Brrr!!!!

Looking out the window on a day like today is a little misleading. You see sun, you think "Spring is on the way", with the weather the last couple days you reach for a lighter jacket, only to go outside and to have the wind slice right through you! And not like surgical tools, mind you. This is like rusted metal pipe cutting through you! Gruesome, sure, but not far from the truth. I adapt pretty well to the climate I'm in. But during these back and forth days, I have a rough time. It's hard to plan for, you know? I didn't plan very well today. I wore a t-shirt because I knew I'd be playing around at Campus Life this morning, but I didn't take into consideration that I usually run back and forth between the office and the church, like, 100 times a day and the wind blows between those buildings like a wind tunnel. So, I've gotten in quite a bit of running so far today. I don't think there's much else to do over there today so hopefully I'll be able to stay put and stay warm for the rest of the afternoon. Hope you are able to do the same!

Proverbs 17:7 says (NLT), "Eloquent speech is not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler". We'll not pick on the poor fool much today, but the point about him is made certain. You just don't hear much worth listening to from foolish people. Although this is true, the verse here uses this poor bloke to set up the last part of the proverb. The focus here is on the ruler, or prince in some translations. Either way, someone in authority is not to be a liar. It just doesn't fit the office. Unfortunately, throughout time and in every culture, authority figures have fibbed their ways through their tenure. Abraham did it, David did it, George Washington didn't do it after cutting down the cherry tree but I'm sure he did before he learned not to, and Bill Clinton has done it. The man in charge needs to be a man of integrity and not one who cannot be trusted or who tells half truths. Lying is a serious deal. It's sin. It's part of the ninth Commandment (about bearing false witness). It's listed as one of the things that God hates (Proverbs 6:17). It is not something that anyone claiming to be a Christian, a child of God, should do. Over the last couple meetings in youth group, we've discussed that our sins don't just affect us. There's nothing that we do that has bearing limited only to us. Eventually, someone will get hurt, form a wrong thought or opinion, or get caught up in something they can't handle because of the wrongs of other people. Think of the lies told by religious leaders and politicians over the last twenty years and the damage that has caused to our society. The position loses respect and authority and truth and rightness go out the window. Lying is a dangerous practice. Don't let it be you who causes another brother or sister to stumble because of your little white lie.

Feb. 26: People of Prayer @ Berea, 6:00 pm
March 18-19: Jr. High Winter Retreat @ Camp Illiana, cost $18!!! Sign up by March 13.
March 31-April 2: Sr. High Spring Retreat @ Johnson Bible College, Cost $30!!! Sign up by March 20.

Later...