Work

 

As far back as I can remember I’ve been a worker.  When I was in the 3rd grade I went around collection bottles for there redeeming value.  In the 4th grade I ordered flower seed and sold them for a measly pence and bought something from the catalog in the ‘Boys Life’ magazine.  Once while in High School, a circus came to town and placed an ad in the local paper.  ” Come earn good money for putting up tents”,  was that a joke, I think I got $6.00 for an all days work, to construct a ‘peep show’ tent.  They also offered free admission, if I came back later.  I was to young at the time.  At 19 my dad told me if I wanted to drive something other than the family car, I had to pay for one, with my own money.  I bought a 1968 Cougar.  What, you didn’t expect me to buy a VW did you?  The Cougar cost $1700 and I paid for every penny of it.

Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.  To me that means that there isn’t anything I can do to earn my salvation!  It’s a gift, but that doesn’t mean I should stop working.  In order to carry on this gospel message some work is going to have to be done.  I have to go and tell someone for it to be heard.  Money has to be earned to buy bibles, doors have to be knocked on to tell the message.  I wasn’t saved to set on my butt while the pastor does all the work in the pulpit. Posted by Steve Waltrip

What is a Man?

 

What is your definition of a man?  Did you know that most people don’t even have a clue what a real man is?  Ask a man sometime to give you a definition of manhood, and see what he says.  I assure you it is not what Hollywood says it is.  If you look to Hollywood you’ll see a cluts.  While John Wayne had his share of personnel problems, I think of him as the last true man of Hollywood.  He professed God, but I don’t know if he had a personnel relationship with Christ. 

In today’s society of single parent households, most boys grow up not having an example of what it is to be a man.  All they have is something they may see on TV.  It’s up to us, men of the church to provide an example.  If we don’t, were going to have a generation that is going to fail in Government, at home, in the church, and in society in general.

I am fortunate to belong to a church with many men, true men.  I surround myself with them daily.  I rub elbows with them in ministry.  I learn from them in Bible studies.  I dissect their ideas keeping some and turn loose of others.

You might be saying, what is my definition of a man?  Well here it is:  Man, noun, a male, homosapien, one having integrity, forsakes all others for Christ.  Is gentle in nature but firm in deed.  He stands by his word.  Defends those he loves and protects the innocent.  He will not back down when he’s right and seeks forgiveness when he’s wrong. Posted by Steve Waltrip

Two Trees

If I could give this Blog a different name I would call it choices.  In the second chapter of Genesis, verse 9 talks about all the different kinds of trees in the garden.  Then it says,’ the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’  I got to thinking, out of all the choices in the garden why did Adam and Eve make the wrong choice?  Verse 9 also said, the all of the trees were pleasing to the sight and good for food.  So why did they make the wrong choise.

Some mistakes or bad choices are made without knowing the right coarse.  But most bad choices are made  knowing full well the difference between right and wrong.  I must admit that I have made a few of these bad choices in my life time.  And there is always a result from this wrong choice.  So, if I know there is an undesirable result, why do I make these bad choices?  That is called free will.  In my short sightedness I don’t care what the end result was. 

I am learning to make the right choices, frankly I’m tired of the end result.  Plus there is a sense of accomplishment from “doing the right thing”.  My ultimate goal is to please my Lord.  To have the freedom to choice and to overcome is empowering.  Posted by Steve Waltrip