It's Time To Turn The Page

Well, my list of things to get accomplished before the end of the year seems to be growing, not getting smaller as the days are counting down in 2015. Last week, short as it was, I did get most everything in the office communicating with the new computer with its new operating system. There were a few hair-pulling hours of, “Why won’t this work?” along with hours of downloading and installing updates to get printers and the like to work right. I must be mellowing a little because through all the frustrations of last week I never threw anything or broke anything. I sort of feel real proud of myself even though I wanted to scream a few times. I think I’ve got most all the wrinkles ironed out and the new computer looks to be ready for work in the coming new year. Most years, many of us are looking forward to turning the page and starting a new chapter in life. My years are certainly flying by and the chapters are adding up, yet I’m happy to be as healthy as I am and busy in life as I am. I pray your new chapter in life is full of happiness, prosperity and good health. Get right with the Lord if your conscience is guiding you that way. Remember, it’s an election year. Get out and vote!

There’s a lot of traveling this time of year. A six-year-old boy announced in school that his grandmother was coming for a visit. When asked where his grandmother lived he replied, “She lives at the airport. When we want her to come for a visit we just go and get her. Then when we’re done having her visit we take her back to the airport.”

Ninety-five-year-old Mary found that shopping for Christmas had become too difficult, so she decided to send checks to everyone instead. On each card that would accompany the check she wrote, “Buy your own gift” and made sure she mailed them early. Only after the Christmas season was well over did she get around to clearing the clutter from her desk. Under a stack of papers she was horrified to discover all the gift checks which she evidently had forgotten to enclose with her cards of good will.

[Luke 6:38] Now that the gift giving season is over and time has come to figure out how to pay for it all, may I suggest seven gifts that don’t cost a cent and can be given all year long? 1. The Gift of Listening. But you must really listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listen. 2. The Gift of Affection. Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and hand-holds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends. 3. The Gift of Laughter. Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, “I love to laugh with you.” 4. The Gift of Written Notes. It can be a simple, “Thanks for the Help” note or a full sonnet. A brief hand-written note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life. 5. The Gift of Compliment. A simple and sincere, “you look great in red;” or, “you did a super job,” or, “that was a wonderful meal” can make someone’s day. 6. The Gift of Favor. Every day go out of your way to do something kind. 7. The Gift of a Cheerful Disposition. The easiest way to feel good is to extend a kind word to someone. Really, it’s not that hard to say, “Hello” or “Thank-You”. I’m not so good at a lot of this, but what a way to get the new year started and grow in our Christian maturity. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Happy New Year, Y’all

My Hero That Night

I walked into my office last Friday morning and it looked like a train wreck. For two days before I had been earnestly working on setting up a new computer and needless to say, not everything was cooperating. The operating systems are different between my old and new computers, which has a tendency to create conflict while trying to move data from one to the other. It feels like pushing a truck with four flat tires up a hill. It can become totally frustrating at times and when I can’t figure out the problem then it’s time to spend an hour on the phone with a program tech to get their product up and running again. The best part about that process today is the fact that one can turn the control of the computer over to the tech to allow them to do their magic in short order. The mouse arrow is scooting all over the screen and windows are flipping open and closed at break-neck speed - wham, bam - it’s working again. I thanked the young lady for her help and wish I could kiss her for bailing me out. Then I sat back and sighed with relief, another upgrade is installed; now to learn how to use it. Why go through all the trouble when the old computer is working just fine you ask? Updates have come to a halt because the processor in my antique tower is too slow for the newer operating systems and any upgrades for most programs. Technology has once again advanced to the point where I must catch up, or wave bye-bye to the world of 1’s & 2’s.

This year social media is full of the thought that Christ needs to be put back into Christmas. Here are some thoughts as to why Jesus is better than Santa. Santa lives at the North Pole > Jesus is everywhere. Santa comes by once a year > Jesus is an ever present help. Santa fills our stockings with goodies > Jesus supplies all our needs. Santa comes down our chimney uninvited > Jesus stands at the door and knocks, waiting to enter your heart. You have to wait in line to see Santa > Jesus is as close as the mention of his name. Santa lets you sit on his lap > Jesus lets you rest in his arms. Santa doesn’t even know your name > Jesus knew your name before you were born. He even knows how many hairs are on your head. Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly > Jesus has a heart full of love and compassion. All Santa can offer is Ho-Ho-Ho > Jesus offers Health, Help and Hope. Santa says, “You better not cry…” > Jesus says, “Cast all your cares on me and I will give you rest.” Santa’s little helpers make toys > Jesus makes life anew; mends wounded hearts; repairs broken homes; and builds mansions. Santa gives you a chuckle > Jesus gives you joy! – That is your strength. While Santa puts gifts under your tree > Jesus became our gift, and died on the tree.

[Luke 2: 1-7] It’s obvious there is really no comparison between Santa and Jesus. We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back into Christmas; Jesus is still the reason for the season. Joseph was a righteous man (Matthew 1:19) so trusted in God, but I can’t help thinking he must have felt like he had been thrown under the bus when he escorted Mary into that stinky animal corral the night of Jesus’ birth. Pregnant and ready to deliver, poor Mary probably couldn’t travel very fast and by the time they arrived in Bethlehem, any reservation Joseph had made for their stay was long given away to other travelers – there was no room. Joseph is my hero of the night, trusting in God and making do with what he had to work with. In awe, he witnessed God at work. I pray to do the same one day, in heaven above.

Then God Will Make It Grow

Last week I was making a list of all the things that I need to get done by the end of the year and came to the conclusion, I’m about two weeks behind in my office work, of where I normally am this time of year. In retrospect, the past two months I can see I have not been redeeming my time as well as I normally do. It probably has something to do with all my unexpected doctor visits and surgery, which came at just the wrong time of the year. My mental focus has been skewed a bit, but I think I’ve got it back on track for a big 2015 finish. I’ll have to hustle though with the holidays falling on Friday’s, normally my busiest day of the week. I even get to start the week with a four hour deficit due to my surgical follow-up appointment clean on the other side of the big city first thing Monday morning. I know the Lord will work it all out for the good.
Imagine there is a bank which will credit your account each morning with $86,400, carries over no balance from day to day, that allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course! Well, everyone has such a bank. Its name is time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the tomorrow. You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade. To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident. To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. And remember, time waits for no one. Yesterday is history; Tomorrow is a mystery; Today is a gift - It's called the present.

[1 Peter 4; Hebrews 5:1-6:12] Today my bride and I have been together thirty years. For any marriage to last there has to be the growth of understanding and strict adhesion to the rules of engagement. “…Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and produces a good crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned…” Marriage is not a 50/50 compromise, but a 100% commitment. It takes some of us guys a lifetime to learn and understand that, but most of us try real hard. Marriage is service to one another and the family. To survive as a Christian, one must be committed to the Lord more than anything else (Luke 14:25-33). Both marriages must be watered with the practicing of God’s truth and love, learning all we can about one another and God will make it grow (1 Corinthians 3;1-9).

There's Chaos Without Christ

I appreciate all the phone calls, emails and snail-mail cards concerning my health and my recent surgeries. I did spend a couple of hours on the table last Tuesday having two surgeries performed. Neither one of them bother me a bit, I slept right through the whole thing. Myself, my wife and a friend for a chauffeur, started the day at three in the morning to be on the other side of the big city by 5 a.m. Surgery was promised for 7:30 and the last thing I remember was sailing down a cool hallway headed for the theatre at 7:40. I guess I can call it a good day when I can check out of the hospital and find myself traveling down the highway, half way home, and it’s only noon. I just love it when a plan comes together. And at this point I will step out and give God all the glory for a well planned, executed, successful day, of which I spent the rest of, kicked back in my easy-chair, nodding off, while thanking God for my preserving my voice and granting me more time to teach the Gospel, and maybe save some souls. I bow in awe of answered prayer, especially when I recognize and see God working in my life, matching me up with the right people as the need arises. God is good; all the time!

A German soldier was wounded in battle, as many were, during WWII. He was ordered to go to the military hospital for treatment. When he arrived at the large and imposing building he saw two doors, one marked “For the Slightly Wounded” and the other marked “For the Seriously Wounded”. He entered through the first door and found himself walking down a long hallway. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked “For Officers” and the other “For Non-Officers”. He entered through the latter and found himself walking down another long hall. At the end of it were two more doors, one marked “For Party Members” and the other “For non-Party Members”. He took the second door, and when he opened it he found himself out on the street. When the soldier returned to his squad the commanding officer asked him, “How did you get a long at the hospital?” “Well sir” he replied, “to tell you the truth, the people there didn’t do a thing for me, but you ought to see the tremendous organization they have!”

[Revelation 3:1-6] “…I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. …He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says…” This scripture is directed to the church in Sardis and I feel it’s time to share it with not only the church of today, but, the home, our public school systems, our governments, and especially the President, the Congress and the Justices of the United States of America. An article titled, “God Isn’t Fixing This” appeared December 3, 2015, on the front page of the New York Daily News, inferred that God has no power over the evils of the world randomly attacking innocent men, women and children. More-over, that all the prayers in the world will do no good to bring this chaos to an end. There is chaos because our country and our leaders are without Christ (Colossians 1:16-17) “…He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Only the laws of God can harness and regulate peaceful living. This election year needs to reap God fearing Representatives praying for guidance, daily.

Do-over's

I pray everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day and got enough under their belt to carry them through till the end of December, when we can do it all over again. And speaking of do-over’s, I’ll be going into surgery again to work on my vocal cords this Tuesday, December 1st. I have a growth that keeps coming back and a different surgeon is going to load up a different laser gun to zap this sucker hoping to discourage it from coming back again. Only time will tell but we can’t wait and let it get a foothold. Hopefully everything will go as well as it normally does and retain my voice.

“The Fellowship of the Unashamed” by David Guinn. “I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight-walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame vision, mundane talking, chintzy giving and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power. My pace is set, my gate is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the face of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all know and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear.” There’s no time for do-over’s.

[Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 12:1-3] Can Jesus pick you out of a crowd? James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States, took office on March 4, 1881. On his first Sunday in Washington following his inauguration, a member of his Cabinet insisted that a meeting must be called to discuss a matter that purportedly threatened a national crisis. The President refused, stating that he was already committed to another appointment. The cabinet member insisted, telling the President that the national matter was of grave importance and that he should break his prior engagement. Still, Mr. Garfield refused to do so. Obviously appalled, the Cabinet member remarked, “I would be interested to know with whom you have an engagement so important that it cannot be broken.” Mr. Garfield replied, “I will be as frank as you are. My engagement is with the Lord, to meet Him at His house, at His table, at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning – and I shall be there.” What an example! May we, too, be so dedicated to the worship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we shall not forget that we have a standing “prior appointment” every Sunday morning, the first day of the week, the Lord’s day. In obedience to God’s Word we have a standing appointment to serve one another each and every day with the love of God. Missed appointments rarely come with do-over’s.

Would They Kill Him Again?

Statistically speaking, most of my life has always fallen somewhere in the “normal” range of predicable human reactions by whoever determines these things. Now these same people are the experts that continually attempt to steer the lives of the “normal” people in the direction they want them to go. I like living in the normal realm of lead, follow, or get out of the way, because it tends to give me that feeling of freedom and independence we all crave. I lack any powers or super-powers to limit getting pushed into situations of life I don’t like or disagree with, so like my fellow obedient law-abiding neighbors and citizens I have to accept some things being passed along as “for the betterment of the whole”, not necessarily in a participating manner, but more the “tolerance” mood. Don’t get me wrong here. I buck against the goads every time I get, but it’s the normal gripping and belly-aching most people do during morning coffee or watching the evening news. I generally do cave in to the establishment only because I like my “normal” life and the quiet freedoms I can afford to retain and remain faithful.

I’ve been kicking and screaming since the beginning of this so-called electronic age only learning as I go because by not participating in the flow of “progress” one tends to get left way behind on this new super-highway. Most things today are key-less and wireless leaving me clueless as to how I’m suppose to get it started. I’ve lived in the same place for near 40 years; I drive my vehicles on average of 10 years (used to begin with); I have 2 laptop computers 5 years old, but my workhorse desktops are dated 1998 & 2001. They’re like a pair of old comfortable shoes; like an easy chair with all the lumps and wrinkles that conform perfectly to your body, just right for Sunday afternoon naps. Well, the world evidently has far too many computer engineers with nothing to do except mess with good programming and trashing comfortable shoes. My two faithful workhorses have to go because everything to do with the computer age today has to ride a thoroughbred racehorse of a motherboard and micro-processor, plus, the operating system itself takes more memory than the total my ’98 computer came with (13GB). By the way, my son said I’d never fill it up - ha,ha,ha! I can no longer update these two desktops, they’re at their limit, so, to the closet they go with my worn out shoes. I’d rather take a beating out back of the woodshed than move or update computers, but I have no choice. Pray for me, and my new computer, neither gets hurt.

[Mark 3:1-4; Luke 19:45-48] There is a movement in the world today, especially in this country, to rid the landscape of any reference to the Christian faith. The leaders of Jesus’ day were afraid of him because the people believed in him and their power over the people was waning. They wanted to “rid” themselves of Jesus but were having a hard time plotting his murder, until Judas came along. If Jesus lived a physical life today the federal government wouldn’t have any trouble at all. The FDA could get him for turning water into wine without a license; the EPA could get him for killing fig trees; the AMA could arrest him for practicing medicine without a license; the National Board of Psychiatrists would arrest him for giving advise on how to live a guilt-free life, without the proper certification; the Dept. of Health would fine him big for feeding 5000 in the wilderness without a permit. Jesus wouldn’t stand a chance living in the 21st century. How tolerant do you think Jesus would be toward our liberal society?

Just Plow Around It

The world is certainly in a mess and it seems there is a new fraternity of peoples forming every day with new ideals to constitute the perfect world society suitable for everybody. Of course some of these ideals include total annihilation of some other idealistic peoples, so the world has to have a war, or two dozen, going on at any one time just to express and hammer home new ideals. I’m convinced there are three types of people in the world: the ignorant; those educated beyond their intelligence; and those who wish to lead a quiet productive life. Unfortunately, the world powers seem to all be lead by the combined efforts of first two groups while the third group ends up feeding their ambitious endeavors. Most of us on the planet belong to the third group of people and lately if we express our opinions we get labeled “extremists” or “potential terrorists” for wanting to live in a clean, quiet neighborhood. It’s getting hard to deal with some of this ridiculous, self-centered, “disrespect” and “political correctness” bed of eggs we’re being forced to walk on. I can see a lot of broken eggs in the near future of this country and many countries of the world. I’m afraid the yoke won’t be funny.
Some grade school teachers keep journals of amusing things their students write in papers. Here are a few examples (God help us all): * Syntax is the money collected at church from sinners. * The future of “I give” is “I take”. * The parts of speech are lungs and air. * The inhabitants of Moscow are called Mosquitoes. * Define H2O and CO2. H2O is hot water and CO2 is cold water. * The general direction of the Alps is straight up. * The people who followed the Lord were called the Twelve Opossums. * The spinal column is a long bunch of bones. The head sits on the top and you sit on the bottom. * The four seasons are: salt, pepper, mustard and vinegar. * The word trousers is an uncommon noun because it is singular at the top and plural at the bottom. Okay!

[Psalm 11] There are times in life when we find things in our way that we cannot move. Even after persistent, fervent prayer, the cup of suffering is brought to quivering lips and we must drink of it – right down to the bitter dregs. Abraham Lincoln said, “Some troubles are like the stump an old farmer had in his field – too hard to uproot, too knotty to split, and too wet and soggy to burn.” When asked what to do in a spot like that, he replied, “Well, I’d just plow around it.” Some situations are like that stump. They are there and cannot be changed and must be accepted. We pray may God give us grace and strength to accept the inevitable and plow around the immovable.

“In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain? For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot. For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.” I know the world is going to get very ugly before the Lord returns and in judgment God will destroy what he created – that’s a promise. Until then, or I depart from this life, I will struggle to overcome evil and live a righteous life following Him.

You Never Know When

Never knowing what to expect in life from one moment to the next was never more apparent than last Friday morning when Mother Nature woke us from our slumber, then shook us out of bed. For me it was a typical morning with a doctor’s appointment in the big city at mid-morning. A large thunderstorm had passed by about an hour before I got out of bed with more rumbling in the distance. The weather radar indicated it was headed our way so I hurried a morning shower and hoped to be dressed before the power went out, sort of an expectant thing where I live. As I was getting my shoes on the thunder roared and the rain came pouring down. “I’ll have to wait to get to my car now” and as I stood in the doorway with visions of a hot cup of coffee waiting for me at the restaurant, where I meet with my “buds” before going to the office, I could hear a few small hailstones hitting my tin roof, not a good sign, and then total silence, in combination, a very bad sign. I listened for the roar of wind, but never heard it. Then I heard what I thought was thunder in the distance and felt relief that the storm was moving past in haste. But in reality what I heard was a tornado tearing through the city about four blocks away, unknown to us for about half an hour, for the electricity went out leaving us in the dark with only cell phone lifelines. It had stopped raining so I went out to see if the whole city was without electric power, perhaps finding a cup-a-joe somewhere else, finding nothing but blackness, so returned home not even realizing I was within half-a-block of the tornado path. Then the text messages started to come in and we couldn’t believe what we were reading. The High School was damaged big time, but students were okay and businesses we frequent were gone. We had little more to go by and people were calling us from all over the country checking on our welfare. (They heard on TV). Sirens on emergency vehicle screamed for over an hour going here and there. I’d only get in the way so my wife I headed off to the big city to give a doctor some more money. We got back home a little after noon and still no electricity so we went investigating the tornado scene, driving where I could then walking to get closer. Emergency personal were still everywhere, cleaning up the main highway of downed power poles and electric lines. To make a long story (day) short there were no deaths and we are quite lucky compared to some of the communities north of us who were also hit hard by the same storm with tornadoes and severe flooding. Praise God!

[Matthew 24:36-51; Mark 13:32-37; Luke 12:13-43] I prepared for a night without electricity but was pleasantly surprised when the power lunged everything to life less than twelve hours after the storm. A day without electrical entertainment tends to make one take inventory and be grateful not only for what he has in life, but who he has in life. Several people lost things, but the community rallied to their needs toot-sweet. My wife couldn’t stop crying and praising God for saving lives, especially after the rumor was quashed that our neighbor had lost his life in the storm. He had gotten into the food cooler of the restaurant, saving his life, while the tornado destroyed most of the building. The Lord will return one day, but millions more will meet Him in death before that time. We don’t know when our life will end any more than we know when Jesus will return. Are you prepared or has the world gotten you over-occupied? Love the world, and the things in it, and you will pass away with them (1 John 2:15-17).

Too Soon Old; Too Late Smart

Knowing at the beginning of the week a large scale rain storm was imminent for the weekend, I got out into the yard, with rake in hand, to clean up all the dead leaves the dry weather had produced throughout the summer months. I got two days of yard work in before having to get back to my regular job, and the yard looked pretty good. At work the next day I leaned over to pick up some papers off the floor, and for the first time in a long time, my lower back screamed out a spasm attack sending me to the floor. Oh, happy day!! The older I get the more pain and agony I get to enjoy for three or four days. It’s probably no worse than twenty years ago, but it sure feels like it. At least I don’t have to lean over fenders and grills in this condition any longer and I’m happy for that. I don’t like to think about it but the old body is beginning to talk back at me when I work like I’m thirty again. A lot of punishing miles have been added since.

Ecclesiastes 12:1-7] Solomon shares a poetic description of old age (with the purpose of emphasizing the need to start serving the Creator as a youth, otherwise the time will come when it will be too late): "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you say, 'I find no pleasure in them'" "…when the keepers of the house tremble (the arms and hands are often no longer steady); and the strong men stoop (the legs are no longer straight and strong); when the grinders cease because they are few, (the teeth have lessened in number); and those looking through the windows grow dim (the eyesight is now clouded and dim); when the doors to the street are closed (ref; Psalm 141:3 the wise in the Lord have less to complain about) and the sound of grinding fades (the sense of hearing has deteriorated); when men rise up at the sound of birds (one is easily awakened); but all their songs grow faint (this may be a reference to the fact that one cannot sing-along with the same ability as he could as a youth); when men are afraid of heights and of danger in the streets (the fear of falling is ever present and balance is no longer taken for granted); when the almond tree blossoms (the almond tree turns to a silver and then white color when it is almost finished with its cycle; this certainly refers to the changing of one's hair color--to gray and then to white); and the grasshopper drags himself along (even the lightest of activities is now a challenge); and desire is no longer stirred (advanced age and poor health reduce the strong appetites of the flesh); Then man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets (a reference to death and the grief it brings to the living); Remember Him before the silver cord is severed (before life slips away); or the golden bowl is broken (before the mind becomes dull or slow); before the pitcher is shattered at the spring (before the heart is broken or the spirit crushed); or the wheel broken at the well (before death overtakes you) and the dust returns to the ground where it came from; and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (ref; Genesis 2:7). Admittedly, some of these metaphors are difficult to interpret with certainty and are therefore not presented dogmatically. Nevertheless, the picture painted by Solomon is powerful, and the overall message is clear. Old age brings a variety of struggles. The wise will begin seeking God in early life and continue serving Him until death. Those who are foolish put off the pursuit of righteous living until later in life (Acts 24:25). I’ve got the Lord to carry me through.

Is It God's Fault?

It amazes me to no end that the longest running book in print and the best selling book of all times is not being read nor believed. If people who own a Bible would actually read it, not simply accepting what’s being taught, but actually reading, studying and proving to themselves that what’s being taught is true or false, they would come to an understanding that all that is happening in the world today cannot be blamed on anybody but themselves and the God of the Bible. Yeh, go ahead and blame it on God! But, don’t forget to go look in the mirror. God has always said, “Be my people, and I will be your God, and I will bless you.” He also said, “Curse me, worship other gods, and I will curse you.” Read the Bible and you’ll find that God did exactly that with his chosen people throughout their history. He would send a people more wicked than they, to punish them, and take them into captivity. Knowing that God will bring about the destruction of a land (Ezekiel 7 - the destruction of Jerusalem), people aught to take notice and heed the prior warnings given by God and his prophets.

[Haggai 1:1-15] “In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’” Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.” Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people…” The “me” generation has forgotten God and is centered on self, building their own house, neglecting they themselves are to be the temple of God (2 Corinthians 6:16). We will lose our independence, rights and freedoms under our Scripturally based constitution if our citizens continue to tell God, “I have no need of your governance anymore.”

It Ain't Over Till It's Over

September 22, 2015 will be remembered as “the day Yogi died.” Lawrence Peter “Yogi” Berra was loved by millions of people. His outstanding ability and endurance on the baseball field made him a star, but his humble personality and wise thinking made him a fan favorite. Most everyone has heard a “Yogi-ism”–a statement made that was wise in its essence, but a little warped in its rendition. The most famous Yogi-ism is probably, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” Everyone realizes that the expression is not quite “correct,” but they also know the thought is accurate. Probably, the secret to Yogi Berra’s longevity in the hearts and minds of the people was the fact that they identified with him. In his playing days, he was a catcher, a position admired because of its difficulty. He was also a “clutch hitter”-coming through with base hits at key moments in ballgames. Finally, he seemed to be a “regular guy” even though he was part of a profession that was beginning to separate itself from common people. The thing for which Yogi will be remembered most was his way of expressing himself as he was speaking. Because of his achievements in playing, coaching and managing baseball, his intelligence was easily seen. However, when he spoke, the syntax and grammar were “off” just enough to give his sayings that extra “punch” that others did not have, even though they were saying the same things. (Lance Cordle - Calvert City church of Christ Calvert City, KY - BulletinDigest.com) Yogi-isms include some of the following well-known’s: * “If you don’t know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else” * “You can observe a lot by watching” * “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore!” * “The future ain’t what it used to be” * “When you arrive at a fork in the road, take it” * “You should always go to other peoples funerals, otherwise, they might not come to yours” * “I never said half the things I said” * “It ain’t the heat, it’s the humility” * “Baseball is ninety percent mental, the other half is physical” * “It’s déjà-vu all over again.”

[1 Corinthians 9:19-27] Many people identify with someone that has trouble expressing themselves, especially in public speaking or interview situations. I would imagine that is probably attributable to the fact that the biggest fear among people is that of speaking in public. When others identify with you and respect you, you have a greater chance of influencing them. Yogi Berra and his legacy are proof of that. Paul, the apostle, knew that truth. Though inspired by God, he was a man with whom people identified. He wrote “…I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” As an apostle, Paul never elevated himself, in fact he wrote: “…I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:9). Paul never burdened anyone or looked to anyone for monetary support, although he did receive love gifts as he traveled and taught, because he was a tent-maker and willing to work at his trade when it was necessary (Acts 18:1-4). We may not be great baseball players, or famous for any reason, but we can live in a way that is wise, both before God and the people we come in contact with, or influence, every day, in every way. As with Yogi, even though we may not come across the way people expect, maybe people will be forced to consider the wisdom behind it. If godly wisdom does not now characterize your life, begin today. Run the race to win the grand prize. After all, “It ain’t over till it’s over!”

We Need Our Savior

Mary's Lamb Mary had a little Lamb; His fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, The Lamb was sure to go. He followed her to school each day, T'wasn't even in the rule. It made the children laugh and play, To have a Lamb at school. And then the rules all changed one day, Illegal it became; To bring the Lamb of God to school, Or even speak His Name! Every day got worse and worse, And days turned into years. Instead of hearing children laugh, We heard gun shots and tears. What must we do to stop the crime, That's in our schools today? Let's let the Lamb come back to school, And teach our kids to pray!

National Pride Have you ever wondered why strong nations fall? Think about it: strong nations always have the best armies, most up-to-date weapons, strongest economies, and the best citizens. So why do they fall? And we must admit that they do fall! The British Empire fell. Rome fell. Alexander’s Greek kingdom fell. Babylon, Assyria, Egypt, and countless other strong nations have fallen and lie in the dust. Why? The Bible suggests two reasons. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). We usually think of the individual when reading this verse, but it seems to me that it also applies to national pride as well. It was said, “The sun never sets on the British empire,” but now it is in the dark! Isaiah 14 records a proverb against the king of Babylon who was so full of pride that he thought he was “the Most High.” But Jehovah of hosts “cut off from Babylon both name and remnant” (22). Take warning, brethren, for it has been recently said by those in high places that “America is the only nation on earth that the world cannot do without.” Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34). Now you know the second reason strong nations fall. Need I say more? When politicians and judges make laws that sanction sin, they are acting as if they were God Himself. That pride and the sins which follow it will lead to the destruction and fall of any people. Alton Norman Owingsville church of Christ Owingsville, KY (Bulletin Digest September 2015)
[Luke 15:11-32] In a short story “Capital of the World”, Ernest Hemingway tells about a Spanish father who wanted to be reconciled with his run-away son. The despairing father missed his son so much that he placed an advertisement in the local newspaper. It simply read: “Paco, meet me at the Hotel Montana at noon on Tuesday. All is forgiven! Love, Papa.” But Paco is a very common name in Spain and when the father went to the hotel, there waiting were eight hundred young men named Paco expecting to see their forgiving father. I think of this advertisement being similar to what we read, in so many words, in the Bible. God, our heavenly Father says, “My child, meet me at the cross as soon as possible. All is forgiven! Love, Father.” We too often forget that God has reconciled the world to himself through the sacrifice of his own son, the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father except through him (John 14:6). Jesus never said ‘salvation is over there, go and get it’. He said ‘follow me and I will take you there’. Into Jesus’ death and resurrection we are baptized, to be raised in his likeness, a new spiritual creation, “…When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3: 1-4). This country is doomed without our Savior.

Never Too Old To Listen

Since we had a laptop stolen from the church annex building right out from under our nose one day, I’ve become more vigilant to the traffic around our buildings during the day-time hours. At night everything is secure and locked down with an alarm back-up keeping watch when no one is around, but during the day things have had to change over the past year. Traffic alarms have been installed on exit/entrance doors that are normally unlocked during business hours just to monitor movement in and out of those doors. I have also gotten in the habit of locking doors behind me even if I’m only going to be out of the area for a few minutes. Failure to do this resulted in the theft I related to earlier. Fool me once; shame on you. I really don’t want to get fooled again. So, have you ever done something knowing it was going to result in your getting hurt or having to fix what just got broken because of your actions? I know you have because we’ve all done it. I took my keys out of my pocket, unlocked a storage door, leaving the ring of keys hanging in the lock and commenced to moving an eight foot ladder through the doorway into the room. While pushing on the door, armed with an air return closer, with the ladder, my brain pictured and warned me the ladder was going to snag on the ring of keys and break off the key in the lock. I hushed my brain, ignored the warning of experience and guess what happened? You got it! The ladder snagged the ring of keys and broke off the key in the lock! Doh! Now I can use my door lock changing experience to fix my mess up. Disassembling the lock gained access to retrieving the broken key and sending me to WalMart for a replacement.

[Ecclesiastes 4:13-16] The words of the teacher, son of David, king of Jerusalem writes: “Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning. The youth may have come from prison to take the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Youthful successors to any leadership are generally welcomed because the followers are of like mind and willing to listen. The problem is, leaders get older and fail to maintain their leadership role because they think they already know it all. Experience is a trait that is very valuable for any organization. A person with experience in an area can usually do a job faster, easier and better than those without. But, there is a time when experience is wasted. Experience and position are not assets to those that think they no longer need to listen to anyone else. No matter how long you have been doing something and how good you may be at it, there is always something else you can learn. Those who “check out” and feel they “know it all” are no longer an asset to any organization or to themselves. I thought I had discovered a new thing in “ductless air conditioning” early this summer when we installed a unit in an office replacing a large non-repairable A/C unit. During our trip to Mexico I discovered ductless air conditioning everywhere in every building! I mentioned I thought I had discovered something new and unique but had no idea most of the rest of the world already knows about it. A younger, wiser brother-in-Christ reminded me, discovering Jesus as Savior is of like manner to the lost.

Watered Down Duck Soup

Okay, so here’s the worst joke in the world, until the next worst joke comes along. Most people know who Ludwig Van Beethoven is. When he passed away he was buried in a churchyard, and a couple of days later the town drunk was walking through the cemetery and heard a strange noise coming from the area where Beethoven was buried. Terrified, the drunk ran and got the preacher to come and listen to it. The preacher bent close to the grave and heard some faint, unrecognizable music coming up from the ground. Frightened, the preacher ran and got the town magistrate. When the magistrate arrived he bent his ear to the grave, listened for a moment and said, “Ah, yes. That’s Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, being played backwards.” He listened for a while longer, then said, “There’s the Eighth Symphony, and it’s backwards also! Most puzzling.” So the magistrate kept listening; “There’s the Seventh; the Sixth; the Fifth” Suddenly the realization of what was happening dawned on the magistrate. He stood up and announced to the crowd that had assembled at the cemetery, “My fellow citizens, there’s nothing to worry about here. It’s just Beethoven, decomposing.

The story is told of a young man who came to the door of a monastery with a large duck in his arms. His uncle, who happened to be one of the monks, answered the knock. “Here, uncle, this is a gift for you and the others. Eat it in good health.” The uncle was very grateful, and that night, with the duck dressed and stuffed, he and the others enjoyed a generous meal. A few days later another knock came on the door. “I am a friend of the nephew who brought you the duck. I’ve been down on my luck lately and I wondered if I could impose on you for a bite to eat and a place to sleep for the night?” “Of course, my son, you are most welcome.” That night he joined the monks for some warm duck soup. A few days later another knock on the door. “Hi, I am a friend of the friend of the nephew who brought the duck. Could I impose on you for a bit of hospitality?” He too was welcomed… more duck soup. A few more days went by, then came another knock. “Hello, I am a friend of the friend of the friend of the boy who brought the duck.” That night at dinner he was presented with a steaming bowl of hot water. He tasted it, looked up and asked, “What is this?” The uncle monk replied, “This is the soup of the soup of the soup of the duck my nephew brought.”

[1 Timothy 4: 1-8] Charles H. Spurgeon has been described by one historian as one who stood firm against what he called “the ‘down grade’ in religion.” “Were Spurgeon on the scene today, he no doubt would be appalled at the superficiality of much that is professed to be Christianity.” As a little side note, I would inject that the founding fathers of this once God-fearing nation would also be appalled at the down grading of the Constitution of these United States of America and the superficiality of much that is professed as rights under said constitution. We Christians and faithful citizens have allowed ourselves to be gradually desensitized by religious and secular pluralism, postmodernism, and political correctness of our day, to the point that both our religion and government are nothing but a “watered-down” version of the potent Christianity described in the New Testament which made us a God-fearing people grateful to God for our religious and personal freedoms in a land He so graciously gave us. If you’re tired of “watered-down” duck soup, get back to the Bible and the voting booth; today!

God Wants To Help

“How to Install a Southern Home Security System”: 1. Go to Goodwill and buy a size 14-16 pair of men’s work boots. 2. Place them on your front porch along with a current issue of “Gus and Ammo” magazine. 3. Put four giant dog food bowls next to the boots and magazine. 4. Leave a note on the door that reads: “Bubba, Me and Marcel, Donny Ray and Jimmy Earl went for more ammo and beer. Be back in an hour. Don’t mess with the Pit Bulls. They got the mailman this morning and messed him up bad. I don’t think Killer took part, but it was hard to tell from all the blood. I locked all four of them in the house. Better wait outside. Be right back.” Cooter

Paranoia is one of those funny elements of the psyche that sneaks up on one’s self without warning. It’s not worry that triggers my off-balance, wake up in the middle of the night, near panic attack. No, for me it generally hits when my brain reaches overload with all the crazy things going on in the world and somewhere down deep the old man of the past tries to surface and control my thoughts with fears of the world coming to take everything away, leaving me high and dry. Now that you’re sure I’m a little out-of-whack let me assure you I still recognize the situation and realize I have to do something about it, rendering me as sane as one can be living in this old world. Throughout my life I guess I’ve tried just about everything to bury the weird me and keep from falling off the edge, but all I ever managed to do was keep my balance. As the TV commercial says, all I was doing was managing the symptoms, I wasn’t treating the problem. Nowadays, and for many years now, I know what to do, because I know this old world is not my home and the only way to overcome feelings of impending doom is to crawl up into my Heavenly Father’s lap in prayer, tell Him all my fears and give Him all my troubles. My spirit takes control and the worldly man has to yield to the fact that God is still in control. God is my manager, Jesus my coach and the Holy Spirit my Comforter in every day living and especially when the world is beating me up. Our finite thinking is no match for the infinite love and knowledge of God and His Word. Even though the world can be overwhelming at times, I no longer walk on the edge trying to balance my life all by myself. I walk on solid ground knowing that some day this old body will return to the earth but my restless spirit will get to go home.

[Exodus 16: 2-15; John 11: 17-42] Based on an old tale of a piano concert given by the composer Paderewski in an elegant concert hall, a TV commercial depicts a couple discovering the absence of their young son. From behind a closed stage curtain a tune came to their ears that can only be described as their worst nightmare: the notes of “Chopsticks”, as played by their own aspiring pianist on the Steinway grand onstage. The curtain opens revealing their son and before either of them could run up and stop him the great musician himself appears on stage. The master that he is, leans over the top of the boy, whispers, “Keep playing,” and begins playing a lovely and intricate improvisation on the theme of “Chopsticks”. The message is “Encouragement; Pass It On”. There are days when I feel the best I can do is bang out “Chopsticks” and wonder if I’m really making a difference. I suspect you do too. Remember, there is Someone who is carrying the melody as we bang away at the keyboard; Someone else who is developing the theme and bringing it all together. God loves you and wants to help you

Bible-less Christians

My brothers and sisters in Christ, I beg you to get on your knees and cry out to God to save this nation from impending ruin! The wrath of God is building.

MSN.com 9/5/2015 GRAYSON, Ky. (AP) - Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis will spend Labor Day weekend in isolation at the Carter County Detention Center with her Bible and her clear conscience. At least three same-sex couples will spend the weekend planning weddings after finally receiving the marriage licenses they asked for months ago but were denied because Davis believes gay marriage is a sin. The Rowan County Clerk's office issued the licenses to same-sex couples on Friday under threat of jail time or fines if they didn't comply with a federal judge's order. While the licenses were freely given, the drama surrounding the clerk does not appear to be ending anytime soon. Davis met with her attorneys in jail Friday and told them she would "never violate her conscience or betray her God." U.S. District Judge David Bunning has said he will not release Davis unless she agrees to obey his order. Davis' attorneys said the only way she would relent would be to change Kentucky's state law so that marriage licenses are not issued under the authority of the county clerk. They claim the licenses that were issued were not valid. Kim Davis' husband, Joe, said his wife will stay in jail "ever how long it takes," noting that she has held a Bible study at the Rowan County Detention Center every Monday night for the past few years. "She's not going to resign, she's not going to sacrifice her conscience, so she's doing what Martin Luther King Jr. wrote about in his Letter from the Birmingham Jail, which is to pay the consequences for her decision," said Mat Staver, one of Davis' attorneys and founder of the Florida-based legal group Liberty Counsel. Davis' attorneys said the licenses issued Friday are not "worth the paper they are written on" because Davis did not authorize them.

Hey, America! Do you remember when our elected legislative officials told you that the gay rights movement would never interfere with your Christian beliefs? Nor would there ever be any laws passed that could/would force Bible believing Christians into a position of compromising their beliefs to maintain their present lifestyle? Now that you know that was a lie, my next question is, are you willing to go to jail for what you believe? Are you willing to never violate your conscience or betray your God?

[Hebrews 13:1-8; 15-16] A grandfather was delivering his grandchildren to their home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children started discussing the dog’s duties. “They use him to keep crowds back,” said one child. “No,” said another. “He’s just for good luck.” A third child brought the argument to a close. “They use the dogs,” she said firmly, “to find the fire hydrants.” I was reading a few comments on Facebook about Kim Davis and one of then struck me hard as to the thinking of “Christians” in America today. It started: “I am a lesbian and a Christian…” and immediately I thought to myself, “You can’t be; it doesn’t work that way!” In essence this woman, like so many others demanding their right to live alternative lifestyles and still claim to be following God, is saying, “I am a Bible-less Christian.” You are a god unto yourself, sitting in the front seat of my God’s universe looking for any honest God-fearing Christian to dump on. God told me there would be days like this, but to hang in there, He is always with me.

Piegras Negras

Almost two years ago the men of the congregation of the Lord which I attend were presented with the opportunity to help support a small start-up orphanage in Piedras Negras, Mexico by one of our member’s. He grew up in Piedras Negras, one of twelve children, a godly father and mother, and all to this day are still faithful members of the Lord’s church. His brother is the director of the orphanage and his whole family is deeply involved in the work of the church in Piedras Negras. The brother in Mexico came visited Floresville to better inform the men of his work. After meeting with him the men decided to add the orphanage to our budget with a small monthly donation along with an invitation to come visit whenever we’d like to see for ourselves the need that truly exists. Some months later we received an invitation to come to Piedras Negras for the purpose of sharing the Word of God with the brethren there, and of course, seeing the work at the orphanage. We sent word back through our member contact that we would be happy to do just that. We requested a date and a topic to prepare lessons to preach while there. The date was last week for three days and we were asked to present lessons on the role of women in the church, the role of men in the church and how men and women work together in harmony in the church. Of course you know we needed a translator and that just happened to be our member contact to Mexico which worked out perfectly. “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two – or at the most three – should speak and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.” (1 Corinthians 14:27-28). Two speakers, two lessons each; one interpreter, four lessons; plus every where we went and everything we did required an interpreter. We could not do without him he is very humble about being an instrument of God. Yeh, he did lose his voice by the time we got back to Floresville, Sunday morning at 2 a.m.

[Luke 9: 46-48; Mark 10:13-16] The people we were with these past days have an incredible hunger for the Word of God. Although there were many middle-aged married couples, grandparents and great-grandparents, I was mostly inspired by the younger generation, the newly weds and couples with young children. On Saturday night before we spoke to the adults there were probably fifty children, ages 2 thru 10 who were divided into three groups of learning levels to participate in their own class session relieving the adults of parenting for a short while, affording them the time to concentrate on their own lesson. I have to say I was also impressed with the progress of the orphanage facilities. Now keep these thoughts in mind as I try to describe my bias observations. Piedras Negras is not a modern 21st century metropolis with great big glass covered office buildings. Houses, as are most other buildings, are built with concrete or cinder blocks, with the interior either all tile or basic plaster and paint. Much of the residential housing and businesses are bordered with a one story block wall with reinforced entrances and sharpened bamboo spikes on top to discourage climbers. Security is very much a basic need. The orphanage is being built one block at a time by volunteers and has only recently received six children. They are cared for by volunteers 24/7; attend public school; eat well and are fed God’s word every day. They are happy as little lambs. There’s a lot to tell and I’ll be mentioning this trip for awhile.

Blessed with Salt and Light

I’ve been promising myself a new wallet for over a year and of course the only time I think about it is when I pull it out to pay for something. Oh nuts! Well, too late this time. I’ll get it next time - Yeh, right. It just so happened I finally wrote it down on a sticky note and stuck it in my pocket. I do that for the shear agitation, whence after a while the note in my pocket produces action on my part, fulfilling the request, enabling the disposal of the note. It worked, although I had been to the store twice before I remembered to take the note out of my pocket and be bothered to read my reminder to myself. Now shopping is not one of my favorite things to do. Give me a list and I’ll fill it toot-sweet, but standing in the isle waiting for a decision as my lovely wife ponders over the far too many brands of the same thing is not my cup of tea. I have over the years come to the understanding this is a lesson straight from God and my patience has grown, but I still don’t like it. Anyway, I found myself giggling when I discovered I was mirroring my wife’s shopping habits trying to decide on the most logical purchase to fit my needs. I’m glad she wasn’t with me, perhaps tempted to prod me. It probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway, for I know I’m not the only guy who stops to look at something in the store only to discover his wife can totally disappear in ten seconds.

I read the “Beatitudes for Senior’s” the other day and thought I might share them with you. * Blessed are they who understand my faltering steps and palsied hand. * Blessed are they who know my ears today must strain to catch the words they say. * Blessed are they who see my eyes are dim and my wits are slow. * Blessed are they who looked away when coffee was spilled on the table today. * Blessed are they with cheery smiles that stop to chat for a little while. * Blessed are they who never say, “You’ve told that story twice today.” * Blessed are they who know the ways to bring back yesterdays. * Blessed are they who make it known that I’m loved, respected and not alone. * Blessed are they who know I’m at a loss to find the strength to carry my cross. * Blessed are they who in loving ways ease the days on my journey home.

[Matthew 5:1-14] I’m expanding my horizons later this week. I and a few colleagues are going to Piedras Negras, Mexico to meet with the church there and preach God’s Word. The church here has a small interest in a grass-roots orphanage there and our trip is to meet and encourage the brothers and sisters in their work. Following Jesus’ teaching on the attitudes of life he said to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” I never thought so deeply about the responsibilities of my beliefs before, but now that I have been invited to share them with those who are completely out of my comfort zone I think, “I’m not ready for this.” That brings to mind the record in Acts 10 when Cornelius sent for Peter to come to his house and explain the gospel and teach him and his household more clearly about Jesus. God had to convince Peter in a vision that this invitation was His will. The gospel had been presented to the Jew and now it was time to take it to the Gentile (Romans 1:16; 2:9-11). Jesus’ metaphor teaches us that we are the seasoning of the earth, a righteousness and pleasant flavor to the bitterness that is often found in the world, a presence that keeps that which is good, decent and honest from disappearing. I pray my light will shine and glorify my Father in heaven this week and the rest of my life.

Are You A Good Gardener?

Well, the afternoon heat hasn’t let up one bit; in fact the temperature seems to creep up ever so slightly each day. The trees are beginning to suffer in the heat and for the lack of rain, culminating in a stress that produces leaf shedding. My yard looks like the beginning of autumn with all the leaves on the ground and porch deck. I put out the water sprinkler a couple of evenings over the past week in an attempt to not lose my grass again, as was the case during our recent drought. Of course that makes the grass grow, so, this morning while drinking coffee I mustered up the want-to determination to mow it before it gets too hot. I opened the door to pull out the mower and it started raining! You’ve got to be kidding, right? No, it poured down rain for about 15 minutes. Talk about letting the air out of your balloon. Oh well, there’s always another day. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we have the circus in house again this weekend, we’re dog sitting. It’s like we have an only child and her two cousins come to visit, one male and one female. They’ve been raised differently, all three have different personalities and have their ways of which some are hard to figure out. We’re not used to a nasty boy who likes to hike his leg up on everything, but he’s learning what’s permissible, where and when. The three of them get along well, even around the food bowl, with the older female teaching the youngsters with an occasional growl and snap of the jaw.

There is a lovely villa on the shores of beautiful Lake Como in the Italian Alps. While sight-seeing the area, some tourists complimented an old gardener who had been maintaining a certain grounds for years. “The owner must come here frequently,” one man said as he looked out over the manicured lawns and flowering bushes. “No, no,” the gardener replied. “The owner has been here only once in 15 years, and even then, I didn’t see him at all.” “But how do you get your orders and pay?” the tourists inquired. “How do you know what to do?” “From the owner’s agent who lives in Milan,” the gardener replied. “Ah, he must go there often then?” “Not too often,” the gardener said. “Perhaps once a year or so.” The tourists were amazed. “You have no one to supervise your work, and the grounds are as neat as if you expect the owner to come back tomorrow,” exclaimed one lady, so impressed with the beauty of the grounds. The old gardener firmly replied, “Today, ma’am! Not tomorrow, but today!”

[Luke 12: 35-48; Philippians 2: 12-16] The gardener was faithful to his trust, was he not? He wanted to be ready lest the owner arrive and catch him unprepared. So too, we want to live faithfully every day, as though the Lord Jesus might drop in for a visit. Would he find us a faithful steward? Would he say, “Well done, you good and faithful servant!”? (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19: 11-27) In John 15:1-2, Jesus says, “I am the vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” Jesus explains that to remain fruitful we must be in Him and to be in Him we must be in God’s Word (John 1:14), because, “…apart from me you can do nothing.” (v.5) The Father is the gardener of the Kingdom, the church. As individuals, we are the gardener of our own lives keeping the weeds (sins) of the world out and maintaining a good healthy lifestyle, living in Christ (on the vine); pruned (corrected) by God now and then; fruitful (saving souls); and glorifying God. Are your grounds manicured well?

Plugged Into His Power

Boy is it ever hot out! (Okay, all together now), “How hot is it?” * It’s so hot out I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking. * It’s so hot out that people are sticking to the street in the crosswalk. * I think I saw a roasted turkey fly by. * It’s so hot out I heard two trees fighting over a dog and the fire hydrant on the corner has been whistling all day trying to get the attention of any dog. * It’s so hot out McDonald’s is frying burgers on the hoods of cars waiting in line. * It’s so hot out the catfish are ready to eat right out of the water. * It’s so hot out the beach sand is turning to glass. * It’s so hot out the cows are giving evaporated milk. * It’s so hot out it’s reported a cornfield popped. * Johnny Carson once said, “It’s so hot out I saw a robin dipping his worm in Nestea.” * All I can tell you is, “It’s so hot out my wife is finally warm!”

Somebody said, “It's so hot you could bake taters in the glove-box of yer car if-in ya wanted to” and that reminded me of a story I heard a long time ago. It’s titled, “Tater People” and goes like this. Some people are very bossy and like to tell other people what to do, but don’t want to soil their own hands. They’re called “Dick Taters”. Some never seem motivated to participate. They’re content to watch others do the work. They’re called “Speck Taters”. Some never do anything to help, but have no problem finding fault in the work being done. They’re called “Comment Taters”. Some are always looking to cause problems by asking others to agree with them. It’s too hot; it’s too cold; it’s too long; it’s too short; on and on. They’re called “Adja Taters”. Then there are people who promise to help, but somehow never get around to actually doing it. They’re called “Hezzie Taters”. Some people can put up a front and pretend to be someone they aren’t. They’re called “Emma Taters”. Then there are those who love others, love God and who will always do what they said they would do. They’re always prepared to stop whatever they’re doing to lend a helping hand. Their presence has a way of bringing sunshine into the lives of others and they’re affectionately called, “Sweet Taters”.

[Romans 1:16] During the super hot portions of summer we’re always asked to conserve electricity to avoid ‘brown outs’ and ‘roaming outages’. Electrical outages put us in a difficult position these days because so much of our life depends on that power. There are so many things we cannot accomplish without it. Like during a storm, although the power plant may still be functioning, if any problem occurs in the transmission lines there’s no power for us! Likewise, God is a constant source of power for our daily living, but if the ‘transmission lines’ get interrupted, we don’t get the benefits. God’s power is real, but some people want to limit God to only what they can see. He created everything without our help (Genesis 1-2; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 11:3); Remember Jesus (Luke 8:46; 6:19). God’s power is supreme (Psalm 62:11). It can defeat death; man cannot (Ecclesiastes 8:8; Psalm 89:48); Jesus could (John 10:18); There is nothing He cannot do (Matthew 19:26). God’s power is available to all. We cannot defeat death, but when we connect with God, His power can and will save us from our sins (1 Corinthians 6:14); Free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:1-2). We are called to be strong and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10). If we experience a power outage, it’s not because the source has stopped generating, it’s because something has interrupted the transmission. Are you plugged into God’s power for salvation today?

Just Traveling On

It’s entirely possible you don’t travel as much as you used to. Perhaps, if you’re like me, you stick close to home. I simply don’t like crowds anymore and the cost of ‘having a good time’ just doesn’t fit my wallet so good sometimes. I’ve been here and there and drove a vehicle or two nearly half way across the country a couple of times and walked the Golden Gate Bridge where from the park across from San Francisco we watched the famous fog envelop all but the tippy top of the bridge towers, a fabulous sight. There are still a lot of places I’d like to visit one day and maybe I’ll live long enough to travel more. I read an essay a long time ago by a person, author unknown, who told of some places they had been and some they wished they had been. It goes like this: “I’ve been in many places, but I’ve never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can’t go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone. I’ve never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there. I have, however, been in Sane. They don’t have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have personally made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and workplace. I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump; and I’m not too much into physical activity anymore. I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often. I’ve been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm. Sometimes I’m in Capable, and I go there more often as I’m getting older. One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart. At my age I need all the stimuli I can get! I have never been in Continent, although I suspect I may go there someday when I’m a little older; who knows?

[Psalm 71:1-9; Luke 12:13-21] Two scientists were on a field trip in the mountains. They discovered what they felt was to be a deserted baby eagle in a nest on a jutting rock, just below the top of a dangerous cliff. They wanted to rescue it, so they asked the young son of their guide if they could lower him on a rope to fetch the little bird. The boy was not at all enthusiastic about their plan, so he declined. They offered him money; then doubled it, but still the boy refused. Finally, one of the scientist asked in despair, “Well then, how do you propose that we save the baby eagle?” The mountain boy replied, “I’d be glad to go down and rescue the baby bird for free if you’ll let my dad hold the rope.” The Bible indicates that we are all travelers and one day our spirit will return to the Father and the body will return to the ground (Genesis 3:19). Paul likens his travels through life to a race wherein he disciplines himself to be like Christ and righteous in the sight of God in everything he did (Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 & 2 Timothy 4:7-8). The preacher said, “…and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1-2) We are all traveling in a foreign land, ‘This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through…” and my spirit is restless here. We are all “On the Road to Forever” together. Do we believe God is ‘holding the rope’ in our lives? If you know the saving power of our Savior and the loving grace of our Father, then you know peace. Are you willing to ‘go out on a limb’ be ‘dropped over the edge’ so to speak, to rescue a sinful lost soul from this disheartening frightful world? It doesn’t matter what or how much you gain in this life. It’s all meaningless, if in the end, your life has “...not been rich toward God.”

Feeling Inadequate?

The deeper I get into all the techno stuff available to play with, of which I know I’m only scratching the surface, I realize I’m getting more done at work, with more efficiency and with greater imaginative end products. Ready to use materials found within programs, on the inter-web and now in every app imaginable, can make simple day to day strugglers like me feel good about what they do every day. Used to be cut and paste was a real physical part of producing shared information. Apps were real news-stand magazines with which one used for current event research and would extract beautiful color pictures with a pair of scissors, or, if you could afford it, an Exacto knife. Then with some orange liquid glue from a bottle with a funny-looking red rubber applicator, some colored pencils and maybe one black clothing-marker pen, one would build their school project/report spending hours going through magazine after magazine to produce the best white cardboard presentation ever. At school my presentation never did look as good as it did at home. When I worked in the advertising department of a food market chain, cut and paste was a real thing. We used hot wax instead of glue whereupon changes could be readily made. Then the finished product was photographed for lithograph reproduction. Simply fascinating stuff in 1967. Today, with two hours of research on the inter-web one could nearly write a book complete with all the color bells and whistles to make any report pop. Save it, change it, add to it, subtract from it, move it around until its pleasing-to-the-eye; click, click, click; tap, tap, tap like magic your project gets printed within seconds or stored on a flash-drive for a power-point presentation. And I still don’t have enough time to get all the things done I want to accomplish in a day. I don’t guess we’ll ever be satisfied with our accomplishments. Bigger, better and faster is the order of the day, the 25 hour day.
A friend of mine was telling about his visit to his daughter’s home on a short vacation. One morning at the breakfast table he asked his son-in-law if he could borrow the morning newspaper. “This is the 21st century!” he exclaimed, “We don’t waste money on newspapers. Here, you can use my iPad.” With a sheepish smile and a little chuckle my friend said, “I can tell you one thing… that fly never new what hit it!”

Two cows were grazing in a pasture when they saw a milk-truck pass by. On the side of the truck were the words… ‘Pasteurized; Homogenized; Standardized; Vitamin “A” Added’. One cow sighed and said to the other, “Kind of makes you feel inadequate.”
[Psalms 119:105; Proverbs 24:3-6; James 1:2-8] The 21st century and life in general has dropped many a humbling circumstance into my life, as in yours. Even though I don’t like it, I find it has been good for me. We rest on our past experience and become complacent, prideful of what we have learned. But when we are in a situation for which we have no answer, our ignorance and inabilities humble us. We all need a lesson in humility once in a while. It drives us to seek the advice of others and to realize how much we need each other. It causes us to search the Word of God for answers. It leads us to pray to God for wisdom instead of trusting in ourselves. It leads us to trust in the providence of God. When you truly ‘let go and let God’ it will amaze you the work God does in your life. Circumstantial accidents your friends tell you. No not at all. It’s God moving in your life, because He doesn’t want you to feel inadequate

God's Facebook

Spaceship, ‘New Horizons’ has been on a nearly ten year journey to Pluto, the on again, off again planet at the farthest reaches of our solar system. Now described as a ‘dwarf planet’ Pluto is approximately 3 billion miles from earth and New Horizon has been traveling at a neck-breaking speed of 51,000 miles per hour. This past week it has been sending photos of Pluto back to earth with surprising images not expected by scientist of the project. What did they expect to see anyway? Seeing that from Pluto the sun is only the brightest star in the sky I should think frozen rocky mountains and smooth slick typography void of anything would have been their first guess. Personally, I see no value in the trip or the money being spent, but being the inquisitive people we are and always on the lookout for an opportunity to put our Creator in a box, I guess its worth the under funding of cancer research and the continued global suffering of the sick and dying for the simple lack of a pill or injection. Well, my query mind has plunged me deeper into the 21st century, and Facebook. I’ve been watching and evaluating electronic notebooks for some time deciding not to get one because I saw no need for it (I’m already computer poor) and I really didn’t want to spend the money some companies were asking. Well, the perfect fit came along at the right price, so much so, my wife and I each got one. What am I doing!? Now, my wife is not computer savvy at all, but she is learning without too much difficulty. I’ve only had to completely clear the notebook three times to start over again. It’s good she’s messing up because it shows she’s exploring, she just hasn’t figured out how to undo her little mishaps. She brought her book to me to fix the other night showing me her Facebook in Chinese and added, “That’s just one of the problems.” I sank in my chair, but got everything fixed by the end of the night. I’ve yet to see the worth of all this, but I’m in.

[Psalm 139] There is an old story of a census taker who was making his rounds in the lower East Side of New York City, who interviewed an Irish woman as she was bending over her washtub. “Lady, I am taking the census. What’s your name and how many children do you have?” She replied, “Well, let me see. My name is Mary; and there’s Marcia, and Duggie, and Amy, and Patrick, and…” “Never mind the names” he broke in, “just give me the numbers.” She straightened up, hand on her hip, and with a twinkle in her eye said, “I’ll have you know sir, we ain’t got into numberin’ them yet. We ain’t run out of names!” In a world filled with so many people we sometimes feel so insignificant. Nobody wants to know your name – just your SSN, proof of insurance and your phone number. It can be an impersonal world which leaves us feeling very lonely, even when we’re surrounded by a large group of people. We’re not the family driven society we once were. Families and friends can so easily become separated by a gulf of too many miles to visit and ‘catch up on things’. My family thought Skype was going to be the thing, but time zones keep visiting at bay. I’m willing to give Facebook a whirl with the pics and all, and a lot more people. But in the eyes of God, we are viewed personally. God knows each of us by name. We matter to him. God said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God is not on Facebook, but His Book is all over the inter-web. Get to know Him; you’ll love Him.

Don't You Get Stripped Too

When one’s thoughts are being consumed by current events that will surely impact the future of our “Land of the Free”, it is hard to not comment about them. As a part of our freedom of speech, when expressed over a period of time by enough citizens, there comes about an automatic invocation to the representatives of said citizens to apply a measure of checks and balances to correct certain inequalities or wrong doings. In my time I have witnessed Richard Nixon, President of these United States removed from office in disgrace; Baseball great, Pete Rose stripped of his accomplished glory; Multiple time winner of the Tour de France, cyclist, Lance Armstrong, stripped of any mention he even participated in the competition; Scape-goat Joe Paterno, the greatest of college football coaches, was unfairly stripped of his victories resulting from the actions of another (thankfully, his honor and victories have been restored). The flag of the Confederate States has been removed from the sight of those who feel they are still threatened by it and the cause it stood for during the Civil War. I accept that and also hold mixed emotions fearing history will be totally stripped (ripped) from the minds of our future leaders rendering them vulnerable to making the same mistakes. I guess true-to-history, well maintained museums will preserve the facts for those who are interested enough to seek them out. But, I suspect soon there will be no mention at all of that period of our history in our public school curriculum. Kids today don’t even know the names or locations of the 48 states, maybe the other two. I wonder if Bill Cosby will be stripped of his syndicated sitcoms that portrayed him as a righteous husband, family leader, and guide for proper living. (Waiting for the next shoe to drop)

[Romans 12:9-21; Titus 3:1-11] Parents and teachers alike know that one of the hardest lessons for a child to learn is not to return evil for evil. When one child pushes another the typical response is to push back in return. Older siblings have habits of doing mean things to the younger that would antagonize and aggravate them. Of course, when it came time for revenge, I was the one to get caught and punished. Like the football referee, mom never saw the first offence, only the avenging offense. We have the hardest of time understanding that God sees the first offence every time and has His own way of dealing with those who offend others. He warns us: “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath…” So Tom, what you’re telling me is God wants me to sit back and watch the injustice happen and the unrighteous run amuck doing whatever they want to whomever they wish, right? No my friend, just the opposite. God is telling you that you are on the front lines, His first line of defense. “…Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” “On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’” So, is the law of the land wrong? No, just imperfect. God has allowed the will of evil men to prevail at times, but righteous men, with the help of God, have miraculously turned the tide when all else has failed. God wants us to do what He would do, not what we think we aught to do. Our manual is the BIBLE: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

250 and Free?

Happy 239th Birthday America! Even with the desensitizing of some of the greatest strengths any kingdom on earth has ever known, it is the freedom of speech and the right to worship without dictatorial interference that has brought about the most satisfied and prosperous of people. As Soviet-born comedian Yaakov Smirnoff often quoted after observing some of the antics Americans engage themselves in without fear of repression, “What a country!!” And that it is! I for one will refuse to allow anyone to suppress my thoughts and ideas in the name of “hate” or “prejudice” calling it a crime. All crime is a hate crime and performed with prejudice. I’m not out to deny anyone their rights as an American but I am getting a little tired of seeing the courts tweaking and adjusting my rights compromising my liberties. Think about it America.

“God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood: “If tomorrow all the things were gone, I worked for all my life; And I had to start again, With just my children and my wife; I thank my lucky stars, To be living here today, 'Cause the flag still stands for freedom, And they can't take that away; And I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free, And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me; And I'd gladly stand up next to you, And defend Her still today, 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A. From the lakes of Minnesota, To the hills of Tennessee, Across the plains of Texas, From sea to shining sea; From Detroit down to Houston, And New York to L.A., Well there's pride in every American heart, And it's time we stand and say, That I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free, And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me; And I'd gladly stand up next to you, And defend Her still today, 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A. And I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free, And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me; And I'd gladly stand up next to you, And defend Her still today, 'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A.” Songwriters: WEISMAN, BENJAMIN / KARGER, FRED / WAYNE, SID © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group Publishing Group

[Romans 13] In an address to military leaders, John Adams, our second President said, “We have no government armed with the power capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by morality and true religion. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Jay, our first Court Justice stated that when we select our national leaders, if we are to preserve our Nation, we must select Christians. “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian Nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers. Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President wrote, “The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country.” In 1782, the United States Congress passed this resolution: ‘The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.’ In 1963, the Supreme Court ruled that Bible reading was outlawed as unconstitutional in the public school system. Has society or our schools benefitted without God’s Word?

Equality For Me Too!

As I contemplate all the facets of justice being tossed about lately, it’s hard to pass judgment on my feelings without looking inward for a closer examination of ones self. Would I forgive a young man for murdering members of my own family, as well as members of my church family, after I sat and shared the Word of God with him for over an hour in Bible study? I believe I could, but really don’t look forward to the opportunity to prove it. I honestly believe that the statements directed at Mr. Roof by the bereaved are heartfelt and truly full of forgiveness. I also believe the same bereaved have turned the judgment of this man over to God, that His will may be done. But, I have a hard time blaming it all on a flag or a gun. Neither have a selfish conscience nor the power to perform any act of violence for the betterment of mankind. I don’t wish to get into a political rant about the direction our government officials are taking this country, but I feel compelled to make a few observations. These United States were founded on the morals and equalities found in the Word of God, the Bible. Reject or deny this premise if you wish, but it doesn’t change the fact that the strength of this country has been maintained by the faithful, God-fearing families and churches, across this nation. As the morals of the people, and the demands of equality based on the continual erosion of Godly morals, are being “justified” by our over-amended and appended constitution, the God-fearing strength of this country is waning. This may be okay with the self-centered, give-me-more it’s my right portion of our populous, but I have to insist upon your observing the condition of our ever increasing criminal status. It’s the results of immorality and the abuse of “anything goes”. The hardest thing for me to witness was the White House cloaked in the LGBT colors as if it represented the approval of all Americans. Mr. President, it may represent your home, but not mine! It may show support to your agenda and the decision of the Supreme Court, but not the majority of the citizens of this nation. Did I just hear another freedom being flushed?

[Romans 1:18 - 2:16; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 7:1-40] If this is still a God-fearing nation, maybe we ought lay the Bible on top of the constitution and review it before making decisions on what is best for the people and the strength of the nation. I’ll almost bet there is more discrimination among our citizens this day than there was a week ago. In one breathe we’re blessing and forgiving one another in the name of our Lord and in the next breathe we’re not sure which flag is going to be run up the pole for us to salute in the name of equality. You can be sure of one thing. God is not pleased with the direction this country is going in. If we continue on this trek, be assured God will turn us over to our own desires and be depraved of His blessings and grace. This country and its freedoms will be lost, taken away, because we have rejected God. Unless the people of this country repent of this rejection and turn again to the upright moral standards of God’s Word, all of God’s Word, what you think is hard times now will get much worse. And after thumbing your nose at God all your life, do you thing Mary Bonauto will take you on as a client when you stand before the judgment seat of God? It will take an eternity for her to be heard in heaven. Call me what you may, that’s okay. Just remember this: I also hold beliefs by which I live; I do not have to agree or engage in your lifestyle; Remember, I have rights also. Shalom!

A Strong Faithful Father Is...

You’re going to meet an old man someday! Down the road ahead - 10, 20, 30 years -he’s waiting there for you. You’ll be catching up with him! What kind of old man are you going to meet? That’s a rather significant question! He may be a seasoned, soft, generous fellow - a gentleman who has grown old gracefully, surrounded by hosts of friends who call him blessed because of what his life has meant to them. He may be a bitter, disillusioned, dried-up, cynical old buzzard without a good word for anybody - soured, friendless and alone. The kind of old man you will meet depends entirely on you, because the old man will be you. He’ll be the composite of everything you do, say and think - today and tomorrow. His mind will be set in a mold you have made by your attitudes. His heart will be turning out what you’ve been putting in. Every little thought; every deed; goes into the making of this old man. He’ll be exactly what you make him - nothing more; nothing less. It’s up to you. You’ll have no one else to credit or blame. Every day in every way you are becoming more and more like yourself. Amazing, but true! You’re getting to look more like yourself, think more like yourself and talk more like yourself. You’re becoming yourself more and more. Live only in terms of what you’re getting out of life and the old man gets smaller, drier, harder, crabbier and more self-centered. Open your life to others, think in terms of what you can give to life and the old man grows larger, softer, kinder, greater. A point to remember is that these things don’t always show immediately, but they show up sooner than you think. These little things - so unimportant now - attitudes, goals, ambitions, desires - they’re adding up inside, where you can’t see them, crystallizing in your heart and mind. Someday, you’ll harden into that old man and nothing will be able to soften or change them. The time to take care of that old man is right now - this week; today. Examine his motives, attitudes, goals. Check up on him. Work him over while he’s still plastic, still in a formative condition. The day comes, awfully soon, when it’s too late. The hardness will have set in, worse than paralysis. Character crystallizes, sets, jells. That’s the finish. Any wise man takes inventory regularly. We all need to, in the light of Christ and his Word. You’ll be much more likely to meet a splendid old fellow at the proper time - the fellow you’d like to be. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). Authored by Richard C. Halverson, a minister of the Gospel, United Presbyterian Church 1958-81 and among other duties served as chaplain of the United States Senate from 1981-94.

[Psalm 127] “Father’s Day” is a day set aside each year to honor our fathers for a job well-done. In addition, it is a day to remind fathers of the influential impact they have on their children as well as society. “As the home goes, so goes the nation.” A strong nation is comprised of strong Godly homes; homes led by strong and faithful fathers who: …love the Lord (Mark 12:29-30); …love their wife (Eph. 5:25-26); …love God’s word and shares it with family (2 Tim. 2:15; Eph. 6:4; Acts 10:30-33); …are faithful to the Lord and His church (1 Cor. 15:58); …communicate well (James 1:19-20); …provide for their family (1 Tim. 5:8); …Pray fervently and without ceasing (James 6:16; 1 Thess. 5:17); …non-abusively discipline their children when necessary (Proverbs 13:24; 22:15). Fathers heed these teachings of scripture, building strong homes and a strong nation.

Stop And Smell God's Roses

I am not an ornithologist, a dude that studies birds, nor do I know the names of but about a dozen birds, but I do enjoy them as a gift from God. I’ve been blessed again this year to witness the life cycle of a pair of birds who have nested just outside a door I frequently use at work when moving from one building to another. These are birds that build a mud nest on the side of a wall near the top of a structure close to the ceiling. Everybody probably has a name for them, but in Texas everything has a half a dozen names depending on whose telling the story. Anyway, the point of my blessing is, I often find myself stopping to smell the roses, so to speak. The said door is an aluminum framed glass door where I can stand and watch the goings on of two loving partners raising their young. At their arrival this spring, last years nest was nearly completely disassembled leaving only the foundation attached to the wall, whereupon the female sat as the male build a new nest around her for a perfect fit. I often wonder if the male has to deal with her perfectionist qualities. With nest built she sits and sits and sits all the while the male feeds her. Then some little heads appear, five this time, and the feeding frenzy of both parents begins. The hatchlings grow like weeds over the next month until the nest is nearly overflowing with noisy, hungry, fully winged birds. At this point the parents all but stop feeding them and start a new routine of encouraging the young birds to spread their wings and leave the nest. It’s exciting in a way to watch the young birds exercising their wings and the parents sitting on the ground chirping, “Come on! You can do it!” Then one day they’re all gone; kind of a let down in my daily activities. About a week passed and I noticed just the other day the female is once again sitting in the nest and I suspect some little heads will once again appear with mouths flying open at the appearance of a faithful feeding parent.

[Psalm 145] I just flipped my calendar on the wall in my home office where I spend a lot of my free time. Here we are half way thru the month of June and it was still stuck on May. I’m amazed, at times, as to where the time goes.

A businessman, harassed and discouraged from overwork, took his problem to a psychiatrist who promptly told him to do less work. “Furthermore” prescribed the doctor, “I want you to spend an hour each week in the cemetery.” Shocked, the man asked, “What on earth do you want me to do that for? What should I do there?” The doctor suggested, “Not much. Take it easy; look around; get acquainted with some of the men already there, permanently. Remember, they never finished their work either. Nobody does, you know.”

Most of us get involved in so many responsibilities and affairs of life we fail to stop and smell the roses, neither do we feel we have the time to give to faithful worship to God… no time to study and meditate upon the Word of life… no time for anything but making a living. We find it hard to break away from our daily routine. Well, learn to break away and enjoy the blessings of God, because some day you will permanently be gone from this life. On average we only have 3,640 weeks of life in us. Tomorrow, I start my 3,397th week, but I highly plan on beating the average. Even so, the world will go right on without me as it has for countless of millions before me who never finished their work, completely. I don’t worship the creation, but I do enjoy it. No, I worship the Creator and thank Him for creation. I want to be with God one day, just not right now.