The Right Way Is The Wrong Way Is The Right Way - July 13, 2010

Daily Reading

2Chronicles 27, Isaiah 9-12

Daily Verse

Those who guide this people mislead them,

and those who are guided are led astray.

Isaiah 9:16

Daily Thought

1993, NCAA Division II national championship cross-country race, one runner ran the wrong way and 122 followed him.

Mike ran the right course, and 4 followed him.

The wrong way turned out to be a shorter way. Because so many runners ran wrong, the judges decreed the wrong way the right way.

Mike came in 103rd.

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
even when it hurts.
--Psalm 15:1, 2, 4

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Righteous God, You created us and called it good. Following You is good. But I keep following the crowd. And it works ...for awhile.

The way to life in You, God, is narrow and few find it, while the road away from You is wide and popular. May I have the wisdom and the courage to run the course You have laid out before me, even when it hurts.

Amen

Nothing Can Be Politically Right That Is Morally Wrong - July 10, 2010

Daily Reading

Isaiah 5-8

Daily Verse

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes

and clever in their own sight.

Isaiah 5:21

Daily Thought

Pilate said to the Jews, "I find no basis for a charge against him. It is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"
--John 18:38-39

"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.
--John 19:15-16

Woe to those who call evil good

and good evil,

who put darkness for light

and light for darkness,

who put bitter for sweet

and sweet for bitter.

--Isaiah 5:20

Pilate took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood."
--Matthew 27:24

Nothing can be politically right that is morally wrong.
--Benjamin Rush, 1793 (a signer of the Declaration of Independence)

To God's Glory,
Dave Price

Daily Prayer

Righteous God, You are good and Your Words bring life. May I be one who hungers and thirsts for righteousness. May I live in peace, in so far as I am able. But, if something is wrong, may I be a defender of right, a defender of justice. May I be one who speaks up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of the poor and the needy.

May I never wash my hands of what is right and just and good.

Amen

Right and Wrong - January 12, 2010

Daily Reading

Job 32-34

Daily Verse

It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,

that the Almighty would pervert justice.

Job 34:12

Daily Thought

A student group at UC Davis held up a sign that read:

It isn't wrong to think you're right

But it isn't right to think others are wrong

I beg to differ.

You see, I was a referee for almost 20 years. Basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer.

I throw my flag. Pass interference. Half the distance to the goal and first down. Now, it's just a game, but try to sell that to the team in blue. My call gave the team in green first and goal at the seven yard line. My call was a travesty against all that is just and good and right in the universe.

The blue coach asks "politely" what in the Sam-Hill I saw out there. I explain, "I think I got it right. But, hey, I'm not saying your guy was wrong, either."

Sports does not permit this. You can't get away with saying something ridiculous like, "I think I'm right, but I don't think you're wrong." When Team A wins, Team B loses.

Life has rules, too. Right and wrong, good and evil, moral and immoral exist. Every seven-year old can tell you when something is not fair.

If you want a world where no one is wrong, but you can't change the rulebook, get rid of the referee.

It is not that we believe God would do wrong. We don't, and He won't. That's the problem. The Almighty will not pervert justice, and we are rulebreakers. We want everyone to be able to do their own thing, because we want to do our own thing. But it doesn't work, it hasn't worked, and it won't work.

That is why the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

To God's Glory,

Dave

Daily Prayer

Sovereign God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Your ways are good, right, and just. Loving Father and Righteous Judge. May we acknowledge You as Lord.

May we love You with all our heart, mind, and strength, and in doing that, learn love, so that we will love our neighbor as ourselves. In a world seeking love, may we seek You first, and find love, because You are love.

Amen