Insight by Seymour

2012-01-20T07:32:00.001-08:00

I am moving this blog to a new address: www.insightbyseymour.com
The new site has better tools and features that will allow me to create a blog that is of better quality. Please bookmark the new page and click follow when you get their. Thanks!

Tempting Trout

2012-01-17T03:18:00.000-08:00

Whether it is paddling my canoe or fly fishing, I love spending time on a river. A favorite place of mine is Roaring River in Missouri.

On one trip, son-in-law and I were not getting many strikes until we identified what insect was hatching and causing the trout to rise to the surface of the water. Once we discovered what was irresistible to the trout, we made a quick dash to Tim's Fly Shop and purchased some new dry flies.

The secret to successful trout fishing is found in the words: match the hatch. This involves the use of a fake that is worked in a specific manner, so it appears to be the real thing--deception is the key!

I seriously doubt that the Apostle James ever did any fly fishing, but he did outline the principles of baiting: When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:13-15).

The practical summary of his principles is seen in the 4 steps below:

Looked--The fish looks at the bait.
Tooked--The fish takes the bait.
Hooked--The fish is hooked.
Cooked--The fish is in the frying pan and cooked

James describes temptation as something that is powerful and persistent. The construction of the Greek speaks of continuous action that culminates in lust being conceived. The picture is that of an almost inescapable death grip that robs you of your vitality.

A good example of this is the enticing techniques used by a cone snail to deceive and then devour a clown fish. You can see it here.

Most of us know when we should say, No! Then again, most of us are less like Jesus and more like Mae West who said: I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it . . . Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.

I think the words of West lack the wisdom of Wesley. Susanna Wesley was the 25th child of 25 children and gave birth to 19 children herself. Her many life experiences taught her much: Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sight of God, takes from you your thirst for spiritual things or increases the authority of your body over your mind, then that thing to you is evil. By this test you may detect evil no matter how subtly or how plausibly temptation may be presented to you.

It's easy to live life at its lowest and to be haunted with regrets. It's much harder and far better to shun the bait than struggle in the snare (John Dryden).

I am moving this blog to a new address: www.insightbyseymour.com
The new site has better tools and features that will allow me to create a blog that is of better quality. Please bookmark the new page and click follow when you get their. Thanks!

A Blind Eye

2012-01-16T04:22:00.001-08:00

I think an event in 1963 was the first time I really saw racial prejudice directed towards another persos. We were vacationing in the South and had spent the night at a relatives house. When we were about to leave the next morning, I heard my Dad’s cousin say: Now Eddie, about 10 miles South of here you’ll go through a little town. Everybody that lives there is a N–. If one of those worthless black N– walks out in front of your car, just run over them. No need to stop–it’s just a N!
Even though I was just 10, I knew the hate-filled words of Dad’s cousin were wrong. The idea that anyone could over another human being and leave them to die in the road was just wrong.

It was Gandhi who said: An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.
If you know anything about history, you know that far too many people have been blinded by hatred and prejudice.

A record of these misguided emotions can be seen in the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool, England. A graphic portrayal of the devastation of generations of enslaved men, women, and children is displayed. Etched into one wall of the museum are the words of Frederick Douglass, former slave and crusader for human rights: “No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck.” In the act of dehumanizing others, we dehumanize ourselves.

Each of use have a circle of influence, and we need to do what we can do to right wrongs. A clear teaching of the New Testament is the power of love when it is shared. We are told that love covers a multitude of sin (I Peter 4:8).

The prose of Sam Levenson offers sublime suggestions on what each of us can do to change the world in which we live.

For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.”

I hope this thought thought keeps you thinking.

Tada, Tebow and Culture

2012-01-15T04:10:00.000-08:00

Political correctness and religious zeal are a mismatch andrarely go hand in hand. Their underlying principles place them at opposite ends of the cultural continuum. This may be one of the reasons that Tim Tebow has so manyrabid detractors. Tebow doesn't worryabout political correctness, and he's not ashamed of his Christian values.

At the 2010 NationalPrayer Breakfast sponsored by Prison Fellowship, Tebow said: Football is a means to an end forme...sharing the love of Christ, that IS the end!

I think this quote sheds some light on the public animositydirected towards Tebow—His worldview is out of step with much of the world.

A person’s worldview is formed in relation to boundaryquestions:

· Who am I?

· Why am I here?

· Where am I going?

· What is my purpose in life?

These questions act as a camera lens thatcolors our world and causes us to focus on specific areas. Our worldview can be the source of stresswhen the horizontal dimension (physical) of our life is in conflict with thevertical dimension (spiritual).

The lives of two different people, Joni Eareckson Tada and ChristopherReeve, illustrate this fact. In July of 1967, Tada broke her neck ina diving accident. In May of 1995 Reeve,broke his neck when he was thrown from a horse. As a result of their injuries, both were confined tolife in a wheel chair

To their credit, both Tada and Reeve were determined tomake the best of their circumstances; however, they shared two different approaches to theirfuture. Tada was unwilling to usestem cell research, while Reeve promoted its use.

Tada has drawn a line in the sand and espoused her worldview: If we violate a human embryo today,tomorrow we will become callous about the fetus, then the infant, and thenpeople with physical defects...let's influence society with reasoned judgment,strength of character, and a commitment to improve our culture, not diminishit.

Both Tada and Tebow embrace a worldviewthat can be summed up in three words: Jesus is Lord. This is in stark contrast to the godless, inward-focused, me-first culture that envelopes us.

Tada and Tebow understandthat life is full of highs and lows, and whether a person is up or down, Jesusis constant. They find common ground with David's proclamation: The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my Savior, You save me from violence. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. (2 Samuel 22:2-4).

No doubt about it, Tebow is different, and I find this to be refreshing. Instead of the end zone antics that shout, it's all about me, the bended knee of Tebow says, it's all about He that is within me.

Briefly Boxing

2012-01-13T03:52:00.000-08:00

One of the jobs I had as a teenager was at a men's clothing store in downtown El Dorado, Kansas. After school, I would walk to this men's clothing store and stock the shelves, fold clothing, and wait on customers.

This was an upscale store of fine clothing that included briefs and boxers. While I was unpacking a box, something occured to me: The shorts boxers wear in the ring, looked alot like the boxers I was putting on the shelves.

I jokingly said to a co-worker: In some fights, boxers only box briefly and its possible that some just box in their briefs.

A boxer that briefly boxed was Sonny Liston. I listened to the Ali-Liston rematch in May of 1965. It was a brief contest that only went 1 round for a total of 105 seconds.

The apostle Paul never said anything about briefs and boxers, but he did write about boxing briefly. If we are content with shadow boxing, Paul said, we will never accomplish much. To be successful, we need to discipline the body.

Paul must have liked sports, because he would refer to the dedication of an athlete to make a point: The athlete competes to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

We see this analogy in Hebrews 12:1--let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Far too often we try to live life as though it is a sprint. In reality though, it is a marathon.

Like a boxer or a distance runner, we need to learn to pace ourselves, and we do this by looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

What kind of a training regimen do you have? To fight a good fight, to finish the contest, and to claim your prize, you need to consider a disciplined life of prayer and study.

Lessons From An Aunt

2012-01-12T03:09:00.001-08:00

It was Solomon who said that we can learn from the ant: Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8).

My Aunt Fern never said much to me about ants, but she did know what she was talking about when it came to beekeeping. Aunt Fern was my great aunt, and I loved her delicious honey and the times we spent together in conversation.

One thing I learned from Aunt Fern is that bees are sowers and reapers. She was quick to point out that bees are not just "takers" they're also givers. The relationship between the bee and the flower is symbiotic: As bees take nectar from the flower they pollinate it.

To collect a sufficient amount of honey, bees have been know to travel great distances and visit many flowers. Once the nectar is collected, it is shared with other bees in the hive where it is processed and stored.

The honey bee is a good illustration of New Testament Christianity. Paul said we are many members but one body. Each member of the body is to share his gifts and abilities with the other members.

For the health of the hive one of the first tasks a bee has is to provide nourishment via the fluid from its milk glands. The same is true for the church: The members start with the milk of the Word and then move on to the meat.

During one of my last bee-focused discussions with Aunt Fern, I thought of the words of Jesus: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). The sacrifical service of the honey bee is an excellent illustration of this principle.

Here's a final thought to keep you thinking: To have a healthy humming hive, each person needs to be busy doing what is required of him--We are to be faithful stewards.

Free At Last

2012-01-11T03:05:00.000-08:00

One of my Christmas gifts was the book Unbroken. It is thecompelling of the life of Louis Zamperini.

The early life of Zamperini was one of hardship that led himto a life of juvenile delinquency; however, circumstance demanded a change, andchange he did. He became an Olympicdistance runner who competed in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany.

It was thought that Louis would become the first man to runa mile in under 4 minutes, but that changed with the start of WW II. Like many young men of that era, Zamperinisoon found himself among the ranks of the military.

The book traces Louis’ life from his crash in the Pacific tohis arduous 47 days afloat on a raft; and, his time as a POW. As the subtitle says, Louis’ story is one of survival,resilience, and redemption.

After his post war life began to crumble and his marriagewas about to fail, redemption was Zamperini’s only hope. His wife convinced him to attend a revivalwith her. During the sermon, the youngevangelist, Billy Graham, said something that reminded Louis of a promise hehad made.

While he had been adrift on the raft and about to die of thirst,Louis had made a promise--He would serveheaven forever, if he could only be rescued.

Louis can still remember what Graham said: Whenpeople come to the end of their rope and there's nowhere to turn, they turn toGod—no matter who they are. Louis thought: Yeah, I made thousands ofpromises on the raft and in prison camp. He kept His promises, but I didn'tkeep mine. Louis went to the prayer room and made a confession of faithin Christ, and said: While I was still on my knees, I knew mywhole life had changed.

On that life-changing day, Louis Zamperini discovered thetruth of 2 Corinthians 5:17: ifanyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold,all things have become new. Fromthat day to now Louis has kept the promise he made on that raft in 1943. This bombardier, who nearly died in the saltyPacific, kept his promise and became the salt of the earth and the light of theworld.

When Louis experienced the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, hehad an overwhelming desire to forgive those who had tormented him while a POW. The hatred that had filled him was gone andat last, Louis was finally free.

SR 71 Blackbird

2012-01-10T03:24:00.000-08:00

I served in the Air Force from 1971 to 1975. Most of them time was spent in ColoradoSprings. There was nothing gloriousabout my job. I drove up and down theflight line delivering supplies to the different hangars.

The tarmac by the last hangar was a little different incolor due to the fact this is where the SR 71 Blackbird was housed when it wason base. The color of the tarmac matchedthe color of the Blackbird, so it would blend in with its surroundings.

While I was in the Air Force, access to this now retired jetwas limited. Today, people have easy access tothis engineering marvel, and one can be seen at the Kansas Cosmosphere.

While in service, the Blackbird set many speed records. As an example, it flew from LosAngeles, CA to Washington, D.C. in 64 minutes 20 seconds.

Because the high speeds created high body temperatures, theengineers had to allow for thermal expansion. To do this the fuselage panels were manufactured to fit loosely while onthe ground. Once it was airborne,proper alignment was achieved when the airframe heated-up and expanded severalinches. After a mission had beencompleted and the Blackbird had landed, the canopy temperature could be as highas 572 degrees.

The Blackbird had to be stressed (heated-up) before it wasfully functional. The same is true forthe Christian: We knowthat suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character,hope (Romans 5:1).

When a person experiences the trials of life firsthand, he developsa skill-set that is of great benefit to others. Notice the sequence in the following verse: The God of all comfort, comfortsus in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with thecomfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

After I had worked on my porch one day this Summer, I needed a little comfort. I shot a 2 inchflooring nail through my finger, and it was not one of my Praise the Lord moments. While this was a minor incident, it is difficult to rejoice when the heartis heavy with sadness; you have received some detrimental news; or, you’ve suffereda great loss.

At times we may feel like we are wearing a bull’s-eye, andare the target of God’s wrath. The pain creates such an intense inward focus that we forget there are hundreds of people around the worldhaving the same or similar experience.

When unwanted situations like these invade your life, rememberthat somewhere down the road, there’s a person who is going to need you toshare the lessons you’ve learned. You will be the comforter to help those in need of comfort.

From the Comfort of My De-Uprighter

2012-01-09T02:49:00.000-08:00

From time to time my mind is prone to wander—times like a blowout football game (Texans 31—Bengals 10). So from the comfort of my chair, I began to ponder its nomenclature—why is it called a recliner?

After a little research, I discovered that incline, recline and decline are forms of the word cline with different prefixes added. Cline comes from the Latin verb clino (to slope, incline, bend).

The word incline is used in reference to something that deviates in an upward fashion from a horizontal plane. It is also used as an attitude of the mind, such as: I’m inclined to say . . .

Does this mean that if you are inclined to say something and want to take it back you have to decline it?

Now to the more important question: Why is my chair called a recliner? When I sit in it, I’m in an upright position. The prefix re means again. If I’ve never clined in the first place, how can I do again what I’ve never done?

Since I'm seated in an upright position, perhaps a different designation is in order. Would it be more accurate to rename my recliner a de-uprighter—down-right confusing isn’t it?

I've put a confusing twist on a couple of words to illustrate the approach used by people who want to pervert the gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-9). A common tactic is to take a little truth, mix it with their error, and spin it into a false teaching.

Another deceptive measure and common feature is to insist their message came directly from an angel. I find their angelic incursion to be a devilish diversion. Paul specifically warned about the role of angels in the Galatians passage above, and in other places he said that even Satan presents himself as an angle of light.

Solmon said that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11). If someone is inclined to paint a new picture of an old doctrine, you may want to take a close look--it could be a counterfeit.

A Monarch Mind

2012-01-06T07:56:00.000-08:00

Even though I do not visit very often, I enjoy a walk through Botanica. The dedication of the many volunteers and dedicated staff is apparent in the beauty that surrounds the sidewalk path that snakes its way through this wonder of Wichita. A seasonal attraction I really enjoy is the butterfly house and 50 some species that are available for observation.

One species that is easily identified is the Monarch butterfly. Like all butterflies, the Monarch passes through 4 life stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis phase), and adult. In a brief period of 28 to 30 days it morphs from egg to adult.

You can say that through metamorphosis, a butterfly goes from mush (chrysalis) to majesty (adult butterfly), in an incredibly short time. A YouTube video shows it taking just 1 1/2 minutes.

Metamorphosis is a theme mentioned several times in the New Testament. Once such place is in Romans 12:2 where Paul speaks of the transformation of the mind. Instead of being conformed to the image and philosophy of the world, we are admonished to be transformed by a renewing of the mind.

To effectively renew the mind a person may need to take a self assessment and clarify his values. Ask yourself: Are my values aligned with my life goals, the organization I serve, and most importantly with Scripture? If not, then change may be in order.

It has been said that values are caught and taught. Some values, like an infectious disease, are caught but are detrimental to our well-being. Other values, however, need to be captured and passed on because of their virtuous nature.

If a person is serious about renewing his mind a good place to start is with the Beatitudes and a commitment to practice these principles that were taught by Jesus. Yes, I did say practice, because it will take some self-discipline.

Steady and unwavering discipline to these principles will lead to a renewed mind and some healthy habits. Aristotle said:

“Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.”

I hope we can all undergo a little metamorphosis and experience a renewing of the mind.

A Principled Principal

2012-01-03T07:16:00.000-08:00

The title of today's blog is built on a homonym. The two words principle and principal sound the same, but they have different meanings--they are homonyms. When listening to a conversation, homonyms can be a little confusing.

Confusing may be the best way to describe my high school years. Mr. McCollum was my principal and his principles were hard for me to comprehend. Due to my ill-advised exploits, I spent quite a bit of time in the office of Mr. McCollum and got to know him very well.

Years later when I was home on leave from the Air Force, I bumped into my old principal at a cafe. I approached him and said: I'm not sure if you remember me. He looked at me, and said: Sure I do, you're Stan Seymour. We shook hands, and I apologized for all the problems my misbehavior had cause him. He said: Stan, no need to apologize. I wrote all of that off as adolescent stupidity.

Mr. McCollum had done what a main character of the Bible did thousands of years before him. In a sense, he had taken an eternal perspective on life.

When Joseph was a small boy, his jealous brothers sold him into slavery. Later in life, he was betrayed by the wife of his employer and sent to prison. While in prison he did a favor for a member of the Pharoah's staff, and the favor was soon forgotten.

Joseph eventually came to be a powerful man in Egypt. After his family was reunited and his father died, his siblings asked Joseph to not take revenge on them. Joseph replied: What you did to me you planned for evil, but God intended it for good.

Immediate and short-term perspectives can fail us. If Mr. McCollum would have taken this approach, I would never have received my diploma. I'm glad he was like Joseph and knew that life is a marathon and not a race. Those who stumble at the starting blocks need someone to give them a hand. They need a Joseph, a Mr. McCollum, or perhaps a person like you.

No Deposit. No Return

2012-01-02T19:50:00.000-08:00

Things get kind of trashy around my house on Wednesday evenings. Thursday is the day my trash is picked up, so I get it ready on Wednesday night. The trashy trash goes in a black bag and the trash that can be recycled goes in a clear bag.

One evening as I was separating my trash, I thought about how I practiced recycling at the ball diamonds when I was a kid. Between games we would search for pop bottles and turn them in at the concession stand for a deposit.

A few years later, bottles begin to be stamped with the words: No deposit. No return. There is a valuable lesson in those words. If we are not willing to make a deposit or put forth some effort, we will not acheive our goals.

Well-known pollster George Gallup Jr. warned about a lack of dedication: We revere theBible, but don't read it. We believe the Ten Commandments to bevalid rules for living, although we can't name them. We believe in God, butthis God is a totally affirming one, not a demanding one. He does not commandour total allegiance. We have other gods before him. Gallup believed that most Christians want the fruits of religion, but not the obligations.

Far too many times we are like Groucho Marx, who said: Those are my principles, and if you don't like them . . . well, I have others.

Instead of choosing to go with the flow and the flavor of the day, we need to stand on principles. There is an old adage that says:

Methods are many, Principles are few.
Methods may change, but Principles never do.

We live in age that is known more for the ethical lapses like the Enron debacle and the sham investments of people like Bernie Madoff. What we need are people of principle. Thomas Jefferson said: In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.

Sadly though, we have too many people drifting with the current and sinking like a rock.

River Rats and Dog Fights

2012-01-02T03:48:00.000-08:00

It's common knowledge that water is an essential for life, but good old H2O is also a medium that can provide a great deal of pleasure. The love of water is in my DNA. Some of my earliest memories of my dad are water memories. These times of fishing the ponds of the Flint Hills and setting lines on the Arkansas River made river rats out of the Seymour boys.

On one of these trips the river was running high and Dad was wading the river to set limb lines. I was trying to follow in his steps, but I missed one and in the blink of an eye the current was carrying me down river. As I fought against the current, I yelled to Dad for help.

It's been said that, its not size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog that matters. Dad knew the dog he had drifting down the river wasn't much more than a pup, so he did what he could--He brought out the fight in the dog.

By now I was far beyond the reach of Dad's strong arm and the firm grip of his hand, but I could still hear his voice calling out to me: Swim to the bank, you can do it son. Take an angle against the current, you can do it.

Years later when I was floating a river and got caught in the undertow of a low water dam, I could hear the words of Dad once again: You can do it son, swim to the bank.

Mark Twain knew the value of people who will tell us that we can do it. He once said : Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

Take a little time today to create a big moment in the life of another. Tell them you believe in them and they can do it.

Ben Franklin's 13 Virtues

2012-01-01T03:49:00.000-08:00

2012 has arrived, and I'm certain its arrival has been celebrated with parties; announced with fireworks; seen in New York's dropping ball; and, it has been sworn-in with new resolutions.

Some people make their resolutions only after much thought, while others are made flippantly. As you read the list below, it is obvious that Ben Franklin's 13 virtues (resolutions) are items of substance.

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation.

2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.

6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Since I can offer little to improve on the wit and wisdom of Ben Franklin, I'll close with this: Happy New Year, and I wish the best for you in the days ahead.

Gaga Gags Me

2011-12-31T03:27:00.000-08:00

It was about a month after the start of the New Year in 1964 that the Beatles made their first live TV performance on the Ed Sullivan Show (See the video here). I was 1 of the 73 million people who sat in front of the TV to see what would become a watershed moment within the music industry. In stark contrast to Gaga, who seems to be a Lady only in name, there was nothing vulgar about the Beatles performance on the night of February 9, 1964. There is no way I could have sung the lyrics to a Gaga song when I was a kid. I mean, the Christmas release of one of her songs was filled with the F bomb, and language like that got me sent to the bathroom so often, I could tell you what brand of soap was in my mouth just by the taste of it.

Eight years before the Beatles made their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, 60 million people gathered in the comfort of their living rooms to watch Elvis Presley (See the video here). There was a whole lot of shaking going on that evening, but it was nothing compared to what gags me about Gaga.

In the 55 or so years from the Ed Sullivan to now, what has happened to our sense of decency? I'm not suggesting that Elvis or the Beatles were ever a beacon of morality, but we have digressed since their first performances. What's the diference? Some would say it is the laws of our nation.

I don't believe the answer can be found in the formation of new laws, but in the forgotten customs and traditions that need to be remembered. It was President John Adams who said: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Adams, Franklin and others seemed to believe there is a connection to the principles of the Ten Commandments and the path a nation follows. It is a path that our rights without responsibilities culture wants to avoid. Because today’s society is deaf to the constraints of Thou shalt not, behavior is unrestrained.

When Solomon encouraged his people to keep the "ancient landmarks" intact, I believe he was speaking about their customs and traditions as well physical structures. Customs and traditions are landmarks that help to regulate an individual and a nation much like a computer chip regulates the speed of a car--no chip means no limits.

A society that is void of customs and traditions is a society that lacks civility. You may call me an old fuddy duddy, but Lady Gaga gags me.

Don King and the Church of the Nativity

2011-12-30T03:14:00.000-08:00

What do Don King and the Church of the Nativity have in common? King has promoted some of the biggest fights in the history of professional boxing, and the Church of the Nativity has become the site of some recent sparring.

The Church of the Nativity is built over the traditional site of Jesus’ birth in the city of Bethlehem. Because of its location, three Christian denominations consider it to be holy ground. Long simmering tensions between the Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Armenian clergy led to unholy war on Wednesday of this week.

Each group is responsible for cleaning a specific area of the church, and two of the three groups were cleaning in preparation for January 6 celebrations—the day they believe Jesus was born. To clean a part of the church is to lay claim to that part of the structure.

Well, a border war broke out when the Armenians and theGreeks focused on dirt that was beyond their boundaries. Disputes such as this have left the roof in disrepair and the leaky roof has led to the ruin of valuable pieces of art.

Relationships are strained and border wars erupt when a person violates the rights of another. Why is it that we want to focus on the dirt in the life of another and not address the scum within our own? Do we think that shining the light on the misdeeds of others is the best was to keep ours hidden in the shadows?

Perhaps the caretakers of the manger’s scene should give some thought to the manger’s Savior. Jesus said: Instead of focusing on the toothpick in your brother’s eye, you should take a look at the 2X4 in your own eye.

Aesop's Fables

2011-12-29T03:33:00.000-08:00

Many of my Summer days were spent at El Dorado Lake fishing or at Bluestem Lake water skiing. There were those days, however, when Mother Nature did not cooperate, and I was forced to spend the day inside.

On those long dreary days, card games were played, and even Rock, Paper, Scissors was used to occupy my time. On one particularly boring day, my creative geniuse gave birth to a new game: Pants, Fist, Cement. Even though it was a game of my making, I only played it once.

To play Pants, Fist, Cement, the participant needs just a few things:

Big feet
A less than slim body
A pair of super slim jeans
A cement wall

The game starts when a less-than-slim-bodied kid with bigger-than-average-feet endeavors to stick his feet through the small leg hole of the super slim jeans. When the big feet will not go through the small hole, the brilliant teenager hops madly to a basement wall. When the frustrated and now deranged kid arrives at the wall, he slams his fist against the cement.

There you have it: Pants, Fist, Cement. The lesson learned was as good as any that you can find in the pages of Aesop's Fables: Hardened cement wall trumps fist and super slim jeans put the squeeze on big feet. In retrospect, it would have been better to break a fashion trend instead of my hand.

Solomon was right: A quick tempered man acts foolishly.

Marino Was--Brees Is

2011-12-28T01:56:00.000-08:00

Dan Marino has been a household name to sports fans for manyyears. His accomplishments on the fieldas the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins were legendary. He has had the distinction for the past 27 yearsof holding the NFL record for passing yardage—5,084 yards in a single season.

On Monday Night Football this week, Marino’s historic record was surpassed. By the end of the game, New Orleans Saints quarterbackDrew Brees had reserved his spot in the Hall of Fame with his 307 yardperformance which brought his season high total to 5,087 yards.

When Brees threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to former KansasState standout Darren Sproles, it helped to underscore another record: Brees is the first NFL quarterback to havetwo 5,000 plus yard seasons.

In thinking about the record that was Marino’s andthe one that is now in the possession of Brees, I realized how often was-words are appearingin my vocabulary.

In a coffee-shop-discussion earlier in the week, I hadrecollected about something I had done when a teenager and made a remarkabout a friend who was a good athlete in high school. If a person is not careful, his life canmorph into a series of has-been-moments robbing him of a productive life ofvital "is" endeavors.

If a person’s main focus is on the has-been-segments of hislife, he is bound to stumble through the present and trip into the future. This was the case with Moses and his oftenunhappy tribe.

After Moses had led them out of slave-like labor to theEgyptians and took them to the threshold of the Promised Land, they rebelledand turned back. Only two people wantedto move forward—Joshua and Caleb.

The faith of Caleb never wavered, and he remained steadfastfor another 40 years of wandering through the desert. When he returned to the edge of the PromisedLand with a new and younger generation following him, he made one request: Give me this mountain.

Instead of wasting his life complaining about what hadhappened 40 years earlier and focusing on his many trials,Caleb was always looking forward to the next goal in life. His dedication to the present and hispreparation for the future had him ready to conquer giants.

People like Drew Brees and Caleb, are people of faith and dedication,and they provide us a worthy example to follow.

A Birthday Tribute

2011-12-27T03:27:00.000-08:00

Dateline 21 August,1944: Second Lieutenant Robert L.Saferite.... shot down over France....captured by enemy forces....

After completing 38 missions and 100 combat hours flying a P 47, Pop was shot down, captured,and force marched to Germany. On the wayto the German POW camp known as Stalagluf #1 his feet froze. He spoke very little of the hardships heendured as a POW. On May 1, 1945, he andfellow POWs were liberated by the Russians.

Although he died on December 13, 2009, today is Pop’sbirthday. Had he lived, he would be 90today. The picture at the bottom of the pagewas taken on Pop’s 80^th birthday. The members of S Troop (the blended Saferite and Seymour clan) pooledtheir money and bought Pop some flight time in a T-6 Texan. Pop never lost his touch as a pilot. He took the controls of this plane and did afew loops and rolls.

After the death of my dad (Eddie Seymour) in 1965, Mommarried Bob Saferite (Pop). He was myfather figure for over 40 years—I could not have asked for a better step-dad.

From my dad, I learned: Any job worth doing is worth doing right. From Pop I learned: A man is only as good as his word.

As I think about Pop today, I do so with a great deal of love and gratitude, and I say: I can still feel the touch of thepilot who has guided me for the larger portion of my life. I give honor to his memory today.

Happy Birthday Pop!

Odds Are

2011-12-26T07:02:00.000-08:00

Chances are there will be an increase in traffic due to the casino opening near Mulvane. To handle this problem, Troop G will hire four more troopers to work the turnpike in this area.

I think it is a sure bet that there will be more real losers than jackpot winners at the new casino. Truth is, the odds are not stacked in favor of those who choose to role the dice. Let me share the odds of a few other things with you.

The odds of:
1. Actually dying from a natural disaster are 1 in 3,357
2. Being killed by lightning: 2,320,000 to 1
3. Bowling a perfect 300 game: 11,500 to 1
4. A fan catching a ball at a major league ballgame: 563 to 1
5. Hitting it big on a slot machine 1 in262,144.
6. Being dealt a Royal Flush in 5 cards is 1 in49,739
7. Picking thefive correct white balls in Powerball out of 55 as well as the correct red ball out of 42 towin the grand prize are 1 in 146,107,962

Scripture gives us a sobering statistic with staggering odds: People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Odds are, these are chances we might want to consider.

Tebowing

2011-12-25T03:20:00.001-08:00

Towards the end of each year, a list is published that announces new words that have been added to our vocabulary. According to the Global Language Monitor, Tebowing is now an officially recognized word.

Tebowing is defined as the act of taking a knee in prayer during an athletic contest. Whenever Tebow experiences success on the football field, this quarterback drops to a knee and gives thanks to God.

As the Denver Broncos field general, Tim Tebow has gained much notoriety. What our history starved citizens may not know is that he is not the first general to bend a knee to acknowledge God.

In the dead of night on December 25, 1776, George Washington led his rag tag army across the treacherous waters of the Delaware River. This surprise attack against the British allied forces at Trenton turned the tide of the Revolutionary War. Washington's prayer life is depicted in several historical paintings, and it is recorded in history.

On this Christmas Day, I encourage you to learn a lesson from a couple of well known generals: Bend your knee and give thanks for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Fill It Up

2011-12-24T02:07:00.001-08:00

As I wrote the title for this post, it occurred to me that the phrase, fill it up, might be a bit archaic. Due to the fact that the once prominent full service gas station has dwindled to a few in number, not many people pull up to a gas pump and say: Fill it up.

Getting filled-up was the daily goal of my family as we gathered around the dinner table each evening. This was also a time of conversation between family members that would, at times, end with a curious conclusion.

One evening, word had reached Mom and Pop about an incident at school. I was identified as the perpetrator and the crime was hurting the feelings of some (probably dumb) girl. So the conversation developed around how you can hurt the feelings of another person and what should be done when you do.

My youngest brother, Jeff, was about seven at the time, and he proudly joined the discussion by saying, I have feelings too, see! He opened his mouth to display his dental work and pointed to the fillings in his teeth.

Over the years, I've come to believe that a person's feelings about self in particular and the world in general are closely connected to what fills that person's life. Issues such as this deal with the concept of reciprocity, and it can be understood in terms of guilt and entitlement.

Guilty people feel they have given too little or received too much. On the other end of the spectrum, entitled people feel they have given too much or received too little. The thinking of these people is skewed when it comes to their obligations to others and the obligations of others to them.

Because the life of the guilty and the entitled are filled with misconceptions, their feelings are little more than deceptions. With this in mind, let me share an old adage of mine: You may not be what you think you are, but what you think, you are.

So, when it comes to life, we need to fill it up with the right things. To accomplish this, a person can take a mental step in the right direction by thinking on the right things.

Feeling A Little Scroogie?

2011-12-23T03:38:00.000-08:00

How have the holidays been going for you this year? Have you been the dispenser of gratitude orgriping? Truth is, some people wouldrather choke to-death than sing Joy To The World. And, by golly, there is no way in the worldthey will allow themselves to have a HollyJolly Christmas.

Think I’m mistaken? Think again. According to arecent Consumer Reports telephone survey of 1,013 people:

· 68 % of people hate the crowds and long linesduring the holidays

· 37% could do without the weight gain and gettinginto debt

· 28% said gift shopping made them feel likeScrooge

· 25% of people said traveling, seeing certainrelatives and seasonal music were all things they dreaded

· 15 % of people told Consumer Reports thatbeing nice was a holiday downer

If you identify with all the findings of this survey, I have a NewYear’s resolution for you. Repeat afterme: I will not be a Scrooge in 2012.

As we get closer to the new year, we can benefit from the words of the apostle Paul—forget the past and move forward.

The Words We Use

2011-12-22T03:21:00.000-08:00

When Jennifer was about to graduate from high school, I took her to Pittsburg, Kansas to check out the college. As the graduate assistant took us on a tour of the campus, she pointed to a building and said: This is the building that houses our astrology department. I suggested that she ask her supervisor about her choice of words and said it was most likely the astronomy department. She remarked: Oh, is there a difference?

Words that sound the same and look a bit similar, often have totally different meanings. Think about cosemtologist and cosmology. It can be said that both words deal with some aspect of beauty. Both words have cosmos (an orderly or harmonious system) as a prefix. Cosmetologist comes from a Greek word that means skilled in adornment. Cosmology is a discipline of philosophy that focuses on the origin and general structure of the universe.

People use different words to express truth as they understand it. When it comes to cosmology, the aborgine in the picture below will express his view of the world system in a different manner than would a scientist or a theologian.

Matt Slick explains the cosmological argument:

Things exist.
It is possible for those things to not exist.
Whatever has the possibility of non existence, yet exists, has been caused to exist.
1. Something cannot bring itself into existence, since it must exist to bring itself into existence, which is illogical.
There cannot be an infinite number of causes to bring something into existence.
1. An infinite regression of causes ultimately has no initial cause, which means there is no cause of existence.
2. Since the universe exists, it must have a cause.
Therefore, there must be an uncaused cause of all things.
The uncaused cause must be God.

Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274) had a version of the Cosmological Argument called the Argument from Motion. He stated that things in motion could not have brought themselves into motion but must be caused to move. There cannot be an infinite regression of movers. Therefore, there must be an Unmoved Mover. This Unmoved Mover is God.

By the way, alot of time has passed since Jennifer was a high school senior.

When the Infinite Became an Infant

2011-12-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

I went to SAMS today, and the noise of the hustling and bustling shoppers was almost deafening. People were elbowing their way to the front of the samples booth where tasty strips of ham were being distributed and bite-size pieces of cheesecake were dished-out.

Most everyone in the store, including me, was on a mission. Last minute purchases to fill a Christmas wish were the orders of the day for many. For me, it was to get one of the taste-bud-tickling hams that were spiral cut and honey baked. Yum!

The significance of these seasonal affairs will be lost, if the shopper's sole focus is on the lastest fashion import instead of the heavenly export. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this hundreds of years before the Messiah was ever born: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given . . . This prophecy foretold that day when the Infinite would become an infant.

The apostle John could look back at the birth of Jesus with a God-inspired historical perspective and say, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us . . .

After the gifts have all been opened, the Christmas music packed away, and the visiting family members have returned home, what remains? It is the hope of Christmas that remains. The knowledge that God has lived among us will encourage us in our darkest hours and strengthen us in our weakest moments.

Merry Christmas!