by: Denny

Everyone has a junk drawer. It’s where things get placed because you don’t know where else to put them. On the contrary, it isn’t because they don’t have a place, but you don’t want to take the time to put them there. Often it isn’t the big items but rather the little things that end up in the junk drawer. Most things in a junk drawer get forgotten about and may be there for years. Of course, our intentions are to sort everything out someday, which rarely happens until the drawer doesn’t hold anymore stuff. Our junk drawer is a small drawer in the kitchen. Recently I’ve been painting the cabinet doors and drawer fronts. In order to save time, I emptied the contents of the junk drawer into a box and took it out to the garage and placed it on my work bench. Alas, after about a week of working around it, I decided to sort it out. I was amazed at the stuff I found. There was a lot of loose change which I pocketed. With most of the stuff I wondered why it got saved in the first place and quickly threw it in the nearby trash can. There were nuts, bolts, screws, nails, wire connectors, etc., etc. which belonged in the garage, so I threw them in the garage junk drawer. In theory, I’ll sort that drawer out some other day. Eventually I got to the bottom of the box and found a whole bunch of keys. There were keys of all sizes. Some were single and others were together on a ring or fob. They obviously all went to a lock of some kind, but I didn’t have a clue. I hadn’t been particularly looking for any of them, but at one time they must have been important for me to have saved them.

Have you ever stopped to think about how much we depend on something as small as a key? They allow us to lock up valuable possessions; to lock, unlock and drive our cars. They give us access to a whole lot of places, and that once in our possession the tool and authority to enter at will. On the other hand, thieves don’t use keys. They break and destroy whatever stands in their way to gaining access and taking what they want. I think keys are one of the most common things that people lose or misplace. Along with a billfold or purse and cell phone, they are one of the top three things we take everywhere. Nowadays we live in a digital world where doors can be opened by a keypad. I can even open my garage door from anywhere with the app on my cell phone. In fact, in some stores I can pay for things using my cell phone.

In Matthew 16, Peter has been given the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus tells Peter that upon that fact and foundation He will build His Church. Vs 18: “and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Notice that Jesus said keys not just key. There are many keys that give believers access to the benefits each one opens. The first and main key however, is the salvation that Jesus Christ accomplished for us when He shed His blood and gave Himself on the cross as the payment for sin. This key opens the main door of Heaven. Jesus said He was the door by which everyone must enter to gain access and have fellowship with God. The Church was born on the day of Pentecost as those who were believers were gathered in the upper room and filled with the Holy Spirit. When that happened, many more keys were distributed to them as stated in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Obviously, these aren’t literal keys, but are spiritual. They are giftings, callings, principles and precepts by which the Kingdom of God operates. Faith, prayer, worship, love, mercy, grace, forgiving, tithing, and others too numerous to mention are the keys that unlock the blessings of God to those who believe and practice them. Along with these keys comes the promise of God that He will perform His word and back us up when we use them. Sadly, many of the keys of the kingdom have been placed in a junk drawer, as it were, and have been forgotten. They lay dormant and buried under all kinds of powerless mundane stuff which clutters our lives.

In Luke 14 Jesus tells the parable of a king who prepared a great feast and sent his servants out to invite specific guests. Those invited made all kinds of lame excuses why they were too busy with other things and refused to attend. In other words, they put the key in the junk drawer, and it settled to the bottom. Friends, God is still extending a personal invitation today for you to come to the feast He has prepared. All He wants or requires is an R.S.V.P. saying, “Yes, I’m coming.” To say yes is to accept Christ as your savior from your sin condition, thereby being given the main key to Heaven’s door which opens all that God has for you. God the Father is patient and He is continually inviting over and over, but don’t be like the foolish ones in the parable who were preoccupied with temporal things to the extent they rejected the invitation to dine with the king. They didn’t get a second one, and you never know if the one He is giving you now will be your last. Maybe it’s time you sorted out your junk drawer and discovered the keys on the bottom.

by: Denny Hook

Grandkids are precious! I love it when they give you a picture they’ve drawn and colored by themselves. Have you ever noticed how they draw people as big as houses, trees, cars and other surroundings? To look at it one could say that it is out of proportion, but that’s how they see things in their minds. We have a one year “Peanuts” flip calendar on our table. It’s fun to start the day with a little humor and a chuckle, but I’ve noticed how exaggerated the character’s heads are in relationship to their bodies. It also seems out of proportion to me, but that’s part of the comedy. Abstract art or pictures don’t really appeal to me, because I feel like there is some deep hidden meaning which I’m obviously not intellectually in tune with. I’m the type of person that when I walk into a room, others will comment on the picture, but I’ll first notice it is ¼ inch off level from hanging straight. I know, it’s a gift and I can’t help it.

“What’s wrong with this picture?” is a slang phrase often used in situations where things don’t make sense. For instance, during this whole virus pandemic shutdown the big stores like Walmart and Target were permitted to remain open and sell pretty much everything. Meanwhile, the little businesses were forced to close. I bought a couple pair of shoes at Walmart. When I got home, I discovered they hadn’t removed the anti-theft devices, but my bolt cutters took care of that. One pair didn’t fit quite right even though they were my size. I wanted to return them, but they said they weren’t accepting returns due to the COVID virus. What’s wrong with this picture? In my mind if they can sell it, I should be able to return it. If they are worried about people spreading the virus through returned items, then what’s the difference if customers are handling stuff and putting it back on the shelf without buying them. In the back of my mind a part of me wonders if all these mandates, shutdowns and social distancing is a conspiracy by officials to see how willing people are to be controlled and give up their freedoms when asked. On the other hand, it may only be the funny looking mushrooms on the pizza I ate for supper causing me to hallucinate.

More recently a white cop killed a black man in Minneapolis, which started a nationwide rampage of lawless burnings and lootings of stores. They claimed they wanted justice, but it seemed more like revenge. What’s wrong with this picture when innocent business owners lose their livelihoods and neighborhoods are terrorized. We are a nation founded on Biblical values and the rule of law. What’s wrong with this picture when liberal minded mayors want to eliminate those whose responsibility is to enforce the law, all because of the actions of one bad cop. I remember how President Clinton added 100,000 new police nationwide, and the government supplemented the funding. These same liberals were falling all over themselves to praise him for it. I wonder why the change. What’s wrong with this picture when mobs cordon off six square blocks of Seattle unchallenged, or tear down statues and monuments. They say they are fighting against racism, so to them the means justifies the end, whatever that is. Some are claiming that the game of Chess is racist, because the white pieces get to move first. Next they’ll call the automakers racists if they make more white cars than black ones. These people have lost their minds and their anger has driven them insane. On the other hand, maybe they are only deceived puppets as stated in 2 Timothy 2:26 – “that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will”. The devil’s agenda is to steal, to kill, and to destroy as stated by Jesus in John 10:10. He will use anybody and any means to accomplish it. The chaos and near anarchy we’ve witnessed lately sure seems to fit that mold.

What’s wrong with this picture when the news media has become the water boy for a political party in their attempt to destroy a duly elected sitting president. I have never seen in my lifetime such a hate-filled obsession, simply because they lost an election which rejected their socialistic Marxist ideology. I could elaborate more, but there is too much wrong with that picture and I fear it is beyond repair. It’s ugly and simply needs to be thrown in the trash. They would all do well to listen to an old Merle Haggard song called, “The Fightin’ Side of Me”, because it expresses the sentiments of more people in this country than they realize or care to admit. My blogs aren’t necessarily meant to be political, but sometimes it’s hard to just sit back and ignore the obvious and say nothing.

Finally, what’s wrong with this picture when many who profess to be Christians aren’t seeing the big picture. They have believed the rhetoric and have not tested the spirits as stated in 1 John 4:1. Have emotions caused the Church to lose its way in fighting spiritual battles by carnal means? Has it so compromised itself that it can no longer discern right from wrong, truth from lies, and good from evil? Has being politically correct taken precedence over preaching the Gospel? Has the Word of God ceased to be the “level” by which we align our beliefs, actions, and the words we speak? If so, then sadly many people are out of proportion and a whole bubble off. I believe we are living in times like that of the prophet Elijah. In 1 Kings 18:21 he stood before the children of Isreal and spoke these words; “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.” It’s time for those who claim to be followers of Christ to lay aside their petty political correctness and personal agendas, and be the salt and light in a world which so desperately needs the message of hope found in Jesus. If we are to “Discover Jesus in Everyday Life”, then we need to invite Him into our own first and foremost. We’ve all seen the picture of Jesus standing at a door and knocking. As beautiful as it looks there is something wrong yet so right with that picture; there is no door knob. That’s because it’s on the other side where you are, and only you can open it.

by Denny Hook

I remember recess in grade school. We used to play games like four square, tether ball, dodge ball, hop-scotch, marbles, touch football, jump rope and red rover. In winter we would have snowball fights or build forts. Usually the boys and girls would play separately, but not always. Most often, when it came to games with teams, boys would be the captains in charge of choosing sides. Girls were chosen last, unless they were quite athletic. Now if a boy picked a girl first, he would get teased that they were “in love”. I guess teasing is a natural playground thing that comes as kids establish the “pecking order”. However, sometimes it would get out of hand with somebody not letting up, and first thing you know there would be a fight. It usually ended with the teacher breaking it up; otherwise it continued until the teaser was pinned to the ground in an inescapable wrestling hold. The dialog would go something like this: Bob, “Let me go!” Tom, “Not until you take back what you said.” Bob (trying to get free), “Okay.” Tom (tightening the hold), “Say it, cry Uncle!” Bob, “Okay, Uncle, Uncle!” Now I don’t know where “Crying Uncle” came from, but it meant, “I surrender and won’t say or do that again.” Sometimes the one who cried Uncle would get up and run away while shouting, “I didn’t really mean it. I only said Uncle, so you’d let me go!” That tactic usually only worked once. If he continued to shoot off his mouth with teasing, you could be sure he would face further consequences off school property. He would learn the lesson in a painful way that “Crying Uncle” would do him no good, if he wasn’t serious about changing his ways and truly sorry.

I can remember several events in history that sent this nation into fear and panic. I was about ten when President Kennedy dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis. The threat of nuclear war was very real. People were buying bomb shelters and stockpiling food and supplies. Fortunately, it was resolved without war. There have been natural disasters like earthquakes in California, eruption of Mt. St. Helen in Oregon, hurricanes that devastated states on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, tornadoes by the hundreds have shredded the Midwest. There have been floods, droughts, and major fires. We’ve all grieved over the senseless shootings and bombings in our schools, campuses, malls and events. Over 3,000 lives were lost when terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon on 911. We all wondered what their next target would be, as people were fearful to move about normally. Now here we are in 2020 dealing with a pandemic unrivaled in modern times. There isn’t anyone who hasn’t been affected in some way. The latest report as of this writing is 100,000 lives lost in the United States due to the Covid-19 virus. It seems like fear has a choke hold on the nation. People have suffered financially and mentally due to the shutting down of businesses, schools, churches and just about anywhere people gather or go about their daily routines. As in the past, I wonder if  when all this is behind us, that life will become business as usual for most people as they accept a new normal.

It’s times like these that cause people to question if there is a loving God, and why He allows them to happen. Recently, a so-called liberal celebrity said, “God is thinning out the population, because there are too many people and we are destroying the earth.” Well, it seems to me that the pro-abortion crowd along with Planned Parenthood have been doing a good job of that without God’s help or approval for nearly 50 years. That alone would justify God wiping us off the map for the intentional murders of some 62 million babies in the U.S., if that was His intention. It is the height of ignorance and arrogance to presume that God puts greater value in the earth compared to human life made in His image. We as a nation should be thanking Him for His mercy and grace, and for withholding His judgment against these and other atrocities. People make wrong assumptions about God and why He allows or sends suffering, sickness, Covid-19, or whatever situation they think He could prevent or stop.  I don’t pretend to know the mind of God and why He chooses to do some things and not others. However, I do believe the Bible gives us solid clarity of His perspective and purpose.

In John chapter 3, Jesus has a conversation in verses 1-21 with Nicodemus, a religious leader. It is quite clear that God’s will is to give eternal life to anyone who believes and turns from sin.  In Luke chapter 13, some guys came to Jesus seeking some answers. They tell about how Pilot had killed some Galileans and mixed their blood with pagan sacrifices. Also, how there were 18 men who were building a tower and it fell and killed them all. Tragedies indeed, but these guys presumed that these events happened to these particular people because they were bad sinners, and worse than others. Jesus corrects them by saying, “No, but unless you guys repent, you will all likewise perish”. He isn’t implying they would die in the same manner. Jesus doesn’t point a wagging finger in condemnation, but simply states a fact that without repentance they would die in their sins and face an eternity in Hell.  Ouch! That wasn’t a popular thing to say back then anymore than it is today. Many churches today only present a message of love and acceptance without repentance. They tolerate every imaginable sin in their midst from the pew to the pulpit, so as not to offend anyone. It’s a one-sided lukewarm watered-down ineffective gospel. Yes, it was out of love that God sent His son Jesus, but the message He brought was one of repentance, forgiveness, hope and fellowship with God to those who would repent. It’s only then that anyone can realize and experience the fullness of God’s love. Romans 2:4 says it’s the goodness of God that leads you to repentance. His goodness isn’t giving us everything we desire and ask for, on the contrary, it’s not giving us what we deserve. 2 Peter 3:9 talks about God’s long-suffering toward us that any should perish, but all come to repentance.

Could it be that God allows events to happen in our lives to get our attention, because He does love us? Yet, many shake their fists at Him in anger and blame when hardships come. Perhaps He is just waiting for people to “Cry Uncle” so to speak and give up by surrendering their lives to Him. Some may “Cry Uncle” insincerely for a moment, but they remain unchanged and return to the same old way of living. We want revival, which is a good thing, but it begins with individuals repenting and turning to God with a sincere heart. Many have quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14, but I would like to include verse 13 as I end this writing.

“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

                                                                            by Denny Hook

Tuesday was a perfect day to be outside. It was in the mid 70’s with full sunshine. I think people are tired of being cooped up inside and were antsy to move about. I didn’t know there were so many dogs in our neighborhood, and it seemed like everyone was walking theirs at the same time. I’m thinking that normally people would be at work, but because of the virus, they now have time to take walks. There were kids walking, skateboarding, riding bikes and playing in their yards. Even teenagers were outside. I guess video games and TV gets boring after a while. It was not unusual to see entire families pushing a stroller and having other little ones walking along beside. There were a lot of cars moving about and you could hear the distant roar of a Harley or two. Lucy made the comment that maybe they’re just taking a drive to get some fresh air. We opened our windows to allow some fresh air inside our house. She asked me to get a lawn chair out of the shed so she could sit on the deck in the sun and read her Bible. I backed the car out of the garage and gave it a well deserved hand washing. When I finished, Lucy was sound asleep. I quietly woke her up and sat on the steps nearby. We talked a bit, and it was then that I noticed them. Looking at the flower bed in front of our living room window I exclaimed, “Hey honey, look, the flowers (daffodils) are almost in full bloom!”  She wasn’t really surprised as her answer was, “I know, they’ve been that way for a couple days.” It’s amazing the things you notice when you slow down and take the time to look around you.

There is so much attention and focus on the COVID-19 virus. It dominates the headlines constantly with positive cases and body counts. Whether it’s newspapers, radio, TV, online, Facebook, Twitter and mail; our basic conversations have switched from talking about the weather to the virus. Ventilators, masks, social distancing, testing, shelter at home, hand sanitizer, quarantine, flatten the curve are a few of the new buzz words. I’m tired of seeing that background image portraying the virus. You know, that round planet looking thing with protrusions everywhere. It reminds me of the Bumble Ball toy that was popular years ago. You turn it on, put it on the floor, and it bounces wildly hitting everything and creating chaos.

Wednesday was 20 degrees cooler than Tuesday, and there was no sunshine. It was raining and dreary, the kind of day that can get you down, and you feel like going back to bed and sleeping all day. I woke up and sat on the edge of the bed pondering what I would do to keep myself occupied. As soon as I stood up and my feet touched the floor, I heard that still small voice of the Holy Spirit saying, “Consider the Lilies.”  Instantly, I knew what that was in reference to. I made my morning coffee, sat down and opened my Bible to Matthew 6:28-34. (NKJ) (Jesus speaking) “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things, but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Our natural tendency when we face uncertainty is to worry. We want to know what’s next, and if we’ll have enough. Maybe it’s food and its availability, or money to buy it with and pay our bills. I don’t think many of us are lacking for clothes, but not having enough toilet paper has crossed our minds I’m sure. What if we get sick? What if I lose my job permanently? What if I lose my health insurance? What about my kids and school? All these and other “What ifs” can cause us to worry and fear. In all this Jesus is saying, “Don’t worry, trust me, seek God first, and your needs will be met.”

The root cause of worry is when we feel out of control of a situation and our inability to change it. Sometimes that can cause us to also get angry. Psalm 37:8 says, “Do not fret, it only causes harm.” I looked up the word “fret” in the dictionary. Its meaning involves anger, fraying, to gnaw at, irritated, to chafe away, to utter peevish expressions, vexation, to be disturbed and agitated. My interpretation is: A person who is coming apart at the seams. Given the current pandemic, that can be easy to do for a lot of people. Jesus still says, “Don’t worry.” Someone may say, “Easy for you to say Jesus, you don’t know what I’m going through.” Ah, but He does! He walked on this earth as God taking on the form of a man. He identified with people and experienced their sufferings in times far worse than these today. Our hardships can’t even compare to the agony and pain He experienced when dying on the cross, and He did that for us. He has compassion for the hurting and sick, the poor, the homeless, the lonely, the grieving, the hopeless, the worried, the fearful, and even the unbeliever and doubter. He’s waiting for you to call on Him to intervene in your life. He will take care of you just as He does the lilies. The expression, “Don’t worry, be happy”, is not in the Bible, but can truly be realized if you’re trusting in Jesus. If you want to learn how, keep scrolling through my previous posts and I’ll tell You.

                                                   by Denny Hook

I’ve never really had a hobby. Most of my spare time is spent doing projects around the house. Whether it’s remodeling, repairing or maintaining, I enjoy the challenge and satisfaction of “Doing it Myself”. I can do most repairs and maintenance on our cars that doesn’t require expensive high-tech tools. The one thing about projects is that they are usually short term. This can be frustrating if you never quite complete them before moving on to the next one. Your mind is never at rest until you go back and finish what you started. Before long, your free time can become controlled by the “have to do’s”.

A hobby, on the other hand, is something you “get to do”. It can be anything you enjoy doing that is relaxing and let’s you escape from the pressures of the “have to do’s”.  Last Fall Lucy mentioned that I should get a hobby. When my oldest son was about ten, we built a small train layout in our basement. It was fun while it lasted, but that was thirty years ago. I’ve always been fascinated by model trains, and Lucy suggested that I join the local model railroad club; so, I did. Things have really changed over the years, and I had a lot to learn about all the new technology. Like television, gone are the days of analog, because trains have become digital too. Locomotives now have micro processors called decoders by which you can program all kinds of options, especially if they are sound equipped. Now the track has constant AC power and the locomotive is controlled by a remote throttle. Several trains can run at the same time at different speeds and directions. Not that you would want to, but it’s possible to have two trains collide head on. I’ve had to learn all the new terminology and what it means. Things like: DCC, LED lighting and resistors, function buttons, programming CV’s, dynamic braking, momentum, horn signals, doppler effect, 28/128 speed steps, current keepers, short and long address, SPROG, speed matching and consists.

I bought my first locomotive back in November, and now have ten. I’m running the Great Northern Railroad line featuring diesel locomotives popular in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. I’m currently in the process of speed matching my locomotives so I can run them in a “consist”. A consist is multiple locomotives hooked together so you can pull a longer train. The trick is to get them speed matched so they all pull in unison in the same direction. If you don’t, one may be spinning the wheels while dragging or pushing the slower one. This can eventually damage a motor or gears. Speed matching is done by running each locomotive through a speedometer on the track which displays the speed digitally in scale miles per hour. You record each forward and reverse pass at various throttle positions, then adjust their decoder voltage on the separate SPROG computer programming track. It can take up to an hour per locomotive involving several tweaks, but you can get them almost perfectly matched within .5 mph.

As a child I remember reading the story book of “The Little Engine That Could”. It was about a small steam engine who had to pull a heavy load up and over a steep hill. He starts out slowly building up speed and saying, “I think I can, I think I can”. As he climbs the grade, he works harder and harder to pull the load. His speed drops to a crawl with his boiler about to burst. He’s wondering if he’ll make it to the top without spinning out and rolling back down the hill. He keeps saying over and over, “I think I can, I think I can”. The top is nearing and he’s almost there. At last he’s over the top, and as he rolls easily down the other side he’s saying, “I knew I could, I knew I could”.

Life is like the analogy of that little engine. We all start out thinking we can, but sometimes the load gets heavier and heavier and harder to pull. It’s like just when things seem to be going along okay, suddenly out of nowhere more cars are added to our train. We struggle to keep moving forward under the heavy load. Our “think I can” can turn into uncertainty, doubt or even despair. If Heaven is the top of the hill, so to speak, none of us can make it there by our own efforts and strength. The weight of our “sin train” pulls us backward. Good intentions, positive confessions and will power can never get us into Heaven. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest”. The rest Jesus wants to give us is spiritual and eternal. He just says, “Come and join in a consist with me, because I alone have the power and am the only way you’ll make it to the top.” When we invite Jesus into our lives to save us, it’s amazing how the heavy load we’ve been pulling is uncoupled and cut loose. However, there are still some things we need to uncouple ourselves. As it says in Hebrews 12:1; “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us.” For some it may be that unforgiveness you are holding onto which has made you bitter, or that habit you long to be free from. Galatians 5:19 gets more specific with the following short list of sins: “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries and the like”. I think you get the idea. We have a sin nature that needs to be dealt with, and Jesus did that when he died on the cross shedding His blood for us. When we give our lives to Jesus we are saying, “I can’t do this on my own, I need help. Jesus, I want to hook my life to you in a consist and let you be my Lord (lead locomotive). Many have referred to this as “The Great Exchange”, our sin for eternal life.

The COVID-19 virus has closed church buildings everywhere, and there won’t be any traditional Easter services this year. Nevertheless, that doesn’t change what Jesus did when He died on the cross and rose again. The invitation remains to simply accept Him as your savior. When you do, you can truly celebrate Easter with millions of like-minded believers all over the world wherever you are. This is “The Church”. Friend, these are trying times for us all. Many live with fear, anxiety, stress, loneliness, financial difficulties and isolation. You will need the peace, comfort and hope that the Holy Spirit wants to give you, and all you need to do is humble yourself and ask. Please won’t you call on Him today; don’t delay.

By Denny Hook

From 1988 to 1992, I was a Safety Director with Old Reliable Transportation. They were located in Albert Lea, MN, but have since gone out of business. They had 35 trucks and had 48 state authority pulling refers. I drove for them before they put me in that position. I had my own office with a name plate that said “Safety Director”. I was more of a monitor/record keeper, and a director in name only. I can’t tell you how many safety meetings I’ve attended during my 50 year driving career. Most of them consisted of a Safety Director reciting a list of do’s and don’ts. If you practiced them you might get an award and an “atta boy” pat on the back. Ignore them and the Safety Director would be breathing down your neck. I’m not saying those methods were wrong and didn’t have positive results, because it established the criteria to measure what a safe driver’s performance looks like. However, knowing the rules doesn’t make you a safe driver unless you consistently apply them. I disagree with the statement: “Safety is an Attitude”. That’s fine as long as you have a good attitude and it never changes. We all can attest to starting the day with a good attitude, and by the end of the day it’s completely “gone south”. Often we let our circumstances control our attitudes. If your attitude is subject to change so quickly, then it is safe to say that your job performance in all areas is affected, unless checked.

I’ve also heard the phrase “Make safety a priority”. However, your priorities can change just as quickly as your attitude. Priorities can be listed from most important to least important. We give special attention to higher priorities, and are willing to sacrifice things with a lower priority. I can start my day with a list of prioritized things to do either on paper or in my mind. It’s almost certain that during the course of the day something will happen that will alter my list. Suddenly, the priority at the top is replaced with a newer and higher priority. Now your focus shifts to the new priority and those below are subject to compromise.

Each one of us has a value system of things we deem important, and that value system determines who you are and what you believe. Values such as: integrity, respect, honesty, giving your best, faith, family, freedom, and so on. These are things we do not compromise! Even on your worst day when your attitude stinks, your values more than likely will remain unchanged. I believe that safety should be a part of every driver’s value system. If it was, our safety mindedness would become a way of life that isn’t “off duty” at the end of the day. Many of us “old timers” long for the “good ol’ days” of trucking. Yes, there have been great improvements in the trucking industry over the years, which I wouldn’t want to give up. However, there was a whole different atmosphere on the highway back then that is so lacking today. Why? I firmly believe it’s a result of a shift in values of our society. Attitudes and priorities are so messed up. We’ve become an “It’s all about me” culture and that negative value is manifested in the way people drive. Look it up, (Matthew 7:20) Jesus said, “You will know people by their actions and the fruit they produce”.

The question then, remains to be answered. Is your safety performance Attitude Oriented or Value Driven? Our attitudes are a frame of mind reflecting our emotions, but values come from your heart. Maybe if we all did a thorough pre-trip inspection of our heart values, we could be better and safer drivers.

Just saying,

By: Denny Hook

Recently I passed through the town that our family had lived and stopped at the cemetery where my parents are buried. It was hard to believe that my dad has been gone 29 years, and my mom died 8 ½ years ago. “It just seemed like yesterday”. I’m now 66, and I find myself saying and thinking that a lot as I look back on events in my life. Wasn’t it just yesterday that I first gripped the steering wheel of an 18-wheeler? No, that was nearly 50 years ago, and I haven’t let go yet. Wasn’t it yesterday when I met my precious wife? No, that was 26 years ago, and 25 years ago when our son was born. He is now married, and we have two grandkids, which all happened yesterday; I’m sure of it. Have we really lived in our home for 22 years? Is my favorite aunt alive at the age of 102? It seems like yesterday when in my early teens I spent my summers on their farm. Most importantly, it seems like yesterday that I surrendered my life to Christ and accepted Jesus as my savior, but that was over 35 years ago.

Why is it then that all these events that happened so long ago seem like only yesterday, but sometimes I can’t remember ordinary things past last week or last month. Don’t expect me to tell you what I ate for supper 2 days ago, what I wore to church on Sunday, everyone’s birthday and anniversary, and the license numbers on our cars. When I was younger, I didn’t think about these things, nor have the perspective on life that I do now. There appears to be a point in life we all come to when events that took place years ago seem like yesterday. I suppose one could attribute that to growing older, and I can’t argue that point. With age also comes forgetfulness. It’s like you go to get something in another room, and when you get there forget what it was. It’s frustrating when you can’t remember a name, a song, a phone number, and where you put something in a “place you’d never forget”. LOL Then, hours or days later it comes to you out of the blue.

Our minds are in some ways like a supercomputer with unlimited storage and able to process a gazillion bits of data in milli-seconds, yet still recall them after years of being stored there. We refer to them as memories. Our memories consist of information, pictures, videos, words we’ve said, words spoken to us, pain, happiness, and a whole spectrum of emotions tied to each memory. However, unlike a computer, God created us with the ability to reason, a free will, a conscience, and the desire to know Him. The information we feed our minds determines what we believe and the kind of person we are. Feed it with truth, and you live that. Feed it with lies, and that also becomes the filter by which you process life.

We all have memories, both good and bad. We all like to pull up those that were good and relive them in our minds. We even hope our dreams are influenced by good and not the bad memories. Sadly, there are memories that are so painful we would just like to permanently delete them from our history. Time has a way of helping us forget, or at least not remember them as often. Many people blame God for the bad things that happened in their lives, because He didn’t intervene like they thought He should’ve. Therefore, they try to delete and forget Him too. They may deny, hate, or claim He doesn’t exist; but death will prove them wrong.

There is that aspect of old age where the reality of your own death looms closer and closer; whereby, you accept the fact that the number of years you have left is growing smaller. You physically can’t do the things you used to do, and if you try; you pay for it with pain. Strength fails, hearing dims, sight is blurred, teeth and hair fall out, wrinkles come, joints don’t work like they once did, and memory wanes. King Solomon expressed these very sentiments in Ecclesiastes 12. However, he begins with the exhortation to “Remember your Creator” while you’re young. That word remember involves so much more than recalling a distant memory. It means to realize that God created you and has designed mankind to have a relationship with Him; that we are mortal with a limited time to seek and find Him, because it becomes more difficult in your old age. Someday we will all appear before God and must answer for what we did with our lives. What will you say? Did you live for God, or for yourself? Will you be ashamed and have regrets? The Bible says there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth as people stand before God and realize they wasted their lives; giving up the eternal for the temporal. You’ve heard it said that when you die you can’t take anything with you, but the truth is you will have your memory.

As I wrote in my last blog, many people plan for retirement, but few plan for death. Planning for death is more than buying life insurance, making a will, distributing your estate, having a burial fund, purchasing a plot and marker, or even writing your own autobiography. Death is not the end but is the doorway to the eternal for everyone. As there are only two places to spend eternity, Heaven or Hell, and one way to enter either one, the question remains; Where will you choose to spend it? Do nothing and you’re still on the pathway to Hell. Believe that Jesus Christ paid the price for your sins when He died on the cross, quit trusting in your good works, repent and ask Him to save you, and He promises an eternity in Heaven with Him.

John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Just as in the game of “Hide and Seek”, death is counting to 100 and will soon say, “Ready or not, here I come!” Will it find you still scrambling for a place to hide, or can you say with the Apostle Paul that your hiding place is with Christ in God. (Col. 3:3)

by Denny Hook

I’m a “baby boomer”. As a kid growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I remember the street games we used to play. In the daytime us guys would play army with toy guns and dirt clods for hand grenades, and the whole neighborhood was our battle field. At night we included the neighborhood girls when we played; Kick the Can, Spotlight, and Hide and Seek. Each of those games started with someone being IT. They would close their eyes and count to 100 while everyone else hid somewhere, then shout out loudly as they set out to find them; “Ready or not, here I come”!

As I write this blog those words echo in my mind, but it’s not the voice of a childhood friend I hear. For most of my life the voice was merely a whisper drowned out by living life itself. Now that I’m older, it seems the whisper has become louder and more persistent.  Clearly it is not one voice, but two. As I’m around others my age, they too are talking about the two voices of retirement and death; each calling out “Ready or not, here I come”! Though they each speak the same message, they are quite different in other ways. There is so much to say about these two subjects that I want to split them into two parts. With this writing I want to express my thoughts on retirement.

When you’re young, dreaming about retirement is almost romantic in nature. It’s fun to imagine traveling the world, sleeping in without an alarm clock, having grandkids to spoil, or just being able to devote more time to a hobby. Maybe it’s finishing those half-done projects around the house you kept telling yourself you’d get to someday, or visiting relatives you haven’t seen in ages. For years I traveled the country as a long-haul trucker. I’ve seen a lot of places that I would’ve liked to stop at and spend some time, but couldn’t because of load schedules. Two years ago, we bought an older motor home, and plan to visit some of those places when we retire. I once heard my grandpa say, “Talk is cheap, but it takes money to buy good whiskey”. How true that is of retirement; you can talk about it, but it takes money to do it. I regret that I didn’t pay closer attention to funding my retirement at an earlier age. Part of it was because it seemed so far off, and I’ve had so many close calls over the years that I didn’t think I’d live to see it. I blinked, and now I’m 65. Another reason is I never understood IRA’s, 401K’s, money market investments and all that stuff. There was one time we attended one of “those meetings”. You know, they invite you to a free dinner and then later explain and want you to invest your money in their program. We knew we were out of our league when they required a $10,000 minimum investment. We ate and left. More recently I went to an informational meeting on Social Security. It was confusing, but you could set up another free one-on-one advisory meeting. I just needed to bring my Portfolio. What’s that? It sounded more like a disease related to Polio, that you’re supposed to get, or an exotic pet. These days everyone wants to: “Help you protect your hard-earned wealth, maximize the value of your holdings, and diversify your options”. Oh yeah, “Have you considered adding precious metals to your IRA?” Seriously, I think the only holdings a lot of people have these days is to just to keep their heads above water. I think of all the trust people had in their IRA’s a few years ago, and some lost it all or a good portion of it. Politicians have robbed and spent money from the Social Security fund. I have fourteen years vested with the Teamsters Union, and that pension fund is in critical status due to mismanagement. I’m wondering if there will be anything left for me before too long.

The Bible has much to say about money; how you handle it and what your attitude toward it should be. The book of Ecclesiastes is one of my favorites. King Solomon had it all; wealth, wisdom, women, houses, servants, land, livestock, vineyards, influence, ships and more. There was absolutely nothing he lacked. Even in today’s dollars, he could pay off our national debt and still have plenty left over. Yet, he continually expresses the vanity of it all without seeing life through God’s perspective. In short, I think he is saying that it’s not wrong to work hard, save, and plan for the future, but don’t make that your life’s ambition. Wealth comes from God as a gift, and He is the one who gives you the power to enjoy it. He concludes that to think otherwise is foolishness, vanity and grasping for the wind. Jesus really cut to the issue when He said, “Lay up treasures in Heaven and not on earth, because where your treasure is, there’s where your heart will be. Don’t worry or be anxious about tomorrow. Be content, trust God, seek His Kingdom, and He will take care of you.”  (Matthew 6:19-20)  A lot of people are in the business of helping you plan for retirement, and that’s a good thing. However, if they use the “fear tactic” to get you to buy their product; then they’ve crossed the line.

Jesus told a parable in Luke 12: 16-21 about the rich man whose land yielded plentifully. He decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to not only hold his crops, but all his stuff. He thought he was set for years and could kick back and party. His error was that God was not included in his present life or future plans. God called him a fool, and required his life that night. Verse 21 says: “So is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” Being rich toward God involves so much more than putting money in the collection plate at church. Many people are stingy and give to God the leftovers, rather than tithe first. (that’s a whole different subject) My experience is that I cannot afford to not tithe. God doesn’t need your money per say, He wants your heart and that’s where “being rich” toward Him begins. As I look back on my life since I gave it to the Lord, He’s always provided what I needed when I needed it.  He’s been faithful to get me this far, will He not also take care of me in retirement if I continue to trust Him? Yes and Amen!

by   Denny Hook

If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you’re noticing that I present everyday life situations first, then use them to express some spiritual truth. The purpose of my writing is as stated, “Discovering Jesus in Everyday Life”, so here goes.

We all drive on the same roads. It doesn’t matter if they are concrete or blacktop (“tar” if you’re from the South). One thing they all have in common are speed bumps, rumble strips and potholes. They vary in height, depth, width and frequency.

Speed bumps and rumble strips were designed and installed for a specific purpose, and that is to get your attention. After that the expected behavior change would be to either slow down or stop. Speed bumps are mostly found in places where there would be heavy pedestrian traffic with cross walks such as: parking lots in front of stores, schools, parks, mobile home parks, and playgrounds where children are present. They are used in big plants that have their own roads and want to maintain low speed limits. Sometimes they have signs alerting you of them, or maybe they are painted a bright yellow. They usually are across the whole road so there is no way to avoid them. They often vary in height from 2-6 inches. If you ignore them, plan on replacing your shock absorbers or struts frequently, or having more visits to your chiropractor for neck adjustments.

Rumble strips are cut perpendicular into the road. They are spaced evenly apart and vary in depth. They are most commonly used at intersections to alert you of an upcoming stop. Many highways now use them on the shoulders. They are also being installed more frequently down the center of two lane roads. When you drive over them your tires make a very loud noise, and you feel like you’re driving on a washboard. Some are so deep it feels like your vehicle is shaking apart. If you ignore the wake up call from rumble strips, you could have a serious accident or run off the roadway.

Potholes are a whole different thing altogether. They are usually a result of weather and temperature changes that deteriorate the roadway. They appear randomly on any part of the road, no two are alike in size, and they only get worse until repaired. The biggest cause in northern states is when water seeps through cracks and then the freezing in winter causes expansion. The pressure almost explodes the surface and the traffic is what makes the hole as it pushes the material in all directions. Flooding also can cause erosion which creates potholes. The difference between speed bumps and rumble strips is that potholes can be avoided if you see them in time or know where they are in advance. Something that I just don’t get is to see people who drive the same street or highway every day, yet continue to hit the same potholes. They don’t slow down or even try to avoid them. Rough railroad tracks are just as bad. (sorry Tim) Don’t they realize that can throw your steering alignment off which can ruin their tires? My attitude about potholes is like the old saying with a twist, “If I hit you once, shame on you. If I hit you twice, shame on me.” The bottom line is this: speed bumps, rumble strips, and potholes all have consequences if ignored.

We all travel life’s highway and encounter speed bumps, rumble strips and pot holes. Those events that seem to come out of nowhere and catch us off guard, but they sure get our attention. Some, like the speed bumps, are intended to slow us down. Without them we would continue our fast pace journey through life never examining ourselves, or question if the path we’re on is the right one, and where it even leads to. Others like the rumble strips are more intense. They not only get our attention, but shake us to the core with warnings if we begin to veer off the path or fail to stop. I believe that God controls and strategically places speed bumps and rumble strips in our lives to: get our attention, to test and grow our faith, reveal what’s in our hearts, give us opportunity to repent if needed, and to help us find His will for our lives. There are no doubt more specific reasons that are tailor made to fit each person. Before I go further, I need to clarify that I’m not necessarily talking about those things that happen over which we have no control, such as: the death of a loved one, a sudden illness or injury, unexpected lay-off or job loss, car accident or breakdown, weather related stuff, or any number of other tragedies. Yes, God allows those things, however, I think the key is how we react and by the words we speak in those situations. In the book of Job, we read how he lost everything, yet he didn’t sin with his mouth or charge God with wrong. In fact, it says he fell to the ground and worshiped. As stated in Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God can also use speed bumps, rumble strips, and pot holes to bring correction and discipline as it says in Hebrews 12:1-13. Yes, there can be negative consequences for ignoring SBRSP’s, but obedience can likewise bring blessings. It boils down to your attitude and response; the choice is yours.

I see so many people with anger issues, so I’ll use that as an example to explain how this plays out. If you have an anger problem, don’t be surprised if you continually find yourself in situations that bring that anger to the surface. That’s a speed bump. You have a choice; slow down and deal with it, or just keep going full speed with a flurry of words and blame everyone else. If you choose the later, get ready for some rumble strips to rock your world. If you insist on ignoring those warnings, brace yourself for the potholes. Here’s the deal: Anger left unchecked breeds resentment, resentment breeds unforgiveness, which leads to bitterness, and bitterness seeks revenge. Each step is a spiral downward and makes that pothole bigger and bigger until it swallows you up. Finally, there you are in the bottom of a hopeless pit with no way out, with only yourself to blame.

However, the good news is there is a way out, but once again it’s a matter of choice. The prophet Jonah found himself in the same situation, but listen to what he said. Jonah 2: 2,6 – “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me. You have brought up my life from the pit.” Friend, aren’t you tired of hitting the same pothole over and over? Jesus is the only one who can rescue you, and all you must do is call out to Him like Jonah. He will come and save you.

by  Denny Hook

Cats have an attitude! They think the world revolves around them and their needs. Cats have servants; dogs have owners. We have one of each in our home, and the difference couldn’t be starker between them. Our cat, Buster, is an 18-year-old male Main Coon. They tend to be very vocal and bossy. On any given morning when the alarm goes off, he’s already in our bedroom giving out orders. When we do get up and head down the hall to the bathroom, he wants to be in the lead, and not in any hurry either. Go to the bathroom, no way; that’s just another place for us to sit and pet him. Afterwards, it’s follow him to the kitchen where he will sit in front of the full water dish, and complain that it’s not fresh. Meanwhile our dog Frodo (3 yr. old male Cockapoo) will butt him out of the way and start lapping it up. We have a pet door and fenced-in-yard which Frodo uses all the time, but not Buster. Oh no, he will come and get us with loud meowing and make us follow him to the front door to let him outside. Usually within a matter of minutes he will go around the house and squeeze through the fence and come back inside through the pet door. He does this just to aggravate me; I know it. We have a booth in our kitchenette where we eat. Frodo will lay quietly on the floor, but Buster will jump up beside you and paw at you constantly until you give him attention. Buster also has this crazy noise that he’s been doing for the last few years, and he only does it when we are in another part of the house. It’s a very loud meow that sounds like someone yelling a long strung out help or hello. We’ll rush to see what’s wrong, and he’ll be calmly sitting there looking at you as if to say, “What took you so long to get here?” When was the last time you saw a cat being taken for a walk, playing fetch, or doing tricks? Cats do what they want, where they want, and when they want; end of discussion.

Even as I write this, Frodo is quite content to just lay on the floor next to me demanding nothing, but eager to have a pat on the head or hear an occasional “Good boy”. He just wants to be close to me. If I get up and leave the room, he follows. If I say “come” from another room, he comes. He is getting better at obeying my hand signals too; not just only my voice. When we leave, he sits at the fence and watches until we’re out of sight. When we return, he’s right there to greet us with excitement. Most of the time he’s so quiet you don’t know he’s there, but he’ll let us know if there are strangers about. I’m pretty sure Frodo would protect us if an intruder or anyone meant us harm. He loves to ride in the car, go for walks, play fetch, and I’ve taught him several tricks. The other day Lucy and I played our own little trivia game. We tried to remember the names of dogs on TV shows, such as: Tramp (My 3 Sons), Tiger (Brady Bunch), Duke (Beverly Hillbillies), Toto (Wizard of OZ), Petey (Little Rascals), Astro (Jetsons), Flash (Dukes of Hazard), and others. Some dogs even had their own shows like Lassie and Rin-Tin-Tin. We went online to look some up that stumped us like: Bullet, Roy Rodger’s dog. Somehow we got off on a bunny trail and ended up watching several episodes of “Sky King”. Penny’s dog was White Shadow or Shadow.  I think the one logo we would all recognize is the RCA logo of the dog, Nipper, sitting in front of an old Victorola listening to his master’s voice.

This whole thing about cats and dogs reminded me of the numerous examples in the Bible when people heard God speak to them. I believe that God is still constantly speaking, and because He is God, He isn’t limited in the ways He chooses to speak. As I mentioned in my last blog post, “The Missing Piece”, when Adam and Eve sinned they not only lost relationship with God, but along with that they lost the ability to hear God’s voice clearly. Yes, there were those men like Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Job, the prophets, and a few others whom God spoke to directly, but they were the exception back then, because men’s hearts were hardened by sin.  Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJ) God who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son. This verse ties together both the Old and New Testaments and assures us even today that God still speaks. We have the very Word of God as John states in his gospel (John 1: 14) contained in all fullness of glory, grace, and truth manifested in the person of Jesus Christ. Therefore, since Jesus Christ is alive, He is speaking. Even His own blood he shed for our sins still speaks. (Heb. 12:24) We also have the written Word of God contained in the 66 books of the Bible which bear witness as it says in 1 John 5:7-8, and witnesses do speak.  If that weren’t enough the whole creation speaks of God’s divine nature. (Romans 1:20) Many will agree with what I’ve written so far. However, the rubber hits the road when I ask, “Are you hearing or have you ever heard His voice?”

Back in February Joy Behar criticized Vice-President Pence for his Christian faith by saying, “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus, it’s another thing when Jesus talks to you.” Behar went on to say that hearing voices is symptomatic of “mental illness.” Oh really? So tell me, whose voice was it that Paul heard when he was knocked off his horse? Whose voice did Lazarus hear that brought him back to life? Whose voice healed the sick? Whose voice calmed the sea? Whose voice cast out demons?  Please don’t give me that faithless tripe about that being then and not for today. To say that you talk to Jesus in one breath, then call those who say Jesus talks to them, “mentally ill” in the next breath, reveals nothing but ignorance. Even the Prophets of Baal when calling out to their false god expected an answer. (1 Kings 18:25-29) It says that there was no voice, no one answered or paid attention. Elijah mocked them by saying, “Cry louder for he is a god.” The literal meaning of verse 27 when Elijah says, “perhaps he is busy”, is in reference to what people do when sitting on a toilet. How much more then should we as believers who pray to the one true and living God in Jesus’ name, expect to hear His voice also. Praying to God in Jesus’ name is essential for the Christian, but that doesn’t make you one.

Jesus spoke much, but often immediately afterward He would end by saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear”. In John 18:37 He draws the line in the sand by saying, “Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” Not much wiggle room here. You’re either on one side or the other. Friend, hearing the voice of Jesus can only be accomplished by the Spirit of God opening up your spiritual ears and understanding. In Revelation 3:19-20 Jesus says:  ”As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent. Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me.”

In closing think about the analogy and this question? Are you more like a cat demanding that God serve you, or like the dog who is listening for and obeying his master’s voice, sitting in His presence, and following Him?

Yep, it’s called a Straight and Narrow Highway.

by Denny Hook

Last Tuesday I had surgery on my left hand to release the tendon on my ring finger. (it’s called trigger finger) It had been giving me problems for about a year. I’ve had two cortisone injections, which gave some relief, but only lasted for about a month each time. My doctor said surgery is the only option other than doing nothing and living with the pain. The procedure was quite simple and took less time to do than for him to explain what would be done. He said I can’t be lifting anything, and after my two-week checkup I would be permitted to drive. So, I prepared to get all the lifting work done around the house beforehand. I told my company I’d be off work for two weeks. Money would be tight, and we’d have to stretch it out. Everything was cool until the moment the doctor was doing the surgery. The assisting nurse asked me, “What do you do for a living?” I replied, “I’m a truck driver.” The doctor then said it would be four weeks before I could drive a truck. Not that it would have made a difference, it just would’ve been nice to have known that little tidbit of information in advance. Two weeks would be bad enough, but four weeks! Not LOL

My wonderful wife took off work for two days to help me since I had to have my hand in a sling. One thing we enjoy doing is working on puzzles together. We had several that she bought from second hand stores for less than a buck each. Here it is Sunday, and I just finished the fourth puzzle. I remember growing up and putting together puzzles as a family. Now everyone knows the fundamentals of puzzles. First: You turn all the pieces color side up. Second: You sort the colors. Third: You find the edges and put the border together. Once you do all that you just have at it and fight over who gets to see the box with the picture. It’s so frustrating when someone else reaches right in front of you and puts in the piece you’ve been trying to find for the last 15 minutes. Of course, there was something special about being the one to put in the last piece. Being a little mischievous, I would hide one in my pocket and produce it at the end when everyone else was on their hands and knees scouring the floor, and hoping the dog hadn’t chewed it up. The day of reckoning has come back to bite me. Three of these puzzles we’ve done have had one piece missing right in the middle. Somewhere there are three smart-aleck kids walking around with my missing puzzle piece in their pockets. That was only funny when I did it! Or worse yet, whoever took those puzzles to the second-hand store kept out one piece before donating them just for kicks. I have seen puzzles where it will be written on the box, “one piece missing”. Seriously, it’s one thing to find you have one piece missing after spending hours putting one together, but who buys a puzzle knowing there is a piece missing.  Why not just throw it out?

Ironically, life is one big puzzle. You expect that everything will fit perfectly into one beautiful picture when it’s done, but it often doesn’t. We get frustrated or angry trying to make sense of all the pieces. Situations and circumstances happen that cause us pain, heartaches, sadness, disappointments, grief, etc., etc., and we think surely this can’t be a piece of my puzzle. Just like with a puzzle, sometimes you just need to take a break. Once your mind is clear, you can come back to it with a new perspective, and it is amazing how things fit together that you couldn’t see before, and life goes on.

I believe that we all have a missing piece in our life’s puzzle. In fact, we were born that way, but it wasn’t always so. When God created Adam and Eve they were designed to have relationship with Him, and their lives (puzzles) were complete in Him. They were made in the very image of God in human form. Yet, satan in his craftiness deceived them into believing that God was still holding something back from them; that they too could become as God. Because of their disobedience, sin entered the heart of man and fellowship with God was broken, because sinful man cannot stand in the presence of the Most Holy God. So, from that point on we all have a missing piece in our life puzzle; a piece that can only be filled by having a relationship with our creator God. Sadly, many try to fill that missing piece with all kinds of things which can never fill that empty void. The Good News is that God holds the last piece! He doesn’t discard us or count us as worthless like a puzzle with a piece missing. He loves us so much that He sent His son Jesus who died in our place as payment for our sin; something we could never accomplish on our own.  How fitting that Isaiah 9:6 refers to the Christ as the “Prince of Peace”. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, and the only one who can fit and fill the empty piece in your life puzzle. We no longer must scrounge around on the floor looking for the piece (peace) that only He can give us. Indeed, Jesus Christ himself is our peace (Ephesians 2:14) which He purchased by His blood shed on the cross (Colossians 1:20) therefore we are complete in Him. (Colossians 2:10) Here is the simplicity of the Gospel so many complicate and miss; that is if you desire to have that missing piece God holds in His hand, you only need to ask Him for it. It is freely given to those who invite Jesus Christ to be their Savior. Friend, may today be the day you discover and receive “The Missing Peace” in your life’s puzzle.

by Denny Hook

I was thinking the other day that one thing cars don’t have any more are hood ornaments. You know; that image of something sleek, fast and distinct to the model and maker of the car. They used to be bolted solid until the late 1970’s, but that’s when the politically correct crowd deemed them too dangerous if you hit a pedestrian. (Like that happens a lot LOL) After that, they had to be spring-loaded so they would give when hit. The last cars we owned that had them were a 1984 Lincoln Continental and a 1985 Ford Crown Victoria. Today, hood ornaments have been reduced to a flat emblem which you can’t even see from the driver’s seat, unless you drive a Mack truck, in which case you’re looking at the rear end of a Bulldog.

A more believable hazard the hood ornament posed (in my opinion) was that people would drive by it. What I mean is; they would use it as a guide and line it up with the white shoulder line or lane divider line. As a result, their car would be positioned in their lane accordingly. Being a professional truck driver with over 45 years of experience, I can spot someone doing this in a heartbeat. How? They aren’t looking beyond their hood and getting the “Big Picture”. They are focusing on the ornament and aren’t aware of what’s going on around them. They make panic moves like hard braking, which can cause all kinds of problems such as rear end collisions or going in the ditch to avoid them. A good driver will always “Aim High, and get the Big Picture” They will look way down the road for potential hazards, and then focus closer. They will look left, right, and in the mirrors; repeating the cycle every 10–15 seconds or less in heavy traffic. Drivers who follow 20 feet off the bumper of the car ahead of them doing 75-85 mph are short-sighted and ignorant. Fact: You will steer toward what you are focusing on.

I think my big “pet peeve” is people who drive the left lane and never move to the right lane on the interstate. It’s like they’re saying, “I want to go as fast as I want, to get to where I’m going. Therefore, I’ll just stay in this lane and pass everyone, because it’s such a hassle to keep changing lanes; so stay out of my way”. They are self-centered and have their own agenda, and rarely signal except to flip someone off in “their” lane going slower. They commonly run in packs like wolves, or better yet, dumb sheep following each other. I always have to laugh when there is a patrol car in the median with radar, because as soon as they see them, they get in the right lane and slow down. Once past however, it’s hammer down and back into the left lane, even if there is no one ahead of them in the right lane. Many times I’ve seen them come from the on ramp and head straight for the left lane, cutting cars off in the right lane. More and more I witness how drivers ignore or forget the fundamental laws of driving, and sadly I have to include many truck drivers. I would bet that most people on the highway could not pass the written exam outright, because they only took it when they first got their license, and have forgotten what it says.

On the highway of life, what are you focusing on? Are you short-sighted like the person looking at the hood ornament, or are you “Aiming high and getting the big picture”? There are so many things in our lives that could classify as hood ornaments that distract our focus and prevent us from seeing the big picture. It could be a job that you pour yourself into as you climb the so-called ladder of success. Perhaps it’s all the stuff you accumulate to maintain a certain image or social status. Hobbies can turn into obsessions, and possessions  into idols. Texting, Twitter and Facebook have become the new norm for conducting our relationships. The quest for the latest technological gadget is never satisfied. Faster and faster our agendas drive us and fill our calendars and day-timers till they’re full and overflowing. All these “things” are a vital part of our pursuit of happiness and significance, but collectively miss the “Big Picture“.

So what is the “Big Picture”? Simply stated, it’s Eternity, and where you will spend it. All roads lead to somewhere, but Eternity has only two paths, Heaven or Hell. Jesus stated this very plainly in Matthew 7:13-14. He describes the highway to Hell almost like a paved multi-lane interstate traffic jam with so many people headed in the same direction. On the other hand He describes the way to Heaven as difficult, narrow, hard to find, and with not much traffic. How sobering and horrific it will be for those who spent their lives focusing on the hood ornaments, only to realize they missed the big picture. Jesus said, “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. Sadly there will be many in that hour who thought they were on the right path, only to find they weren’t.

The way to eternal life is not by becoming a Christian, in the sense that you fulfill a certain religious set of rules, protocol or hoops that your church says you must jump through. I’ve been there and done that. I was baptized as a baby, went to Sunday school and church, took confirmation and learned about ordinances, creeds and confessions. I did what was expected and memorized a few verses so I could get my Christian driver’s license so to speak. I lived my life the way I wanted, and if there was a written essay exam on how to get to Heaven, I would have flunked.

I once heard a true story from a Nazi death camp survivor. They were being interviewed on TV and the host was showing some actual video footage of hundreds of people being led from box cars into the camp. The host made the remark that he only saw a few guards with guns, and had the thought ever occurred that this mass of people could easily overpower them. The person being interviewed said no, because the guards just kept repeating over and over, “Keep moving- don’t stop!”.

My friend, today if the hood ornament you’re focusing on is telling you to “Keep moving- don’t stop”, you’re headed for eternal destruction on the wrong highway. It’s time to take the next exit, and find the path to eternal life. Jesus said, (John 14:6) “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Focus on Jesus and you will steer towards Him, because He is the “Big Picture”.