Pornography Numbs Your Conscience - Apples of Gold - November 8, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for November 8, 2010

“Pornography Numbs Your Conscience”

 

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

“That my daughters would marry young men who will walk with God, who will love them very much, and who are not poisoned by pornography.”

That was my prayer request after reading Mark 11:24 where Jesus said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Jesus said several things like that in the Bible, and when I come across them I usually stop and ask, “If I could have any prayer answered right now, what would it be?” 

And when I read that today, this was my prayer:  “that my daughters would marry young men who will walk with God, who will love them very much, and who are not poisoned by pornography.”

That last bit may strike you as odd, as if I should have more important things to ask for in future son-in-laws, such as a great education or a wealthy family. 

But my eyes were really opened to the pervasiveness and the poisonousness of pornography as I reviewed two new books last week.  As I read both the stories and the scientific studies I thought, “Wait a minute.  What happens if one of my daughters marries a guy who has a problem with pornography?”

Yes, they are likely to marry Christian young men who are active in church, but according to these books, that is no guarantee that they aren’t using pornography. 

Craig Gross, in his new book “Eyes of Integrity,” said pornography is a 57 billion dollar a year industry, which is more than professional football, baseball and basketball combined.  Fifty-seven billion dollars – and that doesn’t include all the free pornography being passed around through websites, e-mails, cell phones and flash drives.  The influence of pornography is so pervasive that Gross said we now live in a “pornified world.”

Then he went on to describe what he calls the “pornified church.”  He cited several studies that show that even though Christians, especially pastors, tend to condemn pornography, they often end up using it themselves, even to the point of addiction and the destruction of their ministries.

He talked about the case of pastor Ted Haggard, and how it appeared that before his public downfall, he was using pornography.  Gross said, “Ted Haggard is human and makes mistakes just like the rest of us.  But I would guess that, long before his public fall, his conscience had been numbed through porn and this provided the perfect breeding ground for the chaos that ensued.”

One particular part of that quote stood out to me:  “his conscience had been numbed through porn.”  That’s the way pornography can work.  The more you use it, the more it numbs your conscience. 

A numb conscience is not a good thing to have, not for any Christian, and especially not for Christian leaders.  And yet I believe what Gross said, that pornography can numb your conscience.

Do I want my daughters to marry young men with a numb conscience?  Do I want a man with a numb conscience to raise my grandchildren?  I certainly do not.  And that’s why I’m making it a matter of prayer.

Now I’m thinking of the children’s song, “Oh be careful little eyes what you see.”  That’s never been more relevant than today with such easy access to even the most despicable pornography.

One good thing is that our nation still considers child pornography a crime.  It all used to be a crime, if you can imagine that.  But now only what we call the worst, the porn involving children, will get you arrested. 

Now that is the lowest of the low, right?  We should arrest people who get their jollies from the exploitation and molestation of children. 

They are arrested and publicly humiliated, but guess what?  They do it anyway.  It shows up in the paper all the time.  Here in Tallahassee a local college baseball pitcher was just arrested on child porn charges.  So even though it’s despicable, illegal and brings public shame, people do it anyway.

Why?  I go back to what Craig Gross said, that pornography numbs the conscience.  When your conscience is numb, it makes you capable of doing things you never thought you would do.

Today’s Boston Globe tells the story of a Catholic priest who is accused of stealing over 80 thousand dollars from his church.  Why did he do it?  He needed it to pay for his porn addiction.

Now I can’t precisely connect cause and effect because who knows why people do the things they do, but I can easily see a connection between using pornography, numbing your conscience, and stealing from your own church.

So if you are a Christian and you use pornography and you don’t think it’s that bad, consider this.  Maybe you can’t feel what you should be feeling because your conscience has been anesthetized. 

The Bible uses this phrase in First Timothy 4:2.  It says your conscience can be “seared,” as with a hot iron.

The good news is that there is hope.  God can forgive you and deliver you, and there are steps you can take to eliminate this poison from your life.  You’ll find detailed information in these two books, “Eyes of Integrity” by Craig Gross, and “Closing the Window:  Steps to Living Porn Free” by Tim Chester.

One trend Gross highlighted in his book is the growing use of pornography by women, and he said that a stumbling block for many people at the beginning is their own curiosity.  It begins with curiosity, he said, but then there is a progression.  It will take you further than you want to go, and it does so by numbing your conscience each step of the way.

If we live in a pornified world with a pornified church, then I’m very concerned about the young men my daughters will marry someday. 

And that’s why this was my prayer for them today – that they will marry young men who will walk with God, who will love them very much, and who are not poisoned by pornography.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
***Here is one helpful website you should check out if you or someone you know may be tempted by pornography:  http://www.covenanteyes.com/ “

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

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

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

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

Does Your Service Show Up on the Radar? - Apples of Gold - November 4, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for November 4, 2010

“Does Your Service Show Up on the Radar?”

 

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

I know your service.

That’s what Jesus said to the church in Thyatira, in Revelation 2:19.  He said, “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”

That’s a long list of things Jesus said He was aware of, so let’s focus on just one, their service.  When you compact that sentence you end up with Jesus saying this, “I know…your service…”

Jesus was aware of their service, and that’s a good thing.  And then I ask myself this question.  Is Jesus aware of my service?

Do I have any service for Jesus to be aware of?  Do I have enough service that He might bring it up?  In Jesus’ eyes, would I be known for my service?

First of all, what is service?  The dictionary has a mile-long definition, so I’ll boil it down to this one word:  assistance.  When we serve, we provide assistance.  We help.

Serving, in a sense, puts us below whoever we are serving.  Their desires come before our desires. 

If you go to a restaurant, the waiter serves you by catering to your desires, not his own.  I’m sure it’s not his personal desire to bring you another clean fork because you dropped yours on the floor, but since he is there to serve you, your desires come before his.

To take a look at our service we need to check and see how we are doing at assisting and helping, at putting others’ desires before our own.

Of course at the top of the list is serving God. 

In Matthew 4 Jesus was tempted by Satan.  In verse 10 Jesus finally told him, “Away from me, Satan!  For it is written:  ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

Other scriptures tell us to serve the Lord.  Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Hebrews 9:14 says that Jesus’ blood cleanses our consciences so that we can serve the living God.

So what does it mean to serve God?  Does it mean He needs help?

Not exactly.  Paul said in Acts 17:25 that God is not served by human hands, “as if He needed anything.  Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”

But we are His assistants on the earth, and in that way, we serve Him. 

Jesus had a lot to say about service.  For example, there was a time when His disciples were, believe it or not, arguing over which of them was the greatest.  It prompted Jesus to deliver this powerful short sermon on service.  Here it is. 

He said, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’  But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.  For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves?  Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as One who serves.”

Jesus set the example for service.  Mark 10:45 says that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

“Well Doug, if we are to serve God and Him only, where does serving people come in?”

Here’s how that works.  Part of serving God is serving people.  Now listen to this twist on it.  Both Ephesians and Colossians talk about serving people, and doing it as if we were serving the Lord, not the people. 

I take that to mean that we don’t look at the people or their reactions or whether they look like the type we feel like serving, or whatever.  We serve people, yes, but we are serving them as a service to the Lord. 

Did you follow that?  Ephesians 6:7 says, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”

Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

So we serve God, and we serve people.  Galatians 5:13 gives us the proper attitude for this service.  It says to “serve one another humbly in love.”

There are many different ways to serve, almost as many different ways as there are people, so look around.  How can you assist someone?  Who can you give a leg up to and give them a boost?  Who can you help?

We need to be people of service, and do it to a degree that we show up on the radar like the church in Thyatira.

Someday I’d like to hear these same fulfilling words that Jesus said to them.

I know your service.


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-

Beware the Way of Jeroboam - Apples of Gold - November 3, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for November 3, 2010

“Beware the Way of Jeroboam”

 

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

What did King Jeroboam do that was so bad?

His name comes up often in the Old Testament, and with about as much love as the name Hitler.

So what did he do that so thoroughly destroyed his legacy?

This is a guy that First Kings 11:28 calls “a mighty man of valor.”  There are only a half dozen men in all the Bible who get that title, and Jeroboam is one of them.

He worked for King Solomon, and Solomon saw that Jeroboam was “industrious,” so he put him in charge of his labor force.

Then a most amazing thing happened.  Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem one day and was met by a prophet who told him that God was going to split Solomon’s kingdom and give most of it to Jeroboam. 

Why?  Because Solomon and the people had disobeyed God and worshiped idols.

Through the prophet, the Lord said to Jeroboam, “You shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel.” 

God made even greater promises to Jeroboam, with a condition – if he walked in the Lord’s ways just like King David.

So Jeroboam, the mighty man of valor, and vice-president of labor under King Solomon, now had a powerful prophecy of kingship from God Himself.

Had the future ever looked brighter?  Had a pathway ever been so beautifully paved for someone as it was for Jeroboam?  All he had to do was walk in God’s ways and the world was his oyster.

Well Solomon found out something and decided to kill Jeroboam, so he fled to Egypt, and stayed there until Solomon died.

Then Solomon’s son Rehoboam became king, decided to crack the whip on the people, and they rebelled.  And who did they turn to?  Jeroboam.

Next thing you know, Jeroboam was king, just as the prophet foretold.  Now all he had to do was walk in the ways of the Lord and God had promised him a dynasty.

But then he started getting paranoid.  “How am I going to hold on to this power?  How am I going to keep these people on my side?”

He started worrying that when the people returned to Jerusalem to worship at Solomon’s temple, they would change their mind about him and return to Rehoboam.

Now stop and think for a second.  It was prophesied that Jeroboam would be king at a time when there was no way he would ever be king.  God told him it would happen, and it did happen.  That should have been a big faith builder.

But Jeroboam got jittery and concocted a scheme.  To keep the people from returning to worship in Jerusalem, he created his own places of worship.  And for some dumb reason, he didn’t even have them worship God.  He created two golden calves instead and proclaimed, “Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!”

He put one calf in Bethel and one in Dan and told the people to go worship.  He created his own feast, his own priests and his own sacrifices.  He was making stuff up, and the people did it!

That led to a big showdown with another prophet.  Jeroboam was at Bethel, offering incense to his made-up god, when the prophet showed up with a word from the real God.  Jeroboam said, “Arrest him!” but while his hand was stretched out toward the prophet, it withered; and the idol altar split in half just as the prophet said. 

How many more signs do you need?

But Jeroboam never got the point.  He never returned to the Lord.  Other judgments came upon him, but he never returned.  He left the idols set up at Bethel and Dan, and the people continued to worship them.

And now look at this phrase in First Kings 14:16.  Judgment fell on the nation “because of the sins of Jeroboam, who sinned and who made Israel sin.”

Jeroboam died and his son Nadab took over and the Bible says, “He did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had made Israel sin.”

That was a big deal…making Israel sin.  And king after king did it, walking in the ways of Jeroboam in which he had made Israel sin.  There was Baasha, and Zimri, and Omri, and Ahab and Ahaziah and Jehoram and even Jehu, who destroyed other idols, but inexplicably left the golden calves.

Kings came and kings went, but they continued to walk in the ways of Jeroboam until the people were finally taken captive to the land of Assyria.

When you read about the northern kingdom of Israel, you’ll find that Jeroboam’s sin was brought up throughout the nation’s history.  So what was the great evil that Jeroboam was guilty of?

It wasn’t just that he sinned, though that was bad.  It was something else, mentioned repeatedly in the Bible. 

And it’s something we better not be doing ourselves.

It’s something we need to watch out for in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

It’s something I see people doing, and I am grieved.

And it’s something that is sure to bring harsher judgment and condemnation, just as it brought to Jeroboam, and here it is. 

He caused others to sin.


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-

I Wouldn't Call Him the Man Upstairs - Apples of Gold - November 2, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for November 2, 2010

“I Wouldn’t Call Him the Man Upstairs”

 

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

Have you ever heard someone refer to God as “The Man Upstairs”?

It is usually said with deference, I’ll give them that, but I wouldn’t say it. 

First of all, I don’t want to diminish heaven by merely calling it “upstairs.”  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus indicated that we shouldn’t take heaven lightly when He said, “Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne…”

Then He put it into context.  Heaven is God’s throne, and earth, by comparison, is God’s footstool.  That puts heaven exceeding earth as much as a throne exceeds a footstool.

So “upstairs” doesn’t cut it. 

Second of all, I don’t want to diminish God by putting Him on the same plane as Stan “The Man” Musial.  Stan may be The Man, but God is God the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and all mankind.  To refer to Him as a mere man is to diminish Him. 

Listen to this from Psalm 93.  The Lord reigns. He is robed in majesty.  The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength.  His throne was established long ago.  He is from all eternity.

Psalm 45:6 says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…”

Psalm 47 says that God is the King of all the earth.  He reigns over the nations.  God sits on His holy throne.

Psalm 103:19 says, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”

That is not “the man upstairs.”  That is the King over all, from all eternity, robed in majesty, armed with strength and ruling from His throne in heaven.

In First Kings 22:19 a prophet said, “I saw the Lord sitting on His throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing around Him on His right and on His left.”

The prophet Daniel shared this heavenly view.  “As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat.  His throne was flaming with fire.  A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before Him.  Thousands upon thousands attended Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.”

And guess what?  I’ll bet none of those tens of thousands were calling Him “the man upstairs.”

The prophet Isaiah had an encounter with God.  In Isaiah 6, he saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.  Above it stood seraphim with six wings, crying out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.  The whole earth is full of His glory!”  And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

And what was Isaiah’s response?  Did he say, “Yo, Man Upstairs, wassup!”

I don’t think so.  Actually, he cried out.  Seeing the Lord on His throne caused Isaiah to cry out and say, “Woe to me, I am undone!”

The Apostle John had incredible God-encounters in the book of Revelation, and chapter four takes us right into the throne room of heaven. 

There was a rainbow around the throne, John said, looking like an emerald.  In front of the throne was a sea of glass, like crystal. 

Around the throne were 24 other thrones with 24 elders in white robes and crowns of gold. 

And get this:  blasting out from the throne was lightning, thunder and voices.  And burning before the throne were seven lamps of fire, “which are the seven Spirits of God,” John said.

There were also four astounding creatures around the throne, looking like a lion, a calf, a man, and a flying eagle; and they were constantly saying…what?  “Check it out!  It’s the man upstairs!”

I don’t think so.

Revelation 4:8 records them saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

And the 24 elders cast their crowns before the throne and said, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receiver glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

Yes, God is the Almighty, and here we are, little specks on earth which He called His footstool.  We are specks of dust on God’s footstool.

And yet!  Through the work of Jesus Christ His Son, we have access to His throne!

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Jesus became our high priest, according to Hebrews 8:1, and He “sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven…”  Ephesians 3:12 says “we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”

The temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom, and we have received His Spirit by which we now call out “Abba, Father!” 

Yes, we have familiarity with Almighty God, for He is our Heavenly Father.  We can come boldly before His throne of grace with His own Spirit now dwelling inside us.

We can walk with God and be with God and hear from God, but that in no way leaves room for saying anything that diminishes God or His rightful place in our lives or in the whole universe.

And for that reason, I submit to you that we must be careful when referring to God.

And for that reason, I would not call Him “the man upstairs.”


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-

Phil's Pretty Wife - Apples of Gold - October 29, 2010 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for October 29, 2010

“Phil’s Pretty Wife”

 

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

Gather ‘round children and you shall hear,
A horrible tale from a distant year.

(begin spooky music)

Our story starts with a pretty wife,
And her handsome husband Phil.
But Philip’s brother wasn’t so nice,
In his mansion on a hill.

He had a wife to call his own, 
But he liked Phil’s wife better.
And so began his evil plan,
To swoop right in and get her.

First he dumped his own dear wife,
And sent her back to Daddy.
And then he married Philip’s wife,
And here’s where things get catty.

You cannot marry someone’s wife,
It’s wrong, so plain and clear.
But he’s a ruler, almost king,
The people lived in fear.

You dare not speak and tell the man,
That what he did was sin.
Why, he could wave one single hand,
And have your head beat in.

But wait; now look, here comes a man,
He’s speaking wild things.
The ruler’s squirming on his throne,
The prophet’s message rings.

It really rings in wifey’s head,
She really takes offense.
How dare he speak that way to her?
But John grew more intense.

The prophet, John the Baptist said,
“You broke the law,” and more.
They sent him off to prison,
Where they couldn’t hear him roar.

But that was not enough for
Herod’s wife Herodias.
She drew up a dour plan,
‘Twas truly odious.

Her husband Herod’s birthday
Came and everyone was there.
His wife brought out her daughter,
And she danced with beauty rare.

It blew away old Herod
And his cronies at the bash.
So he promised her great promises,
And she had one to ask.

A favor for her mother, see,
A very vengeful matter.
She wanted something that was John’s,
His head upon a platter.

So Herod kept his promise,
And the prophet John was killed.
And he went off to his reward,
But Herod lived in guilt.

He had his wife,
He had his plans to be a king one day.
But Emperor Caligula
Saw things a different way.

Old Herod soon was banished,
Sent away and then he died.
And now they both are dead and
Living on the other side.

Now John’s life sounds more spooky,
Having lost his head and all.
But I would rather speak the truth,
And stand there brave and tall.

The moral of this tale is
To never shrink in fear,
But speak the truth and do what’s right,
And now I’m outta here.

The end.


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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Jesus Will Heal Your Shame - Apples of Gold - October 28, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for October 28, 2010

“Jesus Will Heal Your Shame”

 

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

Have you ever felt shame?

Shame is hard to define.  It is similar to embarrassment and humiliation and guilt, but there are differences.
 
Embarrassment and humiliation involve other people, but you can feel shame whether anyone else knows about it or not. 

Guilt can bring shame, but not all shame comes from guilt.

There are different kinds of shame, but listen to this.  I believe Jesus can heal us from all of them.

Shame is never a laughing matter.  Yes, you may do something embarrassing or even humiliating and laugh about it later, but you never laugh about shame.  Shame is never funny, not now, not ever.  If you’ve ever felt shame, you know it’s true. 

Shame runs deep.  It cuts deep.  It scars deep, and there seems to be no getting over it, but I will say it again.  I believe Jesus can heal us from shame.

In Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

If you feel the weight of shame, then you are “heavy laden,” and Jesus says to you, “Come unto me.”

We come to Jesus that we may have life.  (John 5:40)

Jesus said He would never reject those who come to Him.  (John 6:37)

In John 10:10 Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Jesus offers us abundant life, and the abundant life does not include shame.

(play these lyrics from “Lost in You Again” by Fred Hammond:  “…found all the drama…found all the shame…no my search will not end…”)

Perhaps the most obvious source of shame is guilt over our own sins.  We did it.  We know we did it.  Maybe no one else knows, but we know, and we feel shame.

The good news is that Jesus can heal us of our shame from guilt.  First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Then we need to do like Paul said in Philippians 3, forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, toward the goal for which God has called us.

Our guilt will be forgiven and forgotten, and we will be healed of our shame.

(play these lyrics from “God Did a Wonderful Thing” by an unknown elderly gentleman:  “I was a sinner all covered with shame, lost and defiled with no merit to claim.  Somehow God loved me in spite of my sin; saved me, redeemed me and cleansed me within…”)

Another kind of shame is the shame of the victim.  In this case, you are not at fault, yet you feel shame. 

Perhaps your father was the town drunk.  Perhaps your mother slept around.  The shameful behavior of parents can give birth to a deep shame in their children, through no fault of their own.

A crime victim can feel shame.  An abuse victim can feel shame.  If someone has done something wretched to you, making you feel powerless and worthless, it’s not your fault, but you can carry a great burden of shame.

Jesus can heal that shame.  Bring your burden of shame to Him and lay it at His feet. 

And He is going to prescribe a treatment for you.  He is going to ask you to forgive the person that dealt you that shame.  And He is going to ask you to love them.

That sounds impossible, I know.  But it is possible through the power of God’s Holy Spirit working through you.  So once again, the answer is to bring it all to Jesus.

And if there was some kind of secret abuse, I think you should consider exposing that to the light.  Light has a way of killing the spores of shame.  That means telling a reliable, wise person what happened.

It will likely be a process, but I believe that through it, Jesus will heal you of your shame.

(play these lyrics from “You Are My All in All” by Nicole Nordeman:  “Taking my sin, my cross my shame…rising again I bless Your name…You are my all in all…”)

A third kind of shame is the shame of the outcast.  This shame doesn’t come through your sin or the sin of someone else.  It’s just a feeling of shame about your place in this world.

Maybe you aren’t one of the beautiful people.  Maybe you were born with what some would call a “defect.”  Maybe you were injured or disfigured.  Perhaps you bear a terrible scar.  Or maybe you just don’t feel like one of the smart ones or the athletic ones or the cool ones.

There are many reasons why you may bear the shame of the outcast, but Jesus can heal your shame.

First of all, remember that these outward things are not that important.  First Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Don’t look at yourself like a failure through the eyes of the world’s failed system.  Instead, look at yourself as a new creation in Christ on whom the Father has lavished His love. 

Ephesians 2:10 says we are His workmanship. 

King Solomon said God has made everything beautiful in its time.

You have been wonderfully made, you are highly valued by your Creator, and there is no shame in Him.

You don’t have to bear the burden of shame. 

Whether it’s the shame of the guilty, the shame of the victim, or the shame of the outcast, listen to me.

Jesus can heal your shame.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

(close with these lyrics from “I’m Trading My Sorrows” by Israel Houghton:  “I’m trading my sorrow.  I’m trading my shame.  I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord….”)

 

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

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

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

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

Make This a Foundation for Your Thinking - Apples of Gold - October 26, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for October 26, 2010

“Make This a Foundation for Your Thinking”

 

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

“I’m going to build up my business, then sell it for a high price right when it is at its peak.”

“Would you tell them it was at its peak?”

“No, why would I tell them that?”

“Would you want to know if some business you were buying was at its peak, that it was downhill from here?”

“I guess.”

“Then that is why you would tell them.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

That’s a real conversation I had with a man, and I hope he takes my advice to heart.

It’s not my advice, of course.  It’s something Jesus said in both Luke and Matthew.  Matthew 7:12 says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Have you ever read the Law and the Prophets?  That’s pretty much the Old Testament.  It’s really long, and there’s a lot to remember, so when Jesus said He had a simple summary, my ears perked up.  “You’re going to boil it all down into one sentence that’s easy to remember?  Great!  I want to hear it.”

And that was it.  In everything you do, do to others as you would have them do to you.  That sums up the Law and the Prophets.

A lot of people call this the Golden Rule.  There are a lot of rules in life, but this is the golden rule.

Do you apply this in your life?  I think of it a lot.  I can’t say it’s always my knee-jerk reaction, which is why I prefer not to react.  I like situations where I’m allowed to think about it.  Then I often end up considering the Golden Rule.

Jesus gave the Golden Rule in Luke 6:31, but rewind back to verse 27.  There He says, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…”

What?  That’s crazy talk, isn’t it?  Do good to those who hate me?  Why would I do that?

Because of the Golden Rule.  Do you want others to do good to you?  Do you want those who hate you to do good to you?  Then do good to them.

It is interesting to apply the Golden Rule to business because it can really change the way you operate.  What would I want if I was a customer of this business?  How would I want to be treated if I was calling in? 

My son sold his car recently and I was so proud of him.  I was there when he was talking to the guy, and he told him all the things wrong with it.  He could have been coy.  He could have said, “Well, here it is, take it or leave it.” 

Is that what you want when you buy a car from someone?  Do you want them to cover up its flaws?  Do you want to pay your money and end up with disappointing surprises?

I don’t, and you probably don’t either.  So when you sell something, tell them what you would want to know if you were in their shoes.  That’s the Golden Rule.

My son did it, and he sold the car anyway.  Why?  Because the price fit the product.  It was a less-than-perfect car at a less-than-perfect price.

Now think about this.  These things tend to have a domino effect.  How you treat this guy will influence how he treats the next guy, and so on.  Get enough of that going and pretty soon the whole town is a different place, a better place.

Maybe you haven’t thought about the Golden Rule for a while.  If not, let it become a cornerstone of your thinking.  It may not answer every question or solve every problem, but it will go a long way toward guiding you to do the best you can.

And it’s a God-rule.  It’s not a man-made self-help truism.  It wasn’t dreamed up by Ben Franklin or Confucius or Donald Trump.  It comes straight from our Creator, who knows how things were designed and knows how they work best.  And things work best when we do unto others as we would have them do unto us.

You don’t want people to talk about you behind your back, so don’t talk about them behind their back.

You don’t want people to cheat you, so don’t cheat them.

If you want people to encourage you – encourage them. 

If you want people to help you – help them.

If you want people to be honest and above board in business, and not cut any corners, then treat them that way.

How do you want your neighbor to treat you?  Then that is how you should treat them.

The Golden Rule – it needs to be a foundation for our thinking, a filter for our decisions. 

Before we do or say anything, we should consider these words of Jesus.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

 
Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

 

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

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

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

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

God Has a Plan for Your Marriage - Apples of Gold - October 25, 2010 -vi-

 

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for October 25, 2010

“God Has a Plan for Your Marriage”

 

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

“I had been raised Catholic,” Cheryl said, “And attended Mass nearly every Sunday of my childhood.”

“In the first two years we lived in Dallas, I’d been to church countless times.  Why had I never heard this stuff,” she said.  “Why had the pulpit been devoid of this incredible news?”

Then she said, “Thirty-three years of my life had slipped by without me knowing that God had a design for marriage.”

Well I don’t want that to happen to you.  I don’t want another minute to slip by without you hearing what Cheryl missed for 33 years.  God has a plan for your marriage!

Unfortunately for Cheryl, she found this out after she was already divorced. 

Not that she married a terrible guy.  Jeff was a good guy by all accounts.  He loved his wife and their twin daughters and provided well for them, very well.  He didn’t cheat on her.  He didn’t abuse her.  He wasn’t addicted to anything.

So why did they get divorced?

Because Cheryl grew discontent.  She was not a Christian, there was a hole in her life, and she expected Jeff to fill it.  She hungered for deep companionship.  She read about soul mates and that’s what Jeff should be, right?  They should have deep conversations and be bonding on a deep level, but they weren’t.  All they talked about was their activities and the children, but no deep conversations.

Meanwhile Cheryl’s ego needs were being met at work.  Her job was exhilarating and the men found her attractive.  She found herself dressing for attention and even being flirty with certain men.

It was all innocent, she said.  She was just being playful while enjoying the attention.

But then she found herself away on business one week and got caught up in a conversation with Todd.  Finally, the kind of conversation she had been longing for!  And it gave her an emotional high like she had never known.

She went back home from the conference and there was boring old Jeff.  She loved her daughters, but found herself pulling away from her husband.  Her cup was being filled several times a day with phone calls from Todd.  They would talk up to 10 times a day while she was at work, but her husband was clueless.  He had no idea anything was going on.  Sure, she was moody, he said, but he just chalked that up to woman stuff.

Finally Cheryl dropped the bomb.  She told Jeff she didn’t love him, and in fact, wasn’t sure she had ever loved him. 

He was devastated.  He hadn’t seen it coming, and it was a crushing blow.  He scrambled to work things out, but she was not interested.  They went to counseling, but she was uncooperative; and she told no one about Todd.

Eventually she filed for divorce, and when it was final she thought she would be the happiest woman in the world, but she knew it wasn’t right.  Todd had left his wife and was ready to make a home with Cheryl, but she had a nagging sense that something was wrong with that picture.  Meanwhile, her interest in God picked up.

“I bought a Bible for the first time in my life,” she said, “But didn’t know what to do with it.”  Then a friend got her plugged in to a Bible study.

And she started going to a new church.  “I sat in my same seat every week,” she said, “and the name Jesus was spoken countless times.  But one Sunday, for the very first time, I actually heard it.  It’s hard to explain, but it felt like I heard it in my heart, not just in my head.  I thought I already knew who Jesus was, but I quickly realized there was more to the story.  My friends told me that Jesus wanted my heart.  I didn’t get it but never stopped listening.”

“To tell the truth,” Cheryl said, “I thought some of the people around me were a little kooky.  They seemed to be obsessed with their religion.  I’d never in my life met people like this.  They were all apparently on a first-name basis with Jesus, yet they were so normal.  They were fun people, and they exuded a peace and joy I could not fathom.”

“It slowly dawned on me that this Jesus everyone was talking about could be what I’d been missing.  I learned he could be my Savior and that Savior wasn’t just some fancy religious word; it meant he could literally save my life.”

“I sat on my living-room recliner,” Cheryl said.  “I took a deep breath.  ‘Okay.’  I spoke aloud.  I knew Jesus heard me.  I was giving my life to him, even though I still wasn’t quite sure what that meant.  I felt like a little child when I went on, ‘Jesus, forgive me of my sins and be the Lord of my life.’”

“The best way I can describe what happened,” Cheryl said, “was that it felt like a boulder had been lifted off me.  For months I had existed in a near-constant state of anxiety.  But over the next few days, my body seemed to be moving in slow motion.  At the same time, I felt invigorated and had more energy.  Even my voice was calmer.  Emotionally I moved to a more even keel.  I stopped crying so much.  I felt like I had someone to lean on (Jesus!).  I felt as though I had somewhere to turn with my emotions (prayer!).  In the midst of all the turmoil, I felt peace and joy in a way I’d never experienced in my life.”

“In some ways it felt like a silly stereotype,” she said.  “The hole in my life was being filled for the first time.  It felt like freedom.  I did not understand the path I was about to take, but was willing to walk down it.”

To make a long and exciting story short, Cheryl grew in the Lord, ended up getting remarried to Jeff, and now they help others who are struggling in their marriage.  You can read all about it in their book “I Do Again:  How We Found a Second Chance at Our Marriage – and You Can Too,” published by WaterBrook.

Cheryl had gone through ten disappointing years of marriage and seven painful years of divorce before finally stepping into God’s plan for marriage.

Now what about you?  God has a design for your marriage, and it’s far more fulfilling than any affair or any other distraction you might be toying with. 

Find out more by drawing near to God yourself, by connecting with mature believers, and by reading this book “I Do Again” by Cheryl and Jeff Scruggs.


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- 

We Are Susceptible to the Sin of Saul - Apples of Gold - October 21, 2010 -vi-

Click here to listen to the radio version.   

Click here to search the AOG archives.

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for October 21, 2010

“We Are Susceptible to the Sin of Saul”

 

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

By faith, Abraham obeyed God.

Now remove the name Abraham and plug your own name into that sentence.  Is it still true?

It was not true for King Saul according to the story in First Samuel 15.

Verse 18 says that God sent Saul on a mission, and Saul went on the mission; however, he didn’t do everything God told him to do.

So the Lord sent the prophet Samuel to confront the king.  In verse 19 Samuel said, “Why did you not obey the Lord?”

Now what if you plugged your name into that sentence?

I’m now going to ask you a very important question.  If I plugged your name into that sentence, would you know exactly what I was talking about?

Saul did.  King Saul knew exactly what Samuel was talking about when he said, “Why did you not obey the Lord?”

And maybe you do, too.  Maybe you are thinking right now of something God wanted you to do, but you didn’t.  So the question Samuel asked Saul comes down to you today.  Why did you not obey the Lord?

Now listen to Saul’s slimy thinking.  He tried to slither around his disobedience by offering a large sacrifice to God.

Did it work?  Was the Almighty appeased?

No, and the prophet Samuel thundered his response.

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

Don’t miss that powerful phrase, “to obey is better than sacrifice.”  Saul thought God would be pleased with sacrifice, but he chose the lesser thing.  The greater thing is to obey.

But Samuel wasn’t done.  He continued, “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.  Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

Wait a minute.  Did Saul reject the word of the Lord?  I thought he simply didn’t do quite everything he was told to do.

Well that is rejecting the word of the Lord.  When you know what God wants you to do, and you don’t do it, it’s not a small thing.  You are rejecting His word.

The gravity of the situation finally hit King Saul and he confessed, “I have sinned.”  And then he offered a powerful revelation. 

Now before I reveal this revelation, let’s look at his situation through the world’s eyes.  He was the king of Israel.  He was a tall man, and you know how that can just make you look like a leader.  Well he had the bearing of a leader. 

And he had just won a mighty victory over Israel’s enemy, the Amalekites.  The Amalekites had been a thorn in their side for a long time, and Saul had finally kicked their booty once and for all.

So in a sense he was the newly crowned champion, at the top of his game.  But then Samuel confronted him, hard, and Saul was reduced.  He confessed, “I have sinned,” and then he really opened up.  He gave us a glimpse into his heart, and it was a real eye-opener.  Here is the reason he did not obey the Lord.

Are you ready for this?  Because sin is common to man.  A sin that Saul was susceptible to is a sin that you and I are susceptible to.

So here is why King Saul did not obey the word of the Lord.  He said, “I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.”

Oh…my…goodness.  Saul is now sniveling.  He’s not taking full responsibility for his action, but he does offer a glimpse into his motivation.  He was afraid of the people, he said, so he gave in to them.

Now plug your name into that sentence.  Is it true?  Are you afraid of people, and so you don’t fully obey the Lord?  Is your fear of man greater than your fear of God? 

Saul’s was, and it was about to cost him dearly, and he knew it.  It reduced him to begging.  He said to Samuel, “I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.”

But Samuel said, “I will not go back with you.  You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”

This is a sobering and sad tale, but it should echo through the ages as a warning to us all.  God prefers obedience over sacrifice, and fear of the people is no excuse. 

In Acts 5 we have a positive example, Peter and the apostles who declared, “We must obey God rather than men!”

We must obey God.  That is a lesson the apostles understood, and Saul learned too late. 

And how about you?  Do you know what God wants you to do?  Are you putting it off out of fear, fear of what people might think or say, or fear of disappointing them or making them angry?

Well this is your call to get back on track and do what you know God wants you to do.

And in the end I hope they will be able to plug all of our names into this sentence from Hebrews chapter 11.

By faith Abraham obeyed God.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

 

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

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

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

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