A Real Superman

I remember watching the 50's TV series superman and wondering what it would be like to actually have superpowers! Imagine, being able to fly, to have xray vision and be impervious to projectiles! Most of us would probably get a swelled head quickly. I only know of one real superman and his name is Jesus. What has he done with his powers?

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The Webster Bible

The truth is: Those who desire to be superior to their fellow human beings have it all wrong; true greatness lies in being the servant of all, in enriching the life of everyone. The picture above only seems impressive, true greatness lies within those who have God as their king.

A second glance

"Beauty may be skin deep, but ugly goes straight to the bone". In this case, it may just be the other way round. I see something here that goes beyond unattractiveness. Something about the eyes of this dog say a warm heart is just waiting for a little love and affection. When we are young we don't think like this though. We are attracted to those who are "good looking". As I have aged I remember this: In 50 years we will all look like shrivelled prunes. Perhaps this is what made me look a little closer, or perhaps its because when I look in the mirror now, I think about what I looked like at age 20.

Consider this:

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Rom 5:10 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son; much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Rom 5:11 And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

The Webster Bible

I am glad someone cared enough about me to bless me even though I didn't deserve it; how about you? Now, take a second glance at the dog and think.....

Friends

This picture is precious to me, not only because my younger brother David is there, but also because of my dog “Pal”. It’s the only one I have ever seen of him and when I was young he was the best friend I had. Times were very hard in those days and it was very, very good to have a “best friend”. He was always there when I needed him and his friendship reminds me of the following Bible passage:

1Sa 19:1 Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David.
1Sa 19:2 Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeks to kill you: now therefore, please take care of yourself in the morning, and live in a secret place, and hide yourself:
1Sa 19:3 and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will talk with my father about you; and if I see anything, I will tell you.
1Sa 19:4 Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul his father, and said to him, Don't let the king sin against his servant, against David; because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you:
1Sa 19:5 for he put his life in his hand, and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh worked a great victory for all Israel: you saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?
1Sa 19:6 Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan: and Saul swore, As Yahweh lives, he shall not be put to death.
1Sa 19:7 Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as before. WEB

Everything in the picture has changed, but the memory of Pal remains. Jesus became my best friend over the years and unlike Jonathan he is still interceding for me with the Greatest KING. Now, that is a friend!

A different pont of view

Its been almost a decade since I received my first senior discount at the Florida aquarium, but what I remember most was thinking..."So that's what its like to be a fish". Just looking at things from their point of view changed everything. I can understand a little better now the reason for the following Bible passage:

Mat 5:38 `Ye heard that it was said: Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth;
Mat 5:39 but I--I say to you, not to resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;
Mat 5:40 and whoever is willing to take thee to law, and thy coat to take--suffer to him also the cloak.
Mat 5:41 `And whoever shall impress thee one mile, go with him two,
Mat 5:42 to him who is asking of thee be giving, and him who is willing to borrow from thee thou mayest not turn away.
Mat 5:43 `Ye heard that it was said: Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and shalt hate thine enemy;
Mat 5:44 but I--I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you,
Mat 5:45 that ye may be sons of your Father in the heavens, because His sun He doth cause to rise on evil and good, and He doth send rain on righteous and unrighteous.
Mat 5:46 `For, if ye may love those loving you, what reward have ye? do not also the tax-gatherers the same?
Mat 5:47 and if ye may salute your brethren only, what do ye abundant? do not also the tax-gatherers so?
Mat 5:48 ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who is in the heavens is perfect.

Young's Literal Translation

Perfection is not be absolutely perfect in everything we do; I don't think anyone can be completely free of wrong, but it does mean being the best we can be. That begins with trying to see things from another point of view. When we do this, we are ON OUR WAY. Now, who out there wants to be a fish?

Geronimo

You are next, but your knees are shaking and you want to turn back and then suddenly you find yourself being pushed over the edge into the unknown! Wow, its a long, long way to the bottom. Ever felt like that? I mean, its not just about going off ledges, is it? When you get married, buy a house, have kids, have GRAND KIDS, something changes in you.... you become someone new, something changes. All these things can be tough, but if God is with you, then somehow, someway, you just KNOW things are going to be OK!!! I like the story of Abram because of what he did; HE LISTENED AND OBEYED!

Gen 12:1 Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Get out of your country, and from your relatives, and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.
Gen 12:2 I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.
Gen 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. In you will all of the families of the earth be blessed."
Gen 12:4 So Abram went, as Yahweh had spoken to him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Gen 12:5 Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother's son, all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls whom they had gotten in Haran, and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan. Into the land of Canaan they came. The World English Bible

Its easy to do things when you are young, strong and perhaps a bit naive, but for Abram (later Abraham) to do this is a object lesson for us all; when The Word of God comes to us, perhaps the thing to do is to just obey! Your turn is next.... Geronimo

Misson possible!

The next time you think something is impossible, remember this picture. Its obvious the dog in the "overcoat" has a "can do" attitude. Read the following passage of Scripture and remember that its not the obstacle that is important, rather its having an attitude within you that says "mission possible"!

1Ki 18:17 It happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, Is it you, you troubler of Israel?
1Ki 18:18 He answered, I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and you have followed the Baals.
1Ki 18:19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel to Mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, who eat at Jezebel's table.
1Ki 18:20 So Ahab sent to all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together to Mount Carmel.
1Ki 18:21 Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you waver between the two sides? If Yahweh is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." The people answered him not a word.
1Ki 18:22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I, even I only, am left a prophet of Yahweh; but Baal's prophets are four hundred fifty men.
1Ki 18:23 Let them therefore give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bull, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under.
1Ki 18:24 You call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh; and the God who answers by fire, let him be God." All the people answered, "It is well said."
1Ki 18:25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves, and dress it first; for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it."
1Ki 18:26 They took the bull which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any who answered. They leaped about the altar which was made.
1Ki 18:27 It happened at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud; for he is a god: either he is musing, or he is gone aside, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleeps and must be awakened.
1Ki 18:28 They cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
1Ki 18:29 It was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening offering; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any who regarded.
1Ki 18:30 Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me; and all the people came near to him. He repaired the altar of Yahweh that was thrown down.
1Ki 18:31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, Israel shall be your name.
1Ki 18:32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh; and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
1Ki 18:33 He put the wood in order, and cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering, and on the wood.
1Ki 18:34 He said, Do it the second time; and they did it the second time. He said, Do it the third time; and they did it the third time.
1Ki 18:35 The water ran around the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
1Ki 18:36 It happened at the time of the offering of the evening offering, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.
1Ki 18:37 Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.
1Ki 18:38 Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
1Ki 18:39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, Yahweh, he is God; Yahweh, he is God. The World English Bible

450:1 are terrible odds, but Elijah knew something the Baal prophets didn't, namely that there is but ONE GOD! This passage from 1st Kings has always been one of my favorites because of the confidence of Elijah in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. The moral of all this is: If you know you are right.... DO NOT BACK DOWN!

Just Gas...

Just a gas pump, right? Now think back a few MONTHS ago when gas was over $4/gallon. Then, it was really important because it seemed to be affecting everything! Overnight, EVERYTHING seemed more expensive! People talked about nothing else and they were ANGRY! Consider the following article sent to me by Ron Cameron:

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.' The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. 'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. 'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.' One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.' Please share this with someone you care about.. I JUST DID

I really liked this, but I think they should have added a lot more coffee and one more ingredient: gluten. When combined and heated the whole thing would solidify. God is like that; if HE holds everything together, then your life is rock solid.

Jesus said:

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out demons? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 Therefore whoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Mat 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

The Webster Bible

The most important things in this life are those leading to the next. If God's priorities are truly yours, then life will be completely full. Its not the rolling stones, but life can be a gas, gas, gas! Anyone for a fill up?

Kids say the darndest things

If you recognize this picture, then you are as old as I am. In the early days of TV, Art Linkletter had a popular show called house party and one segment was called "kids say the darnedest things". Each child would be asked a seemingly simple question and the responses from young children were often hilarious! My thanks to Paul Harris for sending me this!

What Love means to a 4-8 year old....

Slow down for three minutes to read this. It is so worth it. Touching words from the mouth of babes. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined See what you think:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.'

Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissy - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8

'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt.' Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' Mary Ann -age 4 '

I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image) Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.' Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8

And the final one:

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a shot! All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the person who sent you this. Heavenly Father, please bless all my friends in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day! And may their life be full of Your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with You. Amen. Then send it on to five other people. Within hours you caused a multitude of people to pray for other people. Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life. John J. Stankiewicz

I have always liked the following:

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. The Webster Bible

Suprise!

This photo does make me wonder! Its probably very innocent, but what's the knife for? The cake, of course! However, it does say something about marriage; you never really know what's going to happen. Even after 40 years, I never really know what my wife is going to do next! One thing is for sure, if there is enough love, the MARRIAGE WILL WORK!
Paul put it this way:
Eph 5:21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.
Eph 5:22 The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord,
Eph 5:23 because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ is head of the assembly, and he is saviour of the body,
Eph 5:24 but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also are the wives to their own husbands in everything.
Eph 5:25 The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it,
Eph 5:26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it with the bathing of the water in the saying,
Eph 5:27 that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;
Eph 5:28 so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife--himself he doth love;
Eph 5:29 for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord--the assembly,
Eph 5:30 because members we are of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones;
Eph 5:31 `for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be--the two--for one flesh;'
Eph 5:32 this secret is great, and I speak in regard to Christ and to the assembly;
Eph 5:33 but ye also, every one in particular--let each his own wife so love as himself, and the wife--that she may reverence the husband. Young's Literal Translation

There have been many surprises over the years, but the most pleasant is that genuine love can continue to grow and with the help of God it can be beautiful beyond description.

When 1 and 1 is not 2

This is a relic isn't it! My first calculator (1971) wasn't much better; it was big and expensive and didn't do much, but it was MINE! I enjoy watching the science channel and recently I saw an episode about string theory. Basically, it says that all things are possible in the apparent infinite number of universes. I don't remember who came up with the idea, but whoever it was, they probably have a lot more braincells than I will ever have!! So, with all things being possible, I set out to think about how math could work in another universe; suppose 1 and 1 weren't 2 there? What would they be? I really don't know the answer, but there is a case in THIS WORLD where it could be. We don't think about it much, but 1 is a digit in our numbering system. If you list the next placeholder you now have a ten... so add the two placeholders together and you have 11. Its just a matter of how you look at things!

Think about the following Bible passage:

2Co 12:1 To boast, really, is not profitable for me, for I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2Co 12:2 I have known a man in Christ, fourteen years ago--whether in the body I have not known, whether out of the body I have not known, God hath known--such an one being caught away unto the third heaven;
2Co 12:3 and I have known such a man--whether in the body, whether out of the body, I have not known, God hath known, --
2Co 12:4 that he was caught away to the paradise, and heard unutterable sayings, that it is not possible for man to speak.
2Co 12:5 Of such an one I will boast, and of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities,
2Co 12:6 for if I may wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for truth I will say; but I forebear, lest any one in regard to me may think anything above what he doth see me, or doth hear anything of me;
2Co 12:7 and that by the exceeding greatness of the revelations I might not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of the Adversary, that he might buffet me, that I might not be exalted overmuch.
2Co 12:8 Concerning this thing thrice the Lord did I call upon, that it might depart from me,
2Co 12:9 and He said to me, `Sufficient for thee is My grace, for My power in infirmity is perfected;' most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of the Christ may rest on me:

I think Paul was probably referring to himself in the passage and if so, what the point? Well, no matter how much we may "know", God knows more. All this leads to a focal point; which is, if you think 1 and 1 are not 2 you may be right, but so what, God has a better calculator. Just open the pages and look.... its called The Holy Bible!