SOUL Newsletter
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The Nail
The congregation built a new church building and people came from far and wide to see it... They admired its beauty. Up on the roof, a little nail heard the people praising everything about the lovely structure -- except the nail. No one even knew he was there, and he became angry and jealous. "If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit!" So the nail then released its hold, slid down the roof, and fell in the mud.
That night it rained and rained. Soon, the shingle that had no nail blew away, and the roof began to leak. The water streaked the walls and the beautiful murals. The plaster began to fall, the carpet was stained, and the pulpit Bible was ruined by water. All this because a little nail decided to quit! But what of the nail? While holding the shingle, it was obscure but it was also useful. Buried in the mud it was just as obscure, but now it was useless and would soon be eaten up by rust!
THOUGHT: Every member is important to the church. You may, like the nail, feel obscure at times, but just like the nail, your absence is felt. When you are not present for worship, in some way the body of Christ hurts. We are all a part of the Lord's building.
"For we are all God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9
People are unreasonable, illogical. and self centered.
LOVE THEM ANYWAY.
If you do good people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives
DO GOOD ANYWAY.
If you are successful, you win false and true enemies,
SUCCEED ANYWAY.
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,
DO GOOD ANYWAY.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,
BE FRANK AND HONEST ANYWAY.
What you've spent years building may be destroyed overnight,
BUILD ANYWAY
Give the world the best you have and you may get kicked in the teeth,
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU HAVE ANYWAY
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From A Sign In Mother Teresa's Childrens Home In Calcutta, India
TRUE DISCIPLESHIP
- The civilized build shelters and invite God to stay with them
- Disciples move with God wherever He chooses to go
- The civilized Christian has a routine
- The disciple of Jesus has a mission
- The civilized believer knows the letter of the law
- The serious disciple lives the spirit of the law
- The religiously civilized love tradition
- The discipleship spirit loves challenge
- The civilized are satisfied with ritual
- Disciples live and thrive in the mystical
- For the civilized, religion provides stability and certainty
- For the disciple, a life in God is one of risk and ministry
Let no one look down on you because of your youth, bet be a continuing example of love, faith, and purity to believers. 1 Tim. 4:12
December 2006
