The Precedence Of Excuses...

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?