Sermon Jazzers      from Voicings Publications Each day SearchGodsWord.org and Voicing Publications posts for our users a fresh Sermon Jazzer illustration handpicked for usage with the "Sunday Sermon".   Today's Sermon Jazzer deals with the subject of 'obedience'. Click here to preview today's "Sunday Sermon." The "Fable of the Birds" is a story about Creation. All the newly-made animals were walking around discovering what it was like to be alive. All except the birds! They were doing nothing but complaining because God had given them a heavy burden that He'd given no other animal: those awkward appendages on their shoulders. God must be punishing them somehow. Why did they have to carry these things around, making it hard to walk? "Why?" they asked. "Why us?" Finally, two or three of the more adventurous birds began to move their appendages. They began to flutter them, and soon they discovered that the very thing they had regarded as a burden actually made it possible for them to fly. And no other animals could fly. The "heavy burden" turned out to be a beautiful gift. Many of us act like those silly birds. We regard God's call to obedience as an awkward appendage to our lives--weighing us down. Thou shalt not! Thou shalt! Heavy burden it is until we discover that God's Law is really the wind of the Spirit, enabling us to fly as no other creature can fly. Voicings Publications, Inc. Copyright, 2001. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited.   Each week two new illustrations are posted from the "Handbook of Pulpit Humor: 101 Humorous Sermon Illustrations. Illustration #1 deals with the subjects of 'money, inspiration and music'. The great composer Rachmaninoff was unhappy at being labeled a genius. It was his desire to at all times appear perfectly normal. Once, a stage-struck listener asked, "What ever inspired you to compose such a wonderfully marvelous piece as you 'C-Sharp Minor Prelude'?" The master made a deep bow and, with a perfectly composed face, replied, "Because, madam, I needed the dough." The Handbook of Pulpit Humor: 101 Humorous Sermon Illustrations. From The Editors of Sunday Sermons. Copyright, 1999. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited. Illustration #2 deals with the subjects of 'work, clergy, lying and parish life'. The telephone rang in the rectory of a large suburban parish. The parish secretary answered the call. A man's voice demanded to speak to the pastor. "I'm sorry, he isn't in," the secretary said. The now hostile voice then said, "Oh, l suppose he's out spreading lies." To which the secretary replied, "No, this is his day off !" The Handbook of Pulpit Humor: 101 Humorous Sermon Illustrations. From The Editors of Sunday Sermons. Copyright, 1999. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is strictly prohibited.