Title:  I Run for Fun

   Recently I read a fable about a dog who loved to chase other animals. He bragged about his great running skill and said he could catch anything. Well, it wasn't long until his boastful claims were put to the test by a certain rabbit. With ease the little creature outran his barking pursuer. The other animals, watching with glee, began to laugh. The dog excused himself, however, by saying, "You forget, I was only running for fun. He was running for his life!"
   That does make a difference! Motivation is the most important factor in everything we do.

See:  1 Cor 9:24; Phil 3:12-14

Title:  The Heckler

   In his book The Witness is Withness, David Augsburger told an imaginary story about a man who had just arrived in heaven. Attracted by a large crowd, he inquired what was going on, "Oh, it's 'show and tell' time," came the answer. He was asked if he had anything he'd like to share. "Why sure," the new arrival quickly responded, "I'll tell about the big flood we had back in 1889 when I was a boy in Pennsylvania." "That will be fine," he was told, "but remember, Noah will be in the audience."

See:  1 Cor 1:31

Title:  A Whale of a Story

   Whales really do communicate with each other. One whale sounded the following caution to his dear mate:
   "Better watch it; when you get to the top and start to blow, that's when you get harpooned!"
   What's true at sea is also true in our world.

See:  Rom 12:3; 2 Cor 11:30

Title:  No Time to Brag

   From Mongolian folklore comes this helpful little fable of the boastful frog.
   Two geese were about to start southward on their annual autumn migration, when they were entreated by a frog to take him with them. On the geese expressing their willingness to do so if a means of conveyance could be devised, the frog produced a long stalk of grass, got the two geese to take it one by each end, while he clung to it by his mouth in the middle. In this manner the three were making their journey when they were noticed from below by some men.
   The men loudly expressed their admiration for the device and wondered who had been clever enough to discover it. Whereupon the vainglorious frog opened his mouth to say, "It was I," lost his hold, fell to the earth, and was dashed to pieces.
   Moral: When you have a good thing going, keep your mouth shut!

See:  Jam 3:2; Jam 4:16

Title:  My Dad

   Three little guys were doing what little boys do so well: bragging about their dads.
   One said, "My dad owns a factory."
   Another said, "So what! My dad owns a farm."
   The third boy, a preacher's kid, said, "That's nothing. My father owns hell."
   "Oh, yeah," said one of the boys "How can a man own hell?"
   "Well," the pastor's son said, "I heard my mother tell my grandmother that the deacons of our church gave my dad 'hell' last night."

   -- Editorial: "Welcoming the Sexually Tempted", Christianity Today, April 5, 1993, p. 17, (adapted).

See:  1 Tim 3:1

Title: Quote

   Samuel Chadwick said, "If you're successful, don't crow. If you fail, don't croak."

See:  Josh 7:8-10; Prov 29:23

Title: Will Rogers

   Get someone else to blow your horn, and the sound will carry twice as far.

   -- Will Rogers

See:  Prov 27:2

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