The Journey - Part 2

This is a journal – a record of my experiences and lessons I have learned in my life including meaningful contacts with friends that I have encountered from time to time.

If one is to go on a journey or an expedition, besides provisions, there are three things that will aid success.  

1. One should have compass to help navigate relative to true headings. Postings relating to truths are labeled “The Compass”.
2. One should have a map complete with labels, legends, scales, etc. - as much information as possible.  Postings relating to the commandments, laws of God, and the gospel are labeled “The Map”.
3. One should have an experienced guide. Postings relating to Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) are labeled “The Guide”.

The reason for the journal is so that I can reflect, learn, and grow and that others may benefit if they so choose.  I hope you find enjoyment in reading this and decide to follow along with me.

Besides my Guide, it would be nice to have the company of others.  I am grateful for any encouragement you give and I am hopeful that you will be encouraged even more so.

Meriwether Lewis grave site and memorial near the place of his death.
Southwest of Nashville along the Natchez Trace

Although the role of Meriwether Lewis contributed to the success of Lewis and Clark's Corp of Discovery expeditions into the Louisiana Purchase in the first decade of the 19th Century, his own personal journey had a tragic and disappointing end before the decade was over.   With the Truth as our compass, the Holy Bible as our map, and Jesus Christ as our Guide, here is to our success!

He guarantees this when He answer Thomas' question as to how he was to get there with these words: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Who can you trust?

You can trust people who are basically honest, but not completely.  There are two things that get in the way. They may lack skill, talent, or resources to keep their promises or commitments or perform with the level of quality that is needed.  Or, you may not be able to trust someone to help reach objectives because they have a conflict of interest. Their objectives may be different than those needed.

A young woman once told me that she had been working in a managerial position for over a year. Worked extra hours and never complained about the workload. She felt she was an excellent employee.  It came as a shock to her to overhear her employer tell one of his friends that he did not trust her.  I asked her if she was ever dishonest with him, and she said he had not.  I asked her if inventory or cash ever came up missing, and she said no.  Then I asked her if she did what he asked, the way he asked, and for the reason he asked – and there was the problem. She felt she had better ideas, but her ideas often conflicted with his.  I advised her to go talk to him about it and see if that was the problem and she did; and it was. He could not trust her because she had different objectives than he.

Aullwood Road, Montgomery County, Ohio

In cases of politics, one politician or a constituent may recognize that a politician may be crooked, but because they have the same objectives they are “trusted” and even admired.  They will even excuse the outrageous lies and their deceitful schemes and back them in their elections, because they share political objectives.

In the case of American politics, I read a quote by one former presidential candidate say of a sitting president of the same party that he was the most dishonest person he ever met.

In the case of business and commissioned sales, greed kicks up unfair business practices and shady deals.  When push comes to shove, morals are often compromised.

As we previously discovered, having accurate information and believing truth is important to making the best decisions. It is also our individual responsibility to be upholders of truth and honest, and integrity to assure that we present complete and accurate information to others. This means we will have to place with the best interest of our neighbor ahead of our own.

What that means is for you and I to be trustworthy, we have to sacrifice our personal objectives to allow our neighbors to reach theirs; that is, of course, unless our objective is to put integrity first.

I personally believe that because of the LORD’s grace, that is to say His beneficent predisposition which is kindness, mercy, and love towards me, He is always looking for another reason to bless me – which He does. So I am very encouraged when I read “So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of righteousness. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it… “ _{Proverbs 2:20-21}

Preferring Truth

Although a person’s current conditions are a result of their actions based on what they believed to be true, I am curious as to why truth has little weight?  It plays a vital part in forming correct attitudes and making the best decisions but too often deceit is chosen. When truth contradicts what we believe or what we want, truth is denied or devalued to “it makes no difference”.

Does it make sense that if truth plays an important part in setting and maintaining our life courses that we would welcome it at every opportunity?

So why do we deny truth in our lives and why would we every say, ‘there is no such thing as truth’? 

If we want the most out of our lives, we need to first change our attitude towards truth. We need to seek truth, honesty, and integrity.  We need to be a conduit of what is true, and right, and good.

We need to seek truth, love it, and long for it.

Whenever you we see something that is not right in this world, you can believe that it is the result of a deception.  We need to trace the condition back to what it was that we believed that was not true.

Warren County, KY

Another consideration is to realize what deception does to us.  Deceptions create problems in interpersonal relationships, between communities, and between nations. Deceptions create conflicts between people – and by believing the deceptions we enslave ourselves to them. However, when Yeshua taught his disciples, He encouraged them with these words. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” _{John 8:31:32}

The Journey - Part 1

We wander through life as if most things are by chance - and perhaps they are.  Some of us even consider "life" is by chance.  I choose not to.

Life is not by chance, but by design, and with great purpose. For if it has no purpose and no destination, it has only a sad and tragic ending.

The truth is that life is a journey to a destination more beautiful, peaceful, and exciting than can be imagined.

To successfully reach our destination, we will need a COMPASS, and a MAP, and a GUIDE. Each of these will serve as major headings that you can search and compile.

Natchez Trace Parkway, Tennessee

You are welcome to join me as we explore looking for and creating happiness and peace in life in the light of God's Word.