My wife has been after me to remove the wall to wall carpeting from throughout the house for some time now, wanting new hardwood floors laid down. Well, I’ve done my research, watched as many DIY programs as it takes to get the nerve up to commit to the project, and bought the materials to get started. No backing out now. Knowing mistakes are going to be made, I chose the first room, a small one, which has been planned to be a little office and junk room for my spouse. I figure most of that floor will get covered. So far I haven’t gotten into too much trouble, learning as I go, and after the trim is applied I already think it’s going to look great. In fact, I’m looking forward and planning more of the same in other rooms. My biggest mistake so far is getting my finger between an immoveable mass and a hammer moving with swift velocity. The end result is great pain commonly described under restraint with words better not said out loud, and a purple fingernail. Not learning my lesson quickly, I immediately did it again. Tylenol please.
Here’s something I received the other day that might be of interest, about buzzards, bats, bumblebees and people. If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6´ x 8´, entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be your prisoner. The reason being that the buzzard begins flight from the ground by first running 10 – 12´. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but remain a prisoner for life in a jail with no top. The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and painfully until it reaches some slight elevation change from which it can throw itself into the air, then take off like a flash. A bumblebee, if dropped into a glass tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it’s taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists to find some way out through the sides near the bottom, where none exists, until it destroys itself.
[John 12] As we walk this earth struggling with our problems and frustrations, we seem to continually seek solutions through our own wisdom, and if no solution is immediately evident, many times, depression sets in, drug and alcohol abuse enters and anger begins to rule our life. Like the buzzard, we become our own prisoner. Like the bat, we just can’t seem to find a way back to happiness. Like the bumblebee, we look in all the wrong places for a way out. We must remove the faith we have in ourselves to solve our troubles and look up with faith to God, our only means of escape. Jesus was in his last days and upon entering Jerusalem he was triumphantly praised for his great works, “Hosanna! Hosanna!”, which in only days would turn to a murderous conspiracy, “Crucify Him!! Crucify Him!!” Jesus knew all this would happen. He knew he was about to suffer great pain and humiliation. He shared His love for his friends and their love comforted him. But His faith was in God and obedience to his Father in heaven. In distress and agony Jesus would look up to heaven in prayer, the night of His arrest, struggling with what He must do. Jesus looked for a way out, “Father if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me, not My will, but Your will be done.” God knew what was in His heart and sent angels to comfort Him. Sorrow looks back. Worry looks around. Faith looks up! I’m so glad Jesus looked up and has shown me the way of escape, from sin.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Pure Unto Death
Yuck! I’ve been pulling up some carpeting and I’ve got to tell you, no matter how clean you think the top is, it’s what’s underneath that’s making you sneeze all the time. I’ve been reading about carpeting and indoor pollution with all the micro organisms we live with every day. It’s really creepy. I suppose if one were to dwell on it too long a real phobia for cleanliness could develop. But, I’ve discovered that no matter how much or often you clean carpeting, short of taking it up, washing it and hanging it on the line to dry, you can’t get what ails you out of it. Hence, the hardwood floor craze. Wall to wall carpeting is out and bare floors, with the occasional throw rug, are in. Well, the carpeting I’m taking up has plenty of years on it, so adios, it’s out of here!
An Ermine is a cute little animal, related to the weasel, with shiny black eyes and beautiful fur. It has short legs and a narrow body that’s some twenty inches long from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. The agile animal is found in the northern regions of the northern hemisphere. In summer, its coat is a rich chocolate brown except for the undersides of the body and legs. In winter, the color changes to a clear white, broken only by the black tip on its tail. If you looked up a picture of the ermine in the library, you’d be shocked by the purity of its white fur. The ermine seems to realize the beauty of its coat and takes great pride in maintaining it. It’s most unusual characteristic is it’s hatred of anything that might soil its fur. Hunter’s that know this will fill an ermine’s burrow with filth and wait with their dogs for the prized furry animal to return. Once the ermine spots the dogs, the snow white creature will dart for the safety of its burrow. But the ermine will not enter the soiled safety of its home. Rather than flee into the burrow, the ermine will fight the dogs to the death. It would rather die with a bloodstained coat than live with a dirty one. That’s why the ermine’s coat is used on the robes of rulers and judges. It serves as a symbol of the purity of justice and law.
[Acts 8: 26-35] The eunuch in the story was reading from the book of Isaiah, and the scripture he was reading, we know as chapter 53. What I like best about this encounter is the fact that Phillip (verse 35) “…began with that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” To me there’s so much good news to tell I’d be talking for hours, but here’s the best news. Jesus was sent by his Father to establish a new covenant between God and mankind. The new covenant would become a spiritual bonding in love and truth. Jesus walked among us, proclaiming God’s love and truth, teaching a new way of life and with signs of wonder and miracles, healing the physically sick. But how was Jesus going to show that He was the real deal? God had that all planned out. You see, even though Jesus did pray for a different resolution for the salvation of mankind, other than him giving His life, Jesus was not willing to accept the temptation of remaining in the world. To accept the world would mean entering into sin, which he absolutely was not going to compromise His deity. So, Jesus was obedient to the one who sent him. Rather than give in and enter into the dirty sinful world, Jesus gave himself as the perfect sacrifice to God the Father for the redemption of the sins of mankind. Jesus died for you and me, bloodstained, but pure, without sin. “…For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7) My hope is in God (1 Peter 1:17-21)
An Ermine is a cute little animal, related to the weasel, with shiny black eyes and beautiful fur. It has short legs and a narrow body that’s some twenty inches long from the tip of its nose to the end of its tail. The agile animal is found in the northern regions of the northern hemisphere. In summer, its coat is a rich chocolate brown except for the undersides of the body and legs. In winter, the color changes to a clear white, broken only by the black tip on its tail. If you looked up a picture of the ermine in the library, you’d be shocked by the purity of its white fur. The ermine seems to realize the beauty of its coat and takes great pride in maintaining it. It’s most unusual characteristic is it’s hatred of anything that might soil its fur. Hunter’s that know this will fill an ermine’s burrow with filth and wait with their dogs for the prized furry animal to return. Once the ermine spots the dogs, the snow white creature will dart for the safety of its burrow. But the ermine will not enter the soiled safety of its home. Rather than flee into the burrow, the ermine will fight the dogs to the death. It would rather die with a bloodstained coat than live with a dirty one. That’s why the ermine’s coat is used on the robes of rulers and judges. It serves as a symbol of the purity of justice and law.
[Acts 8: 26-35] The eunuch in the story was reading from the book of Isaiah, and the scripture he was reading, we know as chapter 53. What I like best about this encounter is the fact that Phillip (verse 35) “…began with that very passage of scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.” To me there’s so much good news to tell I’d be talking for hours, but here’s the best news. Jesus was sent by his Father to establish a new covenant between God and mankind. The new covenant would become a spiritual bonding in love and truth. Jesus walked among us, proclaiming God’s love and truth, teaching a new way of life and with signs of wonder and miracles, healing the physically sick. But how was Jesus going to show that He was the real deal? God had that all planned out. You see, even though Jesus did pray for a different resolution for the salvation of mankind, other than him giving His life, Jesus was not willing to accept the temptation of remaining in the world. To accept the world would mean entering into sin, which he absolutely was not going to compromise His deity. So, Jesus was obedient to the one who sent him. Rather than give in and enter into the dirty sinful world, Jesus gave himself as the perfect sacrifice to God the Father for the redemption of the sins of mankind. Jesus died for you and me, bloodstained, but pure, without sin. “…For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7) My hope is in God (1 Peter 1:17-21)
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Unforgettable Soup
Well, like it or not, it’s time for me to make good on my promise to start fixin’ up some things around the house. My old shop is dirty and unkempt, spiders and all that. I have a storage room with a door falling off, a leaky roof, water damage floor and some siding is coming loose. Procrastination has allowed time to run things down a little and if I don’t get a handle on some it soon, I’m afraid a lot more work is going to be required for good restoration. My wife has also been after me to spruce up the inside of the house, which I’ve promised to get to many times in the past, so I guess it’s time to get out of my “winter mode” and “spring” into action. I just hope I don’t hurt myself.
In England there’s an appeal to restore Charles Darwin’s house. There-in lies a very important lesson for us all to learn about Darwin’s home being threatened by dereliction. The roof had fallen in on his lab; the main house had a leaky roof; the walls of the study were being attacked by dampness and woodworm; without a great deal of effort, this home will eventually become a total ruin. There’s a touch of irony in all of this. Darwin popularized the idea to millions and millions of people that everything has made itself, and that nature has, on a grand scale, organized matter from simple to complex …from chaos to cosmos. But in reality, virtually every single scientific observation confirms that the very opposite is true. What we observe is that, everything that’s left to itself tends to run down – just like Darwin’s house. This house will not rebuild itself. It will take a lot of intelligence and energy to improve it and restore it to its original state.
[3 John] There was a great famine in Eastern Europe. People horded all their food and as a consequence many were starving. A stranger wandered into town, promising to prepare a delicious soup for everyone. He heated water in a cauldron, removed a stone from a velvet bag, and preceded to cook it. He hinted to the curious on-lookers that it would taste much better with a little cabbage whereupon someone brought one to him. The stranger then mentioned other ingredients, one at a time, which the villagers produced. People began to offer the stranger great sums of money for the stone, which he refused to sell. Long after the famine ended, the people reminisced about the finest soup they had ever had, not realizing they had in actuality “pitched in” for the common good of all. How many people do you know who have problems in their life, and you wish there was some way you could help them? Okay, stop counting! “All God’s children got problems!” What happens to people with overwhelming problems? You know, those with so many troubles they just seem to start wasting away. When you have so many problems you begin to look and feel like Darwin’s neglected house. People like that can’t fix themselves, and no one person can bring about a good restoration. Too many say, “How could they let themselves get into this situation. All they need to do is get up off the couch and do something to turn their life around.” Trust me when I say, in most situations, it takes a lot more than self-motivation. Enter the church. God tells us that we’ll always have the poor and those who have made poor decisions, among us. The church is made up of all kinds of people with all kinds of talents. When each contributes what they have, individually and collectively, an unforgettable pot of soup can be made and life can be restored. Are you hording your God-given talents watching others starve?
In England there’s an appeal to restore Charles Darwin’s house. There-in lies a very important lesson for us all to learn about Darwin’s home being threatened by dereliction. The roof had fallen in on his lab; the main house had a leaky roof; the walls of the study were being attacked by dampness and woodworm; without a great deal of effort, this home will eventually become a total ruin. There’s a touch of irony in all of this. Darwin popularized the idea to millions and millions of people that everything has made itself, and that nature has, on a grand scale, organized matter from simple to complex …from chaos to cosmos. But in reality, virtually every single scientific observation confirms that the very opposite is true. What we observe is that, everything that’s left to itself tends to run down – just like Darwin’s house. This house will not rebuild itself. It will take a lot of intelligence and energy to improve it and restore it to its original state.
[3 John] There was a great famine in Eastern Europe. People horded all their food and as a consequence many were starving. A stranger wandered into town, promising to prepare a delicious soup for everyone. He heated water in a cauldron, removed a stone from a velvet bag, and preceded to cook it. He hinted to the curious on-lookers that it would taste much better with a little cabbage whereupon someone brought one to him. The stranger then mentioned other ingredients, one at a time, which the villagers produced. People began to offer the stranger great sums of money for the stone, which he refused to sell. Long after the famine ended, the people reminisced about the finest soup they had ever had, not realizing they had in actuality “pitched in” for the common good of all. How many people do you know who have problems in their life, and you wish there was some way you could help them? Okay, stop counting! “All God’s children got problems!” What happens to people with overwhelming problems? You know, those with so many troubles they just seem to start wasting away. When you have so many problems you begin to look and feel like Darwin’s neglected house. People like that can’t fix themselves, and no one person can bring about a good restoration. Too many say, “How could they let themselves get into this situation. All they need to do is get up off the couch and do something to turn their life around.” Trust me when I say, in most situations, it takes a lot more than self-motivation. Enter the church. God tells us that we’ll always have the poor and those who have made poor decisions, among us. The church is made up of all kinds of people with all kinds of talents. When each contributes what they have, individually and collectively, an unforgettable pot of soup can be made and life can be restored. Are you hording your God-given talents watching others starve?
Friday, March 09, 2007
IN GOD WE TRUST, No More?
I was talking with a friend the other day about the changes we’re seeing in our local community and in the U.S. in general. Our local area has been experiencing changes for some time now as more and more farm and ranch lands are being sold off for housing development. Peanut farming is all but extinct, jeopardizing the recognition our city and county as “The Peanut Capital Of Texas”. Of the two dozen or more dairies that use to dot the local country-side, there’re all gone, save one or two. The “Mom and Pop” business is just about a thing of the past, as everyone is well aware of. My friend thought it an absolute sin that Toyota has been allowed to race with the “good ole boys” of NASCAR. He called the Camry a foreign car whereupon I had to correct him. I said, “Think about this. Of the four auto manufacturers represented in NASCAR Cup racing, the Chevy Monty Carlo and the Dodge Charger are made in Canada, the Ford Fusion is made in Mexico and the only car made in America is the Toyota Camry.” What’s wrong with this picture? Then we got to talking and thinking about all the changes an eighty or ninety-year-old has seen in their lifetime. Change is good, right?
A hunter went to a lodge and bagged a record number of birds. The reason is that he was allowed to use an incredible hunting dog named “Salesman”. That dog was the hardest working, with the most productive spirit, the hunter had ever seen. The next year the hunter returned and asked to use Salesman again. “That mutt ain’t no good any more”, the handler said. “What happened!!” cried the sportsman. “Was he injured …is he sick?” “No”, replied the handler. “Some fool come here and called him ‘Sales Manager’ for a full week. Now all he does is sit around and bark all the time.”
A new congregation needed a preacher. They agreed to look for one that would stay a long time, because typically they stay for a year or two then leave. Several preachers were interviewed and one prospect came close to fulfilling their expectations until they neared the end of his interview. “I’ve been preaching for twenty-five years and I’ve preached for only two congregations. I faithfully continued with both, until they died.”
[Deuteronomy 4: 1-31] A reader of this column from Ohio dropped me a line the other day to inform me of yet another disturbing change. The third time might be a charm, one dollar simulated gold coin is about to go into circulation, again. The two previous coins were emblazoned with images, one an American Indian, I don’t recall her name, and the other, Susan B. Anthony. The new coin sports a portrait of the all American stand-by, George Washington. But something obvious is missing. “IN GOD WE TRUST”, is gone!! Talk is to take it off paper money also in an ever stronger effort to “separate church from state”, I’ve never totally understood that concept. While patient pains-taking surgical like separation is taking place by atheistic nay-sayer’s, the very foundation of our country is being eroded away. God and prayer have long since been removed from our schools and take a look around you at the disgusting moral values we are witnessing in our young people. The money of the United States of America is based on nothing but the God fearing good word of the man holding it. Take God completely out of the equation and I don’t think there’s enough gold in the world to support U.S. Be careful what you change for the good of all. Remember, GOOD minus GOD equals O.
A hunter went to a lodge and bagged a record number of birds. The reason is that he was allowed to use an incredible hunting dog named “Salesman”. That dog was the hardest working, with the most productive spirit, the hunter had ever seen. The next year the hunter returned and asked to use Salesman again. “That mutt ain’t no good any more”, the handler said. “What happened!!” cried the sportsman. “Was he injured …is he sick?” “No”, replied the handler. “Some fool come here and called him ‘Sales Manager’ for a full week. Now all he does is sit around and bark all the time.”
A new congregation needed a preacher. They agreed to look for one that would stay a long time, because typically they stay for a year or two then leave. Several preachers were interviewed and one prospect came close to fulfilling their expectations until they neared the end of his interview. “I’ve been preaching for twenty-five years and I’ve preached for only two congregations. I faithfully continued with both, until they died.”
[Deuteronomy 4: 1-31] A reader of this column from Ohio dropped me a line the other day to inform me of yet another disturbing change. The third time might be a charm, one dollar simulated gold coin is about to go into circulation, again. The two previous coins were emblazoned with images, one an American Indian, I don’t recall her name, and the other, Susan B. Anthony. The new coin sports a portrait of the all American stand-by, George Washington. But something obvious is missing. “IN GOD WE TRUST”, is gone!! Talk is to take it off paper money also in an ever stronger effort to “separate church from state”, I’ve never totally understood that concept. While patient pains-taking surgical like separation is taking place by atheistic nay-sayer’s, the very foundation of our country is being eroded away. God and prayer have long since been removed from our schools and take a look around you at the disgusting moral values we are witnessing in our young people. The money of the United States of America is based on nothing but the God fearing good word of the man holding it. Take God completely out of the equation and I don’t think there’s enough gold in the world to support U.S. Be careful what you change for the good of all. Remember, GOOD minus GOD equals O.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
One Billion
Here it is March already. I said that to a friend the other day and she quickly responded, “Oh, and I don’t feel up to a thirty-one-day march at all.” It’s said that March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, but so far all it’s been is a lot of wind. The mornings are still cool to cold, but people are talking about planting, or should I say gambling on putting some seed in the ground. In spite of the wet weather we had early last month, we’re still looking at the possibility of a continuing drought trend. This El Niño, Ozone Layer, Global Warming, climate altering, reverse osmosis phenomena that scientists say we’re bringing upon ourselves because we’re burning our fossil fuels at an ever alarming rate of increase, just may very well be rearing its ugly head up as a real big, “Oooops!!” Maybe the crackpot scientists should have been taken more seriously in the ‘60’s when they started warning us about this possibility. Did you know that the U.S. alone burns on average 4,000 gallons of gasoline per second? The BP oil refinery in Houston, Texas, just one refinery in the U.S., produces 11million gallons of gasoline per day, 4 billion gallons per year. It’s estimated that the American consumer bought 140 billion gallons of gasoline last year. At this rate we might all be walking soon.
While on the subject of walking; A young boy had just gotten his driver’s permit and inquired of his father if they could discuss the use of the car. His father said, “I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your school grades up from a “C” to a “B” average, study your Bible more, get involved in church activities a little more, get your hair cut and we’ll talk about it more. Well, the boy thought about it and decided he’d settle for the offer, and they agreed on it. After about six weeks they again met in the study where his father said, “Son. I’m real proud of you. You’ve brought your grades up, I’ve observed you studying your Bible more often and your participating a lot more in Bible classes and youth group activities. But, I’m real disappointed, since you haven’t gotten your hair cut.” The young man paused a moment and then said, “You know Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed that in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair and there’s even a strong argument that Jesus had long hair.” To this the father replied, “Yes you’re correct on all points, son. Did you also notice that everywhere they went, they walked?”
[2 Peter 3] Every eight hours and twenty minutes our government spends $1 billion. A billion days ago man was not yet here. A billion hours ago man was living in the Stone Age. A billion minutes ago Jesus walked the earth and a billion seconds ago it was 1959. Not a bit of this matters. So what if we burn the last drop of oil! So what if the climates all change because of the greed of man. Everything on and in the earth was given to man for his use. Granted much is being abused and overused, but nothing here is permanent. Don’t get me wrong. I cringe at the outright abuse of resources God has blessed us with. We are to be good stewards of our blessings for one day we will answer to God for the things we have done in this life. But of greater importance, are we preparing for the life to come? The fate of your spirit is far more important than drought or hurricane or tornado, which can hurdle you into eternity. This world is doomed no matter what. Your life will also end. Are you ready for the day of the Lord to come?
While on the subject of walking; A young boy had just gotten his driver’s permit and inquired of his father if they could discuss the use of the car. His father said, “I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your school grades up from a “C” to a “B” average, study your Bible more, get involved in church activities a little more, get your hair cut and we’ll talk about it more. Well, the boy thought about it and decided he’d settle for the offer, and they agreed on it. After about six weeks they again met in the study where his father said, “Son. I’m real proud of you. You’ve brought your grades up, I’ve observed you studying your Bible more often and your participating a lot more in Bible classes and youth group activities. But, I’m real disappointed, since you haven’t gotten your hair cut.” The young man paused a moment and then said, “You know Dad, I’ve been thinking about that, and I’ve noticed that in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair and there’s even a strong argument that Jesus had long hair.” To this the father replied, “Yes you’re correct on all points, son. Did you also notice that everywhere they went, they walked?”
[2 Peter 3] Every eight hours and twenty minutes our government spends $1 billion. A billion days ago man was not yet here. A billion hours ago man was living in the Stone Age. A billion minutes ago Jesus walked the earth and a billion seconds ago it was 1959. Not a bit of this matters. So what if we burn the last drop of oil! So what if the climates all change because of the greed of man. Everything on and in the earth was given to man for his use. Granted much is being abused and overused, but nothing here is permanent. Don’t get me wrong. I cringe at the outright abuse of resources God has blessed us with. We are to be good stewards of our blessings for one day we will answer to God for the things we have done in this life. But of greater importance, are we preparing for the life to come? The fate of your spirit is far more important than drought or hurricane or tornado, which can hurdle you into eternity. This world is doomed no matter what. Your life will also end. Are you ready for the day of the Lord to come?
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