Pine Grove Christian Fellowship

I'm going to start posting once or twice a week to bring to your attention some things worth reading. In fact, I'll title the post "Worth Reading" and add consecutive numbering. Don't worry. These won't be things I write.(Often they'll be drawn from places like World Magazine, which offers a Christian viewpoint on the news.)

The first is a column by Andrée Seu (Barbara's favorite columnist in World Magazine.) The title is "No glib utterances" (July 18, 2009 issue). She covers a lot of ground in this piece, but it's all about issues common to us all.

On finding God's will: "Don't let some platonic fiction of 100 percent certainty keep you from doing something you are 80 percent certain God wants you to do." In other words, if we always insist on being totally certain before acting, we'll never act. God wants us to act, and often we must leave some room for faith.

On discouragement: "I discovered that discouragement is a choice I make and not something that happens to me." Yes, it might not be easy, but when we're discouraged we can do something about it.

On involvement: "Every time I have gotten involved in some Christian work, or with some group of people, I have not at first wanted to; I would have preferred to stay in my cozy home. And every time, I have ended up glad I got involved." That's a temptation to most (maybe all) of us. Resist it and you'll be rewarded.  

On obeying God: "And the best kept secret about obedience in the face of a hard temptation is that there is a blessing waiting on the other side. Satan doesn't want us to know that. He would prefer the usual succumb-and-repent routine." That's laying it right on the line.

On sound theology: "If a person has impeccable theology but no love and no joy, I am suspicious of his theology. He hasn't understood the first thing." Lots of people should plead "guilty" to that one, and a "guilty" plea is also an admission of pride.

This one on forgiveness: "When you ask for forgiveness, make it clean. Resist the temptation to tack on qualifications or excuses. Do this even if the other person is more at fault than you." Forgiveness -- the big need. I don't think there are any limits to thoughts about forgiveness, just like there's no limit to a merciful God's grace to forgive.

One more, this one produced the title of the essay: "Every time you open your mouth, you are either building up or tearing down, ministering or manipulating, sowing for the kingdom or sowing for hell. How fearfully consequential are our most glib utterances." What we say matters. Let's build up, minister, and sow for the kingdom.

That's enough here, maybe more than enough. If it's not, CLICK HERE to read Andrée Seu's entire essay "No glib utterances."  --Steve