Category Archives: Life Lessons

Life Lessons from the School Bus #7 (Try the Spirits)

“Stripped”

Bob “Apple” Smith, a bus driver for the county, has a lot to explain. A quick look at his bus will let you know why. It is stripped. Stripped of EVERYTHING!

According to Bob, shortly after dropping off the last of his children, he made a quick “personal” stop. It was during his “personal” stop, which took longer than he anticipated (probably due to the excessive amount of jalapeños Bob insisted to be put on his eggs for breakfast), that vandals supposedly stripped his 88-passenger ThomasBuilt bus.

“Once I was finally able to finish my business,” Bob said, “I went back outside and said, ‘I’ll be d—-d!‘” He went on to say, “Those little hoodlums worked quicker than piranhas on a pig!”

The Link

No wonder, Bob had parked his bus in one the most notorious places in town. For months the police have been answering calls from stranded motorist who could do nothing more than cry after doing their “personal” business. Fortunately, an unbelievable link may have been found.

After investigators did some research, Bob was not the only one who had eaten eggs at a particular diner on Downtown Street. It seems that more than one patron of “Slick Sam’s” had eaten eggs before having to stop just blocks away to make an emergency “deposit.” Coincidentally, those same patrons had their automobiles stripped.

The only problem for Mr. Smith is the additional time it would have taken to strip the large bus. Some are questioning whether or not there may be seeds of deceit at his “Apple” core. It was not long ago another driver, Margaret “Snoopy” Jones, overheard Bob say, “I am tired of this job, but I’m not going to quit without getting a medal.” Ms. Jones insists he was speaking code, meaning “metal” when he said “medal.” This is still under investigation, but questionable, however.  It seems that  Ms. Jones has a record of saying, “Bob was always the ‘bad Apple’ in the bus driver barrel.”

Life Lesson

For heaven’s sake, don’t believe everything you read.

A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. – Proverbs 14:15 NIV

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. – 1 John 4:1 KJV

Sometimes things like this can be seen as funny (I hope), but many are sadly deceived in issues that have eternal significance.  The Bereans did not even take the Apostle Paul’s words at face value. They “tried” his words by comparing them to Scripture (Acts 17:10-11).  You see, no buses got stripped by vandals, and you could easily prove this by doing a little research. As matter of fact, the bus in the picture was stripped, but only for spare parts (it had an engine fire that made it too expensive to fix). But so many people will take anyone’s word, believe any hearsay, hold to any old rumor or fable, rather than take the “noble” route of the Bereans and “search the Scripture.”

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Filed under Life Lessons, Uncategorized, World View

Life Lesson from the School Bus #9 (Making a Way)

This post is one in a series I did back in 2011. And yes, I drew the bus.

Trying to Merge

Have you ever tried to merge into traffic, only to find that everyone else is in a bigger hurry than you? Try convincing a bunch of motorists on their way home that your school bus needs to jump into the flow.

Every time people see my kid transporter attempting to enter traffic from a side street, they say to themselves, “Oh no! I can’t get stuck behind a bus!

So, without any compassion for me and my nerves, they pretend that they don’t see me. Better yet, they hold up a hand, wave slightly, and give me a look that says, “Sorry, but my schedule is too hectic to let you in front of me.” Jerks.

Making a Way

That’s when a school bus driver has to be proactive…he has to make a way into traffic. By being assertive with 35,ooo pounds of deisel-powered intimidation, one can MAKE motorist slow down and be polite. Making a way into traffic is possible because of a simple fact of life – getting put on the local news for hitting a school bus full of children is NOT in one’s best interest.

Life Lesson

God can make a way, when there seems to be no way.

Isaiah 43:16, 20 KJV – [16] Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; … [20] The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

When God chooses to do something, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop Him. God can make a way. No decree of man or law of nature is an obstacle to the LORD of creation. If God has told you to go somewhere, do some work, or reach some person, even if the way seems impossible, He is God…He will MAKE a way. Are you going through a valley? Are you on a stormy sea and can’t see past the waves? Do you think that there is no hope, no way out of it this time? Trust in Jesus – He can make a way, where there seems to be no way. He can give rivers of hope in the midst of your wilderness.

Hope you enjoy this short video of a beautiful song by Don Moen.

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Filed under General Observations, Life Lessons, the future, Uncategorized

The Perception Deception

The Way We See It

If I have heard it said once, I have heard it said a thousand times, “perception is reality.” And if I have puked once…well, you know the rest.

What is it with man’s twisted view of reality and truth? Where do we get the idea that reality is what we perceive it to be? Is truth really relative to our own perception of the way things are? Just because a person believes something to be true doesn’t make it true, only believed.

Have you ever argued with someone who is color-blind over the color of a tie? Have you ever tried to convince someone dying of thirst that it’s not really water, but a mirage? Have you ever tried to convince a 3-year-old that germs are real and that hands need to be washed before eating? Some people think they know what they see, but they don’t.

Clean Drunks

Several years ago I was unfortunate enough to transport a bunch of college kids to a party. It was unfortunate because long before some of them ever got on the school bus they had already been drinking.

The place they were going to was up a mountain. About 5 minutes into the trip, about the third or fourth curve, one girl decided to vomit on the window, down the inside wall, and between the seats. It was all liquid, all alcohol, and all nasty. A few minutes later she felt she was ready to go party some more, for, in her eyes, she was perfectly clean. The only problem was that we (everyone on the bus) could tell she was soaked…in other words, we weighed the “spirits.”

God Sees Everything

When it comes to self-perception, reality is what God sees. He not only sees the outside, but the heart is bare before Him.

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits. – Proverbs 16:2

As the proverb says, a man may consider himself clean and his motives pure, which is his own perception of reality, but the Lord knows what’s really going on.

It is foolish for men to try to justify their sinful, dirty actions before a holy God. It is foolish to depend on our own perception of what is right and wrong. Our eyes only want to see what makes us look good, not evil.

That is why we need God’s wisdom.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12

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Different Metal, Different Furnace

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. – Proverbs 17:3 NKJV

Gold or Silver

In case you were not aware, there is a difference between gold and silver (Well, duh!). Seriously, there is a difference between the two, and that fact should not be taken lightly. Gold is gold, and silver is silver. Obvious stuff, right?

Well, sometimes the obvious is profoundly important.

Gold is extremely valuable, but is soft and pliable. Silver is not as valuable per ounce, but is nevertheless a harder precious metal. Gold is highly sought after and coveted; silver is more common, but is still critically important for a wide range of applications, everything from electronics to medicine.

How one refines gold, compared with silver, is not the same. What’s more, the temperatures of the refiner’s fire is hotter for one than the other.

What R You?

When I read Proverbs 17:3 yesterday during a Sunday School class I teach, something obvious proved to be very profound: depending on how God wants us to be used, each one’s trial by fire will vary in intensity, the heat of which will determine what metal we are made of.

gold furnace

Source: The Australian

Unlike gold and silver, we are human; our qualities and usefulness change. Some days we are made of gold, while other days we are silver, but most of the time it is hard to determine which. That’s when the Refiner turns up the heat.

There is a lot to refining gold and silver. Not only is there heat involved, but various acids, too. Therefore, it should come as no surprise when God not only allows us to endure intense pressure (heat), but permits the caustic, painful situations of life to eat away the impurities within us.

God is the refiner of hearts.

Iron Man

But, you know what? Gold and silver, while both rare and beautiful, will never make good axes, swords, cannons, I-beams for skyscrapers, or bridges across raging streams.

Sometimes there are jobs that can only be done with iron.

Don’t feel special? Don’t think of yourself as gold-like? That’s OK! You’re important, too! As a matter of fact, the melting point of iron is nearly double that of gold.

You may think what you are going through right now is far tougher than anything a “golden saint” might deserve. Don’t lose hope; the fires forging you are instilling a strength that may be needed to wage war against the Enemy, support the heavy loads of many, or bridge the gap between understanding and ignorance.

Don’t curse the furnace. Let the Refiner do His work.

 

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Filed under Christian Living, Christian Maturity, General Observations, Life Lessons, self-worth, Struggles and Trials

Book Release!

Proverbial Thought

OK, when I say “my” book, it was my idea, but I’m just the editor and co-writer; I didn’t do all the work by myself. As a matter of fact, I had help from around the world. The full title of this voluminous work is Proverbial Thought: Your Daily Word of Wisdom from Proverbs.  We couldn’t put everything into one book, or it would be entirely too large – and expensive. That’s why this book is the first of several volumes.  At 318 pages, Volume One contains thoughts on chapters 1-10 of Proverbs. There’s 21 more chapters and a lot more detail to go!

book cover

Click Here to Purchase 🙂

I am very proud of what we have accomplished. Below is the preface that explains how all this came about.

Preface

What you are about to read is a work that came together over a period of two years. It first started out with an idea placed on my heart, I believe, by the Holy Spirit. Then it proceeded to be something that I tossed around to others, asking for advice, picking their brains. Finally, what it ended up being was a collection of personal commentary on one of the most famous collections of wisdom known to man – the book of Proverbs.

When the Lord impressed me to start a blog called Proverbial Thought, it wasn’t because I had a lot of time on my hands. As a matter of fact, in February of 2012, besides being a husband and a dad with two daughters still at home and being homeschooled, I was a pastor who had decide to finish a long-pursued seminary degree. In other words, I had plenty to do. However, I kept feeling led to start a daily devotional/commentary.

Since 2009, I had been publishing a blog called The Recovering Legalist.com, which introduced me to other bloggers, such as David Welford in Herefordshire, UK. After some prayer, I contacted David and asked him what he thought of co-contributing to another blog dealing with Proverbs. His immediate response was positive, even suggesting others who might want to get involved, such as his son, Nick. Ultimately, I approached over twenty individuals around the world and in my own community; eight came on board.

By the way, it was very important, I believe, to gather contributors from around the world and from different walks of life. By doing so, instead of relying on the limited life experiences and from one culture, the wisdom of Proverbs could be approached from various perspectives, lending insight that might not be available to another. For example, in one post a writer from England describes the wisdom from a proverb in light of the Iron-age fortress in his back yard. Seriously!? How many people can address a subject from that perspective? Not me!

So, in March of 2012, I put together a Google document that contained a list of dates with a corresponding proverb. Those who agreed to contribute to Proverbial Thought were asked to periodically go to that online community list and write in their names beside the verses on which they wanted to comment. Sometimes the selection was purposeful based on our knowledge of a particular Bible verse. But for the most part, each one of us went to that master list and wrote in our names, never knowing what the subject matter was going to be about. That led to a lot of “God moments.”

Eventually, nearly two years and almost 700 entries later, the project that enlisted writers from the United States, Canada, and England was complete. However, along the way a lot of “life” happened. Some of that “life” can be read in the following daily entries; more than a few words are dotted with tears. God knew what He was doing when He led us to “arbitrarily” choose which proverbs we would write about. He knew what we would be going through at the time we sat down to a computer to write. So, in one sense, what you are about to read is spiritual journey, almost a diary, of what God wanted these contributors to learn, and to share, about true Wisdom. -Anthony C. Baker

 

Special Thanks!

I just want to thank David Welford, Daniel Klem, Jason Sneed, Chris Jordan, Rev. Ken Welford, Nick Welford, and Katie Marie for lending their “thoughts” over the last couple of years. Without their help this would not have been possible.

I would also like to thank Dr. David Myers for referring David Tullock at Parson’s Porch Books (a publisher who’s profits go to take care of the needy).

It is also necessary that I thank my wife and daughters. They are the ones who put up with me as I sat for many hours in front of a computer screen. Maybe all this was worth it.

Last, but not least, I must thank my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the Wisdom that confounds the foolishness of men, and on Whom I totally rely (1 Cor. 1:23-25).

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You Might Be a Legalist…

A while back I posted a list I found on a website called PTM.org. I don’t know who wrote it, but I wish I had.

So, without further ado…

You might be a legalist, if…

1) God’s love for me depends on what I do.

2) Meeting the expectations of others, especially those in my congregation or in positions of authority, are paramount.

3) Moral and ethical questions are usually black and white and only made into fuzzy shades of gray by hand-wringing, bleeding-heart types.

4) I try hard to obey God and it irritates me that others think they can get away with avoiding the same level of dedication.

5) I fall short because I don’t have enough faith, or because I haven’t prayed enough, or because I just need to be a better person.

6) God is predisposed to be angry with me because I am a sinner. My main goal in life is to try to gain God’s favor by doing things that will impress him.

7) My sense of spiritual well-being is linked to a Christian leader or membership in my church rather than a personal relationship with God.

8) I tell my children not to do something in church or around other Christian families that I allow in my home.

9) I believe my church is God’s true church and that most other Christians may be sincere, but are sincerely wrong.

10) The exterior choices a person makes in what they wear, hairstyle, piercings, tattoos, etc. is a clear indication of that person’s character.

11) I sometimes worry that people might take advantage of grace if it’s preached too much —people might think they can do anything they want.

12) After being around Christians for a while I feel drained —weary of putting up a false front.

13) When I happen to miss a service or activity of my church I feel guilty.

14) I will likely get into heaven, even though I’m far from perfect, because I have tried to be a basically good person and God will take that into account.

So, are you a legalist? I used to be, but I still struggle. That’s the reason for this blog. That is why I call myself a “recovering” legalist.

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Friday Followup (Books, Burgoo, and Balls)

I Missed Thursday

I known it’s not a have to, a must, a requirement, or any such thing, but I have been enjoying writing about various topics on Thursdays. So, since I missed doing it yesterday, I will throw out a few quick thoughts for Friday – that’s today.

  • Proverbial Thought in print. Believe it or not, it looks like I, along with several others, are going to become published authors. Yes, Proverbial Thought (my other blog), the on-line daily devotional through the book of Proverbs, will soon be in print. But don’t think that the printed version will be exactly like the one on the web, no no no! There will be some new and revised content.
  • date with haley

    Picking up my “date” for the ball. A word to the wise – I’m armed – and so is she.

    Father/Daughter Purity Ball. Last week I took my youngest daughter, Haley, to a father/daughter purity ball in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. It was sponsored by a pro-life ministry called Alpha Alternative. It was the only time of the year where I will begrudgingly dance in public, but it was worth it to encourage my daughter to save herself until marriage. And if you want to argue against that, then you might be part of the problem.

  • Burgoo. It’s a Kentucky thing. It’s like Brunswick stew, but not. I brought some back to Chattanooga and let our youth pastor try it. He said, “It tastes sorta like a barbecue soup or stew, doesn’t it?” Yeah, I guess you could say that. But it’s definitely worth a drive to Hopkinsville.
  • photo (3)School Bus stop signs. Folks, if you see a flashing stop sign attached to a school bus, the law requires that you stop, and it doesn’t matter if you are on a two-lane road or six. You have no way of knowing in which direction a child might decide to run when he gets to the ground.

There you have it! There’s my thoughts for today. Just leave a nice comment below.

Remember…keep it nice.

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Filed under America, blogging, Food, General Observations, Humor, Life Lessons, Relationships and Family

Finding Gold

Missing Leprechaun

Evidently, as best as anyone can tell, a leprechaun must have left his gold under a tree at the end of a rainbow, but was later assaulted by some children wanting his lucky charms. He never returned.

This image provided by the Saddle Ridge Hoard discoverers via Kagin's, Inc.

This image provided by the Saddle Ridge Hoard discoverers via Kagin’s, Inc.

Seriously, did you hear about the Northern California couple who found $10 million worth of mint-condition, uncirculated gold coins? All of them dated back to the 1800’s and looked brand new.

The couple was out walking their dog down a path on their Gold Country property (how ironic), a path they had taken many times before, when the wife decided to look down and take a closer look at a rusty can. The can (one of six), had been laying there, rusting away, for years, but for some reason the lady decided this was the day she would kick it.

Just think, right there in front of them, all this time, were six cans with a total of 1,427 gold coins! Some were so rare that just one was worth over $1 million! And they were right there all along!

Hidden Treasure

Believe it or not, there are rusty cans all along the paths you and I take. However, the paths that I am referring to are the ones we take through Scripture.

I recently read an article decrying the idea of looking for “golden nuggets” in the Bible. The author argued that we shouldn’t waste our time looking for hidden treasure locked away within some Greek or Hebrew vault, just admire the Bible’s obvious beauty and truth. In other words, we should stay on the path, admire the scenery, stick to the routine, bask in the sun, but avoid kicking over any rusty cans.

Now, it is a fact that most treasure hunters go broke; therefore, am not suggesting that we stray from regular Bible reading to simply search for hidden “nuggets” of truth. However, it would surprise the regular walker through Scripture how many rusty cans have been waiting to be disturbed.

Kick a Few

The next time you read your Bible, why not take the time to be inquisitive? Treat some of the words in the verses like those old, familiar rusty cans and examine what’s inside. Search out the original word in a concordance, then see how that word is used in other places. Do some simple investigation and you might find yourself enriched.

A while back, when studying Proverbs, I came across a word in verse 7 of chapter 2. The word was “buckler.” Below is what I wrote in a post for Proverbial Thought…

The Buckler

bucklerInterestingly, though, the KJV translators used the the word buckler instead of shield. Why? Maybe it’s because a buckler is more than just a static, defensive piece of armour. A buckler was also a weapon. Bucklers were smaller shields which could be used not only to deflect the enemies blows, but could also be used as a “steel fist.”

Never forget that the same shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16) which can “quench the firey darts of the wicked” can also be used to fight back. The tools God gives those who listen to Him will not only protect us, but will enable us to advance.

Have you passed by any rusty cans today?

Link: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/25/california-couple-finds-10-million-in-rare-coins-while-out-walking-dog/

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Filed under Christian Maturity, General Observations, Life Lessons, wisdom

I’m Going to Offend

Offended Anyone?

Have you ever offended anyone? I bet you have. Sooner or later, all of us will. We may say something we don’t mean, act carelessly, or speak the truth without love. Offenses happen.

However, there are times when  simple words and phrases will set people off. For example, if you want to rile people up into a tizzy, just get on Facebook or Twitter and post any of the following words (your opinion doesn’t matter):

  1. Grits, okra, and turnip greens
  2. Roll Tide! / Go Vols!
  3. “Put some clothes on!”
  4. “It’s only a translation.”
  5. Rapture
  6. First On Race Day (Ford)
  7. “I hate Twilight.”
  8. “My kids will never do that.”
  9. “You’re an idiot!”
  10. Ronald Reagan

Seriously, use any of those words and it won’t take 10 minutes before people are arguing and fighting, calling each other names, questioning each other’s religion, and saying things like, “DON’T JUDGE ME!”

Nevertheless, we should do our best to “live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18). It should never be our intent to hurt feelings or make people angry. The apostle Paul instructed us to “follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).  So, as much as is possible, we should watch what we say, choose our words carefully, and do our best not to offend.

And, when necessary, we should apologize.

The Rock of Offense

On the other hand, there are times when we MUST offend. Sometimes speaking the truth is the only loving thing to do; anything less is an offense to God.

For example, the following words will not make many friends, but are guaranteed to generate hate-filled comments from around the troll-dwelling universe. Yet, they must be said!

  • Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man can come unto the Father but by Him (John 14:6).

As a blogger, my words are read all over the world by people who hate the name of Jesus, and when I mention Him they go ballistic. I hate it for them, but how can I remain silent?

Jesus told the followers of John the Baptist,

“…Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. – Luke 7:22-23 

I don’t like offending people, but here’s the thing: if we let the fear of offending silence the Truth, how then can we “follow after the things which make for peace?” There can be no real peace without the Prince of Peace.

So, I guess I’m going to offend.

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Filed under blogging, Christian Living, Christian Maturity, Defending Traditional Marriage, Defining Marriage, Faith, General Observations, Life Lessons, salvation

The Voice of the Video

Yes, I know this is the 3rd post in one day, but it’s been snowing. What else was I supposed to do?

The Video

It was only my second Monday Monkey video, but it still remains to be one of my favorites.

“There’s a Monkey at the Wheel” was my first music video, but I was not the one singing. As a matter of fact, I got a former American Idol contestant to do the vocals!

If you haven’t seen it, have fun watching it for the first time…or the second, or third, or fourth 😉

The Voice

Lauren Huckabee, Mr. Monkey, and Me

Lauren Huckabee, Mr. Monkey, and Me

The voice behind this video was a young lady named Lauren Huckabee. The reason I bring this up now is because Lauren is singing with a group that is rising rapidly up the gospel charts, Rhonda Frye and Riverside.

On top of that, Lauren has published her first blog post. In it she shares her past, one full of drugs, alcohol, and danger. But more than that, she gives glory to God for sparing her life and giving her hope.

Please read Lauren’s story and pray for her. And, if you get a chance, listen to the real music she’s doing. I’m sure you will like it just as much, if not more, than any parody I’ve done.

Click HERE to read Lauren’s Story.

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