To jump or not to jump, is that the question?

Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous! Or is it? Think for a moment about our society; everything revolves around "me". When was the last time you heard someone talk about sacrifices made for another fellow human being who was NOT A MEMBER OF THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY? Think about the following passage for a few moments.

Philippians 2:1-11 (WEB)
1) If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion,
2) make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
3) doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
4) each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.
5) Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,
6) who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7) but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.
8) And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.
9) Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;
10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
11) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Philippians 2:1-11, WEB)

Jesus of Nazareth died for others; not for something he had done. Paul suffered untold hardships for others and encouraged the Christians at Philippi to be concerned for others. Sounds almost like a definition for the word "Christian" does it not?? Feel like jumping off a building? Don't, someone besides yourself may get hurt. What next? Just re-read the Philippian passage a couple of times as I did. Funny how the thought came to me... "if it was good enough for Jesus to do, what should I be doing that I haven't been?"

A note from Will

I was raised in a rural community in upstate New York; farm country. Honest, hard-working, everyday people. True, the neighbors were more than a half-mile away, but we still had them. There were problems and yes, there was crime. But we didn't have to lock our doors at night. So, when we moved to New Jersey in the mid-eighties, my wife and I were in for a real culture shock. We had a LOT OF NEIGHBORS AND CRIME WAS EVERYWHERE. We began to lock our doors at night and have continued the practice even though we live in Florida. This picture reminded me that there are people out there who have morals and do care about others. How could I NOT THINK OF THIS PASSAGE FROM MATTHEW???

Matthew 5:3-16 (WEB)
3) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
4) Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5) Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
7) Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8) Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
10) Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11) “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12) Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13) “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
14) You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
15) Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
16) Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:3-16, WEB)

I don't know who the "Will" of the note is, but I think I would like to meet him!!! Honesty and kindness in one package...WOW!! Too bad more people aren't like him!! There is a word for people like him: Christian. Do yourself a favor; tomorrow, open this post again and re-read the Bible passage; print it out, place it on the fridge and try to live it. If enough of us do this, maybe no one will ever have to lock their doors again.

Filtered "seeing"

This unusual clock caught my attention today. Its not that it is all THAT UNUSUAL, its just that the filters that highlight the hours and minutes reminded me of this passage from the Gospel of John.

John 9:39-41 (WEB)
39) Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”
40) Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”
41) Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
(John 9:39-41, WEB)

In one way or another, we all go through life with filters (blinders) on. Its human nature to focus on certain things and ignore others. One of my son-in-laws was wearing a cast and just decided one day to take it off. When I asked him about it he said something like: "I just ignore the pain". Frankly, I don't know how he can do that, but he does!! Likewise, some people just ignore Jesus and go about their life as if he doesn't exist. That is, until they grow very old or become very sick. When that happens, all of a sudden they become spiritual and are willing to address their lives with a view to making things right with God. Don't wait; tomorrow could be the day something really bad happens. Only problem is... put yourself in God's shoes... How do you think he views a last minute "turn around"? One can only wonder!! Better to get rid of the filters now... and not take any chances.

en (courage) ment

This picture is probably very familiar to you, so there is no need to explain how it came about. Yet, I wonder, how did this person find the courage to do this? Here is one possibility.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (WEB)
14) We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.
(1 Thessalonians 5:14, WEB)

It is a truism that none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself. On a daily basis, we use our support system to handle this crazy world around us. I really do not know anything about the person in the picture, but somebody, somewhere encouraged him a LOT! How much more do Christians need encouragement!! Look around, there is more and more opposition to being a Christian. It might be a good idea to actually listen to Paul and do this. Hint, Hint!!!

Things change... or do they?

I met someone today who was copying a huge amount of old Polaroid snapshots. You don't see that much anymore as these have given way to the more convenient digital cameras with their memory cards. Recently, I read somewhere that Polaroid is going to revamp the older technology, in order to revitalize the sales of Polaroid film. That would be nice because I have one of those old cameras and would look forward to using it again (if I could find the film). When I saw this picture, I realized how much photography has changed since this 1921 picture was taken. Wow, are they big cameras!! But, they still are cameras and though today's units may look differently, they have a lot in common with these big ones from that bygone era. But, what if something were completely new, new in the sense that it really was different? Read what the writer to the Hebrews has to say on the subject.

Hebrews 5:1-10 (WEB)
1) For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2) The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness.
3) Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.
4) Nobody takes this honor on himself, but he is called by God, just like Aaron was.
5) So also Christ didn’t glorify himself to be made a high priest, but it was he who said to him, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father.”
6) As he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
7) He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
8) though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
9) Having been made perfect, he became to all of those who obey him the author of eternal salvation,
10) named by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
(Hebrews 5:1-10, WEB)

Jesus was (and is) different because he lives forever. Because of this, his sacrifice is better than that of the mortal Levitical priesthood who were subject to death. I like the idea of being given something that will not change! The cameras in the picture may look quaint, but try using them all day.... you would wind up with arms like the current governor of California. I think I will keep my current digital camera after all. But once in awhile, just for fun, I think I will take a couple of Polaroids.

walk "the dog"

I have heard of walking your dog, but walking your spider. Creepy! This "little" creature looks to be about 2 feet tall and it sure does send shivers up my spine. Perhaps this isn't a walking duty; maybe its along for security and if so, its got my vote. Where does a 2 foot spider walk? Answer: anywhere it wants.... However, don't let the size of this thing get to you... remember, its on a leash. Size doesn't always matter; take this little episode from the book of numbers for example.

Numbers 13:17-33 (WEB)
17) Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way by the South, and go up into the hill country:
18) and see the land, what it is; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;
19) and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds;
20) and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there is wood therein, or not. Be courageous, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.”
21) So they went up, and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, to the entrance of Hamath.
22) They went up by the South, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)
23) They came to the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bore it on a staff between two. They also brought some of the pomegranates and figs.
24) That place was called the valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the children of Israel cut down from there.
25) They returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days.
26) They went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, to the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word to them, and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.
27) They told him, and said, “We came to the land where you sent us; and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is its fruit.
28) However the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the children of Anak there.
29) Amalek dwells in the land of the South: and the Hittite, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, dwell in the hill country; and the Canaanite dwells by the sea, and along by the side of the Jordan.”
30) Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”
31) But the men who went up with him said, “We aren’t able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.”
32) They brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out to the children of Israel, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people who we saw in it are men of great stature.
33) There we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”
(Numbers 13:17-33, WEB)

What about verse 33? Does the name Goliath sound familiar? Most of the spies were afraid, but Joshua and Caleb were not. This tells me that size does not matter when seen through the eyes of faith. Joshua and Caleb were commended for their faith, but the others died, never seeing the promised land. Faith has a way of overcoming all obstacles, of enduring until there is a successful solution to whatever the problem might be. As for the 2 foot spider... anyone have a 5 gallon spray can of industrial strength raid handy? I might need it!!

Reputation

I saw this interesting picture on the net recently. Someone had modified the B.P. logo to make a portion of it black. To many people, B.P. will be remembered in a bad light (a pitch black oil one) because of the accident in the gulf. That is the way it is sometimes, you live a certain way and then something new transpires in your life, but people can only think of the old you. So it was for the apostle Paul; he had been a zealous Jew, even to the point of persecuting Christians in way away cities. But God had a different plan for him as this text from the book of Acts shows.

Acts 9:10-22 (WEB)
10) Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”
11) The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,
12) and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”
13) But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.
14) Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
15) But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.
16) For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
17) Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me, that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
18) Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized.
19) He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus.
20) Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.
21) All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”
22) But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
(Acts 9:10-22, WEB)

There is an old French saying: Man proposes, God DISPOSES! Things will change in this life and sometimes people too. In Paul's case it was for the good and to our benefit. As far as B.P. goes, I hope they clean up their act and the gulf as well. Right now they have one very big black mark on their reputation (and their logo). I wish them success in their efforts, a lot of people's livelihoods depend on it and the lives of countless animals as well.