Sign – Why Walk Around Half Dead?

Dr. Park Tucker, former chaplain of the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, told of walking down the street in a certain city, feeling low and discouraged and worried about life in general. As he walked along, he lifted his eyes for a moment to the window of a funeral home across the street. He blinked his eyes a couple of times, wondering whether his eyes were deceiving him. But sure enough, he saw in the window of that funeral home was this sign, in large, bold words: “Why walk around half-dead? We can bury you for $69.50. P.S. We also give green stamps.” (Source Unknown)

Don’t be dead. God gives us a choice and it doesn’t cost you anything.

Ephesians 2:1

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Give it some thought before they lay you out.

Gary

I can’t sing it like Allan Jackson, but here goes.

The older I get
The more I think
You only get a minute, better live while you’re in it
‘Cause it’s gone in a blink

And the older I get
The truer it is
It’s the people you love, not the money and stuff
That makes you rich

And if they found a fountain of youth
I wouldn’t drink a drop and that’s the truth
Funny how it feels I’m just getting to my best years yet

The older I get
The fewer friends I have
But you don’t need a lot when the ones that you
Have always got your back

And the older I get
The better I am
At knowing when to give
And when to just not give a damn

And if they found a fountain of youth
I wouldn’t drink a drop and that’s the truth
Funny how it feels I’m just getting to my best years yet

The older I get
And I don’t mind all the lines

From all the times I’ve laughed and cried
Souvenirs and little signs of the life I’ve lived

The older I get
The longer I pray
I don’t know why, I guess that I’ve
Got more to say
And the older I get
The more thankful I feel
For the life I’ve had and all the life I’m living still

Romans 12:2 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Colossians 3:23-24 

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Look ahead and don’t look back.

Think about it.

Gary

USAA was founded in 1922 in San Antonio by a group of twenty-five U.S. Army officers as a mechanism for mutual self-insurance when they were unable to secure auto insurance because of the perception that they, as military officers, were a high-risk group. They took it upon themselves to do collectively what was impossible otherwise. Today it is a major player in the fortune 500 companies.

Christians were admonished to do similar acts as the need arose:

Acts 20:35 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Hebrews 13:16 

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Let’s get together and do something for the common good.

Gary

A five-year-old said, “I learned that I love my teacher because she cries when she sings “Silent Night.” Then there was a seven-year-old who said, “I’ve learned that our dog doesn’t want to eat my broccoli either.” Finally, there was a 92-year-old who said, “I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn.”  What have you learned?

Proverbs 1:5 

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Philippians 4:9 

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Then sadly:

2 Timothy 3:7 

Always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

Which set of verses fits you best?

Give it some thought.

Gary

The following was placed in Readers Digest by Edward Rouse of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania:

Military personnel are an optimistic bunch. During an ROTC class on defensive positioning, someone asked our instructor: “What do we do if we’re surrounded?” Son, the instructor said, never think of yourself as being surrounded. Look at it as being a target-rich environment.”

The Lord made a statement like that in a very difficult and hostile environment:

Mark 16:15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 

Give it some thought the next time you are surrounded.

Gary

I had the privilege today of listening to two French people relating funny stories about a loved one. It was intriguing to watch their animations as the accounts were being given. I didn’t understand a word they were saying but was drawn into their presentation. Sometimes when they would give the punchline, I would turn to Paula and ask, “What did they say? What did they say?” It is a benefit to be married to a bilingual person.

The Bible describes similar situations in Scripture. Corinthians states if one speaks in a different tongue an interpreter must be present. On this occasion, I had more than one interpreter present which made the time much more memorable.

Nice to have the Scripture in our language, so we don’t need an interpreter other than the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:9-12

but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him. “For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God

I was blessed by what they were saying in their language, but much more when I heard it in my language.

Give it some thought. Je t’aime avec tout mon cœur. (I love you with all my heart.)

Gary

When I was a paramedic, there were occasions when I would have to start an IV on little old French ladies. They would be uncomfortable with me because they were ashamed of their limited English or, maybe, they thought I was a dumb Englishman. In any case, to break the ice I would tell them I took a French course and learned one sentence. That would get their curiosity up and usually they would want to know the sentence I acquired in their language. Then I would say, ”Je t’aime avec tout mon coeur.” After that, they didn’t care how many times it took to get the IV started.

I always prayed for a key to get the job done. I see in the Scriptures Paul also needed a key. Sometimes it was the local synagogue, a prayer meeting by the river, an earthquake, imprisonment, or a ship about to go down. Every one of the aforementioned locations or situations was a key to a clear presentation of the gospel.

Acts 13:13-16

 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.  After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”  So Paul stood up,

If you leave home without your keys, look to God to provide them.

Give it some thought.

Gary