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Cybersalt News
Sunday greetings everyone!
I recently discovered that the Cybersalt newsletter archives are showing the same issue over and over and over again instead of the different issue that went out in each mailing. I'm looking into a fix for this - or for clarification on what I am doing wrong in the process of putting the mailings together. I don't think it's due to an error between my keyboard and my seat, but I've learned to be open to the possibility!
Today's video share is one that moved me a few weeks ago. It's a video of Mr. Rogers getting inducted into the TV Hall of Fame. What really impresses me about this video is how Fred Rogers was able to communicate a message of encouragement to some, and correction to others without being offensive to anyone.
Sadly, there are some who think one of the key evidences that one is doing God's will is if lots of people are offended by what is being said or done. I wish such people would stop to consider and be open to the possibility that they reason might be because they are being rude jerks. Peter's command in 1 Peter 3:15 is important for opening as many doors as possible (or leaving as many doors open as possible) for our message: "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
This video is a great example of what that looks like.
Click here to watch the video.
Enjoy the rest of today's mailing!
~ Pastor Tim
In the Bag
I had an offer from a large company and they offered to fly me out to the meeting on business class. During the return flight we were given gourmet brownies and cookies. Not hungry, I decided to save them for later, so I placed them in an airsickness courtesy bag.
After the plane landed I got up to leave and a flight attendant approached me. He asked, "Sir, would you like me to dispose of that for you?"
I said, "No thanks, I'm saving it for my kids."
One-Liner #1564
Overheard: Young bride to friend ...
"I'm glad my parents chose my husband for me; I'd hate to think I'd picked him myself."
"Be a Billionaire!"
and Help
Refugees and
Persecuted Christians
Disney Security
A long time ago, when the internet was just beginning and simple passwords were needed to protect accounts, my kids were among those who loved going on the Web. They kept track of their passwords by writing them on Post-it notes.
I noticed their Disney password was "MickeyMinnieGoofyPluto," and so I asked why it was so long.
"Because," my son explained, "they say it has to have at least four characters."
Quote #2000
"If you add anything to Christ, you lose Christ. Salvation is in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone."
- John Stott
Charitable Giving
A large, well built man visited the church and asked to see the pastor's wife, who was well known for her charity.
As he spoke to her he said in a voice breaking with emotion,
'I'd like to draw your attention to the terrible plight of a poor family in this neighborhood. The father is dead, the mother is too ill to work, and the nine children are starving. They are about to be turned out into the cold streets unless someone pays their $400 rent that is past due'
'How frightful!' exclaimed the pastor's wife. 'May I ask who you are?'
The enormous visitor wiped his eyes with his handkerchief and wailed, 'I'm their landlord’
Read moreFeatured Illustrations are items well suited for illustrating or inspiring a point in a sermon, speech, or devotional. Funny, moving, or perhaps even graphic, the point of them is the point you make with them.
Rev. James Snyder, God's Penman, writes . . . .
Ants, Ants, Ants, Where's the Uncles
I have learned in my life that the small things are the ones that get you down. You would think the big things are the ones to steal most of your time. But those big things call attention to themselves from the very beginning. You know they're there, you know you have to do something about it, and so you do.
The little things in life, usually unnoticed and ignored, cause most of the problems. Everybody has their definition of what a "small problem" really is. A small problem for me is finding the pen I need for a particular project. I have a different pen for each project, and I don't like to mix them up. Someone in the family thinks it's crazy for me to have that kind of a problem. But everybody is crazy in some way.
Read moreThe Cybersalt Digest is a ministry of Pastor Tim and Cybersalt.
Oh look, Chicken Thursday!
I attend a small village church in rural Pennsylvania. On any given Sunday, we may have six or seven faithful little ones who come with their parents for the entire church service.
He who hesitates is interrupted!
If Cher were to get cloned, would she be Cher and Cher alike?
The proprietor of a small village drugstore was called out one sleepy summer morning, leaving the establishment temporarily under the sole management of a very young, and very uneducated, clerk.
For some reason, the last several weeks we have been getting many visitors at our door. I'm not sure if this is a general trend or if it is just our door. Some of them have been salesmen, religious people, scam artists, and a host of other people.
Oh look, Chicken Thursday!
A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary. Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.
Probably nothing in the world arouses more false hopes than the first four hours of a diet.
What do you call a country, where all the cars in it are pink?
I had been doing Tech Support for Hewlett-Packard's DeskJet division for about a month when I had a customer call with a problem I just couldn't solve.
One Easter Sunday morning as the minister was preaching the children's sermon, he reached into his bag of props and pulled out an egg. He pointed at the egg and asked the children, "What's in here?"
If at first you DO succeed, try to hide your astonishment!
“When the big earthquake happens and southern California separates from the mainland it will be San Andreas' fault.”
There is a stage in a child's life at which it cannot separate the religious from the merely festal character of Christmas or Easter.
Fifty years ago, I was a teenager. Boy, do I miss those Days of Yore. It's not that I would like to relive them,
Oh look, Lizard Thursday - and welcome to the first day of April!
After finishing an out-of-town errand, I discovered that my car wouldn't start because it was out of gas. A passerby told me there was a service station a half-mile away, so I took a gas can from the trunk and trudged the distance in the sweltering sun.
The only problem with buying a book on amnesia is that you are likely to forget where you put it!
The author considered his wine collection a best cellar.
Constant nagging didn't seem to provide any relief from having to clean up the bathroom after each of my three teenage children.