Recently we sold all of the remaining cattle from my grandfathers estate. Well, all but one. The "red Angus bull" remains on the farm all by his lonesome. He, unlike the others, was too wild to get into the barn. In years past, we successfully secured him in the barn lot only to watch as he tore up the fence or jumped what he did not demolish.
Talking with others about this situation one of those in the audience told me of another bull that needed encouragement. It seems that a farmer bought two bulls and attempted to load them into a trailer for transport. Both bulls were loaded into the same trailer with ease. Once in the trailer, the two started to determine dominance. This ruckus resulted in the trailer being destroyed and both bulls ending up in the middle of a field. One of the bulls loaded the second time with little trouble. The other, well he was determined to express his displeasure with being couped up. He successfully rolled one farmer and his four-wheeler (several times) and proceeded to run over every other attempt to corral him. He just was not going to be brought under control. The owner had decided that the only way the bull was going to be carried off the field was by shooting him with a high powered rifle and then taking him to the packing house for consumption. As the events unfolded, a neighbor offered his help in loading the bull on the trailer, only if the owner would do what he asked. It was agreed to try one more time employing the exact directions from the neighbor.
The neighbor disappeared into his house, returning in a few moments with two boxes of shotgun shells and a shotgun. The bulls owner was instructed to shoot the bull every time the bull started to attack or wonder off. As the neighbor drove the bull towards the barn the owner was prepared to shoot the bull whenever he ventured from the desired direction. Each time the bull started to wander, he was stunned with the pellets from the shot gun shell. Finally, the bull was herded into the barn....success.
A box of shotgun shells contains 25 shells. It took 49 shells to "encourage" the bull to obey. Wow! This bull was stubborn and determined not to be caught. With the right motivation he finally obeyed.
At times, we are hemmed up by sin in the same manner. We try everything possible to "get out of sin" with little success. What we lack is the right motivation. With the right motivation we can accomplish most, if not all our spiritual goals.
Why do we sin? Why do we allow ourselves to be caught up in things that harm us or keep us separated from God? The simple answer is selfishness. We do what we want. When we want to be righteous we will be successful. Our desire to live righteously will provide the proper motivation.
When we become a child of God, we "put Christ on" (Gal. 3:26-27). Our desires should glorify God, not ourselves. Paul encourages, "be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds" (Romans 12:1-2). This transformation occurs when we give our lives to God. God as our Father should produce godly desires.
It is human to have desires. It is righteous to change our desires to be those of God. With our desires being godly our motivation will be to bring honor and glory to God, not fulfilling our fleshly desires.
With the proper motivation we will live as we desire. With God as our Father, our desire is to be a faithful child. What motivates us? Prayerfully, we do not need 49 shots to head us in the right direction.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
"Winkler: 'I was worn out'"
The headline read, "Winkler: 'I was worn out'"(Tennessean.com). Whether or not one believes Mary Winkler, emotions run deep. Some feel for her and what she "endured," while others support Matthew Winkler.
Life is not a "do-over," like a video game. What's done is done. We don't get the chance to undo what has already been done. At best life is difficult and we all struggle to "keep our heads above water."
I am quite sure life in the Winkler home is much like that of most. We all struggle to make ends meet and our relationships are strained.
I knew Matthew and cannot say he did or did not do what Mary has claimed (I want to believe that he would not or could not be that kind of person, God alone knows his heart.) My concern lies in her apparent lack of concern for the Lord's church and quite frankly her lack of trust in God and His people. I realize that no one can feel what she felt, or know what she knows but the fact remains God was not at the focus of her thoughts and actions. (I cannot speak of Matthews mindset, he is not here to express himself.) Furthermore, I feel that she has exposed a sad reality in the lifes of many children of God.
This lack of God in our lives is evident by the lack of trust in Him and His promises. God will take care of us (Matt. 6, 10; II Pet. 1). Many of God's children try to take care our problems by ourselves. We hide our true feelings and grow weary of life and it's trails.
Children of God should have (do have) an audience with God and His people. We try to bury our hurts, groanings and problems instead of facing them with God in our heart. When we trust God, we know (beyond doubt) God will take care of us. He will mete our vengence on all who hurt His children (Rom. 12). He will bless those who bless His children, as a matter of fact He has promised a place of rest for His children (Hebrews 9).
The apostle Paul encourages us to "bear one another's burdens" (Gal. 6:1-2). Satan has produced great doubt in our minds and heart and leads us to be ashamed, afraid and "closed lips" when we need the prayers and support of our fellow brethren.
God and I should be a majority, add His people in the equation and there is absolutely nothing we cannot handle. Truth of the matter, God and I can overcome any and all situations we find ourselves in. If we only trust Him to provide and care for us.
I realize this sounds simple, and yet it is true. We cannot overcome without God. With God in my heart I will not sin against you nor will I sin with you. I will not take justice into my own hands, I will let God handle all who transgress His law.
"Trust God and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs. 3:5).
David Stofel
Life is not a "do-over," like a video game. What's done is done. We don't get the chance to undo what has already been done. At best life is difficult and we all struggle to "keep our heads above water."
I am quite sure life in the Winkler home is much like that of most. We all struggle to make ends meet and our relationships are strained.
I knew Matthew and cannot say he did or did not do what Mary has claimed (I want to believe that he would not or could not be that kind of person, God alone knows his heart.) My concern lies in her apparent lack of concern for the Lord's church and quite frankly her lack of trust in God and His people. I realize that no one can feel what she felt, or know what she knows but the fact remains God was not at the focus of her thoughts and actions. (I cannot speak of Matthews mindset, he is not here to express himself.) Furthermore, I feel that she has exposed a sad reality in the lifes of many children of God.
This lack of God in our lives is evident by the lack of trust in Him and His promises. God will take care of us (Matt. 6, 10; II Pet. 1). Many of God's children try to take care our problems by ourselves. We hide our true feelings and grow weary of life and it's trails.
Children of God should have (do have) an audience with God and His people. We try to bury our hurts, groanings and problems instead of facing them with God in our heart. When we trust God, we know (beyond doubt) God will take care of us. He will mete our vengence on all who hurt His children (Rom. 12). He will bless those who bless His children, as a matter of fact He has promised a place of rest for His children (Hebrews 9).
The apostle Paul encourages us to "bear one another's burdens" (Gal. 6:1-2). Satan has produced great doubt in our minds and heart and leads us to be ashamed, afraid and "closed lips" when we need the prayers and support of our fellow brethren.
God and I should be a majority, add His people in the equation and there is absolutely nothing we cannot handle. Truth of the matter, God and I can overcome any and all situations we find ourselves in. If we only trust Him to provide and care for us.
I realize this sounds simple, and yet it is true. We cannot overcome without God. With God in my heart I will not sin against you nor will I sin with you. I will not take justice into my own hands, I will let God handle all who transgress His law.
"Trust God and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs. 3:5).
David Stofel
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