When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes which left no time for lunch, he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.

“Excuse me,” Governor Herter said. “Do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”

“Sorry,” the woman told him, “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”

“But I’m starved,” the governor said.

“Sorry,” the woman said again, “only one to a customer.”

Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. “Do you know who I am?” he asked. “I am the governor of this state.”

“Do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”

It is so refreshing to see individuals who are committed to their work and responsibility. We should all be like that, showing no partiality.

Acts 10:34 

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,

James 2:1 

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

Give it some thought and pass the chicken.

Gary

During the 1982 war in the Falkland Islands between England and Argentina, the Royal Navy’s 3,500-ton destroyer HMS Sheffield was sunk by a single missile fired from an Argentine fighter jet. It caused some people to wonder if modern surface warships were obsolete, sitting ducks for today’s sophisticated missiles. But a later check revealed that the Sheffield’s defenses did pick up the incoming missile, and the ship’s computer correctly identified it as a French-made Exocet. But the computer was programmed to ignore Exocets as “friendly.” The Sheffield was sunk by a missile it saw coming and could have evaded.

Judas was such a nice man that he was elected treasurer. Only Jesus knew that he chose twelve and one was a devil. Be vigilant.  A lot of American soldiers were killed by friendly fire.

 “Wine is a turncoat; first a friend and then an enemy.”―Henry Fielding

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 

Don’t be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.” Come back to your right way of thinking and stop sinning. Some of you don’t know God. I say this to shame you.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The word, aspirations, means a hope or ambition of achieving something. Examples: I want to preach like Billy Graham, No, that’s out – definitely unattainable. I want a body like Arnold Schwarzenegger had when he was thirty.  No, that’s out. My goal is to be rich and famous. Both of those endeavors are also impossible. I long to be president of the United States. You might ask, as I do, whatever for?

Is there anything that I can aspire to and be successful in?

2 Timothy 2:1 

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 6:16 

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Romans 10:17 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Life is a leaf of paper white
Whereon each one of us may write
His word or two, and then comes night.

Greatly begin! though thou have time
But for a line, be that sublime–
Not failure, but low aim, is crime.

                                                             James Russell Lowell

Have realistic goals. Give it some thought and head in that direction.

Gary

My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done;
Leave countless marks for good or ill, ere sets the evening sun.
This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray:
Lord, may my life help other lives it touches by the way. 

I am a part of all that I have met.

   Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)

Romans 14:15

 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.

1 Corinthians 5:6

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

If you can’t make yourself better, at least don’t make others worse.

Give it some thought.

Gary

After the American Civil War, the managers of the infamous Louisiana Lottery approached Robert E. Lee and asked if he’d let them use his name in their scheme.  They promised that, if he did, he would become rich.  Astounded, Lee straightened up, buttoned his gray coat, and shouted, “Gentlemen, I lost my home in the war.  I lost my fortune in the war.  I lost everything except my name.  My name is not for sale, and if you fellows don’t get out of here, I’ll break this crutch over your heads!”

I would rather make my name than inherit it.

   — W. M. Thackeray

Proverbs 22:1

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.

Ecclesiastes 7:1

A good name is better than precious ointment.

 Thank God for the influence in our lives of those with a good name.

Give it some thought.

Gary

A beggar knocked on the door of an English pub called “George and the Dragon.” A woman opened the door. He asked, “Could I have a bite to eat?” The woman screamed at him and began to curse and malign him. Finally, she slammed the door in his face. He knocked again and the woman opened the door. “Now,” he said, “could I have a few words with George?”

Sometimes you just don’t know who is going to open the door. Many times, knocking twice with trepidation is necessary.

God Himself stands and knocks on doors like that. What response did He receive at your door?

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.

Give it some thought.

Gary

From an unknown source comes an article titled, “How to Be Miserable.” It says, “Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Use “I” as often as possible. Mirror yourself continually in the opinion of others. Listen greedily to what people say about you. Expect to be appreciated. Be suspicious. Be jealous and envious. Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive a criticism. Trust nobody but yourself. Insist on consideration and respect. Demand agreement with your own views on everything. Sulk if people are not grateful to you for favors shown them. Never forget a service you have rendered. Shirk your duties if you can. Do as little as possible for others.”

This is just the opposite of what the Bible offers as a recipe for a happy and productive life. It’s about others. Jesus’ thirty-three years on the planet were consumed by the great need of others. The Apostle Paul’s three missionary journeys were about others. His epistles were about others. Peter’s final correspondence was about others.

So, what does the Word have to say…

Hebrews 6:10

“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.”

Galatians 5:13

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

Galatians 6:2

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Give it some thought.

Gary