Click here to view this edition online!  

Cybersalt News

Oh look, Chicken Thursday!

Today's edition is going out later than usual. Shahbaz, one of my team, is working on a big project for a client. He lives in Thailand and connecting across our time zones sometimes makes for meetings that interrupt my "regular scheduled programming."

Today's video share shows an historical solution to the housing shortage. It's a problem that has many people stumped today.
You can watch the video here.

 Enjoy the rest of today's mailing.

~ Pastor Tim 

The speaker at a bank's drive-through window had been broken for weeks, and the tellers had to resort to miming or writing notes to communicate with their frustrated customers.

One day a sweet elderly lady who came to the drive-in every week pulled up to the window, leaned out, and smacked the glass in front of the teller's face.

"I hope this is bulletproof," she yelled.

There had just been a robbery at another bank nearby, so the teller was touched by her concern.

"It is," the teller yelled back.

"Good," she continued, "because someone is going to shoot you if you don't get that blasted speaker fixed!"

I'll never forget the look on the cashiers face, when she scanned the packet of bird seed, and I asked her how long does it take for the birds to grow once I plant them.

"Be a Billionaire!"

and Help

Refugees and

Persecuted Christians

What is the difference between a coyote and a flea?

One howls on the prairie and the other prowls on the hairy.

"All you need is love, But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

- Charles M. Schulz

My forgetter's getting better
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke

For when I'm "here" I'm wondering
If I really should be "there"
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven't got a prayer!

Oft times I walk into a room,
Say "what am I here for?"
I wrack my brain, but all in vain
A zero, is my score.

At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!

When shopping I may see someone,
Say "Hi" and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, "Who's that?"

Yes, my forgetter's getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And it's driving me plumb crazy
And that isn't any joke.

Featured 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.

Susan Page writes . . . . 

- photo by Susan Page There is an often-repeated scripture found in the book of Philippians.

The Apostle Paul, when addressing the church at Philippi wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.” In the NIV translation, it reads “Let your gentleness be known to all.” The Amplified Bible gives even more descriptive phrasing; “Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people.”

I want to lean into this text. It is challenging to my soul.

Would any of these adjectives be used when referring to my daily interactions? Do peers, colleagues and friends know me as a reasonable person? How about the traits I display with family, those nearest and dearest to me? Do I display a spirit of unselfishness?

Let’s be clear, I’m not seeking compliments, I’m doing some soul-searching, and it hurts. Keep in mind that how we view ourselves is often very different from how others see us. Frequently, the world does not consider Christ-followers as reasonable people at all. Do we ever come across as intolerant and impatient, a people lacking in mercy? Maybe all we need to land on is our driving habits or our intolerance of people who are not on our most favoured list.

It doesn’t appear that Paul is merely suggesting that we try to be reasonable. There isn’t a lot of give here. Making flimsy excuses like, “Well, I’m tired, or I’m fed-up, or they deserved it” when acting in a way that is not Christ-pleasing won’t cut it.

Paul goes on to write beautiful words of encouragement to believers. He tells us to not be anxious. Relaxed people tend to be grace-filled people. He expresses our need to be in prayer making our requests to God with thanksgiving. Thankful people, who are trusting God to supply their needs are more likely to be merciful to others.

Paul goes on to say that we will be filled with the peace of God which is simply beyond our understanding. This peace will guard our hearts (emotions) and minds (attitude) in Christ Jesus.

In other words, this peace will so saturate our spirits that our behaviour will be positively impacted.

The apostle states that we must focus our thoughts on things that are true, honourable, just, pure and lovely; things that are excellent and worthy of praise. It’s impossible to be miserable and intolerant of others if we are focused on God-honouring things.

If all this sounds too difficult, well it should, because it is … if we attempt it in our own strength.

The last portion of the verse in Nehemiah 8:10 states that we should not grieve because “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”

Thankfully, God gives us the strength to be all He calls us to be. As we remain in Him, our reasonableness and our joy will be known to everyone!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
(Galatians 5:22,23)

The Cybersalt Digest is a ministry of Pastor Tim and Cybersalt.