{"id":11563,"date":"2016-05-29T07:49:06","date_gmt":"2016-05-29T11:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=11563"},"modified":"2016-06-23T15:16:07","modified_gmt":"2016-06-23T19:16:07","slug":"a-zoad-a-fork-and-a-choice-52216","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=11563","title":{"rendered":"A Zoad, a Fork, and a Choice (5\/22\/16)"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Zoad?\u00a0 How does a Dr. Seuss character improve our own character; help us to walk in deeper faith?\u00a0 If we’re going to get anywhere, we need to make a choice; step out in faith and commit to obeying God.
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Click the below “Play” button and scroll down to follow along (the recording is from the 11:00\u00a0 service)…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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The scripture was Jeremiah 6:16 and Deuteronomy 30:15-19.\u00a0 Click the following Drop Down box to follow along.\u00a0 Pastor Jim read from the King James version; the New King James is shown below…
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Jeremiah 6: & Deuteronomy 30<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Jeremiah 6:16<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thus says the Lord:<\/p>\n

“Stand in the ways and see,<\/p>\n

And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,<\/p>\n

And walk in it;<\/p>\n

Then you will find rest for your souls.<\/p>\n

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’<\/p>\n

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Deuteronomy 30:15-19<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,<\/p>\n

16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.<\/p>\n

17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,<\/p>\n

18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.<\/p>\n

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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Zoad- not Road.\u00a0 That’s not a Misprint in the Bulletin!<\/span><\/h3>\n

There was a\u00a0 lot of confusion in the office this week after Pastor Jim emailed his sermon information.\u00a0 “Zoad”???\u00a0 Surely he meant “Road”, didn’t he?\u00a0 A followup email was needed, and Pastor Jim confirmed, indeed, he was going to preach about Zoads instead of Roads.<\/p>\n

Dr.Seuss (Theodore Geisel) dedicated himself to writing simple, entertaining and thoughtful books and poems that used basic words that children would understand.\u00a0 Many of his poems weren’t published into books, and one of them is a poem called “A Zoad in the Road.”<\/p>\n

We don’t know if Dr. Seuss did any research into the meaning of his word “Zoad,” but it turns out that this is the same as a Greek word meaning “Stair Step” or “Ladder.”\u00a0 A device that people would use to get somewhere.<\/p>\n

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What Zoad are we using?<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

Here’s the text of Dr. Seuss’ poem… (open the drop down box to follow along<\/span><\/em><\/span>)<\/p>\n

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A Zoad in the Road<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad<\/p>\n

Who came to two sides in the fork in the road?\"Seuss-<\/p>\n

He looked one way then the other way, too.<\/p>\n

So the Zoad had to make up his mind what to do.<\/p>\n

Well the Zoad scratched his head, his chin, and his pants,<\/p>\n

And he said to himself, ‘Now, I’ll be taking a chance.<\/p>\n

If I go to place one, that place may be hot.<\/p>\n

So how will I know if I like it or not?<\/p>\n

On the other hand though, I’ll feel such a fool,<\/p>\n

If I go to place two and find it’s too cool.<\/p>\n

In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue.<\/p>\n

So place one may be best and not place two.<\/p>\n

On the other hand though, if place one is too high,<\/p>\n

I might get a terrible earache and die.<\/p>\n

On the other hand though, if place two is too low,<\/p>\n

I might get some terrible pain in my toe.<\/p>\n

So place one may be the best,’ and he started to go.<\/p>\n

And he stopped and he said, ‘On the other hand though. . .<\/p>\n

On the other hand, other hand, other hand though, and. . .<\/p>\n

For thirty-six hours and one half that Zoad made starts and made stops<\/p>\n

At the fork in the road, saying ‘No, don’t take a chance, you may not be right.’<\/p>\n

Then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright.<\/p>\n

‘Play safe,’ cried the Zoad, ‘I’m no dunce.<\/p>\n

I’ll simply start off to both places at once.’<\/p>\n

And that’s how the Zoad who would not take a chance<\/p>\n

Got no place at all with the split in his pants.<\/p>\n

(copied from http:\/\/www.funtrivia.com\/askft\/Question19581.html<\/a>)<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

The poor Zoad couldn’t make up his mind which way to go.\u00a0 So, he decided to not really MAKE a decision.\u00a0 Instead, he tried to take both roads at the same time.<\/p>\n

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Have You Ever Had to Make Up Your Mind?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Have you ever made a decision for Christ?\u00a0 As you go through life each day, do you decide to follow Jesus, or do you decide to not decide and “go with the flop of the mop” instead?\u00a0 There’s a great danger of just trying to “play it safe”… just having enough faith to keep you comfortable, but not enough to be willing to commit your total life to Him.<\/p>\n

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Are you trying to keep one foot in God’s Kingdom and the other in a world which is opposed to God’s Kingdom?<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

Decisions are like hair; either you have it or you don’t.\u00a0 There’s no middle ground.\u00a0 Over and over, the Bible tells us to avoid the fear of “ruffling feathers” and playing it safe; try to keep peace instead of trying to keep pace.\u00a0 Here are a few passages talking about decisions (all quotes are from the New Living Translation<\/em><\/span>)…\n\t\t\t

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