The Dart Board

Dart Test...

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says that Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.

One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day.

On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.

Sally's friend drew a picture of who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face. Sally was pleased with the overall affect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target. Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced.

Dr. Smith said only these words... "In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40.

No other words were necessary; the tears filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.

Isn't it funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Isn't it funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says? Or is it scary? Isn't it funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan (who, by the way, also "believes" in God). Isn't it funny how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Isn't it funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of Jesus is suppressed in the school and workplace. Isn't it funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday, but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week? Are you laughing? Isn't it funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them. Isn't it funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me?

One the First Day...

On the First Day.....

On the first day God created the dog. God said, "Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. I will give you a life span of twenty years."

The dog said, "That's too long to be barking. Give me ten years and I'll give you back the other ten." So God agreed.

On the second day God created the monkey. God said, "Entertain people, do monkey tricks, make them laugh. I'll give you a twenty-year life span."

The monkey said, "How boring, monkey tricks for twenty years? I don't think so. Dog gave you back ten, so that's what I'll do too, okay?" And God agreed.

On the third day God created the cow. God said, "You must go to the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a life span of sixty years."

The cow said, "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. Let me have twenty and I'll give back the other forty."
And God agreed again.

On the fourth day God created man. God said, "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. I'll give you twenty years."

Man said, "What? Only twenty years! Tell you what, I'll take my twenty, and the forty the cow gave back and the ten the monkey gave back and the ten the dog gave back, that makes eighty, okay?"

"Okay," said God, "You've got a deal."

So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, and enjoy ourselves; for the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family; for the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren; and for the last ten years...... we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

Friday, July 15th

I read this scripture:

Proverbs13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

I read this from a book called "Cry of the Soul" in Chapter 10, and it really brought it home how God gives hope. I think about my family, wife and son, my job, and school, along with other responsiblities, and I seem to take it on with a joy in my heart. However, when I read this, it hit why that is the case. God has given me hope in situations where I think if God wasn't in my life, there would be no hope. I would be stressed (and I am stressed now) beyond recognition. In high school, actually middle school, I had ulcers. I was sickly and in despair and turning to things that I shouldn't have been and my life was in a downward spiral. Now, though, things are so much better. I know it is because I turn to God for my troubles and relax knowing that whatever happens, it is for the good of God and his kingdom. That was my nugget.

Thursday, July 14th

What a long day it has been. My quiet time was short and brief today, mostly consisting of prayer and such. I have felt that things are starting to get a little out of hand in my life and really needed the time to reflect back to God and really let God take control. Maybe I have stepped up with pride and tried to take control and push God to the side. It sounds like that can be so easy to do, human nature to do so.

My wife and I had a D-Time with some elders earlier this evening and I really opened up with what's been going on in my life, my wife did the same, and our son, he was prideful and didn't really share much, except when he was hungry, he let us know about that. Anyway, I had some feelings and thoughts that were staggering up in my mind that I had briefly talked with my wife about, but I felt it was good to really get with them and talk to others outside of just me and my wife. I think this will need to become a staple in my marriage. I think we need to do more of that. Anyway, the night is short, so I will wrap it up and head off to bed. Love you all and hope to hear from you soon.

Wednesday, July 13th

Hello, all.

My QT for today was really interesting. I studied out Psalm 88. What I found interesting about it was how the writer was really in dispair and God let him "be." Usually, when you think of Psalms, you think of how in touch with emotions the writer is with himself. Psalm 88 is no different than that, however, when we also think of Psalms, you have a victorious ending to each Psalm. Well, with Psalm 88, I never really saw the silver lining on the proverbial cloud. God "let him be." And sometimes, I think that is how it should be. When we suffer, it is good to have friends and loved ones nurture us back to our true comfort zone, but then there are times when we need to feel our pain and really get real with ourselves. Writing this makes me think of the prodigal son story in the new testament. The son went out and had to hit bottom for him to really come back and get help. I think Psalm 88 may be more a prodigal son type story. Anyway, I would love to hear all of your thoughts. Below are the scriptures. Hope to hear from you all real soon.

Scriptures:

Psalm 88:1-18
1 O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.
2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.
5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily upon me;you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah
8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? Selah
11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction?
12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
15 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.

Side Note:
just something for fun, but I am doing the "beat the streak" with mlb.com and found it really entertaining to do. There are some really cool prizes, but I am more into for the bragging rights. Anyway, check it out if you are interested.