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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
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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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