The Whole Poop!

This blog may turn your stomach but it has to be said…

Growing up, I lived in a County that was known for itsDairy farming. You know, the place milk comes from? Driving by these farms was,to say the least, an experience for the olfactory sense. Ok, the smell waspretty rough…but cow manure can do that.

Did you know that manure is the oldest and most effectivefertilizer known to man? That’s right, as long as man has used cows, horses,pigs etc. in domestic capacities; and as long as man has planted seeds in theground he’s used manure to fertilize his crops. Manure returns up almost 75% ofnitrogen back to the soil; 75% of the phosphorous; and over 80% of the potashthat was taken from the soil. One dairy cow can produce 27,000 lbs. of manure ayear…that’s a lot of poop!

In biblical times, the value was greatly understood. Itwas gathered and piled outside the city gates so its value could be shared byall. If we didn’t put manure back into the soil, our farm lands; our lawnswould soon be depleted of all its nutrients. Nothing would or could grow fromthese areas without it.

What possibly could I relate to you about manure and God’sWord? Paul, what’s the whole “poop” on this blog? Why am I “WASTE -ing” my timeon this subject?

In Mark 14:3 – 9 while he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a manknown as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensiveperfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on hishead. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Whythis waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked herharshly. "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you botheringher? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor youwill always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But youwill not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfumeon my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preachedthroughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory ofher."

Some ofthe disciple thought what she did was a waste! The money that the perfume couldhave been sold for would have provided more funds for the ministry then tosimply waste it on Jesus head. Like the manure, most think it’s just a waste.To the WORLD your service to the Lord and giving of your heart to God is awaste. The WORLD thinks Jesus was pure waste of time. The world thinks we, as Christians,can do better.

Matthew26:8 and when the disciples saw it, they were all indignant, saying for whatpurpose is all this waste?

Even today among Christiansthere can be found much of this spirit that wants to give as little as possibleto the Lord and yet get as much as possible from Him. To some of us, shovelingmanure and storing it would not only be disgusting but a waste of time. Some ofus are reaching to God for prosperity and are actually already standing in hisabundance.

Reaching out is good;reaching for God is good but God has already given you the talents, skills andabilities to claim this. Some things in yours and other people’s lives may seema waste to you. My earthly father thought this way. He considered a lot I didto be a waste. I played soccer which he thought was a dying sport. I loved towrite poetry and he thought that was not only a waste but also not a masculinetrait. I was a Boy Scout and he considered this to be a wasted effort, what prosperitycould I achieve with that?

Well, Soccer is an Olympicsport and watched by millions. Some of the greatest poets were men…Walt Whitmanand Poe for starters. And did you know that 75% of all Astronauts; and 60% ofall CEO’s were Eagle Boy Scouts?

Your life on earth can beconsidered like manure by other…non believers. To some, who you are and whatyou do can seem a waste. But like manure, you have potential to add life andnutrients to those around you. You can grow and help others to grow. Oh and youdo smell….you are “The Aroma of Christ”. What that means is the Satan can’tstand your smell.

2 Corinthians2:14 – 16

“But thanksbe to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession anduses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those whoare being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death (Satan); to theother, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

I’m good with that!!!