I received a Governor’s Award once because my peers put my name in for my contribution to EMS. Looking back, I don’t think I contributed that much to that service. My personal opinion is that my years in that arena produced many friends and close relationships. Shaking the governor’s hand, I felt bad for the ones more deserving than I was, but what could I do? One thing that the Lord blessed me with is the ability to make friends and on occasions an enemy or two.

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Give it some thought. It might lead to your shaking the governor’s hand someday.

Gary

How many times in the past have you had a second chance? Who gave it to you and why? It is certainly good to recall these events. Here’s a poem to remind us of second chances.

If we might have a second chance
To live the day once more,
And rectify mistakes we’ve made
To even up the score.

If we might have a second chance
to use the knowledge gained,
Perhaps we might become at last
As fine as God ordained.

But though we can’t retrace our steps,
However stands the score,
Tomorrow brings another chance
For us to try once more

Jonah messed up and God gave him a second chance. Peter messed up and God gave him a second chance. You messed up and God….?

Luke 22:32

But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

Get back in the saddle and ride. Give it some thought.

Gary

When I was young and went to school

They taught me how to write

To take the chalk and make a mark

And hope it turns out right

It was just an old love song from the 50’s and the rest of the song doesn’t matter. The philosophy of the first stanza is what I want to consider.  “And hope it turns out right” is the fatalistic view of the multitudes. Luck or karma seems to be their driving force. However, that’s not the case with the teaching of Scripture.

Ps 13:6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me.

Ps 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

I am so glad God is in charge of my future so I don’t have to chance it.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“In Christ Alone” is a popular modern Christian song written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, both songwriters of Christian hymns and contemporary worship music in the United Kingdom. The song, with a strong Irish melody, is the first hymn they penned together.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

The Bible certainly backs this truth up.

Acts 4:12

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

John 10:28

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Eternal security is one of the great doctrines of Christendom. What a gift!  Give it some thought.

Gary

“Fortunate Son” is a song by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, released in November 1969. The lyrics paint a concerning picture of how many people who were not exempted from service due to their income or position ended up dying in Vietnam. Seems that at the time, those with higher incomes/social status received exemptions more readily, thus did not end up as casualties there.

Life wasn’t fair during the sixties, but if considered historically, exactly when was life fair? Let me say that it was a brief period from the creation of man to the fall. The crucifixion was a prime example of necessary unfairness.

Mark 15:14-15

Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”

So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.

It had to be for you and me, but it wasn’t fair. Thankfully, the Son of God was not focused on fairness, but on completing His mission.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Kids of The Baby Boom by the Bellamy Brothers released in 1986.

Our daddies won the war and came home to our moms
They gave them so much love that all us kids were born
We all grew up on Mickey Mouse and hula-hoops
Then we all bought BMW’s and brand-new pickup trucks
And we watched John Kennedy die one afternoon
Kids of the baby boom

It was a time of new prosperity in the USA
All the fortunate offspring never had to pay
We had sympathy for the devil and the Rolling Stones
Then we got a little older, we found Haggard and Jones
A generation screaming for more room
Kids of the baby boom

Kids of the baby boom, we had freedom; we had money.
Baby boom, here in the land of milk and honey
Counting our chickens way too soon
Kids of the baby boom

Now we all can run computers and we all can dance
We all have Calvin Klein written on our underpants
And at six-o’clock, like robots, we turn on the news
Watch those third world countries deal out more abuse
Remember the first man on the moon, Kids of the baby boom
Kids of the baby boom, we had freedom; we had money.
Baby boom, here in the land of milk and honey
Counting our chickens way too soon
Kids of the baby boom

As our lives become a capsule, they send to the stars
And our children look at us like we came from Mars
As the farms disappear and the sky turns black
We’re a nation full of takers, never giving back
We never stop to think what we consume
Kids of the baby boom

Kids of the baby boom, we had freedom; we had money.
Baby boom, here in the land of milk and honey
Counting our chickens’ way too soon
Kids of the baby boom

Our optimism mingles with the doom
Kids of the baby boom

Here’s one escape for the baby-boomers:

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Give it some thought.

Gary

For everything there is a season. That’s what the writer of Ecclesiastes had to say. Life has youth, middle age and old age. There is a time to be born and a time to die. Like the rotation of the earth, you can’t slow it down, stop it or reverse it.

Psalm 90:12 

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Ephesians 5:16 

Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

You will have to ride it out, so hang on to something. I would suggest God.

Give it some thought.

Gary