“The Wanderer” is a song written by Ernie Maresca and originally recorded by Dion, released on his 1961 album Runaround Sue.  It tells the story of a man only living for lust and destroying many a girl’s life in the pursuit. It always amazes me how much damage one individual leaves in the wake of his life because his only concern is self. Many a young man has fallen into this category.

The apostle John gave a warning about this kind of philosophy of life:

1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

The strong desire for evil comes from the very nature of man. John, inspired by God, warned the early Christians that this malady was not to be part of their experience.

Give it some thought.

Gary

My dad was the foreman for a lumber company that had a camp about twenty-five miles in the North Maine woods. As far as I can remember, I would torment him to take me along when he went to work. Around twelve-years- of-age, I had a particular plan. I would go in the woods with him on Thursday, bring my bike, spend the night, and after a hardy breakfast in the cook room, peddle back home on Friday. For some strange reason, he agreed.

I was alone, but this was going to be an adventure. There would be some tough climbs because my bike had only one gear. Downhills could be taken at breakneck speeds and turns taken on the edge. Narrow bridges over brooks had to be traversed carefully because of the way planking was placed. There was also a section where a forest fire had happened some years before, which I considered to be quite creepy.

Years later, I asked myself, why would anyone let his kid do that? Did he just think it would be a day during which I wouldn’t be in his hair? No, I think he believed the time had come when this young boy had to do some flying on his own.  There were many truckers going back and forth whom, I believe, he asked to keep a watchful eye for the kid.

The Father has many tools to keep an eye on us that are mentioned in Scripture. My personal passage that reveals the Father’s care is as follows:

Genesis 28:15

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Life is a journey, but our Father never takes His eyes off of us as we travel down that road.

Proverbs 5:21

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths.

Give it some thought.

Gary

There is a movement out there that has a slogan that states we are not sheep but lions. Many people and even Christians are being drawn to this ideology. The problem with that philosophy is the fact that God calls believers, sheep and not lions. If you need proof, for you believe you are a lion, just go to the zoo and enter the cage of the lions. They will convince you of your error.  Let me know first because I would like to witness that.

Galatians 6:3

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

We shouldn’t be going around as Christians pretending we are lions when the Bible is so clear on what illustrates our position.

1 Peter 2:25

For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

John 10:4

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

John 10:8

All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

There are a lot of voices out there calling us to enumerable causes. It is as constant as the calls from telemarketers and scammers.

Know the voice of the One who saved you and promised to continue that work until your safe arrival on heaven’s shore.

Baaa

Think about it.

Gary

We all make mistakes. I’m sorry, did I overstep my bounds? How can I make that up to you?

In 1945 six American B-24H Liberators accidentally bombed Zurich, in neutral Switzerland. Two airmen faced court-martials for that error.

From 1940 to 1945, the U.S. Army Air Force and the British Royal Air Force released bomb loads on Switzerland no fewer than 70 times. In 1949 the U.S. government agreed to pay $14.4 million in reparations to Switzerland for damages inflicted by American military operations during the war.

That makes for a very interesting analogy. Don’t hurt those who are not your enemy. Make sure you can clearly distinguish between friend and foe. If you wronged anyone, pay for the damage.

Look at Scripture:

Philemon 1:18

But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.

Galatians 6:10

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The Bible teaches believers are in warfare. This warfare includes friendly fire, false brethren, deception, sacrifice and perseverance.

Don’t give up even if you are in a service where you may have to face a trial.

Think about it.

Gary

The Russians always had a predictable ally called winter. She never let the Russian people down. This is what the song “Waterloo” sung by Stonewall Jackson says about Napoleon of France:

Little General Napoleon of France
Tried to conquer the world
But lost his pants
Met defeat
Known as Bonaparte’s Retreat
And that’s when Napoleon
Met his Waterloo

Then the little corporal under the Nazi flag with his blitzkrieg took a fierce and powerful stab at defeating Russia. His vast army even got into visual sight of Moscow. This was followed by a long, bloody retreat all the way back to Berlin because of Old Man Winter. The mustached rat was hiding in a subterranean hole when his end came.

Many times God uses natural disasters to bring about His purposes:

Matthew 24:7

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

History is written by God and will unfold the way He sees fit. Aren’t you glad the Napoleons and Hitlers are only given a few days in the sun?

God charts man’s path.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Is minic a rinne bromach gioblach capall cumasach?” Do you know what that means? No, probably not, but here it is in English “An awkward colt often becomes a beautiful horse.” It is an old Gaelic saying. Maybe that refers to you. Not much to start out with, but you turned into a profitable old nag.

My grandparents would never have imagined this awkward child would have spent forty-three years in the ministry. Treat all children well because you can never tell when the hand of God might be on one.

Horses need to be broken and become submissive to their owner if they are going to be of any benefit. The horse doesn’t appreciate the process, but the purchaser sees something of value in the outcome.

Psalm 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

Someone once said to me, “I would just like to belong to a church of broken people.” My heart went out to him because I felt the same way.

Give it some thought.

Gary

What causes an individual to be subject to any other person or philosophy?  Why should animals be in subjection to man? If you meet a hungry grizzly bear, why not just subject yourself to his appetite.  Someone said when confronted by a grizzly, the best course of action is to run. When asked why, the expert stated it gives you something to do until the carnivore gets its paws on you.

We can read multiple books on the phenomenon of subjection until the cows come home and still be in the dark. The Biblical truth is that in spite of how we may be offended or chafe under subjection to another entity, it is a principle that has its roots in God.

When Jesus was on this earth and a youth, He made Himself subject to His parents:

Luke 2:51

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

We are to be in subjection not only to our parents but also to God:

Hebrews 12:9

Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

We are even to be in subjection to each other:

Ephesians 5:21

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Finally, we are to place our bodies under subjection:

1 Corinthians 9:27

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

You are a free agent, but only free to subject yourself to truth or error.

Give it some thought.

Gary