LightGrams
October 22, 2026
Volume 30, Number 37
“Evel” was not his given name; he was born Robert Craig Knievel in 1938. When he began a career of showmanship doing dangerous motorcycle stunts, “Evel” seemed an appropriate stage name. During his prime, he attracted great attention attempting a ramp-to-ramp jump at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and a later attempt to jump over the Snake River in Idaho. During his career it was claimed that he suffered 433 bone fractures, though that number is likely exaggerated.
The spirit of Evel Knievel lives on in Diego Poncelet, a 29-year-old who recently set a record for the fastest speed while standing on a skateboard. Poncelet chose a closed downhill portion of highway in Quebec, Canada, and clocked a speed of 94.34 miles per hour. The video of his accomplishment can be found on YouTube.
Such activities are not for me. I have driven cars at high speeds (I don’t think I’ve ever gone 94 mpg, though), but skateboards don’t have seatbelts, airbags, or windshields. It would be too easy for the unknown to occur and suddenly I’m tossed from the board. If breaking a record involves breaking a bone (or worse), I’m happy to live outside of the limelight.
One factor that keeps me from such stunts is the wisdom God provides for me and for everyone else. Here is a sample of that wisdom in Proverbs 3:21,23: “My son, do not lose sight of these – keep sound wisdom and discretion … Then you will walk on your way securely, and your feet will not stumble.” The ideas of walking securely and not stumbling are images to show that life will be free of dangerous obstacles one might otherwise encounter in life. But they can literally be true, too!
Proverbs 12:21 is another example of this concept: “No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.” This is not to say that people who walk in God’s ways never experience trouble; the book of Job is clear evidence of that truth. But those who choose to walk in what the Bible identifies as sin will run into problems they could have avoided by walking in God’s ways.
In Proverbs 6, a strong warning is given to never consider going to another man’s wife for pleasure. Why not? “He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge” (Proverbs 6:33,34). By entering into an “affair” (what the Bible calls sexual immorality), a world of trouble – and often broken bones – is unleashed. Those troubles wouldn’t have come if wisdom had been the man’s way of life.
Proverbs 12:2 states the idea clearly: “A good man obtains favor from the Lord …” We can be “good” only by taking heed to what God teaches us. In making that choice we may not break any records, but we’re not as likely to suffer any broken bones either.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2026, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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