Laws & Rules

Exodus chapter 20

Why do some people refuse to follow the simplest of laws and rules?
It is amazing to me how ignorant and belligerent some people are in this world.
Here is one example:
I went to the Tampa/St. Petersburg area last week. One of the days I was there I went to downtown St.Petersburg. There is a wonderful pier there with an aquarium and a lot of educational stations on the wildlife and waters of the area.
Several people were fishing off the pier, but they were not having much luck. As I walked by one man who looked to be in his mid 20’s I noticed he was fishing about 15 feet from a no fishing in this area sign. The pier authorities had painted a red marker and posted these signs to keep people from fishing within 100 yards or so of the shoreline. This pier is about 800 yards long, so there are plenty of places to fish beyond the 100 yard mark.
Anyway as I walked by this guy I said in a low voice “I don’t think you should be fishing there” and I just kept walking. About a half hour later I walked back towards my truck and he was still there. As I walked by the second time I said, “Sir, there is a sign right there restricting fishing in this area.” He said nothing and I kept walking. I went about 50 yards past him and looked over my shoulder and seen he was still there, 15 feet from a sign telling him not to fish in the area. Well now I was a bit peeved so I turned around and walked back to him and said, “Buddy I have been real nice so far and have asked you twice to move. You see that sign, it says you need to move and I suggest you do so.”
At this point he turns around and in an angry voice says, “I don’t need to move, the hell with you, I’ll kick your ass.” I love a challenge and a threat, so I said, “Come on big boy bring it on if you feel froggy”. At this point he says, “Dad this guy is bothering me.” Well this was interesting he was going to kick my ass, but when the threat was returned he cries out for his daddy. Well daddy was fishing about 20 yards away (in a legal area) he bows up and says, “who are you to tell my son not to fish here?” I said, “it doesn’t matter who I am, that sign right there tells you not to fish in this area.” He says, “we’ll fish wherever we want…go ----- yourself”. So I said, “OK buddy you keep ignoring that sign and I’ll get someone over here to force you to move.” He says, “you do that”.
So I did, I reported them to security and I assumed they did something about it, I don’t really know as I went to my truck and left.
All this guy had to do was move about 20 feet and he would’ve been in a legal fishing area. Instead he wants to be belligerent and when confronted calls for daddy’s help.

We all bend the rules occasionally; I am no exception to that. But there are some obvious things that I adhere to. When a sign says no fishing…I fish somewhere else.
Our society and the world at large has drifted away from the basic laws we have been given to follow…not by man…but by God. These commandments, which we are all familiar with, are handed down for a reason. They are a guideline on how to live our lives and stay in the good graces of our Lord. These God given laws have been ignored for far too long. We must return to the basic doctrines of the Lord, or our world will crumble in hate and ignorance.
Look at it this way…if you can’t follow a simple no fishing sign which was erected to protect the fragile wildlife along the shoreline, then the 10 commandments probably mean nothing to you either. Try to follow the guidelines of the Word; they are there for your protection and most importantly the protection of others and the world around you.
Keep in mind that you can play a perfect game but at the end if you forget the basics (like making free throws in a championship basketball game) it can and usually will cost you a hard fought victory.
Protect your children and teach them well…the returns will be well worth the effort.

In His Service: B.A.S. 4/8/08 Jeremiah Chapter 2
P.S. Rest in Peace Mr. Heston…when I think of Moses…I will always see your face.
Thank you for your spirit and your gifts that you so boldly shared with all of us.