My birthday was on June 11. (I know you forgot.) Anyway, I graduated on June 11, 1970, and Paula graduated on the same day at her school some 30 miles away from my high school. One of my favorite classmates never forgot that fact and in recent years calls me to wish me a happy birthday. The amazing thing about her is that she regularly upholds our ministry in prayer. What a treasure she is! I wonder how much octane we have in ministry because of individuals like that. Eternity will be a revealer of what prayer can do.

Ephesians 6:18

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 Communication with God helps others.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Clinton said, “I smoked but did not inhale.” Later he said, “I did not have sex with that woman.” To be fair and balanced Nixon said, “I am not a crook.” Chamberlain coming back from Germany in 1938 with a document signed by Hitler said, “Peace in our time.”

World leaders today haven’t improved much in the area of this deficiency in human nature. On the other hand, there is still a market for people wanting to consume lies. There is even a verse for this:

2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Give it some thought. The truth can be hard on the ears.

Gary

Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke exposure. This is about one in five deaths annually or 1,300 deaths every day.

100,000,000 people died of tobacco-related causes in the 20th century. Many professing Christians are involved in this industry of death. I have a question for you: How come so many Christians protest abortion but the ones protesting tobacco are so few? I can’t give you an answer. I only have a question. It remains a conundrum to me. I’m not like Daniel of old.

Daniel 5:16

And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

When I was young, I smoked Winston cigarettes because I fell for the jingle, “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.”

Daniel knew the handwriting and explained the enigma. His relationship with God provided insight others didn’t have. Should we follow his example?

Give it some thought.

Gary

About twelve to fourteen kids gathered from the neighborhood to play softball. An appointed captain tossed the bat to the other team’s appointee and both hands, one over the other, went up the bat. This method decided who had first pick for a teammate out of those around. One would pick from the group and then the other. I never considered how the last two chosen felt about their lack of talent. Now sixty years later, I feel bad about that scenario.

What about those who always feel outside, neglected, unappreciated and lacking, who are only grudgingly chosen to be a part? As kids, they were not given much thought.  Now that we are adults, shouldn’t we be more considerate?

Philippians 4:5 

Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Titus 3:2

to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

Give it some thought and consider those who are less fortunate in the game of life.

Gary

A defendant isn’t happy with how things are going in court, so he gives the judge a hard time.

Judge: “Where do you work?”

Defendant: “Here and there.” 

Judge: “What do you do for a living?” 

Defendant: “This and that.” 

Judge: “Take him away.” 

Defendant: “Wait; when will I get out?” 

Judge: “Sooner or later.” 

-Pate Ferry

We appreciate answers to our questions that are well thought out and intelligent. Half-baked responses are frustrating to say the least. I sure am glad God does not communicate like that.

Colossians 4:6 

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Jeremiah 33:3 

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In 1969 this was one of my songs:

In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find

In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lie
Everything you think, do and say
Is in the pill you took today

In the year 4545
You ain’t gonna need your teeth, won’t need your eyes
You won’t find a thing to chew
Nobody’s gonna look at you

In the year 5555
Your arms hangin’ limp at your sides
Your legs got nothin’ to do
Some machine’s doin’ that for you

In the year 6565
You won’t need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube

In the year 7510

If God’s a coming,

I’m going to cut it off here because it mentions God letting it all happen.

That song-writing prophet had his dates wrong, for the fact is that God won’t let it go that far. After all, it is His creation.

Isaiah 5:20

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

2 Corinthians 10:5

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Give it some thought. I’m going home.

Gary

An exercise for people who are out of shape: Begin with a five-pound potato bag in each hand. Extend your arms straight out from your sides, hold them there for a full minute, and then relax. After a few weeks, move up to ten-pound potato bags. Then try 50-pound potato bags, and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-pound potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. Once you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag. 

         —Beverly Gross

Had you on that one. Let’s go for an application. People think they need more church (5 pounder). Keep the commandments (10 pounder). Pray more (50 pounder). Give more (100 pounder). Now face the reality.

Try this:

Romans 10:9-10 

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Galatians 2:21 

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Workouts won’t produce what faith can if placed in the right person.

Give it some thought.

Gary