After chewing out his players, a coach asked "just how stupid do you think I am?" To which one of the brighter ones replied, " gee coach, I never gave it much thought." This is probably the same guy who when asked what he was going to do when he got his varsity letter for football, was advised to have someone read it to him. We would never be that dumb, and although we make fun of people like this, and their answers, they seem to always end up as senators, lawyers, talk show hosts, or in this case advertisers. I laugh now, but the first 100 times I saw this commercial I got upset, I don't anymore because my audience is tired of me doing it. Once again for the very first time.
This commercial is sponsored by one of these make life better by getting along foundations. In it a son is telling how his dad was always helping others, fixing cars, etc. It shows Dad changing the tire on a 56' Chevy, and the son watching. Then tells how good it is to get along, as the son sits in the front seat of an early 50's Chevy pickup that won't start. As the son explains how sometimes he got to help his dad, he cranks the motor, with the headlights on, they blink and then the truck starts. Mission accomplished, a father and son moment. And then the son turns off the truck, gets out, and hugs his dad. As they are seen walking away talking, they cue to the truck-sitting parked with the headlights on. And I wonder, how smart was this dad, and his kid? No wonder it wouldn't start-he left the headlights on! And I wondered, if in this family, maybe brains are like diarrhea. They're hereditary, as they run in your genes/jeans.
And this really bothers me, as the message is good, but what moron leaves the lights on, in front of his dad, the mechanic? "Dad, the truck won't start again." And I can see dear old dad, with son in tow, under the hood-the makings of another precious family moment. "Gee Joey, I thought we had it fixed, turn the lights off and let's see what the problem is." How stupid do they think we are?
When working for Coke, I sat at a meeting between the owner and his son. Looking down, I noticed the old man had on a blue and black sock. And looking at his son's feet, he had on the other pair! Now in fairness to the old man, he had been talking about Bill Cosby, the new Coke spokesman, and also told how he loved to listen to him sing in the forties, and didn't remember him being black. Crosby, not Cosby. Black and blue-not the colors I wish to wear. Wonder if he ever left his lights on, does he drive a pickup? I have also watched a group of talented race mechanics, perplexed because the bike will start and stall. The race is about to start, when his son, the racer, reaches over and turns the gas on. And heads off to the starting grid. V room, vroom!
Of course nothing like this has happened to me, or you. Be careful, as you lose points for credibility here. For we have all done or said things we wish we hadn't, at least when we said them. These are things that make life, well life. And life is what interferes with our plans, sometimes. And gives another opportunity to go to God. Where we find forgiveness and guidance-and love.
So my question for today is this-we serve a loving God. He tells us He forgives our sin, removing it from as far as the east is west. It is forgotten, no records kept, no hard drive images-THEY ARE GONE! So why when we pray, do we remind God of things He has forgotten? "God, this is Mike-the guy who broke the window-and didn't tell anyone." And God says "what window? I have no record of your sin." And He doesn't, we're forgiven, but we love to remind Him. And I don't understand why. We bask in the glory of forgiveness, but continually ask for it all over again. I like what a noted author once wrote, "every time you ask God for forgiveness, He is hearing it for the first time." You see, He forgets, a key component to forgiving. But we don't. So tip for the day-forget it. And enjoy God's grace and mercy-in His forgiveness. Everything we couldn't do via sacrifices, He did via Jesus-He paid the price for all sins-past, present , and future. I like that. So next time, in a moment of pride, you feel the need to ask God to forgive you for being the worst sinner on earth, anticipate God's answer. You see only a loving father is truthful always with His children. You are forgiven-for always, and forever. For every sin you ever committed, or will commit. That's grace.
So maybe today, go to your heavenly father with our problem, before you enter into sin. Turn off the headlights, turn on the gas, remember Cosby ain't Crosby, and tell your kid get his own socks. And spend time just you and God. And listen as He explains things, shares things, and shows you things that only a loving, forgiving God can do-your heavenly father. And spend some time in His advertising manual-the Bible. Too bad they don't make ads like that anymore-but aren't you glad they don't have to! A father to love you, a son to forgive you, a spirit to guide you, and all written about in a book to give you life.
Right now is the perfect time for that next father/son moment. Excuse me, while I have mine. Let's pray.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogpsot.com