Showing posts with label news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label news. Show all posts

Friday, April 3, 2015

Learning From Others' Mistakes

A young man in the Atlanta metro died tragically while running away from police. He was a thief and had been in trouble with the law over the years. What made this young man stand out in the media was that he had received, after much debate, a new heart. The primary objection to his receiving the heart transplant was his criminal record. But it was decided to do the life-saving — and hopefully life-changing — procedure.

Alas, he didn’t change his ways … at all.

Yes, this is a tragic tale, but we can all learn from it. How many of us are given a second chance in life and simply blow it? We may not make headline news when we fail, but someone somewhere will know what we did.

Ultimately, my point is that God’s grace gives us a second chance (Titus 2:11-14). But how many of us go back to the same sins? And maybe we don’t just go back to them, but we go back with a fervency we didn’t expect.
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:19-22)
We don't have to make all the mistakes, If we're wise, then we will learn from others' mistakes and failures. 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Sometimes Ignorance Truly Is Bliss

Today I was having a good day, but then I took a moment to look at the headlines. Good day ruined.

Honestly, the news bothers me. And yet I find myself drawn to either watch or read it daily. Why? Hardly anything good comes from knowing all the evil and injustices that are being perpetrated across the entire globe.

On vacation I began my day differently than when at home—rather than reading the news, immediately after checking the weather—I didn't. I mean I didn't check the weather or the news at all to begin my vacationing days. I didn't plan on this course of action: I just did it. And after a few days of this I became aware of what I was doing differently … and I realized how happy I was not to read the "Daily Evil Report."

I'm not saying there's nothing good at all in the news; but, the reality is that there's hardly anything good. I am reminded what the Holy Spirit urges us to do: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

Meditation isn't the easiest thing to do. Some would probably think meditation is taking a nap. But it's not, of course. Meditation means we're quietly sitting and thinking. But it's not misdirected or wandering—it's focused, and therefore, it's challenging.

If we will make the time and effort to dwell on good things (specifically, godly things) then we will benefit from it immensely:
  • peace of mind
  • happiness
  • joy
  • peace
  • love
We need to get the picture. "I have more insight than all my teachers, For Thy testimonies are my meditation" (Psalms 119:99).

Discouragement

  Discouragement is real. And when we’re going through discouraging times, pep talks aren’t as welcome—but we need them anyway. Sometimes we...