On November 10, 1942, Winston Churchill said this: “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” I believe this is where we are today as it pertains to wars. We are a long way from the end, so you probably shouldn’t give up your day job and wait for the second coming. Don’t be waiting but doing.

Matthew 24:6

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 

Many Christian authors are making a killing on the war in Ukraine. Don’t buy their books. Instead, send your money to some reputable relief organization to help those poor people.

James 1:22

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“Eleanor Rigby” is a song by the English rock band, the Beatles. It is from their 1966 album Revolver. It is about people who lead absolutely meaningless lives. So many people identified with the lyrics because of their empty experiences here on the third rock from the sun. Sorry to say, but I believe the consumers of such things are realists as they examine their existence and call it what it is.

The Scriptures mentions such individuals:

Job 15:31-32

Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment. It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not be green.

 Isaiah 53:4

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

The answer to emptiness is hope:

Come on now, Eleanor Rigby or any other lonely soul. Get with the program and reach out to God.

Psalm 42:11

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. 

Give it some thought.

Gary

Beetle Bailey is a comic strip about a perpetual goof-off navigating life in the army. It is ironic that Beetle Bailey, the laziest character in the history of army life, gets so much attention. Could it be that so many of the audience identifies with this main character?

The Bible often will illustrate the Christian experience in military terms:

Psalms 144:1

Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 

2 Timothy 2:3

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:4

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Don’t be like Beetle Bailey needing a kick from Sgt. Snorkel to get him motivated. Put on your gear and get on the field of battle.

Ephesians 6:13

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

Give it some thought, soldier.

Gary

A distraught senior citizen phoned her doctor’s office.   “Is it true,” she wanted to know, “that the medication you prescribed has to be taken for the rest of my life?”
“‘Yes, I’m afraid so,”‘ the doctor told her.
There was a moment of silence before the senior lady replied, “I’m wondering, then, just how serious is my condition because this prescription is marked ‘NO REFILLS’…”

Reality can be humorous to some, but when faced with it, sobriety kicks in. I once knew an ER doctor who would ask patients if they were ready to die. Most were not. I still wonder about his timing.

What does the Scripture say?

Ezekiel 18:32

For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!

Luke 23:46

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

The day is coming when there will be no refills.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The famous story of a young George Washington cutting down a cherry tree with his hatchet has captured the imagination of generations.  He confessed it to his father because he could not lie. Did Abraham Lincoln walk six miles to return a penny? Wasn’t Columbus discovering America a good thing?

History is being rewritten at such a pace we don’t know what to believe. Then we ponder at exactly who is doing the rewriting and where they are getting their material. Writers are even messing with the Bible to make it say what they believe.

I think I’ll stick with what is closest to the original.

Holy Words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God’s own heart
Oh, let the Ancient Words impart.

Words of Life, Words of Hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e’er we roam
Ancient Words will guide us home.

Ancient Words ever true
Changing me, and changing you.
We have come with open hearts
Oh, let the Ancient Words impart.

Holy Words of our faith
Handed down to this age.
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh, heed the faithful Words of Christ.

1 Kings 17:24

Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth.”

James 1:18

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The Christian book market is a $1.2 billion enterprise, around 10% of the broader US publishing market. Christians buy more books and spend more money on books than the average reader. This explains why the big publishers have bought out many of the independent presses in this area.

It always amazes me how much of this genre of literature concerns end-times. It is like these authors have an understanding of Scripture that most of us cannot attain by reading the Bible on our own.

The most striking thing is how the vast bulk of Scripture is taken up with how we should live. In contrast, prophecy is a minuscule part as it relates to believers. Considering that most of us have so much trouble keeping ourselves on the straight and narrow path, we should focus on our day-to-day conduct and not on the great tribulation.

This is what Paul was inspired to write to folks who had such concerns for end times:

1 Thessalonians 5:14

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

These four commandments keep me so busy I don’t have time to count the number of horses in Revelation.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Dean Gerard Winters (born July 20, 1964) is an American character actor.  He was consistently portraying “Mayhem” in a series of Allstate Insurance commercials. In one commercial, he would be the GPS with a distracted driver. In another, he would be a young child cutting up in the backseat with a distracted mother in the driver’s seat. Then he would be the weight of snow causing a collapsed roof. He was always Mayhem.

He could have played parts in Bible mayhem:

Romans 16:17 

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Titus 3:10-11 

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Proverbs 16:28 

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Many will recall the plaintive call of Rodney King, the man whose vicious beating by members of the Los Angeles police department was caught on video. Mr. King cried out, “Why can’t we all just get along?”

The answer is as long as mayhem lives that will be impossible.

Give it some thought.

Gary