One thing only

Trick picture.  One color (yellow) was selectively chosen.  The emphasis is so much that it is "over the top", but it does yield the desired effect.  Ever known a PERSON who was like this; I have.  Most of my adult working life I spent in laboratories of all kinds; research, tech service, product development and quality control and I have been blessed in knowing some of the smartest people on the planet.  Yet, sometimes these "geniuses" were ridiculous.  Some could focus in on a complex math problem or chemical interaction or experimental prediction, but to remember to wash or comb their hair or change their clothes regularly was beyond them.  Seems funny doesn't it?  Single mindedness to the nth degree seems absurd, but is it?  Consider the following passage from Paul's letter to the Philippians...

Philippians 3:1-12 (WEB)
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.

Paul found the truth about true religion and obsessively followed it, which sounds odd at first, but in reflection is wonderful.  The way to life after life; who WOULDN'T WANT THAT?  So maybe single mindedness isn't so bad after all.  Well, have to go, the season finale of "The Big Bang Theory" is on tonight!

Another trip down memory lane...

Blow, NOW!!!

In Real Estate, the three most important selling points are: Location, Location, Location!!!  So, whoever took this picture had to be in the right place at the right time (with a camera of course).  It does make me think of heaven and that gives me comfort, as does the following passage from the book of Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (WEB)

13) But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15) For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.

16) For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first,

17) then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Face it, this world can be a depressing place.  Wars, famine, greed, murder, social injustice and the like is enough to get anyone down.  Yet, Jesus gives hope, hope of something better: life after life!!  That's a pretty good thing to think about; to know that no matter how bad things are in the here and now, someday they WILL BE BETTER!!!  Not just in a general way, either.  Jesus cares for each and every one of us as this passage about the "rapture" shows.  In this world of sin that's something to blow your horn about!!!

Something bothering you?

What a face!  And from one so young!  Anger can happen to anyone, at any age.  But does it have value in a positive way?  Most of the time, NO!  Yet, most of us are angry one time or another, for whatever reason.  Paul mentions this in the book of Galatians...

Galatians 5:16-21 (WEB)


16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.

17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19) Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

20) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

21) envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

That it is a work of the flesh, there is no doubt.  That there is more than one kind is obvious from observations in life.  All anger is not the same, but the sort that bursts out can be very, very dangerous indeed.  How many crimes of passion have occurred because of this??  Yet, anger could motivate you to defend yourself and save your life.  You be the judge.  One thing seems clear to me... control it, or it will control you.

Time out...

Remember this?  Well, maybe not exactly like this, but I bet somehow you WERE punished when you were growing up.  My memories are not pleasant, but I did learn and I guess that is the point.  Here are a few verses from the Bible on the subject.

Proverbs 13:24 (WEB)

24) One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 3:11 (WEB)

11) My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his reproof:


2 Timothy 3:16 (WEB)

16) Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,

No matter how its done, no matter who does it discipline should be meant to teach.  Today, if you use corporal punishment, society says you are WRONG, but reread the first verse.  It is meant to be used with LOVE, to TEACH!!!  God teaches too, sometimes by circumstance, but most often by HIS WORD, which addresses every aspect of learning.  Maybe, if we think about it long enough we will learn God's ways are the best ways.  If so, our time out is time well spent!!!

What is next?

The lowest gas price I can remember is 29 cents a gallon.  At the time, I thought that was a lot of money, but who could have imagined the prices today?  You hear a lot on TV, but somehow, it just seems unreasonable that prices are rising so fast.  All this makes me think that somewhere, someone is stealing money right out of my pocket.  But this sort of sin doesn't exist by itsself, so I wonder what other sins the Oil Companies are into??  Take a minute and read the ten commandments from Deuteronomy and then I have a question for you.

 Deuteronomy 5:6-21 (WEB)


6) “I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

7) “You shall have no other gods before me.

8) “You shall not make an engraved image for yourself, any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

9) you shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them; for I, Yahweh, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me;

10) and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

11) “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain: for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

12) “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you.

13) You shall labor six days, and do all your work;

14) but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God, in which you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.

15) You shall remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Yahweh your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

16) “Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.

17) “You shall not murder.

18) “Neither shall you commit adultery.

19) “Neither shall you steal.

20) “Neither shall you give false testimony against your neighbor.

21) “Neither shall you covet your neighbor’s wife; neither shall you desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

People are not stupid, they know right from wrong; why not just give them the "Golden Rule" and be done with it?  Because they weren't ready for it.  Those who are not spiritually minded need an abundance of rules to cover many contingencies because they really don't want to obey any of them.  Any excuse to circumvent God's will is enough.  So, I expect that over time we may find out what the oil companies are really doing and I bet they are not just stealing.  What's next?  I don't know, but I am sure I won't like it.

Change

To me this leave seems a bit unusual.  Most of the time a leaf is either green or gold, not half and half.  Looks to me that someone picked this off the tree to make a point.  And a good point it is; things change and change can be good.  Once again this passage from the book of Ecclesiastes comes to mind.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (WEB)
1) For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

2) a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3) a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4) a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5) a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6) a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7) a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8) a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

Things change, the fact is inescapable and in fact necessary.  Yesterday I had my 62nd birthday.  More than just a date, it marked my ability to collect Social Security (you know, the fund for OLD PEOPLE), but it wasn't until my birthday party, when the brought out the cake decorated with "old timer" that it hit me.  I guess I am officially "OLD" now.  But that's not so bad, because I feel like the leaf in the picture because I know that there is still some green in me yet.  And when all of it is gone, my color will match the golden streets in heaven.  Nice match, nice change.

Celebrate!

If you have ever been to Disney, then this picture will bring back memories.  Fireworks and celebrations are entertaining; they bring happiness.  Which naturally raises the question: What does it take to make you happy enough to be thankful for your happiness?  Here is the story of two men; one thankful, one introspective, but which one will REALLY be happy in the long run?

Luke 18:9-14 (WEB)


9) He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.

10) “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

11) The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12) I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’

13) But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’

14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The one who humbled himself before God will ultimately be the happier one!  Paradoxical isn't it.  Yet, God can turn sorrow into joy and that is the best kind of happiness I know.  Today is my birthday; I have already received cards, e-mails, facebook messages and well wishes.  The day didn't start out very good, as my arthritis made my night not-so-good, but when I look at all the blessings of the day, that seems very unimportant indeed.  Most of all it has been humbling, knowing that so many people care about me.  If there are so many blessings in this world, then I can only wonder at the next.  I'll find out later, Jesus will show me... eventually!!!