My Ongoing Thoughts

FIXER UPPER

10/2/2022

While driving back home from visiting relatives out of state, I passed a sign in front of a car repair shop that said “We Do Break Repairs”. I smiled because I knew how the proprietor would feel once he or she discovered that the sign should read “Brake Repairs” instead of “Break Repairs”.

Plus I also knew what I was headed back home to blog about. You see, I am a Type A personality with Type O blood. My blood type is particularly fitting as I tend to make far too many “typos” when I write. And because of my personality type, I tend to freak out once I realize I have made them!

That is precisely what happened after I posted my previous blog. To my chagrin, I later discovered no less than three typos – all of which were glaring. Needless to say, I had some fixing up to do!

The first was the sentence that read “For this reason, thieves have turned to stealing converters from unsuspecting car owners, leaving the m with a bill of from $1000 t0 $3000 to replace this essential automotive component.” It has now been corrected to read “For this reason, thieves have turned to stealing converters from unsuspecting car owners, leaving them with a bill of from $1000 t0 $3000 to replace this essential automotive component.”

The second was the sentence that read “In his eponymous New Testament letter (chapter 3, verses 1-18), the Apostle James reminds of the significance of taming the tongue…” It now reads “In his eponymous New Testament letter (chapter 3, verses 1-18), the Apostle James reminds us all of the significance of taming the tongue…”

And lastly, the one once reading “Interestingly enough, James concludes his here admonition with these words: ‘Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.’” now reads “Interestingly enough, James concludes his admonition here with these words: ‘Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.’”

Now, I could easily blame Microsoft Word for these mistakes. But the truth is that, all too often, there is simply a bumbling disconnect between my brain and my fingers! The proof is that the same thing tends to happen whenever I send text messages, and later discover flagrant typos! As it does when I write myself notes, only to discover later that entire words are missing!

Can you relate to this? Likely you can. Far too many of us have become dependent upon autocorrect technologies. But typing is not the only area where so many of us make glaring mistakes. They show up in plenty of other areas as well. And in this regard, everyone can relate!

Consider the words of the Apostle Paul in the 7th chapter of the New Testament Book of Romans (verses 15-23):

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good. In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law. But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me.”

He concludes his words with this powerful question in verse 24: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” To this question, he immediately provides the only answer there is in verse 25 when he says: “Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

For my part, I will forever be grateful to my loving wife, who regularly reads my blogs and graciously points out the typos that I continually (and embarrassingly) make! Without her involvement, I could not correct and then move beyond these failures.

Of course, I will continue to be even more grateful to my Savior, Jesus Christ. For it is only through His intervention that I can overcome the sinful miscues that all too often dog me in virtually every other area of my daily life!

For this reason, I echo the words of the Apostle Paul and gladly proclaim: “Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:
https://biblehub.com/bsb/romans/7.htm.

#NOFILTER

9/28/2022

A frequent item in the news as of late has to do with the matter of catalytic converter theft. The matter has become quite a problem since the pandemic. So much so that we are told by insurance professionals that, nationwide, occurrences rose from just over 100 a month in 2018 to around 1200 a month in 2020. Apparently, the state of California and larger metropolitan areas nationwide have been hit the hardest.

The reason is that catalytic converters contain certain valuable elements such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. These elements are each worth more than gold. For instance, at one point in 2021, rhodium was worth a hair under $30,000 per troy ounce. For this reason, thieves have turned to stealing converters from unsuspecting car owners, leaving them with a bill of from $1000 t0 $3000 to replace this essential automotive component.

Since 1975, every vehicle in America has been required to be fitted with one of these converters on their exhaust system. The reason is that they convert toxic emissions such as CO2 to less noxious gasses such as oxygen and nitrogen. In short, they are an essential filter designed to prevent the spewing of harmful exhaust into the atmosphere. And in truth, few modern inventions have done as much to help curtail pollution as has this simple device.

Before the advent of catalytic converters, a plethora of noxious gasses were constantly being spewed into the atmosphere by each and every vehicle out on the roadway. Since then, that amount has been drastically reduced.

Let’s face it – filters matter! If a vehicle runs without an exhaust filter, it produces unnecessary and excessive amounts of pollutants. The same is true for intake filters on automobiles, which work to prevent the intake of unwanted pollutants into the combustion system. The same is also true for HVAC systems in our homes and other dwellings.

But vehicles and buildings are not the only things that need filters. People do as well. During the pandemic, we all wore masks to help prevent the transfer of COVID germs. Surgeons, physicians, and technicians regularly wear masks daily for similar purposes. As do individuals who work in laboratory settings requiring sterile environments.

It would be imprudent and improper for any of these individuals to proceed with their daily tasks without the use of filters. And the same may well apply to everyone, even those of us who do not work in such environs.

In truth, I have known many an individual who would have done well to employ a filter on their mouths. This is because they have repeatedly spewed forth harmful and destructive words that were uttered with little or no thought to the impact such words might have on others!

My title in this post is borrowed from a trending social media phenomenon. It has to do with pictures that get posted online with evidence of little to no effort at prior review or editing. While I do not utilize social media, I can well imagine the consequence of such a practice. I have seen the counterpart in spoken words.

In his eponymous New Testament letter (chapter 3, verses 1-18), the Apostle James reminds us all of the significance of taming the tongue…

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

Interestingly enough, James concludes his admonition here with these words: “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.” He is clearly suggesting here that the best way to sew in peace is to put a filter on our tongues! When we do, we cease to spew forth jealousy and selfish ambition resulting in disorder and every evil practice!

Do you need a filter today? One way to find the answer to this question is to grasp the effect of what you dispense upon others. If you do undertake such an assessment, and find the answer unacceptable, then why not do us all a favor and find some way to sift and soften the noxiousness of your exhaust?! You’ll be glad you did. And so will those around you!

STORY SOURCES:

https://www.rategenius.com/catalytic-converter-theft;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalytic_converter.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/james/3.htm.

OF FATHERS AND SONS

9/24/2022

My oldest son and I recently spent the morning fishing for Small-Mouthed Bass on the Little Tennessee River. He released two fish he caught back into the water. I released none; because I caught none! That’s right – he skunked me!

But even without catching any fish, I had a splendid time. As we fished, we chatted and laughed about all sorts of things. It was just good to spend time together.

But of all the things we talked about, one sticks out. He reminded me that it was 29 years ago this November 23rd that he was sitting with me in a deer stand when I shot an eight point white tail buck. At the time, he was only four years old. We laughed as we reminisced together. I can still recall how he looked at me with big bright eyes and whispered, “You shot that deer!” I will always cherish that memory.

But what he said next to me earlier today will also be long remembered. He said, “Daddy, one year from now, my oldest son will be four years old. So, do not make any plans on November 23, 2023. On that day, you, I, and he will all be in the woods together; and I intend to harvest a buck with him at my side!”

I hope we get to go. And I hope he is successful in his quest, not just so he can harvest a deer, but so he can make a memory with his own son even as I did with him. Obviously, such memories stay with a child for his or her entire life.

I have harvested dozens of whitetails over the years, so many so that I have forgotten the details of most of the hunts. And in truth, other than the antlers (which hang in my grandson’s room to this day), little is left of that particular buck or that particular hunt. But apparently the memory made so long ago on that day has not faded. My hope is that it never will.

All of this has served to remind me of just how significant a father’s role is in the life of his children. I am glad that I was able to raise my sons to spend time in the woods. As the bumper sticker says, “Boys who like to hunt and fish don’t grow up to mug old ladies!”

But more to the point, I am glad that we got to spend time together on all these occasions. For this reason, their memories of these special times will always include me. For that blessing, I am grateful.

Yet, an even greater blessing comes from knowing that they each now intend to duplicate that deed. The fact that both of my sons are now intent on spending time in outdoor activities with their own sons proves that my time with them in such pursuits was not wasted.

In the New Testament Gospel of John (chapter 5, verse 19), Jesus makes the following statement regarding His own relationship with the Heavenly Father: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.”

What is true in Heaven is true on earth. The father always sets the example for the son. The son always follows the example of the father. Given this simple principle, I hope I have set a worthy example for my two sons. Moreover, I hope that I always will.

And if part of the reward for this is seeing them do the same for their sons in turn, then I will be both honored and delighted as a result!

SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/john/5-19.htm.

COUNTING SHEEP

9/20/2022

The success of the recently released movie, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, seems to have stunned most everyone except those who produced, directed, and/or starred in it. The highest-grossing film of 2022 has now taken in $709.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $754.2 million in other territories, for a phenomenal worldwide total of $1.464 billion. And this does not include home video releases, which is available later this year!

After passing the $800 million worldwide, it also became the highest-grossing film of Tom Cruise's illustrious career, proving that at age 60, the versatile actor still has “leading man” star power. His 53 films to date have grossed over $4 billion in North America and over $11.1 billion worldwide.

His accolades include an Honorary Palme d'Or and three Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for three Academy Awards. All total, he has received 103 film nominations and won 38.

Obviously, when stars reach this level of accomplishment and notoriety, they are accustomed to having things their way. The same may well be true for Cruise. A quick Google search will reveal how many times he has infamously had issues with film fellow actors and/or crews over their not having met his expectations.

But even a star of his magnitude does not always get to have things his way. Witness a recent news article captioned “Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible 8' Set Interrupted by a Flock of Sheep”. Apparently, Cruise and the rest of the cast had to pause production after a run-in with a flock of sheep in the Lake District in England.

The crew was in the middle of filming a sequence for “Mission: Impossible ― Dead Reckoning ― Part Two” when the massive flock of sheep invaded the set. All the actor and others present could do was laugh as they were forced to make way for the animals to pass.

As I read this article, I reflected on the power of humble sheep. One sheep alone is not much of a force to be reckoned with. But when numerous sheep come together to form a flock, it becomes a different matter. And when that flock grows to the size that it is described as “massive”, it does indeed become a force with which to be reckoned.

Such notions have particular meaning when we remember that the followers of Jesus Christ were likened by Him (in the New Testament Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 14) to be sheep, with Him as their Great Shepherd. That same Jesus told us (in the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, chapter 10, verse 16) that His followers were being sent out by Him as sheep among wolves.

Of course, in time, those very sheep were going to disrupt the world’s agenda – so much so that the New Testament Book of Acts (in chapter 17, verse 6) tells us that the people of Thessalonica in ancient Greece referred to the followers of Christ as people “who have turned the world upside down”.

Jesus Himself told His followers not to be surprised if they faced opposition in this world. After, as He stated in the Gospel of John (chapter 15, verse 18), long before it hated His followers, the world first hated Him! And yet, He overcame the world.

For this reason, as followers of Jesus Christ - that is to say, as sheep of the Great Shepherd Himself - we can and do have victories in His name. Moreover, such victories are often made more likely when we band together as one. Truly, there is strength in numbers. This is especially true when we remember that Jesus assured us that “where two or three are gathered together, there will I be also”! Indeed, if our God be for us, then who can be against us?!

Perhaps such thoughts should be on our minds as we go forth into the world and enter everywhere from the marketplace to the voting booth. Wise old King Solomon once said: “Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken!” If this is true, and it certainly is, then imagine the power of a “massive” flock of sheep working together as one body while the Evil One is forced to stand by with his own plans undercut and thwarted!

Remember… sheep count!

STORY SOURCE:

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/tom-cruise-mission-impossible-set-
interrupted-sheep-flock. Fox News' Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report. The writer, Janelle Ash, is an entertainment reporter for Fox News Digital.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/john/10-14.htm;
https://biblehub.com/niv/matthew/10.htm;
https://biblehub.com/acts/17-6.htm;
https://biblehub.com/john/15-18.htm;
https://biblehub.com/matthew/18-20.htm;
https://biblehub.com/romans/8-31.htm;
https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/4-12.htm.

SEE ALSO:

https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/that-loving-feeling.

ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES

9/16/2022

As I pen this blog post, it is approaching 9pm on a Friday evening; and I am one tired fellow! About twelve hours ago, a man showed up at our house to help out with a dreaded but sorely needed task. You see, the property where we reside has lots and lots of trees. This can be both a blessing and a curse.

The upside is that having so many trees provides lots of shade and beauty. The downside is that they also shed limbs, leaves, and similar detritus incessantly. Even worse, they periodically die and present a danger to all who pass beneath them.

Often times, my wife, my son, and I will simply work together to cut any such dead or dying trees down. But doing so still leaves the stump and any underlying roots. Over time, such stumps can and will sprout new growth; and the tree will simply grow a fresh trunk and accompanying set of limbs. For this reason, we have learned that it is imperative to grind the stumps of downed trees and remove the underlying life forces that might otherwise allow them to spring forth in new growth.

Thus, the man who came today not only helped us cut down four dead and/or dying trees, he also brought a grinder and removed the stumps and associated roots of each tree. Thereafter, we cut and sawed the felled trunks, limbs, and branches, and set about burning them.

Just as the sun began to set on the horizon, the last of our fires were dying out. After dousing the remaining coals, I took a quick walk around the yard and smiled with tremendous satisfaction at the day’s accomplishments... No more unsightly dead and/or dying trees. No more danger of falling limbs. More than this, no more stumps, and thus, no more chance of old problems reasserting themselves through new growth from old foundations.

As I reflected on all of this, I was reminded of just how important it is to address the root problem of any issue. More times than I wish to admit in my life, I dealt with issues without truly addressing the root causes which produced them. Looking back, I freely admit that I wish I would have had the courage to go a little deeper and work to resolve the underlying sources at play.

After all, is this not what our Lord and Savior did on our behalf? The biggest issue we each face in life is our own sinfulness. While the sacrificial system of the Old Testament addressed the issue of our outward sinful acts, it never really went deep to address the root cause – which is our inward sinful nature.

By contrast, when Jesus came to give His life as an atonement for our sins, He was addressing not just our outward sinful acts, but also our inward sinful nature. He was thus going much deeper, all the way to the root of our problem. This is why the Bible tells us that, in Christ, we are each a whole new creature with a whole new nature.

Given this, surely the satisfaction I feel tonight at having labored so successfully to overcome the source of unwanted tree growth in my residence, as pleasing as it is, still pales in comparison to the satisfaction I have at knowing that Christ has successfully worked to overcome the source of unwanted sinfulness in my heart!

As He hung on the cross, Jesus cried “It is finished!” By this, He meant His work, His ministry, and His mission. But ultimately, He also meant the recurrent power of sin.

As many an evangelist has put it, Christ has saved me: 1) from the penalty of sin – via eternal punishment in torment warranted by sin; 2) from the power of sin – via the Holy Spirit presently within me Who enables me to overcome sinful temptations; and 3) one day, even from the very presence of sin - via deliverance from it for all eternity in the company of Jesus Christ Himself!

NOTE: The concept of deliverance from the penalty, the power, and the presence of sin has been promulgated by innumerable preachers. A quick Google search will suffice to demonstrate the sheer number of such occurrences.

YOU CAN’T TOUCH THIS?!

9/12/2022

The seasons are once again changing here in east Tennessee. Summer is giving way to fall; and already the hills are beginning to explode in a profusion of colors as green leaves have begun transitioning to a cornucopia of brown, orange, red, and yellow.

But while the visual display is stunning, I have learned to appreciate this transition for another equally important reason. A couple of years ago, I learned that one of the first plants to change the color of its foliage this time of year is poison ivy!

According to Wikipedia…

"Poison ivy is a type of allergenic plant in the genus Toxicodendron native to Asia and North America. Formerly considered a single species, Toxicodendron radicans, poison ivies are now generally treated as a complex of three separate species: Toxicodendron radicans, Toxicodendron rydbergii, and Toxicodendron orientale.

They are well known for causing urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, an itchy, irritating, and sometimes painful rash, in most people who touch it. The rash is caused by urushiol, a clear liquid compound in the plant's sap. They are variable in appearance and habit, and despite its common name, it is not a "true" ivy (Hedera), but rather a member of the cashew and pistachio family (Anacardiaceae).

T. radicans is commonly eaten by many animals, and the seeds are consumed by birds, but poison ivy is most often thought of as an unwelcome weed."

I’ll say "Amen" to the very last statement! While I myself was never very allergic to either poison ivy or poison oak in my formative years, it’s an entirely different story as of late. These days, most any contact with either species will pretty much result in a rash of some sort.

What is more, the ensuing days of suffering have given me a newfound appreciation for my poor wife, my youngest son, and multiple of my grandsons, all of whom have suffered from being allergic to these plant species since birth.

And for this reason, all the above parties have learned to appreciate such little ditties as "Leaves of three, let it be!" and "Hairy vine, no friend of mine".

Given that my loved ones and (now I myself) suffer whenever coming into contact with plants of the genus Toxicodendron, it behooves me to rid our property of as much of it as possible. The only problem is that I am no horticulturist, and cannot always easily recognize poisonous plants when I see them.

I could just take the weed-eater and whack down every vine I encounter. But to do so is to run the risk of taking out vines I value, such as wild muscadines and wild honeysuckle. And all of this leads me to my point...

Come the fall of the year, poison ivy can no longer hide! I now know what to look for. Once its leaves burst forth in all their splendor, they have tipped their hand. Their days are numbered as a result; because I now know exactly which vines to attack with my weed-eater. And believe me, attack I will!

Poison Ivy is a serious matter! It can inflict tremendous pain and suffering on an unwary soul. But I no longer have to fear it. Why? Because I have found its weakness; which is its pride.

I do not know exactly why it chooses to be the first among all local plants to put its fall foliage on display. Perhaps it is so confident in its ability to intimidate all who are allergic to it that it chooses to be a bit braggadocios, as if taunting its victims by proclaiming "Here I am; and guess what? You can’t touch this!"

No, but my weed-eater can! And it doesn’t’ have to climb a tree to where you are to reach you. All I have to do is to see where the poison is growing and then I can use it to cut you the poison off at its base! I don’t have to touch it! I just have to cut it off from its source! And thereafter, it is done for! It has strutted its last fall and put on its last exhibition!

As I thought about this, I was reminded of what the Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:18, where it says: "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." How many a poison ivy plant on my property has suffered such a fate?!

More to the point, how many a person has suffered such a fate, all because he or she chose to put on an ostentatious display while confident in their arrogant assumption of invincibility?!

Be careful, my friends! Whenever you think you are untouchable, you may prove to be the most vulnerable!

HORTICULTURE SOURCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poison_ivy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicodendron_radicans.

Note the picture of poison ivy in fall coloration on each page.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/proverbs/16-18.htm.

PARTICIPATION TROPHY!

9/7/2022

While visiting relatives down in Alabama this past week, my wife and I took in a football game at the local high school where my nephew coaches the Junior Varsity team. And quite a game it was. In the end, the home team won big! Multiple plays involving 40, 50, and 60 yard touchdown runs and /or receptions secured a spectacular victory over the visiting team.

But my enjoyment of the game went far beyond the excitement on the field of play. You see, for the first time in my life, I got invited into the press box! There, my brother-in-law and my other nephew (the coach’s father and brother) plus one other man and I undertook the running of the clock, the scoreboard, the play by play announcements over the microphone, and the computerized motivational music played over the public address system.

In addition to an excellent view of the game and the quart-sized diet colas we swigged, we also enjoyed air conditioning while the 300 or so other people present sweltered in the late summer Alabama heat and humidity. All in all, it was a most enjoyable evening.

Still, a couple of things nagged at me while I sat ensconced in my veritable lap of luxury. The first was a remark attributed to Bud Wilkinson. While we never met, he may have had people just like me in mind when he once supposedly quipped: “Football is 22 people on the field who need rest and 22,000 people in the stands who need exercise!”

You see, for all my comfort and enjoyment, as well as all my activity up in the box, when all was said and done, I was still merely a spectator. And this is the other thing that preyed on my mind as I sat watching the game: as a spectator, my level of satisfaction, no matter how high, could still not have come anywhere near that of those actually playing the game.

Whether it was the starters who rolled up the score in the first half, the third and fourth stringers who got into the game by the third quarter and gained real playing experience, or the coaches actively engaged in pursuing the victory from the sideline, those down on the field no doubt found the game far more rewarding than I ever could have up in the booth.

In life, real satisfaction, true satisfaction, only belongs to those who choose to jump in and actually get involved. Conversely, those who chose to sit back and spectate while others are actively participating are actually depriving themselves of unknown levels of satisfaction.

Perhaps Theodore Roosevelt said it best in his speech titled Citizenship in a Republic:

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

His words here reflect those of an earlier speech he once gave titled The Strenuous Life, in which he famously stated:

"I wish to preach, not the doctrine of ignoble ease, but the doctrine of the strenuous life, the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife; to preach that highest form of success which comes, not to the man who desires mere easy peace, but to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship, or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph."

His admonition included these words:

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."

I’m quite sure every member of my nephew’s Junior Varsity football team would instinctively understand the significance of these words, even if they have yet to learn about Theodore Roosevelt. The mere fact that they chose to try out, to endure practice, to suit up, and then to step out onto the field of play has likely already yielded its very own reward, even at their tender young ages. Kudos to them and their parents and their coaches and all who have encouraged them to go out and give it a try!

And I hope they will be inspired by their experience to get involved in other activities in life as well. For no legitimate trophy ever came into one’s possession merely as a result of spectating. And no victory will ever be as rewarding to the one who views it as it will to the one who achieves it. In life, as in football, nothing ventured equals nothing gained. But good things do come to those who will only try!

What about you? Are you accustomed to sitting on the sidelines and merely spectating your way through life? You don’t have to be satisfied with this low level of achievement. No, indeed, you don’t. For you were made for so much more by the One who created you and endowed you with your own unique gift set.

And if you are still hesitant, then remember the words of the Apostle Paul, who confidently asserted: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" You have been made, gifted, and empowered by Almighty God! If that is not motivation enough to suit up and step out onto the field and start participating, then, my friend, I do not know what is!

SOURCES:

https://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/football_is_22_people_on_the_field;

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63389/roosevelts-man-arena;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strenuous_Life;

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/51936-far-better-it-is-to-dare-mighty-things-to-win.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/philippians/4-13.htm.

JUST GIVE IT AWAY!

9/2/2022

George Straight once had a top ten hit with a song that contains words to this effect:

When that front door swung wide open,
she flung her diamond ring,
and said give it away, just give it away!
And I said, now honey,
don't you even want your half of everything? She said give it away, just give it away!

Just give it away! There ain't nothing
in this house worth fightin' over.
Oh, we're both tired of fightin' anyway. Just give it away!
So, I'm still right here where she left me, along with all the other things
that she don't care about anymore.
Hmmm…
I've got a furnished house,
A diamond ring,
And a lonely, broken heart full of love. And I can't even give it away!!!
While I would never wish separation and/or a divorce and its ugly consequences upon anyone, I am intrigued by the words to this song. It strikes me that a great many people spend much of their lives consumed with a quest for material things. And yet, life has a way of putting us into situations wherein we quickly discover that the accumulation of material things is a vain pursuit.

I suppose that is why I was so impressed with the ending of a recent episode of “Wheel of Fortune”. As we both like puzzles, my wife and I try to catch this program whenever we can.

I have noticed as of late that many times, at the end of the program, a short segment will be devoted to a previous contestant who was on the show and won a great deal of money, a trip, or in one case, even a house.

But on this particular episode, a man was profiled who had won $145,000 and actually chosen to give it all away! Every single penny of it!

In the segment, he stated that he had already agreed with his wife that if he got on the show and won a great deal of money, he would do just that. He further stated that when he solved the puzzle at the end of the show and won so much of the cash, even as the confetti was falling, he was already deciding where the money was going to go.

That turned out to be an equal division between a local free medical clinic and a local food bank, both of which he was already supporting with his money and his time. Pat Sajak and Vanna White concluded the segment by talking about what a wonderful thing this man had done.

I’ve never been on a game show; but I have learned that learning to be a giver is a blessing all by itself. And nowhere is this truer than when it comes to honoring God in giving. One simply cannot out give the Lord! Which is fine, of course, until one remembers that it is the Lord Who tells us that “to whom much has been given, much will be required”!

Has God been good to you? Then remember, my friend, He may well just have done so for the express purpose that you could, in turn, be good to someone else!

Given this, why not learn the fine art of giving some things away?! If you do, you might just be surprised at what a blessing it turns out to be – not just for the person or persons you bless, but also for yourself as God takes note!
SONG LYRICS SOURCE:

https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/9755326/George+Strait/Give+It+Away.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/luke/12-48.htm.

LITTLE FELLOWS, BIG THOUGHTS!

8/28/2022

Art Linkletter once entertained the masses with his show titled “Kids Say the Darndest Things”. Back in the day, I snickered along with everyone else. But nowadays, with grandsons of my own, I really appreciate the subject.

For instance, as we passed over a bridge spanning the lake near our house, one of my grandsons noticed a river barge tied up at a nearby dock, and called our attention to the “aircraft carrier” down below us.

Not to be outdone, his cousin, who has just started pre-k this year, happened up on his mother putting on deodorant (apparently in a green container) and asked: “What’s that do? Turn you into the Hulk?” His brother chimed in, saying: “No! Only Gatorade and Dr. Pepper turn you into the Hulk!”

My daughter and two daughters-in-law have accumulated journals full of such gems. I hope they will consider collaborating and publishing them some day.

But the best came from another grandson, who recently started kindergarten. He was watching a nature show on television, and suddenly blurted out: “Jesus tells snakes what to do.” His mom (my daughter) responded by saying, “Yes, Jesus is in charge of everything.”

He then asked: “What happens when you don’t obey Jesus?” Her reply was: “That’s called sin.” To which he responded: “Yeah, I already know that’s venomous.” “Yeah, mom has to ask forgiveness a lot,” she said, “and we can ask God to forgive us and give us a new heart.”

What came next was priceless. He thought about it a minute, and said “Yeah, take the venomous away!”

Wow! Talk about truth coming “out of the mouth of babes!” In that one conversation, he grasped and verbally summarized the most fundamental of all Biblical assertions. And what is that assertion?

It is that the old serpent injected the poison of sin into the lives of Adam and Eve and all of us as their descendants in Genesis chapter 3, but that this poison has been undone by Jesus as recorded in John chapter 3, which tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life”!

A theology professor of mine once said that the message of the Gospel is so profound that the greatest of human minds can never fully grasp its fullness; yet it is so simple that even a child can understand it!

Thankfully, we don’t have to understand every single theological component of our blessed redemption; we just have to believe the simple message of the Gospel, and accept Jesus for our personal Savior.

Little wonder that Jesus told us unless we become as little children, we can in no wise enter into the kingdom of Heaven! In childlike faith, we believe. In childlike obedience, we confess this. And as we do, we meet God’s requirement of us.

What more need be said?!

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/john/3-16.htm;

https://www.biblehub.com/matthew/18-3.htm.

ENGINEERING (DE)FEATS!

8/23/2022

While convalescing during my recent summertime cold, I viewed an “Engineering Catastrophes” marathon on the Science Channel. Some of the calamities were simply unbelievable. To list but a few…

Entire skyscrapers sit unused because they are considered unsafe. Multi-million dollar highways abruptly stop because they came up against unforeseen natural obstacles.

A huge stadium roof collapses; only to be rebuilt “correctly” and then collapse all over again. A brand new four billion dollar airport still sits unopened in Berlin a full decade after its construction because it has over 30,000 structural issues.

The $36 million Hubble telescope launches and sends back blurred pictures because the lens was ground wrong, necessitating astronauts to transport and install a new lens in orbit. But my personal favorite is…

A $327 million NASA spacecraft crashed into Mars because engineers failed to realize they were tracking it in metric units, but the information it was sending them was in imperial units! No one had remembered to make this simple conversion in the software.

Now, I only watched two or three episodes. But it appears there are enough of these catastrophes to fill fifty plus episodes spread over six full seasons. One shudders to think that so many significant such mistakes costing so much could have been made. And sadly, the cost involves more than mere losses in property. A series of dam failures in china resulted in one flood that killed over 200,000 people.

In case after case, the cause is invariably traced back to the simplest of mistakes – a flaw in design or materials or construction. When the cause is revealed, it leaves the viewer asking, “How could someone be so stupid?” And yet, if you think about it, it is this very notion that keeps any of us from throwing stones! For who among us has not made countless such mistakes in life?!

As I sat viewing the program, I thought about my first full time job just out of high school. I got a position washing cars at a local Chevrolet dealership. When a car was sold, I was to clean it up get it around front to the customer. I must have had enough of a work ethic that my employer took notice. I soon got a promotion checking in cars that were delivered from tractor trailer haulers.

My job then consisted of checking the new deliveries for damages, affixing appropriate stickers, and then driving them to the pump and putting in two gallons of gas before parking them on the lot for sale. One Friday, the owner asked me if I would like to get some overtime on Saturday. He needed me to take a car he had from our dealership outside Atlanta to a dealership near Augusta and swap it.

The Augusta dealership had a customer for our car and vice versa. It was a simple two hour trip out Interstate 20 and then two hours back. I readily agreed. The next morning, I got in the vehicle and struck out on I-20. Unfortunately, never having travelled much, I headed west on I-20, away from Augusta. Two hours later, I stopped at the Alabama line and called the dealership and learned a valuable lesson about responsibility!

What should have been a four hour round trip turned into a six hour trip. I barely made it to the other side of the state near the South Carolina border and the Augusta dealership before they closed. To his credit, the owner, who had been forced to await my return, did not fire me. But I did become the laughing stock of the entire organization for the next few days!

That is not the only bone-headed mistake I have made in my life. In truth, I have made more than I can even begin to recall. Nor was it the most costly one! But I do cherish the thought of it because it reminds me of another disappointment I brought to authority.

You see, the Bible tells us that there is none who is righteous, not even one! The reason for this is that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And that includes me!

I do not even remember the first time I disappointed my Heavenly Father. Given that I am a sinner by both nature and by choice, it was early enough in life that I cannot even remember it. But the consequences were just as serious. For the same Bible that tells us that we are all sinners also tells us that there is a consequence for our sins; and that is death. Yet, even while we were sinners, God gave His Son to die on our behalf. And because of this, we can find forgiveness and restoration!

I’ve never engineered a catastrophe on the scale portrayed in the television series. But I have engineered enough failures in my own life to guarantee that, apart from the forgiveness of others, I would be in difficult straights.

For this reason, I am thankful for those who have chosen to overlook my shortcomings and extend me grace. And chief among those individuals is God Himself!

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/romans/3-10.htm;

https://biblehub.com/romans/3-23.htm;

https://biblehub.com/romans/6-23.htm;

https://biblehub.com/romans/5-8.htm.

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