The prize

This brings to mind the old commercial that had the punch line: "That's a some spicy MEAT-A-BALL"  The sign says it the worlds largest meatball and maybe it is.  Certainly, it would take many, many people to eat this one.  I was thinking about food a lot today, as last night I took my wife out for pizza and we ordered a large.  Funny thing is... we each only could eat a couple of pieces.  To some, this may sound completely normal, but... I used to be able to eat four or five (and on a good day, more).  So, this little episode made me think of a passage from the book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 11:8 (WEB)
8) Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.

Things change, but I will remember the past fondly and look forward to the future with expectation.  Although "old age" may be just around the corner (perhaps closer that makes me feel comfortable), still the vanity of this life will pass into the reality of a spiritual existence that will last forever.  That prize is worth more than a thousand Earthly ones.  Which makes me wonder.... I wonder how big the meatballs will be in heaven?

Not the "How", but the "Who"

Huh?  And just HOW DO I DO THAT???  OK, if ANYONE out there knows, please reply forthwith!!!  Now, I now that I won't receive any reply but I had to ask because, well, who knows... maybe someone does??!!!  The world is a strange place and becoming stranger with each passing moment, but miracles have happened in the past...  Here is one of them.

 
John 2:1-11 (WEB)
1) The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there.
2) Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage.
3) When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no wine.”
4) Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come.”
5) His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”
6) Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews’ way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece.
7) Jesus said to them, “Fill the water pots with water.” They filled them up to the brim.
8) He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast.” So they took it.
9) When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn’t know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom,
10) and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!”
11) This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Jesus was not just a "good man", he had real POWER!!!  This miracle testifies to that fact.  How did he do it??? Not one clue.  Yet, he did and that's all that really matters.  We can marvel all we want, but the purpose of the miracle was to single him out as someone very special, very powerful.  Isn't that all that really matters???

Smarter than you feel

Perhaps you have never heard this little saying before; I have.  A former supervisor of mine used to say this several times a day, every day.  I came to understand that it really meant to think about what you do before you do it, so that you didn't FEEL stupid.  Sometimes it takes awhile to understand why things happen, but what's important is that they DO indeed occur.  Which enables me a little more insight into this New Testament passage.

Philippians 1:12-18 (WEB)
12) Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News;
13) so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ;
14) and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.
15) Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will.
16) The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains;
17) but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.
18) What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.

We can't understand EVERYTHING that happens to us right away; some things just take time to appreciate.  So it was with Paul.  No matter how smart you think you are, God has a way of doing things HIS way.  So, ponder all you want, but don't beat yourself up... you are smarter than you feel.

A kiss is a nice place to start...

OK, we have seen this on TV, and seen this on TV and again and again and again.  Nice picture!!!  But it occurred to me that this is but a beginning, not an ending.  I wonder how this match will endure?  If by some crazy coincidence they ever should happen to read this, my advice to them would center around this passage from the New Testament.

Ephesians 5:22-33 (WEB)


22) Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

23) For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.

24) But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;

26) that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,

27) that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28) Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

29) For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;

30) because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

31) “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.”

32) This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.

33) Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Marriage is a wonderful thing!!!  But, it takes work; very hard work!!!  Without God in the equation, an almost insurmountable task.  So, if you are married... remember, you marriage may start with a kiss but the chances of it enduring vastly improve if God is with you!!!!

Remember?

I did.  Its funny the way memory works and how the human brain makes associations.  I have been thinking about that a lot today because today is a day for remembering.  America has been blessed with almost countless patriots who were willing to give anything to preserve freedom...even their lives and they should be honored!!!  But I wonder, is anyone remembering God today?  Here is a passage from the Old Testament where they did.

1 Samuel 7:1-13 (WEB)
1) The men of Kiriath Jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Yahweh.

2) It happened, from the day that the ark stayed in Kiriath Jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Yahweh.

3) Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you do return to Yahweh with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts to Yahweh, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

4) Then the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served Yahweh only.

5) Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you to Yahweh.”

6) They gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Yahweh, and fasted on that day, and said there, “We have sinned against Yahweh.” Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

7) When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8) The children of Israel said to Samuel, “Don’t cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.”

9) Samuel took a suckling lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh: and Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh answered him.

10) As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel.

11) The men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and struck them, until they came under Beth Kar.

12) Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.”

13) So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

Israel was always fighting the nations around it.  They were hindered by their own stubborn refusal to abandon the false gods of their neighbors.  They often were defeated by them and it wasn't until they turned back from their evil ways that God helped them.  They set up a stone to remember God's help.  I wonder what association you use to remember what God has done for you?

Fire sale

This picture made me think of the newscaster who informed me yesterday that the "crystal tower" of Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power" was up for sale because of financial problems.  Which, in turn made me think of this passage from the book of Acts...

Acts 5:1-12 (WEB)
1) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession,

2) and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3) But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

4) While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”

5) Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things.

6) The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

7) About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in.

8) Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

9) But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

10) She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.

11) Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

12) By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.

Money is a strange thing; with it you have many "friends", without it, well... you have problems.  In the case of the situation of both the picture and the crystal tower, its obvious something "not so good" is happening.  When it comes to handling monies dedicated to God, we all should take a lesson from Acts 5 and BE VERY CAREFUL WHAT WE DO!!!  While there no longer are any apostles around, God is still watching what we do and some day we will have to account for our giving.  Hint: concentrate on pleasing God and not your own personal "WANTS" and you will probably do "OK".  If not, there probably will be a "fire sale" of the most unpleasant sort.

Surpise!!

Frankly, this picture was a bit of a surprise.  Most of the time a storm happens first and then... out comes the rainbow!  Yet, here they are together!!!  Life is sure full of surprises!!!  Here is a series of them from the book of Matthew!!!

Matthew 3:1-17 (WEB)
1) In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

2) “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

3) For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”

4) Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

5) Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him.

6) They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8) Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!

9) Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

10) “Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.

11) I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

12) His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.

14) But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?”

15) But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him.

16) Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.

17) Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

John was a surprise.  The Jews really didn't expect someone like him.  He just didn't preach about the LAW, he made people accountable.  For those who viewed the LAW as ceremony, John's personal appeal for change came as a surprise.  But the big surprise is in verse 14.  John was surprised that Jesus would be baptized.  What he didn't understand was that Jesus needed to do this because it showed the way for others to do the will of God (righteousness: being right and doing right).  Next, other surprises... the dove and the voice, giving testimony about Jesus.  Life is indeed full of surprises, not all of them good, but some, like these, wonderful serendipities.  Almost makes you want something to happen right away, doesn't it?