Attention, Please!
“K-mart shoppers! Your attention, please. For the next 30 minutes there will be a ‘blue light special’ on aisle 3!” Those words would send people scurrying to see what bargains awaited them on aisle 3.
Camp directors hold up their hands with three fingers lifted to indicate campers have to the count of three to get quiet. In a leadership retreat recently, the host was a retired camp director who simply held up his hand to signal the break was over – all the non-profit executive directors and board members immediately responded.
Teachers flip the lights off and on to gain control and indicate all eyes are to be up front and all conversation is to end.
When I was a teenager and a date would last too long in the driveway (according to my Mom), the porch light would begin its “you better get out of that car and get in this house” routine. She knew how to get my attention (and probably that of my puzzled date).
In Luke 9 the doctor tells the story of being on the mountain with Jesus and experiencing the appearance of Moses and Elijah who joined Jesus. Peter was exhilarated. You could almost see him in his holy extroversion jumping around. “Let’s make tents for them!” Scripture says, “Peter didn’t know what he was saying.” Can’t you just see the fisherman babbling on and on?
What happens then? God speaks from a cloud which descended on them. “This is my Son, my Chosen One, listen to him!” In the South we would say, “Hush, Peter, God is talking to you!”
How does God get our attention? We don’t audibly hear Him as He speaks to us in a cloud. But His Word is powerful, intentional, and indeed purposeful. We can hear Him saying to us, “Be quiet, be still” in Psalm 46. We can read of the turbulent waves obeying Jesus as He instructs them to settle down. Our choppy waters are under His control.
And doesn’t He click lights on and off sometimes when we are wandering? The work of the Spirit gives nudges and sometimes not-so-gentle corrections to lead us to repentance. And especially in those times when we get too sure of ourselves and get ahead of Him, we recognize His revectoring.
The heavenly whistle blows and we line up if we are listening. The Word reorders our messy lives if we will only look to His plan. “Listen to Him!” Our loving heavenly Father calls us to obedience knowing true life is only in following Him.
Prayer Network
by Brenda A. Smith, BWFLI.com, BreakfastWithFred.com
“The mission of Taylor University is to develop servant-leaders marked with a passion to minister Christ’s redemptive love, grace, and truth to a world in need.”
Over the 13 years of active on-campus leadership institutes we grew to respect, admire, and love the missions of each school. Taylor University in Upland, IN is an example of Christian Higher Education focused on Jesus Christ. This month students, faculty, and administrators of America’s Christian colleges and universities are establishing academic, social, and spiritual patterns which will serve them throughout life. As they are building on the foundation of Christian faith we can support them through prayer.
Perhaps you know a student, a faculty member, or an administrator attending or employed by a Christian college or university. Take this month to personally pray for them, their growth, and their spiritual maturity.
Thank you for your faithful service and friendship.
The Extended Benefits of Generosity
by Bob Deffinbaugh, Bible.org, BWFLI.com
12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you (2 Corinthians 9:12-14, NAS).
Obviously, in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 Paul is speaking about giving to the needs of the saints, not to the church building program, missions, or other important needs, but especially here to the monetary needs of poor saints. What fascinates me here is the anticipated outcome of these gifts. Those who receive them see them as coming from God, ultimately, and this prompts them to glorify Him for your generosity. And, as an added benefit, it prompts the recipients to pray for those who generously gave to meet their needs. Did you ever think of giving to others to enhance their love for God and to expand their prayer life?
I should add, that during our days in seminary, those who were generous in giving to us were not necessarily (not often) those with great means to do so. More often, it was those who, like these saints, gave out of their poverty.
May God grant that there will be others who praise God on account of us.
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The Last Word
Weekly Thought – October 21, 2025
Fred asked questions… Of others and of himself. Their son Fred, too, has the gift of questioning. This week’s thought is based on a conversation between the two of them.
The Last Word
When I was 28 I sat in a cemetery thinking about what I wanted my family to put on my tombstone. “He stretched others” came to mind and it hasn’t changed for my entire life.
Recently our son Fred asked me, “If you had only one more talk to make, what would be the subject?” Intriguing question, don’t you think? As we all face our mortality, we think more seriously about the impact of our speech and our example. We know our time to influence others is limited. Just as Fred asked me, I started asking others. I find it a worthy question.
I was then challenged to describe the process of answering the questions. A good friend said, “Everyone hasn’t thought about these issues as much as you have, Fred. Give me some help on processing my own answers.” So here are some questions that I thought about in forming my own.
1. What one fact do I feel has affected my life the most?
2. What one thing final thing would I say to my children and grandchildren?
3. What is the one statement that most deeply stirs me?
4. What is the one thing I could say that would affect my hearers the most?
Whether it’s one last speech to make, one last song to sing, one last book to write, or one last time around the family dinner table, it makes a difference when you know what you would want your final expression to be. In defining this, you find out a lot about who you are and what your life’s purpose it.
Editor’s note: (In case you were wondering about Fred’s answer to his son… “The nature of God and the nature of man: is man basically good with a tendency toward sin, or basically sinful with a possibility for good?” He added: “The answer to this question influences all human relationships and commerce.”
This week carefully consider: 1) What would I want my last words to be? 2) How would these words impact those around me and others to hear of my death? 3) Who is asking me good questions?
Words of Wisdom: “As we all face our mortality, we think more seriously about the impact of our speech and our example.”
Wisdom from the Word: “I have competed well; I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NET Bible)