Day 69: A Humorous Or Humor(LESS) Anecdote?
Read: Philippians 2:12 - 18, Numbers 11:1 - 15, Deuteronomy 1:26 - 38
A humorous or humorless anecdote?: A man long dreamed of joining a monastery. His goal in life was to be a monk. So one day he went to a monastery
and talked to the head monk and said, “What do I need to do to join.” He
was told that it was far more difficult than what he thought. In our
monastery monks are only allowed to say two words every year.” He said,
“That sounds a bit extreme, but I’ve wanted to be a monk for so long,
I’m going to give it a try.” So he was shown to his room. And so for the
next twelve months the man never said a word. At the end of his first
year he was taken back to the head monk, and was told he could now say
his only two words.
The man replied: “Food’s bad.” He went back
to his room, and was silent for another twelve months. At the end of
his second year he again was taken back to the head monk for his only
two words. This time his two words were, “Bed’s hard.” The head monk
said, “Thank you.” And the man was again turned around and went back to
his room. Another twelve months of silence quietly passed by, and the
man was brought again to the head monk for his annual two words. This
time the guy shouted, “I quit.” The head monk just stared back at him
and quietly he said, “Well, it doesn’t surprise me one little bit. Why?
Because all you've done is complain ever since you got here.”
A
humorous or humorless anecdote? Hmm, I guess it will all depend on
where your heart is located at this very moment and how so far away your
earthly treasures are from your heavenly one's. Do everything with a
great big 'ear to ear' smile plastered across your face? Paul writes
(dares sounds better): 'Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so
that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children
of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of
life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I
did not run in vain nor toil in vain.'
Paul under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit or from an all too human heart who has heard quite enough of others' peoples displeasure conjures up a
tall order. Do all things without murmuring......”complaining”. Doesn’t
he realize who we are ? Doesn’t he understand that we are, after all,
well ... human beings? A smile is truly a divine thing but a complaint
... well, is a guaranteed human right that I'll defend to the last. Work without complaining, serve without complaining, give without
complaining, go without complaining? I understand it, but I wouldn't
count on it. It is troubling. Do you know why? Because we (God help us!) occasionally? Well, regularly love to complain.
Let Us Pray: Father GOD, Forgive us for murmuring and complaining in
our hearts, in our thoughts, and in our deeds and with our words. Lord
Jesus Christ, thru Your own infinite mercy make us strong where we are
the most weakest. Strengthen us where we are strongest, Through the most
gracious healing ministry of thy Holy Spirit help us where are the most
broken. Return our hearts and our spirits to wholeness once again and
may our sin bound tongues be that much quicker to give all thanks to
You!
http://www.youtube.com/
Read: Philippians 2:12 - 18, Numbers 11:1 - 15, Deuteronomy 1:26 - 38
A humorous or humorless anecdote?: A man long dreamed of joining a monastery. His goal in life was to be a monk. So one day he went to a monastery and talked to the head monk and said, “What do I need to do to join.” He was told that it was far more difficult than what he thought. In our monastery monks are only allowed to say two words every year.” He said, “That sounds a bit extreme, but I’ve wanted to be a monk for so long, I’m going to give it a try.” So he was shown to his room. And so for the next twelve months the man never said a word. At the end of his first year he was taken back to the head monk, and was told he could now say his only two words.
The man replied: “Food’s bad.” He went back to his room, and was silent for another twelve months. At the end of his second year he again was taken back to the head monk for his only two words. This time his two words were, “Bed’s hard.” The head monk said, “Thank you.” And the man was again turned around and went back to his room. Another twelve months of silence quietly passed by, and the man was brought again to the head monk for his annual two words. This time the guy shouted, “I quit.” The head monk just stared back at him and quietly he said, “Well, it doesn’t surprise me one little bit. Why? Because all you've done is complain ever since you got here.”
A humorous or humorless anecdote? Hmm, I guess it will all depend on where your heart is located at this very moment and how so far away your earthly treasures are from your heavenly one's. Do everything with a great big 'ear to ear' smile plastered across your face? Paul writes (dares sounds better): 'Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.'
Paul under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit or from an all too human heart who has heard quite enough of others' peoples displeasure conjures up a tall order. Do all things without murmuring......”complaining”. Doesn’t he realize who we are ? Doesn’t he understand that we are, after all, well ... human beings? A smile is truly a divine thing but a complaint ... well, is a guaranteed human right that I'll defend to the last. Work without complaining, serve without complaining, give without complaining, go without complaining? I understand it, but I wouldn't count on it. It is troubling. Do you know why? Because we (God help us!) occasionally? Well, regularly love to complain.
Let Us Pray: Father GOD, Forgive us for murmuring and complaining in our hearts, in our thoughts, and in our deeds and with our words. Lord Jesus Christ, thru Your own infinite mercy make us strong where we are the most weakest. Strengthen us where we are strongest, Through the most gracious healing ministry of thy Holy Spirit help us where are the most broken. Return our hearts and our spirits to wholeness once again and may our sin bound tongues be that much quicker to give all thanks to You!
http://www.youtube.com/
How Great is Our God (World Edition) Live @ Passion 2012!
www.youtube.com
Chris Tomlin and some international friends sing How Great is Our God in multiple languages at
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