Many years ago during a Knicks-Bullets playoff game, one of the Bullets came up from behind the great Walt Frazier and punched him in the face. Strangely, the referee called a foul on Frazier. Frazier didn’t complain. His expression never changed. He simply called for the ball and put in seven straight shots to win the game, an amazing display of productive anger. If you want to get huffy about it, it was a great moral lesson as well.   

U.S. News & World Report, June 14, 1993, p. 37.

King David was such a man because he could take a licking and go on ticking. The Bible does describe such an attitude.

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

How do you do that? Focus on the race before you and not on those who try and trip you up.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The difference between a friend and an acquaintance is that a friend helps; an acquaintance merely advises. 

“Calgary Bob” Edwards.

I don’t want to just know about God. My desire is that He is active in my life. If you’re hanging off a cliff by one hand, you don’t need someone’s opinion; you need help.

 Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalms 60:11-12 

Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies.

Give it some thought.

Gary

A Doctor, an Engineer, and a Politician 

A doctor, an engineer, and a politician were arguing as to which profession was older. “Well,” argued the doctor, “without a physician mankind could not have survived, so I am sure that mine is the oldest profession.”

 “No,” said the engineer, “before life began there was complete chaos, and it took an engineer to create some semblance of order from this chaos. So, engineering is older.”

“But,” chirped the triumphant politician, “who created the chaos?”

Source Unknown

Many question why God created chaos. Let me give you the answer. In order for fallen man to understand his lost condition, he must understand how chaotic his life is and then be enlightened to the fact only God can bring order out of chaos.

Colossians 1:16

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Ephesians 2:13, 5

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,

Think about it. You don’t have to be messed up.

Gary

For the twentieth anniversary of Larry King Live, Barbara Walters interviewed the man who became famous interviewing others. She asked him direct and revealing questions. Two of the most telling responses came when she probed about fear and faith. Walters asked King, “What is your greatest fear?”

He immediately replied, “Death.” This interview occurred in 2005 when he was at the very top of his career and had much to lose, but none of that mattered compared to the fear of death.

That is the thing believers never have to fear:

Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.

Romans 8:18

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Give it some thought because the best is yet to come.

Gary

A bell buoy rings only during storms. The beating of the waves and wind bring out the music that is within it, so, too, do trials reveal what is inside a person.

1. Ferdinand Pittman

It never ceases to amaze how change for the better comes into the life of a believer because of some hardship. However, on the other hand, some get worse. I guess it must be what is truly on the inside.

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Give it some thought when the next storm comes.

Gary

It’s only natural that stressed-out people eat more desserts because “stressed” spelled backwards is “desserts.” If that’s true, there’s a lot of stress between Thanksgiving and New Year.

You don’t have to gain weight to relieve stress. God has a program that works and you can keep your youthful figure.

Matthew 6:34

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Give it some thought and put down that banana creme pie.

Gary

People reading the news and trying to interpret some of the statements made can develop a real headache. Two cases come to mind from the last election in California. One, the black candidate was called the “face of white supremacy.” Second, Governor Newsom stated the election was “a matter of life or death,” but he is unequivocally for abortion, taking the life of preborn children.

It is hard to keep up with terms that we once had a handle on. However, for four millennium the old truths of Scripture remain the same. This is the firm foundation that can never be shaken.

John 17:17 

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Proverbs 30:5 

Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Get back to the truth the next time you hear something crazy. Think.

Gary