Five of us fourteen-years-olds were heading to the dance in the next town. It was dark and I told the rowdy crowd that no one would stop for that many guys. What we should do is have three hide in the ditch and two of us would appear on the roadside as hitch hikers. That’s what we did and along came a Corvair which could hold four uncomfortably.  The driver stopped and all of us squeezed in, not heeding his protests. Somehow, one of us was able to ply the door shut. Someone suggested to the driver that if he would press the clutch, he would do the shifting. The old guy followed our directions and we made it to the dance on time. It was a riot for us, but the poor owner didn’t find it humorous.

God certainly was not in the equation at that time in my life. I am a new creation in Christ, and with the new birth those old ways of doing things had to be put aside. 

1 Peter 4:4
wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them into the same excess of riot

Psalm 17:4

Concerning the works of men,
By the word of Your lips,
I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

I really try not to use others for my purposes.  It just isn’t right before a Holy God.

Think about it.

Gary

It has always amazed me as to how some lyrics out of the sixties and seventies line up with what the Scriptures teach. Like that line out of Paul Simon’s “The Boxer.” It states this, “Man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” That has been true since Adam and Eve tramped around in the garden. Most regard the Bible like it was a salad bar. Just pick out what you like and leave the rest.

But listen to what the Book of books has to say about the matter:

Isaiah 55:11 

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Matthew 4:4 

But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Give it some serious thought today.

Gary

In 1976 we moved to Canada to attend the New Brunswick Bible Institute. The next two years were undertaken by claiming one verse that our pastor brought to our attention when he wrote it out on a piece of planking. It was a verse that sustained us through the daily struggles of life. We’d left for school with debt, and after two years, our mobile home was sold and we started our ministry debt-free.

Jeremiah 33:3

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

If you are right with God and doing His will, that verse has a lot of mileage in it.

Think about it.

Gary

My good friend Al sent me the following:

Location:  Cochise Terrace RV Resort, Bensen, Arizona.

Annie, my German shepherd, was enjoying her morning walk when a retired, K-9 police officer on his motorcycle stopped to admire her.   I quickly thought, this is not good!    She did not like motorcycles or police type attitudes. Was I ever wrong…. he shut off his motorcycle, reached out his hand, and caressed her muzzle.   Annie looked up at him and simply stared.   His voice broke.   She brushed away his hand and put her muzzle on his thigh and rested there.

I said, ” She just doesn’t do that!”    He said, “I just lost my K-9 partner last week of kidney failure.” They’d had 12 years together; both had been shot at different times, and both retired together. (They carried their wounds well.)

He and I both broke down.    We were two grown men crying like youngsters.    Annie had sensed his grief and responded gently to him. We both learned how deep a shepherd’s “intuition” and sensing goes.   I walked away asking God to give me some of that empathy and acknowledgement of people in their hurts.

The Scripture is full of such in the prophets, the disciples, the Lord, and others.   Spiritual life and devotion lead the way!

1 Corinthians 12:26

And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it

Jeremiah 8:21

For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am broken; I mourn, dismay has taken hold of me.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Time is brutal and doesn’t give anyone a break. Mick Jagger will turn 80 in July of next year. He only looks that age from the neck up. Paul McCartney hasn’t caused a girl to faint since 1973. Dolly says she can’t do tours anymore. Where are Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash? I think I met Johnny’s brother “No Cash.”  Have you looked at Willy Nelson lately? He looks worse than I do.

Time. Whatever did it do to all of us? Is it possible we’re running out of it?  It only gave us a ride with the intent of delivering us to the last station where the track ends the journey. When someone says, “Give it some time.”  My reply is, “I’m running out of time.”

1 John 2:17

The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Give it some thought.

Gary

After I mentioned that we were going for a ride, Lady and I would walk out of the house towards my truck. Usually, I would park so the rear of the Tacoma was first; I would let down the tailgate and she would happily jump in.  For some reason, however, I had backed in. As I was heading for the back of the truck, I heard a loud, scratching sound.  I turned to see her on the hood. She was a creature of habit.

Doing something by habit doesn’t always mean it’s the right choice this time.

1 Timothy 5:13

Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.

Hebrews 10:25

not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Habits can cost you.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Are you ready for another story about my dog, Lady? One day I was going into the post office to get the mail. Lady was waiting on the back of my Tacoma pick up, which was her favorite spot in all the world. A young girl who looked like she was twelve months pregnant commented on the beauty of my dog and asked if she could pet her. I said, “Sure.” and continued to my mailbox while she went outside. When I turned, I saw her recoiling as all of Lady’s teeth were frighteningly on display. I sure misjudged that one.

I didn’t know the girl and sure hope the baby came out all right.  I was especially glad that it didn’t make an appearance in that parking lot. I learned a lesson about decision-making from that time on.

Philippians 1:9-10 

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Give it some thought and think before you can cause harm to others.

Gary