These lyrics were part of a record released by the Statler Brothers in 1966. I just need to mention that they weren’t brothers, but this fact has nothing to do with the point I’m trying to make.

… Countin’ flowers on the wall
That don’t bother me at all
Playin’ solitaire ’til dawn with a deck of 51
Smokin’ cigarettes and watchin’ Captain Kangaroo
Now don’t tell me, I’ve nothin’ to do

In solitaire, you can’t win if there is a card missing. You can come close, but there’ll be “no cigar.” How many do you know who are not playing with a full deck? They are one fry short of a happy meal.

Life has more purpose when we do it God’s way and the results are for winners.

Acts 13:36

“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.

Think about it. This is our generation; find purposeful things to do and you should never be bored.

Gary

Was the package lost in transit? Perhaps you weren’t home when it was delivered, then a porch pirate took it. The possibility remains that you gave the wrong address. Whatever, there it is – gone.

Psalm 42:11

 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

You completed the order; now wait patiently for the arrival.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Was there a breakup in the transmission? Was the message not received due to interference? Maybe, you could blame it on sunspots. Then it could be age-related hearing loss. This phenomenon has been going on since the garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:15-17

Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Visit cemeteries and see the results of not taking the transmission seriously.

Give it some thought and open your ears.

Gary

It was a story told by Diane Rogers found in Reader’s Digest. It goes like this: ”My son-in-law was washing his truck when he turned the hose on his five-year-old. She ran around laughing and giggling. Unable to control her happiness, she shrieked, ‘This is too much fun, Dad! How did you come up with it?’”

She didn’t realize the value of experience that accumulates over the years. The kind of experience that can bring joy to others. Yes, you are right the Bible does mention the principle.

Job 12:12

Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days. 

Proverbs 24:32

When I saw, I reflected upon it;

I looked, and received instruction.

If the carnal experiences of life can help us give pleasures to others, just think of what the sharing of spiritual experiences can do.

Give it some thought.

Gary

RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, United States. Of the 2,240 passengers and crew on board, more than 1,500 lost their lives in the disaster.

She was billed as the ship that couldn’t sink, and all we can say is she sank without reaching her destination on her first voyage. 

How’s it going on your voyage through life? Think you’ll make it? Are you relying on some man-made religion, philosophy, or tradition?

Here are some we can read about who made a bad decision to trust in something other than the Word of God:

Acts 24:25

Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time, I will call for you.” 

Acts 26:24

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

Both men sank because their faith was misplaced.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The soldier’s first article of faith is summed up nowhere more eloquently than in an 1865 letter from William Tecumseh Sherman to U.S. Grant: “I knew wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight place, you would come–if alive.”

You can tackle huge projects and overcome tremendous challenges if you are confident others have your back. Let me quote a divine and human source of such confidence because of the support of others.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 

And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 

Philippians 1:6 

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Life is a challenge and the opposition is good at throwing curveballs, but we must have confidence in the help of others.

Give it some thought and fight on.

Gary

To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it;
Whenever you’re right, shut up.

 -Ogden Nash

This is a quote I’ve used while performing many marriage ceremonies. At the time, the couple probably didn’t get the full weight of the poem. However, looking back at their video, they can let it hit home.

Colossians 3:19

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Ephesians 5:33

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

If you haven’t yet memorized this poem accompanied by these verses, do so now.

Give it some thought.

Gary