Every Day!

      When you awoke this morning how did you feel about the prospects that you were going to be facing?  All throughout the day you will be facing decisions:  small ones and large ones!  Some which would make very little difference in the scheme of things in the world at all.  Others that would cause major changes in the world that could lead to unbelievable results.  Let me give you an example of each:  First, you are an international hit man.  Today you wake up and decide to have eggs and sauage for breakfast.  Although you almost always have bacon with your breakfast, today you decide to have sauage instead of bacon.  The change this morning would probably make very little difference, if any, on the world scene.  On the other hand, suppose when you woke this morning it was revealed to you that your current assisgnment for the day was to assassinate a world leader.  However, you decide this morning you were NOT going to carry out your assingment but instead take the day to go fishing.  Thereby the world leader continues to live.  This decision could create major changes and ripples within the time line.

     In accord with this line of thinking there appears to be two additional aspects of these scenarios which must not only be considered, but must be understood to be able to project some type of future outcome.  One we must determine WHICH decisions are the critical ones that may  have a world shattering effect and which are only the "mundane" decisions that do not effect the "scales of balance."  The second point would be WHO are the people who would make the decisions that become major  changes and who are the ones that cannot make any major changes.

     Until we could decifer the correct answers to those two questions we would only be "taking a shot in the dark" as it were to obtaining the bullseye on a target designed to adjust the future as we felt it should be altered.

     Even if such capabilities were possible there is not one of us in a position to be worthy of caring for such a huge responsibility.  Due to our imperfections we could never know if our decisons could be the right ones.  We could never know if any of our decisions would be the one that would cause ultimate complete destruction.  We may think we could be wise enough to make it all work out, but we would only be wise in our own eyes.  It would be as if we traveled to the past and attempted to change a single event and thereby starting the "butterfly effect" that would cause untold catasthrophy in our present.

     I'm only suggesting that since we can't be sure of the outcome of our decisions, we need to use our best thinking ability and make the wisest decisions we can, because we're only human.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Every day I do my best

and leave the rest to God."

Why?

     It seems that for over a hundred years humans have sought peace and yet have been unable to obtain it.  Why?

     People pray for peace.  Governments have talks and sign agreement after agreement and yet peace does not exist.  I think the American Indians had a saying that has proved true for most cases:  "White man speaks with forked tongue."  For the most part this has always happened.  While sitting at the negotiating table and talking peace, at the same time plotting the next event of destruction upon their "enemy."

     Various governments of this world have understood the advantages that might be gained by knowing their enemies strengths and weaknesses.  They also promote, although usually covertly, the appearance of "cooperation" with guidelines to support and foster "goodwill" among their adversaries and at the same time laying plots to overthrow or subvert the actions of their comrads.

     The one against the other and so it continues month after month, year after year, and administration after administration.

     Such nations have the right plan of attack:  know your enemies and their tactics!    They fail to realize the problem is they have the WRONG enemy!

     The bible tells us that "the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one." [1 John 5:19]  This "wicked one", Satan the Devil, sits behind the scenes, as it were, manipulating the affairs of human governments to his will and purpose.  It is his purpose to keep humans "busy."  Confussed so they pay no attention to what is happening as the "bigger" picture.

     His future of destruction has already been decreeded and he wants all whom he can take with him to have the same such future.  However, it is the will of God that we can gain salvation for a marvelous future prospect and He has already made the arrangements for us to take advantage of his offer.  But the decision is ours.  We must choose life and live, for the alternative is eternal destruction.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"We may never understand the reason why,

but can we not be obedient?"

Vacation

     When you retire and just “work” when you want to, it’s kind of hard to get yourself worked up for a vacation.  However, next week my wife and I will be taking a week off.  My son and his family along with one of my granddaughters and her husband are taking us to Branson, Missouri as part of our 50^th wedding anniversary.

    Actually our anniversary was back in April.  Then they gave us a nice party with many of our friends being invited to attend and share the moment with us.  At that time they informed us about taking us on a trip.  Over the next few months details of the trip got finalized and now we are excitingly getting prepared

     Neither my wife nor I have been to Branson so we are anticipating what is going to be involved.  My daughter-in-law has laid out all the details and provided us with a daily itinerary of our activities.  There’s going to be shows, swimming, boating, museums, and sight-seeing in various areas around Branson.

     We feel that the most important part of this entire trip is the fact that we will be sharing it with our family.  Together over the years we have done many things and shared many various experiences, but the fact that we can continue to experience these things together adds a greater and more fulfilling experience to the entire adventure.

     I forgot to mention that we will be taking this trip together by van!  It’s only about an 8-9 hour driving time, but we’re going to take two days going there and two days to return.  There are places along the route that my daughter-in-law wants us to visit.  Again it will be because we are sharing this journey together that is going to make it most enjoyable.

     As I mentioned we don’t really consider ourselves at a point in our lives where we take “vacations.”  But we are really looking forward to spending this time together with our family.  And who knows, if it works out the way we are thinking it will, “vacation” may be something we begin to look at more seriously.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"A vacation is a time to get away from the stress,

but that's hard to do when you 

carry your worries in your mind."

Suicide

     It’s almost impossible for me to imagine but suicide is the 10^th leading cause of death overall in the United States.  When you add to that statement this point from the National Institute of Mental Health:  “Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54”; the stats on this are staggering to say the least.  In 2016 almost 45,000 suicides were reported.  Add to this figure the sad reality that for every suicide committed approximately 25 attempts are made.

     Here are some additional facts according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

The annual age-adjusted suicide rate is 13.42 per 100,000 individuals.

Men die by suicide 3.53x more often than women.

On average, there are 123 suicides per day.

White males accounted for 7 of 10 suicides in 2016.

Firearms account for 51% of all suicides in 2016.

The rate of suicide is highest in middle age — white men in particular.

     I was really saddened to see that for the State of Colorado (for 2016) the rate per 100,000 individuals was 20.47: approximately 7 more individuals than the nation’s annual rate!

     What is the cause of these horrific figures?  People may consider suicide when they are hopeless and can't see any other solution to their problems. Often it's related to serious depression, alcohol or substance abuse, or a major stressful event in their life.

     Is there any help for such individuals?  Therapy and medicines can help most people who have suicidal thoughts. Treating mental illnesses and substance abuse can reduce the risk of suicide.  If someone talks to you about suicide, you should take it seriously. Urge them to get help from their doctor or the emergency room, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It is available 24/7.

     We are only human and can only help in a limited way, but we can look forward to the time mentioned in Isaiah 33:24 “And no resident will say: “I am sick.””  Until that time let us all continue to pray for one another and help as our circumstances permit.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Enjoy your life now, 

and look forward to enjoying it forever."

Happiness

     Some people seem to work all their lives and find it.  Others seem to drift aimlessly through life and have it all around them.  What am I talking about?  Happiness!

     It has been said that happiness is as elusive as trying to catch a butterfly.  The harder you try to obtain it the more it escapes your grasp.  If you forget about the search, it will light upon your shoulder.

     I’m not sure if that is a true analogy of happiness, but it certainly does evade the lives of many people.  But, I think there is a more plausible understanding to the matter.  I feel that the reason so many have not been able to find happiness in their lives is because they have the wrong definition of what happiness really is.

    One definition of happiness provided by Merriam-Webster is a state of well-being and contentment.  Therein lies the problem for so many.  They are never content with what they have.  Even when they say that “this or that” level of attainment will make them happy, when they achieve that level they are no longer satisfied with it and want to have something more!

     We have all done that type of thing before.  I recall after I graduated from High School and had a nice government job my thoughts were “if I could only make $10,000 per year I would have it made.”  Of course, for some of you that type of thinking will only be giving away my age.  But that is what I thought.  Many years later my thoughts were “if I only made $10,000 per month I would have it made!”  Certainly that shows the change in my view of what would bring happiness.

     I think maybe we should not be worrying so much about finding that elusive happiness in our lives as we should be more concerned with understanding the word contentment better and how we can infuse that concept into our life.  The problem we always run into is that we’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Happiness is knowing how to be content 

regardless of the present circumstances."

The Manual

     I can’t speak for everybody, but having spent almost thirty years in the automobile industry, I’ve come to realize that when most people purchase a new vehicle one item they always want to receive is the owner’s manual.  This is a publication which explains all the operating systems of the vehicle.  It describes for you how everything is suppose to operate and it explains the necessary maintenance required to keep the vehicle running in its tip top state of condition.

     This is not a unique situation to the automobile industry.  Practically every product manufactured comes with an operation or owner’s manual.  People want to know how to keep their purchases in “like new” condition for as long as they can.  And considering most of these products come with some type of warranty one is expected to follow the maintenance requirements to keep the warranty validated.  If you misuse the product, don’t keep it properly maintained, or fail to follow all the required actions, your warranty will be void or perhaps worse, your product will cease to function at all.

     Why am I discussing owner’s manuals and warranties on products?  Because in the beginning of creation when the first humans, Adam and Eve, were on the planet they were given oral instructions on how they should live their lives and obey the requirements that were placed upon them by God.  Of course, we know they failed in their properly using their “products”, their lives, the way which was intended for them.  They lost perfection not only for themselves but for all their descendents after them.

     That’s why we find ourselves in the sad predicament that we are in today.  Not only did our first parents fail to follow the instructions they were given, but many today continue to abuse the precious property that we were given, our lives.  It simply comes down to the fact that many people today are not following the instructions, the owner’s manual, that we have available to us.

     As sad as the conditions appear today, the manual offers us a wonderful hope for the future:  A future were we can be “upgraded” to a new and improved model of our old selves.  We only have to follow the instructions within that manual to gain those marvelous benefits.  The choice to obey or not belongs to each one of us.  What will you do?          

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"To obey is better

than a sacrifice."

1 Samuel 15:22

Employment

     I heard an interesting comment today about employment.  It basically stated that there are no jobs where an individual should be looked down upon.  Any good, honest employment is fitting for some human to receive recognition for doing and if they are doing it they should be treated as fairly and decently as you would treat anyone else.

     It’s true that some jobs or careers may have a more prestigious title or may be looked upon by some as being more desirable.  However, the truth is that all types of honest, hard work should be viewed by everyone as a means for someone to make a living for themselves and their families.

     That is usually the difference between some people.  They try to determine WHO you are by WHAT you do.  They don’t want to consider that there are so many jobs in the market place that have to be done or other things couldn’t get accomplished.  Think of something simple: buying food at the grocery store.

     Of course, we think of the farmer who grows the food, or the manufacturer who cans or processes the food.  We think of the store where we make the purchase.  But look at all the in between jobs.  We have people who test the food, people who do the paperwork for the process (in every situation), we have the truck drivers or the rail workers, and we have the “stock boys” and all the clerks working at the grocery.  And there are many others “behind the scenes” who are making the process work out to its completion.  And not a single one of them have a job that is less important than any of the others.

     Let us not be labeled by WHAT we do for a living, but HOW we treat those who live around us.  Try not to look at a person’s outward appearance, but look at the person they are on the inside.  Be willing to treat all people as if they are better than you are and you will find that your relationships with others will be greatly improved.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Most people who get a job

want a title or a position,

but they don't want to work."

Think About It!

     We are a strange bunch of creatures, us humans.  We say and do things that make very little sense at times, but we continue to do them anyway.  I’ve just thought about it today and I’ve decided to list a few of the things I am talking about.

     Think about it:  We complain week-end after week-end that we have to get out in the yard, go to our storage sheds and remove the lawn mower.  We have to make sure it has gas and is well prepared so that we can cut the grass.  We complain week after week.  Yet, as soon as we have cut the grass what do we do?  We get out the hose or sprinkler and water the lawn so that it will grow!  We are truly a strange bunch.

     Here’s a little quick one to think about:  We are constantly getting the proper use of our words into situations that should be just the opposite.  Consider:  We DRIVE on the PARK way and we PARK on the DRIVE way!  Why couldn’t we get the word and the usage to make more sense?

     I think all of us could relate to this when we were growing up.  I’m sure this never happened to you, but you’ve done something to make you Mother REALLY mad at you.  She has you sitting or standing in front of her while she is trying to explain the situation to you and why you were wrong and are now getting this verbal scolding.  Then the words come out of her mouth: “Don’t say a word while I’m talking to you!”  Do you remember that?  Any yet only a moment later she looks at you with THAT look.  You know the look I’m talking about and she says:  “Why don’t you answer me when I ask you a question?”  You begin to explain and then she fires back:  “Don’t you say a word!”  You remember the situations.

    Yes, we are simply a funny lot!  But then again we’re only human.

    

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Think of every moment of your life 

as a teaching experience.

Some moments teach us what to do or say,

others teach us what not to!"