This is my first attempt at a regular blog. If it helps not only for me to express but also for you to read then it has been worthwhile. My son and daughter-in-law for some strange reason seem to think that I have something to say of value. I hope they are truly perceptive and not delusional. I will leave that to you when you read my blog. Who knows it may even help you. I know it reminds me of how I should live.

I was reading in my Quiet Time (the time I read the Word and contemplate it) in Job this morning. I started at chapter 31 which starts out with Job’s declaration of how he keeps his mind from wandering into areas he shouldn’t. He says, “I have made a covenant with my eyes not to lust after a woman.” Because I spend time with a lot of guys helping them to escape the trap of lusting after every female skirt or pants that go by their line of sight I assumed that I would be meditating on that theme. No way!

This is one of my guys that I have spent time with. He is a Pastor in a post-modern church who wants to help guys in his church who struggle with every man’s battle aka pornography

What I discovered was Job’s self-justification of his righteous behavior or at least what he considered his righteous behavior. He did what all of us do when we are caught in attitudes or actions that we are embarrassed about by our friends or acquantences. He defends by comparing his life with what he doesn’t do that others do. How do I know that? Because 16 times he starts statements by using the word “if.” Some examples are Verse 5, “If I have walked in falsehood…” Verse 7, “If my step has turned from the way…” Verse 9, “If my heart has been seduced by…” and many others. What he is doing is he saying, “if only I had done the stuff that you guys do!” That is self-righteous. Rather than saying, “OK I blew it, I was wrong, etc.”

What’s my point? If we would watch our own responses to life circumstances by guarding against starting sentences with “if” every time we mess up and face up to what we did we would be a whole lot better able to meet life’s disappointments. This reminds me personally to watch my mouth.

If only I would do it?!

Ps. Happy Birthday my very special son, Christian.