Set Yourself Down For A While
By Bill Denton
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4, NASB95)
A pastor was counseling a woman on the verge of nervous breakdown. She was powerless against the multitude of problems she faced, and she asked her pastor, "What can I do? What can I do?" He asked, "If I tell you what to do, will you do it?" She said, "Yes." Knowing that her schedule included free time during the week, and that she loved to cook, he said, "On Monday, I want you to bake some bread. On Tuesday afternoon, take it to the nursing home. Go into the common area where everyone watches TV and plays checkers, pass out the bread and talk to people. Stay for at least an hour. Don't worry about not knowing anyone; you'll know them all before you leave. On Wednesday, bake cookies. On Thursday afternoon, take them to the children's hospital and find a worker to help you pass them out to the kids who most need a visitor. Talk to as many of them as you can. Stay for at least an hour. On Friday, come back and see me." It was obvious, as she left his office that day that she didn't think much of his plan. The following Friday, he was disappointed that she didn't keep her appointment. About three weeks later she came to see him again. "Sorry I haven't been back sooner," she said, "I'm working at the cancer center everyday, and I've been so busy. Our Sunday School class is taking on this project together." He said, "But how about you? How are you coping?" "Coping with what?" she asked. "Everything's fine. All those things I was worried about before, I've forgotten them."
-- Steve May, “The Heart of a Servant,” www.preachingtoday.com
What a wonderful story, but not really surprising. One of the most effective ways of coping with the stresses and worries we face daily is to just turn them upside down. What I mean is that we need to do what the lady in the account above did. She got busy with others instead of stewing in her selfish, empty conceit. She learned what it meant to be humble instead of continuing to focus only on herself. Rather than camp out on her own personal interests, she began showing sincere interest in other people, and when she did that she suddenly discovered that not only were her problems not so bad, but that life took on a zest and purpose she had missed before.
The best medicine for a lot of people is stop dwelling in the tiny little world that is them. They should get out and do something helpful and productive for others. There is nothing like setting aside all the demands we make for ourselves and to start blessing others with our efforts.
If depression or anxiety is causing a problem, or if you seem overwhelmed with worries about one thing or another, take the advice above to heart. Find your own version of the nursing home or children’s hospital. It may not be the same where you live, but there are any number of similar opportunities to help people. Invest yourself by putting a bit of yourself into the lives of people who truly can’t do for themselves. Rather than adding to your problems, you might discover that the way to lighten your load is set yourself down for a while.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Sunday, April 09, 2006
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article for April 2, 2006
The Erring Brother
By Bill Denton
My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20, NASB95)
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Be good anyway.
Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
People need help but may attack you if you try to help them. Help them anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Kent M. Keith, "The Paradoxical Commandments," from The Silent
Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council
We have a responsibility to help brothers and sisters in Christ who have strayed from the truth of God’s word, and somehow become embroiled in the ways of the world. It is not an easy thing to do. Sometimes, those who have chosen to live contrary to truth do not want our help. Sometimes, they exhibit a spirit of rebellion so strong that they reject any well-intentioned help. In fact, I cannot think of anyone living in error who displays a completely God-like attitude devoid of the influences of their error. Of course, at times we try to be magnanimous about things, and point out that “erring brothers and sisters” are the only kind of brothers and sisters we have. The point, I think, is that everyone we know needs help to be true to God.
I believe that little quip is true. The only brothers and sisters I have are “erring” brothers and sisters. There is one thing that gets lost on some people, however, and it’s worth mentioning here. The only kind of brothers and sisters that our erring brothers and sisters have are also erring brothers and sisters. Did I lose you on that one? What I’m trying to say is that if you think of others as “erring” then should you not also give yourself the same description?
Some Christians seem to have the attitude that “error” is always the other guy’s problem. Hopefully, that is true, for if we are following God’s will as best we can, then surely we’ll be more right than wrong. But, we must avoid the pride-filled, self-righteous attitude that afflicts the hearts of more than a few Christians that leads us to discount the possibility of our own error.
Someone once said that when we point our finger at the other guy, there are three pointing back at us. That’s a good observation. Yes, we can, and should, be sensitive to those who allow error to creep into their lives. When that happens, we must love them and help them, even if they don’t always display the best of attitudes and behaviors. But we must be aware that we are also prone to errors, and sometimes we need help from others. At times, the erring brother is us..
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20, NASB95)
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Be good anyway.
Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
People need help but may attack you if you try to help them. Help them anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Kent M. Keith, "The Paradoxical Commandments," from The Silent
Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council
We have a responsibility to help brothers and sisters in Christ who have strayed from the truth of God’s word, and somehow become embroiled in the ways of the world. It is not an easy thing to do. Sometimes, those who have chosen to live contrary to truth do not want our help. Sometimes, they exhibit a spirit of rebellion so strong that they reject any well-intentioned help. In fact, I cannot think of anyone living in error who displays a completely God-like attitude devoid of the influences of their error. Of course, at times we try to be magnanimous about things, and point out that “erring brothers and sisters” are the only kind of brothers and sisters we have. The point, I think, is that everyone we know needs help to be true to God.
I believe that little quip is true. The only brothers and sisters I have are “erring” brothers and sisters. There is one thing that gets lost on some people, however, and it’s worth mentioning here. The only kind of brothers and sisters that our erring brothers and sisters have are also erring brothers and sisters. Did I lose you on that one? What I’m trying to say is that if you think of others as “erring” then should you not also give yourself the same description?
Some Christians seem to have the attitude that “error” is always the other guy’s problem. Hopefully, that is true, for if we are following God’s will as best we can, then surely we’ll be more right than wrong. But, we must avoid the pride-filled, self-righteous attitude that afflicts the hearts of more than a few Christians that leads us to discount the possibility of our own error.
Someone once said that when we point our finger at the other guy, there are three pointing back at us. That’s a good observation. Yes, we can, and should, be sensitive to those who allow error to creep into their lives. When that happens, we must love them and help them, even if they don’t always display the best of attitudes and behaviors. But we must be aware that we are also prone to errors, and sometimes we need help from others. At times, the erring brother is us..
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Monday, March 27, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For March 26, 2006
Teaching And Timeless Themes
By Bill Denton
“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deut 6:6-7, NIV).
In an interview with Wired magazine, filmmaker George Lucas was asked how he would be remembered. Lucas replied:
I'll be remembered as a filmmaker. The technological problems that I solved will be forgotten
by then, but hopefully some of the stories I told will still be relevant. I'm hoping that Star Wars
doesn't become too dated, because I think its themes are timeless. If you've raised children, you
know you have to explain things to them, and if you don't ,they end up learning the hard way. In
the end, somebody's got to say, "Don't touch that hot skillet." So the old stories have to be re-
iterated again in a form that's acceptable to each new generation. I don't think I'm ever going
to go much beyond the old stories, because I think they still need to be told. -- George Lucas,
Wired (5-01-05)
Stories with timeless themes will always be powerful. George Lucas may or may not be long-remembered. History may one day forget his name and his contributions to the film-making art. But stories with timeless themes will be often repeated. They will pass from one person to
another, they will be retold in new books and movies, and they will enthrall every new generation.
This is one of the things that makes the old-fashioned Sunday School a powerful tool. There, teachers who have eternal concerns repeat old stories from the Bible that lay the foundation of faith in God and His Son, Jesus. Those stories are more than tall tales with a spiritual flair. They are about real people who faced real dangers, honest struggles, moral dilemmas, failures, and more. The stories tell us about eternal truths that do not change. These stories communicate timeless themes that help young people understand principles of life that are indispensable.
Sunday School and other Bible classes must stay focused on communicating those timeless themes. George Lucas knows that even in the movie business, you can’t beat a good story based on timeless themes. Those themes are what gives a film both legitimacy and power. It is the same in a Bible class. Teachers would do well to remember that this is their purpose.
A preaching student once asked an old preacher-professor the secret to developing good sermons on a consistent, continual basis. He wanted to know where to look for material, illustrations, and topics so that his sermons would never run dry. The old man wisely replied, “Stick to your bible, young man. Preach it and you’ll never run out of material.” That’s good advice for preacher and teacher alike. Every student regardless of age, needs exposure again and again to those solid,
timeless truths that shape life according to God’s will.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deut 6:6-7, NIV).
In an interview with Wired magazine, filmmaker George Lucas was asked how he would be remembered. Lucas replied:
I'll be remembered as a filmmaker. The technological problems that I solved will be forgotten
by then, but hopefully some of the stories I told will still be relevant. I'm hoping that Star Wars
doesn't become too dated, because I think its themes are timeless. If you've raised children, you
know you have to explain things to them, and if you don't ,they end up learning the hard way. In
the end, somebody's got to say, "Don't touch that hot skillet." So the old stories have to be re-
iterated again in a form that's acceptable to each new generation. I don't think I'm ever going
to go much beyond the old stories, because I think they still need to be told. -- George Lucas,
Wired (5-01-05)
Stories with timeless themes will always be powerful. George Lucas may or may not be long-remembered. History may one day forget his name and his contributions to the film-making art. But stories with timeless themes will be often repeated. They will pass from one person to
another, they will be retold in new books and movies, and they will enthrall every new generation.
This is one of the things that makes the old-fashioned Sunday School a powerful tool. There, teachers who have eternal concerns repeat old stories from the Bible that lay the foundation of faith in God and His Son, Jesus. Those stories are more than tall tales with a spiritual flair. They are about real people who faced real dangers, honest struggles, moral dilemmas, failures, and more. The stories tell us about eternal truths that do not change. These stories communicate timeless themes that help young people understand principles of life that are indispensable.
Sunday School and other Bible classes must stay focused on communicating those timeless themes. George Lucas knows that even in the movie business, you can’t beat a good story based on timeless themes. Those themes are what gives a film both legitimacy and power. It is the same in a Bible class. Teachers would do well to remember that this is their purpose.
A preaching student once asked an old preacher-professor the secret to developing good sermons on a consistent, continual basis. He wanted to know where to look for material, illustrations, and topics so that his sermons would never run dry. The old man wisely replied, “Stick to your bible, young man. Preach it and you’ll never run out of material.” That’s good advice for preacher and teacher alike. Every student regardless of age, needs exposure again and again to those solid,
timeless truths that shape life according to God’s will.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Monday, March 20, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For March 19, 2006
Truth Matters
By Bill Denton
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25, NASB95)
After being included in Oprah Winfrey's famous book club, James Frey's memoir, A Million Little Pieces quickly sold over 3.5 million copies. Controversy erupted, however, when questions arose about whether the stories contained in Frey's book were true.
On January 11, 2005, Oprah Winfrey called in to CNN's "Larry King Live." She defended the book, and its author, stating that the controversy over his truthfulness was "much ado about nothing," claiming that Frey's writing was the "essential truth" of his life.
She went on to say: "Although some of the facts have been questioned…the underlying message of redemption in James Frey's memoir still resonates with me. And I know that it resonates with millions of other people who have read this book and will continue to read this book…it's irrelevant discussing, you know, what happened or did not happen to the police."
Reversing herself several weeks later, after new information had come out confirming Frey's dishonesty, Oprah apologized on her own show. "I regret that phone call," she said. "I made a mistake and I left the impression that the truth does not matter. And I am deeply sorry about that, because that is not what I believe. To everyone who has challenged me on this issue of truth, you are absolutely right." -- Edward Wyatt, "Live on 'Oprah,' a Memoirist Is Kicked Out of the Book Club," nytimes.com (1-27-06)
I’m amazed at the attitudes some have toward truth. Even in some Christian circles, there is a lot of talk about how “truth” isn’t important. The “Jesus Seminar” folks, for example, tell us that the only important thing is that the “myth” of Jesus is alive and well. Whether it’s true or not is unimportant. If you dig into that one long enough, you’ll discover that the issue of truth is far more important than they suggest because they really want you to conclude that the Bible isn’t really true, all you know about Jesus isn’t true, and Christian faith isn’t based on truth. It seems that truth is actually important, even to those who don’t believe Christianity is based on truth.
Of course truth is important. I’ll leave all the convoluted discussions up to the theologians and philosophers. In real life, truth counts. Don’t believe it? Think with me for just a moment. Is it important for husbands and wives to tell each other the truth, or can they pawn off any old story as long as it sounds good? Do you want the folks you do business with to tell you the truth, or is it OK for them to pawn off junk on you and charge you premium prices for it? Do you want your local politicians to tell you the truth, or is it OK for them to sell your city down the drain as long as the stories they tell make it sound like everything is just fine? People need to get real. Truth matters!
Truth is important in every human discussion. If it’s not true, somewhere it will hurt you. If it is true, it still may hurt, but in the long run, the benefits will show. Tell the truth when you speak. Your words convey the content of your character. Truth means one thing. Lies mean another.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. (Ephesians 4:25, NASB95)
After being included in Oprah Winfrey's famous book club, James Frey's memoir, A Million Little Pieces quickly sold over 3.5 million copies. Controversy erupted, however, when questions arose about whether the stories contained in Frey's book were true.
On January 11, 2005, Oprah Winfrey called in to CNN's "Larry King Live." She defended the book, and its author, stating that the controversy over his truthfulness was "much ado about nothing," claiming that Frey's writing was the "essential truth" of his life.
She went on to say: "Although some of the facts have been questioned…the underlying message of redemption in James Frey's memoir still resonates with me. And I know that it resonates with millions of other people who have read this book and will continue to read this book…it's irrelevant discussing, you know, what happened or did not happen to the police."
Reversing herself several weeks later, after new information had come out confirming Frey's dishonesty, Oprah apologized on her own show. "I regret that phone call," she said. "I made a mistake and I left the impression that the truth does not matter. And I am deeply sorry about that, because that is not what I believe. To everyone who has challenged me on this issue of truth, you are absolutely right." -- Edward Wyatt, "Live on 'Oprah,' a Memoirist Is Kicked Out of the Book Club," nytimes.com (1-27-06)
I’m amazed at the attitudes some have toward truth. Even in some Christian circles, there is a lot of talk about how “truth” isn’t important. The “Jesus Seminar” folks, for example, tell us that the only important thing is that the “myth” of Jesus is alive and well. Whether it’s true or not is unimportant. If you dig into that one long enough, you’ll discover that the issue of truth is far more important than they suggest because they really want you to conclude that the Bible isn’t really true, all you know about Jesus isn’t true, and Christian faith isn’t based on truth. It seems that truth is actually important, even to those who don’t believe Christianity is based on truth.
Of course truth is important. I’ll leave all the convoluted discussions up to the theologians and philosophers. In real life, truth counts. Don’t believe it? Think with me for just a moment. Is it important for husbands and wives to tell each other the truth, or can they pawn off any old story as long as it sounds good? Do you want the folks you do business with to tell you the truth, or is it OK for them to pawn off junk on you and charge you premium prices for it? Do you want your local politicians to tell you the truth, or is it OK for them to sell your city down the drain as long as the stories they tell make it sound like everything is just fine? People need to get real. Truth matters!
Truth is important in every human discussion. If it’s not true, somewhere it will hurt you. If it is true, it still may hurt, but in the long run, the benefits will show. Tell the truth when you speak. Your words convey the content of your character. Truth means one thing. Lies mean another.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Monday, March 13, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For March 12, 2006
The “No-Gossip” Beauty Shop
By Bill Denton
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. (Proverbs 11:13, NASB95)
Mildred Fister’s beauty parlor in Jefferson, Iowa, has an unusual rule. Mildred refuses to allow gossip. A columnist for the Des Moines Register reacted this way:
This is a beauty parlor, for goodness’ sake, one of those places women come to say things; loving, kind, unkind, and, sure, maybe downright nasty about their friends and neighbors whether it’s true or not.
It’s as basic in a beauty parlor as a blow dry. Isn’t it?
“Not here,” [Fister] says. There is absolutely no talking about other people in Mildred Fister’s shop. Talk about you and yours if you like but in the meantime, no gossip. At least [Fister] doesn’t have to worry about keeping secrets.
She knows secrets because she’s a friend to everybody who comes in the place. They know she can be trusted.
“Sometimes people don’t have anybody to talk to,” she said. “So they confide in me. They tell me things about themselves. They know I’ll never repeat what they say.”
That’s better than gossip. It’s called friendship.
John Carlson, "John Carlson's Iowa," Des Moines Register (5-8-05), p. 1b
How refreshing! Let’s not pick on beauty shops though. Anybody who has ever sat in a barber’s chair knows that plenty of gossip goes on there, too. We might as well acknowledge that gossip isn’t limited to the local hair-fixin’ place. It happens wherever people have a few minutes to talk.
What I really want you to consider is not so much the fact that we shouldn’t gossip, rather I want you to pay attention to what Mildred Fister is actually promoting. In her beauty shop, two things are overcoming the huge negative of gossip: trust and friendship.
The two go together. Friendship is built on trust. Without trust, friendship is an illusion. Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to have missed this basic truth. When trust is violated by sharing tidbits of gossip, when feelings are hurt because some unkind thing was passed to others, when unfortunate truths are revealed that do nothing but damage someone’s reputation, then friendship is shattered. When trust goes, friendship -- real friendship -- cannot survive.
A friend does not air your dirty laundry for you. A friend does not encourage others to think badly of you. A friend does not become the source of your embarrassment. Instead, a friend guards you, protects you, and shields you. Should you reveal some negative truth about yourself, a real friend will help you do better and get past it. They do not use you. The next time you are in a gossip-sharing party, consider the possibility that you might be the next subject for discussion. After all, if the person being gossiped about shouldn’t trust these people, why should you?
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. (Proverbs 11:13, NASB95)
Mildred Fister’s beauty parlor in Jefferson, Iowa, has an unusual rule. Mildred refuses to allow gossip. A columnist for the Des Moines Register reacted this way:
This is a beauty parlor, for goodness’ sake, one of those places women come to say things; loving, kind, unkind, and, sure, maybe downright nasty about their friends and neighbors whether it’s true or not.
It’s as basic in a beauty parlor as a blow dry. Isn’t it?
“Not here,” [Fister] says. There is absolutely no talking about other people in Mildred Fister’s shop. Talk about you and yours if you like but in the meantime, no gossip. At least [Fister] doesn’t have to worry about keeping secrets.
She knows secrets because she’s a friend to everybody who comes in the place. They know she can be trusted.
“Sometimes people don’t have anybody to talk to,” she said. “So they confide in me. They tell me things about themselves. They know I’ll never repeat what they say.”
That’s better than gossip. It’s called friendship.
John Carlson, "John Carlson's Iowa," Des Moines Register (5-8-05), p. 1b
How refreshing! Let’s not pick on beauty shops though. Anybody who has ever sat in a barber’s chair knows that plenty of gossip goes on there, too. We might as well acknowledge that gossip isn’t limited to the local hair-fixin’ place. It happens wherever people have a few minutes to talk.
What I really want you to consider is not so much the fact that we shouldn’t gossip, rather I want you to pay attention to what Mildred Fister is actually promoting. In her beauty shop, two things are overcoming the huge negative of gossip: trust and friendship.
The two go together. Friendship is built on trust. Without trust, friendship is an illusion. Unfortunately, a lot of people seem to have missed this basic truth. When trust is violated by sharing tidbits of gossip, when feelings are hurt because some unkind thing was passed to others, when unfortunate truths are revealed that do nothing but damage someone’s reputation, then friendship is shattered. When trust goes, friendship -- real friendship -- cannot survive.
A friend does not air your dirty laundry for you. A friend does not encourage others to think badly of you. A friend does not become the source of your embarrassment. Instead, a friend guards you, protects you, and shields you. Should you reveal some negative truth about yourself, a real friend will help you do better and get past it. They do not use you. The next time you are in a gossip-sharing party, consider the possibility that you might be the next subject for discussion. After all, if the person being gossiped about shouldn’t trust these people, why should you?
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Monday, March 06, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For March 5, 2006
Of Specks And Logs
By Bill Denton
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3, NASB95)
Comedian Steve Martin said, "Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do criticize him, you'll be a mile away and have his shoes."
"Monday Morning Insight," www.ChurchStaffing.com (4-25-05)
We are all critics. It’s just part of our nature. Perhaps in its most benign form, criticism is our effort to improve things. After all, lots of things need improvement, legitimately so. There is really nothing wrong with identifying things that are not what they should be, offering one’s observation of that fact, then making things better.
Let me offer a criticism. No, let me tag along with Jesus and point you to one of his observations about human nature. It’s found in that non-benign question, “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” It is not a benign question because it forces us to reconsider the object and purpose of our criticisms.
It is much easier to observe the faults of others instead of noting of my own. I don’t think I’m the only person who has made the same discovery. It’s always easier, less threatening, and certainly less demanding for me to camp out on the doorstep of somebody else’s shortcomings. Sometimes, it’s even enjoyable, this practice of observing human behavior around me. I can even predict with a fair amount of accuracy which people are going to find themselves in trouble or suffering the negative consequences of their faults.
For quite some time, I’ve been aware that others find this job of personal critic to be enticing. Some have shared their tidbits of gossip, noting with the appearance of deep concern that the one under scrutiny has provided fodder for continued criticism. Am I making more of this than is reasonably true? Surely not!
Jesus did not believe that criticism was a small problem. Neither did Jesus say that we should put a stop to all criticism. That’s what some would have us believe, because they frequently refer to the statement in Mt. 7:1: “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” But to think that Jesus wanted no judging at all is to miss his point. It seems that he wanted critics to understand how things work. Critics are subject to criticism. Jesus actually wanted us to be our own best critic. Take a look at the log in your own eye before you deal with the speck in your brother’s eye. See your own very real imperfections before you blow out of proportion the relatively small problems in your brother. The old adage is true: “The only person you can change is - you!”
We all have plenty of room for improvement. Of course, it takes a critical eye to notice the problems and make corrections. I’ll try to do more of that for myself and less for you.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3, NASB95)
Comedian Steve Martin said, "Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do criticize him, you'll be a mile away and have his shoes."
"Monday Morning Insight," www.ChurchStaffing.com (4-25-05)
We are all critics. It’s just part of our nature. Perhaps in its most benign form, criticism is our effort to improve things. After all, lots of things need improvement, legitimately so. There is really nothing wrong with identifying things that are not what they should be, offering one’s observation of that fact, then making things better.
Let me offer a criticism. No, let me tag along with Jesus and point you to one of his observations about human nature. It’s found in that non-benign question, “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” It is not a benign question because it forces us to reconsider the object and purpose of our criticisms.
It is much easier to observe the faults of others instead of noting of my own. I don’t think I’m the only person who has made the same discovery. It’s always easier, less threatening, and certainly less demanding for me to camp out on the doorstep of somebody else’s shortcomings. Sometimes, it’s even enjoyable, this practice of observing human behavior around me. I can even predict with a fair amount of accuracy which people are going to find themselves in trouble or suffering the negative consequences of their faults.
For quite some time, I’ve been aware that others find this job of personal critic to be enticing. Some have shared their tidbits of gossip, noting with the appearance of deep concern that the one under scrutiny has provided fodder for continued criticism. Am I making more of this than is reasonably true? Surely not!
Jesus did not believe that criticism was a small problem. Neither did Jesus say that we should put a stop to all criticism. That’s what some would have us believe, because they frequently refer to the statement in Mt. 7:1: “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” But to think that Jesus wanted no judging at all is to miss his point. It seems that he wanted critics to understand how things work. Critics are subject to criticism. Jesus actually wanted us to be our own best critic. Take a look at the log in your own eye before you deal with the speck in your brother’s eye. See your own very real imperfections before you blow out of proportion the relatively small problems in your brother. The old adage is true: “The only person you can change is - you!”
We all have plenty of room for improvement. Of course, it takes a critical eye to notice the problems and make corrections. I’ll try to do more of that for myself and less for you.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Wednesday, March 01, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For February 26, 2006
“Did My Best” Or “Just Got By”
By Bill Denton
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, (Colossians 3:23, NASB95)
If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.
Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking to students at Barratt Junior High
School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967
Too many people are guilty of the “just-get-by” syndrome. Students in school are often more concerned with a passing grade rather than learning all they can learn. Some athletes just want to “get-by” instead of giving a stellar effort. Business is plagued with people who demonstrate this attitude. Don’t believe it? Ask yourself why customer service is so frequently less than acceptable. Pay attention to the quality of the products you purchase. Quality and service are two things that are worth the money. The “just-get-by” syndrome is even found among Christians and may be the single biggest problem of the modern church.
The problem is often disguised in the questions people ask. “How many times a week do I have to attend church services?” a lady once asked. Now, I know people who fall into the trap of actually providing a number in answer to this question, but it is fraught with problems. What if I told this lady, “You just have to attend once.” Perhaps she would be satisfied, but more likely she would look for justification to occasionally miss even that one. What if I said, “You have to attend three times.” What do you think she would do if a fourth opportunity arose? My point is that you can’t win at the number game with a person seeking the minimum.
The “just-get-by” syndrome shows up in attitudes about salvation. “What must I do to be saved,” is sometimes a desire to know the bare minimum it takes to get to heaven. It’s not really a question about what all one might do to serve God. I’ve always thought the little story Jesus told about the three servants who were each given different “talents” or sums of money while the master left for a trip. One got five talents, another got two, and the last got one. The first two each went out, put the money to work and doubled what the master invested in them. The last, fearful man that he was, buried his talent for safe-keeping. When the master returned, both the first two servants were applauded and rewarded. Only the last was condemned. We usually focus on that last fellow and warn people not to be like him. That’s a good lesson. But, think about the first two for a moment. These were obviously two men with differing abilities. The master invested according to the ability of each man. What both had in common was the desire to the best they could. That’s what they did, and that’s what pleased the master. Don’t “just-get-by.” Do your best, whatever it is. It may not be what someone else does, but is it your best? As God’s people, let’s move toward doing all we can instead of just getting by.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, (Colossians 3:23, NASB95)
If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.
Martin Luther King, Jr. speaking to students at Barratt Junior High
School in Philadelphia on October 26, 1967
Too many people are guilty of the “just-get-by” syndrome. Students in school are often more concerned with a passing grade rather than learning all they can learn. Some athletes just want to “get-by” instead of giving a stellar effort. Business is plagued with people who demonstrate this attitude. Don’t believe it? Ask yourself why customer service is so frequently less than acceptable. Pay attention to the quality of the products you purchase. Quality and service are two things that are worth the money. The “just-get-by” syndrome is even found among Christians and may be the single biggest problem of the modern church.
The problem is often disguised in the questions people ask. “How many times a week do I have to attend church services?” a lady once asked. Now, I know people who fall into the trap of actually providing a number in answer to this question, but it is fraught with problems. What if I told this lady, “You just have to attend once.” Perhaps she would be satisfied, but more likely she would look for justification to occasionally miss even that one. What if I said, “You have to attend three times.” What do you think she would do if a fourth opportunity arose? My point is that you can’t win at the number game with a person seeking the minimum.
The “just-get-by” syndrome shows up in attitudes about salvation. “What must I do to be saved,” is sometimes a desire to know the bare minimum it takes to get to heaven. It’s not really a question about what all one might do to serve God. I’ve always thought the little story Jesus told about the three servants who were each given different “talents” or sums of money while the master left for a trip. One got five talents, another got two, and the last got one. The first two each went out, put the money to work and doubled what the master invested in them. The last, fearful man that he was, buried his talent for safe-keeping. When the master returned, both the first two servants were applauded and rewarded. Only the last was condemned. We usually focus on that last fellow and warn people not to be like him. That’s a good lesson. But, think about the first two for a moment. These were obviously two men with differing abilities. The master invested according to the ability of each man. What both had in common was the desire to the best they could. That’s what they did, and that’s what pleased the master. Don’t “just-get-by.” Do your best, whatever it is. It may not be what someone else does, but is it your best? As God’s people, let’s move toward doing all we can instead of just getting by.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For February 19, 2006
More Than One Member
By Bill Denton
For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:14, NASB95)
Dear Preacher: There are 566 members in our church, but 100 are frail and elderly. That leaves 466 to do all the work. However, 80 are young people away at college. That leaves 386 to do all the work. However, 150 of them are tired businessmen, so that leaves 236 to do all the work. 150 are housewives with children. That leaves 86 to do all the work. There are also 46 members who have other important interests. Which leaves 40 to do all the work, but 15 live too far away to come regularly. So that leaves 25 to do all the work. And 23 of them say they've done their part. So, preacher, that leaves YOU and ME and, frankly, I'm exhausted.Good luck to you.A. Member
Source Unknown
I’ve read several variations on this little illustration. The numbers vary but the point is the same. There are many people who make up a church, then it ends up with only one doing all the work. I’m thankful that’s not true about our congregation. I continue to be impressed by the number of folks who are actively involved in making our congregation busy and accomplishing good things. We try to involve everyone who is willing to help, and for the most part, I believe the greater number of people in our church are quick to jump in and participate.
I know that in lots of places it’s not quite like that. There are lots of churches that match the little illustration above. Even in churches like ours where the majority of people do pitch in, there are still a few who seem to think “church” only means a place to get things, not to give.
Over the years I’ve heard from some of those folks. They are the ones who get upset because someone didn’t do something for them. They seem to be extremely sensitive to being overlooked, left out, ignored, or forgotten. Sometimes, it seems that people have a great propensity for overlooking all the good that is done for them, unless one of the “special” people do it. I once knew a family whose daughter was terminally ill. Numbers of people sat with them at the hospital, prayed for them, cooked meals, etc. After the daughter died, they were very critical, commenting that the church hadn’t done much for them. I understand about grief, but I also understand that this was their view long before, and long after, the death of their daughter. I’ve known others who seemed to think that nobody else’s prayer counted unless the preacher came by to pray. Once, I met an elder and his wife coming out of a lady’s hospital room where they had just visited. When I went in, the lady said, “I’ve waited all day for someone to come pray for me.” Did the elder pray for her? Yes, but I guess it didn’t count. The body of Christ is more than one member. Any particular congregation is more than one member. It takes all of us, and the more the better. When the body works well, don’t ignore it.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Wednesday, February 15, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For February 12, 2006
Nine Years Out Of Your Life
By Bill Denton
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:15-17, NASB95).
Rafael Antonio Lozano is a man with a mission, albeit a strange one. The 33-year-old computer programmer from Plano, Texas, is on a quest to visit every company-owned Starbucks on the planet.
Lozano, who calls himself Winter, began his mission in 1997, when there were 1,304 such stores worldwide. Today, there are over 6,000 in 37 countries. As of October 31st, 2005, Winter had visited 4,918 Starbucks in North America, in addition to 213 others around the globe.
Despite his impressive pace, Winter is realistic about the nature of his quest, saying, "As long as they keep building Starbucks, I'll never be finished." He is also realistic about the importance of his mission. "Every time I reach a Starbucks, I feel like I've accomplished something," he said, "when actually I've accomplished nothing."
Jayne Clark, "Sooner or Latte, He'll Get There," USAToday.com (10-13-05)
Now there’s a busy guy, though it seems that neither he nor I would describe his busyness as accomplishing anything particularly worthwhile. Maybe he should have talked to the Starbucks people and got them to pay for all his trips and coffee and use him to advertise their coffee shops. As it stands, I can’t see where he’s doing anything worthwhile.
Lest we get on this fellow’s case too harshly, perhaps it would behoove us to consider whether we are accomplishing anything better. Silly thought, you say? Well, let’s think about it.
Take TV time, just as an example. According to the A.C. Nielson Co., the average American watches 3 hours and 46 minutes of TV daily. That works out to more than 52 days of non-stop TV watching each year -- almost two months! By the age of 65, that average American will have spent nearly 9 years watching TV. What could you do with 9 years? Learn several new skills? Travel to distant places? Get 2 or 3 college degrees? Learn to speak a second language? Write a book? Maybe none of that interests you, but surely there is something you’d like to do that having 9 years available would give you a big start toward doing it.
What’s really amazing are the number of people who don’t seem to think they have time for spiritual activities. We’re too busy to attend Bible classes. Worship, with the possible exception of Sunday mornings, often interferes with TV time (remember I’m one of the people who grew up having to decide between Walt Disney’s Sunday night TV program and church!). TV isn’t our only problem, just one - but it is a big one.
Next time you are tempted to claim you don’t have enough time to do something, figure out if you’re an average American. If so, you’ve got more available time than you think.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Sunday, February 05, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article for February 5, 2006
Person of the Year: God!
By Bill Denton
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:11, NASB95)
Annually, Time picks the Person of the Year to appear on the cover of its magazine. Previous honorees were asked whom they would select for 2006, and Coleen Rowley, former FBI agent and whistleblower chosen for the honor in 2002, responded:
I think the "Person" of the Year should be God. On the one hand, more people seem certain they know God's will on the social issues of the day. On the other, all of us feel the need to find answers as we confront the "acts of God" dominating the news, like diseases and global catastrophes.
"Some Past Honorees Give Their Picks for This Year," Time (11-21-05)
I understand Ms. Rowley’s suggestion, and must confess to a great deal of agreement with the sentiment. On the other hand, how would we ever have anyone but God as Person of the Year? It seems to me that God would dominate, if He were given a fair consideration.
It does bring up a question about honoring God. He doesn’t have to be chosen for Time’s cover and granted a title. It’s entirely appropriate for us to recognize those among us who stand out and deserve some special consideration. Honor for God should greatly supercede a magazine cover layout, or a special edition dedication.
Both Paul and John, writing respectively in the books of Romans and Revelation, draw upon the idea of honoring God. Paul said in Romans that failing to honor God stood at the brink of a precipitous plunge into sin. John writes of his glimpse into the heavenly scene where the twenty-four elders proclaim their obeisance to God having acknowledged His right to receive glory, honor and power. After all, God is creator of all, therefore all should acknowledge the relative positions of both themselves and the God who created everything.
I suppose in some way, this may sound like some very complicated thing, but it’s not really. I once heard a fellow say (probably quoting someone else who originated this statement), that the greatest lesson he ever learned was this: There is a God and I’m not Him.
Honoring God begins with a recognition that He exists. Go back and read the first chapter of Romans. Man’s downward spiral into ruin started with a lack of honor for God that eventually led to an outright denial of God. Lack of honor for God resulted in man elevating all sorts of things into the place of God. Sometimes it was in the form of idols. Much of the time, we elevate ourselves into God’s place. Honoring God, starts by acknowledging His existence. Everything else flows from that. Once there is God, other things fall into place. Who do you honor?
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:11, NASB95)
Annually, Time picks the Person of the Year to appear on the cover of its magazine. Previous honorees were asked whom they would select for 2006, and Coleen Rowley, former FBI agent and whistleblower chosen for the honor in 2002, responded:
I think the "Person" of the Year should be God. On the one hand, more people seem certain they know God's will on the social issues of the day. On the other, all of us feel the need to find answers as we confront the "acts of God" dominating the news, like diseases and global catastrophes.
"Some Past Honorees Give Their Picks for This Year," Time (11-21-05)
I understand Ms. Rowley’s suggestion, and must confess to a great deal of agreement with the sentiment. On the other hand, how would we ever have anyone but God as Person of the Year? It seems to me that God would dominate, if He were given a fair consideration.
It does bring up a question about honoring God. He doesn’t have to be chosen for Time’s cover and granted a title. It’s entirely appropriate for us to recognize those among us who stand out and deserve some special consideration. Honor for God should greatly supercede a magazine cover layout, or a special edition dedication.
Both Paul and John, writing respectively in the books of Romans and Revelation, draw upon the idea of honoring God. Paul said in Romans that failing to honor God stood at the brink of a precipitous plunge into sin. John writes of his glimpse into the heavenly scene where the twenty-four elders proclaim their obeisance to God having acknowledged His right to receive glory, honor and power. After all, God is creator of all, therefore all should acknowledge the relative positions of both themselves and the God who created everything.
I suppose in some way, this may sound like some very complicated thing, but it’s not really. I once heard a fellow say (probably quoting someone else who originated this statement), that the greatest lesson he ever learned was this: There is a God and I’m not Him.
Honoring God begins with a recognition that He exists. Go back and read the first chapter of Romans. Man’s downward spiral into ruin started with a lack of honor for God that eventually led to an outright denial of God. Lack of honor for God resulted in man elevating all sorts of things into the place of God. Sometimes it was in the form of idols. Much of the time, we elevate ourselves into God’s place. Honoring God, starts by acknowledging His existence. Everything else flows from that. Once there is God, other things fall into place. Who do you honor?
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Monday, January 30, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For January 29, 2006
What Happens After The Preacher Speaks?
By Bill Denton
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14, NASB95)
A few months ago I was invited to speak at a 20-something conference. I was driving north on interstate 95 listening to a CD when I heard something totally deflating if you're a preacher by trade: "Studies indicate that we forget 95 percent of what we hear within three days."
And that's if your sermon was good!
-- Mark Batterson, “Red Pill Preaching,” www.preachingtoday.com
Batterson goes on in his article to talk about communication, and the importance of saying old things in new ways to better communicate and thus help people remember more. That’s a goal to which every communicator can relate.
It does bring to mind a very real concern for every preacher. If people so quickly forget so much of what they hear, then why did God choose this medium by which to communicate such important truths? Sometimes, we get bogged down in wondering about all the imponderables and forget that whether or not we understand everything, we can understand some things. Let’s go for the understandable. Here are a couple of things you need to know.
Preachers stand in a long line of vital communicators. Though we hesitate to employ the word “prophet,” the truth is that the main job of prophets was not to foretell the future, it was to deliver God’s message to the people of their time. Preachers do that today. We deliver a message from God to people who need to hear what God says.
Don’t pick on your preacher too much. He doesn’t have to be the most eloquent fellow around. He doesn’t have to be the wittiest, or the smoothest. He doesn’t even have to be the most excited or animated person you know. He doesn’t even have to say what you like to hear or what you want to hear. He does have to be faithful to his job. He must tell you what God wants you to hear. That responsibility sometimes grates on both you and your preacher!
Sure, it helps if a preacher has developed an interesting delivery method. It helps if he’s got at least a vague handle on the language, and is able to illustrate and word things in ways that make the message of God memorable. But, you won’t find our modern concern with preaching methods, communication principles, etc., in the Bible. God leaves those up to us, I think. He’s much more focused on what he wants us to know.
Next time your preacher stands up you listen up. At the heart of all he’s doing there in the pulpit, is something vitally important to you. God has a message. The preacher is delivering it. What happens after that is your responsibility -- the biggest responsibility in preaching.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14, NASB95)
A few months ago I was invited to speak at a 20-something conference. I was driving north on interstate 95 listening to a CD when I heard something totally deflating if you're a preacher by trade: "Studies indicate that we forget 95 percent of what we hear within three days."
And that's if your sermon was good!
-- Mark Batterson, “Red Pill Preaching,” www.preachingtoday.com
Batterson goes on in his article to talk about communication, and the importance of saying old things in new ways to better communicate and thus help people remember more. That’s a goal to which every communicator can relate.
It does bring to mind a very real concern for every preacher. If people so quickly forget so much of what they hear, then why did God choose this medium by which to communicate such important truths? Sometimes, we get bogged down in wondering about all the imponderables and forget that whether or not we understand everything, we can understand some things. Let’s go for the understandable. Here are a couple of things you need to know.
Preachers stand in a long line of vital communicators. Though we hesitate to employ the word “prophet,” the truth is that the main job of prophets was not to foretell the future, it was to deliver God’s message to the people of their time. Preachers do that today. We deliver a message from God to people who need to hear what God says.
Don’t pick on your preacher too much. He doesn’t have to be the most eloquent fellow around. He doesn’t have to be the wittiest, or the smoothest. He doesn’t even have to be the most excited or animated person you know. He doesn’t even have to say what you like to hear or what you want to hear. He does have to be faithful to his job. He must tell you what God wants you to hear. That responsibility sometimes grates on both you and your preacher!
Sure, it helps if a preacher has developed an interesting delivery method. It helps if he’s got at least a vague handle on the language, and is able to illustrate and word things in ways that make the message of God memorable. But, you won’t find our modern concern with preaching methods, communication principles, etc., in the Bible. God leaves those up to us, I think. He’s much more focused on what he wants us to know.
Next time your preacher stands up you listen up. At the heart of all he’s doing there in the pulpit, is something vitally important to you. God has a message. The preacher is delivering it. What happens after that is your responsibility -- the biggest responsibility in preaching.
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Friday, January 13, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For January 8, 2006
The Fool’s Creed
By Bill Denton
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God . . . .” (Psalm 14:1, NASB95)
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said: "God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools, and he has not been disappointed. If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world."
Penny Brown Roberts, “Scalia: Faithful Live for Christ,” theadvocate.com
It seems that from whichever direction one chooses to consider things, somebody is a fool! The Psalmist declared that the fool has announced to himself, “There is no God.” On the other hand, the worldly view of the non-God crowd is that those who believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, are just a bunch of fools. See, somebody is a fool.
Consider for a moment the person who believes in God and Jesus. This person doesn’t come to believe in a vacuum. After all, he or she has had to deal with the biblical explanation of the Universe itself. They have been forced to confront the obvious about themselves: there is something terribly wrong with people, and it’s called sin. They have heard that there is good news proclaimed in the name of Jesus and it’s good because it has to do with the solution to our sin problem. They have it on the word of God that while life may bring sorrows and tragedies, and end in death, ultimately there is a resurrection to life and an eternal home in heaven. Foolishness, declares the non-God folks.
So what does the unbeliever have to offer us? Frankly, nothing. Any appeal to human wisdom immediately runs into the reality wall. Any appeal to technology, philosophy, or any number of promising areas of benefit to humankind fails to generate much hope. After all, the evidence in whatever area one might care to explore, reveals not just failure, but hopelessness.
Which fool’s creed is better? One that consistently produces hopelessness or one that consistently produces hope? In one sense, we get to choose what kind of foolishness we’ll believe, and what kind of fool we’ll be.
If the biblical message about Jesus isn’t true, if he didn’t take away our sins, if he didn’t rise from the dead and if he’s not coming back to gather us to our eternal reward, then it doesn’t matter what we choose. If it’s true, then it makes all the difference in the world. Perhaps this is one reason the Psalmist understood so well the root problem of the real fool. He is the one who declared God nonexistent. He says to himself that God isn’t true. But, God if God is true, then the real fool is the one who says he isn’t. I believe God is! I know. I’m a fool. What are you?
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God . . . .” (Psalm 14:1, NASB95)
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said: "God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools, and he has not been disappointed. If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world."
Penny Brown Roberts, “Scalia: Faithful Live for Christ,” theadvocate.com
It seems that from whichever direction one chooses to consider things, somebody is a fool! The Psalmist declared that the fool has announced to himself, “There is no God.” On the other hand, the worldly view of the non-God crowd is that those who believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, are just a bunch of fools. See, somebody is a fool.
Consider for a moment the person who believes in God and Jesus. This person doesn’t come to believe in a vacuum. After all, he or she has had to deal with the biblical explanation of the Universe itself. They have been forced to confront the obvious about themselves: there is something terribly wrong with people, and it’s called sin. They have heard that there is good news proclaimed in the name of Jesus and it’s good because it has to do with the solution to our sin problem. They have it on the word of God that while life may bring sorrows and tragedies, and end in death, ultimately there is a resurrection to life and an eternal home in heaven. Foolishness, declares the non-God folks.
So what does the unbeliever have to offer us? Frankly, nothing. Any appeal to human wisdom immediately runs into the reality wall. Any appeal to technology, philosophy, or any number of promising areas of benefit to humankind fails to generate much hope. After all, the evidence in whatever area one might care to explore, reveals not just failure, but hopelessness.
Which fool’s creed is better? One that consistently produces hopelessness or one that consistently produces hope? In one sense, we get to choose what kind of foolishness we’ll believe, and what kind of fool we’ll be.
If the biblical message about Jesus isn’t true, if he didn’t take away our sins, if he didn’t rise from the dead and if he’s not coming back to gather us to our eternal reward, then it doesn’t matter what we choose. If it’s true, then it makes all the difference in the world. Perhaps this is one reason the Psalmist understood so well the root problem of the real fool. He is the one who declared God nonexistent. He says to himself that God isn’t true. But, God if God is true, then the real fool is the one who says he isn’t. I believe God is! I know. I’m a fool. What are you?
© Copyright 2006, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Sunday, January 01, 2006
CrossTies Devotional Article For January 1, 2006
I Feel Like A New Man
By Bill Denton
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB95)
See each day as a chance for something new to happen, something you never experienced before. -- Sadie and Bessie Delany, Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no. 2.
Watch what happens during the last week of one year and the first week of the new year. People start talking about making resolutions, others get out their “goal setting” lists, and a few dispense with the formalities and just set out to improve themselves. There is something about a New Year that triggers brain cells to gear up, make plans, and do better.
I’ve got nothing against this at all. In fact, I sometimes make New Year’s resolutions. Not that I’m necessarily any more successful at achieving them than the next fellow, it’s something I feel compelled to do. The New Year blows in with all sorts of promise and hope and opportunity. Why not take advantage of it?
Christians should be thoroughly immersed in “newness.” When we became a Christian, we put off the old man and put on the new one. For us, old things passed away and new things were ushered in. Our baptism brought is into a new life as we experienced the passing of the old one. We live in relationship with God through the new covenant based on Jesus Christ. We practice a new commandment as we love one another as Jesus loved us. We are the new Jerusalem, the bride made ready for her husband. A new song is on our lips. Even the future is painted with scenes of a new heaven and a new earth. We have been renewed by the Holy Spirit, whose work involves the renewing of our minds, and transforming us from a sin-stained wretch to saint. Even as our physical bodies are wearing out, the inner man is being renewed daily. That’s a lot of “new” going on!
The point is simply this: Every day you wake up, God is at work in your life to make possible new things. Some of these new things you’ve never experienced before. They are new in the sense of time. Others compare to things you’ve experienced many times before, but they are new in the sense that they are renewed, made better, improved, better equipped, or simply made possible. You don’t have to wait for the New Year to show up. This is all happening to you, for you, and in you every moment you experience life.
I suppose New Year resolutions and goals could fit into our effort to participate in all this newness. Surely, there is something about the season that encourages these things. What I want you to see, though, is that each day the Lord blesses you with 24-hours worth of new. Then it starts over again the next day. Someone was once having one of those superb days of good health and great blessing. He said to his friend, “I feel like a new man!” In the truest sense, that’s us.
© Copyright 2005, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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By Bill Denton
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB95)
See each day as a chance for something new to happen, something you never experienced before. -- Sadie and Bessie Delany, Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no. 2.
Watch what happens during the last week of one year and the first week of the new year. People start talking about making resolutions, others get out their “goal setting” lists, and a few dispense with the formalities and just set out to improve themselves. There is something about a New Year that triggers brain cells to gear up, make plans, and do better.
I’ve got nothing against this at all. In fact, I sometimes make New Year’s resolutions. Not that I’m necessarily any more successful at achieving them than the next fellow, it’s something I feel compelled to do. The New Year blows in with all sorts of promise and hope and opportunity. Why not take advantage of it?
Christians should be thoroughly immersed in “newness.” When we became a Christian, we put off the old man and put on the new one. For us, old things passed away and new things were ushered in. Our baptism brought is into a new life as we experienced the passing of the old one. We live in relationship with God through the new covenant based on Jesus Christ. We practice a new commandment as we love one another as Jesus loved us. We are the new Jerusalem, the bride made ready for her husband. A new song is on our lips. Even the future is painted with scenes of a new heaven and a new earth. We have been renewed by the Holy Spirit, whose work involves the renewing of our minds, and transforming us from a sin-stained wretch to saint. Even as our physical bodies are wearing out, the inner man is being renewed daily. That’s a lot of “new” going on!
The point is simply this: Every day you wake up, God is at work in your life to make possible new things. Some of these new things you’ve never experienced before. They are new in the sense of time. Others compare to things you’ve experienced many times before, but they are new in the sense that they are renewed, made better, improved, better equipped, or simply made possible. You don’t have to wait for the New Year to show up. This is all happening to you, for you, and in you every moment you experience life.
I suppose New Year resolutions and goals could fit into our effort to participate in all this newness. Surely, there is something about the season that encourages these things. What I want you to see, though, is that each day the Lord blesses you with 24-hours worth of new. Then it starts over again the next day. Someone was once having one of those superb days of good health and great blessing. He said to his friend, “I feel like a new man!” In the truest sense, that’s us.
© Copyright 2005, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Friday, December 30, 2005
God With Us
God With Us
By Bill Denton
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, NASB95)
The true Christian religion ... does not begin at the top, as all other religions do; it begins at the bottom. You must run directly to the manger and the mother's womb, embrace this Infant and Virgin's Child in your arms, and look at Him--born, being nursed, growing up, going about in human society, teaching, dying, rising again, ascending above all the heavens, and having authority over all things. - Martin Luther in Lectures on Galatians. Christianity Today, Vol. 38, no. 14.
If you would like to do away with all the reservation, hesitation, and outright unbelief in Jesus as the Messiah, then start at his birth. Modern man has played down the meaning and implication of the doctrine of the Incarnation. Though we are seldom aware of it any more, the “Christmas” story is actually weighty doctrine. It is not, as many would have it, simply a pastoral manger scene suitable for a children’s play re-enactment, or for a drive-by “live” manger out in the church yard, complete with real sheep, a cow, and costumed shepherds and wise men. No, there is far more to the birth of Jesus than such scenes tend to convey.
When Jesus was born, he was as the Scriptures say, Emmanuel, “God with us.” If you get that one single point, if you understand that the baby born to Mary was God in the flesh of humanity, then you are prepared for all that follows. This child, though in every appearance, a human being like all the rest of us, was in every sense God as well. The mystery of the incarnation may still puzzle us, but once we accept this fundamental fact, the rest of the story of Jesus becomes completely understandable and acceptable.
Take the miracles of Jesus, as an example. Believing in a miracle worker is not easy, unless the miracle worker is God, and then miracles become easy to believe because of the one causing them to happen. Take Jesus’ offer to forgive sins. Now, who could do that except God alone, questioned the Jews, and us. Such a claim would be ridiculous, except for the fact that Jesus was the very one we acknowledge as possessing the power to forgive. Take his resurrection from the dead. Not only is resurrection from death completely unexpected, but according to the apostle Paul, it declares one more thing to us: Jesus was the Son of God. Start wherever you would like in the life of Jesus, and if you find it difficult to accept or believe, return to the stable where he was born and ask yourself, “Who was the child born to Mary?”
Once you settle the answer to that question, there is no more obstacle to belief. We do not have to wait for a man to become God, for God has already become man. All the power of divine grace, love and mercy found its grandest expression in that child. “God with us,” is the explanation we need. Rejoice at the birth of the Savior, who is Christ the Lord, God in the flesh. Get this point you will then see God at work in that Jesus says and does.
© Copyright 2005, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Wednesday, December 14, 2005
CrossTies Devotional Article for December 11, 2005
CrossTies Radio on the Internet is already reaching people near home
and on the other side of the world! To listen, click on the following link.
Do us a favor and listen, then promote to your friends and family. Thanks!
http://www.live365.com/stations/bdenton
Or, listen to the audio version of this devotional article. Just click on the link below:
http://www.clickcaster.com/clickcast/list/400
The Indescribable Gift
By Bill Denton
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15, NASB95)
Your standard man, at this point in the Christmas season, has purchased zero gifts. He has not yet gotten around to purchasing an acceptable gift for his wife for last Christmas. He did give her something last year, but he could tell by her reaction to it that she had not been dreaming of getting an auto emergency kit, even though it was the deluxe model with booster cables and an air compressor. Clearly this gift violated an important rule, but the man had no idea what this rule was, and his wife was too upset to tell him.
Dave Barry, "Your Gift Is in the Male,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44760-2004Dec7.html (12-12-04)
Men are notorious gift-givers. OK, that may be a misleading statement, because Dave Barry probably has us men pegged accurately. We’re not all that great at buying gifts. We think we’re being practical, the person for whom we bought the gift thinks we’re nuts. When it comes to gift-giving, most of us men could use a little help.
I remember a time when I asked my wife what she wanted for her birthday. She said, “Oh, nothing.” Now, being the very logical, practical person that I am, I took her at her word. When her birthday rolled around, there was no present. Let’s just say that I try not to make the same mistake any more. I read somewhere about a fellow who bought his wife a rain gauge for their anniversary. After all, being a farmer’s daughter, she often kept up with the weather. His gift is now one of the family jokes, and I suspect he shops with a different purpose now-a-days. I’ve heard all kinds of gift stories. Some of them make you scratch your head and wonder what in the world that guy was thinking about when he bought that. Others make you smile as you realize how well-intentioned the gift was, but how far off the mark it ended up. Some get the “Oh, no!” response as you realize the gift was really what the giver himself wanted. And, most of these stories are tales about men’s attempts at gift-giving.
Thankfully, not everyone is so gift-challenged. Plenty of wives have opened up a little black felt box and gasped at the sparkling gem inside. Or, they’ve opened the door and found one of those huge red bows topping a new car. Or, they opened a card to read a not-so-bad attempt at love poetry. There have been children shocked when Dad actually got that new bicycle or the pony. Occasionally, we men can come through with a great gift.
There is One who has come through with the greatest gift of all. When God sent His Son, Jesus into the world to die for our sins, and to rise from the dead to give hope of eternal life, it was the gift of all gifts. No gift-loaded Christmas tree has ever secreted a gift as loving, as desperately needed, as beautiful, or as magnificent. We may struggle to give appropriate gifts, but God has come through for us with a gift for all time, for all eternity. It’s an indescribable gift!
© Copyright 2005, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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and on the other side of the world! To listen, click on the following link.
Do us a favor and listen, then promote to your friends and family. Thanks!
http://www.live365.com/stations/bdenton
Or, listen to the audio version of this devotional article. Just click on the link below:
http://www.clickcaster.com/clickcast/list/400
The Indescribable Gift
By Bill Denton
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15, NASB95)
Your standard man, at this point in the Christmas season, has purchased zero gifts. He has not yet gotten around to purchasing an acceptable gift for his wife for last Christmas. He did give her something last year, but he could tell by her reaction to it that she had not been dreaming of getting an auto emergency kit, even though it was the deluxe model with booster cables and an air compressor. Clearly this gift violated an important rule, but the man had no idea what this rule was, and his wife was too upset to tell him.
Dave Barry, "Your Gift Is in the Male,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44760-2004Dec7.html (12-12-04)
Men are notorious gift-givers. OK, that may be a misleading statement, because Dave Barry probably has us men pegged accurately. We’re not all that great at buying gifts. We think we’re being practical, the person for whom we bought the gift thinks we’re nuts. When it comes to gift-giving, most of us men could use a little help.
I remember a time when I asked my wife what she wanted for her birthday. She said, “Oh, nothing.” Now, being the very logical, practical person that I am, I took her at her word. When her birthday rolled around, there was no present. Let’s just say that I try not to make the same mistake any more. I read somewhere about a fellow who bought his wife a rain gauge for their anniversary. After all, being a farmer’s daughter, she often kept up with the weather. His gift is now one of the family jokes, and I suspect he shops with a different purpose now-a-days. I’ve heard all kinds of gift stories. Some of them make you scratch your head and wonder what in the world that guy was thinking about when he bought that. Others make you smile as you realize how well-intentioned the gift was, but how far off the mark it ended up. Some get the “Oh, no!” response as you realize the gift was really what the giver himself wanted. And, most of these stories are tales about men’s attempts at gift-giving.
Thankfully, not everyone is so gift-challenged. Plenty of wives have opened up a little black felt box and gasped at the sparkling gem inside. Or, they’ve opened the door and found one of those huge red bows topping a new car. Or, they opened a card to read a not-so-bad attempt at love poetry. There have been children shocked when Dad actually got that new bicycle or the pony. Occasionally, we men can come through with a great gift.
There is One who has come through with the greatest gift of all. When God sent His Son, Jesus into the world to die for our sins, and to rise from the dead to give hope of eternal life, it was the gift of all gifts. No gift-loaded Christmas tree has ever secreted a gift as loving, as desperately needed, as beautiful, or as magnificent. We may struggle to give appropriate gifts, but God has come through for us with a gift for all time, for all eternity. It’s an indescribable gift!
© Copyright 2005, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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Monday, December 05, 2005
CrossTies Devotional Article for December 4, 2005
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Problems With Christmas
By Bill Denton
While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7, NASB95)
We often talk about the night before Christmas, but what do you think about on the morning after Christmas? I've been thinking about this wonderful thing called "the spirit of Christmas." Have you noticed it? Once a year toward the winter solstice, something odd happens. People's attitudes go through an annual change. People start talking about peace and goodwill. They go out of their way to give and forgive. Families get together. We call this different atmosphere "the spirit of Christmas." -- Stuart Briscoe, “Christmas 365 Days A Year,” PreachingToday.com
Depending on who is talking, you might hear several criticisms or problems with Christmas. As I see it, the problems revolved around three basic facts. Some think that to bring up these things we’re being negative or picky. Well, hold on, because that’s not true, but we do need to consider the three facts from which the problems spring.
The first is the date itself. At best, it’s an arbitrary date. The truth is that we just don’t know when Jesus was born. Some believe December 25 is a good guess, others think it’s considerably off. But, we need to avoid the extreme position of some people who do all they can to “uncelebrate” Jesus’ birth because they dislike the date. The more important fact is that he was born, and it’s not all that uncommon for us to pick arbitrary dates to celebrate a person’s birth. Focus on the essential truth here instead of the one nobody is going to resolve.
The second is the celebration itself. The Bible does not tell us to celebrate the birth of Jesus. There is plenty of emphasis on celebrating his death in the Lord’s supper, but celebrating Jesus’ birth just isn’t there. Then again, how do we leave it out? You can’t get to his death without first getting to his birth. Not only that, but looking at the good news in Jesus, you will discover that everything about him revolves around five fundamental facts: the incarnation; the crucifixion; the resurrection; the ascension; and his return. The truth is that the incarnation of Jesus is what sets up all the others. Now, you can eliminate a birthday party if you want, but don’t go so far that you miss the essential truth of God come in the flesh that happened at his birth.
The third is quite different from the first two. They are more biblical or theological in nature. The third problem has more to do with the brevity of the celebration. Stuart Briscoe’s observation is right. When people begin thinking about the birth of Jesus, something happens to the “spirit” of the people. But, this may bring us to the greatest of all problems with Christmas: it’s too brief of a celebration. All the good-will is focused down on a week or two at the end of the year. Briscoe’s sermon goes on to bemoan the fleeting nature of the “spirit of Christmas,” and he’s right about that. What a difference it would be if Christ were our focus all year long.
© Copyright 2005, Dr. Bill DentonAll Rights Reserved.Articles may not be reprinted in any "for profit" publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy. http://www.crossties.org
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