by

Author & Founder

Elisabeth Freeman

copyright@2004, February

The Laughing Corner: A few short jokes… Remember, laughter is the best medicine… A merry heart doeth good like a medicine! Prov. 17:22

If you were asked to find the one chapter in the Bible that describes love, how long would it take you to turn to 1 Corinthians 13? Ten seconds? Fifteen? Reading about love in 1 Corinthians 13 is as familiar to Christians as the top teams of the NFL are to a sports fan or the alphabet is to a first-grade teacher. But beyond the familiar strains of that oft-repeated chapter lay 15 characteristics that measure the extravagance of our love. Take a fresh look at the familiar list:

1. Love never gives up.
   Love is patient. The two parts of the word-thumos-mean "far in a distance" and "heat." (Recognize the root of "thermos" and "thermometer"?) Is your anger measured in seconds, minutes, hours, or days? Patience extends grace, even in heated moments.
2. Cares more for others than itself.
   Love is kind and helpful. Your words often best communicate a positive spirit. Keep them free of petty criticism, and focus on words that will build up others.

    

3. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
   Jealousy wants to keep, and envy wants to have, but love isn't found in either one. Need a key for this kind of love? Be content with what God has given you.

4.-5. Love doesn't strut or have a swelled head.
Love doesn't brag and isn't arrogant. Instead, you express God's love when you have adopt an accepting attitude and willingly embrace others who don't achieve all you have.

6. Love doesn't force itself on others.
Love does not act unbecomingly. It doesn't schema, which means "scheme." It doesn't develop a sharp, critical spirit, but remains tactful. You act lovingly when you say the proper thing at the proper time in a loving way.

7. Love doesn't have to be first.
Love isn't selfish. Next time you visit a supermarket or parking lot on a busy day, don't fight to be first; instead, surprise others by inviting them to go ahead of you.

8. Love doesn't fly off the handle.
Love isn't short-tempered or easily frustrated. Remember to value the person behind your frustration; that extra step often relieves rising pressure.

9. Love doesn't keep score of others' sins.
Love doesn't keep accounts of wrongs suffered. Want to show God's love? Forget about the grudge you've been carrying.

10. Love doesn't revel when others grovel.
Love finds no pleasure in wrongdoing. It says, "You're important to God and to me." Let that attitude direct your actions and interactions.

11. Love rejoices with the truth.
Love and truth are partners. You can't really have one without the other. When you love someone, you edify them with freedom to speak the truth.

12. Love puts up with anything.
To bear with someone means to cover over, so as to protect or to shield. When others disappoint you, love keeps you from getting sidetracked.

13--15. Love trusts God always. It looks for the best and keeps going to the end.
Love believes all things. When you give others the benefit of the doubt, you show them God's love. Love has an incurable confidence that God is at work in someone's life and never gives up looking out for their best.

What should you do now with this list of love's description? First, ask God to grow His agape in your life through His Spirit. Next, look over the list and identify two or three descriptions that you know you need to sharpen. Then pray to your Father, "I admire and want these qualities, but I can't produce them on my own. Father, I'm willing to be more loving, but please do it through me."

All God needs to begin His work is our willing spirit. Have you made yourself available to produce His fruit in your life this month? Keep abiding, making your home with Him, and watch Him grow His love in your life.

By Jane Rubietta

The odds-makers say the chances are five in ten that a marriage will end in divorce. If one or both partners are still teenagers, they say the odds for divorce are even higher. If either partner witnessed an unhappy marriage at home, the odds increase again. If one or both partners come from broken homes, the odds rise even higher. If either partner has been divorced, the odds soar. If there has been regular sexual involvement before marriage, or if either or both partners abuse alcohol or drugs, the odds skyrocket.

Well, regardless of your marriage "odds," we have a soul-searching question for you that will help you beat them. Are you ready? Ask yourself this: How would I like to be married to me?

That simple question can do more to help you ensure the success of your relationship than just about anything else. Think about it. How would you rate you as a partner? Are you easy to live with? What are the positive qualities you bring to a relationship?

Learn the lesson Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians: "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise" (10:12).

Every relationship is unique, and while there is no definitive list of qualities that describe good partners, consider some of the traits that show up again and again in studies of lifelong love. Research, for example, has shown that partners who are easy to live with feel good about themselves. They are not unduly concerned over the impression they make on others. They can throw back their heads, breathe deeply, and enjoy life. This kind of person is described in Galatians: "...he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else" (6:4). People who make good lifelong marriage partners also have a way of passing over minor offenses and injustices. In other words, they are not easily offended (see Rom. 14:20; Prov. 17:9). Some spouses punish their partner with time in the penalty box for the ordinary bruises that happen to people who play the game.

Partners who are easy to live with are cooperative. They get along. They understand what the psalmist meant in saying, "How good and pleasant is it to live together in unity" (133:1; see also Acts 4:32; Rom. 14:19). They also have an even and stable emotional tone. Nobody is attracted to an uncontrollable temper (see James 1:19-20).

Good spouses communicate their needs openly and honestly (see Eph. 4:15). What they say is in sync with how they feel and what they want. They do not mask their feelings to protect their pride or even to avoid hurting their partner's feelings. Instead, they share their innermost thoughts, the good and the bad (see Col. 3:12).

You may not have every advantage for a successful marriage; few do. But you can pray with the psalmist: "Search me, O God, and know my heart" (139:23). By searching your soul, by questioning your character, and by becoming easy to live with, you will exponentially increase the probability of building a relationship that will last. Paul says that people who are easy to live with shine like stars in the universe (see Phil. 2:15).

By the late Bill Bright

Sacrificial giving is almost unknown to us in America. Worldly motives have clouded our thinking and dulled our sensitivity. We constantly battle the lure of personal desires over the needs of others.

The story is told of a missionary father and his son in India who were on their way home from church. Carrying his three-year-old boy, the missionary went into a little shop to buy a box of matches for his wife.


At about the same time, a poor Indian man was going by. His shirt was torn, and sweat and mud were caked all over him. Holding his child by the hand, the Indian man stopped to buy him one small piece of candy. Before the shopkeeper could give it to the child, the missionary's little boy grabbed the chocolate.

The missionary pulled his hand back, slapped it and scolded, "No!" He took the candy and gave it to the Indian child.

"Oh, please don't do that, sir," the Indian man said to the missionary. "He's just a little boy. He doesn't know better." And then he turned to
his own little child and said, "Honey, don't you want to share your candy with your brother?"

The child said, "Yes," and the man broke a little piece and gave it to the missionary's son.

"At first I thought my son shouldn't take the candy," the missionary said. "But then something higher than my own self told me, 'Don't be a fool, let them do it. This is love they are expressing.'"

Love is the foundation of sacrifice. When we weigh our blessings on the scale of God's love and realize how fortunate we are in light of the needy all around us, it is not difficult to give sacrificially.

The greatest gift of all was the gift of God's only begotten Son, who died on the cross on our behalf. Anything we can ever give sacrificially can never compare with His great love and sacrifice.

Giving is a great privilege and a means by which God has chosen to bless us and others through us. But if we do not give, He will not allow His work to stop for lack of funds. He will simply redistribute the necessary resources to Christians who are sincerely seeking His will and who will sacrifice personal luxuries for the needs of others.
 

*Dad's Pay Check*

Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers.

The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper,
he calls it a poem, they give him $50."

The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a
piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100."

The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words
on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon. And it takes eight people to
collect all the money!"
 

*More Church Bulletin Bloopers*

"The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will
sing, 'Break Forth Into Joy.'"

"During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of
hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit."

"Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The
pastor will then speak on 'It's a Terrible Experience.'"

"Due to the Rector's illness, Wednesday's healing services will be
discontinued until further notice."

"Stewardship Offertory: 'Jesus Paid It All'"

"The music for today's service was all composed by George Friedrich
Handel in celebration of the 300th anniversary of his birth."

"Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community."

"The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' in the
church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to
attend this tragedy."

"The concert held in Fellowship Hall was a great success. Special
thanks are due to the minister's daughter, who labored the whole evening
at the piano, which as usual fell upon her."

"22 members were present at the church meeting held at the home of Mrs.
Marsha Crutchfield last evening. Mrs. Crutchfield and Mrs. Rankin sang a
duet, The Lord Knows Why."

"A songfest was hell at the Methodist church Wednesday."

"Today's Sermon: HOW MUCH CAN A MAN DRINK? with hymns from a full
choir."

"On a church bulletin during the minister's illness: GOD IS GOOD Dr.
Hargreaves is better."

*Cooking Terms*

Tongue: A variety of meat, rarely served because it clearly crosses the
line between a cut of beef and a piece of dead cow.

Yogurt: Semi-solid dairy product made from partially evaporated and
fermented milk. Yogurt is one of only three foods that taste exactly
the same as they sound. The other two are goulash and squid.

Recipe: A series of step-by-step instructions for preparing ingredients
you forgot to buy, in utensils you don't own, to make a dish the dog
won't eat.

Porridge: Thick oatmeal rarely found on American tables since children
were granted the right to sue their parents. The name is an
amalgamation of the words "Putrid," "hORRId," and "sluDGE."

Preheat: To turn on the heat in an oven for a period of time before
cooking a dish, so that the fingers may be burned when the food is put
in, as well as when it is removed.

Oven: Compact home incinerator used for disposing of bulky pieces of
meat and poultry.

Microwave Oven: Space-age kitchen appliance that uses the principle of
radar to locate and immediately destroy any food placed within the
cooking compartment.

Calorie: Basic measure of the amount of rationalization offered by the
average individual prior to taking a second helping of a particular
food.
 

The Jewish lady said, "But your sign says that you have vacancies."

The desk clerk stammered and then said curtly, "You know that we do not admit Jews. Now if you will try the other side of town..."

Mrs. Rosenberg stiffened noticeable and said, "I'll have you know I converted to your religion."

The desk clerk said, "Oh, yeah, let me give you a little test. How was Jesus born?"

Mrs. Rosenberg replied, "He was born to a virgin named Mary in a little town called Bethlehem."

"Very good," replied the hotel clerk. "Tell me more."

Mrs Rosenberg replied, "He was born in a manger."

"That's right," said the hotel clerk. "And why was he born in a manger?"

Mrs. Rosenberg said loudly, "Because a jerk like you in the hotel wouldn't give a Jewish lady a room for the night.

While on a road trip, an elderly couple stopped at a roadside restaurant for Lunch. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant and resumed their trip.

When leaving, the elderly woman unknowingly left her glasses on the table. And, she didn't miss them until after they had been driving about twenty minutes. By then, to add to the aggravation, they had to travel quite a distance before they could find a place to turn around in order to return to the restaurant to get her glasses.

All the way back, the elderly husband became the classic grouchy old man. He fussed and complained and scolded his wife relentlessly during the entire return drive. The more he chided her, the more agitated he became. He just wouldn't let up one minute.

To her relief, they finally arrived at the restaurant. And as the woman got out of the car and hurried inside to retrieve her glasses, the old geezer yelled to her,

"While you're in there, you might as well get my hat."

Four brothers left home for college, and they became successful doctors and lawyers and prospered. Some years later, they chatted after having dinner together. They discussed the gifts that they were able to give to their elderly mother who lived far away in another city.

The first said, "I had a big house built for Mama."

The second said, "I had a hundred thousand dollar theater built in the house."
The third said, "I had my Mercedes dealer deliver her an SL600.

The fourth said, "Listen to this. You know how Mama loved reading the Bible and you know she can't read it anymore because she can't see very well. I met this priest who told me about a parrot that can recite the entire Bible. It took twenty priests 12 years to teach him. I had to pledge to contribute $100,000 a year for twenty years to the church, but it was worth it. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse and the parrot will recite it."

The other brothers were impressed.

After the holidays, Mom sent out her "Thank You" notes.

She wrote: "Milton, the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house. Thanks anyway."

"Marvin, I am too old to travel. I stay home, I have my groceries delivered, so I never use the Mercedes. The thought was good. Thanks."

"Michael, you give me an expensive theater with Dolby sound, it could hold 50 people, but all my friends are dead, I've lost my hearing and I'm nearly blind. I'll never use it. Thank you for the gesture just the same."

"Dearest Melvin, you were the only son to have the good sense to give a little thought to your gift. The chicken was delicious. Thank you."