Relative Truth

A tree, probably hit by lightning, fell from our neighbor's yard, smashing our fence but thankfully, nothing else. We were actually happy, figuring the fence was old anyway and now our neighbor's insurance would cover it. Wrong. When a tree falls, the homeowner's insurance covers only what is in their yard. I hope the fence is in their yard...otherwise, we have to replace it. And the half tree lying in our yard...? Yep, we have to cut it up and cart it away.

But it could have been worse.

Dogs or cars could have been crushed. It could have even hit the house. One must look on the bright side. Really, there are always two sides. The neighbors were not negligent. There was nothing they could have done to prevent lightning from striking the tree. Why should they be responsible for what landed in our yard? On the other hand...it was their tree....

I am learning more and more that everyone has a perspective, and everyone is convinced their view is equally valid, depending "which side of the (crushed) fence you are on." I believe truth is absolute, and relativism is a trap. The problem is discerning truth. Truth is not always easy to discern, with our perspectives and desires coloring the lens. The Hindu woman I witnessed to yesterday said, "All Gods are the same." I told her that Jesus did not leave us that option. He says clearly, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." If I believe Jesus, and I do, then there is no other God, and no other way to God. Jesus leaves us no choice. We must choose Him, or if not Him, face the possibility that we are doomed.

Meanwhile, we will be chopping up trees.
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Exodus 23:13 

“Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.

Deuteronomy 6:14 

You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you—

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Isaiah 44:6

Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

Deuteronomy 32:17 

They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.

Joshua 24:2 

And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.

Deuteronomy 28:14 

And if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.