Scorpion Pass - Apples of Gold - April 2, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 2, 2008

“Scorpion Pass”

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

I know where you are.

You are at Scorpion Pass.

Scorpion Pass is your last point of obedience.  You know what God wants you to do next, but you are reluctant.

Listen to my theory.  I think that everyone, sinner and saint alike, knows what God wants them to do next.  It’s our last point of obedience, and if we don’t do it, we get stuck.

Some points of obedience are easy, and we breeze right through them.  It’s the hard ones that get us.

When we know what God wants us to do next, but we are reluctant, that becomes our Scorpion Pass.  It’s a dry place, and no one wants to stay there.  So what do we do?  Two choices.

What many people do when they come to Scorpion Pass is they take a good look at it, decide they don’t like it, and withdraw to a more comfortable place.  The problem is, they never grow.  They are stuck, because as soon as they want to grow in the Lord, He takes them back to Scorpion Pass.  God always brings us back to our last point of obedience.

The other choice is to simply step out in faith and obey God.  Just obey Him, even though it’s difficult or even painful.

“But Doug, Scorpion Pass sounds so negative and hard.  I thought His yoke was easy and His burden light.”

It is.  But we only carry His easy yoke when we obey Him.  When we don’t obey Him, we take up the heavy yoke of sin.

So many Christians live defeated lives because they came to Scorpion Pass and said, “No, I can’t do it.  God, you got this much of my life.  I followed you this far, and I think that’s enough for now.”

Why do I call it Scorpion Pass?  First of all, don’t you love the Old Western sound to it?  The sun is hot, your mouth is dry, and the critters will kill ya.

Let me tell you about my own Scorpion Pass.  As a Christian, my philosophy is that, if the boss wants me to do something, unless it’s a sin, then I should do it.  It’s all part of submitting to authority, and going the extra mile.

So early in my career in Christian radio, my boss called me aside and said he wanted me to start selling ads.  I had never been a salesman, and didn’t want to be a salesman.  I was in Christian radio to be on the air and share Christ with thousands of listeners.  Why would I want to take away from that and do sales?

I suddenly had a real dilemma.  I believed that God had led me to the station, but now the boss wanted me to do something that I didn’t feel called to do. 

I halfheartedly went along with his plan, but if you’ve ever been in sales, you know that halfhearted salesmen are worthless. 

The boss realized I was not getting with the program.  In frustration he finally told me to just forget about it – which I was glad to do. 

But when it was over, I really had a sense of going backward.  Yes, I was back in my comfort zone, but it wasn’t the same.  My boss had wanted me to do something, and I really didn’t do it.

Now remember, I believed that God wanted me to do what my boss told me to do.  So disobeying my boss became disobeying God.  That is not a good place to be.

I must say, I didn’t see it all that clearly at the time.  You know, it’s always easier to see things after the dust settles.

But that became my Scorpion Pass, my last point of obedience.  It was like a monkey on my back.  I had a sense that God was going to lead me right back around to it.

Eventually I came to the point where I said, “I have to do this.  This is what I must do.”  I made the decision to quit doing my radio show and go into sales like the boss wanted me to. 

Now I am so thankful for that experience, and everything I learned by becoming a salesman.  It really opened up my world to new horizons.  And making a lot more money was nice, too.

What if I had never done it?  I’m not sure, but I think God would have kept bringing me right back to that point.  It’s like the Israelites not going into the Promised Land the first time around. 

I tend to think our spiritual growth is such that each lesson builds on the last.  Until we learn the last lesson, we don’t move on to the next one.

So what is your last point of obedience?  What is it that you know God wants you to do next, but that you have been reluctant to do?

Well, now is the time to do it.  Step out in faith, follow the Good Shepherd, and begin making your way through Scorpion Pass.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
 
© 2008 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 Lord Give You His Peace - Apples of Gold - April 1, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 1, 2008

“The Lord Give You His Peace”

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

I grew up in the Lutheran Church.

 

The worship services were repetitive, which is great for drilling things into small children.

 

I have a special fondness for the “benediction,” which is what the minister says at the end of the service.  It’s taken from Numbers chapter 6, and it goes like this:

 

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee;

The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee His peace.”

 

Maybe I like it because, as an antsy child, I connected the benediction with the joy of being set free to move again.  Or maybe it was the happy organ music that always kicked in right after it.

 

Whatever the reason, that benediction stuck with me.  And my favorite part is the end, “…give thee His peace.”

 

Of course, you know what kids call peace?  That’s right…“Boring!”

 

But as you grow older, and life gets more complicated, you learn to appreciate the value of peace.

 

So are you feeling a bit stressed out today?  Has life become a battle that you are tired of fighting?  Then let’s find out how you can have more peace. 

We’ll start by going to the source of peace, God.  Over and over the Bible calls Him the “God of peace.”  Second Thessalonians 3:16 says, “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”

 Remember the prophecy of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6?  It says He will be called the “Prince of Peace.”  Romans 14:17 says His kingdom is a matter of peace, among other things.

Not only is God the source of peace, He IS peace.  Gideon built an altar one time and called it Jehovah Shalom, “The Lord is Peace.”

The prophet Micah said this of the Messiah, “He will be their peace.”

Ephesians 2:14 says this of Jesus, “For He Himself is our peace.”

So God is peace, and He is the source of peace.

And the good news is, He gives this peace to His people.

Psalm 29:11 says, “…the Lord blesses His people with peace.”

Psalm 85:8 says, “…He promises peace to His people, His saints…”

 

So how can we get a hold of this peace?

 

To receive peace from the Lord we must be right with the Lord.  That means we repent of our sins, and receive His forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  Colossians 1:20 says that through Jesus’ blood shed on the cross, we are made right with God.

 

Jesus paid the price for our peace.  Isaiah 53:5 says, “…the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him…”

 

When we talk about the “gospel,” we are talking about the good news that, through Jesus Christ, we can be right with God.  Ephesians 6:15 calls it “the gospel of peace.”

 

Most people report that, when they repent of their sins and receive God’s forgiveness, they feel a great sense of peace.

 

So let’s say you are right with God.  You have repented of your sins and been forgiven.  However, your life is such that you just don’t feel that peace anymore.  Now what?

 

Listen to what both Psalm 34 and First Peter 3:11 say, “…seek peace and pursue it.”

 

We don’t just sit back and wait for peace.  We can do something to get it.

 

One thing we can do is trust God more.  When we really let go of the reigns and trust Him, we will have more peace.  Romans 15 and Isaiah 26 both indicate that God will fill us with peace as we trust Him. 

 

Now get this.  There is a correlation between how righteous we live and how much peace we have.  Righteousness and peace are intimately related.  In fact, Psalm 85:10 says, “righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

 

Isaiah 32:17 says the fruit of righteousness is peace.

 

Isaiah 57:2 says, “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace…”

 

Romans 2:10 says there is peace for everyone who does good.

 

Righteousness and peace become a cycle in our lives.  When we live a righteous life, we receive more peace.  Then James 3:18 says as we “sow in peace” we “raise a harvest of righteousness.”

 

Now listen to this.  Many times we lose the peace in our lives due to our own stupidity.  When we do foolish things, and we reap what we sow, we lose our peace.  But we can always learn from our mistakes and grow in wisdom. 

 

Proverbs 3 talks about the great blessings of wisdom.  Verse 17 says that when we follow the path of wisdom, it’s always a path of peace.

 

Here is something sure to rob your peace:  envy.  You see what others have that you don’t.  That’s a peace killer!  Proverbs 14:30 says, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

 

Here is another peace robber:  disorder.  When your life is disorderly, it will always catch up with you and snatch away your peace.  First Corinthians 14:33 says that God is not a God of disorder, but a God of peace.

 

Another way to get more peace?  Be more meek.  Psalm 37:11 says that the meek “enjoy great peace.”

 

A sure way to more peace is to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.  Romans 8:6 says, “…the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”  According to Galatians 5:22, “the fruit of the Spirit is…peace…”

 

Digging into the Word of God will bring more peace.  Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have they who love Your law…”

 

And sometimes it’s just a matter of letting go of everything, taking a deep breath, and simply allowing God’s peace to flow over us.  Colossians 3:15 says to “let” the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

 

I know that’s a lot of scripture, so if you are looking for one simple passage about peace you could memorize and quickly put into practice, I recommend this one from Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

 

Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
 
© 2008 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 In a Discipleship Class? - Apples of Gold - March 31, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 31, 2008

“Are You In a Discipleship Class?”

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

In the fall of 1984 my girlfriend and I returned to campus as baby Christians. 

Now what? 

Since we didn’t know what we were doing, it must have been the Lord that led us to the Christian Campus Fellowship (CCF).

The minister there, Roger Songer, offered a beginner’s discipleship class, and we took it.  That class played a critical role in our Christian development. 

We learned the fundamentals of the faith.  We memorized Scriptures.  We went through a workbook that sent us to the Bible for answers.  And CCF provided a safe place for young Christians to test their wings.

I didn’t appreciate it so much then, because I figured it’s what all new Christians did.

But now I see that’s not the case.  Over the years I have seen many people become Christians, but then get no formalized discipleship.  Oh, they go to church, but that’s not the same.  They read the Bible, but that’s not the same.

There is no substitute for good old fashioned discipleship.  And by that I mean an organized program led by a mature Christian who is a good teacher.

This is very important for baby Christians.  Just like an infant needs more care, so does an infant Christian. 

It goes back to the Great Commission.  In Matthew 28 Jesus said, “…go and make disciples of all nations…”  Then He added:  “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”

When we think of the Great Commission we think of evangelism.  Evangelizing someone happens in a moment.  But discipling someone happens for the rest of their life. 

Jesus said to teach people to obey everything He commanded.  When are we done with that?  I don’t think we are ever done with that.

Let me ask you this.  Does your church offer a discipleship course for new Christians?  If not, you need to get one started.  It’s one of the most important things you can do to fulfill the Great Commission.

Then what comes after that?  Does your church offer any sort of organized discipleship beyond the class for beginners?

This is where good old fashioned Sunday School comes in.  Sunday School is a great way to offer discipleship, and to organize it by levels of spiritual maturity.  Some denominations offer excellent course material designed to lead people through the entire Bible.

I know some churches have gotten away from Sunday School, and of course Sunday School isn’t in the Bible, but discipleship is.  It’s not so important how we disciple, but that we disciple.

Some churches now just offer worship services:  services for the adults, services for the teenagers, services for the kids.  That’s fine, but it does not replace discipleship classes. 

We all need Bible teaching with discussion, where we are free to ask questions, to clarify, and get help living it out.  Good discipleship classes include Bible memorization and take-home assignments for deeper study.  It offers group support and accountability.  Class members get to know each other and pray for each other and look out for each other.

Now I can hear some church leaders saying, “I just don’t have time to organize discipleship classes.”  No, you may not.  You can’t do everything, but it still must be done, so take the advice of Second Timothy 2:2.  Paul told Timothy to find some good teachers to help him out.

Now let me take this to a personal level.  What are you doing about your own discipleship?  Even if your church doesn’t offer classes, you still need organized Christian education. 

There are many options.  For example, in Tallahassee we have the Center for Biblical Studies.  Look around in your area for a good Bible college.  With the internet you can enroll in Bible classes all over the country.  Ask your pastor for a good one.

Last summer my wife went through an in-depth study of the book of Daniel with coworkers.  I hear about people doing lunch-hour Bible studies at various government offices in the city.  I know people who get together in their homes just to help each other grow in the Lord.

It’s all about discipleship, and it’s a never ending process. 

So what about you today?  Are you involved in organized discipleship?  I can’t overstress the importance.  We all need it to grow spiritually.  And as we mature, we must go back and disciple others. 

And you know, it’s not an option. 

It’s the Great Commission.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
 
© 2008 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 Seven Sons of Achubahr - Apples of Gold - March 28, 2008 -vi-

Achubahr – pronounce it ACK-you-bar.    Nicho – pronounce it NEE-ko

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 28, 2008

“The Seven Sons of Achubahr”

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

The seven sons of Achubahr
Careened through life unkempt.

While Daddy Achubahr played pool
So cool with cigarette.

Big Bobby Achubahr, like dad,
Had women on the mind.

Yes, he wished to tie the knot,
But caught the other kind.

Little Curtsy Achubahr
Was not like Dad at all.

He was feminine, you know,
So Daddy never called.

The football player in the bunch
Was Nicho Achubahr. 

He signed a contract, Dad so proud,
He got a brand new car.

Number four, with intellect,
Intimidated Dad.

He went away to college
And was not invited back.

Number five was there the night
Big Daddy hit his mom.

He got the point and went to jail.
He smacked his girl at prom.

Then came Jacob Achubar,
Who stayed out of Dad’s way.

So quiet and he’s still at home,
Tied up not making waves.

And finally Adam Achubahr,
Who made Big Daddy laugh.

Now he travels, bar to bar,
Sharpening his act.

Big Daddy never noticed his
Effect on all the kids.

He never stopped to think, you know,
Just did whatever he did.

But boys all grow to men someday,
And dads all play their part.

Just look at Dad’s effect on all
The Sons of Achubahr.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
Achubahr – pronounce it ACK-you-bar.
Nicho – pronounce it NEE-ko

© 2008 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 Will Not Defile Myself - Apples of Gold - March 27, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 27, 2008

“I Will Not Defile Myself”

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

Everything I knew about beer I learned from commercials.

And how many of you know, beer commercials don’t really tell the tale.

Imagine if beer commercials were like all these pharmaceutical ads, where they list all the possible side effects.  “May cause lethargy, memory loss, profound confusion, impaired coordination, dehydration, blurred vision, vertigo, vomiting, stupor, blackouts, coma and death.  Many who use this product have lost their jobs, their homes, their families, their reputation, their money, their dignity and the use of certain limbs.  Millions have become addicted to this product, but fortunately there are thousands of groups to help you out when it happens.  And now back to our commercial showing beautiful people having fun.”

Now I’m going to make an outrageous statement.  When I was growing up, those beer commercials defiled me.

Uh-oh.  I see part of my crowd getting up and leaving.  I see “unsubscribes” coming in from all over the country.

“Doug, isn’t that a bit of an overstatement?”

Look, I’m just telling you the way it was.  As a kid, I watched tons of ballgames on TV, and they were loaded with beer commercials showing what a blast everyone was having.  It’s a sales trick, but it’s effective.  When a message soaks into your brain thousands of times, it affects you, whether it’s true or not.

This week I was asked to be part of the National Day of Prayer program at the capitol.  My prayer subject?  The media.

So I’ve been thinking a lot about the media this week.  I’m talking about all “mass” forms of communication, including radio and television, books, newspapers and magazines, even movies and the internet. 

Now follow my thinking.  Most of the media is in the business to make money.  To make money, you have to draw a crowd.  And what is the easiest way to draw a crowd?  To appeal to our sensuous, carnal nature.  So this is what the media often resorts to.

The broadcast networks want the FCC to relax the rules so they can be even more carnal.  They say they can’t keep up with the cable and satellite companies.  Why not?  One reason.  Cable and satellite TV don’t have any moral limits on their content.  So the broadcasters say the only way they can draw a larger crowd is to be even more carnal.

Now listen.  This becomes a cycle, because what the media produces to draw a crowd, it then perpetuates.  That’s why it’s called “mass media.”  Its message goes to the masses. 

So it draws the masses by being carnal, then it perpetuates carnality among the masses.  Then the carnal masses demand even more carnality, and if it wants to keep the crowd and stay in business, the mass media must deliver even more carnal content.

And now with the absolute free flow of the most carnal material on the internet – where is it all headed?  And how am I supposed to pray something meaningful for the media on the National Day of Prayer?  What can I pray that God will respond to?

From a moral perspective, it can look bleak.  But that is not the whole story.  There are still people making a stand and saying, “I will not defile myself with carnal media.” 

Last night my son told me about some friends of his.  One married couple has stopped watching television.  He told me of a young man who once had a huge collection of DVD’s.  Then he got rid of all the R-rated movies.  Then he got rid of the movies with the most carnal scenes.  Then he finally just got rid of all the movies.  It’s his way of saying, “I will not defile myself.”

This is radical in our culture today, but carnal times call for radical measures.

I’m reminded of the story of Daniel when he was taken to Babylon.  Daniel 1:8 says, “…Daniel resolved not to defile himself…”

Yes, it meant Daniel had to go against the flow.  It was a risk, but God rewarded him.  Eventually the king of Babylon found Daniel to be “ten times better” than his kingdom full of carnal wise men.

So today, ask yourself this question, “What defiles me?”  Or make it a prayer, “Lord, what defiles me?”  Then start with the top of the list and boot it out of your life.

I recently heard the story of a man who put a bullet through his computer.  That’s a bit over the top, but you know what?  If that’s what it takes…

“Doug, why do you bring this all up now?  Don’t you know it’s March Madness?”

Well, here’s an idea.  Watch the games, but not the commercials.  Yes, I know the commercials can be funny and entertaining.  Of course they are!  They are spending tons of money to reach us.  And if that means defiling us or appealing to our carnal nature, so what? 

But I say, join the minority who are standing up like Daniel of old and saying, “I will not defile myself.”

So stop now and do it.  Just ask, “Lord, what defiles me?”  And when He brings something to the top of the list – get rid of it.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

 
© 2008 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 We Wasting Resources God Has Given Us? - Apples of Gold - March 26, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 26, 2008

“Are We Wasting Resources God Has Given Us?”

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

I took my daughter and her friends out for a big night on the town.

It wasn’t long before they were all “starving to death,” so we ran in for some fast food.

Some of them wolfed it down and were ready to hit the road.  One girl still had a lot of food and was going to throw it away.  Her friend said, “You’re not going to waste all that food are you?”

The other girl said, “I’m totally full.” 

Her friend said, “Eat it anyway.  You don’t want to waste it.”

At that point I jumped in and said, “She will waste it either way; yes if she throws it away, but also if she eats it.  If she eats when she is full and her body doesn’t need it, it’s still a waste.  The real waste occurred when she ordered more than she could eat.”

Of course she could have wrapped the burger in a napkin, put it in her purse and eaten it later.  That’s about as bright as shoving tater tots in your pocket and snacking on them during class.

I must admit, I hate waste.  At our house, I hate to see food go in the garbage.  To me, it’s just like pulling cash out of your pocket and lighting it on fire. 

Yes, I believe in recycling, both official and unofficial.  By unofficial recycling I mean things like reusing paper.  For example, here at the station we receive a lot of faxes.  Instead of throwing all that paper away, we use the backside for scratch paper.

I have always driven an economy car to keep from wasting gas – or at least to keep from wasting money on gas.

Some people have the mindset of, “Make a lot of money, buy a lot of stuff, throw it away, buy more and keep the economy going.”  I’m all for keeping the economy going, but surely we can do it without so much waste. 

Have you ever been to a garbage dump?  It’s a real eye-opener.  Just think of a city the size of Tallahassee.  I know how much garbage my little family puts out by the road every week.  Now multiply that by hundreds of thousands, and where does it all go? 

There is a fascinating little story in the Bible that you’ve probably heard many times, but not from this angle.  In John chapter six we read about Jesus feeding the five thousand.  Jesus took the little boy’s barley loaves and fish, then multiplied it to feed everyone.  It was amazing.

So there’s this huge crowd, and everyone has had all they can eat.  I can picture someone shouting to the little boy, “What’d you bring for dessert?”

Anyway, at this point Jesus said something very interesting.  He told his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over.  Let nothing be wasted.”

First of all, why didn’t His miracle stop at exactly the right amount?  Second, He basically created the food out of thin air.  Nobody paid for it.  No money would be lost.  Why was He so interested in preventing waste?

But He was.  Jesus had provided that food as a resource, and once it was provided, He did not want it wasted.

He could have not mentioned it at all.  Or He could have said, “Gather it up and throw it away.”  But instead He made it clear that He did not want this newly created resource to go to waste.

Years ago I heard Corrie ten Boom talk about coming to America from war-torn Europe.  She saw someone throwing away paper and she wanted to grab it.  Paper was a valuable commodity where she was from, even waste paper.  But she soon realized that’s the way we do things in America.

Why is that?  Because we are so prosperous.  Most Americans are under 60 years old, and we don’t remember anything other than great prosperity.  We don’t have to save anything, because there is always plenty more where that came from.

Now here is the big question.  Are we wasting resources God has given us? 

Think about the resources at your disposal.  That includes your body, your mind, your time and your talents.  It includes all your stuff, and all your money. 

When I think of all my resources, I hear the words of Jesus, “Let nothing be wasted.”

Some of you have heard this and are saying, “Doug, you should see my situation.  I don’t have enough to begin with, let alone enough to waste.”  Then you might want to focus on the little boy in the story.  Little did he know that, with God’s help, he actually had enough to feed five thousand people.

Anyway, think about your resources today, then think about Jesus’ words, “Let nothing be wasted.”  And then comes the big question, “Are we wasting resources God has given us?”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

 
© 2008 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-

Some Things I Don't Do Out of Fear - Apples of Gold - March 25, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 25, 2008

“Some Things I Don’t Do Out of Fear”

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

Let me just shoot straight with you.

There are some things I don’t do simply out of fear.  I fear the Lord and what might happen if I do them.

I don’t fear Him like a cruel task master.  He is just, and always does what is right, I know that. 

I picture it this way – God with two hands.  One hand is His hand of blessing and protection.  The other is His hand of discipline and rebuke.  If I choose to do wrong, to sin, then I am walking out from under His hand of blessing and toward His hand of rebuke.

But let me tell you, I really need His hand of blessing.  I need it so bad that I am afraid to walk away from it. 

Some people say we shouldn’t fear the Lord, and that when the Bible says “fear the Lord” it really just means to respect Him.  I appreciate that, but for me, there is a healthy dose of good old fashioned fear. 

It’s not that I fear Him like you fear a psycho killer.  I know God loves me and wants what is best for me.  I fear Him like I feared my dad as a child.  It’s the fear you have that, when you cross the line, you are going to get it!

Some people think that God is so gracious, He will let you cross the line and it will be okay.  After all, what about God’s grace?

Oh, are you talking about what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace?”

It reminds me of a song by Randy Stonehill, with these lines:*

“He understands the human heart, His mercy is complete.
But His grace was not intended as a place to wipe your feet.”

Jude 4 talks about people who “change the grace of our God into a license for immorality…”

Why would you do that?  Only if you lost your fear of God.

“Well, Doug, don’t you think God’s grace covers your sins?”

Yes, I do.  It’s grace that made me a child of God.  And when children step out of line, the Father makes a move.

Hebrews 12:6 says, “…the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”

Some people say that God won’t punish us.  That’s crazy talk.  It says right there that He does.

Yes, I fear God’s punishment.  There I things I won’t do simply because I don’t want to be punished.

For some reason that conjures up images of a whipped dog, whimpering in the corner, afraid to look at his master. 

Not at all.  I love the Lord and want to serve Him with my whole being.  I run to Him.  I like the phrase, “the relentless pursuit of God.” 

But what happens when temptation knocks at the door.  And you know, temptation always looks good.  When that happens, I think about those two hands, the hand of blessing and the hand of rebuke.  I need that hand of blessing, and I fear that hand of rebuke. 

I know that if I step out from under God’s hand of blessing, no good can come from it.  And if I directly disobey the Lord and step out into sin, are you trying to tell me God won’t punish me?  Are you kidding?  Why would God not punish a direct act of disobedience?  We expect it from our parents, from our bosses, and from our government.  Why wouldn’t we expect it from God?

When we sin, bad things happen.  You can bank on it.

I love my children so much that when they sin, I must hold them accountable.  They will have to suffer in some form, whether it’s a grounding or losing their phone privileges or whatever.  Why?  So they will not do it again.  Why do I care whether they do it again?  Because it is harmful to them, and I don’t want harm to come to those I love.

God is the same way.  Sin is harmful.  God loves us and does not want us harmed.  So to prevent it, He will punish us when we sin.

When you say, “Don’t do that” there has to be an “or else.”  If there is no “or else,” then who cares about the “don’t do that”?

With God, there is an “or else.”  When we sin, there is punishment.  Yes, there is grace and mercy – and discipline and rebuke. 

I think some Christians jump right into sin because somewhere along the line they missed the fact that God punishes sin. 

Psalm 115:13 says, “…He will bless those who fear the Lord, small and great alike.”  That’s the crowd I want to be in.

Yes, there are some things I won’t do simply out of fear.  And, thank God, the fear of the Lord keeps me under His bountiful hand of blessing.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
Some might say, “Well, what about First John 4:18 which says, ‘There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment…”
Of course I believe that.  On the day that I finally have perfect love for the Lord and for people, then sin will no longer be an issue, which means no punishment and no fear.  Love is the trump card that knocks out fear.  If I have perfect love for the Lord, I will never, ever sin against Him.  There is no need for fear of the Lord if there is perfect love for the Lord.  But I know my love for the Lord is imperfect, so in my life there is a place for the fear of the Lord.  When love isn’t enough to keep me on the straight and narrow, fear steps in behind it.

*  From the song “Angry Young Men” by Randy Stonehill, from his album “Love Beyond Reason.”

In the book, “Who Moved My Cheese?” the author asks, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”  Don’t ask that question if what you are pondering is a sin.  Better to be afraid.

© 2008 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 Day of Relief, A Day of Reckoning - Apples of Gold - March 24, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 24, 2008

“A Day of Relief, A Day of Reckoning”

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

Have you ever witnessed a sudden, explosive violent act that shocked you?

The first one I recall came shortly after we moved to a new town when I was in sixth grade. 

I had seen people do mean things before, but they fit the context.  You know, kids argue, then wrestle, then someone gets punched.  And no one is shocked.

But this event I remember like it happened in slow motion.  It was recess, and I was talking to another kid on the playground.  I didn’t know him that well, but then again, I was the new kid.  I didn’t know anyone that well.

His name was Mickey, and Mickey was telling me that he had a broken toe.  I looked down at his Converse tennis shoes, and there was no indication that he had a broken toe.  It was just another foot in a shoe.

Along came another kid, a little bigger than me and Mickey.  He said something like, “So you have a broken toe?  Which foot?”

We all looked down as Mickey pointed to the shoe that concealed his injury.  As I was looking at the shoe, suddenly the other kid, as hard as he could, stomped on it.

I was completely shocked. 

Mickey howled in pain, which really didn’t draw much attention on a playground jammed with howling kids.  The bigger boy ran off, and Mickey was not about to tell on him. 

The last thing I remember is looking down at Mickey’s shoe as the blood began soaking through the canvas. 

As far as I know, he never told on the other kid. 

So does that mean the other kid got away with it?

No.  The answer is “no.”  It is my belief that, basically, no one gets away with anything.*

As the years went by, that other kid had many problems, and eventually ended up in prison.  No, he may not have gotten in trouble for crushing poor Mickey’s toe, but listen to this – his punishment was simply stored up for later when it would be served back…with interest.

When you are young, you haven’t lived long enough to see the cycles of sowing and reaping.  It’s easy to think that people get away with things.  But the longer you live, the more of these cycles you see, and the more you believe in the law of sowing and reaping.

However, some cycles don’t seem to ever come around.  Some people seem to sow a lot of either good or bad seed, yet never reap what they have sown.

Don’t be fooled.  Like it says in Galatians 6:7, “God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.”

Second Thessalonians 1:6 says, “God is just.”  But I must say that his timetable of justice can be very different from ours.  Sometimes that cycle of sowing and reaping sweeps on past the end of our life on earth. 

Back to that passage in Second Thessalonians.  It says, “God is just:  He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled…”

Okaaay…but when?

It goes on to say, “This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.  He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord…on the day he comes to be glorified…”

See, it is talking about a specific day in the future.  On that day the Lord will pay back trouble to some and give relief to others.

Paul wrote this to the Christians in Thessalonica who were being persecuted for their faith in Christ.  He told them to persevere and stay strong.  He told them that the Lord would bring relief. 

Now here we are, two thousand years later, and Christians are still waiting for that day, the day when “the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire.”

Logically, this thought should not bring any hope.  It hasn’t happened yet, so what evidence is there that it will ever happen? 

But you know what?  For some reason, I believe it.  Something in my heart shouts, “It is true!”  I know that the day is coming when Jesus will be revealed from heaven in that blazing fire. 

That day will be a day of relief, and a day of reckoning.  It will be a day of reckoning for those who have disobeyed the Lord.

But thank God, it will be a day of incredible relief for all of us who have believed the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
* Of course, this is a general statement.  As our sins are forgiven by the Lord, due to the price Jesus paid on the cross, then we do, in a sense, get away with them.  We don’t receive the full punishment we deserve.  But the principle of sowing and reaping still holds true, and though not as great, we still reap what we sow.

© 2008 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 Power of a Simple Invitation - Apples of Gold - March 21, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 21, 2008

“The Power of a Simple Invitation”

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

His name was Pastor Meek.

Isn’t that a neat name for a pastor?

Pastor Meek was an associate pastor at our church, and he organized what he called a “Friend Day.”  It was such a simple idea, yet wonderful.  Pick out a Sunday, call it Friend Day, and have everyone invite their friends to church.  Then tailor the service to all those visitors.

We were told to pray about it and ask God who we should invite.  When I prayed, someone immediately came to mind.  The thing I liked about Friend Day is it gave me a good excuse.  Instead of offering a random invitation to church, I could now say, “Hey, would you like to come to church?  It’s Friend Day, and we are all supposed to ask someone…”

Yesterday I heard about someone who didn’t need a Friend Day to invite people to church.

His name is Craig Kraft, my wife’s cousin from South Florida.  We were down there yesterday, and I kept hearing the same story, about all the people Craig invited to church. 

“Well, Doug, what is this guy, some kind of preacher?”

No, not at all.  No one confused Craig with John the Baptist.  He’s no world renowned evangelist.  However, he had the knack of simply inviting people to church…and people took him up on it.

Sometimes we overlook the simple things when we talk about reaching the world and witnessing for Christ.  We talk about the Roman Road and the Four Spiritual Laws and Evangelism Explosion and all that stuff.  But don’t forget the power of a simple invitation.

We think of the great apostle Peter.  But remember, Peter came at the simple invitation of his brother Andrew.

In John 1 we read the story of Nathanael.  He received this simple invitation from Philip, “Come and see.”

John 4 tells the great story of Jesus and the woman at the well.  At one point she left Jesus at the well and rushed to tell the townsfolk, “Come, see…could this be the Christ?”

In 2 Kings 5 we read about the powerful general Naaman and the great prophet Elijah.  But the catalyst in the story is a little slave girl.  She didn’t do much except utter a few little words.  But those words changed Naaman’s life.

And we can change lives by uttering a few simple words, “Will you go to church with me?”

Sunday is Easter Sunday, what some call “the Super Bowl of the church.”  If anyone is ever open to a church invitation, it’s Easter Sunday.  And if a church service is ever structured around new visitors, it’s Easter Sunday.

This Sunday there will be a lot of people going to a church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, because they were invited there by Craig Kraft.  And in the center of them will be a big empty seat.  You see, Craig went home to be with the Lord this week.  He was only 42.

At the funeral yesterday even the pastor mentioned Craig’s habit of inviting people to church.  One person said they figured about 50 people went to the church because of Craig. 

So let Craig be an inspiration to you as we look forward to Easter Sunday.  You don’t have to be the next Billy Graham to make an impact.  All you have to do is use the power of a simple invitation.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

In memory of Craig Kraft:  http://www.legacy.com/palmbeachpost/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=105881907

© 2008 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-

Your Plans Will Succeed - Apples of Gold - March 18, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 18, 2008

“Your Plans Will Succeed”

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

It’s an annoying little book full of personal questions.

I used it for ice breakers at a home Bible.  It’s a great way for people to get to know one another – whether they want to or not.

It had been buried since we moved a couple years ago, but over the weekend someone unearthed it.  There was a party at our house, and suddenly I heard teenagers asking one another personal questions.  “It’s the book…” I muttered.

Last night my son’s girlfriend was at the house, and suddenly she said, “Mr. Apple, pick a number!” 

I expected to look over and see one of those quadri-folded pieces of paper on her finger tips.  You know, the ones where you pick a number, they move it back and forth a few times, lift the little flap and tell you who you are going to marry.  What on earth do they call those things anyway?

But I looked over, and it was “the book.”

So I randomly picked the number 22.  My wife shouted from the other room that I couldn’t pick number 22 because that was her number when she played basketball in high school.  She owned that number and had the jacket to prove it.  Then she went and found the jacket and asked my daughter why she didn’t want to wear it to school. 

Maybe this is why families get cable TV.

So my question was number 22, which was something like, “Name one major goal in your life, and tell how it’s going so far.”

I said, “A major goal in my life is that my children have their own, personal relationship with God.”  “And so far,” I said, “It’s going pretty good.  Not that we are such great parents, but God has been really good to us.”

What would I say is the major reason that, so far, we are succeeding in that goal?

Apart from the sheer grace of God, I guess it would come down to this.  Over all these years, we have committed our parenting to the Lord. 

I don’t know how many times I have prayed things like, “Lord, we don’t what we are doing.  We don’t know what the future holds, and we don’t know what is best.”  Then I, once again, commit our parenting to the Lord.  “God, it’s got to be You!  You have to be working in our children, and in us as their parents.  Help us to do what is best for them, so that they can grow up and follow You in every way.”

I place a lot of trust in Proverbs 16:3 which says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Notice it’s not a passage about parenting.  It uses the blanket statement “whatever you do.”

So in what area of life do you want to succeed?  Then according to Proverbs 16:3, if you commit that area to the Lord, your plans will succeed.

Our part is committing those plans to the Lord.  So how do we do that?  What does it mean to commit plans to someone?

Think of it like this.  Let’s say I commit a weekend to my wife.  That means that weekend is all about her.  It’s about her desires, not mine. 

By committing that weekend to her, my plans will change to line up with what pleases her.  The commitment means it’s about her, not me.  And when I do that, it makes for a very successful weekend.  (That’s why in over 20 years worth of weekends we still have not made it to Canton, Ohio or Cooperstown, New York.)

It’s sort of like that when I commit my plans to the Lord.  That means my plans are all about Him.  It’s about His desires, not mine.  My plans change to line up with what pleases Him.  And when I do that, my plans succeed.

See, it’s not that God stamps “success” on any old willy-nilly plan I make.  It’s when I commit my plans to Him that they succeed.  And committing them to Him is more than just tossing up a little prayer.  When we commit our plans to the Lord, those plans actually change.  They conform to His desires, to His will.  And then they succeed.

So, do you want to be more successful?  Who doesn’t, right? 

Then do what it says in Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

© 2008 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 Stockdale Paradox - Apples of Gold - March 17, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 17, 2008

“The Stockdale Paradox”

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

Have you heard of the Hanoi Hilton?

It was a brutal prisoner of war camp in North Viet Nam.

John McCain spent time there, as did James Stockdale, one of the most highly decorated Navy officers ever.

In his book “Good to Great” Jim Collins says he asked Stockdale an interesting question.  He asked him what kind of men did not survive the Hanoi Hilton.

Stockdale said, “Oh, that’s easy.  The optimists.”

“The optimists?” said Collins.  “I don’t understand.”

The optimists, according to Stockdale, were the ones who said, “We’re going to be out by Christmas.”  And Christmas would come and go.  Then they said, “We’re going to be out by Easter.”  And Easter would come and go.  And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again.  And finally, Stockdale said, they just died of a broken heart.

That sounds very bleak.  But it leads up to what Collins calls “The Stockdale Paradox.”

Stockdale said, “This is a very important lesson.  You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end – which you can never afford to lose – with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”

Stockdale was willing to let the terrible reality of his situation sink in.  He looked at the cold, hard facts, and did not stick his head in the sand.  However, he did not let that rob him of his hope.  He said, “I never lost faith in the end of the story.  I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life.”

So what is “The Stockdale Paradox”?  It’s confronting the brutal facts of your situation without losing faith that you will prevail in the end.

It’s not a false optimism that acts like there are no problems.  But it’s also not a gloom-and-doom that acts like there is no hope.  It’s faith and realism combined.

We find a great example of the Stockdale Paradox in Joshua and Caleb.

In Numbers 13, Moses sent 12 men to spy out the Promised Land.  What they found was a very prosperous land, and a land full of powerful enemies.

Ten of the spies came back with a gloom-and-doom attitude.  “Yes, it would be great to live there, but it will never happen.  Those guys will destroy us!”

Joshua and Caleb saw things differently.  It’s not that they ignored the challenges, they just had more faith.  They said, “If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land…and will give it to us.  Do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up.  Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us.  Do not be afraid of them.”

But the people didn’t listen, so God decided to punish them with another 40 years in the wilderness.  Then the people said, “Well, if that’s the way it’s going to be, let’s go take the land!”

They quickly flip-flopped from gloom-and-doom to false optimism – and they got whooped by the Canaanites and Amalekites.

So the first time, they saw the brutal facts of their situation, but they had no faith that they would prevail.  The second time, they had a blind faith that they would prevail, but they did not confront the brutal facts of their situation – mainly that God had withdrawn his support for the mission.

In “Good to Great,” Jim Collins says the Stockdale Paradox is crucial for every business.  They must be willing to confront the brutal facts while keeping the faith that they will prevail.

Over the years I’ve run into many people who could have used the Stockdale Paradox.  Usually what they need more of is the willingness to confront the brutal facts of their situation.

Let me tell you, there are so many people who just don’t want to think about reality.  It’s unpleasant.  It means more work.  Where’s the fun? 

I’m reading a book about a very talented high school baseball player.  He even got a lot of money to sign a contract to play pro ball.  He didn’t work as hard as he should have, though, and his performance suffered.  The team finally cut him, but even years later he lived in the fantasy world that someday he would play pro baseball.  He drank a lot and sank into depression.  His life was a shipwreck, but he was repeatedly unwilling to confront the brutal facts of his situation, so it never improved.

See, we can’t do anything if we don’t start with the truth; the cold, hard truth. 

Yes, the truth can be depressing.  That’s where the paradox kicks in.  We don’t run from the sometimes depressing truth.  Whatever the truth is, we run to it.  And the inoculation against depression is our faith that we will prevail, that it will all work out in the end.

How can we have faith that it will all work out?  Because we have the hope of Bible verses like Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

So think about the Stockdale Paradox today.  No, we never lose our faith and hope, but at the same time we must be willing to confront the brutal facts of our situation, then deal with them.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

I must say that “Good to Great” by Jim Collins is one of my favorite business books of all time.
 
© 2008 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-