Sitting pretty

The other day my oldest granddaughter Amanda came over for a visit and she brought her little dog Hercules with her. Cute little dog! But Hercules has some health and behavioral problems caused by a previous owners abuse. Still, I can see that he is improving and someday may be completely well. After awhile he even felt comfortable enough to make himself at home and take up residence on my wife's recliner. How we treat those who are the weakest in our society says a lot about us. We have responsibilities to those less fortunate or weaker than us and of course this includes how we treat our pets. Jesus put it this way...



Matthew 25:34-40 WEB (R)
(34) Then the King will tell those on his right hand, 'Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;
(35) for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in.
(36) I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.'
(37) "Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink?
(38) When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you?
(39) When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?'
(40) "The King will answer them, 'Most certainly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'


Caring for others is an expression of the righteousness within our hearts; it is the outward expression of the love within our hearts. If my granddaughter Amanda could look at this poor mistreated animal and do whatever she could to overcome the damage done to it, what about does that say about the greater importance of treating our fellow human beings with compassion, understanding and patience. During the course of our lives, we all may experience "hard times" at one time or another, so when things improve, remember to do the right thing for those around you. The person you help may not sit up pretty in a recliner or jump into your arms like this little dog does, but I assure you that they WILL REMEMBER whatever kindness you show them. So will God on judgment day.

Harmless?

Looks harmless enough, doesn't it? However, this recent picture is of the first gay marriage in Vermont. Who cares? God cares, that's who. Read this passage from Romans and ask yourself the question again: "Who cares"?


Romans 1:18-32 WEB (R)
(18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
(19) because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them.
(20) For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse.
(21) Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.
(22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(23) and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things.
(24) Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves,
(25) who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
(26) For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature.
(27) Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.
(28) Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
(29) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers,
(30) backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
(31) without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;
(32) who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.


Just a "little" sin? However, if you look closely, you will notice something. The passage is sort of knit together. What I mean is that the person who can worship a false god also has no problem in doing what they want to do in spite of what God says. This really is shown by the list of sins in 29-31 because it is all one sentence in the original. The deviant is not JUST deviant, but is all those other things as well. Frankly, this is NOT one of my favorite passages of Scripture, BUT, it is truth. Unpopular in todays society, yes, but the Word of God is true, even though even person on the face of the Earth might disagree. Remember, the last time that happened there was a flood.

Its amazing

Impossible; yet it happened! One of the advantages (and there aren't THAT MANY) of being older is that over the years I have seen many, many, different things. Just when I think I have seen it all, something new happens! Sometimes, these new things are very hard to believe, like this video, but, NEW THINGS STILL KEEP HAPPENING! Think about how the people in this passage from the book of John must have felt on the first day of the week.


John 20:1-31 WEB (R)
(1) Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.
(2) Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have laid him!"
(3) Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb.
(4) They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first.
(5) Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn't enter in.
(6) Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,
(7) and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.(8) So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.
(9) For as yet they didn't know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
(10) So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
(11) But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
(12) and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
(13) They told her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they have laid him."
(14) When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn't know that it was Jesus.
(15) Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
(16) Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him, "Rhabbouni!" which is to say, "Teacher!"
(17) Jesus said to her, "Don't touch me, for I haven't yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "
(18) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.
(19) When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be to you."
(20) When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.
(21) Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."
(22) When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit!
(23) Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever's sins you retain, they have been retained."
(24) But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn't with them when Jesus came.
(25) The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
(26) After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace be to you."
(27) Then he said to Thomas, "Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don't be unbelieving, but believing."
(28) Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
(29) Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed."
(30) Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;
(31) but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.


I know, this is a long chapter, but it is worth reading! I suppose that entire books have been written on this chapter, but for me, one verse seems to stand out for me today. Verse 7 is in bold print and although you might think it odd that I chose this verse, there is good reason for the choice. The rolled napkin was a message that every child who served at table in Israel would recognize. When the master had finished his meal, he would wipe his face and hands with the napkin provided for this purpose and leave the table. When it was rolled (or folded) it meant that he was not finished and would be back. Jesus was coming back! He had been crucified, died and was buried and now he was to return. This he did! Something very new indeed! I have never seen someone come back from the dead, but the evidence is so strong that it really, truly, happened, that its like that impossible golf shot in the video. Its amazing!

And the cat flew by

How could they NOT SEE THE CAT? Good question, but people will see what they WANT to see, nothing more, nothing less. Consider for a moment, this passage from the book of Numbers.


Numbers 14:11-24 WEB (R)
(11) Yahweh said to Moses, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have worked among them?
(12) I will strike them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.
(13) Moses said to Yahweh, Then the Egyptians will hear it; for you brought up this people in your might from among them;
(14) and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you Yahweh are in the midst of this people; for you Yahweh are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them, and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.
(15) Now if you shall kill this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying,
(16) Because Yahweh was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore to them, therefore he has slain them in the wilderness.
(17) Now please let the power of the Lord be great, according as you have spoken, saying,
(18) Yahweh is slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation.
(19) Pardon, Please, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your loving kindness, and according as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
(20) Yahweh said, I have pardoned according to your word:
(21) but in very deed, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Yahweh;
(22) because all those men who have seen my glory, and my signs, which I worked in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not listened to my voice;
(23) surely they shall not see the land which I swore to their fathers, neither shall any of those who despised me see it:
(24) but my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed me fully, him will I bring into the land into which he went; and his seed shall possess it.


Israel had seen all of the mighty works of God and yet had not believed. I can understand Egypt not understanding, because after all, their gods were THEIR gods; But Israel? Perhaps, the reason they could not perceive the wonder of God was that they really did believe in the Egyptian gods. It would have been easy for them to just "go along" with the accepted deities of their culture and accept as reality false gods. It is always easier to go along with the status quo rather than truly seek for truth. Whatever the reason, almost all of Israel could not believe, even though they were in the midst of greatness and had seen God's power work miracles. Just as the people in the picture could not see the cat flying by because they were absorbed in their own interests, so, the people who were supposed to enter the promised land could not see the greatness of the God of heaven right in front of their eyes. Be careful; do not allow our society to dictate our beliefs, but rather, seek to do the will of HIM who raises up rulers and destroys nations!

Limits on love?

Cute photo! This little deer (dear also applies) is alive because of an act of mercy. A man was driving home one night, when he accidentally hit a deer. Noticing the deer was very pregnant and near death, he drove as fast as he could to a local veterinarian, who managed to save this little one. Most people wouldn't do this, but this "Good Samaritan" did. Reminds me of a familiar passage from the book of Luke.


Luke 10:25-37 WEB (R)
(25) Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
(26) He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"
(27) He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."
(28) He said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live."
(29) But he, desiring to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"
(30) Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
(31) By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
(32) In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.
(33) But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion,
(34) came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
(35) On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him, 'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.'
(36) Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"
(37) He said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."


The lawyer wanted to put limits on love! Its easy to love those whom you have things in common with, but what about people whose background or beliefs differ from your own? Jesus, using this story teaches that even those we might despise (like this Samaritan) can have the capacity for letting the love in their heart overflow to the benefit of even complete strangers. Reread verse 27 and ask yourself the question: Am I living up to this, or does it take running into a deer to wake me up? Hopefully, there are no limits to the love in your heart and you pass the test! There will be a test, but I am glad I will not be doing the grading; only God is able to do that!

It dawned on me....

Have you ever tried to do something and tried again and again without success? Then, some time later an idea comes to you and you realize you know exactly what to do. That is what this picture says to me! BUT, all ideas are not good ideas. Here is an example of a good idea gone south.


Luke 12:16-20 WEB (R)
(16) He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.
(17) He reasoned within himself, saying, 'What will I do, because I don't have room to store my crops?'
(18) He said, 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
(19) I will tell my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry." '
(20) "But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared-whose will they be?'


Without God, even the best of ideas can go bad. Who knows what tomorrow may bring, whether it be good or bad. If God be with you, and you seek HIS WILL, then you really have nothing to be concerned about. Here is an idea; seek God first!!!

Crystal clear

Over the past few years, there has been a lot in the news about water. Water levels rising due to "global warming", water pollution and a lack of clean water for most of the world. So, when I saw this picture, the purity of the water was brought home to me by the littlest of things... the shadow under the canoe. That little shadow revealed the water to be crystal clear and it occurred to me that in Christianity some things are like that; plain, straightforward and true! Here is an example.


Acts 2:22-41 WEB (R)
(22) "Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know,
(23) him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
(24) whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
(25) For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before my face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
(26) Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;
(27) because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
(28) You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
(29) "Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
(30) Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
(31) he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.
(32) This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.
(33) Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.
(34) For David didn't ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit by my right hand,
(35) until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
(36) "Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
(37) Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
(38) Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(39) For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself."
(40) With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"
(41) Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.


Peter proclaimed Jesus. Simple, straightforward and true. With this truth the path to Spiritual Life was given. Those who heard it, wanted to do something about it. Baptism for the forgiveness of sins was the answer and three thousand responded. Crystal clear understanding. No clouded waters here!!