Be Ye Also Ready - Apples of Gold - September 1, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for September 1, 2010

“Be Ye Also Ready”

 

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

“The wrath of God abides on him.”

That is not a place you want to be.  You do not want the wrath of God “abiding” on you.

What does that mean?

It’s something Jesus said in John 3:36.  He said, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

If you want to get a glimpse of the wrath of God, check out Revelation 14 verses 9 through 11.  An angel cried out with a loud voice and said, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

That’s the wrath of God on those who reject Him and receive the mark of the beast in the end times.  So if you thought of God as the old grandfather upstairs who wouldn’t hurt a flea, think again.  It says that some people will drink the wine of his wrath, and will be tormented with fire and brimstone.

That is not a place you want to be.

Now back to John 3:36.  Jesus said, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

You do not want God’s wrath to remain on you, so what can you do?  Believe in the Son.  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, Jesus said.

After the description of God’s wrath in Revelation 14, the Apostle John heard a voice from heaven say, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

That’s what happens to those who believe in the Son of God; when they die they “die in the Lord.”

So would you rather believe in the Son and die in the Lord, or reject the Son and die under the wrath of God?

Yesterday a young man died suddenly in Tallahassee.  A Rickards High School student was crossing the street to get to his school bus and he was hit by a car. 

Monday a school bus driver in Jefferson County, FL died suddenly.  She was driving along, slipped off the edge of the road and slammed into a tree. 

I was talking to a pastor friend of mine about this this morning and here were his parting words, “Be ye also ready.”

“Be ye also ready?  That must be some kind of Bible thing,” I thought, so I looked it up.

Sure enough, there it was, in Matthew 24.  Jesus said, “Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Now you might think that’s talking about the second coming of Christ, and you might think that’s way off in the future.

But listen.  It doesn’t matter if He’s coming for everyone today.  It only matters if He’s coming for you.

Back to Revelation 14; John wrote, “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’  So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.”

“Aw, Doug, that’s some kind of end times stuff.”

Listen.  It doesn’t matter if He’s coming to reap the whole earth today.  It only matters if He’s coming to reap you.  It doesn’t matter if it’s the final harvest; it only matters if it’s your final harvest.

Be ye also ready.

“So how can I be ready?”

Believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  Believe in Jesus Christ.  Believe that He came to earth, shed His blood and died for your sins then rose from the dead.

Repent of your sins and ask God to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, like it says in Acts 2:38, “and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Then by the Holy Spirit you will be sealed until the day of redemption. 

You don’t know when your personal “day of redemption” will come, so why wait?  Get right with God now.  Today is the day of salvation.

Heed the words spoken by Jesus, and repeated by my pastor friend this very morning.

Be ye also ready.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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



© 2010 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 Your Christian Life Come Alive - Apples of Gold - August 31, 2010 ***Happy Birthday to my brother Tim!***-vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 31, 2010

“Make Your Christian Life Come Alive”

 

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

“Don’t scare the dove away!”

That was the lighthearted banter around our dinner table.

Yesterday I talked about how the Holy Spirit is pictured like a dove in the Bible, and I quoted Ephesians 4:30 which says, “…do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.”

Just as a grieving person withdraws, I picture the Holy Spirit withdrawing when we grieve Him.

So back to our dinner table – if someone said something harsh or off-kilter, someone else would say, “Don’t scare the dove away!”

That’s not theologically sound, but what we’re saying is, “Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.”

If you are a true Christian, the Holy Spirit dwells inside of you.  First Corinthians 6:19 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”

God’s Holy Spirit lives inside of us.

When we were saved, God sent us a teacher, a mentor, a guide – the Holy Spirit.  Yes, I realize some nuts out there have hijacked the phrase “spirit guide,” but in essence, that’s what we have, a spirit guide, as in the Holy Spirit of God.

We are to walk in step with the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit.

How does that happen, by magic? 

No, it happens as our mentor, the Holy Spirit, leads us and we follow.  He speaks to us and we listen.

In John 14 Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Counselor or the Helper, and described Him as a teacher.

In John 16 Jesus described the Holy Spirit as one who convicts and one who speaks.

Second Corinthians 13 talks about the fellowship and the communion of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians five talks about being led by the Spirit, and verse 16 says, “…live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

So how do we “live by the Spirit”?  This is a super important question because if we do so, we can avoid the traps of sin.

The key is to hear or to sense the voice of the Holy Spirit inside of us. 

“Now hold your horses, Doug.  If everyone just starts listening to the voices in their head, we’re going to go off the deep end real quick.”

Very true.  Not every thing inside your head is the Holy Spirit, just like not every report on the internet is true. 

I went to college to be a news reporter, and one thing we were taught is crosschecking.  You crosscheck your facts.  You don’t just believe one source; you see if the same thing comes from two or three sources.

So, for example, you try to hear the Holy Spirit inside of you, and you crosscheck that with the Bible, and with some Godly wise counsel, such as your pastor.

This is the great thing about having a real, living God.  This is not some made up religion.  He is alive and His Spirit is inside of us to guide us!

Now back to what we talked about yesterday.  If we grieve the Holy Spirit and He withdraws in some way, then how can we hear Him? 

We joked about the dove flying away because of some off-kilter comment, but what if there is some truth to that?  What if the Holy Spirit is deeply sensitive and easily grieved by sins and offenses and anything tainted?

It makes sense, doesn’t it, that if anyone is easily grieved by such things it would be the Holy Spirit, right?

So what if we made it our goal to not grieve the Holy Spirit?  We won’t say anything that grieves Him.  We won’t do anything that grieves Him.  We won’t participate in anything that grieves Him.  We will walk away, we will leave the room.

This is not a rock solid analogy, but what if your sister had just lost a child, and anytime she saw children she was extremely grieved.  If you walked in a room with your sister and she suddenly saw children and wanted to leave, wouldn’t you leave? 

In the same way, when we encounter something that grieves the Holy Spirit, shouldn’t we leave?  Even if it’s in our own thoughts, shouldn’t we leave that thought?  If it’s something we see, shouldn’t we turn away?

What if we made a super-conscious effort to avoid anything that grieves the Holy Spirit?  Would we suddenly have a much deeper fellowship and communion with God?  Would we sense His presence in much greater ways?  Would we start to experience all the joys we read about in the Bible?

Could it all come down to the fact that we have been grieving the Holy Spirit?

So why not do this?  Pray and make a commitment for a certain time, maybe a day, maybe a week, but for a certain time you commit to not be part of anything that grieves the Holy Spirit.  Then listen for His voice, be sensitive to His prompting, His nudging.

And every time you think the Spirit might be grieved, make a move.  Get away from it or stop doing it. 

For a set time, avoid anything that grieves the Holy Spirit, and I suspect that your Christian life will come alive like it’s never come alive before.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


* The thought occurred to me that this would be like integrity on steroids! – avoiding everything that grieved the Holy Spirit.

© 2010 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-

Find Out What Grieves the Holy Spirit, and Stop Doing It - Apples of Gold - August 30, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 30, 2010

“Find Out What Grieves the Holy Spirit, and Stop Doing It”

 

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

“From veteran pastor to younger pastor, what is the one piece of advice you would give me?”

That’s what a young pastor asked Dr. R.T. Kendall, who was the pastor for a quarter century at Westminster Chapel in London, and who spoke in Tallahassee this weekend.

So what do you think he said to that younger pastor? 

What advice would you give?

Maybe you would have told him to “stay in the Word,” or “be disciplined in prayer.”  You might have said, “Don’t let worldly ideas creep into your thinking,” or “don’t forsake your family while doing church work.”

Well here is what R.T. Kendall said, his one piece of advice to younger pastors:  find out what grieves the Holy Spirit, and stop doing it.

Here it is again.  Find out what grieves the Holy Spirit, and stop doing it.

Ephesians 4:30 says, “…do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…”

What does it mean to “grieve” the Holy Spirit?

I like what Charles Spurgeon said.  Grief is a combination of anger and love.* 

Yes, there is anger at the offense, but since there is also great love for the person, the combination becomes grief.  The Spirit of God, who loves us so much, is grieved when we are part of anything offensive, anything unholy or unrighteous; anything that is sin.

What do grieving people usually do?  They withdraw.  They pull away.  You hear from them less. 

Dr. Kendall said it is fitting that the Holy Spirit is represented by the dove.  He said the dove is a sensitive creature, and will withdraw without much provocation.

So if you don’t want the Holy Spirit to withdraw, then don’t grieve Him.

What grieves the Holy Spirit? 

Well the Bible doesn’t include a precise “grief list,” but Galatians 5 gives us some idea.  It says, “…the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other…”

Then it says, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:  sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”

I would say that if you want to make a list of things that grieve the Spirit, that’s a pretty good start.

Find out what grieves the Holy Spirit, and stop doing it.

Do you want God’s blessings in your life?  Do you want His anointing?  Do you want His power flowing through you?  Do you want a living and vibrant relationship with the Lord?  Do you want to be able to read your Bible and get something out of it?  Do you want incredible times of prayer?  Do you want to be able to reach others and change the world in Jesus’ name?

Then find out what grieves the Holy Spirit and stop doing it.

Sin grieves the Holy Spirit.

“But Doug, we can’t stop sinning.”

Jesus told people to stop sinning.  For example, when he healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda in John 5:14.  “See,” Jesus said, “you have been made well.  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Sometimes I think we have the idea that we can do certain things and it will be okay because, after all, we are children of the King!  We are saved by grace!  Our sins are forgiven, forgotten, forever! 

But if we are casual about sin, about unholiness and unrighteousness, we are in danger of grieving the Spirit of God, and something bad will come of it.

Sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you.

But if we sin, we can repent and ask for forgiveness and be “cleansed from all unrighteousness.”  In a sense, we can “ungrieve” the Holy Spirit.  We can be clean before God and renew our fellowship with His Spirit.

And that’s where we want to be, walking in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  Second Corinthians 13:14 refers to the “communion of the Holy Spirit.”

Galatians 5:25 talks about keeping “in step with the Spirit.”

We want to be walking in the Spirit, hearing from the Spirit and receiving from the Spirit.  We want the Holy Spirit to bear His wonderful fruit in our lives.

And all the more so if we are in a place of Christian leadership, which brings us back to that great answer by Dr. R.T. Kendall.  When asked what one piece of advice he would give to a young pastor, he simply said this.

“Find out what grieves the Holy Spirit, and stop doing it.”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


* http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0278.htm

© 2010 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-

If a Man Lies to You, Will He Steal From You? - Apples of Gold - August 27, 2010 -vi-

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Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 27, 2010

“If a Man Lies to You, Will He Steal From You?”

 

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

Listen to this old saying and see what you think.

“If a man will lie to you, he will steal from you.”

Do you think that’s true?

I realize it’s more of a proverb than a statement of fact, but let’s take a look at it.

If a man will lie to you, will he also steal from you?

Well the risk is higher when stealing.  People make a bigger deal out of it.  They call the police.  They press charges.  Your name ends up in the paper.

So because the risk is higher, a man who will lie to you may not steal from you.

But if he lies to you, you do know this.  He is motivated by something other than high principles and moral character.

If a man steals a pen, will he steal a car?  If he steals a car, will he commit murder? 

Obviously it’s less risky to steal a pen, so a man may easily do one without coming close to the other.

But this is a man you need to keep an eye on!

“What?  A man who steals a pen?”

Yes.  When a man steals a pen, he reveals something of his character.  You know that he is willing to break a solid moral law if the risk is low.

If that is true, what would he do in a Nazi Germany?  Would he stand up to the immoral tide, or would he be willing to break the moral law?

What we are looking at is a man’s core motivation.  What will he do and why?

Some men will do whatever they can get away with.  If they don’t think they can get away with it, they won’t do it.  But if they think they can get away it?  Look out because that is exactly what they will.

But a Christian man does not try to “get away” with things.  He knows that God sees all, and that there’s really no such thing as getting away with things. 

A Christian man wants to do what is right in God’s eyes.  His core motivation is to please God above himself and others.

His constant prayer is, “Will this please You, Lord?”

If pleasing God is a man’s motivation, then what happens when he thinks about stealing that pen?  He will decide not to because it will not please the Lord. 

This is a man who is guided by higher principles and character.  His decisions are not situational; they’re not based on risk and punishment.  His decisions are based on what is right and good, regardless of the cost.

This man will not steal from you or lie to you, because they both displease the Lord.

Paul said in Acts 24:16, “I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.”

That is the goal, to be clean before God and man. 

We are to do good in all situations, and when we do, God will reward us.  Ephesians 6:8 says, “…the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does…”

So back to the original question:  If a man will lie to you, will he steal from you?

He may or he may not, but either way he is not a man of the highest moral character, and not someone we should imitate.

Instead, we are to be people who seek to please the Lord, who choose to do right and good, no matter who is watching, and no matter what we think we can get away with.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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



© 2010 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-

Coach Bowden's Crucible - Apples of Gold - August 25, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 25, 2010

“Coach Bowden’s Crucible”

 

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

Bobby Bowden was the legendary head football coach of the Florida State Seminoles.

He coached them through a golden era that included two national titles, and he racked up the second most career victories in college football history.

And for his success he was paid millions of dollars.

But the team struggled the last few years, and when the win totals shrink, so does the audience and the money.

And what does a team do when the wins go down?  They fire the coach.

But how do you fire a legend?

Meanwhile, Florida State made Jimbo Fisher the head coach in waiting.  If Jimbo wasn’t the head coach by January 2011, the university would pay him 5 million dollars. 

So it looked like Bobby Bowden’s head coaching position had a built in expiration date.  But when the Seminoles barely broke .500 last season, some university officials had seen enough.  A change must be made, they said.

Bobby Bowden retired early this year, and we didn’t hear much more about it . . . until this week.  Coach Bowden has returned to the spotlight as he promotes his new book, and yesterday he granted an interview to the Associated Press.

When asked about his departure from FSU he said, “I was pushed out, no doubt about it.”

“I didn’t want but one more year,” he said.  “Gosh, I’m 80.”

He said that university president T.K. Wetherell presented him with two options: either become a hands-off “ambassador coach,” or lose the coaching position altogether.

Wetherell later said that it was one of the most difficult things he had to do as university president.  It was more than just a president releasing a coach.  Wetherell had actually played for Bowden in the 60’s, and Bowden knew the Wetherell family.

“He and I were pretty close,” Bowden said in the Associated Press interview.

And then came this line in the article.  “Bowden said his relationship with Wetherell has likely been irreparably damaged.”

Coach Bowden said, “I doubt if I'll have a relationship with T.K. anymore.”

Well who can blame him?  The man basically fired him.  Is that what he gets for his years of loyalty and success?  Well, that and millions of dollars, but anyway…nobody likes to be fired, and all he wanted was just one more year.

Anybody would be upset.  Anybody would write off the other person.  Anybody could conclude that the relationship was damaged beyond repair.

However, Coach Bowden is very outspoken about his Christian faith.  He is one of the better known Christians in the country.  In fact, his new book is entitled “Called to Coach:  Reflections on Life, Faith and Football.”

There is no doubt that Coach Bowden is a classy guy and a man who has kept the faith, but judging by these reports, it appears that Coach Bowden faces a big hurdle.

Can he completely forgive the man who fired him?

Perhaps he has.  He probably has, but these reporters make it sound like he has a chip on his shoulder towards Mr. Wetherell.

And who can blame him, right? 

Probably all of us have felt betrayed, have felt the rug pulled out from under us by someone we trusted.  It’s a nasty bit of business.

But here is where our Christianity is put to the test.  This is the crucible that burns off the dross and reveals the true nature of our faith.

Can we forgive those who betray us?  Can we forgive them, and love them?

This sounds almost impossible, and who would even want to?

But it is possible through the Holy Spirit inside of a Christian, and we should want to out of love and obedience to the Lord. 

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you…”

Jesus taught in Mark 11:25 that if we hold anything against anyone, we must forgive him.

So if he hasn’t already, Coach Bowden needs to forgive T.K. Wetherell, and I hope and pray that their relationship is not irreparably damaged, but through the love and forgiveness of Christ, Coach Bowden will have nothing but Christlike things to say about his former boss.

It’s one thing to watch these people who are in the public eye (and remember, we only get a small and distorted view of things through the media), but the more difficult thing is to take a look at our own life and say, “Is there someone I must forgive?”

If a reporter stuck a microphone in your face and asked about someone who had hurt you, what would you say?

Well hopefully it would be your chance to really let Jesus shine through – through the love and forgiveness that are cornerstones of the Christian faith.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


You can read the AP news story here:  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/24/sportsline/main6801523.shtml
You can find some other details about Coach Bowden’s relationship with FSU here:  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3865923
You can order Coach Bowden’s new book here:  http://www.christianbook.com/called-faith-career-college-footballs-popular/bobby-bowden/9781439195970/pd/195987/1107622227?item_code=WW&netp_id=806251&event=EBRN&view=details#curr


© 2010 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-

He Didn't Want Anyone to Know - Apples of Gold - August 24, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 24, 2010

“He Didn’t Want Anyone to Know”

 

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

Billy peaked out the window down the drive.

Nobody.

He double checked the calendar.

No one would be home for hours.

Boy, had he been waiting for this! 

He almost pounced toward the kitchen sink.  He opened the cabinet underneath and reached way back, and there it was.

He had been planning for this moment, waiting with great anticipation.

He thought last Monday was the day, but then suddenly someone came home.  She might not have said anything, but he didn’t want anyone to know, not a soul.

People would look down on him if they knew.  It would hurt his “testimony” you might say. 

No good could come from anyone knowing, so he made sure no one would.

He pulled it out from under the sink and took a good, long look.  He was going to savor this.

Finally he unscrewed the lid and took one short sip . . . of poison. 

Yes, Billy drank poison and suffered the consequences.

Of course he knew there would be consequences, but for some dumb reason he thought there would only be consequences if he got caught.  Somehow he missed the point that poison poisons, period, whether anyone finds out or not.

The poison I’m talking about today is sin.

When it comes to sin, we often act like Billy.  It’s okay, as long we don’t get caught. 

But sinning is like drinking poison.  You will suffer, caught or not. 

Hebrews 12:1 talks about “…the sin which doth so easily beset us…”

Beset means “to attack from all sides.”

That’s what sin does.  It attacks from all sides.  It’s a marauder, plundering and pillaging.  It’s a destroyer.  James 1:15 says that sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.

Why would you want even a little of that in your life?

Here’s why.  Hebrews 11:25 refers to “the pleasures of sin for a season.”

We see that slice of pleasure and we want it – the forbidden fruit.

But we are also smart enough to know that we don’t want other people finding out.  They will make our lives miserable, but the sin?  We can control that. 

But sin besets.  It attacks from all sides.  It never does any good and there is no controlling it.

Here in Florida we do “controlled burns” in the forest to prevent wildfires.  When it comes to sin, though, there is no such thing as a controlled burn. 

It’s like the old saying, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay, and keep you longer than you want to stay.”

Is it too simplistic to say “don’t play with sin”?

Romans 6:23 says the wages of sin is death.

Sin attacks what it touches, so the goal is to not let it touch anything in your life.

Romans 6:13 warns us not to yield to sin.  Don’t give it any quarter.

So are you toying with sin?  Do you think it’ll be okay, as long as you keep others from finding out?

That is not true, my friend.  Sin damages everything it touches.  It has nothing to do with getting caught.

So remember this.  Sin is poison, and no one gets away with drinking poison.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


© 2010 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 Silver Bullet of Lawn Care - Apples of Gold - August 23, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 23, 2010

“The Silver Bullet of Lawn Care”

 

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

I am no landscaper.

I graduated college without a single botany class, and I’m just not terribly interested in plants, though I thank God for them.

So one day I moved my family into a rental house that was formerly occupied by plant people.  The woman told me all the things they had done – planted this here, transplanted that there, on and on. 

Well, I was not a worthy heir of their plant kingdom, and I felt bad about it.  I felt bad for the landlord whose property value was about to drop.

So when he came by one day I simply confessed that I was flora challenged and asked him if there was anything specific he wanted me to do besides keep everything trimmed, and here’s what he said.  He said that all he really wanted me to do was this simple act.

Pull the weeds.

I told him that was easy enough, and that’s what I did.  When I saw anything besides grass pop up in the lawn, I pulled it out by the roots.

Now that may sound routine, but guess what?  I had never done it before.

My lawn care arsenal consisted of a power mower and that was it.  As long as everything was mowed, I was good.

But I admit, my lawns didn’t look that great.  Yes, from the road they were green, but a closer inspection revealed all kinds of yucky looking nongrasslike vegetation.

But now I had the silver bullet of lawn care!  Just pull the weeds.

This also applies to our spiritual life.  For example, Colossians 3:8 tells us to rid ourselves of anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy and filthy language.  That’s a list of spiritual weeds we are to yank from our lives.

First Peter 2:12 says to rid ourselves of all malice and all deceit, of hypocrisy and envy and slander, evil speaking of every kind; again, a laundry list of spiritual weeds.

Ephesians 4:31 says to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander and every form of malice.

These are weeds in our lives that must be pulled out by the roots.

So what happens if we don’t pull the weeds from our life?

Well remember this:  weeds are competition. 

In your yard or garden, there is a competition for space and light and water and soil nutrients.  The more the weeds get, the less there is for the good plants.

And the same is true in life.  We only have so much time and energy.  We can’t waste it on weeds like wrath and malice, deceit and hypocrisy.

So we need to pull the weeds because weeds are competition.

Something else – weeds are not stationary.  They aren’t like rocks.  If you leave the weeds, they will grow and reproduce. 

One gardening rule of thumb is:  Don’t let weeds go to seed. 

Another old saying is:  One year’s seeding means seven years’ weeding.

If you pull the weeds now, you will spare yourself a ton of work later.  But if you leave them, they will grow and reproduce, both in your life and in the lives of those around you.  One day you will look up and see weeds everywhere that you are responsible for.

So don’t let weeds go to seed.  Start pulling them up today.

Another interesting point about weeds is that they can shelter harmful insects and diseases.  They can harbor and spread plant pathogens that infect and degrade the quality of the good plants.

The same is true for our spiritual weeds.  For example, if you don’t root out the weed of hypocrisy, it will infect and degrade your good spiritual qualities. 

One reason people don’t like weeds is that they are unattractive.  They are a nuisance.  Some have thorns or prickles, they poke you or cling to your clothes.  Some have chemicals that cause skin irritation.  Weeds can be downright nasty – all good reasons to get rid of them.

So what is the first step? 

Look for them.  Simply take time to look for weeds. 

It’s true in your yard, and it’s true in your life.

Often we don’t take any time to look for the weeds in our heart and soul. 

So here is your reminder to do that.  Take some time to be quiet before the Lord.  Open your Bible and contemplate these lists of “weeds.”  Then look for them.

And when you find them, don’t leave them.

Instead, make a determined and consistent effort, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to rid yourself of these ugly, annoying weeds.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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



© 2010 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-

You Are a Teacher - Apples of Gold - August 20, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 20, 2010

“You Are a Teacher”

 

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

“You don’t tuck in t-shirts.”

And with that short sentence, teaching was done.

It didn’t take place in a classroom.  It simply happened when a woman looked at a man across the way whose shirt was tucked in and said, “You don’t tuck in t-shirts.”

I wasn’t taking a fashion class.  I wasn’t researching men’s styles.  I was just in the right place at the right time and a teacher stepped forward and taught me something.

That’s an example of how we are all in the business of teaching. 

This is a primary, foundational structure of our existence – us teaching each other.

And guess what?  That’s the way God set it up.

Now to me, this is a bit frightening.  Why on earth He left the teaching up to us, I have no idea.  It sounds like a formula for disaster.  Nonetheless, that is what He did.

For example, Jesus taught His disciples, then promptly left them.  And what did He say before He left?  According to Matthew 28 He basically said, “Go, teach all nations, teach them everything I have taught you.”

God did the same thing in the Old Testament.  He personally passed the lessons on to Moses, but then left the rest of the teaching up to the people.  “Teach them to your children and to their children after them,” it says in Deuteronomy 4:9.

“What?  You mean You aren’t coming back to teach the grandchildren Yourself?”

No, He wasn’t.  God delivered the basics, then left the teaching up to the people.

That means it is up to people like you and me.  It is up to us to teach everything that must be known.

Thankfully here in America we make education a high priority.  We understand that every child born must be taken from scratch and taught everything.  We have a gigantic public education system for this purpose, plus a huge private education system.  We have massive libraries and a free flow of information, all for the purpose of teaching people everything they need to know.

Does it sound like everything is well in hand?

Well it isn’t.  Not at all.  Teaching people is a constant task that never stops and always needs improvement.

And honestly, there a million different things that need to be taught.

So what is my point today?

My point is this.  You are a teacher.  The things you know to be true and right you must pass on to others.

I have a friend who is a tax accountant, and he is on Facebook.  While others are posting what their cat had for dinner, he is posting tax wisdom.  He is using the platform of Facebook to teach people about taxes.

I receive e-mails from a man in Washington, D.C.  He teaches me what is going on with the FCC that might concern this radio station.  I don’t pay for the e-mail.  He doesn’t get anything from me, and yet there he is, going out of his way to teach me. 

I listen to a radio program called Family Life Today.  Each day they are on the radio, teaching me how to have a better family.

I am attending a Sunday School class that is teaching me all about the Old Testament.  How am I supposed to know all that stuff?  Thank goodness someone is taking the time to teach me!

I know very little about car maintenance, but guess what?  When I run into something I wish I knew, what do I do?  I go to the internet where some random stranger has taken a lot of time to create a video to teach me.

So today’s question is, what are you doing to teach people?  Everyone needs to be taught, and you know some things, so what are you doing to teach them?

This is especially true of older people, I think.  If you are in the 60 and up crowd, what are you doing to teach others? 

I knew an older man who had built his own house and learned a few hard lessons.  And you know what he did?  He often stopped by construction sites and tried to teach people what he had learned the hard way.

Another school year is starting, and it’s easy to lay the burden of teaching on the professionals.  But they can’t possibly do it all.  There is simply too much to be taught.

So the ball is in your court.  You know things, and you need to teach them to others.  You can teach them to your child or your grandchild.  You can teach them to people at church or a civic group, or you can put them online and teach the world.

But whatever you do, realize this today.

You are a teacher.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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



© 2010 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-

If You Want to Learn About Jesus - Apples of Gold - August 18, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 18, 2010

“If You Want to Learn About Jesus”

 

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

If you want to learn about Jesus, yes, read the four Gospels:  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

But there is another book that is loaded with information about Jesus, and that’s the book of Hebrews.

And now let me share with you everything I learned about Jesus from the book of Hebrews (the New King James Version).

Jesus is the Son of God. (4:14)

He is the express image of God’s person.  (1:3)

Jesus is the brightness of God’s glory.  (1:3)

God made the worlds through Jesus.  (1:2)

Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power.  (1:3)

God appointed Jesus heir of all things.  (1:2)

God has spoken to us by His Son.  (1:2)

Jesus became flesh and blood. (2:10)

He came to do the will of God. (10:9)

He arose from the tribe of Judah. (7:14)

He suffered when he was tempted. (2:18)

Jesus was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (4:15)

Jesus loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. (1:9)

Jesus is holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. (7:26)

He endured hostility from sinners. (12:3)

He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. (5:8)

Jesus was made perfect through sufferings. (2:10)

In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to God. (5:7)

Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant. (9:15, 12:24)

He is Mediator of a better covenant, an eternal covenant, established on better promises. (8:6, 13:20)

Jesus became a surety of a better covenant. (7:22)

Jesus offered up Himself once for all for the sins of the people. (7:27)

He endured the cross, despising the shame. (12:2)

He tasted death for everyone. (2:9)

Jesus died to destroy the devil. (2:14)

Through the eternal Spirit, Jesus offered Himself without spot to God. (9:14)

Jesus entered heaven itself, to appear in the presence of God for us. (9:24)

With His own blood Jesus entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (9:12)

Jesus sanctified the people by His own blood. (13:12)

He made propitiation for the sins of the people. (2:17)

He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (9:26)

By the will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (10:10)

Jesus was offered once to bear the sins of many. (9:28)

He offered one sacrifice for sins forever. (10:12)

Jesus purged our sins. (1:3)

By one offering Jesus has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (10:14)

The blood of Christ cleanses our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (9:14)

Jesus became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (5:9)

Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (7:25)

Jesus was called by God as High Priest. (5:10)

He is a merciful and faithful high priest. (2:17)

He is a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses. (4:15)

Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession. (3:1)

He is a High Priest who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. (8:1)

He has an unchangeable priesthood. (7:24)

He is High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (6:20)

Jesus is a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected. (8:2)

God brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead. (13:20)

Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (1:3)

He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (12:2)

He was crowned with glory and honor. (2:7)

Jesus has been perfected forever. (7:28)

His throne is forever and ever. (1:8)

All things are in subjection under the feet of Jesus. (2:8)

He sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. (10:12-13)

He is worthy of more glory than Moses. (3:3)

He has a more excellent name than the angels. (1:4)

He is higher than the heavens. (7:26)

Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep. (13:20)

He is the author and finisher of our faith. (12:2)

To those who eagerly wait for Him, Jesus will appear a second time. (9:28)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (13:8)

Yes, that’s a lot of information about Jesus.  And that’s why I say, if you want to learn about Jesus, make sure you read through the book of Hebrews.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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



© 2010 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-

Others Draw Strength from Your Strength - Apples of Gold - August 17, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 17, 2010

“Others Draw Strength from Your Strength”

 

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

“Here I am . . . 85 years old.”

That’s what Caleb said, 45 years after he and Joshua scouted out the Promised Land.

“I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out,” said Caleb in Joshua chapter 14.  “I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.”

I draw strength from a man like that.  When I see someone step forward in strength, it strengthens me.

I’ve spent time in various weight rooms over the years, and what do we like to put up on the walls?  Pictures of men who have paid the price, who have made themselves strong.  Their strength strengthens the rest of us.

Caleb wasn’t just physically strong.  He was mentally strong.  His mind was steeled for battle.

He was also strong in his convictions and in his faith.  He said “…my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear.  I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.”

I love reading about men who were strong in their faith.  Their strength strengthens me.

Here’s a story for you.  When I was a kid, I had a bedroom on the second floor, and outside my window was a roof that was kind of like a balcony.  Well one night I heard noises out there that scared me.  There was definitely a person just outside my window!

Well Dad came up, listened, opened the window, went out on the balcony, and wouldn’t you know it, a cat. 

That may not sound like a big deal, but Dad’s strength strengthened me. 

Dads, you must be aware of this.  Your strength strengthens your children, and your wife, too.  They will draw strength from your strength.

Have you ever read “Babylon Revisited” by F. Scott Fitzgerald?  It’s a short story about a man named Charlie who had overcome his alcoholism.  He returned to his old haunts in postwar Paris and encountered a couple he used to party with.  They were stuck in the same old drunken cycle while Charlie had sobered up and moved on. 

He didn’t really want to see them, but they were bent on seeing him.  Why?

Here is the author’s conclusion.  “They wanted to see him, because he was stronger than they were now, because they wanted to draw a certain sustenance from his strength.”

That’s the way it is, my friend.  One person draws strength from another.

And now my question for you.  Are you the kind of person people can draw strength from?

Paul told Timothy to be an example for the believers. 

When we set a good example, others can draw strength from us.

When I see a man being a good husband, it strengthens me to be a good husband.  I draw strength from his example.

In radio, when I hear someone do something excellent on the air, it strengthens me to be excellent.

I have friends who are hard workers.  They don’t quit when it gets hard or hot or their body aches.  They kick into a higher gear – and their strength strengthens me.

Before Jesus’ ascension, He told Peter in Luke 22 “strengthen thy brethren.”  Did he do that by saying strong words but being weak himself? 

No.  You strengthen others by being strong yourself!

Peter later wrote about the importance of “…being examples to the flock.”

The Bible says that Paul went all over the countryside strengthening the disciples.  Did he do that just by flapping his lips?  No!  He strengthened them in part by his example of strength!  They drew strength from his strength!

“But Doug, I don’t have any strength.”

Yes you do, from the same source as Peter and Paul and Caleb and David.

Paul said he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him.

David strengthened himself in the Lord.

First Chronicles says, “Seek the Lord and His strength…”

Second Chronicles says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”

So find your strength in the Lord, and be strong.  Set the example of strength, and as you do, know this.

Others will draw strength from your strength.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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



© 2010 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-

Slander No One - Apples of Gold - August 16, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for August 16, 2010

“Slander No One”

 

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

A friend of mine was a political candidate.

He was a popular and effective leader in the region, but had never run for public office.

The race was tight, so his party drafted a letter to be sent out in his name.  It basically took some shots at his opponent. 

Now this man was known for his class, and his faith.  He was a high-road kind of guy, and definitely not the kind to take cheap shots at people.

He opposed the sending of the letter.  The party thought it was good political strategy, and it probably was, but it contained something my friend would not be party to:  slander.

This may sound like typical political hijinks, but slander is something we must all be aware of.

There are two elements to slander.  First of all, it’s something that isn’t true; and second, it’s designed to hurt someone’s reputation.

So slander is false, and damaging.

And you know what?  It’s usually not in the form of a cleverly crafted strategy.  Slander usually just comes popping out of your mouth.

They say that politics should not be discussed in polite conversation.  One reason is because it is sure to produce slander.

For example, just bring up President Obama in a group of people, and someone is bound to spit out some slander.  And if that particular group doesn’t have anything slanderous to say about Mr. Obama, then trot out the name George Bush and watch the slander fly. 

“But Doug, I’m not speaking slander.  I’m only speaking the truth.”

Then I would ask, “How do you know it’s true?  What are your sources?  And do you know it to be the whole truth?”

Now I’m not famous, and I’ve been reported on only a few times.  But even with that little coverage, I’m amazed at how much they get wrong.  For example, one wedding announcement even had my wife marrying my dad instead of me. 

But when it comes to people like presidents, we take what our favorite news outlets or commentators say as the gospel truth and we spread it around.

Now look at your heart.  When you do this, are you hoping to take a shot at that person?  Are you hoping to damage their reputation, to take them down a peg or two?

If it’s false (and it may well be) and it’s designed to hurt their reputation (and you know in your  heart what you are trying to do) then it is slander.

In politics, slander kind of comes with the territory, even though it’s wrong.  From Sarah Palin to Hillary Clinton to your local mayor, just trot out their names and you are sure to stir up some slander.

But slander can come sliding out of the mouth in most any circumstance.  If your spouse does something to annoy you, and the kids say, “What’s wrong,” be careful what you say.  It will be so easy spew out something not entirely true designed to take a shot at your spouse.

It happens at work, when talking about the boss or about co-workers.  It happens when talking about the pastor or Great Aunt So-and-So.

It’s just so easy to let slander slip into the conversation. 

And listen.  It may not be an outright lie.  It may be a half truth or a distorted truth, or it may only be a reported truth that you really don’t know if it’s true or not; but you repeat it with the goal of taking a shot at someone.

Listen.  The goal of slander is to lower that person in the eyes of others.  You want people to think less of them.

Have you ever been the subject of slander?  I have.  All of a sudden it comes back to you that others have been talking about you, and what they said isn’t true.  Oh, it was reported as true – and there may have been a kernel of truth in it – but it was distorted or taken out of context or blown out of proportion.  It became something it truly wasn’t – and the worst part can be the fact that they actually wanted to hurt you, to bring you down, to damage your reputation.

And sadly, I have opened my own big mouth and spewed out slander – and if you are a true Christian, you can almost taste the poison as it sputters off your tongue.  I’ve been there and I despise it.

So what is the cure?

It’s really quite obvious. 

Love.

We are to love one another.  We are to love our neighbor.  We are to love everyone, friends and enemies alike.

Love is the foil to slander.

When you really love someone, it’s hard to slander them.  You don’t want to cut down someone you love.  You don’t want to damage their reputation or hurt them in the eyes of others.

So love is the foil to slander.  Focus on loving people, and slander will just slip away – even when discussing politics!

And if you need a scripture to nail this one down in your head, here is the admonition of Paul to Titus.

Titus chapter three verse two says this:  slander no one.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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



© 2010 The Arrow’s Tip 
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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
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