Have you switched any tags lately?

FAITH:
2 Kings 10:1-36
King Jehu drastically reformed society. He spoke out against practices that disregarded God's law and called the people back to God's standards. He killed wicked Ahab's household and the prophets of Baal. Although he led the way in these reforms, he failed to finish the job, he did not remove the idols set up in Dan and Bethel.

Jehu passionately opposed practices that were dishonoring to God, but some of his own efforts were sinful (Hosea 1:4-5)

It seems a couple of prowlers broke into a department store in a large city. They took nothing. Absolutely nothing. No merchandise was stolen. No items were removed. But what they did was ridiculous.

Instead of steeling anything, they changed the cost of everything. Price tags were swapped. Values were exchanged. These clever pranksters took the tag off a $395 camera and stuck it on a $5.00 box of stationery. The $5.95 sticker on a paperback book was removed and placed on an outboard motor. They repriced everything in the store.

Crazy? You bet. But the craziest part of this story took place the next morning. The store opened as usual. Employees went to work. Customers began to shop. The place functioned as normal for four hours before anyone noticed what had happened.

Four hours! Some people got some great bargains. Others got fleeced. For four solid hours no one noticed that all the values had been swapped.

Hard to believe? It shouldn't be--we see the same thing happening every day. We are deluged by a distorted value system. We see the most valuable things in our lives peddled for pennies and we see the cheapest smut go for millions.

The sales man who defended his illegal practices by saying, "Let's not confuse business with ethics."

The military men who sold top-secret information (as well as their own integrity) for $6,000.

The cabinet member of a large nation who was caught illegally dealing in semi-precious stones. His cabinet position? Minister of Justice.

The father who confessed to the murder of his twelve-year-old daughter. The reason he killed her? She refused to go to bed with him.

Why do we do what we do? Why do we take blatantly black and white and paint it gray? Why are priceless mores trashed while senseless standards are obeyed? What causes us to elevate the body and degrade the soul? What causes us to pamper the skin while we pollute the heart?

Our values are messed up. Someone broke into the store and exchanged all the price tags. Thrills are going for top dollar and the value of human beings is at an all-time low.....

And you've seen the results of this. Our system goes haywire. We feel useless and worthless. We freak out. We play games. We create false value systems. We say that you are valuable if you are pretty. We say that you are valuable if you can produce....

Now please understand, this is man's value system. It is not God's.

In God's book man is heading somewhere. He has an amazing destiny. We are being prepared to walk down the church aisle and become the bride of Jesus. We are going to live with him. Share the throne with him. Reign with him. We count. We are valuable. And what's more, our worth is built in! Our value is inborn. by Max Lucado

Apply it: Make a list of things the world values (money, good looks, nice cars.) When you've completed your list, ask yourself, "Which of these do I value? Which does God value? How can I spend my time and money better to reflect what God values?"
Explore it: Distorted Values--Job 21:14; Psalm 82:5; Proverbs 14:12; 30:20; Isiah 44:18-20: Jeremiah 9:3-6; Zephaniah 3:5; John 1:5; Romans 1:21-32; Ephesians 4:18; 2 Peter 2:19

FRIENDS:
Thank you for your promise that if we do what is right, eventually truth and justice and goodness will prevail. As we face the dilemmas and options of this time, remind us that good does reign supreme. In Jesus' name.....

FOOD:
NOT FOOD EXACTLY BUT SOMETHING FROM THE KITCHEN

• Safe stacking: Put a coffee filter between plates when storing. For nonstick pots and pans, use one to keep the surface from being scratched when you stack them.
• "Snack bowls": Use coffee filters as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.
• Prevent spills: Wrap a filter around a taco shell to prevent spills -- this is especially good for little ones.
• "Drip catcher:" Great for wrapping around frozen pops and ice creams.
• Glass cleanser: Clean windows and mirrors using a filter.
• Mini cutting board: Put down a coffee filter when chopping (not slicing) one tomato, onion, etc.
• Handi-wipes: Keep filters in your car for window cleaning, to use as napkins and for quick cleanups.
• Flower-pot liner: Put a filter in the bottom of a small pot when repotting.

SORRY, nothing is funny today........you will have to wait until tomorrow to smile.