Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." As people we do some stupid things which may look like a good idea at the time. And this is in NO way limited to those who don't know God. I have watched Christians, even ones who were thought to be mature or leaders, make choices that sacrificed the long term for the short term. We are more apt to make these decisions when we are under pressure, whether it be time pressure, economic pressure, emotional pressure, or physical pressure. When Sarah and I are having a disagreement and are upset at each other, you think of things to say that will back the other person of and make you feel better. Seems like a good idea, but if you say them, the problem is going to last longer, get bigger, and there will be more emotional/relationship damage to work through. It will be a very short term gain for long term pain. I usually manage not to say them and I have been getting smarter as I get older and am married longer. That goes with all relationships. When the relationship is under pressure, when you are hurt, do you say things that seem like a good idea but are actually going to make things worse. Guys especially can do things like this. They get mad or feel they need to prove something and go do something stupid that can result is physical injury or death. Giant corporations can do it too. Here's a quote from this article about the BP oil spill disaster.

Investigators found that BP was badly behind schedule on the project and losing hundreds of thousands of dollars with each passing day, and responded by cutting corners in the well design, cementing and drilling mud efforts and the installation of key safety devices.

The result is the same for all of us in these situations. What we undertook to help actually made things worse. Think of the money they could have saved and the damage to their own reputation they could have saved if they had done things right. We need to remember that the right thing to do is ALWAYS the right thing to do, even when it looks like it will hurt us in the short run. A bad action, a bad reaction, no matter how justified it feels or how smart it seems, never works out long term. "Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and may lengthen his life, still I know that it will be well for those who fear God, who fear Him openly. But it will not be well for the evil man and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God." (Ecclesiastes 8:12-13)

Are you a grumbler? Do you mumble a few complaints under your breath? Is there something that just isn't the way you wish it was? Complain about it? Maybe just in your head, or just to a few close friends/family? I think a lot of people do that. It is sort of human nature. But like much of human nature, it doesn't mean that it is a good thing or an activity that we should allow. The people of Israel were very prone to grumbling. They thought Moses should do all kinds of things different than he was doing them. The Bible tells us that they were grumbling against God, but I'm willing to bet that they didn't think of it that way. Moses talked to God and then Moses talked to the people. God lead through Moses. They saw Moses leadership and sometimes they thought the old man was just plain wrong. He isn't doing it right. If I were in charge, I would do it different. I wish he wouldn't do it that way. And they mumbled, and they grumbled, and they quietly questioned Moses leadership, not realizing that Moses was following God's leading. I will tell you that this is one area that really can get to me. And believe me, I pick up on the low level of grumbling that can go on. When people just don't like how you are leading or the decisions that you are making, no matter how much you have prayed and thought about it and sought the Lord on it, they mumble and grumble. Nothing strong and rarely in your face. Oh No. Just a quiet mumble grumble to express that this isn't the way they think it should be. It can be very discouraging and frustrating. Are you a mumble grumbler? When things aren't going just to your liking, do you quietly complain either in your head, or just to a couple of confidants, your displeasure. Maybe just a mild aside, a little comment to make sure it is known that you aren't happy. The solution is not merely to keep your mouth shut. The true answer is to adjust an attitude that complains when it doesn't get things just its way. An attitude that supports leadership when it is doing what you want but abandons that support when you don't agree with it. If there is a real issue that needs to be addressed, address it appropriately and directly, not with a mumbled grumble. If the issue is merely that it isn't the way you would do it, maybe you should trust and support. Just a thought from a man who isn't afraid to be wrong, but can get very discouraged by those who mumble grumble.

It is countdown week. There is a lot going on next two weeks that is filling up this week. VBS kicks off a week from today. There are songs to learn, characters to create, powerpoints to prepare and all the last minute details we haven't thought of yet. Yep, going to be busy... Camp starts two weeks from today with Staff Week. I am still getting the new computer up and running with the programs I need to operate the summer season. There are letters to send, registrations to process and plans to make. Since next week will be very full with VBS, the more I can get done this week, the better. This coming Saturday is the 50th anniversary celebration for Camp Berea. I have a DVD to try to put together (after I make sure I can get the old software to work on the new computer.) More plans to make and work to do. I least I'm not primary on this one. Family time: Can't forget this. They were gone the last half of last week and so I didn't get time with Sarah or the kids. The weekend was also busy so I haven't had as much time as I would like. This morning has been good but right now they have friends over and are spending time with them. Tonight I will have time with them while Sarah goes to a shower at church. Sarah and I need a good evening just to sit and talk and catch up. So, a busy week. I have some blog posts pre-written so that I should be able to keep up with the blog more or less without taking extra time. The big trick this week will be to use my time effectively and not stress. It is ok to be busy but when serving the Lord becomes more chore than joy, we're wandering into dangerous territory. And not matter how big the to-do pile gets, family has to come first! I covet your prayers this week. Did I mention, there is always that sermon for next Sunday too. :) Luckily, I have that almost done already. Live with laughter and serve with joy. God is good and serving the family and serving the church can be a joy if you come from the right place with God.

This is a busy season as there are so many graduation parties to go to. Boy did I pick the wrong time to start a diet!! Well, this is always an extra crazy time for the parents for the kids graduating as they have all these events to go to plus trying to put on the graduation party. I still remember (dimly) my graduation party. I had just come back from Project Graduation and was pretty wiped out. It was nice to get to see all the family that came though. This put me in mind of the transition of high school graduation. Your life has been defined by school. In many cases, your closest friends have been there in school and many of your activities were defined by school or through school. It is what life is. Then all of a sudden it is over. You go on to college, or a job, or both. You make new friends and in some cases don't see much of those people you were spending every day with. While I still stay in some loose touch with some high school friends (thanks mostly to Facebook) I mostly count my closest friends from early life as friends made in college. Your adult life really starts after graduation and all the things that seemed so important in high school quickly begin to fade away. I think our graduation from this world will be much the same. A new life will begin and we will leave behind many of the people we knew here and the things that filled our lives. Right now we can't imagine life beyond now, but once we graduate, we will look back at the things that seemed so important to us and they will just fade away. We will be on to a new life that will be so much better, so much fuller, and full of much more fulfilling and exciting activities. Just a loose thought as I consider the graduates transitioning this spring.

Upset at someone? Mad at someone? Somebody done somebody wrong? Somebody in sin? When this happens, Christians can be very quick to get upset and judge the person, especially if they are the hurt party. You hear criticism, sour grapes, or general grumbling. Yet the Bible says that when someone is caught in a sin, the ones who are spiritual are to use a spirit of gentleness while looking to themselves. Looking...to...themselves. Do you realize that you ALWAYS have a sin that you could look to. You may have the exact sin that you are upset about in the other person, or you may have a related sin, but you always have a sin to look to. The Bible says that if we say we have no sin, we are lying. When we look inward at our own sin while dealing with someone else's sin, it causes gentleness and understanding instead of blame. You realize that yes, they messed up and maybe they even hurt you, but you have your own issues where you do the same thing....or worse. It doesn't mean that I can't call them on their sin and call on them to renounce it. I'm supposed to, but I do it in such a way that I acknowledge my own sinful struggles. Maybe I'm mad because they hurt my feelings, but is my anger in danger of hurting theirs? Do I ever hurt people's feelings? Still need to talk to them, but I guess I don't belong on a judgemental high horse. Who do you want to talk about: What they did? Or what your response to them was. Are you a martyr, bearing up under their terrible sin or assault? Or are you looking in the mirror, focusing on you, and looking to how you are doing so that you may respond to them in a spirit of gentleness and humility, no matter what they are doing or saying?