the boundary.’
Since Chaldean has gone out of style, King James dubbed him ‘Nebuchadrezzar.”
Consider ‘Nabul.’ He lived up to his name, ‘Foolish’ or ‘Churlish.’ He refused to help king David; his wife, Abigail, apologized for her husbands churlish conduct. When Nabul sobered up enough to understand what he had done, he was profoundly affected and died ten days later. Abigail later became one of David’s wives.
Saul means ‘asked of God.’ The first king of Israel got himself in big trouble by not obeying the Lord. The Saul of the New Testament changed to his Latin name of Paul.
Places, too, have names. How about Urusilimmu? Aren’t you glad ‘foundation of the god (Shalem)’ is called Jerusalem in English?
Now consider “Joshua“ which developed into Jeshua (sometimes Yeshua). Greek and Latin Iesous. The Greek “I” became “J” in English. Yaweh IS Salvation!
Yes!! “Jesus is Salvation.” By any other name - “Oh! How Sweet.
October 6, 2002

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Scripture: Paul wrote, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2:7,8 NIV

The deer were obviously not fully grown, although they no longer had the spots of fauns. My wife and I came upon them as we started back our lane to bring the lambs to the barn for their morning feed. One was in the paddock with the ram; the other was in the lane. When they saw us, about the time we saw them, both made a dash for the fence. Not over, as experienced adult deer would do, but straight at it, as if it didn’t exist! The results were predictable. They hit it hard enough that they rebounded back, falling in a tangle of legs on the ground.
The one in with the ram made a couple of tries at the 48 inch high fence, turned, went over the 32 inch fence, and disappeared into the woods.
The deer in the lane, a path between two 48 inch high fences, tried even harder. I was concerned that the poor thing would break its neck! It really smacked that fence! Over and over, working its way down the fence toward us; we were standing stock still, not wanting to spook it further. It came within about ten feet of me.
Finally, I suggested that if we moved slowly toward it, the deer might move on back through the lane. And it did, struggling, sticking its head through the fence, and smacking it as it went along. Reaching the area at the top of the hill, at a spot where the fence sagged a bit, it finally leaped over it, and went off through the trees.
You know, there was not a thing I could do to “talk” those deer over the fences. It would probably have been best if we turned and walked slowly away. I thought, “How like those deer many people are.”
We see people all the time caught up between the ‘fences’ of life, struggling, smacking the boundaries, and suffering because they don’t know how to escape the lifestyle they are in. It is often just as frustrating trying to help someone caught in life's “fast lane.” They want to be happier, to be less stressed out, to get new results from old customs; they don’t want advice or preaching from “holier-than-thou’s.”
If there had been an adult deer present, it would have been no problem. They have smacked the fences before. Now, they know how to get over that barrier. The young ones would only have had to follow, and freedom would quickly have been theirs as well.
It is important to be an example in life so that others can see that there is a way to escape the ‘fences’ of the world. Actions often speak much louder than words.
October 3, 2002