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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Shake It Off! <br>
<br>
One of the greatest deterrents to our spiritual progress is our
inability to shake off the things done to us by others. We can't get on
with our lives because we are still angry and hurt by another's sin
against us. We must find ways of redirecting our antagonism into
something higher. We must channel our hurt, our anger, our despair, and
our disappointment into something positive. Let go. Unpack the baggage.
Stop wallowing in the quagmires of the past. Get your passport stamped
and move on to higher ground, to your next destination.<br>
<br>
Jesus exhorts his disciples in Matthew 10. If the people do not receive
you, don't get stuck. Don't waste your life away crying crocodile tears;
"shake" the dust from your feet and keep on moving. Don't get put in
spiritual, emotional, and psychological jail by the things other people
do to you. After it's done, don't give them the keys to your jail cell
by living in solitary confinements of unhappiness and pain. Get out of
jail, pass go, and collect two hundred!<br>
<br>
Carlyle Fielding Stewart, III, Joy Songs, Trumpet Blasts, and Hallelujah Shouts, CSS Publishing Company <br>
__________________________<br>
<br>
We Replace the Lamb<br>
<br>
In that marvelous vision known as the "Peaceable Kingdom" (which we find
in Isaiah 65), there is the image of the wolf and the lamb feeding
together. Well, let me tell you a story about that. Back in the days of
pre-perestroika Russia ... when hers was a name that made all of us
tremble: the Russians brought an exhibit to the World's Fair that was
entitled "World Peace." In it was a large cage. And in the cage were a
little lamb and a Russian wolf ... feeding peaceably together. As an
exhibit, it was most impressive. And as the fair unfolded, it was
spectacularly attended. One day, however, somebody asked the curator the
obvious question: "How in the world do you do it?" To which he replied:
"Oh, it's really very simple. We replace the lamb every morning."<br>
<br>
William A Ritter, Collected Sermons, <a href="http://www.sermons.com/" target="_blank">www.Sermons.com</a><br>
_________________________________</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Simple Caring</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For
several weeks, Mrs. Sherman's first-grade class had waited for the
field trip to the observatory. Notices had been sent home with
instructions about the bus, lunch, and times of departure and return. To
the students, waiting for the field trip was like waiting for
Christmas.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Finally,
the day arrived. We grabbed our lunches and coats and lined up for the
bus. In the back of the room, one boy began to cry because he had
forgotten to bring a lunch and would have to stay behind with another
teacher. In a few minutes, the other children had contributed extra
sandwiches, fruit, desserts, and drinks until the boy had a feast for
his lunch. With new tears, this time tears of gratitude, he grabbed his
coat, lined up, and climbed onto the bus.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">We
had given him a "cup of cold water." Acts of service are not always
dramatic or earth-shattering. Simple caring is all that is
needed. Discipleship means being alert for opportunities to care, to
demonstrate God's loving-kindness, and to teach others to do the same.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Gene Blair</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">______________________</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Tool of Discouragement </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">There
is an old legend about Satan one day having a yard sale. He thought
he'd get rid of some of his old tools that were cluttering up the place.
So there was gossip, slander, adultery, lying, greed, power-hunger, and
more laid out on the tables. Interested buyers were crowding the
tables, curious, handling the goods. One customer, however, strolled way
back in the garage and found on a shelf a well-oiled and cared-for
tool. He brought it out to Satan and inquired if it was for sale. "Oh,
no!" Satan answered. "That's my tool. Without it I couldn't wreck the
church! It's my secret weapon!" "But what is it?" the customer inquired.<br>
<br>
"It's the tool of discouragement," the devil said.<br>
<br>
In the text Jesus is talking to the church about their attitude and
deportment toward the prophets God sends among us as shepherds. He
speaks frankly about acceptance and rejection, about kindness and trust.
In short, he promises that in the minister's success among us shall
come our own reward</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Stephen
M. Crotts and Stan Purdum, Sermons For Sundays: After Pentecost (First
Third): Hidden In Plain View, CSS Publishing Company, Inc.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><big><span style="font-size: 12pt">_____________________________________</span></big></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><big> </big></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><big>The Bristlecone Pine</big></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><big>Some time ago a fascinating
article appeared in Reader's Digest, telling about a most unusual tree
called the "Bristlecone Pine." Growing in the western mountain regions,
sometimes as high as two or more miles above sea level, these evergreens
may live for thousands of years. The older specimens often have only
one thin layer of bark on their trunks. Considering the habitat of these
trees, such as rocky areas where the soil is poor and precipitation is
slight, it seems almost incredible that they should live so long or even
survive at all. The environmental "adversities," however, actually
contribute to their longevity. Cells that are produced as a result of
these perverse conditions are densely arranged, and many resin canals
are formed within the plant. Wood that is so structured continues to
live for an extremely long period of time. </big></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><big>The author Darwin Lambert says in
his article, "Bristlecone Pines in richer conditions grow faster, but
die earlier and soon decay." The harshness of their surroundings, then,
is a vital factor in making them strong and sturdy. How similar this is
to the experience of the Christian who graciously accepts the hardships
God allows to come into his life. In Hebrews 12:11 we read that such
chastening produces "the peaceable fruit of righteousness." (KJV) For
those not rooted in Christ, suffering can be decimating. As Christians
we claim glory out of suffering.<br>
<br>
Carlyle Fielding Stewart III, Joy Songs, Trumpet Blasts and Hallelujah Shouts, CSS Publishing Company</big></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><big>____________________________________<br>
<br>
</big></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Whoever Welcomes You, Welcomes Me</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Recently
I was sent this story. The author said, I saw him in the church
building for the first time on Wednesday. He was in his mid-70’s with
thinning silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had
invited him to come. Several other Christian friends had talked to him
about the Lord and had tried to share the good news with him. He was
well respected, honest, a man of good character. He acted much like a
Christian would act, but he never came to church or professed
Christ. After I got to know him well and we had talked about a wide
range of subjects I asked him if he had ever been to a church service. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">He
hesitated. Then with a twisted grimace told me of an experience he had
as a boy. He was raised in a large family. His parents survived the
depression but they struggled to provide food and clothing for the
family. When he was around ten years old a friend invited him to go to
church with his family. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">He
went – the Sunday School class was great. The songs were fun to sing
and the stories, oh the great Bible stories, were exciting to hear. He
had never heard anyone read from the Bible before. As class ended the
teacher pulled him aside and said, “Son, please don’t come again dressed
as you are now. We want to look our best when we come into God’s
house.” </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">He
looked down at his old hand me down overalls that were certainly worn
and tattered. He thought about that for a moment and said softly, “No
ma’am I won’t ever.” Then he looked at me, the author wrote and said,
“And you know what… I never did.” It was clear that he was done with
that conversation. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The
author reflected, I am sure that the Sunday School teacher meant well
and in fact was representing the feeling of the majority of the folks in
that church. But what if, what if she had put her arms around the dirty
little boy in the ragged overalls and said, “Son, I am thrilled that
you came this morning and I hope you will come every chance you get to
hear more about Jesus because he loves you so much.” Moreover what if
she would have talked with her pastor or her friends in the church and
mobilized a full blown outreach effort to help this family make ends
meet. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">What
if that church would have thought, Whoever welcomes you welcomes me,
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Or whoever gives
even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a
disciple will receive a great reward (v. 40 & 42) </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The
story ended like this: Yes I saw him in the church house for the first
time on Wednesday and I cried as I looked at the immaculately dressed
old gentleman lying there in his casket. He was looking his best. But
all I could think of were those words of an impressionable little
ten-year-old boy echoing in my mind, “No ma’am I won’t ever.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">David Wiggs, Who Needs a Welcome?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">____________________________________</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Self-doubt: Burning on the Bottom of the Pan</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">I
remember an old story about a kindergarten teacher wrote a song about
popcorn and then had her class crouch down on the floor as they sang it.
At the appropriate point in the song, all the children would "pop up."
The teacher had them "popping" all over the classroom. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">One
day, during the popcorn song, the teacher noticed that one little boy
remained crouched down when all the other children popped up. "What's
wrong?" the teacher asked. "Why aren't you `popping' like the other
children?" </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The little boy replied…</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The conclusion to this illustration and for many additional illustrations and sermons for Proper 8 can be accessed at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sermons.com/">www.Sermons.com</a>.</span></div>
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