When I was a third grader, we would play king of the mountain during recess in the winter months. During cleanup after a snowstorm, the crew would plow the snow into a high mound at the end of the parking lot. This would be our mountain. The girls were to have the mountain first and we would charge up and throw them off. One Irish girl could handle herself well, and it would take more than one boy to dispatch her. Her older brother could look out from his classroom and observe the interaction. He went home and told his mother that his sister was embarrassing him with her antics. It wasn’t her fault; she just wanted to be king.

There is one place where we can reach legitimate kingship and that is to be found in Christ.

Revelation 1:6

and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This is no game and you can be on top.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Why does a piece of chalk produce that hideous squeal? According to the book, The Flying Circus of Physics (With Answers), squealing chalk results from the phenomenon of “stick and slip.” Incorrectly held chalk actually sticks to the blackboard. But when the writer bends the chalk enough, it suddenly slips and vibrates, sporadically striking the chalkboard and producing that squeal we hear. As the vibrations decrease, the friction between the chalk and the board increases until the chalk sticks again and the torture begins once more. 

–       “Chalk Talk”, Campus Life, December, 1979.

Unfortunately, some people are like that. They seem to drone on and on in the most torturous manner. They strike a chord that penetrates the soul. If you feel you’re bothering people, get out of there. If you are the recipient, then you get out of there.

Proverbs 25:17 

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

Proverbs 10:26 

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Years ago, my brother-in-law invited me to go skiing with him and his preteen-children. For some reason, I was to be in charge of the kids on a particular run. As I rounded a turn, I observed them disappearing over a precipice that had a warning sign, “Black Diamond Trail.” This identified the most dangerous trail on the mountain. As I arrived at the top and came to a standstill, I could see the three of them looking up at me from the bottom, with anticipation on their faces. They wanted to see their uncle make a fool of himself trying to navigate that cliff. They weren’t disappointed, for shortly in my descent, skis, poles, arms and legs were flying in all directions.

Leadership doesn’t work when you’re bringing up the rear. You must, out of necessity, be ahead of the pack, watching for danger and protecting your charges. 

Acts 20:28

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

I lived, and a good time was had by all by the grace of God.

Give it some thought.

Gary

A little boy asked his father what his New Year’s resolution was. His dad responded, “I’m going to do everything possible in this new year to make your mother very happy.”

The little boy then asked his mother the same question. She replied, “I’m going to do everything possible to make sure your father keeps his resolution.”

Nothing like having some help when the task is great and the past is littered with failure. The Bible offers help in this endeavor.

Isaiah 41:10 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Psalm 54:4 

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

Give it some thought and tackle that thing together.

Gary

A woman walked into her bathroom at home. As she did, she saw her husband weighing himself on the bathroom scales, while sucking in his stomach.

The woman thought to herself, “He thinks that he will weigh less by sucking in his stomach.” So, the woman rather sarcastically said to her husband, “That’s not going to help.”

Her husband responded, “Sure it will. It’s the only way I can see the numbers.”

Can’t see the numbers?  Now is the time to do something about it. My specialized diet involves burning fewer calories than I take in. (Not that I follow it, but it has been my diet.)  Not seeing the numbers is very telling about last year’s consumption.

That is also true spiritually. People looking on can tell what you’re consuming from the Word.

John 6:35

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

1 Peter 2:2

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

 Look down at yourself. Think about it. Isn’t it time?

Gary

The cartoon character Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes once said, “God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I’m so far behind I’ll never die.”

For you as a Christian there are a certain number of things you must accomplish. Remember Jonah who had to go to Nineveh?  There were only two ways this could be accomplished. The easy way and the hard way. He chose the hard way. Read the account.

Now, as for you as a Christian, there are two ways to live your life. The easy way and the hard way. Which one will you choose in the new year?

Proverbs 3:11-12 

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of His reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Revelation 3:19 

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Give it some thought and don’t mess with God’s will.

Gary

A boy asked his father, “Dad, if three frogs were sitting on a limb that hung over a pool, and one frog decided to jump off into the pool, how many frogs would be left on the limb?” 

The dad replied, “Two.” 

“No,” the son continued. “There are three frogs and one decides to jump, how many are left?” 

The dad said, “Oh, I get it. If one decides to jump, the others would too. So, there are none left.” 

The boy said, “No, Dad, the answer is three. The frog only DECIDED to jump.” 

Does that sound like last year’s resolution? Great inspiration and great resolutions, but often times we only decide, and months later we are still on the same limb of do-nothing.

–       Author unknown

If you can’t make a decision, then there is no need to make a resolution for the new year. However, if you are in the mood for real change, read this:

Romans 2:4 

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

Revelation 2:5 

Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Give it some thought and then jump.

Gary