June 29, 2009

"Ponder the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure." Proverbs 4:26

Many decades ago a friend of mine and her husband were riding down the road in their car. She was driving and he was in the passenger seat. An opossum suddenly swaggered out into the road in front of her and she swerved to miss the ugly beast. Her car left the road, overturned and both of them were seriously injured. From that day on I began to condition myself and my wife to never swerve when driving. Grip the steering wheel, slow down, brake, but do not swerve. Many a person has been killed in head-on crashes when someone swerved to miss an animal in the road. Here's my point. Some of the worst decisions we have ever made in life occurred when we rushed into a choice and did not think about it. We never give God the chance to lead us and advise us. Thinking is spiritual! The Bible tells us to "Ponder" our paths. That means to consider well. Think! Pray and then consider the options, decisions and consequences and then apply the Bible. By doing this ahead of time, we will find ourselves in fewer positions that require us to make a snap decision. Then when the opossum staggers out in the road, if we have prepared ourselves mentally before hand, we will ruin his day and not the rest of our lives. Yes, God wants us to trust Him, but he also gave us brains and He wants us to use them too.

Thought for the week: The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
-- Walter Bagehot

Funny for the week: "Birds and Bees"

A father decided it was time to have "the talk" with his ten-year-old son. Sitting the boy down, he thought it best to first find out what his son might already know. So he asked his son if he knew about "the birds and the bees".

"I don't want to know," his son replied, bursting into tears. "Promise you won't tell me. Please!"

Confused by this reaction, the father asked his son what was wrong.

"Oh dad", the boy replied, in between sobs, "when I was six, I got the 'there’s no Santa' speech. At seven I got the 'there’s no Easter bunny' speech. When I was eight, you hit me with 'there's no Tooth Fairy' speech. If you are going to tell me now there's no such things as birds and bees I don't know what I will do!"

Was his daddy a Republican Congressman?..........Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: How many days did water flood the earth in Genesis?

150 days (Gen. 7:24)

This week’s question: What was the garment of John the Baptist made of?

June 22, 2009

"The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

A certain Lt. at the Lenoir Police Department once told me after he was assigned to the night shift that he had learned "I don't have to like it to do it. I've done it before and I can do it again." Wouldn't it be nice if your chosen vocation was free from responsibilities that you really dislike? Sorry. That just doesn't happen. There will always be parts that you really dread to do, would rather not do, but you have to do. Kind of like rising kids and cleaning fish. It helps me to remember in those times that God has placed me in this present circumstance and He knows the parts I like and the parts I don't like. But He has also promised to give me the power to discipline myself to face the days when I am tired, mildly irritated and looking at things that need to be done that I don't want to do. The interesting thing is that after I go ahead and finish those kinds of responsibilities there is a deep satisfaction settles over me. Isn't it wonderful that we have a God who wants to help us with the jobs that "I don't want to do, but I have to do?"

Thought for the week: All general statements are false. -- Unknown, The Ultimate Law

Funny for the week: "New Car Warning"

A husband, the owner of a new car, was somewhat reluctant to allow his wife to drive his prize possession, even to the grocery store, which was a few blocks from the house.

After she insisted, he finally relented, cautioning her as she departed, "Remember, if you have an accident, the newspaper will print your age."

One-Liner

"Santa Claus has the right idea ... Visit people only once a year."
- Victor Borge

But do you have to bring gifts?.................Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: What relative was Lot to Abraham? Nephew (Gen. 12:5)

This week’s question: How many days did water flood the earth in Genesis?

June 15, 2009

"Serve the Lord with gladness..." Psalm 100:2"

Just who do you think you are? Don't you remember what you did? Why would anyone want to listen to you? You big hypocrites! Ever heard those whispered in your ear by an unseen accuser? Satan loves to whisper them to us. We love to replay past faults and failures and invent excuses to avoid present opportunity. It has been said that if God needs perfect people to do His work, then nothing would ever be done. Look back in scripture and you will see that he used prostitutes, murderers, quitters, traitors, adulterers, liars and thieves to accomplish His plans. Now, if he used them, what makes you think you are so bad that He can not use you? In fact I find in my study of scripture that He uses people who are painfully aware of their shortcomings and know they need God's forgiveness and strength to do His work. He can't use those who think they are perfect and all powerful. It is only when imperfect people go ahead and serve the Lord that He blesses our feeble efforts and we then know that He did it, and not us. And that my friend is what humility is all about.

Thought for the week: The world is governed more by appearances than realities, so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it.
-- Daniel Webster

Funny for the week: An Indian Walks Into A Cafe-

An Indian walks into a cafe with a shotgun in one hand, and in the other a rope pulling a male buffalo. He says to the waiter: ''Want coffee.'' The waiter ''Sure, Chief. Coming right up.'' He gets the Indian a tall mug of coffee. The Indian drinks the coffee down in one gulp, turns and blasts the buffalo with the shotgun, casing parts of the animal to splatter everywhere and then just walks out. The next morning the Indian returns. He has his shotgun in one hand, pulling another male buffalo with the other. He walks up to the counter and says to the waiter ''Want coffee.'' The waiter says ''Whoa, Tonto! We're still cleaning up your mess from yesterday. What was all that about, anyway?'' The Indian smiles and proudly says ....''Training for position in United States Congress: Come in, drink coffee, shoot the bull, leave mess for others to clean up, disappear for rest of day.''

How true..how true…………..Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: What was another name for Bethlehem? Ephrath (Gen. 35:29)

This week’s question: What relative was Lot to Abraham?

June 8, 2009

"As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." Colossians 3:12

We have heard a lot about compassion around our Police Department over the years. One of the things I have stressed is that when you are around people who are hurting, you need to offer compassion and not clichés. Now I admit it is much easier to offer clichés. You are only sharing words. But when you offer compassion, you share part of your heart. Sometimes we who call ourselves Christians pride ourselves in how much we know, and we want to tell others. But hurting people want to know how much we care, not what we know. When they know you care, they will tentatively open their hearts and then you get the chance to share God's love with them. There are many ways we can imitate Christ, but I believe the most effective one is compassion.

Thought for the week: If man does find the solution for world peace it will be the most revolutionary reversal of his record we have ever known.
            -- George C. Marshall

Funny for the week: "Lunch and Learn"

The company I work for sometimes holds "Lunch and Learn" seminars for employees during lunchtime. These deal with a variety of physical and mental health issues. If the seminar lasts beyond the normal lunch hour, we're supposed to get managerial approval to attend.

So, last week, this flyer came around:

LUNCH AND LEARN SEMINAR: WHO'S CONTROLLING YOUR LIFE? (Get your manager's permission before attending)

Looks like that question's been answered .......… Chaplain Barnes

Last week’s answer: What kind of wood was Noah’s ark made of? Gopher wood (Gen. 6:14)

This week’s question: What was another name for Bethlehem?