Tom Hogsed » Reputation

The Following Story is Rated R

Tom Hogsed — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 04:01:42 +0000

There is a sexually explicit story written by Solomon in Proverbs 7 which stars a naive young man and a prostitute. I don’t remember this one being told in my Children’s Bible Story Book. The story goes something like this. There was a young man who lacked common sense (7:7), so he decided to walk down a street known to house a prostitute (7:8-9). Dressed in a seductive outfit (7:10), the woman came out to meet the young man and greeted him with an embrace and a kiss (7:13). I’m sure he liked it. The woman flattered the youth by saying that she had been trying to find him and that he was the ONE for whom she had been looking (7:15). She was lying. She begins to describe in detail the bed that was awaiting them, how they could “drink their fill of love until morning,” and enjoy each others’ caresses (7:16-18). The immoral woman even put the young man at ease by assuring him that her husband had gone away on a long trip and would not return until later in the month (7:19-20). He couldn’t resist her scintillating words, so he gave into her advances (7:21). Solomon writes, “He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life” (7:22-23). Although these words were written thousands of years ago, this same scenario plays itself out in lives everyday. The characters may be different and the story may vary, but the process of temptation is the same for all. Temptation leads to lust. Lust leads to sin. Sin eventually leads to death (James 1:14-15).

In my mind, this young man made an avoidable mistake, which ultimately led to his sin. His mistake is found in Proverbs 7:8, “He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house.” He knew she lived there. Everyone knew where she lived.

If you want to keep yourself from walking into sin, you might want to quit frequenting the road of temptation.

Next Gen Leader Gets His Turn

Tom Hogsed — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:01:00 +0000

The other day I was reading the cover story in the October issue of National Geographic magazine. The article, simply entitled Redwoods: Super Trees, speaks about the value and beauty of redwood trees, which have the potential to be the tallest trees on earth. Although the article addresses issues such as saving the trees and other conservation efforts, the author also writes about a unique process in the forest between the older trees and the second generation trees called release. The writer, Joel K. Bourne, Jr., describes this phenomenon for the reader by saying, “With their high tolerance for shade and ability to sprout, some redwoods can sit almost dormant in the shade of their elders for decades. Yet as soon as a dominant tree falls or is cut down, breaking the canopy and allowing new light to enter the forest, the suppressed redwood springs up with new growth” (October 2009 issue, p. 38).

As soon as I read this statement I paused and re-read it again; it was one of those moments in which I felt as if God was providing a spiritual application to an earthly illustration. In my lifetime I have seen many “elders” and “dominant” leaders pass off the scene which has opened up the forest to many of the “suppressed” (I don’t mean this in a negative way) leaders. For many years, some of you have stood strong in the shadow of an elder who provided shade and protection, but now it is time for you to step into the light and “spring up with new growth.”

I believe Paul wrote some similar advice to those “suppressed” leaders who were getting ready to assume the place of their elders, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you (1 Timothy 4:12-16, NLT).

Are you ready to step into the light?

The Day I Lost My Mind

Tom Hogsed — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:01:00 +0000

My eyes burst open and I quickly looked at the alarm clock on my nightstand; although I cannot remember the exact time, I’m certain the clock revealed that it was well after midnight. The sound of the front door opening had been enough to thrust me out of sleep and into ninja mode (whatever that is). Most people would have sprung out of bed, but not me. Still half asleep and lying in bed, I slapped both of my arms down on either side of me as if to brace myself for what was about to happen. Listening more intently to the sounds coming from downstairs, I heard the pitter-patter of my dog’s paws walking through the hallway. “Great,” I thought. “The thieves had broken into my house and were now taking my dog captive. They must have muzzled her, though, because I never heard her bark.” As all these thoughts were running through my mind, I glanced over in order to see if my wife was hearing what I was hearing; however, she was not there. I then became extremely alarmed because I would normally send her downstairs to check out any unfamiliar noises. Who was going to do it now? Gradually, I came to my senses and realized that the reason my wife was not in bed was due to the fact that she was letting the dog out to use the bathroom.

The mind has a tendency to play tricks on a person, especially those who are absorbed with guilt. The wisdom writer reminds his readers of this truth when he says, “the wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions” (Proverbs 28:1). Hidden sin and unresolved conflict can result in a person living their life in fear of getting caught, even when no one else may know what they have done. A guilty conscience tends to have a misconstrued view of reality, while the clear conscience can experience a life of freedom. I think I’d rather spend my days being bold as a lion instead of feeling as if I am being chased by them. How about you?

A Bathroom Misunderstanding

Tom Hogsed — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Following the church service on Sunday we met a new couple at our church for lunch at Panera, one of my favorite places to eat. After a great meal and some nice conversation, my son informed my wife that he had to use the bathroom, so she told him just to go ahead. He is at the age where he can go to a public bathroom by himself as long as we are nearby. He left and all of us continued to talk until my wife felt as if my son was taking a little longer than normal in the restroom so she sent me to check on him. I quickly excused myself and made my way to the back of the restaurant where the single stall/single urinal men’s room was located. Walking directly in front of me was another gentleman who also entered the restroom and occupied the only urinal, so as a matter of elimination I assumed my son was using the only stall. Unfortunately, the only way to get my son’s attention was to call out his name (which is Ty) but as I did, this guy standing at the urinal thought I was talking to him. Frightened by my voice he not only jumped, but also hurriedly turned his head around probably thinking: a) why are you yelling at me, b) my name is not Ty, c) you are violating the unwritten rules of the men’s room, and d) I’m going to punch you right in the face if you yell at me again. Luckily, Ty responded from the confines of the stall and, I think, the man finally understood that I was just checking on my son.

Have you ever attracted the attention of the wrong person? Sometimes, as in my case, attracting the wrong person’s attention was a total accident resulting from a misuderstanding; however, there are many people who attract the attention of wrong people as a result of character flaws in their own life. Maybe you are a woman who seems to attract the wrong kind of guys or it could be that you are a college student who continually allures the attention of people who bring you down. Maybe you are a church member who attracts the attention of hypocritical and negative people who are also attending your church.

If you are a person who seems to always be surrounded by the wrong type of people, it may be time to take a look inward. The problem may not be the type of people you are attracting, but why they are attracted to you.

My Birthday and Thoughts on Death

Tom Hogsed — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Today is my birthday. Don’t worry. If you forgot to send me a gift or leave a cute little message on my facebook page, I’ve already forgiven you. Just don’t expect me to remember you on your birthday!

In case you are wondering, I turned the big three five. Maybe it’s an age thing, but with each passing year I really contemplate what legacy I’ll leave to my family, friends, church, and those who know me best. Since a very young age I have prayed that God would allow me to leave a mark on this world, great or small. Even though I cannot say that I have prayed this every single day of my life, it is the prayer of my heart. This past week I had the unfortunate opportunity to attend the funeral for a very young man (45 years old) who had given more than a decade of his life to take the message of hope to a group of people in Canada. As I listened to others speak about his life, I was pretty certain that the man who passed away had no idea about the far-reaching legacy he had left.

In that moment, I realized that it is often in death that our true legacy is discovered.

What will people say at your funeral?

Insight from a Hindu

Tom Hogsed — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:02:00 +0000

“I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” – Mahatma Gandhi

I’m not sure how this quote makes you feel, but it certainly makes sense to me. There are many in the church who claim they love God, yet disregard His ways. I wonder if this is what the apostle John had in mind when he wrote these words in 1 John 2:3-4:

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

These are some harsh words for those whose claims don’t match their conduct

A Personal Question

Tom Hogsed — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:18:00 +0000

I’ve been flipping through the 1977 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, which was given to my kids by my grandfather, and some of the things people are known for are pretty crazy. There is actually a guy who held the world record for pill taking (page 45). Is that legal? Apparently, he consumed 226,934 pills from 1794-1816 and also downed 40,000 bottles of medicine “before death overtook him.” Isn’t that a shocker? I also read about a guy who, at that time, had the longest set of nails…and, yes, I did say “guy.” On his left hand, his nails had grown to 66 ½ inches and the scariest part is that there was a picture of this guy’s nails. They were not long like daggers, but curly like snakes – disgusting if you ask me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

Perusing through this book got me thinking…if I were known for something, what would it be? Let’s make the question personal. For what are you known? Are you satisfied with your answer? If not, what are you going to do to make sure that you are not just known for your sword swallowing ability or having the longest ever sneezing fit on record?

Weird Names…Is Yours on the List?

Tom Hogsed — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:41:00 +0000

Upon my birth, I inherited the last name of my father – Hogsed. Yes, the first three letters spell out a disgusting animal associated with the swine family. Whenever I meet someone new and say my last name, they most likely will ask me to spell it. Over the years I have learned to acknowledge, up front, that my last name is weird. I do this to lessen the shock factor and also give them permission to laugh as soon as the phonetic sound of “hog” leaves my lips. My wife says that we should have taken her last name (Sharpe) so that our kids would not be made fun of at school. I think she is kidding?! After all, I have endured thirty-four years of jokes about my last name and I’m pretty certain my children will be able to do the same. Although there are many negative things about having a unique (politically correct term) last name, there is one major benefit – the phone book. If I ever need to look up someone with the last name Brown, Jones, Rogers, Smith, or Williams I may spend the better part of the day searching through the endless list of possibilities. However, with a last name like Hogsed, no time is wasted. There is a 50/50 chance of picking the right one.

I determined to study some background on my last name. The first thing I discovered was that it is an uncomplimentary nickname meaning “hog’s head.” Surprise, surprise! I’ve been called that hundreds of times. The second thing I uncovered was that the name is no longer used in Britain and Ireland. Quitters. For the sake of my own self-esteem, I abandoned my research at this point.

I began thinking about names and what the Bible actually says about them. The wisdom writer says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). Solomon also adds, “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). “Name” is not referring to your birth-given name but rather your reputation or the way you are perceived by others. Many in our world and even Christians want to be known for what they have (or have accomplished) instead of being known for who they are. There is a vast difference. Pursuing possessions and popularity will only leave a pit. Pursuing character and godliness will leave a path.

My Daughter, the Cusser

Tom Hogsed — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:48:00 +0000

The other day we were watching a kid’s movie and with our two children, Ty and Lexi. They actually had lost interest in the storyline and I think my wife, Leah, was the only one still paying attention to it. Out of nowhere, someone in the movie said, “What the h***?” Without missing a beat, Lexi repeated this phrase very loudly for the entire family to hear. At first, I didn’t know what to do. We are usually very careful about what we watch on TV or in movies, so I’m pretty sure she had never heard this phrase before, unless Leah says it secretly when I am not at home. Our kids are still in the innocent age and think bad words are “stupid” or anything added to the word “stupid” such as “head” or “face.” Probably the only reason she repeated it was because it was said with such emphasis. Likewise, whatever is emphasized in my life will certainly be repeated in theirs. As a parent, I have a huge responsibility to guard what I say and do around my kids. In fact, as a Christian I have an incredible obligation to protect my words and actions so that I am not fearful if others repeat what they have seen in me.

There are too many times I have made decisions without taking into consideration how it will affect others. I realize that there is also an extreme to this and I cannot live my whole life in response to what others may do; however, I do believe we must consider how our lifestyle can influence others. On the positive side, our words and actions can influence others to walk in the right way – God’s way. When others see you forgiving, accepting, serving, and encouraging maybe they will follow your example. As you follow Christ, may others follow you.