You Are Invisible

Our relationship with the world is at times so paradoxical it becomes confusing and frustrating. Comedians and satirists exploit this situation in “paraprosdokian” sentences which are a figure of speech where the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. For example: * “Light travels faster than sound and this is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.” * “It seems we never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.” * “Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit and wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.” * “The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.” * “The evening news is where a reporter begins with ‘Good Evening’ and then proceeds to tell you why it isn’t.” * “I thought I wanted a career but it turns out I only wanted paychecks.” * “A bank is a place that will lend you money, but only if you can prove you don’t need it.” * “Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for President and 50 for Miss America?” * “I used to be indecisive, but now I’m not sure.” * “You’re never too old to learn something stupid.” * “War does not determine who is right, only who is left.” And probably my very favorite – “Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.” - Don’t forget to vote November 4th.

Have you ever considered the relationship between two healthy eyes? They blink together; they move together; they cry together; they see things together; they sleep together; but they never ever see each other. (I know – the mirror thing. Humor me:-)
[John 14:1-11; 20:24-29] Have you thought about your relationship with God? Most people have a problem with wrapping their arms around something they can’t see. When Jesus says, “…Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9), his closest followers had a hard time understanding that, until they learned more and witnessed more of his works and the fulfillments of prophecy. Later Jesus said to the same followers, “…Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” There’s where you and I come in. Our faith in God and his promises comes from the Bible; God’s Word; the inspired writings of the patriarchs, prophets, Apostle’s and church founders. “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). We have never seen God, or Christ, or the Holy Spirit, but we have an intense inner feeling of spiritual connection we cannot explain, and sometimes go so far as trying to explain it away. Why should I deny myself (Mark 8:34-38), or become a slave (Matthew 20:25-28), or love my enemies (Luke 6:27-36) so I can please a being I can’t relate to one on one? I hear ya. I’ve had the same thoughts. Unlike worldly situations, nobody is going to make you go to heaven if you don’t want to. You’ll not be dragged into heaven kicking and screaming. God has given you the right to decide for yourself. God is not complicated. He has given us everything we need to live a righteous life, free of self and greed (Luke 12:22-34). We question: What if it’s all a fairytale, like the modern day scholars are telling us? I’ve got nothing to lose. I ask: What if it’s true? Now you have everything to lose. Jesus said, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:25) Listen to your spirit; the real invisible you.

Have Courage

My little Chihuahua is now one year old and a constant shadow. Compared to other pets I’ve had, she’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, if you know what I mean. She has more toys than she knows what to do with and generally picks a toy of the day to bug me with by standing in front of me with it in her mouth and an ears up frisky look that says, “Play with me! Play with me!” I try to push everything to the back burner for a couple of minutes as often as possible to play tug-of-war or fetch until she calls time out. Well, lately I’ve found I must be careful what I’m doing around the house because I find Bella’s nose right there and I’m scared I’m going to hurt her. She’s not afraid of anything if I’m right there guessing she figures that it must be okay. She’s not afraid of the vacuum cleaner and worst of all, the lawn mower. I use this little grunting sound to warn her of danger and/or my disapproval and she reacts immediately, keeping her safe.

I can remember as a child going on road trips with my parents and siblings. When we would come to a big high bridge, looking out the window of the car would bring on a bit of anxious feelings I didn’t know how to deal with, but were calmed by the fact that everything must be okay because dad was driving. I also remember that as I got older those scary pass-over’s became beautiful panoramic views offering awesome insights into the creation that God has given us and the beauty which it holds. But not all people are that way. Every day, it seems, at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the state of Maryland, there are motorists who arrive at that point and will not drive across. They, like some of us when we were children, want to lock their doors, close their eyes and hide in the trunk while trying to drive across the frightening bridge. Maryland’s Transportation Authority has police officers on duty as surrogate drivers for those who freeze at the wheel or there is a tow service to help those in need. They average five vehicles a day. Bridges like Michigan’s Mackinaw Bridge offer a similar service.

[Philippians 4:4-9; 2 Timothy 1:7] Isn’t it amazing? We all have our fears. For some it’s bridges or flying or crowds. Today it’s Ebola and terrorism; tomorrow who knows? What do you do with your fears? “…Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). According to Wikipedia, Telemachus (also Almachus or Tilemahos), described as being an ascetic (monk) in the writings of Theodoret, came to Rome from the East. He tried to stop a gladiatorial fight in a Roman amphitheatre and was stoned to death by the crowd. The Christian Emperor Honorius, however, was impressed by the monk’s martyrdom and it spurred him to issue a historic ban on gladiatorial fights. The last known fight in Rome was on January 1, 404 AD. Considering our fears of injustice, indifference and immorality, we need the spirit of courage exemplified by Telemachus to be alive in Christians today as we struggle against deeply entrenched evils of the world. The Lord’s church is a fellowship of courageous souls banded together to grapple with wickedness and all unrighteousness. “…God did not given us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and self-discipline”(2 Timothy 1:7). Only by being courageous can we swim against the world’s current and move in the direction of God. Repent and seek His kingdom.

Just a Couple of Croakers

It’s been said that we only have two seasons in South Texas, hot and cold, and that can come with or without rain or snow in any month, except August which is always HOT. About the only true barometer of what season it is, summer or winter, is the day-light hours which are significantly different. Another indicator is the presence of migrating birds in the neighborhood; by the hundreds! The noise they produce can be almost deafening at times and still scares my poor little Chihuahua. Today was one of those transition days from Summer into Fall. A cold front sailed through bringing a little wind, rain and lower temperature, for about three hours. Now it’s summer again, except it will be dark out by seven-thirty this evening. Just another day in paradise.
I’m generally out and about before six-thirty each morning, and because my wife doesn’t do coffee, I frequent a café for a cup or two and a taco with a friend, and to also talk about stuff. Some would call it gossip, but men don’t gossip, we exchange important information and work on solving the problems of the world. Some have asked me in the past why I don’t make my wife fix me coffee in the morning. I can relate that to a story I heard back in the eighties when self help books were in fashion. It seems a man had just finished reading a new book entitled, “You Can Be the Man of Your Own House”. He stormed into the kitchen and announced to his wife, “You need to know that from now on I’m the man of this house and my word is law!” After a short silent pause he continued, “You’ll prepare and serve me a gourmet meal tonight topped off with a sumptuous dessert. After dinner you’re going to draw me a bath so I can relax. You’ll wash my back, towel me dry and bring me my robe. Then you’ll massage my feet and hands. And tomorrow, guess who’s going to dress me and comb my hair?” His wife didn’t even hesitate before saying, “The funeral director would be my first guess.” No sir, I don’t need to be boss of my wife, if you know what I mean.
[Psalm 73] A man who had just purchased his first house in the country traveled to the nearby rural town and asked the owner of the restaurant there if he could use a million frog legs. The proprietor asked where he could find so many frogs. “I’ve got a pond on my new property that’s full of them” the new resident replied, “they drive me crazy day and night.” After they made an agreement for several hundred frogs, the gentleman farmer went back home. A week later he returned to the restaurant with two scrawny frogs in hand and a sheepish grin on his face. “I guess I was wrong” he stammered, “there were just two frogs in the pond, but they sure were making a lot of noise!” The world today sure is making a lot of noise and on the forefront of it all is war and pestilence. It’s a shame to hear that more and more people are becoming loud complain-ers and gossiping blame-ers rather than pray-ers looking to God for strength to endure and overcome the vile of the world. “…each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor… “In your anger do not sin”; Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4: 25-27). The next time you hear a lot of noise about how bad things are, remember, God is still on the throne and His power is far beyond our comprehension (Job 37:1-13). The noise you hear may be nothing more than a couple of chronic complainers who have little more to do than sit around like a couple of scrawny frogs croaking their time away.

Would You Eat It?

So you say there are no jobs out there? Do you think of yourself as a rather good salesperson? I’ll let you in on the opportunity of a lifetime, perfect for any qualified entrepreneur. Do you know what a Myocastor coypu is? It’s an animal that looks like a beaver without the flat tail. In fact it has a rat tail and is commonly known as a nutria, or river rat, or muskrat, among other names. They were introduced to this part of the world for their fur, and the fact they are herbivores’, used for grass and plant control around waterways. Their fur is still sought after and valued, but the little critters are out of control when it comes to being environmentally friendly. In Louisiana the nutria is eating the plant life and destroying the wetlands by the hundreds of acres every year. In the state of Louisiana there is a move to convince people to hunt, kill, and then eat them. Now the hunting and killing I can understand, but it’s going to take a pretty good salesperson to get people to eating rats. So, here’s your opportunity to make a fortune in the Myocastoridae Bar-B-Que business. Invent your own sauce and you’re in!

There are a lot of things in this world that we can take opportunity of and there are a lot of things in this world we wish we had never known of. Two little teardrops were floating down the stream of life. One teardrop asked the other, “Who are you?” “I’m a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. And, who are you?” The first teardrop replied, “I’m a teardrop from the girl who got him!” Life is like that. We cry over the things we cannot have, but we might cry twice as much if we received them. Buddy Post of Oil City, Pennsylvania won the lottery in the amount of $16.2 million. Set for life, right? From that day, his world collapsed. He found himself caught up in a preposterous law suite, arrested for assault, his own brother was convicted of plotting to kill him and his wife left him. His winnings were lost in court battles with his ex-wife and the state of Pennsylvania. Buddy would have been much better off if he had never won the lottery. If I ever win the lottery, I’m running away from home.

[1 John] “…Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever…” (1 John 2:15-17). In your travels, would you pull into a Myocastoridae Bar-B-Que place of business for some delectable rat meat? Probably not, because now you know what it is. Yuk! What if it was served with the best Bar-B-Que sauce in the world on it; would you eat it then? Did you know, spiritually, we are what we eat? It would do well for each of us to ask what kind of spiritual diet we are on. It may in fact be rat meat and making us sick. What we see and what we hear goes into our heart and adds light or darkness to our souls. We have all seen the notice on some movies or books, “for adults only” or “adult content”. In reality, those items should be marked as “poisonous to the mind!” “…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8). This will make a difference on how we look at and feel about the world. Over 25 times John writes that we can know God and the eternal life that awaits us.