I don't want to see your butt!

Driving down Hwy 67 the other day, I looked over at the mini-van beside me and saw a woman sitting in the driver's seat, completely enshrouded in the smoke from her cigarette, despite the fact her window was open just a crack. Just before I could wonder how someone could survive in an environment like that, she finished her cigarette and pushed the butt out the crack onto the roadway. And suddenly I was transported back to October of 1975.

October 11, 1975 is perhaps the best, at least most important, days of my life, because it's the day my wife and I were married. We had spent the week before that preparing for our wedding, and though those days were a blur, they too are a joyful memory. However, before that blissful week, I spent one of the worst weeks I can remember. And it was that week, the awful one, that I was transported back to.

I had just completed basic training in the Air Force, and Leslie had attended the graduation ceremonies. We had planned to get married after I finished my technical training in Mississippi, but after I arrived at Keesler AFB, I found that I had been bumped out of my class, and would have to wait three weeks until the next class began. And so, to keep me occupied, I was placed on Roads and Grounds duty. This duty consisted of walking all over the base, picking up trash. This duty was bad enough for me, because I had been raised to make the effort to deposit my trash in a trash can, rather than just throw it on the ground. However, what made this job horrifying to me was that 90 percent of the trash was cigarette butts.

Now, honestly, I find cigarette smoking to be a filthy habit, and foolish, too, given all the proof of the damage it does to your body. However, if someone wants to exercise their right to pollute themselves, I won't stand in the way. But to tell me, then, that I have to clean up their butts after them, this I find reprehensible.

Maybe a person justifies throwing a butt on the ground a slight injustice, because one is barely noticeable. Or, on the other hand, maybe she thinks, like an infant, once it's out of sight, it doesn't exist any more. Well, I'm here to tell you, it still DOES exist, and when enough people have the attitude that it doesn't matter, it IS noticeable, and someone DOES have to pick it up!

So, what I'm saying is, if you insist on living your life in a cloud of smoke, that's your prerogative. Just don't make someone else take care of your butt when you're finished with it.

You need a swift kick in the pants!

Some days I feel just like Calvin...everyone I know needs a swift kick in the pants, but nobody is buying. Why can't you realize that if you would just give my product a try, you would find your life suddenly transformed, and everything would become so clear. Arrrg! It's so frustrating to be a fountain of wisdom, but have no one come drink of your waters.

A Christian's Manifesto

I assembled these verses a few years ago and titled them "A Christian's Manifesto" as a means of inspiring myself to higher ground. I reread them today, and found them to still be very challenging.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Ga 2:20), Therefore:

I will love the Lord my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my strength, and with all my mind; and my neighbor as myself. (Lu 10:27)

I will trust in the LORD with all my heart; and lean not unto my own understanding. In all my ways I will acknowledge him, and he shall direct my paths. (Prov 3:5,6)

I will submit myself to God, and resist the devil. (Jas 4:7)

I will put on the whole armor of God, that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph 6:11)

I will humble myself under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt me in due time: (1 Pe 5:6)

I will sanctify the Lord God in my heart: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks me a reason of the hope that is in me with meekness and fear: (1 Pe 3:15)

I will confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus, and will believe in my heart that God hath raised him from the dead. (Ro 10:9)

I will seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. (Mat 6:33)

I will stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. (Job 37:14)

I will cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Co 10:5)

I will walk in the light, as God is in the light. (1 Jo 1:7)

I will keep God’s commandments: and his commandments will not be grievous. (1 Jo 5:3)

I will grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Pe 3:18)

I will be a good steward of the manifold grace of God. (1 Pe 4:10)

I will study to shew myself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Ti 2:15)

I will hide God’s word in my heart, that I might not sin against Him. (Ps 119:11)

I will preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Ti 4:2)

I will let the word of Christ dwell in me richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing others in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in my heart to the Lord. (Col 3:16)

I will hold forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (Php 2:16)

I will give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Ti 4:13)

I will buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (Pr 23:23)

I will love my wife, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Eph 5:25)

I will not provoke my children to wrath: but will bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Eph 6:4)

I will command my children and my household after me, and they shall keep the way of the LORD. (Ge 18:19)

I will be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Ti 4:12)

As I have opportunity, I will do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Ga 6:10)

I will honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. (1 Pet 2:17)

I will choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. (Heb 11:25)

I will very gladly spend and be spent for the brethren. (2 Co 12:15)

I will be kindly affectioned to others with brotherly love; in honor preferring others. (Ro 12:10)

Above all things I will have fervent charity among the brethren. (1Pe 4:8)

I will obey them that have the rule over me, and submit myself: that they may do their duty with joy, and not with grief. (Heb 13:17)

I will pray without ceasing. (1 Th 5:17)

I will come boldly unto the throne of grace, that I may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:16)

I will confess my sins. (1 Jo 1:9)

I will, whatsoever I do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Col 3:17)

I will give thanks in everything. (1 Thes 5:18)

I will rejoice evermore. (1 Thes 5:16)

I will not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. (1 Jo 2:15)

I will put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of my mouth. (Col 3:8)

I will abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; (1 Pe 2:11)

I will cease from anger, and forsake wrath. (Ps 37:8)

I will depart from evil, and do good; I will seek peace, and pursue it. (Psa 34:14)

I will put away lying, and speak truth with my neighbor. (Eph 4:25)

I will be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (Jas 1:19)

I will recompense to no man evil for evil. I will provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Ro 12:17)

I will not resist evil. (Mt 5:39)

I will love my enemies, bless them that curse me, do good to them that hate me, and pray for them which despitefully use me, and persecute me. (Mt 5:44)

I will abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thes 5:22)

I will not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves. (2 Ti 2:24, 25)

I will walk in the Spirit, and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Ga 5:16)

I will put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and not make provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. (Rom 13:14)

I will, by the mercies of God, present my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is my reasonable service. (Rom 12:1)

I will reckon myself to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Ro 6:11)

I will love without dissimulation, and abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good. (Ro 12:9)

I will rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (Ro 12:15)

I will use hospitality to others without grudging. (1 Pe 4:9)

I will be a lover of strangers. (De 10:19)

I will forbear with others, and forgive others, if any man have a quarrel against me: even as Christ forgave me. (Col 3:13)

I will lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Ti 2:2)

I will be peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (Jas 3:17)

I will glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience. (Ro 5:3)

I will most gladly glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Co 12:9)

I will endure God’s chastening. (Heb 12:7)

I will endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Ti 2:3)

I will walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Col 1:10)

I will do these things, only because I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, according as his divine power has given unto me all things that pertain unto life and godliness,. (Php 4:13, 2 Pe 1:3)

Rick Halliday (1958-2003)

At a time it seemed life had no end,
That's when you were my best friend.

We laughed, we sang, we played our parts.
You were Paul, and I was Art.

As time moved on, I moved away.
Why we lost touch, I just can't say.

I've lived and loved, and you did, too.
But your life ended and I never knew.

Now hoping that we could renew our bond,
Instead I find that you are gone.

Had I been there to lift in love,
Would you have chosen to rise above?

The answer to this I'll never know,
But I'm sorry, Rick, that I let you go.

Forgiveness

"Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."

Were more beautiful words ever spoken? Consider:

1. The person speaking was being punished, nay crucified, though he had committed no crime.
2. The victim had 12 legions of angels at his disposal to deliver him if he so desired.
3. The forgiver had no reason to forgive his persecutors, except his will to do so.
4. The ones afflicting him were deserving of eternal punishment, not forgiveness.

Yet...he forgave them.

What does it mean to forgive? The definition of forgive is: To stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense, flaw or mistake.

I found it interesting that the example phrase in the dictionary I use is: I don't think I'll ever forgive David for the way he treated her. Isn't that how it usually is? When we speak of forgiveness, it's in not being able to.

Why do we find it so hard to forgive?

• A neighbor's dog kills one of our chickens, and we demand compensation and threaten to shoot the dog if he comes around again.
• A brother uses your computer without asking, and you proclaim, "You are never to use my computer again!"
• A spouse utters a cutting remark in haste, and though he apologizes, you remind him of his indiscretion whenever the opportunity presents itself.
• A driver in another car changes lanes dangerously in front of you, and you tailgate him for the next several miles.

You get the picture. We want revenge. We've been wronged, and we want, we deserve, to have it made right. Justice must be served.

Where was justice when Jesus was mocked, beaten and crucified? Why did he not demand that it be made right? Why does his father not demand that it be made right now?

Perhaps the point we miss is that when Jesus forgave them, he made it right. When Jesus forgave you, he made it right. When we forgive our neighbor, brother, spouse or fellow man, WE make it right.

When a person chooses to forgive, rather than exact revenge, the wrong is removed, as if it never happened. It's all right again!

If we're honest, we know we feel better when we forgive, than we do not, too. Somehow, getting revenge just doesn't satisfy. But forgiveness does.

When we forgive, we acknowledge that we make mistakes, too; we are selfish, too; we speak hastily, too; and...we've been forgiven.

Jesus told a parable of a man who had been forgiven a great debt, and then refused to forgive someone else an insignificant debt. Isn't that man you? Isn't that man me? Consider what Jesus forgave us, compared to the debt we require repaid by others.

Let's forgive. Let's make it right.

Giving Life

"Freely ye have received, freely give." There is a specific context to these words, but what Jesus said has a broader meaning to me. Sometimes we are up, sometimes we are down. In other words, "Sometimes we have to give, and sometimes we are in need of a gift. But giving is not only a Christian thing to do, it's a human thing to do.

When the subject of giving comes up, our first thought is usually money. The American way to solve a problem is usually to throw money at it. And sometimes that is what is most needed, and so is the appropriate thing to do. Sometimes, however, money cannot buy what is really needed.

This is never more true than when it comes to giving blood.

Here are some facts about blood, and donating blood:

1. Anyone in good health, at least 17 years of age, and at least 110 pounds may donate whole blood every 56 days.
   

2. 4.5 million American lives are saved each year by blood transfusion.
   

3. Someone needs blood every 3 seconds.
   

4. One out of ten hospital patients needs blood.
   

5. Three lives are saved by one pint of donated blood.
   

6. You cannot get AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.
   

7. 60% of the U.S. population is eligible to give blood - only 5% do.
   

8. There is no substitute for human blood.
   

The older I get the more outspoken I become on donating blood, and I believe I have good reason for being so.

The place where I give blood (Carter Blood Care) hands out T-shirts and other items with phrases on them encouraging blood donation. A mouse pad I got from them says, "Give Blood. Save Lives. It's that simple, that important." That's what it's about. Giving something you can sacrifice, to someone who needs it to live. But, for me, it goes much deeper than that.

In Leviticus 17:11, it says "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." Ponder that for a moment. Our life is in our blood. And blood given sacrificially is for atonement for the soul. Am I reaching?

Then consider what Jesus said in John 15:13: "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Isn't this what a person does when he gives blood (life)? Okay, it's true that when I give blood I don't fear for my life. However, as I watch my own blood pour out of my body for another human being, I always get a glimpse of Jesus Christ on the cross pouring out his blood for all mankind. This is one moment I feel very close to my Saviour.

Perhaps, I'm making more of this than I should. Believe me, I don't put myself on the same plane as those who have died while being persecuted for their faith, nor with those who die trying to save another person's life. But until I am called to do something like that, giving blood is one thing I can do that I believe Jesus would have us to do.

So, what about you? Are you giving blood? There are some circumstances that exclude people from giving blood, but remember, 60% of the population can give, but only 5% do. And even if you can’t donate your blood, there are other things you can do to encourage others to donate. For instance, you could organize a blood drive where you work.

When you donate blood, the attendant, when ready to insert the needle, will say something like, “Now you’re going to feel a stick and a sting.” I know a lot of people have an aversion to needles, and blanch at this point. Keep in mind, however, that someone needs your blood to live. Isn’t it worth overcoming the fear and discomfort for something so important? Besides, would you refuse the needle insertion if you were the one receiving the transfusion?

Perhaps you have had a bad experience while donating blood. Unfortunately it doesn’t always go well. In 33 years of donating blood, I have only had 2 experiences that were bad enough to even remember. But after such an experience, it is harder to donate again. All I can say is, “If a horse throws you, you need to get right back on.”

Besides the good feeling you will have after doing such a noble deed, there are physical benefits to giving blood. Before donating, you receive a “mini-physical” where they take your blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and iron level. Also, your bone marrow is constantly replenishing your circulatory system with red blood cells, which live about 120 days in your system. Donating blood stimulates this process, and helps to keep it in good working order.

One other benefit to donating, is that you can build credit at the blood bank for you and your family members which can be exchanged for blood should you ever need to have a transfusion.

Even after reading this article, I know many of you will never donate blood. If you make this choice, I only ask that you find another way to give. Give of yourself, something that costs you. Something that makes you feel a “stick and a sting”. Someday you’ll need someone to do that for you.

War is Still Hell

The quote, “War is hell!” is attributed to General William Tecumseh Sherman while addressing the graduating class of the Michigan Military Academy. The text below contains this famous quote in context:

I’ve been where you are now and I know just how you feel. It’s entirely natural that there should beat in the breast of every one of you a hope and desire that some day you can use the skill you have acquired here. Suppress it! You don’t know the horrible aspects of war. I’ve been through two wars and I know. I’ve seen cities and homes in ashes. I’ve seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is Hell!

As our soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan can attest, this statement is still true today.

It appears to me that Gen. Sherman was attempting to warn the cadets that what they've were told about defending their country was less than true. The notion that soldiers are joining a noble cause, are performing their duty, will be remembered with the heroes throughout history who have fought and perhaps given their lives for freedom, is, in reality, a lie.

Perhaps what I've just stated has raised the hackles of some of you, and so, before I continue, I want to assure all of you that this is not a rant against the government, the military, or patriotism. Give me a chance to explain myself.

My initial point is that if recruiters were as honest about war as Gen. Sherman, it would be more difficult than it already is to fill the ranks with young men and women who are willing to “take that hill” when directed to do so by a commanding officer. What happens instead, is that recruiters, in order to meet their quotas, tell recruits, in addition to twisting their patriotic arms, that the government will reward their bravery with a free education, and continued care for those injured in the fighting. I'm not willing to go so far as to say that all recruiters are liars, but the truth is that the military cannot deliver on their promises.

Because of the “advances” we have made in war technology, we are able to fight better, without nearly as many casualties. The press likes to remind us of the carnage of war by keeping us updated on the Iraq Coalition Forces losses (currently over 4000). In Sherman's war (the U.S. Civil War) it is estimated that 620,000 soldiers died. The result, however, is that soldiers that previously would have died from the wounds inflicted, are now disabled and needing medical care for the remainder of their lives. These wounded are overwhelming the system, and our “heroes” are having to defend their right to the services they were assured would be theirs. If a soldier fails to take the initiative, they are ignored.

This doesn't even take into account the servicemen and women who will live the rest of their lives with the psychological damage done from the horrors they have experienced and witnessed. Many of these will never recover. I wonder if it's even possible to prepare for, or treat the results of what Sherman called “hell”.

So what am I saying? “War is bad. We need to end the war.”? Yes. But not how you think.

Another quote attributed to Sherman:

You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; ... I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace. But you cannot have peace and a division of our country. If the United States submits to a division now, it will not stop, but will go on until we reap the fate of Mexico, which is eternal war. The United States does and must assert its authority, wherever it once had power; for, if it relaxes one bit to pressure, it is gone, and I believe that such is the national feeling.

I'm not suggesting that war is right and good, and neither is Sherman. What he is saying is that there is no way to fight a “nice” war. If you choose to fight, the only right way to do it is to use all of the resources available to you to end the war as quickly as possible by overcoming your foe. And where an army does this to administer justice and rid the world of tyranny, I believe they do it as ministers of God.

For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:3-4)

For this reason, I believe we do owe a debt of gratitude and a measure of honor to those returning from the fighting. Even if you disagree with the decision to go to war, you should be able to appreciate the courage required to risk your own life for the sake of another. Isn't there an identification with our Saviour in this?

I believe we are loathe to do this, however, because our soldiers and their accompanying disabilities are a reminder to us of our inability to live peaceably with each other, and of the ugliness of our actions.

For those of you who have chosen “the way of peace”, and have refused to go to war, consider at least that because there are many who are willing to volunteer, you (or your sons and daughters) don't need the courage to say, “No.” to war, you merely need to avoid saying, “Yes.”

And if you believe, because of your piety, you are better than those who use physical force to get their way, consider how many spiritual lives have been lost because those who profess to follow “The Prince of Peace” fail to live in peace.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (James 4:1-3)

The writer of these words knew that physical wars are just the outworking of the war going on in our hearts. The seed of war is the desire to have what is not ours, and the willingness to obtain it at the expense of others.

Refraining from fighting does nothing to obtain peace. Peace requires action. It requires loving your enemies, returning good for evil, offering the other cheek, going the extra mile. It requires giving, when it was yours to take.

It’s war in the heart that will condemn the bearer to hell. This is the true meaning of, “War is Hell”.