"“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”" (Hebrews 12:11)
 
Bob Toledo, the head football coach at UCLA, once told his players: "“I make you do things you don’'t want to do so that you can become the players you want to be."”  That thought is so true in many phases of life.  The Olympic star, the successful businessman, the PHD, and the accomplished author all have one thing in common, namely hours of painful discipline.  They willingly submit to such so they can be the person they want to be.
 
God wants us live lives that honor Him in speech, action, and attitude. We must make it our desire to be the kind of person He wants us to be.  In order to arrive at the goal we must change some of those bad habits.  Change is difficult and requires hours of training and discipline.  God doesn't zap us with a magic potion that turns frogs into princes. Instead, he provides the tools necessary to achieve the task.
 
First, God provides a support group of Christians to allow for accountability.  “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)  Confessions don’'t come easy because of embarrassment, pride, and fear of how others will react, but it may be the only road to reaching the goal. 
 
Second, he asks us to exercise daily self-discipline and radical surgery to rid ourselves of those bad habits.  "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-- "where 'their worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched." “(Mark 9:43-44)  Such a challenge will tax the very heart and soul of an individual, but is necessary to have the victory.
 
Third, God allows us to be subject to trials and difficulties of this world.  The loss of a family member, economic loss, or sudden loss of health can either make us or break us. There may be occasions when we don’'t feel like persevering, but we must!  God allows us to be tried so that He can sharpen our character and strengthen our faith!
 
Who do you really want to be?  God has a wonderful plan for you.  He loves you enough to provide all that is necessary to succeed.  Accept the challenge and one day you will reap the rewards.
 
by George Slover

 

Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart." (Ecclesiastes 7:2)
 
According to Solomon’s wisdom, times of laughter do not teach the valuable lessons like times of mourning.  Are we really convinced of that?  Our current generation is almost intoxicated with laughter.  Many are deluded into thinking that genuine happiness is found in being having fun all of the time.  Solomon says to the contrary!  Joyful living comes from the valuable lessons learned at the house of mourning and pain and affliction.
 
Malcom Muggeridge wrote about affliction in his book A Twentieth Century Testimony: "“Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed desolating and painful with particular satisfaction.  Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my seventy-five years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness, whether pursued or attained.  In other words, if it ever were possible to eliminate affliction from our earthly existence by means of some drug or other medical mumbo jumbo, as Aldous Huxley envisaged in Brave New World, the result would not be to make life delectable, but to make it too banal and trivial to be endurable.  This, of course, is what the Cross signifies.  And it is the Cross, more than anything else, that has called me inexorably to Christ”."
 
In times of sorrow we learn of the brevity of life and the reality of death.  In affliction we learn to long for the better life beyond.  In pain we experience what the Lord endured for our sins. And we should see how terrible is sin in the eyes of God.
 
It’s ok to laugh.  It is better to weep and to reap the eternal rewards!
 
By George Slover

The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD." “ (Proverbs 29:25-26)
 
During my Freshman year at Texas A&M I learned a valuable lesson.  It seems that our class had stolen our Commanding Officer’'s footlocker.  After several weeks of hazing, we finally decided to give it back to him.  A specific evening and place were designated for returning our prize to our Senior commander.  On that evening we all met in the country with the footlocker full of ice and beer.  To celebrate our truce our C.O. proposed a toast.  He demanded that all of us would have a beer in our hands to be a part of this toast.  I timidly held that beer can in my hand, but never took a sip.  When it was convenient I poured the beer on the ground.  Hypocritically, I had given in to peer pressure.
 
Jesus, our savior, was the perfect example of the kind of life we are to live. When the critics observed his life they rightly state:"“Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth."”(Mark 12:14)  Jesus was not intimidated by the critics nor swayed by public opinion.
 
Joshua and Caleb refused to ride the tide of popular opinion.  They would not listen to the ten other spies or to the complaints of Israel.  Against the majority view they stated:  "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." (Numbers 13:30)  These two faithful spies were the only ones allowed to enter Canaan.
 
The child of God is to live for an audience of one.  God alone is our judge.  All things are to be measured by His standards!  He alone is to direct our life and we are to seek his approval.
 
By George Slover

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine.”" (Proverbs 23:29-30)
 
Ever since I can remember we’'ve been engaged in a war on drugs.  For many years drug abuse has truly been a problem in our society especially among young folks.  I wonder if we are really winning.
 
America’'s most dangerous and debilitating drug is alcohol.  Alcohol is not just a threat because of its evil effects, but also because its wide social acceptance.  The industry spends millions of dollars to convince America of alcohol’'s so-called wonderful benefits .  Hypocritically, we warn our children of its dangers while in their presence we freely partake.  We send a family member to detoxify, and as soon as they are through we put a “"Bud Light"” in their face.
 
One of alcohol'’s greatest dangers is its ability to give the user a powerful sense of control.  The more they drink, the greater sense of “control” they experience.  This image is depicted in vs. 34,35 of the above passage:  "“Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: ‘They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?’" (Proverbs 23:34-35)  The drunk sees himself as the captain of the ship when in reality he is "out of it"!
 
Alcohol is so much a part of our culture it is difficult for the non-drinker to gain social acceptance.  Anyone who does not drink must be strong enough to find those who accept him or her.  This is much easier for adults, than for teenagers.  The strong need for social acceptance makes the temptation for alcohol even more pressing!
 
Alcohol is a drug that has no place in the life of Christian.  It is sinful both in excess and in moderate social use.  See I Peter 4:3.  Anyone professing to imitate the purity of Jesus will abstain!  
 
By George Slover

But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:24-25)
 
The key word is “care”.   The Greek word merimnao is most often used in the negative sense.  It means to be anxious, or to be filled with anxiety, or worry.  
 
We often think of this word in the context Jesus’ personal ministry.  "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.”"(Matthew 6:25)   Here Jesus exhorts us to not worry.  Instead of anxious care, God wants us to pray and place our burdens on Him.  (Philippians 4:6; I Peter 5:6,7)  Jesus says, "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Matthew 6:30)  In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus warns of how such “cares” can choke out the word and destroy the desired fruit (Luke 8:14) 
 
But, in the verse above we are commanded to have that anxious care for others.  Here, God says don'’t be divided, but be totally focused upon the needs and cares of your brother.  If he has occasion to rejoice, don’'t envy him, but rejoice with him.  If he suffers, don'’t belittle, but cry with him.  The word “care” also carries with it the idea of being torn away or distracted.  The Corinthians were exhorted to get their minds distracted from their selfish ambitions and have diligent concern for one another.
 
 Corinth was not the only place where such an attitude is needed.  Local churches, communities, even the world needs people with this trait.  Such folks are hard to find.  The few that have such devotion are precious indeed!  “"For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus”." (Philippians 2:20-21)
 
By George Slover