Happen you live long enough, you’ll learn that the only reason you need to do the right thing is ’cause it’s the right thing.  Don’t get no more complicated than that.”
              –Ben Bridges (Montana Gunsmoke)

    “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”
              –Colossian 2:8 (NKJV)
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Deceit is very dangerous!  Whether it be blatant or subtle deceit, it is one of the most dangerous things in the world.  Perhaps that is why we are warned continually in the New Testament to “be alert” and to “guard the truth.”  If we are compromising, complacent, and curious, we are in danger of being prey to deceit.
    The ol’ serpent–Satan–is the master of deceit.  That is what he used on Eve in the garden.  Just a slight change of words, just a hint of something different and Eve went for it, then–WHAM!–she gave to Adam and–SMACK, WHAM!–the world was changed forever.  Man lost his innocence and from that time to today man has fallen for deceit.  
    The powermongers, the bureaucrats, and especially the media use deceit as part of their arsenal.  Sometimes there are outright lies, and the people believe them.  Sometimes the lies are subtle, and the people believe them.  Sometimes, the story is completely made up, and the people believe them.  Is it that people are gullible?  Yes, but more than that, people have forgotten and do not want to know the Truth.  Bring Jesus, the Truth, into the picture and the people shudder or they yell or they smirk or they begin to shake when the Truth is before them.  One thing to remember, the Holy Spirit will always cause a reaction when Jesus is presented.  There will either be conviction or there will be repentance.  Whenever you see a reaction of hatred you know that conviction is present and the people are doing their best to fight against it.
    An old time preacher once said, “If you see a dog fight and throw a stone at them.  The one you hit is the one that yelps the loudest.”  Hmmm, ponder that in the light of our wonderful, enlightened bureaucrats.  We are living in a day when deceit/lies are being told and those that are doing so have no feelings against lying.  They do so with a straight face.  Remember, those who lie, those who purposely try to deceive are of their “father.”  The devil was a liar from the beginning; he is the father of lies.
    I believe that this is a priming for the coming of the “man of lawlessness”–the Antichrist.  A person who will be skilled in deceit.  A person who knows how to promise and win over the multitudes.  Listen, this might be a time to read again the Book of Revelation.  The tinder is being laid, the kindling is set aside, and soon the match will be struck and the fire of deceit will be lit.  Instead of promises, promises; it will be lies, lies.  Hmmm, some things never change.
    One more thing to ponder–deceit is not always from a person.  The deceitfulness of riches is a very real snare.  Man wanting, always wanting.  The lack of satisfaction is apparent in our society.  Just look at the deceitfulness of advertisement.  Buy this…and you’ll get this; plus a big bill.  There is the man who works hard, puts in more hours because he is deceived thinking that if he works harder and longer he can provide more for his family–the one that he never sees or nurtures because he is too busy.  See, there are all kinds of deceit.
    Snares are traps that are hidden.  It takes a person of knowledge to look for and discover the snares that are along the way.  We are to be aware of the snares of the devil and to do that we must have the Word of God in our minds and hearts so that the Holy Spirit can lead us and tell us where to step to avoid the snares.

Inanimate things, driven physical things could not kill spirit.”
              –Zane Grey  (Black Mesa)

    “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.”
              –Luke 12:29  (NKJV)
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For a fact–the older I get the less I understand.  We are truly living in an unique time, if not strange.  People are afraid to speak lest they be labeled “racist” or “politically incorrect.”  People seem afraid of the truth, yet the truth will set you free.  There is unrest, a lack of stability, confusion, and for what reason?
    I saw where a woman said she was “traumatized for life” when she bit into a sandwich and found sausage.  Now, there is something wrong there.  Upset, maybe; frustrated for it was unexpected, but “traumatized for life” by biting into a piece of sausage?  Give me a break!  I sure hope nothing serious happens to her for the next step would to be traumatized for eternity.
    Then an article caught my eye:  “Stress Is Crippling Our Teens…”  Maybe I should have continued to read, but I thought to myself, “What in the world is so bad that our young people can’t handle it?  Yes, there is the threat of terrorism, but most people continue on, day-by-day not thinking much of it.  Gone are measles, smallpox, polio and a myriad of other diseases that once were rampant and took a toll.  Death can bring stress, moving to a new location, and divorce are other things that can bring on stress, but for the life of me, what is it that is bring stress crippling teenagers?
    I have had thousands of teenagers in my classes over the years; coached hundreds of players and there were a few that made that statement.  It was/is one that is hard for me to comprehend.  I would ask them, “Why the stress?”  Plus the fact that these were Christian teenagers.  “Stressed out!”  It boggled my mind.  They have a home, they have food, they are getting a good education, they have clothes, they have a phone(hmmm, that may be part of the problem), most have a car to give them freedom.  Why the stress?
    How did we get to bring about a generation of the “snowflakes”?  (I still like my terms:  cupcake, cream puffs, twinkies), but snowflake is a good term for whenever any kind of pressure is put on them they begin to melt.  But again, what stress, and why can’t they handle it?  Why do these snowflakes move from job to job; why do they always have to make an excuse; why is it so hard for them to accept that life is not always fair; why do they think they are always being picked on?  Why, oh why?
    We could perhaps point out several reasons, but it has to start at the home.  Their parents will harp on them to get good grades and then harass the teacher if the poor darling doesn’t make an “A”.  The administration will not back the teacher for they want a “blue-ribbon” school.  Plus the fact that we don’t want to hurt the dear little thing’s self-esteem.  Why do they give everyone a trophy?  Why don’t the parents make the kids work, and if discipline is needed why aren’t they consistent in the administering of it?  Why, oh why?
    The Bible teaches us that we are to “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6, NKJV) It is imperative that we teach diligently in our homes the Word of God.  Undue stress shouldn’t be allowed to rest upon the shoulders of a believer, but if a person, adult or teenager, is not grounded in God’s Word they will experience stress and fear.
    Parents – do not be afraid to be a parent–that is your foremost responsibility.  Teachers do not drop the standards, maintain the level integrity in your classrooms.  Pastors, preach the Word.  We need to all grasp what Peter wrote, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

What trouble comes, we will handle as we can, but nobody in my family ever drove a wounded man from his door, and we aren’t about to.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Killoe)

    “Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
              –Hebrews 1:14 (NKJV)
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Why are people so enthralled with angels?  I understand the angels adorning the Christmas tree for they were heralds of the birth of Christ.  However, I cannot understand having angels on the walls, pictures in the house, and making them almost magical.  I can understand, a little, the fascination, but most of the time our thoughts concerning them are wrong and not biblically based.
    Humans do not, and never will, become angels!  Angels are created beings, they were never conceived nor born.  They live in the heavenly realm, in the presence of God.  Angelic beings (I’m using that term to include cherubim and seraphim) have special duties and responsibilities.
    Angels do not receive grace, that is something reserved for man.  The concept of grace cannot be understood by them.  Jesus did not die on the cross to redeem angels, but to redeem man.  Angels, therefore, are not part of the company of the redeemed.  They will always continue to glorify God, but they cannot do it with the knowledge of saving grace.
    Why, then, do people think that the dead become angels?  Perhaps to appease conscience–maybe.  Perhaps to elevate a loved one in their mind upon their death.  Remember, after death comes the judgment, not elevation to the ranks of the angels.  Lazarus was called forth from the dead, why was he not an angel?  Maybe it takes a week or so to become one?!?  The rich man looked into Paradise and recognized men–Abraham and the beggar Lazarus, and they were not angels.  The witch of Endor called forth Samuel, and his ghost appeared–not Samuel the angel.
    There is not a place in the Bible that indicates man becomes an angel upon death.  As far as guardians angels…angels do minister to us, they help us when needed; however, the believer has the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.  I cannot see where there is an angel designated as our own personal “guardian angel.”
    People certainly have seen angels, but they mostly entertain them unawares (Hebrews 13:2).  But we must guard ourselves.  Angels will never contradict the Word of God.  In fact, Paul warns us not to accept a “gospel” even from an angel if it contradicts, compromises, or changes the Scripture.
    If we are not careful we can turn angels into idols.  They can become a distraction and our minds turn to them rather than Christ.  We pray to the Father, not angels, then if He decides, He might send one on our behalf.
    Oh, one more thing–when a bell rings it is not an angel receiving its wings.