Don't stay in a rut, it can be like living in a grave with both ends kicked out!

Hello folks, it's already Wednesday, August 24, 2011, and the Lord God of heaven and earth has given us another day and we are thankful. Amen. Last Sunday our pastoral staff decided to stir up some trouble within our normal routine. They first rearranged all the chairs in the main auditorium so that everyone had to sit in a place they normally wouldn't. The nerve of them. Don't they know we all have squatter's rights to our little particular area? Then they scrambled the order of services so that what usually came first, didn't and it was all over the page. How in heaven's name do they expect salt of the earth, God fearing people to sleep during worship time if they are going to mess with that which is sacred, our routine? That, of course, was the message behind the madness. They wanted us as believers to be reminded of how easy it is to fall into a rut, to go through the motions, and in the process to lose out on God's best and His blessings as we seek to live, work, and to serve Him. It did get our attention and I was a little puzzled by it all, but, in the end, it was a point well taken. We should never take God and His will for granted, and we should always seek to be ready, not on our terms, but when and where He leads us to serve and follow Him. Amen. 


I saw a story this week about a ten year study of the most likely place where you have the highest likelihood to be hit, killed, or injured as a pedestrian. That type of study is not your idea of some interesting bedtime reading? I somewhat agree but at the same time I still think it interesting, especially as you look at the locations identified in the study. Many people in our nation grow up yearning to retire to a sunny climate with Florida being the number one destination. Well, you guessed it, Florida is the most likely place for you to be hit by a car as a person out walking. This issue of people being run over by automobiles is a pretty big deal. At the overall summary level, in the entire United States, we're talking nearly 48,000 pedestrians killed and approximately 700,000 injured during that studied period from 2000 to 2009. Experts call it an epidemic. I know I have this odd sense about things like this but I was immediately reminded of that passage from the Old Testament Prophet Amos where he said these words: "It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him." (Amos Chapter 5:19) I'm all for improving safety and I certainly don't want to be hit by a car, but, at the same time, we need to be aware, that at all times, regardless of whether we live in Florida or Finland, that our life is in the hands of our God. Amen.

That study, just so you know, is based on per capita data, calculating the number of people impacted compared to the population, therefore, areas with larger populations had more deaths but a smaller area may have a higher rate due to their lower population. Are you confused yet? Google it and read it and at the same time keep your eyes on those distracted drivers, especially if you are out walking, jogging, or just trying to make it across the street. We do live in a dangerous world and I am not wanting to add another phobia to anyone's checklist. I well remember the late Dr. Adrian Rogers talking about a fellow who was telling him about how that fate works in terms of God's plan and purpose. He said nothing would happen to him until it became God's timing, period, end of story. Dr. Rogers replied that if he stepped off the platform in front of an oncoming train, he could be sure that he would meet God's timing at the point of contact. See what I mean? We live in God's economy but we also live based on prudent and common sense thinking. The late Dr. J. Vernon MaGee addressed a question from his audience about whether it was right for a believer to purchase insurance since God is responsible for His own. Dr. MaGee said that God would have us to participate in those services that provide for us during our time here and that he thought it not only prudent to purchase insurance but not to do so, if one is able, would actually be something against doing what we can to live our lives securely while we are here. So, there you have it. Another day of this, that, and the other, but one that starts and ends with our recognition that God and God alone is our hope and our provider for this life and the life to come. Amen.                ......More later.