Did you hear about the company that makes blank bumper stickers? They’re for people who don’t want to get involved.

If you were the first one to an accident, would you stop and help? If the person in front of you at the checkout couldn’t pay the bill, would you offer to pay?  If you came across a piece of steel in the road, would you drive around it and keep on going? That mother with three young kids on the plane, is it your problem also? Do you get involved in life’s journey or is your bumper sticker blank?

Does the Bible address it? Glad you asked.

Philippians 2:3 

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

Luke 6:31 

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Don’t pass up an opportunity to do good. Think about it.

Gary

Much is being said about success and some terrible tragedies along that highway to it.  I could give you so many stories of sports stars, movie stars, politicians and preachers that crashed on that road to success.

Does the Bible cover that? Glad you asked.

Joshua 1:8

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 118:25

Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Be careful with that goal. Think about it.

Gary

“50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” is a song by the American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the second single from his fourth studio album released in 1975. Here’s a stanza from that song to get you in the groove.

You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don’t need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don’t need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free

Here’s a list of lovers you might consider ditching.

1 John 2:15-17

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world.  And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Proverbs 6:32

He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.

Time to end some love-relationships and be free. Give it some thought, Lot.

Gary

He said, “Dad, I have a real problem driving this high up in these Wyoming mountains; would you take the wheel?”

 I said, “Sure.”  Even though I had the same problem with heights, I wasn’t going to let him know. Maybe if I would have been honest with my fears, he would still be calling me Dad.

Don’t hold your shortcomings from others and pretend you’re something you’re not. In the course of time, it might hurt them and boomerang unto you.

Matthew 6:1 

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Luke 12:2 

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

Don’t fear telling someone you feel the same way. Give it some thought.

Gary

Someone told me the other day that the Farmer’s Almanac said this winter would be cold with lots of snow. Now this is my 71st winter in Maine. I’m not sure of the first three or four years of my existence, but the next sixty-seven were cold with plenty of snow. There was no new information in that statement. Unlike some politicians and preachers, people under certain circumstances can make money simply by telling the truth. Yes, the Bible does mention the truth.

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.”

John 4:24 

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

 Give it some thought, and for those of you blessed to live in Maine, have an enjoyable winter.

Gary

Life is a continuous process of getting used to things we hadn’t expected.

–       Unknown

That quote certainly is true of what the past has thrown at us. Experience should have taught us to expect some of the unexpected. Truthfully, there are just too many variables in life to use experience as a guide as to what the future might bring. Experience sometimes is no more accurate than a crystal ball.

Does the Bible address this phenomenon? Glad you asked.

Proverbs 19:21 

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Proverbs 20:24 

A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand His way?

Someone has already been there. Take His hand. Give it some thought.

Gary

I got a call from a contractor who wanted me to drive a logging truck for a few days. I’m seventy-one years old and licensed, but I haven’t jammed those gears for thirty years. Some would say it’s like riding a bicycle, and you never forget. No, you might hurt yourself when you’re out bike riding, but a mistake in trucking can hurt others. Truckers are always dealing with the following: How wide do you make the turn? How many gears do you skip in that hill? What is the distance needed to stop 100,000 pounds and twenty-two wheels? And when are you too tired so that you need to call it good and shut her down? Those skills the years have stolen from me and I can never get them back.

Somebody needed me, but I had to face my limitations. That’s the stinker about age-related problems.

Psalm 90:10 

The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:12-13 

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!

Give it some thought the next time you’re called to do something that time has taken away from you.

Gary