Indecision

President Ronald Reagan used to tell a story about himself that helped him learn to make firm decisions from an early age.

When he was a boy, his aunt took him to a cobbler to have a pair of shoes custom-made for him. The shoemaker asked, "Do you want a square toe or a round one?" Reagan couldn't make up his mind so the cobbler said, "Come back in a day or two and tell me what you want."

A few days later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street and asked what he had decided about the shoes. Reagan said, "I haven't made up my mind."

The cobbler said, "Very well. Your shoes will be ready tomorrow." When Reagan got the shoes, one had a round toe and the other a square toe!

Reagan said, "Looking at those shoes every day taught me a lesson. If you don't make your own decisions, somebody else will make them for you."

Making impulsive decisions isn't wise. But neither is procrastinating about decisions. And don't forget that no decision is a decision.

Risk Taking

Life is full of risks. Every aspect of life is full of risks. An unknown author wrote these words:

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk exposing our true self.

To place your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To live is to risk dying.

To hope is to risk despair.

To try at all is to risk failure.

Even with all those risks, the greatest tragedy is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing accomplishes nothing. The person who risks nothing has nothing. The person who risks nothing feels nothing. And in the end, becomes nothing.

Don't be afraid to take a calculated risk. Risk is essential for growth in every area of life.

Speaking the Truth

I love the story about Peter Cartwright who was a circuit-riding Methodist preacher back in the 1800's. He was known for being straightforward and uncompromising.

One Sunday morning as he was about to preach, he was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation. He was warned not to say anything that would be controversial.

Cartwright went to the pulpit and said, "I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn't repent."

The congregation was shocked. They sat silently, wondering how the President might react. Jackson didn't flinch.

After the service, President Jackson shook hands with Peter Cartwright and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world."

We all need people in our lives who will speak the truth to us. Every president needs people around him who will tell him the truth. I've prayed regularly for years for the president of our country, no matter who is occupying the oval office. My prayer again this morning was that President Obama would surround himself with people who would rely, not on the wisdom of man, but on the wisdom of God. I pray that his convictions and direction would come from God's Word, not man's word, and that he would listen to wise and godly counsel. I don't consider that a selfish prayer, but all of us as citizens of the United States will benefit if our president will listen to and obey the truth that is based on the Word of God. As Psalm 33:12 says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."

D-Day

Today marks the 65th anniversary of the D-Day invasion at Normandy. Thousands of brave young men risked their lives to liberate Europe from the tyranny of Hitler and his Nazis. Many of those young men gave their lives to free millions of people they didn't know and would never meet.

Their act of self-sacrifice is an inspiration to us all. They remind us that freedom is not free. A huge price was paid to overthrow the Nazis. Our freedom was purchased with the blood of those who willingly gave of themselves that day and throughout World War II.

Brave men and women in our armed forces continue to risk their lives today, with many making the ultimate sacrifice, to maintain our freedom. We should all be grateful for those who serve to protect our liberty.

In the same way, Jesus Christ purchased our freedom by sacrificing his life and shedding his blood so our sins could be forgiven and we could receive the gift of eternal life. This ultimate freedom was also purchased with blood.

Just as our military has paid a price for our freedom, so also has God paid a huge price for us. Freedom isn't free. It's very expensive. Let's reflect on that thought and have hearts filled with gratitude for our national freedom, as well as our spiritual freedom.