I’m reading the book about Ashley Smith and Brian Nickols, the Atlanta courtroom killer.  I’m coming away with a few thoughts on her hostage ordeal.  Ashley connected with Brian in order to stay alive.  She was transparent and in doing so broke the addictions in her own life.  What if people in the church looked at the body of Christ in the same light?  The thought has changed my thinking.  I must connect with others in order to save my life.  Ashley did connect with him and then was able to influence him for good.  She won his trust.  In order to connect with him she had to became transparent – get on his level.  At first her motive was to stay alive, then it was to keep others from dying, including Brian.  I believe that is the thought process that God’s wants us to have.  I must connect with others in order to be a preservative in their lives.  After all that is what salt is used for.   Ashley was the salt that Jesus spoke of.

Who’s Dad died before he was born.  Was a POW at the age of 13 and his Mother died when he was 14 leaving him a orphan?  The President on the 20 dollar – Andrew Jackson.  Our founding fathers were a unique group.  I’m impressed with Thomas Jefferson.  He didn’t want public life.  He was compelled to office by others when he desperately wanted to be with his family.  I’m bothered by people who try to rewrite history and tear down everything with this country’s foundation. 

A proverbs out of chapter 12 says:  If you don’t spend time in your friends bitterness you won’t be invited to the celebration.  I’ve seen well meaning Christians tell those that are in distress to “just have faith and God will see you through.”  Sounds good but I’ve often wondered if we as Christians just want people around us to be upbeat for our own sakes.  Oh, don’t get me wrong I don’t like being around a continual negative person.  The Bible does say that blessed are those that mourn.  We’re going to get down as Christians and sometimes we just need an open ear. 

Does anyone have any information on Harriet Miers – Bush’s pick for the Surpreme Court?  

Confict is good when it sharpens us.  Conflict is good when it takes us to the next level.  We can’t take the next step without pruning.  Confict can be the catalyst that delivers us.  I call it “fighting clean”.  Most people will advoid confict like the plague. (I use to.)  But I have found value in a good clean fight.  Iron sharpens iron.  People can sharpen people if it’s done correctly. 

I have a few separate thoughts today that don’t have anything in common.

Thought One:  In evaluating historical figures I look to the children.  Take Thomas Jefferson.  His wife died after child birth, a few of his children died a little later, leaving him with 2 girls: Polly & Patsy.  Each of the girls changed their names to Maria & Martha respectively.  Why would these girls change their names?  (I read between the lines.)  Thomas was a creator, an originator in ideas.  That reflects in his girls.  What a wonderful attribute to the author of the Declaration of Independence.  His greatest accomplishments was that his ideas were passed down to his children. 

Thought Two:  Many people left Jesus after he told them he was the Bread of Life and they needed to partake of his body.  They knew exactly what he meant.  I sense people today do not know what that means.  The military forces teach it best when they enlist someone.  A common statement by a drill sergeant is this, “You are not your own any longer you belong to the Army”.  You can go to church and not belong to Christ.  I wonder how many people would flock out of the church if they saw the prerecasist to beoming a Christ was giving up your own rights?