Have You Noticed This? - Apples of Gold - February 26, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 26, 2009

“Have You Noticed This?”

 

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

This woman has an awesome ministry.

I don’t even know her name.  I just caught the story on the radio.

She lives near a university that has a couple thousand international students, and many of those students are married.

Now picture this.  Mr. So-and-so from Taiwan (or wherever) decides to go to school in America.  So he packs up and moves – and brings his wife with him.

Now Mr. So-and-so is off to classes and running around here and there, meeting people and doing his work. 

But what about Mrs. So-and-so?  There she sits, a stranger in a foreign land. 

Well this Christian woman notices.  And now don’t miss that word.  She notices.

And when a Christian notices something, look out.  When you notice something, and the Spirit of God begins to stir within you, look out because something great is about to happen.

So she notices the plight of these wives of the international students at the university – and she decides to reach out to them.

She says to them, “You come to me, and I’ll show you how to keep a checkbook, how to shop at Tom Thumb.  I’ll show you how to drive without killing people.”

She helps them with practical things.  And she ends up helping them with personal things like relationships.  And she shows them things in the Bible. 

You see how that works?

And it started with her simply noticing a need, then seizing the opportunity to meet it in the name of Jesus.

So what have you been noticing lately?

Dwight Moody lived in Chicago in the 1800’s.  He noticed – get that? – he noticed that there was a steady stream of young men moving into the city.  They were coming in from the country, either for work or for school, and often found themselves just lost and lonely in the big city. 

Moody said, “A young man...walks the street, and has no one, of all the crowds, to speak to him, and he is miserable.  That is the time when his heart is softest; then, if any one speaks to him or shows him acts of kindness, he never forgets it.  The devil watches for friendless youths like those; and the ensnaring paths of vice seem refuges from loneliness.”

Moody noticed the plight of these young men, and decided to reach out to them.  He made these big posters that said, “Strangers’ Meeting tonight.  All strangers invited to attend.”  And every Monday night 75 to 100 young men would gather to find friends. 

Moody said, “So he goes, and meets a kind look and words of friendship, and it is better to him than anything in the world.”

And about his Monday meetings for strangers, Moody concluded that they were “most blessed.”

And it started with him simply noticing a need, then seizing the opportunity to meet it in the name of Jesus.

So what have you been noticing lately?

I heard a pastor say one time, “What is your calling?  Well, what do you hate to see happening?”

I heard another pastor say, “Where is your place of service?  Become the answer to somebody’s problem.”

So do you find yourself noticing certain problems lately, certain needs that are not being met?

Here’s an event I heard about, and it cracked me up when I heard it.  I said, “Are you serious?”

It’s in Dallas, and it’s called, “Guns, Guitars and Good Friends.”

Yes, believe it or not, it’s a Christian event.

It includes a “shoot out.”  The ad says, “Bring your shotgun, three of your friends, and head out in a golf cart to drive around the course shooting 100 clay pigeons at 18 different stations.  The winning team will receive a new shotgun.  What could be more fun?  It’s like golf with a gun!”

Someone noticed something about guys and guns and decided to bring them together for a Christian event.  Now I can hear some women recoiling in horror, and I hear some men saying, “Sign me up!”  And I just said, “Wow, what a unique way to reach out to men.”

As Christians, we all have a unique part in the body of Christ.  And you know what?  We all notice different things.  We see different needs.  And I think the Lord will empower us to meet those needs, reach people in the name of Jesus, and change the world in the process.

So are you wondering what you are supposed to be doing?  Are you fishing around for God’s calling in your life?

Well the answer might be found in the answer to this simple question.

What have you been noticing?


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-

Experiment With Self Denial - Apples of Gold - February 25, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 25, 2009

“Experiment With Self Denial”

 

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

Today I want to ask you to do something.

I want you to experiment with self denial.

See, usually we are more about self indulgence.  What do I want?  When do I want it?  What do I feel like having today?

What I’m talking about is the opposite of that.  Yes, go ahead and think about what you want – then deny yourself that very thing.

Now why would anyone want to do that?

Well I’m basing it on Jesus’ words in Mark chapter 8.  It says He called the crowd over, along with his disciples, and said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

And now focus on these four words:  “he must deny himself.”

Have you ever done that – just denied yourself?  It means you want something, and you could have it, but instead you deny yourself.

Just try it, experiment with self denial, and let me tell you, today is a great day to start.

See, today is the first day of Lent.  Your church may or may not participate, but I’m sure you’ve heard about people giving up something for Lent, which is this time between now and Easter.

So why not give up something for Lent – as an act of self denial, like Jesus said?

Here is one of my favorite ideas.  Drink only water.  That means you deny yourself every other form of liquid refreshment.  For most people that is a radical change, a major self denial.  No cokes, no coffees, no teas.  No juices or kool-aids or power drinks.  Just water.

Then every time you think of drinking something else you pray, “Lord, I am denying myself all drinks but water.  I am doing this as a way to humble myself and follow You.”

You see, humility is a big part of self denial.  It means we come off the throne and the Lord takes His rightful place.  If we always do what we want, we are on the throne.  But when we deny ourselves, it means we come off the throne.  Our desires no longer rule our life.  We make God the ruler instead.

Here’s a common thing to give up for Lent:  meat.  For some of you that will be really hard, and you are just the person to do it.  Do the hard thing! 

Of course if you really want to do the hard thing you can fast from all food.  One of the things we commemorate with Lent is the time Jesus fasted for 40 days.  Many people have fasted for 40 days, and it’s a very serious, spiritual thing to do.

You may not be ready for a 40 day fast, but here’s a fast that’s still pretty serious but more manageable.  It’s a 72 hour fast, which is three days.  I’ve heard of people fasting from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon each week.

Or you might consider a Daniel Fast.  There are many variations of the Daniel Fast, but I like to simplify it this way:
Drink only water
Eat no meat
Eat no bread
Eat no sweets
Eat nothing fried

I know one woman who fasted from Facebook for 40 days.  And you know what?  If socializing on Facebook is a great desire of yours, something you do all the time, then yes, it would be a good form of self denial for you.

I know guys who watch the news all the time.  In fact, they stay current with the news as if President Obama might call any minute for their advice.  Well you know, most of us don’t need to keep up with the news.  In fact, it probably won’t make one little difference.  So if you are hooked on the news, a great act of self denial would be to give it up for Lent.

Or maybe you need to give up ESPN.  Or how about television altogether?

Here is one I’ve never heard of anyone doing, but I think it would be powerful – giving up music for Lent.  If you are always plugged into your iPod, how about listening to the birds for a change.

That word change – that’s the end result, you know.  Denying yourself will bring about a change in your life. 

See, it’s all about following Jesus.  We deny ourselves in order to take up our cross and follow Jesus.

So think about it.  Just try it.  Experiment with self denial.  Shove your desires out of the way to make more room for God in your life.

Today is the first day of Lent, and we’re moving toward the Easter season when we remember Christ’s great act of self denial for us. 

Surely we can sacrifice a little something for 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-

How to Be Free From Ungodly Desires - Apples of Gold - February 24, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 24, 2009

“How to Be Free From Ungodly Desires”

 

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

There are things that I once desired that I no longer desire.

No, it’s not that those desires are still lurking around the corner.

They are just gone.  Nonexistent. 

They have been replaced by new desires, good desires, godly desires.

How did it happen?  How were destructive and generally not-so-good desires replaced by much better desires?

I find the answer in the prophecy of Ezekiel 36:27.  It says, “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

The King James says, “…I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes…”

Now listen to this.  People are pretty much going to do what they want to do.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “power corrupts”?  Why does power corrupt?  Because people are already corrupt, and when they have power, they have the power to carry out their corrupt desires.

Yes, it’s my opinion that people are pretty much going to do what they want, at least what they have the power to get away with.

We can try to change people’s actions on the outside, but the only way to bring about true change is to change people’s desires on the inside.

How on earth can that be accomplished? 

Back to the prophecy in Ezekiel 36.  God will put His Spirit inside of us, and move us to walk in His ways.

Now look at Philippians 2:13.  “…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure…”

It is God working inside of us.  He changes our desires, which quite naturally changes our actions.

Our desires go from sinful desires to godly desires.

In John 8 Jesus said that everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Well we sin because we have a sinful nature, and we do what that nature desires.  We are basically slaves to our sinful desires.

Have you ever felt that?  You have desires, you know they are wrong, but you want them anyway.

What you need is a change in your desires.  But how can you possibly change your desires?

Now listen.  You probably can’t.  This is the expertise of the Holy Spirit. 

Another name for the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth.  In fact, First John 5:6 says, “…the Spirit is the truth.”

When the Holy Spirit comes inside of us, He brings the power of the truth of God.  Jesus said in John 16, “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”

And what good does that do?

Well as Jesus so famously said, “…the truth will set you free.”

His full statement was, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

And John 8:36 says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Don’t you want that freedom?  You can be free from your sinful desires.  Those desires can be completely replaced by good and proper desires, desires that lead to freedom, not bondage.

Now how exactly does that happen?

The key is to get the Holy Spirit inside you.  That may sound odd, but that’s the way it works.

Second Corinthians 1:22 says God will put His “Spirit in our hearts…”

Ephesians 3:16 indicates that God will strengthen us with power through His Spirit in our “inner man.”

So how do we do it?  How can we get our desires changed by getting His Spirit inside us?

Well the Bible has a lot to say on this subject.  I recommend you study all that the Word says about the Holy Spirit.

But if I had to find just one verse to share on the subject, it would be what Jesus said in Luke 11:13, “…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

I think that’s the key.  Ask Him!

So do you want your desires changed? 

Then start with this simple prayer. 

“Lord…please…with all my heart I ask, I invite, I welcome your Holy Spirit to come and live inside me.”

In Jesus’ name…amen!


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-

Keep the Coffee Brewing - Apples of Gold - February 23, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 23, 2009

“Keep the Coffee Brewing”

 

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

I walked into the Fresh Market for the first time last week, and I was immediately struck by how nice it smelled.  I think it was the coffee.

As I walked in, it appeared to me that they probably keep the coffee brewing all day right there near the front of the store.  It smelled wonderful, and I immediately had a positive reaction to the store.

If I go in again and I don’t get that aroma, I will be disappointed.  But you know what that means?  It means they have to keep the coffee brewing – all the time.

A pleasant aroma is a wonderful thing, but it’s hard to maintain.  You have to continually work at it or it will fade away.

In the Old Testament, the priests of Israel knew all about maintaining a pleasant aroma. 

In Exodus 30 we read about the Altar of Incense.  Verse 8 says the goal was to have incense burning “regularly before the Lord for the generations to come.”

Verse 34 gives some very special ingredients for incense, and it was to be holy to the Lord.  No one could make that same fragrance for their own personal pleasure. 

I don’t know why, exactly, but that’s the way the Lord wanted it.  I think He had this special incense that was particularly pleasing to Him, and He wanted His priests to be providing that aroma continually.

Now keep this in mind as we look at Revelation 5:8.  It’s a heavenly vision of certain beings falling down before the Lamb of God.  It says, “Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

In this vision there is a fragrant aroma in the presence of the Lord.  What is it? 

It’s the prayers of the saints.

That reminds me of Psalm 141:2 which says, “May my prayer be set before you like incense…”

I don’t know exactly how this works, but I imagine it like this.  When we pray, our prayers rise to the Lord as a type of incense.

Proverbs 27:9 says that incense brings joy to the heart.

It’s like the feeling I had when I walked into Fresh Market.  I instantly had a good feeling about the store, simply because it smelled so good.

But to keep it smelling good, they have to keep producing the aroma.

To keep the Old Testament altar smelling good, they had to continually burn the incense.

And to keep our own incense rising before the Lord, what do we have to do? 

We have to keep praying.

Of course the Bible says that repeatedly.

Luke 18:1 says we “should always pray and not give up.”

Romans 12:12 says we should be “faithful in prayer.”

Colossians 4:2 says we should devote ourselves to prayer.

First Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray continually.

And we have the example of the early church.  Acts 1:14 says, “They all joined together constantly in prayer…”  They prayed in houses and prayed at the temple.  They prayed at the river and prayed at the beach. 

Acts 2:42 says they devoted themselves to prayer.

Acts 6:4 says the early church leadership gave themselves continually to prayer.

First Thessalonians 3:10 says, “Night and day we pray most earnestly…”

Second Thessalonians 1:11 says, “…we constantly pray for you…”

In various places the Bible talks about praying in our heart, praying with our mind, and praying with our spirit.

Ephesians 6:18 says to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

So you get the idea.  Prayer is something we do continually, constantly and faithfully.

We are always talking to the Lord, silently or out loud, wherever we are. 

Our prayers are like incensing rising to the throne of God.

And we don’t want that aroma to fade away.  Just like the priests continually created that fragrance from the incense, we should do the same with our prayers.

So if you appreciate a fragrant aroma, become part of creating one constantly for our Father in heaven.

And we do that by being faithful to pray.


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-

At What Price Will I Compromise? - Apples of Gold - February 20, 2009 -vi-

***You might want to listen to this one – the music enhances the experience.***

 

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 20, 2009

“At What Price Will I Compromise?”

 

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

Moses was leading the nation of Israel toward the Promised Land.

As they came to the plains of Moab, Moab’s King Balak just about wet his pants.

Israel was larger and stronger and toughened up like a bunch of desert people – because they were.

King B. said to himself, “No way.  We fight – we lose.”

And his people?  Their nice tans lost their coconut glow as the blood drained from them in fear.

Time for a big meeting.  So the joint chiefs of Moab and Midian got together and one of them said, “These Israelites, they’re going to lick us up like a big ox licks up grass.  What are we going to do?”

“I have an idea,” said King B.  “Have you heard of Balaam, son of Beor?  He is a diviner from the East.  Let’s get him over here to curse these cursed Israelites.  That’s our only hope.”

“And send lots of money.”

So they found Balaam, and Balaam said, “Give me time.  Let me see what God says.”

So Balaam talked with God, and God said, “Whatever you do, don’t go.  Don’t even try to curse these people because I’m telling you, they are blessed.”

The next day Balaam sent the big wigs of Moab and Midian packing.  They told King B., “He isn’t coming.”

So King Balak sent some even bigger wigs to deliver this message, “Balaam, I don’t know what’s keeping you from coming, but listen.  I will reward you handsomely.  I’ll do whatever you say, just come and put a curse on these Israelites.”

Well.  The price just went up.  This is unbelievable.  What man in his right mind would pass up this?

So Balaam went back to God, and God said, “Okay, go ahead and go – but only do what I tell you to do.”

So Balaam hopped on his donkey and took off – with visions of riches now dancing in his head.  Oh, all sorts of things ran through his mind, and I think he forgot about God’s word to “only do what I tell you to do.”

Next thing you know, the angel of the Lord stood in the path.  Balaam didn’t see him, but the donkey did and turned off the road into a field.  So Balaam beat her to get her back on track.

This happened a couple more times, and Balaam beat the donkey.  Finally the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth and the donkey said, “Why are you beating me?  What did I do?”

“You’re making me look like an idiot, that’s what!  If I had a sword I’d kill you right now.”

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel of the Lord, standing in the road with his sword drawn.

The angel of the Lord said, “I have come to oppose you because your path is reckless before me.  If it weren’t for the donkey I would have killed you by now.”

“Well I go back then,” said Balaam.

“No, go on,” said the angel of the Lord.  “But speak only what I tell you.”

And to his credit, Balaam only spoke what the Lord told him, and right there in front of King Balak he repeatedly blessed Israel instead of cursing them.

Big problem, though.  King B. flew into a rage, slapped his hands together and said, “I brought you here to curse them!  But you keep blessing them!  Now get out of here!  And that handsome reward?  Forgettaboutit!!!  Now git!”

Now you’d think Balaam would just go back home, lick his wounds and forget all about King B. and the Midian/Moab fiasco.

But I think he still found a way to get a hold of that handsome reward, because here’s what he did.  He gave them a key piece of strategy.  If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

At Balaam’s advice, the Midianites rounded up all their fine looking women.  It’s time to party.  They invited the Israelite men over to sacrifice to their gods, and wouldn’t you know it, there’s plenty of food and the company of these lovely ladies, and I use that term loosely.

Great damage was done to Israel, and it all came back to the advice of Balaam. 

Eventually Israel exacted revenge, and killed the five kings of Midian.  And someone else died by the sword that day – Balaam.

If he would have listened to God the first time, he probably would have been safely tucked in his bed back home. 

But oh, he wanted that money.  Yes, he could be bought.  He had a price.

And a warning echoes down through the ages.

Peter warned about “the way of Balaam…who loved the wages of wickedness.”

Jude called it rushing for profit into Balaam’s error.

And Revelation 2:14 warns against holding to the “teaching of Balaam.”

Balaam was a man of compromise.  Yes, he was willing to compromise for a price.

And now the question comes down to me today.

Would I be willing to compromise my Lord for a price?


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-

Steely-Eyed Determination - Apples of Gold - February 19, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 19, 2009

“Steely-Eyed Determination”

 

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

Here is a scene I love from the Bible.

The details in Luke 13 are sketchy, so allow me to imagine some details.

I picture Jesus sitting down outside, a little weary and getting some rest.

Disciples are milling around, and a little fire is burning in the background. 

And up walk his favorite people, the Pharisees.

Jesus looks up, purses His lips ever so imperceptibly, and looks back down to a stick He is whittling on. 

The Pharisees have some news for Jesus, news that excites them because it’s a win-win situation for them.  Either a) it will get Jesus out of their hair, or b) it will get Jesus killed.  Either way they would be rid of Him.

In Luke 13:31 they deliver this news to Jesus, “Leave this place and go somewhere else.  Herod wants to kill you.”

At this Jesus stops His whittling and looks up at them.  He tilts His head slightly, looks at one of the underlings who drops his eyes, then looks back at the leader. 

And then something happens around His eyes.  Tiny little muscles constrict ever so slightly.  His gaze locks into focus. 

He speaks.

“Go tell that fox…”

He’s not even really speaking to the Pharisees now. 

“I will…”

He’s speaking to everyone, visible and invisible.

“…reach my goal.”

It’s a declaration of His will.  This is what will happen.  It is set.  It is determined.  It is unstoppable. 

He almost didn’t even have to say it.  You could see it in His eyes.  There it was.

Steely-eyed determination.

And it was summed up in two words:  I will.

I like it when Jesus says “I will,” as in, “I will build my church,” and “I will rise again,” and “I will come back.”

I like bold statements of the will.  I like to make them myself, but I don’t want to make them lightly.  So I look to the Bible for bold patterns I can follow.

And you know where I find a bunch of good ones?  In the Psalms.

Here are just a few of the bold statements of the will, a few declarations from the Psalms that I can make with steely-eyed determination.

I will…seek the face of the Lord.  (Psalm 27:8)

I will…call on Him as long as I live.  (Psalm 116:2)

I will…confess my transgressions to the Lord.  (Psalm 32:5)

I will…listen to what God the Lord will say.  (Psalm 85:8)

I will…meditate on His precepts.  (Psalm 119:78)

I will…remember all His mighty deeds.  (Psalm 77:11-12)

I will…walk in His truth.  (Psalm 86:11)

I will…have nothing to do with evil.  (Psalm 101:4)

I will…keep my tongue from sin.  (Psalm 39:1)

I will…set before my eyes no vile thing.  (Psalm 101:3)

I will…keep His decrees to the end.  (Psalm 119:33)

I will…proclaim the Lord’s mighty deeds.  (Psalm 71:16, 73:28)

I will…teach others the Lord’s ways.  (Psalm 51:13)

I will…make His faithfulness known through all generations.  (Psalm 89:1)

I will…be glad and rejoice in Him.  (Psalm 9:2)

I will…give thanks to the Lord forever.  (Psalm 30:12)

I will…praise the Lord among the nations.  (Psalm 18:49)

I will…extol the Lord at all times.  (Psalm 34:1)

I will…praise Him as long as I live.  (Psalm 63:4)

I will…praise Him with all my heart.  (Psalm 86:12)

I will…praise Him with all my life.  (Psalm 146:2)

I will…sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.  (Psalm 13:6)

I will…sing of His great love forever.  (Psalm 89:1)

I will…sing of His strength and His justice with all my soul.  (Psalm 59:16, 101:1, 108:1)

I will…sing a new song, and make music to my God.  (Psalm 144:9)

I will…sing praise to my God as long as I live.  (Psalm 104:33)

I will…fear no evil, for He is with me.  (Psalm 23:4)

I will…not be afraid, and I will not be shaken.  (Psalm 56:4, 16:8)

I will…always have hope.  (Psalm 71:14)

I will…perpetuate His memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise Him for ever and ever.  (Psalm 45:17)

And that’s just a few of the “I will” statements in the Psalms.

Declare them for yourself.  Declare them with power and fervor, to everyone visible and invisible.

Say it strong. 

And say it with steely-eyed determination.


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-

I've Been Ripped Off and Someone's Going to Pay - Apples of Gold - February 18, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 18, 2009

“I’ve Been Ripped Off and Someone’s Going to Pay”

 

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

Last week someone stole my wife’s purse.

They broke out our van window right there in broad daylight.

Other than paying $242 for a new window, it didn’t seem so bad.  They got her driver’s license, but she didn’t carry her Social Security card.  There was no cash in her purse.  We immediately called and cancelled any bank cards and credit cards and stopped payment on the blank checks.

Problem solved, right?

Wrong.

The thieves tried to cash a huge check anyway, which bounced and the bank charged us for it. 

Then they tried to cash three big checks in my wife’s name, and guess what?  Somehow they were able to drain our savings account, which had nothing to do with the checking account.  And there was nothing in my wife’s purse about the savings account anyway.

Yes, there’s a big fraud going on somewhere and we’re still trying to get to the bottom of it.  Both police and bank investigators are involved, and we have been told that we will get all of our money back…eventually.

The last time I left the bank I told the woman, “Call me when you know something…so I can stop fuming.”

Now I know this isn’t a super-spiritual reaction, but here’s what I feel like.  I’ve been ripped off and someone’s going to pay.

And it’s not even that bad of a rip-off.  Pretty good odds we will get our money back and life will go on.  But still...if I could get my hands on the guy who broke into my van…

But now listen.  That river of anger quickly overflows its banks.  Instead of being pinpointed on the thief, it spills over onto others. 

Now watch this.  Listen.  Guess what question some people have asked me?  About the thief they ask, “What color was he?”

I say, “That has nothing to do with it.” 

You see how quickly anger can become generalized and flow over to innocent people?  No matter what the skin color was of the thief, there is a temptation to take it out on everyone else of that skin color, which is ridiculous.

But I understand it, because when you’ve been ripped off, someone has to pay.  Someone has to become the target of your bitterness.

I spoke to a bank employee this morning.  I had to keep reminding myself to be nice because he was not the cause of my problem.  But I wanted to unleash on him and everyone else at the bank. 

I’ve been ripped off and someone’s going to pay.

That is our human nature, but thank God I have the Holy Spirit within me to guide me and keep my human nature from running amok.

But let me tell you, I can sure relate to anyone who feels ripped off today.

Some people feel ripped off by life in general, so they are making all of society pay.

Some people feel ripped off by their parents, so they are making their parents pay, and anyone who reminds them of their parents.

Some people feel ripped off by their church, so they are making all churches pay, and maybe even all Christians.

Some people feel ripped off by being raised poor, so they are making anyone pay who isn’t poor.

Some people feel ripped off by their employer, so they make them pay by stealing or even by sabotaging product.

Now listen to this.  Some people feel ripped off in their marriage.  They feel cheated in the spouse they are stuck with, and someone’s got to pay.  They justify an affair.  They justify doing their own thing.  They justify leaving entirely because they feel ripped off.

But you know what?  All of this can be remedied by putting our faith in God.

Abraham could have felt ripped off when he went so many years without a son.  But Hebrews 11 says he continued to believe that God was faithful.

Joseph could have felt ripped off when he ended up in prison for something he didn’t do.  But instead of wallowing in bitterness, he maintained his faith in God.

David could have felt ripped off when he had King Saul trying to kill him for no good reason.  David went through many dark valleys, yet this is the same David who wrote Psalm 36:5, “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”

Paul suffered much at the hands of men after becoming a Christian, but he didn’t let that ripped off feeling poison him.  In Second Thessalonians 3 he wrote, “…pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith…but the Lord is faithful…”

This same Paul wrote in First Corinthians 10:13, “…God is faithful…”

You know what?  Everyone gets that ripped off feeling.  The question is, what do we do with it?

Yes, strive for justice and work to right the wrongs.  But watch out for the poison of feeling ripped off.  It will quickly overtake you and spill onto everyone else.  Anger turns to bitterness, then hate.  We end up hating people when we are called to love them.

So how on earth can we love people when we feel ripped off? 

I think the key is trusting in the Lord.  Like one guy I know said, “Trust the Lord, even when it don’t make sense.”

So that’s my advice to myself today.  It’s going to be alright.  No matter what happens, I will trust in the Lord to look out for me.  And that allows me to let go of that ripped off feeling.  I can let it go, and breath in the Lord’s peace instead.

Yes, now I can get rid of the chip on my shoulder that says someone has to pay.

Instead I can walk in peace and love, knowing that the Lord is faithful, and I can put all my trust in Him.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


P.S.  New update.  In the time it took me to write this the bank passed through another $2,000 check and took it out of our savings account.  Our savings account is now almost $2,000 in the RED!  I didn’t even know a savings account could go in the red. 

© 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-

A Message for Church Song Leaders - Apples of Gold - February 17, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 17, 2009

“A Message for Church Song Leaders”

 

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

Hey church song leader.

Have you ever led a song at church, then just kind of felt depressed because no one really got into it? 

I mean, you picked it out.  You practiced it.  You thought it was powerful.  But then it hit the congregation and just sort of skipped like a rock, off the top of their heads and out the back door.

Well don’t quit just yet.  Let me tell you how this often works for me.

I suppose I’m your average man in the congregation.  I’m just not a big reactor.  If you are going to base your feelings of success or failure on how I look on the outside, you might feel like a failure. 

I think church song leaders often base their feelings of success or failure on the immediate response to a song.  Now I can’t speak for everyone, but for me, the most powerful effect of the song usually comes later, after the service.

I don’t know for sure how it works, but here is what it seems like to me.  During the service, as a song is sung, it’s like seed being planted inside me somewhere.  Then it takes time to germinate.  It sort of takes root and grows.  In this way a song can really get a hold of me and effect me. 

I will go back and look up the lyrics.  It will hum along in the back of my mind throughout the day.  It might bring tears or determination.  It might make me rise up to new levels of faith and strength.

But you know what?  You don’t know any of that.  It’s all going on out of your sight, long after the song was sung.

Take for example a song called “Believe.”  Our church choir sang it I don’t even know how long ago.  I’m real fuzzy on the particulars.  But the seed went in the ground.  And it germinated.

And then finally the other day it broke through the dirt.  For some reason a line from that song burst forth into my memory.  I was suddenly singing to myself this little phrase, “to have the form and not the power.”

It caused me to pray, “Lord, I don’t want to be like that.  I don’t want to be one of those people who has the form of godliness but not the power.”

Then I went back to the Bible verse it’s talking about, Second Timothy 3:5, “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof…”

To me, having the form of godliness means you look like a good Christian on the outside.  You go to church, you provide for your family, you’re a good guy in the community. 

That is having the form of godliness.  But do you really have godliness?

I’m still talking to you, church song leader.

You see, it’s not too hard to be a church song leader who only has a form of godliness.  You know how to behave.  You know music and how to make it.  You can get by in church from now until the day you die with just a form of godliness.

But wouldn’t you rather have the power? 

The line in that song “Believe” goes like this:

“I’m not satisfied,
living in yesterday’s hour.
I’m not satisfied,
To have the form, but not the power.”

Please, song leader, don’t be satisfied to have the form, but not the power!

I’m talking about the power of godliness.

Second Peter 1:3 says God’s divine power gives us everything we need for godliness “through our knowledge of Him…”

We need to tap into God’s divine power source.  We need to grow in our knowledge of Him.  We need to draw near to Him and be filled with His Spirit.  We need to walk with Him and live our lives for Him, all day every day.

Without God’s Spirit living and stirring within us, we are just shells.  Oh, we might be very Christian-looking shells, but shells nonetheless. 

We will have the form, but not the power.

So there you go, two messages for church song leaders today.

First, be encouraged that your work may be vastly more effective than just what you see as the song is sung.

And second, don’t settle for just having the good form of a Christian.  Tap into the power!  Grow in your knowledge of the Lord and walk with Him.  Draw near to Him and be filled with His Spirit, then watch as His divine power courses through you and makes your ministry more powerful and effective than you ever thought possible!


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-

Wisdom Is Knowing What's Important - Apples of Gold - February 16, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 16, 2009

“Wisdom Is Knowing What’s Important”

 

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

I was thinking about wisdom over the weekend.

And I came up with this as one aspect of wisdom.

Wisdom is knowing what’s important.

See, a million things can fill our lives, but we should focus on the most important things, right? 

But what are they?

The wise person knows.  Wisdom is knowing what’s important.

I thought about this as I read what Jesus did in Mark chapter two.

A paralyzed man was brought to Jesus.  Now remember, Jesus had been healing people left and right.  And now here was this paralyzed man. 

Isn’t it obvious what Jesus should do?  He should heal the man, right?  The paralyzed man gets up and walks, everyone cheers, and people believe in Jesus, the miracle man.

But remember, wisdom is knowing what’s important.

Well apparently, and I’m sure it came as a surprise to everyone, Jesus did not see this man’s healing as being most important.

What?  What could be more important for a paralyzed man than to be healed so he could walk?

Well in Mark 2:5 we read that Jesus simply turned to the man and said, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Now let me tell you, if I’m one of the guys who went to all the trouble of getting that paralyzed man to Jesus, I think I’m a little disappointed, maybe even angry. 

“Okay, his sins are forgiven.  Fine.  Now let’s get on to the main event, Jesus.  Heal the man!”

But there he was, still flat on his back, legs still useless.  Nothing changed – except that little fact that his sins were forgiven.

That brought no amazing reaction from the crowd, and yet that was the main event.  Jesus did the most important thing, He forgave his sins.

It’s Monday morning, and you know what the headlines in the paper should read?  “Sins Forgiven!”

I say that because over the weekend I’m sure that tons of people went to Jesus and received forgiveness for their sins.

That is the main event!  That is the most important thing that happened all weekend – sins were forgiven! 

But it doesn’t make the headlines because you can’t see it.  You can’t take a picture of it.  You can’t really measure it, and you can’t prove it.  But it’s most important, and it changes lives – and the world we live in – everyday. 

So have you done this?  Have you come to Jesus to have your sins forgiven? 

A wise person knows what’s important, and this is important.

So what do you have to do?

Well the Bible talks about forgiveness from several different angles.

When Jesus was teaching about prayer in Luke 11, He made it sound like a simple request to our Heavenly Father, “Forgive us our sins.”

That’s a simple prayer you can pray anytime, “Father, forgive me of my sins.”

But now listen up, because other verses have other things to say about forgiveness.

Acts 10:43 says that everyone who believes in Jesus receives forgiveness of sins through His name.

Ephesians 1:7 says that our forgiveness is through the blood of Jesus.

Jesus said Himself in Matthew 26:28 that He would pour out His blood “for the forgiveness of sins.”

Hebrews 9:22 says that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

So yes, we ask the Father for forgiveness, believing that our forgiveness was paid for by the shed blood of Jesus.

First John 1:9 talks about another dimension.  It says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Luke 24:47 says that both “repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations…”

In Acts 5, Peter and the apostles indicated that these were a gift from God, “repentance and forgiveness of sins.”

In Acts 2:38 Peter said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…”

And one of the most important teachings about forgiveness is what Jesus said in Luke 6:37, “…forgive and you will be forgiven…”  He teaches this more in depth elsewhere, and that is that if we want God to forgive our sins, then we must forgive those who have sinned against us.

So a few teachings about forgiveness:
--We ask our Heavenly Father to forgive our sins.
--We believe that our forgiveness comes through Jesus and the blood He shed for our forgiveness.
--We confess our sins to God.
--We repent of our sins.
--We are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
--And we forgive those who have sinned against us.

Wisdom is knowing what’s important, and this is among them.  It’s important that we do this ourselves, and it’s important that we share this information with others – just as Christians around the world did this weekend. 

We must stress the importance of coming to God for the forgiveness of sins.


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-

The Feeling That You Should Not Be Doing What You Are Doing - Apples of Gold - February 13, 2009 - ***Happy Birthday Dad!!!*** -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 13, 2009

“The Feeling That You Should Not Be Doing What You Are Doing”

 

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

“Hey Doug, how did you end up in Christian radio?”

I love this story. 

In college I had a Friday morning radio show, all rock-n-roll.    

Then in the summer of ‘84 I gave my life to Christ.  I went back to the college station and asked to do a Christian music show, which they buried on Sunday afternoons. 

I didn’t take an actual radio class until my last semester of college.  In that class one day the manager of a local AM-FM combo came and talked about a job opportunity.

So I went and checked it out and took the job.  At first I just did some computer work and production, some news and sports.  But rather quickly they gave me my own show – and there I was, playing all the hits from the 80’s.  After all, it was the 80’s.

But something inside me stirred.  I was uncomfortable and restless.  I just did not like playing that music, by which I mean secular music. 

I’ll never forget being in the grocery store when a girl from our church stopped me and went on and on about hearing my show on the radio.  And all I could think was, “You’re a good Christian girl.  Why are you listening to that music?”

Now listen.  There was no one preaching at me about this.  No one was condemning me about being a secular music DJ.  This all came from within.  There was just something stirring inside me, a conviction that I should not be doing what I was doing.

Have you ever felt that?  A conviction that you should not be doing what you are doing?

I’m reminded of this phrase from Hebrews 10:14, “…those who are being made holy.”

That’s what was stirring inside me.  God’s Spirit was working in me.  I was being made holy (a process that continues to this day, by the way.)

Do you want to be one of those who are being made holy?  Then you have to go along with that stirring of the Spirit, that conviction that you should not be doing what you are doing.

At that point in my life I was saved.  According to Hebrews 10:10 I had been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.  Hebrews 13:12 says that Jesus suffered to make me holy “through His own blood.”  Colossians 1:22 says it was so that I could be presented as holy in God’s sight, “without blemish and free from accusation.”

That was me, made holy by Jesus Christ.

But now look at Second Timothy 1:9.  It says that, yes, God saved us, and “…called us to a holy life…”

First Corinthians 1:2 says that, yes, we are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and we are “…called to be holy…”

One requires no effort.  We believe the Gospel, trust Christ to save us, and there we are, holy in His sight.  That is our salvation.

But now look at First Peter 2:2.  It talks about growing up in our salvation.

See, we don’t just stay where we started, like newborn babies.  We are to “grow up” in our salvation. 

And that does require effort on our part.  In fact, Hebrews 12:14 tells us to “make every effort…to be holy…”

Yes, God cleanses us.  But look at Second Timothy 2:21.  It talks about the need to cleanse ourselves, and it says why. 

We cleanse ourselves so that we will be “made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”  We do it so that we will be “an instrument for noble purposes…”

So there I was, a born again Christian, playing secular music, and feeling a conviction that I should not be doing what I was doing. 

Now I had a choice.  To heed that conviction, or suppress it. 

Well why wouldn’t I just immediately heed the conviction?

Because it meant change.  Because it meant stopping something I enjoyed. 

Over the years I have met a lot of Christians in secular radio who suppressed that conviction.  Why did they do it?  For the money.  For the pleasure.  For the popularity. 

There are a lot of ways you can talk yourself into suppressing that conviction, but don’t do it. 

First Thessalonians 4:7 says, “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

We are to be an instrument for noble purposes, but Second Timothy 2 says we must first cleanse ourselves of the ignoble.

And that’s what I finally decided to do.  I heeded that growing conviction that I should not be doing what I was doing.  I decided to trade in ignoble purposes for noble purposes.  I decided to get out of secular radio once and for all and go to work in Christian radio where I could serve the Lord as my full time job.

And that’s how I got into Christian radio.

Now what about you?  Do you feel a conviction that you should not be doing what you are doing?  I’m not just talking about your job here.  I’m talking about anything in your life.

Well maybe it’s time to grow up in your salvation.  It’s time to cleanse yourself of the ignoble.

It’s time to make every effort to be holy.


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-

Make Deposits in Your Spouse's Love Bank - Apples of Gold - February 12, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 12, 2009

“Make Deposits in Your Spouse’s Love Bank”

 

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

Valentine’s Day is Saturday.

So if you are married, or in my son’s case, about to be married, I have some advice for you. 

Pick up a book by Dr. Willard F. Harley, Jr.

He has a lot of great books, and I haven’t read them all, but what I have read I love.

He just has some tremendous insights into how people fall in love, what makes them fall out of love, and what they can do to stay in love.

One of his key principles is the Love Bank.  Dr. Harley says we all have a “love bank,” and people are always making either deposits or withdrawals.  When someone makes us happy, when they stir up positive emotions, they are making large deposits into our love bank.  But when they stir up negative emotions, they start making withdrawals.

So imagine a woman on her wedding day.  Her new husband’s account in her love bank is full of deposits.  She feels great about him and wants to be with him all the time.

But things happen in marriage that can cause withdrawals from the love bank.  And like any bank account, if the withdrawals continue at a pace faster than the deposits, eventually the account will run dry – and that is when you feel like you have fallen out of love.

Now some people think that’s inevitable.  That’s just the way marriage is, stuck with the old ball and chain.

But Dr. Harley says that is not the case at all.  He says you can stay in love throughout a lifetime – if you simply follow certain “rules.”

Dr. Harley is a marital therapist who has counseled thousands of couples.  He has scientifically tracked what works and what doesn’t.  He has even seen marriages in the gravest of circumstances come roaring back with a passion.

It can be done!  You can have two people, formerly in love, but now out of love, or in hate, or even indifferent – yet they can fall back in love simply by following Dr. Harley’s principles.  And he says it’s as simple as two people making more deposits than withdrawals.

Dr. Harley stresses this idea of being “in love.”  He says it is a romantic emotion, and that it is not as fickle as you might think.  He says it can easily be created just by doing the right things.

Some people think just caring about each other will keep their marriage strong.  But Dr. Harley says, “I’ve counseled hundreds of couples that care about each other yet have filed for divorce.  But I have yet to know of a couple in love with each other who are even contemplating divorce.”

That’s so true!  Two people who are in love will do anything to be together.  The last thing they want is to be apart.

So Dr. Harley keys in on this principle of being in love.  He writes about staying in love, and how to do it throughout your life.

Now I can’t possibly tell you right here everything Dr. Harley has written.  But I’m just telling you, it’s good stuff.  And I think one of the best things you can do for your marriage this Valentine’s Day is to pick up a book by Dr. Willard F. Harley, Jr.

No, I’m not getting paid to say that!  I say it because over the years I have been so blessed by his books, and I’ve learned so much, not only for my marriage, but also for the people I give advice to.

Dr. Harley has a website, and here it is, write it down.  It’s simply Marriage Builders dot com.  That’s Marriage Builders dot com.

Like I said, he has several great books.  Here are some of my favorite titles:

“5 Steps to Romantic Love,”

“Fall in Love, Stay in Love,”

and “His Needs, Her Needs.”

Throughout his books you will find the same basic principles, explained to fit various situations. 

And if you know a married couple that is coping with infidelity, his book “Surviving An Affair” is amazing. 

Oh, and another book I have by him is called, “Love Busters:  Overcoming Habits That Destroy Romantic Love.”

Now don’t rush off and buy a book and throw it at your spouse and say “Happy Valentine’s Day, jerk!”

But do educate yourself on Dr. Harley’s principles, whether through his books, or through his website, Marriage Builders dot com.

Learn how to fall in love and stay in love with the advice of Dr. Willard F. Harley, Jr.

And make sure you make some big deposits in your spouse’s Love Bank on Valentine’s Day Saturday!


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-