?According to a Ripley’s column, the country of New Zealand rejected the following names for babies: “Talula does the Hula from Hawaii,” “Yeah Detroit,” “Fat Boy”and “Fish and Chips.” They did, however, accept the name “Number 16 Bus Station.” Some people have been given names they have to live down. We have been given a name we can live up to. That name is “Christian.”
A store clerk in California named
Bill Capell has just found out that he is the next Earl of Essex in
England. Due to inheritance law and custom, he now has an honorary
seat in the House of Lords. Too many Christians live their lives
unaware that they are spiritual royalty. They are children of the King.
There is a hitch in Bill Capell’s situation. To get his title he will
have to give up his US citizenship, something he is reluctant to do.
But, something similar must happen to us. If we want to live as
children of the king we must surrender our earthy citizenship to
become citizens of heaven.
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J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.
A lady was visiting an art museum when she turned to a curator and pointed at
the wall. “I suppose you call this hideous looking thing modern art.”
“No,” he replied. “We call it a mirror.”
What do we see when we look at ourselves. Do we think too highly of ourselves
or too lowly? With God’s help we can see ourselves as we are and as we can
become.
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Illustration by J. Michael Shannon, Professor of Preaching, Cincinnati Bible
College & Seminary, Cincinnati, OH.