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I will be sorting these recent entries in alphabetical order. Please excuse the inconvenience.

Please check back regularly. I add new illustrations during the week.

A

ANGER

Ever wonder where we get the phrase "flying off the handle?" In the pioneer days in America, axes were often hand-made. Men on the frontier would carve down their own handles to fit into an axe-head they had bought before moving out West. Usually they were fitted rather crudely and this made for a bad bond. Many times while chopping, the axe-head flew off, sometimes injuring nearby people. Because it was a sudden act of quick danger, it became known as 'flying off the handle' when one would have a sudden unpredictable burst of uncontrolled anger. It was in a moment yet it was dangerous to those nearby.

ATTITUDES


There are some people who say that these "revised versions" of sayings should be the new statements for this generation. Do you agree?

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead.
Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow.
Do not walk beside me, either.
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE !"

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn.
So if you're going to steal your neighbor's paper, that's the time to do it.

4. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

5. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your mouth is moving.

6. Experience is something you don't get until just after you needed it.

7. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

Here are three illustrations on the subject of ANGER:

"Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil."
- Ephesians 4:26,27

A woman came to the late evangelist Billy Sunday and told of her very bad temper, yet didn't seem ready to confess it as sin. It appeared she was trying to justify it.

"After all, Mr. Sunday," she said, "although I blow up over the least little thing, it's all over in a minute."

Billy Sunday looked her straight in the eye and said, "So is a shotgun blast! It's over in seconds too, but look at the terrible damage it can do!"

*******************

A QUOTE ON ANGER:

"Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back- in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you."
- Frederick Buechner, 1973.

*********************

Ever wonder where we get the phrase flying off the handle? In the pioneer days in America, axes were often hand-made. Men on the frontier would carve down their own handles to fit into an axe-head they had bought before moving out West. Usually they were fitted rather crudely and this made for a bad bond. Many times while chopping, the axe-head flew off, sometimes injuring nearby people. Because it was a sudden act of quick danger, it became known as 'flying off the handle' when one would have a sudden unpredictable burst of uncontrolled anger. It was in a moment yet it was dangerous to those nearby.

APATHY

Warren Wiersbe brought up a great point that you can quote to your apathetic teens. In his book "God Isn't in a Hurry," Wiersbe states,
"Emerson said that if the stars came out only once a year, everyone would stay up all night to behold them. We have seen the stars so often that we don't bother to look at them anymore. We have grown accustomed to our blessings." Is this true with your teens? Are they getting "bored of God?"

ANGER
"Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil."
- Ephesians 4:26,27

A woman came to the late evangelist Billy Sunday and told of her very bad temper, yet didn't seem ready to confess it as sin. It appeared she was trying to justify it. "After all, Mr. Sunday," she said, "although I blow up over the least little thing, it's all over in a minute." Billy Sunday looked her straight in the eye and said, "So is a shotgun blast! It's over in seconds too, but look at the terrible damage it can do!"

*******************

Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back- in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.
- Frederick Buechner, 1973.

ADDICTIONS

1 Corinthians 6:19 - "...your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit..."

Good Housekeeping Magazine reported an offer made by a Detroit newspaper concerning addictions. However, the addictions were not based on drugs or cigarettes...not even on overeating! The addiction was on TV watching.
The newspaper made an offer to 120 city families with a reward of $500 as the incentive. The challenge was to go for 30 days without watching TV. Immediately 93 said no! Of the remaining 27 families, the newspaper researched 5 of them to see the results. The families had been watching TV from 40 to 70 hours a week - an average of over 5 and a half to 10 hours a day! The five families made it and admitted four things:

1. They became closer.
2. Personal contact between parent and child was much more abundant.
3. The members became more patient.
4. Creativity abounded.

Oh, one more thing...all five families went right back to the same amount of TV watching. Some added even more hours to their TV watching schedule.

B

BIBLE, MEANING OF

A father was approached by his small son, who told him proudly, "I know
what the Bible means!" His father smiled and replied, "So, Son, what does
the Bible mean?" That's easy, Daddy. It stands for Basic Information Before
Leaving Earth!"

BRAVERY

A fire started on some grassland near a farm. The county fire department was called to put out the fire. The fire was more than the county fire department could handle. Someone suggested that a nearby volunteer bunch be called. Despite some doubt that the volunteer outfit would be of any assistance, the call was made. The volunteers arrived in a dilapidated old fire truck. They rumbled straight towards the fire, drove right into the middle of the flames and stopped! The firemen jumped off the truck and frantically started spraying water in all directions. Soon they had snuffed out the center of the fire, breaking the blaze into two easily controlled parts. Watching all this, the farmer was so impressed with the volunteer fire department's work and was so grateful that his farm had been spared, that right there on the spot he presented the volunteers with a check for $1,000. A local news reporter asked the volunteer fire captain what the department planned to do with the funds.
"That ought to be obvious," he responded, wiping ashes off his coat. "The first thing we're gonna do is get the brakes fixed on our fire truck!"

BIBLE

A gentlemanly old pastor was walking down the street one day when one of his church members came strutting up to him with a self-satisfied smile. The pastor knew this young man had been quite proud of his own Scriptural accomplishments, and pride was beginning to be a danger in his life.

The teen boasted, "Say, Pastor, did you know that I have now read the Bible all the way through three times this year!"

To which the kind pastor quietly replied, "Todd, the important thing is not how many times you have been through the Bible, but whether the Bible has been through you."

The young man stood and pondered this a moment, thanked the pastor, and went on his way, promising himself to live the Bible he was learning.

WEDNESDAY'S ILLUSTRATION

BOLDNESS FOR CHRIST

there are many times when we might be intimidated by the crowds who are against our Christian stand. Let's find a good example in the Wichita pastor Joe Wright of Central Christian Church, the guest chaplain's opening prayer that angered legislators in the Kansas House of Representatives.

Here is, word by word, his prayer:
"We confess we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it moral pluralism. We have worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem." ...As one legislator walked out and another sat down, Wright continued. "We have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbors' possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment."

Rep. Delbert Gross actually refused to stand during the prayer. He called it "divisive, sanctimonious, self-serving, and overbearing."

How would you react if you were given the opportunity to pray?

BOLDNESS

Peter Cartwright was a 19th century circuit riding preacher whose convictions were as tough as the man himself. Nobody could or would accuse Cartwright of compromise. As a matter of fact, history tells us that one Sunday morning just before he was to preach, Cartwright was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation. He was warned to be careful of what he said in light of the President in the place.
Cartwright stood up. "I understand President Jackson is here. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn't repent."
Needless to say, the church people were shocked. However, Jackson was delighted at the boldness of the man. After the service, he shook hands with Cartwright and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world."

C

CHANGE

The old legend tells us about two brothers who were convicted of stealing sheep in an Old World country. For their punishment, they each were branded on the forehead with the letters ST, for "sheep thief." One brother, bitter tot he core, ran away to another land to build a new life . Even there, people continually asked him about the strange letters on his forehead. He agitated so much about the stigma, that he took his own life.

The other brother thought his predicament out. "I can't run away from the fact that I stole sheep, he said, "But I will stay here and win back the respect of my neighbors and myself." As the years went by, he earned a reputation of honesty, respect, and love. One day a stranger saw the old man with the letters branded on his forehead. He asked a citizen of the town what the letters stood for. The townsman replied, "It happened a great while ago. I've forgotten the details, but I think the letters are an abbreviation for Saint."
We can never really make up for the past sins in life, but we can always start fresh now by living a life of integrity and kindness.

CHEATING

In what is probably one of the most open admissions to work alongside dishonest college students, numerous web sites and e-companies have made it a business to cheat. From places like AcademicTermPapers.com to Papaermasters.com, you can buy term papers already done. On each pay site there are disclaimers that you should not to pass off these papers as your own work, but the articles I have read from others who have used the service laugh and admit that there is little other reason for the sites' existence.
AcademicTermPapers.com charges $7 per page ,PaperStore.net charges about $10 per page, and A1Termpaper.com charges a flat rate plus a fee for scanning all the pages. PaperMasters.com even makes a custom-made paper written to specifications for between $17 and $20 per page. Claiming all the writers in their employ have at least one Master's Degree, customers type requests into the Web order form stating their deadlines. The company will then create the paper, doing the student's assignment - for a price. Isn't this a sorry way fo a student to learn how to enter the career world?

COMMUNICATION

And then there's the story of the supervisor who was working in a huge corporation. He was called in by the big-wigs and told that a new project was underway. The supervisor's department would be given the responsibility of overseeing the project if they could get it down on blueprint plans. If the job was successful, the big-wigs said, the supervisor could be assured of a hefty increase in pay and a promotion as well.
The supervisor gathered his people together and with great enthusiasm, started to roll out the information needed to get the blueprints started. His staff, however, couldn't grasp the idea. He tried from another angle. No luck. His patience grew thin, but he just couldn't get his point across because he wasnt being clear. Finally, in exasperation, the supervisor yelled at them: "Dont listen to what I say. Listen to what I mean!"
Many times we get frustrated as we give the Gospel to others because we aren't clear about salvation. It may not be the resistance of the listener. We might try to yell out for them to understand what we mean. Let's check our presentation of the Word. Are we saying what we mean?

COMPASSION

If you are dealing with teens who seem callous or unfeeling, use this illustration that is found in Steven Covey's book "The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People." Covey relates a personal experience while on the New York subway. The passengers were sitting quietly in the subway car, when a man entered with children who were extremely noisy and active. To Covey's surprise, the man (who was obviously the father) sat down and closed his eyes, ignoring the loud and rambunctious children. He sat as though he were oblivious to them! The subway car was ringing with chaotic noise. The children's behavior was way out of line, and everyone was getting agitated - except the father.

Finally, Covey leaned over and spoke to the man about his children. The father opened his eyes and seemed to finally grasp the situation.

"Oh, you're right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don't know what to think, and I guess they don't know how to handle it either."

Covey learned that often we leave compassion out of our daily ministry. Oftentimes we would do best if we looked past the initial appearance.

CONFESSION

In 1982, the newspapers told the shocking story in detail. A Milpitas, California high school student had brutally murdered a girl and hid her body under some leaves in a state park some miles from the school campus. Yet the boy hadn't been arrested for some days, undetected until another student who had heard the story passed it over to his father, who then told the police. When the whole story broke, it was discovered that more than thirty students knew of the murder yet felt no need to say anything about it; moreover, they chastised the boy who did confess to knowing of it. There seemed to be a deliberate and even defiant attempt to conceal this murder!
The story went on to tell of the murderous teen going about school bragging of his act. He even took classmates up to the scene during lunch break to view the body! I was a youth pastor in Hollister California at the time of this tragedy - I can remember burning with anger as I heard of the attempted cover-up by schoolmates. The student body seemed to be making this murderous boy out to be a hero! Apparently I wasn't the only one who was upset. The judge, upon finding out about the hiding of facts, sent a large number of students to jail for knowing the truth and hiding it. Some spent up to a month in jail! Suddenly a lot of cocky attitudes were humbled when the truth came to light. Hiding sin has its consequences, and God wants full and serious confession and repentence.

COVETEOUSNESS

Two Texas farm boys were working on their farm and realized that the hill of stinging ants needed to be taken care of.
Carefully laying a small circle of poison around a hill of stinging ants, they laid their trap. The stinging ants thought the tiny granules of poison were food, so they picked them up and carried them into the hill, which the boys knew would spread throughout the many tunnels of the colony. Satisfied that the ants were continually carrying the food in, the boys went back to work in the fields. After the lunch hour, the farm boys returned, and saw an amazing sight. Sure enough, multitudes of stinging ants were carrying the poison down into their colony, but there were other kinds of ants steahily moving around at one side of the poison - smaller ants had found the poison "food" and were actually stealing it from their ant neighbors. Thinking that they were getting away with an easy cache of food, they were unknowingly poisoning themselves. The two Texans realized a message in church from their preacher, talking about the danger of covetousness, and how the desire to wrongly want other's posssessions can poison a Christian spiritually.

CHRIST'S COMING
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."
- 1 Thess.5:6

Red Barber was perhaps one of the greatest baseball broadcasters of all time. His attention to detail and insightful comments constantly stood him above the rest. When asked how he did so well, he simply answered that every game - no matter what time of year or what the significance - was taken seriously and with great preparation. Red Barber said, "you have to be as fully prepared for the dull game as you are for the great one, or else you won't be prepared for the great one."

Christ's coming will instead be the greatest time in our history. But are we prepared for it? Are our lives ready? There are friends and family who do not know the Savior, yet we avoid witnessing because it is either not exciting, or too difficult...or maybe even dull. Could we prepare and diligently work through the trenches so that when the "great game" time approaches, we will be ready?

CHEATING

A marathoner who could have brought honor to his fellow citizens and himself instead brought shame and embarrassment to his name. In an odd race, a penalty was decided...by a moustache! An Associated Press story told of Abbes Tehami of Algeria being a clear winner of the Brussels Marathon, but as he gathered his trophy and heard the accolades, until asked where his mustache had gone! Sure enough, eyewitness accounts addirmed he had lost his moustache during the race. Then it quickly became apparent that the moustache was not on him at all - it belonged to Tehami's coach, Bensalem Hamiani. Coach Hamiani had run the first seven-and-a-half miles of the race for Tehami, then snuck out of the pack and disappeared into the woods to pass race number 62 on to his pupil. "They looked about the same," race organizers said. "Only one had a moustache." Great embarrassments and penalties were assessed and the racers are banned from competition in Belgium.

COMPASSION

Ken Caminiti's 15-year baseball career, most of which has been with the Houston Astros, has been one of hard play in the major-leagues. Caminiti's world was of a seriousness in the sport on the field, in the clubhouse and in the dugouts. How ever, Caminiti's biggest fight was not against other teams - it was with himself.
Alcohol and drugs became such a part of Ken Caminiti's world that it took over his daily life.
It came to a head as baseball fans around the nation saw a handcuffed Caminiti being put into a police car. Police deputies found him and two others in a hotel room with piles of drug paraphernalia and crack cocaine.
The 38-year-old ballplayer was charged with possession of a controlled substance. He could face up to two years in a state jail as well as a $10,000 fine if convicted.
His arraignment is set for Dec. 19.

His high caliber of play on the diamond have taken a back seat to the down-to-earth day-to-day survival. Caminiti's friends and supporters have put aside his baseball accomplishments and want to do what they can to help this man before he sinks deeper. No longer in awe of the persona, these compassionate people want to try to help Caminiti take one day at a time. That's an important part of compassion: ignoring the personality and helping the person.
The Houston Chronicle reported the owner of the team as saying, "The most important thing for Ken right now is to get the help he needs." Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr. went on to say,"Ken is one of the most kind and caring people you will ever meet. ... He has some issues, but that doesn't change the way I feel about him. "He has provided a lot of wonderful memories in this city, and the Houston Astros are going to stand by him and help him in any way we can. As far as I'm concerned, he's still a part of the Astros family, and it's in times like these when family members help each other."

D

HERE'S THURSDAY'S SERMON ILLUSTRATION:

DISCIPLINE

Luke 6:39 "...can the blind lead the blind?..."

This true story occurred in Washington D.C. at a banquet held some years ago. The occasion was a commemoration of Harry S Truman's 100th birthday. All the big names were out in ties and tails to honor the event.
A White House member related that one of the guests turned to the woman seated next to him.
"Did I get your name correctly?" The man asked. "Is your name Post?"
"Yes, it is," the woman replied.
"Is it Emily Post?"
"Yes," she replied.
"So you are the world-renowned authority on manners?" the man asked.
"Yes," Mrs. Post replied. "Why do you ask?"
"Because," the man said, "you have just eaten my salad."

Reputation doesn't mean we can let up on daily discipline. Some Christian leaders have been known to let devotions and prayer slide because they feel they have "arrived." May we remember to be faithful in all regular things that the Lord wants us to do in order to walk with Him and be a proper testimony to others.

DETERMINATION
It is encouraging to read about successes arising from possible failures, and how, when the Lord opens up doors of opportunities, many people are able to see them and use them. Such is the case of the Christmas hymn "Silent Night."
"Silent Night" written in 1818 by an Austrian priest Joseph Mohr, was the result of what could have been a disappointing event. Informed the day before Christmas that the church organ was broken, he then received the news that it would not be prepared in time for the Christmas Eve service. He was distraught with the idea of Christmas without music, so he sat down to write a carol that could be sung by choir to guitar music. He wrote three stanzas of a simple but powerful melody. Later that evening the people in the little Austrian Church sang "Stille Nacht" for the first time, and the success of the little carol grew. Such is the result of determination in wanting to do God's work, no matter what the difficulty.

DEDICATION

It was over two decades ago that ago a young Frenchman stopped the city and amazed the world by walking a tightrope between the towers of New York's World Trade Center which set the record for the highest tightrope walk at the time. His feat was great and his dedication and concentration to this task were amazing. Just as surprising, though, was that only a few months later, he was practicing on a wire in St. Petersburg, Florida, that was much lower to the ground - only 30 feet. Yet he fell to the ground and was injured. Witnesses say that as he lay waiting for help, he beat his fist on the ground crying, "I can't believe it! I can't believe it! I never fall!" The fall was attributed to an inattention to detail. He admitted that he was not as dedicated to the "small" job as he was to the "big" one.

E

OVERCOMING

Once upon a time a farmer owned an old mule who tripped and fell into the farmer's well. The farmer
heard the mule 'braying' and was unable to figure out how to bring up the old animal. It grived him that he could not pull the animal out - he'd been a good worker around the farm - and though the farmer sympathized with the mule,
he called
his neighbors together and told them what had
happened...and had them help haul dirt to
bury the old mule in the well and quietly put him out of
his misery.

At first, the old mule was puzzled, but as the
farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and
the dirt hit his back, he had a thought. He ought to shake off the dirt and step up. And he did just that.
"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step
up...shake it off and step up!" Even though he took painful
blows of dirt, and fought panic, he just kept right on SHAKING
IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
It wasn't long before the old mule,
stepped up and over the lip of that well. What could have buried him, actually blessed him...all because
of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH THE SCRIPTURE

A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. He read, "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned to salt."

His son asked, "What happened to the flea?"

ETERNITY


You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001? Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke-filled room with a man who called his wife to say "Goodbye." I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, "Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is okay...I am ready to go."
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. "I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said. "Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now."

I was at the base of the building with the priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; "Come to Me...this way...take my hand." Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?
September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are "ready to go."

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

EYE-OPENING SURVEY

The 2001 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS), had its results posted in the December 25th edition of USA TODAY. The ARIS poll was based on interviews with 50,281 people, gave some new revelations:
1. Protestants and Catholics are losing members on a steady basis. 52% identify themselves as Protestant or other non-Catholic Christian denominations, down from 60% in 1990, and 24.5% say they're Catholic, down nearly 2%.
2. 16% of adults say they changed their religion at least once in their lives or turned away completely.
3. 14% say they have no religion or they're atheist, agnostic, humanist or secular. This is up from 8% in 1990.
4. 81% claim a religious identity but only 54% say someone in their household is affiliated with a house of worship.

EFFECTS OF SIN

Eight young whooping cranes left Wisconsin's Necedah National Wildlife Refuge on Oct. 17 for a miratory trip to Florida. These young birds did not know the flight path and actually had to be led by ultralight aircraft. The birds have faced some difficulties, including bad weather, strong head winds, and the fear of flying over an interstate, according to Joan Guilfoyle of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. However, the greatest difficulty was not outside the group, but within the flock itself. One bird, called "No. 4," has been a constant troublemaker on the flight, trying to distract his "teammates" peers and even flying off on his own, forcing the group to halt plans to find him. The power of a bad influence can be a danger to good plans.

F

FREEDOM FROM SIN
"...but ye are washed..." I Cor. 6:11

You may occasionally encounter a person who says, "I can't accept Christ and become a Christian. My background is bad. My family is bad. I've always been with bad company and there's no way I can escape a bad past." If that statement ever passes your way, remember this story about the son of Al Capone:
You may recall that Al "Scarface" Capone, who lived in Chicago in the 1920's and 30's, was the most famous gangster of the 20th century. He took over leadership of the Chicago crime syndicate and was responsible for corruption and death throughout the city. Few men were able to stand before Capone without fear in their voices, for he was a formidable and ruthless man. Many police were being paid off by Capone and many lives were due to his commands.
A curious footnote of history is, however, that Capone's own son, Al, Jr., never followed in his dad's footsteps. "Sonny", as he was called, lived his life without so much as a traffic ticket, preferring to lead a quiet and respectable life. He refused his father's overtures to delve into the underworld, opting instead for an exemplary lifestyle. As a matter of fact, later in his life, Sonny changed his last name due to the embarrassment of being associated with the evil that his father spread. Though he loved and was loved by his father, Sonny never had a desire to see that corruption taint him.
Though we may be perplexed at the turmoil of sin in our past, we can learn from this illustration that wrong does not have an inescapable hold on us.

FORGIVENESS
I have a friend named Matt who has been my pal since our freshman year in high school - that takes us way back to 1974! I can recall an incident in a history class the next year:
A fellow named Jeff had been goofing around, making noises and throwing paper airplanes while our history teacher, Mr. Pelfour, was out of the room. Mr. Pelfour heard the noise and, as was the usual response in those days, was going to blister the culprit. He marched into the room and grabbed Matt's long hair, yanking him straight back. The only problem was - it wasn't Matt who made the commotion. Mr. Pelfour corrected his mistake, punished the wrongdoer and apologized to Matt. Matt didn't accept the apology.
I met Matt years after graduation and we got to chatting over old times. I brought up the incident in Mr. Pelfour's room and it got Matt to seething. "You know," he said, "I never have forgiven him for that." And although I would try to josh him about how trivial it was now, he would still set his jaw and turn red.
"Wow," I thought. "That was over 11 years ago!" How long could someone carry a grudge and not forgive? Apparently a long,long time.

************

Forgiveness is better than revenge, for forgiveness is the sign of a gentle nature, but revenge is the sign of a savage nature. - Epictetus

************

WHAT IF I'VE BEEN WRONGED?

"FRET NOT THYSELF BECAUSE OF EVILDOERS, NEITHER BE THOU ENVIOUS AGAINST THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY." - Psalm 37:1

Much as it is now with many college students, money was hard to come by when I was taking my university training back in the late 70's. At that time we were scrambling for weekend jobs which would net us $10 or $15 an afternoon. Imagine my excitement, then, when my roommate Kent approached me and told me that he had a new boss who would pay us over $25 a day... maybe even $30. Six of us scrambled over to sign on with the man, a local roofer in the town. We spent the day in 40 degree rainy weather, assembling aluminum carports over customers' driveways. We had the itinerary of the whole day's list of assembly spots throughout the town. "Come on," my friend Kent chattered through the continuing drizzle, "lets see how many of these we can do for the owner!" So in the rain we doubled our efforts and put up carports across town - we took no break for lunch or resting. The next week Kent came to me, sickened.
"The owner pulled a fast one - he won't pay us for anymore than the first house. He's drummed up a technicality about being off the original location!"
"But that's not fair," I cried, "he knows we've doubled his normal output!"
"No matter," said Kent, "hes found a technicality and refuses to pay us more than a couple of dollars."
Even now, more than 20 years later, I can recall the bitterness I felt when I called the owner who breezily claimed to be a Christian yet freely admitted he had us over a barrel and that, yes, he was cheating us out of money. "If you don't like it, send me back the rest of the money," he taunted. I hung up the phone and swallowed hard. Would it be easy to forgive? No. But did I forgive? Yes. And you know, all these years later, it still remains a hard memory....but I believe I have learned to forgive and let the Lord take charge. It's taken a load off me.

FORGIVENESS

I had a dream where I found myself in a room. In this room there was a gigantic file that contained index cards. These cards, numberous thousands and thousands, had headings on the drawers which showed a humiliating catalog system for my life. These cards recorded the actions of my every moment, whether good or bad. Froma file named "Friends" to "Friends I Have Betrayed," to "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were humiliating to realize that I could find them in this file: "Things I Have Done In My Anger," "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath At My Parents."

Could it be possible that I had the time in my life to write each of these millions of cards? However, each was written in my own handwriting. Each was signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened To," I was aghast at some of the music I enjoyed.

Then I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," and slowly I opened the file. I drew out a card, and as I read, felt nauseated to think that such a moment had been recorded. I thought ina frenzied determination: "No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy these cards!" GHowever, though I tried, I could not dislodge a single card. When I tried to remove a card, I found it bound into the file with a supernatural power. I wept.

I noticed a new file, one marked "People With Whom I Have Shared The Gospel." The file seemed almost unused. I opened the file and shamefully realized that I could count the cards it contained on one hand. I wept again, out of shame.

But then I saw Him. No, please not Jesus. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response, and in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively to go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally, He turned around and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes, but His was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands, and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, No," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There are still cards to be written.......

- copied

FAITH

Two gentlemen boarded a coast-to-coast flight and were seated next to each other on the commerical plane.
After breezing through the on-flight magazine, the first man turned to the other and asked, what do you do? The gentleman replied: "I am a pastor of a church."

"Oh," said the first man quickly. "I don't believe in this religious stuff. It's for kids, you know, like the song 'Jesus Loves Me This I know, for the Bible tells me so...."
The minister politely laughed and asked the other man what he did for a living.
"I am an astronomer," said the first man.
"Oh, that stuff," said the minister. I thought it was just for kids, you know - 'Twinkle, twinkle little star....'"

FAITH

It's an experiment in taking your hands off the wheel of the car while you're driving - literally! The Department of Transportation has designated $200 million for research and testing for what is called an Automated Highway System. The Automated system is designed with the belief that a "super cruise control" would solve the problem of heavily congested cities' traffic woes.
How would they do it? Powerful magnets would be embedded in the asphalt every four feet. These magnets would transfer signals between vehicle and a main traffic computer system. The computer would do almost everything: steering, acceleration, and braking would all be controlled by sensors, which would be conected to a computer navigation systems and cameras along the side of the road. The computer would then "unlock" at certain times, and the vehicle's control would be returned to drivers whne they need to turn at a specific driveway or exit.
Researchers say it's a done deal; it can be done, for the technology is already in hand.

However, they need to beat one big problem: letting the driver give up control of the car.

Mike Doble, Buick's technology manager, admits it. He says, "The only thing we can't do yet is get people to comfortably trust the system. It's not a technology issue. Would you drive, closely spaced, at high speeds, through San Diego?"
Will people have enough faith to give up control. It's just like people who must trust God to take over their lives by "letting go of the wheel."

G

GOD'S POWER

A group of scientists in the not so distant future get together and realize that the world is no longer in need of God. So one of the scientists is chosen to speak to God and tell him of their thoughts and that he is no longer needed.
The scientist approaches God and says, "God, we have appreciated all that you have done for us in the past. You have taken care of things, but we are no longer needing you services. We have made great advances in modern medicine. With quantum physics, we have penetrated most of the deepest secrets of the universe, we have cloned sheep and are very close to cloning a human, we feel we have got it under control."
God says,"Well, I understand the situation and will leave you alone, but I would like to challenge you to a contest."
The scientist replies,"OK, that sounds good, what is it?"
"I am challenging you to a contest of making a man," God says. He begins by bending down and picking up a fistful of dirt. The scientist is about to pick up his own fistful of dirt when God says," No, no ... get your own dirt."

GREED

I am told that in the jungles of South America they have a unique way of catching monkeys. Using a ceramic jar with a tiny opening just big enough for a monkey's hand to pass through, the hunters will place an orange or small banana in the jar. They will walk to the part of the jungle where they know they are being watched by monkeys, and will pour a sweet-sticky syrup on their fingers and a little of the syrup into the jar. Knowing they are being watched, they will make an elaborate act of licking their fingers and smacking their lips. They then retreat into the jungle and wait. Soon a monkey swings down, smells the syrup, and slips his hand through the small hole, grasps the fruit, and tries to pull it through the hole. The fruit won't come out because the monkey's fist is too big for the hole. Even while the hunter appears, the monkey will scream and continue to pull, never letting go. The hunter catches him by throwing a net over him, and the monkey's greed is his downfall.

GREED

James Patterson and Peter Kim joined forces to write a shocking book about the hearts of Americans. The results of a massive nationwide poll were put into a book that was published in 1991 called "The Day America Told the Truth."

Probably the most striking thing to me was the poll that asked,"What are you willing to do for $10,000,000?" Two-thirds of Americans polled agree to at least one of the following. Some agreed to do more than one of these:

Would abandon their entire family (25%)
Would abandon their church (25%)
Would give up their American citizenships (16%)
Would leave their spouses (16%)
Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)
Would kill a stranger (7%)
Would put their children up for adoption (3%)


Where does greed stand in your life? Would it cause you to abandon your faith? Would you sacrifice your principles?

I like what Sir Fred Catherwood said: "Greed is the logical result of the belief that there is no life after death. We grab what we can while we can however we can and then hold on to it hard."

GIVING

There is the story of a person who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's
still out there in your pockets."

GOD'S SENSE OF HUMOR: CAESAR

Of all the qualities we think of that God possesses, it might be the most overlooked: His grand sense of humor. Think of it in the light of the historic figure`Caesar Augustus. He had the title of Octavian, and was also known as Gaius Juluis Caesar Octavianus. He lived from 963 BC - to AD 14, and unknowing to him, had a hand in the reason for the Christ Child being born in Bethlehem. This man was was Julius Caesars grandnephew and was to become his adopted son. After Julius Caesars assassination in 44BC Octavian became co-rulers with Mark Antony and Lepidus, and after Mark Anthony and Cleopatra committed suicide, Caesarion was murdered, and Lepidus forced to retire, Octavian was solo ruler of the Roman World. Here's the kicker: the Roman Senate gave Octavian the title Augustus ( the consecrated, holy, exalted, venerable or sacred one), and then the title Pontifex Maximus (chief priest), the Imperator (the Emperior or Commander in Chief), among many other titles. He was responsible for the PAX ROMANA (or "Roman peace) and coins had his image with the inscription "CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE translated son of the divine god" on them. In all this pomp and title, a simple child was God who would smash all these titles into oblivion.

GOSPEL, PREACHING TO THE UNSAVED

The preacher was wired for sound with a lapel mike, and as he was giving his preached he moved briskly about the platform, jerking the mike cord as he went. Then he moved to one side, getting wound up in the cord and nearly tripping before jerking it again. After several circles and jerks, a little girl in the third row leaned toward her mother and whispered, "If he gets loose, will he hurt us?"

GOALS

March 6, 1987 - the World Indoor Track Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana...
Eamon Coghlan, the Irish world record holder in the 1500 meters is running in a qualifying heat. Two and a half laps to go, and Coghlan trips and falls. It's over... or is it? Coghlan gets up and with an amazing burst of speed actually catches up to the leaders. He is now in third place, good enough to make the finals. But Coghlan makes a very bad mistake. He looks over his shoulder to the inside to see if anyone is there, and then he lets up just a fraction. A runner had slipped by him on the outside, though, and took third place, knocking Coghlan out of the finals. Coghlan took his eyes off the goal. That great comeback was now worthless. We can only finish well when we keep our eyes off the world and onto the goal: Jesus Christ.

GOD'S CARE

Often we will equate an easy and laid-back life as definitely blessed by the Lord, while those who might find struggle as being cursed by Satan. The French Sculptor, Rodin, gave a good view of God's care in artwork he crafted. He shaped two small statues and put them side-by-side in a display. The first statue is made of smooth marble and is soft and sleek-looking, showing a human figure cradled in a hand that portrays complacency, peace, and quietness. The human figure seems to be free of any distrations. Rodin called this work "The Hand of the Devil."

The second piece, however is rough and active-looking. Rodin designed a powerful-looking hand holding a figure of humanity and carrying it, rising upward to new life. The artist called this work "The Hand of God." Rodin's message is that while Satan would appear calm and unruffled and try to lull us into complacency, God's care and desire may seem rough and unsettled, but it is in His desire to carry us into an eternal joy and higher calling.

It's hard to believe it, but author Gilbert Beers has verification that it is true: a bitter man wanted to take it all tot he grave with him! True enough, a mortician at Forest Lawn Cemetery in California shared the story with the author of a man who some years ago actually spent $200,000 on his own funeral! Either to exact revenge, or to "have the satisfaction" of knowing he was leaving nothing behind to his ex-wife and children, the man squandered all his money on his own funeral. He made every move to assure himself that they would get nothing.
After carefully buying the most expensive casket, service, candles and other expenses, he realized that the total added up to "only" $100,000. His solution? He actually ordered that the remaining $100,000 be spent on orchids! Only three people attended that memorial service. This is one of the most stark illustrations on greed that could ever be written: a man who could carry his selfishness to his grave.

H

I

INVENTIONS AND NEW THINGS

I was doing research for a writing project on the late 1800s-early 1900s era, and I cam upon some unusual facts. Things we take for granted were completely brand-new and exciting in those days. For instance, can you imagine the reaction to the first roller coaster? The world's first roller coaster opened in 1884 at Coney Island, New York. It was designed by Lemarcus Thompson, a former Sunday school teacher. The lines were blocks long, I have read.

Baseball was new and intriguing. In fact, until the 1870s, baseball was played without the use of gloves. Can you imagine that kind of game?

What if you put money into a little company called Coca-Cola? If you invested a few dollars in the initial stock, your family's future generatiosn would have profited greatly.
A single share of Coca-Cola stock, purchased in 1919, when the company went public, would be worth well over $100,000 today.

A new cereal came out that people enjoyed greatly, but it had a slightly different name than it does today. Cheerios cereal was originally called Cheerioats.

When I look at these old reports, I am reminded that God gives us great blessings and innovations to enjoy throughout our lifetime. He certainly has ways to give us blessing, and our lives will be continually filled with His wonders and new delights. I wonder what will be in store for us this coming year?

J

K

KINDNESS AND CARE

A reporter was interviewing a highly talented symphony orchestra conductor from Eastern Europe who had recently been released from a years-long prison sentence due to his political views. His incarceration was one of total isolation. The reporter asked the maestro many questions on his world views and then turned to the subject of music.

The reporter asked, "What in your opinion is the most beautiful piece of music ever written?"

The conductor paused and considered this question, but gave no answer.

The reporter asked again, "Maestro, what is your favorite music. When you were held in isolation what did you want most to hear? What music would you have considered then as the most beautiful?"

"In the whole world?" the maestro asked. "Yes, in the entire world!" the reporter answered.

"Ah, yes, in all the world," the maestro said, with tears in his eyes, "the most beautiful music is the sound of another voice."

May we remember that there are those around us that simply want the beauty of a Christian's voice of caring. That, indeed is the most beautiful music to a thirsty soul.

L

LIFE, BREVITY OF: THE DASH


I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone From the beginning......to the
end.
He noted that first came her date of birth And spoke the following date
with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between
those years. (l900 - l970)
For that dash represents all the time That she spent alive on earth...
And now only those who loved her Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own; The cars...the house...the cash,
What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash.
So
think about this long and hard... Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough To consider what's true and real,
And
always try to understand How other people feel.
And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives Like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, And more often wear a smile...Remembering that this special dash Might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy's being read With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

LIFE, BREVITY OF

Isa. 55:8 "...for My thoughts are not Your thoughts..."

Teens get the feeling of earthly immortality many times. This illustration - especially the last statements - may help them understand the frailty of life:
The Saturday Evening Post carried an article about former NBC anchorman John Chancellor, who had laid out his plans for retirement when he was diagnosed with a severe and strong form of stomach cancer. His first thoughts, the article went on to say, were those of guilt: Had I smoked or drunk too much? Have I exercised or prayed enough? Cancer didn't run in my family. Why me?
As he continues to go through chemotherapy, Chancellor says his best friend and support continues to be his wife, Barbara.
"Cancer," he said, "is a reminder of how short a leash you're on. As I read somewhere, 'You want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans.'"

PEACE

Teach our teens to have peace in the midst of trials, whether that be bad grades, conflict at homne, persecution during witnessing, or a bad relationship. Writer Selwyn Hughes says that hisa research about the word "peace" helps us understand what Jesus gives us: "William Barclay says that the word "peace" (Greek: eiriene) came into the New Testament with a great history. It is a translation of the Hebrew word shalom, meaning peace. In classical Greek, 'peace' was mainly negative, implying freedom from war or hostilities, but in the New Testament, the word gathers up positive elements such as are seen in shalom. The central meaning is serenity and harmony. 'Peace' occurs eighty-eight times in the New Testament, and it appears in every book." The writer Hughes wants us to remember that the Bible shows us that Jesus gives peace as we need it.

HYPOCRISY

A self-centered major was assigned to a new office on a military base and was eager to make a big impression on anyone who came within his presence. As he new office was being completed, the major heard a knock on the door. A private stood at the opened door, waiting for instructions.

The major picked up the phone and motioned for the private to step inside. He decided to make a big impression as he said, "Yes sir, Mr. Presdient, I agree witht eh Joint Chiefs of Staff - it is an excellent idea. That is also my opinion, and you call me any time, I'm glad I could help. Yes sir, Vice President Cheney is also right, and you give my best to your family as well. Thank you sir, and a good day to you too, Mr. President."

The major hung up the phone he turned to the Private and snapped, "What is it you want, private?" Confused and embarrassed, the private mumbled, "Uh, sir, I'm just here to hook up the phone."

KINDNESS

". . . that best portion of a good man's life.
His little, nameless, unremembered acts
Of kindness and of love."
- WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, from 'Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey.'

A customer visited a jewelry shop in the diamond district of New York City, intent on buying a special jewel. He was shown a series of dazzling diamonds, each more brilliant than the previous one. The man still wished to look further, so the jeweler brought out some other precious stones. In the midst of this grouping sat a lackluster stone which evoked no beauty at all. The customer commented, "That's a rather dull stone."
"Hold on a minute, " said the jeweler. He picked up the stone and closed his fist around it. In a few moments he opened up his hand. What a difference! The stone now glowed beautifully. The customer was astonished. "What did you do to it? How come it reacted that way?," he stammered. "This is an opal, and what we call a sympathetic jewel," the jeweler explained. "All it needs is the gripping of a human hand and its beauty comes forth."

Youth pastor,can you see the significance of this illustration?

A lot of "lackluster" teens enter our local church ministry who seem to have no energy, ambition, or spiritual drive. A lot of people may write them off as being "dull" or "unattractive" but perhaps these young people have never had the grip of a human hand that cared. These rough and seemingly "dull" jewels may only need our gentle Christian touch in order to help bring out their radiance.

THE POWER OF RUMORS

It wasn't more than five hours after the Washington DC and New York terrorist attacks when I drove by a local gas station and saw a huge line of cars wrapping around the property. What was it? A rumor that, since we were going to fight an oil-producing nation, that gas would be rationed. The power of a rumor ran across the nation. I can recall the year that former talk show host Johnny Carson told a joke about a toilet paper shortage. Though it was totally fabricated, thousands of people took every roll off the store shelves. The power of the tongue is amazing.

NOTHING CAN STOP GOD'S WORD

"Twelve ignorant fishermen started Christianity; one wise Frenchman will stop it." These were the words of the French agnostic Voltaire as he stood before the King of Prussia while visiting at his palace. He predicted that within 100 years the Bible would be extinct and his 92 volumes would replace it. Within that time span a Bible Society has purchased Voltaire's former residence and continues to publish Scripture within the property!

PRAYER ALLOWED IN CONVOCATION?

The American Family Association Magazine told the story of one school's reaction to the State Supreme Court's decision in May, 1991 that the U.S. Constitution prohibited invocations at commencement exercises. Students at a Riverside County high school in Yuca Valley wanted to have God's blessing upon their graduation ceremony but realized the rules that were set. The ceremony went on as usual, but the final speech delivered brought about a standing ovation. The graduating student walked to the microphone to deliver his address, and gave a sneeze. The whole student body stood to their feet and in unison said, "God bless you!" The audience expolded in applause for the unique way the blessing was given to the 1992 graduating class!

ILLUSTRATION ON GOD'S PURITY

Among the many-well-intended e-mails packing my box yesterday came a dialogue from a leader of an organization who may have meant well, but erred in a statement that she wrote: "It is in wisdom that we realize that good would not exist without evil."

A Christian had responded and gave Scriptures which showed that this is NOT true. Indeed, when Mormon missionaries came to my house years ago, this is what they emphasized what part of their doctrine: that God needed to introduce sin into the world. I am adding the Christian responder's passages which would be good to use as a study on Sunday with your teens. Interestingly, my Tuesday night Bible study was directed on the 1 John passages of God's purity. These passages will help you as well:


1 John 1:5
"This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."

1 John 3:3
"Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure."

1 John 4:16
"We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him."

1 John 4:8
"He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love."

Hebrews 9:14
"...how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

SCRIPTURE READING

A Christian teen girl was frustrated in her attempts to memorize Scriptures from the Bible. Tearfully, she told her grandfather, "I get so upset, because no matter how much I read, I always forget what I have just read." The wise grandfather gently replied "You're still doing a valuable thing, honey. Remember, when you pour water over a sieve, no matter how much you pour, you don't collect much, but at least you end up with a clean sieve."

HERE IS A GREAT QUOTE FOR YOUR SERMON ABOUT COMMITMENT, found in the book "Getting Physical" with Art Turock:

"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you are interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstances permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."

HERE IS THE SERMON ILLUSTRATION FOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 7TH

TRUTH

The October issue of Consumer Reports magazine relates a truthful report that has caused a lot of red faces. The Philip Morris tobacco company has officials in the Czech Republic who were brutally honest about the effects of their cigarettes. The cigarette officials were trying to impress the government with the benefits of smoking. The officials concluded and distributed an economic analysis of how smoking Philip Morris cigarettes helps the nation of the Czech Republic. The 1999 report says that the country's public finance saved the equivalent of 30 million U.S. dollars " from reduced health care costs, savings on pensions and housing costs for the elderly - all related to the early mortality of smokers." In other words, the government saves money because smokers die young! Although the company received a stormy reaction after the report and did apologize, the truth of the matter came out along with callous disregard for human life. That's what sin is like. Despite how many people will try to gloss over the effects of sin, the bottom line is, it's deadly.

HERE IS THE ILLUSTRATION FOR THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH

DOING GOD'S WILL

(I used this illustration when I was guest speaker at a teen meeting last night and this quote brought the most response of anything in my message:)

It is said that the Christian writer C.S. Lewis was approached by someone who wanted to compromise his walk with the Lord: a little sin here and there, a little worldliness. He felt that the Lord must surely forget the sin if he was a fairly good Christian; after all, a little sin isn't so bad, is it, if everything else were okay? C.S. Lewis answered by saying:

"No clever arrangement of bad eggs ever made a good omelet."

...I think this quote is quite profound, don't you? Let the teens discuss it.

HERE IS THE ILLUSTRATION FOR WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5TH:

PRIDE

We think that only small untalented people are faced with the problem of pride, but this sin reaches into the soul of every man. The story is told of the great Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo who was sitting unnoticed near his statue of "Pieta," a work that shows Christ on His mother's knees after His death on the cross. This work is perhaps his most famous sculpture. Michaelangelo overheard a group of people chatting and admiring his Pieta. Then, one man spoke up and in error, gave credit of the work of the Pieta to another sculptor. Michelangelo took immense pride in the Pieta and was mortified that his labor should be confused with another sculptor. Late that same night, we are told that Michaelangelo returned quietly to the sculpture and actually carved his name on it so that no one would make the same mistake in the future. Today you can see the the Pieta with an unusual and gaudy feature added to this otherwise gorgeous statue: Michaelangelo's name scrawled across the Pieta, a symbol of human pride in the face of an otherwise powerful Biblical scene.

HERE IS THE ILLUSTRATION FOR TUESDAY SEPT 4TH:

FORGIVENESS

If we have teens who are not willing to forgive, it would be a good idea to remind them of the story that has been told about Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. Yearas before, she had been hurt by a mean-spirited act on behalf of someone who was uncaring. Reminded one day of the hurtful deed that the person had done to her, the person was surprised when Barton acted as if she was not familiar with the incident.

"Don't you remember it?" her friend asked.

"No," came Barton's reply, "I distinctly remember forgetting it."

ANGER:

A small truck driver is eating at a diner when three huge goons get off their motorcycles and trudge on in. The first guy takes the truck driver's hamburger and eats it up, but the small man does nothing. The second guy runs his tongue over the truck driver's Coke glass and spits in the drink,
but the small man just sits, not getting angry. The third guy eats his pie, but the truck driver never loses his cool.

The truck driver calmly gets up from the table, pays, and leaves the diner. One of the bikers says to the
waitress, who is looking out the window, "He's not much of a man, is he?"
The waitress replies, "He's not much of a driver either. He just ran his truck over three motorcycles."

HERE IS TUESDAY'S ILLUSTRATION:

THE REALITY OF OUR SIN

There is a fable about a teen who was considered a science prodigy who, while at his classes in an English academy, was given a powerful microscope as a scholarship gift. Looking through its lens, he studied raindrops, flower petals and snow crystals. Stunned by the beauty and uniformity, he carried the microscope everywhere he went. When he arrived at home, he inspected a chunk of gravel, a piece of handkerchief and a sample of carpet. That night at dinner, he examined some food on his plate. He was shocked when he discovered that miniscule living creatures were crawling in it. Not only was it in his favorite entree, it was also in his drink and dessert! So upset was he by this discovery that he concluded that it must be the microscope's fault. Taking a hammer, he destroyed the instrument that revealed the distasteful truth.

We might laugh at the stupidity of this decision; after all, the creatures were still there! However, many people react the same thing with the Word of God as it reveals their sinful nature. They want to rid themselves of the truth, rather than the sin.

HERE IS MONDAY'S ILLUSTRATION:

INADEQUATE?

Lest your teens feel their present "inadequacy" of obesity, awkwardness, poor grades, or a slow mind should stifle their future success in life, you may remind them that others endured the same types of childhood and went on to greater things:

Winston Churchill - He was considered so slow, his father publicly wondered whether Winston could ever get a reasonable job in life. He was hyperactive and was dead last entering the school at Harrow. He twice failed college entrance exams.

Thomas Edison - One teacher called him "addled". His father called him a "dunce." His headmasters claimed that he "would never make a success of anything."

Albert Einstein - His parents felt he was mentally unstable because he spoke haltingly up to the age of nine. He could hardly hold a job. One teacher even urged him to drop out of high school, so poorly did he perform.

Henry Ford - He could hardly read and did poorly in English and grammar. He was most known for making his friends tiny waterwheels and steam engines.

WEDNESDAY'S SERMON ILLUSTRATION: A QUOTATION ABOUT ANGER

"Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back- in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you."
- Frederick Buechner, 1973

SERMON ILLUSTRATION FOR MONDAY

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly..." Psalm 1:1

Seventeen-year old Kyle was an entrepreneur in his rural town; seemed he always had five projects always going on at once. Even though he lived in a small town, Kyle always had big-city dreams of making it rich, so he would try to find an extra job here and there in order to make a buck. When the County Fair opened up in his region, Kyle took the plunge and rented a booth at the fairgrounds. Driving his dad's pickup to his designated spot in the concession row, he flipped down the back gate and hauled out three giant tubs. One contained buttermilk, one contained chocolate pudding, and one was filled with applesauce. Kyle felt he was prepared for the onslaught of people who would pay to have him ladle out his wares into the disposable bowls and cups he supplied. Kyle was so busy getting ready that he forgot to bring three large serving spoons to ladle out each tub's contents. Realizing it was too late to get another one, he settled on using the one spoon to do all the dipping and serving. This went okay for about an hour as he served the many people that came by. Soon, however, his customer base dropped off drastically. Why? Because in using the same spoon for all three tubs, the spoon kept slowly mixing the ingredients together until people couldn't tell which tub held the applesauce, which held the chocolate pudding, and which held the buttermilk. Since all of them were slowly co-mingling with each other, it took only a short while for people to be confused as to which was which. They all mixed enough so that they looked the same.

It becomes very easy to start looking and acting like the world. It could be that you're like one of Kyle's tubs. You've mixed with people who are indifferent to God or even mock His name. Youve associated with them. You've mingled with them. You want to be like them. You think youre standing apart from them, but

by the time everyone turns to look at your Christian testimony, they become confused.

ATTITUDE
"Psalm 27:6 ...I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy..."

Many times you will run into a Christian who has a problem with everything imaginable. They feel the whole world has a problem, when in reality, it may just be them!
There's the story of the grouchy old farmer who decided to plop down on the couch and take a Saturday afternoon nap. His six year old grandson was full of mischief and decided to take some Limburger cheese and smear it on the old man's mustache and beard.
The farmer woke up after a while and snorted. He mumbled, "This living room stinks!" He walked into the kitchen. "This kitchen stinks!" he grumped. He went out to his vegetable garden in the back of the house and snarled, "This garden stinks!" He went over to his corn field and yelled, "This cornfield stinks!" Finally, he stood up at the top of the hill and took a deep breath and shouted, "This whole world stinks!"
In reality, the only thing that stunk was the old farmer.

Get the point?


HERE'S ANOTHER GOOD ILLUSTRATION ON ATTITUDES:

Sumo wrestling, Japan's national sport, displays a unique attitude that is rarely found in any other sport in the world. If you attend a sumo tournament, you will find out that the championship trophy is not the only trophy awarded. There are three other awards as well: a skill award, a fighting spirit award, and an award for outstanding performance. None of these has to do with the wrestler's tournament won-loss record. If within that 15-day tournament, he has exerted and stretched beyond his normal limits, even if he lost many times, he will be judged to be the winner of that trophy. You see, to the Japanese, HOW one performs is as important as what the result will be.

HERE ARE SOME TIMELY SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS FOR YOUR MESSAGES:

BREVITY OF LIFE
"If God so clothe the grass of the field which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven..." -Matthew 6:30

Here is a good verse speaking about the brevity of life. In the Bible lands the mountain sides in dry weather take on a parched and crackled appearance. The sides of the hills are covered with thorns which look just like grass. The local people even call it grass, though it is not. The women go out and gather the thorns for fuel for their household fires. The meaning becomes more clear when we understand the quickness by which these thorns - this "grass" - will burn.
My brother-in-law told me of a true story which brings this verse to mind:
"I worked in a glass factory with a fellow named Burt. Burt was a fun-loving, all-out lover of life - with absolutely no desire for God. He bragged on his wild lifestyle and his heavy drinking.
One day our pastor came by to invite Burt to church on Sunday. Burt nodded to the pastor and said 'Sure, preacher. Ill be there.'
As the pastor left, Burt laughed and shouted to the rest of his co-workers, 'I'll be dead before I set foot inside a church!' That next week Burt was with a number of friends who were drinking and cavorting about town in a pickup truck. Burt was in the back of the truck, yelling and partying. The driver lost control on a turn and hit a ditch. The sudden stop threw Burt out headlong into the side of the hill. He broke his neck, dying immediately."
True to form, he was dead before he set foot inside the church. Here was a man who thought he had a life without end, but the truth was his life was here one day and gone the next...

COMMON SENSE
You may get into a youth group discussion where you deal with the problems of teens starting to pick up the illogical reasoning of the world, i.e. evolution, atheism, rejection of Jesus, etc. Perhaps you will hear, as I have heard, the exclamation: "People dont make any sense sometimes!" Add to the discussion with a great example of illogical thinking with this true story from the World Almanac:

"The manager of a Olathe, Kansas fast-food restaurant found a man, wearing a George Bush mask, in his restroom after closing time. The man forced employees to open a safe and then locked them in a cooler. The bandit took the money and left the restaurant, but soon returned to seek help from the manager. He couldn't start his car in the 2-degree cold weather. The police, who had already been called, found the manager and the robber in the restaurant parking lot trying to start the getaway car."

What was the robber thinking, you may ask. In the same light, you can ask the teens that they need to THINK before blindly accepting a new fad or a worldly philosophy.

DISOBEDIENCE

I once worked for a man who owned a radio station in Tennessee, during which time we had become good friends. I had a job with him which included not only announcing but also broadcasting from different locations (it's called a "remote broadcast"). On one particular week I was scheduled to "do a remote", which meant that someone else would have to cover my shift at the station, and run the studio programs while I was gone. Since we were a little short-handed at the time, Jim, the owner, volunteered to handle the studio on his own.
I did the broadcast from the remote location that day, but when I called in to see how things were going, I found the staff in a panic. The entire radio station was off the air! By the time I got back across town, the engineers were able to restore power, but valuable income was lost because of the "down time."

"What happened?" I asked Jim. He said, "Well, I was working on the program and had a few minutes to kill, so I turned around and saw that button marked 'DO NOT TOUCH.' So I pushed it."

I looked at Jim for a long minute and then said, "Now, the sign DID say 'Do Not Touch'....so why did you touch it?"

Jim gave me a sad grin and said, "Well, Brad, you know me. If it says 'Wet Paint' I'll touch it to see if it's dry."

Because of Jim's curiosity the station lost thousands of dollars of revenue. You see, disobedience has its price. Isn't it amazing how many people will disobey, even to their own hurt?