Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fiber being composed of many microscopic “fibrils” that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes.

If you breathe asbestos fibers, you may increase the risk of several serious diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos exposure may increase your risk for cancers of the digestive system, including colon cancer. Asbestos causes an estimated 255,000 deaths annually.

This dangerous material was considered a great invention and was found in buildings and vehicles all over the world. Then it was discovered that it was a silent killer.

Satan appeared in the garden of Eden and man thought he was an angel of light. He has been tormenting the world ever since. His advice only leads to death.

John 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Don’t believe his lies because the consequences can last for eternity.

Think about it.

Gary

The Sin of Omission

          – by Margaret Sangster

It isn’t the thing you do, dear;
It’s the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.

The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent, dear,
Are your haunting ghosts to-night.

The stone you might have lifted
Out of brother’s way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;

The loving touch of the hand, dear,
The gentle and winsome tone,
That you had no time nor thought for,
With troubles enough of your own.

The little acts of kindness,
So easily out of mind;
Those chances to be angels
Which every one may find

They come in night and silence
Each chill, reproachful wraith
When hope is faint and flagging
And a blight has dropped on faith.

For life is all too short, dear,
And sorrow is all too great;
To suffer our great compassion
That tarries until too late;

And it’s not the thing you do, dear,
It’s the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.

Galatians 6:9-10

 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

We can’t go back in time and make corrections but we certainly can be much more careful in the future. The key to the whole endeavor is God’s Holy Spirit and the Scriptures.

Give it some thought.

Gary

If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion, or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the burden to someone else. Unless you can point your finger at the man who is responsible when something goes wrong, then you have never had anyone really responsible.”        

–  Admiral Rickover

God has given to every one of His children an area of responsibility. We must know the boundaries, but inside the boundaries the burden is ours alone.

Romans 12:6-8 

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 

From here to the end of the line, let’s be faithful to the lot given to us.

Think about it.

Gary

One day C. H. Spurgeon was walking through the English countryside with a friend. As they strolled along, the evangelist noticed a barn with a weather vane on its roof. At the top of the vane were these words: GOD IS LOVE. Spurgeon remarked to his companion that he thought this was a rather inappropriate place for such a message. “Weather vanes are changeable,” he said, “but God’s love is constant.”

“I don’t agree with you about those words, Charles,” replied his friend. “You misunderstood the meaning. That sign is indicating a truth: Regardless of which way the wind blows, God is love.”

–       Source unknown

The apostle Peter sent out an epistle that the early Christians would face various trials. We must remember that Nero at the time was burning some Christians while they were staked in his garden. The message from the inspired hand of Peter was that whatever the trial, it is possible in Christ to rejoice.

When it comes to difficulties in this life, our greatest resource is the power of God. Let’s always tap into it and never, under any circumstances, forget it.

Give it some thought.

Gary

As I was growing up, the Ed Sullivan Show was on every Sunday night. From 1948 until its cancellation in 1971, the show ran on CBS  from 8–9 p.m. Ed would always start the show by saying, “Tonight, we have a really big show.” My favorite appearances were by Topo Gigio, Dean Martin, and the Beatles.

Some pastors have, over the years, tried to have a really big show with a similar cast of strange characters. One enterprising pastor promised to lift a tremendous weight with his teeth. The crowd wasn’t disappointed because the weight pulled the front teeth right out of his mouth.

The Apostle Paul didn’t use gimmicks but kept the main thing the main thing.

1 Corinthians 2:1

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

That’s how it was done two thousand years ago and how it should be done today.

Give it some thought, and for the kids out there, Topo Gigio was a talking mouse.

Gary

The pastor said to his wife, “Honey, Mrs. Smith said as she was leaving church, “You are one of the great preachers of our time.” He asked, “Just how many great preachers do you think there are?” She replied with a scowl, “One less than you think.”

Something similar happened to me after I preached a funeral service. I was greeting people as they left the building. A cousin passed before me in the lineup; she stated that I did a wonderful job on the message. Behind her was her brother who then commented, “Don’t tell him that! His head is big enough.” I was always thankful for him because he was a realist and always seemed to know what I needed at the time.

Proverbs 27:17 

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”  

Proverbs 27:9

“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel” 

Philippians 2:4 

‘Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.’ 

Please don’t be cruel, but every once in a while, I need to hear what is good for me even if it is painful.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Some believe that the Charlie Brown character in “Peanuts” was suffering from Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD). Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by feelings of extreme social inhibition, inadequacy, and sensitivity to negative criticism and rejection.

Wow, I didn’t know Charlie and I had so much in common. I always believed that the only things we shared were an extreme dislike for anyone like Lucy and the fact that we were both lousy baseball pitchers. I realize now that we both struggled with negative criticism and rejection.

Now I know how Esau felt:

Hebrews 12:17

For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

I’m sure glad I placed my burden on Christ and was able to overcome APD. Charlie and Esau never got away from it. Only in Christ is there a cure for that malady. However, a cure is not available for lousy pitching.

Give it some thought.

Gary