This Is Only a Test

So … where to begin?

Well, probably at the beginning.

I commented on a very well-written article by a good friend of mine. All was good. Two entire sentences of basically saying, "Good job. I agree."

And then … AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

There almost always seems to be someone who just knows everything, right? And they just can't help themselves from correcting you while simultaneously agreeing with you!(?)

I would suggest that such a person keeps us humble, but the truth is, they keep us irritable.

Work Out Your Own Salvation

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV).

We want things handed to us with little effort. We want it easy, but hardly anything that we can call our own comes easy. 

There will always be things in life that challenge what we believe. These circumstances often are outside our own control, but we do control how we react. 

The older I've become, the more I realize the importance of being slow to react. I'm not saying I've learned exactly how to not overreact, but I know now how important it is to be slower in reacting to what people say and do to me, or what I think they're saying and doing to me. I still frustrate myself by overreacting. And each and every time I hope and pray that I've learned the important lesson.

Everything We Say And Do Affects Others

Most of us want freedom from consequences; but it's never going to happen.

We may think we're islands in a vast ocean with very little connecting us to other islands; but it's a lie.

Whenever we do or say something (including on a blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and whatever other digital social media there is) — other people are affected. Now, if we would take the time and be courteous to THINK how what we say or do will affect others, then everything will be better.

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. 

Hit and Run

Personal responsibility is dead in America.

One clear sign of this truth: Hit and run accidents. Nearly every day I hear or read in the news that someone has either died or has been severely injured in an auto accident where the others involved have fled the scene.

Just this morning I read of a motorcyclist here in Hollywood that was hit by an Explorer Sport-Trac. The driver, described as a woman, got out and inspected, and then fled. The report stated that the man driving the motorcycle was graciously killed upon impact, because what happened next is gross — the bike and the man were on fire.

The woman, whose lone passenger was a child, got back into her vehicle and fled the scene. Furthermore, witnesses describe other vehicles simply driving by the entire scene as if that were normal — because no one wants to be involved.

I hope they catch this person. Who knows, it may have been the motorcyclist's fault, but now that doesn't really matter. [In Miami a woman who cannot show she even has a drivers' license, hit and severely injured an Ontario man. She's been caught and arrested.]

And I hope that every single one of us would have the courage, courtesy, and love to stop and remain on the scene.

"The roads of Zion are in mourning …" (Lamentations 1:4).

His Indescribable Gift

In the familiar passage concerning monetary contributions — i.e., "giving" — the apostle Paul concludes with the exultant cry: "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

I realize the term "grace" seems to be overused, and maybe even abused. Reading that statement again, I must admit that one cannot really over-use such a wonderful term, but it is abused by many to cover everything. And grace does not cover everything: grace covers everything sought in the Lord:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you. (Titus 2:11-15)

Grace instructs us to deny and look. We are instructed by God's grace to deny — ungodliness and worldly desires. Of course the world will not understand nor appreciate this, but those who are striving to think on things above (Colossians 3:2) will. 

The world seems to dwell on the sinister, and sometimes even applauds evil things. For example, how many popular shows are about "the dark side" of life? We are often entertained by these things. The contrast set before us in God's word is that we're to dwell on things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and of good reputation (Philippians 4:8). These "things" don't come easy to our restless minds: It requires effort, and often it is also requires quiet. 

The desire may well be there, but finding the requisite "peace and quiet" may not be so easy. But if we will make the time to find a peaceful moment, and if we will use that quiet time for dwelling on God's immeasurable grace, we will find ourselves overwhelmed.

I don't believe we will ever understand or appreciate God's grace (Romans 5:6-8). We are all undesirable, and would be forsaken forever, if it weren't for God's grace.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. … He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:16, 36).

For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:32-36)

Papa's 90th Birthday

Mom and I reminisced last night for a few moments about her Dad, my Papa. Yesterday would have been his 90th birthday. He passed eight years ago.

We laughed about how we think he would have been now—if you knew him, you would have figured as we did that he would be saying all kinds of crazy things. He didn't have much of a filter to begin with, age would have released his inner machinations into the big blue world with lightning speed.