“Texas Rattlesnake Handler Dies After Bite at Festival” was the headline of the article. I would think that being a rattlesnake handler must require a high insurance premium. How do you practice that occupation? What’s the learning curve? Do friends and family mind staying at your house? It seems that you can lose even after you are at the top of your game. Maybe you lose interest, but the snake never does.

The Scripture has a lot to say about this type of animal:

1 Corinthians 10:9

We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,

2 Corinthians 11:3

But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

Some prosperity teachers lay claim to being handlers of the serpent. Many have suffered the same fate as the snake handler in my opening narrative. Only One Man has been designed to handle him and that is the Lord Jesus.

Revelation 20:2

And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,

Don’t mess with the serpent; it doesn’t matter how brave you are.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I certainly wouldn’t want to be alone on life’s river as it carves its treacherous course through uncertainty. What’s around the next bend? Is there another rapids or waterfalls? Can my vessel handle the distance? What about the hidden rocks?

This poem has been an encouragement to me because my life belongs to Him and I rest upon His promises.

“Behind our life the Weaver stands

And works His wondrous will;

We leave it all in His wise hands,

And trust His perfect skill.

Should mystery enshroud His plan,

And our short sight be dim,

We will not try the whole to scan,

But leave each thread to Him.”

–       C. Murray

Psalm 16:11

You will make known to me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Exodus 33:15

Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.”

Genesis 28:16

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”

Give it some thought.

Gary

Making amends was not much of a consideration in the past. All one had to do was search for different grazing grounds. Not sweating the small stuff seemed to be good advice, but the small stuff grew into monsters. Words left unsaid reached their expiration date. Unaccomplished goals couldn’t be realized because older bodies wouldn’t cooperate. Not taking life too seriously was only a theory that really has never been proven in the test tube of life.

That is the unfortunate conclusion of many as they face the uncertainty of eternity. They seem to be rolling the dice and hoping to win the big one. They put all their chips in and wait for the final card to be turned. The tragic conclusion is to be left with nothing to show for life. Betting on a losing horse spells disaster.

There is a better way:

Acts 4:12 

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” 

Matthew 19: 25-26 

“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”  Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

The game has been rigged against us by Adam, but Christ is there for winners.

Romans 5:12

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned

Romans 5:15

But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.  

Give it some thought, gambler.

Gary

Staring at seventy, I spend more time thinking, which I was never really good at through the years. The winds of change always were a challenge, but I never thought they would reach hurricane proportions.

I definitely hang on to the promises made to Abraham. You see, Abraham is called the father of all who believe. God would be the author and finisher of his journey through life, and so it will be with all who believe.

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

James 2:23

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

I don’t know where it’s all heading, but I do know the account of Abraham and I do know the same God has my future in His hands.

Give it some thought and ready the camels.

Gary

On November 10, 1942, Winston Churchill said this: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” I believe this is where we are today as it pertains to wars. We are a long way from the end, so you probably shouldn’t give up your day job and wait for the second coming. Don’t be waiting but doing.

Matthew 24:6

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 

Many Christian authors are making a killing on the war in Ukraine. Don’t buy their books. Instead, send your money to some reputable relief organization to help those poor people.

James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Eleanor Rigby” is a song by the English rock band, the Beatles. It is from their 1966 album Revolver. It is about people who lead absolutely meaningless lives. So many people identified with the lyrics because of their empty experiences here on the third rock from the sun. Sorry to say, but I believe the consumers of such things are realists as they examine their existence and call it what it is.

The Scriptures mentions such individuals:

Job 15:31-32

Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment. It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not be green.

 Isaiah 53:4

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

The answer to emptiness is hope:

Come on now, Eleanor Rigby or any other lonely soul. Get with the program and reach out to God.

Psalm 42:11

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. 

Give it some thought.

Gary

Beetle Bailey is a comic strip about a perpetual goof-off navigating life in the army. It is ironic that Beetle Bailey, the laziest character in the history of army life, gets so much attention. Could it be that so many of the audience identifies with this main character?

The Bible often will illustrate the Christian experience in military terms:

Psalms 144:1

Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 

2 Timothy 2:3

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:4

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Don’t be like Beetle Bailey needing a kick from Sgt. Snorkel to get him motivated. Put on your gear and get on the field of battle.

Ephesians 6:13

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Give it some thought, soldier.

Gary