Tuesday, January 14, 2014

exceptions to the rule









Here is a quick quiz, just to see how smart you are, or think you are, or should be.  Here goes...You buy a new car on the 15th of May, 2010.  It comes with a 4 year, aka 48 month warranty, or 50,000 miles-whichever comes first.  If you don’t exceed the miles, what date does your car warranty expire?  Tic...tic...tic...times up.  If you said May 15th, 2014, you are out of warranty, by one day.  Your warranty expired on May 14th at midnight, sorry.  And so the language of contracts goes, at least in the automotive world.  But of course there are exceptions to the rule.  First if you bought an extended warranty, you may be out of the woods, but only for covered items, that must be mentioned by name.  After a deductible, they pay the balance.  But what if your warrantee really has expired, who do you turn to to plead your case?  First the dealer, who has a special list of requirements to help out, to provide goodwill in the situation.  If out by time, did you make the appointment while still in warranty?  Did you buy the car from us, service it from us as scheduled?  Loyalty is a big thing to dealers.  Do you know someone at the manufacturer?  Do you play for the Chargers or Padres?  Are you looking to buy another?  Are you related by family to someone that works here?  And the list can be endless...so manufacturers have come up with goodwill, allowing cars out of warranty to be repaired as if under warranty.  Known problems will be handled, persistent people will be helped-sometimes, and sometimes without even asking, we would help a person out.  But those who owned the Mercedes Benz had become familiar with the goodwill situation, and never hesitated to use it.  Or at least ask for it.   Proving that lunch may not always be free, but if you wait awhile it may be discounted.
And it seemed the higher the income level, the more they groveled.  Some would outright beg.  Yes we know you make $3 million per year, and yes the part is $50-maybe we can meet in the middle.  You pay the $50, and we’ll call it even.  And lawyers were the worst, would you trust an attorney who asked you to break the law?  Try that one in court counselor?  And the one time I accepted a man’s offer to trade, he screwed me, or tried to.  Only my firm affirmation that everyone at the dealer, where he liked to hang out, would be told how he lied to me the next morning kept him honest, or at least as honest as he could be.  So there are exceptions to the rule...sometimes.
Working parts takes a talented individual, and one who must read the details and footnotes.  Looking up a part for a car, and it says built after May 1st, 2010, means build dates of May 2nd and newer.  So when confusion ruled, they changed the wording to built on May 2nd and after...no doubt there, right?  Same with VIN codes, and other questions he may ask you...all cars have a VIN for a reason, which tells the build date.  Very important as we now know.  NO exceptions there, square pegs will only fit in round holes with a bigger hammer, don’t force it, do it right the first time.  Suddenly that goofy, tattooed, smelly geek across the parts counter isn’t so stupid after all.  You are.  And they never forget.
There are no exceptions to God, but there are some exceptional people.  You MUST be born again to enter the kingdom of God.  No exceptions.  We are not all God’s children, but only those who accept Him, the Him being Jesus Christ.  So God has made it easy, no dates, scores, or exceptions.  And since it is a gift you cannot earn, be glad God doesn’t mark on the curve.  Suppose it took 100% to get into heaven-no one would ever have made it.  Suppose 90%, or a A.  But what if you only got an 89-and you didn’t?  Yet some people within churches will tell you these falsehoods, aka lies.  And soon we have whole churches espousing them, then whole denominations.  When God has made it simple.  So sorry JW, LDS, and others who deny the deity of Jesus Christ, or believe it is based on how well you do.  It is all about Jesus, the 100% grade you never could get, and He gives it freely.  And His forgiveness goes on forever-you are forgiven for all time, every time, the first time you ask.  But it is always a good thing to confess sins to God, as they will continue to happen, not for salvation, or forgiveness, but to stay mentally clean with God.  Like working out, keep your walk strong, as God says.  Daily.  Miss a day, pick up where you left off...but keep on keeping on. And there are no exceptions to the rules, that wouldn’t be love, and no special cases, or goodwill... You mean free salvation isn’t enough?  So accept Christ today, and follow Him, and you won’t fall into the trap set out before you to trip you up.  Funny how most of the New Testament warns of false teachers, and 2 John is all about it.  Stay with what you know, and when you know Jesus, you have made the right choice.
And take it further, showing His love to others, as He has forgiven you.   A true sign that you belong to Him.  And keeping in mind that God makes no exceptions, plays no favorites, but that you can still be exceptional and a witness for God.  Doing it for Him, making it all about Jesus...the rest comes easy.  Or at  least not as hard.  For tough times will come, but our God is tougher, stronger, mightier, and more loving.  Remember Maxwell Smart, Agent 86, “missed by that much,” but you still missed.  So go with Jesus, and you will never miss.  Oh, you may come close, but you will never miss heaven.  What promise have you come to believe?  Stick to God’s truth-exceptional rewards for those who are less than exceptional.  With no exceptions.  He knows your name, do you know His?  Stop and think, what exception is there to love?  And would you want it?  Choose Jesus, show just how smart you really are.  No deductible, no cards to carry, no books to pass out, or bikes to ride.  Start now...go on forever.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com