A Workman of the Word - Apples of Gold - June 2, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for June 2, 2009

“A Workman of the Word”

 

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

“Do you see a man skilled in his work?”

I love that line from Proverbs 22:29.  Just a simple question:  Do you see a man skilled in his work?

Isn’t it great to watch a skilled workman?

In baseball I like to watch Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals.  He is a true workman, especially at the plate.

I even like the word “workman.”  It makes me think of someone who really works hard at his craft, to master it.

Now let me ask you this.  Do you think someone needs to tell the workman to sharpen his skills?  Do you think someone needs to come along behind Albert Pujols and push him along?  “Come on, Albert, please – you’ve got to get up and lift some weights.  Please take some batting practice.  Please?”

No.  A real workman needs no pushing. 

Push him?  You can’t even catch him.

Now think about the attributes of a workman.

A workman is focused.  He doesn’t dabble in every little thing that comes along.  Albert doesn’t blow his winters playing basketball or hanging out on some beach.  He is focused on his work – the work of being the best baseball player he can be.

A workman always improves.  He is never satisfied, never rests on his laurels.  He sees that it can be done better and he strives to do it.

A workman is always learning.  He plumbs the depths, filling his mind with all there is to know about his field.

A workman doesn’t do it for the money.  Oh, he probably makes money, and more all the time as he improves.  But the money is not his motivation.  People who are motivated by money alone will not keep up with the workman.  The workman is driven from within.  There is something inside him that makes him get up and go and push and push and push.

A workman doesn’t clock out.  Some people want to leave work behind and move on to more interesting things.  Not the workman.  His work is the most interesting thing.  He doesn’t leave it behind because it’s a big chunk of who he is.  A workman doesn’t say, “I don’t want to talk about work right now.”  He’s always ready to talk about it because he loves it. 

He is the workman.

Okay, so what’s all this about the workman?  It sounds like I’m promoting workaholics or something.

Well I got the word from Second Timothy 2:15.  It says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Paul told Timothy to be a workman.

And I hear that echoing down to me today.  “Doug, be a workman – a workman of the Word.”

In the King James that verse says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

I want to study.  I want to rightly divide – to correctly handle – the word of truth.

I want to be a Workman of The Word.

Now go back to those attributes of a workman.

A Workman of The Word is focused.  He doesn’t dabble in every little theology that comes along.  It’s not The Word today and the Oprah Book Club tomorrow.  No, he is focused on the Word of God.

A Workman of The Word always improves.  He never says, “Well, I’ve got this Christian thing down.”  Instead, he never stops putting the Word of God into practice more and more.

A Workman of the Word is always learning.  He plumbs the depths of Scripture.  He fills His mind more and more with the Word of the Living God.

A Workman of the Word doesn’t do it for the money.  Oh, he may earn his living in the ministry, but that money is not his motivation.  He is driven by a deep passion for God and His Word.  Something inside him drives him repeatedly back into the depths of Scripture.

A Workman of the Word doesn’t clock out.  Some people toss the Bible up on the shelf and move on to more interesting things.  Not the Workman of The Word.  To him the Word is the most interesting thing.  It’s a big chunk of who he is.  He never says, “I don’t want to talk about the Word right now.”  He’s always ready to talk about it because he loves it.

He is the Workman of the Word.

Do you know anyone like that?  Then let them know that you noticed.  Tell them, “Thank you for being a Workman of the Word.”

Or maybe this is your call today.  Maybe something is stirring deep within you.  Something is saying, “That’s what I want.  That’s what I need.”

Then go for it!  Follow that drive. 

It’s time for you to be the next Workman of the Word.

 
Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

How to Deal With Sins That Beset Us - Apples of Gold - June 1, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for June 1, 2009

“How to Deal With Sins That Beset Us”

 

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

I was a skinny freshman in P.E.

We were playing flag football, and I was a defensive back.

Jeff was an upperclassman on the other team.  He played no sports, but somehow he ended up with the ball.

He didn’t have any moves, but somehow he broke from the pack and came barreling down the sideline.

He was just a big ol’ farm boy.  Look at those flags, big as life, just waiting for me to reach out and snag one.

As I expected, he didn’t try any juke and jive.  He just kept running in a straight line.  Easy pickin’s. 

So I glided on over, ready to simply snatch the flag of this helpless ball carrier. 

The next thing I knew I was flying through the air and smashing to the ground.

And there was Jeff in the end zone, with both flags untouched.

Honestly, I was so focused on his flag that I don’t really know what happened.  But I must have been on the receiving end of a good old fashioned “stiff arm.”

Now I’m not even sure if a stiff arm is legal in flag football, but it sure was effective. 

Jeff didn’t need any fancy moves.  Once he broke from the pack he just made a beeline for the end zone.  He knew exactly where he wanted to go and he went straight for it. 

I was the only thing that stood in his way, but he sure didn’t stop to think about me.  He didn’t alter his course.  He didn’t try any fancy footwork.  I can still see him charging down that sideline, standing almost upright as he ran.

I think about that every time I read Hebrews 12:1 which says, “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…”

Have you ever heard of “besetting sins”?  These are sins that constantly badger you and annoy you.  They knock you back and keep you from growing in the Lord.

Well Hebrews 12:1 says to lay them aside – kind of like I got laid aside in flag football!

See, you don’t dance around with sin.  You don’t try to juke and jive, because when you do that, it will get you.

And you don’t slow down to try to deal with sin.  You don’t want to deal with it, you want to knock it out!

Now let’s look at two things Jeff did that helped him score.  First of all, he fixed his eyes on his goal.  He headed straight for the end zone and he did not change course.

And that’s what we have to do as Christians.  Hebrews 12:2 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus.  Elsewhere the Bible tells us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.

We run straight toward God with all of our might.  We want to grow in Him, to know Him, to love Him and obey Him.  Our eyes are fixed on the Lord.  We run towards Him with all of our strength.

See, a lot of our problems come in when we aren’t running for all we are worth, and we aren’t focused on the goal.  We slow down, we dilly-dally.  We lose focus. 

Then when sin comes up to beset us, it does.  We may try to stiff arm it, but a stiff arm is weak without momentum.  We have to be barreling toward Jesus if we want to stiff arm sin.

I’ve seen so many Christians get waylaid by sin.  On the outside it may look like it struck out of the blue, but I think it started when they lost their momentum.  They lost their passion for Jesus.  They took their eyes off Him and starting looking elsewhere.  They lost sight of the goal.

I often use this phrase “the relentless pursuit of God.”  I love that word, “relentless.” 

If we are relentless in our pursuit of God, then sin will have little power to beset us.  We will have so much momentum built up towards God that when sin comes along we can easily lay it out with a quick stiff arm.

It’s saying, “Sin, I’m not falling for that.  I’m not toying with you or dancing with you.  I’m not even thinking about you.  My eyes are fixed on Jesus, I’m barreling toward that goal, and now I’m going to flick you out of my way.  You have no power here.”

So is there a besetting sin or two that has haunted you?  Have you tried to deal with it to no avail?

Then it’s time to simply pick up a good head of steam.  Fix your eyes on Jesus and run toward Him!  Don’t focus on the sin, but on the Savior!  Run straight toward Him.  Be relentless.

And when sin tries to beset you, don’t stop and dance with it.  Don’t even look at it.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and stiff arm that besetting sin as you run right past it. 

Do that every time temptation pops up, and soon you will have so much momentum that that sin won’t even get your attention.

We are to lay aside every sin that so easily besets us, and we can do that by fixing our eyes on Jesus and running towards Him with all of our might!

 
Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

It Will Come to You, Layer by Layer - Apples of Gold - May 29, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 29, 2009

“It Will Come to You, Layer by Layer”

 

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

In the early days of the internet there were very few pictures.  The files were just too big and took too long to download due to slow internet speeds.

So as a web site designer, if I wanted to include a picture, I chose between two ways that it would load on your screen.  Either it would load up the full detail line by line, or it would load up a very faint version of the whole picture, then fill in the detail layer by layer.

Some of you remember those days.  A picture would pop up on your screen.  It would be full size, but you could barely make it out.  Then it was like a magic wand passed over it, and it became a little clearer.  Then after a few more passes you finally got the whole picture.

That’s the way my brain feels sometimes.  For example, when I decided to learn the computer program called Flash.  I bought it and installed it on my computer – so far, so good.

I opened it…and just stared at it.  I poked a button or two, but there was nothing intuitive about it, at least not to me.

Now you might think that I had accomplished nothing so far, a complete waste of time.  But that’s not true.  I had simply filled in the first very faint layer of the picture.

I bought a book about Flash and just stared at it.  Even with the author’s help I was very frustrated.  It was just so hard to do anything. 

After a while I just closed the book.  My brain hurt. 

Then I looked at some help files.  And I took a video tutorial.  And I started tinkering.

And here is what happened.  Layer by layer the picture began to clear up in my brain.  I went from a total fog to actually being able to create some simple Flash projects.

I remember when I had to create a new charting system for our radio station.  I decided to use Microsoft Access, but knew nothing about it.

My family was going on a ski trip, and I decided to lock myself in our room at the lodge, and while everyone else was skiing I plowed into Access.  Periodically I had to step away from the computer – you know, to keep from hurling it out the window. 

But by the second afternoon I had it worked out.  The picture in my brain went from all fuzz to fairly clear.

You see, that’s how we learn things, one layer at a time.

Isaiah 28:13 says it this way, “…precept upon precept, line upon line…”

Here’s my point.  It’s helpful to know this.  It keeps you from getting discouraged.

When you start anything new, the picture is messy.  Sometimes you can’t even tell which end is up. 

When you start a new job, you don’t even know where the bathroom is.  When you get married, you have to learn to share the bathroom.  When you have kids, you have to deal with them going to the bathroom in their…never mind.

But it will come to you!  The fog will clear.  You will learn, one layer at a time, so don’t give up!

I call it “layers of knowledge.”

It’s like the encyclopedia set we had when I was a kid.  There was a section on the human body.  It was printed on clear plastic sheets, and the first layer showed the skeletal system.  Then you would lay the next sheet over it and it showed the circulatory system and the nervous system.  As you turned the pages you added layers – the organs, the muscles, and finally the skin.

Layers of knowledge.

And that’s how we grow spiritually.  Maybe this whole Christian thing is foggy to you.  Maybe it’s hard to grasp. 

Well don’t get discouraged!  Just realize, this is how these things work. 

Can you learn to be good in business?  Yes! – layer by layer.

This is how everything works.  You start by knowing nothing, and then you pick up one faint layer.  It may not seem like much, but it’s progress.

Then you pick up another layer, and another.  And soon the picture starts to fill in.

So don’t give up! 

Instead, dig in.  You can do this!

And it will come to you just like everything else – line upon line and precept upon precept.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

God Will Speak To You When You Pray - Apples of Gold - May 28, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 28, 2009

“God Will Speak To You When You Pray”

 

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

I believe that God will speak to you when you pray.

I’m not saying He will speak to you every time you pray, but as you draw near to God and He draws near to you, I believe there will be times when He suddenly drops something into your mind.

Jesus said, “Seek and you will find,” and I believe that as we seek God, and seek to hear from God, we will find.

Now let me share with you my experiences.  There have been a few times when I was praying and I believe God dropped a specific message into my mind. 

And listen to this.  The message usually had nothing to do with what I was praying about at the time.

Our son is getting married next week, so my wife and I have been reminiscing about the days before our own marriage. 

About six weeks before we were married, I was in prayer one day, and I believe the Lord revealed to me that it was time to quit my secular radio job and apply at Christian radio stations.  So that’s what I did.

I gave my employer six weeks notice and sent out resumes to every Christian radio station in the state.  And I prayed, “Lord, please let only one offer me a job – the very job You want me to have.”

See, I knew that I might choose the job that paid the most, or was the most prestigious, or the most strategic for my career.  But what I really wanted was to have the exact best job according to God’s wisdom, not mine.

So there I was, getting married in six weeks, and quitting my job.  I bounced it off my pastor and he was hesitant.  He read my cover letter to the radio stations and said, “You sound like a ‘charismaniac.’”

But I was simply doing what I believe God led me to do in prayer one day.

I know the pastor didn’t think it was wise.  Hey, I don’t even think it was wise, not in the general sense.  But in this case I fully believed that it was the Lord’s leading, so I did it.

And I received one full-time job offer, and we spent our honeymoon moving to a place where we didn’t know a soul.  And we stayed there almost 20 years, enjoying the blessings of the Lord.

A few years after that I was part of a daily prayer meeting at church, where the men gathered each day before work.  One day while I was praying for something completely unrelated, I believe the Lord dropped this in my mind:  “Are you going to send your children to the lion’s den?”

I understood clearly that that was my cue to look into Christian education for my children.  We ended up sending our children to the local Christian school and became deeply involved in that ministry for many years.  And it all went back to that day in prayer.

One of the scariest messages I ever received in prayer was the day the Lord told me to leave that church.  And it was while I was right there in the church praying! 

I did not obey.  I thought, “No way.  This little church needs our family.  I’m on the board.  Money is tight.  Our friends are here.  No.  I don’t know where that thought came from, but it wasn’t God.”

A few days later I was in prayer and telling the Lord that I wanted to do whatever He wanted me to do and it was like He said, “You didn’t do the last thing I told you to do.”

“What was that?”

“I told you to leave this church.”

I can still feel that churning in my gut at the thought of it.  But I really believe it was the Lord.  So I began making the moves to leave that church and find a new one.

One day I was in prayer and suddenly, out of the blue, this message popped into my head:  “Write and be creative.”  It was that message that led to the creation of Apples of Gold.

One day as a Sunday School teacher I was praying, “Lord, give me a message for the people.”  It was a prayer I had prayed many times.  But on that day this message suddenly came into my mind, “If you stay in the Word, you will always have a message.”  And that’s the way it has worked out.

As we were preparing to move to Tallahassee for this new job, I was praying “Lord, what about my salary?  Is there a certain amount I should ask for?  What should I do?”

Then out of the blue this message popped into my head, “Whatever he gives you will be your manna.”

Now I’m not saying it’s always so simple or direct.  And I sure encourage you to get wisdom and seek wise counsel before you leap out there.  And make sure you stay in the Word and in prayer.

But I really do believe that God will speak to you as you draw near to Him in prayer.  It’s happened in my life at some very key points, and I believe it will happen for you.

And to me it really comes back to these five simple words from Jesus:

Seek and you will find.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

What Do You Want Me To Do, Fake It? - Apples of Gold - May 27, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 27, 2009

“What Do You Want Me To Do, Fake It?”

 

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

“What do you want me to do, fake it?”

“Yes, fake it.”

That’s what I told my daughter, who is working for me now that she’s done with high school.

I told her I want her to be positive at all times.  No whining.  No complaining.  No negativity.  I told her to be happy at work every day.

That’s when she said, “What do you want me to do, fake it?”

Okay, let’s break this down.  What exactly would she be faking?

Let’s say she comes into work one day and it’s raining and she’s tired and her car is acting up.  But since I want a positive attitude, she can’t walk around with a long face all day. 

So she doesn’t.  She reaches inside somewhere and flips the channel.  She smiles instead of frowns.  She laughs instead of cries.  She adopts an attitude of victory instead of defeat.

Yes, at first it’s like she’s faking it. 

But listen to this.  Faking it means changing the channel.  You literally change the path your mind is going down.  Instead of letting your mind continue down that negative path, you switch it to a positive path.

And it doesn’t matter if you think you’re faking it or not, your mind still changes.

Plus, it’s not really a matter of faking anything.  It’s just a matter of what you decide to focus on. 

For example, instead of thinking, “My stupid car was acting up on the way to work this morning,” you can think, “Thank God I have a car and a job.”

I’m not saying you ignore your car’s problem.  You still get it fixed.  But getting it fixed is not tied to being negative.  You can move forward and solve problems without letting them turn you into a sour pus-pocket of doom.

Yes, you can always find a downside, but you can always find an upside.  And finding the upside puts you in a better frame of mind for improving the downside.

Now back to this idea of faking it.  There’s an interesting new book out called “Management Rewired” by Charles Jacobs.  I’m not promoting the book, but I was fascinated by his studies of the brain.

He said the brain has 100 billion neurons that connect to one another in 40 quadrillion ways.  Whenever we think about something it causes synapses between neurons to fire. 

If you think, “Wow, another great day!” you’ve just built a neural network.  Now if you think that over and over again, the network becomes more deeply ingrained. 

Now listen to this.  When you think about something repeatedly, it actually changes the synapse structure of your brain.  Jacobs said it this way, “The threshold for firing at those synapses is lowered.”

So the more you think about something, the easier it is to think about it.  It’s like it digs ruts in your brain, and the deeper the ruts, the more likely your thoughts will go there.

And no matter where your ruts are now, you can change them.  Jacobs says, “The brain is very flexible.”  He says, “Physical exercise develops different parts of your body; mental exercise develops parts of your mind.  We are not victims of the neural networks we’ve inherited.  A pessimist can train himself to be more optimistic.”

Now listen.  The first thing that came to mind as I read this is Bible memorization.  If you know me at all, you know I am big into memorizing the Bible.

And now just imagine what that does to the synapses of your brain! 

Right now I’m memorizing the book of Colossians.  Over and over I’m running it through my brain.  Those same synapses are firing repeatedly with pure thoughts straight from the word of God.  I’m digging deep ruts in my brain with God’s word, and I believe that changes my thought patterns.  More and more my thoughts tend to slip into those ruts, which are actually the truth of the word of God.

I find that fascinating – and thrilling!

Now think about the power of this to change your life.  You decide what you will think about over and over, and it will actually change the way you think.

I think most people don’t take control of this.  They just let random thoughts dig their own ruts, or whatever thoughts are on the magazine rack or on TV or in their music.  They think about those things over and over, and it affects the way they think.

Well it’s time to take control of your thinking! 

And of course this is quite scriptural.  Philippians 4:8 tells us clearly what to think about.  It says to think about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and whatever is admirable.  “If anything is excellent or praiseworthy,” it says, “think about such things.”

So choose to think on positive things.  Do it often and you will actually change the structure of your brain.

And yes, to get started you might just have to fake it.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

How Much Do You Love Me? - Apples of Gold - May 26, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

To search archives, click here.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 26, 2009

“How Much Do You Love Me?”

 

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

I was talking to a fellow middle-aged father over the weekend.

Between us we have 11 children and half a century of marriage experience.

And what great wisdom was lighting upon our lips?

The importance of getting credit for work you do around the house.

I mean, why do it if you don’t get credit?

Now gather ‘round, young husbands, and listen to the words of the master.

He told of a time when his wife and kids were out of town for the weekend and he was home alone.  He said he had the place completely neat and tidy.

But then he ate a little something and ended up leaving the house before he could clean it up.  Meanwhile, they returned home, and what did his wife see?  The mess from his last little meal!

See, it didn’t matter how neat he was all weekend.  What mattered was how the house looked when she walked in!

I know exactly what he’s talking about.  Let’s say I have two jobs to do, one is something I want to do, and the other is something my wife wants me to do.  And let’s say my wife is going to be gone part of the day.

Well this strategy is a no-brainer.  I will do my job while she’s gone, then just before she comes home I will dive into the job she wants done.  That way I am right in the middle of her job when she comes home.  Ah, she is so happy to see me doing her job!  What a wonderful husband.  What a catch!

But if I did her job first, then she came home and found me “goofing off” on some other thing – even if I got her job done, it’s just not the same.  She needs to see the work that goes into that job.  She needs to see greasy hands and dirty clothes and sweat.  “See how much I love you, babe?”

Okay.  Stop right there.  I know we’re kind of joking around about this, but don’t miss the connection.  I show my wife my love for her by serving her, by doing some kind of service, some work that needs to be done, even if it’s humbling, dirty work.

Showing love through service.  This is exactly what Jesus taught us to do.

He did it when He washed His disciples’ feet, for example.  It was a simple, humble act of service, and He did it as a living illustration. 

The NIV says, “…He now showed them the full extent of His love…” and then He washed their feet.

That’s in John chapter 13, and look what verse three says.  “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power…”

So here was Jesus, with all things under His power, yet He still wrapped a towel around His waist and washed their feet.

Philippians 2 says that Jesus, being in very nature God, took on the very nature of a servant.

Jesus said in Luke 22:27, “…I am among you as one who serves.”

Jesus showed His love by His service, and we are to do the same.

Right after that, in John 13:35, Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

How will people know if we love one another?

Is it because we say it?  Well I do think it’s important to say it.  But it’s also important to back up those words with service.

This even works in business.  I read an article yesterday where one guy gave his opinion about Circuit City and why it failed.  He said it was because they didn’t really care about serving their customers. 

And really, it starts at the top.  If you are the leader, then serve. 

Here is one business owner’s philosophy.  His philosophy is, “I serve my employees so they can serve our customers.”

Ephesians 4 tells church leaders to serve God’s people so that they, in turn, can serve others.

What messes up a lot of churches?  When people don’t serve each other.

And what messes up a lot of marriages?  When people don’t serve each other. 

You know, people are out there looking for authentic faith. 

People are asking, “Are you really a Christian?”

And our answer is how much we love.

People are asking, “How much do you love me?”

And our answer is…how much we serve.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

Let's Lift the Name of Jesus Just As High As We Possibly Can - Apples of Gold - May 21, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 21, 2009

“Let’s Lift the Name of Jesus Just As High As We Possibly Can”

 

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

As a writer I try to come up with phrases that no one has ever used before.

I know it’s impossible to prove, but with the internet we can at least check.

Go ahead.  The next time you think up a new phrase, Google it.  You’ll find out just how unique it may or may not be.

Well lately I’ve been thinking about a phrase that an old friend used a lot.  Jack Hill used to always say, “Let’s lift the name of Jesus just as high as we possibly can.”

So today I Googled it and guess what?  It’s not there.  Congratulations, Jack – it’s all yours!

Now maybe he heard it from someone else, but all I know is that he said it a lot, I’ve never heard anyone else say it, and I love it!

Here it is again:  Let’s lift the name of Jesus just as high as we possibly can.

Now here’s a word we don’t use very often.  Exalt.

It’s another way to say “lift up.”  Psalm 148:13 says, “…His name alone is exalted…”

Isaiah 12:4 says, “…proclaim that His name is exalted.”

Psalm 34:3 says, “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.”

I like this one definition of exalt:  raise in rank.

It’s not that Jesus needs a promotion in rank.  He is already the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

But in the eyes of this old world, Jesus needs a raise in rank.  People need to think more highly of Him.  He needs to be exalted, to be lifted up.

So how do we do that?

Well the most obvious way is with our lips.  We praise Him and lift Him up with our words, including our songs.

But now look at this phrase Paul used in Philippians 1:20.  He said, “…that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body…”

That’s more than just words.  It’s all we say and do and think.  In everything, may Christ be exalted in my body.

Yes, that’s setting the bar high, but come on.  We need to set the bar high!

One reason Jesus has a low rank with some people is because our lives don’t exalt Him.

Lately I’ve been soaking up a song called “His Renown” by Christy Nockels. 

The opening line is, “Who do we say that He is…with our lives?”

Then it says, “Who do we say that He is…for the little eyes are watching you and me.”

How I live declares loudly who Jesus is – especially to the next generation.  Those eyes are watching.  And even if I lift Him up with my lips, the question is, do I lift Him up with my life?  Like Paul said, is Christ exalted in my body?

Now look at Psalm 102:12.  “But You, oh Lord, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures through all generations.”

That’s another great word:  renown.

It’s in the name of that song I was talking about, “His Renown.” 

That phrase shows up at the end of the chorus, which goes like this:  “So the ones that come behind us will follow in His name and see the greatness of His renown.”

Here’s the thing.  People are watching.  The next generation is watching.  So it is imperative that Christ be exalted.  He must be lifted up in our words and our lives.

Colossians 1:10 says to “…live a life worthy of the Lord…”

Don’t you want that?  Don’t you want Christ to be exalted in your life?

“So the ones that come behind us will follow in His name and see the greatness of His renown!”

So let’s exalt Him with our words and with our lives.

Let’s lift Him up.

Yes, let’s lift the name of Jesus just as high as we possibly can!


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

Leaving High School for the Last Time - Apples of Gold - May 19, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 19, 2009

“Leaving High School for the Last Time”

 

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

2:44 p.m. – My middle daughter, via Twitter:  “Wow.  Leaving high school for the last time.”

2:49 p.m. – “A lot of years being left behind.”

10:15 p.m. – “Life changes so fast sometimes.”

And then reality sets it.  Once again, via Twitter:  “There is a horsefly in my car!”

Yes, nothing like a horsefly to bring you back to reality.

But high school graduation does bring about a big change in your life.  For the first time you’re not required to go to school.  One of the most consistent things in your life is now over. 

It can be unsettling.  Stressful.  The baton of your life is in your hands now.  What will you do with it?

Of course the stress of change can come at any time in your life.    

Not long after my wife and I were married I came across a stress meter and it pointed out all the changes in your life that cause stress, such as finishing school, getting married, moving to a new town, starting a new job, a new church, having a child, even being short on money.  Then I realized that all of those were true for my wife and me!

Yet we weren’t all freaked out on stress.  Why not? 

I think it’s because, in spite of all those changes, there were some core consistencies in our life.  Over the years our lives have changed a lot, but there are some things you always do, no matter where you are or what’s going on, and these provide a continuity that counters the stress of change.

So this is for my daughter, as you graduate high school and get on with life.  There will be many changes to come, but they won’t be so unsettling if you always do these things.

First of all, always seek the Lord. 

Psalm 105:4 says, “Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.”

In Luke 18 Jesus taught us to always pray and not give up.

Don’t give up when answers are slow to come.  Don’t give up when things are going well.  No matter what happens in your life, always pray and seek the face of God.

Then as you seek Him, always come into His presence with thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:20 tells us to give thanks to the Father always, for all things. 

So no matter what life brings, always be His grateful child. 

Something else to always do is rejoice.

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!”

So always seek the Lord, give thanks to Him and rejoice in Him.

Another thing to always do is praise Him – and as a singer and praise leader I know this will be easy for you.

Psalm 34:1 says, “I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise will always be on my lips.”

Psalm 70:4 tells us to always say, “Let God be exalted!”

So always seek Him, always thank Him, always rejoice in Him and praise Him.

And no matter what comes your way, remember that in the Lord you always have hope.  The game is never over.  The clock has never run out.

Look at Psalm 71:14.  “But as for me, I will always have hope…”

Some people see their life as a bleak, hopeless dungeon.  But in the Lord this is never the case.  So always seek the Lord and you will always have hope.

But remember, God is not some gift-dispensing Santa Clause.  He is the Almighty Sovereign Lord, and that means two things.  We must always fear Him and we must always obey Him.

Proverbs 28:14 says, “Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord…”

And Deuteronomy 11:1 tells us to “…keep His requirements, His decrees, His laws and His commands always…”

I was so proud the other night at the graduation banquet when they announced that your goal after college was to go into some kind of ministry.  It reminded me of another “always” verse in the Bible.

First Corinthians 15:58 says “…always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord…”

And whatever good thing you set your hand to, always be zealous, working at it with all your might, like it talks about in Galatians 4:18.

And finally, remember to always be generous.  Psalm 37:26 says to always be generous and lend freely.

Yes, life is full of change, and change can be stressful.  But you can minimize that by always doing these certain things.

Always seek the Lord.

Always give thanks and rejoice in Him.

Always praise Him and put your hope in Him.

Always fear Him and obey Him.

Always be full of zeal and devote yourself to the work of the Lord.

And always be generous.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

-vi-

Afflictions Eclipsed by Glory - Apples of Gold - May 15, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 15, 2009

“Afflictions Eclipsed by Glory”

 

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

Have you ever read the letter to the church in Smyrna, in the book of Revelation?

It’s dreadful.

Go ahead.  Read it and pretend you’re a guy in Smyrna. 

It’s a letter from Jesus, and He begins with great empathy for His people in Smyrna.

“I know your afflictions and your poverty.” 

He also says He knows about the slander being spewed out against them.

At this point, if I’m in Smyrna, I’m encouraged.  “This is great!  God knows about our problems.  Now He’s going to sweep in and everything is going to be great from here on out!”

Now don’t miss what they were going through:  afflictions…poverty…slander.

Okay, Jesus continues.  “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.”

What?  I thought our suffering was over!  Now you say there is more?

Jesus says, “I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you…”

The devil?  Wait a minute.  You’re going to let the devil slip in here and “test” me?  I don’t want to be tested.  I want to be delivered!

And prison?  Why would You allow that?

Okay.  Let’s get away from Smyrna for a minute and talk about this.  Why would God allow any of His people to end up in prison?

Well did you know that the apostle Paul was imprisoned when he wrote the book of Philippians? 

And look what he wrote in Philippians 1:12.  “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”

See, advancing the gospel is a goal, and that goal was met by Paul being imprisoned.

Now listen to verse 13.  “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard…”

Okay, stop right there.  “The whole palace guard.”  Paul’s imprisonment has impacted the whole palace guard.  The name of Christ has come to the whole palace guard because Paul is there.

And now verse 14.  “Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.”

Now wait a minute.  Paul goes to prison because of Christ, and the others speak more boldly?  You’d think it would have the opposite effect – scare everyone into silence. 

But listen to this.  Don’t miss it!  This is the way God often works.  There is one thing going on on the outside, but because of the Spirit of God in the mix, something else entirely takes place on the inside.

Someone goes to prison for Christ, but instead of being frightened, the others actually speak more boldly. 

Meanwhile, on the outside, it looks like Paul’s ministry is chained down.  Yet, for crying out loud, he’s in there writing big chunks of the Bible!

And at the end of Philippians, Paul writes, “All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.”

Well it sounds to me like Paul is palling around with people from Caesar’s household. 

And he’s in chains, but somehow he manages to slip the word “rejoice” in there seven times in his letter to the Philippians!

How can you be in chains and still rejoice?  That’s God, my friend, that’s God.

So back to the church in Smyrna.  Jesus just told them that some of them would be put in prison, and He used this phrase, “suffer persecution.”

If I’m in Smyrna, this is not what I want to hear.  Affliction, slander, suffering, persecution, prison and the devil. 

And Jesus tells me, “Do not be afraid.”  I don’t know about you, but when someone tells me not to be afraid, it means there is something to fear!

And then Jesus caps it off.  “Be faithful, even to the point of death…”

Oh great!  Not even a hint of deliverance!  “Be faithful to the point of death.”

And finally some good news.  Jesus says, “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”  Then he concludes with, “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”

Wait a minute.  What about the first death?  That’s the one I’m worried about.

So on the outside, as a guy in Smyrna, I have nothing to look forward to, at least not in this life.  The news is dreadful until I die.  One affliction on top of another.

Why would Jesus even send that message?  It’s depressing. 

But then I heard a song called “How He Loves” by John Mark McMillan.  And in it is this little phrase, “afflictions eclipsed by glory.”

And at the moment I felt the Spirit of God, the presence of God sweep over me, and I thought, “That’s it.  That’s what God did for the church in Smyrna.  That’s what God did for Paul in prison, and for Stephen when he was stoned, and for saints throughout the ages.  Sometimes He allows afflictions, but then He sweeps in and, in the middle of it all, He eclipses the afflictions with His glory!

I’ve been there.  I’ve been in pain.  I’ve struggled with money.  I’ve been right in the middle of anguish over something that just wouldn’t go away.  Then out of the blue…the Lord is there. 

The Lord is there, and suddenly my afflictions are eclipsed by glory.

So the issue is not what’s going on on the outside.  Like the church in Smyrna, sometimes the news is just not good. 

But do not…do not discount the glory of God in your situation! 

Draw near to Him!  Enter into His presence!  Open up to His light.

And I know that you will experience what so many of us have experienced over and over.

Afflictions eclipsed by glory.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

-----

Below are the lyrics to “How He Loves” by John Mark McMillan (also recorded by Kim Walker).  By the way, John wrote this song the day after one of his best friends died.

He is jealous for me
Love’s like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me.
Oh, how He loves us so
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us so.

So we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

That he loves us,
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves

------

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

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

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

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

A Band of Brothers in Pinstriped Uniforms - Apples of Gold - May 13, 2009 -vi-

To listen to the radio version, click here.

 

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 13, 2009

“A Band of Brothers in Pinstriped Uniforms”

 

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

He stepped up to the plate. 

And with this guy on the mound, he so wanted to yank it, to pull it down the third base line.

But there was a runner on second.

What he should do is hit it behind the runner, to the first base side.  That way the runner could advance, getting closer to home. 

But he had a problem with that.  If he hit it to the right side, he was more likely to get out.  Yes, the runner would advance, but his average would de-vance.  And you don’t get big contracts and big endorsements with shrinking batting averages.

The pitcher rocked and fired, and what do you think he did?

Well that depends on whether he was a team player or not.

See, a team player wouldn’t even have to think about it.  He would automatically do what was best for the team.

And team players were what the Yankees had in the late 90’s, according to their manager Joe Torre. 

I got that from his new book “The Yankee Years.”

Torre said, “It wasn’t the kind of baseball Steinbrenner preferred, but it was smart, unselfish baseball and it was working.”

He said the players were less concerned about individual statistics and more concerned about doing whatever it took to win the game.

And I really liked this one quote.  He said, “…and it wasn’t so much because it was the Yankees…as much as it was because of the band of brothers in those pinstriped uniforms.  And for their unselfishness they were blessed with four World Series titles.”

Yes, the Yankees tried to improve on that by bringing in big stars, but here’s the lesson.  All the stars in the world won’t bring you a championship if they don’t work together as a team.

A team mentality is just different.  It’s kind of unnatural.  It goes against our selfish nature.

And yet a team mentality brings about success in almost every area of life.

Back to Joe Torre.  I like that phrase he used, “the band of brothers in those pinstriped uniforms.”

I think it’s cool to be on a team, with everyone dressed in the same uniform.  That uniform helps you shed your personal identity and take on the identity of the team.  It’s no longer “me” but it’s now “us.”  We are in this together – win, lose or draw.

Now listen.  As Christians, this team mentality is exactly what we are supposed to have.  If you are one of the saints, redeemed by Jesus Christ, then we are on the same team.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he had a lot to say about this.

Philippians 1:27 says, “…stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel…”

In fact, Paul told them it would make his joy complete if they would just do that!

Philippians 2:2 says, “…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Now look at that last part – being one in purpose.  That means we have the same purpose, the same goals.  We want the same things. 

A team won’t go far if everyone has their own ideas. 

For a team to work, the members have to give up their own agendas.  You have to trade in your goals for the goals of the team.

Now I know this really goes against the grain, especially in America.  We want our freedom and individuality.  And that’s one reason the church is less effective that it could be, I think.  Everyone has their own ideas, and we aren’t willing to give them up in order to hop on board with the team and all pull in one direction.

Look at Philippians 2:3.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

It’s like that batter with a runner on second.  He can give in to his selfish ambition, or in humility he can lay down his desires for the team.

Paul gives us the ultimate example in Jesus Christ Himself.  Here He was, the superstar if there ever was one.  “In very nature…God,” Paul said.  “But made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…”

Remember what Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane?  “Not my will, but Your will be done.”

That’s what you do on a team.  You sacrifice yourself for the cause.

Yes, it’s a sacrifice.  You give up some things.  You lose some things.  So be it.

But here’s what you get.  You get to be part of a winning team.  It’s very rewarding to lay it all down for a cause. 

And on a team, you are not alone.  You know the rest of the team has your back.

And together we will be far more effective in meeting our goals of loving people, advancing the Gospel, and exalting Christ throughout the world.

We may not have the pinstriped uniforms, but we should be a band of brothers, ready to lay our own desires on the altar and come together as a team – a winning team – led by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

Philippians 2:14 has great advice for members of a team:  no complaining or arguing!

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
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(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
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