When you hear someone say, ‘Make the most of your time,’ take them seriously. We may think there aren’t enough hours in the day, but, truthfully, it’s not the amount of time afforded us – it’s what we do with the precious little that counts.
Sportswriter Dick Wade decided to measure how much ‘action’ occurred in a major league baseball game. With a stopwatch & a notepad, he tracked the amount of time from the ball leaving the pitcher’s hand until it arrived at home plate plus the time consumed on a hit ball until the batter or runner was out or safe. In a game between Kansas City & Washington, a game that produced 21 runs in a 15-6 KC victory & lasted 2 hours & 28 minutes, the total ‘action’ was…………….8.5 minutes! An entire game was defined by less than 6% of the total time; but, look at all that happened in that short span.
God hands out 24-hour blocks of time as daily gifts; that’s 1440 minutes of spendable time. God also gives golden opportunities every day to invest that time by speaking a good word or doing a good deed for Him. Can you imagine the kingdom box scores each day if all of us committed to invest just 6% of our daily allotment? Now, that’s real ‘action’!
I grew up with Walt Disney and his Wonderful World of Disney. I lived for the Mickey Mouse Club; well, mainly for Annette. My hero was Davey Crockett. The 1st time I cried at a movie was ‘Old Yeller’. I was in my 50′s before I walked through the gates of Disney World. Until now, I have loved everything Walt. I was aware the Disney Channel held a prominent place on cable; but, an entire week of grandchildren who live & love Disney Channel has altered my historical perspective on the genius behind the man who invented the mouse. Holy cow! Hanna – Miley – Wizards – the Suite Life – Jonas, Jonas, Jonas & Jonas – nonstop – rerun after rerun. Walt, what have you done to me?????????
I borrowed this from Jay Guin; he borrowed it from YouTube; whoever posted it borrowed it from…oh, it doesn’t matter. I USED to find it amusing, but after a recent mortgage transaction, it’s not nearly so funny!
I learned my multiplication tables at Watson Chapel Elementary. They never changed in Junior High, Senior High or College. But, when I enrolled in the Kingdom, I was presented with laws of mathematics unlike any other. Take July 11 for instance:
* A man we help in Ecuador spoke to combined adult classes. His grandfather was near death in OK, so he shortened his presentation to hurry back. There was a problem with our computer & neither slideshow went as planned.
* He mentioned a woman in severe poverty. With 2 young sons, she was trying to build a new home, single-room, but with a concrete floor & something-besides-mud walls & roof/ She works 6 days a week, yet cannot borrow $$ because she’s a single mother; even if she could, she couldn’t pay it back – interest is 20%. Her sons attend the school only by scholarships.
* In a single sentence, the speaker mentioned the monthly cost for each boy to attend is $60 & the cost to finish the house is $3000. He finished, thanked us & left to check on his grandfather.
* At the end of the morning, unsolicited, funds were handed to elders to cover the house completion & scholarships for her 2 sons…for 2 years!
Long ago, I stopped worrying about the way God does math. It makes no sense & it changes constantly & I am so glad for both conditions!
“R” comes every Sunday; he comes alone, but is never alone once he arrives. He comes early, gets his regular order at Coffee Connections, sits with his friends & visits until worship. He’s been coming for 2 years; his introduction was through a free community Bible course on Tuesday nights.
“C” is a bundle of smiles & willingness to serve. She has been coming for a bit over a year. Her introduction came when her husband died after a battle with cancer. She had no church home, knew no one to help with arrangements. A friend introduced her to us & the church family stepped up to contribute. She has blessed so many.
“N & F” have attended for several years. Their journey has been encouraged by countless Christians who have reached out to them. They were baptized Sunday & there was such rejoicing!
“B” is a young man, a Christian less than a year. He was introduced by some of our teens. He has no family encouragement, but is inspires many through his spirit & attitude.
“C”, another young Christian man, was also rescued by his teen peers. Through high school, Christian college & into the work force, his example is a strong one.
“G” & his family moved from a church in the Chicago area. He regularly comments that they feel like they can finally breathe. His smile & greeting each week makes any guest feel special.
“L” has endured enough pain for several lifetimes, but is always searching for a spirit to lift. She has been the rock & glue for at least a half dozen women who have faced similar hardships.
Lord, help us to remember that ministry is not about piety or procedures; it’s about people.
