That is really groovy!

This little guy is sure enjoying himself! Music has a way of bringing happiness. But what if you have every reason to despair and you still can sing? Here is a passage to show that it can be done.




Acts 16:19-26 Complete Apostles' Bible
(19) And when her masters saw that the hope of their profit was gone, they took Paul and Silas, and dragged them to the marketplace to the rulers.
(20) And bringing them to the magistrates they said, "These men, being Jews, are agitating our city;
(21) and they are proclaiming customs which are not lawful for us to receive or to do, since we are Romans."
(22) And the crowd rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore their clothes and ordered men to beat them with rods.
(23) And when they laid many strokes on them, they cast them into prison, commanding the prison keeper to keep them securely;
(24) who, having received such a command, cast them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
(25) Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
(26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were loosed.




There are different types of music; no, I am not talking about the difference between Rock and Classical or Reggae and Ragtime. There are different objects within music; a rhythmic or melody with no object, a song about interpersonal relationships (love songs), one about events (such as the Titanic song), or one about feelings (such as the 34th street song by Simon and Garfunkle). However, these types have one thing in common: "I". When the object is heavenly it is a different matter; the relationship between God and His creation changes things. The gap between the Spiritual and the physical is breached and it is as if heaven comes to Earth and God is right near by. This closeness to God brings joy and peace such as only the creator can supply. "I" centered music is focused on oneself and therefore flawed, but singing that has God as its object reaches for true perfection. The music or singing doesn't have to be spectacular or even well done, it just communes the heart of man with that of God and that WILL CHANGE THINGS! Oh, it might not cause an earthquake, but you will change because a little bit of the perfection of God will rub off on you and that is really groovy!

Another perspective

This little sign refers to a passage from the book of Romans. It is interesting to me because I had never really thought of it visually before. Yet, I should have, because God is both multi-fauceted and multi-dimensional. God both exists in the present, but in the past and the future at the same time. He created all things, but was not created. Wow, this gives me a headache just trying to consider all this. But what I like most from Romans 11 is that to me it is a sort of prayer.

Romans 11:33-36 Complete Apostles' Bible
(33) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and untraceable are His ways!
(34) "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has been His counselor?"
(35) "Or who has first given to Him, and it shall be repaid to him?"
(36) For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things; to Him be the glory forever! Amen.

Charlie Biggers came to our home in the valley one afternoon in 1978 and read this passage out loud to myself and Linda. But the way he read it; with awe, amazement and reverence all at the same time. The memory of that simple reading has stayed with me all these years, but even more was the look on his face. The puzzled, trusting, inquisitive look a young child has when they ask DADDY a question because HE KNOWS EVERYTHING!! It was as if by the mere reading of the passage THE ANSWER would be given to us by God Himself. I still don't know the answer, but I LOVE the ATTITUDE OF PRAYER! Now at least I have a clue, even if it is only a visual perspective.

Too many kisses?

This little baby is obviously the object of much affection, but there is something odd about the way the lips are held. My first guess is that there is a thought going through its little mind something like: "what next"? Which raises the question: Can you love too much? Good question! Here is a passage from Titus to consider.


Titus 2:3-5 Complete Apostles' Bible
(3) Older women likewise are to be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teaching what is good,
(4) so that they may urge the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children,
(5) temperate, pure, homemakers, good, submitting to their own husbands, lest the word of God be blasphemed.


Women are urged to love, that much is sure. Is it possible to go overboard.... as with anything else, yes. But in the context of the home and motherhood, I don't think so. Because if Godliness is the source, then the outcome will be to God's liking. All that is left to do is to get a washcloth and clean junior up a bit. Next round of kisses coming up!!!

I have a dream

This picture is of the peace rally of 1963 where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I have a dream" speech. I was listening to one of my favorite podcast called "The Word Nerds" on my way to work today and I heard an excerpt from this speech and recalled how powerful it was then and still is. Many of the World War II generation that I grew up alongside were very racially biased and I still recall the hatred in their responses at the mere mention of Dr. King's name. But those were different times and I am happy to see that some (and perhaps more than some) of the injustices that Black's endured have been made right. Who would have ever thought in 1963 that we would ever have a black president? Injustice in America is not dead, however, on the contrary, it is alive and well. Today, we have a new race of "slaves" and the ones that I see are mostly illegal aliens from Mexico. The big corporations use their political clout and somehow immigration laws are never really enforced. Why? Because illegals can't complain, they really have no rights and thanks to the current welfare laws are subsidized. So, the corporations win and the illegals win and the rest of America pays for everything!!! What is wrong with this is that they are stealing from America. Consider just one verse from the Old Testament.

Deuteronomy 5:19 Complete Apostles' Bible
(19) You shall not steal.

This situation is allowing corporate America to create another slave segment in our society. Everyone in America should be under the same laws and those laws should be enforced uniformly. If someone entered this country outside the law-- let them go home. "I have a dream" is not over and it will not be achieved until everyone in this country is free and slavery in all its forms are dead! Don't agree with me on this, well, that is your right! Consider, however, what happened to the native Americans over the past hundred or so years in this country and then tell me I am wrong! I wonder, how we can make that one right???

When the rains come

Look familiar? I think we all can relate to things like this. When the checking account is overdrawn, when the baby gets sick, when the car breaks down, when you encounter all sorts of problems, remember that "stuff" happens to everybody. For me, today was one of those days; no matter how hard I tried, "stuff" just kept happening. And as I think about it, that is OK. What is really important is not the events that occur, but rather how we handle them. Are we trying to follow what Jesus has told us to do or something else? Look at the following passage to see what I am referring to.


Matthew 7:21-27 Complete Apostles' Bible
(21) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.
(22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name we cast out demons, and in Your name we did many mighty works?'
(23) "And then I will confess to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you who work iniquity!'
(24) "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock:
(25) and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and fell against that house; and it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.
(26) And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
(27) and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And its fall was great."

Notice that the rains fell on BOTH HEARERS!! Those who listened and did the words of Jesus (to all of Matthew 5-7) were wise, but not so the foolish who do not apply Jesus' teachings. So, when the rains come, (and they will) remember the Sermon on the Mount and the application of its teachings and Jesus will see you through. You may still get wet, but so what, that's what umbrellas are for.

The money tree

Money doesn't grow on trees; or does it? Yes and No; No, it does not naturally and yes, if you put money on or hammer it into a tree. The above pictures are from England, where some have made it a habit to put money on or hammer it into trees. As the tree grows, bark grows around the coins. Why would anyone do this? For "good luck" is the answer. I think this is shall we say "less than bright", but that is my personal opinion. God has a lot to say about money, but to me the following passage gets right to the heart of the matter.

Hebrews 13:5-6 Complete Apostles' Bible
(5) Let your way of life be without loving money, being satisfied with what you have. For He Himself has said, "By no means shall I desert you, nor in any way shall I forsake you;"
(6) so that being confident, we may say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

There is nothing wrong with money, but when it becomes an interference between man and his maker, then there is a big problem. If you have enough money to provide for your basic needs, be happy. Someone else will always have more than you do-- so what? Its not our needs that really cause problems, its our greed's. Have faith in God and realize that he provides for his own and be happy. This in no way takes away your responsibility to do your part; just realize who is first and forget the "money tree". Besides, that tree is a poor investment; you put money in and don't get it out.... you would do better in the stock market!

Limits of Friendship

Cute picture! The text says it all; there are limits to friendship. The old testament says it too and is a little bit more specific.

Deuteronomy 13:6-11 Complete Apostles' Bible
(6) And if your brother by your father or mother, or your son, or daughter, or your wife in your bosom, or friend who is equal to your own soul, entreat you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known,
(7) of the gods of the nations that are round about you, who are near you or at a distance from you, from one end of the earth to the other;
(8) you shall not consent to him, neither shall you hearken to him; and your eye shall not spare him, you shall feel no regret for him, neither shall you at all protect him:
(9) you shall surely report concerning him, and your hands shall be upon him among the first to slay him, and the hands of all the people at the last.
(10) And they shall stone him with stones, and he shall die, because he sought to draw you away from the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
(11) And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not again do according to this evil thing among you.

Sounds a bit harsh by the standards currently en vogue in America, but it IS the WORD OF GOD and that WAS the standard for the Israelites. Now, lets move over to the NEW TESTAMENT.

John 15:1-14 Complete Apostles' Bible
(1) "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
(2) Every branch in Me which does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch which bears fruit He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.
(3) You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
(4) Abide in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit on its own, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
(5) I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; because apart from Me you can do nothing.
(6) If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
(7) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what ever you may desire, and it shall be done for you.
(8) By this My Father is glorified, that you may bear much fruit; and you will become My disciples.
(9) "Just as the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
(10) If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and I abide in His love.
(11) These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may abide in you, and that your joy may be full.
(12) This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
(13) Greater love has no one than this, that one should lay down his life on behalf of his friends.
(14) You are My friends if you do what I command you.

In the New Testament, its all about Jesus! If your life dwells (abides in, is centered on) in Jesus, you WILL DO what he wants you to do. Its not so much about a law as it is about a relationship and HOW you respond to it. If you do this you will live (because the true friend of Jesus will be saved by him) and if you don't.... well, who else is going to go to bat for you when you answer for what you have done in this life? I like the second set of verses better, don't you? Humm, I wonder if there will be e-mails in heaven?

Women rule?

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world! I think I have heard that somewhere before...

Well, it won't be that many years before we have another presidential election and I think Sarah Palin will be our first female president. I wonder what they will call her: Madam President, The first first lady, your highness, or maybe first soccer mom of America? No matter what they call her, I think she will get the job done. She has my vote and there isn't even a ballot yet! Why, because I think she has the right stuff! God must think that way too, because he chose Deborah.

Judges 4:4-9 Complete Apostles' Bible
(4) And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
(5) And she sat under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim; and the children of Israel went up to her for judgment.
(6) And Deborah sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Cades Nephtali, and she said to him, Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded you? And you shall depart to Mount Tabor, and shall take with yourself ten thousand men of the sons of Nephtali and of the sons of Zebulun.
(7) And I will bring to you to the torrent of Kison Sisera the captain of the host of Jabin, and his chariots, and his multitude, and I will deliver them into your hands.
(8) And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, I will go; and if you will not go, I will not go; for I know not the day on which the Lord prospers His messenger with me.
(9) And she said, I will surely go with you; but know that your honor shall not attend on the expedition on which you go, for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hands of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak out of Kedesh.

The outcome, victory! Judges rule! Even lady judges! God chooses, people respond, God works things out! Women rule, IF GOD WANTS IT THAT WAY! Who knows, we may see a pink "white house" yet?

Don't you know? Skunks stink, or do they?

Doesn't Bambi know that skunks are dangerous and stinky? This little scene shows love because how many of us can attest to kissing a skunk, whether it be the four or the two legged variety. In a way Bambi reminds me of God and after you read this passage from the Book of Romans, I think you will agree with me.

Romans 5:1-10 Complete Apostles' Bible
(1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
(2) through whom also we have had access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(3) And not only that, but we also rejoice in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces endurance;
(4) and endurance, character; and character, hope.
(5) And hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
(6) For when we were weak, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
(7) For scarcely on behalf of a righteous man will anyone die; yet on behalf of the good, perhaps someone might even dare to die.
(8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(9) Much more then, having been justified now by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
(10) For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Every day as I sit down at my computer to do the blog, I glance at a little cartoon from the "far side" that is taped to my desk. It shows a scene where there is a party of skunks and one of them is telling another off: "Oh yeah? And you don't stink! You never did and you never will, you mama's little rose". OK, having said this I know I am going to take a little heat from those who see me regularly, but reality is what it is; skunks stink! When I look at the picture above, I see the love of God there and I am happy because even though I am not worth it, God has condescended to love me and more than that to make the "smell" of the sin nonexistent. We all need to recognize the hopeless of humanity without the Christ and the blessing with HIM. Breathe deeply, God will take away all the bad odor and make those who are his smell like the finest perfume ever made. My Mama's little rose cartoon will take on a whole new heavenly meaning from now on! And no, I do NOT have a white streak down my back!!

You pay for what you do

This cartoon is cute, but it does say something important; sin has consequences! If you do something wrong, the injured party is very likely to come back at you and there will be consequences. One of the reasons I love the Bible so much is that it tells the truth in a very straightforward manner. David was the King of Israel; he led the nation, but he was a man and that man had a weakness....sex! He saw the wife of Uriah the Hittite bathing and had sex with her. When she conceived he had her husband killed in battle. Sounds like the stuff of a soap opera doesn't it? Yet, even though he had all the power in the nation, God had far more! The Lord sent Nathan the prophet to David and his sin was exposed. The punishment?

2 Samuel 12:10-14 Complete Apostles' Bible
(10) Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and you have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite, to be your wife.
(11) Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives from before your eyes, and will give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.
(12) For you did it in secret, but I will do this thing in the sight of all Israel, and in broad daylight.
(13) And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said to David, The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.
(14) Only because you have given great occasion of provocation to the enemies of the Lord by this thing, your son also that is born to you shall surely die.

Trouble had arrived in the house of David; warfare, public sexual sin and death were the result. God spared David's life, but I can only marvel at the pain he must have endured when these pronouncements actually occurred. David sinned in private; God punished in public, what irony! The bottom line is that you pay for what you do, because God not only sees what you do, but WHY you do it! Be careful; avoid sin at all costs!