Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Always Be Prepared




  A while back during a rainstorm I was traveling on the roadway behind other vehicles. Like I always do, I gave myself plenty of distance between myself and the van that was ahead of me. All of a sudden the van’s brake lights came on and it was obvious it was an emergency braking occurring as it began a little fishtail action. I began braking and due to the rain and the speed, the anti-braking system was not producing the braking needed to avoid a collision with the van.
  During my time as a law enforcement officer I completed a number of emergency driving courses. Preparedness and Reaction. Preparedness and Reaction. These are words that were always embedded in your mind in any emergency driving courses, whether it was a basic emergency vehicle driving course or pursuit driving course. You were taught to always maintain a level of preparedness for the “what-if”.  Thinking beyond the “now” and into the possibility of the “next”, and always remember to breathe.
  For example: I see a car backing out of the driveway a distance ahead of me. Instead of thinking that the driver sees me and will wait until I go past before backing onto the road, I start thinking that the driver doesn’t see me and will back onto the road right in front of me. How will I react? I’ll slow down, look in my rearview and side mirrors to make sure my path is clear and ease in the clearest direction and if time permits I will blow my horn, and always breathe. Or, if the path is not clear and an accident is inevitable, what is the route of the least possibility of serious injury and damage, whether or not to head for the ditch or run into the vehicle, which is sometimes the best and safest course of action.
  I avoided the collision with the van by lifting my foot off the brake and reapplying and easing to the right knowing I would not stop in time. I came to a stop a few inches past the bumper with just enough room between the van and the ditch to avoid an accident. Thankfully the car ahead of the van who decided to turn into a driveway without giving a turn signal was not struck either.
  We can’t always be prepared, but we can try. None of us were prepared for the pandemic. We were caught totally off guard. It took us a little while, but we settled down and we took a breath, we regrouped, we adapted, and we started moving forward the best way we could. We haven’t been prepared for all the other events that have divided our country and our world, but we stopped and breathed, and we’re moving forward. When we realize there is nothing else that we can do about a particular situation we find ourselves in, then we breathe and we pray.

  The Bible references preparedness many times. Be reminded that it also tells us to prepare our minds. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (NIV). The devil is real and he prowls around in search of ways to attack us, to weigh us down and devour us. Be prepared through scripture, worship, and prayer. Through your preparedness you will be able to react and avoid the devil’s attack from whatever direction it may come.

Sunday, September 2, 2018

We Never Know

  I'm watching an episode of Anthony Bourdain - Parts Unknown. It's a episode I haven't seen before, where he's in West Virginia. His time with the coal miners was real touching. I really enjoyed watching his show, listening to him speak. To me, it was really as if you were there with him experiencing what he experienced minus the taste of the food or the odors in the air. 
  There are times, and sadly only when they are no longer amongst the living, that we realize that we have a friend who we never met and never would have, but yet they made an impact on us in one way or another. Maybe that's the lesson for each of us: remember that no matter who we are, what we do, where we are, that we have an impact on someone. Let's make it a good one that will bless them.

Friday, June 30, 2017

Something Lost

  I love watching, and listening, to Mayim Bialik's vlog (I believe that's the correct term). I get a lot out of most of them, some not so much because I think simply I'm not a woman. She is so smart and also funny. She covers many topics from personal to professional. The one I am sharing with you today I believe will touch the hearts of many. Take a little time to yourself, find a quiet place, a private place, and watch. Maybe you will find a little of yourself that you have lost.
  I encourage you to go to Bialik's social media sites to follow her vloggings Blessings to you.

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPA11Y7uPTU&t=17s

Friday, June 23, 2017

Thank God in the Rain

I don't know about you but I'm ready for some dry days. I love this time of the year, the warm weather, the opportunity to do more outdoor recreational activities. All these rainy days has sort of taken the fun out of that and often too many cloudy days can take your smile away.
But when the clouds finally part and the sun shines bright it easy to remember that rain is one of the precious gifts of life.

"Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain? Or can the heavens grant showers? Is it not You, O LORD our God? Therefore we hope in You, For You are the one who has done all these things." - Jeremiah 14:22

When the day doesn't seem to be going your way, the pressure is heavy on you, worries are working overtime on your thoughts, remember that God will bring the sunshine, and that the rainy days are a part of the gift of life. It helps to make us stronger, better able to remain standing when the ground becomes soggy again because our roots have grown and strengthen. Thank God in the rain. - Bobbyology

Saturday, April 8, 2017

What Are You Waving Today?

I thought that I would share the opening words of my sermon manuscript for Palm Sunday 2017. I wish I would think more often of the opportunities I have to add to my blog. So many opportunities slips past our eyes. Hard to get them back. Oh well, may you be blessed by this opportunity I have grabbed:
   Today is Palm Sunday, the Sunday we celebrate the entry of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem as he is finishing his journey to the cross. Sounds strange doesn’t it, that we would celebrate an occasion that we know will lead to death. But we who are Christians are not so much celebrating in the journey that led to death, but the journey that leads to life because of the defeat of death by Jesus.
    Today also mark the beginning of the Passion Week, or Holy Week. As Lent draws to a close, we turn our thoughts to Jesus’ final days before his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
    Today is also known as Passion Sunday. So in different services throughout the world today, many will hear of two different readings; one being the scriptures detailing Jesus entering into the city, and for others they will hear the telling of the arrest, trial, torture, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. What would be your choice today if you had a choice on what I prepare to read? Would you be in a celebratory mood today and want to cheer with the crowd “Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!”, or more of the mobbing mood and join the chorus of “Crucify him! Crucify him! Crucify him!”. Choices, choices, choices! Why so many choices? The agony of having to chose.
    But yet, that is exactly what we have to do. We have a choice to make, today, in life. Now or later, the choice is yours.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

A Little Dolly Told Me

I've always loved Dolly Parton. Her songs touches the heart and stirs up so many memories of our own lives. She also can preach through her songs. I borrowed this video from a post on Facebook so I sure hope you can see it.

Dang Butterflies




Some have heard me preach using the theoretical physics "Chaos Theory". Chaos Theory is the theory basically of one event or action results in consequences totally a way and separate from the original action or event. An illustration example would be the "Butterfly Effect". In the Butterfly Effect, a butterfly flutters its wings in China causing a disturbance in the atmosphere around it which continues causing a disturbance as it spreads, eventually causing a tornado to touch down in North Carolina which causes massive destruction. I've always loved butterflies and thought they were some of the prettiest of creatures, but if I could find that butterfly from China today I would probably rip its wings off. I have a feeling that others have felt this way in moments of their lives also. Thankful just the same.