Never mind things right now, its how you wind up that counts!

We don't ask to come into this world; sometimes life can be tough at first.  Just ask this little (guy?) one.  Think about Jesus for a couple of minutes as you read this passage....

Luke 2:1-12 (WEB)
1) Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2) This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3) All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
4) Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
5) to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
6) It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.
7) She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8) There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
9) Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10) The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
11) For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12) This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

Even Jesus had very humble beginnings as the reference to the feeding trough indicates.  I don't know whether or not he had an expression like the baby in the picture, but ... who knows?  It looks like the baby above has loving parents and somehow I think that little one will get over his irritation and grow up to be a somebody... I know Jesus did!!!!!

PS.. My oldest daughter gave birth to a baby boy yesterday!!!  Way to go Darlene!!!!  That makes nine grand kids so far.  Now if only my youngest daughter would have another one or two... I would be happy... for awhile at least!!!!!

War, education and the mind of a child

Warfare is nothing new; this book is proof of that! Thousands of years ago an ancient Chinese general wrote this work and its principles are still true today.  However, its not the book that bothers me;its who is reading it.  Do we really need to have children learning such principles at such an age?  We need less violence today, not more.  Consider the words of Solomon...

Proverbs 22:6 (WEB)

6) Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Be careful what you have your children learn, you may not like the results in 25 years!  Having said that, I know we need soldiers and police officers for protection.  Both are honorable professions, but couldn't we wait a little before the indoctrination begins?  Remember a little organization called the "Hitler youth"?  Don't remember, pick up a good book on the subject; you might want to do a google search on Hitler first....

Nursing home talent show

Thank you, Ron.... very funny!!!

Sunshine, snow and attitude

I received this picture today from my friend Bruce in New Jersey.  He said they had a foot of snow and all I could do was marvel at the fact.  Then I looked at the picture; another snowy morning!  Yet somehow the sun gave me the promise of hope and that is a good thing.....

Ecclesiastes 9:1-7 (WEB)

1) For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hatred, man doesn’t know it; all is before them.

2) All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who sacrifices, and to him who doesn’t sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who takes an oath, as he who fears an oath.

3) This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event to all: yes also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

4) For to him who is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

5) For the living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything, neither do they have any more a reward; for their memory is forgotten.

6) Also their love, their hatred, and their envy has perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

7) Go your way—eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already accepted your works.

Solomon was one very wise man; yet even he in his old age fell short.  Who knows what will happen tommorrow; live life to the fullest each day.  For the truth is: every day above ground is a good day (even the bad ones) because as long as there is life there is hope (just like the shining sun on a cold snowy morning).  Today, now, is all we really have; do your best to please God right now and do not worry... it won't do any good (and might just make you sick).  As for me, I will keep looking for the beauty of sunshine where I can; somehow it just makes me think the weather is warmer than it is.

The things we do....

OK, its 2 in the AM and you are hungry; what do you do?  Probably something like this, if there aren't a lot of options in the refrigerator.  Ever done it?  I confess; I have!  And, if you are hungry enough, it is simply wonderful!!  Immediately, I thought of this verse.

James 5:16 (WEB)

16) Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

Spaghetti is fine, but for a late night snack, its asking for a couple of unwanted pounds.  Like so many other things in this world, its one little challenge we need to overcome.  It does bring to mind the frailty that is goes along with being a human being.  We all have our weaknesses, but if there are those around who care for us, life is just a little easier.  That's the thing about Christianity, its really not so much about rules and regulations as it is about understanding and caring for one another.  That concept leaves a very nice taste in the mouth; better even than this sandwich.  After all, isn't that the point!!

God is watching

Cute, imaginative, a little far fetched, but interesting. The reality is far more intriguing than this picture however.  Even though this picture gives a rather large picture of God, yet HIS being is beyond comprehension.  Consider just this one passage from the Psalms.

Psalms 139:1-17 (WEB)

1) For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.

2) You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.

3) You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

4) For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.

5) You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.

6) This knowledge is beyond me. It’s lofty. I can’t attain it.

7) Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?

8) If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!

9) If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10) Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.

11) If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night;”

12) even the darkness doesn’t hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.

13) For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14) I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.

15) My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.

16) Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.

17) How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is their sum!

Able to know me before my bones were knit together?  Wow!  That sort of power makes me wonder!!  I can only imagine HIS thoughts, HIS power, HIS totality!!  All that being said, however, even a fanciful cloud formation in the sky is a good thing if it brings us closer to HIM.

A lodging place....really

OK, its a nice picture! But!!! Whoever put the "NOT SHOPPED" into it really says a lot about our society.  I wonder what it takes to really be believed today?  How far has our society slipped when something unusual has to be certified as being truthful?  When I saw this, I thought of the weeping prophet, Jeremiah, and I think you will find this an interesting quote.

Jeremiah 9:1-5 (WEB)
1) Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a spring of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

2) Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

3) They bend their tongue, as their bow, for falsehood; and they are grown strong in the land, but not for truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don’t know me, says Yahweh.

4) Take heed everyone of his neighbor, and don’t trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders.

5) They will deceive everyone his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.

God's chosen people had made the wrong choice and its wasn't for truth.  They had corrupted the land and all the people with their actions.  Sound familiar?  Open your front door and look around!  Spin doctors abound in America!  The truth can hardly be recognized anymore!!  Its no wonder the "NOT SHOPPED" had to be placed on the picture.  I wonder if this home on a rock could be the place in the wilderness Yahweh was looking for???