Today is the final day of a two-week vacation. The excessive heat outside this past week made it impossible to do outside projects after noon, so I did get a lot done inside. One morning while working outside I was cutting down a tree in the back that was dying. I had the tree down and was trimming branches off to cut firewood when I got the bar pinched. While working to get it free I must have twisted the chain just enough that it wasn’t in alignment. When I finally got it free and revved up the engine, the chain came off the bar. There’s nothing scarier than to have the razor sharp teeth of a chain saw come flying off the bar. I had to have both the chain and bar replaced, for they were both damaged. However, I’ve spent the last couple of days thanking God that I wasn’t seriously injured by that free-flying chain.

Life is full of risks and close calls. Anyone who gets behind the wheel of an automobile and drives 70 MPH is taking a risk. Anyone who eats last year’s food processed full of preservatives is taking a risk. Anyone who falls in love and gets legally married is taking a risk. We will simply never accomplish anything without taking a risk.

Since we can’t prove God exists, and must take Him by faith, even trusting God requires a risk. But some risks are worth taking. Where would we be if we didn’t trust in God? Hopeless.

Tags: accident, faith, risks

Remember the old hymn that says, “I once was blind, but now I see”? Have I ever told about the time I was blind? I was about 12 or so and was working on a project in the back yard. I was using a can of spray paint and it was clogged. I had seen my Dad clear out a clog before, so I felt confident in my ability. I took the plunger off and stuck a paperclip down in the hole. Nothing happened, so I took a closer look. Bad idea!

It was a can of white paint and the moment I looked down it let go. I spray painted my eyeballs white. I immediately panicked. I could see nothing. So I called my little sister over and told her to lead me to the bathroom, where I began flushing my eyes with cold water. My sister then got Mom. As Mom stepped into the doorway of the bathroom, I opened my eyes and looked at myself in the mirror. I could see again! That’s when Mom burst out laughing. She had no mercy on my miserable soul. She just laughed at me. Dad got a pretty good kick out of it, too, but he just told me how to clean the paint off my face and hair: with gasoline. My face turned from white to red.

I learned a pretty good lesson that day. What lesson does that story remind you of?

Tags: accident, blindness

The story I recounted yesterday reminded me of an experience I had in basic training. We were running a similar obstacle course, with full combat gear and bayonets affixed. I had just run through a mud hole and next had to run across a log over a small ravine. As I got about half way across, my boots slipped and I fell, straddling the log.

I immediately began to lose my balance and slip to the right side of the log. Instinctively jerking my arms up to regain balance, my bayonet caught on the side of the log and the butt of the rifle struck my lower lip, splitting it open. Stunned senseless, I fell onto my back to the ravine bottom. I lay there for a few seconds until my drill sergeant yelled at me to get up and move on. When I stood, he saw the blood running down my chin and onto my jacket. That’s when they pulled me off the course and took me to the first aid station.

Its easy to lose your footing when you’ve been wading in the mud. If we don’t want to fall into sin, we must avoid wading around in it. If we’ll clean our behavior up, we’ll have a better grip on life. Clean something up today.

Tags: accident, fall, sin, slip, unclean

We all have scariest moments that emboss an unforgettable picture in our minds. Halloween is noted for scary moments. What’s yours?

When I was in my middle twenties I was a brand new Christian and drove a 1970 Volkswagen Beetle. I was driving north one day on State Road 1 in Steuben County. I heard the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit remind me to fasten my safety belt, but I enjoyed the freedom too much to respond. Seconds later, as I was driving into a curve, I realized that I was left of center as another car approached. I quickly over-corrected and swerved off the road into the ditch. Seeing a pole in front of me, I steered into the cornfield, still loose from the spring planting. Sliding sideways in the loose soil, the car tipped over and rolled like a ball several times. Seeing what was about to happen, I reached upwards with both hands against the ceiling of the car and pressed myself into the seat. “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,” I cried out.

When the dust had settled, the car was resting on its side, all windows broken out. I hurriedly crawled out of the front window opening in case there might be a fire. I learned right then and there to listen to that still small voice. Later Anita, who I had just starting seeing, came over to pick pieces of glass out of my back, but nothing was broken.

I think that was my scariest moment. It came when I was out of control and vulnerable. I didn’t have time to think about it, but I knew there was nothing I could do but hang on for the ride. Fear grips us when we have lost control and step into the unknown where we have to trust. The Bible says God has not given us a spirit of fear.

What was your scariest moment and what lessons have you learned?

Tags: accident, fear, Halloween, scary, trust

When a cowboy applied for an insurance policy, the agent asked, “Have you ever had any accidents?” After a moment’s reflection, the applicant responded, “Nope, but a bronc did kick in two of my ribs last summer, and a couple of years ago a rattlesnake bit me on the ankle.”

“Wouldn’t you call those accidents?” replied the puzzled agent. “Naw,” the cowboy said, “they did it on purpose!”

The Bible does teach that there are no accidents in the life of a believer. “All things work together for good…to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Had any accidents lately that turned out to be a blessing?

Tags: accident, humor, trials, trouble

In the latter 1800’s Alex was very concerned about his wife’s problem with her hearing, so he set about to invent a hearing aid. After many months on the design of the hearing aid, it all came to no avail. He had failed and never did produce such a device. However, out of his efforts, Alex discovered the principles of the telephone. A year later, the first sentence was transmitted over his new “talking machine”.

Few people realize that what Alexander Graham Bell invented was not his original intent, but was an accident. His failure had become an unexpected success. He did not allow his failure to discourage him, but simply shifted gears and worked tirelessly to perfect an instrument that has revolutionized communication. The whole world benefits from Alex’s accident and that he refused to give up!

Ecclesiates 9:10a says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” Let’s not be discouraged by failure, but expect God to lead every disappointment into a newly discovered success.

What have you accomplished or discovered “by accident”?

Tags: accident, failure, telephone