Bad Passwords
I like to keep things simple, but sometimes simple can be dangerous.
I recently read an article about the worst passwords. You’ll never guess the worst one: 123456. That, indeed, takes some creativity, as did these other examples in the top 20: 12345, 12345678 and 123456789. As a change of pace, there was also 111111.
The #2 most dangerous password? Password. Yes, the word password. So if you’ve been using that one, feel free to add this line to your Facebook page: “Please, hacker, come steal my stuff, because I have no imagination whatsoever.”
Among the rest of the top 20 worst passwords were: baseball, football, monkey, dragon and mustang. However, I was particularly unhappy with the 20th worst password on the list: Michael. Yes, somehow my name ended up being used and abused as a password. So I guess now I need to change all my passwords.
Many people try to use their own name as a password to get into heaven, relying on all their efforts and accomplishments to gain access into God's domain. But only one name has been given under heaven by which we can be saved, that name is Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).
[To read more from Michael follow him on Twitter @MichaelDuduit]
What Job Knew
One way to study the Bible is by marking the keywords of a book. Take a keyword and follow it through to see how it is used in the text. In the book of Job, "know" is such a word. It is used often, 87 times, in fact. However, what is most interesting in the book is how it is used.
When tragedy strikes, a conversation begins between Job and his friends in which what they "know" (or think they know) is very much at the forefront. Job will argue that he doesn't know why this is happening because he has done no wrong. His three friends contend that they know Job must have committed some great sin. All the evidence they think they need to see is in Job's circumstances.
Job answers that indeed he does not know what he has done. Still, he does know one crucial fact; that God is in control (see 19:25; 31:6, et al.).
After several rounds, a fourth friend (Elihu) stands up. He has heard enough. He rebukes these four old men for running their mouths and not doing what is right (32:6-7). This young man just knows he has it all figured out (32:10, 17; 33:3; 36:4, et al.).
Then God speaks. Rather than answer Job or his friends, God challenges them. If they know so much, let them give some knowledge to the Lord God (38:2-5, 12, 18, 21, 33; 39:1-2; 40:6). In 40:1-6, Job answers the Lord. He says, "I know nothing but You. You teach me."
So, from the book of Job, what can we know?
That we do not know why any particular person is suffering.
That we can make the suffering worse for someone when we presume to know.
That the only thing we need to know when it comes to suffering is the One in control.
I may not know what tomorrow may bring. I may never know why I endure certain things. All I need to know is the Lord God. He knows all, is all-powerful, and cares for each of us.
A Smashing Business
Doug Miller reports:
At a business park just outside the loop in northwest Houston, a laid off energy worker named Shawn Baker has launched a strange business encouraging people to take out their frustrations on household furniture.
Tantrums LLC invites frustrated Houstonians to demolish rooms full of stuff with sledgehammers and other implements of destruction.
“You can rent a room, either ten minutes or fifteen, and destroy the contents of the room,” Baker explained. “Whatever I put in there, you can destroy it, either with golf clubs, baseball bats, lead pipes, sledgehammers and whatever else I can think of that I’m going to bring up here.”
Customers choose their instrument of destruction and walk into a room equipped with various pieces of furniture – from dishes to desks to television sets to household appliances – then they start smashing everything in sight to smithereens. Baker dreamed up the idea for her business after attending a concert where they were smashing old furniture.
“They pulled their trucks in behind the bar and started unloading all this stuff,” she recalled. “They were just beating the crap out of it! And I looked at my husband and I said, ‘That’s it. That’s it, right there.’”
So she searched for a site, overcame suspicious landlords, gathered up a bunch of old furniture and opened for business in December. On Friday she booked three customers, two of whom were women.
Indeed, she said, stay-at-home mothers have been some of her most interesting visitors.
“For ten minutes, it’s $35,” she said. “And for fifteen minutes, it’s $50. If you need more than that, you probably need professional help.”
Although smashing furniture may serve to vent what’s pent up inside you, there is a more constructive alternative. Rather than stuffing your anxieties until they come bursting out, learn to turn them over to God. Remember that God exercises sovereign control over your life and so nothing can happen to you without divine purpose. Seek to understand that purpose, while at the same time turning what's beyond your control over to God.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).