When his tour was up, Bob was in the jungles of Viet Nam. He had to turn in his rifle and hitch a ride out on the tank that brought in the mail. He couldn’t get in the crew compartment, so he had to ride on the back. As the tank approached a bridge that had been taken over by the enemy, the tank crew started firing at the bridge. Can you see him hanging on and the thoughts that would be racing through his mind?

Today, he’s a seventy-five-year-old retired teacher with his son’s kidney in his body and a pleasure to be in the presence of. It was just one ride of many he had to take that didn’t kill him.

Life is like that. It is just a pile of different experiences.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-6

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;

A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;

What time is it anyway?  Give it some thought.

Gary

This is how discipline was meted out in my third-grade class. Every time your name was placed on the blackboard, you would get one whack with the ruler administrated by the teacher after your handwashing for lunch. Sometimes, I would get three whacks. I really just never connected the punishment with my behavior throughout the morning. Because of that disconnect in my make-up, the behavior never changed. I don’t think some of those teachers had had child psychology.

Looking back, my assessment is that, as a kid, I was lacking in discernment.

Proverbs 12:1 

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Proverbs 29:15 

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Just to let you know, I’m doing much better now that I understand the process. Give it some thought the next time you’re disciplined.

Gary

Ran into my old third grade teacher some years back, and she made an interesting comment. She said, “Gary, I knew you would be a preacher or a politician because you would never shut up.”

All I can remember is that she was always pulling my ears, but I never connected the dots. She should have told me to be quiet. People need to be more specific. Looking at my big ears sixty-four years later, I wonder if my year in third grade has anything to do with their appearance today.

Proverbs 17:28 

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Now I understand why she checked off the comment on my report card every quarter that said, “Needs Improvement.” Teachers, be more specific. Just look at what it cost this little boy.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Creedence Clearwater Revival sang it in 1970 and it flew to the top of the charts. It can still be heard in doctors’ offices all over the country. The song uses bad weather as a metaphor for catastrophic times, following a biblical tradition that dates back to the flood.

Long as I remember the rain been comin’ down

Clouds of mystery pourin’ confusion on the ground.

Good men through the ages tryin’ to find the sun.

And I wonder still I wonder who’ll stop the rain.

Life is an unending succession of confusing situations and people vainly try to find an answer for it all. Let me tell you, it’s not the sun we need, but the Son. He is the source of understanding what life is all about and how we should navigate through it.

Proverbs 1:7 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psalm 2:12

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Give it some thought because it’s bound to rain again.

Gary

He said, “I don’t care if your hair turns gray. I didn’t fall in love with your hair; I fell in love with you. If it all fell out, I would love you anyway.”

Love based only on physical appearance is shallow and can never carry the weight of time. Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

I Peter 3:3-4

Do not let your adorning be external – the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear – but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.

I’m not saying a little time shouldn’t be spent in preparation in some situations. I’m saying the inside is of more value than the outside.

Give it some thought.

Gary

I stopped at a local fast food restaurant to get two hotdogs with the works, a large fry and a milk. I was in a hurry and the restaurant takeout was also bustling with activity. Eating the fries as I drove along, I decided to pull over and enjoy the dogs. Something didn’t look right as I separated them from the napkin wrappers. Everything was there except the hotdogs. Disappointed, I returned to retrieve the rest of my meal. The owner and I both know stuff happens and my meal was readied quickly.

Speaking of stuff happening, consider this:

2 Corinthians 12:10 

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

If we are in the will of God, every strange situation we find ourselves in has a divine purpose.

Give it some thought and always check the buns before driving off.

Gary

I’ve known him since he was in diapers. He now stands over six feet tall and weighs two hundred forty pounds. His football coach said, “I want you to tackle me.”

He replied, “I don’t want to do that.”

Coach insisted, “I’m telling you to.”

That coach ended up with fractured ribs. True story.

Lesson is be careful what you’re asking for. Some individuals pray for patience, but do you know what the Bible says?

James 1:3

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Hebrews 6:12

that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

It’s okay to ask, but consider the consequences and accept them.

Give it some thought when you ask for a hit.

Gary