Not everybody believes in death-bed confessions. Hear one:

Let no man deceive you with vain words or vain hopes or false notions of a slight and sudden repentance. As if heaven were a hospital founded on purpose to receive all sick and maimed persons that, when they can live no longer to the lusts of the flesh and the sinful pleasures of this world, can but put up a cold and formal petition to be admitted there. No, no, as sure as God is true, they shall never see the Kingdom of God who, instead of seeking it in the first place, make it their last refuge and retreat. --John Tillotson (1630-1694), Sermons

She ran the red light and cut me off as I started through the intersection. Down the street, she ran the stop sign. Further down, as we waited in a line of cars, she zipped through a dangerous crossing after the traffic signal turned red.

On her back window, "Jesus is Lord of Lords." Made me wonder if Jesus was her Lord.

Today's entertainment headlines off the CNN Portuguese website (translated by yours truly):

* Michael Jackson causes debate with revelations about his life

* Beatles producer is freed after paying bail of 1 million dollars

* Courtney Love is detained on deplaning in London.

This is entertainment? You call this entertainment?

With such entertaining news, you think I clicked on the "More" button?

by Randal Matheny

"Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece." --Ralph Charell

The above quote tells us not to let ourselves be passive pawns, but shakers and movers. Be the one to call the shots. But even there, the game still continues.

Good advice warns away from the herd mentality. The Bible also speaks to the same effect.

• "You shall not follow the masses in doing evil" (Ex. 23:2 NASU).

• "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent" (Prov. 1:10).

• "And do not be conformed to this world" (Rom. 12:2).

Yes, avoid the crowd, but instead of independent thinking (read Jer. 10:23) and aspiring to control, submit yourself to the Lord and place your trust in his sovereign power to guide all events and people to the final goal.

". . . He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Submit therefore to God" (Jas. 4:6-7a).

You may have read it before. I've seen it several times making the rounds. And I laugh each time. One source says it's written by William Schreyer. Here it is:

It seems there was a pretzel stand out front of an office building in New York. One day a man came out of the building, planted down a quarter, and then went on his way without taking a pretzel. This happened every day for three weeks. Finally, the old lady running the stand spoke up: "Sir, excuse me. May I have a word with you?" The fellow said: "I know what you're going to say. You're going to ask me why I give you a quarter every day and don't take a pretzel." And the woman said, "Not at all. I just want to tell you the price is now 35 cents."

First thought? What an ingrate! Not only is the vendor not interested in the man, she's looking to make an extra 10 cents.

"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).