Weekly Thought -April 22, 2014
Fred saw humor everywhere. He loved word plays, puns, “corn” as well as sophisticated wit. In his later years of incapacitation and immobility, he entertained himself by running a mental catalogue of punch lines. He had hundreds which he held in his stunning memory. He thought of humor as life’s lubricant. He believed too many people were running without enough oil to keep the friction down and the RPMs up.
The Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute at Taylor University is April 24, 25. Your prayer support for the men and women who bring wisdom, joy, and love for Jesus is greatly appreciated.
Lilt For Life
Life needs continual aeration. When it gets heavy, it settles down on us and needs to be lightened up. People should find inspiration and joy in their faith, not just new layers of guilt and condemnation. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life.” True, Christ came to convict of sin, but the Christian paradox is that in this chaotic, tragic world, we can enjoy a life of adventure and excitement.
Many people live with deep troubles. Someone estimated that about six out of ten of those who sit in church pews have major hurt in their lives. Therefore, I appreciate those speakers, teachers, and pastors who lift people’s spirits with genuine, inspiration and hope. Of course, spiritual aeration must be the “blessed hope.”
The message of God’s grace lets us know we are forgiven, we are free, we have the fellowship of the body of Christ, and an inheritance immortal soul.
We have been given gifts. We count. Each of us can make a difference just where we are. Understanding our purposefulness gives us a lift.
We have a challenge and responsibility to speak the message of hope and help to the depressed and the hurting. We must spread the light and share the lilt. This is a great opportunity.
The Scripture are full of inspiration and joy. Authentic inspiration must be based on Biblical values. Humanism believes in the perfectibility of man. I don’t. Many speakers, teachers, and sadly, even pastors, appeal to the empty words of “happy thoughts.” I don’t. Humanistic motivation is short-lived. Scriptural inspiration lasts a lifetime because it is based on eternal truths.
I believe in the new birth and the new life which comes through conversion. I believe in the inspiration which comes through scripture. Because of this, I think the possibility of extreme freedom is available for Christians because we don’t get caught in the trap of guilt when we fail to be perfect. We know we are new in Christ and we are forgiven.
This week think about: 1) How “lilting” is my life? 2) What keeps me from experiencing true freedom in Christ? 3) Who needs my word of encouragement today?
Words of Wisdom: “We must spread the light and share the lilt.”
Wisdom from the Word: “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NET Bible)