When a Roman general returned from a conquest and was granted a victory parade, a slave was positioned behind him to tell him: “Remember that you are but a man. Remember that you will die.” Another account says the slave whispered in his ear, “All glory is fleeting.” The exercise was designed to remind the general of his mortality and protect him from his pride.

Before Gideon even had a chance to be a conquering hero, the Lord acted to protect him and the rest of Israel from the delusion of leadership.

Gideon had to learn the danger of thinking: You’re something when you are nothing. He had to learn that God uses numbers differently when He calculates battles and outcomes.

The most powerful scene in the book of Judges is “Gideon Learning God’s Mathematics.”

Judges 7:2

And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

Israel’s numbers decreased from thirty-two thousand to three hundred, but in that reduction there was victory.

One day he is hiding from the enemy, and a few days later, he is leading an army to victory because of God’s input.

The victory is a result of listening carefully to God then going forward in the face of the enemy by faith.

God’s methods haven’t changed since the days of Judges.

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Think about it.

Gary

Two high school juniors were walking to school, talking as two friends would. One had a black eye. I was the one sporting that shiner. The other was the one who administered the black eye.  We both told our classmates the same story… I had walked into a door.

The reason for the necessary correction in the life of number one was that I had pushed number two too far. Everyone has a limit. That morning I knew what he’d done was right and so did he. No regrets from both parties and no change in our close relationship. He never mentioned that event to anyone else over the next five decades.

He called me a few years back to tell me he was dying and asked if I would preach his funeral. I cried, and true to form, he corrected me over the phone.

The Bible speaks of good affliction that happens between two individuals that love each other:

Psalm 119:71

It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.

Affliction is not enjoyable but very profitable. God uses it on His own for His own purpose and our benefit.

Give it some thought.

Gary

His obituary was in the paper today. He was an old veteran who lived past 100. This Army Air Force bomber pilot served in WWII and had 58 combat missions in the Pacific. That veteran attended many funeral services I had over the years. He was proud to be an American and believed that every veteran should have a military send-off by his fellow soldiers.

After the rifles were fired, the bugle sounded and the flag was presented, this warrior over 80 years of age would make his way to me. There was always a warm smile and words of encouragement concerning my part in the service. I was so humbled because I did so little compared to him.

The average age of veterans attending military services is increasing every year and I wonder who will fill their shoes. These are the ones who made America great and we should never forget it.

The Apostle Paul was passing the baton as his service here was drawing to a conclusion. He was encouraging Timothy to take over in this worthwhile ministry in the battle of the ages.

2 Timothy 2:2

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Who will take our place when our lives are over? Who will be a light to keep the faith for the next generation?

Think about it.

Gary

It always amazes me how some famous philosophers who despised organized religion are so much closer to the truth than so many who promote religion. My opinion, which doesn’t carry a lot of weight, is that Voltaire was in that category.

Here is one of his quotes:

“If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him” – Voltaire

We must always remember what Jesus said to the masters of religion in His day.

Matthew 23:13

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

How I began this thought is how I’ll end it:

John 4:23

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

Give it some thought.

Gary

CNA’s who work in our nursing homes are a great group of professionals who are overworked and underpaid. We saw that for ourselves during our ministry there before Covid-19.  I told some of them, “When my time comes to be placed here, I will only require you to keep me warm and dry.  Also, don’t play that modern country and western music; it’ll make me hard to manage.”

My personal belief is that one should face the cold hard facts of life long before it befalls you.

Jesus expressed it well over 2000 years ago in communicating to Peter:

John 21:18-19

 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Peter’s end was not promised to be pleasant. The prosperity preachers don’t teach this because it doesn’t go along with their false narrative of prosperity and health.

Think about it.

Gary

“Actions speak louder than words,” is said to go all the way back to 1628. (No, I wasn’t there.) It was first used in its current form in the USA by Abraham Lincoln in 1856. My theory, which hasn’t been fully validated, holds that Lincoln was pondering a verse in the Bible:

James 1:22

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

One of my favorite preachers from days long past made the following statement:

“We are suffering today from a species of Christianity as dry as dust, as cold as ice, as pale as a corpse, and as dead as King Tut. We are suffering not from a lack of correct heads but of consumed hearts.” 

   – Vance Havner

The church today doesn’t need a by-pass but a new heart that only God can provide if it’s willing.

Give it some thought.

Gary

My good friend John and I were working our way through a midlife crisis so we came up with a bucket list:

1. Be in a storm at sea
2. Take a parachute jump
3. Learn the eskimo roll in a kayak
4. Try Scuba diving

I know what you are thinking, but there is something about the 40’s that makes men do unnatural endeavors. They start believing the door is closing on possibilities and they’d better grab the ring because it won’t come around again.

I jumped from the plane thinking this would be my last view of earth. Then, I was so seasick; I wished someone would put me down. Lastly, I almost drowned in a swimming pool trying in vain to do the eskimo roll. Never did get to go scuba diving, which is probably why I can write this today.

Solomon spoke of doing things:

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Except for the wisdom part, my friend and I took a shot at the rest. We discovered that, when it comes to Solomon and chasing the wind, history does repeat itself.

Think about it.

Gary