John

A poem supposedly on an old weather-beaten tombstone in England follows. I believe it has theological value.

Here lies John Racket

In his wooden jacket.

He kept neither horses nor mules,

He lived like a hog,

He died like a dog,

And left all his money to fools.

Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

Ecclesiastics 2:18-19

Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

Solomon was right on that account because his successor played the fool. Give it some thought.

Gary

Hunting

If you’re hunting for wisdom, you need to get up early and sometimes come in late. The right gear, including clothing, is a definite necessity. The areas in which others have found wisdom need to be explored. Then after bagging wisdom, bring it home, store it, and consume some every day. Make sure that after digesting some for yourself, you share with others. There is plenty of it out there for the dedicated hunter.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I applied my heart to know,
To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things,
To know the wickedness of folly,
Even of foolishness and madness.

The Scriptures are open year-round for the determined sportsman. Give it some consideration.

Gary

Father

The fathers of the earth don’t last very long. If we’ve had the blessing of a good father, the start of our journey had some tremendous propulsion because of them. An Eternal Father, however, awaits our decision to enter into His family.

Matthew 6:8-9

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.

He knows us like no other. Our needs are met by just our asking. We can communicate with Him at any time. He is holy which means set apart. There is no other like Him, and He desires that we share eternity with Him.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Dumb

Dumb Ways to Die,” is an Australian public awareness campaign video and media franchise made by Metro Trains in MelbourneVictoria, to promote railway safety.

My grandsons were nine and eleven and could sing the song together in its entirety. Look it up and read it or listen to it.

However, it doesn’t address the truly dumbest way to die and that is without Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Luke 19:10 

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

John 3:16 

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Don’t die dumb. Smarten up before it is too late. Give it some thought.

Gary

Why?

You are not an actor and this is not a play. This life needs to be lived, and He has granted us some control over it. Be the person God wants you to be and examine carefully what He puts in your path.

Matthew 6:2

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. 

Luke 6:38 

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Don’t miss opportunities to be charitable, nor announce your acts of kindness so that others know. God knows and that is all that counts.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Change

Doctor: Nurse, how is that little girl doing that swallowed ten quarters last night? 

Nurse: No change yet.

The doctor is not the only one expecting change. God also expects a return on what He invests in us.

2 Corinthians 5:17 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 

John 15:16 

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.

Give it some thought and pass something of value.

Gary

Does It Hurt?

Doctor: Does it hurt when you do this?

Patient: Yes.

Doctor: Well, don’t do that.

Do you know that God gives the same advice to us? There are things that we just shouldn’t be doing. Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

Proverbs 22:8 

Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.

Matthew 6:33 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Proverbs 11:18 

The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

Are there things you need to quit doing because it hurts? Well, quit doing it. Give it some thought.

Gary