Quote from Forum Archives on July 14, 2000, 12:35 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

This week, since I've been away on vacation, I will send you this
week's edition of Sowing Seeds of Faith, as well as last week's
edition (sent yesterday).

In the attached message, I think that Larry has told
the story about his son and his car before. But many of you may
be new to the story, and it is a relevant message to read, so I
will send it to you, so you may enjoy it, as I have.

By the way, in addition to being a pastor and an interesting guy,
Larry Davies has his own Web site and he likes to write. You can
check out his work at www.SowingSeedsofFaith.com

Brother Brian

--- Sowing Seeds Ministry <sowseeds@nesbeonline.com> wrote:
From: "Sowing Seeds Ministry" <sowseeds@nesbeonline.com>
To: <sowseeds@nesbeonline.com>
Subject: "Sometimes You're the Windshield... Sometimes You're the Bug!"
Sowing Seeds Weekly Column 7/13/2000
Date: Thu, 13 Jul 2000 04:12:37 -0700

I'm excited to anounce the winners of our 2000 Annual Sowing
Seeds Writing Contest. They will be published on my web site
next thursday. The devotion will be next week's email offering
from Sowing Seeds.

The entries came from all over the country and from all ages.
One of the poems receiving honorable mention was written by a
high school student.

$100 First Prize - Sermon - Kriss Erickson "The Four-Letter Word
that Saves"

Honorable Mention - Tom Spence - "Command & Commission: A
Marine's Perspective on the Great Commission"

$100 First Prize - Poetry - Jeannie M. Ferrara - "Elijah's Story"

Honorable Mention - Cynthia Rolling - "What Is Love?"
Honorable Mention - Gloria Aiken - "Seeds of Kindness"
Honorable Mention - Virginia Tyler - "Adjust and Obey"
Honorable Metnion - Tom Spence - "4th and 1"

$100 First Prize - Devotion - Tom R. Spence - "The Crane"

Our congratulations and prayers to everyone who faithfully
submitted their work.

'Sometimes You're the Windshield' Sometimes You're the Bug!'
by Larry Davies

I was feeling on top of the world. There were no calls of
distress and the pile of paperwork was finally beginning to
shrink. Then came the shrill ring of the phone.

'Mr. Davies, this is the high school. Your son is not in school
today.'

'You must be mistaken,' I said, trying to sound calm. 'He left
the house on time. Are you sure, he's not there'?

'Yes sir. We have a new policy of notifying parents when
students are absent or tardy. Our records show your son as
absent,' replied the calm professional voice.

'Thank you for letting me know.'

Like any reasonable parent with a sixteen-year-old son, I
responded immediately. I panicked! My little car nearly did a
wheelie as I spun out of the driveway and flew down the highway
toward the high school. (Of course my speedometer never went
past 55!)

'Has he been in an accident on the way to school'? I thought.
'Oh God, please protect my son.'

'Maybe he's skipping school with friends.' I wondered. 'Oh God,
I'm gonna kill him! I'll take his car keys away and he'll ride
the bus! He'll be grounded for a month! A year! For Life!'

While spinning into the parking lot, tire's a-smokin', I noticed
the familiar brown car that could only be my child's. After
running into the office and checking with the secretary, I was
assured that it was only an administrative error and my son was
safely inside the classroom.

'Whew! I can breathe again!'

Have you heard the country song: 'Sometimes you're the
windshield. Sometimes you're the bug'? I'm beginning to
understand what that statement means. In the few short seconds
of one phone call, the peace and tranquility of my 'windshield'
morning was shattered. Instead of being in control, I was a
helpless 'bug' hurtling down the highway with no way of knowing
what tragedy would occur next.

This time, I was fortunate because nothing happened but what
about next time' I may not be so fortunate. 'What about you'?
It's true, you know. As much as you may try to remain a
'windshield,' (pay close attention to these next words) you will
occasionally be the 'bug.' You may get squashed!

This is why you and I need God! Jesus told a story about two
builders. The foolish one built a house on a foundation of sand.
The winds and the storms came and the house collapsed. The wise
builder used a foundation of rock. (Pay close attention again)
'The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and
beat against the house; yet it did not fall.' (Mat. 7:25) Both
builders faced the same storms, but only one house survived. God
is our foundation.

God never promised a storm-free, bug-free life. God provides a
solid survival plan.

Are you feeling like a 'windshield' or a 'bug'? (You can trust
me here.) Occasionally, there will be both experiences. Your
continued struggle to follow God in the midst of either
experience will become the solid foundation of rock against the
inevitable storms.

May God give you humility and love when you feel like a
'windshield.' May God give you a solid foundation of peace and
strength when you feel like a 'bug.'

Larry E. Davies
www.SowingSeedsofFaith.com

A Christian Devotional website with ATTITUDE, humor, great stories and a
down-to-earth Bible study.

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/
The Rules Have Changed...Get Paid to Surf the Web!
www.alladvantage.com/home.asp?refid=BKU-690

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail Free email you can access from anywhere!
mail.yahoo.com/