JC Bunkhouse
A new year is here! 2020! Perfect vision! One would think you would be able to see the year with clarity!
Well, maybe y’all heard this before. It was many years back, there was this Fort Worth banker feller at the saloon, just standing at the bar just looking down at his drink. He was there for most nearly an hour when, all a sudden, a big trouble makin’ cowboy steps up right next to him seeing how the banker is havin’ trouble with his drink he grabs it up and chugs it down. The poor young banker starts to cryin’ right there at the bar.
The cowboy tells him, “Come on mister, I was just joking. Here, I’ll buy you another round. I can’t stand to see a grown man cry.”
“You don’t understand,” says the banker, “This is the worst day of my life. My clock broke and I arrived to the bank late. Well, my boss fires me right there on the spot. “
“I leave the bank to go get on my horse, but in just the few minutes I had been inside, somebody stole him. The sheriff was no help; he says I am probably out of luck.”
“Fine! I get a ride on a feller’s wagon to return home, and after I get out of the wagon I realize that I have left my wallet and all my money and papers from my desk right there on the buggy seat. I try to get the stranger’s attention as he drove away, but no luck. He was headed towards Decatur at a pretty good clip.”
“So I get inside the house and say, ‘Surprise, Honey, I’m ho-ome.’ My wife had evidently packed her things and left, and then I find her note saying how the milk man swept her off her feet. Really, the milk man?”
“I leave the house and come to this bar. I was standing here seriously thinking about ending it all. And I was ready to do it, too. But then you have to show up and drink my shot glass full of poison...”
“Whether I want it or not, it would seem I’ve been given a second chance. But sorry about your luck, cowboy friend.” Second chances… This story seems kind of harsh, maybe I should have written in an anecdote for the cowboy into the story.
Throughout the Bible, God gives people second chances. One such example is found in the book of Jonah. Many of y’all know this one. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh. But Jonah tried to run away from God. He stowed away on a boat, but God caused a great storm on the sea. The sailors found Jonah, and Jonah told them he was the reason for the storm. He told them to thrown him overboard. So they did, and the sea went calm. And right after that, Jonah was swallowed up by a huge fish. For 3 days and nights Jonah was alive in the belly of that fish. Jonah had a change of heart and began thanking and praising God. Jonah was then spit out on the dry land and went on to Nineveh. He was to tell the folks of Nineveh that God was giving them 40 days to repent or Nineveh would be no more. Jonah was all ready for it, too! But those folks decided to go and truly repent from their evil ways. When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. (Jonah 3:10 nasb)
And Jonah was somewhat upset that he didn’t get to see God destroy Nineveh. When someone gets a second chance we need to rejoice. It is important that we love others; and yep, even our enemies! Jonah had issues that God helped him to deal with if you read Jonah 4.
God gives folks a second chance. But how often do we give others another chance?
After all, it’s a God thing! He is awesome that way! Happy 2020!
Choose Jesus, choose life! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! And y’all KEEP PRAYIN’ for RAIN! Amen