Just A Thought

 Every week this guy comes to our neighborhood making a considerable racket. I don’t know his name, and he doesn’t seem to come at the same time of the day. But he slams things around so violently that you can hear him for blocks. Many times he will cause a ruckus for 20 or 30 minutes. I’m sure everyone in the neighborhood hears it. It’s a disturbance of the peace! There have been times when he has added insult to injury by revving his engine (he drives a very large truck) and honking his horn. To make matters worse, since our road is rough, his rig rambles and clanks and roars through our usually quiet neighborhood - to the point that everyone is impacted.

This commotion has been taking place regularly for years. But, to my knowledge, no one has ever called the authorities. In fact, to be honest, people are actually paying him to do it. Even I fall into that category. The “guy” I referred to is the garbage man. Or to be more politically correct, the sanitation collector. Everyone in the neighborhood understands that we can’t have our garbage picked up unless we are willing to give up a few minutes of quiet time each week. 

This is a principle that can be applied to many things in life. Scripture put it like this in Proverbs 14:4 (nlt): “Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.” In other words, there are some realities in life that we just need to accept.

Practically speaking, we all would do well to make our peace with things in life that are unpleasant but necessary:   

·      We can’t have a garden without tilling, planting, watering and weeding. 

·      We can’t have a good marriage or family life without sacrifice, hard work and selflessness.

·      We can’t even be eternally saved without denying ourselves, picking up our cross and following Jesus.

Making peace with life and making peace with God are synonymous for believers. Most of mankind’s history has been plagued with situations where man was not willing to live life as God designed. But if one can make their peace with God and with the path that He allows them to walk, they will experience a peace and a joy that makes that life far more enjoyable and fruitful.

While there are times to fight, and times to persevere for things we desire, there are also times to accept the inevitable and learn to live at peace with things over which we have no control. For those who are wondering when to fight and when to rest, I would recommend a consultation with God and His Handbook. God didn’t promise life would be easy; He just promised to be a good Heavenly Father. He is faithful, and He has prepared an eternal place for those stay close to Him and trust Him, as they journey through this broken world. I have found that a daily talk with Him helps me find perspective and make peace with life - in real time.

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Saturday, September 27, 2025

 I recently had the opportunity to stand before Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, which stands 481 feet high, is the world's tallest pyramid. But the world's largest, but less famous, pyramid lies half a world away in Cholula (chow·loo·Luh), Mexico. The Great Pyramid of Cholula was built by The Toltecs. This was a mighty civilization that many have never heard of. This pyramid is about 217 feet tall with a base of 1,476 by 1,476 feet. It boasts a total volume of 157 million cubic feet; that is almost twice that of the Great Pyramid of Giza!

Many of the pyramid's stairways, platforms, and altars have been unearthed. Historians believe the massive monument was built in several stages from 300 BC to 700 AD. The temple built above the pyramid served as a center of worship for Quetzalcoatl. He was the Aztec god of learning and books. But the temple was abandoned around the 8th or 9th century AD. As years passed, the pyramid was covered by heavy vegetation.

The structure blended in so well with the nearby hills and mountains that the Spaniards, who conquered Mexico in 1521, mistook it for a natural hill. They destroyed the temple on its summit and replaced it with a colonial church. The pyramid only came to light in the 1930s when the dirt started to fall away. Since then, archeologists have excavated many of the pyramid's stairways, platforms, and altars. They have also dug over five miles of tunnels in and around the pyramid.

The reader may be aware that Egyptians, the Olmecs, the Mayans, the Incas, and the Aztecs all built pyramids.  Almost all societies have built tall structures. Many times people are attempting to do what those who built the tower of Babel were trying to do. Those at Babel thought they could build high enough to avoid the judgement of God. The societies who buried their kings in pyramids also buried the rulers’ servants and wealth, in an effort to equip the king for the afterlife. Their efforts only provided loot for thieves.

Looking back at many societies we can see that they all had ideas about life and the afterlife, but they were not God ideas. God wants the truth to make us free.  That is why the Bible is such a powerful force in the believer’s life. His word can correct bad mindsets. He can heal our thinking. This is true of people with well minds that are misinformed. It is also true for people whose minds have become confused or deceived.

Here are a few scriptures that give us hope that God can help us think right.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. – Proverbs 3:5-8

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. - Romans 12:2

God went to so much trouble to write a manual for life. It is well worth reading and heeding.

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Friday, September 19, 2025

 Suppose you have the courage and privilege to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. With the help of a guide, you fly to a beautiful island that few tourists ever get to see. You then hike into a remote village that has recently been discovered and celebrated for its beauty and non-existent crime-rate.

As you crest the hill your eyes are bombarded with beauty everywhere; exquisite cottages, lush gardens, clear blue water and the laughter of happy people. Your guide settles you into your ocean-view cottage. You shower and munch on a mango while perusing the menu of the resort restaurant, which has been highly recommended. Minutes later you enter the restaurant, and the hostess greets you with a broad smile. But you are taken back at the sight. This otherwise healthy person’s teeth are black and decaying. But you are quickly distracted as you are seated by a window overlooking the crystal-clear ocean.

Soon your waiter comes to the table. He also greets you with a broad smile, and you are shocked to see that he, too, has blackened teeth and bleeding gums.  If fact you soon notice that every native villager has rotten teeth. 

Upon returning to your room, your curiosity overtakes you and you ask the resort hostess the awkward question. “What is wrong with everyone’s teeth?”

“Nothing that I know of,” she replies.

You venture further, “Do you have any toothbrushes or toothpaste I could purchase?” 

That starts a conversation you thought you would never have. She explains that she has never heard of such a thing. So you go to your luggage and retrieve your oral hygiene supplies so you can demonstrate and explain that regular brushing keeps teeth strong and clean. But she is not convinced. She asks you to explain to a few co-workers. Several of them take a little toothpaste and put it on the tip of their tongue. They immediately grimace at the strong taste and declare: “I don’t see how you could even stand to put this in your mouth. And the brush looks painful. Nobody around here does anything like you are suggesting. I don’t think we’re interested.”

Oral hygiene is an optional freedom from tooth decay. If you try to offer this freedom to someone who is unfamiliar with it, they may think you are strange. You may likely leave that place not having been able to help anyone. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.

One day as Jesus taught he made two statements: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” and “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:32,36.

God sets us free from many things. Then He asks us to help him set others free. But, many times, His freedom involves choices that are counter-cultural or go against the advice of “experts.” This can be frustrating, because many times people’s mindsets, fears and cultures can be so strong that they will resist freedom. But it is not proof that God’s ways do not set people free; it is only proof that many people won’t try God’s ways.

Jesus said he came to set at liberty those that are bound. Very few immediately took Him up on His offer. But eventually many were set free by His life and ministry. Even today God may have set some of us free from some things. Others may not believe or understand when we try to share those truths with them. But we should still offer. Maybe someone will be brave enough to let God set them free.

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Saturday, September 13, 2025

 It was a cold New England day 25 years ago, as I tried to maintain my perch on the roof. I clutched a board with my cold left hand and maneuvered the eight pound pneumatic nail gun with my right. Aiming carefully, I pulled the trigger. Unfortunately the  3 ½” nail, that was driven by the nail gun, hit a knot in the board and deflected so that it penetrated the middle finger on my left hand. Ouch! Since the nail was driven by air compressed to 90 pounds per sq inch, and since the nail was traveling 1400 ft per second, it hit my knuckle and just bounced my hand away from the board. 

The cold made me somewhat numb to the pain, but I took a moment to nurse my wound. There was not much blood, so I just continued to work. Only later would it become evident that I probably fractured my bone or did some other kind of permanent damage. Even today, that knuckle is a little larger than my others and cold weather can cause stiffness and pain. In other words, it happened long ago and was not major, but it continues to affect my life today.

We often experience emotional pain, loss and crippling that is just as real as physical pain. Due to families of origin, financial challenges, health challenges, or other disadvantages, some people seem to have more than others to handle. 

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing claims that 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. The Domestic Violence Center of Chester reported than nearly half of all women (48.4%) and men (48.8%) in the United States experience psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and that 95% of perpetrators who physically abuse their intimate partners also psychologically abuse them.

Rather than lamenting the fact that we will all experience emotional pain, we should focus on the fact that God planned for emotional healing. God knew life would include all kinds of injury and pain. Like a good Shepherd, He leads us, but He does not shield us from all of life. When we need it, He leads us by still waters and anoints our head with oil.    

When we have physical pain, we don’t usually just stuff it, deny, talk to it or blame someone for it and then go on.  We tend to it and nurse the wound. So, it is only reasonable to minister to our emotional wounds in the same way. The believer already has some direction for this:

·      Psalm 147:2  tells us “He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”

·      In Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” 

·      Isaiah 9:6 refers to Jesus as “Wonderful counselor.”

·      In Luke 5:32 he is called “the great physician.” 

·      In John 14:26, when Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, He used a word that the AMP defines as “The Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby).”

Notice how much emphasis these scriptures put on emotional healing. While I know some people are not in touch with their emotions, and others think they are supposed to dismiss their feelings, we would all be wise to recognize that we all have emotional wounds or baggage that needs to be addressed. But this takes a little more humility and vulnerability than some other kinds of healing. It is a mountain that only the brave take on. But this kind of healing is clearly offered to those who believe.

# posted by John W. Hanson @ Friday, September 05, 2025