The Eagle Syndrome

"Eat your spinach and you will grow up big and strong" is something that means a great deal to me. I didn't like the green stuff for a long time, until I was made to eat it and only it for a solid week. Then and only then did I really learn to like it. I began to appreciate it for what it was and not just how it tasted. You know, after awhile, it even began to taste good. The little bird in the picture may think he (or she?) is an Eagle, but sooner or later it will hopefully come to its senses. At the time of the writing of the New Testament, Rome was the unquestioned ruler of the then known world, so those who lived there were at the very heart of western civilization! Rome was the center of the world, so why not see Eagles where little birdies lived? The answer is found in Romans chapter twelve.


Romans 12:1-16 WEB (R)
(1) Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
(2) Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
(3) For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
(4) For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function,
(5) so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
(6) Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
(7) or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;
(8) or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
(9) Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
(10) In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another;
(11) not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
(12) rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer;
(13) contributing to the needs of the saints; given to hospitality.
(14) Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don't curse.
(15) Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
(16) Be of the same mind one toward another. Don't set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don't be wise in your own conceits.

In Christ all followers are equal; but not all have the same function. Some of us may think we are more or less important than we really are, but God knows best how to use each one of us. I remember a maintenance man named Ron Q.; he was outstanding at what he did and a pleasant sort of fellow, so I struck up a conversation with him and we set up a Bible study. Since it was obvious he was definitely NOT a book person, I bought a copy of an "Easy to Read" New Testament for him to use. This was a big mistake because he was insulted. I should have asked what he wanted to use. He saw himself as being a more accomplished reader than he actually was, but I was more deceived than him because I didn't consider his feelings. I should have been looking for an Eagle, when all I saw was a little bird. That mistake cost both of us a lot and was one of the hardest lessons for me to learn. Pride is a terrible sin! Nowadays,when I look in the mirror, I don't see an Eagle, just one very big bird!

A reflection of love

When I first saw this picture of the flower I appreciated it for its beauty and then I looked a bit closer. Notice the drop of water; in it is a reflection of the flower. Like a flower within a flower it seems to shout of beauty in a way I had never really thought of before. Without a doubt, God does beautiful work.

Consider this passage from the New Testament.

Matthew 6:24-34 WEB (R)
(24) "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon.
(25) Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
(26) See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?
(27) "Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
(28) Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin,
(29) yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
(30) But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
(31) "Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?'
(32) For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
(33) But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
(34) Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.

God cares for even the humble flowers of the field and the depth of that love is revealed as being nothing in comparison to that of HIS love for us. If he takes such care to produce magnificence on such a scale that even its mere reflection is a work of art, then what joys await those who have faith and trust in him?

Outside and inside

Just an ordinary winter picture, nothing special at all, but wait, it could have been taken in northern FLORIDA. Recently, there has been snow in the Tampa area and even sleet in Dade City. Huh?? Many, many people have told me that there has not been snow here since 1977; so much for global warming. It seems that life just keeps handing me one surprise after another, and just when you think you have seen everything; whamoo! Jesus addressed the seeming unlikely too, in response to a question by the Pharisees.

Luke 17:20-36 WEB (R)
(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.
(31) In that day, he who will be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back.
(32) Remember Lot's wife!
(33) Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it.
(34) I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. The one will be taken, and the other will be left.
(35) There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be left."
(36) Two will be in the field: the one taken, and the other left."

I don't think anybody really LIKES to think about a judgment of God, let alone THE JUDGMENT OF GOD!! But, Jesus does talk about it. To some of us, it may seem unlikely, but hey; who would have thought it would snow in warm, sunny FLORIDA? Since winter is far from over, maybe I should think about buying a pair of warm gloves or a scarf? And thinking about the destiny of ones eternal soul is always a good idea as well!!! All this may sound a bit paranoid, but life is full of surprises and I really don't need any more right now, especially if it involves something as important as heaven or hell!!!

A half truth is a whole lie

Be sure to read this add VERY CAREFULLY!!! Normally, when you buy something in a store the price would be half of that listed, BUT NOT HERE!!! It seems like there is a lot of deception lately; which of course is a form of a lie. Trickery is nothing new, but what happens when the trickster is tricked?

Consider Jacob...


Genesis 29:20-26 WEB (R)
(20) Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her.
(21) Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her."
(22) Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
(23) It happened in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. He went in to her.
(24) Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid to his daughter Leah for a handmaid.
(25) It happened in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. He said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Didn't I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"
(26) Laban said, "It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn.

Jacob obtained his inheritance and birthright through deceit and then was deceived himself. One can only wonder what went through his mind when he saw Leah that morning? Although most people don't think about it much, how you live your life comes back to you in one way or another. It is always better to tell the truth in a straightforward manner than to tell a half truth, because a half truth is actually a whole lie.

Goodness, needles and money

No, I do not know how this is done. Looks very difficult, but not impossible (since it is being done). Think about the last time you tried to even thread a needle, much less trying to put something abnormal through it. Jesus talks about needles with someone who just could not see his way to even trying.

Mark 10:17-27 WEB (R)
(17) As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
(18) Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one-God.
(19) You know the commandments: 'Do not murder,' 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not give false testimony,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and mother.' "
(20) He said to him, "Teacher, I have observed all these things from my youth."
(21) Jesus looking at him loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me, taking up the cross."
(22) But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions.
(23) Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!"
(24) The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, "Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the Kingdom of God!
(25) It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God."
(26) They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, "Then who can be saved?"
(27) Jesus, looking at them, said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God."

Money can be both a blessing and a trap. Blessing in that our needs can be supplied and a trap if we trust in it instead of God. By almost any standard the man who came to Jesus was a good man, good enough to be LOVED by Jesus. Yet, inside he trusted in his possessions instead of God and that was a big problem. Not only for him, but for the disciples as well. Even though the disciples (learners) didn't have much in the way of money, still they were amazed to the point of wondering if anyone could be saved at all! What they did not realize was that those who view money as a tool to serve God rather than an obsession to be acquired, stand a very good chance of performing the impossible. If the heart is right with God, then money is NOT AN OBSTACLE, rather a blessing for others beside themselves. I can see that smoke could go through the eye of a needle, but a camel? Will have to get back to you on that one...

A little birdie told me...

A little birdie told me...?? Interesting words, often the prelude to trouble. What is so alluring about gossip anyway? Is it the power of knowledge or perhaps the click syndrome? Is it genuine concern for another, or the need to feel superior to your fellow human being. Good questions, all. I suppose books have been written on it, but lets just consider a couple of the proverbs.

Proverbs 18:6-8 WEB (R)
(6) A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
(7) A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
(8) The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts.

Proverbs 11:13 WEB (R)
(13) One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.


Gossip spreads like wildfire; how often have I heard that one! Its interesting to me that in the first passage, gossip is preceded by comments about a fool. As 11:13 points out gossip is the breaking of a confidence; a form of betrayal. Putting the two together, gossip is foolishness that reveals a lack of trustworthiness. But, why is it so delightful to the ear? I think it has something to do with the same reasons as those involved in the fall of man; the desire to have power through forbidden knowledge. Look where that little episode took humanity! The next time someone says to you: "Did you hear about...", ask them to invite the subject of the little morsel of information to talk about it! That's a good way to stop gossip in its tracks. A little birdie told me how to do it! But, I am not saying who!!!

Now number two!

Recently, I read how a new building in Dubai is now the tallest building in the whole world. I imagine it must have been hard for the Canadians to realize that the CN tower is no longer number one, but sometimes in life, things like this happen. How we handle such things is a true mark of character and of course I thought of John the Baptist.

John 3:22-30 WEB (R)
(22) After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized.
(23) John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized.
(24) For John was not yet thrown into prison.
(25) There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with some Jews about purification.
(26) They came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him."
(27) John answered, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.
(28) You yourselves testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.'
(29) He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full.
(30) He must increase, but I must decrease.

John was an awesome character indeed. Dressed like Elijah of old, with a very Spartan lifestyle, his fiery sermons must have caused many a conscience to to be pierced to the very heart! Yet, what I like best about him is found in verse 30 above. He knew he place in life and accepted it; not bad for someone who was obviously blessed with a God-given ministry. All this does not take away from him but rather adds to it, because great is still great. So is the CN tower!