THINK ABOUT IT             7-7-25

My dear friend Dr. Patrick Briney has a newsletter called “Vitamins For The Soul” that could be a blessing to you. Below is a sample, followed by the link if you would like to be added to his mailing list.- HDS

VITAMINS FOR THE SOUL 

🗞️ Gossip: The Sneaky Habit That Hurts More Than It Helps

Reflection from the Word—delivered with love 💬✝️

Let’s get real for a minute: Have you ever felt that little buzz of excitement when you’re the first to know some juicy detail about someone? Or felt oddly powerful being the one who shares something shocking, tragic, or just slightly scandalous?

We’ve all been there. But here’s the hard truth 👉🏼 Gossip costs more than we think.

What Is Gossip, Anyway? 🤔

It’s not just whispering behind someone’s back or spreading something flat-out false.

Gossip is when we talk about someone in a way that casts them in a negative light—whether it’s fully true, half-true, or even just a vague hunch. It might sound like concern (“I just thought you should know…”) but often, it’s really about boosting our own sense of importance at someone else’s expense.

“A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” — Proverbs 11:13

When we speak carelessly, we can sabotage reputations, damage relationships, and plant seeds of distrust. Not a great legacy to leave behind, right?

Why We Gossip (Even When We Know Better) 🧠

Sometimes gossip sneaks into our conversations because we feel powerless, bored, or insecure. It gives a fleeting sense of significance—but it always leaves behind a mess.

God’s Word doesn’t shy away from how serious this is:

“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.” — Proverbs 10:18“A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.” — Proverbs 13:5

Whew. Not exactly flattering company to keep, right?

But here’s the hope: We don’t have to stay stuck in a gossip loop. 🙌🏼

💊 Three Spiritual “Vitamins” For Curing Gossip

Here’s how to walk in truth and integrity. 

1️⃣ Flip the Script

Before spilling that “one detail,” ask yourself: 

👉🏼 Would I say this if they were right here?

👉🏼 Is it true, kind, and helpful?

If not, hit pause. Choose to speak life instead.

💬 “I don’t know the whole story, but let’s pray for them.”

2️⃣ Be the One Who Builds Others Up

Develop a reputation for being the one who always speaks well of others—even when no one’s watching.

“Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” — Ephesians 4:25

When we speak truth in love, the whole community flourishes.

3️⃣ Set a Standard with the “Truth Test”

Before sharing a detail, ask yourself:

✅ Is it verified? 

✅ Does it help? 

✅ Would I want someone repeating this about me?

If the answer is shaky on any of those fronts, let it stop with you. Let Grace win.

🌟 The Promise: A Better Reputation & A Blessed Life

Choosing not to gossip doesn’t just make you a nicer person—it makes you trustworthy.

It tells the people around you: 🗣️ “Your name is safe with me.” And that’s rare (sadly)—and incredibly valuable.

“A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.” — Proverbs 17:4

Be truth-lover and grace-speaker. Choose love over drama, peace over whispers, and truth over shade. Reflect the heart of the God we serve— He delights in that.

💛 Be A Blessing

Whether it’s at the office, in the group chat, or over a coffee table—be the one who blesses, not bruises. 🙏🏼

God blesses those who bless others. And that includes blessings with our words.

🌿 With hope and prayers for a life filled with blessings

Dr. Patrick Briney

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church   

Humble, TX

THINK ABOUT IT               6-10-25

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in ‘Mom let’s run through the rain,’ she said.

‘We’ll get soaked if we do,’ Mom said.

‘No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,’ the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom’s arm.  

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

I HOPE YOU STILL TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN.
THINK ABOUT IT

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church 

Humble, Tx

THINK ABOUT IT              6-9-25

“I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:”Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭

After reading those words you don’t have to wonder what made Paul the great man he was. He was willing to go to any length and make any sacrifice to bring people to Christ. It was the was the same with other great servants of Christ. Consider these quotes:

David Brainerd, one of the most celebrated Christian missionaries, was labouring among the poor American Indians on the banks of the Delaware River, and he once said these words: “I care not where I live, or what hardships I go through, so that I can but gain souls to Christ. While I am asleep I dream of these things. As soon as I awake the first thing that is on my mind is this great work. All my desire is the conversion of sinners, and all my hope is in God”. 

Listen to Whitefield: “Oh Lord, give me souls or take my soul!”. 

Praying Hyde, missionary to India: “Father, give me souls or I die”. 

John Henry Jowett, that great preacher, said these words concerning passion for souls, it sums up what we have read in verses 1, 2 and 3 of Romans 9. Listen to it carefully, and if you are concerned about your lost passion for lost souls, listen to it and put it into practice: “We can never heal the needs we do not feel. Tearless hearts can never be heralds of the passion. We must pity if we would redeem; we must believe if we would be ministers of the saving blood. The disciple’s prayer must be stricken with much crying and many tears. The ministers of Calvary must supplicate in bloody sweat, and their intercession must often touch the point of agony. True intercession is sacrifice, a bleeding sacrifice”. Think about it! – HDS

David Stone  

Lakeway Baptist Church  

Humble, Tx

THINK ABOUT IT              6-8-25

Do we have a passion for lost souls, or have we lost the passion? Can we say with Mary Booth:

‘Oh! for a heart that is burdened!
Infused with a passion to pray;
Oh! for a stirring within me;
Oh! for this power every day.

Oh! for a heart like my Saviour,
Who, being in agony prayed.
Such caring for others, Lord, give me;
On my heart let burdens be laid’.

‘My Father, I long for this passion,
To pour myself out for the lost –
To lay down my life to save others –
To pray, whatever the cost.

Lord, teach me, oh teach me this secret,
I’m hungry this lesson to learn,
This passionate passion for others,
For this, blessed Jesus, I yearn.

Father, this lesson I long for from Thee –
Oh, let Thy Spirit reveal this to me’.

Think About It

David Stone  

Lakeway  Baptist Church   

Humble,Tx

THINK ABOUT IT                    6-7-25      
POLL BY RAINER

By almost any metric, the churches in our nation are much less evangelistic today than they were in the recent past. In my own denomination ( Southern Baptist), we are reaching non-Christians only half as effectively as we were 50 years ago (we measure membership to annual baptisms). The trend is disturbing.

We certainly see the pattern in the early church where “every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). In too many of our churches today, the congregations are reaching no one for Christ in the course of an entire year.

The Poll

I conducted an unscientific Twitter poll recently to see what church leaders and church members thought of this trend, My specific question was: “Why do you think many churches aren’t as evangelistic as they once were?”

The responses arrived quickly and in great numbers, both in public tweets and in direct messages to me. Indeed, I was still receiving responses four days after I sent my Twitter question.

The Results

The response was highly informative for me. Here are the top fifteen responses listed in order of frequency:

1. Christians have no sense of urgency to reach lost people.
2. Many Christians and church members do not befriend and spend time with lost persons.
3. Many Christians and church members are lazy and apathetic.
4. We are more known for what we are against than what we are for.
5. Our churches have an ineffective evangelistic strategy of “you come” rather than “we go.”
6. Many church members think that evangelism is the role of the pastor and paid staff.
7. Church membership today is more about getting my needs met rather than reaching the lost.
8. Church members are in a retreat mode as culture becomes more worldly and unbiblical.
9. Many church members don’t really believe that Christ is the only way of salvation.
10. Our churches are no longer houses of prayer equipped to reach the lost.
11. Churches have lost their focus on making disciples who will thus be equipped and motivated to reach the lost.
12. Christians do not want to share the truth of the gospel for fear they will offend others. Political correctness is too commonplace even among Christians.
13. Most churches have unregenerate members who have not received Christ themselves.
14. Some churches have theological systems that do not encourage evangelism.
15. Our churches have too many activities; they are too busy to do the things that really matter. – Thomas Rainer

Dear friends, those of us who were in the ministry 50 years ago can attest to how things have changed. Simply put, things today are not as they should be. May God help us to change our ways that we might experience the fullness of God’s blessings. Think about it! – HDS

David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, TX. 77346