Because God saved us...we are to do good

“It is a faithful saying.” 2 Timothy 2:11
Paul has four of these “faithful sayings.” The first occurs in 1 Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” The next is in 1 Timothy 4:6, “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation.” The third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, “It is a faithful saying-If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him”; and the fourth is in Titus 3:8, “This is a faithful saying, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.” We may trace a connection between these faithful sayings. The first one lays the foundation of our eternal salvation in the free grace of God, as shown to us in the mission of the great Redeemer. The next affirms the double blessedness which we obtain through this salvation-the blessings of the upper and nether springs-of time and of eternity. The third shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that “if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” The last sets forth the active form of Christian service, bidding us diligently to maintain good works. Treasure up these faithful sayings. Let them be the guides of our life, our comfort, and our instruction. Let these four faithful sayings be written on the four corners of my house. (From Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions)

Titus 3:3-8(NASB)
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

Be careful to engage in good deeds.

Spell for a sit...

Curtesy or Courtesy? Interesting spelling of words from an honors student! Must be that devil-music you're listening to…rotting your brain, eroding your neurons, or at least blocking the cells providing oxygen to the "spell-check" partition of your frontal lobe.

Do eating more green than yellow bananas give you a stomachache? I think I ate one that was still a bit too green.

Reminds me of a song:

I want to eat,
I want to eat
eight apples and bananas
I want to eat,
I want to eat
eight apples and bananas

Aye waint tae ate,
Aye waint tae ate
ate ape-ples and ba-nae-naes
Aye waint tae ate,
Aye waint tae ate
ate ape-ples and ba-nae-naes

Ee wheant tee eete,
Ee wheant tee eete,
eete eeeples end be-nee-nees
Ee wheant tee eete,
Ee wheant tee eete,
eete eeeples end be-nee-nees

I whynt tie eite,
I whynt tie eite,
eite, eipples ind bi-nigh-nighs
I whynt tie eite,
I whynt tie eite,
eite, eipples ind bi-nigh-nighs

Oh wont tow oat,
Oh wont tow oat,
oat, ope-ples ond bo-know-knows
Oh wont tow oat,
Oh wont tow oat,
oat, ope-ples ond bo-know-knows

Ewe uhnt tue ute,
Ewe uhnt tue ute,
ute, upe-ples und bu-new-news
Ewe uhnt tue ute,
Ewe uhnt tue ute,
ute, upe-ples und bu-new-news

I want to eat,
I want to eat
eight apples and bananas,
I want to eat,
I want to eat
eight apples and bananas,

Hmmm...I feel a bit better now.

I do not want to talk about the procedure they do when you have an in-grown toenail…but that could really be the cause of my upset stomach. Major ickyness.

Barf.

I do like the color of Bethany's hair!!! I need to get my hair cut & weaved. Hm, maybe on Friday!!!

Speaking of Friday - I have FRIDAY off!!! Yipeeeeeeeeeee.

Just want to record, however, that Frank is wonderful! I'm so blessed to have him as my husband!

Dogledanje!!!

Obeying God

1 John 4:14-21
We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

I watched the movie "The Day after Tomorrow" over the weekend. It is one of those cataclysmic, end of the world, Kyoto Protocol pushing thematic movies. If you love special effects, this is the movie for you. Other than that…don't bother (yes Bethany, I should've listened to you!). However, one story line in the movie struck me as I ponder my relationship with God.

The hero's son is trapped in a "certain death" situation. However, the hero instructs the son to follow a few basic directions that should ensure his survival. The father then promises to "come for him no matter what." (Okay, aside from the fact that people are NOT superhuman, and shouldn't promise their children ridiculous promises beyond their human control…the point is still a good one). So, with a few variations on obeying what the father instructed, the son did follow the directions. And, the father was able to come for him and rescue him. In fact, because the son was so insistent on following his father's commands, a few people stuck with him and they survived as well.

See any parallels to our Christian lives?

Just wondering…

Being like Ruth

So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. (Ruth 2:3)

From Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Devotions -
"And she happened." Yes, it seemed nothing but an accident, but how divinely was it overruled! Ruth had gone forth with her mother’s blessing, under the care of her mother’s God, to humble but honorable toil, and the providence of God was guiding her every step. Little did she know that amid the sheaves she would find a husband, that he should make her the joint owner of all those broad acres, and that she a poor foreigner should become one of the progenitors of the great Messiah. God is very good to those who trust in him, and often surprises them with unlooked for blessings. Little do we know what may happen to us to-morrow, but this sweet fact may cheer us, that no good thing shall be withheld. Chance is banished from the faith of Christians, for they see the hand of God in everything. The trivial events of today or tomorrow may involve consequences of the highest importance. O Lord, deal as graciously with thy servants as thou did with Ruth.

I love the book of Ruth. It is a love story. It is also a picture of Christ as the Kinsman Redeemer. It is a beautiful story full of rich detail, curious customs and amazing results.

Some day, I would like to do a study on Ruth showing the importance of serving whole-heartedly, with no agenda other than to be obedient to God and seek to please Him above all else. Ruth was doing as she was instructed and had no plan to pursue a husband while she tried to collect food for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi.

How different our lives could look if we were to pursue glorifying God, obeying His instruction and seeking to please Him as we live our lives. We are guaranteed He will not withhold any good thing from us. So why do we live as if we have no eternal promise of good to come?

Ah, perhaps it is the old syndrome of "I know better how to meet my own needs." How sad! Do you truly believe Ruth could have schemed, planned & manipulated events to turn out as they did in her life?

What would your day look like if you continually focused on God in all you said and did? Are you eager to see God's provision in your life? Are you joyfully expectant of the good things the Father will provide for you? Why not?

He is the Creator of everything. He designed you specifically for His glory and His purposes.

Why would you pursue any thing or any one else?

Indeed, why would I?

Random

What sound does a hairlipped duck make?

*mack* *mack* (hm, and does it not echo either?)

Did you know felines (catty kits) have over 500 muscles in their bodies? AND, they have over 35 muscles in their ears?

*all the better to hear you with AND still ignore you!*

Yesterday I received my Cabelas' "Master Catalog Fall 2004 Edition 1." How long has it taken me to open it and feast my eyes upon the contents?

*hm, well, so far...it still sits in its plastic wrapping. I brought it to work with hopes of perusing it through my lunch, but, ah...it is really important that you remember to take your lunch!!*

Frank is tired (surprised on this one) and opted not to go to Bill & Debbie's tonight for Bible Study. Should I make some more spiced cider?

*YES! Seeing as how I never even tasted the last batch I made, I shall have to make some more to see what all the fuss is about.*

Should Sarah's Idea #1 be implemented?

*perhaps we should vote on it??? maybe that would make a good question for the website?*

I read this quote today and liked it:

"The highest proof of true friendship is the intimacy that holds nothing back and admits the friend to share our innermost secrest." - Andrew Murray

Got any secrets? I do! I have a very big secret! He.he.he.he..... A few certain someones actually know my secret...time will only tell if the secret can remain so until the designated time or revelation. Oh, how cryptic!

Oh yes...I have to confess we went and saw "The Forgotten" last night. If you haven't seen it, do not bother. Let me repeat that: DO NOT BOTHER. I was going along with the storyline and was even creeped out a bit when this tied up guy whispers, "They are listening..." Then WHOOOSH! He, along with an entire cabin, contents and all ('cept the two main actors in the movie), is sucked up into the air. After that point in the storyline...the movie became plain old silly and outrageous. I did jump once...which is unusual for me. Ho hum. They just don't make movies like they used to. Oh well...thank goodness there are plenty of extremely excellent books out there for me to read!!!

Bye for now!
dogledanje!!!

I did ask permission first, Bethany's my witness...

Hardy, har..har...beloved husband.

He neglected to tell you that he gaveth hiseth permissioneth toeth me-eth. Freaky with the 'eth stuff. Couldn't imagine living in the era of the King James' version of speaking...oh, what the who, let us give it a try...

If thine palate doth refresh upon thine consumption of mine heated
juice from an apple ladened tree of which was not forbiddened...thouest may
partake henceforth from mine bountiful blessing of thrice heated
preparation of mine concoction now knownest as thou celestial harbinger of
nonfermented apple libation liberally seasoned with spices.
Hasten forthwith and drink til thine thirst be slakened.

Oh well...that was exhausting and a bit prosaic in a meandering way!

Toodle-ooh! I will concoct more witty things to elaborate upon later!

So glad y'all enjoyed the cider...here be the recipe:

Mary's Cider-licious (according to Mistress Sarah!)

3 quarts Apple Juice
1 quart Sam's Choice Cran-Raspberry Juice
6 Tbs of CostPlus Mulling Spices

Put the spices in a cheesecloth bag and bring mixture to a rapid
boil. Turn off heat. I let mine sit overnight. Heat again to a
boil right before serving.

Enjoy!

Grumpy Gills Reporting Live (barely...)

Yes, I am going on my 13th hour without sleep. But, with all the exciting weather induced activities abounding, closing my eyes seems a distant thought (yeah, and if you believe that one...well, you know...)!

Ever notice how Californians react to wet weather? It is ludicrous! You'd think by now, most Californians would realize they have to wear their brains today...but nooooo....

So, I got to work at 7:02 a.m. today. Wednesdays are my early day. We had Grand Rounds, which is an educational opportunity for the Docs. They have to attend 30-40 hours of continuing medical education hours each year in order to renew their license to practice medicine. Didn't know that, didya? Stick around kid...you'll learn something new almost daily in these here parts of the universe.

Anywho...due to the inclement weather, only 25-30 medical peoples showed up today...and we normally have 130-140 attend! Well they missed a really interesting talk. I learned that Dr. Nuss invented the "Nuss Procedure." I even got to watch a rather graphic video of the Nuss Procedure being performed on a boy of about 9 or 10 years of age.

So what IS the Nuss Procedure? I'll tell you in my unprofessional laymen terms. Some folks (mostly males) are born with this concave indentation in their chest cavity and their sternum rests or pushes against their vital organs (important parts like the heart, lungs, duodenum...etc.). Well, they used to hafta do all these zipper looking incisions on people giving them that Frankenwienie look and good ol' Dr. Nuss said..."I think there's a better way!" Now, how or what inspired him to come up with what he did, is beyond my creative juices. But, I'm working on a postulation.

Moving along...those faint of heart and allergic to graphic details should skip on down the road and return tomorrow to a new posting.

You brave three souls remaining are rewarded with my less-than-graphic narrative. Dr. Nuss inserts this metal rod (which kinda looked to me like part of the insert you put into a filing cabinet to hang file folders...the long thin metal frame part that has etched ends which you can snap off to fit the depth of your drawer...) from one side of the rib cage, bending it, to go underneath the sternum bone, to pull it up to where it needs to be, and then threads it to come out on the other side of the rib cage. There's a handy gadget called a "bender tool" which looks more like a crank for an old crank-style ice-cream maker...and it actually bends the nuss rod (I guess that would be what it is called - or should be).

I hafta tell you! Watching these physicians work on a child and yank bars through body cavities is quite the knee-weakening event. They then take these butterfly looking metal fastners and "sew" the rod into place on the sub-dermal skin layer.

Casually, Dr. Nuss comments, "when the proper positioning of the sternum has adjusted into the correct placement, we remove the bar under local anesthesia...it is a simple outpatient procedure...." Well, the before and after pictures were quite dramatic in improvement...but that bit about "simple outpatient...local anesthesia..." was enough to reduce my bowels to water!

I really do love my job. It is amazing to see the technology and advancements medical science has made (by the grace of God, grant you).

My postulation - So, I have to wonder...one Thanksgiving, was Dr. Nuss in the kitchen watching his wife "dress" the turkey for their holiday feast?...Was he inspired by the skewering and sowing one does when they truss a bird for baking? What I watched was not unlike the trussing I refer to. Simply amazing.

Oh gee...Thanksgiving IS just around the corner. Sorry if I ruined it for any of you with that visual! Must be the lack of sleep causing such insensitivity and gross anatomy stories.

Well, there you have it from my tired brain.

I shall never look at a skewered bird the same again!

Signing off - Grumpy Gills!

Drowned rat + me = no sleep

So, I wonder if this was how Noah felt the first few days on the Ark? I've heard some pastors intimate Noah probably slept like a baby, safe within the Ark of God's design. What about Noah's wife? Did she sleep soundly?

Yes, cyber buddies...it is 4:05 a.m. on Wednesday. Thought I'd get an early start on my early day at work...er...that would be negative! Um...hmmm...the storm cell that just passed through here about 20 minutes ago knocked out our DirectTV reception (which Frank mumbled, "will reset after the cloudburst subsides and it gets a clear signal again..." before he shuffled back to bed). How long does it take to get a clear signal? I think the dish either became discombobulated (which is a really technical term for: this extreme weather pattern blew the dish off the roof) OR was sucked into wind sprite and is now orbiting the moon.

Hey! But it was NICE of Frank to notice I was gone and come and check on me. He's a keeper. Even if he is a sleeper!!! Grrrr.......

So, I cannot sleep. The rain (and wind) sounds like massive stones dropping into a swimming-pool-sized tin can (especially on the window airconditioner right by my head in our bedroom).

Frank sleeps like a baby in this kind of weather. Good for him. At least one of us won't be too grumpy today from lack of sleep.

I know, it is a choice to be grumpy. But, was it a choice to be rained upon? Negatory!!! Had I had a say in the downpour, which seems to have no end, I would have moved it over a few hundred yards and avoided my house altogether!

Okay, so, no Sarah, I didn't REALLY mean to boycott blogs!!! (Er, yes I did.) I just thought I'd write that to see if anyone responded and updated their blogs - which they did NOT! It must be a conspiracy.

The rain that is. I'm sure Kerry will find a way to blame President Bush for our foul weather. He's blaming him for everything else! Did you know Kerry's wife, Theresa, plans for her first agenda item as First Lady to be "gay tolerance"? Amazing. Please go away and never return. I'd personally appreciate it!

Well, I can only be so verbose with lack of sleep and mucho H2O invading my ear space! Perhaps Mrs. Noah just freaked out and didn't sleep for several days and succumbed to exhaustion and had no choice!

Did you know that if you go without sleep for too long you begin to hallucinate and lose weight and start answering to the name, "Grumpy Gills", as if it were a natural name to respond to?

Did you also know that if you have "pop-ups" blocked on your browser, spell check does not work?

Hey! I'm just a plethora of information, eh?

Okay...I need to do something else for a while. I'm beginning to think the screen is starting to melt like rain drops...

Raindrops keep falling on my head...
but that doesn't mean my skies will soon be turning gray
nothing's worryin' me, cause...

Who the heck wrote that song? AND, what the heck do those lyrics mean? Probably a result of someone who went without sleep for several days. I betcha!

Okay...I'm going now. I need to go practice being my sunny self! Oh yah...

I'm a bit envious Frank can sleep through this!
At least I have the kitties to keep me company...er...no...scratch that...they are all sleeping too!

Traitors!
Sleepers!
Noise ignorerers!
Rain disregarders!
Awakeness hypocrites!
Sheesh! I better go now!
*grumble*
....
signing off - Grumpy Gills!

fickle weather = fickle ramblings

Proverbs 25:11-12 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

"Flattery is like perfume: it is to be smelled in small quantities and never swallowed."

No commentaries today.

No sermons to preach.

Just a reminder to have your words to each other be sweetness and light today (and every day)!

Our weather is fickle. That is all I can say! This time last year, we were hot and fires blazed across the hills threatening homes and cabins in the mountains. Now we have rain and the threat of mudslides.

I do love the rain, however.

Eggnog is already in the grocery store! Frank loves eggnog! But, it is rather early to be enjoying that holiday beverage!!!

Yes, Mistress Sirah, I WILL have to concoct some of my Spiced Cider. Perhaps I shall have some prepared for our group on Wednesday night!!!???

So, I am a bit excited they are making a mini-series our of the Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea books. It will be on two nights, December 13 & 14. Well, it isn’t Return of the King…but it IS something to look forward to!!! Perhaps we should tape it and watch it when those interested in such cinematic fantasy are out of school for Winter Break?? Hmmm….

Oooh! Yessssssss! And, we need to have fish and chips at Muldoon’s Irish Pub…yess precioussss….fisshessss and chippssssesss….

Phew! It is time for lunch…no wonder I was thinking about food!

Sirah and I are the ONLY faithful ones to update their blogs somewhat consistently. Perhaps we should go on strike and boycott the whole blog thing???

Food calls…gotta run!

Dogledanje!!

Your way?

Growing up, Burger King used to have this commercial jingle: "Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us…all we ask is that you let us have it YOUR way! Have it YOUR way at Burger King." Fast Food restaurants in the late 60’s and early 70’s were more the exception, not the rule for dining out options. I don’t know if this jingle increased sales at Burger King, but I do know it began a trend that revolutionized fast food forever. All of a sudden, consumers were no longer confined to how a place prepared their food…they had choices! I wonder how many mothers repeatedly chimed at their children, "this isn’t Burger King!" during that era?

Today, the world screams at us "have it YOUR way." It is all about me. Whatever I want, whenever I want it and on demand, 24/7.

Unfortunately, this mindset has saturated our churches. I guess they are called "seeker friendly" churches. You know the ones I’m talking about. However, I don’t attend one of "those" kind of churches. I attend a church whose theme…er, vision…is displayed in gold letters on the wall behind where the pastor teaches. I attend a church "devoted to…Jesus Christ."

But I wonder about how devoted I am to Jesus Christ? This week I was challenged to literally "put Jesus right there next to me" in all situations when interacting with family, friends or the body. You see, I want to follow and be devoted to Christ. Don’t you? When I am focused on Christ, situations with others seem to be valued with Him in mind rather than me in mind. And, when I’m focused on Christ, I seem to be able to pay attention to those around me better, and love them…encourage them…be patient with them...correct them…challenge them…or pray for them.

The following was from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening for today:

"And be not conformed to this world."
- Rom_12:2
If a Christian can by possibility be saved while he conforms to this world, at any rate it must be so as by fire. Such a bare salvation is almost as much to be dreaded as desired. Reader, would you wish to leave this world in the darkness of a desponding death bed, and enter heaven as a shipwrecked mariner climbs the rocks of his native country? then be worldly; be mixed up with Mammonites, and refuse to go without the camp bearing Christ’s reproach. But would you have a heaven below as well as a heaven above? Would you comprehend with all saints what are the heights and depths, and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge? Would you receive an abundant entrance into the joy of your Lord? Then come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing. Would you attain the full assurance of faith? you cannot gain it while you commune with sinners. Would you flame with vehement love? Your love will be damped by the drenchings of godless society. You cannot become a great Christian-you may be a babe in grace, but you never can be a perfect man in Christ Jesus while you yield yourself to the worldly maxims and modes of business of men of the world. It is ill for an heir of heaven to be a great friend with the heirs of hell. It has a bad look when a courtier is too intimate with his king’s enemies. Even small inconsistencies are dangerous. Little thorns make great blisters, little moths destroy fine garments, and little frivolities and little rogueries will rob religion of a thousand joys. O professor, too little separated from sinners, you know not what you lose by your conformity to the world. It cuts the tendons of your strength, and makes you creep where you ought to run. Then, for your own comfort’s sake, and for the sake of your growth in grace, if you be a Christian, be a Christian, and be a marked and distinct one.
The world lies to you and tells you it is all about you. If you are a Christian, your life is all about Jesus Christ. Try focusing on Him in all things, big and minutia, and see if your perspective on people, things and circumstances don’t shift drastically. I can tell you how it is for me…but, I want you to investigate this one and find out for yourself!

Jesus first…Others second…and Yourself, least of all = JOY.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
in the light of His glory and grace.

After all, this Christian life…isn’t Burger King!

Dippin' Dots!!!

Hey! Guess what???

They now have Dippin' Dots at the Village in Orange. It is in space 5 behind Red Robin!

Ah, Miss Elizabeth, you are losing your reputation as a "Dippin' Dots" afficianado!

Way cool (literally)!

:-)

Nobody asked me...

You know it is bad when you have to update other people's blogs AND can figure out their username & password with two tries!

So, some random pollster people say Kerry is ahead of Bush. Well, I don't think that is accurate. Nobody asked me my opinion!!! Grrr....

I made stir-fry chicken tonight with brown rice. It was pretty good (as noted when Frank went into the kitchen for a second helping of food!). However, the taste-test challenge is Ranger. He only ate the chicken out of the bowl Jameson put on the floor. Nothing else. Will have to work on seasonings & get the wok out of our garage (which, incindentially, was a wedding present over 7 1/2 years ago!). If there are no leftovers for Ranger, then the fix'ins will be good.

Okay.

Mistress Sirah!!!!???? Whence willest thou update thine blog with something substantial?

Ho hum, the world can only sit and wait. With bated breath (Cat-food bated breath, if Ranger counts!)

Ciao!

I think I'm getting carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand/wrist/carpal area.

Aarrgh!

Camping anyone???

I want to go camping! No! Not the HUGE 15-18 people camping like Pismo Beach – but a more intimate 4-6 people camping trip. And, if you check out the following links, you’ll see why!!???

At first, I found Blue Sky Kitchen and was in camping kitchen heaven…until…

I found Cabelas! Check out the "Camping Kitches" sections...can you sigh, heaven? Oh boy. Hold me back. Organized camping kitchen, here I come. Seems I will need to continue cleaning out my garage, to see if I can find any more money to offset the cost of these purchases.

One of the gals I work with, went camping at San Simeon Creek State Campground this weekend and it sounded like a lot of fun!!! So, I’m a bit in the mood to trek to the great outdoors and “get away from it all!”

Pssst! Wanna come? When? Where?

I cannot believe I actually like camping.

Me?

Cough...ahem,

yes...me!

Okay, well, more on that later.

Did you hear Superman died over the weekend? Christopher Reeve died from complications arising from a systemic reaction which led to a heart attack. He was 52 years old. In 1995, he had a spinal cord injury from a horsing accident which left him paralyzed. Very sad.

So, did you know some folks believe there is a “Superman” curse?

Hmmm…

I believe my garage is cursed! No matter how many boxes I pulled out on Saturday, there were always MORE of them. They seemed to be multiplying like rabbits...of which I found several, that,

*heavy sigh*

I will sell at a decent price at my upcoming garage sale (date to be determined...ugh).

Back to the camping fixation I’m on right now. I think it must be more of a need to relax outside with a campfire (not the smoke-fire we had at Pismo), bundle up in a blanket and enjoy the outdoors. I KNOW it is a lot of packing, planning and hauling stuff to the “just right” location. But, it just sounds like fun to me.

And, we could bring Ranger. But not the kitties. They’d be tooo traumatized and noisy all night long.

Will have to ruminate on that a bit more.

That’s it from my corner of the world.

Dogledanje!!

Where does your hope lie?

“I hope this summer we go on vacation to Hawaii.”
“I hope he [or she] calls me!”
“I hope I get asked to the Homecoming dance!”
“I hope the money comes in so we can pay our bills.”

What do you hope? In all the above examples, the “hope” we talk about is more like “wishful thinking or wanting.” And yet, as children of God, we have a secure “hope” in Christ for our eternal life. This kind of hope is NOT wishful thinking. It is an “expectancy” of a future promise fulfilled. And, our hope is based upon Christ’s resurrection from the grave.

Have you really thought about that lately? In thinking about the hope I have in Christ for eternal life, I was reminded of the following beloved hymn.

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my *Ebenezer; here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, bought me with His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.
*Eben-ezer in Hebrew means “Stone of help” as found in 1Sa 7:12 "Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."

Praise God! Rejoice oh dour-faced Christian! However, don’t take my word for it, feast your eyes upon what God’s Word says:

Romans 5:1-9Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

1Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Hope: Peter is fond of this word also (see I Peter 1:13, 21; 3:15), which, in classical Greek, has the general signification of expectancy, relating to evil as well as to good.

In the New Testament the word "hope" always relates to a future good.

What is our future good? “To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you….” That, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ is a far greater hope…a satisfying hope…an everlasting hope. Fix your heart and thoughts on Christ Jesus and the hope He guarantees.

We ARE prone to wander…we ARE prone to fix our affections on the temporary, here today and gone tomorrow, things of this world.

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.

Take my heart Lord!

Where does your hope lie?

Psalm 23, Antithesis

This is from Disciplines for Life, page 4

The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.
It makes me lie down only when exhausted.
It leads me to deep depression.
It hounds my soul.
It leads me in circles of frenzy for activity's sake.
Even though I run frantically from task to task, I will never get it all done,
For my "ideal" is with me.
Deadlines and my need for approval,
they drive me.
They demand performance from me,
beyond the limits of my schedule.
They anoint my head with migraines.
My in-basket overflows.
Surely fatigue and time pressure shall
follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the bonds of
frustration forever.
- Marcia K. Hornok

"The one who doesn't know how or when to be silent doesn't know how or when to speak." - Donald Whitney

Did you get alone with God today?

dogledanje!!

Praise God for Potholes!!!

Living in Southern California, we don’t have the extreme weather conditions they celebrate and suffer through on the East Coast. One thing I am thankful we don’t have here: roads and highways shut down or closed due to inclement weather or potholes! Let me tell you, they have serious pothole problems in any part of the country where snow and ice eventually invade.

What is a pothole, you ask? Well…a pothole is anything from a divot to a major crater in the roadway. We have a few here but they are more like indentations in the road rather than classified as true potholes (notwithstanding the major sinkholes the Los Angeles basin contributes when El Nino or any of his siblings rumble into town).

Potholes can cause serious damage to your car’s alignment, drive train and, in severe holes, the chassi. Car-sized potholes can really put your car out of commission. If you accidentally drive into one (and, one would assume this was unknowingly on your part), your day will pretty much be spent trying to hoist your car out of the hole. All other plans for the day are forfeit as you concentrate on recovering your car.

Potholes are inevitable, but with caution and alertness, they can be avoided. Sometimes, no matter how you maneuver you end up hitting a pothole.

Spiritually, I hit a really huge pothole earlier this week! I was cautious. I was alert. Nevertheless, after the dust cleared, I found myself at the bottom of this pit of despair, discouragement and yes, fear.

In this pothole, the Body of Christ was precious to me! Not only did I have the comfort and concern of a husband who loves me and would do anything for me, but also the shoulder and care of a sister and brother in Christ who were willing to drop everything and carry my burden with me. All the while pointing me to Christ.

In that moment, I was able to tangibly feel and understand the love and care of Christ. I trust God. I trust His Word. I trust He is faithful, just and holy. I trust He is in control. Being able to experience the Body as God intended it to be, made it somehow understandable and real in a way I’ve only intellectually understood until now. Does that make any sense? It is kind of the same as when you pray and God answers your prayer! Or, when you understand God disciplines us because we are His children and He loves us, and then you look back on something and see God was disciplining you!

It becomes real. I’m not saying it was not real before…but it was not “known” before as it is experienced and understood now. Comfort, safety and refuge are found in God’s instructions, guidelines and “economy” for His children and Christ’s Bride, the church. When the Body interacts the way God intended it to interact, He is glorified.

God knows we need tangible arms to hug us, hearts to cry with us and mouths to speak words of encouragement to us. That is why we are called “the Body.” We are inter-dependent parts of a whole, who when focused on Christ, act in harmony and unity. We are able to care for and lift each other up which brings honor and glory to God. Just as the body needs all of its parts to optimally function, we need each other!

Think about that. Look at your brothers and sisters in Christ. You need them and they need you to optimally function as the Body of Christ. And, not just to glorify God in the potholes of life, but when there are clear skies and well-paved roads along this journey we call life.

I love the Body of Christ! Do you?

A life reflecting Jesus Christ...

Is your life meaningful?

I received another list from the Honorary Unsubscriber of people who contributed something to advance science, our lives or some other invention we may use every day but take for granted.

Iceal Hambleton, died from cancer on September 19, 2004 at age 85 – the man the book/movie “Bat 21 (1980)” was about. You can read more about him here.

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, died on August 24, 2004, at her home at age 78 - Her 1969 book On Death and Dying was both ground-breaking and best-selling. It described the "five stages" of impending death that most patients go through (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance), and found reaching the last step was easiest for those who could look back and agree their life had meaning.
Click here to read more about her.

Anita Borg, died April 6, 2004 from brain cancer at age 54. I always wondered where the idea for the “Borg” in the Star Trek: Generations TV shows might have come from. I do not know for sure that they came from this lady, but it is interested to note that Borg was a computer scientist and “realized that what she really wanted to do was not study computers but use computers to link people,” said Brian Reid, the head of a research group at DEC’s Western Research Laboratory where Borg worked.
You can read more about her here.

I do not know if any of these people were Christians. However, it does cause me to reflect upon my life and wonder what does my life say about Christ.

Look what Paul had to say about his life…may this be my prayer, and yours, also.

Philippians 1:20-21 “according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Though I know I won’t make the Honorary Unsubscriber list (and don’t care), I do desire to be greeted with these words when I see Christ Jesus, “Well done, my good & faithful servant.”

May I reflect Christ Jesus and not me.

Again...Ants invade...

I forgot to mention it earlier. At 6:35 a.m. today I was trying to keep my cool as I set traps for yet another invasion of those tiny, annoying red ants. I think I shall have to converse with Mistress Sarah. I've been updaing my blog! Albeit, I haven't been regularly continuing my story...but...

sheesh

I hope they have all taken the bait and are D-E-A-D when I come home.

Off to the colonies...

Can you Date the Church???

The following is taken directly from Josh Harris’ website

Are you dating the church?

Putting in their hour or two on the weekend, many Christians take the rest of the week off, neglecting the church and her needs. It's not a serious relationship. Some shop around, looking for a church that suits their lifestyle. It's dating, with no assurances, no obligations.

Best-selling author Joshua Harris calls Christians to stop playing the field and commit, just as Christ is committed to us, His bride. In his new book, Harris explores the ramifications of Ephesians 5:25-32, which proclaims the intensity and the breadth of Jesus Christ's love for His church.

God has designed us to build our lives around a local church; we cannot be indifferent or uninvolved. Rather, we must be in love with and committed to God's plan and purpose through the church. Are you dating the church, or are you committed.

Ephesians 5:25-32
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

The new book is titled: Stop Dating the Church! By Joshua Harris

I think I will go hunt for this book today on my lunch hour. I’ll let you know what I find.

Interesting timing. God is incredibly good!

Wow!

So, just a random thought – I wonder if we could judge our commitment to our church body by our commitment to our marriage relationships (or vice versa)? And, if that is a valid comparison – do singles, teens…shadow now the kind of marriage partners they will make should they become married in the future? I’ll investigate this thought…don’t quote me or run off with this thought.

Interesting.

On an information side note – I received an email from “Sovereign Grace Ministries” and copied the following:

New Senior Pastor for Covenant Life Church
C.J. Mahaney to Lead Sovereign Grace Ministries Full-Time

For 27 years, C.J. Mahaney prayed for his replacement as senior pastor of Covenant Life Church. For the past six years, he has discipled and trained his replacement. Then, on the historic "Milestone Weekend," September 17 to 19, C.J. transferred the role of senior pastor to his successor, Joshua Harris.

"Today I am making the loudest statement I can make of my trust in you and my respect for you," C.J. announced during Joshua's installment Sunday morning. "I can make no louder statement. And I want to thank you for bringing me so much joy."

This happy yet sober event—based on pastoral charges found in 2 Timothy 4:1-5—was preceded by two days of events honoring and thanking C.J. for his service and friendship to the many that his ministry has affected, especially the now 3,000 members of Covenant Life Church.

Cool!

Have a great weekend.
Pursue God.
Fall in-love with Him.
Forget about yourself and focus on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Glorify God by your life.
Lord, help me to love Your body, the church.