Since God is a giver and he loved us to an extent we will never know, he gave his one and only Son, Jesus, to be a sin sacrifice for our sins, and if we trusted in his Son, God promised us eternal life with him—John 3:16 (King Jimmy Translation).
What Were You Thinking?
Have you read an article or watched a video that left you shaking your head in disbelief at the weirdness in the world? While your humble Aggie scribe recently surfed the Internet, several stories verified the senselessness of our “what were you thinking” culture.
************
In Oregon, Matthew T. Mglej, 26, a snowflake musician, went off the deep end when life’s pressures became too much. A federal judge dismissed his $1.1 million lawsuit, which claimed the local police violated his First Amendment right to protest when he was arrested for playing his violin in front of the federal courthouse. Of course, there is more to the story. Seems like little Mattie likes to fiddle in public while stark-naked and was arrested for public indecency. As far as that First Amendment thing, the judge said the musician’s nudity did not advance any specific message, thus his protest was not protected by the First Amendment or the state constitution.
What specific cause could he possibly be promoting?
************
In North Carolina, a Chinese restaurant owner found himself in hot water with the health department over a new menu item. Witnesses say he picked up a roadkill deer and took it back to the restaurant, apparently for processing. The health department surprised him while in the act of butchering the deer, which hung outside at the back of the restaurant. (Imagine “Dueling Banjos” from Deliverance playing in the background.)
“Oh, no,” he insisted. He had no intention of offering the meat to his customers. His explanation? He’d never cooked venison and wanted to try the taste. His excuse raised the eyebrows of the health inspector. Since no customers came in contact with the meat, the owner was not charged. He was ordered to properly dispose of the carcass and thoroughly scrub the kitchen.
The health department now monitors the restaurant closer than the Dallas Cowboys monitor police records for new players.
************
No offense to my IT friends, but even those in the Information Technologies field are not immune to weirdness. (Several jokes come to mind here, but I digress.) Hope is not lost for those who experience computer problems that IT departments cannot solve.
In Silicon Valley, people call Reverend Joey Talley, a Wiccan Witch, to expel the “demon virus” from the possessed computer. She walks in circles in the presence of the computer, feeling the energy in the room. This ritual determines her game plan for exorcising the virus.
The good reverend, who claims a 100 per cent success rate, sometimes tapes a charm to the computer and repeats “get-outta-here” chants. Other exorcisms involve either an amethyst or jet stone. She sprinkles sage over the work station and the foiled computer, then chants her hocus-pocus. The purification ceremony ends with a bowl of water with a magnet that somehow magically draws out the virus. The demon-contaminated water is flushed into the toilet never to corrupt an innocent computer again. Unfortunately, some poor unsuspecting soul, who follows the flushing, may come away with a new virus on their iPhone if they used it while meditating.
Reverend Tally reports she is busiest after a computer is updated to Windows 10.
************
God gave us his word as a guideline for living, yet the Scriptures record some unique characters, like Abraham, King David, or the prophet Jonah, whose stories make us wonder: What were you thinking?
How about Balaam? You remember him? He was the “Rent-a-Prophet,” also known as the “Donkey Guy.” King Balak of Moab hired Balaam to bring a curse upon Israel.
God told Balaam to have nothing to do with Balak, but when the king offered a handsome sum of money, it was too much of a temptation for the poverty-stricken prophet. He compromised himself, going with the earthly king instead of the heavenly King.
Because of Balaam’s disobedience, God blinded his spiritual eyes. While he rode his donkey on the way to curse Israel, his donkey saw the angel of God, sword drawn, ready to slay Balaam. The donkey came to a screeching halt. What a time for his donkey to break down while on his way to a gig. He beat the donkey three times to move him along.
Finally, the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and probably speaking perfect New York Yiddish, spoke sense to Balaam, asking what was he thinking? See Numbers 22 in the Old Testament for details.
Then we have King Solomon. What was he thinking? God called Solomon the wisest man on Earth. He’s credited with 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs. His fame spread throughout the world. Kings sought his wisdom. His expertise in botany, zoology, and animal husbandry astounded scholars. Despite his great wisdom, we have to ask Solomon: you had 700 wives and 300 concubines. What were you thinking?
Many issues in the Bible leave us asking What were you thinking?
What were you thinking, Lord God? when Adam and Eve disobeyed you, ushering sin into the world, yet you had already provided a way of forgiveness for sin?
What were you thinking, Lord God? when you gave us your word that revealed your holy character and your unconditional love for us, your fallen creation?
What were you thinking, Lord God? when you gave your only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for our sins so we could be reconciled back to relationship with you?
What were you thinking, Lord God? when you showed mercy and forgiveness to all who trust your grace?
What were you thinking, Lord God? when you know our track record of continual failure and stumbling, yet, as imperfect people, you trust us with your gospel?
What were you thinking, Lord God?
Love—that’s what I was thinking.
Stay close to Jesus
Lord, we thank you that even before we were born, you were thinking of us and made a way for us to be in a close Father/child relationship with you. What indescribable Love indeed!
Jimmy
P.S. Keeping up with just one Mrs. Aggie is a full-time job. One can imagine the extent of your humble Aggie scribe’s stuttering if he had 700 wives and 300 “others.”
Jimmy Eskew © 2016
THANKFUL 
Leave a Reply