A Quick Tip

Before the service speak to God.
During the service let God speak to you.
After the service speak to your neighbor.

Ever notice when you get this out of order, how much less you get out of church?

Sometimes You've Got to Sweat the Small Stuff

Last week when Les and I were riding our bikes together I had major problems with my chain. It kept slipping off the chainring, even when I wasn't shifting. It got to the point that I would pedal about five strokes and it would pop off again. Very frustrating.


Thursday night Les took my chainring apart. He thought it just needed to be cleaned. When he got to my smallest chainring (there are three) he discovered that two of the teeth were bent. These two little bent teeth, on my smallest chainring, caused my chain to stretch. Over the course of almost 1300 miles, the chain had stretched the point that it would not stay on the chainring anymore.


Myka is all put back together now. She has a new chainring and new chain. For over a year I've ridden that bike and struggled with shifting problems. I thought it was ME! But all along it's been those two little bent teeth...


James, the apostle, half brother to Jesus, had a little bit to say about small stuff:

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

How many people have had their confidence slowly eroded because of little snide remarks? Oh but it's a just a small thing. Just a little joke. Is it really? There is always a shred of truth in someone's joke. Some people who use their razor sharp tongue to slash are also quick to apologize. But once the words are out, the chain is stretched a little more.


Galatians 5:15 says, "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." Some other translations say: "But if you criticize and attack each other, be careful that you don’t destroy each other." "If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other." "If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."

Sounds like we need to sweat the small stuff after all.

Two Way Communication

Out of the darkness last night I heard the howl of a coyote. It sounded like it was directly under my window, but was more likely on the hill behind us. I was safe within the walls of my house, so I was not afraid. I listened, waiting for a responding howl or bark but there was none. About 10 minutes later I heard the same howl, but from a greater distance. Still later, the howl was near again.


I know the howl of a coyote is the way they communicate. I imagined this one was trying to find the rest of his or her family. Perhaps it was a mother calling her pups or a pup looking for its mama. I enjoy hearing them, the way God created them with a unique language.

Pastor White taught a series of lessons earlier this year about prayer. One of his lessons was "Prayer - God Wants to Talk." I wonder how often we call on the Lord, but don't wait for His response. We just keep howling away, never pausing in our chatter, telling ourselves we are praying.



We've all talked to someone who never lets us get a word in. It's really not any fun after a while. That's not communication, that's merely listening. God can't answer if we won't be quiet!!

Psalm 91:15 "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him."

Isaiah 65:24 "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

So turn your "listener" on for a while. You might be surprised at what God has to say!