A Lethal Glass of Going Astray - Apples of Gold - May 25, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 25, 2010

“A Lethal Glass of Going Astray”

 

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

“At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice.”

That’s how a powerful story begins in Proverbs chapter seven.

Looking down he saw a young man, “a youth who lacked judgment,” he said.

He watched the young man walk down the street, “in the direction of her house.”

It was just starting to get dark, and out stepped the woman.  She kissed him boldly and said, “I looked for you and have found you!  I have perfumed my bed and covered it with colorful, imported linens.”

“Come,” she said, “let us drink deeply of love until morning!”

Oh, and she dare not forget this important detail.  “My husband is gone – far from home.”

Proverbs 7:21 says, “With persuasive words she led him astray.”

And that’s what I want to talk about today – things that can lead us astray.

That verse mentions one of the most dangerous:  persuasive words.

How many times have we balked at sin, knew it was wrong, wanted to turn away – but then came those persuasive words.  It’s hard enough to walk away from a tempting temptation, but throw in some persuasive words and that thing is deadly. 

So what can we do?  What that young man should have done – avoid the mouth with the persuasive words.  If he would have walked somewhere else, he never would have heard those persuasive words.

The way to avoid being led astray by persuasive words is to stay completely out of earshot. 

That proverb also points out another thing that can lead us astray:  the opposite sex.

Think of ol’ King Solomon.  First Kings 11:3 says, “He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines…” 

Oh, and let me finish the verse, “…and his wives led him astray.”

How many men of God have been led astray by women?  And yes, I know, it goes both ways, perhaps more the other way.  How many godly women have been led astray by a smooth talking “devil in blue jeans”?

Throw those two together, persuasive words and the opposite sex, and you have just poured yourself a lethal glass of going astray.

Here’s another thing that can lead us astray – an improper desire for money.

First Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

They were on the right path, but then wandered from the faith.  What led them astray?  An improper desire for money.

Here is something else that can quickly lead us astray:  alcohol.

Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker.  Strong drink is a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.”

In the Amplified version of Isaiah 28:7 we find this phrase, “…they stagger and are gone astray through strong drink…”

See how this gets slippery?  It’s not a sin to talk to the opposite sex or think about money or have a sip of alcohol.  But we must walk circumspectly.  We must be aware that these have a powerful potential to lead people astray and we don’t want to be the next victim.

Here is another thing that can lead us astray:  our friends.

Proverbs 12:26 says, “The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

This links back to persuasive words.  Our friends can be so much more persuasive.  They know how to push our buttons, how to talk us into things.  So if we don’t want our friends to lead us astray, we must pick friends that aren’t astray themselves.

Now here’s a very influential group of people:  our leaders.  They are super-influential because we are supposed to submit to them and follow them – but not blindly.  Isaiah 3:12 uses this simple and obvious phrase, “…your guides lead you astray…”  Jeremiah 50:6 says, “My people hath been lost sheep:  their shepherds have caused them to go astray…”

And then there is nobody’s friend, the devil.  Revelation 12:9 calls him “that ancient serpent the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.”

So be aware of these things that can easily lead us astray:  persuasive words, the opposite sex, money, alcohol, friends, leaders and the devil.

And how to avoid going astray? 

By keeping our eyes on the Lord, on the truth, on the true faith, and on the Word of God. 

And if you have already gone astray, then read Luke 15 about the prodigal son and the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, and Luke 19 where we read that Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was lost.”

And for everyone who knows what it’s like to go astray and return to the Savior, we hear from the man who denied the Savior himself three times.

I’ll close with these uplifting words from First Peter 2:25.

“For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

The World Is Run By Those Who Show Up - Apples of Gold - May 24, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 24, 2010

“The World Is Run By Those Who Show Up”

 

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

The world is run by those who show up.

Maybe you’ve seen that saying on a bumper sticker, or heard it quoted by politicians rallying their supporters.

It was brought up at our church men’s meeting this weekend as a room full of guys came out for prayer.

I’ve been the leader of a few things in my life, and I’ll bet there were times when someone said, “How did he get to be the leader?” 

Well, the world is run by those who show up.  Maybe you don’t like what’s being done by your county commissioners or your school leaders or even your president, but the question is, where have you been?  You have little right to complain if you haven’t been showing up.

This weekend I read about a plot to overthrow the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt.  It never happened, of course, but listen to what then-House Speaker John McCormack said, “A well-organized minority can always outmaneuver an unorganized majority.” 

He said that’s what Hitler did.  He organized a minority of the people, and used them to take over the country. 

Look at it like this.  The majority is headed somewhere, and a minority will decide where.  Who will be in that special minority?  Those who show up.  They will change society while everyone else is home watching television and napping.

I’m reading a book by Brother Andrew and he talks about “Christian fatalism.”  He said that many Christians leave everything up to God and have this attitude:  “Oh well, God works in mysterious ways.  I guess this is just how things are going to be.”

Brother Andrew’s response to that attitude is, “What’s the matter with you?  Why are you talking this way?  You’re not helpless!  God has given you the power to change that situation!”

Then he adds these strong words, “We need to recognize apathy and laziness if we’re going to remove them from our lives and do what God has commanded us to do.  God never intended that we should live in a state of suspended animation, forever waiting for a word from Him about what to do next.”

He concludes that God has spoken, His character and His principles are eternally the same, His purposes and His will are not a mystery, and we just need to get moving.  We need to get involved, put our hand to the plow, and make a difference in the world.

The world is run by those who show up, so . . . be one that shows up!

Have you gone somewhere and thought, “I wonder why they didn’t do that differently?  It would have been so much better if they would have done this or that.” 

Well, maybe not enough people showed up to help. 

I was once on a small committee that brought in a special speaker.  When the day came, someone who didn’t show up for the planning meetings was irked by our plain stage.  I wanted to say, “Well where were you when we were having our meetings?”

The event was run by those who showed up for the meetings.  Those who didn’t show up didn’t have a say – and yes, their lack of participation hurt the overall success of the event.

What I’m saying is, get involved!  Don’t just sit back and wring your hands and wish things were better.

The Bible talks over and over about being fruitful in good works.  We are to be rich in good works and zealous for good works. 

Titus 3:1 indicates that we should be ready for every good work.

One way to be ready for good works is to show up when good works are being planned.

Someone is going to be involved, and they will influence the outcome.  Which direction will your church go?  Your community?  Your nation? 

The choices will be made by those involved.  It may be you, or it may be someone quite different than you. 

So get yourself ready for good works.  Put yourself in the position to do good, to be involved, to be part of the group that is bearing good fruit in the world.

And the next time you hear that someone like that is holding a meeting, go!

And if you need a good reason, here’s an easy one to remember.

The world is run by those who show up.


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-

Fasting Humbles You Before God - Apples of Gold - May 21, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 21, 2010

“Fasting Humbles You Before God”

 

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

 

How long has it been since you fasted?

Have you ever fasted?

Should you fast at all? 

Well I believe in fasting, and here is what I get out of it.

First of all, fasting humbles me before God.

A short version of Micah 6:8 says, “…what does the Lord require of you?  …to walk humbly with your God.”

That’s how I feel when I’m fasting, like I’m walking humbly with God.

Fasting has a way of knocking down your power and your pride.  It weakens you in a way that really humbles you.

Here’s another effect of fasting.  Do you remember the old lyrics “and the things of this world will grow strangely dim”?  That’s what happens when I fast. 

It’s like the time I had strep throat.  Not knowing what I was doing, I decided to just power through.  But instead of going away, it just got worse.  It finally put me flat on my back. 

Have you ever been flat-on-your-back sick?  If so, did you notice how the world grew strangely dim?

When I had strep, my world shrank.  I didn’t think about world affairs or even my own job.  My world shrank down to about three rooms in my house.

That’s a picture of how I feel when I fast, it makes the things of this world grow strangely dim.

I’ve never been dying, but I imagine a similar effect.  What seemed so important just falls off the radar when you are dying . . . and when you are fasting.

If you know anything about photography you know about depth-of-field.  You’ve probably seen photos where one thing was sharply in focus and everything else was blurry.  That’s due to the settings on your camera, adjusting the depth-of-field. 

Well fasting does that to me.  It adjusts my depth-of-field.  What really matters – the Lord and eternal things – comes into sharp focus and everything else goes blurry.

So, fasting humbles me before God, and it shrinks my focus down to Him.

To encourage me while fasting, I have a little card with three Bible verses on it.

Acts 13:2 includes this phrase, “While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…”

It includes this phrase from Mark 9:29, “…but by prayer and fasting…”

And it includes these six words from Matthew 6:18, “…fasting…your Father will reward you.”

So why fast?  Because God will reward you.  Because some things only come by prayer and fasting.  And because – now listen to this – fasting makes you more vulnerable to the Holy Spirit.

I heard a preacher say that one time, and I liked it.  And I believe it to be true.  Fasting makes us more vulnerable to the Holy Spirit.

I’ve also found this to be true.  Fasting softens my spirit. 

So do we need to fast?  Should we fast?

Well if it was good enough for Paul and those early saints, it’s good enough for me.

Now what about the practical details?  There are many considerations, such as your work and your health, but with those in mind, I would suggest a water-only fast.  That means you intake nothing but water for a set period of time.

If you haven’t fasted yet, maybe start with just 24 hours.  Just pick a time and gut it out.  Just do it.  Yes, your body will rebel.  It wants what it wants, but denying it is kind of the point.

Or take it up a notch and try 48 hours, or 72 hours.  I think you will see more benefits if you fast longer than just one day. 

And I recommend you fast from things like the media and the computer, then use the extra time to pray and study and draw near to God.

One more thing, read up on the practicalities, especially how to come off of a longer fast.  There are wrong ways to do it, so be careful. 

If you’ve never fasted, or it’s been a long time, then I encourage you to consider it.

I think you will truly grow in your walk with the Lord if you make the effort to fast.


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-

Start With Scripture, Then Apply Common Sense - Apples of Gold - May 18, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 18, 2010

“Start With Scripture, Then Apply Common Sense”

 

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

Here was the offer we made on television.

“Send in a gift of any size to the ministry, and we will send you this book as our way of saying thanks.”

One viewer responded by sending a single dollar, and that’s fine.  Yes, we lose money on the book, but if that’s all the person can send, or all they want to send, that’s fine.  We are glad to bless them with the book.

But then they sent another single dollar, then another single dollar, then another single dollar.  That’s when the report came to me, “What should we do?”

It appeared they were trying to play the system, trying to get many copies of the book for one dollar each. 

Maybe we need to word our offers more carefully to avoid such things in the future.

“No,” I said, “You couldn’t write enough rules to cover every situation.  At some point you have to trust that common sense and social ethics will kick in.”

So what did we do?

What would you do?

Now you may never run into this exact situation, and that’s the point.  Our lives are filled with situations that aren’t quite the same as the last situation, and that’s why you just can’t write enough rules to cover every possible nuance.

For example, I recently heard a man speaking about hospital janitors.  Their list of duties includes things like “filling the paper towels” and “mopping the floors.”  They have a long list of duties, but guess what?  None of them include people.  There is nothing on their to-do list about people.

So what should the janitor do?  Ignore all the people and just do the jobs?

For example, one janitor said when it was time for him to mop the hallway, a man was up in the middle of the night walking, trying to regain his strength.  So he waited to mop the hall.

Another janitor said she skipped vacuuming a certain waiting room one night because she knew a family was asleep in there that really needed the sleep. 

See, you just can’t write enough rules to cover every situation.  At some point common sense has to kick in.  You have to be able to assess a situation and do the right thing without a specific rule for everything.

The Bible is like this.  If the Bible were written to specifically cover every situation, it would be as big as the world.  But that’s not the way it is.

For example, Jesus said, “Love your neighbor,” and some wise guy said, “Who is my neighbor?”

Yes, He could have made an exhaustive list, going on and on and on, “He’s your neighbor and she’s your neighbor and that guy’s your neighbor.”  But instead He told the story of the Good Samaritan.  He gave an illustration, then left the details to us.

That’s the way the Bible is much of the time.  It gives us principles, and we have to flesh out the details.

For example, the Bible doesn’t say, “Don’t smoke,” but it does say that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  It doesn’t say, “Don’t drink alcohol,” but it does say, “Be sober.”

I encounter this constantly, people asking about situations for which there is no direct rule in the Bible.  Well if there is no direct rule, then what?

Well first of all we frame up our answer within the guidelines of Scripture.  Then for the specifics it often comes down to common sense.  And if you aren’t sure what the common sense is for your situation, then talk to someone who has common sense. 

Here’s another guideline you can use.  Sometimes I simply ask, “What is the heart of God in this matter?”  It’s sort of like asking “What would Jesus do?”

Often that means being gracious and merciful, but other times it means holding people accountable.  Sometimes people need soft love, and other times they need tough love.

How do you know which is which? 

That’s hard to say because you can’t write rules for every situation. 

The good news is, as Christians, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. 

So if we don’t have a rule, here’s what we can do.

Start with the general guidelines of Scripture, then apply common sense.  We can ask others for their common sense, and we can ask, “What is the heart of God in this matter?”  And then there’s the Holy Spirit nudging us in the right direction.

Now let’s get back to my original story.  What did I do about the person sending one dollar donations and hoping to get a bunch of books?

I decided to send just one book.  It was a wise use of our resources.  It was the fair thing to do for the author and publisher.  And it quietly kept the person from taking advantage of the ministry, while still supplying them with the wisdom found in the book.

And how did I come to that conclusion?  By starting with the general guidelines of Scripture, then adding a healthy dose of good old fashioned common sense.


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-

Consider the Outcome of Your Conduct - Apples of Gold - May 17, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 17, 2010

“Consider the Outcome of Your Conduct”

 

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

Consider the outcome of your conduct.

In other words, don’t just think about what you feel like doing, but also think about the consequences.

Maybe you feel like eating a whole box of Krispy Kreme donuts, but consider the outcome of your conduct.

Pregnant teenagers probably did not consider the outcome of their conduct.

But that’s hard for teenagers, isn’t it?  They know what they feel like doing right now, but the consequences?  That’s hard for them to imagine.

In fact, I think it’s hard for most of us to imagine.  It’s hard for us to picture a place we’ve never been.

So here’s a little tool that can help.  Just ask yourself this little two-word question.

Then what?

Asking “then what?” helps you think through the chain of events that lead from now into your future.

If you don’t like the outcome of the “then what?” then don’t do the action.

Several years ago a country artist named Clay Walker came out with a song by that title, “Then What.”  It’s written to a man who’s thinking about cheating on his wife, but before he does, the singer tells him to consider this little two-word question.  Here’s the chorus:

(play chorus of Then What by Clay Walker)

“Then what?
What you gonna do,
When the new wears off and the old shines through,
And it ain’t really love and it ain’t really lust,
And you ain’t anybody anybody’s gonna trust.
Then what?
Where you gonna turn,
When you can’t turn back for the bridges you’ve burned…”

And he finishes by repeatedly asking the question, “Then what?  Oh-oh then what?”

Just think it through.  That’s what he’s saying.  Look at the end of the road before you go down it.

I guess Clay or his wife didn’t take that advice because they ended up divorced, he remarried, and now has children by two different women.  It’s a tangled up situation that may have been avoided if he would have truly considered the outcome of his conduct, even before he married his first wife.

Now I know we can’t see everything that lies ahead, no matter which road we take.  But here is one thing we can do.  We can look at those who already took that road and see where it led them.

For example, are you thinking about dropping out of high school?  Then what?  And if you don’t know the answer, then look at others who already did.  Look at those who dropped out three, four and five years ago.  Where are they now?  Is that where you want to go? 

Hebrews 13:7 indicates that we should look at good, godly leaders, then do this:  consider the outcome of their conduct.

When I look at the truly godly people I know, I like the outcome of their conduct.  I like their marriage and their family.  I like their ethics.  I like their faith and their overall attitude about life.  And since I like where they are, I want to adopt the conduct that got them there.

On the flip side, there are many people who ended up in places I don’t want to go.  I will also consider the outcome of their conduct, and I will try to avoid it.

It’s a simple message, really.  It’s just thinking things through.  It’s always asking, “Then what?” 

And here’s what happens when you string together enough “then whats.”

“I’ll graduate from college.”

Then what?

“I’ll get a good job.”

Then what?

“I’ll get married and have kids.”

Then what?

“I’ll raise them and get them out of the house.”

Then what?

“I’ll retire and enjoy myself.”

Then what?

I guess I’ll die.

Then what?

Yes, then what, after you die?  That’s where all the “then whats” end up.

Second Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

So think it through, and think it through to the end.  The things I do today, how will they stack up on judgment day?  That’s the ultimate end of the “then what” query.

Think about your actions.  Think about their consequences. 

And be inspired by this little precept based on Hebrews 13:7.

Consider the outcome of your conduct.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

(close with end of Then What by Clay Walker)


© 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 Midweek Ride of Paul Lanier - Apples of Gold - May 13, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 13, 2010

“The Midweek Ride of Paul Lanier”

 

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

Paul was a power lifter.

He was also a doctor, a hunter and a licensed pilot – a “real man.”

He married his high school sweetheart, and they had three teenage daughters.

And what was Paul Lanier doing in his early 40’s?

He was battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

That killer disease can take most men down in just three or four years, but Paul the power lifter was in such peak condition that he survived for nine years after his initial diagnosis. 

“Why would you want to survive?” you might ask.  “Why put up with all the suffering just to survive another day?”

Well Paul Lanier knew that everyday he was alive was another day he could make a difference.  

How did he make a difference?  Well listen to this remarkable story told by Steve Farrar in his book “Battle Ready.”

Now remember, Lou Gehrig’s disease affects the muscles.  It quickly put Paul in a wheelchair, and eventually even took his speech.  .

What would you do in that humbling situation?  It would be easy to just wallow in self-pity and give up.

But amazingly, Paul was willing to ask for help.  One man he reached out to was a neighbor and a fellow doctor.  They called him King, and he came over a few times and helped Paul with some household chores.

Then one day Paul dropped this little bomb.  “King, I’ve got a favor to ask.”

“Sure, Paul, anything I can do I’m happy to do.”

“I need you to help take me to my Bible study.”

King shared this story at Paul’s funeral, and here was his reaction to the request.  “I absolutely froze,” he said.  “I wasn’t a Christian, wasn’t a churchgoer, and I certainly didn’t spend my time going to Bible studies.  And Paul knew that.  But he also knew that I desperately needed the Lord.”

When Paul told King that it would last about an hour, King said, “What should I do while you are in the study?”

“You should just come in with me,” Paul said.  “Then if I need to leave for some reason you can just wheel me out.”

Before the midweek meeting rolled around King thought, “If I’m going to a Bible study, I guess I’d better get a Bible.”  He went to Barnes and Noble and was shocked to find such a variety of Bibles.  He said, “I was completely lost, so I finally grabbed the New American Standard Version because I figured, ‘I’m an American.’  That’s how clueless I was.”

King had never been to a Bible study in his life.  He pictured a few guys sitting around a table.  But at Farrar’s church outside Dallas there were actually hundreds of guys who attended the men’s Bible study. 

King said, “I was shocked.  I was blown away that so many guys would show up on a Wednesday to study the Bible.  I wasn’t even sure that I believed in the Bible.  But before long the Holy Spirit began to work in my heart, and I began to see that I was a sinner and that my only hope was to believe the gospel of Christ.  And within the year, my life was completely changed by the Lord.”

In conclusion, King said, “Even in his increasing weakness, Paul was looking for ways to be used by God.  And I am the product of his unwillingness to just stay home and be defeated by self-pity.”

And listen to this.  King wasn’t the only man Paul did this to.  He asked other men to take him to his Bible study, including a devout atheist who said, “The next thing I knew, I was taking Paul to the Bible study and within a year I came to know the Lord.  I went from unbelief to belief so fast I couldn’t believe it.  And Paul was the human instrument that God used to bring me to salvation.”

That’s what Paul Lanier did, while suffering and eventually succumbing to Lou Gehrig’s disease.  In spite of his weakness, he impacted the lives of those around him.

And with the example of Paul Lanier fresh in our mind, we really need to stop and ask ourselves this question. 

What can I do to impact the people around me for Christ?


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

You can read more about Paul’s story here:  http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/DN-rellanier_14met.ART.South.Edition1.43b0681.html

© 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-

Mental Gymnastics - Apples of Gold - May 12, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 12, 2010

“Mental Gymnastics”

 

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

As soon as the mental gymnastics start . . . stop.

When the wheels start turning to rationalize and justify . . . stop.

If you can’t explain your actions truthfully and honestly and squarely . . . then stop before you even do them.

I’m giving you a little guard rail today, something that will help keep you on the straight and narrow.

It means you are going to have to understand your own mind.  You need to get in there and see how it works. 

There’s a little department in our head, and in that department their job is to justify our actions. 

It goes like this.  We think of something to do, and our conscience throws up a red flag.  Then this department goes to work to override the conscience.  The wheels start turning and all of a sudden we are doing the very thing our conscience told us not to do.  We were warned, but we did it anyway.  But we think we are in the clear because we have a good reason and we are ready to spit it out to anyone who asks.

The problem is, it won’t stand up to the light test.  You can read about the light test in Ephesians chapter 5.  It says, “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”  Then it says “…everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.”

So here is the guard rail that will protect you today.  Will your actions stand up to the light test?  If they were exposed to the light, if they became public, would you be ashamed?  Would you be discredited?  Would your reputation suffer?

If so, then don’t do it.  If you sense the wheels are turning in your head, looking for excuses, stop right there.  Don’t do it!

I was reading this week about a computer program that will cover your tracks.  It will keep anyone from knowing where you went on the internet. 

Would you like to have a program like that?  Would you like to have the freedom to go anywhere online and no one would know?  If so, then you are probably failing the light test. 

You know what?  There is nothing wrong with saying, “I won’t go there because I don’t want to be caught going there.  I won’t do certain things because I don’t want to be caught doing them.”

That’s another way of looking at the light test.  Would you do this if you knew you were going to be caught? 

This is about your integrity and your good name.  Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is more desirable than great riches…”

We need to deal in truth, not some half-twisted version of it.  We need to deal in light, not shades of darkness.

Have you ever seen a little kid try to lie?  They are terrible at it.  Their eyes and their body language betray them – but they don’t realize it!

The same is true for adults.  You can have your story all worked out ahead of time, yet people can see right through you.  No, maybe they can’t prove you’re lying, maybe they have no evidence, but that is not the point at all.  As Christians, we don’t want to eliminate the evidence.  We want to eliminate the sin!

We want to walk in the light as He is in the light!  We want to live in honor and integrity.  The Bible uses this word:  upright.  Titus 2:12 indicates that we should live “self-controlled, upright and godly lives.”

Set the bar high!  Don’t look for reasons to sneak the bar down.  Don’t be pathetic.  Don’t be weak, be strong!  Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might!

You can do it.  It can be done!  “Awake you who sleep.  Arise from the dead and Christ will give you light!”

Proverbs 21:8 says, “The way of the guilty is devious…” 

Don’t be devious.  Don’t look for ways to rationalize and justify and cover up your actions.  Let this be a warning to you right out of the gate.  As soon as your mind starts doing the mental gymnastics – don’t do it. 

“The way of the guilty is devious – but the conduct of the innocent is upright.”

That’s who you want to be.  You want to be counted among the innocent and the upright.  You want to be a person of the highest integrity, with a great reputation and an honorable name.

And that means you can’t do certain things. 

Remember Daniel.  His enemies dug deep to find any lack of integrity, and they couldn’t find one!

I want to be like that.  I want my track record to be squeaky clean.  I don’t want to slip things in under the shades of gray.  I want my actions to be able to pass the light test.  I want to conduct myself in a manner worthy of the gospel.  I want my life to square up with Amos’ plumb line.

Hebrews 13 uses this phrase, “live honorably in every way.”

Honor means no rationalizing, no excuses or justifications.

So here is your guardrail today, something to help keep you on the straight and narrow.

As soon as the mental gymnastics start . . . stop.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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


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

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

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

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

You Need Some Good Christian Friends - Apples of Gold - May 11, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 11, 2010

“You Need Some Good Christian Friends”

 

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

I signed a lease to live in a house with four other guys.

That was in the spring of my junior year in college.

Then that summer I gave my life to Christ.

In the fall we moved in together and “Surprise!  One of your housemates is a Jesus freak!”

Oh, they were still my friends, but now we had a lot less in common.  They wanted to do things I didn’t want to do, so I couldn’t really hang out with my old friends, but I didn’t have any new friends.  Now what?

I started going to a church, but I just didn’t click with the young people there.  Oh they were friendly enough, but honestly, I was looking for people with fire in their bones, people who were dying to the world and living for Jesus.  And by my definition, you weren’t dying to the world when you promoted the showing of a Stephen King movie right there in your facility.  Or when you are proud of your secular music collection.  Or when you don’t mind having a drink at the bar.

But then I wasn’t exactly Saint Douglas.  I spent much of that first year trying to find my footing as a Christian.  I would do good, then not so good, up and down.  And I’m not blaming my old friends, but at times they were a real stumbling block to me.  I should have been stronger, but spiritually I felt like a baby taking his first steps.

I finally got to the point where I said, “Lord, I’ve blown it.  I know You wanted to use me, but I’m just not strong enough.”

Then I was invited to a new Christian group there on campus, and I finally found some kids on fire for Christ.  And let me tell you, it made a big difference in my life.  My walk stabilized.  I grew spiritually.  It was just so nice to find other young people living the way I thought a Christian should live, the way I wanted to live. 

So instead of having friends that were tripping me up, I had friends that were building me up.  We all encouraged each other, and we all grew spiritually by being friends.

And that’s when I came to this conclusion.  If you are going to be a good Christian, I think you just have to have some good Christian friends.  Without them it’s going to be really hard to grow and stay strong in the faith.

Proverbs 12:26 says, “A righteous man is cautious in friendship…”

Why?  Because our friends are such a huge influence in our life. 

But you knew that.  The big question is not if we need good Christian friends, but how to find them!

Well here’s a couple of old sayings that can help:  “Birds of a feather flock together,” and “Like attracts like.”

If you want good, strong Christian friends, then start by being a good, strong Christian yourself.  When you do this, other strong Christians will be drawn to you, just like a magnet finds metal shavings in a pile of sawdust.

But that means you need a pile of sawdust, right?  So where is that pile of sawdust, if you’ll pardon the analogy?

Well that’s easy.  Christians gather at churches all across the country every single weekend.  So if you want to find some good Christian friends, then find a good Christian church and go to it.

“But Doug,” you say, “I go to church and I still have no Christian friends.  No one is reaching out to me.”

Well I have an answer for you.  This is what I’ve done at every church I’ve attended and it always works.

At your church, find something you like and volunteer.  Maybe it’s a committee or a work crew or whatever.  Just join it, and you will instantly begin meeting likeminded volunteers.  Instead of waiting for some social invitation that isn’t coming, get to work.  Then as you work beside people, you’ll get to know them and they’ll get to know you.  That is fertile ground for good Christian friendships.

It works the same at parachurch organizations.  If you like sports, for example, consider volunteering with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

We used to sing a Christian song years ago with these lyrics:

“We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and crucify man’s pride.”

That’s what happens when you have good Christian friends.  They will guard you on the one side, but challenge you and hold you accountable on the other.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Your friends can sharpen you spiritually, or dull you spiritually.  Which do you want?

Well the heart’s desire of most Christians is to grow and be spiritually strong.

And to do that I think you simply must have some good Christian friends.


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-

Keep Your Eyes Open for Open Doors - Apples of Gold - May 7, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 7, 2010

“Keep Your Eyes Open for Open Doors”

 

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

I believe in “open doors.”

Here’s what I mean by that.  I think God opens doors of opportunity for us.

Paul said in First Corinthians 16 “…I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me…”

Paul told the Ephesians to make the most of every opportunity.  That’s what an open door is, an opportunity.

Have you ever had that happen?  You just look up one day and there is an open door; a new opportunity has presented itself.

In Revelation 3 Jesus told the church in Philadelphia, “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”

In Second Corinthians Paul said that he went somewhere and what did he find?  He found that “the Lord had opened a door” for him.

So this idea of open doors is not just some made up Christianese.  It’s not what some call “preacher talk.”  It’s a real thing that occurs.  God opens doors.

Most Christians probably agree with that.  The problem is not believing it, it’s properly identifying it when it happens.

Oh if God would just label those doors better!  Shoot off some fireworks, or turn on a siren and a flashing light.  “Hey look, I’m opening a door!”

Because face it, we live in the land of opportunity.  In a sense there are open doors everywhere.  Opportunities abound, especially if you are ready to work hard and think creatively. 

But this is how I’ve handled it.  This is just me, so take it for what it’s worth, but I have spent my entire Christian life praying that God would open and close doors.

Has He answered that prayer?  Is that how my life has worked?  Well I can’t prove it, but I think that’s what’s happened many times.

For example, my wife and I made an offer on a house.  There had been no other offers on the house, but we liked it and decided to buy it.  Now this was my prayer, “Lord, if this is a good house for us, please open the door; but if not, please close it.”

Shortly thereafter our realtor called and said that two other offers had suddenly come in on the house.  What interesting timing!  The realtor wanted to know if we wanted to raise our offer, just in case the others were higher than ours.  Well I just thought back to my prayer and I thought, “What are the odds of this happening, that two other offers suddenly came in on a house that had had no previous offers?”

So you know what?  I took that as God closing the door.  Now I can’t prove it.  Maybe He did and maybe He didn’t, but that is the way I prayed, and that is the way I took it.

I remember back in the 80’s, when I decided to get into Christian radio.  I sent out resumes to every Christian station in the state and prayed that God would open one door, and only one.  I figured that if I had more than one opportunity I would probably pick the one wrong.  Well I think God answered my prayer.  I heard from several stations, but only one had an immediate fulltime opening.  I took the job and worked there for about 20 years. 

Now some people criticized me for that, and I admit, I don’t have a good comeback for them.  Some would say, “Don’t just leave your job up to fate like that.  Target the best job and go for it.  Don’t wait for an open door, knock on a closed door.  Kick it down if you have to.”

I guess part of it comes down to being guided by the Holy Spirit.  If the Spirit gives you a goal to shoot for, then do it.  I agree that not every door will be gracefully opened for you.

For example, I was reading about Brother Andrew’s delivery of a million Bibles to a beach in China one night back in 1981.  Time magazine called it a “bold expedition.”  Well I’m sure the Chinese government didn’t just open the door and invite them in.  And yet what is the name of Brother Andrew’s worldwide ministry?  “Open Doors.”

In Acts chapter three we read about a man that was healed.  His healing drew a big crowd, and the Apostle Peter noticed.  He saw an opportunity, an open door.  He took advantage of it and preached to the crowd.

But now look at First Samuel 24.  David and his men were hiding in a cave, and suddenly King Saul was right there in front of them.  David truly had an open door to kill King Saul, and his men encouraged him to do it, even saying that God had given the opportunity.  But David knew better.  He only cut off the corner of Saul’s robe to prove that he could have killed him, and later even felt guilty for that.  So not every opportunity is a door opened by God.

First Corinthians 10:23 points out that not everything is helpful or beneficial.  So when you see an open door, ask yourself this.  Is it beneficial?

We need discernment.  We need to know the Word.  We need to know the voice of the Holy Spirit.  And we need to seek wise counsel from mature Godly believers.

So keep your eyes open for open doors, then like it says in Ephesians 5:16, make the most of every opportunity.

That’s the way I’ve tried to live, because that’s the way I think it works.

I really do believe it – that God Himself opens doors.


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-

Popsicles - Apples of Gold - May 6, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 6, 2010

“Popsicles”

 

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

I slowly lowered the Popsicle from my mouth, stunned.

I had never seen anything like it before.

But what do you expect?  I was just a boy, sitting at my little grade school desk.

It was right around this time of year, and when our upstairs classroom would get a little stuffy the teacher would prop open the door that opened out onto the fire escape.

There was no air conditioning in schools back then, and in the winter our heat came from the radiator under the windows.

But this was springtime, a great time to play outside at recess then come back in, try to cool off and actually learn something.

Well this day was someone’s birthday, and that meant snacks for the whole class.  It was usually homemade cookies, or if you were lucky, Ding Dongs wrapped in aluminum foil.

The school day was almost over when the birthday girl’s mom showed up and you’re not going to believe it.  She brought Popsicles!

That’s right, genu-ine ice cold Popsicles for the whole class.  And not those cheap one-sticker Popsicles.  These were the two-stickers – twice the sugary goodness for everyone!

As I sat there at my little desk I thought, “What kind of person passes out Popsicles for their birthday?”  I think the glow of the Popsicles rubbed off on the birthday girl as I began to think, “Wow, this must be, like, the coolest girl ever.”

There was excitement in the room as she passed out the Popsicles.  And you know, you can’t really lollygag around when it comes to eating Popsicles. 

So I was devouring my Popsicle with the rest of the herd when I suddenly heard a little commotion over by the fire escape.  I looked up just in time to see the girl giggle at the fact that she had run out of Popsicles.  Everyone got one…but her.

“Hmmm,” I thought, as I returned to mine.  “That didn’t work out very well.  The birthday girl won’t get a Popsicle; that’s too bad.”

Now here is where my memory slows down to capture every detail.  I can still picture the boy to my left.  He sprang from his seat, but in my mind it’s all in slow motion.  He moved toward the birthday girl, and what was he doing?  He was pointing something at her.

Now I wish I knew what was going on in that boy’s head.  What happened at his house that morning?  What kind of things had he been seeing at home?

You know, a dad has a big impact on a son.  Little boys watch their daddy, and they pick up a lot of their traits.  And they especially pick up their attitude towards the opposite sex.

Oh, if dads would show a little more courtesy, a little more respect. 

Here’s a word you don’t hear much anymore:  chivalry.

That’s when a man is courteous to women, all women:  Moms and sisters, old and young, pretty and not-so-much.  He is kind to them, not for selfish gain, but just because he should be.  He looks out for their needs and their feelings.

Yes, he opens the door for them.  No, not because they can’t do it themselves.  Of course they can do it themselves, that’s not the point at all.  It’s just something nice to do for someone.

It’s called chivalry, and every man needs to learn it.

It’s the opposite of selfishness.  In our crass society, men often use women for their own pleasure or comfort.  They take advantage of them, and this should not be.

Chivalry includes manners and etiquette.  It includes social graces and wisdom and knowledge.  It includes emotional intelligence – how to do the right thing at the right time to look out for others.

And I think that includes special care for females. 

First Peter 3:7 tells husbands to honor their wives as the “weaker vessel.”  Now don’t get offended ladies.  That’s like comparing a rugged plastic pitcher of tea to a fine China tea pot.  Yes, the China is more fragile, and there’s nothing negative about it.  But it does deserve special care.

As Christians we are to love one another and serve one another and be kind to one another.  Ephesians even says to “submit to one another.”

So men, where is your chivalry?  Maybe it’s time to take it up a notch, and start showing more care for the fairer gender. 

And dads, keep in mind that your little boy is watching and he will mirror your attitude towards women.

I wonder if that’s what happened that day at Franklin Elementary School.  I wonder if that father’s attitude finally came busting out of his son.

I wonder if that’s why he jumped out of his seat, rushed toward the birthday girl and said, “Here.  You can have half of mine.”

And I slowly lowered the Popsicle from my mouth and let the lesson sink in.

The very important lesson of chivalry.


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-