up's and down's

When I was dating my wife Linda (yes, they really had roads then) I drove on a back road that looked something like this. You couldn't go too fast or you would hit your head on the roof of the car. As far as this road goes, I think it would make me seasick, with all those up's and down's. Life is like that too, sometimes good and at other times a lot less than good. This passage from the book of Philippians helps you travel the road....

Php 4:6-13
(6) In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
(7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
(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.
(10) But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.
(11) Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.
(12) I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.
(13) I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Life is what you make it! We get too close to our problems and suddenly they seem HUGE! But Paul gives us a stabilizer: God. Thinking is the beginning. Example is the outworking. Memory is the confidence builder. These things could be said to be true for any world-view, but Christianity is more than just a philosophy, it is a relationship. Its not just what you know and remember, but rather... WHO. With Jesus, the road is better, the way easier and problems smaller. Of course, you still have to use your head; driving down the road of life at 90 mph will still get you into trouble. My advice is... wear your seat belt and buy a convertible.

Watch out!

Dangerous, isn't it? But that is not surprising, because kids do the most outlandish things! I remember being a kid and thinking I was indestructible! Most of the time I didn't do dangerous things like this, but I did things like jumping off hay mows and taunting the bull by pulling its tail. So, I guess the question is: What is the most dangerous activity you can think of? This chapter from Romans should give you an idea.

Romans 6:1-23 WEB (R)
(1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
(2) May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
(3) Or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
(4) We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
(5) For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
(6) knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.
(7) For he who has died has been freed from sin.
(8) But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;
(9) knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!
(10) For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.
(11) Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(12) Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
(13) Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
(14) For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.
(15) What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be!
(16) Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?
(17) But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto you were delivered.
(18) Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.
(19) I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.
(20) For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
(21) What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
(22) But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.
(23) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Danger is the possibility of incurring damage. the more severe the damage, the greater the danger. Life threatening danger is the apex, or is it? We all die, so is danger an illusion? Only if you discount the possibility of life after life. Today, you couldn't even get me near one of these boards, but stretching the truth a bit???? How about driving a little too fast or taking that iffy tax deduction? the truth is that we need to be cognizant of sin 24/7. Skateboards are dangerous, but sin is a whole different dimension. Watch out, its dangerous out there!!!

How do I look?

This is one very sad picture. The problem is perception and the perception is wrong. If it can happen on the outside, why not the inside as well? Do we have an accurate assessment of our spiritual health? Consider these words of Jesus....

Matthew 13:1-9 WEB (R)
(1) On that day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the seaside.
(2) Great multitudes gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat, and sat, and all the multitude stood on the beach.
(3) He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, "Behold, a farmer went out to sow.
(4) As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.
(5) Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn't have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.
(6) When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.
(7) Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.
(8) Others fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.
(9) He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Nobody consciously wishes to be in the first three categories, but how we think about God's word to us could radically affect which of the four categories we are in. I like parables because they tell an Earthly story that has a heavenly meaning. Which in a way is what I do all the time with this post: A picture of the world around us, the word of God and a meaning, everyday! An ordinary meaning at that, because I have no illusions of being a great writer, just one who tries to see the world through the word of God. Just as long as the reflection is accurate, no problem! Anything else can cause trouble... just like the picture. Got your Jesus glasses on?

Old and new

This picture is both the past and the present. Locomotives in the museum and on the tracks; both exist at the same time. This picture brought to mind something I recently heard about via a podcast; a six stroke engine. The last two cycles inject water into the piston and the resulting steam adds additional power (and cooling) to the operation of the vehicle. It also does one other important thing.... adds additional miles per gallon of gas. This world is a beautiful creation as well, but there awaits something better. Read on to see.....

Isaiah 65:17 WEB (R)
(17) "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Revelation 21:1-5 WEB (R)
(1) I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.
(2) I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband.
(3) I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
(4) He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away."
(5) He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of God are faithful and true."

Isaiah's prophecy is yet to be seen, but because God's predictions always come true, faith tells me it will come to pass. Cars driven with gasoline and steam are wonderful things, but a whole new world; well, that will be something wonderful. I wonder what will power the cars then?

Too close for comfort

Sometimes the unexpected happens! Then you realize it; I did something really, really stupid!!! But, what has happened, HAS HAPPENED. That was me, yesterday; I said and did things that in retrospect, I wish I had not done. And today someone said something to me that I haven't been able to put out of my mind and so I thought of this passage.

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."

The man who came to Jesus was a good man. An honest, sincere man, but he had a problem...money. Jesus knew his heart and loved him in spite of it, but because of his problem challenged him anyway. The rich man made his choice, and it wasn't the right one. Jesus surprised and amazed his disciples by his words about wealth, but it really wasn't the wealth that was the real problem; it was trusting God. So, I come to verse 27, which for me is very important. Why, because with God, ANYTHING is possible, even overcoming the most overwhelming problem. You knew it once, Gary... remember!

Snap

When it comes to marriage, I believe in L-O-N-G engagements! Why? Because marriage is about commitment, not infatuation. LOVE IS A DECISION, not a just feeling. As with any decision, there are consequences and they make change over time, but in the giving of oneself to another it has been my experience that you receive far more than you give. It is only natural that from time to time, the male of the species may feel a little constrained (alright---trapped), but a family needs stability and that means control, which can be interpreted as being trapped. But, true freedom is an illusion, because even single men have to work, pay bills and all the other things it takes to be a responsible adult. While thinking about responsibility, this passage came to mind.

Genesis 3:1-16 WEB (R)
(1) Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, "Has God really said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?' "
(2) The woman said to the serpent, "Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat,
(3) but of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.' "
(4) The serpent said to the woman, "You won't surely die,
(5) for God knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
(6) When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.
(7) The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
(8) They heard the voice of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.
(9) Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"
(10) The man said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
(11) God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
(12) The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
(13) Yahweh God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
(14) Yahweh God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.
(15) I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel."
(16) To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

There were problems in the first marriage. Adam didn't think for himself and his wife was a little naive. But she was his wife and he her husband. The consequences of their actions had ramifications far beyond anything they could have even dreamed of. However, God put them together because it was better than being alone and I like to think that neither one is truly complete without the other. Is marriage a trap? I guess the answer most people give will depend if they are happy with their spouse or not. However, as far as I can see, you are OK just as long as you don't try to wiggle out of it... then snap...

A sense of humor

My daughter gave me this picture of a "Jackalope". Some say this is a mythical creature and others that it is a rabbit that has a disease; frankly, I could go either way on the subject. This particular one shares company with a lizard in a modified fish tank and the lizard hasn't said a word either way. So, its origins are open for discussion and I hope at least a few of you will research the topic. When I saw this picture today, I thought of the book of Genesis, in the place where Adam named all the animals.

Genesis 2:19-24 WEB (R)
(19) Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
(20) The man gave names to all livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper suitable for him.
(21) Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
(22) He made the rib, which Yahweh God had taken from the man, into a woman, and brought her to the man.
(23) The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
(24) Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

If you were expecting to see the Jackalope listed, dream on; its not there. But God did give man the right to call all creatures whatever he wanted, so I guess you can do what you want. There was one special one made for Adam, who was just right for him. And she has been ribbing him ever since. I know this to be true, because my wife has been kidding with me for many, many years. We never have discussed the Jackalope, though, so I guess her kidding days have a bright future. Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor????