If you think there isn’t a pride problem among Christians today, take the time to read some of the bios, web-pages, book covers, album covers, etc. It’s sickening! I just can’t imagine how some people gush all over themselves and still sleep at night. It’s tempting to use some of them as examples, but it isn’t my job to expose them or embarrass them. That’s God’s business. But I really do wish they would take the time to read ,and think about, what they’ve said. Some would discover that they’ve made a fool out of themselves. If they are as talented as they say they wouldn’t have to say it—it would be obvious.

I’m sure some of these folks mean well and think they are doing you a favor by providing all this information, but do they really have to use words like “sensational”, “brilliant”, etc. to tell about themselves? Some of them sound like a spiritual version of Rush Limbaugh on speed–they just can’t stop talking about themselves. Well, that’s my rant for the day. I just hope there is a lesson in this for all of us. We are just sinners saved by grace and none of us have anything to boast about, except Christ. If you’ve got a little extra time it would be good to read 1Corinthians 4:1-7. Paul had it right when he said,”But by the grace of God I am what I am—“(1 Cor.15:10). Think about it!

We live in troublesome times–I bet you’ve heard that before! In times like these, balance is very important. While we must not succumb to despair, neither should we shut our eyes and pretend that all is well. We need to face the cold hard facts. Unfortunately, with most people all the focus is on fun rather than the future–and they don’t like it one little bit when you call their attention to the impending danger ahead.   Charles Swindoll speaks to this issue in the excellent article below:

Have you noticed? Some people have the uncanny ability to see so far into tomorrow, you feel like you’re operating in the shadows of yesterday. While you and I are evaluating where we’ve been, those forward-thinking people are forever exploring where we’re going. Instead of reacting, they’re on the offense . . . probing, innovating, analyzing, and warning—always warning. While we search for ways to settle in and find comfort on our sofa-like surroundings, they are confronting the consequences of reality, facing the music before we even realize the prelude has begun.

Prophets, I suppose we could call them . . . seers who frown while others yawn . . . restless, troubled, contemplative souls. They’re not unlike the characters in a thought-jabbing cartoon published years ago. The whole message is contained in a single frame as the figures of a man and a woman are falling upside down through space.

“Gertrude,” says the man, “we can’t go on living like this!”

Those who slumber in the sleepy, warm twilight of sundown, finding a great deal of security in the mediocrity and predictability of sameness, cannot bring themselves to see either potential danger or possible tragedy. But those who see their world adrift, moving all too rapidly toward a bleak and disastrous dawn, shout across the chasm of complacency, “We can’t go on living like this!”

Perhaps they are not upside down after all. They just seem that way. Thinking ahead keeps them topsy-turvy in their heads. While chatty, laughing tourists are taking snapshots of the lowlands with rose-colored filters, those lean, tough-minded climbers have scaled the rugged peaks. It gives them a stark view of what’s ahead. Tomorrow’s storm keeps them from enjoying today’s lull. They’re hard to live with, sometimes impossible to understand.

Robert Greenleaf, in his classic book Servant Leadership, recalls a story which grew out of Beethoven’s composition, the C# Minor Quartet, Opus 131. When first played in the composer’s lifetime, it appeared to be unlike anything the master had ever written before. “Ludwig,” a friend asked, “what has happened? We don’t understand you anymore.” It is reported that Beethoven, with a sigh, replied, “I have said all that I have to say to my contemporaries; now I am speaking to the future.”

If you are one of those seers, a tomorrow-thinker in a world of yesterday-dwellers, take heart. Realize that you must be true to yourself. While you may not be applauded for your warnings, you will be rewarded for your efforts. Just be patient with those who lack your zest and zeal. Say your piece, make your contribution, shout, if you must . . . but keep in mind that prophets were seldom heeded, rarely thanked, and never popular

I just read an article entitled,” Is Krakatoa Volcanco Preparing to Rock The World”. A picture of the bright orange lava-spewing volcano really brought the article to life. Here’s part of the article:

“Towering 1,200 ft. above the tropical stillness of the Sunda Strait in Indonesia, one of the most terrifying volcanoes the world has ever known has begun to stir once more—-With the explosive force 13,000 times the power of the atomic bomb that annihilated Hiroshima, the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa killed more than 36,000 people and radically altered global weather and temperatures for years afterwards. The eruption was so violent and catastrophic that no active volcano in modern times has come close to rivaling it—-are we about to experience the horrors of Krakatoa once again?”

As I read that article, I began thinking about an explosion of a different sort. The Bible warns us about it and the news media enables us to see it coming. Storm clouds are gathering. Tensions, fueled by hate and ignorance, are on the rise around the world. Nations are plotting the downfall of nations and there is little concern about collateral damage. For years we here in America have been shielded from the dangers others have had to face and, living in the lap of luxury, we’ve grown accustom to getting what we want. But that is about to change. It appears that the long period of peace we’ve enjoyed is about to be broken. We see evidence of this in many ways.

One of the ominous clouds hanging over us is the rapid rise of militia groups across the U.S. Bart McEntire, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said this is the most growth he has seen in more than a decade. In his report he said, “All it’s lacking is a spark.”

Dear friends, that “spark” could happen at any moment. Coach Dave Daubenmire recently wrote an article called, “I Fear For President Obama.” In the article he speaks about the building up of pressure until it reaches the breaking point. By way of warning, he said, “can you rewind your memory to Rodney King and the chaos played out on the streets of LA?—what if the pressure builds so powerfully that the geyser must blow—.”

I’m convinced that the average person doesn’t realize that we are sitting on a powder keg and that one little spark could ignite a national conflict and problems the likes of which we have never imagined. People simply do not understand how bad things can get and how quickly it can happen.

Steven Emerson recently wrote an article called “The Creeping Homegrown Threat.” In it he mentions several major cases involving “the problem of homegrown Islamic terrorism” during the last year. He then refers to the large number of radical organizations “that teach and imbue their followers with a hatred of the United States and Israel.” He says, “These groups front as civil-rights groups, but in fact are radical Islamic groups whose constant message disseminated to the millions of Muslim followers is that the U.S. is an evil country engaged in a war against Islam.” He then adds, “The U.S. is becoming more like Europe — We have a major problem on our hands that no one is addressing.” He is exactly right. The truth is that most people do not even know who the real enemy is.

Now, maybe you’re wondering, “Why all the negativity? Why spend so much time talking about things that are so depressing?” The answer is simple – because nothing ever changes for the better until we recognize the problem. Warnings aren’t pleasant, but they are necessary. Just sitting back singing “Happy Days are here again” won’t solve our problems and prevent disaster. Our nation, our churches, and our families are in peril and folks need to know that. A faithful dog will bark when his master’s home is invaded, shall we do any less when the things we hold dear are in jeopardy? Whether people listen or not every Christian has an obligation to warn others of impending danger.

Even as I was writing this article, someone sent me an audio clip of James Manning, a black preacher, on You-tube. It’s called “James Manning Warns Obama That People Are Going to Rise Up!” We need to be warned-danger is ahead and not dealing with it will be fatal. Remember folks, “All it’s lacking is a spark.” THINK ABOUT IT!

So you’ve decided to quit? Let me guess:

“No one appreciates what I do.”

“I was sick and nobody came to see me.”

“I didn’t get the position I wanted.”

“I’m much better qualified than they are.”

“They ignored me.”

“They hurt me.”

“I’m tired.”

The list goes on and on. I’ve heard them all before. I get the picture-you feel hurt and you want people to know it. I’ve been there done that. We all have. But not everybody quits. So why are you? “I just need to be encouraged”, you say. No, it’s more likely that you need a swift kick in the backside!

“But I deserve better”, you say. You really don’t want to go there. If you got what you deserved it would be much worse than it is. What makes you think you deserve a problem free life? Were it not for God’s mercies we would all be consumed.

Listen, it’s time you stopped acting like a baby. You didn’t get your way so you’re going to take your toys and go home. That’s pathetic! Grow up. This is the real world. Stop and take a good look at your own life. The chances are good that you will discover that you’re not so good. You are just as bad or worse than the people you criticize. You complain because they didn’t show you any special attention and you haven’t made a hospital visit in the last ten years. Gimme a break, you quit a long time ago. You just want people to know that you are mad.

“But”, you say, “I don’t have any friends.” Whose fault is that? You won’t like the answer, but you are the one to blame. “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly—“(Proverbs 18:24). If you drag around with a sour look on your face, never ministering to others, don’t expect the world to beat a path to your door!

Suppose everything you say is true-you have been horribly mistreated. The fact is that we live in a fallen world and some people are as mean as a junkyard dog. Life isn’t always fair, fun , and easy. People will mistreat you, there’s no doubt about it, but what does that have to do with you quitting? Absolutely nothing. Our duty doesn’t end just because conditions are unfavorable. By the way stop laying the blame on God by saying, “The Lord is leading me to do it.” In most cases He has nothing to do with it.

Have you ever thought about who else might quit because you do? Your foolish actions could cause your spouse, your children, or your grandchildren to do the same. You will have to answer for that. Your fit of anger, dereliction of duty, and childish behavior can do untold damage. And, that’s not something God is going to wink at.

You got mad and quit-now you’re probably mad at me. You’re mad because I told you the truth, not because I mistreated you. So where will this end? If you quit the church, what else will you quit when things don’t go your way-your marriage? Your job? Where does it end?

I’m not trying to minimize your problems, nor be cruel. My hope is to shock you into reality. Your choice to quit has nothing to do with others. It has everything to do with you. It’s a reflection of your character. You can determine the greatness of a person by what it takes to stop him. If he has a Christ-like character nothing will stop him.

If you want to quit something, quit complaining, quit feeling sorry for yourself, quit blaming others, quit expecting people to treat you like royalty, quit thinking you deserve an easier life than that of Christ. No one has beaten you beyond recognition and nailed you to a cross. You’ve never had to suffer the horror of being banished from the presence of God. There are no nail prints in your hands, nor wound from a spear in your side. Until you’ve suffered like that, never speak again of quitting.

Now I have just one favor to ask. Please keep a copy of this article and send it to me if I ever speak of deserting my post of Christian duty. There is no stopping place in this life. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”(2 Timothy 2:3). He never quit on you! THINK ABOUT IT!

Someone sent me an email telling me how much they appreciated “MORNING MANIA”. Are you paying attention? They weren’t. Had they been paying attention they would have noticed that it is “Manna”, not “Mania”. I don’t mention this to rebuke them, I deeply appreciate their kindness and I needed a good laugh. I’m simply using this to point out the need to pay attention. In a case like this it is no big deal, but in some cases it can be serious.

Thousands die in car wrecks every year because someone wasn’t paying attention. The latest craze among teens is to “text” while they are driving. There has already been several fatalities as a result of this. Using a cell phone while you are driving is bad enough, I can’t even imagine how anyone could think they can drive safe while sending a text message!

We could probably think of a 1001 applications that could be made in regards to the importance of paying attention, but I want to mention just one—we need to pay attention to God. When He speaks, and He does everytime the Bible is read, we need to pay attention, to listen carefully. Not paying attention to God leads to a lot of confusion and it can be deadly. We cannot afford to miss what God says. Whether it is a warning, a promise, a command, or counsel we need to know what God is saying.

Sadly our bad habit of not paying attention often carries over into our spiritual life. Some people sit through a church service looking straight ahead, as though they are listening, but their mind is in a place far far away. That reminds me of my childhood days ,as I stared out the window, day dreaming while the teacher was trying to teach. That might cause you to fail a class, but not listening to God can cause you to fail in life. When we stand before the Lord to give an account of ourselves, saying, “I wasn’t paying attention” will not be an acceptable excuse for our failure. THINK ABOUT IT!