Happy Independence Day!

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. (Psalm 25:3-10 ESV). Since this is the Fourth of July, I decided to turn my attention in a bit of a different direction. It would be easy to start from the perspective of history; however, I’d like to draw your attention to the future. Not long ago I overheard someone say, “If you think the problem is bad now, just wait until we’ve solved it!” That sparked my interest in looking at some of the quotes dealing with the future and optimism. I came across the following “Chisolm Effect.” It is a listing of “basic laws of frustration, mishap, and delay.” They are a little humorous, but do speak volumes in our culture. “Chisholm Effect: Basic laws of frustration, mishap, and delay”: 1st law of human interaction: If anything can go wrong, it will. Corollary: If anything just can’t go wrong, it will anyway. 2nd law. When things are going well, something will go wrong. Corollary: When things just can’t get any worse, they will. Corollary 2: Anytime things appear to be going better, you have overlooked something. 3rd law. Purposes, as understood by the purposer, will be judged otherwise by others. Corollary: If you explain so clearly that nobody can misunderstand, somebody will. Corollary 2: If you do something that you are sure will meet with everybody’s approval, somebody won’t like it. Corollary 3: Procedures devised to implement the purpose won’t quite work. Corollary 4: No matter how long or how many times you explain, no one is listening. I am constantly amazed at the pessimism of the general population concerning our future. If we can learn anything from the celebration of Independence Day it ought to be that our freedom won in that part of our history points us to real freedom. While there are many uncertainties in our day, there is also a wonderful promise as God extends His forgiveness and unfailing love toward us forever. That erases our past and secures our future. We may laugh at those who hold to such philosophies as the Chisolm Effect and know that the grace of our God is more than enough to keep us through the ages! While I hope America stands forever as the “land of the free and the home of the brave” my hope is not in America. It is in the God of the Ages! Take heart and have a Happy July 4th!