V is for VICTORY OF THE SPIRIT

For Eric....

Richard Milhouse Nixon leaving the white house for the last time. Disgraced, yet optimistic; rejected yet positive. I voted for him twice... who knew. He seemed to be a great man, I always like what he said and thought a great deal of him. Remember, HE is the man who went to CHINA. Then along came Watergate and then WHAM, NO MORE NIXON. This picture reminded me of a great man (men) in the old testament who did something wrong and paid the price. Read on to see who it is....

Numbers 20:7-13 WEB (R)
(7) Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
(8) Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.
(9) Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, as he commanded him.
(10) Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you water out of this rock for you?
(11) Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
(12) Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, Because you didn't believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.
(13) These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them.

When great men fail in some way, it lets us all down. How soon we forget that we are ALL HUMAN, that we are ALL SUBJECT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ERROR. Nixon, Jimmy Swaggart, and many ,many politic ans have fallen short of expectation, but remember THEY ARE ALL HUMAN. Of them all, I think I like Jimmy Swaggart the best, because at least he seemed sincere in his repentance. There were consequences for all of them, but some dealt with it and moved on. Both Moses and Aaron, along with Richard Nixon, still maintained a good attitude (notice Nixon's trademark V gestures) and went on to do the best they could. That's what life's all about, just doing the best you can. In 1974, I was laid off from Norton Co. and frankly I thought my world was coming down around me. At my exit interview, Jack Stryniski told me something better was out there for me.... he was right. That something better was faith and belief in Jesus and so my downtrodden status was changed and like Nixon I can think a "V" in my heart NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS! So can you!

Something in common

When I came home from work today, my wife asked if minded if she bought a bird; I told her she could get anything she wanted, only if it was going to be expensive, we should talk first. A pet would really provide comfort and company during those hours when I am not around. So, when I saw this picture I wondered if she would get a pet like one of these. The birds and the cat are cute and I was a little surprised to see them co-exist so easily until I thought a little bit about the young child. She reminded me of snow white because she seemed so pure and innocent. Christians are supposed to be like that so the following passage came to mind.


1Pe 2:1-6
(1) Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
(2) as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,
(3) if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:
(4) coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
(5) You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
(6) Because it is contained in Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed."

You start from wherever you are in your life and root out the old, study and though Jesus' help, grow. Sounds easy, but verse 1 is not so easy for everyone. But, over time growth happens and spiritual life blossoms. As far as the picture goes, I wonder what is in the basin on her lap; maybe its something they all need... I wonder what it would take to bring us ALL together like those animals? Hint: read verse 6 until the answer comes to you.

There is happiness!

This dog loves the snow so much that it is leaping for joy. Finding delight in the simplest of things is the pathway to genuine happiness. Here is a passage from the book of Luke that talks a little bit about happiness and that is always something to reflect upon.


Luk 1:39-56
(39) Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
(40) and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
(41) It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
(42) She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
(43) Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
(44) For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
(45) Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"
(46) Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
(47) My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
(48) for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
(49) For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
(50) His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
(51) He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
(52) He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
(53) He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
(54) He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
(55) As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."
(56) Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.

Two women, two babies and happiness; who could ask for more? Yet there is more because God is in the picture. He enabled an old woman (Elizabeth) and a virgin (Mary) to conceive. How do they respond; with happiness of course. Never mind the difficulty in a pregnancy of an old woman, there is happiness. God is at work, they see it and are happy. Good lesson, good example, good tidings. I just need to think about it more often and be happy. Snow problem!!

One fat cat

This is one very big, very fat cat. There may be others that are bigger and fatter, but this one is a whopper! This doesn't happen by accident; they are very well fed and PAMPERED! People can be like that too! Over fed and their every desire fulfilled; here is an example.


Deu 31:14-22
(14) Yahweh said to Moses, Behold, your days approach that you must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may commission him. Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.
(15) Yahweh appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud: and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent.
(16) Yahweh said to Moses, Behold, you shall sleep with your fathers; and this people will rise up, and play the prostitute after the strange gods of the land, where they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
(17) Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come on them; so that they will say in that day, Haven't these evils come on us because our God is not among us?
(18) I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evil which they shall have worked, in that they are turned to other gods.
(19) Now therefore write you this song for you, and teach you it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.
(20) For when I shall have brought them into the land which I swore to their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and grown fat; then will they turn to other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.
(21) It shall happen, when many evils and troubles are come on them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they frame this day, before I have brought them into the land which I swore.
(22) So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.

Moses was about to die; unpleasant, but necessary because of his disobedience. God foretells Israel's spiritual adultery and has Moses write a song that testifies as to what they will do. Sometimes having too much is as bad as having too little. Perhaps The United States of America should read this passage and reflect upon it before its too late. We don't have nine lives to play with; the end could be near!

Some things will never change

Jimmy Durante (left) and Buster Keaton, WOW! It has been many decades since this silent flick was made, but even this still photograph is funny. We don't make silent pictures any more and regular (low def) TV is passe, but funny is still funny, no matter what form its in. Soon 3-D will be all the rage and who knows what or even if will have TV by the middle of the century. Its nice to know that some things will never change, as the book of Malachi tells us.

Mal 3:1-6
(1) "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!" says Yahweh of Armies.
(2) "But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like launderer's soap;
(3) and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.
(4) Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to Yahweh, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.
(5) I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and don't fear me," says Yahweh of Armies.
(6) "For I, Yahweh, don't change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

People sin, people hurt, people search for meaning in life. That's just the way it is and that will NEVER, EVER change. Neither does God. But I can't help from wondering... Since we are made in the image and likeness of God... Does God ever need a haircut? Maybe Jimmy Durante does have a job in heaven after all????

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.