Thought for October 26, 2024

  •  1492: Graphite pencil first used
  • 1787: Federalist Papers published
  • 1825: Erie Canal Opens
  • 1861: Pony Express ceases operations after 19 months
  • 1881: Gunfight at the OK Corral
  • 1901: First recorded use of a getaway car
  • 1950: Mother Teresa founds Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta
  • 1970: "Doonesbury" comic strip debuts
  • 1984: "The Terminator" released
  • Born: Mahalia Jackson, Jackie Coogan, Pat Conroy, Jaclyn Smith, Pat Sajak, Hillary Clinton, Sasha Cohen [Ice skater], Rita Wilson, Keith Urban, 
  • Died: Alfred the Great, Reuben Torrey [Pastor, Moody Church], Charles Comiskey, Hattie McDaniel [1st black actress to win an Oscar], Igor Sikorsky, Jackson Scholz ["Chariots of Fire"], Dottie Green [catcher for the Rockford Peaches, "League of Their Own", but not the inspiration for Dottie Hinson in the movie], Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Thought:
Have you ever made a bad trade or purchase--exchanged money for something that did not work or did not last. Certainly when I was with the Forty Niners we considered trades and made some--some good and some bad. You often hear sports talk shows consider the worst trades of all time. Atlanta Braves fans are grateful that the Tigers sent John Smoltz to Atlanta for Doyle Alexander. The Mets traded Nolen Ryan to the Angels for Jim Fergosi. The Seattle Sonics traded Scottie Pippen to Chicago for Olden Polynice. And of course, th Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000 and a loan to finance the musical, "No No Nanette." 

In Romans 1:22-27 we have two bad trades made by man.Two exchanges that were and are a disaster.
  • In verses 18-23, Paul talks about the fact that God is revealed through His creation. Creation itself reveals that there is a creator who is worthy of worship and praise. But professing to be wise, man became fools by exchanging the glory of God revealed in nature for graven images. Seems like today we have a similar problem--professing to be smart, intelligent, wise, we reject the truth of the Creator and worship athletes, entertainers, politicians, preachers, intellectuals. 
  • In verses 24-27, Paul says we exchanged the natural function of sex for the unnatural because of our degrading passions. I really don't have to comment much here--we have parades, television shows and commercials, political candidates, news media and others who celebrate perverted lifestyles and seek legal protections based on these perversions. 
So, what Paul wrote about 2000 years ago, we see every day. Man is corrupt and corrupted. But think for a moment about the bad exchanges, the foolish trades. God created a perfect world and a perfect relationship and roles for men and women. But, thinking we are wise, we exchanged those for something we think we made and something to satisfy our degraded passions. And we reap the results of those exchanges every day. 

Lord, forgive us for making foolish exchanges. I make them every day. I exchange Your perfect way for my imperfect way. I apply my wisdom rather than Your wisdom. I rely on my strength rather than Yours. I continue to make bad trades. Help me be true to Your truth and Your way.

Blessings
Larry

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