It was almost a year ago that I posted over a several week time-period a series of blogs on prosperity. Those blogs were inspired by several events which motivated me to write down a few thoughts which I had learned on the subject. The first event was the beginning of the “Great Pandemic” as people were seized by their fears and the loss of income and jobs. The great debate surrounded government checks and resources and how we would navigate this “locked-down” world. People were scrambling for government’s monetary crumbs when God’s Word promised far more for His people.
Popeye the sailor man was a cartoon character created in the 1930’s and was initially presented in movie theaters as a theatrical “short” before the main movie presentation. Popeye was a grumbling, pipe smoking, short-tempered character who most often found himself in a fight with his nemesis, “Brutus”, over the affections of his girlfriend, “Olive Oil”. I remember watching it as a kid in the 1960’s and like a few cartoons, made an impression in my mind which has lasted all these years.
I have been recently asked how gambling is a biblical worldview issue. It is a valid question and since Florida is, at this moment, considering a renewal of the 30-year compact with the Seminole tribe concerning the extent, enlargement and administration of gambling, it is a question which deserves an answer. Especially from a pastor and Christian advocacy organization which espouses a biblical worldview philosophy. (NOTE: My answer is my own and not necessarily the organization’s official position.)
As I write this post / blog, I have recently celebrated 39 years of marriage with the wife of my youth, Tracie Baird. As she could testify, I am no relationship expert. Honestly, when the Lord passed out giftings, she was given (as are most women) the innate relationship abilities. I, on the other hand (like most men), have had to learn relationship and marriage through my own ineptness and difficult process. Tracie deserves an award for patience and stick-to-itiveness. Say what you want, marriage is hard work for the vast majority of us. Yes, there are some couples who find one another, and both have certain personality types which perfectly sync, and their journey is continual, blissful joy, but that dynamic is rare. You have probably heard the old saying that opposites attract. That is often the case. We like and are drawn to potential spouses which have strengths where we are potentially weak or lacking. The relationship should work well on paper, but in reality, it can be a bumpy road. And full discloser with regards to our marriage. We have journeyed 39 years together as husband and wife, but there were some bumpy, challenging times. We made some decisions along the way to refuse to call it quits no matter the challenges.
