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!!!!!!!

Through the autumn leaves

It was autumn and the front yard was full of leaves, leaves that meant the weather was soon to be very cold; but now the air was brisk and clean, oh, so clean. I remember making a very large pile of them and then jumping into it with abandon and my brother Dave following suit. We stayed in that pile for the longest time and just looked at the clouds and dreamed of what shapes they made and argued over what we thought they were. Then my mother announced that the Mickey Mouse Club was on and I rushed into the house to see my sweetheart Annette Funnicello. The autumn of the second grade seemed to be full of such things, so important to me then, but now seem odd to me. Second grade only lasted a year, but I wish it could have been longer because the world was full of wonder then and the simple things in life seemed gigantic. Things change and so do I, from childhood to adolescence to adulthood to being "older". Soon, I will turn 60 and another milestone is before me, the specter of old age. Yet somehow I don't think I will ever truly become old because inside I still feel like a kid; ready to move on and grow with each passing day. The apostle Paul had a similar progressive attitude as he wrote to the Philippians.
Php 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not tiresome, but for you it is safe.
Php 3:2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh;
Php 3:4 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more:
Php 3:5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
Php 3:6 concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.
Php 3:7 However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8 Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ
Php 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
Php 3:10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death;
Php 3:11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Php 3:12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, if it is so that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brothers, I don't regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
World English Bible


Paul pressed on; the past was just that, past. The future before him held an ever closer relationship with Jesus, one that had changed him from a zealous Pharisee to an apostle and eventually would lead him to heaven. Like the clouds overhead on an autumn day, things change and even though our external nature ages, yet the God of heaven makes every day seem like I can still see the shapes of the clouds though the autumn leaves. The shapes are different now, but the grace that has been shown to me over the years makes me realize that although much of the past was fine, yet the future will continue to be better and maybe even GREAT!

Be rich...

Beautiful landscaping, an enticing front door, a second story and lots and lots of room. This is how "the other half" lives; people with more money than they know what to do with, more excesses than they will admit to and way too much leisure time on their hands. They probably even have a housekeeper, a nanny, a gardener AND A POOL BOY!! In short, they have everything! They are probably so well off they don't even consider themselves rich and are constantly trying to find ways to make more money. Obsession about money can cause us to forget God and that is dangerous; Jesus relates a tale of a rich man in the Gospel of Luke.

Luk 12:13 One of the multitude said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."
Luk 12:14 But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"
Luk 12:15 He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man's life doesn't consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."
Luk 12:16 He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth abundantly.
Luk 12:17 He reasoned within himself, saying, 'What will I do, because I don't have room to store my crops?'
Luk 12:18 He said, 'This is what I will do. I will pull down my barns, and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
Luk 12:19 I will tell my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, be merry." '
Luk 12:20 "But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight your soul is required of you. The things which you have prepared-whose will they be?'
Luk 12:21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

World English Bible

Bigger and better, that is the American way of life, right? Unfortunately, yes, but that doesn't make it right. Personally, I don't think it is wrong to have wealth, just wrong to make it and only it the focal point of your life. Money can be a good thing when used wisely in the fear of God. Besides, the more you have, the more you have to guard and the more people will try to steal from you. Today, perhaps even this very hour, it would be a very good thing to consider where your priorities lie and if they are wrong, change them. We have today, we are not promised tomorrow, so be rich toward God!!!

Bad things

If I were on that ship I would be terrified!! Just the thought of drowning is unsettling. Still, the picture is interesting because it portrays what could happen in real life. Ships sink, people die. Harsh reality, but true. But what if a ship sinking was a "good thing"? Consider this passage from the book of Acts.

Act 27:9 When much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast had now already gone by, Paul admonished them,
Act 27:10 and said to them, "Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives."
Act 27:11 But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship than to those things which were spoken by Paul.
Act 27:12 Because the haven was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised going to sea from there, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter there, which is a port of Crete, looking northeast and southeast.
Act 27:13 When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to shore.
Act 27:14 But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon.
Act 27:15 When the ship was caught, and couldn't face the wind, we gave way to it, and were driven along.
Act 27:16 Running under the lee of a small island called Clauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat.
Act 27:17 After they had hoisted it up, they used cables to help reinforce the ship. Fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis sand bars, they lowered the sea anchor, and so were driven along.
Act 27:18 As we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw things overboard.
Act 27:19 On the third day, they threw out the ship's tackle with their own hands.
Act 27:20 When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.
Act 27:21 When they had been long without food, Paul stood up in the middle of them, and said, "Sirs, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.
Act 27:22 Now I exhort you to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
Act 27:23 For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,
Act 27:24 saying, 'Don't be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. Behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'
Act 27:25 Therefore, sirs, cheer up! For I believe God, that it will be just as it has been spoken to me.
Act 27:26 But we must run aground on a certain island."

World English Bible

The bad news: This ship will sink. The good news: Your lives will be spared. Why, because an angel of God had told Paul so. They did escape and God used their situation to the betterment of the proclamation of the Gospel. God works like that; sometimes bad things happen to us in order that something greater can be accomplished. So, the next time something really, really bad happens in your life consider that it may be a stepping stone to something really wonderful!

Have faith

I am confused and that doesn't happen often. How is just printing money going to help? If there is more money out there, doesn't that cause each individual dollar to be worth less? So, what next? Are we to really sit idly by and do nothing? Not at all; we have a great power at our disposal called prayer and we know that God works all things out in his own time. But its MONEY; YOU KNOW, THE STUFF WE NEED TO LIVE? Money can be a spiritual trap and its trust a disciples downfall. Jesus had to deal with those who would try to trick him and here is how HE DEALT WITH IT!

Matthew
Mat 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
Mat 22:16 They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter who you teach, for you aren't partial to anyone.
Mat 22:17 Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"
Mat 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
Mat 22:19 Show me the tax money." They brought to him a denarius.
Mat 22:20 He asked them, "Whose is this image and inscription?"
Mat 22:21 They said to him, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
Mat 22:22 When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away.

World English Bible

Jesus' attitude should be ours; let the government govern, that is their job. Our president is trying to do his job; LET HIM! Let the government print its dollars; it doesn't have to make sense (or cents, if you think about its true worth), God is ultimately in control. Our worries will subside in direct proportion to our faith. Have faith, pray and don't stop praying, I think our country needs it!

Don't look for gold.

There is an Irish tale that says there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and there's the end, but where is the gold? Its right in front of you but you can't see it. No, I am not trying to confuse you, just to make a point; the lighthouse is gold to the seamen when the light is on. This little item could save their lives and that's worth more than any bar of gold anyone could dream up. Apart from the physical lighthouse, there is the light it shines forth; light to guide, to illuminate, to provide a safe haven of rest. I like what the apostle John has to say at the beginning of his book about light.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it.
Joh 1:6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
Joh 1:7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
Joh 1:8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
Joh 1:9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.
Joh 1:11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:
Joh 1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Joh 1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Joh 1:15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.' "
Joh 1:16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
Joh 1:17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Joh 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

World English Bible

Jesus made light and life, became light and life and gives light and life to those who will see it. Not everyone can, but when illuminated with spiritual power, understanding and change is possible. This change is like being born all over again and with this new spiritual insight life becomes new. So, don't look for gold, rather, look for insight from Jesus, because HE is the message from the father and that message is really good news to those who see what HE IS SAYING.

STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN

There is something about being in the wilderness; something about communing with nature that says "renewal" with every breath. Place yourself in that building for a moment; what would it be like? Four walls, some windows, a front porch and even a small building out back (maybe an outhouse or storage shed, who knows?). No one else around; absolutely no one!! No telephone to bother you (a cell would probably not work with THOSE MOUNTAINS so close), no TV, no distractions whatever. What WOULD YOU DO? Hunt, probably; read, certainly; think, absolutely!! So, what WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT? I can't say for certain, but with all that scenery around, probably NOT YOURSELF! Eventually all those things we do that revolve around us would become a distant memory and we would become one with the background. Maybe that's what we all need; to stop having the world revolve around us. God has a way of using our surroundings to make us think and then CHANGE! One of my favorite stories is that of Elijah, AFTER his confrontation with the Baal prophets, when he fears for HIS life. God reaches out to him to get his attention and change his life.

The book of 1st Kings

1Ki 19:1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
1Ki 19:2 Then Jezebel send a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I don't make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
1Ki 19:3 When he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
1Ki 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Yahweh, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
1Ki 19:5 He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, Arise and eat.
1Ki 19:6 He looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on the coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and laid down again.
1Ki 19:7 The angel of Yahweh came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.
1Ki 19:8 He arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the Mount of God.
1Ki 19:9 He came there to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, and he said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?
1Ki 19:10 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 19:11 He said, Go forth, and stand on the mountain before Yahweh. Behold, Yahweh passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before Yahweh; but Yahweh was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Yahweh was not in the earthquake:
1Ki 19:12 and after the earthquake a fire; but Yahweh was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
1Ki 19:13 It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. Behold, there came a voice to him, and said, What are you doing here, Elijah?
1Ki 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.

1Ki 19:19 So he departed there.......

The World English Bible

I like Elijah because this passage shows a second side of him; an unflattering side, but one that I can relate to. Elijah had performed miracles in the name of Yahweh, but was afraid of Jezebel. Sometimes, the closer you get to heaven, the longer the fall to Earth; the more you do, the more there is to lose. So, Elijah ran for his life! But, in the wilderness, Yahweh reaches out to him and finally gets through to him. How typically human Elijah is and how frail we as human beings really are. Yet God knows our faults and cares about us; HE reaches out to us in many ways; being alone in the wilderness is just one of them. It begins with us: We need to STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN to the world around us without ourselves being in the way. When we do this, we may find out we have a lot of company, maybe even "seven thousand" others who are a lot like us! Wait a minute, I can't be certain, but did someone say something to me: it wasn't very loud, so I guess I will just have to be silent and LISTEN!!!

Book 'em Dan-O

If you are over 50, then this picture will probably remind you of one show: Hawaii -5O. If the name doesn't ring a bell, how about "Book 'em Dan-O". A seventies show through and through, the plot was a little predictable, but the scenery was spectacular! As I remember, it was on quite a few years, but I couldn't tell you how long. One thing was certain, the police always got their man (or woman as the "case"might be). Somehow, I wish life could be like that show; in the space of an hour (45 minutes if you exclude the commercials) whatever crime was committed was solved and the legal system had already begun to grind the offender into the pumice soil of the islands. Real life isn't like that; the wicked sometimes seem to get away with whatever they want to do and never seem to get their "just desserts". Even the best of us have bad things happen to us; consider the Apostle Paul's attitude in the last book he "penned".

2nd Timothy

2Ti 4:14 Alexander, the coppersmith, did much evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works,
2Ti 4:15 of whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words.
2Ti 4:16 At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.
2Ti 4:17 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
2Ti 4:18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

World English Bible

Paul had a problem with Alexander actions and he put it in the hands of the judge of all the Earth; God. He knew that he didn't have much time left and wasn't going to see this man punished, but he also knew that God views things on a MUCH BIGGER TIME SCALE. So, the next time you see someone do something wrong, remember that God will eventually make everything right, but it might take a lot more than an hour. On the last day, when all history is reviewed in heaven and the final judgments are pronounced, I wonder if the commercials are included? One thing is certain, when God books em, they stay booked!

Just another fork in the road

"Did you ever have to make up your mind, pick up on one and let the other one ride; its not always easy and its not often kind, did you ever have finally decide" sang the Lovin Spoonful back in the 60's. Sometimes you just have to do it; make a decision. How? Well, how do you decide anything? Are all decisions the same; I don't think so! Which candy to buy or which player to choose for the ball team is just not the same how many exemptions to claim for taxes or who will be your spouse for life. Bottom line is... the more important the decision, more care should be taken. Your intuition may be fine for choosing candy, but I think its wise to think awhile before buying a house. Face it, when it comes to the REALLY IMPORTANT decisions in life, EVERYTHING comes into play; The mind, experience, intuition, advice, friends... absolutely EVERYTHING!!! What is the most important decision you will ever make; does it involve your career, your spouse, your home, your car or something else?? Read this short passage to find out.

Matthew
Mat 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"
Mat 16:14 They said, "Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
Mat 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Mat 16:17 Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven."
Mat 16:20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he is Jesus the Christ.

World English Bible

We value things by their duration; a car lasts longer than a bouquet of flowers and a house lasts longer than a car, that's why diamonds cost more than cotton candy. What is the longest lasting thing you can think of; for me, its forever with God. The way there is by making a decision to follow and obey Jesus. That begins with making a decision about who he is and that is a fork in the road everyone must be confronted with. So, carefully use EVERYTHING YOU HAVE; consider all you want, but make the right choice and never, ever, ever look back, your life depends on it because forever is a long, long, long, long time!

Do-4

This is a prime example of what I refer to as a do-4; that is, something you substitute in an emergency. In 1966 I was driving my '56 Pontiac through the Ferry tunnel in Troy, NY, when all of a sudden my engine started revving. When I looked under the hood, I noticed that the linkage for the carburetor had come off. So, I took off my shoe lace and tied it together. It worked so well that I ran it that way for two whole years. Sometimes you just have to make-do. Jesus was faced with a problem of having to make-do; Matthew tells the tale.

Mat 14:14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
Mat 14:15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, "This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food."
Mat 14:16 But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."
Mat 14:17 They told him, "We only have here five loaves and two fish."
Mat 14:18 He said, "Bring them here to me."
Mat 14:19 He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
Mat 14:20 They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.
Mat 14:21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

World English Bible


Jesus only had a couple of fish and five loaves of bread and he fed something over five thousand people. The disciples didn't know what to do, but Jesus did; pray! There is power in prayer, awesome power. I can only tell you that when my car acted up in the tunnel, boy, did I pray. Why, because if I didn't get Linda home on time, she would have been immediately grounded, that's why. I can't tell what they attached the mirror in the picture with, but whatever works, works! Humm, I wonder if they prayed first?