Elders' Corner - Live Like You Were Dying

In 2004, country music star Tim McGraw released a song entitled “Live Like You Were Dying” that went on to become a mega hit. The premise of the song revolves around a 40-year-old man who was recently informed that he has a very short time to live. When the reality of the moment sets in, he asks himself “Man, what do you do”?

Initially he decides on a few fun activities like sky diving, mountain climbing and even riding a mechanical bull named Fu Man Chu. However, in the ensuing verses and for the remainder of the song, he begins to fully examine his life and consider the things that are of most importance.

Listed below are the areas of his life that he chooses to focus on and address. You will note that they are very practical and make life more rewarding. I have listed a scripture next to each that I hope you will take the time to read.

“He Loved Deeper” 1Pet 4:8

“He Spoke Sweeter” Prov 16:24

“He Gave Forgiveness He Had Been Denying” Eph 4:31-32

“He Became the Husband He Hadn’t Always Been” Eph 5:25,28

“He Became A Friend That A Friend Would Like to Have” Prov 17:17

“He Finally Read The Good Book” Acts 17:11

“He Took A Good Long Look” 2 Cor 13:15

He ends the song with the realization that “Tomorrow is a Gift” and that we should all “Get to live like you were Dying”. As we contemplate the words and emotion of the song, it’s a reminder to us that tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives and that every day is a gift.

So………….

What are you going to do with it?

What are you going to do with it?

What are you ……..

-Richard Dostie

Elders' Corner - HOW DO PEOPLE SEE YOU?

Church members Javaris Burks and James Greer, joined by fellow Christians, volunteer all day before going to their regular jobs. “I always want to hear, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant”’, said Burks, a team leader at a General Motors truck assembly plant. “We’re in the middle of a community that can really use our help.” “We just want to make sure we’re reflecting Christ,” added Greer, a lineman for a cable company. “Sometimes we are the only Bible that people see.”

The above comes from an article I recently read that details the works of a group of men from The North Central Church of Christ in Flint, MI. In 2014, they were instrumental in supplying drinking water to the community when it was discovered that the city’s water plant had become contaminated with lead poisoning.

Their sacrifice and servant hood should truly be emulated. However, what really got my attention was the statement, “Sometimes we are the only Bible that people see.”

SOMETIMES WE ARE THE ONLY BIBLE THAT PEOPLE SEE. Wow! Do we ever look at our own lives from that perspective? Often, we consider ourselves as being insignificant in God’s plans. We look at Hebrews 11, the great heroes of faith, and think that we could never be in that category. But the truth is, those great men and women likely considered themselves as insignificant, and they never knew their lives would turn out to have such an impact on the world and serve as biblical examples.

So, each day as we go about our daily routine, we must remember that people are looking at us. Will they see Christ reflected in us? Might we be the only Bible that they see? What message will we convey? It is my prayer and desire for all, that we humbly serve as Christ’s ambassadors while here in this world. So, you get to decide… HOW WILL PEOPLE SEE ME?

-Richard Dostie