We were three thirteen-year-olds looking for mischief and we found it. It came in the form of an outhouse sitting on the bank of the river. We pushed it over. The next night we were hitchhiking and a pickup stopped for us. We climbed in only to find it was the owner of the sawmill whose outhouse we’d messed with. As he gained some speed, he declared, “Boys, I know who pushed my outhouse over the hill.”

My friend announced, “Let us out.”

He said, “No, I’ll take you home and I won’t tell your fathers what you did, but someday you’ll be sorry for that action.”

He held true to his promise and we respected and highly esteemed that man until his death at an old age. He never held that against us and taught us a lesson about grace.

Acts 28:2

The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all.

Being kind to others who don’t deserve it will give you more traction in life.

Think about it.

Gary

“Andrew Higgins is the man who won the war for us.”

-President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1964 interview

He hated school, drank too much and fought with too many people. However, if it weren’t for that Irishman, the Pacific Islands would not have been taken back and the Normandy invasion would have been impossible. At the New Orleans plant where his company built the boats that brought troops ashore at Normandy on June 6, 1944, Higgins hung a sign that said, “Anybody caught stealing tools out of this yard won’t get fired – he’ll go to the hospital.” He was greatly used for the war effort because he developed the Higgins Boat.

He reminds me of the Apostle Paul talking of himself. He states that he wasn’t much to look at. He had a thorn in the flesh that God wouldn’t remove. He had a continual war with himself. Churches turned against him. Yet he was responsible for twelve epistles because he was a chosen vessel in God’s economy. How many are blessed today because of the words he penned?

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

Even you could be a Higgins or a Paul.

Give it some thought.

Gary

While managing an ambulance service, I needed to explain the difference between a red and yellow dash light. I would say, “When you see a red light, that means stop because something serious is going on here. However, when you see a yellow light, it means when you have the time to have a mechanic check it out.” One individual had messed up a transport because of a yellow light.

The same holds true spiritually. Some things need immediate attention before real damage can be done. Then, there are things that can be considered when the time is right. The key is discernment.

Philippians 1:9

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

Proverbs 15:21

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

To be a successful Christian, you need to know the signs.

Give it some thought.

Gary

He was just getting out of his work-truck when I pulled into the parking lot beside him. He had the look of someone who had to struggle through his workday. I arrived at the checkout just behind him as he placed the six-pack of Budweiser on the counter and asked for two packs of Marlboro. I followed him for about sixteen miles till he turned into a driveway. If I were his age and without hope, I would have been doing the same thing.

In my imagination, I wondered if he wanted to be home or if his wife wanted to see him come home. Maybe the school had called and one of the kids had been acting up again. It could possibly have been an evening he wasn’t looking forward to.

If only he knew the Lord, I could share these two verses with him.

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

Colossians 3:19

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Would it make a difference if a man knew the Word of God?

Think about it.

Gary

“Likes” started with Facebook and now has greatly advanced through TicTok. Individuals do some really insane things to have the herd watch. If they survive the act and have enough followers, they can make some money. At the same time, China can get some benefit from their personal information.

We are a generation so concerned about being accepted and having our ears scratched. Just a note that I’m no acceptation to the phenomena. However, what really needs acceptance is our standing before God and not people. Our great concern should be our actions before Him.

Psalm 40:8

I delight to do Your will, O my God;

Your Law is within my heart.”

Psalm 143:10

Teach me to do Your will,

For You are my God;

Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Give it some thought as I wait for some thumbs up.

Gary

A severe rash prompted a man from a rural area to come to town to be examined by one of my colleagues. After the usual history-taking followed by a series of tests, the physician advised the patient that he would have to get rid of the dog that was evidently causing the allergic reaction. As the man was preparing to leave the office, my colleague asked him out of curiosity if he planned to sell the animal or give it away. “Neither one,” the patient replied. “I’m going to get me one of them second opinions I been reading about. It’s a lot easier to find a doctor than a good bird dog.”

    – George Hawkins, M.D. in Medical Economics, in Reader’s Digest, January, 1982.

 Sometimes we have difficulty facing the obvious. There is a good illustration of this in Numbers 22. Balaam found himself arguing with his donkey and the animal was talking back. Now he should have noticed there was something wrong with this picture. However, with money and prestige on the table, he was solely focused on one thing and that was having his way in the matter.

Numbers 22:31

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.

Don’t wait for God to use another tool outside His Word to get your attention.

Give it some thought and don’t horse around with God’s leading in your life.

Gary

“And they all lived happily ever after,” is the way we want our stories to end. However, that is not the way most real-life experiences come to a conclusion. It’s hard to face the reality that as bad as it is, it will only get worse.

Enters the Man, Jesus:

Luke 22:42

saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

He is facing the torture of the cross and the weight of the sins of the world. This was necessary for people like you and me. He was going through this for others. What if Abraham hadn’t left Ur of the Chaldees? My mother-in-law would bite her bottom lip when faced with a difficult decision and then do it.

Let’s face it, it is not always an easy call.

Give it some thought.

Gary