Shortgrass
Well-known member
I sat alone in the dark one night,
tuning in by remote
I found a preacher who spoke of the light
but there was brimstone in his throat
He'd show me the way according to him
and return for my personal check
I flipped my channel back to CNN and I lit another cigarette
I take my chances, forgiveness doesn't come with a debt
Those are the lyrics of a song by Mary Chapin Carpenter. I heard it a while back and that last line stood out for me. I am as wary as most about the old line that some preachers use. You know the one," send your money to the Lord" but they give you their address. Forgiveness doesn't come with a debt. That line is right. Absolutely, positively, 100% forgiven without anything else to pay ever. Forgiveness doesn't come with a debt.
Trapped in a life of sin is somewhat like looking through binoculars backwards. You don't see a very big picture and everything looks far away. But forgiveness and repentance gives you the opportunity to turn the binoculars around. The sight picture becomes larger and more clear. The things of God become closer. That new perspective is why believers often do things that seem odd to people who are still trapped in sin. That is why people can give to the church, but not have enough money for the mega size plasma screen TV. That is why people can have time to go volunteer to help make someone else's life better but do not have time to watch every ballgame on TV. That is also why a lot of believers age so gracefully, they are not spending every day worrying about dying and what will happen after they are gone. Those who believe in the risen Christ realize that we are only here for a part of our existence, and that what we have here, be it time or money, is given to us by God. Proper use of what we have been given turns us into a tool in the hands of a master craftsman. It amazes me the transformation a craftsman can create with good tools. A simple piece of wood becomes a thing of beauty. Simple rocks turn into a magnificent cathedral. All good craftsmen take care of their tools, but the day comes when they need a new one. Is today the day when we turn our binoculars around and decide to become a tool for the only craftsman that has the power to create the world?
tuning in by remote
I found a preacher who spoke of the light
but there was brimstone in his throat
He'd show me the way according to him
and return for my personal check
I flipped my channel back to CNN and I lit another cigarette
I take my chances, forgiveness doesn't come with a debt
Those are the lyrics of a song by Mary Chapin Carpenter. I heard it a while back and that last line stood out for me. I am as wary as most about the old line that some preachers use. You know the one," send your money to the Lord" but they give you their address. Forgiveness doesn't come with a debt. That line is right. Absolutely, positively, 100% forgiven without anything else to pay ever. Forgiveness doesn't come with a debt.
Trapped in a life of sin is somewhat like looking through binoculars backwards. You don't see a very big picture and everything looks far away. But forgiveness and repentance gives you the opportunity to turn the binoculars around. The sight picture becomes larger and more clear. The things of God become closer. That new perspective is why believers often do things that seem odd to people who are still trapped in sin. That is why people can give to the church, but not have enough money for the mega size plasma screen TV. That is why people can have time to go volunteer to help make someone else's life better but do not have time to watch every ballgame on TV. That is also why a lot of believers age so gracefully, they are not spending every day worrying about dying and what will happen after they are gone. Those who believe in the risen Christ realize that we are only here for a part of our existence, and that what we have here, be it time or money, is given to us by God. Proper use of what we have been given turns us into a tool in the hands of a master craftsman. It amazes me the transformation a craftsman can create with good tools. A simple piece of wood becomes a thing of beauty. Simple rocks turn into a magnificent cathedral. All good craftsmen take care of their tools, but the day comes when they need a new one. Is today the day when we turn our binoculars around and decide to become a tool for the only craftsman that has the power to create the world?
Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms and Grandmothers out in Ranchers land. Hope ya'll know that you are loved and appreciated even when us Males don't do to good of a job letting ya know it! :wink:
