"Take a Moment" is a weekly column written by Pastor Danny Hedgepeth and published in Brevard's local newspaper, The Transylvania Times.
This week's column:
Do you know people who try to impress others by exaggerating their accomplishments?
Alabamian Junior Hill tells about a little boy who had a problem with shading the truth. His parents tried several different ways to discipline their son for lying, but nothing seemed to work. They asked their local pastor to meet with the little boy. The pastor agreed, and told the parents that he would use shock therapy on their son.
The conversation between the pastor and the little boy went like this:
"Son, yesterday I was attacked by a 600-pound gorilla. A 5-pound Chihuahua came across the street and ran off the gorilla. Do you believe that story?"
The little boy quickly replied, "Yes sir, that was my dog!"
It takes less effort to be honest than it does to embellish the truth. Unlike the little boy in this story, we should be straightforward with others about our lives. They will trust us more. Another result of honesty is that we also respect ourselves more.
Be truthful. It will make a difference!
Past weeks' columns:
February 3, 2011
One of my treasured memories as a pastor is my 1994 visit to eastern European and Ukrainian churches. These congregations were enthusiastically celebrating their new-found freedom since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Makeshift churches were packed to capacity with hundreds of inquirers. It was humbling to talk with everyday people who had been threatened and imprisoned for their faith. They saw their new freedom to worship as the hand of God guiding and blessing their lives.
Recently I spoke with a person who had just returned from the same area of Eastern Europe. My question to that person was, "Is there still the excitement today in the church as there was sixteen years ago?"
His response was, "The church in eastern Europe is healthy, but some of the excitement of being free has waned."
Part of that response is understandable. We are not designed to stay on a "spiritual high." Another part of that response brings sadness. It is easy to lose the sense of gratitude when you become accustomed to a blessing. An old adage states, "Familiarity breeds contempt." Are you thankful for your freedom to worship?
Take a moment and thank God for that privilege. The blessing of having a church family is yours to have.
January 27, 2011
The late E.V. Hill told an apt story about a misunderstanding between a church and a prospective new pastor.
Upon the pastor's first visit to the congregation, he asked to attend the children's Sunday School. While visiting the children, the pastor asked, "Can anyone tell me who brought down the walls of Jericho?"
After a few moments of silence, one little boy in the back pointed to a classmate and exclaimed, "Johnny did it!"
Following the morning worship service, the pastoral candidate told the Administrative Committee what had occurred in the children's Sunday School class. The committee told him they would look into the matter.
That evening the committee called the prospective pastor and said, "We are not sure whether or not Johnny tore down those walls, but we have turned the matter over to our building committee. They are going to hold a campaign, and those walls will be rebuilt!"
Too often we are like that little boy. We think that we know the Bible, when actually we don't comprehend the simple truths of scripture.
Take a moment today to read the Bible and give it your full attention. It will make a difference!
January 20, 2011
Mark Twain told a humorous story about a missionary's effort that went awry. The following is an abridged, paraphrased version of that tale.
A pioneering missionary went to a Caribbean island where the people had no clothing, and paraded around naked. The well-intended missionary sent home a request to clothe 200 people. The only problem was there were 400 people on the island.
When the clothing arrived, the missionary was taken by surprise to see one man wearing only shoes and nothing else. He looked around and saw a woman wearing a fashionable hat without another stitch of clothing on her person. The missionary inquired about the islanders' continued partial nakedness. The islanders replied, "You told us that because God loves us, we should share. When there was not enough clothing, that is what we did!"
Are you clearly hearing what your faith is leading you to do? Impression requires not only action, but careful reflection.
Take a moment and carefully contemplate what you perceive to be God's direction for your life. It will make a difference!
