Topic(s): Evangelism

Luke 9:23-26

Billy Bob and Jethro decided to go fishing on a cool spring day. They arrived at the lake early in the morning and dropped their lines in the water. After fishing for a few hours, Billy Bob caught dozens of fish while Jethro hadn’t even got a bite. Jethro asked, “Billy Bob, what’s your secret?” Billy Bob answered, “Mmu motta meep da mmrms mmrm.” Jethro asked, “What did you say?” Billy Bob answered, “Mmu motta meep da mmrms mmrm.” Jethro again asked, “What?” Billy Bob spit into his hand and said, “You gotta keep the worms warm!” As disciples of Christ, we have been called to be fishermen, and we “keep the worms warm” by setting a good example for our families, friends, and others with whom we come in contact each day.

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” —Matthew 4:19

Shopping for a Box of Kleenex . . .

Topic(s): Worship

God was angry with their careless, shoddy methods of worship. The animals they brought for sacrifice were not acceptable to Him because they were not the best of the herds and flocks.  Instead, they offered stolen, lame, and sick animals (Malachi 1:13).

While we may not be showing this degree of contempt toward God, sometimes we are too casual in our worship.  A friend of mine made this observation about herself: “When I shop for simple things like soap or butter, I hardly think about it. But when I’m looking for a blouse to match a skirt, I shop very carefully. I go from store to store until I find exactly what I’m looking for.” Then she added thoughtfully, “I should pay that same attention when I am worshiping God. But sometimes I approach Him as casually as if I were shopping for a box of Kleenex.”

During our worship assemblies, we may fail to give God our full attention. We rush in late. Our thoughts wander. We need to discipline our minds so that we are not focusing on yesterday's cares or tomorrow's responsibilities.  When we worship the Lord with all our heart, He will be pleased with us.  —Dave Egner, via KneEmail

Teenage Girls and Drinking

Topic(s): Youth

The percentage of teenage girls who drink alcoholic beverages is rising faster than that of boys, and on average the girls take their first drink at age 13, the American Medical Association said Thursday in reporting the findings of two surveys. The AMA contends that a class of beverages informally known as “alcopops” is partly to blame, and it is warning doctors to educate teenagers about the dangers of such sweet drinks.

The polls indicate that teenage girls are most vulnerable to the marketing of the beverages, which contain five to seven percent alcohol and have names like Rick’s Spiked Lemonade, Doc Otis’ Hard Lemon Flavored Malt Beverage, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, and Hooper’s Hooch Lemon Brew.

The sweet, fruit flavored drinks are colorfully packaged and are also called “girlie drinks,” “malternatives,” “RTDs” (ready to drink) or “FABs” (flavored alcoholic beverages). “We’re alarmed and concerned with these findings,” said American Medical Association’s president elect Dr. J. Edward Hill, a family doctor in Tupelo, Mississippi. “Any alcohol is a drug with side effects. ‘Alcopops’ are anything but fun and harmless.”

Hill said he and his colleagues believed that companies were using ‘alcopops’ as gateway beverages to attract young drinkers. In one survey, 31 percent of teenage girls said they had drunk an “alcopop” in the past six months, compared with 19 percent of boys. The poll found that girls consumed more of all types of alcoholic beverages than boys. A second poll surveyed adults. The polls found that half of the teen girls said they had learned of the drinks from magazine ads and half from TV commercials. Thirty four percent of women 21 and older said they had seen such advertising. The AMA reported that almost 1 in 6 teen girls reported being sexually active after drinking in the past six months, and 1 in 4 who have tried “alcopops” have driven after drinking or have been in a car with a driver who had been drinking.

Drinking increases the risk of teen pregnancy and rape, said AMA’s Richard Yoast, director of the association’s office of alcohol and other drug abuse. Moreover, chronic heavy drinking has been tied to breast cancer, osteoporosis, menstrual disorders and heart disease, according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

“Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” —Luke 17:1-2

S-m-i-l-e

Topic(s): Humor

Upon entering a little country store, a stranger noticed a sign reading, “Danger! Beware of Dog” posted on the glass door. Inside, he noticed a harmless old hound dog asleep on the floor besides the cash register. He asked the store manager, “Is that the dog folks are supposed to beware of?” “Yep, that’s him,” he replied. The stranger couldn’t help but be amused. “That certainly doesn’t look like a dangerous dog to me. Why in the world would you post that sign?” “Because,” the owner replied, “before I posted that sign, people kept tripping over him.”

“. . . A merry heart doeth good . . .” —Proverbs 17:22