Are You A "Hypermiler"?

A what?

A hypermiler.

Yeah, just as I suspected...the spell checking mechanism on my web browser doesn't like that word. That's because the term "hypermiler" is relatively new to the English language. I suppose it's slang at this point, but with gas prices soaring over $4 per gallon and inching ever closer to the $5 mark, it's a term that is working it's way into the vocabulary of an increasingly large number of people.

So what is hypermiling? According to an August 2006 story in the Washington Post, it is a method of increasing your car's gas mileage by making skillful changes in the way you drive, allowing you to save gas and thereby have an easier time withstanding the rising oil and gas prices.

It involves techniques such as slowly accelerating from stops, coasting to red lights and stop signs by shifting into neutral well ahead of time, and actually going under the speed limit from time to time.

When I first heard of this concept, I laughed and jeered like a typical "too cool for school" person. When I looked at our budget and realized Kelly and I are consuming $400+ per month in gasoline, I took another look. So, beginning yesterday, I started hypermiling! So far (according to my on-board computer), I'm saving about three to four miles per gallon thanks to my new driving style. When this is computed using the current $4 per gallon, I am saving between eight and nine dollars per tank of gas. Not bad at all.

Believe me...these hypermiling techniques are difficult for me to adopt. I'm not a speeder, but I do like to get up to speed quickly. Not any more. Shifting into neutral a quarter mile away from a traffic light goes against my instincts, but now I find myself making a bit of a game out of how far I can coast. And going under the speed limit? Well, I try not to do this when someone is behind me on a one lane road...that's just inconsiderate since everyone is not a hypermiler. But if I'm on a multi-lane road or nobody is behind me, I may find myself putting along at 35 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone! Add to all this the fact that I'm going to try and ride my motorcycle more (once these 100+ degree days leave), and I figure to be saving significant amounts of cash!

What this all comes down to is a change of habits. If it is different results we desire, it is different actions we must take. Albert Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

The same holds true with any other area of life. Are your habits in keeping with God's word? Do your daily actions take you one step closer to heaven, or hell? Both destinations are very real places that will exist forever. You and I are inching ever closer to eternity with every passing day. In the example of hypermiling, it is causing me to go against what I've always done behind the wheel of a car....and it's very challenging at times. But I know this...if I keep on doing what I've always done, I can expect similar results!

If your style of living is taking you down the broad way that leads to destruction, the only way to veer off that deadly course is to change your way of life!

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 7:13-14, ESV

Why are there so few that enter the gate that leads to life? Jesus said it is due to the fact that it is "hard." Heaven's road requires giving up some things we may not want to give up. It demands full allegiance and submission to Christ as King. Grace that leads to salvation is given to all (Titus 2:11), but only a few accept it.

If you are on the path that leads to destruction even now, will you make a u-turn by repenting and obeying the will of the Father? If you are living outside of Christ, and if you continue to live outside of Christ, you can expect to be in a similar situation in eternity -- that is, separated from him in outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:27-28).

It is my earnest hope that you will submit to the Lord today -- for yesterday has been lost, and tomorrow may never be.

r2

Steak Knife Salvation

In a city synonymous with great steaks, one man is grateful for the steak knife that helped spare his life. Steve Wilder, of Omaha, Nebraska, used a steak knife to perform an at-home tracheotomy. He took this drastic measure because he thought he was going to die one night last week after awakening and being unable to breathe.

Wilder said he didn't call 911 because he didn't think help would arrive in time. So, the 55-year-old says, he got a steak knife from the kitchen and made a small hole in his throat, allowing air to gush in.

As someone who is about as squeamish as any human being can be, this story churns my stomach. I cannot imagine performing my own tracheotomy! However, in addition to being completely "grossed out," it also helps me to reflect on the value of life.

What some people have done in an effort to spare their own lives is astounding. The stories you have, no doubt, heard of men amputating trapped limbs with small, dull utility knives should further serve to illustrate just how far human beings will go to preserve life.

Mr. Wilder was saved from death by his own courage and determination to live. How far will you go to be saved from "the second death" (Revelation 2:11), that is, eternal condemnation and separation from God? The wonderful news is that God's grace has provided the sacrifice we needed, but could not ourselves supply (Titus 2:11) in Christ. God requires only our faith (Hebrews 11:6), loving obedience (John 14:15; Hebrews 5:9), and a humble attitude of self-sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

How important is your own life? God has instilled within man an innate desire to live -- both physically and spiritually. When a man loses his desire to live (physically), this indicates a problem...perhaps mental illness. And when a man does not possess a desire to save his own soul, this too indicates a problem...a spirit that needs to be awakened and revived!

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16:16, ESV

r2

Getting Back Into Shape

Several weeks ago, a local chiropractic office was one of several entities invited to set up a booth at one of our home rugby matches. I cannot figure out what would make them think rugby players might need a slight spine adjustment, can you?

After the game was over, I paid a visit to the booth where one of the doctors laid me on a table and stretched me out (which felt quite good). I was also given a certificate that gives me a credit for $50 at one of their offices. The heading on the certificate says, "Get Your Back In Shape."

With all the pounding and violent collisions over the course of a normal week in rugby, I doubt very seriously that anyone has a back that could be described as "in shape." So these docs were right on target in their business strategy.

As the certificate is laying here on my desk, it got me to thinking about how easy it is for a child of God to get "misaligned." The world and all the trappings thereof are a constant source of pressure. Satan exerts a mighty force in this world, and if we do not take the proper care in dealing with those threats, we may very easily find ourselves in need of getting back into shape.

Consider the following factors, each of which may contribute to causing spiritual misalignment:

• Friendship with the world (James 4:4)
• Being stained by the world (James 1:27)
• Possessing undue love for the world (1 John 2:15-17)
• Conformation to the world (Romans 12:2)

Should we ever find ourselves living in-step with the world, we will of necessity be out of step with the Lord. Humble confession to the Father coupled with genuine penitence is the prescription for forgiveness offered by the great Physician.

Now, to get this spine of mine back in working order...

r2

Well, It Is A Boomerang, After All!

An American who stole a boomerang from a museum in an Australian mining town back in 1983 returned it with an attached note. The American whose name was revealed only as "Peter" admitted to swiping the boomerang in his "younger and dumber" days.

Sure, it had been 25 years, but would we expect anything different? I mean, it IS a boomerang, after all, right? Those things are designed to return to their points of origin.

There's a profitable lesson in this for us. A penitent, contrite heart will compel one to do what is right. If restitution needs to be made, then restitution needs to be made. 25 years were not enough for the mystery boomerang caper to scrub the guilt from his conscience.

Sometimes, we allow Satan's lies to convince us that the passing of time corrects the wrongs we commit. Friend, time has no power whatsoever in absolving sin. If there is iniquity in your history that has not been forgiven (by God and/or your fellow man), make it right today while there is still time.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18, ESV

r2

Freshly Brewed Coffee, And Philosophy While You Wait

While waiting on a cup of coffee in downtown Birmingham two months ago, I picked up a half-page flier printed on glossy card stock. It was an advertisement for I'll Make You Love Me, a monologue show written by J'Mel Davidson and directed by Doug O'Neil. By the way, I have no clue who these folks are....just reading what it says on the flier.

The photo (inset at right) shows a parent and an infant child in silhouette with the following statement superimposed: "Love means never having to be accountable for your actions."

When I picked the card up out of sheer curiosity, I turned it over and discovered that the show was being presented by The Feminist Dedutante Guild. I must confess, I have no clue what constitutes a "Feminist Dedutante."

So, what about that statement: "Love means never having to be accountable for your actions." Is there any validity to that? I submit we should consult the very source, the very personification (so to speak) of love -- Almighty God. What does God's word say about love and its relationship to our actions and accountability therefor?

Does God love us even when our actions do not align with his will? "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, ESV). So, the answer is yes...God loves us even when we stand in rebellion to him. However, that does not mean he loves -- or even approves of -- our actions. Will we be accountable for our unrighteous actions even though God clearly declares his love for us in the midst thereof? Consider the following:

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak."
Matthew 12:36, ESV

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Romans 14:12, ESV

The time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
1 Peter 4:3-5, ESV

Some of us have become so accustomed to justice bending to the will of the accused that we actually believe the Judge of all mankind will follow suit. Let me assure you, dear reader friend, that God will execute perfect justice. His love and mercy will reign on that day for those covered in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb. For those who have left this realm unprepared and unredeemed, though he love them, they will be held accountable for their unholy actions.

Notwithstanding the Birmingham Feminist Dedutante Guild's propaganda, love means the opportunity to serve a God who is willing to forgive upon our repentance (2 Peter 3:9). God's love does not somehow cancel the righteous and just facets of his nature which demand holiness (1 Peter 1:16).

Interesting what you can learn while waiting on a cup of coffee, isn't it?

r2