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I ran across this little ditty on a forum for lovers of antique tractors (like myself). Sometimes we need a little humor, so read and enjoy!
On the first day, God created the dog and said:
‘Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.’
The dog said: ‘That’s a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten?’
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
‘Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I’ll give you a twenty-year life span.’
The monkey said: ‘Monkey tricks for twenty years? Tha t’s a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?’
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said:
‘You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer’s family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty ye ars.’
The cow said: ‘That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I’ll give back the other forty?’
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said:
‘Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I’ll give you twenty years.’
But man said: ‘Only twenty yea rs? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten
the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?’
‘Okay,’ said God, ‘You asked for it.’
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
A merry heart doeth good like medicine. — Proverbs 17:22
Someone told me about this little girl singing on GodTube.com. I couldn’t figure out how to put the image on here, so just click on this link. Little girl sings “Indescribable.” It’s worth the effort!
I just discovered an article in Louisville’s Courier-Journal, stating that Dr. Albert Mohler of Southern Seminary is about to undergo a potentially serious surgery. Please take a moment and lift him up in prayer. I know and love Dr. Mohler, and I would love to see him stick around for a long time. We need him.
I was just reminded that today is President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday by a stirring article by John Piper. Here in the middle of an election year, I often find myself pondering the spiritual condition of our nation, and the direction we may take after the election. We would do well to look back and consider the foundation that has been laid by those who went before us.
Consider Piper’s observation:
In 1862, when Lincoln was 53 years old, his 11-year-old son Willie died. Lincoln’s wife “tried to deal with her grief by searching out New Age mediums.” Lincoln turned to Phineas Gurley, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington. Several long talks led to what Gurley described as “a conversion to Christ.” Lincoln confided that he was “driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I have nowhere else to go.”
Similarly, the horrors of the dead and wounded soldiers assaulted him daily. There were fifty hospitals for the wounded in Washington. The rotunda of the Capitol held 2,000 cots for wounded soldiers. Typically, fifty soldiers a day died in these temporary hospitals. All of this drove Lincoln deeper into the providence of God. “We cannot but believe, that He who made the world still governs it.”
I encourage you to read the full article. You can read it here. I have also read Olasky’s article from World magazine, and recommend it to you as well. That article can be viewed here. Just in case you want to see it in hard copy, I have this issue and would be happy to share it with you.
I guess the bottom line of all this is pretty simple. Whatever happens on election day, we can be confident that God is in control, even when things seem otherwise. As Lincoln himself concluded so many years ago, “We cannot help but believe, that He who made the world still governs it.” Amen, Mr. Lincoln. Remember the words of our Savior, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NASB)
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