Be careful out there!

Today is the last day of the year! Wow, its almost gone!? I have been thinking a lot about all the things that have happened over the past twelve months and frankly it has not been one of my top ten years. But, so what? In this world we experience both good and bad things, so be happy anyway!!! But not TOO HAPPY! I know tonight is a night when a lot of people are out to carouse, get drunk and generally cut up. Who knows what will happen tonight, so be careful, you don't know what the future. Jesus talked a lot about the future and this passage is one of those times.

Luke 21:29-36 WEB (R)
(29) He told them a parable. "See the fig tree, and all the trees.
(30) When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near.
(31) Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near.
(32) Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished.
(33) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.
(34) "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.
(35) For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.
(36) Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."


Recently, I saw one of those "then and now" picture collections for hill street blues police drama show. I was saddened to see that the robust looking Sergeant had died, but death does come upon us all. He will be remembered for his daily charge to his fellow police officers: "Be careful out there". For many of us, tonight will be a night to howl, but remember his words and "Be careful out there". Keep an eye out, you never know when judgment may come upon you!!!

Focused

How often do we just go about our daily lives, not thinking about it. We do the same generic things day after day; work, TV, meals, sleep. Day after day, the same thing over and over and over again. Then something happens; we get sick or divorced or something serious happens and everything changes. Life comes into perspective and suddenly everything takes on a new meaning. I like Paul because he seems always to have been in focus, always thinking of his service to the risen Christ. Paul says...

Philippians 3:1-14 WEB (R)
(1) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.
(2) Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.
(3) For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
(4) though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:
(5) circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
(6) concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
(7) However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.
(8) Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ
(9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
(10) that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death;
(11) if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
(12) Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
(13) Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
(14) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.


Meeting Jesus changed everything for Paul. From that time on he had a one track mind, a singular purpose bent on submitting to the will of GOD. Just like the man in the picture, it was obvious that he could think of nothing but what lay ahead of him. Today, I read about a woman and child who "died" during childbirth only to mysteriously come back to life again. The husband thought he had lost everything, but when she came back... WOW! It was like that for Paul and it can be like that for us as well; we just have to be focused.

Now that's Amazing!

Amazing! This is the French Rivera! Frankly, I don't know how this can happen, but I do have eyes and I do see snow. I really enjoy seeing things like this because it puts things in perspective; I am just a human being and that means that I will never to be understand EVERYTHING! Whoever wrote the following proverb (probably Solomon) admits to the same sort of problem and immediately I like him.


Proverbs 30:18-19 WEB (R)
(18) "There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don't understand:
(19) The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent on a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.


First, this is exaggeration; there are more than four things that everyone of us do not understand. I will bet it is much more than five and probably many times that number. Secondly, just because something puzzles or amazes us now does not mean it will do so forever. Does the phrase "He can be taught" from the movie Aladdin mean anything to you? Last of all, God will show us what we really need to know and over time that knowledge will lead to wisdom to gain further understanding. Amazing; probably not forever... or at least until we get to heaven. One last verse from the Bible comes to mind.

Deu 29:29 The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.


If all this isn't enough, turn over to 2nd Corithians 12 and read the first ten verses. Now that's Amazing!

Bad taste

Its amazing how friends change your life; a few years ago, I wouldn't have even paid the slightest attention to this picture, but now, I think its the height of BAD TASTE. How could anyone be this obnoxious? Here is the tale of the Ammonites who made themselves odious to David, king of Israel.

2 Samuel 10:1-19 WEB (R)
(1) It happened after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place.
(2) David said, I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.
(3) But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, Do you think that David honors your father, in that he has sent comforters to you? Hasn't David sent his servants to you to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?
(4) So Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.
(5) When they told it to David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.
(6) When the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with one thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.
(7) When David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the army of the mighty men.
(8) The children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
(9) Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
(10) The rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.
(11) He said, If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the children of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.
(12) Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Yahweh do that which seems him good.
(13) So Joab and the people who were with him drew near to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
(14) When the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians had fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
(15) When the Syrians saw that they were defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.
(16) Hadadezer sent, and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the army of Hadadezer at their head.
(17) It was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
(18) The Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed of the Syrians the men of seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and struck Shobach the captain of their army, so that he died there.
(19) When all the kings who were servants to Hadadezer saw that they were defeated before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.


The Ammonites misinterpreted David's actions and treated his ambassadors badly. Because of that there were consequences. Ultimate they paid for their bad manners as most people will in the end. I really don't know if the Chinese restaurant in the picture ever lost business because of this sign, but I hope so. Besides, would you want to eat there, I wouldn't; with every bite of Chicken Chow Mien I would wonder if I was really eating chicken.

Hooray!

Yesterday I took two of my grandchildren on a photo shoot. We chose random places to stop and took some pictures. Most of the pictures I took I had been thinking about for some time, but not this one. We stopped at the park in Dade City and to my surprise there was this unusual sign. I liked it because it was very straightforward and to the point, which reminded me of one of my favorite verses in the Bible.


Joshua 24:15 WEB (R)
(15) If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh."


Joshua was a man of faith and that took him from Egypt into the promised land. He led the people in their conquest over the seven wicked nations and stands out because of his vision, courage and determination. OH, that American would have more like him; men and women of faith who will stand up and be counted for what they believe! They are out there, we just have to look for them. Sometimes you don't even need a sign to spot one! Hooray!

More than appearance

This dog's name is Sandy and she is not like her appearance. When she is around family she is the gentlest animal I have ever seen. She can't seem to get enough affection. However, if you are a stranger, BEWARE! When she shows her teeth she isn't kidding. So, what is her value to the family?


1 Samuel 17:42-45 WEB (R)
(42) When the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair face.
(43) The Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks? The Philistine cursed David by his gods.
(44) The Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky, and to the animals of the field.
(45) Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.


To the Philistine, Goliath, dogs weren't worth very much. That is why he talked this way to David. Later, he learned what a mere boy with sticks and stones could do and it cost him his very life. So, I guess the moral of all this is to say that things we value lightly can be of great value if used correctly. Even a dog has value, if there is enough love to motivate it. Believe you me, Sandy is motivated!

Something to look forward to!

This is a picture of the state capital building in California. Two things caught my eye about it; first, there was a Christmas tree in front and second, the cleanness of the pavement. Today, with all the hullabaloo about religious icons and government, I was a little surprised to see this at all. As far as the pavement goes, its becoming increasingly difficult to imagine ANYTHING clean about government at all...even the streets. Both of these things reminded me of a government that is perfect.


Isaiah 9:6-7 WEB (R)
(6) For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(7) Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.


It is refreshing to read this portion of scripture and to know that there is still purity in the world, still hope. Christ is that hope and perhaps, just perhaps, we may live to see him come again. I wonder what the world will be like without human governments; without the greed, corruption and inequities associated with them? If government buildings remain, then more than just the streets will be clean. Now, that is something to look forward to!