GOD DOESN’T UNDERSTAND ME (1 OF 4)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30
This content is part of a series.
God Doesn’t Understand Me (1 of 4)
Series: Lies People Believe
Jeff Strite
Matthew 11:28-30
When Elvis Presley died, there were a lot of people who were shocked. In fact, following Elvis’ death, there were a number of young men who idolized him so much that they sought to be like him and to imitate him.
One young man, named Dennis Wise, actually had his face surgically altered and had his hair shaped so that he could look exactly like his idol. He learned to play the guitar and even made money appearing onstage as a Presley look-alike. He was interviewed by a newspaper about his desire to be like Elvis, and said this:
‘‘Yes, sir, Presley has been an idol of mine ever since I was five years old. I have every record he ever made -- twice over. I have pictures in the thousands. I have books, magazines, pillows - I even have a couple of books in German and Japanese about him. I even have tree leaves from the front of his house. It was embarrassing to me when I was in school, the kids were always teasing me. When Elvis was wearing white boots, I went out and bought white boots. The kids called them ‘‘fruit boots.’’ Teachers would always send me to the office because my two top buttons (of my shirt) were unbuttoned. I’d button them and then... when no one was looking, I’d UNbutton them again.’’
Elvis was his hero. But he says: ‘‘I never got to meet Elvis Presley. I saw him on the stage four times. Once I tried to run up to the stage and once I stood on the wall of [the Presley mansion] and tried to see him. For 12 hours I stood there trying to get a glimpse of him. But he had so many people around him that I could never get close to him.’’ (from a sermon by Ray Stedman April 7, 1985)
The tragic element of Dennis Wise’s story were those words: ‘‘I could never get close to him.’’
There are people who say the same thing about God.
They don’t feel they can get close to Him. God seems distant and uncaring. They feel like He doesn’t care... that He does ...
Series: Lies People Believe
Jeff Strite
Matthew 11:28-30
When Elvis Presley died, there were a lot of people who were shocked. In fact, following Elvis’ death, there were a number of young men who idolized him so much that they sought to be like him and to imitate him.
One young man, named Dennis Wise, actually had his face surgically altered and had his hair shaped so that he could look exactly like his idol. He learned to play the guitar and even made money appearing onstage as a Presley look-alike. He was interviewed by a newspaper about his desire to be like Elvis, and said this:
‘‘Yes, sir, Presley has been an idol of mine ever since I was five years old. I have every record he ever made -- twice over. I have pictures in the thousands. I have books, magazines, pillows - I even have a couple of books in German and Japanese about him. I even have tree leaves from the front of his house. It was embarrassing to me when I was in school, the kids were always teasing me. When Elvis was wearing white boots, I went out and bought white boots. The kids called them ‘‘fruit boots.’’ Teachers would always send me to the office because my two top buttons (of my shirt) were unbuttoned. I’d button them and then... when no one was looking, I’d UNbutton them again.’’
Elvis was his hero. But he says: ‘‘I never got to meet Elvis Presley. I saw him on the stage four times. Once I tried to run up to the stage and once I stood on the wall of [the Presley mansion] and tried to see him. For 12 hours I stood there trying to get a glimpse of him. But he had so many people around him that I could never get close to him.’’ (from a sermon by Ray Stedman April 7, 1985)
The tragic element of Dennis Wise’s story were those words: ‘‘I could never get close to him.’’
There are people who say the same thing about God.
They don’t feel they can get close to Him. God seems distant and uncaring. They feel like He doesn’t care... that He does ...
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