Welcome to The Reformed Degenerate's

"Think About It!"

The Journey Begins

INTRODUCTION

My overly ambitious goal with this first and each of a continuing series of essays that follows is very simple: to share with you the personal insights of an octogenarian that have been acquired over almost 8 decades of often arduous life on this Good Earth in the hope readers will learn from my mistakes and not repeat them.  I hope readers will be able to better navigate than was I, the often treacherous terrain of what I still believe to be the wonderful gift of life itself. 

I hope to thereby provoke critical thought on certain core values that I believe will help readers to withstand and remain strong in the face of subtle and often attractive challenges and temptations that will constantly test and challenge your fundamental character.  We will start by accepting that "character" is as former U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts described as "doing what's right when nobody's looking".  

Look at this brief essay as the words of experience from one who is an iniquitous offender who knows the terrain of traveling down the wrong roads of life too well.  Because of strain of stubbornness and arrogance, I too often ignored GOD's very discernible Voice only to then be solely responsible for having to suffer the attendant negative consequences that followed.  However, solely by the Grace of GOD, I was always ultimately rescued from myself.  The GOOD LORD did not abandon me even during the most difficult of times and seriousness of offenses that were of my own making.  I have come to realize that a Gracious and all-Forgiving GOD was always with me.  I, therefore, was able to traverse and emerge from a veritable minefield (again, of my own making) certainly worn, tattered and humbled but still standing. 

I hope the thoughts shared with you here in this continuing series of short  essays will help you on your personal journey.  In the end, however, I too well accept the great wisdom of Woodie Guthrie's who wrote: 

"You gotta walk that lonesome valley,

You gotta walk it by yourself,

Nobody here can walk it for you,

You gotta walk it by yourself."   

Yes, in the final analysis you have to live your own life.  Though I embrace Woodie Guthrie's poetic and astute truth, I do so with one very important qualifier that offers both hope and promise:  Never forget that as you journey through life, GOD is also always there with you every step of the way and GOD will never abandon you regardless of how bad you think you are or how far away from GOD's Path you personally believe you have strayed.  From one who has committed just about every egregious sin possible (but not all), you can avoid so many problems in your life if you will just learn to "delight" in the LORD GOD by recognizing, listening and submitting to the easily discernible Voice of GOD. 

Talk with you again on the first of the month at which time I'll discuss with you how to recognize, listen to and submit to the Voice of GOD.