James Is Dead - Apples of Gold - March 11, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 11, 2010

“James Is Dead”

 

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

James is dead.

My brother is dead and I grieve.

Unlike some brothers, James and I got along.

We were in the fishing business together with our father, Zebedee.  And we were partners with Simon Peter, who has now also been arrested by King Herod, by the way, and I’m probably next on the list.

What does old Herod Agrippa have against fishermen, anyway?  Oh, I know, it has nothing to do with fish.  It’s the “fishing for men” they have a problem with.

But that’s what Jesus said to us that day when we were in the boat.  He said, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

So we did.  We followed.  We left Dad and the fish and the boat and the nets, we left it all behind to follow Jesus.  James and I, we did it together.

Jesus chose 12 of us as His disciples, but He gave James and I a special nickname.  “Boanerges,” He called us, “Sons of Thunder!”

And sons of thunder we were, and I guess you could include Peter in our little group; a trio of fire that Jesus called out more than once.  Like at the transfiguration on the mountain.  Who was there?  James and me and Peter.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, who did Jesus ask to pray with Him?  James, me and Peter.  Never mind that we fell asleep.  That was bad, I know.  But we really didn’t know what was going on or I assure you, we would have been wide awake.

Yes, we should have known.  He told us ahead of time, sometimes blatantly, and sometimes it was more subtle.

Like the time – oh, I cringe just thinking about it now – but there was the time our mother went with us to Jesus and we asked – what were we thinking? – we asked if we could sit at His right and His left when He came into His kingdom. 

He got that look in His eye, that look where it’s like He’s looking into your soul, and He said, “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”

“What cup?”  That’s what we should have said.  You shouldn’t agree to drink a cup until you know what’s in it.  But we were the Sons of Thunder, so what did we say?  Of course we can drink the cup you’re going to drink!

And then He said something I’ll never forget.  “You will indeed drink from my cup…”

We were so naïve.  But now, my Lord, we are drinking from Your cup.  James drank from Your cup.  They arrested him and took him away.  He drank from your cup.  And now that cup is at my lips.

But oh, Jesus was patient with us!  How many times He must have thought of tossing us aside for some “real” disciples!  I know He didn’t really, but you know – how many times did we try His patience?

Like that time with the Samaritans.  We sent messengers ahead of us into a Samaritan village to prepare for Jesus’ arrival.  But when they found out we were headed for Jerusalem, they were just rude.  Well James and I had had just about enough.  I mean, why were we on the receiving end of Samaritan ignorance? 

And you know what?  We had seen God do some things through us.  Being a disciple of Christ had some privileges, some power.  And we were ready to unleash some of that power on the Samaritans.  So James and I went to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 

Oh, did He cut us down to size!  We went from feeling like giants to feeling like children in about two seconds. 

So how did He deal with the Samaritans?  We simply went to a different village.  What grace!  What humility!  He modeled it for us so beautifully, and we were so much like children.

We ran like little children when He was arrested.  We cried like children when He died.  We rejoiced like children when He arose, and you know what?  We had faith like children.  When He said wait, we waited until we were filled with the Holy Spirit!  And that’s when our world was really turned upside down.

And that’s when the world really took notice, and started taking names.  What was that, ten years ago?  Oh the miracles we have seen!  The lives changed, the glory of God made manifest. 

And oh, the enemies we have made.  “Why do the nations rage?” David said, “And the peoples plot in vain against the Lord and against His Anointed One.”

They plot in vain against the Lord, and the gates of hell will not prevail against the church.  But for some reason, God allows them the power to prevail against individuals; one of us here and one of us there. 

And this time it was my dear brother James.  Herod’s sword has taken his life.

Do I grieve? 

Yes I grieve, but not as other men.  He is taken from me now, but we are not separated for long.

My hope is firm in the words of our Lord Jesus who said, “I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

(fade in The Coloring Song, beginning with the lyrics, “There is birth, there is death, there is a plan…)

Dedicated to the six World Vision workers murdered this week by Muslims in Pakistan.


© 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-

Who Are You Trying to Please or Impress? - Apples of Gold - March 10, 2010 ***Happy 23rd birthday to my firstborn Ashlyn!*** -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 10, 2010

“Who Are You Trying to Please or Impress?”

 

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

The owner of the radio station died a few weeks ago, and it really messed with my motivation.

I don’t mean it messed with my work ethic or my drive to get up and go.  I mean it messed with the “why” I do what I do each day.

I’ll get into that, but first a little clarification.  The station is actually corporately owned, so it will continue as usual.  But Mike Floyd was the CEO and the visionary.  He’s the one who hired me, and he was the man I had to please with my work. 

Now Mike was not a micromanager when it came to the radio station.  He didn’t tell me what to do everyday, or how to do it. 

So how did I know what to do?

Well over time I learned in general what he wanted, then I applied that to the specifics of everyday decision-making.

When I first started working for Mike, I found myself in the ditch a few times.  I did things he didn’t want me to do.  Not bad things, just things he wanted done differently.

As time went by, I learned how to stay out of the ditch, how to do the things Mike wanted me to do while avoiding the things he didn’t want me to do.

Over the years that hardened into a structure of thinking.  It became unconscious.  It was sort of like, in the back of my mind, I made decisions based on, “If Mike was here right now, would he be pleased with what I’m doing?”

Plus there’s always the accountability.  “If Mike asks me about this, will my answer please him?”

So that’s what I’m calling my motivation.  It’s the “why I do what I do.”  And as Mike’s employee that meant pleasing him.

And then he died.

I hadn’t really thought about this motivation factor until Mike was gone.  But then it slowly dawned on me.  “I’m doing this because that’s what Mike would want.  But now what?”

And then a kind of emptiness set in. 

The day will never come when Mike says, “Why did you do that?” or “That’s just what I wanted, good job!” or “What were you thinking?  That’s not what I wanted at all.”

So if my motivation, my decision-making was based on pleasing Mike – now what?

Like I said, it was a kind of emptiness.

And then I thought of other motivating factors in life.  For example, what if that was my dad, and what if I had lived my whole life to please him, to make him proud of me, or just to make him notice me?  Would my entire structure for decision-making be lost? 

Then I thought of a woman.  What if, subconsciously, this woman’s decision-making was based on getting the attention of men?  She dressed in such a way and behaved in such a way to attract men.  Not that she ever came right out and said it.  She may not even know it, but it’s at the foundation of her thinking.  It’s just something she’s always done.  But then she gets old.  Or she has an accident.  Or something happens that takes “attracting men” out of the equation.  Now what?

I read a story about tennis star Serena Williams.  In 2001 her boyfriend dumped her cold, and suddenly she had a new motivating factor.  She was going to show him!  She wanted to prove to him just how wonderful and awesome and incredible she was.  So her decision-making was based on that.  “Should I practice today?  Should I work harder today?  Should I be number one in the world or is number two or three good enough?”  Well number one would impress him the most, so that’s what she did.

This is a question we all need to examine.  Why do I do what I do?  Who am I trying to please or impress?

Maybe you are trying to be a success because your mother said you would never amount to anything.  But what happens when she dies?

If our motivation is to impress or please any human, we must realize that the day will come when they will pass on, and then what? 

Then there will be an emptiness.  You might even feel like your life has been lived for nothing.  I mean, what do you do when the person you were trying to prove yourself to is no more?

The good news is, there is a much better, much longer-lasting motivation than trying to please or impress people. 

Second Corinthians 5:15 says we should live for the Lord.

Colossians 1:10 says we should live a life worthy of the Lord, and seek to please Him in every way.

Second Timothy 2:4 words it this way.  We want to please our commanding officer.

This is a motivation that is worthwhile, and it will last the rest of your life. 

So take a good hard look.  Why do you do what you do?  What is your motivation?  Who are you trying to please or impress?

What happens when they are gone?

Well you can avoid that emptiness by building your life and your motivations on something eternal.

Instead of living to please and impress people, we make our decisions based on pleasing the Lord


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

That doesn’t mean we never try to please people.  Romans 15:2 says, “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”  And Paul said in First Corinthians 10:33 that he tried to please “everybody in every way.  For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”  But the ultimate motivating factor for pleasing people is actually to please the Lord Himself.


© 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-

A Message From Beyond the Grave - Apples of Gold - March 9, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 9, 2010

“A Message From Beyond the Grave”

 

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

How would you like to receive a message from beyond the grave?

My grandma died a few years ago.  My cousin was a real sinner at the time, and that night he walked out of a bar and guess who was standing by his pickup. 

Grandma.

She had returned from the dead with a message for him.  Get right with God.

Yes, this story is pure malarkey, but stay with me.

You’d think that would turn my cousin’s life around.  You’d think Grandma appearing from the dead would have done the trick, but it didn’t.  Oh, it shook him up alright, but you know what?  He ended up right back on the same path. 

Now that whole thing about Grandma is pure fiction, but it’s similar to a story in the Bible.

In Luke 16 Jesus shared the story of the rich man and Lazarus.  He said the rich man died and went to hell, where he was in torment.  The rich man said he was in agony in the flames.  He was being tormented in the fires of hell. 

He was a rich man on earth, living a life of luxury; but in hell he was reduced to a beggar – begging for just a simple drop of water to be placed on his tongue.  Even a drop of water would have provided relief – that’s how bad his situation was in hell.

Other interesting points about his situation - he was not destroyed, but continued to suffer in the flames.  He understood his situation, but apparently couldn’t do anything about it.  He was trapped, a captive in hell.

Then he looked up and, far away he saw Father Abraham and Lazarus. 

The rich man was familiar with Lazarus because Lazarus had been a beggar who was laid at the rich man’s gate.  When Lazarus died, Jesus said he was carried away by angels. 

So anyway, the rich man looks up from his place of torment in hell.  He sees Lazarus and Abraham, far away, and he begs Abraham to send Lazarus with even a drop of water for his tongue.

Abraham said there was a great chasm between them, and no one could cross over.

Now listen to what the rich man said to Abraham, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers.  Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”

That sounds like a beautiful request, doesn’t it?  The rich man, burning in hell, thinking of his brothers who are still alive.  He wanted Lazarus to go warn them.

Can you imagine what that would have looked like?  Maybe he would have appeared to each of the five, one by one, in their bedrooms, or as they walked home from a night of carousing.  Lazarus would have arrived and said, “Recognize me?  I am Lazarus.  I was the beggar you saw at your brother’s gate.”

He probably would have had to convince them that he was indeed the beggar, back from the dead.

And then he delivers the message from their brother.  “This is your warning.  There is life after death.  Your brother is being tormented right now in the fires of hell, and you are bound for hell yourself.  This is your warning.  I have returned from the afterlife to warn you at your brother’s request, so consider yourself warned.”

And then he leaves.  He rejoins Abraham in the afterlife.

So what happens to the brothers?  Do they repent?  Do they get right with God and turn from their wicked ways?

Abraham didn’t think so.  Listen to what he said.  “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

So even though the rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers, Abraham refused.

So was Abraham denying all hope for the rich man’s brothers?

No.  The brothers still had great hope, if they chose to pay attention to it.

And what was that great hope? 

The Scriptures.

Abraham said, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” 

He basically said that if they won’t listen to the Scriptures, then a dead man coming back to life won’t convince them anyway.

So what about you?  Wouldn’t you love to have a sign from God?  Wouldn’t you love to receive a supernatural message, to receive a messenger from beyond?

Yes, it could happen, but Father Abraham made a strong point in this story, and it boils down to this.

You don’t need a message from beyond the grave.  You don’t need your dead grandmother to show up and tell you what’s on the other side.

You have the Scriptures.

And that is enough.


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-

Johnny's Mother Loved Soap Operas - Apples of Gold - March 5, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 5, 2010

“Johnny’s Mother Loved Soap Operas”

 

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

(begin background music to fit each scene)

Nobody ever talked to Johnny about the things he saw on television.

His mom watched soap operas, so he did, too.

What an exciting life they led, those soap opera characters.  What drama!

Those people became like family to Johnny.  He knew all about them and discussed them with his mother.  They talked about them like they were real.

But his mother never pointed out the pitfalls, she never discussed the lifestyles of the soap opera characters, or what those lives would look like in real life.  She was just getting entertainment, but Johnny was getting an education.

For Christmas one year Johnny’s parents got him his own television, so now he could watch whatever he wanted in the privacy of his own bedroom.  Well, not whatever he wanted.  His parents did block the worst channels.

He liked sitcoms, where life was a laugh a minute.  That’s the life Johnny wanted, just hanging out with friends and having fun.  Nobody pointed out to him that it was just a show.

He watched a lot of sports, and that means he watched a lot of beer commercials.  Now that’s the life, the life of those people in beer commercials.  It’s always fun, a party every night, dancing and music with all the beautiful people.  No one told him the dark side – of getting drunk, of car accidents and a thousand other stupid things drunk people do.  No one told him the ravages of alcoholism.   All he saw was good times.

And he saw a lot of “hooking up” on TV, a lot of “friends with benefits.”  He saw them counting up the number of “partners.”  Well that sounded good to him.  In fact, it was like a goal.  Could he live up to, or even surpass, the conquests of the people on TV?  No one shed any light on what happens to real people who sleep around, the diseases they give to one another, the emotional fallout, and on and on – all stories Johnny never heard, because no one thought to tell him.

Yes, there were serious shows on TV, and documentaries, and the worst night for Johnny was when the president came on and messed up all the channels. 

Johnny loved music videos.  He wished he could live in a music video where the party never ends and all the babes are hot. 

Finally, it was time for Johnny to get out on his own, and he decided to move to New York City, away from that dead cow town his parents raised him in, where there was never anything to do. 

He got a job at a club and poured himself into the party lifestyle.  He finally got to do the things he’d been watching on TV all his life.  Every night he had great expectations.  Tonight would be the night – the perfect party, wild thrills and non-stop laughter. 

Sometimes it was thrilling, but the thrill quickly passed, leaving him hungry for the next thrill.  The weekends rolled by.  Some were fun and some were just boring.  In fact, he started to be bored with the whole scene.  It wasn’t measuring up to the expectations.  There was the idea that it was going to be great.  There was the anticipation – always the anticipation – but then it just didn’t pan out. 

Eventually Johnny became disillusioned with the whole lifestyle, but not before he had some serious consequences – consequences that his favorite TV characters never seemed to have. 

How did it happen?  How did he end up here?

He thought long and hard about his life, and he even ended up moving back home to the cow town, to try to sort things out.

It wasn’t very exciting, but it was good to be home. 

And his mother was so glad he was back.  She fixed his favorite meal, they sat down in the living room, and throughout the afternoon she caught Johnny up on all their favorite soap operas.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you life down and when you get up.”

© 2010 The Arrow’s Tip 
 To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

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

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

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

The First Thing You Hear in the Morning - Apples of Gold - March 4, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 4, 2010

“The First Thing You Hear in the Morning”

 

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

What is the first thing you hear when you wake up in the morning?

For a lot of us, it’s the alarm clock.

If you’re like me, your alarm clock is actually your cell phone, and let me tell you what I do.  I make sure that the first thing I hear in the morning is something that is sure to get my day started right.

Now back when I was in college I just wanted an alarm clock that was sure to get me up.  Did you ever have one of those wind-up alarm clocks with the two bells on top?  That’s what I had.  It was lime green, and boy was it ever loud.  It was like a jackhammer to the spine, jolting you from the dead each day.  It had no snooze, but it didn’t matter.  After an alarm like that, you weren’t going back to sleep anyway.

Then I got married, and the lime green alarm clock didn’t make the cut.

But anyway, I’m glad that now I can choose exactly what I hear first thing in the morning.  And you can too, if your cell phone let’s you choose which audio file to use as a ringer.

And let me ask, have you ever seen an actual alarm clock that would let you import your own audio files?  I looked, but didn’t find any.

But my cell phone lets me do that, so I always have something that gets my day started right. 

For example, right now it’s a song by Ricardo Sanchez called “Moving Forward.”  So here are the lyrics I hear each day, first thing in the morning.

“I’m not going back.  I’m moving ahead.  I’m here to declare to you my past is over.  In You, all things are made new.  I surrender my life to Christ.  I’m moving, moving forward!”

Now that is a great way to start your day!

And I love the declaration, “I surrender my life to Christ.”  That is something I do each day. 

Before I was married I would literally roll off my bed each morning, right onto my knees.  I would take time immediately to submit myself to God, to surrender to His will.

I also love the line, “my past is over.”  Lamentations 3 says the Lord’s mercy and compassion are “new every morning.”  Whatever dust gathered on me yesterday, whatever decay, whatever garbage, whatever ignorance – it’s gone.  My past is over.  I resurrender my life to Christ today, and I’m moving forward!

The song says, “In You, all things are made new.”  So when I start each new day, I’m starting fresh.  In the Lord, every day really is a new day.

Psalm 30 verse 5 says “…joy comes in the morning.”

“But Doug, I’m just not a morning person.”

Maybe not, but it may have something to do with the way you choose to start each day.  David wrote is Psalm 59, “But I…”

See, it didn’t matter what else was going on, it didn’t matter what everyone else was doing, it didn’t even matter what David was doing before.  This phrase signals the turning point, the hinge on the door, the complete change in direction.  “But I,” he said.  Everyone else, do what you want, but I…

“I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.  O my strength, I sing praise to You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.”

Now that is a great way to start your day!  David didn’t have a cell phone, so he did the singing himself.  “In the morning I will sing of Your love,” he said.

So everyday I get to hear that fantastic message as my alarm.  Then I get up and turn it off and I immediately begin praying, “Lord, I surrender myself to You today.  I submit myself to You.  Your will be done, not mine.”

Isaiah 26:9 says “…I will seek Thee early…”

In the Old Testament, the priests burned incense every morning and made offerings to the Lord.  And they added firewood to the fire, every morning.

First Chronicles 23 says the duty of the Levites, among other things, was to “stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord.”

When God sent manna, when did He send it?  He could have sent it any time of day, but He sent it in the morning.

In Psalm 5 David said “…in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.”

And you know what?  It doesn’t take much time.  I do all that within the first couple of minutes, but it sure gets my day started off right.

I have heard so many times, “Why are you so happy in the morning?”  Well I think part of it is based on those first couple of minutes.  Instead of hitting snooze five times, then dragging myself out of bed like a wheezing animal, I jump out of bed to that incredible song, with those lyrics that really motivate me.

So think about it.  It’s important how you start your day.  And if you can, play something powerful as your morning alarm. 

No, you can’t control everything that happens each day, but you can control this – the first thing you hear each morning.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

(close with chorus of Moving Ahead)


© 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-

Let the Seller Beware - Apples of Gold - March 2, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 2, 2010

“Let the Seller Beware”

 

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

Caveat emptor.

It’s the Latin phrase for “let the buyer beware.”

In other words, when you buy something, it’s up to you to find out what you’re getting into.  You can’t assume that the seller is being honest and forthright. 

But today I want to talk about the mirror image of caveat emptor, and it’s found in another Latin phrase, “caveat venditor,” let the seller beware.

Do you sell things?  Are you in any kind of business that sells products or services?  Then you need to hear this message:  caveat venditor, let the seller beware.

And in this case, I’m not talking about legal parameters.  I’m talking about something much bigger.  I’m talking about God Almighty and the fact that He is watching your transactions.

Now I realize that many will think this is some kind of voodoo, some kind of fear tactic to scare people into being honest.  Well that’s okay; you can take it however you want.  I’m going to point out what the Bible says and you can take it or leave it – to your own peril.

We all know that we are not to bear false witness.  Even the 10 commandments tell us that.  It applies to all of life, and that includes business.

But God has a special disgust for business people who cheat their customers.  Look at Proverbs 11:1.  “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord…”

That is a message specifically for business people. 

What is a “dishonest scale”?  Have you ever gone to a deli and ordered five pounds of roast beef?  Well what if it was only four-and-a-half pounds?  What if Mr. Deli rigged his scale to cheat his customers?  They probably wouldn’t notice, and Mr. Deli would increase his profit; a great way to improve your bottom line, right?

Well that’s what a lot of people have done, even back in the Bible days.  They cheated people by using inaccurate scales.  And they got away with it, scott free.

Well, no they didn’t.  I don’t care if they were never caught or punished, they still didn’t get away with it, and here’s why.  Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord.

The law to the Israelites goes into more depth, in Deuteronomy 25.  “Do not have two differing weights in your bag—one heavy, one light.  Do not have two differing measures in your house—one large, one small.  You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.  For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly.”

Let the seller beware.  The Lord detests anyone who deals dishonestly.  That is not a place you want to be.  Yes, you might be able to drive up the bottom line that way, but the Lord has a way of making the soul of your enterprise rot right before your eyes.

Proverbs 20:23 says, “The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please Him.”

“Well, Doug, it just says He doesn’t like it.  It doesn’t say He’s going to punish it.”

Check out what God told the Israelites in Micah 6.  He is calling them on the carpet for their wickedness, and listen to what enraged Him.  God said, “Am I still to forget, O wicked house, your ill-gotten treasures and the short ephah, which is accursed?  Shall I acquit a man with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights?”

God is hammering them for cheating their customers.  He said their “people are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully.”

God always has a huge problem with deceit, especially in business.  And here’s what He told the Israelites through the prophet Micah, and listen closely to the nature of the punishment, because it’s not fire and brimstone raining down from heaven.  It’s much more subtle than that.  Here it is.

“You will eat but not be satisfied…you will store up but save nothing…you will press olives but not use the oil on yourselves…”

See how subtle that is?  You will eat but not be satisfied. 

When we deal dishonestly in business, I believe God has a system in place that brings about a rotting.  It may be subtle.  It may be hard to connect cause and effect, but I believe there is an opposite to blessing that rots a deceptive business.

When something is an abomination to the Lord, when it is something He despises, that is something you don’t want to do.  You don’t even want to be near it.

Galatians 6:7 says God is not mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.

Here is how we should behave in business.  Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

So there you go, if you are in the business of selling any product or service, this message is for you.  Make sure you are using honest scales with all of your customers.

But if you still think it’s okay to deal dishonestly, well then here is a Latin phrase just for you.

Caveat venditor.

Let the seller beware.


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-

Take My Life, a Living Sacrifice - Apples of Gold - March 1, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 1, 2010

“Take My Life, a Living Sacrifice”

 

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

(Open with actual line from the song…)

“Take my life, a living sacrifice.”

That’s a song from the 80’s by Chris Christian.

It’s taken from a Bible verse I memorized during a discipleship class, Romans 12:1, which tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God.

That verse has motivated many people to give it all up for God, to sacrifice their own desires, plans and pleasures.  It has spurred many people into full-time ministry, to become pastors and missionaries. 

A verse like that is a game-changer.  It leads you to no longer live for yourself, but to live for the Lord.

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  That is a great picture of a living sacrifice. 

What have you done to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus?  What have you done to offer your body to God as a living sacrifice?

Many people have become martyrs in Jesus’ name because of that verse.  People have sacrificed lucrative incomes in order to fully follow Jesus. 

Paul said, “I die daily.”  He didn’t really die, of course, but he put himself in harm’s way for the sake of the Lord and His people.  He sacrificed himself daily for the Lord.

What are you doing to answer the call to be a living sacrifice?

You can start by singing along with Chris Christian, “Take my life, a living sacrifice.”

(play actual line from the song)

The problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar!

That’s one reason I like that song.  It’s a way of continuously putting yourself back on the altar as a living sacrifice.

I heard some people talking the other day about moving to the country and getting out of the city.  They discussed all their preferences, their likes and dislikes – and then came my wild-eyed opinion.

And this is what I say about all of life’s big decisions, such as where you live.  You need to find out where God wants you to go.

Now I realize that God gives us free will.  And I realize He isn’t exactly dropping sticky notes with our next address.  Nevertheless, we should sacrifice that decision to Him.

It’s a total surrender.  It’s saying, “Lord, not my will but Your will be done.”  It’s saying, “Take my life, a living sacrifice.”

That’s a prayer you can pray everyday.  “Lord, here I am, a living sacrifice for You.  I want to go where You want me to go, do what You want me to do, and say what You want me to say.”

We should offer our profession up as a living sacrifice.  First Corinthians 10:31 says “…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  Colossians 3:17 says whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Doing everything in Jesus’ name and for the glory of God – that is being a living sacrifice.

First Peter 2:5 talks about offering spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God.

Of course, the Old Testament is full of sacrifices – real animal sacrifices – but those have been done away with.  There is no longer a need for such sacrifices because as it says in Hebrews 9, Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin.

And now, as God’s people, we are called to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. 

What does that look like?

Hebrews 13:16 tells us to do good and to share with others, “for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Verse 15 says, “…let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name.”

First Peter 2:11 tells us to “abstain from sinful desires” which war against our soul.

When we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, we steer our bodies away from sinful desires and toward doing good and praising God.

And if we do sin, David describes our sacrifice in Psalm 51.  He said, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

So maybe you have stumbled, maybe you have fallen.  Maybe you have taken control of your life, living for yourself and your own desires.

Well today is a good day to re-offer yourself to God.  This is a good time to put your body back up on that altar.

And you can do that while saying along with Chris Christian, “Take my life, a living sacrifice.”

(close with actual line from the song)




© 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-

Are You Toying With Temptation? - Apples of Gold - February 25, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 25, 2010

“Are You Toying With Temptation?”

 

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

Are you sitting there, wrestling with sin?

Is it a battle you feel likely to lose?

You know it’s not good, it’s not right.  You even know the outcome won’t be all that pleasing.

And yet there you are, fully tempted, and toying with just doing it.

Now let me tell you what is going on in the spiritual realm.

And it’s such good news, I can’t wait to tell you!

The Holy Spirit is interceding for you!

He is crying out on your behalf.  You are not alone in your moment of temptation.   

Romans 8:26 says, “…the Spirit Himself intercedes for us…”

Verse 27 says, “…the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

And I have more exciting news.

Jesus Christ is also interceding for you!

That’s what it says in Romans 8:34. 

Do you think Jesus is sitting up there, watching your temptation with His eyes squinted and His arms folded, just waiting for you to do your next stupid thing, rolling His eyes and saying, “There he goes again”?

Oh my friend, not at all!  Check out Romans 8:34.  “…Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”

So as you struggle with temptation, you are not alone!  You have both the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ interceding for you.

Now here’s more good news.  Back to Romans 8:26.  It says, “…the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses.”

If you are facing temptation, and you feel weak, maybe even powerless, you are not alone.  The Spirit is there to help you, and will help you.

Now here is a step you need to take.  If you are sitting there, toying with temptation, here is what you need to do.  It’s quite simple and practical.  You need to derail your mind. 

Your train of thought is barreling down the tracks and is headed for disaster.  You are toying with it.  It is roiling around in your mind. 

You need to derail that train!  Stop that line of thinking. 

Romans 13:14 says, “…do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” 

Don’t even think about it!  If you sit there and stew on it, it’s going to get the best of you.  You need to mentally get out of there!  Don’t even think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Now here’s another big step you need to take.  Most temptations do not come alone.  They usually involve people, so listen.  Anyone who doesn’t want what is best and Godly and holy for you – anyone who is part of your temptation – derail them out of your life.

Think of two semis, trucking side by side down the highway.  Now picture one semi taking a quick exit.  They are out of there, off your highway.  You keep going, and they don’t.  They are no longer part of your life. 

That is what needs to happen to anyone who is part of your temptation.  You need to get them out of there.  You need to part ways. 

Second Corinthians 6 talks about being unequally yoked.  It says, for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  What fellowship can light have with darkness?  What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God.  Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.  Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.

So think of anyone who is part of your temptation.  Then think of how you can get away from them and their negative influence.

And finally, when you are being tempted, you need to get up and move in another direction.  You can’t just boot the temptation from your mind, then do nothing.  If you do that, the temptation will slip right back in and you will start toying with it again.

You need to move off in another direction.  You need to fill your mind and your time with something else, and here it is.  Galatians 5:13 says to “serve one another in love.”

So think of how you can do good for someone, to serve them in a pure, God-pleasing way.

Now don’t start thinking of how you can serve those who are part of your temptation!  They need to go, but don’t worry.  There are still plenty of people to serve, like your family members or your neighbors and your fellow church members. 

So there you go, some simple steps to deal with temptation. 

Now here’s a recap.  If you are toying with temptation, remember that you are not alone.  Both the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are interceding for you.  Plus, the Spirit is helping you in your weaknesses.

Now you need to derail your mind, to stop thinking in any way about how you might give in to that temptation.

And you need to move away from any people who are involved in the temptation.

And finally, you need to replace all that mess with something good and Godly, and that’s the idea of serving one another in love. 

So there you go.  Some action to take instead of just sitting there, toying with temptation.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

Another thing to think about – telling someone about your temptation, a wise Christian person.  It really takes the shine off of a temptation when you expose it like that. 

© 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-

Close the Loop - Apples of Gold - February 24, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 24, 2010

“Close the Loop”

 

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

“Did you call her?”

“No, but the books are being sent to her.”

“Well call her!”

“Okay!”

That was my e-mail conversation with my daughter yesterday.  A woman called me to order books from our ministry, and I turned it over to my daughter who takes care of such things.  I told her to find out about the books, and to call the woman and let her know.

My daughter was very diligent and quick about getting the books sent to her, and after all, that’s what the woman wanted, right?  She wanted the books, and she’s going to get the books.

But I wanted one more thing.  I wanted my daughter to “close the loop.”

What does that mean, close the loop? 

It means to close the information loop.  See, my daughter and I both knew that the woman was going to get the books, but the woman didn’t know.  Yes, she was going to get the books, but she also needed to know she was going to get the books.  Otherwise she is left hanging, wondering what happened, wondering if she needs to call back.  So to make her as comfortable as possible, we close the loop by contacting her and telling her exactly what is going on.

This is a wise business principle, but it works in all relationships, at home, at church, wherever.

When I send my wife a simple text message, she will text back, “Okay.”  That closes the loop.

Yesterday I called a man’s cell phone and left him a message.  It did not require a call back, but he called back anyway, just to let me know that he got the message.  See how that closes the loop?  Now I don’t have to wonder if he got the message.

Stuart Levine wrote a book called “Cut to the Chase: and 99 Other Rules to Liberate Yourself and Gain Back the Gift of Time.”  And one of his 100 rules is Close the Loop.

When we don’t close the loop, people are left hanging.  Levine says it’s not only distracting, but it subtly erodes relationships.  But when we consistently close the loop, we build a reputation as a dependable professional.

Yesterday my oldest daughter was scheduled to pick up her new mattress at a department store.  I said I would help, and told her to find out the hours for pickup.  She called the store twice, left messages, and never heard back. 

Now remember, she already paid for the mattress, and yesterday was the day they told her to come pick it up.

She finally called a third time and talked to a real human being who told her, “Oh, there is no one working the dock today, and you can’t pick up anything without a dock worker.” 

Not only were we left hanging, but we had scheduled our day around this department store, only to find out we couldn’t pick up the mattress at all on the very day they chose.  That is a severe example of not closing the loop.

“How did we ever win the war?”  That’s what one old man used to say every time something like this happened.  He was a veteran himself, and whenever he ran into unprofessional conduct he would say the same thing, “How did we ever win the war?” referring to World War II.

To close the loop means to keep the information flowing, keep people informed.  That includes things like progress reports.  Let people know where you are in the process.

If you say, “Hey, I’ll get with you this week about that,” and now it’s Wednesday, contact them and let them know you still plan to get with them.  Otherwise they are left wondering, “Gee, is he going to get with me or not?”

This is an odd time we live in, because it’s never been so easy to contact people, and yet people are left hanging all the time.

Imagine dropping your car off to get new tires at the super department store.  Then you wonder around the store, do some shopping, then come back when your tires are supposed to be done.  Oh, guess what?  They didn’t do anything because they didn’t have that exact tire in stock.    

What?  I was in your store.  You asked for my cell number.  You could have used the store intercom.  For that matter you could have walked down the aisle and found me.  But instead you just waited?

Again, another severe case of not closing the loop – of keeping information to yourself which leaves other people hanging.

Even something as simple as thank you notes closes the loop.  People should never have to wonder, “Gee, did they get the gift I sent?”

We have cell phones and text messaging, e-mail and Facebook.  It’s never been easier to contact people, and it’s important that we do.

Jesus told us to love our neighbor, and closing the loop does this.  It relieves people of anxiety and concern, doubt and confusion.  It moves them out of the fog of the unknown and into the light of being fully informed.

It’s professional, it’s good business, and it’s just the plain old good Christian thing to do.

So think how you can apply this principle to your life today, this very easy and effective principle of simply closing the loop.


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-

Please the Lord with a Pack of Gum - Apples of Gold - February 23, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for February 23, 2010

“Please the Lord with a Pack of Gum”

 

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

“So we make it our goal to please Him…”

That’s what it says in Second Corinthians 5:9.

We make it our goal to please God.  Is that your goal today?

What does that even mean?  What could we do today that would actually please God?

Okay, let’s find out what pleases God, according to the Bible.

Here’s something so simple even a caveman can do it.  I’m talking about sharing.

Hebrews 13:16 says that God is pleased when we share. 

So when you pull out that pack of gum and offer a stick to your neighbor – God is pleased. 

So just think of all the ways you can please God today!  It’s as simple as sharing.  We take what we have, and instead of hoarding it or selling it, we share it.

Whenever you take something of value and give it away, that is sharing; and sharing pleases God.

Hebrews 13:16 tells us something else that pleases God – doing good.  If you want to please God today, just think of something good to do, then do it!

Now here’s something else that pleases God, but it’s a little more heavy, a little more time consuming.  In fact, sometimes it may feel all-consuming.  I’m talking about caring for your family.

First Timothy 5:4 says that caring for your family is pleasing to God.

So Mom, have you ever felt less-than-spiritual because you spent your time cleaning bathrooms and making meals?  At the end of the day have you ever felt guilty for not doing much that could be called “religious”?  Maybe you even feel God’s displeasure looming over you.

Well listen.  The Bible says that God is pleased when we care for our families.  In fact, He is displeased when we don’t.  So if you want to please God today, one way is to simply care for the members of your family.

Now here is something specifically for children.  A huge way you can please the Lord is by obeying your parents.

Colossians 3:20 says, “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to the Lord.”

Now what about spiritual things?

Yes, of course there are spiritual activities that please the Lord. 

Taking time to communicate with Him is a big one.  First Timothy 2:3 says, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior.”

One form of communication that pleases God is thanksgiving.  He is pleased when say to Him, “Thank You.” 

Thanksgiving to God is something that should be free-flowing from our lips.  We should be thanking Him all the time.  If you want to please God today, pause and thank Him for something.

Another form of communication with God that pleases Him is when we intercede for people.  Intercede means we stand between God and that person.  We sort of “make their case” before the Lord, we plead on their behalf.  It pleases God when we intercede for people, including everyone from our children and our friends all the way to government leaders and strangers on the other side of the world.  God is pleased with prayers of intercession.

And you know what?  Even requesting things of God pleases Him. 

Philippians 4:6 says, “…let your requests be made known unto God…”

Requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving – these are pleasing to God our Savior.

Yes, there are many other things that please God, but these are a few that the Bible specifically mentions.

So here is a little recap.

God is pleased when we share.

He’s pleased when we do good.

He is pleased when we care for our family.

He is “well pleased” when children obey their parents.

And God is pleased when we communicate with Him with requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving.

So there you go.  Some simple answers to the potentially daunting question, “How can I please the Lord today?”


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
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