We were young and looking for any thrill we could find. There was an old farmhouse belonging to my friend’s grandfather which was empty at the time. It was locked, but in the back of the house on the second floor was a window that could be easily raised.

As darkness descended, our little gang would sneak into that mysterious place and my friend’s imagination would kick in and the hair-raising ghost stories would spring forth. He was a master storyteller. As the sun set, the room would become progressively darker.

The challenge of this game was not to be the first one to break and run for the window. That would make you the biggest chicken. Debilitating fear at the thought that you’d be the last one through the window nearly crippled us. After all, an evil spirit might grab you by the seat of your pants and you would never be heard from again. Why we did this time and time again, I can never understand.

Fear is something that most of us grapple with all of our lives. It may take many different forms that change with age, but the emotional feelings remain the same.

The Bible addresses this emotion many times:

Luke 12:32

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Luke 2:10-11

 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord

Some fear is healthy because it leads us to right conclusions.

Think about it.

Gary

Two good old boys from my hometown were traveling to work in a pickup truck. Let’s say one was a Hatfield and the other a McCoy. They were discussing the passing of a particular Hatfield who had died the week before. As the conversation progressed, the McCoy, with tongue-in-cheek, asked the Hatfield how they could tell when a Hatfield was dead.  The Hatfield quickly replied, “It’s not like a McCoy because his mouth is shut.”

Always ready to give an answer is strongly promoted by the Word of God:

1 Peter 3:15

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

The Irish have a quick wit that they use to their advantage. We, as Christians, should hone our knowledge of Scripture to be quick in responding to our adversaries.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Gideon was so brave, had an extremely high IQ, exhibited the qualities of a military genius, and demonstrated a magnetic personality. No, that would not be referring to the Gideon of the Old Testament. According to Hebrews 11, he only had one powerful asset and that was faith in what God said and even that took some time and experimentation. His story doesn’t even end well in the Old Testament account.

The only perfect person found in Scripture is the Lord Jesus Christ who gave Himself for all of us who lacked all those characteristics mentioned in the previous paragraph. It doesn’t take much faith to accomplish great things. The all-consuming quality God looks for in an individual is humility and a complete dependence on His power.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Why don’t you humble yourself, admit your need, and totally embrace Him as Lord and Savior?

Think about it.

Gary

The prosperity preachers would like us to believe their gospel will provide a life of financial success and physical health. One of them blew away Covid-19 with his breath a year ago. Another called angels from Africa and South America to help Trump win the election.  This, of course, flies in the face of Biblical revelation. I would take a pass on the kind of life Abraham, Jacob, Job, Noah, David, Paul, Peter or John endured. The Scriptures state, unequivocally, that the rain falls on the just and the unjust.

The thing I would do is trust Him when adversity, which is a common human experience, comes my way. The hymn writer expressed it well in, “My Grace is Sufficient:”

Many times I’m tried and tested
As I travel day by day.
‘Oft I meet with pain and sorrow
And there’s trouble in the way.
But I have a sweet assurance
That my soul, the Lord will lead.
And in Him there is strength for every need.

Oh, His grace is sufficient for me.
And His love is abundant and free.
And what joy fills my soul,
Just to know, just to know
That His grace is sufficient for me.

When the tempter brings confusion
And I don’t know what to do,
On my knees I turn to Jesus
For I know He’ll  see me through.
Then despair is changed to victory.
Every doubt just melts away
And in Him there is hope for every day.

James 1:4

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Go out there today and prove that His grace is sufficient.

Think about it.

Gary

While standing on the back porch of my nephew’s house, I look out over the confluence of the Allagash and St John Rivers.  Old memories come to life.  I can see us as kids swimming in that water hole between Gardner and Hog Island.  There we are wading over to attack the Wehrmacht with our wooden and plastic guns. The dogs that always follow us are taken downstream by the current and come to shore some distance away. Another has us returning from a camping trip with our sleeping bags and blankets because the night is too long and the ground too hard. Then my mind sees us skiing down the river bank and speeding out onto the ice, unstrapping our skis and trekking through the snow back to shore.

If only the kid could look up and see that old man standing on that porch, looking down. No, that’s not possible. They are only memories of days long gone.

If I live long enough, what will be my memories of my present days? I ask that because what we do now will become a memory. Let’s practice good memory- making.

Acts 10:38

 …how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Let us imitate Him and do good things with the time and gifts He has given us.

Think about it.

Gary

“The Carnival Is Over” is a Russian folk song from circa 1883. It was adapted with English-language lyrics, by Tom Springfield, for the Australian folk pop group the Seekers in 1965. The song became the Seekers’ signature recording, and the band has customarily closed their concerts with it ever since its success in late-1965.

Say goodbye my own true lover
As we sing a lovers song
How it breaks my heart to leave you
Now the carnival is gone

High above the dawn is waiting
And my tears are falling rain
For the carnival is over
We may never meet again

Like a drum my heart was beating
And your kiss was sweet as wine
But the joys of love are fleeting
For Pierrot and Columbine

We were young and couldn’t wait to go to the annual fair that came to Presque Isle every year. The definition of carnival is a traveling enterprise offering amusements. That’s what it was. There were rigged games to win teddy bears that no one ever won. There were shows that no one should ever see. There were rides with vomit encrusted on the safety bars. There was food too expensive for us to eat. The whole thing was designed to take the money from your pocket and place it in their coffers while making you believe you were having a good time. It was a very brief time of pleasure that left you feeling like a fool.

The song I mentioned describes such an experience.  It could be a marriage, a business endeavor, one of multiple pleasures that humans take a shot at that leaves them empty.

God offers man an experience that is real and lasting, and when life is done for you, there will be no regrets that you took the journey.

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Give it some thought.

Gary

I can’t listen to Ann Murray sing, “Someone’s Always Saying Goodbye.” We’ve been at too many airports and seen too many cars leaving our yard to be able to handle this song.

Railroad station, Midnight trains
Lonely airports in the rain
And somebody stands there with tears in their eyes

It’s the same old scene, time after time
That’s the trouble with all mankind
Somebody’s always sayin’ goodbye

When our youngest grandson was hardly more than an infant, he was on my shoulders as I was walking around the airport. My son kept an eye on me because he thought I would leave with him.  He knew how hard it was going to be for us to part.

Separation is a constant struggle for us in this life and it presents itself in multiple relationships. However, there is one relationship in which we will never experience separation.

Romans 8:35

 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

The answer to the second question was an unequivocal, no.

No, I didn’t kidnap my grandson. If I had, he would have been returned after his first dirty diaper presented itself.

Think about it.

Gary