As I was surfing the net, I stumbled across a website (commonsensemedia.org) that I found interesting. I liked what they wrote about their purpose and goal: “Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.”

If there is anything we need today, it is the presence of some good common sense in our lives as individuals, and in a corporate sense throughout our nation.

When I try to find some common sense, I usually turn to Proverbs, the Wisdom book of the Bible, to read the counsel of Solomon. He had some interesting things to say in Proverbs 3: Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver, and her revenue is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,and those who hold on to her are happy (Proverbs 3:13-18).

I find wisdom and common sense in the words of others as well:

->Robert Frost: In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.
Gandhi: Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
->Groucho Marx: Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read.
->Ralph Waldo Emerson: For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.
->Mother Teresa: Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.
->Abraham Lincoln: People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.

Do you have a favorite piece of wisdom or common sense that has been passed down to you? If so, I’d like to hear it.

When I flip through family photos, I see a strong resemblance to Edgar Lacy. I am either cursed or blessed with his hairline, and my face is beginning to be a mirror image of the wrinkles and furrows that were his identifying features.

I remember this gentle man with a great deal of fondness. Even though Granddad Lacy was short in stature, he was a giant when it came to love and kindness.

Some people have certain characteristics that define them. I can hear some people speak and without even seeing them, and I can still tell you who they are and to what family they belong. Their family resemblance is undeniable.

What is the characteristic that causes you to resemble Jesus? Even if you tried to deny the relationship this feature would be so undeniable that no one would believe your protests?

Jesus said it is love: I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13).
This is the kind of love that turns the other cheek, forgives 70 times 7, walks the extra mile, and engages in the pure and undefiled religion that looks after the less fortunate (James 1:27). When we practice this as a family tradition, I’m confident that God looks down from heaven and says: It’s undeniable, that’s my boy!

It is official–I’m old! I didn’t discover this by looking into a mirror or hearing my joints pop and crackle when I get out of a chair.

Nope, I discovered it when I had Hank, my dog, out for a walk at forest Park. As I walked, I could hear the voices of some young whipper snappers playing at the band shell: “Hey look at that dog.” Then I heard another voice: “See that old man over there.” I turned to see where the old man was, and then I heard the voice again: “That dog belongs to that old man over there.”

It was then that I realized that not only was I the “old man” who was “over there,” I was also “over the hill old man” in the estimation of those kids.

I had to chuckle as I thought about how my perspective on age has changed. When I was in high school, I thought my parents were ancient. Now that I am old and decrepit, I know how young my parents were.

I’ve heard it said that age is a state of mind. Let me share the old-age wit and wisdom from people who have said: You know you are old when:

1. You and your teeth don’t sleep together.
2. Your try to straighten out the wrinkles in your socks and discover you aren’t wearing any.
3. At the breakfast table you hear snap, crackle, pop and you’re not eating cereal.
4. Your back goes out but you stay home.
5. When happy hour is a nap.
6. When you say something to your kids that your mother said to you, and you always hated it.
7. Your idea of weight lifting is standing up.
8. It takes twice as long – to look half as good.
9. You look for your glasses for half an hour and they were on your head the whole time.
10. You finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.

Earlier this week, I heard Carlos Slim, the Mexican billionaire who is worth an estimated $72.1 billion, say that 60 is the new 30. I like his thinking–this “old Man” is just half as old as those kids think he is.

If something is described as being good, a delight, and desirable, what could possibly be wrong with it?

The problem with the alluring description above is that it has been removed from its context which follows: “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened . . .” And, this is the moment when death violated the human experience.

Eve’s fatal mistake occurred when she tuned God out and turned her attention to the Siren call of the Serpent. The song was both devious and deceptive and these are the shadowy veil of desire.

We need to be aware of the dark side of desire that can quickly ensnare us with greed or some other compulsive behavior; and, like the Serpent’s discussion with Eve, there is never a full disclosure of the fatal consequences of uncontrolled desire.

If the addict could see the end results of his drug use, would he have ever injected himself the first time? Would the alcoholic have taken the first drink?

The Apostle Paul warns us; don’t let anyone take you “captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

When we feel the firm grip of desire, we need to quiet the static of the world and listen for the clear voice of God. David faced the power of desire at different times in his life. He discovered the key to success and wrote about in Psalm 119:9-11.

If you are struggling with some unwanted wants and some undesirable desires, let me make a simple suggestion: Set an alarm on your cell phone or computer that will ring at 9:11 each day for the next week. When it rings, read Psalm 119:9-11, and the principle of this verse will help give you the strength you need.

Think About It!