Reaching Out

By Florida Senator John Grant, Retired

Week Twenty-Nine, 2019

REACHING OUT

“So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it!” (Romans 15:7).

When did contacting someone become reaching out? I have recently received a number of emails where the phrase “Thank you for reaching out” is used instead of what I would expect to be the normal expression “Thank you for contacting”. These emails are from companies in the USA.

Is “reaching out” now the in-vogue expression for the simple act of contacting someone? ‘Reaching out’ is one of those naff, feely-touchy phrases that companies have started to use to show they CARE.

In the 1980’s, the telecom firm AT&T launched a huge TV advertising campaign for long distance calling featuring a catchy jingle with the lyrics “Reach out, reach out and touch someone.” The term crept into business lingo soon afterwards and immediately began irritating millions of people, of whom I am one.

Perhaps it is a bit more personal than “contact.” Using this new phrase tries to create the idea that the reachor has something wonderful for the reachee, but usually the contrary is the real meaning. The reachor wants the reachee to do something for the reachor. The people who reach out is looking for something to benefit them or their company instead of those they are reaching to help. This the reality of the commercial world.

On the other hand, The Bible has a different take. It admonishes Christians to reach out for the benefit of others.

To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ ( Ephesians 4:12 ).

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you (John 15:12 ).

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God (Hebrews 13:16 ).

Consider what the Bible says and reach out to someone today. God wants us to love the world without needing the world to love us in return.

***

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

For what are you living today? For what should you be living? When asked “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus famously answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:28, 30–31).

To obey our Master’s great commandments, we should ask of everything we do today: How will this express love for my Father and my neighbor? If your life ended this week, for what would you be remembered? Self-centeredness or other centeredness?

— o —

Coffee lovers might be able to breathe a sigh of relief — a new study found that drinking even large amounts of the caffeinated beverage won’t stiffen arteries and harm your heart.

— o —

Shelley O’Brien runs a hotel in Yale, Michigan, a small town north of Detroit. She is making headlines because of her offer to women who live in states where abortion is restricted: if they come to Yale, “we will support you with several nights lodging and transportation to and from your appointment.”

O’Brien likens her support of abortion to the Underground Railroad that was used to lead slaves to freedom. “I have three granddaughters, two great nieces and a lot of other women that I care about, and I don’t want any of them to die in back-alley abortions,” she added. “And I don’t want any of them to ever have to proceed with a pregnancy if they don’t want to. . . . People aren’t perfect, and people shouldn’t have to DIE for their mistakes.”

But babies should…die? Hmmmm

— o —

When David found himself confronted by enemies (Psalm 139:19–24), here was his prayer: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

What hard place is your address today?

Would you make David’s prayer yours right now? Daily?

— o —

And an airplane passenger opened the emergency exit door after mistaking it for the toilet. Fortunately, the plane was still on the ground. Unfortunately, the exit slide deployed automatically and the flight was delayed by seven hours.

— o —

When John Wesley died there were 115,000 in his discipleship group. How many are in yours?

Line to heaven

***

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

I know lots of people who are educated far beyond their intelligence. —Lewis Grizzard

The hard part about being a father is yelling at our kids to grow up when simultaneously shouting into our phones about losing at fantasy sports. —Dwight Short

In life, if you remain flexible you won’t get bent out of shape. —John Louer

The Bible is a book about choices. —Bob Sprinkle

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. —H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Ask the Holy Spirit to make you holy.

Obedience is the road to freedom.

***