Tools of Strength - Apples of Gold - April 28, 2009 -vi-

You might want to listen to this one – the music really sets the tone.

 

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 28, 2009

“Tools of Strength”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

(start music)

In quietness and trust I find my strength.

When I am weak, I am strong.

I am humble before the Sovereign Lord.

I am saved, not by me, but by Jesus.

He dwells in my heart through faith.

I am strengthened by His Spirit in my inner man.

My faith is not in this world, but in the Lord my God.

He gives me strength.

I can do this, because He gives me strength.

I live by truth, I walk in truth, I trust fully in the truth.  The truth makes me strong.

I believe in righteousness.  I am righteous through Christ, and I choose to live in righteousness.  Righteousness makes me strong.

I am ready to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the life-changing, world-altering Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Gospel of Peace is on my lips, and this makes me strong.

I am a man of the Word of God.  I do not take my word for things, but I dig into The Word.  There I find truth, and His Spirit within me confirms it.  This is the Sword of the Spirit, and this makes me strong.

I am a man of prayer.  I pray daily, seeking the Lord, His face, the outpouring of His Spirit, His will to be done on earth.  I pray for saints, for the church, for growth, and for the spread of the Gospel with boldness.  I am a man of prayer, and prayer makes me strong.

My heart is fully committed to the Lord.  Nothing on earth can sway me from Him.  His eyes search the earth for a heart like this, and I want Him to notice mine.  A heart fully committed to the Lord is a heart that He makes strong.

Laughter is a window, a breath of fresh air, but joy is a cornerstone.  Joy comes to stay.  It’s the joy of the Lord, and the joy of the Lord makes me strong.

In me is no despair.  There is no quitting, no giving up, no weariness or fatigue.  My hope is untouchable because it is not here.  My hope is in the Lord, and this hope makes me strong.

These are the tools of strength. 

I sharpen them and keep them clean.  They never age or gather dust.  I learn more daily to use them with skill and precision.

They are mine, and they can be yours.

They are available to all.

They are gifts from the Lord. 

They are tools of strength.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


Isaiah 30:15 “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says, ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

2 Corinthians 12:10 “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Ephesians 6:17a “Take the helmet of salvation…”

Ephesians 3:17 “…that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…”

Ephesians 3:16 “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man…”

Ephesians 6:16 “…take up the shield of faith…”

2 Thessalonians 3:3  “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one…”

Philippians 4:13  “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Ephesians 6:14, 15 “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

Ephesians 6:17, 18  “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him…”

Nehemiah 8:10 “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Isaiah 40:31 “…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength…”

Exodus 15:2  “The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.”

Psalm 29:11  “The LORD gives strength to His people…”

1 Chronicles 16:11  “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”

Ephesians 6:10  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power…”


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Build on a Layer of Sacrifice - Apples of Gold - April 27, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 27, 2009

“Build on a Layer of Sacrifice”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

If you want to build something great, you have to build on a layer of sacrifice.

Last week I dropped by the Medart Assembly of God.  Right there in the tiny community of Medart, Florida they are building a sanctuary to seat 500 people.

Yes, at a time in the economy when many churches are shrinking back, the Medart Assembly is moving forward.

Have you ever been part of a church building program?  If so, you know there is one word you hear a lot:  sacrifice.

In one campaign I was a part of we used this phrase, “Not equal giving, but equal sacrifice.”

No, everyone can’t give the same amount, but everyone can sacrifice to the same degree.

If you want to build something great, you have to build on a layer of sacrifice.

That’s the way our country was built.  The signers of the Declaration of Independence knew about sacrifice.  The end of the Declaration says, “…we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”

They were willing to sacrifice their fortunes and even their very lives.  Why?  Because that’s what it took to build this great nation.

That’s how a great marriage is built.  On your wedding day you make great vows and pledges.  “For richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; until death do us part.” 

That is a great layer of sacrifice, and on that layer you can build a great marriage.

Have you ever started your own business?  That requires a great amount of sacrifice. 

Do you think you are going to start a great business without a layer of sacrifice? 

Well I guess that is human nature.  We want things handed to us.  We want great things to happen without the sacrifice.

But that’s just not the way things work.  If you want to build something great, you have to build on a layer of sacrifice.

Do you want to build a healthy body?  Then you must have a layer of sacrifice.  You have to sacrifice certain foods.  You have to sacrifice to exercise. 

Do you want to be smarter?  Then you must sacrifice time and money and energy to learn.

Do you want to grow spiritually?  Then there is a layer of sacrifice that includes prayer and fasting and Bible study and obedience.

Recently I started playing some tennis, something I haven’t really done since high school.  And I can tell you right now that I’m not going to grow much in my tennis skills.

Why not?  Because I have no plans to lay down a layer of sacrifice.  I’m not going to get lessons.  I’m not going to hire a coach.  I’m not even going to play very much.

With no layer of sacrifice, I’ll build nothing great.

Think of the early church.  Yes, they spread the Gospel and changed the world.  But it was built on a layer of sacrifice.  Many of them sacrificed their lives.  They sacrificed positions in society and reputations.  Some sacrificed family relationships.  They sacrificed many worldly opportunities for the greater cause of Christ.

Have you ever met a physician?  That is a position no one reaches without building on a layer of sacrifice.

Recently I saw together in one orchestra both Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma.  Now sometimes we think guys like that were just born great.

Yes, I’m sure they are gifted, but look at the grueling hours of training and practice.  Both were taught at the Juilliard School, and that is no playground. 

They both built great musical legacies, and they built them on a layer of sacrifice.

The Bible is full of examples of people who did great things, and built them on a layer of sacrifice.

So what great thing do you want to do?  Do you want to start a business?  Build a church?  Raise a family?  Do you want to be a doctor?  An athlete?  A musician? 

If so, don’t think someone is going to just come along and hand you these things.  That’s not the way it works. 

This is how it works. 

If you want to build something great, you have to build on a layer of sacrifice.

So prepare yourself and be ready to do it.  For every great thing you want to do, be ready to lay down a great layer of sacrifice.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Every Time I Dry Off - Apples of Gold - April 24, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 24, 2009

“Every Time I Dry Off”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

“Every time I dry off I think of something you said.”

“What?  What did I say?”

“When we were little.  One day I was drying off and you told me I was doing it wrong.  You grabbed me and showed me the ‘right’ way to dry off.  And now I think of that every time I do it.”

That was a conversation between my daughters the other day, about a moment that took place many years ago. 

But what a story!  It’s a great example of how powerful our words can be when injected in a specific moment.

A while back I was working out at my house when some middle school boys were there.  I was doing some sit-ups when one of them blurted out, “You’re doing it wrong.”

Now come on.  With abs like these, I’m pretty sure I know how to do a sit-up.  And he didn’t look like he had ever even brushed up against a good sit-up. 

And yet – now don’t miss this – every time I do sit-ups I think of what he said.  It happens when I get down in the sit-up position – the same position I was in when he said that.  I get down to do sit-ups, and blurp, it runs through my head.

Now I’m a communicator.  I’ve been in communications all my adult life.  And we communicators, we want to say things that just pop into your head for the rest of your life.  What an impact!

But you know what?  We can stand in front of you and babble on and on and on and have nothing get through.

But then some kid can throw out a little comment, and it sticks with you forever.

What’s the difference?

It’s the power of the moment.

Think about it in your own life.  I’ll bet there are certain situations that, just being in them, makes you think of something someone said.

Okay, so we know it happens.  We know it works this way.  So what we need to do is take advantage of it.

Sometimes we think we need a big audience to do any good.  But you know what?  You might stand in front of thousands and talk for an hour, and six months later no one remembers a thing you said. 

But in a specific situation you can say something to one person and they will remember it for the rest of their life.

So what we can do is look for those opportunities.  There are thousands of little chances to say just the right thing that will stick with someone forever.

I call this thing I do “Apples of Gold.”  It’s from Proverbs 25:11 which says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”

And I love that phrase, “a word fitly spoken.”

To me it means that what is said is a perfect fit for the moment.

And notice this.  It says “a word fitly spoken,” not “a word spoken in a fit.”

It is measured and controlled.  It is wise.  It is timely.

See, we can toss out wise sayings all day, but they don’t really hit home until they fit the moment.

But when we say something that perfectly fits the situation, then we have a bell ringer.  That’s a home run.  That’s when it sticks with them forever.

Now too often it is something negative.  It’s a word spoken in a fit.  In an emotional moment we blurt out something, and it sticks.

Well Ephesians 4:29 has the remedy for that.  It says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

See, when these moments occur – and you can’t really plan for them.  They are real life moments that just pop up.  And when they do, we need to be ready to “impart grace.”

Don’t you love that phrase?  “Impart grace.”

It says, “…what is good for necessary edification.”  That means it builds them up.  It strengthens them.

The right words at the right time can build someone up, and keep building them up for the rest of their life.

It’s a word fitly spoken, at just the right time, in real life.

What a powerful impact we can have!

So watch for those moments.  Be ready. 

And when they come up, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

She is My Bride...For a While - Apples of Gold - April 22, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 22, 2009

“She is My Bride…For a While”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Hey men.  Is there a special woman in your life?

Could be your wife, or fiancé, or even a steady girlfriend.

If you have a special woman in your life, then I want you to picture this.

Picture yourself way off in the future, after your life here is done, standing before God.

That’s what Romans 14 says, that “we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.”  Verse 12 says, “…each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

So there you are, standing before God, and one thing you will have to account for is this woman. 

See, she has been entrusted to you.  It’s like an investment God has given you, and one day there will be an accounting.

So you’re standing before God, and now picture Him asking about all sorts of things in your life. 

And then He asks about her.

You turn, and there she is, walking up behind you.

And now listen to this very closely.  Picture yourself presenting this woman to the Lord. 

There He is, in all His majesty and splendor, His purity and holiness.

And you are presenting this woman to Him. 

Now let me ask you, what does she look like – based on your effect on her life?

Now let me tell you what she should look like. 

Ephesians 5 says that husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the church. 

And look what Christ did.  It says He gave Himself up for her, to cleanse her and make her holy, to wash away all stains and blemishes.

And why?  So that He could “present her to Himself as a radiant church…”

And this is how husbands should love their wives.

Now think about this.  Yes, my wife is my bride – but only for a while, only during our short life here on earth.

But for all eternity she belongs to the Lord. 

I see it like this.  God has entrusted my wife to me as an investment.  And one day I will give an accounting. 

I don’t know exactly how it will go down, but here’s how I picture it.

I will be standing there before God, and he will ask about my wife.  She will step up behind me, and I will take her hand.  Then I will present her to the Lord.

And the question is, what will I be presenting?  A defeated woman?  A broken woman?  A worldly woman?  A bitter woman?  A sinful woman?

Or will I present Him with a holy woman, a Godly woman, a woman without stain or blemish?  Will I present Him with a radiant woman?

See, Christ gave Himself up for the church to make her holy and to present her to Himself as a radiant church.

And I am to love my wife that way.  So what should my big picture goal be for my wife?  That on that day I will be able to present her to the Lord as a holy and radiant woman of God!

And I am to give myself up for her to bring about that goal.

So when it comes to this special woman in my life, this is my goal.  This is what my eyes are fixed on. 

They are fixed on that day, when I will stand before the Lord, and He asks about her. 

And when she steps up there, I want to be able to take her by the hand and say, “My Lord, here she is!  Lord, I led her to be as close to You as I could.  I set the example in my own life.  I encouraged her in every way I knew how.  I loved her like You loved the church.  I took her hand and walked with her toward holiness.  I did not stain her or blemish her.  I did not hurt her or damage her.  I did not lead her down a path of worldliness.  I put up no obstacles between You and her.  And now, my Lord, here is the woman You entrusted me with.  I present her to You…a radiant woman of God!”

Men, get that picture in your mind.  Picture the day when you will present this woman to the Lord.  And do all you can while you can so that one day you can present her to the Lord – a holy, radiant woman of God!


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Eyewitnesses of His Majesty - Apples of Gold - April 21, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 21, 2009

“Eyewitnesses of His Majesty”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

The old man Moses climbed Mount Nebo, and the Lord showed him the Promised Land. 

“But you will not cross over into it,” the Lord said.

And Moses died – but he still had a very special appointment to keep here on earth.

The old man Elijah crossed the Jordan River one last time. 

Suddenly a chariot of fire swept him up to heaven in a whirlwind.

But Elijah still had a very special appointment to keep here on earth.

Peter, James and John followed Jesus up a high mountain.

They went there to pray, but three of them got very sleepy.

They didn’t know it, but the time for that very special appointment had arrived.

As Jesus was praying, the appearance of His face changed.  It was shining like the sun!

And his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.  Mark 9:3 uses the word “dazzling.”

And it was time – time for Moses and Elijah to keep that special appointment here on earth.

Luke 9:30 says Moses and Elijah “appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.  They spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.”

Verse 32 says Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him.

Now stop the story for a minute.

I have always been a sucker for all-star games.  I just love seeing all the stars from every team all together in one place.

Well look what you have here.  Jesus the Messiah.  Moses the Lawgiver.  Elijah the Prophet.  Plus the three great apostles Peter, James and John.

Have you ever been around a star and suddenly found yourself babbling like an idiot?

That’s kind of what came over Peter in this historic moment.

He suddenly blurted out, “Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here.  Let’s put up three shelters – one for You, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Maybe Peter just wanted this special moment to last, to keep Moses and Elijah around for a while. 

But Peter didn’t know he was about to be face down on the ground as the moment reached a dramatic climax.

While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud appeared and enveloped them. 

Now this cloud was nothing new to Moses.  In Exodus 19:9 the Lord had told Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you…”

And that’s what happened in this cloud.  Suddenly a voice spoke, and the disciples fell facedown in terror.

The voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.  Listen to Him!”

The next thing they knew, they felt Jesus touching them.

“Get up,” He said.  “Don’t be afraid.”

They slowly lifted their heads, and it was over.  It was back to just them and Jesus alone on the mountain.

Later Peter described the moment with this awesome statement, “We were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” 

He said Jesus received “honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory…”

Second Peter 1:18 says, “We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.”

John wrote, “We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father…”

The Transfiguration of Christ was an incredible moment for Peter, James and John.  It was a powerful piece of evidence that Jesus truly is the Son of God.

But it was more than just a beautiful moment.  It was also a call to action. 

See, it wasn’t just a great show to “wow” the audience.  There was a point, and it came out in the last three words God spoke, “Listen to Him.”

And the same is true for us today. 

Have you experienced God in some special way?  Has He reached out to you, maybe shown you a glimpse of His glory?

Many of us can say like Peter, “I am a witness of His majesty.”

That’s wonderful, but now don’t miss the call to action.

If God has revealed Himself to you in some special way, it wasn’t just so you could be impressed.  It was to impress you to heed this three-word call to action:

Listen to Him.
 

Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Are You a Chameleon in Camouflage? - Apples of Gold - April 20, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 20, 2009

“Are You a Chameleon in Camouflage?”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Does everyone know you are a Christian?

Or do you just sort of blend in with your surroundings?

It reminds me of an old song by Petra:
“Chameleon – you blend with your surroundings…
Chameleon – you change with every situation.”

So as a Christian, are you a chameleon?

Are there times when you just keep Jesus on the “down low”?

Now I’m thinking of an old song by Plus One:
“I don’t wanna be camouflage,
What I’m not,
‘Cause what I’ve got invades the world.”

So as a Christian, are you camouflaged? 

Do you put on a worldly camouflage in certain situations?

Do you tell Jesus to “just stay there in the back seat, would you?  And kind of lie down, if you don’t mind.”

Now look.  I know it’s tempting in some situations.  You don’t want to rock the boat.  You don’t want to jump up and down and shout, “Hey everybody, if you’re looking for someone to make fun of, your search is over!”

Nevertheless, we must not tuck our faith away in shame.

In Mark 8:38 Jesus gave us a little warning.  He said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.”

So we should not be ashamed of Jesus and His words.

Now I’m thinking of an old song by the Newsboys.  It’s called “I’m Not Ashamed” and I really like the second verse:

“This one says it’s a lost cause,
Save your testimonies for church time.
Other ones state,
You better wait
Until we do a little market research.”

See, those are people who think Jesus needs to be kept inside the four walls of a church.  Or if we decide to bring Him out, we need to do it tactfully so no one gets offended.

But the song goes on to say:

“I’m not ashamed to let you know,
I want this light in me to show,
I’m not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ.”

It’s important to let people know we are Christians. 

In fact, I think it’s important to work it in there, right out of the box, right when we meet someone.

Not that you have to blurt it out upon introduction, “Hi, I’m Doug Apple, I love Jesus,” though that would get the job done.

But I think there are many opportunities to quite naturally work it into conversation.

See, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.

When your heart is full of Jesus and His words, then that will flow out of your mouth.

Some people love sports, so sports things fly out of their mouth.  Some people love movies, and they quote them constantly.

Well Christians should be quoting Jesus – it should come out quite naturally.

Take me, for example.  I am constantly in the Word, studying the Bible.  And it just leaks out in conversation:  “Well the Bible says…” “Well, Jesus said…”

I don’t even think about being ashamed of Jesus or His words.  That is just my point of reference.  I’ll be dropping J-bombs and not even notice.

I saw on a website the other day where a girl wrote, “I’m a Christian, but what does that matter?”

Of course it matters, but you know what?  I was just glad that she openly admitted to being a Christian. 

Now what about you?  Does everyone know you are a Christian?

Whatever you do, don’t be a camouflaged chameleon.  Don’t be ashamed of Jesus or His words.  He warned us not to do that.

So don’t hold back.  When the opportunity presents itself, say it.

Let people know that you are not ashamed of Jesus Christ.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Rachel Weeping for Her Children - Apples of Gold - April 17, 2009 -vi-

***You might want to listen to this one.  The music sets the mood.***

 

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 17, 2009

“Rachel Weeping for Her Children”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

(begin music)

She ran her fingers through her little boy’s hair.

How could such an active child be so still?

Then she remembered the wine.

What kind of mother was she?

If only Daddy was here.

Daddy was strong.

Daddy would know what to do.

But her mind was blank.  It shut down the moment she heard.

How did she even survive the afternoon?

She let him play.  In the dirt.  Something she never would have done…before.

If she could just live in the before.  Just stay there.

She wouldn’t get so angry.

Like the day he smashed berries on her robe.

“Spots,” he said. 

He loved spots.

“You got spots, Mommy.”

She looked at the little purple stains. 

Outside was a muffled cry.

She muffled her own.

His head turned, and there were little sleep spots on his cheek.

He would like them.

And when he liked things he giggled.  Way up high.  It made dogs bark.

He giggled at feathers.  Just the sight of them.

And he giggled at the neighbor’s chicks.  Was it their feathers, or because they always ran from him?  He would giggle and run and fall down.

And she would brush him off and scold him. 

But he wasn’t listening.  He was pulling away, wanting to chase those chicks.

He would be two.  Maybe he could have his own chick.

Horses passed.

Men shouted.

Swords.

And now it was her turn.

They were finished next door, and now it was her turn.

She ran her fingers through his hair.

His cheeks were red.

He stirred at the noise, but did not wake.  The wine.

Silently her lips moved.

“I love you.”

They rushed in, but she did not hear.

They took him, but she did not look.

She just stared at the spots on her robe.

Her mouth opened, and finally, her cries joined the rest of the village.

“Rachel weeping for her children…because they are no more.”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


A story inspired by Matthew 2:16-18

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

The Night Stoned Guys Prayed - Apples of Gold - April 16, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 16, 2009

“The Night Stoned Guys Prayed”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Steve and his buddies were smoking pot.

A long night of partying stretched to early morning.

The subject of God came up, and there was some mocking.

Then, for some reason, they decided to pray.

It was kind of a joke, but they decided to just pray and see what would happen.

And guess what? 

God showed up.

Steve said they just felt the Spirit of God move on them. 

They started crying.

They knew that God was doing something, but they didn’t know enough to know what. 

They stayed up all night, then called a pastor who shared with them the gospel and led them to salvation through Jesus Christ.

I know, I know.  Some loaded guys getting saved doesn’t sound like a firm foundation, but the conversion was real.  Steve has now been on fire for the Lord for several decades, and he currently pastors a church in Daytona Beach.

And it all started the night that, on a whim, they decided to draw near to God.

It reminds me of one of my all-time favorite Bible verses.  James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you…”

I am a firm believer in this.  This is something I pray all the time.  “God, right now I am drawing near to You, and I know that You are drawing near to me.”

How can you go wrong with that?  Do it often.  Do it with friends and family members.  Take time out to simply draw near to God.

Last night at church our pastor was talking about the first sermon he ever preached.  He said it was terrible. 

Of course it’s depressing to think God has called you to preach, then when you do it it’s terrible.

So he ended up out late that night, basically wrestling with God, or whining to God, or whatever you want to call it.

But the point is, he went to God.  He drew near to God. 

And he said that God drew near to him.  He said that God taught him a lesson.  God said something like, “That terrible sermon?  Remember it.  Remember that that is what you can do in your own power.  But now I am going to show you what you can do in My power.”  And he said it was after that that he was able to preach with the power of God, and not in his own strength.

Now if you aren’t a believer, that is going to sound like the flakiest thing you have ever heard.

Well if that’s you, then I want to challenge you to do something.  I challenge you to simply take some time out and draw near to God.

Yes, that’s right.  Just take some time with God.  Pray to Him.  Listen to Him.  Ask to enter into His presence.

Just check it out.

And I have the same challenge for Christians.  We say we believe in God and prayer and all that.  But how much time do we actually spend drawing near to God?

It’s a shame if we spend more time drawing near to TV than we do drawing near to God.

But you know what?  I don’t have to harp on it.  I’m just saying hey, why not do it?

Just try it and see what happens.

I think what you will find is that your life will be forever changed.

You just can’t come into the presence of God and not be permanently altered.

So do it.  Do what my pastor did late that night after his first sermon.  Do what Steve did with his stoned buddies. 

Do what I’ve done so many times, and that is simply what it says in James 4:8.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Please, Please Don't Let It Be You - Apples of Gold - April 15, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 15, 2009

“Please, Please Don’t Let It Be You”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Well, I heard of two more long-time Christian couples getting divorced this week.

In both cases the husband went for the greener grass.

They were tempted, and they caved.

And I ask myself, “Why don’t I cave in to temptation?”

I guess it’s because I firmly believe James 1:17, that “…every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…”

Now I’m certainly not perfect, but I keep my eyes fixed on the Lord.  Yes, in a sense I have put blinders on myself.  There are some things I don’t even think about.  I won’t let my mind go there.

That may sound legalistic, but it’s that very attitude which has helped me avoid the big temptations that have brought down so many others.

“Lord, Your way is the best way.  Your way is the only way.  I can do no good without You.  Without You I am nothing.  I need You.  I want You.  I must have You working through me.  Apart from You I can do nothing.”

These are the kind of thoughts that run through my head constantly. 

“I am dust.  A grain of sand.  A vapor.  What is man that You are mindful of him?  Lord, I need You.  Lord I crave You.”

See, I know just how badly I need the Lord.  I know that there is no good thing coming my way apart from Him.

So when you know that God is perfect, and that all good gifts come from Him, and you keep your eyes fixed on Him – then when some imposter gift comes along, it just looks cheap and trashy.

Hebrews says that Jesus was tempted just like us, yet was without sin – and that qualifies Him to help us when we are tempted.  Hebrews 2:18 says, “…He is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Then the next verse says, “Therefore, holy brothers…fix your thoughts on Jesus…”

And Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

So remember those prayers I just told you about, the prayers that constantly run through my head?  Well those prayers fit in with these verses.

I fix my thoughts on the Lord who will help me.  I constantly approach the throne of grace for help.

And now get this.  I don’t wait for temptation to come along and get hold of me.  I don’t put the Lord on the back burner until, uh-oh, now what have I done?

And you know what?  It’s paying off. 

I look around at the sorrow some of my fellow men have caused their families.  I look at the ex-wives they have selfishly left behind in brokenness.  I look at children that are fractured because their daddy was stupid.

And trust me, I’m not so smart myself.  I know just enough to know that all good things come from the Lord, so I keep coming to Him.  I constantly turn to Him and away from whatever trashy thing the world is offering today.

And He has helped me.  There is no brokenness or sorrow in my family.  I am loving life with the wife of my youth.  My children are like flowers, blooming in the light of the Lord. 

Our home has a firm foundation, and that is God Himself.

So let me speak to men today, to husbands and fathers.  Don’t you want a God-blessed home? 

Then do not give in to temptation, and here are some tips.

First, drill it into your head that every good and perfect gift comes from God.  Anything else, no matter the hype, is just cheap and trashy.

Second, fix your eyes on the Lord.  Put blinders on yourself so your eyes are always on Him.

And third, constantly beat a path to the throne of grace.  Jesus will help you overcome all temptation.  Just let your prayers come before Him constantly, acknowledging your weakness and accepting His strength.

Yes, temptations will come.  And yes, in 2009 there will be a new crop of stupid daddies shipwrecking their wives and children.

But please, please don’t let it be you.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

How to Have Real Change in Your Life - Apples of Gold - April 13, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 13, 2009

“How to Have Real Change in Your Life”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Do you need something to change in your life?

Have you tried the self help books, had a little success, then slipped right back into the old ruts?

Well today I want to talk about how you can have real, long lasting change.

And it starts with Wayne Huizenga, Jr., a part owner of the Miami Dolphins.  (huh-ZEN-guh)

Junior was quite a drinker and loved to party.

But he knew he needed a change.  There had to be more to life.

He started going to church, even invited his friends – and then after church they would go right back to their partying.

Then one day he was invited to a different church. 

“And I went,” he said.  “And I listened to an hour-long message that rocked my world and culminated with the pastor talking about having a personal relationship with Christ and challenging that there was more to being a Christian than just attending church on Sunday.”

He said the pastor really hit home with questions like, “Why did God allow you to be born,” and, “Why have you been given the things that you’ve been given?”

And what was his response?

“It was like I had springs in my legs,” he said.  “I stood up out of my chair….and I made my way to the front of this church with a bunch of other people…and I fell to my knees, and I began to cry…like I’ve never really cried before, and telling God how sorry I was…that He had given me so much…that I knew I wasn’t living the right way, and I prayed that simple, short prayer that changed my life.”

Isn’t that a great story?  God changed his life, right?

But the next thing you know, he was right back at the cocktail parties.  And he was shooting off his big mouth like always.

So where was the change?

Ah, listen to what he said.

“I tried to go and behave the way that I did at parties, and I woke up the next morning feeling terrible.”

Now did you get that?  He went out and did the same thing.  On the outside he didn’t look any different. 

But catch this.  Something was changing on the inside.

Back to Junior.  He said, “I’d still say outrageous things, and I’d find I would set my cocktail down at the party and go find a quiet spot and go, ‘Lord, I’m sorry that I said that.  Please forgive me.’”

So out there in the public eye he basically looked the same.

But get this.  There was a private, hidden conversation going on inside him.

The morning after a party, a voice was telling him that it wasn’t right.

After he said something stupid, that voice let him know.

And you know whose voice that was?

It was the voice of the Holy Spirit of God.

The Bible says in several places that as believers in Christ, God’s Spirit comes to live inside us.

And you know what?  The Holy Spirit is the perfect mentor.  He is our counselor, our trainer, our guide.  He convicts us and teaches us and leads us into all truth. 

Now brace yourself.  This is going to sound weird.  But the Holy Spirit mentors us from inside of us.  It’s like an internal conversation.

This is how real change can happen in our life.  It’s through the mentorship of the Holy Spirit within.

And the Holy Spirit is not just a voice inside us.  Ephesians 3:16 talks about God’s power coming through His Spirit in our inner being.

So the Holy Spirit tells us what changes to make, and empowers us to make them!

Let me tell you, incredible change happens as we listen to the Holy Spirit!

So are you tired of slipping into the same old ruts?

Then it’s time to bring about real change in your life.

And you do that by listening to the Holy Spirit inside you.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


 Read more of Junior’s story here:
http://www.familylife.com/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dnJHKLNnFoG&b=3789887&ct=6856963

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-

Extra Layers of Flesh - Apples of Gold - April 10, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 10, 2009

“Extra Layers of Flesh”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

Do you have extra layers of flesh on your body?

This is usually caused by eating more than you need.

Underneath those extra layers is the real, lean you.  There is a healthier version of yourself, but it’s buried under the extra layers of flesh.

Get rid of the layers, and you will be able to do more.  You will have more energy, more power.  You will get around better.  You’ll be more agile. 

And it really comes down to those extra bites.   

And you know what?  It takes a lot of extra bites every day just to maintain those extra layers of flesh.

But as soon as you stop maintaining those layers, as soon as you stop feeding them, they will start to go away – and that healthier version of yourself will emerge.

I mean, it’s there right now.  It’s just stifled under those extra layers of flesh.

And now listen to this.  The same is true in our spiritual life.

As Christians, at the core we are lean and healthy.  God did that when we became new creations in Christ and He gave us His Holy Spirit.

But on top of that we have layers of worldliness.

And now get this.  We have to constantly maintain those layers of worldliness, or they will shrink. 

Just like we need extra bites of food every day to keep on the extra flesh, we need lots of the world everyday to keep on the layers of worldliness.

When we stop feeding on worldliness, those layers shrink, and the true, healthy Christian starts to emerge.

Well what exactly is “worldliness”?

I think it’s anything that runs contrary to God and His Word.

Worldliness is anything that comes from the sinful desires of man.

First Peter 2:11 says that sinful desires war against our soul, so we must abstain from them.

But this world is full of people who do not abstain from sinful desires.  Many of them promote sinful desires; or at least give them quiet approval. 

It’s all around us, and we feed on it.  And as we feed on it, the layers of worldliness build up, stifling the healthy Christian underneath.

But if we would just stop feeding on it!  If we would stop the daily intake of worldliness, those layers would begin to shrink.  The voice of the Holy Spirit would be able to break through, and the healthy Christian underneath would emerge.

Each day we set the table for ourselves.  What will we ingest, the things of God or the things of the world?

This includes our conversations.  It’s our media intake:  our reading, our viewing, our listening.  It’s what we study, and what we meditate on.

James 1:27 says to “…keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

So let me ask you.  What do you ingest that is worldly pollution?

And how often do you ingest it?

2 Peter 1:4 tells us to “escape the corruption in the world.” 

This world has its ways, but we are not supposed to follow them.  Romans 12:2 tells us to not conform to the pattern of this world.    

But we will conform if we continually ingest worldliness.

Peter urged us to live as “aliens and strangers in the world.”

First Corinthians 7:31 indicates that we should not be engrossed in the things of this world.

Elsewhere the Bible speaks against living by the standards of this world or following the ways of this world.

First John 4:5 says that some people speak from the viewpoint of the world.  Yes, the world listens to them, but we should not. 

But unfortunately, we do.  We ingest this worldly viewpoint constantly, and we end up with layers upon layers of worldliness, which smother the healthy Christian underneath.

So do you want to be more spiritually healthy?  Do you want more spiritual energy, more power, more agility? 

Then stop with all the extra bites of worldliness.  As we head into the Easter weekend, think about the worldliness you ingest on a regular basis, and stop ingesting it.

When we stop maintaining those layers of worldliness, they will shrink, and the real, healthy Christian underneath will emerge.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.


 © 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000
-vi-