It is a picture in a 1970 yearbook from my old high school. There is a girl jammed into a waste basket so tightly, she can’t get out.  Most people would look at that picture and think, What is that all about?  I’m not most people because I’m the one who put her there. This event was only in my memory for many years, but I discovered by looking at an old yearbook there is a surviving photo of this event. I placed her there just before the English teacher entered the room. It didn’t take the jaws-of-life to get her out, but it did take three of us boys. One had to hold the basket while the other two strained and lifted.

A picture is worth a thousand words, but a picture is very limited unless you have a witness.  The Apostle Paul spoke of witnesses who saw the Lord Jesus after the resurrection.  Someday, we will be able to ask them about that event, for we just have a limited picture at this time.

1 Corinthians 15:6

After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

How many memories do you have that could use some living proof?

Give it some thought.

Gary

Matthew 20:30

And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”

This was no ordinary road. It was the road of recognition because two blind men recognized Christ. Many with their sight do not recognize Him as the Son of David.

It was the road of mercy because God shows His mercy to those whom the world believes don’t have a chance. Many of the world’s outcasts have experienced and appreciated God’s mercy. Many erroneously believe they don’t need God’s mercy.

It was the road of decision because these two made a decision for Christ.  Once a man said, “I’m not at war with God.” Poor ignoramus, he didn’t realize he was up to his eyeballs battling God.

Finally, it was the road of overcoming obstacles.  There were no medical, financial, emotional or prideful reasons not to cry out. Have you cried out or do you have an obstacle?

What road are you sitting alongside, blind and in need?

Give it some thought.

Gary

I recall being three years old and standing on the seat of that brand new 1955 GMC pickup. Dad had just purchased his first new vehicle and the dealership was tanking it up for free.  My other seven siblings must have been home at the time, and they had only brought the brat. In reality, trucks were much smaller in those days and more than three individuals would be a tight-fit in that cab. The column had a three-speed forward and reverse gear and my mom could handle that as well as Dad.

I’m examining that event sixty-six years later. That truck was for work, for getting necessary things for the home, and for pleasure. It was utilitarian. Except for the 5 ½ Evinrude outboard motor and the Homelite chainsaw, that was it for gas engines at our place.

People die and life takes you from childhood to the nursing home at breakneck speed.  There is a message in this essay about today:

Hebrews 3:13

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Machines change, people change, and values change. But in this world, there is one constant:

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Give it some thought.

Gary

When I was in EMS, another medic told me about a mother who allowed her kids to play in the road. Every once in a while, one of the children would get hit by a car. Those situations never seemed to change her faith in God.

Sometimes Christians will tell me they don’t take precautions when it comes to Covid-19. They just have a tremendous faith in God. Now I take as many precautions as I can, and I believe myself to have faith in God.

Sometimes the devil lies to individuals to get them off track. He tried that with Jesus, so I think he does that with believers also.

Matthew 4:6-7

 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’

The evil one has a working knowledge of the Word of God. Don’t listen to him, for he’s a liar.

Can you imagine Paul saying to Timothy, “Don’t worry about my coat because God will keep me warm this winter.”? Timothy would have to lug that garment a great distance over some rough territory to get it to Paul.

Think about it and keep yourself and others safe.

Gary

Don’t forget when writing a date that it will be 2022. Some of us old geezers are still mistakenly putting a nineteen instead of a twenty. I don’t know about you but it seems like these past years flew by. Of course waiting to see if the computers of the world would go into a tailspin at the turn of the century seems like yesterday and that was twenty two years ago.

Here is something new you can do in the New Year if you haven’t already done so.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

If you haven’t entered into God’s covenant it is not too late.

Hebrews 12:24

To Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Also if you are a young Christian here is some sound advice.

1 Peter 2:2

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

I hope this is not new to you but give it some thought.

Gary

The definition of a pawn is a person or thing manipulated and used by others or a game piece in the game of chess. A person unwittingly used in a scheme and taken advantage of by others is an example of a pawn.

The conversation in the garden between Eve and Satan is the manipulation of a pawn. The meeting of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler in 1938 is another case in point.

A nephew in jail asking me for bail money, when I don’t have a nephew in jail, is my personal example. (It didn’t work on me.)  The constant phone scams looking for a pawn seem to have no end.

The Bible makes it clear in this game of life.

2 Corinthians 11:13

 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.

Ephesians 5:6

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

Jeremiah 9:6

You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the LORD.

These verses are just the tip of the iceberg with individuals seeking a pawn.

Don’t become one.

Give it some thought.

Gary

This old world of ours can suffer some real droughts and sometimes famine can raise its ugly head. However, even if life is not that severe for you, there can be some dry times and a hunger for something you’re really not sure of.

The hymn writer put it like this:

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me

He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness, He’ll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see
Heaven and Earth will fade but His Word will still remain
And He will do something new today

The ancient prophet mentioned a famine like no other:

Amos 8:11

 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God,
“when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord.

If you are in the Word and the Word is in you, everything is good. That not being the case, you need to wake up to the famine that has eternal consequences.

Give it some thought.

Gary