Jack Pelham

When you really think about it,
The greater part of the constant turmoil
In this human species can be
Readily explained by asking
The same developmental question
About every human specimen:

I got invited to a huge anniversary party
And most everybody came
And seemed to have a good time—
But me, that is—

That’s because the marriage they were
Celebrating is in terrible shape,
And I’m not the sort to pretend it isn’t.

So even though they drive that party
Right by my window on this day every year,
I do not enjoy it in the least.

And they don’t enjoy hearing me say why.

One of the biggest political lies—
Rarely spoken aloud, yet believed
With the force of shouting—
Is that America has a one-party problem.

It is difficult not to assume
That if only he could
Present his case better,
They would listen.

But after some time,
The notion falls flat,
And he’s left with the realization
That they would also be silent
If God himself were making the case.

The first, surprised to meet
Trouble on the road to eternity,
Determines that he must be traveling
On the wrong road.

The second, that he must be traveling
In the wrong direction.

The third, that he must be traveling
At the wrong time,
Or perhaps with the wrong people,
Or in the wrong circumstances.

But the fourth, surprised to meet
Trouble on the road to eternity,
Determines that he must be
Traveling with the wrong expectation.

It is surprising that so many are so surprised to find so much difficulty in life, and that talking about the Bible as much as they do, they do not figure out that the intent of the journey is the transformation of the traveler along the way.

I suppose that much of this unrealistic expectation comes from the ongoing rhetoric aimed at keeping non-journeyers in the pews by promising them that they are entitled to a mostly-trouble-free life, and that the difficulties they face are mostly anomalies that should fade away soon.

Here are seven passages that should make the expectation of trouble clear—and I’ll bet I could find 70!

…In this world you will have trouble….

John 16:33b. NIV

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings,…

1 peter 4:12-13a. ESV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4. NIV

…through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:22b. ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor…

1 Peter 1:6-7a. ESV

…we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame…

Romans 5:3b-5a. ESV

…the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 24:13. ESV

Today’s the day in the painting—the 2nd of July, when the committee of five presented their work to the 2nd Continental Congress for its approval. It would be two days before the
Congress would vote to approve the Declaration of Independence. Fifty-six men would sign it, sealing the country’s fate at the cost of inevitable war.

The following are not matters of political opinion, but of the way reality itself seems to work—as observed over many thousands of years of human history. We can wish and pretend and even try to get around the reality—and it seems someone is always trying, or wishing at least—but we’ll never have the following freedoms, because this world simply doesn’t work that way, no matter one’s preferred political party.

The ten freedoms America will never have are these:

(This article, unlikely practically everything else I write, was not afforded a final edit. And I trust you’ll understand why. if it doesn’t make sense, this will simply go to paint the picture for you even better.)

Is all the technology worth it? I have my doubts.

First of all, let me state that I don’t think that any of the advances in technology in my lifetime have done a thing to make us better people. And while I wouldn’t expect that they would make us better people, what I’m wondering about is whether they’re actually hurting the quality of life, rather than improving it.

The living human is the absolute master
Of his inner domain—for now.

By actual count,
There are zero troublemakers
Who are complete idiots—
Having zero knowledge
And zero virtue.