HOW ABOUT

   

                                                                HOW ABOUT

    How about a message for everyone--Atheists, Catholics, Muslims, Mormons,
Protestants, and all others? How about a message that discuses how we all
are members of the human race? How about a message that doesn't deal with
politics and religion? How about a short study on how we shape our path in life
and make our decisions. I'm not about to be religious here, and, in fact, don't
want to muddy the water concerning our personal choices in life.

    When we are born, we immediately begin our decision making, all-be-it at
first the decisions are instinctive. We react to our feelings dealing mostly with
creature comforts. We cry or fuss to get attention so our needs will be met. How
insistent we are even at this tender age says much about our personal agenda.


    The next step we need to understand requires the insertion of a word many
consider to be religious, but it has really nothing to do with religion at this point.
I'm not attempting to sneak religion into the message here. The all-important
word is judgment. We decide things by looking at information and then making
a decision to act, which is judgment.

    Your path in life will be a series of personal judgments depending on your
personal commitment to obtain information and reach a judgment. You will
probably like ice cream and eventually make a judgment on the flavor you
like best. The same is true with food, such as pizza. You will make a major
judgment when you enter school, deciding if the hard work of study is necessary
for a measure of success. You will make judgments on people, deciding who 
will be friends and romantic interests. You will make judgments on your field
of work, or perhaps not to work. You will make judgments on sex, drugs, tobacco
and all kinds of products you will use.

    Some judgments you will have to make will be difficult. Choosing a college, 
accepting a job, where you live, and dozens of judgments will shape the
path of your life. We all make mistakes, and our path will likely not be the
straight and simple way to a goal. Much, if not all, of our goal and path will
be decided (judged) on our ability to judge correctly.

    Here is where I insert a second word that you may now consider an attempt
to get religious, but you are wrong. This word is prophecy. I'm using it here to
show you that prophecy, whether of your life, or anything else, gives you a good
idea of the likely future. You may talk about cause and effect or other terms, but
history usually gives us a clue to future events. This is true in everyday life, and
moves into the past and present actions of companies, nations and the world.

    Generally, when a person speaks of prophecy, we equate that with religion,
but we miss the normal tie. That is the number of polls for everything from politics
to liquor, groceries and household products. Forecasts and sports rankings are
other forms of prophecy. We seem to enjoy prophecy, and lots of money is spent
guessing which prophecies may be accurate.

    If you want to understand what goes into these prophecies, you need to research
what the people do to reach their judgment, which is what a prophecy really is. I have
always loved sports, and a while back I did some sports prophecies. I wanted to
determine the best teams so I could forecast (prophesy) game winners. I carefully
collected all the data I could find about the teams and players. I had notebooks full
of facts. Note I said facts--not opinions or rumors. It is the addition of rumors and
opinions that result in lousy prophesy.

    In addition to the original facts, I kept careful updates concerning physical and mental
conditions of the players, weather and other activities. Included were as many personal
activities or possible effects upon key people as I could discover. This was a regular
type of update, on at least a weekly basis. This took a great deal of time and was actually
hard work. However, it was also fun because I loved the subject and was very interested
in the outcome.

    I put my efforts to the test by entering several weekly football contests offered by area
newspapers. There were two incentives-I wanted to win, and I wanted to win prizes. It
also gave you an elite standing with your peers. The methodology worked, and I hated
to discontinue the fun, but my time became limited because of responsibilities. Before
I quit the fun, I was very successful, winning many prizes, money and a major contest.

    I compiled a huge amount of information in the process, and was very careful to keep
rumor and opinions out of the mix. The real facts were the basis for my judgment of
the teams and games. It was a successful path to a goal. There are lots of sports
forecasters, and some make a very good living with their business. One thing you need
to base any prophecy upon is to use only verified and honest facts. Whether you like
them or not, they are the key.

    Now we know judgment is a part of us from the time of our birth. If we listen to things
that happen around us, gain experience and seriously try to learn about the aspects of
life, we are better prepared to make judgments and travel a smoother path into the
future. Shortcuts and poor information or a desire for an ending you would like, all will
result in some kind of failure. Your judgments are your life.

    Part of your judgments will determine your personal beliefs, and that includes your
faith or non faith. If you have carefully gathered facts, you can be secure in your beliefs.
A seasoning of common sense is necessary, as well as a cool head. We are emotional
people, so we must keep that under control. We may discuss differences, but it really
does no good to argue. You do need to discover the value of information others have
gathered, and to separate facts from fiction. This is where truth enters.

    One of the subjects of prophecy that attracts people is the future of our country
and the world. To deal with this fascinating subject, it is necessary to study history.
That study needs to include real facts of economy, politics, agriculture and greed.
It isn't about dates so much, as it is about why judgments were made by leaders and
previous results of similar situations were ignored.

    In my messages, I point out that history operates in cycles because mankind follows
the same path of judgment over a set number of generations. That history tells us we
go from a serious unhappy social and economic situation to a period of understanding
which brings about the beginning of personal and national prosperity. During this
period people discover the difference between right from wrong. They also discover
that we are all members of the human race. You might say the true meaning of love
is discovered.

    Human nature is such that we soon enjoy our new condition of comfort and life,
and forget how this wonderful status came about. It took work and a desire to gain
understanding, and, in some instances, sacrifice. I saw this golden period once, and
it is priceless. Unfortunately it doesn't last long, and people have things so much to
their liking that they forget the basics that brought it about.

    Yes, they fall away from correct judgments, and begin the slide to mammoth problems
and discomfort. This is a period when most information becomes suspect and many are
desperate to turn things around to rediscover the good days. It is also a time when some
believe they have the personal ability to at least keep their ship afloat. After many bad
judgments, it is not easy to change the course. 

    Unless correct judgments are made, utter disaster comes upon mankind, and life no
longer consists of peace and joy. History clearly tells us this sad story, which has
continued for thousands of years through many nations and cultures. Some people, who
desire to extend their "good life" through altering the facts of history to trick others into
bad judgment, appear and insure that the fourth stage of mankind takes place.

    Although I am a minister, I have refrained from mentioning any faiths or lack 
thereof. Every person has the opportunity to make a judgment that will control
his/her life. The collective judgments of people will dictate the path of a nation
and the world. 

Rev. Walbear