Stealing what?

Hey all,

Check out this story I heard recently.  It is reportedly true.

Back in 1900's, the industrial revolution was in full swing and the factories were experiencing major growth.  One of the by products of the growth, however, was the occurrences of theft.  Surprisingly, the majority of the theft was actually being done by the workers.  In an attempt to curb the theft, most factories hired guards to place at the exits to check the workers when they left each day. 

At one particular furniture factory, a worker was leaving for the day.  He was pushing a wheelbarrow full of sawdust and wood chips.  As he approached the exit, he was stopped by the guard. 

"What do you have here?" the guard asked. 

"It is just sawdust and wood chips" said the worker. 

The guard poked around in it.  "I don't believe you. You must dump it out so I can see what is in it." said the guard.

So the worker dumped it out.  As the worker said, it was nothing but sawdust and wood chips.  So the guard let the worker leave. 

The next day, the worker came again with more sawdust and wood chips.  Again, the guard had him pour it out.  And again, he found nothing.  This went on for nearly two weeks until the guard could no longer take it.  He was convinced that the worker was stealing.  It was driving the guard crazy.  He thought about it constantly.  He finally became so aggravated that he had not been able to catch him, he decided he would approach the worker with a deal.  The guard told the worker that he was convinced that he was stealing from the factory, but since he could not catch him, he would agree not to turn him in if the worker would agree to come clean.

"I will let you go, but you have to tell me what you are stealing." said the guard.

After considering it, and realizing that the guard was sincere, the worker agreed to tell him.

"I am stealing wheelbarrows." said the worker.

S&H,

-S

 

  

Explore

Hey all,

Wouldn't it be cool to be an Explorer?  To go out and explore the unknown.  To blaze a trail for others to follow.  To go where no man has gone before.  The images of Columbus and Lewis and Clark bring us visions of adventure and risk.  We are drawn to it and it captures our heart.

I think deep down we are all born with a desire to explore. It is in our DNA to seek new places, new things, and new adventures.  God designed us for adventure and to explore.  He wants us to experience new and different things.  He created us to conquer the unknown. 

But sometimes in life, I don't feel much like an explorer or a pioneer.  I often feel more like a settler than a pioneer.  I feel like I am "settling" in to what others have long ago discovered.  It's the routine and same ole, same ole.  Sound familiar?

But it shouldn't be that way.   

I believe life is meant to be explored.  I believe that life gives us the opportunity to experience new places, new things, and new adventures every day.  It is right there for the taking and we are designed to go for it.  Our life can be as new, exciting, and adventurous as we want. 

But we have to choose it.  Adventure and new experiences don't "find" us............we have to find "them". 

The question is.........are we willing to look for it.  Are we willing to explore?  Are we willing to get out of our comfort zone and go to new places?  To do new things? To go on an adventure?  For most...the answer is no.  Our duties and responsibilities seem to get in the way.  We don't have time to seek new things.  We don't have time to explore.  We don't have time to be adventurous. 

I don't know about you.......but I don't want to live that way.  I want adventure.  I love new things.  I want new experiences.  I don't want to be comfortable all the time.

So why don't we do it then? Why don't we act on our pioneer spirit?  I believe it is because we often make it too big.  We think that to live the adventures of life,  we have to do something grand.  We have to climb a mountain or go on a mission trip.  We have to do something "significant".  While those things are certainly adventurous.......I believe most of us can start "smaller" and still get a wonderful taste of the adventurous life that is right in front of us to explore.  And once we taste it.....we want to explore it more and more.

It really doesn't have to be complicated.  And exploring life isn't just places either.  Check this out. Exploring is;

- Be a mentor.
- Talk to a stranger. 
- Take a long drive and get lost.
- Sing out loud. 
- Sleep under the stars. 
- Take a walk in the rain.
- Volunteer (outside your comfort zone).
- Take a hike.
- Take off with no plans or destination. 

You get the idea.  It's up to you.  You get a choice.  Everyday.  Start small.  Get a taste.

And start exploring life.

S&H,

-S

  

Just a Little Sin

 

Hey all,

I ran across this tonight in an old email I received a long time ago.  I don't know who wrote it or when, but it's really good stuff for us to remember as parents and mentors.  Here you go.

  

    Some years ago, I walked into my office after a Sunday morning service to find a sandwich bag on my desk containing three chocolate brownies.  Some thoughtful and anonymous person who knew my love for chocolate had placed them there, along with a piece of paper that had a short story written on it.  I immediately sat down and began eating the first brownie as I read the following story:

    Two teenagers asked their father if they could go to the theater to watch a movie that all their friends had seen.  After reading some reviews about the movie on the Internet, he denied their request.

    "Aw dad, why not?" they complained.   "It's rated PG-13, and we're both older than thirteen!"

    Dad replied, "Because that movie contains nudity and portrays immorality as being normal and acceptable behavior."

    "But dad, those are just very small parts of the movie!  That's what our friends who've seen it have told us.  The movie is two hours long and those scenes are just a few minutes of the total film!  It's based on a true story and good triumphs over evil, and there are other redeeming themes like courage and self-sacrifice.  Even the movie review websites say that!"

    "My answer is 'no,' and that is my final answer.  You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of  your friends over, and watch one of the good videos w e have in our home collection.  But you will not go and watch that film.  End of discussion."

    The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch.   As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of their father preparing something in the kitchen.  They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, "Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he's going to try to make it up to us with some fresh brownies.  Maybe we can soften him with lots of praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go to that movie after all."

    About that time I began eating the second brownie from the sandwich bag and wondered if there was some connection t o the brownies I was eating and the brownies in the story.  I kept reading...

    The teens were not disappointed.  Soon their father appeared with a plate of warm brownies which he offered to his kids.  They each took one.  Then, their father said, "Before you eat, I want to tell you something: I love you both so much."

    The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances.  Dad was softening.

    "That is why I've made these brownies with the very best ingredients.  I've made them from scratch.  Most of the ingredients are even organic.  The best organic flour.  The best free-range eggs.  The best organic sugar.  Premium vanilla and chocolate."  The brownies looked mouth watering, and the teens began to become a little impatient with their dad's long speech.  "But I want to be perfectly honest with you.  There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies.  I got that ingredient from our own back yard.  But you needn't worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your brownies.  The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think."

    "Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is before we eat?"

    "Why?  The portion I added was so small.  Just a teaspoonful.  You won't even taste it."

    "Come on, Dad!  Just tell us what that ingredient is."

    "Don't worry!  It is organic, just like the other ingredients."

    "Dad!"

    "Well, OK, if you insist.  That secret ingredient is organic...dog poop."

    I immediately stopped chewing that second brownie and I spit it out into the waste basket by my desk.  I continued reading, now fearful of the paragraphs that still remained.

    Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began inspecting their fingers with horror.

    "DAD!  Why did you do that?  You've tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop!  We can't eat these brownies!"

    "Why not?  The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients.  It won't hurt you.  It's been cooked right along with the other ingredients.  You won't even taste it.  It has the same consistency as the brownies.  Go ahead and eat!"

    "No, Dad.  NEVER!"

    "And that is the same reason I won't allow you to go watch that movie.  You won't tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little immorality in your movies?  We pray that God will not lead us unto temptation, so how can we in good conscience entertain ourselves with something that will imprint a sinful image in our minds that will lead us into temptation long after we first see it?"

    I discarded what remained of the second brownie as well as the entire untouched third brownie.   What had been irresistible a minute ago had become detestable.  And only because of the very slim chance that what I was eating was slightly polluted.  (Surely it wasn't...but I couldn't convince myself)  

    What a good lesson about purity!  

    Why do we tolerate any sin?  

    On the day of the Passover, the Israelites were commanded to remove every bit of leaven from their homes.  Sin is like leaven - a little bit leavens the whole lump. (1 Corinthians 5:6-7)

A Christian Patriot

Hosea 4:6

 

 

Dead on isn't it?

 

Strength and Honor,

 

-S