September 9, 2008:Christianity and Politics: The Sarah Palin Selection	Just a few more weary days and then... I'll fly away... And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
	August 28, 2008:New Orleans and the Hand of God
	August 10, 2008:NCHS Class of 1978 Revisited
	March 20, 2008:Traditions

The Lawyer and the Parking Ticket William H. Haller

There was a famous lawyer who was prosecutor on a very tough case that the other side was convinced they had sewed up. But he sat down behind his desk and just started talking with the witness on the stand, asking simple questions, and before anyone knew what was going on, he had tied the defendant up with inconsistencies and won the case handily. Everyone was congratulating him for his great victory.

As he started home, he remembered he had a parking ticket in his pocket that was about to come due, so he stopped off at the appropriate spot in the courthouse to handle it. The thing was, everything he said to the judge just got him deeper and deeper in trouble. First, he was going to traffic training class due to his error. He protested that he was very busy and didn't have time for that, and the next thing he knew he was facing contempt of court.

Finally, he pleaded with another judge about the unjust ways the first judge was treating him and twisting everything he said to get him in more trouble. The second judge agreed and took care of the ticket and put the first judge back in his place.

So what does this story have to do with a Christian site? Well, the traffic tickets are those little sins that we commit off and on (hopefully more off than on). They aren't really big deals to us, but to Satan they are a pry bar into our hearts. Once he gets a foothold, he always wants more. The traffic ticket minor sin or transgression is just the initial stepping stone where we have dropped our guard for a minute and allowed him access. He will do as much as he can with that access we have granted him to dig us deeper into sin and create more problems for us.

That is why we must guard ourselves at all times. The second judge in the story is like Christ, taking care of our sins when we ask for help. But we are far better off not to get in that position in the first place. Murder or gossiping - sin is sin to God.

If there are places in your life that need to be cleaned up, take the opportunity today to ask Christ to forgive you of your sins. Don't give Satan any roads into your heart. He is like a concrete crusher, destroying those roads in whatever way he can. Take away his access to you. Stand strong for Jesus Christ 24/7. If you don't have any problems in this area, pray for those around you, pray for your pastor, your friends, your neighbors, your classmates, your co-workers.