What a Pig Can Teach us About Federal Debt

            A parable tells of a pig who ate his fill of acorns under an oak tree and then started to root around the tree. A crow told him, “You should not do this. If you lay bare the roots, the tree will wither and die.”

            “Let it die,” said the pig. “Who cares as long as there are acorns?”

            I have known a lot of people who have had the same view toward life as that pig. I wonder how many of us think like that pig when it comes to federal spending and the federal debt.

Happy Trails to You

            Benjamin Sickles could not escape the police in Washington, Pennsylvania. Early on the morning of July 5, Sickles broke into a Subway restaurant and stole nine bags of potato chips.

            He had broken a glass door to get inside and had tried to steal money from the cash register. That proved unsuccessful, so he settled for the bags of chips.

            He might have escaped except that he left bag after bag (all empty!) along his trail. Law enforcement officials simply followed the bags until they led them all the way to Sickles.
            I think we humans look like Benjamin Sickles to God. We engage in our sin and somehow convince ourselves that we are getting away with it. However, we do not realize that the residue of our sin leaves a trail that leads all the way back to us.

            If I may take the last part of Numbers 32:23 out of its context: "...you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

           

Story source: WORLD magazine

Faithful Husbands

            Faithfulness is important for husbands, and it must be demonstrated. One wife, long ago, perhaps was influenced by the old Russian proverb, “Trust but verify.”           

            Her husband had not arrived home from work. It grew very late. At last she sent telegrams to five of his friends, each bearing this message, “Bob is not home. Is he spending the night with you?”

            When Bob finally made it home, he was met by five telegrams from his friends, all replying, “Yes.”

            Husbands should be faithful to their wives. If they are not, those indiscretions have a tendency to be discovered. This story reminds me of what Moses said in Numbers 32, 23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. ESV

The Cost of Ideas

            Ideas have consequences. Be ready to accept the consequences of what you believe.

            Robert Ingersoll was an American agnostic who lived in the 19^th century. He owned a remarkable and celebrated library, which included many atheistical books.

            A reporter once asked him what his library cost him. Ingersoll thought for a moment and answered, “The governorship of Illinois and possibly the presidency of the United States.

Source: Edmund Fuller

Catch the Ball

            I always had the deepest admiration for Johnny Unitas—one of the greatest quarterbacks who ever lived. Another Hall-of-Fame quarterback, Dan Fouts, backed up Johnny Unitas’ during Fouts’ rookie season. Reflecting on that season, Fouts says:

            “I had the honor of playing with Johnny Unitas my rookie season. For some reason, he liked me. Just watching him was invaluable. Even playing catch with Unitas at practice was a learning experience.

            "The very first ball he threw to me in warmups was a fastball that nearly broke my hands. Johnny told me, 'Always aim for the receiver's nose when throwing a pass.' I asked, 'Why's that?' He said, 'Because if they don't catch it, it'll break their nose. That will make them better receivers.' I learned all of these great little things from him that year.

            The great ones insist that those surrounding them be held accountable!

Source: Peter King SPORTS ILLUSTRATED ONLINE 090511

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/09/05/laborday/index.html#ixzz1XBGESdFx

Reaping Negative Waves

          Legend has it the inventor of radar—Sir Robert Watson—was stopped in Canada for speeding. This was several years after his successful invention.             

          Police had set a radar trap and snagged Watt. Later, he supposedly wrote this poem:

PITY SIR ROBERT WATSON WATT,

STRANGE TARGET OF HIS RADAR PLOT,

AND THIS, WITH OTHERS I COULD MENTION,  

A VICTIM OF HIS OWN INVENTION.

            This is a humorous reminder to me of Gal. 5:

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. NIV

Beating Your Head Against a Wall

            SPORTS ILLUSTRATED recently noted that major league baseball player, Brian Roberts, of the Baltimore Orioles, had to miss the last week of the season. He was suffering from recurring headaches.

            Come to find out—the headaches were caused by Roberts constantly hitting himself in the head with his baseball bat, after striking out.

            Well, duh!

            Some people live their lives this way. Paul was writing about them when he stated:

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

The Two Pitches Walter Johnson Would Take Back

By September 29, 1913, the Washington Senators had been eliminated from the pennant race in the American League. The Boston Red Sox were in town for a meaningless game.

The game was played in Washington D. C., in front of a small crowd that included 6000 servicemen from military bases in the area. The soldiers had brought their own band, which played tunes to amuse themselves. The game took on the atmosphere of a comedy.

The Washington manager, Clark Griffith, rotated players in his lineup. Even the great pitcher, Walter Johnson, played center field.

In the top of the ninth, Washington seemed to have a safe lead of 10 to 3. Boston almost caught up by scoring six runs, making the score 10 to 9. Manager Griffith then brought in Walter Johnson to pitch. In the spirit of the game, he faced two batters and lobbed two fat pitches, which were turned into base hits. Both runners scored and were charged to Johnson's Earned Run Average (ERA.)

As Jack Cavanaugh wrote in his excellent biography, WALTER JOHNSON A LIFE, there was a price Walter Johnson “paid for an afternoon's frolic.”

Before that game, Walter Johnson had compiled an ERA of 1.09. However, the two earned runs the Johnson gave up in the “farce game” drove his ERA up from 1.09 to 1.14. Still, this was a record that lasted for 55 years.

Fast-forward to the 1968 baseball season, “the year of the pitcher.” Bob Gibson posts a 1.12 ERA. This becomes the all-time standard for a season’s earned run average, surpassing Walter Johnson’s 1.12.

Two teeny, tiny runs in a meaningless ballgame, but they were enough to mark a difference. Walter Johnson is forever relegated to having the second greatest season in terms of ERA of all time.

Decisions have consequences. A night of drinking can lead to an automobile accident and cause a lifetime of disability. One can engage in an indiscriminate, sexual act, and can contract a sexually transmitted disease for life. A marriage decision based upon passion and fantasy can create a marriage of heartache and loneliness. An unethical legal practice can lead to permanent disbarment. Texting on a cell phone while driving can lead to deadly car accident.

Wisdom requires recognition of consequences.

Prov. 20:25 It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making vows. ESV