Stay awake

I was tired and went to bed early.  I had some things to pray about and when I finished, I assumed I would go right to sleep; didn't happen.  Something in me was keeping me up, so I thought I would at least be productive and do the blog early in the morning.  I find that once in awhile this is a good thing, as just the act of writing makes me tired enough to sleep.  However, I need to be attentive long enough to complete what I started.  Which reminds me of this Bible passage...

1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 (WEB)
1) But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
2) For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
3) For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.
4) But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
5) You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness,
6) so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.
7) For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.
8) But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9) For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10) who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Preparation, attitude and diligence are the stuff of faithfulness.  Along with consistency forged from a true love for the creator, these things will go a long way in helping us remember who we are and what we must do to get to heaven.  Oh, yes, the most important thing; always remember Jesus and what he has done for ME.  I really would like to write more, but my eyes are watering and I am so tired that I can't even read the above picture anymore.  Goodnight everyone!!!

Point of Reference

The Mona Lisa is a marvelous work of art.  It conveys a beauty though its subtlety and understatement. She seems to have a hint of a smile and you just know that she is thinking about "something"; but what could it be?  She seems almost "alive"!  I wonder, I wonder, Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?  What really is reality?  Since we are created beings and art is created, at what perspective do we understand the point of reference to be?  Today, I read that "performance art" is going to new "heights": a woman is actually going to have her baby in a public exhibition of "art".  Pretty messy performance!  Conceiving (no pun intended here) of art like this can lead to absurdity.  What's next, a hemorrhoidectomy at your local library?  Now, apply these things to the concept of religion and you come to this chapter of the book of Colossians.

Colossians 2:1-23 (WEB)
1) For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
2) that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
3) in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
4) Now this I say that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.
5) For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6) As therefore you received Christ Jesus, the Lord, walk in him,
7) rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.
8) Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.
9) For in him all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily,
10) and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;
11) in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;
12) having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13) You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
14) wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
15) having stripped the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16) Let no one therefore judge you in eating, or in drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
17) which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
18) Let no one rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19) and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.
20) If you died with Christ from the elements of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to ordinances,
21) “Don’t handle, nor taste, nor touch”
22) (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men?
23) Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

How do you balance what you do to serve God, how you feel about HIM and what you think about him?  People come up with all sorts of standards of behavior and make that the overriding feature.  Others say that the mind is everything and even the pain of something like the pain you experience with a broken leg is all imaginary.  A different group looks to the emotions we experience and place an emphasis on "speaking in tongues".  The correct balance is found in the example of Jesus.  Read Matthew chapters 5 to 7 commonly referred to as the "Sermon on the Mount" and you will see a logical progression of thought interlaced with both real life feelings and expected actions.  First the thought, second the feeling and lastly the action.  We are thinking, feeling, real life people.  God designed us this way.  Remember, Jesus told someone to Love God and your neighbor.  Both involve thought first and a decision (both mental and emotional) and then an action to be complete.  Jesus just didn't think about loving us, He taught us how to by his own example.  We are made in the image of God, so why not act like him?  What is reality and what is religion?  There is no difference.  What?  Think that doesn't make sense?  Look at Jesus, HE had a practical understanding of concept, feeling and action; and so should we.  People will come up with all sorts of Philosophies and ideas of how to please God (religion), but I say... listen to Jesus.... remember this:

Matthew 17:1-5 (WEB)
1) After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.
2) He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
3) Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.
4) Peter answered, and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5) While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”

Point of Reference is Jesus; listen, learn, do.  Enough said.

Frogs, dinosaurs and the power of love

For some reason, which I do not fully understand, I always wanted a son.  So, when we were expecting, I had a name ready if it were a boy (Jason).  We also had backup names as well, JUST IN CASE IT WAS A GIRL.  God smiled on us and we had three very beautiful daughters, who have turned into adults I can be proud of.  Yet, I always wanted a boy... UNTIL I SAW MY GRANDSONS.  They are not bad kids, do not understand, they are just boys.  The old saying "boys will be boys" really does apply!!!  Like the boy in the picture, they do dumb things; things that make me wonder what could possibly be going on between their ears.  But, there is good news; that will change.  I know from personal experience (believe it or not, I WAS ACTUALLY YOUNG ONCE) and from the Bible.  Here is something to ponder...

1 Corinthians 13:11-13 (WEB)
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.

If I had to determine when I really started to "grow up", I guess it would be when I became enamoured with my Linda.  Prior to loving her I had my mind on things like baseball, gym class and Tom Swift.  She changed my life completely and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Love has a way of really changing things; I guess that is why Jesus did what HE had to do.  And I wouldn't have that any other way either.  Just one more thing for my granddaughter Elizabeth.... NO, I WAS NOT ALIVE WHEN THE DINOSAURS LIVED... AND NO, I DIDN'T PUT A FROG IN MY MOUTH EITHER!!!!!

Seeing, but not seeing...

Can you read the sign?  If you can, you probably saw "A BIRD IN THE BUSH".  But it doesn't say that, instead, it says:  "A BIRD IN THE THE BUSH".  We read right over the second "THE" and ignore it.  Odd, but its way the mind works.  The human mind is strange in many ways, learning not only by rote, but by the oddest of associations and coming to logical conclusions that sometimes leap over what appears to be the next step in reasoning to one that is several steps ahead.  Genius, pure genius.  Yet, as human beings we have frailties; physical infirmities arise over time, and some of us even lose intellectual capacity later in life.  Eventually, we die.  But, along the way, we may have the opportunity to do good for others, to change the world for the better.  And some will do the reverse.  Here is an example of how a good thing can go terribly wrong....

1 Corinthians 1:10-23 (WEB)
10) Now I beg you, brothers, through the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11) For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.
12) Now I mean this, that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” and, “I follow Christ.”
13) Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?
14) I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius,
15) so that no one should say that I had baptized you into my own name.
16) (I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don’t know whether I baptized any other.)
17) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void.
18) For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God.
19) For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”
20) Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21) For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe.
22) For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom,
23) but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks,

Have you ever known anyone who was too smart for their own good?  The kind of person who always knew every answer and even anticipated the next question before it was asked.  I have; not pretty.  After awhile, pride set in and it was unpleasant to be around them for any time at all.  And then there were the Corinthian Christians.  Brothers in Christ who had to analyze everything, who thought of Christianity as just another "school of thought" and naturally broke down into opposing viewpoints.  Sometimes its not good to be "smart".  The truly intelligent person has a tendency to over-think everything and that leads to trouble.  No matter how smart you are, someone else in this world is smarter.  And no matter WHO they are, GOD is better, and not just a little bit; HE is better on another whole order.  But, its really not about intelligence, rather its about sin and the remedy for it.  Which is something human beings can't solve, no matter how hard they try.  Only Jesus has conquered that one.  Like the Corinthian Christians, we need to get over ourselves and what we know and who we are and look to Jesus for forgiveness.  And remember that we are all brethren and love one another.  Now, THAT IS SMART!!!

Time to wake up! Time to wake up!!!

Apathy is the stuff of failure.  It is a brother to laziness and indifference.  It aids in the destruction of empires and destroys families.  It kills in so many ways.  And this picture is the perfect representation of its nature.  Do nothing, care for nothing and nothing will happen, right?  No, not on your life!!!  What happens is that what you have slowly disintegrates. Slowly, inexorably, what is important to you wears away.  Then, something happens and BANG, you have nothing at all.  I wonder, could this happen to Christianity?  Read on and see...

WEB: Revelation of John Chapter 3:14-22

[14] “To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write:

“The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God’s creation, says these things:

[15] “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. [16] So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. [17] Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;’ and don’t know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. [19] As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me. [21] He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.”"

In spite of the impression the media gives, The United States of America is a great nation.  People who work hard will eventually do well in life.  Doubt that, then read about Herman Cain.  But, something HAS changed in our country and that is our ability to be responsible for ourselves.  The current mindset is that the government will care for us; that it knows best and we don't have to be concerned about anything at all.  Big brother is always there, right?  Maybe and maybe NOT!!! When the money runs out, then what?  In fact, some say that it already has!!!  This isn't pie in the sky; its real world stuff and unless something drastic happens, 2012 really may be a year of disaster.  If this is true in the physical realm, what about the spiritual?  We hear every day about the inroads the godless are making.  How, God is being systematically, deliberately removed from every aspect of our culture and yet where are the protests, where are the demonstrators in FAVOR of Christianity?  Where are those who will fight the good SPIRITUAL FIGHT?  Apathy rules.  Jesus speaks to those who were "well off" in Laodicea and warns them to repent (change).  The truth is America needs to listen to this and I mean REALLY LISTEN!!!!  Think you can do nothing?  Wrong, you can pray and pray and pray some more.  God will listen; I know, HE has answered prayers in ways that I can not even begin to describe.  What to do AFTER prayer?  The answer is; what ever is before you.  Consider Nehemiah...

WEB: Nehemiah Chapter 2:1-5
[1] It happened in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence. [2] The king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.”

Then I was very much afraid. [3] I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?”

[4] Then the king said to me, “For what do you make request?”

So I prayed to the God of heaven. [5] I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may build it.”

Prayer and action; the cure for apathy.  Think it won't work?  Reread Nehemiah 2:1-5.  Think you can't do something, then you haven't prayed enough.  Feel like your are too timid or afraid?  Consider Timothy; a young man who didn't seem aggressive, yet one who died leading a protest against idols when he was old.  God has a way of changing people, of helping them do something to change not only themselves, but the whole world.  And that change begins with you; ask yourself, Have I prayed today; if not, why not?  Remember, prayer and action are the cure and God is the power.  Believe it!!!!

A Rose of a different color...

Recently, one of my granddaughters called me with some questions about her genealogy.  As I am the family historian (or at least the one who has the most interest in it) I told her what I could remember so that she could complete her college term paper.  I was amazed at what she did not know, but was glad I could help.  Not just so that she would get a good grade, but also that she could learn something about herself!!!  Within obvious limitations, we are who we come from.  So, in a way, if you know your ancestors, you begin to understand things about your own makeup.  I chose this picture of a Rose because not only is it beautiful, but it bears my last name as well.  Naturally, when I think of Jesus, I think of his lineage as well and the gospel of Luke gives one account of his origins.

Luke 3:23-38 (WEB)
23) Jesus himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24) the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25) the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26) the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,
27) the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28) the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29) the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30) the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,
31) the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32) the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33) the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34) the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35) the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36) the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37) the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,
38) the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

No, I am NOT going over each name; that would simply take too long and for some of you, would prove way too boring.  But, just notice two things; first its about Jesus and second, God is involved!!!  There are many people in between, but just hold on to this thought... Jesus is descended from God!!!  This was a living, breathing, thinking, feeling member of the human race who was (is) a direct descendant of the the Almighty creator of the entire universe.  Talk about a lineage!!!!!!  Consider the implications and marvel at the nature of God, that HE would condescend to even do this.  Somehow, mere words aren't enough and our intellect and emotions can't truly fathom the concept.  But, it is true.  It is wonderful.  If we spent a thousand years we would never fully understand all that it means.  So, when I look at this picture of a neon Rose, I think of my own ancestry and extensive as it is, it is nothing compared to the most beautiful Rose; the Rose of Sharon.  One more thing... as a Christian, I am adopted into this same family; I didn't deserve it, I can't earn it, but nonetheless its true.  And that is more wonderful that the most beautiful flower that ever was.  Now, all I have to do is to try to incorporate this into my genealogy program, but that may be a bit difficult!!!  But, I am sure I will have fun trying!!!

Something "NEW"

Redesigning something as simple as an electrical wall plug is one great idea!!!  How many times have you just pulled the cord instead of the wall plug because it was easier.  That someone would continue thinking about things like this is wonderful, but then, that's what humans do, isn't it?  We have a general idea and shape it, refine it, and, if everything works out... make it become reality.  For us, this could take anywhere from a few seconds to decades.  But what about God?  How is HIS way of doing things different than ours?  People have written volumes on the subject, but lets just consider a few verses...

Acts 17:19-21 (WEB)
19) They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you?
20) For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.”
21) Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

Genesis 1:1-31 (WEB)
1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2) Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.
3) God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
4) God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.
5) God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was evening and there was morning, one day.
6) God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”
7) God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.
8) God called the expanse “sky.” There was evening and there was morning, a second day.
9) God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear;” and it was so.
10) God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good.
11) God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth;” and it was so.
12) The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.
13) There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
14) God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;
15) and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth;” and it was so.
16) God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.
17) God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth,
18) and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.
19) There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
20) God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky.”
21) God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.
22) God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”
23) There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
24) God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind;” and it was so.
25) God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.
26) God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27) God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.
28) God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
29) God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.
30) To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so.
31) God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (WEB)
17) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

Revelation 21:1-4 (WEB)
1) I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.
2) I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3) I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4) He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”

Greece was a great empire and Athens was an intellectual powerhouse.  Consider how much of our culture today comes from their thoughts and it will astound you.  Yet, they were groping for truth, seeking to understand the world about them.  God, in contrast, created and created.  Everything we see comes from HIM!!!  Our creations pale in comparison to the formation of the Heavens and the Earth and all that it contains.  And it contains US!!!  When we realize that we are more than mere intellect and understand that we spiritual beings created like HIM, somehow everything around us seems unimportant.  When we find HIM spiritually and OBEY HIS COMMANDS, we become truly alive the way we were meant to be.  Someday, God will wipe away ALL imperfection and we will see everything in yet a new way.  What a day that will be, what a revelation!!!  Better than any wall plug we can imagine, or for that matter, anything at all.  I can't wait!!!!