My "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" Experiences

This has been a busy week, and I have not really had an opportunity to post on the schedule that I have been accustomed to, so for those that look to read my posts, I am truly sorry.  The trucker's life.  Gotta love it.

I was privileged to have my beautiful wife, Danika, with me again this week.  We started out the week headed to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.  I didn't say anything, but I was hoping to get to take her through Gettysburg, and let her get some really good (hopefully) pictures.  Its kind of hard when you are by yourself to be able to do that.  But, as the saying goes, we came close, but no cigar.

I believe it was after we delivered, and on our way to Indianapolis, Indiana, when we took a wrong turn in Virginia. As Bugs bunny would say, "if I'd only taken that left turn in Albuquerque."  Needless to say, when we made that wrong turn, I knew it right then.  There was a sign that was posted telling me that no trucks were allowed.  It was then that I saw another sign for a 10 foot clearance on a bridge ahead.  Knowing that my truck and trailer needed a 13'6" clearance, where in the world was I going to go?  I certainly could not just do a 3 point turn and turn around.  There was no places big enough for me to do a U-turn, so I was left with praying really hard that (1) the law wouldn't be on that road, and (2) I could find a way out of it.

Luckily, the bridge was to the left of where I needed to go, but I was still faced with a narrow winding road, up a mountain.  This is a prime example of why I shouldn't always follow GPS, even if it is an expensive truckers GPS, that is supposed to keep me from doing what I did.  It actually made me continue to follow it, because, after all, I am in an area that I know absolutely NOTHING about, so it turned into my best shot of getting out of there.

And I did.

And I made it to where I needed to go.

That wrong turn actually took us into George Washington Park, which was beautiful.  It had little places that you could picnic, areas where you could bring your dog to walk, Beautiful landscapes, and many other things to do.   Did Danika get pictures?

Um...No.  I'm not sure whether she was just too enamored by the beauty and couldn't pick up her camera phone, or too busy worried how we would get out of there.  But it was beautiful.

I had a feeling I would get a story out of it.  I thought all week long about it.  I just never felt the release to go ahead and write about it...until today.

Today, our daughter, Natalie, had to go to an art show for extra college credit.  Since Danika had previously agreed to go with her, I was asked if I would stay home and be on grand baby duty.  I first said yes, and thought about what Paw Paw and Amily could get into, but then I decided that I wanted to go to the art show.  So we just all loaded up and went.

I don't recall ever being at an art show.  It consisted of mainly framed pictures that various people had taken, and mixed into it was some "creative" art.  As I stood there looking at each piece,  I kind of felt like I was Cameron, from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," as he stood in an art gallery "pondering" each little thing that he saw.

The Lord started speaking to me as I "pondered" some of it.  There were many photographs of different people.  Some were clean, while others had mud or dirt on them.  Some were of men, some of women, and others of children.  Each one representing different backgrounds and ethniticities. (If that is how you spell it).

The art consisted of everything imaginable.  What really stuck out to me was a house, I think made out of porcelain, but I'm not entirely sure.  It was painted black with another color for shutters.  As there were several houses in this piece of art, it represented to me, a neighborhood that was lacking the wealth of maybe its neighbor.  Yet, to the artist, it may be home...therefore, to he/she, it may represent all the wealth in the world.

Another piece that stood out to me was a collage of standing sheets of glass, each a different shape.  As the perception of art is to me, it is different with each person that views it.  To me, the glass art was representative physically as a sky rise of different buildings.

In the spiritual, both was something altogether different.

God created each person to be unique, meaning there will never be another just like you, even if you are an identical twin.  He formed and knew everything about you from the color of your hair, eyes, and skin, to your mannerisms and personality from the conception in your mother's womb.  This is referenced in Jeremiah 1:5, where it says, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..." (NKJV)

Remember that wrong turn I told you that I made?  In our daily lives, we make many wrong turns (choices), which lead us in a direction that we need not pursue.   I had to use my GPS to get out of the situation that I was in, but in life, we have a love letter, inspired by God Himself, as He revealed to man what to write.   This is the Holy Bible.  We also have the Holy Spirit, who will guide us in the ways we should go, if only we ask.

Thank God, He allows U-Turns in our life.

As I was looking at the art that was the house, the Lord spoke to me and said that there are many things that we fill our lives with (our body being the temple, or house) that are sinful and filthy.  It causes us to be dirty in His sight, without the presence of Jesus Blood that He shed on the cross.


Though that piece of art that was the glass in the physical represented a sky rise of buildings in my eyes, you could see right through it.  The artist, in placing each piece, did so with precision, and made sure that it was cleaned immaculately.   It was transparent. 

It is when we acknowledge that we are sinners, and ask Jesus to wash us in His Blood, that  God forgives us of our sins, and makes us "transparent," in His sight, just as the art that was the glass sky rise.

My job as a truck driver isn't just a job, that I can go to everyday and do the same thing repetitively.  It requires that I have relationships with many different people, whether I have met them, or not.  As a matter of fact, the ones I communicate with the most, I have never laid my eyes on.  I have to have faith that they are real, and that they are going to guide me to where I need to be, in order to effectively perform the duties that my job require.

Christianity often gets put into a category of "religion" by the world.  However, that couldn't be further from the truth.  God wants to have a relationship with me, and He wants to have a relationship with you.  As a matter of fact, that is His greatest desire.  As I live my life, just as I have to have faith that the people I deal with on my job are real people, I have to have faith that God is real.  And just as the ones I work with daily prove to me that they are, God does the same.

Do you have a relationship with Him?  Have you asked Him to forgive you of your sins, and allowed Him into your life?  It is really simple.  Just repeat these words as you read them:

God, I know that I am a sinner.  I know that Jesus died on the cross for the redemption of my sins, and rose again on the third day, defeating death, hell, and the grave.  Please forgive me of my sins, and come into my heart.  Help me daily to live and grow in You. Thank you.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Friend, if you sincerely prayed that prayer, all of heaven is rejoicing.  My strong advice to you is to find a Bible believing church near you and get rooted and planted in it.  I rejoice with all of heaven in your decision.  Please send me a message or comment and let me know.  I would love to send you some information on life after your decision.  This is only the beginning, and as you grow in the Lord, He will unlock and reveal more wisdom and insight into your life.

May God add His richest blessings on your life, and may it be filled with long life, prosperity, and perfect health, is my prayer!

Jesus is the Best Friend you could ever have, and He Loves you so much!

The Dangers of Hazmat Living

     After having taken the required exams back in December 2013 for getting Hazmat and Tanker endorsements added to my CDL, it was only this week that I transported my first hazmat load.  I always thought I would be nervous on my first one, but I wasn't.  As a matter of fact, I didn't even cross state lines with it.  It traveled from Birmingham, AL to Mobile, AL.

     There should always be extra caution in transporting Hazmat materials.  These materials could range anywhere from poisonous to corrosive, from flammable to oxidizers.  Needless to say, you don't want ANYTHING to go wrong when transporting.

As I was traveling, it got me to thinking about the hazardous things that we allow into our lives.  It could be all kinds of different things, but anything that does not honor the Lord, fits the bill.

     You see, it really does matter what we choose to watch, and what we choose to listen to.  For example, I have always been a horror movie buff.  The scarier it made me, the better.  But fear is not of God. Psalms 34:4 states, "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." (NKJV)

     Another biggie that is all the rave in society now, is the movies and TV shows about vampires and sorcery.  This is nothing but an attack of the enemy.  It is brought to us in a way that looks to be a love story, or made to look like "the good guy" battling all that is wrong with the world. 

Friends, I urge you, do not partake in this!!!

     2Corinthians 11:14 states, "And no wonder! For satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light."  Which simply means, he will not brings his attacks to look like attacks, because if you saw it in this way, you wouldn't want any part of it.  He brings it in a manner appealing to your eyes.  God would never condone, nor would He try to trick you into love.

     God is a God of Love.  He is Love, itself.  Without Him, whether or not you acknowledge it, we would not know what love is.  1John 4:18 states, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

     There are many other things that we could go into here.  Let me just mention one other thing.  Don't allow your lifestyle to displease God.  There are many lifestyles in the world today that are displeasing to Him.  Even if you don't agree with it, but tolerate it, because you do not want to "offend" anyone, is a sin.  God defined what Love was in Genesis during creation.  Anything that goes against it, is sin.

     One thing that is thrown out there by people is Matthew 7:1.  It states, "Judge not, lest you be judged."  This Scripture is true, but is quite often taken out of context.  For example, if you are outwardly living a sinful life, you have no right to jump on someone who is doing the same, or another sin, just because you think you are better than them.

     On the other hand,  John 7:24 states, "Do not judge according to appearance, but with righteous judgment."

     This tells me that as a Christian, when I see another brother or sister fall into sin, I am to go to them, let them know in the right way that what they are doing is wrong, and help them pick themselves up and make their life right with the Lord.  My friend, and brother in the Lord, Paul Roberts made this exact point a few months ago.  He was spot on when he said, "THERE IS A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE IN JUDGING A PERSONS SOUL OR SPIRITUAL CONDITION, AND JUDGING SOMEONE'S ACTIONS."

     If the Christians in this world would stand up for the Word of God, instead of cowering away, afraid of "offending" people, we would not have near the problems we face in today's world.  Jesus gave the commandment, referred to as "The Great Commission," which is found in the Book of Mark.

Mark 16:15-18 states, "15 And He (Jesus) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (NKJV)

     This doesn't mean that you need to go around with a Bible, beating everyone in the head with it.  My strong suggestion to everyone (myself included) is to do a daily (maybe even hourly, if needed) examination of your own heart against Jesus' heart.  I personally find myself daily asking the Lord to forgive me of things, often that I didn't even realize was wrong, or didn't realize I had done it.  Sometimes, it was what I was supposed to do, and didn't.  While the Holy Spirit is a Perfect Gentleman, He will convict you of your sins.  It is then that you should confess your sins, and know that God's Word holds true.  He is Faithful and Just to forgive your sins.

     Then, and ONLY THEN, do you have the right when confronted with sin in society to BOLDLY proclaim the Word of God.  Don't cower away.  If done correctly, Jesus will use it to bring multitudes to Him.

     Don't allow the "HAZMAT" into your life.  And when it tries to enter, clean it out.

A recent skit at my church demonstrates Jesus "washing" us in his Blood.  Representative of Him washing our sins away, leaving us white as snow.  

Have you been washed in His Blood?

Jesus is the Best Friend you could ever have, and He LOVES you so much!