TRUTHS: A semi-not-really definitive list
In which I introduce an Exciting New Essay Format!
Since I understand that today’s young people are not not given to reading anything of length, and since fewer young people read for pleasure, I thought that I would, as a public service, provide a short, plot-less thingy that provides a modicum of pleasure.
A list. Of truths.
Make of them what you will. Take pleasure from them as you will.
Everything exists because it came banging into being (and it was no small bang)
We’re all going to die.
My wife Angela is the reigning champion of all women in terms of beauty and brains.
God is real and rules the universe and can end it all when He pleases.
My career bread-and-butter, local news, is mostly trivia. (That is not to devalue it, not at all; it’s just to reflect its significance to most viewers. Fire in the next town over? Meh.)
Local news is important; we need to know what’s going on.
Sometimes truths are superficially contradictory.
Fried chicken is amazing and probably will be on our plates in heaven. (Will it be all bad for chickens in the next world? That’s a topic for another time.)
Photo by James Wainscoat on Unsplash Some truths are best categorized as personal opinions.
We don’t think nearly enough about the claims made by, and about, Jesus of Nazareth, who lived, died by execution, rose from the dead and was thereafter seen by hundreds of people, identified himself as God and accepted worship, and who, according to Scripture, is the one for whom we exist (“All things were created through him and FOR him” — Colossians 1:16).
Steak should be grilled medium rare. (See #9 above.)
Photo by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash You can be a Christian and be a Republican or a Democrat or something else. (Or, in other countries, whichever political categories are on offer.)
You don’t choose your parents, or the circumstances into which you are born, which means we all start off in different places and positions in life, and that’s that.
Three things will last forever — faith, hope, and love — and the greatest of these is love.
The three greatest songwriters ever are Paul McCartney, Richard Rodgers, and Burt Bacharach. (With honorable mention going to S. Wonder, G. Gershwin, J. Kern, B. Joel, C. King, J. Webb, King David, Becker and Fagen, W. Watson…)
America is the greatest country ever (again, see #9 above), and I’m a patriot and thankful to have been born here (see #13 above), but it is not God’s new "chosen” nation and no one knows whether it will be in existence when Christ comes again.
Photo by DAVIDCOHEN on Unsplash All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and any people who would say they’ve never ever done wrong (and are therefore perfect) are not folks I would like to meet.
Also on our plates in heaven: chili dogs, manicotti, ribeyes, and Turkey Hill Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup ice cream.
God is immaterial, infinite, omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, self-existent, transcendent and immanent, immutable, inscrutable, just, loving, merciful and sovereign over all things at every moment.
Lists — unless God makes them — are fallible, finite, lame, and just about useless.
Thank you.
One of the discussions I have had often is on a phenomenon referred to as, "situational ethics." This really blurs the lines between right and wrong. My opinion: right is right and wrong is wrong, regardless of the situation. My philosophy is that no one's opinion is wrong, only the facts they base their opinions on.
I love your list. We should all make them, it helps us acknowledge all the wonderful truths that might slip by us otherwise. Are you familiar with Emily Gaines Demsky? She writes a daily email called “3 Good Things” and it’s a great day-starter. 😊