Last week, that crazy Fiona and her band were trying to raise money for a trip or some nonsense where travel was required. Since I am kind to dumb animals and crazy Fionas, I decided I would humor her and buy some tickets to the hockey game she was selling. I wasn't alone in my generosity, as many of you also came and watched the local team get soundly whooped by the Providence team.

What amused me most is when they do the "chuck a puck" contest. Before the game starts, everyone who wants to forks out a buck and buys soft foam pucks with a number on it. Then, during the second "halftime" (which isn't really a halftime since they have three periods - maybe a "thirdtime"?) they bring out a target dot and put it on the center of the ice. Everyone has a minute or two to throw their foam puck on the ice and hope it stops on that dot. The one that comes the closest wins something, I don't remember what, but it was funny. Once they have a winner, they let the children in the crowd come down and pick up all the pucks off the ice. As this horde of juveniles goes along, not a single puck is overlooked or left behind. Roland was there near me and said "just like locust" which, friends, is probably worthy of a bulletin someday all by itself.

But during the timeouts they run quick promotional contests. One contest was to grab a married couple and put them back to back. They asked the wife if she could name her husband's favorite song. He was supposed to write it down real quick, and then they would read it. My wife looked at me and almost without hesitation said "Boston - Don't Look Back" which nails it right on the head. (I think the gal at the game got it wrong, too bad for them.) But consider this:

There have been may crossroads in my life, many times I have disappointed others as well as myself, and many times where I felt as if I was just smothered in sin. I felt useless, puny, and unworthy. I felt crushed, and wanted to curl up into a ball. Then something in me snaps, and I just say to myself "Randy, you made a mistake. It's over. Get over it, and get on with what God wants you to do!" And when I hear this song, and I think about it from my view, I just become determined from that instant on. I made a mistake, I live with the consequences, but I do what the song says. And at the end they say it four times, over and over. Don't look back. Don't look back. Don't look back. DON'T LOOK BACK!

Luke 9:57-62 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Genesis 19:17-26 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken. Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.