The Price Of Stupid Decisions

Looking within my own life and observing everything around, I've come to a conclusion. We all have to pay a steep price when we make stupid decisions. It's one thing to not know but it's another thing to know when we give into making bad decisions. Back in the mid 90s, my dad told me these word, "think before you act." It's taken some time but now these very words have been etched in my fabric. I'm starting to think twice about my actions. Don't get it twisted, just because I'm a Christian, very educated, climbing up the professional ladder, and a veteran doesn't mean I don't (and will make) bad decisions. Bad decisions are a part of our innate nature. This is within the nature of man. One thing God wants us to learn is how to adapt and overcome. He wants us to "consider our ways" and start making changes. We are impulsive creatures, for more animalistic than the cruelest lion within a pride. However, we don't get waivers like them because we have a soul, a conscience, the innate part of us that helps us determine right from wrong. Although the old saying goes that we are "born in sin and shaped in iniquity", we know what is right and what is wrong. But what keeps us from making the right decisions especially when the rubber is meeting the road? A hard head and a hard heart. Like the old schools used to say, "a hard head makes for a soft tail." Man, isn't that the truth?! Stupid decisions have a high price, man. You need proof? I'll give you proof. My lack of control over my anger led to holes in the wall of my house God blessed my family with. My lack of trust in God has continued an road of financial irresponsibility and lack. My love for people has allowed their word of stupidity leave me and my loved ones in a hole called stuck. My lack of humility has caused me to not listen to my wife on how to wash clothes properly. I'll admit it, I'm a meat head. Guess what, I'm not the only one, so that's a bit comforting. Stupid decisions. What are they? When we know to do right and still do wrong. When we know to pay that bill but cop the new $350 Jordan's instead. Now our car is being repossessed. Or we go out and run up our credit cards to the limit. Now we can't pay our bills and our credit is ruined. Or what about us meat heads who gossip about another person but when he or she finds out we're missing some front teeth. Stupid decisions cost big time dude. There's a part of a lyric that Kirk Franklin says that stings to the bone, "I made decisions that I had to pay..." And man, that's the truth. David made a stupid decision of killing a man by sending him to the frontline to be killed to canoodle with his wife. Well, that plan backfired. Later on after marrying the dead man's wife and getting her pregnant, one of his advisors exposed him. He later repented but his baby died. Later on, his daughter was raped by her brother. One of his own sons tried to kill David a d take over his kingdom. All from one stupid decision after another. I can relate to what he went and so do many of us. So how to do lessen the amount of our stupid decisions? Discipline and knowing when to run from ourselves. Solomon said it best, a wise man will see trouble and hide himself from it but a foolish man will pass on and get riddled by it. Let's get wise through God's grace.

Til next time, dgwo

Reference:
Proverbs 22:3

The New Sound

Music is one of the most powerful forms of art if not the most powerful. Nowadays, I'm hearing a change of chorus, of lyricism, of style, and melody from heaven. Hell has a lot of sounds coming from it, too but can never compare to the force of God's songs to mankind. A lot of music we hear from our iPods to th radio station to the television moves our souls but damages our spirit. A lot of it influences us to be prideful, greedy, promiscuous, and rude. If you don't agree, listen to the latest hits and see if they don't have you thinking certain ways that ain't right. Now, before some of you start saying I'm pointing at he secular music industry alone, don't trip. There's a lot of garbage in the gospel music industry too that damages the spirit, too (yep, I said it). But my friends, there is a new sound, one that changes the spirit of man from corruption to incorruption. There's a sound that influences people to halt actions of suicide. There's a sound that's makes crooked politicians actually become representatives of and for the people. A new sound. One that speaks truth boldly when lies are more receptive. This new sound uses simple melodies to soothe the soul rather than imperfectly placed chord progressions. This sound is fresh and draws mankind to seek a relationship with he Savior. If you really notice most of music nowadays, it stinks. Clinging cymbals loud music and unfulfilling; meaning it doesn't lead people to their true destiny. But there is a sound, a pure, soaking, healing, and melodic sound from heaven. According the will of God, this sound must come from His true Church from India, to Japan, to Russia, to South America (to name a few). It's full of freedom because Jesus is not religion, He's freedom. What is a better tool to gain the hearts of men to Him that music? And yes, He is using rock n roll, hip hop and even classical to get the job done. King David talked about the new song and that's what it is. To my people out there, you'll hear it and it'll draw you to where and who you're supposed to be. To the church especially in the US, let's loose the traditional and soulish levels we're in tune with. Get with the new sound or those we feel aren't on our level will and do more for Christ than we ever will (Matthew 21-23).

Til next time, gdow

References:
The Book of Psalms