Written all over your face

There is something about the human face, the varying shapes, the lines, the almost limitless expressions that it can make. How often have you met someone you haven't seen for a long time and although their name escapes you... YOU REMEMBER THE FACE. Many time I have sat in the living room watching TV with my wife and we exchanged several looks and had a whole conversation without saying a word. I wonder what the face of Jesus Christ said about him? The old testament taught that he wasn't to be handsome, but something special happened when he looked and spoke with people. Consider the following passage from the book of 2nd Corinthians.

2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don't faint.
2Co 4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3 Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;
2Co 4:4 in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
2Co 4:5 For we don't preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake;
2Co 4:6 seeing it is God who said, "Light will shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

World English Bible

God, that what people saw in Jesus' face. They saw the essence of God when they looked at Jesus. If you have ever known someone who just became a Christian, then you probably noticed something different about them, something aglow within their life that somehow was expressed on their face. Today, if you have a few minutes, go to the mirror and ask yourself what your face says about you. If you don't like what you see, then begin to change by coming to know Jesus; I guarantee you will change, and that change will be written all over your face.

And the clouds fly by

Did you ever look at the clouds and they look like they are just flying by? That is probably not the case here, although it looks like it. (Notice the trees are straight and not bending) Time is a funny thing; it seems to go by soooo slowly when you are young and then speed way up as you grow older. Lately the years seem to fly by, just like the clouds in the sky seem to in this picture. However, we know that every day and every year is about the same, (except for leap year of course) so time is an illusion. Think about it; everything has an appointed time, just as the book of Ecclesiastes tells us.

Ecc 3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
Ecc 3:2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
Ecc 3:3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
Ecc 3:4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
Ecc 3:5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
Ecc 3:6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
Ecc 3:7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Ecc 3:8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecc 3:9 What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
Ecc 3:10 I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
Ecc 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can't find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.
Ecc 3:12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
Ecc 3:13 Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
Ecc 3:14 I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.
Ecc 3:15 That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.
Ecc 3:16 Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
Ecc 3:17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work."
Ecc 3:18 I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.
Ecc 3:19 For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.
Ecc 3:20 All go to one place. All are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Ecc 3:21 Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?"
Ecc 3:22 Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

Solomon had great wisdom and yet great folly; a man blessed by God, but one who deserted him in his old age. This man was a contradiction of terms; a puzzlement, and yet at the end of Ecclesiastes he finally got it right when he said:

Ecc 12:13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

The "Now" is all we have; use it wisely, who knows what tomorrow will bring. Everything will happen according to its time, including our life, so whether the time seems to go by quickly or not, fill each day up to the brim and LIVE; God is watching and I hope that "today" is the one where he gives you an extra special blessing.

Reaching the summit

This picture reminded me of something that was in the forefront of my mind: My birthday. Today I turned 60; I made it to another decade. When I called my daughter to confirm the party she was preparing for my birthday/mother's day, my grandson said he was doing some research for a paper about Julius Caesar and wanted to talk to someone who knew him. Ha! Ha! Well, I look at birthdays differently than I used to; now, they are an accomplishment, a goal, something to attain to, like a climber would feel reaching the summit of a mountain. One of the blessings of being older is that there are now so many more people to care about, which is also where the Apostle Paul was; check out this passage from the book of Philemon.

Phm 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
Phm 1:2 to the beloved Apphia, to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the assembly in your house:
Phm 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Phm 1:4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
Phm 1:5 hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
Phm 1:6 that the fellowship of your faith may become effective, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus.
Phm 1:7 For we have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Phm 1:8 Therefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to command you that which is appropriate,
Phm 1:9 yet for love's sake I rather beg, being such a one as Paul, the aged, but also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Phm 1:10 I beg you for my child, whom I have become the father of in my chains, Onesimus,
Phm 1:11 who once was useless to you, but now is useful to you and to me.
Phm 1:12 I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart,

World English Bible

Paul was concerned for Onesimus, a runaway slave turned brother in Christ. That he would write to Philemon for him is completely normal because you take care of those you really care about. That a whole book of the Bible is written for one person shows the importance of each person who loves God and that means you and me. In a sense this book really is "over the top" because of the deep concern Paul had for Onesimus. That's the thing about love, it takes you higher and higher and from that vantage point you can see a lot of other people besides yourself.

PS. I wish to thank all those who sent me cards this year. I received more cards yesterday and today than I have in the past five years. Thank you all so much!!!!!!

The way out

Life is confusing; when you are young, you can wait to get bigger; when you are grown you can't wait to be successful; when you are old you remember the "good old days". See what I mean; there is no one place where all is perfect, where you achieve a perfect clarity of being. Life is like a maze even for the most successful person. No matter how great your life is, it could be better; no matter how directed your life is, it is still like a maze... except for one thing.

Joh 14:1 "Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many homes. If it weren't so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.
Joh 14:4 Where I go, you know, and you know the way."
Joh 14:5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

World English Bible

You guessed it; Jesus is the way out of the maze because he is the way and the real life and that is the real TRUTH. God gives us direction, guides us and according to HIS wishes we have a way through and OUT OF the maze. Do not misunderstand, we will still have problems, still have obstacles and at times still do not know where we are headed, but there IS A WAY OUT and WE KNOW HIM! We can see our way out and it is done through the eyes of faith, see what I mean? Ok, then follow!

One of a kind

Go ahead, try cutting out this egg by hand; just goes to show you how precise laser beams have become. I selected this image because I finally finished my Kindle "Ben Hur" book yesterday and that of course is a tale about Christ. To my surprise it was different than the movie and VERY LONG. I enjoyed it thoroughly, though, and read "The Time Machine" today. I am on vacation, remember! But thinking about time and the birth of Jesus made me think of this passage in the Bible.

Luk 2:1 Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
Luk 2:2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Luk 2:3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
Luk 2:4 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;
Luk 2:5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.
Luk 2:6 It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.
Luk 2:7 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.
Luk 2:8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.
Luk 2:9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Luk 2:10 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.
Luk 2:11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."
Luk 2:13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men."

World English Bible

If you have ever watched TV or turned on a radio in December, you have heard this story. And it really is GOOD NEWS! For a baby found in such humble circumstances to become someone so important to the whole world is marvelous indeed, but that was because he was one of a kind; a very unique person sent from God. As you know, I have a birthday coming up on the 10th of May and I received a card in the mail from my brother Dave yesterday; it said I was one of a kind and of course the card is right, its just that I am not that special, I am just forgiven!!! Humm, I wonder how THAT relates to Jesus???

A way out?

This photo, taken in Texas in early April 2009 tells a tale that needs no words, but I will say it anyway; somebody is in big trouble! Ever been in this sort of situation; I have. In Spiegletown, N.Y. in 1963 I was hitchhiking in front of the Marine Midland bank (next to Our Savior's Lutheran church) when suddenly a pack of dogs attacked me. There were five of them and before I knew it they were all around me and was I scared! I did the only thing I could, which was to take off my heavy leather jacket and swing it around my head to keep them at bay, but I could see with each passing second that my situation was steadily growing more desperate. THEY WERE BIG DOGS AND THEY WERE GETTING CLOSER! Thank God a passing automobile stopped and let me in, because I knew I was done for. Sometimes you just are going to get it, no matter what you do. If God allows you to be rescued, great; if not, well, nobody lives forever. Elijah was discouraged and God not only comforts him, but solves the problem doubly (pay close attention to verse 17) as this passage from 1st Kings relates.

Ki 19:14 He said, I have been very jealous for Yahweh, the God of Armies; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
1Ki 19:15 Yahweh said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when you come, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;
1Ki 19:16 and you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.
1Ki 19:17 It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha kill.
1Ki 19:18 Yet will I leave me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him.
World English Bible

God takes care of his own and from his judgment there is no escape. I KNOW this to be true because several times he has provided a way out when there seemed to be no way out at all. All of the above is true and worth thinking about; God in heaven is great, of that I have no doubt!!! By the way, if I worked on this oil rig, I think changing occupations would be on my mind; how about you?

P.s. Thanks to Ron Cameron for sending me the picture!

As you see it

The object in the center may be a fishbowl, but its not the bowl, its the fish INSIDE THE BOWL that is center stage. The cat is probably thinking about lunch, but I wonder what thoughts are going through the baby's mind. I remember when one of my grandson's wanted a pet. He would ask his parents all the time for a pet. Every day it was the same thing; pet, pet, pet, pet, and on and on it went. Then one day his father bought a fish tank for himself. It was a beautiful thing, large and very nicely appointed... perfect. While his dad was in the backyard, my grandson thought he would play with the new fish, and the fish died. When my son-in-law asked him why he killed the fish, he said it was an accident; he didn't want to kill the fish, ONLY PET IT. This is exactly what he did... HE PET THE FISH! He didn't realize that petting the fish would do any harm so he was surprised when the fish died. Its amazing to me that two people look at the same thing and see it in completely different ways. Consider this passage from the book of Titus for a moment.

Tit 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.
Tit 1:16 They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.
World English Bible

If your mind is set on worldly things, or evil things, or sinful things, that is the lens through which you will see things through. Everything will be that way for you and you will expect others to be the same as yourself. But if your mind is innocent, pure and Godly you will think that way. The choice is up to you; how do you see things before you, good or bad? If its not good, maybe your fishbowl needs to be turned a bit in order to see the other side!

It will make your hair stand on end

Somebody has been rubbing a cat just a little too much to produce this amount of static electricity! Whatever the cause its cute to look at. Sometimes scary stories will make your hair stand on edge too and there are some of those in the Bible; this one from the book of Judges is especially gruesome! So, don't read on if this sort of thing bothers you.

Jdg 19:15 They turned aside there, to go in to lodge in Gibeah: and he went in, and sat him down in the street of the city; for there was no man who took them into his house to lodge.
Jdg 19:16 Behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even: now the man was of the hill country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites.
Jdg 19:17 He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Where are you going? Where did you come from?
Jdg 19:18 He said to him, We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim; from there am I, and I went to Bethlehem Judah: and I am now going to the house of Yahweh; and there is no man who takes me into his house.
Jdg 19:19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man who is with your servants: there is no want of anything.
Jdg 19:20 The old man said, Peace be to you; howsoever let all your wants lie on me; only don't lodge in the street.
Jdg 19:21 So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder; and they washed their feet, and ate and drink.
Jdg 19:22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man who came into your house, that we may know him.
Jdg 19:23 The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, No, my brothers, please don't act so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, don't do this folly.
Jdg 19:24 Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble them, and do with them what seems good to you: but to this man don't do any such folly.
Jdg 19:25 But the men wouldn't listen to him: so the man laid hold on his concubine, and brought her forth to them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.
Jdg 19:26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, until it was light.
Jdg 19:27 Her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.
Jdg 19:28 He said to her, Up, and let us be going; but none answered: then he took her up on the donkey; and the man rose up, and got him to his place.
Jdg 19:29 When he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel.
World English Bible

Frankly, I don't think I fully understand the obligation to guests in Israel; it seems just a little TOO PROTECTIVE AND BEYOND REASON. However, it is what it is and attempted rape of the man and the gang rape (and murder) of the concubine is horrendous! The dismemberment of the concubine and the "message" her parts conveyed is gruesome indeed. Remember, Israel was to have been HOLY TO THE LORD and this incident caused the other tribes to almost wipe out Benjamin (Chapter 20). If this bothers you, try to imagine how God must have felt when such a thing could happen among his chosen people. I wonder if it made his hair stand on end?

Old things

What beautiful cars! I am sure that for some of us they bring back a lot of memories. If you were to try and buy one of them you might be a little surprised at their value; they may be worth more now than when they rolled off the production line. Seems a little odd, doesn't it? Today, youth is glorified and age is not. However, the mere fact of the worth of these cars is a testimony that old things can have value. Each generation likes to re-think things for itself and so the old is often cast aside for the "new". What is forgotten is that while this is true for human actions it is not so for divine teachings. The nation of Israel had forgotten God; forgotten his covenant and declined into the abominations of the nations around them, they had become full of the sin of their own desires. They could no longer even receive instruction; they were doomed. This passage from the book of Jeremiah says it plainly and offers a remedy.

Jer 6:1 Flee for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth Haccherem; for evil looks forth from the north, and a great destruction.
Jer 6:2 The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off.
Jer 6:3 Shepherds with their flocks shall come to her; they shall pitch their tents against her all around; they shall feed everyone in his place.
Jer 6:4 Prepare you war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! for the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.
Jer 6:5 Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
Jer 6:6 For thus has Yahweh of Armies said, Cut down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
Jer 6:7 As a well casts forth its waters, so she casts forth her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually is sickness and wounds.
Jer 6:8 Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you; lest I make you a desolation, a land not inhabited.
Jer 6:9 Thus says Yahweh of Armies, They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn again your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets.
Jer 6:10 To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can't listen: behold, the word of Yahweh is become to them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
Jer 6:11 Therefore I am full of the wrath of Yahweh; I am weary with holding in: pour it out on the children in the street, and on the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him who is full of days.
Jer 6:12 Their houses shall be turned to others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand on the inhabitants of the land, says Yahweh.
Jer 6:13 For from the least of them even to the greatest of them everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely.
Jer 6:14 They have healed also the hurt of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
Jer 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, says Yahweh.
Jer 6:16 Thus says Yahweh, Stand you in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk therein.
World English Bible

OK, that was then and this is now, so what? The answer to this question is that people do not change; we may have more technology, but the desire for things and corruption that can overwhelm a nation is all around us. Sin is destroying our nation, look and see. The solution to this is stated in verse 16: God and HIS ways. America, turn once again to the God of the heavens, listen to HIS WORD, change... before its too late.

Celebrate

This picture called "celebration" caught my eye today, not because its of Disney or is of astounding quality but rather because of a feeling. Today was a trying day at work with more that the usual pressures and I had to stay a little later than normal. Not a big deal under normal circumstances, but today was my last day before vacation. You heard it right, I am on VVAACCAATTIIOONN right NOW! Celebrate! Yet, in all too short a space of time my vacation will be over and it will be "back to the grind". I wonder, why bother to rejoice at all? The answer I have found is located in the book of Philippians.

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, Rejoice!

Vacations come and go, situations change along with one's life, but God doesn't change. He is always there and always will be! When I feel down, I sing this song (in Greek because that way only a very few people would ever guess what I am doing) and it cheers me up. I try to celebrate each and every day and as I grow older they become more precious with the passage of time; even the bad one's because tomorrow has the hope of improvement. God has a way of reaching right into the heart and making even the bad better and the better best. Don't ask me how, I am not that bright, I just know HE DOES; that is something to celebrate!!!!!!!