Alone, at last!!!

 

Lately, I have been a little disgusted with the news.  It seems that very little of what I would call "good" has been happening.  Somehow, I don't think its going to get any better, with today's memorial of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and tomorrow being a decade since it actually happened.  Combine that with the state of the economy, other nations about to fail financially and the joke of politicians running for election and its enough to make you just want to go somewhere far away from everything and FORGET!!!  Yet, no matter how alone I may be, my thoughts will always be with me, so this passage of Scripture came to mind...

 

 Philippians 4:8-9 (WEB)
8) Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
9) The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Back in the 1970's I sold Amway products and one of their primary sayings was "what the mind can conceive and believe in can achieve".  Even though man really isn't the center of the universe, yet there is considerable truth in this saying.  Thinking changes things; we really do become what we think about all day long.  So, why not think of the very best things and become the best person you can be.  The world may not change, but you will and in some way (however small) the world will be affected by you.  I really like what Paul says at the end of verse 9: "...and the God of peace will be with you."  Just that one thought was enough to cheer me up for the WHOLE DAY.  Maybe I will go where there are a lot of people today... who knows, maybe I can cheer someone else up.

one beautiful picture

My granddaughter Amanda came over yesterday and wanted to watch Avatar.  I always enjoyed watching science fiction, so I agreed with an enthusiastic "yes"!  I knew the plot, remembered most of the scenes, but still enjoyed it.  When the story came round to Sully climbing vines in the floating mountains of Pandora, I remembered this picture of China.  I wonder, could this really be where they obtained those images, or is it just my imagination?  I doubt if I will ever really know, but its nice to think I may have solved one little mystery among so many that are out there.  The Bible is full of them, because God's ways are so beyond our comprehension, but here is one that is solved.

Romans 14:22 (WEB)
22) Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who doesn’t judge himself in that which he approves.(14:24) Now to him who is able to establish you according to my Good News and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret through long ages, (14:25) but now is revealed, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known for obedience of faith to all the nations; (14:26) to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

To be a Jew was to be someone special!!!  God had chosen your entire race out of the whole world and given you a special status.  But, a certain eleetism arose (understandable, but regretable) and the Jews forgot God chose them even though they were mere slaves.  Those who became obedient to the faith could just have became a sect of Judaism, but God had other plans.  HE loves the whole world and that means the gentiles as well as the faithful Jew.  Mystery solved.  Case closed. Welcome the whole world.  This is not some slight of hand or trickery like taking a picture of China and transforming it into an alien world, it is the culmination of literally thousands of years of the will of Almighty God.  Now, that is a beautiful picture indeed.

Between the lines

My wife grew up having ice cream every night; I didn't.  So, marriage has been an adjustment for both of us.  Over the years we have "met in the middle" so to speak and now we have ice cream in the evenings a couple of times a week.  Compromise is the stuff that working marriages have are made of.  Like most things with human beings, life is complicated, with a lot of things that are said without being said or actions not being performed witch say a lot.  A good example of this is a statement by our current president who last January encouraged those engaged in political rhetoric to be "civil" and tone the language down a bit.  Now, Labor day rolls around and members of his own party get nasty towards the "tea party" and when his speech follows this bit of not so veiled aggression, he say NOTHING.  Humm, that says a lot doesn't it?  Sometimes, you can say a lot by omission; here is a prime example.

WEB: Mark Chapter 16
[11] When they heard that he was alive, and had been seen by her, they disbelieved. [12] After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. [13] They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.

[14] Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen. [15] He said to them, "“Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. [16] He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.

What does it mean to believe in Jesus?  Is it just an acknowledgement of his existence or perhaps realizing he was a wonderful man or a great teacher?  How about mentally accepting the fact that HE is God's son, or that HE is the only way to establish true fellowship with God?  Good, you already believe this...great!!!  However, take a close look at verse 16.  Belief and disbelieve are contrasted, with results for both actions.  One way results in salvation, the other leads to condemnation.  Most rational persons would naturally want salvation and not condemnation.  Yet, there many who refuse to accept the fact that true belief is linked to baptism.  Why, because someone has told them it is unnecessary.  Wrong, notice the "and" which links belief and baptism together.  This makes it part of the definition and to accept otherwise is simply a willful misinterpretation of the text.  Its kind of like the Baskin-Robbins sign above.  It tells you who there are by what they offer - 31 flavors.  Don't be deceived, if you truly believe in Jesus... do something about it... be baptized.  You will be glad you did!!!

Now, MOVE, NOW!

 

Now, MOVE NOW!  Sometimes when we least expect it...WHAM!!!  I feel sorry for the man in the chair, but even more sorry for the punishment that boy is going to get later.  The boy made a conscious decision and so will his "father".  Life is like that... we pay for what we do and then we pay some more and keep paying until, well, who knows.  Jesus talks about reckoning and it isn't pretty.

WEB: Luke Chapter 17

[20] Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "“The Kingdom of God doesn’t come with observation; [21] neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”"

[22] He said to the disciples, "“The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. [23] They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away, nor follow after them, [24] for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day. [25] But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. [26] As it happened in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. [27] They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. [28] Likewise, even as it happened in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; [29] but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed them all. [30] It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

Not one of us knows exactly how long we will live.  Even the condemned man can't predict the precise second all will COMPLETELY seem to end.  So, why not live life like today was your last day; why not prepare yourself to enter heaven right now?  You only have sinful things to lose and heaven to gain.  Not a bad trade!!!  Remember; you pay for what you do, so now is the time to change, right now!!! 

Toxic detector needed...

During the next 14 months we are all going to be exposed to lies.  Lies of all sorts, little ones and very, very large ones.  The truth will be distorted, altered, spun in so many ways as to almost be unrecognizable.  After a time all this disinformation will become so prevalent that we will just turn everything "off" and listen to no one at all.  Why? In a word...power.  Politicians want and in fact must have power.  Even the disciples of Jesus had this problem.

Matthew 20:20-28 (WEB)
20) Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
21) He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.”
22) But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.”
23) He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24) When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
25) But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26) It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
27) Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
28) even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Power can be good... if it is used properly.  The disciples needed to learn this and so do politicians. Until they do, their words will be like sewage, as the most vile thing imaginable.  I urge everyone who reads this to really listen to what the candidates are really saying; sort out what truth you can find.  Vote for the one who you think really wants to serve and not one who just really wants the power.

Help wanted!

Today's post is different.  I learned that a friend named Lori is having a double bypass and needs our prayers.  In times of stress it is a common thing to say the "Lords prayer" and this is a very good thing to do!!!  Please remember Lori in your prayers because she really needs them right now!!!

Thanks a lot

Gary

More than kisses

Once in awhile I see the documentary that was made about Woodstock.  A few days ago it was on again and I did get to see the last part of it.  Santana was great as always, but I didn't get to see Joe Cocker.  His rendition of "With a little help from my friends" always brings back memories.  When I thought about it, I had to ask myself the question: "what makes a friend?".   Then I came across this passage from the book of Proverbs...

Proverbs 27:6 (WEB)
6) Faithful are the wounds of a friend; although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

This verse ties right in with the picture, doesn't it.  Many people may be "nice" to you and perhaps some may be even "very" nice.  The true friend will tell you the truth, even if it risks their friendship.  And face it, truth really hurts sometimes.  I know Jesus is my friend because he is straightforward with me; he tells me I am his friend IF I do his commandments.  It may sometimes be difficult and painful to what he says, but ultimately, its always the best thing.  I really don't need kisses, but I REALLY DO need a true friend.  Good thing I have found one!!!