LETTER TO GOD

“Dear God,
 
This is Billy again.  I know you are busy, and I don’t mean to be a pest. But I have a big favor to ask. Could you make Sunday come on a different day of the week?  If you did, I think I mom and dad might start back to church.
 
You see, they always tell me that they are too tired to get up for church on Sunday morning, and too busy to go on Sunday night. Dad works hard during the week, and he likes to spend his Saturdays playing golf or going fishing. He says that Sunday is his only day to sleep in and catch up on chores like mowing the lawn, washing the car or weeding the garden.
 
Mom says about the same thing.  She likes to go shopping with her sister or friends on Saturdays. Then on Sundays she vacuums the floors, does the laundry, dusts the house and takes a long nap.
 
On Saturday nights they like to stay up late, playing cards with friends or watching movies and eating popcorn.
 
God, I really want them to start back to church on Sundays so that I can come too. It may sound strange, but I like my Bible class and the worship service.
 
I often ask them about going to church when we’re eating dinner on Saturday or breakfast on Sunday. They always say that we will start back soon, but that day never seems to come.  I am worried because we do not say prayers like we used to, and I think my dad lost his Bible.
 
So, if its not asking too much, can you make Sunday on a different day?  Then maybe we can come to church like we did before. I miss church.  Can you please help?
 
Love,
 
Billy
 
P.S. If you can’t change Sunday to another day, can you make it thunder real loud every Sunday morning? Maybe that will wake my parents up.”
 
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Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14)
 
Jesus, always Jesus!


Dennis

BEFORE YOU CAST A STONE
(Revised, by Grace Burford)


I stood beside the water; it was quiet, calm and still.
Then someone cast a stone, as children often will.
 
With a tiny splash it landed, then quickly sank below,
but it broke the peaceful silence; the water’s tranquil glow.
 
The splash became a ripple, that extended far and wide,
‘till it’s ever spreading current, touched the shore on every side.
 
And then I started thinking; this is so akin to life.
For one word, rashly spoken, can stir up harmful strife.
 
If a stone can stir a lake, from gentle peace and calm,
a single word that’s uttered, can bring a lot of harm.
 
And like the rippling water, that spreads from shore to shore,
reckless words can hurt forever, and close a neighbor's door.
 
For no matter how we try, it’s impossible to recall,
a word that spreads like ripples, causing someone's fall.
 
For who can stem a river, or halt the ocean’s tide?
Or stop the fire that rages, across the countryside?
 
Let him who knows perfection, feel free to cast a stone;
Then maybe we will never see, another pebble thrown!
 
"He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone…first." [John 8:7]
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis

LIVING WATER
 
While visiting Paris with several Arab acquaintances, Lawrence of Arabia showed them the sites -- the Arch Of Triumph, the Louvre, and Napoleon’s tomb. Nothing, however, seemed to impress them until they arrived at their hotel. While being shown their lavish accommodations, they encountered something they deemed to be miraculous -- the bathroom faucets. To them, it was inconceivable that by simply turning a handle, an endless supply of water could be obtained. They subsequently spent hours turning the faucets on and off.
 
When their final day in Paris arrived, Lawrence was surprised to find his companions gathered in the bathroom, attempting to disconnect the faucets. When he inquired as to what they were doing, they exclaimed: “It is very dry in Arabia.  What we need are faucets. We can then have all the water we want!”  Amused, Lawrence explained that the real source of water was not the faucets, but the immense reservoir of water to which they were connected.
 
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Our nation and world is as spiritually dry as the hot Arabian deserts. As Christians, we can help quench the thirst of dying souls by talking to others about our salvation in Jesus Christ. As we do so, we must remember that the “Living Water” does not originate with us. We are merely “conduits” or “faucets” that are connected to the True Source of eternal life, Jesus Christ. Our obedience to Christ and compassion for the lost compels us to make His life-giving water available to the thirsty souls we encounter.
 
Speaking of which, are YOU connected with the True Source of living water?

•         Have you OBEYED THE GOSPEL of the only source of eternal life, Jesus Christ?
•         Do you SEEK FIRST the kingdom of the Savior?
•         Do you DRINK DAILY from the wells of His word?
•         Do you CONNECT DAILY with the Living Fountain via prayer?
•         Do you ASSEMBLY WITH THE SAINTS at every opportunity to worship the King of

kings?
 
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  (John 7:37-38)
 
Jesus, always Jesus!
 
Dennis

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE BOX BELOW?
(LOOK HARD!)
 





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Although the box may appear empty, a closer look will reveal that it contains the following:

• Everything a sinner must do to miss out on salvation and spend eternity in hell.
• Everything Christians need to do to keep relatives and friends from hearing the gospel and being saved.
• Everything Christian parents can do to encourage their children to be atheists.
• Everything Christian young people need to do to insure that the church has no future.
• Everything Bible school teachers must do to promote ignorance in the church.
• Everything POTENTIAL elders should do to insure that the church lacks leaders and direction.
• Everything Christians should GIVE in order to see a church close its doors for keeps.
• Everything Christians must do to backslide and fall from grace.
• Everything the church needs to do in order to have her candlestick removed by the Lord.
• Everything God had to do insure that all mankind will end up in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

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As you may have guessed, the above box contains NOTHING. And NOTHING is ALL IT TAKES for the aforementioned things to occur.
 
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58)
 
Jesus, always Jesus!



Dennis