Ecclesiastes 12:10

  As John Dewey exclaimed, “ A problem well put is half solved .”   For us to fix something we have to know what is wrong and what is causing the problem. Too many times we face an issue and are unable, or maybe better said unwilling, to examine ourselves to what is wrong.    That is what makes 1st John 1:8-9 so poignant; “ If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness .”   It’s not that God isn’t willing and able to forgive. It’s not he is demanding a penance by making us grovel. He’s wanting us to see the problem and see our role in it. If we don’t look at what going on we will never truly be fixed.      Confession is good for the soul but it is also needed for the mind. Until we see our sin, we will never find the way to fix it.  

  From 1918 till 1920, about 75 million people died on the flu. The epidemic was a global one but the disease was known by a regional moniker, the Spanish flu. It didn’t start there nor was Spain hit particularly harder than any other nation, so why did it get the name?   The reason was World War 1. The combatants in WWI didn't report on how badly the flu had hit their nations. Not wanting their enemies to know how sick they were nor did they want their own people, they instead censored the reports. Spain neutral in the conflict had no reason to hide the truth, so it looked as if it was being hit harder than the rest. So it became known as “Spanish Flu”.       Often times those that are authentic in their behavior are relegated as oddballs. For example, those that confess their sin are looked down on when in truth there are many of those setting in silent judgment there that have the same if not worse sins. People that admit to faults are seen as we...

  In his youth, the grandson of John Philip Sousa made large sums of money as a guest bandleader.  He knew it wasn’t because of his talent. Since he shared the same name as the great American composer and conductor, he knew that is what impressed the crowds. His invites were about his name not his abilities. He knew these because he could not read a single note of sheet music.    He wasn’t the first of the last person to lean on their heritage rather than their abilities.  Just because you carry a name, however, doesn’t mean you are the real thing. " Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' Matthew 7:22-23   Lots of people call themselves Christian. Lots of people claim a heritage with the Lord. But that claim isn’t what will get ...

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, "JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS."  Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; but that He said, 'I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written." John 19:19-22   John records that the sign that was placed over Jesus to designate the charges against him didn’t come without controversy. The leaders were appalled about what Pilate had done. ‘He wasn’t the King, he just claimed to be’, they shouted. Now because of how it was written, in the three most common tongues of the region, everyone would think that this was true!  But Pilate refused to budge. The sign over the cross would stay.   Which seemed kind of out o...

  This may sound like a rant, but here goes anyway.    Just because you are now sorry for what happened didn’t mean you repented.  Just because the consequences have caught up with you and you are now suffering, doesn’t mean you have repented.  Just because you have now fessed up to what everyone else has already knows, doesn’t mean you have repented.  Just because you know that unless you show some contrition, things might get worse for you, doesn’t mean you repented.  Just because you issued a formal apology, shed a few tears, tore your robes, said “I’m sorry”, doesn’t mean you repented.     Repentance is more than just being sorry.  Repentance is making a turn around.  It isn’t just a “whoops, sorry about that”, it a realization that what I was doing was wrong and I can’t keep doing it. It isn’t just sorry I got caught, it sorrow that for what I was and commitment to be different.  Paul describes it this ...

  It was my parents fault.  The doctor told me it was OK.   That preacher is unfriendly.  I ’ m just big boned.  The ref blew the call.  It ’ s all those food additives.  Someone must have sent me computer virus.  My clubs are old.  The sun was in my eyes.  Those teachers must not be doing their jobs.  They must have sent the wrong thing.  The dog ate my homework.  It must have got lost in the mail.  The elders upset me.  If I only had better players.  If we only had a better coach.  It the Demolicans (or Rebblicrats) fault.  It’s not my fault.   Excuses.  Everyone has one.  Some excuses are good, some not so much.  Some excuses are valid.  Others not so much.  But let me tell you something: No matter how good your excuse is it won ’ t do you any good.   Your excuse won ’ t win you the game, get your assignment in on time, or correct yo...

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of Sherlock Holmes was a notorious practical joker.  He once sent out fake invitations to the mayor’s ball resulting in numerous unwanted guests.  Many suspect that he may have been responsible for Piltdown man, a hoax that claimed to be the so called “missing link” in evolution.  One of his most talked about pranks is when he once sent an anonymous telegram to twelve friends, all men of great prestige and importance, saying, “ All has been discovered, flee at once ”.  Within 48 hours, all of them had left town. It goes to show us that everyone, either great or small, has something they don’t people to find out. Dirt swept under the rug while we pretend everything is clean. Things we try to hide from our friend, our family, and even ourselves. We foolishly think that if we bury them deep enough, they will never come to light or if we ignore them long enough, they will go away.  But Jesus tells us in Luke 12:2  " But ther...