My cousin’s casket was being lowered into the ground as I watched one of his trucks entering the mill yard next to the cemetery. He had been a very successful businessman in this life, but life doesn’t last long. For those remaining, life has to go on as usual.  That earthly business is now in the hands of someone else.  This was what I took away for a lesson that particular day.

Joel 1:3 

Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.

Leaving behind something for the next generation seems to be the goal of many. However, leaving something that can be taken into eternity should occupy more of our energy. How are you doing with that?  As long as you breathe, it is not too late to give it some consideration.

Gary

The poor exasperated pastor’s wife is pictured pulling her discouraged husband out of bed by his feet. She shouts, “The dawn is breaking over yonder thicket, the rays of sunlight are touching tree and house and church. You’re the shepherd of yon flock. Get up!”

Everyone has days like that, but pastors have a tremendous obligation for the flock of God.

Ephesians 4:11 

And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

1 Peter 5:2 

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

Any pastors reading this, give it some thought and go to work. You have a calling on your life.

Gary

The Sunday school teacher asked her young class what was in the Bible.

One eight-year-old girl’s hand shot up and she exclaimed; “I know, my grandmother’s secret recipe for German Chocolate Cake.”

That was the truth and might have been the only thing Gram knew was in the Bible.  Sure hope you are not like that grandmother. 

John 8:32 

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 17:17 

Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the Word of Truth.

Give your grandkids something to talk about. Let them see you studying the Scriptures. Think about it.

Gary

It’s the summer of ‘69 and I’m behind the wheel of my brother’s brand new 1969 Camaro and headed out for a date. I can’t believe it. Why did he ever let me have that car for the evening? It was not because he liked me, but because I was his younger brother and he felt responsible.

There are those in the body of Christ who are unlikeable, but they are still family.

James 4:11

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

1 Timothy 5:1

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,

People who’ve embraced the faith are family.  Because of that, sometimes the burden is placed on us to do the unexpected. Give it some thought.

Gary

When we were kids, firecrackers were illegal in Maine but could be purchased by anyone in Canada. A friend and I walked across the international bridge with that intent. On our return to the states, the custom officer asked, “Anything over?”

Trying to pull the wool over his eyes, we both responded, as smugglers would, “No.” 

I think there was a smile on his face as we two criminals walked out onto the highway to hitchhike home with our contraband.

You know, there are individuals who believe kids should be given a chance just because they’re kids. They wouldn’t stoop so low as to hurt them with the law. I believe Jesus considered that with the woman taken in adultery.

John 8:7

And as they continued to ask Him, He stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”

That officer understood the gravity of our situation because of the foolishness of our youth.

Don’t beat people with legalism when all they need is understanding. Give it some consideration.

Gary

Actress dies after reportedly consuming frog venom at a spiritual cleansing retreat. This was an actual article in the news recently. Now the sad thing is that human beings know they have a sin issue but are in the dark about how to rectify the problem.

Let me make it clear. God has an answer that works powerfully.

I John 1:9 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Titus 3:5 

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

You don’t have to drink venom, but you do have to embrace Christ’s redemptive work through His shed blood, which provides the forgiveness of sins.

Give it some careful consideration.

Gary

As a kid playing war and running through the woods, I was abruptly encountered to an old, unseen barbwire fence. Over sixty years later, the scars are still there. The scars from a car windshield breaking because of the kinetic force of my body can still be seen on my face. Then there is the scar on my chest from a triple bypass that is still quite visible.

Those don’t bother me as much as the painful, emotional scars known only to me. However, I know the Great Physician will someday take those away and I won’t be haunted for eternity with the memories that are the source of such pain.

Revelation 21:4 

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Kind of looking forward to that which is way beyond the capabilities of plastic surgery.

Give it some thought.

Gary