INACTIVITY

In the early years of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln became so angered at the inactivity of Union commander George McClellan that the president wrote his commanding general this one-sentence letter: "If you don't want to use the army, I should like to borrow it for a while. Respectfully, A. Lincoln."

Today in the Word, July 18, 1993.

Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing."

Adolphe Monod.

Sam Jones was a preacher who held revival services, which he called "quittin' meetings." His preaching was directed primarily to Christians, and he urged them to give up the sinful practices in their lives. Sam's messages were very effective, and many people promised to quit swearing, drinking, smoking, lying, gossiping, or anything else that was displeasing to the Lord.

On one occasion Jones asked a woman, "Just what is it  that you're quittin'?" She replied, "I'm guilty of not doing  something -- and I'm going to quit doing that too!" Even though  she had no bad habits to give up, she wasn't actively living to  please God.

Daily Bread, September 6, 1992.

One day a young man moved into a cave to study with a wise man. He hoped to learn everything there was to know. After giving his student a stack of books, the wise man sprinkled itching powder on his student's hand and left. Every morning the wise man returned to the cave to monitor his student's progress.  "Have you learned everything there is to know yet?" the wise man asked.

And every morning his student said, "No, I haven't." Then the wise man would sprinkle itching powder on the student's hand and leave. This was repeated for months. But one day, as the wise man entered the cave the student took the bag of itching powder and tossed it into the fire.

"Congratulations!" said the wise man. "You've graduated.  You've learned you don' t have to know everything to do something positive. And you've learned how to take control over your life and stop the itching."

Today in the Word, May 1, 1992.

Perhaps you recall the scene from the movie Patton. General Patton was pacing back and forth on the balcony of an English mansion. General Eisenhower had him set up as commander of an entirely fictitious army, complete with fake air traffic. The Germans are fooled and do not rush to the defense of the beaches of Normandy, thinking that the real invasion will be at Calais, headed by Patton. Of course Patton is extremely upset. He can't believe that he is being kept out of the most glorious war of the century. He says to a subordinate that he feels God has some great calling for him, some great army to move, but General Bradley, of all people, is in charge of the only army then going anywhere.

Sermon Illustrations, 1999.