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"A good indignation brings out all one's powers." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city (Proverbs 16:32)."

God is not a Fad!!!

From bell to apple bottom jeans, afros and high top fades, Paisley, stripes, solids and polka dots; styles come in, go out, and come back in again. What is popular today will be old news tomorrow. If you live long enough you’ll see it happen over and over again.

While that is expected and accepted in fashion and such, it is totally ridiculous to treat God in that way. God is not a style. He does not change. He doesn’t come in or go out. And He certainly isn’t affected by someone else’s value. He is God, the eternal I Am.

I have seen people treat God like a new fashion. They make statements like “After I tried everything else and failed, I tried Jesus.” Or “When all else fails, pray.” That’s poor phrasing from poor thinking. The results is an on again off again religion. An up and down faith. An in-season, out-of-season lifestyle.

Practically speaking, when one ‘tries God’ they make an effort to follow Him. That sounds good until trouble makes its inevitable entrance. Hard times, heartache, opposition, not to mention persecution will turn a ‘try God’ mentality into a run for the hills reality. No wonder so many change their clothing in order to cater to the crowd. Some even make a switch because they get bored.

Trying God does not work. Commitment, devotion, submission to His will is the only way to find meaning and fulfillment. Any other way will not last. Let’s not look at God and His way as an elective or sample pack. Recognize that He is more essential than life itself. To quote Yoda, “Do or not do, there is no try ."

"Commit thy way unto the Lord... (Ps. 37)."

“If It Smells Good…”

When I was a student at Oklahoma Christian University, a funny but profound lesson was learned.

About three times a week I would drive past a food factory very early in the morning. I would smell all kinds of wonderful scents and flavors. Sometimes it would be the unmistakable smell of bacon, sausage, or baked bread with cheese. As it was early in the morning, and this was before Cathi learned the joy of cooking breakfast for her man, I would enjoy the scents, rubbing my belly while imagining what was going on in that giant kitchen. I could almost smell it.

One morning I looked to determine from whence these appetizing smells emanated. I determined that it came from a huge building, about a half mile from the highway. The red and white checkered symbol was familiar. I thought it was Nabisco. For weeks I went by smiling at Nabisco, wondering what great snacks were being prepared.

Much later, I overheard someone giving directions for that same area. In it they referenced the Purina Factory. And that’s when it hit me. It wasn’t Nabisco. It was Purina! As in Purina Puppy Chow!! I didn’t smell snacks, I smelled dog food.

Talk about a paradigm shift to the negative. The same smells that used to tantalize my senses became offensive and nauseating. What I thought was wonderful at the first I found out was unacceptable and inappropriate for human consumption. Knowledge made the difference.

Here is the profundity. Don’t get excited over how things smell, determine where it comes from. Knowledge of the source will determine the appeal. Sin looks and smells good as long as you don’t consider the source and its effect.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of death (Prov.14:12).”