THINK ABOUT IT               6-2-25      
 DEAD PASSIVITY

Most readers will remember (some with just a trace of nostalgia) his or her early struggles to learn the difference between the active and the passive voice in English grammar, and how it finally dawned that in the active voice, the subject performs an act; in the passive voice, the subject is acted upon. Thus, “I love” is active, and “I am loved” is passive.

A good example of this distinction is to be found at the nearest mortuary. There the undertaker is active and the dead are passive. One acts while the others receive the action.

Now what is normal in a mortuary may be, and in this instance is, altogether abnormal in a church. Yet we have somehow gotten ourselves into a state where almost all church religion is passive. A limited number of professionals act, and the mass of religious people are content to receive the action. The minister, like the undertaker, performs his professional service while the members of the congregation relax and passively “enjoy” the service.

One reason for this condition is the failure of the clergy to grasp the true purpose of preaching. There is a feeling that the work of the preacher is to instruct merely, whereas the real work of the preacher is to instruct with an end to securing moral action from the hearers. As long as there has been no moral response to the instruction, the hearers are passive merely and might as well be dead. Indeed, in one sense they are dead already.- A W Tozer

Prayer: “Lord, deliver me from casket living! I’m alive in Christ” Think about it!

David Stone   

Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble, Tx

THINK ABOUT IT        5-26-25

“Brother Stone, I received this today from a friend that I served with in Viet Nam.  He was the last one of the six of us that made it to the copter that got us out of Laos. This comes from someone who has his own opinion of this day. If you would like to share this feel free to do so, if not I understand.
Brother Willie Bingaman”

Bro. Bingaman is a faithful member of Lakeway Baptist Church and a dear friend– a true hero in my eyes. HDS

Memorial Day
 
Please do not wish me Happy Memorial Day.  We hear that phrase “Happy Memorial Day” every year because as Americans we have forgotten the significance of this day.  We are deluged with advertisements to buy TV’s, Mattresses,  Hot Dogs, Cars, Boats, any and all sorts of merchandise.  Picnics, Family reunions, beach vacations are the standard of the day.  I asked a high school student working at the local Publix if she knew the meaning of the day when she wished me a Happy Memorial Day she said it has something to do with veterans.  I asked if they discussed it in school and the answer was “not really.”  We should all find the previous disappointedly sad.   Of all of the American Holidays this day is our most solemn.   While we should thank our Veterans and active duty personnel every opportunity but, this is not their day.  Nor is it a “Happy” day.
 
Memorial Day is the day we should honor and celebrate those who are no longer with us.  those who gave their lives during their service to insure our liberty.  Those who made their last trip home beneath the precious flag, draped over their simple casket.  Today they make the final journey on something called Angel Flights.  In the past they returned upon ships or have remained on foreign soil where they fell or at sea placed reverently  by their shipmates.  That soil will forever be part of America.  Some have never had the dignity to be interned for they are those “Missing in Action” or still in the hulk of ships lost.    These fallen are the empty chairs at the table, the ache in the heart of those who loved them.  They are the true heroes of America.   They are the ones we celebrate on Memorial Day.
 
Today we pay our respects to the over 1,354,664 American heroes who have given there lives so that we can live in the freedom we all enjoy.  They gave their lives so that we may all have the opportunity to succeed, to pursue our own happiness, to live without government controlling our lives.  To confuse Memorial day with all veterans is to dilute the true meaning of the day.  
 
America has changed since it’s founding.  Some change is for the better but unfortunately many have not been.  Media people freely admit they are uncomfortable referring to our service personnel as heroic.  In the recent past Democrat politicians referred to soldiers in combat as acting like Gestapo thugs.   Groups are suing towns and cities to remove crosses erected to honor the fallen and have received favorable rulings from some courts.  There is even a group that wants ALL crosses removed at military cemeteries because it is public land and crosses promotes religion.  American flags have been removed from schools because it may insight violence by those in this country illegally.  Finally, some Muslim groups (not all Muslims) want all American flags removed because it is offensive to them.   On many college campuses conservative speakers are attacked and shouted down because the only free speech is speech approved by leftists.  And we live in a country deeply divided into left and right camps.  We are losing basic freedoms because there is a lack of knowledge about the rights granted by God and enumerated in the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.   The rights being eroded are the very basis of our liberty fought for by those that surrendered their lives.
 
It has been said that the strength of a nation can be measured by honors bestowed by it’s citizens to those who died protecting them.  If this is in fact true we are a nation in decline.  But, this may not be our future.  Teaching the young our history, what our Constitution means and why it is written the way it is will be a start.  Importantly understanding that many gave their lives to not just protect them from foreign  tyranny but also from corruption within our own government.  
 
So today I ask that everyone reading this take a few moments to remember the fallen and say thank you for your sacrifice.  You may not have a family member or know anyone who gone but know this, a soldier somewhere gave their life for you and they never knew you.  Just a moment is not much to ask, for they have no more moments…
 
Anyone who wishes to share this message feel free.  It has already been paid for….  God Bless America…
 
Thomas Blas
Memorial Day 2018  

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346

THINK ABOUT IT                  5-10-25

A MEDITATION ON MOTHERS
Throughout history people have looked for just the right words to express their feelings for mothers—a tall order. The brightest minds and most sincere hearts have taken pen in hand and made their best effort to describe their affection for and appreciation of their mothers. They have written letters, cards, poems and songs, but it is beyond their ability to fully express what they feel. You might as well try to count the stars as to measure the worth of a godly mother.

How do you put a price on her tender touch, constant care, sweet smile, and lasting love? A mother’s work is difficult, influence is great, love is strong, care is essential, wisdom is needed, character is crucial, and value is immense. So how can you possibly express your true feelings? We look for cards that are meaningful and gifts that are impressive, yet we know when all is said and done we haven’t done nearly enough to give her what she truly deserves. There is simply no way to repay a godly mother for her contribution to the world. She is deprived of what she deserves. Yet she loves us. That’s the marvel of mothers!

Although mothers shine bright in a lot of ways, perhaps they shine brightest in the fact that they keep going when there seems to be every reason to quit. They do what they do out of love, not for reward. They continue to love us although we keep failing them. Although they appreciate our expressions of love they keep loving us when we fail to provide it. Over-worked and under appreciated they go above and beyond they duty, caring for others who fail to care for them. And that makes them all the more deserving of the best we can give. Not being able to give them all they deserve doesn’t mean we can’t give them the best we’ve got.

It is a terrible thing to think about those poor souls who have been deprived of having a godly mother, and there are many–far more than there should be. So if you are one of those who are blessed with a godly mother please do everything in your power to show her that you you love and appreciate her every day of the year. Remember, some have never had the privilege and others live each day with only the memories of their dear mother who has departed this life. You have the privilege of her presence, take advantage of it while you can. Show her how blessed you are by being a blessing to her.

If you are a mother I pray that someone will do something to make this Mother’s Day a very special time in your life. You will never receive all you deserve in this world, but God will not fail to reward you for all you’ve done. It’s just a matter of time! – HDS

Happy Mother’s Day!
Bro. Stone

Sent by David Stone on Thursday, April 24 at 6:30AM

THINK ABOUT IT               4-22-25

I suspect that many of you have heard or read it, but in case some haven’t I’m sending it today.- Bro. Stone

IF I WERE THE DEVIL

If I were the devil … If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I’d have a third of it’s real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — Thee. So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first — I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’

“To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘square.’ And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington…’

“And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa. I’d pedal narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

“If I were the devil I’d soon have families that war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

“Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography — soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

“If I were the devil I’d take from those, and who have, and give to those wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And what do you bet? I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work, in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil I’d just keep right on doing on what he’s doing. Paul Harvey, good day.”

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346