When its HOT, its HOT!!!

OK, lately, its been very, very, very HOT!!!  But, I think if I saw this on the TV, I might just get a LITTLE UPSET!!!!  By the time Wednesday came along I would be afraid, but we don't even need to think about Thursday, because I would be comatose already!!!  Now, so much for the "bad news"; the "good news" is that this is JUST A FORECAST!!!  Sometimes, when things look the darkest, there is hope just around the corner.  Consider this passage from the Bible...

John 20:18-28 (WEB)
18) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.
19) When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
20) When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.
21) Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”
22) When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!
23) If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
24) But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.
25) The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26) After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be to you.”
27) Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
28) Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

The apostles of Jesus were hiding from the Jews, their master was "dead" and the future didn't look very promising.  Then they get news that HE has RISEN FROM THE DEAD!!! Jesus appears to them and they believe; but not all... Thomas would not believe what anyone SAID and had to SEE FOR HIMSELF.  But when Thomas did see, he did believe!  Just goes to show you not to put too much confidence in forecasts, because things are not always what they seem.  And as far as Satan goes, he does his best work when everything seems fine, HELL COMES LATER!!!

Shocking!!!

This is the first time I have ever seen this and immediately it left an impression on me.  One of the foremost symbols of the freedom of this country being struck by lightening can be likened to freedom being attacked.  Aside from lightening, what could attack our freedom?  This question draws me to recent events within the country.  We have a government that is spending out of control; spending so much that it is beyond belief.  Last year, there was a voter backlash against it and many, many Republicans were elected; representatives charged with reducing the size and spending of government.  Now, they are challenging the status quo and the democrats are fighting to keep things as they are; with no real end of the expansionism that has characterized the past 40 or so years.  The president has used scare tactics once again to force his leftist agenda upon our nation and may in fact bypass the constitution by authorizing an increase to the national debt on his own.  Personally, I find this appalling, but when I think about it, I am reminded of this passage from the book of Romans.

Romans 13:1-8 (WEB)
1) Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
2) Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
3) For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
4) for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
5) Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
6) For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.
7) Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
8) Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

We must obey our leaders; this is a fundamental teaching of the New Testament!!!  If they lawfully do what they are supposed to do, no action is necessary.  If they do not, then, we as citizens must lawfully make our will felt at the ballot box.  It is as simple as that!!!  However, one thing remains; we are to respect and to show love towards them!!!!! Now this is hard, as it seems those in government have lost touch with the average American and are leading us to a collapse of civilization.  But, whoever said being a Christian was easy?  I encourage everyone who reads this to pray for them, to try to understand the situation and love them regardless what happens.  Tall order.  However, we all need to remember that God is in control and we need to accept this fact and obey HIM and not worry about the future.  Even if the current situation may attack our way of life and the liberty we enjoy; God is greater than any government or leader ever to take power.  Regardless of the outcome, if you belong to God, then you are really, truly, free and no one, know matter how powerful can take that away!!!!

There is a rainbow in your way...

You are driving along and suddenly, right in front of you is a rainbow.  Imagine that!!! So far, I have never seen it in person, but who knows, maybe today?  To me, rainbows are promises of goodness yet to be seen.  My wife has been watching a lot of "DR. Quinn, Medicine Woman" lately and it just so happens that yesterday we watched an episode entitled "promises, promises", which focused on the cost of our commitments.  Coincidence, probably, but it did have an impact on me when I saw this picture.  Because promises have a cost and oftentimes it is VERY costly.  Which led me to this passage from the book of Hebrews...

Hebrews 9:11-20 (WEB)
11) But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,
12) nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption.
13) For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh:
14) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15) For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
16) For where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it.
17) For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives.
18) Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood.
19) For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
20) saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”

We have the promise of Eternal Life, but the cost was death and a horrible one at that.  Yet, out of the pain, anguish and suffering something wonderful has happened; there is hope for all who will embrace God's will for us through Jesus.  Its more than just a pie-in-the-sky, ideal (or maybe even a rainbow in the sky) because Jesus actually lived and actually died and actually lives again forever.  Since this is verifiable truth we have hope for live after life and that is more beautiful than any rainbow up ahead.  And we don't even have to go through rain to get to it; imagine that!!!

What do you see?

When you look at clouds, what do you see?  Do they form patterns, represent objects or animals?  Sometimes, do they even look like people?  When I saw this picture, at first I thought of a carnation and then a serpent, then an atomic mushroom and lastly I noticed the small rainbow at the bottom.  I couldn't make up my mind and gave up.  Finally, I did notice that the myriad of contrasts and shapes formed a wonderful sort of painting; one that any painter would be proud to display.  And yet I see things like this every day.  How grand and marvelous is our world, how full of surprises and beauty.  The best part is that I know it didn't just happen; that God created it all for my enjoyment and appreciation.  More than that, HE created all the things around me that I might come to know HIM and praise HIM for all that HE has done.  Obviously, this passage from the Psalms came to mind.

Psalms 8:1-9 (WEB)
1) For the Chief Musician; on an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth, who has set your glory above the heavens!
2) From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.
3) When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;
4) what is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?
5) For you have made him a little lower than God, and crowned him with glory and honor.
6) You make him ruler over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet:
7) All sheep and cattle, yes, and the animals of the field,
8) The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.
9) Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

The next time you take pride in doing something and marvel at your own accomplishments, realize that compared to The Creator Of The Universe, we are as nothing.  However, it is HIS will that we rule the Earth wisely and do so with a realization that we are not alone, that God cares for us.  Frankly, I don't know of a better way to remember these things than to simply look at the sky and stand in awe of the one who has created all things.  Begin with clouds and take it from there. 

More than a lot!!!

I have never held one hundred thousand dollar bill in my hand, but it must be quite a feeling.  That amount of money could buy a lot of things, but in today's market it couldn't buy a upscale home.  I wouldn't mind having that much money in my checking account for spending money, but then, what would I do with it?  King David wanted to build a house of worship for his God, but he wasn't allowed to.  Instead he gathered the resources for his son Solomon to do it.  In David's last days, he says the following...

1 Chronicles 22:14 (WEB)
14) Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of Yahweh one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance. I have also prepared timber and stone; and you may add to them.

There are 75 pounds of Gold in a talent, that figures out to be 19 billion 200 million dollars at $1600 an oz.  (75 x 16oz per pound= 1200 oz @ 1600 = 1,920,00 per talent) times 100,000= $19,200,000,000.00.  And that is just the gold!!!  I can't even begin to get my mind around that figure, but it is sure A LOT MORE THAN THE PICTURE ABOVE!!!  This says a lot about David's love for God; what does our giving say about us???  Something to think about today?  For those math wizards out there... am I right?

Never back down!

Just an ordinary church building to most people, but not to me.  For I learned a practical lesson here which has stayed with me for over 40 years.  My wife and I worshipped here for several years and attended a Bible Study on Tuesdays in the parsonage as well.  Needless to say, we made a lot of friends, especially the minister and his wife.  Then a series of events occurred that changed everything.  One Sunday, the minister (lets call him Tom) preached a scathing sermon on Masonry.  Several of the church members were Masons and there was an angry response.  Then came a board meeting and an ultimatum: recant or be let go.  The following Sunday, Tom recanted, apologising for his previous sermon.  He apologised for what the Bible said and was sorry for his remarks.  This episode made me think a lot about The Word of God and eventually led me towards being a preacher myself.  So, when I saw this picture today, I immediately thought of this passage.

Galatians 1:6-10 (WEB)
6) I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different “good news”;
7) and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ.
8) But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.
9) As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.
10) For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.

Never apologise for what God has said, never back down from anyone, regardless of the cost.  A good lesson, a good thing to remember and a better thing to put into practice.  Sometimes even an unpleasant memory can have good consequences if we can learn from our experiences.  I never did know what became of Tom, but I think of him time to time because he looks exactly like Richard Dryfus, the actor.  I hope he has learned the lesson that Galatians teaches and has changed. 

Pucker up!!!

Now there is something you don't see every day!!!  First thing that came to my mind was : a face only a moose could love.  However, who am I to judge?   Although the years have been kind to me, yet, still I am showing my age more and more with each and every passing of the New Year.  Then I thought of this chapter from the book of Ruth.

Ruth 3:1-18 (WEB)
1) Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
2) Now isn’t Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the threshing floor.
3) Therefore wash yourself, anoint yourself, get dressed, and go down to the threshing floor, but don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4) It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay down; then he will tell you what you shall do.”
5) She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”
6) She went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law told her.
7) When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came softly, uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
8) It happened at midnight, that the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.
9) He said, “Who are you?” She answered, “I am Ruth your handmaid. Therefore spread your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman.”
10) He said, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, my daughter. You have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you didn’t follow young men, whether poor or rich.
11) Now, my daughter, don’t be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy woman.
12) Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I.
13) Stay this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman’s part. But if he will not do the part of a kinsman for you, then will I do the part of a kinsman for you, as Yahweh lives. Lie down until the morning.”
14) She lay at his feet until the morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”
15) He said, “Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it.” She held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her; and he went into the city.
16) When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did it go, my daughter?” She told her all that the man had done to her.
17) She said, “He gave me these six measures of barley; for he said, ‘Don’t go empty to your mother-in-law.’”
18) Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day.”

Boaz was an older man and the passage of time takes its toll.  Face it, we all will someday lose our looks, but what matters most is what is on the inside.  And Boaz had more than enough goodness there to overcome the effect of years.  Ruth must have seen this too, because she didn't go after younger men.  Choosing a mate for looks is a bad idea because in 50 years we are all going to have faces that look like shriveled prunes.  This moose must be one very smart cookie!!!