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Story: Thought Track

Toy Cars

Cars constantly whizzed around Josh’s toy car track, which he called Thought Track. The cars came in all different shapes and sizes. And unlike normal toy cars, these cars seemed to have minds of their own.

Josh’s father had designed this special track to work well, so long as each car stayed in its proper place and traveled in an appropriate way. Josh had the responsibility of making sure cars that shouldn’t be there got taken out, that those that could drive backwards stayed forwards, and that all the cars stayed in their proper place. This task proved anything but easy.

For example, the Task cars seemed to always jump into other lanes besides their own. One always seemed to be humming around the corner, often derailing other cars. Josh discovered he had to constantly erect boundaries to keep the Task cars in their lane. Otherwise, the Task cars would force less-assertive cars, like the People and Bible cars, off the track. Josh had to look at the track very carefully to even realize that these cars had disappeared, since the Task cars tended to fill up the space and noise so well.

There were also cars like Bitterness and Covetousness that just didn’t belong on the track at all. Josh had to keep after these rouge cars, as they were creative about sneaking back on.

Other cars like Fear could be driven well, but instead often drove backwards. Josh had to keep realigning them to head in the right direction.

It was amazing how quickly the Thought Track could get completely out of wack! When it did, Josh had to ask his father to help him get the cars back in their proper places (and remove the ones that just didn’t belong).

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.” Proverbs 29:25 (ESV)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)

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Story: On the Wrong Train

Jason stood at the train station, his army bag in hand. He’d been told by his commander to board the train labeled “True and Pure.” But at the moment, Jason had forgotten this commandment. In fact, he temporarily forgot everything when he saw an amazingly comfortable-looking train pull up and call out, “All aboard.” Without thinking or even asking where the train was headed, Jason hopped on board.

Jason nestled into the plush seat. He was tired from many long battles, and this train felt fabulous. Leaning back, he relished in the sensation of the soft material against him, the clean walls and windows, and the delicious smell of the food the service attendants were getting ready to serve. With everything so nice, why did he feel so uneasy?

He hadn’t gone far before he started to notice a problem. Something wasn’t right with the service attendants on this train. They gave him everything he wanted, but why did he get the impression they were waiting to pounce on him? A glance out the window made his heart pound. Was that enemy territory he saw? Where was this train going, anyway? He chided himself for not having found out. He looked around for any trace of a Pure and True sign, but he didn’t see one. With a groan, he realized he’d been fooled into getting on an enemy train.

Jason turned his attention to figuring out a way off the train. It was going way too fast to jump off, that he knew. He inquired about the next stop, but the servant attendant ignored his question and instead offered him another beverage. He took it uneasily. Where were they going?

Jason was not left in suspense for long. The train soon pulled to a stop in front of a depot that looked more like a prison. Jason tried to run away as soon as the train stopped, but he discovered that the delicious food and beverages he’d consumed on the train had left him weak. He found himself helplessly led inside the depot and thrown in a damp, dirty, and altogether unpleasant room not unlike a prison cell. He was indeed trapped.

Then Jason remembered the radio in his pocket. He quickly found it and radioed his commander. “I got on the wrong train and ended up trapped. I can’t escape. Please help—I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to your instructions,” he whispered, least anyone overhear.

“Make your way to the door. I’ll get you out,” came the prompt reply.

“Right now?”

“Right now. I’m right outside the door—I’ve been near you the whole time, just waiting for you to realize what you’d done and ask for help. I paid the ransom to free you from the enemy years ago, remember?”

Jason hurried to the door, remembering well the tremendous price the commander had paid to ransom him. True to his word, the commander quickly opened the door and, supporting Jason with his arm, led him through a special passageway out of the enemy depot to a waiting jeep. Oh, how good the fresh air felt to Jason!

The commander drove Jason back through the enemy lines to a friendly depot, leaving him there to board a Pure and True train. As Jason waited, he thought back over what had happened. How foolish he had been to jump on a pleasant-looking train without thinking through its destination!

“What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.” Romans 6:21

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:7-9

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8