OKTOBERFEST FOOD FOR THOUGHT APPETEASERS

      Today's theological tidbits come from MR and EJB via e-mail and should really get one to think seriously about our own behavior. The first - "Satan's Beatitudes" is a twist on the Beatitudes imparted by Our Lord. Since satan is the great imitator, imagine his eight beatitudes and consider carefully if we do not pray, are we not his prey? The second, entitled "Seeing is believing!" deals with a sense of direction that we all must decide on sooner or later, not necessarily a physical operation or examination, but a spiritual one that will make us good as new - New grace, new man, in a new place - Heaven! The following vignettes are truly something to think about.

      If the Devil (whom we don't hear much about today) were to write his beatitudes, they would possibly go something like this:

• Blessed are those Christians who are TOO TIRED, TOO BUSY, TOO DISTRACTED to spend time with their fellow Christians in Church
  - they are my best candidates to backslide.

• Blessed are those Christians who WAIT TO BE ASKED and EXPECT TO BE THANKED
  - I can use them to slow things down.

• Blessed are those Christians who are TOUCHY, with a bit of luck they may STOP GOING TO CHURCH and get others to quit
  - they are my missionaries.

• Blessed are those Christians who are VERY RELIGIOUS but GET ON EVERYONE'S nerves
  - they are my most effective stumbling blocks.

• Blessed are those Christians who are TROUBLEMAKERS
  - they are my best wrecking crew.

• Blessed are those Christians who have NO TIME TO PRAY
  - they are easy prey for me.

• Blessed are those Christians who are COMPLAINERS
  - they are my best discouragers.

• Blessed are YOU when you read this and THINK IT IS ABOUT OTHER people and not yourself
  - I'VE GOT YOU!!!

      There's a story about a man who was slowly losing his memory. After an examination, the doctor said that an operation on his brain might reverse his condition and restore his memory. However, the surgery would be so delicate that a nerve might easily be severed and would cause him total blindness.

      "What would you rather have," asked the surgeon, "your sight or your memory?" The man pondered the question for a few moments and replied, "My sight, because I would rather see where I'm going than remember where I have been."

      Maybe finishing with a short prayer might put it all in perspective:

Dear God, it is usually useless and often detrimental for us to rest on our past achievements or recall constantly our past failures and sins. Help us make today a new day and press ahead eager to serve You by serving and loving others. AMEN.