Friendship vs. Time and Distance

I am in Waxahachie, Texas attending district meetings for the next couple days. I am getting to see a lot of old friends that I am having a great time reconnecting with. If there is one thing that all of us could improve on it is maintaining our relationships that mean so much to us. Sadly, we allow time and distance to suffocate our relationships.
Several years ago I determined to end this habit and keep relationships alive and healthy regardless of time or distance. Leadership guru Steven Covey says that a highly effective person knows the end game before he ever starts up something. I want to be known as a person who really had a lot of friends not just a person who knew a lot of people.

To Kill or Not to Kill That is the Question

This seems like an off the wall subject but in light of some discussion among friends I thought I would pass on some thoughts about capital punishment. It is amazing to see how many people in conservative circles have a pro stance on this issue. If a criminal is convicted of an especially haneous crime then bust out the needle. It is kind of ironic that I am moving to the state with the highest rate of capital punishment cases.

In the middle fo the argument I tried to put some Biblical clothes on it and get over the logical and rant of the two polar positions. The pro-cp side fiercely defends the rights of the victim and the anti-cp group fiercely defends the right of the criminal. What is funny is that when it comes to abortion, most of the people in the two groups swap the sides whom they defend.

So what is the value of a human life? Is it worth less the older that it gets? Is it worth less after it has committed a crime? Is that the way God sees it?

To often we defend our rights and forget about the words of Jesus to pray for our enemies and forgive those who sin against us. Somehow, that doesn't apply when we are the victims but it totally applies when we are the criminals. Do we really believe that there isn't a sin that is to great to be forgiven? If not for mercy, would any of us be alive? And speaking of mercy it is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. I do understand that we are instructed to follow the law (Rom. 13:1-4) but are we citizens of Christ's Kingdom first and then citizens of this world second?

Just something to think about. Thank you God for giving me a second chance....and a third....and a fourth...and