I was at the corner grocery store buying some potatoes. I noticed a small boy. He seemed clean even though his clothes were ragged. He had his eyes fixed on the display of fresh green beans. While I looked at some fresh peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged little boy standing next to me. “Hello Barry, how are you today?” “Hello Mr. Miller. I’m fine, thank you. Just admiring them green beans. They sure look good.” “They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?” “Fine. Getting stronger all the time.” “Good. Anything I can help you with?” “No sir. Just admiring them beans.” “Would you like to take some home with you?” Asked Mr. Miller. “No sir. Got no money to pay for them.” “Well, what do you have that you could trade me for some beans?” “All I got is my prize marble here.” “Is that right? Let me see it,” said Miller. “Here, she ‘s a dandy.” “I can see that. Hmm, mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of wanted a red one. Do you have a red one like this at home?” Asked Mr. Miller. “Not exactly, but almost.” I tell you what. Take this sack of beans home with you and the next time you come this way let me look at the red marble.” “Mr. Miller told the boy. “Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.” Mrs. Miller, who was standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile on her face she said, “There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, beans apples tomatoes or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and sends them home with a bag of produce and ask them to bring a green or orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.” I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by and I had a chance to visit some old friends in that Idaho community. While I was there, I learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and my friends and I wanted to go. Upon arrival at the mortuary, we fell into the long line there to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer words of comfort. Just ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two had nice haircuts and wore dark suits with white shirts and ties. They approached Mrs. Miller, who was standing composed and smiling beside her husband’s casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty blue eyes followed them as, one by one each of them stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left with tears in their eyes. As I approached Mrs. Miller, I told her who I was and reminded her of the story she had told me of her husband bartering with the three little boys. With her eyes glistening, she led me to the casket. “Those three young men that just left were the three boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim “traded” them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about the color or size…. they came to pay their debt.” “We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world, but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.” With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.
“It’s not what you take, but what you leave that counts.” †
What is the purpose of having a Church?
Most people can’t answer this question appropriately. This is probably the largest reason why the church is in the condition it’s in today. We have Pastors standing in the pulpits telling their jokes every week, making everyone burst out with laughter. Most congregations love this, because as long as he is in the lime light, he’s not talking about their sins. Pardon us, but we can’t find Chapter or Verse in the Bible that instructs the Pastors to joke from God’s Holy Podium. Then you have Pastors that talk about the community news every Sunday and when that gets boring, they move to the world news. We know that keeping up with events around the world is important, but we can’t find Chapter or Verse in the Bible that instructs us to use God’s House for community gossip. Our point is this, going to God’s House is to receive God’s Word delivered under the anointing of the Holy Ghost, to encourage those that are in despair and to warn those that are in sin. God’s Word is God’s Word. If your Pastor is doing what God called him to do, he’s delivering the message, weekly, that will lift you up or step on your toes. More often than not, people dislike it when someone steps on their toes, they get upset and before long they begin searching for a place that simply makes them feel good about themselves. Church is a gathering place where Christians can share their needs by giving in their prayer request and their blessings through their praise reports. Church is the place where we go to learn more of God’s Holy Word and we can’t do that by listening to jokes or sharing in community gossip. Church is where God’s people can come to get refueled and if they are coming for the right reason, they will. It’s a place where sinners can come to hear the truth about their future. We’ve yet found a sinner that got saved from a feel good sermon. Don’t get us wrong, we should all feel good about ourselves if we are Born Again, but it was the Word of God that drew us unto repentance and nothing else. Church is a refuge, a place where you can always go to find comfort and not persecution. A man of God will always tell you the truth and sometimes the truth cuts deeper than a two edged sword. In many cases the truth hurts, but it will set you free from your bondage and give you comfort in places where deception could never trod, “Your Soul”. Many families, today, are church hopping. They go here awhile and there awhile. If the truth is being preached, it’s the same everywhere. People that leave church because of sore toes, are seeking comfort for their flesh instead of their soul. Everyone should belong to a Church where they are loved and appreciated. They should have a church family that will stand by them in times of need. A family that will comfort them when they fall and not cast stones. We pray that you have such a Church Family. †
Request This Month
We simply ask that you continue to support and stand with Ministry, to go forward doing God’s will, leading the lost to Jesus Christ’s saving grace. God Bless!
