FOODFORTHOUGHT

A new missionary recruit went to Venezuela for the first time. He was
struggling with the language and didn't understand a whole lot of what
was going on. Intending to visit one of the local churches, he got
lost, but eventually got back on track and found the place.

Having arrived late, the church was already packed. The only pew left
was the one on the front row. So as not to make a fool of himself, he
decided to pick someone out of the crowd to imitate. He chose to
follow the man sitting next to him on the front pew. As they sang, the
man clapped his hands, so the missionary recruit clapped too.

When the man stood up to pray, the missionary recruit stood up too.
When the man sat down, he sat down. When the man held the cup and
bread for the Lord's Supper, he held the cup and bread. During the
preaching, the recruit didn't understand a thing. He just sat there
and tried to look just like that man in the front pew.

Then he perceived that the preacher was giving announcements. People
clapped, so he looked to see if the man was clapping. He was, and so
the recruit clapped too. Then the preacher said some words that he
didn't understand and he saw the man next to him stand up. So he stood
up too. Suddenly a hush fell over the entire congregation. A few
people gasped. He looked around and saw that nobody else was standing.
So he sat down.

After the service ended, the preacher stood at the door shaking the
hands of those who were leaving. When the missionary recruit stretched
out his hand to greet the preacher, the preacher said, in English: "I
take it you don't speak Spanish."

The missionary recruit replied: "No I don't. It's that obvious?"

"Well yes," said the preacher, "I announced that the Acosta family had
a newborn baby boy and would the proud father please stand up."

He did and you together with him.

Do not just imitate people. Make sure you understand what they're
doing and find out if it's good for you.

Your office mates say, "Friday night is 'For The Boys Night!' time to
hit the popular bars and Videoke Bars." But before you mimic what
those apes are doing, first find out if you understand. Make a little
background check into their families and see for yourself.

Is he faithful to his wife? Is his wife faithful to him or are they
just playing the marriage game? Next, check the kids. Are they being
cared for? How are they doing in school?Next check his community. What
is his reputation in his neighborhood? Before you begin imitating
their actions, make sure you know what's going on.

Some guys in the office begin to say, "I hate this company. They're
not treating me right. Here I am working in this stupid place for many
years yet nothing's happening. I am not going to accept any new
assignment unless they raise my pay."

Before you catch their spirit and imitate their actions ask yourself
these questions: "Who is living my life for me?"

"Do I share the same values with them?"

Do a little checking. How would you rate the loser's performance
through the years? Has he been diligent and faithful in his job? When
given an assignment does he perform excellently? Has he added skills
and knowledge so that he improves with the fast changing world?

Before you imitate, make sure the guy is worth imitating.

Choose your models very carefully. I don't know about you but if
there's someone worth imitating, that would be Christ and those
followers who imitate Him too. People who believe and behave according
to the standards of the Bible, whose Creed and conduct are consistent,
are the people I want to imitate.

Paul said it very clearly. He reminds his followers to: "Imitate me as
I imitate Christ." And that's what all of us should be doing.

By the way, there's a popular saying about people who imitate blindly
and foolishly. It's got something to do with monkeys -- monkey see,
monkey do!

PRAYER
"Lord, give me a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, and a great love of you. Take from me all lukewarmness in the meditation of your word, and dullness in prayer. Give me fervor and delight in thinking of you and your grace, and fill me with compassion for others, especially those in need, that I may respond with generosity."

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