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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
While we were working in Upstate New York with Empire State Evangelizing Association we had the opportunity to develop friendships with people in churches all up and down the Eastern Seaboard states. This included Pennsylvania. One couple, who ministered in a small community in Western Pennsylvania, had us come and speak to their congregation about our work in New York.
While with them, we got to know their young son. Our friends were unable to have children of their own through birth so they had adopted a beautiful little boy and were raising him in the Lord. The little fella must have been around five or six years old when we heard him arguing with a neighbor boy who had come to play. In the midst of their argument the neighbor had called my friend's son a name. What followed still brings a smile to my face when I recall it.
The little guy shouted back, "You're a log. You're a piece of a tree." Our friends and my wife and I were sitting in the house when we heard his comeback. We all started laughing at the sweet inncoence of this little boy. The worst thing he could think to call somebody was a log, a piece of a tree. Wow, that'll turn heads in high school.
The innocence of the young is refreshing and all too soon lost as the world intrudes with its barage of vitrole and despite. If we are ever to curb the attitude problem that many young have we will have to begin with the coming generation. We will have to lay aside our own propensity for name calling and agitation and lay the groundwork for understanding and consideration. God will help us in this and He will bless us with victory when we do.
"I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly." Romans 16:19, 20 It's time to bone up on what is good. Hmmm. I wonder if that includes studying the Bible? You know it does. What better place to begin to be wise in what is good. In the things of God there is wisdom and strength and peace...and victory.
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...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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