Jesus Reaches Another Lost Sheep - Apples of Gold - April 7, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 7, 2008

“Jesus Reaches Another Lost Sheep”

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

This is a broken, messed up world.

Honestly, sometimes I just grieve for the hurt and pain people go through.

No, I don’t cry about it.  Not yet.  I just stuff it in my backpack, zip it shut, and keep walking.

What can I do anyway?  I am just one man.

Well, there are two things I do.  First, I pray for people.  I’m not sure what good it does, or exactly how it works, but I believe there is something to it, that God exerts His influence when we pray.

And second, I promote Jesus.  Jesus is the cure-all.  For all the hurt and pain in this world, Jesus is the answer.  There is not much I can do for people, but Jesus can.

Have you ever read the story of author Anne Lamott?  She is not exactly a fundamentalist, conservative Christian. 

Her parents were atheists, and they drilled it into her that there is no God.  She became a writer, and an alcoholic.  She used drugs and slept around.  Life was spiraling downward.

Now get this.  One night it crossed her mind to call a Christian pastor.

Why did that happen?  Who knows, but I can tell you what I imagine.  I imagine people praying for Anne Lamott, and God responding to those prayers by whispering to her that she should call this pastor.

So she met with the pastor.  At one point she said, “I wanted to fall to my knees, newly born, but I didn’t.  I was not willing to give up a life of shame and failure without a fight.”

Meanwhile, she got pregnant and had an abortion. 

Some Sundays, hung over from alcohol or cocaine, she would walk to a flea market, and nearby was a church.  She was drawn by the music and would stand in the back of the church and listen, but she always left before the sermon.  To her, Jesus didn’t make any sense.  It wasn’t rational, and she didn’t want to hear about it.

I love the way she describes the effect of the Gospel music.  She said, “Something inside me that was stiff and rotting would feel soft and tender.”

One night, a week after the abortion, she had serious bleeding.  She was very drunk, and was too ashamed to ask anyone for help. 

After the bleeding stopped and she finally settled down, she had a cigarette, turned out the light and laid there in bed.  Then she said, “I became aware of someone with me, hunkered down in the corner.  The feeling was so strong that I actually turned on the light for a moment to make sure no one was there – of course, there wasn’t.  But after a while, in the dark again, I knew beyond any doubt that it was Jesus.”

“I was appalled,” she said.  “I thought about my life and my brilliant hilarious progressive friends, I thought about what everyone would think of me if I became a Christian, and it seemed an utterly impossible thing that simply could not be allowed to happen.  I turned to the wall and said out loud, ‘I would rather die.’”

“I felt him just sitting there on his haunches in the corner of my sleeping loft, watching me with patience and love…”

“This experience spooked me badly,” she said.  “I thought it was just an apparition, born of fear and self-loathing and booze and loss of blood.  But then everywhere I went, I had the feeling that a little cat was following me, wanting me to reach down and pick it up, wanting me to open the door and let it in.  But I knew what would happen: you let a cat in one time, give it a little milk, and then it stays forever.  So I tried to keep one step ahead of it, slamming my houseboat door when I entered or left.”

The next week she went to the church.  She was so hung over she couldn’t stand for the songs, but she did stay for the sermon.  At one point she began to cry and left before the benediction.  She said, “I raced home and felt the little cat running along at my heels.” 

She opened the door to her houseboat, stood there for a minute, hung her head…and said to Jesus, “All right.  You can come in.”

Don’t you love that story?  To me, that is so Jesus!

I’ve heard thousands of testimonies like that, and I’m always amazed.  It’s just like the parable in Luke 15.  The Good Shepherd goes out looking for lost sheep, and when He finds them, He joyfully puts them on His shoulders and brings them home!

So, yes, there is a lot of hurt and pain in this old world, but there are a couple of things we can do.  We can pray for people.  And when we get the chance, we can promote Jesus.  He can do what we are powerless to do. He will reach out to them no matter their condition, and save them.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
Anne Lamott’s story is from her book, “Traveling Mercies.”

© 2008 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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It Erodes the Integrity of the Game - Apples of Gold - April 4, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 4, 2008

“It Erodes the Integrity of the Game”

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

“What do you think of our keyboard player?”

“I heard he was living an immoral life.”

“Oh, well, I don’t know, really…but he sure can play the keyboard!”

No, this conversation wasn’t about a band at a nightclub.  It was about a church worship team.

Why would a worship team have a member that was living an immoral life?

Because it’s hard to put together a good worship team, and when you do, you don’t want to mess it up.  A good worship team will draw people to your church.  And, after all, you want to draw a lot of people, right?

Now let me ask you, does it matter?  Does it matter if someone on the platform at church is not living a moral life?

Think about it this way.  Why isn’t Pete Rose in the baseball hall of fame?  Because he placed bets on games.  Who cares, and why?  Major League Baseball cares, because it erodes the integrity of the game. 

Of course, Major League Baseball is so much more than a game.  It is big business.  And in what I’m about to say, don’t put undue emphasis on the word “game.”

Back to my question, “Does it matter if someone on the platform at church is not living a moral life?”  Yes, it absolutely matters, because it erodes the integrity of the game.

And ministry is not a game.  It’s not even big business.  Ministry is much more important, because we are dealing with the things of God and the deepest part of human lives.

We simply cannot let someone erode the integrity of our ministry just because they are talented.  Pete Rose has more hits than any Major Leaguer ever, but he is not allowed to have any part of Major League baseball.

Am I saying that someone can’t be in ministry, even if they repent?  That’s easy.  Someone who repents is actually a good example.  A repentant sinner, walking in the grace of God, actually builds up the integrity of a ministry. 

I am only talking about someone who is living an immoral life, is unrepentant, and yet is allowed to be in some form of leadership in the ministry.  And in a church, I think if someone is up on the platform in front of everyone else during a service, I think that person is in a form of leadership.

It is so tempting to use worldly standards.  What do we want people to see when they look at our ministry?  We want them to see talented people and good looking people, skilled and successful people.

Paul addressed this in Second Corinthians 5:12.  He mentioned “those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.” 

I see this a lot in Christian radio and Christian music.  Talented singers are put on a pedestal, even when they are lukewarm about the Lord.  Some are there, not because of their fire for Christ, or their spiritual maturity, but simply because they sound good.

When we do this, we erode the integrity of the ministry.

So why do we do it?  Part of it’s because we have a worldly idea of success in ministry.  Drawing a crowd does not mean you are successful in ministry.  Looking good, or bringing in a lot of money, or building an empire do not mean you are successful in ministry. 

So how would I define success in ministry?

Success in ministry is when people are becoming more Christlike.

Second Corinthians 3:18 talks about people “being transformed into His likeness.”

Romans 8:29 talks about being conformed to the likeness of God’s Son.

This covers evangelism and discipleship and prayer and even fellowship.  All the things churches are so good at – all of them fit nicely under the overall plan of helping people be more Christlike.

And to effectively lead people toward Christlikeness, the leadership must be on the path themselves.

Paul made a bold statement in First Corinthians 11:1.  He wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

That should be the mantra of all in Christian leadership.  We should be so passionate in our personal pursuit of Christlikeness that when others follow our example, they will become more Christlike themselves.

Please take this to heart if you are a leader in ministry.  And take a look around you, at all forms of leadership.  If you find someone who is living an immoral life, you must take action.  And if they are unrepentant, remove them from leadership. 

It doesn’t matter how talented they are, or how important they are.  If you don’t, you will erode the integrity of the ministry.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
 
© 2008 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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Does God Have a Specific Plan for My Life? - Apples of Gold - April 3, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 3, 2008

“Does God Have a Specific Plan for My Life?”

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

What would you say if someone asked you,  “Does God have a plan for my life?”

You might say that God created them, and that God’s plan was that they get saved and live for Him.

But then what if they say, “I know all that.  But does God have a specific plan, a specific course of action for me to follow?”  What would you say?

Well, most of us probably believe God has a specific plan for us, but is that in the Bible?

A lot of people will bring up Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Yes, I think that is true for all of us, but, you know, that verse was written specifically to the exiles in Babylon.  You really can’t prove that God has a specific plan for everyone based on that.

So anyway, I have searched the Scriptures, and I can’t find a definitive passage that plainly states that God has a specific plan for each person’s life.  If you know of one, please let me know.

Yes, God has many general plans that apply to us all.  But I’m talking about a specific plan just for me, and a specific plan just for you.  Does God have one, and does the Bible say so?

Here is what I found – two main points.

The first point is, God made us, each one, individually.  Both Romans 9 and Isaiah 29 indicate that God is the potter and each of us is the clay. 

Psalm 119:73 says, “Your hands made me and formed me…”  I think that is not only true of that Psalm writer, but it’s true of all of us.

In Jeremiah 1:5, God told the prophet that he “formed” him in his mother’s womb.

Job 31:15 calls God the one who “made me in the womb.”

A longer passage about this was written by David in Psalm 139.  “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

I think it’s clear that we are not just random accidents of chance in the womb, a product of our parents’ DNA.  God takes credit as the potter.  He formed and fashioned each of us in the womb.

That means if we are tall or short, dark or light, gifted in one way and not another – the Potter did that. 

“But Doug, what about children born with handicaps? Are you saying God did that?” 

You know what?  We are all handicapped, just in different ways.  None of us is the “complete package.”  I am handicapped when it comes to painting and drawing.  I have seen so-called handicapped people paint masterpieces with their feet, and I can’t even draw a good stickman.

I know it doesn’t sound fair to say that God made someone with a serious handicap.  But God’s ways are not our ways, and I believe that He fashioned each of us in the womb.  We are, each one, “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Romans 9:21 says, “Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”

Back to Jeremiah 1:5.  God specifically told Jeremiah, “…before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Does that mean God has a specific plan just like that for all of us?  That verse doesn’t prove it, but we do know this for sure.  From the womb, each of us has a unique set of gifts.  So we can know this one thing for sure, God specifically created us this certain way. 

Obviously God’s plan was not for me to paint the next Sistine Chapel because, from the womb, I had no painting ability.  Meanwhile, there are small children who can already paint circles around me because God created them with that gift.

So yes, God has a specific plan for our lives, at least to the point that He formed us each differently in the womb.

Now here’s my second point. 

God has a specific plan for us as a part of the body of Christ.  First Corinthians 12 goes into great detail about how we are each a specific “body part” and it is God Himself who decided which part we would be.  Verse 18 says, “…in fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.” 

It goes on to talk about how spiritual gifts are divvied up – and it’s not the same for everyone.  We are each given gifts that correspond with our part in the body of Christ.  Hebrews 2:4 confirms this by saying that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are distributed according to God’s will.

So the question is, “Does God have a specific plan for my life?” which is always followed by the question, “How can I find out what it is?”

The answer is yes, at least to a degree, God has a specific plan for your life.  And you can narrow down what it is by looking at how He formed you in the womb, and by discovering your spiritual gifts and your part in the body of Christ.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
I realize the discussion of God forming handicapped children can get deep real fast.  What about babies born deformed because their mothers did crack?  Did God fashion them that way?  In such cases, God allows us all free will, even the free will to harm one another, both in the womb and out.

What about handicaps not caused by anything the mother did?  Did God form them?  Logically we can’t say that God formed some of us but not all of us.  Did He form any of us, or are we all just a result of our parents’ genes, or the wrong sperm getting there first?  I rely on the Scriptures that say God is the potter, and that He formed us in the womb.  Yes, the free will of our parents, and the fallen nature of our world play a part.  But God is the still the potter.  Counting that as truth, is there any other logical conclusion but that God formed handicapped children?  I don’t understand it, so I lean heavily on the truth that God’s ways are higher than my ways, and that I have a severely handicapped understanding of the big picture of life.

My research on this turned up some wonderful articles from people who work with severely handicapped children.  Many of them point out the blessings these children are, how many of them see the world in a much more Christ-like way than “normal” children.  Many of them lack the jealousy and envy and cut-throat competitive spirit that “normal” children display.  One writer asked, “Which group of children is actually behaving ‘normally?’”

© 2008 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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Scorpion Pass - Apples of Gold - April 2, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 2, 2008

“Scorpion Pass”

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

I know where you are.

You are at Scorpion Pass.

Scorpion Pass is your last point of obedience.  You know what God wants you to do next, but you are reluctant.

Listen to my theory.  I think that everyone, sinner and saint alike, knows what God wants them to do next.  It’s our last point of obedience, and if we don’t do it, we get stuck.

Some points of obedience are easy, and we breeze right through them.  It’s the hard ones that get us.

When we know what God wants us to do next, but we are reluctant, that becomes our Scorpion Pass.  It’s a dry place, and no one wants to stay there.  So what do we do?  Two choices.

What many people do when they come to Scorpion Pass is they take a good look at it, decide they don’t like it, and withdraw to a more comfortable place.  The problem is, they never grow.  They are stuck, because as soon as they want to grow in the Lord, He takes them back to Scorpion Pass.  God always brings us back to our last point of obedience.

The other choice is to simply step out in faith and obey God.  Just obey Him, even though it’s difficult or even painful.

“But Doug, Scorpion Pass sounds so negative and hard.  I thought His yoke was easy and His burden light.”

It is.  But we only carry His easy yoke when we obey Him.  When we don’t obey Him, we take up the heavy yoke of sin.

So many Christians live defeated lives because they came to Scorpion Pass and said, “No, I can’t do it.  God, you got this much of my life.  I followed you this far, and I think that’s enough for now.”

Why do I call it Scorpion Pass?  First of all, don’t you love the Old Western sound to it?  The sun is hot, your mouth is dry, and the critters will kill ya.

Let me tell you about my own Scorpion Pass.  As a Christian, my philosophy is that, if the boss wants me to do something, unless it’s a sin, then I should do it.  It’s all part of submitting to authority, and going the extra mile.

So early in my career in Christian radio, my boss called me aside and said he wanted me to start selling ads.  I had never been a salesman, and didn’t want to be a salesman.  I was in Christian radio to be on the air and share Christ with thousands of listeners.  Why would I want to take away from that and do sales?

I suddenly had a real dilemma.  I believed that God had led me to the station, but now the boss wanted me to do something that I didn’t feel called to do. 

I halfheartedly went along with his plan, but if you’ve ever been in sales, you know that halfhearted salesmen are worthless. 

The boss realized I was not getting with the program.  In frustration he finally told me to just forget about it – which I was glad to do. 

But when it was over, I really had a sense of going backward.  Yes, I was back in my comfort zone, but it wasn’t the same.  My boss had wanted me to do something, and I really didn’t do it.

Now remember, I believed that God wanted me to do what my boss told me to do.  So disobeying my boss became disobeying God.  That is not a good place to be.

I must say, I didn’t see it all that clearly at the time.  You know, it’s always easier to see things after the dust settles.

But that became my Scorpion Pass, my last point of obedience.  It was like a monkey on my back.  I had a sense that God was going to lead me right back around to it.

Eventually I came to the point where I said, “I have to do this.  This is what I must do.”  I made the decision to quit doing my radio show and go into sales like the boss wanted me to. 

Now I am so thankful for that experience, and everything I learned by becoming a salesman.  It really opened up my world to new horizons.  And making a lot more money was nice, too.

What if I had never done it?  I’m not sure, but I think God would have kept bringing me right back to that point.  It’s like the Israelites not going into the Promised Land the first time around. 

I tend to think our spiritual growth is such that each lesson builds on the last.  Until we learn the last lesson, we don’t move on to the next one.

So what is your last point of obedience?  What is it that you know God wants you to do next, but that you have been reluctant to do?

Well, now is the time to do it.  Step out in faith, follow the Good Shepherd, and begin making your way through Scorpion Pass.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
 
© 2008 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 Lord Give You His Peace - Apples of Gold - April 1, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for April 1, 2008

“The Lord Give You His Peace”

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

I grew up in the Lutheran Church.

 

The worship services were repetitive, which is great for drilling things into small children.

 

I have a special fondness for the “benediction,” which is what the minister says at the end of the service.  It’s taken from Numbers chapter 6, and it goes like this:

 

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee;

The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee His peace.”

 

Maybe I like it because, as an antsy child, I connected the benediction with the joy of being set free to move again.  Or maybe it was the happy organ music that always kicked in right after it.

 

Whatever the reason, that benediction stuck with me.  And my favorite part is the end, “…give thee His peace.”

 

Of course, you know what kids call peace?  That’s right…“Boring!”

 

But as you grow older, and life gets more complicated, you learn to appreciate the value of peace.

 

So are you feeling a bit stressed out today?  Has life become a battle that you are tired of fighting?  Then let’s find out how you can have more peace. 

We’ll start by going to the source of peace, God.  Over and over the Bible calls Him the “God of peace.”  Second Thessalonians 3:16 says, “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”

 Remember the prophecy of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6?  It says He will be called the “Prince of Peace.”  Romans 14:17 says His kingdom is a matter of peace, among other things.

Not only is God the source of peace, He IS peace.  Gideon built an altar one time and called it Jehovah Shalom, “The Lord is Peace.”

The prophet Micah said this of the Messiah, “He will be their peace.”

Ephesians 2:14 says this of Jesus, “For He Himself is our peace.”

So God is peace, and He is the source of peace.

And the good news is, He gives this peace to His people.

Psalm 29:11 says, “…the Lord blesses His people with peace.”

Psalm 85:8 says, “…He promises peace to His people, His saints…”

 

So how can we get a hold of this peace?

 

To receive peace from the Lord we must be right with the Lord.  That means we repent of our sins, and receive His forgiveness through Jesus Christ.  Colossians 1:20 says that through Jesus’ blood shed on the cross, we are made right with God.

 

Jesus paid the price for our peace.  Isaiah 53:5 says, “…the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him…”

 

When we talk about the “gospel,” we are talking about the good news that, through Jesus Christ, we can be right with God.  Ephesians 6:15 calls it “the gospel of peace.”

 

Most people report that, when they repent of their sins and receive God’s forgiveness, they feel a great sense of peace.

 

So let’s say you are right with God.  You have repented of your sins and been forgiven.  However, your life is such that you just don’t feel that peace anymore.  Now what?

 

Listen to what both Psalm 34 and First Peter 3:11 say, “…seek peace and pursue it.”

 

We don’t just sit back and wait for peace.  We can do something to get it.

 

One thing we can do is trust God more.  When we really let go of the reigns and trust Him, we will have more peace.  Romans 15 and Isaiah 26 both indicate that God will fill us with peace as we trust Him. 

 

Now get this.  There is a correlation between how righteous we live and how much peace we have.  Righteousness and peace are intimately related.  In fact, Psalm 85:10 says, “righteousness and peace kiss each other.”

 

Isaiah 32:17 says the fruit of righteousness is peace.

 

Isaiah 57:2 says, “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace…”

 

Romans 2:10 says there is peace for everyone who does good.

 

Righteousness and peace become a cycle in our lives.  When we live a righteous life, we receive more peace.  Then James 3:18 says as we “sow in peace” we “raise a harvest of righteousness.”

 

Now listen to this.  Many times we lose the peace in our lives due to our own stupidity.  When we do foolish things, and we reap what we sow, we lose our peace.  But we can always learn from our mistakes and grow in wisdom. 

 

Proverbs 3 talks about the great blessings of wisdom.  Verse 17 says that when we follow the path of wisdom, it’s always a path of peace.

 

Here is something sure to rob your peace:  envy.  You see what others have that you don’t.  That’s a peace killer!  Proverbs 14:30 says, “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”

 

Here is another peace robber:  disorder.  When your life is disorderly, it will always catch up with you and snatch away your peace.  First Corinthians 14:33 says that God is not a God of disorder, but a God of peace.

 

Another way to get more peace?  Be more meek.  Psalm 37:11 says that the meek “enjoy great peace.”

 

A sure way to more peace is to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.  Romans 8:6 says, “…the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”  According to Galatians 5:22, “the fruit of the Spirit is…peace…”

 

Digging into the Word of God will bring more peace.  Psalm 119:165 says, “Great peace have they who love Your law…”

 

And sometimes it’s just a matter of letting go of everything, taking a deep breath, and simply allowing God’s peace to flow over us.  Colossians 3:15 says to “let” the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.

 

I know that’s a lot of scripture, so if you are looking for one simple passage about peace you could memorize and quickly put into practice, I recommend this one from Philippians 4:4-7, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

 

Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
 
© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
To subscribe to your own daily “Apples of Gold” e-mail, write dougapple@wave94.com.
If you want to be removed from this e-mail list, simply click reply and type UNSUBSCRIBE on the subject line.
If you want to catch “Apples of Gold” in its original audio format, go to www.wave94.com
To search through the large archive of past articles, go here:  http://www.wave94.com/modules.php?name=Stories_Archive
If you have trouble reaching me at my main e-mail address, try this one:  douglas_apple@msn.com

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

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

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

-vi-

Are You In a Discipleship Class? - Apples of Gold - March 31, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 31, 2008

“Are You In a Discipleship Class?”

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

In the fall of 1984 my girlfriend and I returned to campus as baby Christians. 

Now what? 

Since we didn’t know what we were doing, it must have been the Lord that led us to the Christian Campus Fellowship (CCF).

The minister there, Roger Songer, offered a beginner’s discipleship class, and we took it.  That class played a critical role in our Christian development. 

We learned the fundamentals of the faith.  We memorized Scriptures.  We went through a workbook that sent us to the Bible for answers.  And CCF provided a safe place for young Christians to test their wings.

I didn’t appreciate it so much then, because I figured it’s what all new Christians did.

But now I see that’s not the case.  Over the years I have seen many people become Christians, but then get no formalized discipleship.  Oh, they go to church, but that’s not the same.  They read the Bible, but that’s not the same.

There is no substitute for good old fashioned discipleship.  And by that I mean an organized program led by a mature Christian who is a good teacher.

This is very important for baby Christians.  Just like an infant needs more care, so does an infant Christian. 

It goes back to the Great Commission.  In Matthew 28 Jesus said, “…go and make disciples of all nations…”  Then He added:  “…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”

When we think of the Great Commission we think of evangelism.  Evangelizing someone happens in a moment.  But discipling someone happens for the rest of their life. 

Jesus said to teach people to obey everything He commanded.  When are we done with that?  I don’t think we are ever done with that.

Let me ask you this.  Does your church offer a discipleship course for new Christians?  If not, you need to get one started.  It’s one of the most important things you can do to fulfill the Great Commission.

Then what comes after that?  Does your church offer any sort of organized discipleship beyond the class for beginners?

This is where good old fashioned Sunday School comes in.  Sunday School is a great way to offer discipleship, and to organize it by levels of spiritual maturity.  Some denominations offer excellent course material designed to lead people through the entire Bible.

I know some churches have gotten away from Sunday School, and of course Sunday School isn’t in the Bible, but discipleship is.  It’s not so important how we disciple, but that we disciple.

Some churches now just offer worship services:  services for the adults, services for the teenagers, services for the kids.  That’s fine, but it does not replace discipleship classes. 

We all need Bible teaching with discussion, where we are free to ask questions, to clarify, and get help living it out.  Good discipleship classes include Bible memorization and take-home assignments for deeper study.  It offers group support and accountability.  Class members get to know each other and pray for each other and look out for each other.

Now I can hear some church leaders saying, “I just don’t have time to organize discipleship classes.”  No, you may not.  You can’t do everything, but it still must be done, so take the advice of Second Timothy 2:2.  Paul told Timothy to find some good teachers to help him out.

Now let me take this to a personal level.  What are you doing about your own discipleship?  Even if your church doesn’t offer classes, you still need organized Christian education. 

There are many options.  For example, in Tallahassee we have the Center for Biblical Studies.  Look around in your area for a good Bible college.  With the internet you can enroll in Bible classes all over the country.  Ask your pastor for a good one.

Last summer my wife went through an in-depth study of the book of Daniel with coworkers.  I hear about people doing lunch-hour Bible studies at various government offices in the city.  I know people who get together in their homes just to help each other grow in the Lord.

It’s all about discipleship, and it’s a never ending process. 

So what about you today?  Are you involved in organized discipleship?  I can’t overstress the importance.  We all need it to grow spiritually.  And as we mature, we must go back and disciple others. 

And you know, it’s not an option. 

It’s the Great Commission.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
 
© 2008 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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The Seven Sons of Achubahr - Apples of Gold - March 28, 2008 -vi-

Achubahr – pronounce it ACK-you-bar.    Nicho – pronounce it NEE-ko

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 28, 2008

“The Seven Sons of Achubahr”

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

The seven sons of Achubahr
Careened through life unkempt.

While Daddy Achubahr played pool
So cool with cigarette.

Big Bobby Achubahr, like dad,
Had women on the mind.

Yes, he wished to tie the knot,
But caught the other kind.

Little Curtsy Achubahr
Was not like Dad at all.

He was feminine, you know,
So Daddy never called.

The football player in the bunch
Was Nicho Achubahr. 

He signed a contract, Dad so proud,
He got a brand new car.

Number four, with intellect,
Intimidated Dad.

He went away to college
And was not invited back.

Number five was there the night
Big Daddy hit his mom.

He got the point and went to jail.
He smacked his girl at prom.

Then came Jacob Achubar,
Who stayed out of Dad’s way.

So quiet and he’s still at home,
Tied up not making waves.

And finally Adam Achubahr,
Who made Big Daddy laugh.

Now he travels, bar to bar,
Sharpening his act.

Big Daddy never noticed his
Effect on all the kids.

He never stopped to think, you know,
Just did whatever he did.

But boys all grow to men someday,
And dads all play their part.

Just look at Dad’s effect on all
The Sons of Achubahr.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
Achubahr – pronounce it ACK-you-bar.
Nicho – pronounce it NEE-ko

© 2008 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 Will Not Defile Myself - Apples of Gold - March 27, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 27, 2008

“I Will Not Defile Myself”

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

Everything I knew about beer I learned from commercials.

And how many of you know, beer commercials don’t really tell the tale.

Imagine if beer commercials were like all these pharmaceutical ads, where they list all the possible side effects.  “May cause lethargy, memory loss, profound confusion, impaired coordination, dehydration, blurred vision, vertigo, vomiting, stupor, blackouts, coma and death.  Many who use this product have lost their jobs, their homes, their families, their reputation, their money, their dignity and the use of certain limbs.  Millions have become addicted to this product, but fortunately there are thousands of groups to help you out when it happens.  And now back to our commercial showing beautiful people having fun.”

Now I’m going to make an outrageous statement.  When I was growing up, those beer commercials defiled me.

Uh-oh.  I see part of my crowd getting up and leaving.  I see “unsubscribes” coming in from all over the country.

“Doug, isn’t that a bit of an overstatement?”

Look, I’m just telling you the way it was.  As a kid, I watched tons of ballgames on TV, and they were loaded with beer commercials showing what a blast everyone was having.  It’s a sales trick, but it’s effective.  When a message soaks into your brain thousands of times, it affects you, whether it’s true or not.

This week I was asked to be part of the National Day of Prayer program at the capitol.  My prayer subject?  The media.

So I’ve been thinking a lot about the media this week.  I’m talking about all “mass” forms of communication, including radio and television, books, newspapers and magazines, even movies and the internet. 

Now follow my thinking.  Most of the media is in the business to make money.  To make money, you have to draw a crowd.  And what is the easiest way to draw a crowd?  To appeal to our sensuous, carnal nature.  So this is what the media often resorts to.

The broadcast networks want the FCC to relax the rules so they can be even more carnal.  They say they can’t keep up with the cable and satellite companies.  Why not?  One reason.  Cable and satellite TV don’t have any moral limits on their content.  So the broadcasters say the only way they can draw a larger crowd is to be even more carnal.

Now listen.  This becomes a cycle, because what the media produces to draw a crowd, it then perpetuates.  That’s why it’s called “mass media.”  Its message goes to the masses. 

So it draws the masses by being carnal, then it perpetuates carnality among the masses.  Then the carnal masses demand even more carnality, and if it wants to keep the crowd and stay in business, the mass media must deliver even more carnal content.

And now with the absolute free flow of the most carnal material on the internet – where is it all headed?  And how am I supposed to pray something meaningful for the media on the National Day of Prayer?  What can I pray that God will respond to?

From a moral perspective, it can look bleak.  But that is not the whole story.  There are still people making a stand and saying, “I will not defile myself with carnal media.” 

Last night my son told me about some friends of his.  One married couple has stopped watching television.  He told me of a young man who once had a huge collection of DVD’s.  Then he got rid of all the R-rated movies.  Then he got rid of the movies with the most carnal scenes.  Then he finally just got rid of all the movies.  It’s his way of saying, “I will not defile myself.”

This is radical in our culture today, but carnal times call for radical measures.

I’m reminded of the story of Daniel when he was taken to Babylon.  Daniel 1:8 says, “…Daniel resolved not to defile himself…”

Yes, it meant Daniel had to go against the flow.  It was a risk, but God rewarded him.  Eventually the king of Babylon found Daniel to be “ten times better” than his kingdom full of carnal wise men.

So today, ask yourself this question, “What defiles me?”  Or make it a prayer, “Lord, what defiles me?”  Then start with the top of the list and boot it out of your life.

I recently heard the story of a man who put a bullet through his computer.  That’s a bit over the top, but you know what?  If that’s what it takes…

“Doug, why do you bring this all up now?  Don’t you know it’s March Madness?”

Well, here’s an idea.  Watch the games, but not the commercials.  Yes, I know the commercials can be funny and entertaining.  Of course they are!  They are spending tons of money to reach us.  And if that means defiling us or appealing to our carnal nature, so what? 

But I say, join the minority who are standing up like Daniel of old and saying, “I will not defile myself.”

So stop now and do it.  Just ask, “Lord, what defiles me?”  And when He brings something to the top of the list – get rid of it.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

 
© 2008 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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Are We Wasting Resources God Has Given Us? - Apples of Gold - March 26, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 26, 2008

“Are We Wasting Resources God Has Given Us?”

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

I took my daughter and her friends out for a big night on the town.

It wasn’t long before they were all “starving to death,” so we ran in for some fast food.

Some of them wolfed it down and were ready to hit the road.  One girl still had a lot of food and was going to throw it away.  Her friend said, “You’re not going to waste all that food are you?”

The other girl said, “I’m totally full.” 

Her friend said, “Eat it anyway.  You don’t want to waste it.”

At that point I jumped in and said, “She will waste it either way; yes if she throws it away, but also if she eats it.  If she eats when she is full and her body doesn’t need it, it’s still a waste.  The real waste occurred when she ordered more than she could eat.”

Of course she could have wrapped the burger in a napkin, put it in her purse and eaten it later.  That’s about as bright as shoving tater tots in your pocket and snacking on them during class.

I must admit, I hate waste.  At our house, I hate to see food go in the garbage.  To me, it’s just like pulling cash out of your pocket and lighting it on fire. 

Yes, I believe in recycling, both official and unofficial.  By unofficial recycling I mean things like reusing paper.  For example, here at the station we receive a lot of faxes.  Instead of throwing all that paper away, we use the backside for scratch paper.

I have always driven an economy car to keep from wasting gas – or at least to keep from wasting money on gas.

Some people have the mindset of, “Make a lot of money, buy a lot of stuff, throw it away, buy more and keep the economy going.”  I’m all for keeping the economy going, but surely we can do it without so much waste. 

Have you ever been to a garbage dump?  It’s a real eye-opener.  Just think of a city the size of Tallahassee.  I know how much garbage my little family puts out by the road every week.  Now multiply that by hundreds of thousands, and where does it all go? 

There is a fascinating little story in the Bible that you’ve probably heard many times, but not from this angle.  In John chapter six we read about Jesus feeding the five thousand.  Jesus took the little boy’s barley loaves and fish, then multiplied it to feed everyone.  It was amazing.

So there’s this huge crowd, and everyone has had all they can eat.  I can picture someone shouting to the little boy, “What’d you bring for dessert?”

Anyway, at this point Jesus said something very interesting.  He told his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over.  Let nothing be wasted.”

First of all, why didn’t His miracle stop at exactly the right amount?  Second, He basically created the food out of thin air.  Nobody paid for it.  No money would be lost.  Why was He so interested in preventing waste?

But He was.  Jesus had provided that food as a resource, and once it was provided, He did not want it wasted.

He could have not mentioned it at all.  Or He could have said, “Gather it up and throw it away.”  But instead He made it clear that He did not want this newly created resource to go to waste.

Years ago I heard Corrie ten Boom talk about coming to America from war-torn Europe.  She saw someone throwing away paper and she wanted to grab it.  Paper was a valuable commodity where she was from, even waste paper.  But she soon realized that’s the way we do things in America.

Why is that?  Because we are so prosperous.  Most Americans are under 60 years old, and we don’t remember anything other than great prosperity.  We don’t have to save anything, because there is always plenty more where that came from.

Now here is the big question.  Are we wasting resources God has given us? 

Think about the resources at your disposal.  That includes your body, your mind, your time and your talents.  It includes all your stuff, and all your money. 

When I think of all my resources, I hear the words of Jesus, “Let nothing be wasted.”

Some of you have heard this and are saying, “Doug, you should see my situation.  I don’t have enough to begin with, let alone enough to waste.”  Then you might want to focus on the little boy in the story.  Little did he know that, with God’s help, he actually had enough to feed five thousand people.

Anyway, think about your resources today, then think about Jesus’ words, “Let nothing be wasted.”  And then comes the big question, “Are we wasting resources God has given us?”


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

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

 
© 2008 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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Some Things I Don't Do Out of Fear - Apples of Gold - March 25, 2008 -vi-

Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for March 25, 2008

“Some Things I Don’t Do Out of Fear”

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

Let me just shoot straight with you.

There are some things I don’t do simply out of fear.  I fear the Lord and what might happen if I do them.

I don’t fear Him like a cruel task master.  He is just, and always does what is right, I know that. 

I picture it this way – God with two hands.  One hand is His hand of blessing and protection.  The other is His hand of discipline and rebuke.  If I choose to do wrong, to sin, then I am walking out from under His hand of blessing and toward His hand of rebuke.

But let me tell you, I really need His hand of blessing.  I need it so bad that I am afraid to walk away from it. 

Some people say we shouldn’t fear the Lord, and that when the Bible says “fear the Lord” it really just means to respect Him.  I appreciate that, but for me, there is a healthy dose of good old fashioned fear. 

It’s not that I fear Him like you fear a psycho killer.  I know God loves me and wants what is best for me.  I fear Him like I feared my dad as a child.  It’s the fear you have that, when you cross the line, you are going to get it!

Some people think that God is so gracious, He will let you cross the line and it will be okay.  After all, what about God’s grace?

Oh, are you talking about what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called “cheap grace?”

It reminds me of a song by Randy Stonehill, with these lines:*

“He understands the human heart, His mercy is complete.
But His grace was not intended as a place to wipe your feet.”

Jude 4 talks about people who “change the grace of our God into a license for immorality…”

Why would you do that?  Only if you lost your fear of God.

“Well, Doug, don’t you think God’s grace covers your sins?”

Yes, I do.  It’s grace that made me a child of God.  And when children step out of line, the Father makes a move.

Hebrews 12:6 says, “…the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.”

Some people say that God won’t punish us.  That’s crazy talk.  It says right there that He does.

Yes, I fear God’s punishment.  There I things I won’t do simply because I don’t want to be punished.

For some reason that conjures up images of a whipped dog, whimpering in the corner, afraid to look at his master. 

Not at all.  I love the Lord and want to serve Him with my whole being.  I run to Him.  I like the phrase, “the relentless pursuit of God.” 

But what happens when temptation knocks at the door.  And you know, temptation always looks good.  When that happens, I think about those two hands, the hand of blessing and the hand of rebuke.  I need that hand of blessing, and I fear that hand of rebuke. 

I know that if I step out from under God’s hand of blessing, no good can come from it.  And if I directly disobey the Lord and step out into sin, are you trying to tell me God won’t punish me?  Are you kidding?  Why would God not punish a direct act of disobedience?  We expect it from our parents, from our bosses, and from our government.  Why wouldn’t we expect it from God?

When we sin, bad things happen.  You can bank on it.

I love my children so much that when they sin, I must hold them accountable.  They will have to suffer in some form, whether it’s a grounding or losing their phone privileges or whatever.  Why?  So they will not do it again.  Why do I care whether they do it again?  Because it is harmful to them, and I don’t want harm to come to those I love.

God is the same way.  Sin is harmful.  God loves us and does not want us harmed.  So to prevent it, He will punish us when we sin.

When you say, “Don’t do that” there has to be an “or else.”  If there is no “or else,” then who cares about the “don’t do that”?

With God, there is an “or else.”  When we sin, there is punishment.  Yes, there is grace and mercy – and discipline and rebuke. 

I think some Christians jump right into sin because somewhere along the line they missed the fact that God punishes sin. 

Psalm 115:13 says, “…He will bless those who fear the Lord, small and great alike.”  That’s the crowd I want to be in.

Yes, there are some things I won’t do simply out of fear.  And, thank God, the fear of the Lord keeps me under His bountiful hand of blessing.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
 
Some might say, “Well, what about First John 4:18 which says, ‘There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment…”
Of course I believe that.  On the day that I finally have perfect love for the Lord and for people, then sin will no longer be an issue, which means no punishment and no fear.  Love is the trump card that knocks out fear.  If I have perfect love for the Lord, I will never, ever sin against Him.  There is no need for fear of the Lord if there is perfect love for the Lord.  But I know my love for the Lord is imperfect, so in my life there is a place for the fear of the Lord.  When love isn’t enough to keep me on the straight and narrow, fear steps in behind it.

*  From the song “Angry Young Men” by Randy Stonehill, from his album “Love Beyond Reason.”

In the book, “Who Moved My Cheese?” the author asks, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”  Don’t ask that question if what you are pondering is a sin.  Better to be afraid.

© 2008 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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