Always Drink Upstream From the Herd

Starting with a witty quote by Will Rogers this 1-minute devotion explores our changing morals. #BibleLoveNotes #Bible #devotions #WillRogers

"Always drink upstream from the herd." Will Rogers 

Roger's wisdom makes a lot of sense for cowboys—and for Christians.(1)  

There's toxic waste in the streams of life, and we must be careful where we're drinking.

Before the 1960's the entertainment industry imposed its own restrictions: no glorification of violence, drug abuse, crime, or immoral forms of sex; no details of criminal methods, no profanity, nudity or lustful behavior.(2)   

Is it any surprise that the moral standards before the 1960's were drastically different from moral standards in the years since those codes were dropped? 

The media strongly influences how people view behavior. We now entertain ourselves with things that once would have shocked, saddened and disgusted us. 

It's getting harder to find places that are upstream from the herd. But we can, if we try. 

Scripture warns us against indulging worldly desires and becoming "polluted by the world" (Romans 13:14; James 1:27).

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Proverbs 4:23

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(1) Meaning of "drinking upstream from the herd": Typically, the water upstream from a herd of cattle is cleaner because the cattle have not polluted it.
(2) The Normalization of Premarital Sex



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Starting with a witty quote by Will Rogers this 1-minute devotion explores our changing morals. #BibleLoveNotes #Bible #devotions #WillRogers


Starting with a witty quote by Will Rogers this 1-minute devotion explores our changing morals. #BibleLoveNotes #Bible #devotions #WillRogers

Bible Love Notes

10 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this post. Our family was just talking about this very thing. My husband and I were watching a show on television that was rated TV-14, and it had nudity. (We quickly turned it off.) Something that would have once been considered pornographic in nature was now rendered acceptable for our fourteen year olds to watch. This is sad and unsettling. Thank you for speaking up. God bless ~
    (I posted this on my facebook page.)

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  2. Thanks for this important reminder Gail.

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  3. Hello Gail, It is like we are getting so seared as to what we are seeing and hearing anymore.
    I do want to drink from up stream, from the rivers of living waters! Blessings, Roxy

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  4. Oh I agree, and the movie ratings have changed! What once would have been an "X" rating is an "R" rating. When I was young you just didn't see any of that stuff in movies, less much t.v.

    We just need to look for the good stuff, and drink deep from that stream! Also, "Making Your Home Sing Monday" linky party is live and waiting for your posts! :)

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    1. Thanks so much for linking up to the "Making Your Home Sing Monday" linky party today! :)

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  5. I remember hearing a youth pastor ask, "How much dog poop is acceptable in brownies?" When his class responded with a resounding," YUCK! GROSS! NO DOG POOP!" he then asked them, "How much sex, violence, and foul language is acceptable in what we watch and read?" Sadly, he didn't get quite as enthusiastic a response to the second question. . .

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  6. Excellent reminder. It's upstream for me. I find joy is watching my daughter and son-in-law giving their children the "upstream" water.

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  7. True story Gail. I lived in Italy from 1990-1983 on a military base. We only had one t.v. station to watch and it was programs that the Army allowed. Needless to say I didn't watch a lot of t.v., I never did find out who shot J. R. So when I got back to the United States I was watching t.v. one day and on the commercial was an advertisement for bras. A lady was on t.v. in only her bra and underwear. I was in utter shock. I think I turned off the t.v. very fast. Oh, the depths we have sunk to. Blessings to you, Sharon

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    1. I can identify. We lived overseas without TV for 5 years (2004-2009) and only watching old TV shows we had on tape. When I returned I was shocked at the way things had gone down hill in so short a time. We don't have cable now, and when we stay in a hotel that has it, I sense the same thing - moral values are declining even on shows about home improvements and cooking!

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