terry.a.lindsey@charter.net

What will it take?

A family loses a young child to an alligator or a gorilla dies because of a young child’s curiosity. How about a whole group of party goers losing their lives because of an ideological difference so extreme that violence becomes a tool to send an evil message. What will it take? Children’s curiosity will always be a path to maturity. Curiosity leads to dreams which leads in most cases to successful life adventures. Tragically, not all turn out that way but was it the Alligator or Gorilla’s fault that led to a family and national mourning? On the other hand, one person grew up to join a radical terrorist movement meant to impose their radical beliefs. Now that is a tragedy that may have been avoided. We can debate how but I would rather lean on a higher power to direct me. A few thousand years ago people were oppressed by another people and they were looking for a knight is shining armor to save them. Instead they got a suffering servant who saved them and restored them to eternal connection with the ultimate higher power. My question remains. What more will it take? Perhaps the answer can be found within our heart and soul. My prayers go out to the lost due to tragedies currently reported in the 24 hour news cycle. My prayers also go out to this world and may we find peace within.

Listen to my brief message that we are all imperfect, God uses us anyway and avoid assumptions.

Assumptions

The worse two words in the English language in my opinion is “I assumed”. Let’s break it down. First, the word “I” implies that you had no input from anyone else before you made your statement. Second, the word “assumed” is a verb meaning “to accept something to be true without question or proof”. Let me list a few examples and for fun, put a “G” for guilty or “I” for innocent to each statement below to grade yourself.

I assumed you were pregnant since you had gained so much weight.
I assumed you had moved since I have not seen you around.
I assumed Yucatan was a location in Mexico.
I assumed you were picking up the kids.
I assumed you were married.
I assumed you could read.
I assumed you believed in the same politics and the rest of us.
I assumed you loved me not material treasures.
I assumed you had gotten over that thing or that person.
I assumed you heard what I said.
(Bonus question) I assumed ………………………….(fill in the blanks)………………..

If you scored 90% or above guilty, I assume you are honest with yourself. If you scored under 50%, I assume you are either a Saint which is highly unlikely or not honest with yourself. No replies on the test please as only for self awareness.

The definition of assumption is “a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof….. example cited in Google is assumption you are a nerd if you wear glasses, even though that is not true or very nice.”

I believe more countries, families, religious or political opposing groups, etc. have battled based on assumptions with no true resolution. There are entire countries around the world that base their existence on conflicts from centuries old assumptions. Sad isn’t that we as humans make so many assumptions!

By the way if you assumed the Yucatan was a location in Mexico you get partial credit but do you know what it means? Early Spanish explorers made a fundamental assumption long ago as the story is told. If you do not understand what a person is saying do you just make an assumption or do you attempt to communicate differently to obtain a correct interpretation?

I know Memorial Day has already passed but did you assume those who were affected by the loss of a loved one to keep this country free was acknowledged for their sacrifices? Without assuming, it is never too late to do the right thing.

Pony

Pony or poop? What? When you were a little child, did you ever have a birthday or Christmas gift that filled you with hope? Even before you got the gift, you were so excited with anticipation. Perhaps, it as a little puppy or kitten or maybe it was a pony. When you had that feeling your gift was at the door, did you just hang around saying O well or were you at the door looking with great anticipation? What if you opened the door and all you saw was a great big pile of poop? Would you close the door with disgust and disappointment or as a little child go on faith that the poop was just a sign of the prize to come. Were you looking beyond the poop to find the pony? Think of horse manure (poop) as just a pile of trouble to step over to find the prize. Romans 5:3-4 tells us that if we endure trouble we grow in character which produces hope. With hope we have the faith to move mountains of trouble. So may this little message give you some inspiration to look at your troubles as new opportunities to serve a higher calling to reach the ultimate prize. Listen to my brief message below, if you have time.

Peace be with you.

Congrats

To all you teachers out there who questioned your own sanity when for the eleventh time your student finally got it, congrats. To all you parents who thought this day would never come, congrats. To all you students who did not give up on your dream, congrats. It is with great pride that being one of those teachers and today one of those parents, I say it was all worth it. To see your own child reach a level of academic achievement never before reached in my family history gives me a belief that we can accomplish whatever we set our goals to achieve. Thank you Dr E. for restoring my own confidence that with enough work, determination and faith we can move that mountain.

What Kind?

We all want some kind of proof especially in this instant gratification world we live in today. What kind of spirit did you receive? In the day of “if it feels good do it” world, have you ever considered this question? Did you receive a spirit of fear or faith? Do you even know if you have received a spirit? Do you even care? These are all questions that perhaps you may or may not even think about but it is worth a little contemplation for a moment. Romans 8:14 says we were led by God’s Spirit because we are His sons and daughters. We did not receive a spirit of slavery to fear. Fear of what? You fill in the blanks……shadows, darkness, public, people, slavery to food, slavery to work, slavery to broken contrite relationships, booze, gambling, any other material thing……. Even Phillip in John 14:8 wants some kind of proof as if Jesus hadn’t done enough to prove his divinity. What more proof did he need? What more proof do we need? Have you ever been lead by His Spirit? If you can honestly say, yes then you can say you have receive the Spirit of Truth. If you do not feel that you are being led by His Spirit, pray for his guidance but before you do, empty yourself of the fears in your life and open your heart to faith.