When Robert Ingersoll the notorious skeptic, was in his heyday, two college students went to hear him lecture. As they walked down the street after the lecture, one said to the other, “Well, I guess he knocked the props out from under Christianity, didn’t he?”

The other said, “No, I don’t think he did. Ingersoll did not explain my mother’s life, and until he can explain my mother’s life, I will stand by my mother’s God.

                                                   – James S. Hewett

The Bible has a great deal to say about the walk of the believer proving the existence of God.

Ephesians 5:8 

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Proverbs 13:20-21 

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.

Give it some thought and if you can’t prove it to others, at least walk it.

Gary

My brother was a paratrooper back in the 60’s. I remember that he’d sing a song the paratrooper trainers taught the recruits before their first jump.

There was blood upon the risers,
there were brains upon the ‘chute.
Intestines were a-dangling
from his paratrooper suit.
He was a mess, they picked him up
and poured him from his boots.
And he ain’t gonna jump no more

Gory, Gory, What a hell of way to die
Gory, Gory, What a hell of way to die
Gory, Gory, What a hell of way to die

There is more to the song, but that gives you the idea. Now they had to sing that before their first jump. Most jumped anyway, some were pushed and a few fought to stay on the plane.

Christianity had a similar speech before the great commission even started.

 Matthew 24:9-10

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 

The disciples went anyway and I’m thankful they did.

Think about it.

Gary

PS

My brother jumped anyway, and he’s glad he did and so am I.

Many years ago, Chinese farmers theorized that they could eat their big potatoes and use the small ones for seed. Consequently, they ate the big potatoes and planted the small potatoes. As a result of this practice over the years, nature eventually reduced the size of all the potatoes they harvested to marbles. A new understanding of the law of life came to them. They learned through this bitter experience that they could not have the best things of life for themselves and use their leftovers for seed. The law of life decreed that the harvest would reflect the planting!

–       Unknown author

Does the Bible address this principle? It sure does:

Luke 6:38 

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Galatians 6:7 

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

Give it some thought and sow the best you have.

Gary

Do It Anyway!

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. – Love them anyway!

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. – Do good anyway!

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. – Succeed anyway!

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. – Do good anyway!

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. – Be honest and frank anyway!

The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds. – Think big anyway!

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. – Fight for an underdog anyway!

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. – Build anyway!

People that really need help often attack you if you help them. – Help people anyway!

Give the world the best you’ve got and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. – Give your best anyway!

–       Quote. (John Maxwell)

Does the Bible teach this? It sure does.

James 1:1-27 

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. …

Think about it and give it your best shot.

Gary

Three boys were boasting about their dads and one boy said, “My dad is so fast, he can shoot an arrow and get to the target before the arrow hits it.” The second boy said, “My dad is so fast that he can shoot a rifle at a deer and get to the animal before it falls.”

The third boy said, “My dad’s got both of yours beat. He’s faster than that. He gets off work every day at 4:00 and he gets home by 3:30.”

Does the Bible address this? Oh Yes:

1 Timothy 6:1 (Living Bible)

Christian slaves should work hard for their owners and respect them; never let it be said that Christ’s people are poor workers. Don’t let the name of God or his teaching be laughed at because of this.

Give it some thought and work for the man.

Gary

Many years ago during a Knicks-Bullets playoff game, one of the Bullets came up from behind the great Walt Frazier and punched him in the face. Strangely, the referee called a foul on Frazier. Frazier didn’t complain. His expression never changed. He simply called for the ball and put in seven straight shots to win the game, an amazing display of productive anger. If you want to get huffy about it, it was a great moral lesson as well.   

U.S. News & World Report, June 14, 1993, p. 37.

King David was such a man because he could take a licking and go on ticking. The Bible does describe such an attitude.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

How do you do that? Focus on the race before you and not on those who try and trip you up.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The difference between a friend and an acquaintance is that a friend helps; an acquaintance merely advises. 

“Calgary Bob” Edwards.

I don’t want to just know about God. My desire is that He is active in my life. If you’re hanging off a cliff by one hand, you don’t need someone’s opinion; you need help.

 Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalms 60:11-12 

Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.

Give it some thought.

Gary