STEALING WATERMELONS

STEALING WATERMELONS

Tuesday, February 07, 2017

1John [ESV] 3:18-23 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. [Rom.12:1-3]

Actions

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Attitude

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Beliefs

  As a lad I stole watermelons . . . and cherries and strawberries and equipment from mothballed WWII trucks and armor and from boxcars. The taste and the money were good but not at all the main motivation. The collegiate razor’s edge excitement with sense of power was the list topper, just as I believe it is today.  (I see this in decades of volunteer jail and prison ministry.)

  Without God consciousness why live a factory or cubicle life? It wasn’t the desire to do wrong things. It was doing wrong things that quickened our spirit. Sadly, some of my childhood friends rejected the Lord’s omniscience and lost many years behind razor wiring.

  Family spoke of and pointed out penalties when passing Maryland reform School for Boys. Instead of inhibition it only added to the excitement. My awakening began under BSA Scoutmaster Larry Marino, WWII Pacific combat Marine, he teaching us that God sees everything we do or don’t do.

  It wasn’t until I trusted Jesus Christ as personal redeemer and began studying His Word that the truth of His omniscience played the utmost part in quickening my spirit beyond limited conscience once held in my old nature. (Ps.119:50, 93; 1Cor.15:36; Eph.2:1, 5; Col.2:13; 1Pet.3:18)

  Salvation is not only about now-going-to-heaven when I die. It is also about conscience while waiting.

EBB4

PS. It was in this same scout troop that I experienced molesting by the assistant scout master: The lesson being that in all situations, good and bad, we decide what we take away and how thereafter we identify ourselves. My name is not Victim.

PPS. Another definition for collegiate is “airy-fairy”.