A Rubber Chicken On A Fencepost Didn't Get There On Its Own Podcast

Can A Rubber Chicken on A fencepost Go the Extra Mile? or perhaps you've heard the more popular version of the old idiom, "A Turtle On A Fence Post Didn't Get There On Its Own!      I tried to find a turtle to put on a fence post, but they were too expensive (or I was too cheap!) What I do have is a flock of rubber chickens. You may have heard the question, "Why did the rubber chicken read the Bible? He wanted to correct his fowl language!      There's an old idiom that says, "A turtle on a fence post didn't get there on its own." I read a story about a farmer who would keep an eye out for turtles while plowing his fields. Upon seeing one, he would put the turtle on a fence post to keep it safe until he was done tilling the land, and then place the turtle back on the ground. When this idiom is taken literally, we can easily see why the farmer placed the turtle in such a high and lofty position. The turtle can't walk off a fence post; they can only travel on land when their feet are on the ground.      When this idiom is taken figuratively, it usually means that people don't become successful and achieve high and lofty positions without help. It can also be used to demonstrate how someone might be stuck until someone helps get them off the fence post. In both possible scenarios, help has either been provided or is needed. Encouragement is one of the simplest and easiest ways to help others.      To know the difference between literal and figurative, we have to either know what it means or figure it out within the context of the writing or conversation. Idioms are used, metaphorically, to change the literal meaning of a phrase and give it a figurative meaning. Sometimes encouragement has to go the extra mile to help someone get moving again. The story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37 is like that. Jesus was asked a simple question and he answered by telling a story that encourages us to be on the lookout for people who need help and encouragement. Here's the story in the Message Bible: "And just how would you define 'neighbor'?"  30-32 Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.  33-35 "A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.' 36 "What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?" 37 "The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, "Go and do the same."  A good way for you to define neighbor is, "anyone who needs encouragement." The world needs more extra mile encouragers who help get turtles off fence posts and do what God designed them to do.  Thanks for your time. Go encourage somebody! Jesus loves you and so do we.  https://biblebob.org/how-to-subscribe-to-our-podcast-and-youtube-videos