L I F E W I R E

by Kelly Moran

for 3 January 1996

The LifeWire Is Back!

After an unannounced (and unplanned) haitus, the LifeWire is back. I naively thought that I wouldn't miss a week when moving to a new home. I missed a month, three weeks of which was without any phone service at all.

Just Call Me Barney Fife

Elections were recently held in Mississippi. Due to a loophole in state law, three convicted felons were allowed to run for positions as county sheriffs.

All three won.

Public Safety Commissioner Jim Ingram said, "This really makes us look kind of dumb. I can only believe that many voters did not know the situation."

These three have all served their time, and been released from prison. I certainly believe that felons can be reformed, but that's not the problem. The problem is that in Mississippi, convicted felons cannot carry firearms.

State Attorney General Mike Moore insists that the new lawmen will be arrested if they try to carry guns once they take office.

When asked, "How will you face down criminals if you can't carry a gun?" one of the new sheriffs said, "That's something I don't want to get into now."

I hope the TV series C.O.P.S. goes to Mississippi next season. Instead of shouting "Freeze" I imagine we would see these cops begging, "Please!"

Even Barney Fife was allowed to have a bullet in his shirt pocket!

It would seem to me that becoming a sheriff without being able to carry a gun is going to take some careful planning. It's not something you see every day.

Can the sheriff confine himself to the office and become a hands-off type of manager? That's certainly not the standard job description, especially for an understaffed county sheriff's office.

The guy's day-planner will probably be filled with all kinds of things to keep him off the streets.

Happy New Year!

Now that 1996 is here, you might be contemplating your own future. Making your own plans. You may feel the frustration of having an impossible job ahead of you.

Like an unarmed sheriff, you feel like the challenge facing you is far beyond your reach. You may even say, "That's something I don't want to get into now," but you really have no choice. The future starts now.

For some, in January 1996, "Happy New Year" may be laughable rhetoric, a sickeningly sweet cliché that causes you to wince when you hear it.

At the end of Jesus' life, he knew His disciples were facing some tough times. He spoke some words of encouragement that still provide me peace.

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)

There is a sense in which we are at a true advantage when we feel most helpless. That is the time we find ourselves relying on God; trying to find the connection to the Vine. When we feel unarmed against the onslaught of life, Jesus promises that we will be fruitful. He even says you can't make it on your own.

Of course, he's talking of Spiritual matters. So am I.

As you sit down to prepare New Year's Resolutions, or fill your datebook for this next week, or plan the future of your career, or marriage, or family, don't neglect the most important thing: Time on your knees.

Connect to the person of Jesus. Put faith in His promises. Trust Him with your problems. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

God, I'm coming.

Published weekly for 4 years and 14 weeks.

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All Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (unless otherwise noted).