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Our Spring Canyon speaker, retired Army Chaplain Dan Holcomb, told a very effective parable that I want to share with you. It’s the kind of thing I wish I had written! (I hope you understand that some of my stuff is original, but I’m also standing on the shoulders of others! Dan credits the story to Chuck Swindoll.) 

Here’s Dan’s story:

A business owner called his employees together and said, “I’m going away for a while, and I want you all to keep the business going. I’ll be sending emails from time to time to help keep you on track.” When the owner returned a couple years later, the business was in shambles. He asked them, “Didn’t you read my emails?” 

They replied, “You bet! In fact, we compiled them into a book, and we have read them all very carefully. In fact, we gather at least once a week to have an email study to discuss them!’

The owner was shocked. “Didn’t you do anything I told you to do?” 

“Do anything? No, we didn’t do anything, but those were some really fine emails!”

Well told, Chaplain Dan!

[Jesus said, ] “But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach.” (Matthew 7.26, MSG)