Proverbial Wisdom

INTRO.- Quips, quotes and notes.

- If some TV shows are not taken off the air, the public will demand longer commercials.

ILL.- You perhaps recall that very old (70’s) Virginia Slims cigarette commercial saying, “You’ve come a long way, baby”? Well, we have come a long way in our TV programs! It’s gone from Howdy Doody in the 1950’s to television today, which includes nudity, porn, violence, brutality, horrible language, hatred, murder, and you name it!

What can we do about it? Fight back. Write letters. Turn off the TV. Speak out.

The world is quick to speak out for what it believes in. What about Christian people? Don’t we have the same right?

I Pet. 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

ILL.- Recently a man by the name of Michael Moore made a supposed documentary movie (Fahrenheit 9/11) in regard to our President. Moore is speaking out and many people are buying what he has to say. I think he is nothing but a foul-mouthed liberal who is out to make money anyway he can.

One writer said, “Michael Moore should be charged with and tried for treason. His latest film, ’’Fahrenheit 9/11,’’ is pure anti-American propaganda and is nothing more than a fictionally based political assassination piece.”

Still another writer said, “Fahrenheit 911 is designed to first make Moore money so he can enjoy the riches offered in this country that he so despises along with his buddies in the Hollywood left. Second, it is designed to destroy the morale of the American people and our troops, and paint a picture of President Bush as the real threat to the world.”

I John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

We are in a constant battle with the world and the ideologies of the world. WE MUST TAKE A STAND. WE MUST SPEAK OUT, BUT DO IT WITH GENTLENESS AND RESPECT.

- No fault insurance is nothing new. It’s never been anybody’s fault.

Have you noticed how most people never want to admit fault for anything? Why is this? It’s called human nature. It’s called our sinful human nature. And it started with Adam and Eve a long time ago. And we have adopted their mentality very well. We’re related to them.

ILL.- NEW YORK (AP) - Glen Campbell defends himself against his drunken driving charge, claiming he "wasn’t really that drunk," but was "just over-served." Campbell was arrested in November near his Phoenix home after causing a minor traffic accident. He pleaded guilty to extreme drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident and was sentenced to 10 nights in jail. "I wasn’t really that drunk," he told syndicated entertainment TV show "Access Hollywood" in an interview. "I was just over-served." Campbell also said he didn’t remember anything because he was "in a blackout mode." A mug shot showed a scowling Campbell. "When I saw the mug shot, I said, `Who is that guy?’" the 68-year-old singer said. "Everybody says it’s the devil, but it isn’t, it’s God’s way of telling you to slow down." He is barred from drinking alcohol during his two years’ probation.

I WAS JUST OVERSERVED. Glen Campbell was essentially saying, “It wasn’t my fault.” And we all do this at times.

There is only one cure for this “no fault” business. And that’s to seek the Lord and His will for our lives. It’s a matter of humbling ourselves before the Lord. James 4:8-10 and I Peter 5:5-6.

- An optimist sees the doughnut. A pessimist sees the hole. The realist eats it.

Which are you? I think all Christians should be both optimists and realists. We must learn to combine the two. However, I think we are weakest in the optimistic department or the faith department. Our realism often supersedes our faith or trust in the Lord.

ILL.- Someone said that faith in God makes great optimists. I believe it. Over in Burma, India, Adoniram Judson (1788-1850) was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole. A fellow prisoner said, "Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?" with a sneer on his face. His instant reply was, "The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God."