Wednesday, September 18, 2013

to get to the other side











A government survey today announced that advertising has an effect on what you eat.  I’m sure that Mickey D, Pizza Grunt, Papa Juan’s Pizza and every knows it’s Windy’s will be glad to hear that.  Burger Thing may finally be having it their way, all at our expense.  And I wonder, what did they expect from their ads?  But then again, what did you expect from your government?  They obviously never saw the ad that you can have it your way...as long as it it their way.  But in other headlines today, a startling report that has been out for years is circulating again.  Did you know that over 10% of all bridges in the US of A are in danger of collapsing?  They meet some criteria to cause danger, and of that, another 10% of them are in danger of imminent collapse, based on two different studies and their overlapping criteria.  It seems that the rush to build the Interstates in the 1950’s provided cheap labor and materials to build them, and many are at their life expectancy-almost 60 is all they were designed to last.  And since things were good for Richie, Potsie, and Ralph back then, they never figured that today we would be in such a big mess.  Their parents had survived the Great Depression, WWII, the Big One, and were assured of prosperity.  Taxes were very low, people trusted their government, and the future looked rosy.  We all had hopes and dreams to be realized, some as big as the fins on a 1959 Cadillac, and we were the US of A-nothing would stop us.  It was our right, we deserved it, we had fought for it, and anyone who thought different was labeled a Communist or dissident.  We had come a long way in a short time, and nothing would stop us...not even Russia or the fact they had...the bomb.  We had more and ours were bigger.
Now any elementary school kid knows why the chicken crossed the road, to get to the other side.  And it is the same answer for bridges, why do we cross a bridge, to get to the other side.  There really is no other reason for it, it can be that simple.  But just prevent us from getting to that other side, and look out.  Before the Coronado Bay Bridge a ferry was the only way over, try taking that away today.  Side note-the Coronado Bay Bridge is unique in that when it was paid off, they cancelled the tolls, and today it is free.  See-it can be done.  No survey yet to back that one up.  Want to throw traffic into a panic like when the Oakland Bay Bridge collapsed, throw an earthquake.  When more traffic lanes needed, build Martha under George like the George Washington Bridge.  And so bridges basic function is to get us to the other side.  And like bridges, they fascinate me, bridges like the Astoria Bridge, the Mackinac Bridge, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge have all made getting to the other side more interesting, more entertaining.  Just driving on the Golden Gate and looking up at the towers is awe inspiring.  Yet too many of these bridges are in need of repair or maintenance, and some are starting to fall unexpectedly.  Despite the warnings.
Now that you have been reminded of why chickens and bridges cross the roads, ask yourself, is there a bridge to heaven?  Do we need one?  The last survey I heard of shows 100% of all of us will die.  No sample group needed in this one.  No placebos, no trick questions.  100% of us will die-always has been, always will be.  And the question is what happens and where do we go?  It is our choice, heaven or hell, and the bridge to heaven is via Jesus Christ.  Without Him we fall into the bottomless pit called hell, but He offers us a bridge to heaven.  A bridge without toll, a bridge for any and all...and he is the only bridge to get us to heaven.  Again the basic function of a bridge, to get to the other side.  Yet some doubt there is an other side, or try to be a good person to get there.  They have developed a set of standards, using their own criteria, and when that bridge fails, there is no coming back.  There are no second chances.  A certain rich man in Luke 16 when seeing Lazarus, a poor beggar he ignored everyday in heaven, and he in hell, begged for a drop of water for his tongue, and to go back and warn others.  Yet he was refused, there is no bridge back...and if you are in heaven, why would you want to return?  So it is only those caught in the lie and unwilling to trust Jesus that suffer, and have no chance.  But we do now, are you willing to trust God to get you to heaven, or some goofy religion, or think you are good enough on your own?  Don’t believe in heaven, hell is full of those like you...together but forever alone from God.  Bridge out...they ignored the warnings.  So today heed the advice of one Lawrence Berra, aka Yogi, when you come to the fork in the road, take it.  And when you are offered passage to heaven via the bridge we call Jesus Christ, take it.  Guaranteed you will never want to come back, and be glad you made the right choice.  All others, you had your chance.  So be like the Coronado Bay Bridge, your tolls have been paid, your sins forgiven, and you are able to cross for free. 
All based on a loving God on the other side, who wishes you to spend eternity with Him.  A bridge with all lanes open, a bridge that needs no repairs.  A bridge that unlike our lives needs no maintenance, and one that is always open.  We will all cross over some day, I choose the bridge known as Jesus.  To get to the other side.  Hope to see you there.
Think about it, heaven.  No taxes, no crime, no long lines to wait in, and no politics.  With a future that looks rosy forever.  Even Ralph and Potsie couldn’t say no to that.  Unlike today, those days will be our Happy Days.  He Dad, can I borrow the car for a date?  A-Y-Y-Y-Y!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com