What it is

This little one sees something that has caught its interest. As far as "baby" pictures go, this one isn't very flattering, but it is quite revealing. It shows that she (??) really doesn't know what glass is all about and that just maybe she should not lick it so readily. A passage from Corinthians came to mind and I think you will enjoy it as much as I do.


1Co 13:1-13
(1) If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
(2) If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.
(3) If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.
(4) Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud,
(5) doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;
(6) doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
(7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
(8) Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
(10) but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.
(11) When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.
(12) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.
(13) But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.

There was a time when we all saw through the glass like this baby; a simpler time in our lives, when our thoughts we less complicated than today. We change, and with that change comes understanding, development and finally, decline and death. That is what it is, life as human beings know it. But there is something more, something external that guides us through all the years of constant change: love. You see, the most important thing about this picture is NOT THE BABY AT ALL, BUT THE HAND THAT IS HOLDING HER!!! We learn many things in this world and go through many changes in our lives, but if we can learn to appreciate love, then maybe we know a lot more than we think.

you win a ....

Yummy; chocolate covered bacon! When I told my son-in-law about it, he wasn't a bit surprised and said that he had had one at the Florida State Fair. Then, he went on to tell me about his dream meal... a sandwich of... fried donuts with a hamburger in the middle, garnished with three or four of these little bacon things and deep fried butter for dessert. There was something else too, but all I can think of is LARD and that can't be right, because everyone knows LARD just doesn't jive with the dessert. What ever the final meal was; I had one knee jerk reaction...YUK! It was just too much for even me to think about eating (and believe me, that takes a lot!!). Sometimes it takes an extreme for a point to be made and this passage from the book of Ephesians fills the bill.

Ephesians 1:17-21 WEB (R)
(17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;
(18) having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
(19) and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
(20) which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
(21) far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.

Consider the power of Jesus; above everything! That's way more that I could even begin to understand, let alone comprehend. Add the time aspect to it, and it makes my head hurt. But, I am glad I understand at least one thing... if you are on the winning side... you win. And I don't mean some crazy sandwich, either.

I wonder who it could be

Life is full of things to do; everything from when to do your taxes to talking (or texting) on the telephone. So, we prioritize. But, I wonder, do we make the right choices? To bring it a little closer to home: Do I make the right choices? It would appear that the lady in the picture has more important things to do that to hold her newborn; but, if we only knew who was on that phone?????? Here is a passage to think about.

Mark 14:27-42 WEB (R)
(27) Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
(28) However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee."
(29) But Peter said to him, "Although all will be offended, yet I will not."
(30) Jesus said to him, "Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."
(31) But he spoke all the more, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." They all said the same thing.
(32) They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I pray."
(33) He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed.
(34) He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch."
(35) He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
(36) He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire."
(37) He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you watch one hour?
(38) Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
(39) Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.
(40) Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn't know what to answer him.
(41) He came the third time, and said to them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
(42) Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand."

We think that we make the right choices in life (well, at least most of the time), but do we? The truth is that we never know what tomorrow may bring; we just have to make decisions one at a time in light of our current knowledge and go from there. The disciples thought they would respond a certain way and Jesus told them otherwise; I wonder, are we (am I) the same? Only time will tell, but wait, I have to go now, the phone is ringing; I wonder who it could be?

camera ready

Is this picture real? I am not a photography expert so I couldn't say, but my guess is that it is genuine. why? Because The Bible refers to spirits (ghosts) as being real. And contact with the spirit world is not always a good thing, as this passage relating to king Saul illustrates.

1 Samuel 28:5-20 WEB (R)
(5) When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
(6) When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn't answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
(7) Then said Saul to his servants, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. His servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.
(8) Saul disguised himself, and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Please divine to me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whoever I shall name to you.
(9) The woman said to him, Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: why then do you lay a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
(10) Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, As Yahweh lives, there shall no punishment happen to you for this thing.
(11) Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up to you? He said, Bring me up Samuel.
(12) When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul.
(13) The king said to her, Don't be afraid: for what do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.
(14) He said to her, What form is he of? She said, An old man comes up; and he is covered with a robe. Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.
(15) Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up? Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do.
(16) Samuel said, Why then do you ask of me, seeing Yahweh has departed from you, and has become your adversary?
(17) Yahweh has done to you as he spoke by me: and Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, even to David.
(18) Because you didn't obey the voice of Yahweh, and didn't execute his fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore Yahweh has done this thing to you this day.
(19) Moreover Yahweh will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me: Yahweh will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.
(20) Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

Saul was afraid because God had left him and would not communicate with him any longer. So, he contacts a woman who conjures up the spirit of Samuel and the news is bad, very bad. So bad that it took all the strength from Saul. The next day, Saul and his sons did in fact die and there you have it; the end of the story. Except that all this shows that spirits (ghosts) are real. There may be those who would scoff at the mere mention of a spirit world, but just think about it, today we have made advances in astronomy that enable us to see right through the interstellar dust clouds that have hidden untold numbers of galaxies for the whole of recorded human history. We are unlocking the DNA structure the encodes the blueprint of life and even have robots on the planet Mars. Maybe proving that the spiritual world is a reality is right around the corner. In the meantime, I choose to believe in what I can't truly prove because God has shown me so many other things. I just hope that if I meet up with a ghost, I get better news than Saul did!! And, oh, yes, I hope I have a camera ready!!!

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?