THE PRECEDENCE OF EXCUSES
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is the third installment on the lessons of excuses. 1. The veneer of excuses. 2. Even the best offer excuses. 3. The precedence of excuses.
EXCUSES ARE TOOLS OF IMCOMPETENCE USED TO BUILD BRIDGES TO NOWHERE AND MONUMENTS OF NOTHINGNESS. (Unknown)
PRECEDENT: model to follow, something already established, serves as an example, to justify by comparison,
Often in court a judge’s previous ruling has been established by an earlier decision, it becomes based on a legal precedent.
THE DRED SCOTT PRECEDENT OF THE SUPREME COURT LANDMARK DECISION?
This precedent of the Supreme Court was established in 1857 in a case known as DRED SCOTT VS. STANDFORD. The case was argued in 1856 and decided in the defendant Stanford’s favor. The Court decided that African Americans (free or slave) were not American citizens and could not sue in court. The Court further stated that Congress lacked the power to ban slavery. This precedent ruled until 1868. In 1868 the fourteenth amendment overturned the DRED SCOTT CASE BY GRANTING CITIZENSHIP TO ALL THOSE BORNED IN THE UNITED STATES, REGARDLESS OF COLOR.
THERE WAS ANOTHER LANDMARK PRECEDENT CASE OF THE SUPREME COURT IN 1973 IN A CASE CALLED ROE VS. WADE.
1973: The Texas statutes criminalized abortion. Jane Roe was a legal pseudonym or fictional name to protect the lady. Her name was Norma Leah Nelson McCorvey. The landmark decision of the Supreme Court ruled the Constitution protects a pregnant woman’s liberty to choose to kill the baby without governmental restriction. Judges Blackmun, Burger, Douglas, Brennan, Stewart, Marshall, Powell. Two judges dissented: REHNQUIST. WHITE. Before her death Jane Roe cried saying that her involvement in the Roe case was “the biggest mistake of her life.” She repented.
THE PRECEDENT HAS BEEN SET… God have mercy!
SPIRITUAL PRECEDENCE, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED THE NORM… EXCUSES ARE ACCEPTABLE.
NORM: model, acceptable behavior, average, pattern, widespread practice, standard, a binding guide or control.
TEXT: Luke 14:18 (a) And they all with one consent began to make excuse…
“They” whoever they may be… collective, more than one… CAME TOGETHER IN AGREEMENT. They began giving the offering of excuses. Then they all began to beg off. ONE FOLLOWING, one after another making excuses. We seem to find comfort in being “WITH” others. We get in the same frame of mind and we feel safety in our excuses…
But without exception they all began to make excuses. Everybody else is doing it, therefore this must be acceptable? PEER PRESSURE?
HAS OUR PRECEDENCE OF EXCUSES STARTED SOMETHING? WHO OPENED PANDORA’S BOX?
PANDORA’S BOX: Pandora’s lesson comes from a Greek story about a young lady named Pandora. Pandora was given a beautiful box on her wedding day with the orders that she must never open it. She refused to heed the advice and curiosity tempted her and she opened the box. The box was full of ugly things: hardships, sickness, death, evil, hurt. Once the box was opened what was released could never be returned to the box.
To open Pandora’s Box means starting a process that can generate many complicated problems resulting from unwise interference. THE LESSON IS IF YOU DISOBEY YOU SUFFER. No excuses.
WHEN WE OPEN THE SPIRITUAL PANDORA’S BOX WE FIND THE RELEASE OF EXCUSES… BLAME MOM/DAD/SPOUSE … PALLIATION (TO MAKE LIGHT OF)… DENIAL… REBELLION… LACK OF OWNERSHIP… NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT… COMPLAINING, WHINNING, I CAN’T… ARE ALL A WAY OF HIDING EXCUSES…
Blame TV, after commercial, cell phone, computer. I am told one has to admit they have a problem before the problem can be corrected… WE NEED A MIRROR OF TRUTH … WHAT IS TRUTH? Johnny Cash? Herod? Do you hold yourself accountable?
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
I CAN’T BECOMES A BELIEVABLE EXCUSE? We need to acknowledge that whatever I have, wherever I am, and whatever I am going to be has something to do with my EFFORT and ATTITUDES. YOU ARE A PRODUCT OF YOUR MENIAL DAILY CHOICES…
THERE IS AN HEBREW UNDERSTANDING OF LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD? THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD EXCUSE? LET ME GO TO THE FUNERAL? DAD IS STILL ALIVE? LET ME STAY HOME UNTIL DAD’S DEATH…
Luke 9:59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Be honest ARE YOU MATURE OR IMMATURE? As presbyter I have pastors address me with problems and ask HOW DO I CORRECT THIS PROBLEM? You are not going to accept this, but there is a common people problem in many places? You ready? The pastor says: I have an adult in my church that seldom takes a bath and their odor is very offensive. I asked one time, CAN’T THE PERSON SMELL THEMSELVES? The answer, NO, THEY ARE SO USED TO THE SMELL? TELL ME AN EXCUSE FOR THIS? MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW? I DON’T KNOW? CAN A PERSON SO EXCUSE THE DIRT THAT IT BECOMES ACCEPTABLE?
Do you correct yourself or do others have to? Did Shakespeare address this problem: TO BE? OR NOT TO BE? THAT IS THE QUESTION?
YOU CREATE YOUR EXCUSES… EXCUSES WILL ALWAYS IMPEDE, HINDER, BLOCK OR STUNT YOUR POTENTIAL. An excuse is like rubbing the belly of a purring cat… you will lose you zeal, your passion and your sight on the goal. This allows for an exemption from your dreams. IT’S NOT MY FAULT!
LET US NOT GET TOO COMFORTABLE HERE AND OFFER EXCUSES? JESUS SAID LET’S GO TO THE OTHER SIDE…
Luke 8:22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
Offer no excuses, get up and go! EACH DAY IS A NEW CANVAS? WHAT ARE YOU PAINTING?
WHY DO WE KNOW BABE RUTH? NO EXCUSES FOR BABE RUTH…
HE HAD 714 HOME RUNS… 2,873 HITS… BUT DID YOU KNOW BABE HAD THE RECORD IN THE LEAGUE 5 TIMES IN STRIKE OUTS. HE STRUCK OUT 1,330 times… ALMOST 2 STRIKE OUTS FOR EACH HOME RUN… YET HE WAS NOT KNOWN AS A MAN OF EXCUSES… HE IS KNOWN FOR THE WAY HE PLAYED THE GAME
WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE? THE TIN MAN WITH NO HEART? THE LION WITH NO COURAGE? THE SCARECROW WITH NO BRAIN? EXCUSES? DOROTHY WANTING TO GO HOME? THE ANSWER WAS WITH IN?
SOME ASK WHY? We might should ask the question why not?
CAN AN EXCUSE BE WORSE THAN A LIE? I READ AN EXCUSE IS A GUARDED LIE? AFTER DEATH THERE ARE NO EXCUSES!
Excuses can make us feel comfortable in failure and defeat. Will we settle for the lack of growth and spiritual development? You are more than a VICTIM! Quit searching for excuses to be a victim! Grow up. BE A VICTOR!
NO EXCUSES: NEVERTHELESS AT YOUR WORD WE WILL…
Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
• Have you designed a plan to succeed? Or will you decline? People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.
• God never placed you here to be ordinary, you must invest effort with persistence.
• IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING TODAY GETTING YOU ANYWHERE?
• 99% of failures come from the habit of making excuses.
• If you are going through HELL, DON’T STOP!
• When you are good at making excuses, it is hard to excel at anything else.
• If you fall down, then get up! Fall seven times? Get up eight!
• Several excuses are always less convincing than one.
• He who excuses himself accuses himself.
• Never make excuses, make things happen.
• EXCUSES HINDER PROGRESS AND GIVE US REASON TO FAIL.
• Excuses can become obstacles and hindrances.
• Do we have more ability than will power?
Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Conclusion: HOW MANY EXCUSES HAVE YOU ACCEPTED AND PURCHASED FROM THE FEAR STORE? SEVEN NO MORES OF HEAVEN IN REVELATION? HOW ABOUT SOME NO MORES ON EARTH? NO MORE EXCUSES? NO MORE I CAN’T? NO MORE WAITING FOR A MORE CONVENIENT TIME? NO MORE I WILL DO IT COMMERIAL? NO MORE WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW? Once you start excusing your behavior, words and attitudes you establish problems.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part of a series: The Veneer of Excuses 2. Even the best offer excuses 3. The precedence of excuses.
Will you invest in my work? Pass it on?
