Pastor’s Desk January 21st

Dear Friends,
 
     The following are quotes I have heard down through the years that appropriately fit the Scripture Passage for the day:  “If life is like a bowl of cherries, what am I doing in the pits?”  Erma Bombeck   “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get?”  (Made famous by Forrest Gump’s momma.)  “Life is like a game of chess.  To win you have to make a move. Knowing which move to make comes with insight and knowledge, and by learning the lessons that are accumulated along the way.  We become each and every piece within the game called life.”   Allan Rufus   “The game of life is a lot like football.  You have to tackle your problems, block your fears, and score your points when you get the opportunity.”  Lewis Grizzard   “Life is like a smooth running engine, all it takes is one little mistake to bring everything to a screeching halt.”  Johnny Carr
 
     Some friends and I were discussing the other day mistakes we had made in life.  Some of those mistakes for me were the result of foolish pride and egotism.  Others were just sheer stupidity.  Some were honest mistakes with no premeditation behind them.  Some were spur of the moment decisions that I later regretted, but at the time I thought I was doing the right thing.  The one that looms the largest in my memory however are those mistakes I made that could have been averted if I had just handled them differently.  My mind reverted back to every facet of my life – ministry, school teaching, farming, relationships, and family – where if I could go back I would do things differently.  I can’t, so I have tried to learn something from it and move on with my life.  I live with regret, and in some cases shame, that I allowed outside influences to affect my judgment instead of godly discernment.  I can only pray that my life lessons have been well learned.
 
     The question, “What is a man’s life?” has been heavy on my mind since that conversation.  My life has been full of successes and failures.  I have had many ups and downs that have formulated who and I am and the way I perceive and view life.  I have made many mistakes, but along the way I have gotten a few things right.  I am both loved and hated, respected and detested, admired and loathed.  Some things I brought upon myself while other factors I had nothing to do with.  I have been lifted up and honored and I have been turned on and brought low by individuals I thought were my friends, but such is the course of life and the fickleness of human relationships.
 
     So what did James mean when he asked the question, “What is a man’s life?”  I believe he meant that we should learn from our mistakes of the past, forgive and not hold grudges, covet to do better by the grace of God, and move on with our lives.  I believe he would say as Richard Carlson, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”  Life is too short to be mad and upset all the time.  “Don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill.”  Think your way through a problem before you react and handle everything with the Word as your example.  (By the way, nothing can be settled on Facebook.  Take care of things face to face and stay off your phones and computers.)  Very soon, today will be tomorrow, and if you live, you will reap either rewards or consequences for what you have done today.  Finally, one day you will wake up and realize you are old.  Yesterday will be just past memories, today will be full of present challenges, and tomorrow will be just a vapor you are looking through.  Make today count.
 
In Christ,
Pastor Johnny

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