With another birthday under my belt, and yes some of it has spilled over my belt, it’s called dun-lap disease - that’s when some of your mid-section ‘done lapped’ over your belt. Anyway, I took to heart ‘you’re never too old to learn’ and discovered a few things. I think I’m beginning to understand some of this new math. When it’s applied properly it almost makes sense. For instance: The ratio of an igloo’s circumference to its diameter = Eskimo Pi * 2000 pounds of Chinese soup = Won ton * 1 millionth of a mouthwash = 1 microscope * Time between slipping on a peal and smacking the pavement = 1 bananosecond * 16.5 feet in the Twilight Zone = 1 Rod Serling * One half a large intestine = 1 semicolon * 1,000,000 aches = 1 megahurtz * Basic unit of laryngitis = 1 hoarsepower * The shortness between two jokes = a straight line * 2000 mockingbirds = two kilomockingbirds * 1 kilogram of falling figs = 1 Fig Newton * 1000 cc’s of wet socks = 1 literhosen * 8 nickels = 2 paradigms. See, it’s not so hard to understand once one starts to apply them self to the concept of ludicrous thinking.
I’m also going to try my hardest to stop worrying about things I can do nothing about. All studies in this area prove one will sleep better, have less arguments in life, be less apt to suffer heart problems and a myriad of other health issues. There are a few things I could take to heart to live a happier and longer life. To be healthy and safe in this world I should: 1. Avoid riding in automobiles, because they are responsible for 20% of all fatal accidents. (That’s going to be hard to do.) 2. Don’t stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the house. 3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents involve pedestrians. 4. Avoid traveling by air, rail or water because 16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation. 5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in hospitals. So, above all else, avoid hospitals! BUT… I was pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in church buildings during worship services, and these are usually related to existing physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells me that the safest place for me to be at any given point in time is at church. And, the percentage of deaths during Bible study is even less. So, for safety sake and longevity of life, read the Bible daily and attend church regularly.
[Matthew 16:13-20] In this world of black is white and white is black, and everything else is gray, it’s hard to get a yes or no answer from anyone. Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” The question came up in a conversation about what the word on the street was concerning Jesus. The scuttlebutt was that perhaps Jesus was the second coming of Elijah, the prophet. Others thought him to be a modern-day Jeremiah. After the discussion had gone on for awhile, Jesus says, “But, who do you think I am?” That’s when Peter gave what’s become known as the great confession. But what if Peter had given a not so convicting answer? He could have said: You are the greatest rabbi of all time * You are a carpenter’s son * You are the future king of Israel * You are the smartest person I know * You are the most caring and interesting person I know * You are the strangest person I know, and Peter would have told the truth. Or, Peter could just as well said, “Truthfully, Jesus, I don’t know who you are.” But he knew, because God convinced him, and so he confessed, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” Who do you think Jesus is? I think you know
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Saturday, February 06, 2016
You Can Have The Dog
A preacher was walking down the street when he came upon a group of about a dozen boys, all of them between 10 and 12 years of age. The group had surrounded a stray dog. Concerned the boys had in mind to hurt the dog, he approached the boys and asked, “What are you boys doing with that dog?” One of the boys volunteered, “This dog is just an old neighborhood stray. We all want him, but only one of us can take him home. So, we’ve decided which ever one of us can tell the biggest lie will get to keep the dog.” Of course, the preacher was taken aback. “You boys shouldn’t be having a contest telling lies!” he exclaimed. He then launched a ten minute sermon against lying, beginning with, “Don’t you boys know it’s a sin to lie?” and ended his lesson with, “Why, when I was your age, I never told a lie.” There was dead silence for about a minute. Just as the preacher was beginning to think he had gotten through to them, the smallest of the boys gave out a deep sigh and said, “Oh, alright, give him the dog.”
The country is in the midst of what I consider the “political silly season” when caucus and primary votes start to sway the mud slinging strategies of candidates toward their opponents, especially when one finds they’re slipping in a popular pole of one group or another. It amazes me how much dirt political hired guns can dig up for politicians to exploit, solely for the purpose of changing public thinking about the character of another person. All I ask, and I think what most people want from their ‘want-to-be’ elected politician, is show me who you are in a complete and honest way. I don’t care what you think about someone else. I already have a good idea of “who’s who” in the world of politics and I’m looking for the one who is willing to step up and step out for the people they represent. I, of late, see no representatives even attempting to fulfill the will of the people whom they represent. This country is built on “We the people…” not, I the politician, who knows what’s best for the people, and my pocket.
[Exodus 20:1-17; Romans 1:18-32] Oh Tom, not the Ten Commandments again! I know, it seems so basic and some get sick and tired of hearing them. “We don’t live under the law anymore” you say. There are a lot more commandments in the Bible than just ten (600+), but I can’t seem to just brush aside the first ten as suggestions for peaceful living. These ten sum up what pleases God and God’s will for man quite well. The first four commands deal with our relationship with God, the last six deal with our relationship with one another. Of those six, perhaps the one we break the most is the one about lying: “Bearing false witness.” Today they’re being removed from public sight because they belong to the “church” inside the “church building” for those who want to deal with them. The rational is, if you don’t teach the ‘ten’ then you don’t have to adhere to them. False! “…when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bear witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:14-15). God has placed it in the hearts of mankind how we should treat one another with a conscience to strike us with guilt when we express a deliberate selfish act that is not pleasing to God our Maker. Mankind measures greatness by how many serve you; God measures greatness by how many you serve.
The country is in the midst of what I consider the “political silly season” when caucus and primary votes start to sway the mud slinging strategies of candidates toward their opponents, especially when one finds they’re slipping in a popular pole of one group or another. It amazes me how much dirt political hired guns can dig up for politicians to exploit, solely for the purpose of changing public thinking about the character of another person. All I ask, and I think what most people want from their ‘want-to-be’ elected politician, is show me who you are in a complete and honest way. I don’t care what you think about someone else. I already have a good idea of “who’s who” in the world of politics and I’m looking for the one who is willing to step up and step out for the people they represent. I, of late, see no representatives even attempting to fulfill the will of the people whom they represent. This country is built on “We the people…” not, I the politician, who knows what’s best for the people, and my pocket.
[Exodus 20:1-17; Romans 1:18-32] Oh Tom, not the Ten Commandments again! I know, it seems so basic and some get sick and tired of hearing them. “We don’t live under the law anymore” you say. There are a lot more commandments in the Bible than just ten (600+), but I can’t seem to just brush aside the first ten as suggestions for peaceful living. These ten sum up what pleases God and God’s will for man quite well. The first four commands deal with our relationship with God, the last six deal with our relationship with one another. Of those six, perhaps the one we break the most is the one about lying: “Bearing false witness.” Today they’re being removed from public sight because they belong to the “church” inside the “church building” for those who want to deal with them. The rational is, if you don’t teach the ‘ten’ then you don’t have to adhere to them. False! “…when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bear witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:14-15). God has placed it in the hearts of mankind how we should treat one another with a conscience to strike us with guilt when we express a deliberate selfish act that is not pleasing to God our Maker. Mankind measures greatness by how many serve you; God measures greatness by how many you serve.
Saturday, January 30, 2016
A Competitive Life
Time has a way of slip-slipping away and in the light of Super Bowl 50 I found myself cruising a nostalgic highway of daydreams a few times of late. Hindsight, being the exact science that it is, always leads to the thought, “If I had only known then what I know now” and the imagery of all the passed-up opportunities that had drifted in and out of my life. In 1957, ten years post WW II, man had not yet been to the moon, that wouldn’t take its place in history until 1969, but the space race started that year with the Russian launch of Sputnik, the first satellite to orbit the earth. I remember the fear and uncertainty of this new technology prevalent in the hearts of people. One only needs to remember this was happening in the shadow of nuclear weapon anxiety and the Cold War. Eisenhower was starting his second term as President of the United States. The first Boeing 707 flight took place. First Class postage was .03 cents. The Ford Motor company introduced the Edsel automobile, which flopped miserably, and after a two year run was discarded. Civil Rights issues exploded in Arkansas and integration of schools was enforced by the government and armed Army Reserve troops. John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time (no Beatles yet). Elvis Presley was HOT in the theaters and on the radio, and buys Graceland for his mama. The Hamilton watch company introduced the first electric watch. Ten years later I graduated from high school and was drafted into Uncle Sam’s service two years after.
I have never been a real sports fan. I certainly wasn’t a jock in school, skinny as a rail and weighing less than a sack of potatoes. The closest I’ve come to being a fan-addict is following the auto racing scene. In most sporting activities it takes a team of individuals to accomplish the goal set forth by the competition of the sport. I think I liked auto racing over most team sports because performance dictates rewards. Perform poorly and go home with little or nothing. Perform at the pentacle of excellence, out performing all the competition and one goes home with the top prize and bragging rights. I’ve really become disinterested in professional sports over the past ten years for the mere fact that too many participants are being paid way too much money for poor performance. Money is even putting to ruin the Olympic Games and College sports, of which both are suppose to be reserved for amateurs who just love the game. Oh well.
[1 Corinthians 9: 24-27] “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” The church has always intrigued me as writers like Paul encourage Christians to train for the competitiveness of life, but to never be in competition with one another. Too many people in this world see the church as a competitive social entity, when in truth, it is a spiritual kingdom filled with spiritually like-minded physical humans in a race to see how many people they each can take across the finish line with them. Crazy, isn’t it? Our faith and obedience in Jesus as our coach in this life will bring the reward of everlasting life with God in the true spiritual world after leaving this body. The stands of heaven are full of all the faithful souls who have gone on before us, cheering us on (Hebrews 11:39-40) so they may also receive that same reward. Remember, when you “go to church” Sunday, it’s really a huddle of the players (Christians) listening intently to the instructions of Jesus as he coaches us in the game of life. Resist the devil. At times the play is – RUN!
I have never been a real sports fan. I certainly wasn’t a jock in school, skinny as a rail and weighing less than a sack of potatoes. The closest I’ve come to being a fan-addict is following the auto racing scene. In most sporting activities it takes a team of individuals to accomplish the goal set forth by the competition of the sport. I think I liked auto racing over most team sports because performance dictates rewards. Perform poorly and go home with little or nothing. Perform at the pentacle of excellence, out performing all the competition and one goes home with the top prize and bragging rights. I’ve really become disinterested in professional sports over the past ten years for the mere fact that too many participants are being paid way too much money for poor performance. Money is even putting to ruin the Olympic Games and College sports, of which both are suppose to be reserved for amateurs who just love the game. Oh well.
[1 Corinthians 9: 24-27] “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” The church has always intrigued me as writers like Paul encourage Christians to train for the competitiveness of life, but to never be in competition with one another. Too many people in this world see the church as a competitive social entity, when in truth, it is a spiritual kingdom filled with spiritually like-minded physical humans in a race to see how many people they each can take across the finish line with them. Crazy, isn’t it? Our faith and obedience in Jesus as our coach in this life will bring the reward of everlasting life with God in the true spiritual world after leaving this body. The stands of heaven are full of all the faithful souls who have gone on before us, cheering us on (Hebrews 11:39-40) so they may also receive that same reward. Remember, when you “go to church” Sunday, it’s really a huddle of the players (Christians) listening intently to the instructions of Jesus as he coaches us in the game of life. Resist the devil. At times the play is – RUN!
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Are You Insured?
To insure the masses from being mistreated or disrespected, our elected officials throughout the country, from the lowest to the highest levels of government, are constantly writing laws and ordinances in an attempt to protect us from one another. I believe all this legislation has brought about more ridiculous accusations toward one another, filled our courts system with more frivolous lawsuits than ever before and has backed more people into a corner with no option but to surrender. The American dream is on the lamb with legislators and lawyers chasing after it to lock it up and shut it down. The one world order plan being played out right now will bankrupt freedom as you know it today. The battle front is in the voting booth, not social media. Use it!
After a long illness, a woman died and arrived at the Gates of Heaven. While she was waiting for someone to greet her, she peeked through the gates. There she saw a beautiful banquet table. Sitting around the table were her parents and all the other people who she had known and loved, and died before her. They saw her and began calling greetings to her, “Hello! How are you!” “We’ve been waiting for you!” “Good to see you!” When Peter came by the woman said to him, “This is such a beautiful place! How do I get in?” Peter said, “You have to spell a word.” She asked, “What’s the word?” Peter said, “Love” She replied, “L-O-V-E!” Peter opened the gates and welcomed her in. Some time later Peter asked the woman to watch the gates for him as he had some business to tend to. While she was guarding the gate her husband arrived. “I’m surprised to see you,” she said. “How have you been?” “Oh, I’ve been doin pretty well since you died,” the husband said. “I married the beautiful young nurse who took care of you while you were ill. And then I won the lottery. I sold the little house you and I lived in and bought a big mansion. And my wife and I have been traveling all around the world. I was water skiing in the Mediterranean today. I fell, a ski hit me in the head, and here I am. How do I get in?” She grinned and said, you have to spell a word.” “Is that all?” he asked. “What’s the word?” “…Czechoslovakia
[Romans 4:7-8] “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him”. Laws and ordinances may protect us from one another, but we also purchase insurance to cover us in times of disaster, poor health and even in death. Of all the possessions to insure, and disasters to insure against, the greatest catastrophe is to have no provision relative to eternal life. Some things we guard against in this life may never happen. However, the fact this life will have its end is something we cannot avoid and therefore need to be prepared. For that we need the coverage only God can provide. There is an “Eternal Life Insurance” policy already paid for by our Lord, but we must be in Him in order to receive the benefits. Are you covered? “…don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-14). “…for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Albert Camus said, “I’d rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t, and die to find out there is.”
Saturday, January 02, 2016
Close and Latch The Gate
Well, 2015 is behind us and we’ll never pass that way again. The first thing I learned when moving to Texas was, “If the gate is open, leave it open. If the gate is closed, close it behind you.” If it is in any way possible, it’s time to close and latch the gate on whatever negative menial trash that might have been in your life last year. Don’t let it get out and into the new year to spoil it. 2016 is the beginning of a new adventure since we’ve never been this way before. Life’s experiences should take center stage in a positive way, not to worry over or be troublesome. Mistakes are something we don’t have to beat ourselves up for the rest of our life. Let it go, stand up proud and move on.
I came across some old church bulletins the other day and I so enjoy the thoughts of those who have now gone on to be with the Lord. I especially take comfort in the fact they were not so different than I am today. I would like to share an article printed on March 9, 1975, no author found, most fitting and appropriate for our thoughts today.
“Freedom From Care” “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7). The words of this command are neither hard nor exacting, but come to us as if the Father had put his loving arm about us and pulled us up close to him and bidden us, like little children, to forget our cares and leave everything to him as he tries to help us worrying pilgrims along. They are precious and comforting words, but hard to obey. Yet those few who we have known, who walked by this rule, always appear to be happy. “Do not be anxious;” it seems to be impossible! The text does not mean that we are not to be industrious and fore-thoughtful. This same apostle also said, “…If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The thing He seeks to deliver man from is the worry and over-solicitude of world affairs with which they struggle, trying to be their own providence, wearing themselves out in anxieties of future events which they cannot remedy or control, if indeed they are ever to happen. “...present your requests to God” He did not create this world and all things therein and go far away and forsake it until time shall be no more, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer” (Psalm 34:12-16; 1Peter 3:12), and as surely as there is a God in heaven, he wants his children to be happy, untroubled and unafraid. Sometimes we would give everything to attain this ideal. Perhaps it is not so difficult if we would really try. The great essential is a real trusting faith in God. The avenue is through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Prayer is the great lever of spiritual life; the lung by which it breathes. If we pray with thankful hearts, half of our troubles will disappear. He has not promised us miracles nor that every request shall be granted, but his loving watch, care and “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” and “...my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Many are the hearts that have found this peace by faith and obedience to His holy will. Many are the hearts that are weary this day, when in his blessed kingdom they might have rest (Psalm 62).” I pray your year be blessed above all in Christ Jesus.
I came across some old church bulletins the other day and I so enjoy the thoughts of those who have now gone on to be with the Lord. I especially take comfort in the fact they were not so different than I am today. I would like to share an article printed on March 9, 1975, no author found, most fitting and appropriate for our thoughts today.
“Freedom From Care” “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7). The words of this command are neither hard nor exacting, but come to us as if the Father had put his loving arm about us and pulled us up close to him and bidden us, like little children, to forget our cares and leave everything to him as he tries to help us worrying pilgrims along. They are precious and comforting words, but hard to obey. Yet those few who we have known, who walked by this rule, always appear to be happy. “Do not be anxious;” it seems to be impossible! The text does not mean that we are not to be industrious and fore-thoughtful. This same apostle also said, “…If a man will not work, he shall not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The thing He seeks to deliver man from is the worry and over-solicitude of world affairs with which they struggle, trying to be their own providence, wearing themselves out in anxieties of future events which they cannot remedy or control, if indeed they are ever to happen. “...present your requests to God” He did not create this world and all things therein and go far away and forsake it until time shall be no more, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer” (Psalm 34:12-16; 1Peter 3:12), and as surely as there is a God in heaven, he wants his children to be happy, untroubled and unafraid. Sometimes we would give everything to attain this ideal. Perhaps it is not so difficult if we would really try. The great essential is a real trusting faith in God. The avenue is through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Prayer is the great lever of spiritual life; the lung by which it breathes. If we pray with thankful hearts, half of our troubles will disappear. He has not promised us miracles nor that every request shall be granted, but his loving watch, care and “…the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” and “...my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Many are the hearts that have found this peace by faith and obedience to His holy will. Many are the hearts that are weary this day, when in his blessed kingdom they might have rest (Psalm 62).” I pray your year be blessed above all in Christ Jesus.
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