Archive for the ‘Witness’ Category
Andrew Loves Telemarketers
Andrew Loves Telemarketers
Most of us dread it when the calling number is unrecognized by the caller ID. Many have been known to let the call go to voicemail just to see what the caller wanted. Not Andrew!
Andrew is my youngest of five. He responds to the dreaded telemarketers in a manner that makes the rest of his family smile. Even so, it may be a stretch to say he actually loves them. Maybe I could have used a better choice of words.
The Telemarketers have learned to give him a wide berth. Take this last call for instance…
Telemarketer: “Hello Mr. Ballestero, I am Jerry with the Widget Company International. Do you have a few minutes to hear about our awesome products?”
Andrew: “Sure, If you have a few minutes to hear about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!”
Telemarketer: I’m sorry, we are not allowed to discuss the subject of religion.”
The Telemarketer hangs up!
“Get Off The Road You Old Coot!”
“Get Off The Road You Old Coot!”
In the mid sixties, my mild-mannered father, the late Rev. Carl J. Ballestero, was preaching in Fort Worth, Texas for Rev. C.W. Shew, a well-known and colorful pastor.
Brother Shew preferred his guest ministers to chauffeur him, in his own car. His car of choice for many years was a black Chrysler Imperial.
One evening on the way to service, my father was driving on a two-lane country back road behind a slow moving car driven by an older gentleman. The driver’s slowness irritated Brother Shew.
Every mile on the road was marked by an intersection with a traffic light. At one of the stop lights, the lanes changed from two lanes to four.
At the light, they pulled up along side of the slow-moving car. Brother Shew looked at the old man and rolled his window down.
“Get off the road, you old coot!” He hollered, and then rolled his window back up in time for the light to change.
At the next traffic light, the old man again pulled up beside their car. This time, my father rolled Brother Shew’s window down and said to him, “Now, Brother Shew, invite that man to Sunday School!”
All Brother Shew could say was, “Aw, Doc!”
Does Your Conduct Sabotage Your Witness?
Are You Going To Be Hanging Around Here For A While?
Are You Going To Be Hanging Around Here For A While?
The women in town hated her. She was a threat to them all. Not a few men had been smitten by her beauty and surrendered to her charms. She had the undivided attention of more men in her life than good girls would ever dare dream about. They called her bad names and no one defended her. She didn’t even attempt to defend herself. She was what she was.
The fact that just such a notorious woman lived nearby, often gave mothers teaching opportunities to instruct their daughters of the dangers of living ‘that’ woman’s lifestyle.
Wives monitored their husband’s glances when she walked by. Her actions bore watching, because she was good at attracting men.
In her behalf, she didn’t just laze around all day and let others do the work. Not at all! She wasn’t afraid to pull her share of the workload.
She had her chores pretty well-timed. There was only a dirt floor in the house and no electricity. She had to make candles so the house would have light at night.
There also, was no running water, or even a pump. On the outskirts of the small village, there was a well. Every afternoon, she walked there to draw water for drinking and household needs. Without the water, she couldn’t drink, cook, wash dishes or bathe. This was no easy chore. She had to carry the water for several hundred yards.
Today was no different from the thousand other trips she had made, except for one thing. There was some stranger sitting on the rim of the well. He wasn’t good looking, but he wasn’t scary either. She wasn’t afraid of strange men, so she drew closer.
When she got close, he spoke to her, and asked if she would help him get a drink of water, since he had nothing to use to draw water from the well. The absurdity of his request was more than she could handle and still be polite.
“You’re a Jew,” she said. “You want me, a Samaritan, to help you, get a drink?” You’ve got to be kidding me, was her next thought.
“If you’d have known who I was,” He replied, “you would have asked Me to give you a drink. Because, if you drink the Water that I give, you’ll never be thirsty again!
Well now, this caught her by surprise. “Sir, give me some of this water you’re talking about, so that I don’t ever get thirsty again. I am so tired carrying water ever day.”
“Go get your husband, and then come back,” he said.
“But, I don’t have a husband,” was her meek reply.
“You told me the truth. You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now, is not your husband.”
Those words told her life story. How could this man possibly know this about her?
“You must be a prophet!” Were the first words that came out of her mouth. Then she shifted the focus of the conversation.
“Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and you people say we have to go to Jerusalem to worship.”
He said, “Woman, the time is going to come, when men won’t be limited to worshiping in this mountain or in Jerusalem. The hour is coming when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
She said, “I know the Messiah is coming and when He comes, He will tell us everything we need to know.”
He said, “I tell you, that I am He!”
About that time, the Disciple of Jesus came up to them and just looked on unsmilingly and without comment to her. The woman put down her empty water pot and hurried to tell everyone that would listen, just what had happened to her.
She was the least likely in the whole village to inform anyone on spiritual matters, but she just had to tell them all.
Her testimony was short and to the point. “Come see a man who has told me everything I’ve ever done!”
In a short time, the whole village followed her out to the well to see this prophet, this Jesus, the Messiah.
The townspeople heard Him and begged Him to stay several days. Many of them believed.
Some Key Points:
She was a person with a past,
- Yet she was key to a spiritual awakening in the whole town.
- If the Lord could change her life, maybe He could change theirs too.
She didn’t carry her water pot back into town.
- She left it.
- She witnessed without baggage.
- The water pot one of the most import things in her daily life.
- Things that were once important in her life, now took second place to Him.
She wasn’t quiet about her experience.
- She told more people than just her boyfriend.
- She told everyone she saw.
- Her experience was so powerful she just had to tell anyone that would listen.
She influenced a whole town for Jesus.
- Even those that didn’t believe in her before, could tell something had happened to her.
How powerful is your experience with the Lord? Are you still clutching your clay water pots of life?
Imagine what could happen in our churches if we would all put His work first, and leave our water pots behind.
- What excuses are we hanging on to that keeps us from being a witness for Him?
- Could we too bring out whole towns to meet Him?
- We may never know, till we try!
- We may never know, till we put our water pot down!
Excuse Me…
Are You Going To Be Hanging Around Here For A While?
If you are, then would you mind watching my water pot for me?
I’ve got to go see some folks!
Thanks!
Ref: John 4:6-30
What Type Are You?
What Type Are You?
That is the question that greeted me every morning when I walked out of my motel in Pikeville, Kentucky last week. I have come to this area to ride ATV’s with minister friends and our sons for many years.
Even though the Kentucky Blood Center is very upscale and does an amazing job, this was the first time I’d seen one of their vans.
The question on the van is simple. It is also a direct, yet loaded question.
What they are asking is… “What blood type are you?” Blood types vary.
The American Red Cross shows the following graphics:
The American Red Cross is asking… “What Type Are You” They want you to know that you have within you the ability to save a life. No matter what blood type you are.
http://www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-types
That Leads Me To The Next Level Of Questioning.
What type of Personality are you? What type of Temperament are you? What type of Person are you? All types save lives. All types can be soul winners.
| The Following Is Taken From An Article on Wikipedia.com |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_temperaments
The Four Temperaments
Sanguine
The sanguine temperament is fundamentally impulsive and pleasure-seeking; sanguine people are sociable and charismatic. They tend to enjoy social gatherings, making new friends and tend to be boisterous. They are usually quite creative and often daydream. However, some alone time is crucial for those of this temperament. Sanguine can also mean sensitive, compassionate and romantic. Sanguine personalities generally struggle with following tasks all the way through, are chronically late, and tend to be forgetful and sometimes a little sarcastic. Often, when they pursue a new hobby, they lose interest as soon as it ceases to be engaging or fun. They are very much people persons. They are talkative and not shy. Sanguines generally have an almost shameless nature, certain that what they are doing is right. They have no lack of confidence.
Choleric
The choleric temperament is fundamentally ambitious and leader-like. They have a lot of aggression, energy, and/or passion, and try to instill it in others. They can dominate people of other temperaments, especially phlegmatic types. Many great charismatic military and political figures were choleric. They like to be in charge of everything. However, cholerics also tend to be either highly disorganized or highly organized. They do not have in-between setups, only one extreme to another. As well as being leader-like and assertive, cholerics also fall into deep and sudden depression. Essentially, they are very much prone to mood swings.
Melancholic
The melancholic temperament is fundamentally introverted and thoughtful. Melancholic people often were perceived as very (or overly) pondering and considerate, getting rather worried when they could not be on time for events. Melancholics can be highly creative in activities such as poetry and art – and can become preoccupied with the tragedy and cruelty in the world. Often they are perfectionists. They are self-reliant and independent; one negative part of being a melancholic is that they can get so involved in what they are doing they forget to think of others.
Phlegmatic
The phlegmatic temperament is fundamentally relaxed and quiet, ranging from warmly attentive to lazily sluggish. Phlegmatics tend to be content with themselves and are kind. They are accepting and affectionate. They may be receptive and shy and often prefer stability to uncertainty and change. They are consistent, relaxed, calm, rational, curious, and observant, qualities that make them good administrators. They can also be passive-aggressive.
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Actually, it doesn’t matter what “Type” we are. Every one has the ability to be a Soul Winner!
You Might Be:
- A teenager, or a senior,
- A manager or a laborer,
- A poor person or filthy rich,
- A nerd, or a sports jock,
- A hunter, or a fisherman,
- An outdoorsman, or a desk jockey
- A junk food junkie, or a health food nut,
- A tree hugger, or a lumberjack,
- A Democrat, or a Republican,
- An introvert, or an extrovert.
All Types Save Lives!
Just because you are bashful, quiet, introverted, or not even a good mixer, you still can win a soul!
You still can teach a Home Bible Study!
You still can be a witness!
You still can be an influence… Not only for the American Red Cross, but more importantly, for the Cross of Jesus Christ!
What Have You Done To Save A Life?
Some Did, Some Didn’t
Some Did, Some Didn’t
Fall is a beautiful time in Indiana. The farmers have little roadside vegetable stands set up that stay busy with city slicker customers looking for fresh produce.
By this time of year, most crops have already been harvested. Well, except for maybe soybeans, pumpkins and the field corn.
The average crop of field corn is beautiful when it is harvested. Trucks can be seen hauling the yellow corn to the ethanol plants and to the local Co-op.
For the most part, all the ears of corn look very much alike. But what catches the eye, are the ears of corn that don’t look like the others. Some cobs are full with golden kernels; others are not. There are ears of corn of varied lengths and descriptions. In every truck load.
What these ears of field corn have in common, is that:
- They all were planted by the same farmer.
- They all were purchased at the same feed store.
- They all were planted in the same field.
- They all received the same amount of fertilizer.
- They all received the same amount of sunshine.
- They all received the same amount of rain.
- They all received the same amount of wind.
- They all received the same amount of weeding.
- They all received the same amount of irrigation.
- They were all planted the same day.
- They were all harvested the same day.
- They didn’t all turn out the same.
- Why?
Was it difference the farmer’s fault? Was the problem with the seed, or was it the soil? I’ll never know. The harvest shows the disparity of each ear.
There is another harvest that comes to mind. That one is a Harvest of Souls.
Apostolic churches are beautiful in spirit and worship. They are lovely in holiness and truth. Their love and fervor for the name of Jesus is without equal.
Yet, not every church member looks and acts the same. Here and there exceptions are found in every congregation.
- Some don’t pray like the rest.
- Some don’t worship like the rest
- Some don’t pay tithe like the rest.
- Some won’t dress like the rest.
- Some won’t live like the rest.
- Some won’t be faithful like the rest.
- Some won’t witness like the rest.
- Some don’t love holiness like the rest.
- Some won’t obey God’s Word like the rest.
- Why?
What made them different from all the others? How come others connected with God, the church and the pastor and they didn’t? I can’t answer that, and you may not be able to either.
- They all went to the same church.
- They all sang the same songs.
- They all prayed at the same time.
- They all had the same pastor.
- They all heard the same sermon.
- They all received the same encouragement.
- They all received the same correction.
- They all were given the same love.
- They all were given the same hope.
- They all attended the same revivals
- They all came forward to pray at the end of the service.
Yet some got on fire, and others did not. Some submitted to God, and others did not. Some got a good experience of the Holy Ghost, and others… who knows?
Some lived a life of carefulness. Others did not. Some looked godly. Others did not. Some dressed modestly. Others did not. Some knew God. Others… who knows?
Some women had uncut hair. Others did not. Some men were clean-shaven. Others were not. Some always said ‘Amen”. Others did not. Some had a fiery testimony. Others did not.
Some day, some will hear Him say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Others may not.
You Can Die In The Bleachers, Or You Can Die On The Field.
You Can Die In The Bleachers, Or You Can Die On The Field.
The Drudge Report revealed earlier this year that a baseball fan died at a Rangers game. It was an unexpected shock, I’m sure. No one’s death is ever taken lightly, on the field or off. All of us are saddened at the news of one’s death.
The fear of dying is normal. Living with fear is not. There have been some that have died on the field. There have also been some that have died in the bleachers.
In sports, spectators may fill up an arena, but it’s those on the field that hold everyone’s attention.
Professional spectators are very vocal with their opinions and criticisms. They freely spout the names of players and coaches. They can rattle off statistics and scores faster than a ticker tape.
But they are not players. They are not even on the field. Chances are, they’ve never been on the field, nor do the have any plans of being there either. They just like to talk. There are millions of them that sit in the bleachers. Only a few others ever make it onto the field.
In the Gospel Arena, we too have a lot of spectators. The field is where the action is. We need more Holy Ghost filled folks out on the field.
- There are no age requirements.
- There are no height or weight restrictions.
- There are no gender or race limitations.
- There’s not even any IQ test.
- We all qualify to be a witness.
- We all qualify to be a worshipper.
- We all qualify to be the light of the world.
- We all qualify to be the salt of the earth.
- We all quality to labor in the harvest.
Jesus made an appeal to those that have spent their life sitting in the bleachers. It’s harvest time.
Luke 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
How many of us pray this prayer? How often? It’s kind of hard to pray this prayer without doing something about it.
As a teen, I remember revival meetings, youth camps, missionary services that challenged us all to respond to the “call.”
We don’t hear many messages like that anymore challenging us to give our life to His service. I don’t know what happened. I don’t know why they stopped making appeals.
We know that most of us will never be Missionaries in the literal sense. Most all of us will never be Pastors either. But we all can so something for the Kingdom. Don’t be afraid to get involved in winning the lost.
Push your pride aside. Lay your excuses down. Now is the time to win that soul. Now is the time to let your light shine. Now is the time to teach that Home Bible Study. Now is the time to knock on that neighbor’s door.
The fear of dying is normal. Living with fear is not. There have been some that have died on the field. There have also been some that have died in the bleachers.
In the Old Testament, a curse was placed on those that wanted to watch while the others fought. They were too busy or too fearful to get involved. They had an excuse. They were cursed because of that.
Judges 5:23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
They were too busy taking care of their own needs. The things of the Lord came place second to them.
In the same chapter, two tribes of Israel were honored, because they were willing to lay their very lives on the line. God never forgot that.
Judges 5:18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.
The tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali later made up the group of people called the Galileans. No one even has to be a Bible scholar to remember that it was upon the Galileans that the Holy Ghost was first poured out in the book of Acts.
Acts 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
God rewards those that are willing put their life on the line for Him. He rewards them first. The Galileans received the Holy Ghost before anyone else.
Some may wonder why there is not much in the way of blessings in their life. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because they are still sitting in the bleachers.
The fear of dying is normal. Living with fear is not. There have been some that have died on the field. There have also been some that have died in the bleachers.
- Come on now.
- How long have you been sitting in the bleachers?
- Isn’t it time we all got out of the bleachers and got out on the field?
Yes, in due time we all will die. But I would rather die on the field trying to do something for God, than die in the bleachers… watching.
Where Do You Plan To Die?
When The Lady Of The Night Got The Holy Ghost
When The Lady Of The Night Got The Holy Ghost
For many years, I preached annual revivals in a very small West Texas town. The town was so small that after church it was not uncommon for the pastor or saints to drive an hour and a half to Odessa or Midland just to get something to eat.
The pastor was a dear family friend. The church was one that really worshipped and was easy to preach in. They loved the Word and the loved their “Man of God.”
The church had not grown significantly in many years. The little group prayed for revival and worked hard to bring visitors to the revival.
A seventeen-year-old Foster child sought for the Holy Ghost for over an hour every night. He sought fervently and with tears. He had prayed every night of the 4 week Revival.
The last Saturday of the revival, the pastor and I talked about Home Bible Studies. He said, “When I came up in church, we’d never heard of them. I’ve been here for 30 years or so and we’ve never taught any Home Bible Studies. Not only do we not have any material, if we had some, we wouldn’t know how to go about teaching them. Could you teach our people how to teach a Home Bible Study?”
Although I said that I could and would, there wasn’t any material within 100 miles. There also wasn’t any Internet connection to download anything.
I was relieved to find a copy of Bishop Gerald Adam’s ‘Deeper Life’ Home Bible Study in my briefcase. Bro. Adam’s was kind when I called and granted permission for me to make copies of his Bible Study for the occasion.
(The Deeper Life Home Bible Study is now digitized and can be found on the Hopkinsville, KY church website.) http://www.lifetabernaclechurch.org/Life_Tabernacle_Church/Bible_Study.html
I asked the pastor what he thought about me putting a table in front of the pulpit Sunday morning and teaching a Home Bible Study to some one while everyone else watched and followed along with their copy. He agreed and said he would have the table and chairs set up right after the preliminaries.
Standing on the platform Sunday morning I noticed two new visitors. A teenage boy stood on the right side and a 20 something young woman on the left.
For a few minutes after the song service, the church family went around and personally welcomed the visitors and greeted each other.
I noticed the boy seemed very sincere and responsive during the singing, so I went over and welcomed him. The young man smiled warmly when I introduced myself. He told me his name was Billy.
I said, “I’m a visitor here too, Billy. They’ve asked me to teach what they call a ‘Home Bible Study’ this morning. It’s a thing where two people sit at a table and basically just read scriptures from the Bible.
“I really don’t know who to choose to help me out today. But whoever does, doesn’t have to say a word. All they have to do is just act like they are reading the material. Do you think maybe you can help me out today?”
“Sure,” he said.
Later when they introduced me to speak, I explained to the church that I had asked Billy to help me and invited them to make him welcome. They gave him a good round of applause.
Billy and I sat at the small table in front of the pulpit. Each person there was given a copy of the Home Bible Study. I saw the look of sincerity and interest in the young man’s face.
He nodded as I spoke to him. I looked only at him and not at the crowd. We took less than an hour to go through the study.
The organ player began to play softly as we all stood. The table and chairs were removed. I looked to my left where Billy had stood and then I looked down. He was kneeling at the altar. All the others came forward too. Billy received the Holy Ghost in just a few minutes.
I heard shouts go up at the other end of the altar and saw that the young woman was praying and the ladies were rejoicing. She also received the Holy Ghost and excitedly thanked the Lord.
The pastor whispered in my ear, that someone had just told him, this new girl was the town’s hooker. The town’s only hooker. Her name was Sarah.
The saints were ecstatic about what God had done in the service that morning.
Sunday night’s service started. The front doors burst open as the 17-year-old Foster kid entered the church crying and speaking in tongues. He had prayed during the day, and while taking his shower before church had received the Holy Ghost while still in the shower. He was still talking in tongues when he got to church. He couldn’t stop and he was excited. The saints rejoiced. I mean really rejoiced.
Billy and Sarah came back too. The church shouted and ran the aisles. Joy was in the camp.
The front door again opened and an unhappy faced man walked in and sat on the back row. Sarah was too lost in worship to notice that her pimp was there. He watched the worship for a while. Several were uneasy not knowing what would happen.
Testimony service had new life that night. When Sarah got done testifying and thanking the Lord, the guy on the back row got up and walked out shaking his head.
He was officially out of business. Sarah never noticed. She started to dance before the Lord. She had been delivered.
The Working Pastor
The Working Pastor
(The story is true, the names have been changed.)
He hated working an “outside” job but the bills had to be paid. The small congregation’s offerings just didn’t go far enough. Working at a steel mill was not his calling in life. He hated most days there. He was grateful for the wonderful and consistent source of income. There just wasn’t a whole lot of day left over when he got off work. After work there wasn’t much time for church, family or personal life. He had to work to pay the bills. Carrying the financial load of the church, and his own, was not easy.
What bothered him the most was that he wasn’t winning anyone from work to the Lord. In prayer he’d told God that if he had to work and couldn’t teach Bible Studies like he’d like too, then help him to be a witness at work. He had been working there for several years now. Something needed to change. The church was not growing. It was, in fact, quite small. Things were at a stalemate!
Now, every day before work, he would stop by the church and pray. He would pray that God would help him win some of the men from work. When he got off work he again stopped by the church and prayed for a long time about the fact that if he HAD to work, that God would let his job be a place where his light could shine.
He fasted. He would fast for as many days as he could. When his strength ran out he would eat a meal or two and then go back on a fast. He was desperate to see something happen. He did this for almost two months.
At 1am one night the phone rang. “Is this Pastor Don Kelly?” a hesitant voice asked. When he received the affirmative reply he identified himself a fellow employee from work.
“We have an emergency in our family and need some help right now. My married son Roger was shopping at Wal-Mart a few minutes ago. While he was alone in the aisle, he says that he heard a voice as plain as day telling him “You need to get right with God.”
“ He said he look up and down the aisle and didn’t see anyone. He looked around the corners even checked the adjacent aisles but he saw no one. He quickly moved to another part of the store and again heard the same voice telling him he needed to get right with God. My son left his cart and ran out of the store. He called me saying, ‘Dad, I’m hearing voices. I think I am losing my mind.’
“I said son, meet me at the Hospital. They have a great Psych Ward there, and the Doctors can check you out and give you some medication. My son said, ‘Dad, maybe I don’t need medication, maybe I just need a preacher. I don’t even know any preachers. You never took me to church when I was a kid.’ I told him I knew a preacher that worked with me named Don Kelly and that he was a man of God and I would call him right now. Is there anyway you could meet with me and my son, now?”
The pastor looked at the clock, and assured the caller he could. He invited them to meet him at the church as soon as possible. They arrived before 2am. The Father, his son and both of their wives came. Bro. Kelly listened to the son’s story. Tears were in the son’s eyes. When he finished, Bro. Kelly taught them a Home Bible Study. The boy cried all the way though it.
When the Bible Study was finished, they prayed and repented. The son wanted to be baptized. He came up out of the water speaking in tongues. The wife asked to be baptized, as did the mother. The father said, “You’re not getting baptized without baptizing me.”
The next Sunday morning all four sat in service on the 2nd row. The Holy Ghost fell! In 3 weeks there were 18 people from work (counting family members) filled with the Holy Ghost. His life had been more of a witness than he’d ever realized. Revival had come.
REVIVAL COMES WHEREVER IT’S WANTED!
Too Drunk Too Fish
Too Drunk Too Fish
The Weatherman pronounced a beautiful October day. The World Series was underway and the fish were biting according to the Farmers Almanac. Life didn’t get much better than this for Alex.
He parked his old car in front of John’s Bait and Tackle Store. He said ‘Good Morning” to the clerk and looked to see if John had gotten any new crank baits in. Finding nothing new, he sauntered back to the cooler where the Night Crawlers were kept.
He opened the door, selected a carton and then stood there a minute. On the top shelf was beer. Alex grabbed a six-pack, and headed for the counter. He paid for his purchases and for a bag of ice from the machine outside.
Within 30 minutes, Alex had backed his boat down the ramp, parked his car and was happily rowing to his special spot.
He stopped a minute to turn his portable radio on. He didn’t want to miss anything. The World Series was all tied up at 3 games each. Today was the final game.
The water was calm and the color of the water looked right too. He eased into the little cove where he always caught his limit and silently lowered the anchor.
The poles took a minute to get baited up. He made his casts and watched as the red and white bobbers lazily rose and fell with the water’s movement.
The sun felt warm and comfortable. Alex opened the cooler and pulled out a beer. He nursed his drink as he listened to the game. His team was having a good day. But this was only the bottom of the 3st Inning.
An hour later, a bobber announced that another baby fish was trying to steal his bait. No keepers had taken the bait yet.
His daydreaming turned to thoughts of home. He’d had an argument with his wife last night. She was still mad at him. The kids were out of control again. To make matters worse, they were talking at work about downsizing at the plant. Maybe he’d go ahead and drink another beer.
The sports announcer’s voice rose with excitement. Alex hollered out loud as he heard the news of his team scoring a home run. He finished the beer to celebrate.
The bobber finally went under and Alex landed a keeper. He put another worm on his hook and cast back into the same area.
Alex opened another beer and sat there listening. The other team had taken the lead. That made him drink in frustration.
Other fishing boats could be seen around the lake. Voices announced their excitement over each new catch. Alex knew that he needed to catch enough for supper. His one wasn’t enough. He had to catch several more. He reached for another cold one.
The game ended. Alex was so mad and disappointed that he turned the radio off and opened another beer. He began to guzzle it down and then he opened the last one.
The gentle rock of the boat, the warmth of the sun, and the beer all helped relax Alex. His eyes slowly closed and his chin rested on his chest and he went to sleep. The bobber’s submerging was of no concern to him. Alex was too drunk to fish.
The story of Alex is more than just about a man having a bad day. This story is also about those who may never have tasted alcohol, yet are too drunk to fish.
KJV – Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
KJV – Rom. 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
The Message – Luke 21:34-36 But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don’t go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.
The Message – Rom. 13:11-14 But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don’t loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!
Evidently the fear 2,000 years ago was that the saints would become so intoxicated with living and the things of life they wouldn’t do much for God. If there were warnings issued then, there certainly should be even more issued now.
Our job as Holy Ghost filled children of God is not just to enjoy this glorious experience alone. We are to be fishers of men. That’s our calling. Let’s not get sidetracked with life and living.
How are we doing on our witnessing? Are we letting our light shine? Are we catching anything or are we too drunk to fish?
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