Sunday, January 30, 2005

DID YOU KNOW...

Unemployed German women are now required to work as prostitutes, or lose benefits? (No kidding.)

Or when Iraqi elections are bad news?

Check stories at www.highwindow.blogspot.com.

BY THE WAY - WHEN PREACHERS DO USE "MADE UP" STORIES...

...They have a very good precedent! Jesus did that a lot. His parables were openly made-up stories, to make his point in the most unforgettable way.

In the post below, "Who's Your Daddy," I had wondered whether that great story was a preacher's "made-up" story. Well, that was just the reflex of old economist, cropping up where it did not belong. It was not meant in any way to suggest that such stories were bad. Many preachers find them extremely helpful.

That's not all: preachers should always be allowed to use, not only made-up stories, but - even plagarism!

Sure, ideally it is best to give credit for whatever use is made of another's material or ideas. But the task of a preacher is different from that of a journalist or scholar. In a message that is spoken, not written, footnote-kinds of attribution or documentation are a distraction. They can dilute an otherwise excellent sermon or make it too long.

Sermons try to bring what the preacher fervently prays and hopes is the word of God for a particular group on that particular day. It will also be a congregation fighting sleepiness and distraction while hoping for a helpful word.

Give preachers a break! Often it is well-chosen plagerism or made-up stories that help us best remember just exactly those things we needed most to hear.

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

WHO'S YOUR DADDY?

A friend emailed me this story from an unknown writer:

"A number of years ago a seminary professor was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, Tennessee where they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant, hoping to enjoy a quiet family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from table to table visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife: "I hope he doesn't come over here." But sure enough, the man did come over to their table.

"Where are you folks from?" he asked in a friendly voice. "Oklahoma," they answered. "Great to have you here in Tennessee," the stranger said."What do you do for a living?" "I teach at a seminary," he replied. "Oh, you teach preachers how to preach? Well, I've got a really great story for you." And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.

"See that mountain over there?" (pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question: 'Hey boy, Who's your daddy?' Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, "Who's your daddy?" He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so bad.

"When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always go in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, "Who's your daddy?" But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, "Son, who's your daddy?" The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. By now, everyone knew the answer to the question, 'Who's your daddy?'

"This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy... 'Wait a minute!' he said, 'I know who you are. I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God.' With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said: 'Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.'

"With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again. Whenever anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just tell them, 'I'm a Child of God.'

"The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, "Isn't that a great story?" The professor responded that it really was a great story! As the man turned to leave, he said, "You know, if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one of God's children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!" And he walked away.

"The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her, "Do you know who that man was who just left who was sitting at our table?" The waitress grinned and said, "Of course. Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's the former governor of Tennessee!"

While I loved this story, I wondered if it was a made-up "preacher's story," invented to illustrate a point in a sermon. So I Googled "Ben Hooper, Tennessee Governor." It turns out that Ben Hooper, 1870-1957, was twice elected Governor of Tennessee, 1911-1915, according to Wikipedia Encyclopedia.

Of illegitimate birth, he spent part of his childhood in an orphanage and was unofficially 'adopted' by members of a rural church. Admitted to the bar in 1894, he was elected to the state legislature, and fought as a captain in the Spanish-American War of 1898. After serving as Governor, he returned to law practice and was actively involved in public affairs until near his death in 1957. He was "widely regarded as an inspirational figure in East Tennessee."

Not only "What a story!" but "What a life!" And what about what that great church and pastor did, never dreaming it was a future governor they were nurturing? It's something to remember the next time we see someone like that young boy.

Thursday, January 20, 2005

PRAY FOR TROOPS DELIVERING VOTING MACHINES IN IRAQ

Chaplain Lyle Shackleford asks for prayers for his troops below:

Subject: Prayer Request From CH (CPT) Lyle Shackleford:

As a transportation battalion, my unit will be delivering the voting machines and the ballots to villages and cities throughout Iraq during the upcoming elections. (January 30/31) Our convoys are prime targets for the insurgents because they do not want the equipment to arrive at the polling stations nor do they want the local Iraqi citizens to have the chance to vote; timely delivery must occur so that the elections occur.

Encourage your friends and family members and those within our churches to pray specifically for the electoral process. Historically, the previous totalitarian regime would not allow individual citizens to vote. Democracy will not be realized in Iraq if intelligent and competent officials are not elected to those strategic leadership positions within the emerging government; freedom will not have an opportunity to ring throughout this country if the voting fails.

I will pray with my soldiers before they leave on their convoys and move outside our installation gates here at Tallil. My soldiers are at the nerve center of the logistic operation to deliver the voting machines and election ballots. They will be driving to and entering the arena of the enemy. This is not a game for them; it is an historical mission that is extremely dangerous. No voting machines or ballots. No elections. Your prayer support and God's intervention are needed to give democracy a chance in this war torn country.

Thank you for reading this e-mail. Please give this e-mail a wide dissemination. Thank you for your prayer support for me and my family. Stand firm in your battles.

Blessings, v/r Lyle CH (CPT) Lyle Shackelford Battalion Chaplain HHD, 57th Transportation Battalion Providing With Mobility "Keep Em Moving"

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

DISTORTED MEDIA COVERAGE OF IRAQ NEEDS TO BE STOPPED

See www.highwindow.blogspot.com for this article. LTC Tim Ryan in Iraq has the most thorough dissection of the incredibly negative bias of the MSM (Main Stream Media) in its reporting on Iraq that has come out yet.

His report is not to be missed.

Tuesday, January 04, 2005

I APOLOGIZE TO ADOPTION AGENCY AND SPOKESMAN

They may have been trying to protect the tsunami orphans from slavery. See rest at www.highwindow.blogspot.com.

Monday, January 03, 2005

TSUNAMI HERO - 17 YEAR OLD GIVES LIFE FOR OTHERS

A boy nicknamed "Golf" - just 17 - saved two others, high up on a flagpole surrounded by waves, though it cost him his own life. One of the girls he saved tells the story in the Telegraph. Exerpted below:

"I have cried for so many days," said Bua. "I want to cry now, but I have no more tears."
She was on the beach front playground at Kalim school, just north of Patong, whenthe tsunami approached. Two of the group ran into a school building for shelter, while the other six grabbed on to flagpole, climbing it as the water rose.
The first wave swept away two of them and collapsed the building. The next one dragged one more girl away from the flagpole, and Bua was about to lose hold herself when a 17-year-old boy, nicknamed Golf, seized hold of her and saved her life.
Golf tied the three of them to the flagpole using its cord, positioning his body to protect the two remaining girls from the debris being tossed around by the sea, keeping hold even as the rope nearly amputated his hand.
When the water receded Bua was unhurt and the other girl, who has gone home to her family hundreds of miles away, had only a broken arm. Golf, though, had been battered to death

(For ways to give, see "Some Christian Charities for Tsunami Donations" below.)



TSUNAMI ORPHANS SAVED BY COMMON SENSE - AND LOVE

For story, click on www.highwindow.blogspot.com.