After receiving this chain letter for the 4th time this year I've decided it deserves comment.
I think there are probably a lot of people out there like me that don't know what to do with these things when they get them....so....
I think there are probably a lot of people out there like me that don't know what to do with these things when they get them....so....
"We're
starting a collective, constructive, and hopefully uplifting Bible verse
exchange. It's a one-time thing and we hope you will participate. We have picked
those we think would be faithful, and make it fun. Please send an encouraging
Bible verse to the person whose name is in position 1 below (even if you don't
know him or her). It should be a favorite verse that has lifted you when you
were experiencing challenging times.
Don't
agonize over it--it is one you reach for when you need it: or the one that you
always turn to.
Position 1. kickinguphisheelsforJesus@gmail.com
Position
2. dancingtherumbawithhimthatisrisenfromthedead@yahoo.com
After you've sent the verse to the person in position 1, and only that person, copy this letter into a new email, move my name to position 1 and put your name in position 2. Only my name and your name should show when you email. Send to 20 friends BCC (blind copy).
If
you cannot do this in five days, let us know so it will be fair to those
participating. It's fun to see where they come from. Seldom does anyone drop out
because we all need new ideas and inspiration. The turnaround is fast, as there
are only two names on the list, and you only have to do it once.
May
God bless you as you share God's Word in Christ."
First of all....what I like about these things:
1. We continually fall into the trap of under-estimating the power of scripture...even a single encouraging verse. We really should share scripture with each other more.
2. I often discover that I DON'T actually have a favorite bible verse on the tip of my tongue:(
3. There may be some elitism in us that doesn't want to identify with the crowd that loves these things. I find myself thinking that I serve God more "intelligently" which somehow begins to equal "deeper" in my prideful little mind. It is good for me to be called away from such foolish and sloppy thinking.
Now...what I don't like:
1. Seriously why does this thing start with "We're....?" When you forward this thing to your friends It makes it sound like YOU were on the committee that cooked the goose.
2. Its a bit underhanded in that it doesn't explicitly tell you that your inbox could potentially be flooded with bible verses. Some life on life, friend to friend, encouragement is great...but swamping someone's inbox is another thing. Why not just copy and paste the whole Bible into an email and forward THAT to them?
3. So, do I need to write thankyou notes each time someone sends me their favorite scripture...especially if I have no idea who they are?
4. We tend to really get the whole thing of "means to an end" all screwed up. This little chain letter is a bit like the Conquistador's treatment of the Native Americans. The idea that all the pagans should be Christianized was a good idea...their means needed some reworking to say the least. The best way to Christianize a pagan country is simply not by killing and displacing all the pagans.
Likewise, sharing scripture is good idea. HOW you go about doing this actually DOES matter though. I'm not convinced that this little chain letter is the best means to the great end that it has in mind.
5. This is not "a one time thing." I've gotten this chain letter four times in the past 365 days.
6. Whoever gave birth to this little chain letter had a good, creative idea. The problem is that they have nothing in place to allow it to run its course, be a blessing, and then end when the time is right...how will this thing ever end unless breakthroughs in telepathy put email out of commission?
And now....I will share a bit of scripture with you that I like to keep in front of me. This verse helps me keep my focus when I begin to press* .
Haggai 1:5-6
Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in
First of all....what I like about these things:
1. We continually fall into the trap of under-estimating the power of scripture...even a single encouraging verse. We really should share scripture with each other more.
2. I often discover that I DON'T actually have a favorite bible verse on the tip of my tongue:(
3. There may be some elitism in us that doesn't want to identify with the crowd that loves these things. I find myself thinking that I serve God more "intelligently" which somehow begins to equal "deeper" in my prideful little mind. It is good for me to be called away from such foolish and sloppy thinking.
Now...what I don't like:
1. Seriously why does this thing start with "We're....?" When you forward this thing to your friends It makes it sound like YOU were on the committee that cooked the goose.
2. Its a bit underhanded in that it doesn't explicitly tell you that your inbox could potentially be flooded with bible verses. Some life on life, friend to friend, encouragement is great...but swamping someone's inbox is another thing. Why not just copy and paste the whole Bible into an email and forward THAT to them?
3. So, do I need to write thankyou notes each time someone sends me their favorite scripture...especially if I have no idea who they are?
4. We tend to really get the whole thing of "means to an end" all screwed up. This little chain letter is a bit like the Conquistador's treatment of the Native Americans. The idea that all the pagans should be Christianized was a good idea...their means needed some reworking to say the least. The best way to Christianize a pagan country is simply not by killing and displacing all the pagans.
Likewise, sharing scripture is good idea. HOW you go about doing this actually DOES matter though. I'm not convinced that this little chain letter is the best means to the great end that it has in mind.
5. This is not "a one time thing." I've gotten this chain letter four times in the past 365 days.
6. Whoever gave birth to this little chain letter had a good, creative idea. The problem is that they have nothing in place to allow it to run its course, be a blessing, and then end when the time is right...how will this thing ever end unless breakthroughs in telepathy put email out of commission?
And now....I will share a bit of scripture with you that I like to keep in front of me. This verse helps me keep my focus when I begin to press* .
Haggai 1:5-6
Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in
it.”
* - a sports term used to describe the funk that teams get in when losing gets in their head and they can't get it out
