Apples of Gold
Radio Script for November 1, 2008
“There Will Be No Drinking In My Administration”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
“As president, there will be no drinking in my administration.”
Can you imagine how that would go over?
“No drinking at our meetings. No drinking at our fundraisers. No drinking at our membership drives. As long as I’m president, we will be an alcohol-free organization.”
Oops, that’s too much “change” isn’t it? A bit too “mavericky.”
But that’s what I did. Back in my college days I was elected as the next president of our chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America.
We had a lot of members, and the way we signed them up was by having membership drives in a bar. People would drink up, then sign up. Some of them would be hard workers, you know the old 80/20 rule. And the rest just helped you look successful by padding the numbers. They didn’t do much work, but they liked a good party.
Then I became the president. We had our first big meeting…in a classroom. We had a good agenda. Big plans. It was going to be a great year, starting our own university P.R. firm.
Oh yeah, and no meetings in bars.
80% of the people became cows at a new gate. Eyes got big. Heads swayed. They herded away and didn’t come back.
The 20% didn’t really get it either, but they were ready to work, so they stayed.
And, you know, I can’t say it was a big step of faith. I wasn’t leaping out as God’s man of faith and power. My decisions weren’t based on a revelation from an angel. I just thought, “Hey, this drinking and meeting in bars is ungodly and if I’m the leader I’m not gonna do it.”
It sounds really bold and glorious, but let me tell you, it was really just lonely.
Have you ever been there? Have you ever made the hard decision that left you outside the circle?
That’s what happens when you take up your cross and follow Jesus. As you drag that cross down the straight and narrow, the crowd does not join you. And sometimes they surround you, making you feel like you are the only one walking the holy road.
The prophet Elijah knew that feeling. In his day there was King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and all the cool swingers in the palace. And then there was Elijah.
At one point Elijah felt so alone and discouraged he actually prayed that God would just take his life. He felt like he was the only one left standing for God.
Then God showed up. And among other things He told Elijah that He was, indeed, not alone. In fact He said that there were seven thousand others who were also standing for the Lord. *
Here old Elijah thought he was the only one, but there were seven thousand others.
In Romans 11 Paul writes about Elijah and the seven thousand. Then in verse five he says, “So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.”
Did you catch that word “remnant”? I love that word. Remnant.
Think of a remnant of fabric. After the bulk of the fabric is sold or used up, what’s left is the remnant.
As a Christian in this old world, I definitely feel like a remnant. Do you ever feel that way? Like everyone else is moving in one direction, and there you stand?
Maybe you feel this way in your own family. You are careful what you bring up because you’re tired of rocking the boat or being “too Christian.”
Or maybe it’s at work. Maybe they tell you to “leave your religion at home.” Everyone else hangs out together, and then there’s you, “the Christian.”
Or maybe it’s at school. Maybe you’re just trying to blend in, tired of feeling like the lone sheep in a cave full of wolves.
Well, my friend, you are not alone. You are part of the remnant, the thousands who have not bowed their knee. No, we are not the majority. Have the godly ever been the majority? Not in Elijah’s day. Not in Paul’s day. And not in our day.
We are not the majority, but we are not alone. Together we make up the remnant, what’s left after all the others have rushed off in the ways of the world.
And we are not part of the remnant by accident. Romans 11:5 says we were chosen. Verse 22 says it’s out of God’s kindness. Then it encourages us to “continue in His kindness.”
So if you feel like the odd man out today because of your faith, don’t go weak on us. Stand strong, knowing that you are not alone. You represent us, the remnant, in your little corner of the world. God chose you to be one of us, and His kindness will strengthen you today; strengthen you to stand tall as a distinguished member of this unique group.
The Remnant.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
* First Kings 19:18
© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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