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Mules, Grudges, and Bitterness Glen Young A farmer leaned on the fence, which separated his farm from his neighbor’s adjoining field. He watched while his neighbor plowed his old mule with sullen difficulty. The farmer stood there watching his neighbor’s misery until he could take it no longer. “I don’t like to tell a fella […]
The Butterfly One day a small opening appeared on a cocoon. A man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and could […]
It Is Hard to Start Back Dennis Tucker For three years I was a member of the Kiwanis Club. It is a good organization devoted to community projects. Once a week, we would meet and have lunch. At this time, a guest would speak to us on a particular topic. We had policemen come and […]
DON’T BE LIKE THE FLEA ‘Tis said that a flea rode across a bridge one day in the ear of an elephant. After they were on the other side, the flea said to the elephant, “Boy, we sure shook that bridge.” Too many church members ride on the efforts of others but are ready to […]
You Can’t Please Everybody I am reminded of an old Spanish parable about a man, a boy, and a donkey. They were all three walking down a dusty road on a hot summer day. Someone passed, and they overheard him say, “Look at those foolish people walking when they could be riding the donkey.” Not […]
The Drive Through Sheldon Smith This morning on the way to work, I decided to stop by McDonald’s. It was one of those newly designed restaurants with the double drive-through. There were several cars in each line. The normal process is for cars to form a single line after putting in their order. It’s kind […]
Jumping to Conclusions Guthrie Dean An elderly lady, the self-appointed supervisor of a little rural village’s morals, accused a workman of having turned to drink because “with her own eyes” she had seen his wheelbarrow standing outside a tavern. The accused made no defense, but that evening he parked his wheelbarrow outside her house and […]
Where Are Your Priorities Jim Mickells It was a 99° September day in San Antonio, when a 10-month-old baby girl was accidentally locked inside a parked car by her aunt. Frantically, the mother and the aunt ran around the auto in near hysteria, while a neighbor attempted to unlock the car with a clothes hanger. […]
What’s in Your Bucket? Author Unknown If you were walking from the well carrying a bucket of water and someone jostled you, there could be spilled from the bucket only what it contained. As you walk along the way of life people are constantly bumping into you. If your life is full of ill […]
ASSUMPTIONS A traveler, between flights at an airport, went to a lounge and bought a small package of cookies. Then she sat down and began reading a newspaper. Gradually, she became aware of a rustling noise. From behind her paper, she was flabbergasted to see a neatly dressed man helping himself to her cookies. […]
THE BURNING HUT The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements […]
DROP A PEBBLE IN THE WATER James W. Foley Drop a pebble in the water; just a splash, and it is gone But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea And there is no way of telling where the end is going […]
IT’S A TRUTH If students went to school like some people go to church (when they feel like it), they would fail. If an employee went to work like some people go about teaching others (indifferently), they would be fired. If a person ate meals like some partake of the Lord’s Supper (irregularly), they would […]
GIVING OF PRECIOUS GIFTS Author Unknown We need to remind ourselves of gifts that can be given or exchanged throughout the year that will always he appreciated. Consider: THE GIFT OF PRAISE: Appropriate mention, right in front of the other person, of appreciation for a job or of deeds well done. THE GIFT OF CONSIDERATION: […]
DON’T PUNCH THE PARROT! Joe R. Price Charlie was a good friend, but the man just couldn’t take it any more. Charlie’s unending shrieking and constant screeching were driving him crazy. The man, frustrated that his girlfriend had left him, now took matters into his own hands. He punched Charlie. But the problem was not […]
BUILD WISELY An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his […]
DAILY SURVIVAL KIT Items Needed: 1. Toothpick 2. Rubber Band 3. Band Aid 4. Pencil 5. Eraser 6. Chewing Gum 7. Mint 8. Candy Kiss 9. Tea Bag Why??? 1) TOOTHPICK – to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others. (Matt. 7:1-2) 2) RUBBER BAND – to remind you […]
Tombstones Delton Porter Perhaps you have heard of Dooley the Moonshiner about whom a song has been written. According to the song, when Dooley died “they laid a jug beside him and a barrel for a stone.” It seems they put with his body what was associated with him in life, to show how he […]
Things to Keep in Mind The value of a clock is its reputation for accuracy. The value of a wrench is its ability to adjust a problem. The value of a car is its ability to perform well upgrade. The value of a stamp is its ability to stick to the end. The value […]
Could It Be True? We heard of a man in Texas who would not consent to having his name placed before the congregation to serve as an elder. This was his reason. “I drink quite a bit and love to dance. I am also inclined to gamble, and my attendance is not what it should […]
JUST PUSH! A man was sleeping. and he dreamed…Suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his […]
Don’t Wait For The Parrot To Die! By Glen Young The pet store owner convinced the old woman that a parrot would keep her company because it would talk to her. When she returned it the next day, she told the owner, “This bird doesn’t talk.” “Does he have a mirror in his cage?” […]
Actions Generate Reactions By Glen Young I heard a story recently about a student named Donald MacDonald from the Isle of Skye (in Scotland). He was admitted into the prestigious Oxford University and given living accommodations in the hall of residence for his first year. His clan was very excited that one of their own […]
Kill the Spider One of the deacons was frequently called upon to pray at the mid-week service, and he always concluded his prayer the same way: “….and now Lord, clean out all the cobwebs in our lives.” I think you know what he was talking about – those little unsightly words, deeds and thoughts that […]
WHAT ARE YOU GIVING? Jesus gave His head for a crown of thorns. He gave His back to the cruel lash. He gave Hid face to rude human spittle. He gave His shoulders to carry the cross. He gave His hands for you and me. He gave His blood for the remission of sins. His […]
THE GARDEN OF LIFE: Plant three rows of peas: Peace of mind Peace of heart Peace of soul. Plant four rows of squash: Squash gossip Squash indifference Squash grumbling Squash selfishness. Plant four rows of lettuce: Lettuce be faithful Lettuce be kind Lettuce be obedient […]
THE CARPENTER! Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch. Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew […]
Flying Off the Handle “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Prov. 16:32) The expression, “Fly off the handle,” is used when one quickly loses his temper. The original expression comes to us from the use of tools. After tools […]
THE INTOXICATED CAT John Clark A letter in the newspaper was written by an unhappy woman who complained that her husband thought it funny to make her pet cat drunk by pouring gin in its milk. The distressed woman complained that the cat would dance like mad, stagger around in circles, and finally fall in […]
“Christian Football” Quarterback Sneak – Church members quietly leaving during the invitation. Draw Play – What many children do with the bulletin during worship. Halftime – The period between Sunday School and worship when many choose to leave. Bench-warmer – Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit. Backfield-in-Motion – […]
YOU CAN’T PLEASE EVERYBODY Jimmy Tuten I am reminded of an old Spanish parable about a man, a boy, and a donkey. They were all three walking down a dusty road on a hot summer day. Someone passed and they overheard him say, “Look at those foolish people walking when they could be riding the […]
A Tree or a Post Frank Jamerson “A tree and a post stood side by side. At first, the tree was small and slender, and could have been easily broken off. The post was large and solid and supported a fence. The forces of nature began their work and the post rotted and fell to the […]
True Riches author unknown One day a father and his rich family took his son to a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip […]
“Death Notice” Bill Crews I can’t died last week. He had long been a member of the church, but was never faithful. Brother Compromise was the only one available to direct the service. Services were held in the parlor of Maybe Tomorrow Funeral Home. Attending as pallbearers were Neglect, Indifference, Never Try, and Get Somebody Else, all close relatives of the deceased. The body was buried in […]
“Get the Man Together For A Better World” Clarence DeLoach A small boy anxiously waited all day for his dad to get home. Finally his father arrived dragging his body into the house from an especially hard day’s work. The little boy had all kinds of playful ideas he wanted to share with his father. Over […]
Today… I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have. Today I can complain because the weather is rainy, or I can be thankful […]
HYMNS — THE WAY WE’D SING THEM IF WE WERE HONEST I Surrender, Some There Shall Be Sprinkles of Blessings Fill My Spoon, Lord Oh, How I Like Jesus He’s Quite a Bit to Me I Love to Talk About Telling the Story Take My Life and Let Me Be It Is My Secret What […]
Just For You Author Unknown A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten […]
Two Frogs Two frogs were playing on the rafters of a dairy barn one night and fell into adjoining pails of cream. Both frogs scrambled for survival, but one fought longer and harder, and stayed the course. When the farmer came in the next morning, he found one frog floating on the top of the cream, dead; and the […]
WORMS FOR SALE It is an old story, but is still worth telling. A lark, singing in the high branches of a tree, saw a traveler walking through the forest carrying a mysterious little black box. The lark flew down and perched on the traveler’s shoulder. “What do you have in the little black box?’ […]
When The Wind Blows Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the […]
Cheetahs and Christians Mike Johnson The fastest land animal is a large cat called a cheetah. It can run like a car driving down the interstate—almost 70 miles per hour. The cheetah is built for running. It has long legs, a strong, flexible spine that works as a spring, bending up and down, allowing it […]