Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday April 29, 2010

Actions, speeches, lessons or songs which are said to "come from the heart" are by and large the ones we remember and the ones that have brought the most dramatic change in our own life and the life of others.

Years ago a famous actor quoted the 23rd Psalm and his Shakespearean emphasis was flawless. The crowd stood and cheered. And then, an old country preacher, dressed in a flannel shirt, bibbed overalls and field shoes, went to the podium and also recited the 23rd Psalm and did so with tears flowing down his face and his heart on fire with praise. When he finished the audience was stunned. Not a person moved. And then it became obvious as to the why of no movement. There was a not a dry eye in the place. The comment was made, "The Shakespearean actor knows the Psalm, the old country preacher knows the Shepherd."

A man asked the grand orator, R. G. Lee, "Why do people cry when you preach?" Dr. Lee replied, "Because I do."

I receive a daily Internet Note from Eric Harvey and recently Mr. Harvey featured this from the pen of Anonymous:

"The wisest and best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book."

It goes without saying that Biblical teachers must teach from both, but tragic it is that so many teachers/preachers who teach the book do so in a cold, off the top of the head manner. Still others certainly bring the feeling from the heart, but nothing from the book.

I'm sure Anonymous meant wise teachers know what they are talking about and do it with feeling. When I was a kid an old black man tried to outdo the white folks by out drinking us. It got so bad that he couldn't keep a job etc. Charlie Wilson, the black man that owned the garbage collection business in our town found the old guy drunk one day, helped him sober up and gave him a job driving Charlie's truck. In a few months the man was back with his family, and he kept the garbage truck that he drove spotless. In answer to the question, "What happened to Happy?" Charlie responded, "He done got hisself a glory." Happy was passionate about the job of driving the garbage truck.

Passionate is the key word.

1 Corinthians 10:31: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit

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