Public Opinion

The other day I got a public opinion poll from my political party.  This kind of disturbs me.  I chose my political affiliation because of what they believe.  I don’t want them to change just because the popular opinion may disagree with their platform.   I’m not going to change my stance about something just because the popular opinion is against me. 

I feel that way in all of life’s choices and issues.  Determine what is right and take a firm stand.  What does the Word of God say?  Prov.4:25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.  26. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.  27. Turn not to the right hand nor the left: remove thy foot from evil.

I’m not talking about likes or dislikes.   Whether we agree or disagree on a movie is a matter of personnel preferance and I value your  views.  Did you know our founding fathers used the Bible as a template to design The Constitution of The United States?  Our nation was founded on Godly principles and slowly this foundation has been erodedaway by a few that think they know what is best.   Public opinion is slowly scraping away the beliefs this country was founded on.  For example;  the state of California in 2000 voted in a proposition that defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.  In March, 2008 Judge Richard A. Kramer of San Francisco Co. Superior Court, ruled this proposition to be unconstitutional and discriminatory.  Basicly he overtuned the popular vote.   

The reason I am writing this Blog is not to stimulate anger, it is how ever to convince you of the need to decide what is right or wrong and speak out, whatever the consequences might be.  In 1729 Ebmund Burke, a member of The House of Commons said, ” All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing“. Posted by Steve Waltrip

Running the Race

Brother Ray is preaching a series on “Running the Race”.  I have thought much about this the last couple of weeks. I think about the time when I ran track in school.  As a youngster, I was involved in all kinds of sports.  Football, basketball, and when they weren’t going on I was a member of the track team.  I threw the shot-put and discus, jumped the high hurtles and ran the 440 and 880 meter relay’s.  To run the 880 meter you had to train every day by running 5 miles. There’s no way I could do that now but, as a young buck I loved it.  In running any long distance you have to be disciplined mentally and physically.  Mentally, the body resist’s the physical pain involved.  In running there is a thing called “The Wall”.   The first mile or two your body cries out with pain, your side hurts, your legs hurt, your lungs hurt, and your mind keeps saying “STOP” I don’t care how long you’ve ran, it’s still there.  The more you run the less it hurts but your body still resist”s this physical punishment. Usually after you cross the mile, mile and a half mark, your brain puts out endorphins that act as a pain reliever.  You don’t hurt any more.  In fact, there is a time when you don’t even feel your legs!  You could almost run as long as you want, with-in reason.

 Lets look at the spiritual aspects of “Running a Race” which is what Paul was really saying.  It requires a mental discipline. Determine what God wants from you and stick to it.  Every good runner trains daily, every other day won’t get it. Study distance runner’s and see what they did to accomplish success.  If you read the Bible you’ll find there are many runners there.  There will be set-backs, pain and obstacles in the road that you will have to deal with, but the more you train, the better you will become. 

Finally there are two groups of people in any race, runners and spectators. The spectator can see the challenges the runner faces and even root for them, but they will never know what it is like to run the race. They will never know what its like to run across the finish line.    1 Cor. 9:24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receive the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Posted by Steve Waltrip

Relationships

 

Men tend to be worse at relationships than women.  We tend to worry about fixing the lawn mower or watching the football game, or hunting than we do about such things as relationships.  We have our golf buddies, but that’s more about who’s a better golfer. 

I can say this because at one time I was that way.  I’ve always been an independent person, I’ve pretty much just relied on myself for things.  I came to a realization.  That was a pretty sad life.  Other people bring out the best in me.  The older I get the more I try to cultivate relationships.  I enjoy being around people and hear how they view things.  Communication is important in relationships.  I haven’t always liked to talk, I thought I might say something stupid.  I still say, I can learn more with my mouth closed and my ears open,although I do talk more now.

At the age of 55 I see relationships getting shorter.  I’m thankful I still have both parents, but that won’t always be true.  I’ve tried to cultivate this relationship more because I don’t want to be standing over a coffin one day with regrets.  My three sons, all grown are pretty much like their old dad. My step son call’s me on my birthday and special occasions, but I’m usually the one that calls my son’s.  I guess I don’t want them to stand over my coffin one day and wish they had done more. 

The most important of all relationships is the one we have with Christ.  He died so we might have a relationship with a living God.  Until this point the Hebrew people had a God but they could not communicate with Him.  I have developed a better relationship with Him.  He’s a pretty good person to have around, He talks, I listen, I talk, He listens. There won’t be any regrets at my death.

In closing, you may see a lot of dogs in my blogs.  I love them.  They don’t lie, they can’t hurt you, they are who they are nothing more, nothing less.  Terrie, my wife has a sign up in our bathroom that goes like this, “Please Lord, help me be the kind of person my dog’s think I am”   Posted by Steve Waltrip