As believers, the command of Ephesians 5:15-16 is just as binding upon our modern lives as it was in the non-technological world of the first century. "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." Paul’s exhortation has massive implications for how we interact with social media. One day we will stand before Christ to give an account for how we used His resources (including our time and energy). With that in mind, how much of this life can be justifiably devoted to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the like? Just a few hours each day, over the course of a lifetime, adds up to years of wasted opportunity.
John MacArthur

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The Last Altar Call

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#1 · August 21, 2003, 9:17 am

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

~ + ~ The Last Altar Call ~ + ~
 
The small child listened quietly as the preacher began
to give his last altar call. He watched as no one
moved ... No one seemed to need a prayer at all.  No
one needed forgiveness of their lives of sin.
Everyone seemed pleased with the way their lives had
been.  The child realized that even though he didn't
quite understand, he believed in Jesus, and down the
aisle he ran! He fell to his knees and began to pray.
As the preacher knelt by his side, he heard the small
child say, "Jesus, I know you know who I am, but in
case you've forgotten, my name is Sam. I'm the one who
won't play with my friends, just because their good
toys to me they won't lend. 
I'm the one, Jesus, who always wants their own way,
and I won't even listen to what others have to say.
And I'm the one that never does my part, even when I
know what I'm supposed to do down deep in my heart.
And I guess, Jesus, I'm the one that never does
anything unless it's half-done. And I know you saw
what I did the other day ... I got awful mad and
pushed a little boy out of my way!  But Jesus, I just
want you to know, I'm sorry for all the bad things I
do. And I want to try to do better, so maybe you can
love me and forgive me, too. I want to grow up to be
like these people here today, for they must never do
anything wrong or I guess you'd be hearing them all
say, forgive me too, Jesus, and help me to be more
like you instead of more like me!'"  The preacher
stood up, with tears in his eyes, the congregation too
had begun to cry. For this small humble child had
taught them today, the true meaning of faith and just
how they should pray. They knew in their hearts just
how satisfied they had become, when down the aisle
this small child did run.
 
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
 

~ + ~ Angels In School ~ + ~
 
A pastor read a letter from an elementary school teacher who attends East Hill Church.
The gist of the letter was as follows: Last school year, her classroom was made up of little third graders, every one of which came from either a single parent family, or a dysfunctional family, was undernourished and/or uncared for, lived in an abusive home and was either beaten, bruised, or raped by other family members; one little girl's dad died of aids, and the list goes on.

Her heart bled for these kids.

Before the '99-2000 school year started, she and her husband went to her classroom and prayed over each desk in the room.  They prayed that God would place an angel behind each and every child throughout the coming year  to watch over them and protect them.
A month or so after the year had started, she gave the kids an assignment to write about what they would like to be when they grew up.
Everybody was busy with his or her assignment, when "Andrew" raised his hand.  When she asked him what he needed, he asked how to spell "mighty."
After telling him how to spell mighty, she asked him why he needed to know.  Andrew said it was because when he grew up he wanted to be a "mighty man of  God."
When he said this, little "Mark" sitting next to him asked, "So, what's a mighty man of God?"  The teacher, swallowing back her tears, and knowing she could not say anything in the classroom, told Andrew to go ahead and tell Mark what it was.
So Andrew says, "It's a man who puts on the armor of God and is a soldier for God."
After observing some conversation between Andrew and Mark, the teacher, with  a lump in her throat, started to walk away when Andrew motioned with his little forefinger for her to come closer.  He whispered to her, asking if she believed in angels.  She told him yes, she did. Then he asked her if she thought people could see angels, and she said she thought some people probably could.  Andrew said that he did, and he could see an angel standing behind each kid in the room ...
I don't think there was a dry eye in the church that night!  We need to remember to pray for all of the teachers, that although there is no prayer in school, that they are dedicated enough to pray for the protection of God's angels over the lives of their students.  Maybe it wouldn't hurt, even at work.
 
 ^^^~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~^^^
Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara
 
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