It was New Years morning and kids were still zonked out around the McDonald's farm house form the New Years eve party the night before but since the animals didn't party, they were up and needed taken care of so John put on his warm clothes and headed out to the barn. “Hopefully someone will wake and come help me.” He thought to himself.
As he sat next to
one of the cows to milk her, he started singing “Old McDonald.”
As he sang he started to notice the animals were joining in on cue.
“I sure have some smart animals.” he said out loud. “Of course
we are.” came a reply in a deep voice. As he continued singing,
and animals kept sounding on cue, John suddenly stopped, “Wait a
minute,” He said “Animals don't talk. Who's in here with me?”
The next thing John
knew, Harold Peterson fell out of the hay loft landing next to him.
“Ouch” he said sitting up and shaking hay out of his hair. “What
were you doing in the hay loft?” John asked
seeing Harold would
be alright. “Oh, I was just following Tracy to see what she was up
to?” “She should be up tp helping me with the chores.” John
said.
“I kind of
figured that but she wasn't acting normal?” Harold said. “What
do you mean?” John asked. “Well,” Harold said, “I've never
known her to like to sew but all she kept talking about to night was
sewing.” “Sewing?” John said “Tracy doesn't like to sew.
Are you sure she was talking about sewing?”
“Well, I'm not
100 percent sure.” Harold said, “But see kept muttering something
about how she was suppose to get some flag sewn. And on top of that,
I heard her tell one of the other kids that she was Betsy Ross.”
“I take it you never payed attention in History class at school?”
John said. “Betsy Ross was the person who sewed the first flag for
the United States.” “Paying attention cost too much.” Harold
said and then after a short pause added, “Oh, no. She must have
the disease too.”
“I think she did
know better.” John said, “At least she claimed to know better.
Tracy told me that she tried to talk them out of it.” “But she
helped them anyways.” Harold added. “Bad company corrupts good
morals. Or something like that. I think that's in the Bible.”
“Yeah, I'm sure it is.” John said, “By the way, can you take
over the milking for me? I need to go find Betsy, I mean Tracy, and
get her to the hospital.”
And Lot lifted
up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered
everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in
the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and
Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot
journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled
in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the
valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were
wicked, great sinners against the LORD. - Genesis 13:10-13 (ESV)
Sometimes we see
things we know are not right and yet we go along with them, like
Tracy going along with Cindy and Mindy, Like Lot going along with
Sodom.... After all, he needed to take care of his family and
possessions.... Of course, there were consequences for his choice.
The first of which is found in Genesis 14
In the days of
Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of
Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, these kings made war with Bera king of
Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king
of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). And all these
joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea)....
four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of
bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell
into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. So the enemy took
all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions,
and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother,
who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.
Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was
living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of
Aner. These were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his kinsman
had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, And he divided
his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated
them. Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought
back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the
people. After his return the king of Sodom went out to meet him at
the Valley of Shaveh And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread
and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and
said, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven
and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your
enemies into your hand!" And Abram gave him a tenth of
everything. And the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the
persons, but take the goods for yourself." But Abram said to
the king of Sodom, "I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most
High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread
or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I
have made Abram rich.' I will take nothing but what the young men
have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. (ESV)
Lot was living in
the city of the wicked and while Abram rescued them because of Lot,
he would have nothing to do with them and their stuff – he
preferred to take God's side and gives a tithe to God's high priest
Melchizedek.
One can only wonder
why Lot was in Sodom. The Bible says...
-
My child, if sinners try to lead you into sin, do not follow them. - Proverbs 1:10 (NCV)
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Don’t follow the ways of the wicked; don’t do what evil people do. - Proverbs 4:14 (NCV)
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But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. - 1 Timothy 6:9 (ESV)
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Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." - 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)
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Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. - Romans 6:13 (ESV)
Here's Something
To Ponder
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Will you follow the crowd even if you know you shouldn't?
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Would you lead others astray?
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