The truth is that you and I will be tempted all day long to "be like God" (Genesis 3:5). The world will offer us excitement and information, progress and power if we will only bend a rule or two.
Today's Wall Street Journal is a mirror which gives off newsprint. The more I learned about this morning's news, the more I learned about myself. Because human nature doesn't change, I picked up a thing or two about you as well.
For instance, it appears that some of us are bored at work most of the time, and most of us are bored some of the time. So corporations are attempting to foster workplace collaboration and excitement in all sorts of new ways. Some use rope courses. Others go on outdoor quests. A growing trend is drumming. Employees gather in a room, pick up drums, and try to mimic rhythms banged out by their session leaders. The activity is said to "spice up otherwise dull meetings." Wonder if it would work in church?
I read today in the Journal that a growing number of companies are posting briefing materials to a secure Web site rather than mailing briefing books to directors before meetings. In theory, using "board portals" will enable directors to get information sooner and more accurately. Maybe my sermons could be emailed to church members during the week, making more time for congregational drumming on Sunday.
But innovate as we might, there's still need for the essentials of the biblical message. Since the Garden of Eden, we've been "morally challenged." For instance, wealthy executives in China are paying up to $1,000 for luohansong trees, Buddhist pine trees believed to bring good luck. So thieves are stealing them wherever they can find them. One nursery owner has to sleep in his garden at night to deter poachers. The tree is supposed to promote feng shui, or natural harmony. Could have fooled him. Maybe they should try drumming instead.
Things are not better on this side of the world. As an example, Boy Scouts in the Los Angeles area will now be able to earn an activity patch for learning about the evils of copyright violations. The patch shows a film reel, a music CD, and the international copyright symbol, ©. The movie industry developed the curriculum. I'm glad to know that my emailed sermons will be protected by the Boy Scouts.
The truth is that you and I will be tempted all day long to "be like God" (Genesis 3:5). The world will offer us excitement and information, progress and power if we will only bend a rule or two. But we don't break God's word--we break ourselves on it. The man who falls from a sixth story window doesn't break the law of gravity--he illustrates it. Is God's word calling you back from a ledge this morning?
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