Topic(s): Children, Family

Did you know that after the movie Bambi came out, deer hunting-related purchases in the United States dropped by 25 percent the next year?

Did you now that after Clark Gable took off his dress shirt in a movie and was not wearing an undershirt, sales of undershirts the next year dropped off to nearly nothing?

Did you know that after a movie in which a teen stood in the middle of a busy street with cars zooming by on both sides, several kids tried to do the same and paid with their lives?

Did you know that after me movie Natural Born Killers was released, at least 30 people were murdered by young people influenced by what they saw on the screen?

Did you know that after the phenomenal box office success of the movie Titanic more than one young person lost his life trying to stand on the outer bow of a ship the way the stars did in the movie?

Did you know that after E.T. debuted, sales of Reece’s Pieces soared into the stratosphere?

Did you know that movie makers take in big money from companies that want their product shown on the big screen?

Did you know that these same movie people want us to believe movies do not influence young people negatively, so they should not be subject to censorship or be held to any kind of community standards erected for the protection of our young people?

Go figure.

Finally, did you know that responsible parents do not buy that argument and do not allow their youths to buy those products or go to movies they deem inappropriate?

The mother who teaches her children to wash their hands and brush their teeth should make a commitment to safeguard their minds as well. The father who would not allow a child-abuser into his home should likewise make it a priority to protect his family from abusive movies, dirty books, and harmful music. —Joe McKeever

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ” —Proverbs 22:6

I am a Tract

Topic(s): Evangelism

Somebody spent some time and effort in writing me. My author thought that the soul of one individual is worth more than the entire world (cf. Matthew 16:26). The author also believed that the written word is still an effective means of communication.

Because of these beliefs, a considerable amount of time was spent addressing a subject which was intended to lead people to the Lord and His church and/or help them in their service to Him. As the thoughts were put on paper, the author checked facts and made extensive efforts to teach only the truth about the subject addressed.

A printer went to work on me. An effort was made during this phase of my development to make me as attractive as possible and to make sure that the words produced were exactly the words of the author. Just as the author wanted to give people something of value to read, the printer wanted to encourage people to read me.

Somebody in a local church made the decision to make me available for people to read. Apparently they thought I was interesting, informative, and/or helpful. They must have believed that I had all kinds of potential.

They knew that I could be picked up in the lobby of the church building and read by those who visited. I could be handed out as people went from door to door to encourage people to study their Bibles. I could be taken to various waiting rooms in the community and left for people to read. I could be mailed to distant places (or local addresses). I could be left in a hospital room by somebody making a visit. The possibilities for good are almost endless. I may be the tool that delivers the most “bang for the buck” for those who really are interested in teaching the lost and/or strengthening their brothers and sisters.

Unfortunately, I am doing nobody any good right now. I am sitting with all of my friends in a tract rack at the church building. I’ve been here for months. I’m getting tired of seeing the same walls day after day. I cannot begin to tell you how many of the same people walk by me week after week without ever looking my way. Apparently, they are unaware of my potential or of their duty to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20).

Have you ever thought about the fact that somebody may spend eternity in heaven just because you and I worked together? Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Have you ever thought about how great it would be to listen to somebody tell you they became a Christian and realized that a big part of their spiritual journey involved our combined efforts?

Will you put me to work, please? Will you do it this week? —The Central Message, Jim Faughn, Paducah, Kentucky

Little Things

Topic(s): Satan, Sin

A giant tree in Colorado fell to the ground after having stood majestically on a hill for over 400 years. A mere sapling when Columbus landed in San Salvador, over the centuries it had been struck by lightening 14 times, braved great windstorms, and even defied an earthquake. In the end, it was killed by some little beetles Boring under the bark, they chewed away its mighty fibers until one day the king of the forest came thundering down.

Second Timothy 2:26 reads, “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” A snare is a small trap, often used to catch birds or other small prey. Because of God’s prominence over Satan (2 Peter 2:4; Luke 10:17), and because of God’s mercy not to allow us to be overwhelmed by temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13), Satan has never and will never be able to trap us with such a large snare that we are completely and forever caught in his clutches by one swift temptation. No, Satan snares a little bit of us here, and another part of us there. Little by little, if we allow him, he gnaws away at our spiritual souls at his own will.