From: 	 heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: 	 Tuesday, October 14, 1997 11:26 PM
To: 	 Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: Choosing our way or God's way

From:          "LaSarge, Paul A"
To:            "'heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com'"
               <heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com>
Subject:      Forks in the Road

Hello Eddie,

This was sent to me, and I thought others might enjoy it also.

Shalom,
Paul LaSarge

>
>      Go Left for...
>      Eventual regret.  Turn this way for self-deception, broken
>      promises,  fear, and anger.  
>
>     This is the path to withheld wages, dishonest 
>      business deals, self-absorption, hypocrisy, and unfriendliness.
>
>     Turn here for bitterness, self-centeredness, drunkenness, and
>     addiction.
>      
>      Bear left for disrespect, jealousy, pornography, gossip,
>      manipulation,  assault, impatience, and impulsiveness.  
>
>     Turn here for the shortest  route to workaholism, abuse of power, 
>     materialism, gulttony, genocide,  and cowardice.
>      
>      Follow this road for unwanted, undisciplined, and neglected
>     children,  broken homes, broken dreams, guilt, shame, drunk 
>     driving, blame, and idolatry.
>      
>      Or we have a different option.
>      
>      Go Right for...
>      Hard choices and long distances.
>      
>      Courage, challenge, self-control, and creativity.  
>
>      At this fork in the  road we may turn right into meaningful 
>      self-sacrifice, unselfishness,  healthy imagination, no regret, 
>      mutual respect, endurance,   thankfulness, honest apologies, 
>      renewal of friendship, encouragement,  and good examples.  
>
>     Turn this way for a good conscience, and for
>     a  good night's rest.
>      
>      Bear right for trustworthiness, faithfulness, sincerity, respect
>      for  property rights, honest intimacy, confidence, humility, sexual
>      honor,   integrity, direction, and purpose.
>      
>      Use this way for contentment, healthy ambition, trust, peace of
>      mind,  diligence, character, healthy memories, love, honor, and
>       thankfulness.
>      
>      Use this road for conscience, eternal life, sobriety,
>      spirituality,  servant attitudes, hard work, protection of women, 
>      children,  neighbors, family, and name.
>      
>      So if all of this is true, why don't right choices always lead to
>      good  consequences?  The answer is difficult to hear, but it is true,
>      Our  own good choices doesn't spare us from bearing the pain of
>      someone  else's wrong choices.
>      
>      Nowhere do we see more clearly the realism of suffering for
>      someone  else's choices than in the One who suffered for our sin.  
>      And nowhere  do we see more clearly the honor and value of 
>      negotiationg each fork  in the road under the influence and leadership 
>      of the Spirit of God.  
>
>      Even though He suffered pain and death because of other people's 
>      choices, all of His choices stand as a tribute to the eternal
>      value of  decisions made in the spirit and will of God.
>      
>      His path of no regret is our best map for the travel that
>      remains.  We  have not yet seen our last fork in the road.  While we 
>      will not be  able to avoid the consequences of past decisions, even 
>      the most rebel  heart is only one turn away from a right relationship 
>      with God.
>
>      Even  the most godless among us is only one turn away from a path of 
>      forgiveness and mercy God offers to all who are willing to walk
>      with  Him through the consequences of past decisions and 
>      opportunities of  choices that remain.  
>      
>      Father, forgive us for thinking that we could afford to take our 
>      chances on roads you've clearly marked for us.  Forgive us for
>      all of  the times we have not taken the way of the cross, the way 
>      of the  Spirit, or the way of the faith you have given us.  Forgive us
>      for  thinking that we could choose not only our choices but the 
>      consequences.
>      
>      
>       Written by: Mart De Haan
> 

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