The Games
Scripture: Luke 7:29-35
They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: " `We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.'
GOLF
* In primitive society, when native tribes beat the ground with clubs and yelled, it was called witchcraft; today, in civilized society, it is called golf.
* The man who takes up golf to get his mind off his work soon takes up work to get his mind off golf.
* Golf was once a rich man's sport, but now it has millions of poor players!
* Golf is an expensive way of playing marbles.
* The secret of good golf is to hit the ball hard, straight and not too often.
* There are three ways to improve your golf game: take lessons, practice constantly -- or start cheating.
* An amateur golfer is one who addresses the ball twice - once before swinging, and once again, after swinging.
* Many a golfer prefers a golf cart to a caddy because it cannot count, criticize or laugh.
* Golf is a game in which the slowest people in the world are those in front of you, and the fastest are those behind.
* Golf: A five mile walk punctuated with disappointments.
* There's no game like golf: you go out with three friends, play eighteen holes, and return with three enemies.
* Golf got its name because all of the other four letter words were taken.
It is so easy to drift into a way of thinking that places “ME” at the center. I weigh the worth of people or programs, churches according to the way that they impact me personally. If they live up to my expectations then they are good – if they don’t then they are not.
Or perhaps we determine what is good or bad depending on the way that people respond to me personally. If they reciprocate satisfactorily then they are “good” and if not - then
Hide and Seek.
Prove to me how much you care. Have you ever had a relationship with a person who has constantly needed your encouragement – someone who is easily offended or disappointed? If you have you realize the drain that this creates on the person who is the giver. Over a period of time it weakens the bonds of friendship and ultimately either destroys the relationship or burns out the caregiver or both.
We used to use the term “pastoral care” in the church as a way to describe our efforts to follow up on our folks and to meet their needs in times when they could most use our help. That is a good thing but probably not the most efficient way to meet the needs. I like the term, “congregational care”. What that means is that we all “look out for” one another.
If we are constantly being “let down” by the church, it may not always be an indication that the biggest problem is the one that the church has. It may mean that we are the ones who need the help.
Some help for the neglected:
q Become a need-meeter. Focus on others and you will find your heart filled.
q Look to God as a never-failing source of help. People – the best people in the world will let you down at times.
q Stop keeping score. Forget who owes you this or that. Whenever you do something for another person expecting that they will reciprocate – give that to God and let him be your rewarder.
Red Rover.
A game designed to divide the Body.
We divide the Body whenever we want to line people up against each other. We believe that this church is God’s church no more or no less than any other church that meets today in the city of Fredericton. We believe differently on certain issues than other churches and yet we are a part of the same body – even as we are different members. I believe that denominations are totally fine and even desirable. There are certain churches that will be able to minister more effectively to certain people and likewise will reach out more effectively to a different kind of individual. That is good! The same will be true of pastors within a church. There will be individuals that I will reach more effectively than other pastors simply because of the “connection” that takes place between people.
But we have no time for fighting within God’s church. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you love one another as I have loved you.” It is the mark of the disciple. Without it we are not disciples of Christ. Regardless of whatever other good things that we may do or accomplish. Without love we are nothing 1 Corinthians 13 affirms.
Losing teams fight among themselves. I’ve watched sports competitions and it is always the losing teams that become critical of each other’s performance and they begin to squabble and the game is lost.
What’s the challenge?
q We have to learn to follow. Before we lead we follow. It is a character building exercise to learn to follow someone else’s leadership. It is not always easy or pleasant but so necessary. I believe that God grants a good follower his/her turn to lead at the proper time after the lesson has been learned.
q We influence more by support than we do by subversion. We cultivate the same sort of followers that we seek to influence. If we are critical then we will tend to gather critical people around us. If your basic nature is to find fault then you will find an unholy alliance with people who have no idea of loyalty and other such evidences of personal integrity and character.
q We will forever be in a place where we would do things differently than the one who is leading. We are convinced of that because we can learn from the mistakes of others and see them more clearly apart from the pressures of leadership. That vantage point is one that a person forsakes immediately when he/she enters into the fray. (brother Bim and parenting) We do things differently because we are different. Ministry especially is an intense personal expression of who we are.
Mother May I?
A game designed to inhibit the Body. A control issue. “Sit sideways on your load.” Somewhere within the structure of the church there is a balance to be struck which provides the leadership a degree of freedom to lead.
I desire to be an empowering leader. When I encounter people who have a passion for a given ministry or a burden for this or that or a vision for a specific task, I want to make it as easy as possible to activate them in the pursuit of their ministry goals and dreams.
If we make it too difficult for folks to accomplish what “God has put in their heart to do” then we lose as a local body.
Simon Says
This is the way we’ve always done it. If we keep doing things the way that we have done them we will keep getting the results that we have gotten. Somewhere along the line we need to be willing to change. Not compromise on things that are of vital spiritual importance but change our methodologies to meet the changing needs of society and people in general.
I have enjoyed the process of getting to know our beautiful community and the gifts that God has given our local body. They are gifts that are given to build the body – building the body includes bulking up. The body gets bigger.
Charlie Stink was constantly being advised by his friends and co-workers that he should have his name changed. Finally he agreed, and went to court to have the process completed.
The next day back at work, his associates inquired, "What did you have your name changed to?"
"I changed it to George Stink," he answered, "but for the life of me I can't see what difference it's going to make!"
On yonder hill I see a tree
Standing there majestically,
Looking down with great concern
At fellow tree and bush and fern.
Like some great preacher, straight and tall,
Seeking some reaction to the altar call
And wondering if the audience had truly heard
As he had faithfully expounded God's holy word.
And looking out o'er this mottled throng
Some young, some old, some weak, or strong,
Perhaps he wonders if they, like mortals,
Will turn their backs on heaven's portals.
And then with a touch of consternation
He sees them as a human congregation,
Those with blossom's beautiful are the ladies fair,
The wild cherry tree and the sugar pear.
The elegant elm and the stately pine
Are the men of means, with dress so fine,
The spruce and fir with dress quite crass
Are the members of the working class.
The great white oak and the silver white birth
Are the pillars and saints of this glorious church,
The poison ivy bush, in this woodland skit,
Could take the role of the hypocrite.
This thought shatters his reverie and peace of mind,
For there are hypocrites only, among mankind,
So he calls for a song from his forest choir
Of poplars and willows, in their grandest attire.
The music is provided by the birds and the bees
And the singing is the sound of the wind in the trees
Their voices are raised in a song full of praise
To Almighty God and his wonderful ways.
And they also give thanks to a God kind and good
That they're not flesh and blood, but instead made of wood,
Not driven by envy or greed or hate,
Standing together, yet alone, each awaiting his fate.
There's a lesson to be learned from this poem and verse,
Cast your eyes up to heaven ere you blasphemer curse
Ask God to forgive you, be humble, bend your knees
Sing your praises to Him with the wind in the trees.
Set your course ever upward, keep your eye on the trail,
Don't pretend to be something if you cannot prevail,
Let God be your guide, let Him show you the way
And on that Great Judgement Morning He will smile and say;
"WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT"
THE BUILDING
Ten Little Christians, standing in a line,
One disliked the pastor, then there were nine.
Nine little Christians stayed up very late,
One slept too late on Sunday, then there were eight.
Eight little Christians on their way to Heaven,
One took the low road, then there were seven.
Seven little Christians chirping like some chicks,
One disliked the music, then there were six.
Six little Christians seemed very much alive,
but one lost his interest then there were five.
Five little Christians pulling for heaven's shore,
but one stopped to rest, then there were only four.
Four little Christians, each busy as a bee
One got her feelings hurt, then there were three.
Three little Christians knew not what to do,
One joined the sporting crowd, then there were two.
Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done,
differed with each other, then there was one.
One little Christian, can't do much 'tis true;
brought his friend to Bible study -- then there were two.
Two earnest Christians, each won one more,
that doubled the number, then there were four.
Four sincere Christians worked early and worked late,
Each won another, then there were eight.
Eight splendid Christians, if they doubled as before,
In just a few short weeks, we'd have 1,024
In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,
You either belong to The Building,
Or to the wrecking crew!
Submitted by passinthru@earthlink.net