WWJD

016 – DEC 2004

APATHY

DEUTERONOMY 6:10-12 “AND IT SHALL BE WHEN THE LORD THY GOD SHALL … GIVE THEE GREAT AND GOODLY CITIES, WHICH THOU BUILDEST NOT.
AND HOUSES FULL OF GOOD THINGS, WHICH THOU FILLDST NOT, AND WELLS DIGGED, WHICH THOU DIGGEDST NOT, VINEYARDS AND OLIVE TREES, WHICH THOU PLANTEDST NOT; WHEN THOU SHALT HAVE EATEN AND BE FULL;
THEN BEWARE LEST THOU FORGET THE LORD …”

IN HIS STEPS , BY CHARLES SHELDON, IS THE 2ND BEST SELLING RELIGIOUS BOOK (THE BIBLE IS FIRST) OF ALL TIME. WRITTEN IN 1896, IT HAS BEEN TRANSLATED INTO 21 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND HAS SOLD OVER 30 MILLION COPIES.
AT THE END OF THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK, A PASTOR PRESENTS A CHALLENGE TO HIS CONGREGATION. HE ASKS THEM TO, UPON EVERY DECISION THAT EACH HAD TO MAKE, ASK THE QUESTION ”WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?”
WWJD! WHAT A GREAT IDEA! WHAT A GREAT CHALLENGE!

OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THIS THOUGHT HAS BEEN ‘BROUGHT TO MARKET’ AND YOU CAN FIND BRACELETS, T-SHIRTS, AND OTHER ITEMS WITH THE LETTERS “WWJD” PRINTED ON THEM. “WWJD” HAS BEEN MAINSTREAMED AND THE RESPONSE TO IT HAS PICKED UP A FLAVOR OF APATHY. ASK SOMEONE “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?” AND THEY MIGHT REACT “YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW THAT! BUT, WHAT AM I REALLY GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS?”

THAT IS VERY SAD, INDEED! BUT THINGS THAT ARE OVER USED WILL MOST OFTEN GET TAKEN FOR GRANTED. A DULLNESS SETS IN AND THE POWER OF ANY PROFOUND CONCEPT CAN GET LOST IN IT’S RECURRENCE.

THINK ABOUT IT. CAN THE CHRISTMAS STORY BE TOLD TO THE POINT OF APATHY? CAN THE STORY OF THE CROSS BE TOLD SO MANY TIMES THAT A PERSON MIGHT RESPOND, “YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW THAT!” YOU THINK NOT, YET THE MEDIOCRE CONDITION OF MANY SPIRITUAL WALKS IS A RESULT OF BUSY-NESS AND APATHY.

DON’T ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME CARELESS IN THE THINGS OF GOD.
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME THAT YOU THIRSTED AND HUNGERED FOR HIM? … HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU WANTED GOD SO MUCH THAT YOU THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BURST?
PS 42:1 “AS THE DEER PANTETH FOR THE WATER BROOKS, SO LONGETH MY SOUL AFTER THEE, OH GOD.”

DON’T ALLOW THE TRAP OF APATHY TO DULL YOUR WALK.
FIND A PRAYER CLOSET. HAVE A MEETING WITH GOD.
THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR IT.



MONTHLY MEETINGS

MEETINGS WILL BE ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH.
WE WILL MEET AT 7:00 AT THE STUDIO IN BARRE.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS … 2ND TUESDAY:
JANUARY 11
FEBRUARY 8
MARCH 8
APRIL 12
MAY 10


FIRST MEETING

WHEN – TUESDAY, JANUARY 11 @ 7:00PM
WHERE – BELTRAMI STUDIO, 173 N MAIN STREET, BARRE



BELIEVE WITH ME FOR REVIVAL!!!!
AND BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU.






P.S. - A CUTE STORY

MY 2 GRANDDAUGHTERS WERE HAVING A GRAND TIME THE OTHER DAY UNTIL SOPHIA (AGE 9) OPENED UP A PACK OF GUM. WILLOW (AGE 4) ASKED FOR A PIECE AND SOPHIA REPLIED “NO!” WILLOW RESPONDED WITH A SULK AND A 2ND PLEA … TO THE SAME EMPTY-HANDED RESULT. WILLOW RESTED HER HEAD IN HER HANDS AND BEGAN TO POUT, SO WISE OLD PAPA WALKED OVER TO THE SCENE TO LEND A HELPING COUNSEL.
“SOPHIA”, I ASKED, “IF JESUS HAD THAT PACK OF GUM AND SOMEONE ASKED FOR APIECE, WHAT DO YOU THINK HE WOULD DO?”
BEFORE SHE HAD A CHANCE TO RESPOND, LITTLE WILLOW BRIGHTENED HER EYES AND SAID, ”I’LL TELL YOU WHAT JESUS WOULD DO. JESUS WOULD SHARE HIS GUM.”
YES, I’M SURE HE WOULD.