Big Me and Little You - Apples of Gold - October 7, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for October 7, 2010

“Big Me and Little You”

 

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

“I find myself tearing up a lot lately when I worship the Lord.”

That’s what a man said yesterday.

My immediate response was, “That’s humility.”

One of the great things about believing in God and coming to Him in worship and prayer is that you realize you aren’t “all that.”  It’s hard to stay on the throne, so to speak, when you honestly come before the One who really is on the throne.

I say “honestly” because you actually can spend time in prayer and still be nutty as a loon in your self-exaltation.  Jesus told such a story in Luke 18.

Two men went to the temple to pray, He said.  One was a Pharisee who prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men,” and he went on to brag about himself to God.

The other was a tax collector who couldn’t even look up to heaven.  He actually beat his chest and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

That’s not a true story.  It’s a parable Jesus told to make a point, and here is the point He delivered like a thunderclap in verse 14.  “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

He said it again in Luke 14, but after telling a different parable.  He said, “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’  Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.  But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’  Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.”

Then Jesus once again delivered this powerful, sweeping statement:  “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The King James Version says “…for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased…”

Abased has a harsher sound to it, like you were slammed to the basement, to the concrete floor.  You were abased.

Jesus said that’s what will happen to everyone who exalts themselves.  They will be abased, brought down, humbled.

If you make yourself out to be Mr. Wonderful, you are coming down.  It’s the law of the land. 

I interviewed Shaun Alexander this week, the former NFL most valuable player and All-Pro running back with the Seattle Seahawks.  He is also an outspoken Christian and has a new book out called “The Walk.”

Shaun had a proper attitude about his glory days in football.  Even at the peak, his identity was not “I am the MVP, I am the greatest!”  Instead, he said his identity was always that of a follower of Christ.  He humbled himself in the sight of the Lord, as it says in James 4:10.

When injuries knocked him out of football, his identity was not rocked because that was not his identity to begin with.  He just went on humbling himself before God and saying, “Lord, now what?”

Romans 12:3 says, “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

First Corinthians 10:12 says, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

This sounds like such a simple and common truth that it hardly needs repeating, yet people still do it.  They put themselves on a pedestal.  They are “Big Me and little you.”  When you see people like that, just watch.  They have an appointment with humility.

On the flip side is the man who humbles himself.  Whoever humbles himself will be exalted, Jesus said.  Keep your eye on that man, because he has an appointment with promotion.  He will be lifted up, and it will be okay because he is ready for it.  He doesn’t think of himself more highly than he ought.

Now back to the man who said he has been tearing up lately while worshipping the Lord.  Why did I say that was humility? 

Because I’ve been there.  When you come before the Lord honestly, to worship Him and draw near to Him, it is humbling in many ways.  It is humbling because you are acknowledging His place as Lord of your life.  It’s humbling because we are sinners, yet He accepts us by His grace.  And it is humbling to know that He is going to exalt us in some special way because we have humbled ourselves before Him. 

So we have two choices with very specific consequences.  We can exalt ourselves and be knocked down a few pegs, or we can humble ourselves and be the recipient of God’s great promise:  we will be exalted


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-

Doug, What Is Your Greatest Failure? - Apples of Gold - October 6, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for October 6, 2010

“Doug, What Is Your Greatest Failure?”

 

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

The pastor didn’t show up.

It was Wednesday night, so the crowd was small.  Seven became 7:05 then 7:15 and still no pastor.

It was the days before cell phones, so we couldn’t just call him and say, “Where are you?” 

We were all sitting in the pews, chatting about our silly situation.  The pianist was ready to play, but our pastor was also the song leader, so now what?

We decided to have a service anyway, and I was nominated to lead.  I had never done such a thing before, so I took the path of “let’s just draw near to God and see what happens.”

We sang and prayed and asked God to lead us, to move upon us, to do something special in our special circumstance.

And He did.  The Lord moved in a mighty way that night, especially in me.  I found myself at the altar, weeping before the Almighty.

Why was I weeping?  Because the Spirit of God had stirred up a deep conviction in my heart – the conviction that I wasn’t loving people as I should, as God wanted me to.

I’ve never been the lovey-dovey type.  I’m not the cruel type, either, but I’m not the guy that goes around hugging everyone and saying how much I love them.  To me those words are a big commitment that I can only give a few people.

I think I’ve done a pretty good job of loving my wife and our children – but my grades really start to drop after that.  I say I love my other family members, but I don’t show it very well.  I’m not good at staying in contact with them. 

I maintain a minimum contact with old friends through the internet, but I wouldn’t call that loving them.  Then there are co-workers and fellow church members, people I see on a regular basis, but with whom I have little personal involvement.  And then there are the strangers, people I run into that I don’t know at all.

Yes, I am kind and cordial and professional.  I shake hands and make eye contact and smile at people.  I’ll chit-chat and treat everyone like a real human being.  I’ll be fair and generous and helpful and polite . . . but am I loving?

If you were to ask me, “Doug, what is your greatest failure?” I would have a quick and easy answer.  “Not loving people like I should.”

In Matthew 22 someone said this to Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

We like to make it even shorter by saying, “Love God, love people.”

Now if it said, “Seek God and serve people,” that I can do.  I love to serve people and help them.  If I can do you some good, that’s exactly what I want to do; but do I love you?

Ephesians 5:2 tells us to live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.  Loving people involves sacrifice and service, so to that degree I do love people.  I am willing to sacrifice and serve them; but am I doing it out of love?

I guess I’m expecting a loving feeling to come gushing up and spill out everywhere.  I’m looking for ecstatic love that flies out towards everyone.  “Hey you!  I love you!”

First John says a lot about love.  First John 4:7 says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God…”

Verse 8 says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Verse 11 says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”

Verse 12 says, “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.”

We should love one another.  We must love one another.  We are commanded to love one another.  And I believe God enables us and empowers us to love one another.  Through Him it is not only possible, it will happen. 

Here’s how I’ve seen it work in my life.  The more I draw near to God and grow in love with Him, the more He stirs up love within me for other people. 

So yes, not loving people like I should is what I believe to be my greatest failure, but with the Lord moving inside me, teaching me and discipling me, I know there is hope. 

Over time I trust that I will be able to love people just as the Lord wants me to.


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-

Does Your Child Know What One Means? - Apples of Gold - October 4, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for October 4, 2010

“Does Your Child Know What One Means?”

 

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

If you think the school is going to teach your child everything he needs to know, think again.

I was talking to a public school kindergarten teacher recently, and she said some of her students come in and don’t even know the concept of 1 and 2.  They know nothing about numbers.  They can’t even put up one finger to represent the number one because they don’t know that one means one.  They don’t know what it means.

She said sometimes she thinks to herself, “Where have these kids been, in a closet for five years?”

Well here’s the problem.  Many parents miss the point that it is their job to teach their children.  And you know what?  That teaching never really stops.

I walked into the bathroom at home to wash my hands and found soap globbed up on the outside of the little dispenser.  I called my children in and gave them a little lesson on how to pump soap.  “You don’t hold your hand under it and whack the top of it,” I said.  “You place your finger under the nozzle and gently pump out a little bit of soap.  A little is all you need.  Then pull your finger across so that no soap drips or is left hanging on the end of the nozzle.”

How are children supposed to know these things unless their parents teach them? 

You can’t just tell your kids to do the dishes, then complain that it wasn’t done right.  You have to teach them.

Training children encompasses everything, from pumping soap to learning numbers. 

Last week I helped my daughter create a resume, something she had never done.  Should I blame the school?  That would be silly.  I took responsibility for it.

Now don’t get me wrong.  I am for an excellent education system; and I am also for excellent parenting.  We need to teach our children the basics like their colors and the alphabet, and we need to teach them values.

This weekend I said something to my son that I’m sure he knew I was going to say, because I’ve been saying it his whole life – and now he is married with a child of his own on the way.  I wasn’t even in on the conversation, I just overheard it, but I piped in my two cents’ worth.  I said, “Keep your word.  Always keep your word.”

That is a value that I’ve tried to drill into our four children, and everyone else who will listen.  If you say you are going to do something, do it.  Of course that also puts pressure on me to model it, but that’s how we pass values on to our children.  We tell them, and we set a good example.

Now let’s take it a bit deeper.  Parents are responsible for the development of their child’s thinking.  How does your child think?  What is her worldview? 

My mother did a great job teaching us how to think about needy people.  She taught us to see them as people who needed help, and to help them if we could.

Not every child is raised to think that way.  Some parents teach their kids not to help people.

Sound far fetched?  Well listen to this.

I just finished a biography of Ayn Rand.  I’ve never read any of her books, but she was a very influential writer.  Unfortunately she was an atheist, was anti-God, anti-religion, and get this – anti-altruism.  She didn’t believe in helping people!

Barbara Branden and her future husband Nathaniel were young disciples of Ayn Rand.  Listen to what she wrote about the influence on them of Rand’s novel The Fountainhead.

“Nathaniel and I were students at UCLA, he in psychology, I in philosophy.  We had both separately discovered The Fountainhead when we were fifteen years old and had devoured it nonstop in a few rapt days of emotional and intellectual absorption; it had a powerful influence on the development of our thinking.”

Did you catch that last line?  Ayn Rand’s book of fiction had a powerful influence on the development of their thinking.

Who is having a powerful influence on the development of your child’s thinking?  Is it you the parent, or is it someone like Ayn Rand who was anti-God and anti-altruism?

Someone is going to influence the development of your child’s thinking!  And by the way grandparents, someone is going to influence the development of your grandchild’s thinking.  Do you want to leave that up to some stranger?

This is why a lot of parents homeschool.  It’s why many others send their children to a Christian school.  It’s why all parents need to choose their child’s school wisely, as well as their reading material and their neighborhood and their friends.

But most important of all is the parents’ constant involvement in the training of their children in every facet of life.  Of course number one is to train them up in the Lord, involved in church and growing as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  And after that comes everything else from potty training to choosing a career.

No, our kids aren’t puppets, but they will be influenced and it’s our job to make sure they are influenced for good, to become the best Christian adult citizens they can possibly be.


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-

What is Life About? - Apples of Gold - October 1, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for October 1, 2010

“What is Life About?”

 

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

What is life about?

Have you ever asked that question?  It goes along with other questions like, “What am I doing here?” and “Do I have a purpose?”  Is life more than eating and drinking and slogging through one day to the next?

Well let me ask you this.  Do you believe in “intelligent design”?  Do you believe that all the beauty and intricacies of the universe were created by some awesome being?

I do.  The evidence detected by my senses just screams that there is something behind it all. 

So it is very easy for me to believe that there is a creator.  In my mind, that conclusion is followed very closely by the conclusion that the creator had a reason for His creation.  He had a design and a purpose.

Since I’m a Christian, it won’t surprise you when I turn to the Bible for answers.  Now you may not be a Bible-believing Christian yourself, but just listen and see if this makes any sense.

In the book of Genesis we find the creation story.  Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…”

I know that the whole universe is intricate and amazing, but it doesn’t surprise me that it’s human beings who were created in the likeness of God.  People are amazing!  The things we do and think and feel, the things we create – and we aren’t done yet!  It’s easy for me to believe that the Creator unleashed a portion of Himself in human beings.

Now this may sound like a crude comparison, but to me Genesis 1:26 sounds a lot like a man and wife saying, “Let’s make a baby that looks like us.” 

You know how that makes me feel?  It makes me feel loved! 

God didn’t just throw a frog’s leg and mushrooms into a boiling cauldron to see what would come out.  He said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” 

We were planned!  We were designed and created in the image of God. 

Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

I don’t know where God got the “male and female” idea, but I like it!  There are a host of implications from those three little words “male and female.”  They are not the same, but they go together as a pair. 

Genesis 2:18 says, “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.’”  So God created a woman, and Genesis 2:24 says, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

In Matthew 19:6 Jesus said “…so they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

I know this sounds basic, but we are asking a basic question today.  What is life about? 

So God created us male and female so we could pair up with a partner for life.  Now what?

Genesis 1:28 says, “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”  Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, and what were they told to do?  “Work it and take care of it.”

So at the dawn of creation, here is the way God set things up.  He created the world and men and women.  They were to pair up and be lifelong companions.  They were to make babies and raise a family.  They were to subdue the earth, rule over the animals and tend the plants.

As the population grew, a few more foundational principles came to be.  Caring for your extended family is one of them, including aging relatives.  God designed the family as a support system.  Beyond this, we are to love our neighbors and help those in need who are not family.

Also, we are to bring about justice when people harm each other rather than care for them.  We are to bring about order from chaos.  It’s all part of our initial “charter” if you will, to “subdue the earth.”

So what is life about?  Are you starting to see the answer?

It shouldn’t be hard to see.  These things are being done all over the world.  Men and women still reflect the image and likeness of God.  We still pair up for lifelong companionship, though many miss out on the lifelong part.  We are still fruitful and multiplying, raising families and caring for extended family and needy neighbors.  We are still ruling over the animals and tending the garden.  We are still working to bring about justice and order from chaos as we subdue the earth.

One major problem is that there seems to be a flaw in the design, a virus in the software.  Just when things go well, something foul happens.  Why is that?

According to the Bible, it’s due to sin.  Sin is the termite in the wood.  We live in a fallen world, so bad things happen, and often the bad things are done by people. 

Well I’m short on time, but in a nutshell, this is where the Gospel of Jesus Christ comes in.  The Son of God came to earth as a man, shed His blood and died to pay the price for our sin.  Now we can return to our Creator and be “born again.”  We become new creations in Christ, then the Holy Spirit moves in and starts running out the termites.  Then to really make a long story short, our body dies, we step into eternity with God, and He has a bunch of plans after that.

So what is life about?  We should still be carrying out God’s initial plans from the book of Genesis, then add to that the sharing of the Gospel so others can return to the Creator themselves, and experience His intimate work in their own life, both for now and for eternity.

And that’s what life is about.


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-

Jesus is the Son of God - Apples of Gold - September 29, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for September 29, 2010

“Jesus is the Son of God”

 

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

 

Jesus is the Son of God.

Do you believe that?  Is that your personal “confession”?

It’s an important confession, according to First John 4:15 – “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

When it comes to biblical Christianity, this is not a disputed doctrine based on a few vague verses.  This is a core belief, and it’s found throughout the New Testament.

Let’s take a look at some of the verses that declare Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Let’s start with the birth of Jesus.  It was pointed out several times that He was no ordinary baby, but that He was, indeed, the Son of God.

Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…”

That woman was Mary.  An angel spoke to Mary in Luke chapter one and said, “You will be with child and give birth to a Son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”  The angel continued, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Romans 8:3 says that God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.

Jesus grew to be a man, and when He was baptized a voice from heaven declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

When Satan tempted Jesus he tried to incite Him with this phrase, “If thou be the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3, 6)

Mark 3:11 says that when evil spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”

In Mark 5:7 a demon possessed man cried out, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

It wasn’t just demoniacs who called Him the Son of God.  John the Baptist said, “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”  (John 1:34)

Nathaniel said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”  (John 1:49)

When Jesus calmed the wind, the men in the boat worshipped Him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33)

Simon Peter told Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

Martha said, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” (John 11:27)

At the transfiguration, in Matthew 17:5 a voice came out of a bright cloud and said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  Hear Him!”

When Jesus was on trial, this was a key question.  Matthew 26 records the high priest saying, “I charge you under oath by the living God:  Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”  Jesus replied, “Yes, it is as you say.”

In John 19:7 the Jews said, “We have a law, and according to that law He must die, because He claimed to be the Son of God.”

When Jesus was on the cross, His enemies said things like, “Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”  (Matthew 27:40)

When He died, a Roman centurion said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.” (Mark 15:39)

Romans 5:10 says, “…we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son…”

First John 4:10 says that God loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

First John 1:7 says that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

His bloodshed and death were part of the plan, but that was not the end.  Romans 1:4 says that Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power…by the resurrection from the dead…”

After His resurrection and ascension, the word continued to spread that He was the Son of God.  Saul had his experience on the road to Damascus, and what did he do?  Acts 9:20 says that he “at once began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Many others preached Jesus as the Son of God, including Silas and Timothy.  (Second Corinthians 1:19)

Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch who then declared, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:37)

John 5:23 says that all men should honor the Son, just as they honor the Father who sent Him.

John also wrote, “And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ…”  And he said that by believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, we may have life through His name. (First John 3:23, John 20:31)

God has called us into fellowship with His Son, His only begotten Son that He sent into the world.  (First Corinthians 1:9, John 4:9)

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life…” (John 3:36)

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

Hebrews 1 says that God made the universe through His Son, and appointed His Son heir of all things.  The Son is the radiance of God’s glory, it says, and the exact representation of His being.  Verse 3 says, “After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

And First Thessalonians 1:10 says, “…to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

This is a core belief.  This is a foundational truth and our common confession.

That Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

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-

Get the Beam Out of Your Eye - Apples of Gold - September 28, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for September 28, 2010

“Get the Beam Out of Your Eye”

 

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

Do I need to ask for God’s help to keep me from watching dirty movies on HBO?

No.

Why not?

Because I don’t have HBO.

That’s a simple concept, isn’t it? 

So what am I going to say to the man who comes to me and says, “I need you to pray for me.  I need God to help me stop watching dirty movies on HBO.”

Yes, I’ll probably pray for the man, but first I’m going to bluntly say, “Get rid of HBO.”

Sometimes people hyper-spiritualize things and turn them into something far more complicated than they really are.

Jesus said to get the beam out of your eye.  Just get it out.

He said it in the context of picking out the small sins of others while having big sins of your own.  It’s like pointing out a splinter in their eye while having a beam in your own eye.  How can you help them with a splinter while you have your own beam?  First of all, get the beam out of your eye, Jesus said, then you can help with their splinter.

Let’s look at this from a couple of different angles.

First of all, the main action point is to get the beam out of your own eye.  What does that mean?

Get rid of the big whopping sins!  That’s what I think it means.

Stop killing.  Stop stealing.  Stop fornicating or committing adultery.  Stop being violent.  Stop being perverted. 

Isn’t that a simple concept?  Get the beam out of your eye, Jesus said.

Did He tell us how?

Look at the very next passage in Matthew chapter seven.  He said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

So do you want to get the beam out of your eye?  Do you want to put a stop to your big whopping sins?  Then ask, seek and knock.  Make your requests known to the Lord.  Seek Him and find the answers to your problems.

Jesus hammered home His point by saying, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

So ask the Lord to deliver you from those sins.

And there’s more.  At the end of chapter seven Jesus said “…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

So that’s another thing to do to remove the beam from your eye; listen to Jesus’ words and put them into practice.

This is a powerful one-two punch for getting the beam out – take it to the Lord in prayer, then hear His words and put them into practice. 

So I think that’s the main action point of Jesus’ teaching in those verses.  Get the beam out of your eye.

Maybe you thought the main action point was to keep your mouth shut about your brothers’ sins, but that’s not it.  It’s not that you let your brother keep on sinning.  It’s that you work on your own sins, then help him work on his.

Years ago, the head of our local Teen Challenge had a drug problem.  With God’s power he got that beam out of his eye, praise the Lord!  And now he spends his time helping other men with their drug problems.

See how that works?  “Then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye,” Jesus said in Matthew 7:5.

Hurry up and get the beam out of your eye so you can help your brother with whatever is in his eye.

Now let me touch on one more angle of this teaching.  What if someone with a beam in their own eye approached me about something in my eye?  My knee-jerk response could be to say, “What?  Why would I listen to you?  You have a beam in your eye!”

That’s like saying I would ignore someone who was covered with spiders who said, “Dude, there’s a spider on your sleeve.”

Would I ignore him because he had a much bigger spider problem than mine?  Not at all! 

Now he may not be a good person to help me with my spider problem, but I am still going to look at my sleeve for a spider.  And if I find one, I’m going to do something about it – and it doesn’t matter where the news came from.

Does that make sense?  If someone points out a speck in your eye, the fact that they have a beam in their eye shouldn’t stop you from checking to see if it’s true.

So check your eyes.  Start by looking for beams, those big whopping sins that are obvious – and get them out.

Get the beam out of your own eye, Jesus said.  Then you will be able to do the important work of helping your brother with whatever is in his eye. 


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-

Worry Blocks the Word - Apples of Gold - September 27, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for September 27, 2010

“Worry Blocks the Word”

 

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

Did you hear the Word this weekend?

Did you listen to a preacher or a teacher share a message from the Word of God?

If so, did you get anything out of it?  Did you receive the impact that the Word is meant to have?

Or maybe it’s been so long since you were impacted by the Word that hearing it is no longer a priority.  Maybe you’d rather spend your weekends boating than hearing the Word.

Here is one possible reason for that:  worry.

Did you know that worry blocks the Word?

Worry is like weeds in your soul.  It’s hard for the good seed of the Word to grow when it is choked out by weeds of worry.

In the Parable of the Sower, in Mark 4:19 Jesus said that among other things, the worries of this life come in and choke the Word, making it unfruitful.

You may hear the Word, and it might even fire a little spark in your soul; but then the worries of this life creep in and choke it out, preventing it from growing and bearing good fruit in your life.

If it has been a while since you got something from a sermon, it could be that your worries are blocking the Word.

“But Doug, I have some real worries.  If things don’t go right there’s going to be some real trouble.  Of course I’m worried.”

Listen.  You can take care of business without worrying about it.  You still do your work, but you don’t have to take a big swig of anxiety every time you think about it.  If you do, one of the negative side effects is that you choke the Word in your life.  Worry chokes the Word.

Remember Mary and Martha in the Bible?  Mary sat with Jesus, soaking up the Word, while Martha grew more and more anxious about preparations.  Finally Jesus said in Luke 10:41, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.”  The Word couldn’t get through to Martha because it was smoked out by her anxiety.

Jesus gave an excellent sermon about worry in Matthew chapter six.  He said don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or drink or wear, because your heavenly Father knows what you need and He will take care of you.  Jesus said to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.

“But Doug, how can I stop worrying?  I don’t do it on purpose.  It just happens when I think about things.”

A main antidote for worry is prayer.  Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

I like how it’s worded in the New Living Translation.  It says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.”

First Peter 5:7 is a great verse about worry, telling us to cast all our care on Him, for He cares for us.  Verse six talks about God’s mighty hand, which is comforting because one antidote for worry is to focus on God’s power and strength. 

Like the song says, “We are weak but He is strong.”  So what can we do when worry creeps in?  We can cast that worry to the Lord, for He cares for us, and He is strong enough to do something about it, even when we aren’t.

The 23^rd Psalm is a great antidote for worry.  Just listen and see if it doesn’t cool your worry temperature down a degree or two.  Here it is.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

Proverbs 12:25 states the obvious:  worry weighs a person down.

But a less obvious thing is that worry blocks the Word. 

So if the Word has seemed distant to you lately, if you aren’t getting anything out of your Bible reading or sermons or lessons, then look for worry in your life; and if you find it, take it to the Lord in prayer.  Cast your cares on Him and put your faith in Him to provide for you.

And if you ever find that the Word just seems dry or distant to you, remember this.

Worry blocks the Word.


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-

American Boy & Angel - Apples of Gold - September 24, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for September 24, 2010

“American Boy & Angel”

 

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

(begin music)

An American boy
A harvest moon
A hay ride
Angel plays a tune

Angel is the girl he loves
A ukulele player
She strums and hums
And tweedle-dee-dums
He’s smitten, layer by layer

She’s sitting by another boy
Her song is meant for him
He charms her back and smiles big
While on the other end

Our American boy
Is making plans
He wants this girl to marry
He holds a flower in his hand
He wants to move, but dare he?

She likes him
That he knows for sure
He saw it in her eyes
But now she plays for Tweedle Dee
The dude who tells her lies

He lies about his grandma
He lies about his grades
He lies about the things he likes about her when she plays

He’s a liar, that is true
This boy called Tweedle Dee
But he is cute and that’s a fact
And Angel’s noticing

Our young man grips his flower
Which is shaking in his hand
She liked him once, he loves her now
It’s time to take command

She rests her fingers
He begins to sing “Time After Time”
She strums the ukulele and begins to harmonize

They sang this song before, you see
One sunset on the beach
When she loved him and he’s the one
Who seemed so out of reach

He liked another girl back then
Who wasn’t quite so nice
While Angel kept her standards high
Not trying to entice

He caught the other girl
And saw the seamy underside
No depth of faith or character
No girl to be his bride

But Angel! Yes, now there’s a girl
A woman he observes
So full of faith and character
And strength and lots of nerve

She sings and plays and reads the Book
And truly loves the Lord
Yes Angel is the girl for him
The girl he’s moving toward

He puts the flower in her hair
And sings “Time After Time”
He whispers, “Let’s get out of here.”
They leap right off the side

A year ahead, with hay below
Above, a harvest moon
American Boy and Angel
Make a lovely bride and groom

(end music)

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-

What Is Your End Game? - Apples of Gold - September 22, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for September 22, 2010

“What Is Your End Game?”

 

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

What is your end game?

Have you ever heard that before?

The “end game” is simply the final stages of something.

For example, in the game of chess, the end game comes when most of the pieces are off the board.

A good chess player has planned for this moment.  He was mapping it out from the beginning, thinking several moves ahead.  He knew where he wanted to go and had a plan to get there.

I am not a good chess player.  I don’t have an end game.  I pretty much just take each move as it comes without pondering what the next five moves hold. 

And guess what?  If I play someone with a good end game, I lose.

Yeah, I win sometimes, but winning is unlikely without an end game.

This is true in all of life.  If you don’t have an end game, you are likely to lose.

If you are a parent, what is your end game for raising your children?  I have a three-point end game for my parenting.  I want my children to 1) have their own personal relationship with God, 2) be self-sufficient, autonomous citizens, and 3) become contributing members of society.

When you know the end game, it helps you make decisions.

I was talking to an education official about the new class size rules in Florida.  I said, “What’s the end game?” 

He said, “Fewer students in the classroom.”

I said, “That’s not the end game.  The end game is better educated students.”

My daughter was dropped from a high school honors class because more students signed up than the new class size requirements allowed.  Several students ended up taking “lesser” classes.  Did that meet the goal of better educated students? 

Not in this case.  You can jam a classroom full of honors students and they are still going to soak up the information.  To me, this is a case of losing sight of the end game, which is better educated students, not smaller class sizes.

Husband, if you are flirting with someone at the office, what is your end game?  Is it to get her attention?  If you get her attention, then what?  Will you quit, or will you want more attention?  Do you want to end up in the sack?  Do you want everyone to know?  Do you want to lose your family?  Do you want to be humiliated?  What is your end game?  You need to think it through before you end up with something you don’t want.

Bill Clinton would have had a different presidency if he would have thought about the end game.  Did he picture an impeachment?  Did he imagine a humiliating public confession of indiscretion?  I doubt he gave much thought to the end game when it came to “that woman.”

I guess he got caught up in the moment, and that often leads to trouble.  We think only of this moment and the fun we can have, and turn a blind eye to the end game.  We don’t ask, “Where will I be when the fun is over?” 

But time always goes by, and there will always be an end game, and then what?  Will your chess pieces be aligned for victory or defeat?

When it comes to sin, James 1:15 spells out the end game.  It says “…when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

I was recently asked to lead a committee and I said yes, on one condition.  I want a clear end game.  I want to know the final destination so I can point us in the right direction and know where we are headed.  I don’t like vague or indecipherable end games.

Last weekend I spent a lot of time working on my daughter’s vehicle.  Someone said, “Why are you investing so much time in that old thing?”  They didn’t know my end game.  My investment was not in “that old thing.”  My investment was in my daughter, so she could drive something better.

First Corinthians 3 describes the ultimate end game.  It says the work of a man’s life will be brought to light one day, and its quality will be tested by fire.  If what he did survives, he will receive his reward.  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

That’s the end game we must all prepare for.  We work now with that day in mind.  We must live in such a way that the quality of our work survives the test.

So what are you planning today?  What are you working on? 

Don’t just blindly move your chess pieces around, thinking only one move at a time.  Instead, ponder where you’re going.  Think about your goals.

Think about your end game.


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-

Have an Eye to God in Every Word You Sing - Apples of Gold - September 21, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for September 21, 2010

“Have an Eye to God in Every Word You Sing”

 

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

How long has it been since you just belted out a song to the Lord?

Maybe it was in a church service, or maybe it was in your car listening to the radio, but I’m talking about the kind of singing that rises from within and flows out to God.

Not everyone is a singer, I realize that.  In your case, you may not sing at all, except in church to go along with the crowd.  Maybe you don’t like the sound of your voice, or maybe you’ve been told that you’re not a good singer.  My advice is, sing to the Lord!  Let the song rise from your soul to your Creator.

Or maybe you are a singer.  Maybe you sing all the time.  Maybe you lead the singing at church; but how long has it been since you sang to the Lord, where you really felt connected to Him?

I have an old church hymnal and inside it has “Directions for Singing.”  Have you ever been in church and received directions for singing?  Well this page was written by John Wesley in 1761 and contained seven points.

The last point caught my attention the most.  It says, “Above all sing spiritually.  Have an eye to God in every word you sing.”

It is so easy to just sing along mindlessly and miss the message of the song, especially if you’ve been going to church for a while. 

Wesley went on to say “…see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually…”

Music is usually a beautiful sound.  There are harmonies and melodies.  There is rhythm and unity.  Music can have a powerful affect on us, but Wesley warns us to not be carried away with the sound, but that our heart should be offered to God continually during the song.

Is that what you do when you are singing?  Are you offering your heart to God?

Most church services feature some kind of singing, led by some kind of song leader.  If you are the song leader, yes, you need to get the song right, and more importantly you need to be offering your own heart to God during the song.

If you are in the congregation, you need to fix your mind on the Lord during the singing.  It’s easy to be distracted, but you miss a great blessing if you don’t sing to the Lord yourself.

Of course, singing to the Lord is not confined to church services.  Some of my most powerful moments of singing to the Lord have occurred when I’m alone in the car.  If you know your Bible stories you’ll recall that Paul and Silas sang to the Lord…in jail. 

James 5:13 says, “Is anyone happy?  Let him sing songs of praise.”

Ephesians 5:19 says to “sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”

Colossians 3:16 says to “sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Of course the Psalm writers mention singing a lot, saying things like, “I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High,” and “I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me,” and “I will sing praise unto Thy name forever.”

They also include admonitions to sing, such as, “Sing the glory of His name,” and “Sing praises to our King,” and “Come before His presence with singing,” and “It is good to sing praises unto our God.”

Several times it says to “sing a new song unto the Lord.”  The good news is, there are plenty of new songs to sing, and we play some of the best right here on Wave 94. 

Plus, you are invited to write your own songs to the Lord.  What better way to make a special connection with God than to sing your own personal song to Him?

Did you know that King Solomon wrote over a thousand songs?  Did you know that King David actually had a music department for the house of the Lord? 

Music is an important part of being human.  As you can see by the sale of iPods and the ruckus over illegal downloading, music is still one of the most popular things on earth.  It’s popular, and it’s powerful.

So keep this in mind the next time you find yourself mindlessly singing church songs.  Instead of just going through the motions, get engaged.  Sing with some gusto and pay attention to the words.

And above all, like John Wesley said, “sing spiritually.  Have an eye to God in every word you sing…and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually…”


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-

God Cares About Carelessness - Apples of Gold - September 20, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for September 20, 2010

“God Cares About Carelessness”

 

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

A 20 year old Tallahassee man accidentally shot himself while toying with a loaded gun last week.

He died Saturday.

Friends witnessed the whole thing and said he thought the safety was on.

If there is ever a time you don’t want to be careless, it’s when you are handling a loaded gun.

Officials used the sober occasion to remind people of these important gun handling tips:
--Never point a weapon at anything you don’t want to shoot.
--Treat all weapons as loaded.
--Keep your finger off the trigger.
--Be sure of your target as well as what is behind your target.

Carelessness usually doesn’t cost people their life, but it usually costs something.

You may not be a mean person or a destructive person, but are you a careless person?

Carelessness can result in as much damage as meanness.  If you carelessly drive your car into a man on the street, the result is the same as if you ran him down with hatred in your heart.  If you carelessly break the speed limit, your speeding ticket will be same as if you were driving a stolen Camaro full of hot Mexican weed.

Carelessness is the lack of concern about the consequences of your action.  You do it without thinking of what all might happen.

Some people are careless about time.  They are always late, or they miss appointments entirely.  Yes, they are always sorry, but their carelessness wastes other people’s time just the same as if they did it on purpose.

Most people don’t get sick on purpose, but when you are careless about hygiene, you will get sick just the same as if you drank mild poison.  You shake hands with people, you use the restroom, you don’t wash your hands, you eat French fries, you lick your fingers, and then your belly hurts and you wonder why.  Your carelessness has made you sick.

You buy an appliance and you don’t read the directions.  Who needs those anyway?  You carelessly operate it, you don’t do it right, and it breaks.  Your carelessness has destroyed your appliance just the same is if you hit it with a sledgehammer.

Here is a Proverb we need to pay attention to.  It’s Proverbs 18:9 which says, “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.”

You don’t have to be a destroyer.  If you are slack in your work, you are a brother to the destroyer.

When you think of “slack in your work” you might think of laziness, but this also includes carelessness.  Everyone who is slack in their work is careless.  They are unconcerned about the consequences.

If you are a stealing worker, you are going to be fired.  If you are a careless worker, you are going to be fired, too, because you are costing the company as sure as the thief is.

Carelessness means you aren’t thorough.  You give little forethought or consideration to what you do.

Careless people are inconsiderate.  They don’t consider other people or their time or their money or even their feelings.

We should be considerate, not careless.

If you are a good athlete, but careless, you will be cut from the team as sure as the guy with two left feet.

Careless people are negligent.  They neglect to think things through.  They neglect to consider the outcome or the consequences for others.

Do you find that other people often have to step in and take care of things for you?  Do you often have to call people at the last minute because you need something?  Those are consequences of carelessness. 

I listen to a lot of sermons, tons of sermons.  I love listening to sermons as the Word of God is proclaimed; but one thing I hear sometimes is careless preaching.  A preacher will get on a roll and just start saying things, things that aren’t in the Bible, or maybe aren’t even true.  They aren’t trying to mislead.  They aren’t trying to spread false doctrine.  They are just being careless, but it confuses people just the same.

You might think that God is not concerned about carelessness, but think again.  In Matthew 12:36 Jesus said, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.”

Maybe you thought you would only have to account for your cussing or taking the Lord’s name in vain or lies you told or gossip or venomous words spoken in hatred and malice; but no.  Jesus said we will have to give an account for every careless word.

God cares about carelessness.  Why?  Because it can result in as much damage as malice.

If you carelessly shoot off your mouth, it can hurt people as much as if you ripped them on purpose.

Here is a good phrase that is the opposite of carelessness.  Psalm 39:1 says, “…I will take heed to my ways…”

Proverbs 27:23 gives another opposite of carelessness:  diligence.

If we do not take heed to our ways, if we are not diligent, then we must brace ourselves for Proverbs 19:16 which says “…he who is careless of his ways will die.”

Carelessness hurts people just as surely as malice, so today, examine your life for carelessness; and where you find it, determine with the help of God to exchange it for carefulness and consideration, taking heed to your ways and being diligent in all matters.


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-