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The Paper and Electronic Pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Mineral Springs, NC
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Dr. Terry W . Preslar – PO Box 388 – M ineral Springs, NC 28108
(704)843-3858 – E-Mail: preslar12@windstream.net
Copyright (C) 2009. Terry W. Preslar All rights reserved.
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his stubborn determination eventually proves invaluable. When the forest animals warn of trouble so dire
that even his bossy rival, Doc, stammers, "What do we do?" it's Grumpy who leads the charge to save Snow
White from the Wicked Queen.
We simply take ourselves too seriously. Of course, we should not do that but we can't stop for love or
money or anything between. The point is well taken by all who endure us and we are our own worst enemies.
However, of all the curmudgeons I know, you and I did stop taking ourselves too seriously long enough to
repent of our sins and trust Christ. Saved curmudgeons find that they are still yet "curmudgeons" and we
must continue to have temperance over our tempers and control over our "curmudgeon-hood."
Maybe, you are one that God has chosen to love a curmudgeon. Possibly a husband (or wife) or a family
member (take care – family may be you connection to your, future, curmudgeon-hood) or a friend that drives
you crazy. You may be dismayed or broken by the rigors of this exercise. Let me remind you of what many
have already learned. Curmudgeons have value that they use extreme effort to obscure and often these values
come out in times of crisis and distress. Curmudgeon are driven by “Duty.” Gen. Robert E. Lee said the
“Duty” was the finest word in the English language. Duty is a quality we find in Christ (“And it came to
pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,”
Luke 9:51).
Then a curmudgeon always has a stiff commitment to “Loyalty.” Those he loves are secure in their
relationship with him. Relationships are a sum of experiences – many experiences that make sure this thread
of loyalty. Again, we find this in Christ (“...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Heb.
13:5).
And, among many other values we must see that curmudgeons are able and effective in the projects taken
on. They are “trustworthy.” If you trust him/her you will not be disappointed, disenfranchised or let down.
Well, once more, we find this in Christ (“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37).
I could discuss several more traits that are common to curmudgeons but the last characteristic is our
uniqueness. Each curmudgeon is (if true to himself) a “one of the kind.” A piece of work. They broke the
mold when they made him. His singularity is a huge positive for our society. It makes for creativity that
produces mighty solutions for unsolved problems. And without doubt, we find this in Christ (“...for there
is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12).
This does not say that Christ is a curmudgeon but curmudgeons
can have Christ-Like qualities that make them lovable, more so
than the less transparent. Curmudgeons must make efforts to
display the best characteristic of our personalities. I am sure that I
have not been the best that could be and I have “preached” myself
under conviction here. I can not change my (or your) curmudgeon-
hood but I can do the best I can to be more Christ-Like.
Please remember this: There are many more "curmudgeons"
where we came from (“...look unto the rock whence ye are hewn,
and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.” Isa. 51:1). And
they need to hear the Gospel too. Who better to preach that Gospel
to them than one of their own...and while I tell the "curmudgeons"
about the hope of the grumpy, their wives and husbands and children hear too. We can watch while God
does for us what our nature does not even want but our hearts need more than life itself. ("I say the truth in
Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and
continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
kinsmen according to the flesh:" Rom. 9:1-3). I wonder if Paul might have been a curmudgeon too...?
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Psalms 107:2 S É S Romans 12:1-2
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