I thought I would share this oldie but goodie! However, not so much for the song but how much the world has changed since 1973 when this was released .... The mines shown are now all closed, styles change, technology changes and yet the resounding beat behind all of it is - money ...
May 30, 2015
May 28, 2015
Making Do With Little
Thinking on Mark 23 and 24 ...
As Christians, in this Western Pagan Culture, if you are a Christian and seem to be one of the Pagans, then you have to decide whether or not you have bought into the lie (Do you make excuses for God?) ... If you have, well - welcome to paganism, if not I would be surprised ... even Satan bought into the lie and it is far smarter than you and I combined ...
We count ourselves as smarter than the average bear, we have wealth, we have status, we are capable of supplying all of our own needs. Things which should be in the area of faith, in God, we have usurped from God as our own ...
God Wants to Use You
Surprise! You have NOTHING to offer God. He does not need you, He can use any of millions of others in your place, He is God - you are not.
You make demands on God? Well, in the end, you will get what is coming to you! Surprise!
However, what God does want from you is your praise! So, rejoice if you truly do know the real God in Heaven!
And if you really do know Him, then understand this:
Serving Others = Serving God
Serving Jesus = Serving Others
What others? Oh, I see you are a member of the Pharisees .....
Try ALL others! Your service to the non-Christian and Christian alike is your testimony in this Pagan culture. Do you have a testimony? (hint: has nothing to do with your salvation!)
What Have You Got
You have no need of knowing what God is doing
You are have no way to know either, you are not God's counsel!
What His plans are, is above your level, since you are not God
Because your job is to obey
Give what you have to His purposes. Not sure what they are? Then you have a problem.
Either you do not actually know the real God because the paganism of this culture has conquered you, or you are supposed to stop running around like a chicken with its head cut off, stand still and listen!
Listen to what?
That quiet voice we so easily drown out in lue of listening to what we want to do!
Study your Bible - if you know your Bible you will know the counterfeit God of this age and see it at work.
Prayer - your life devoted to prayer, even in your confusion, God will come to your aid!
Stand firm in what you know!
When seeing God's desire for your service - go and serve.
God wants willing hearts.
Able hands.
Open minds.
Your praise.
Bless God For What/How He Provides
Every thing you learn.
Every thing you experience - become a tool for God to use.
He may even call upon you to do the unthinkable in this culture (apart from sin), if that is what it is going to take to accomplish His purpose in those you are exposed to!
His goal: ALL your acquaintance, ALL of your family - are His!
Praise
Be more than satisfied with what God provides.
Be more than satisfied when you are given an assignment.
Be more than satisfied He cares, He listens, He answers ...
And it all starts with knowing your Bible.
Where to start? Read through Luke, Acts, John's Letters and finally Revelation - in that order! And from a solid translation ... NIV if that is what you have access to ...
And what about making do with little?
Yeah, you are not a prize, you are what God has to use in this world.
He has to overcome you stubbornness and hatreds, over zealousness, and drifting into lukewarmness - all because you are not where you are supposed to be! Doing what you have been called to do.
Now, start praying, swallow your pride, go beyond fear, fear and get out there and perform!
As Christians, in this Western Pagan Culture, if you are a Christian and seem to be one of the Pagans, then you have to decide whether or not you have bought into the lie (Do you make excuses for God?) ... If you have, well - welcome to paganism, if not I would be surprised ... even Satan bought into the lie and it is far smarter than you and I combined ...
We count ourselves as smarter than the average bear, we have wealth, we have status, we are capable of supplying all of our own needs. Things which should be in the area of faith, in God, we have usurped from God as our own ...
God Wants to Use You
Surprise! You have NOTHING to offer God. He does not need you, He can use any of millions of others in your place, He is God - you are not.
You make demands on God? Well, in the end, you will get what is coming to you! Surprise!
However, what God does want from you is your praise! So, rejoice if you truly do know the real God in Heaven!
And if you really do know Him, then understand this:
Serving Others = Serving God
Serving Jesus = Serving Others
What others? Oh, I see you are a member of the Pharisees .....
Try ALL others! Your service to the non-Christian and Christian alike is your testimony in this Pagan culture. Do you have a testimony? (hint: has nothing to do with your salvation!)
What Have You Got
You have no need of knowing what God is doing
You are have no way to know either, you are not God's counsel!
What His plans are, is above your level, since you are not God
Because your job is to obey
Give what you have to His purposes. Not sure what they are? Then you have a problem.
Either you do not actually know the real God because the paganism of this culture has conquered you, or you are supposed to stop running around like a chicken with its head cut off, stand still and listen!
Listen to what?
That quiet voice we so easily drown out in lue of listening to what we want to do!
Study your Bible - if you know your Bible you will know the counterfeit God of this age and see it at work.
Prayer - your life devoted to prayer, even in your confusion, God will come to your aid!
Stand firm in what you know!
When seeing God's desire for your service - go and serve.
God wants willing hearts.
Able hands.
Open minds.
Your praise.
Bless God For What/How He Provides
Every thing you learn.
Every thing you experience - become a tool for God to use.
He may even call upon you to do the unthinkable in this culture (apart from sin), if that is what it is going to take to accomplish His purpose in those you are exposed to!
His goal: ALL your acquaintance, ALL of your family - are His!
Praise
Be more than satisfied with what God provides.
Be more than satisfied when you are given an assignment.
Be more than satisfied He cares, He listens, He answers ...
And it all starts with knowing your Bible.
Where to start? Read through Luke, Acts, John's Letters and finally Revelation - in that order! And from a solid translation ... NIV if that is what you have access to ...
And what about making do with little?
Yeah, you are not a prize, you are what God has to use in this world.
He has to overcome you stubbornness and hatreds, over zealousness, and drifting into lukewarmness - all because you are not where you are supposed to be! Doing what you have been called to do.
Now, start praying, swallow your pride, go beyond fear, fear and get out there and perform!
May 27, 2015
Bummer of a Few Days!
Sorry that I have not been able to post. Trust I would far more desired blogging to having my heart fail out of the clear blue!
Since the last stint placement in October ... or was it November? sigh ... I have had only minor difficulties: there is she whom by her behavior must be categorized as wanting me dead - virtually impossible to deal with! And I did have a heart attack in late April/early May. Heck if I could point to it - nothing happened in that time frame I was even aware of!
But, Sunday, oh I knew I was in trouble, just no way of knowing in what form! I was freezing! but it was a warm day and I ended up under a pile of wool blankets.
Monday, I was still blue but as it was a holiday weekend, I knew that equals only being put on oxygen at the hospital and charged a few thousand dollars. Took several nitro pills to dilate the arteries and back under the wool!
Tuesday was much better, was able to get a cardiologist appointment for June 17th (sigh) and stayed in bed otherwise.
Well, okay, I broke out my horrible movie flash drives - in this case, science fiction. Watched Apex, one of those science fictions where you have to wonder why it never made it to a theater. It was not bad at all! And, another that I took to be the first attempt to film the Butterfly Effect, a better movie but again, I never heard of it in a theater!
Finally, I ended Tuesday with Quartermass and the Pit, also known as 5 Million Years To Earth, for those of us whom saw its original European release. It is one of only two Hammer Studio films I liked as a kid - so it was good to see something I had liked so much as a kid, but now as an adult with a new nature ... And, I still like it! Well acted, written, filmed and with what was probably a microscopic budget! If only we could once again have this quality of film - perhaps we would not then have sequel, after prequel, after remake of the same old stories!
I read this morning that they are going to redo League of Extraordinary Gentlemen! I happened to like the film, very fun, not serious at all and Sean Connery was great ... and now a redo ... Why not just make something new for Pete's Sake!!!!!
As I post this, after two hours of typing on this! I will settle back to watch: Fritz Lang's: Frau im Mond from 1929 (the movie that shows the stupidity of governments! Had Goddard not been the supreme egotist he was, had someone in the US military had any intelligence, some real questions could have been been asked over a decade before World War II as to where the German rocket program really was.) (My rant for life: the utter stupidity of those whom claim to be experts ... sigh)
Since the last stint placement in October ... or was it November? sigh ... I have had only minor difficulties: there is she whom by her behavior must be categorized as wanting me dead - virtually impossible to deal with! And I did have a heart attack in late April/early May. Heck if I could point to it - nothing happened in that time frame I was even aware of!
But, Sunday, oh I knew I was in trouble, just no way of knowing in what form! I was freezing! but it was a warm day and I ended up under a pile of wool blankets.
Monday, I was still blue but as it was a holiday weekend, I knew that equals only being put on oxygen at the hospital and charged a few thousand dollars. Took several nitro pills to dilate the arteries and back under the wool!
Tuesday was much better, was able to get a cardiologist appointment for June 17th (sigh) and stayed in bed otherwise.
Well, okay, I broke out my horrible movie flash drives - in this case, science fiction. Watched Apex, one of those science fictions where you have to wonder why it never made it to a theater. It was not bad at all! And, another that I took to be the first attempt to film the Butterfly Effect, a better movie but again, I never heard of it in a theater!
Finally, I ended Tuesday with Quartermass and the Pit, also known as 5 Million Years To Earth, for those of us whom saw its original European release. It is one of only two Hammer Studio films I liked as a kid - so it was good to see something I had liked so much as a kid, but now as an adult with a new nature ... And, I still like it! Well acted, written, filmed and with what was probably a microscopic budget! If only we could once again have this quality of film - perhaps we would not then have sequel, after prequel, after remake of the same old stories!
I read this morning that they are going to redo League of Extraordinary Gentlemen! I happened to like the film, very fun, not serious at all and Sean Connery was great ... and now a redo ... Why not just make something new for Pete's Sake!!!!!
As I post this, after two hours of typing on this! I will settle back to watch: Fritz Lang's: Frau im Mond from 1929 (the movie that shows the stupidity of governments! Had Goddard not been the supreme egotist he was, had someone in the US military had any intelligence, some real questions could have been been asked over a decade before World War II as to where the German rocket program really was.) (My rant for life: the utter stupidity of those whom claim to be experts ... sigh)
May 26, 2015
Conferring Sainthood
Thanks to the paganism of the Roman Catholic Church, they created something called a "Saint" someone whom - based on their virtue - has been deified and found worthy of being prayed for and whom is expect to intercede for us poor unworthies still here on Earth. That is the very definition of idolatry, but that does not seem to bother over 1,000 years of Roman Catholic Popes. (We are only discussing the topic of Saints here, so draw no other conclusions because it will be wrong based on so little information.)
And there are a host of Saints! Saints for every activity or occupation, Saints for birthday celebrations, boys, girls, men, women and I think it was a retriever or perhaps a St. Bernard, legions of Saints! Honestly, I have tried to just remember the main ones and there are far too many for this sieve of a brain!
I remember some confusion as I began down the path to become a Christian over the whole issue of Saints. I "knew" something was instinctively wrong with the Catholic version and Foxe's Book of Martyrs only added more confusion. If Saints were the dead ... then ...
Joshua 2:1-21
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
Certainly, Rahib was found righteous because she feared God and chose wisely in her support of the Hebrew spies. Rahib was also not dead. If the righteous are the Saints, and she was raised to the level of belief .... My mind spun in the inadequacy of what was known about being a Saint.
And what of Ephesians 4:11-13:
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Well, it is a hard topic: Catholicism versus Protestantism, dead versus live, intercession versus service to God. The comparison forces me to go with the Protestant idea of a Saint is one whom has found salvation (righteousness in God).
But, to think on this more ...
Am I a Saint? Well, at face value - yes, because I have found salvation in Jesus. But, for the cynical mind: my life is not over, so I still have plenty of time to foul up. Conversely the dead can't make anymore mistakes!
The Catholic Church has been pursuing Saint-hood for Pope John Paul II. I have watched and studied the life of this man intensely. Was he a Christian - yes, in my book. Was he a good Catholic - not so sure, he had problems with the Cult of Mary within the Church.
So, yeah, I would call him a Saint because he was a believer, but no I do not really believe he believed that anyone other than Jesus came between us and God.
And there are a host of Saints! Saints for every activity or occupation, Saints for birthday celebrations, boys, girls, men, women and I think it was a retriever or perhaps a St. Bernard, legions of Saints! Honestly, I have tried to just remember the main ones and there are far too many for this sieve of a brain!
I remember some confusion as I began down the path to become a Christian over the whole issue of Saints. I "knew" something was instinctively wrong with the Catholic version and Foxe's Book of Martyrs only added more confusion. If Saints were the dead ... then ...
Joshua 2:1-21
Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.
2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”
So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
Hebrews 11:31
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
Certainly, Rahib was found righteous because she feared God and chose wisely in her support of the Hebrew spies. Rahib was also not dead. If the righteous are the Saints, and she was raised to the level of belief .... My mind spun in the inadequacy of what was known about being a Saint.
And what of Ephesians 4:11-13:
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Well, it is a hard topic: Catholicism versus Protestantism, dead versus live, intercession versus service to God. The comparison forces me to go with the Protestant idea of a Saint is one whom has found salvation (righteousness in God).
But, to think on this more ...
Am I a Saint? Well, at face value - yes, because I have found salvation in Jesus. But, for the cynical mind: my life is not over, so I still have plenty of time to foul up. Conversely the dead can't make anymore mistakes!
The Catholic Church has been pursuing Saint-hood for Pope John Paul II. I have watched and studied the life of this man intensely. Was he a Christian - yes, in my book. Was he a good Catholic - not so sure, he had problems with the Cult of Mary within the Church.
So, yeah, I would call him a Saint because he was a believer, but no I do not really believe he believed that anyone other than Jesus came between us and God.
May 25, 2015
Memorial Day
We all have ancestors, since none of us are self generating! Though, that would be an interesting movie idea ....
This morning I was thinking about how if you dig back through your family history, all of us have someone or something that is memorable. Perhaps someone in your past did something famous or infamous, perhaps even history shattering. It is with no real delight that I am a direct descendent of Frederick the Great, he was not a very nice man, highly desiring of Jesus Salvation but too worldly hungry to ever find it. Nor is it a delight to be a direct descendent of Ivan the Impaler, yeah he could and would slaughter Turk and Christian alike. Sigh, my father's family is just riddled with less than astonishing men. My mother's family? Henry Morgan stands out like a beacon, English privateer for the English Crown, but unable to control his personal problems in any manner. And outside of the Ivan connection, always on the wrong side of the sheets. Gees!
And probably like you, a whole host of potato farmers of no memory - just a name, all history lost.
There are others in my genealogy of lessor note, as I glace above, but almost nothing is known of them - other than then perhaps the manner in which they died and whom they were related to.
The earliest mention of a Plattner was in the 16th Century in Canton Basle. A humble man, a root vegetable grower, a family man with several daughters, a poor man. The only reason even he is known is because he took his hoe to a group of Roman Catholic Priests whom were hungry and felt it their right to take what he was growing. So the letter to the Pope reads. Well, it won him a place in history! But, silence on the Plattner front until just over a century ago.
So what do I think on this Memorial Day?
The recently departed grandmother, great-aunt or even my father? Nothing above to really celebrate. No one fought in any wars - they may have been great thinkers and strategists, but none of them actual drew a sword other than Ivan and well, he was a bit touched.
And then I got to thinking about my spiritual heritage. That long line of believers stretching back to whom? One of the disciples? Paul? Or someone whom figured it out, putting all of those pieces together (with God's help of course!) in order to find Jesus for salvation? And remembering those whom have played a part in my own salvation has brought a smile.
But, then again, perhaps to remember those whom I was a player in their finding their faith in Jesus. Some long gone from this life, some still around and some still struggling. And that brought a smile as well.
I think I will take the day and pray for those whom were instrumental in bringing me into the faith - directly or indirectly, as well as, for those whom follow me in this faith. Hey, maybe even for me too - I have many struggles.
This morning I was thinking about how if you dig back through your family history, all of us have someone or something that is memorable. Perhaps someone in your past did something famous or infamous, perhaps even history shattering. It is with no real delight that I am a direct descendent of Frederick the Great, he was not a very nice man, highly desiring of Jesus Salvation but too worldly hungry to ever find it. Nor is it a delight to be a direct descendent of Ivan the Impaler, yeah he could and would slaughter Turk and Christian alike. Sigh, my father's family is just riddled with less than astonishing men. My mother's family? Henry Morgan stands out like a beacon, English privateer for the English Crown, but unable to control his personal problems in any manner. And outside of the Ivan connection, always on the wrong side of the sheets. Gees!
And probably like you, a whole host of potato farmers of no memory - just a name, all history lost.
There are others in my genealogy of lessor note, as I glace above, but almost nothing is known of them - other than then perhaps the manner in which they died and whom they were related to.
The earliest mention of a Plattner was in the 16th Century in Canton Basle. A humble man, a root vegetable grower, a family man with several daughters, a poor man. The only reason even he is known is because he took his hoe to a group of Roman Catholic Priests whom were hungry and felt it their right to take what he was growing. So the letter to the Pope reads. Well, it won him a place in history! But, silence on the Plattner front until just over a century ago.
So what do I think on this Memorial Day?
The recently departed grandmother, great-aunt or even my father? Nothing above to really celebrate. No one fought in any wars - they may have been great thinkers and strategists, but none of them actual drew a sword other than Ivan and well, he was a bit touched.
And then I got to thinking about my spiritual heritage. That long line of believers stretching back to whom? One of the disciples? Paul? Or someone whom figured it out, putting all of those pieces together (with God's help of course!) in order to find Jesus for salvation? And remembering those whom have played a part in my own salvation has brought a smile.
But, then again, perhaps to remember those whom I was a player in their finding their faith in Jesus. Some long gone from this life, some still around and some still struggling. And that brought a smile as well.
I think I will take the day and pray for those whom were instrumental in bringing me into the faith - directly or indirectly, as well as, for those whom follow me in this faith. Hey, maybe even for me too - I have many struggles.
May 23, 2015
Musical Saturday Morning
Been a while since I have had some surfing music on the site, so how about a little Dick Dale?
By the end of the 1950's Dick had set a world's record for number of notes on a guitar per minute. I am not sure that it has been broken, but if it has, I hope they have heard of tendonitis!
Dick then went on in the 1960's with creating the whole surfer sound and surfer guitar style.
So, a little fun from the early days of surfer sound!
By the end of the 1950's Dick had set a world's record for number of notes on a guitar per minute. I am not sure that it has been broken, but if it has, I hope they have heard of tendonitis!
Dick then went on in the 1960's with creating the whole surfer sound and surfer guitar style.
So, a little fun from the early days of surfer sound!
May 22, 2015
OMG! urp ...
So, I was going to show you a photo of my foot in its healing process. But, Oldest Daughter was late getting to the house and I was scootering past the door when she knocked. And she was in a rush to leave NOW, no one ever says, "no" to a Russian woman ... just a safe lesson I learned while there. Hence, camera was left laying on my computer table.
Her son's doctor has an office in the same building as my surgeon, so she headed off to get grandson's shot records so he can register for school! Where has time gone? And I retreated into one of the special exam rooms to have my foot get its first cleaning and visual inspection.
An orderly wrapped and unpacked the metal skeleton my foot now lives in ... and I am not a squeamish man, but I almost lost it ...
The foot, so heavily scarred from the surgeries, was still bleeding in some areas and seeping in others - no problem. It was the 15 pins and a bolt that ran from the skeleton into my flesh that did me in. It was like something from a science fiction horror film, the kind I do not watch. Gore has no appeal to me, seen too much, caused to much in my short non-Christian days (daze!).
Cleaned all up, the doctor broke out his automotive tool kit and set to work on what I now know to be the titanium structure. A few more bolts that yes, they did make me gasp for air as each was torqued down, and it was time to repack the foot. It was so hard not to order a Mojito at the Mexican cantina afterwards ... but I will put death off for a later time.
So, sorry, no photo that will make you lose your lunch, but such as it is, politely hidden under layers of cotton packing, gauze and ace bandages:
and okay, a thoroughly ploughed me on oxycodone ...
The shirt reads:
I am not stubborn, I am German
:)
Her son's doctor has an office in the same building as my surgeon, so she headed off to get grandson's shot records so he can register for school! Where has time gone? And I retreated into one of the special exam rooms to have my foot get its first cleaning and visual inspection.
An orderly wrapped and unpacked the metal skeleton my foot now lives in ... and I am not a squeamish man, but I almost lost it ...
The foot, so heavily scarred from the surgeries, was still bleeding in some areas and seeping in others - no problem. It was the 15 pins and a bolt that ran from the skeleton into my flesh that did me in. It was like something from a science fiction horror film, the kind I do not watch. Gore has no appeal to me, seen too much, caused to much in my short non-Christian days (daze!).
Cleaned all up, the doctor broke out his automotive tool kit and set to work on what I now know to be the titanium structure. A few more bolts that yes, they did make me gasp for air as each was torqued down, and it was time to repack the foot. It was so hard not to order a Mojito at the Mexican cantina afterwards ... but I will put death off for a later time.
So, sorry, no photo that will make you lose your lunch, but such as it is, politely hidden under layers of cotton packing, gauze and ace bandages:
and okay, a thoroughly ploughed me on oxycodone ...
The shirt reads:
I am not stubborn, I am German
:)
May 21, 2015
Statistics
Blogger gathers lots of statistics and ever so often I sniff through them, there is little change until these past six months.
Today the majority of my readers are all using smart phones, with Safari. Historically, even in the old Eastern Bloc, it was all pc's and Windows or Opera. Now, I might be the only reader of my blog using a pc and windows! Guess I ought to see what those smart phones do in accessing my blog, so as to make it more friendly and easy to use. Perhaps it already is - no idea.
I still use a flip phone, had it for the past 10 years and though I get almost no phone calls, I do manage to overflow its 35 message memory several times a day! Especially if Oldest Daughter is on the warpath over something! Or if a friend is in a texting mood. :)
Last time I was up in Seattle, some "gang type" offered me $500 for my phone. I burst out laughing. Later I found out that my phone is untraceable - as it is GPS nothing enabled! So, guess our little cash flush drug type was looking to disappear. LOL! Here in Seattle the police track all cell phones by their radio signal, block by block! Silly gang member should watch the news.
Also countries which were once heavy readers, still are of The Little Apple, but not of After The Apple. Not sure why, but still running over 500 on the Little Apple and weekly someone, somewhere in the world does a massive download of my material! I hope it is the Christian parts as I was gaining in understanding. And conversely, no downloads running on After the Apple. Well, I blog what is of interest to me in my life, perhaps my life is no longer interesting? Heck if I know. If I blog stuff that really rages within my soul ... well, we would be talking weird novella at the least! Probably tons of readers and no one would ever trust me again. LOL!
Today, readers are scattered everywhere, not just in Europe and Eastern Europe. Even the most tiny of countries a single reader pops up ever so often. And this has made me cautious that if my blog is the only semi teaching of Jesus they may ever read, well, I get it right. So, more research, less fun. And greater transparency also makes me queasy. And I am learning where little countries are on a map!
Also when Blog-landia (original term coined by me!) was so much smaller I used to surf it during long boring sessions of fools pontificating on what they knew not of. I concluded the average blogger was a 14 year old Japanese girl, posting about her cat after dinner ...
Not much has changed today, other than the massive pornography presence which my blockers handle for me. Oh, the 14 year old girls are now in the Americas and now in a contest with 10 year Japanese boys for presence. Cats are still the big story however. Sigh.
From what I can see is that Blog-landia has been badly damaged by FaceBook. I do not spend a great deal of time there. It is the only real attachment I have to my cousin Anne (she still needs your prayers - salvation and health), my first God-daughter (we think still in jail but prayers for healing and a brain that works).
Of the two, I still like Blogger, it is a nice place for documenting things I will want to read later. And I do reread perhaps once a year to remember where I was and compare to where I am. And I probably should drop in more photos sometime, but i just do not take much of a picture ...
Today the majority of my readers are all using smart phones, with Safari. Historically, even in the old Eastern Bloc, it was all pc's and Windows or Opera. Now, I might be the only reader of my blog using a pc and windows! Guess I ought to see what those smart phones do in accessing my blog, so as to make it more friendly and easy to use. Perhaps it already is - no idea.
I still use a flip phone, had it for the past 10 years and though I get almost no phone calls, I do manage to overflow its 35 message memory several times a day! Especially if Oldest Daughter is on the warpath over something! Or if a friend is in a texting mood. :)
Last time I was up in Seattle, some "gang type" offered me $500 for my phone. I burst out laughing. Later I found out that my phone is untraceable - as it is GPS nothing enabled! So, guess our little cash flush drug type was looking to disappear. LOL! Here in Seattle the police track all cell phones by their radio signal, block by block! Silly gang member should watch the news.
Also countries which were once heavy readers, still are of The Little Apple, but not of After The Apple. Not sure why, but still running over 500 on the Little Apple and weekly someone, somewhere in the world does a massive download of my material! I hope it is the Christian parts as I was gaining in understanding. And conversely, no downloads running on After the Apple. Well, I blog what is of interest to me in my life, perhaps my life is no longer interesting? Heck if I know. If I blog stuff that really rages within my soul ... well, we would be talking weird novella at the least! Probably tons of readers and no one would ever trust me again. LOL!
Today, readers are scattered everywhere, not just in Europe and Eastern Europe. Even the most tiny of countries a single reader pops up ever so often. And this has made me cautious that if my blog is the only semi teaching of Jesus they may ever read, well, I get it right. So, more research, less fun. And greater transparency also makes me queasy. And I am learning where little countries are on a map!
Also when Blog-landia (original term coined by me!) was so much smaller I used to surf it during long boring sessions of fools pontificating on what they knew not of. I concluded the average blogger was a 14 year old Japanese girl, posting about her cat after dinner ...
Not much has changed today, other than the massive pornography presence which my blockers handle for me. Oh, the 14 year old girls are now in the Americas and now in a contest with 10 year Japanese boys for presence. Cats are still the big story however. Sigh.
From what I can see is that Blog-landia has been badly damaged by FaceBook. I do not spend a great deal of time there. It is the only real attachment I have to my cousin Anne (she still needs your prayers - salvation and health), my first God-daughter (we think still in jail but prayers for healing and a brain that works).
Of the two, I still like Blogger, it is a nice place for documenting things I will want to read later. And I do reread perhaps once a year to remember where I was and compare to where I am. And I probably should drop in more photos sometime, but i just do not take much of a picture ...
May 20, 2015
So You Rebuild Your Computer
By the end of last night, I had a perfectly solid machine running. I am always happy when I can do something - ANYTHING! - right. But, time for a pain pill and I was out for the next three hours.
But, when I arose, I was to find my machine a bug infested cesspool .... GRRRRRRRR!!!!!
Well, stuck running buggy machine for a while I guess ....
As if my blog is actually read by someone in my church, I had a call from my best friend in the church - a first in MONTHS! It has been so long that I was beginning to wonder if he had lost or broken my metal detector I loaned him ... So I will see him on Thursday.
Then a friend from long ago, an antagonist as of late, came over and obvious felt very stupid. He did the typical shifting of feet, did not want to sit and jetted as soon as he felt he could. He knows me better than that. I mourn lost friends. Not sure why he came, it only hurts the more to know neither of us will ever trust the other again.
And to make for a big surprise - the pastor swung by! Really! It has been years since he has had more than a good morning for me - unless I am to be accused of lies by those he knew to be liars, yet he choose their stories as believable. Don't ask me, I was the one blindsided ... Like ex-friend, he was not comfortable. I tried to draw him into a conversation, to no success. Another visit, but to what purpose? I have no idea.
So, pain pill is kicking in, so back to bed ...
But, when I arose, I was to find my machine a bug infested cesspool .... GRRRRRRRR!!!!!
Well, stuck running buggy machine for a while I guess ....
As if my blog is actually read by someone in my church, I had a call from my best friend in the church - a first in MONTHS! It has been so long that I was beginning to wonder if he had lost or broken my metal detector I loaned him ... So I will see him on Thursday.
Then a friend from long ago, an antagonist as of late, came over and obvious felt very stupid. He did the typical shifting of feet, did not want to sit and jetted as soon as he felt he could. He knows me better than that. I mourn lost friends. Not sure why he came, it only hurts the more to know neither of us will ever trust the other again.
And to make for a big surprise - the pastor swung by! Really! It has been years since he has had more than a good morning for me - unless I am to be accused of lies by those he knew to be liars, yet he choose their stories as believable. Don't ask me, I was the one blindsided ... Like ex-friend, he was not comfortable. I tried to draw him into a conversation, to no success. Another visit, but to what purpose? I have no idea.
So, pain pill is kicking in, so back to bed ...
May 19, 2015
Defiling God
Last week, I do not even remember where I was, I over heard just a part of a conversation. It seems someone had a daughter, not unlike my oldest, whom had to be invited to leave the family as she had chosen a lifestyle not reflective of ANY of my nor this family's values. It literally broke my heart.
This young girl, whomever she was, had made the same choices and kept her child. However, unlike me, her father never attempted to restore the damaged relationship. And now due to some incident, she was dead.
Now this man, was being addressed by what I took be a lifelong friend. No one would have taken this conversion from anyone less! Yes, very hostile! And I am not going to go into it because it was the end of the conversation that struck me.
The father, in discussing his unknown grandchild, said, "So, what am I supposed to do?"
The friend said, "You have already defiled God in your relationship with your daughter, now He has given you a chance to not defile Him again."
I do not think I had ever heard this term before ... defiling God. Is that even possible for man to do? We are not talking about defiling the Temple of God, nor your body aka Temple. But, God himself ...
Of course, you will not find anywhere in the Bible a reference to this. So, what was this just hack religion the guy was spewing? I had to think on this, in my drug numbed post surgery brain ...
What is the opposite of defile? If my computer were working, well it would have been handy but it crashed last week and I spent all of Sunday night trying to restore just a basic and CLEAN machine. But, Kris is using his brain, such as it was.
My conclusion is that the opposite of defile is to honor, and there are many, many, many verse about honoring God!
Did it honor God for me to have driven my oldest daughter from the home? No, I did it in hopes of salvaging my other three kids. Did not work, seems the rot had already gotten to them as well :(
In alike manner, if my actions did not honor God, then there was certainly no honor in the situation this other father found himself in.
But, as this friend had observed: God was defiled by this man in how he treated his daughter. And for me, I think I avoided that through my reader at the time, Kelly. Her sage advise helped to rebuild our damaged relationship ... every girl really does need a father.
Will this man step forward into this responsibility? I certainly hope so. I know that my oldest daughter is the closest to my heart and her children are my sunshine .....
This young girl, whomever she was, had made the same choices and kept her child. However, unlike me, her father never attempted to restore the damaged relationship. And now due to some incident, she was dead.
Now this man, was being addressed by what I took be a lifelong friend. No one would have taken this conversion from anyone less! Yes, very hostile! And I am not going to go into it because it was the end of the conversation that struck me.
The father, in discussing his unknown grandchild, said, "So, what am I supposed to do?"
The friend said, "You have already defiled God in your relationship with your daughter, now He has given you a chance to not defile Him again."
I do not think I had ever heard this term before ... defiling God. Is that even possible for man to do? We are not talking about defiling the Temple of God, nor your body aka Temple. But, God himself ...
Of course, you will not find anywhere in the Bible a reference to this. So, what was this just hack religion the guy was spewing? I had to think on this, in my drug numbed post surgery brain ...
What is the opposite of defile? If my computer were working, well it would have been handy but it crashed last week and I spent all of Sunday night trying to restore just a basic and CLEAN machine. But, Kris is using his brain, such as it was.
My conclusion is that the opposite of defile is to honor, and there are many, many, many verse about honoring God!
Did it honor God for me to have driven my oldest daughter from the home? No, I did it in hopes of salvaging my other three kids. Did not work, seems the rot had already gotten to them as well :(
In alike manner, if my actions did not honor God, then there was certainly no honor in the situation this other father found himself in.
But, as this friend had observed: God was defiled by this man in how he treated his daughter. And for me, I think I avoided that through my reader at the time, Kelly. Her sage advise helped to rebuild our damaged relationship ... every girl really does need a father.
Will this man step forward into this responsibility? I certainly hope so. I know that my oldest daughter is the closest to my heart and her children are my sunshine .....
May 18, 2015
Whammy
Wow, talk about a double whammy: oral surgery, followed by pinning of my foot and ankle!
The big steel brace is mostly a pain, nothing big to worry about. And I am being ultra careful - no pressure on foot at anytime!, no bumps, no bangs, no falling, nothing! If I can just keep this up for a few more weeks - 12 minimum, well we may have a bone deposit! And, if not, bye-bye foot I fear. Sigh. Your prayers for healing please.
Mouth is swollen and painful because no one would so the pharmacist and pick up my meds for me. Even in my drugged state, I knew this would be a bad idea for me to attempt. But, by Sunday afternoon I had my meds and could get some stuffed in my face. Hopefully, the swelling will now begin to go down. Be nice to lose the fever as well since it is working up to be a warm week here in Washington State.
And off course lots of pain killers - with the weird dreams that always comes with them! Like one where I was filming a movie on the life of Dutchman's father! REALLY! But, I just could not find anyone able to act unpleasant enough to play him! Or, one in which I decided to rebuid my VW, only it turned into a project which would stretch into the afterlife! Argh! Sentenced to an eternity of working on VWs .... Well, could be worse I guess.
And from the cardiologist at the hospital came the news that between my two surgeries the EKG showed I had a heart attack. Sigh. Not surprised, I have been treated like a leper around here for years - and once I actually did need help and could not be the manservant to all - NO one was there for me. A few, granted, do have situations where they could not, and I do understand and not condemn them. Good to know that no one has my back, good to know that my heart is now damaged, good to know .....
Now how will God move?
The big steel brace is mostly a pain, nothing big to worry about. And I am being ultra careful - no pressure on foot at anytime!, no bumps, no bangs, no falling, nothing! If I can just keep this up for a few more weeks - 12 minimum, well we may have a bone deposit! And, if not, bye-bye foot I fear. Sigh. Your prayers for healing please.
Mouth is swollen and painful because no one would so the pharmacist and pick up my meds for me. Even in my drugged state, I knew this would be a bad idea for me to attempt. But, by Sunday afternoon I had my meds and could get some stuffed in my face. Hopefully, the swelling will now begin to go down. Be nice to lose the fever as well since it is working up to be a warm week here in Washington State.
And off course lots of pain killers - with the weird dreams that always comes with them! Like one where I was filming a movie on the life of Dutchman's father! REALLY! But, I just could not find anyone able to act unpleasant enough to play him! Or, one in which I decided to rebuid my VW, only it turned into a project which would stretch into the afterlife! Argh! Sentenced to an eternity of working on VWs .... Well, could be worse I guess.
And from the cardiologist at the hospital came the news that between my two surgeries the EKG showed I had a heart attack. Sigh. Not surprised, I have been treated like a leper around here for years - and once I actually did need help and could not be the manservant to all - NO one was there for me. A few, granted, do have situations where they could not, and I do understand and not condemn them. Good to know that no one has my back, good to know that my heart is now damaged, good to know .....
Now how will God move?
May 16, 2015
Musical Saturday Morning
The question was posed to me as to who where the greatest of the Rock and Roll groups ... ouch! But, I did think about it, not only in the context of their music but the time they came out of, the message they had and their impact when they came to town.
First off - Beatles are eliminated as they just broke ground for all whom followed.
Secondly, where as I may love The Grassroots, Bread, Beach Boys, Paul Revere and the Raiders - none of them had a major impact, per my rules above ....
Hmmmm ......
And I have to say, I think I have a tie. The Guess Who, whom almost no one remembers anymore meet all of my qualifications.
But, there is a another group whom also meets all of those qualifications as well and honestly I would not want to have to make the choice between them!
The Guess Who, strongly anti war, pro peace, pro drug - literally moved the youth of the late 60s and early 70s. Their music still has a retained message, were it to ever get any air time! Similar groups were Chicago, Three Dog Night and Creedance Clearwater Revival. But, they were just edged out by The Guess Who.
My final choice: Electric Light Orchestra, aka ELO, needs little introduction in America but not so well known even in their native England!
They brought lasers to concerts, the first to do so, they had synchronized lights - in short they put on an innovative show which all groups since have followed. They message was generally about life, backed by synthesizer and full orchestras. Talk box and many other tricks of the trade they used to their advantage.
Think of all of the "showmanship" groups to arise in the late 1970's and into the 1990's - all based on ELO's work.
Just one problem, they predated the music video! So you will need to be satisfied with a reunion tour example of their work. And to really date yourself, this song was used in which very successful movie?
As a comparison, remember this is pre-video and not much film seems to be out there.
First off - Beatles are eliminated as they just broke ground for all whom followed.
Secondly, where as I may love The Grassroots, Bread, Beach Boys, Paul Revere and the Raiders - none of them had a major impact, per my rules above ....
Hmmmm ......
And I have to say, I think I have a tie. The Guess Who, whom almost no one remembers anymore meet all of my qualifications.
But, there is a another group whom also meets all of those qualifications as well and honestly I would not want to have to make the choice between them!
The Guess Who, strongly anti war, pro peace, pro drug - literally moved the youth of the late 60s and early 70s. Their music still has a retained message, were it to ever get any air time! Similar groups were Chicago, Three Dog Night and Creedance Clearwater Revival. But, they were just edged out by The Guess Who.
My final choice: Electric Light Orchestra, aka ELO, needs little introduction in America but not so well known even in their native England!
They brought lasers to concerts, the first to do so, they had synchronized lights - in short they put on an innovative show which all groups since have followed. They message was generally about life, backed by synthesizer and full orchestras. Talk box and many other tricks of the trade they used to their advantage.
Think of all of the "showmanship" groups to arise in the late 1970's and into the 1990's - all based on ELO's work.
Just one problem, they predated the music video! So you will need to be satisfied with a reunion tour example of their work. And to really date yourself, this song was used in which very successful movie?
As a comparison, remember this is pre-video and not much film seems to be out there.
May 15, 2015
In Traction
So, today is the second part of the foot reconstruction both the surgeon and I had hoped would not need to be addressed - but alas, I had re-broken the repaired ankle the first week out of that surgery! Gees! Really Kris? I am such a pathetic klutz.
Surgery is at 9:30 in the morning so feel free to join with me in prayer, before - during - after as this will land my leg in a titanium cage, which has been anchored to the leg with two screws through the whatever bone is there. Then up to nine rods will be run THROUGH the foot and ankle to draw the separate parts together in hopes that bone will deposit.
I will post a photo when I am recovered enough to sit up again and hopefully I will have configured my computer correctly enough to use my new WI_FI set up.
I will be in bed now for up to four months, leg elevated, bored out of my mind.
I have managed to load my computer up with 130 movies, all of the Blakes 7, all of Firefly/Serenity and a few documentaries.
And to celebrate having facial hair this year, a first in my life!, I am going to just let it grow. Well, I can not actually stand, so shaving would be a mite difficult anyway.
And I am most earnest in seeking your, your church, everyone's prayer - there too many factors which could spell disaster here.
Surgery is at 9:30 in the morning so feel free to join with me in prayer, before - during - after as this will land my leg in a titanium cage, which has been anchored to the leg with two screws through the whatever bone is there. Then up to nine rods will be run THROUGH the foot and ankle to draw the separate parts together in hopes that bone will deposit.
I will post a photo when I am recovered enough to sit up again and hopefully I will have configured my computer correctly enough to use my new WI_FI set up.
I will be in bed now for up to four months, leg elevated, bored out of my mind.
I have managed to load my computer up with 130 movies, all of the Blakes 7, all of Firefly/Serenity and a few documentaries.
And to celebrate having facial hair this year, a first in my life!, I am going to just let it grow. Well, I can not actually stand, so shaving would be a mite difficult anyway.
And I am most earnest in seeking your, your church, everyone's prayer - there too many factors which could spell disaster here.
May 14, 2015
How to Lose A Day!
So, how does one go about losing a day?
Well, remember that little mention I had the other day - when I was feeling mighty stressed by life! - of an abscessed molar?
So, hopped astride my mighty scooter and covered the mile to the dentist in about 35 minutes. Ugh, that was hard!
Dentist shot some film of my mouth while discussing Croatia with me. Never knew she was Croatian. She took her mother to a Croatian Independence celebration and blah-blah-blah-blah. I was afraid that she was going to say they had read off the names of those whom supported their fight - or something like that. But, thank God, the conversation did not go that way. It would have been terribly embarrassing to tell her I only did what I did to avenge my cousin Bernard, whom had been executed by the Serbs backing Bosnia at the moment. I really hate war, I really hate racial politics, I really hate those whom murdered not only in the name of religious intolerance but also because - if you hurt me and mine, I will have to respond. And that angers me because I am pacifist -before anything else.
So, she suspected that my molar had a broken root and the lump was actually a chunk of bone for some reason. But, of course we live in managed health care - so I could not JUST go call an oral surgeon. No, I had to go to an endodontics (sp?) person to get their very expensive opinion. Luckily they were just next door, so short scooter ride.
More X-Rays, much discussion, then they went with doing a CAT scan of the head. Okay that was cool! And showed in no time that the offending molar had a broken root.
In all this was almost 10 hours! When we add in the time spent with the dentist, the endo person, the oral surgeon - as well as - my foot surgeon whom gets me on Friday! They may as well as been all Rabbi's! Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth! Finally, I was scheduled for an early morning extraction on Wednesday.
So, no time Tuesday to write the Wednesday post and I did not recover from the extraction until 3 pm! That is how you lose an entire day!!!!
Well, remember that little mention I had the other day - when I was feeling mighty stressed by life! - of an abscessed molar?
So, hopped astride my mighty scooter and covered the mile to the dentist in about 35 minutes. Ugh, that was hard!
Dentist shot some film of my mouth while discussing Croatia with me. Never knew she was Croatian. She took her mother to a Croatian Independence celebration and blah-blah-blah-blah. I was afraid that she was going to say they had read off the names of those whom supported their fight - or something like that. But, thank God, the conversation did not go that way. It would have been terribly embarrassing to tell her I only did what I did to avenge my cousin Bernard, whom had been executed by the Serbs backing Bosnia at the moment. I really hate war, I really hate racial politics, I really hate those whom murdered not only in the name of religious intolerance but also because - if you hurt me and mine, I will have to respond. And that angers me because I am pacifist -before anything else.
So, she suspected that my molar had a broken root and the lump was actually a chunk of bone for some reason. But, of course we live in managed health care - so I could not JUST go call an oral surgeon. No, I had to go to an endodontics (sp?) person to get their very expensive opinion. Luckily they were just next door, so short scooter ride.
More X-Rays, much discussion, then they went with doing a CAT scan of the head. Okay that was cool! And showed in no time that the offending molar had a broken root.
In all this was almost 10 hours! When we add in the time spent with the dentist, the endo person, the oral surgeon - as well as - my foot surgeon whom gets me on Friday! They may as well as been all Rabbi's! Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth! Finally, I was scheduled for an early morning extraction on Wednesday.
So, no time Tuesday to write the Wednesday post and I did not recover from the extraction until 3 pm! That is how you lose an entire day!!!!
May 12, 2015
To Do
So often I hear people, with poor knowledge of the Bible, claim that Christianity is just a list of Don't - and we are all just haters. Yet, the Bible has more to do with what you should be doing, for your betterment, for other's benefit and God's glory.
Mark 6:30 - 32
The worst enemy you face as a Christian is business. We usually know when we are too busy, but doing anything about it is all but impossible! For us to make time means we have to do without something, some event, some party, some friend, some - what ever. But, our culture pre-programs us for more - not less!
Study Scripture
God really wants you to do this!
God created a day of rest just for you to consider his Word.
Jesus kept the Sabbath (Saturday).
Jesus separated himself from his friends and followers for prayer, rest and time for just the 12.
Find Your Identity
Hint, it can ONLY be found in God!
What defines you?
Stop glorifying the business of this life!
Slow Down
See more.
Learn more.
Share more.
Plan For It
Free time is not going to be found on its own.
Be intentional in stopping.
Be intentional in taking time for rest.
Be intentional in refreshing yourself!
Unplug
Social Media
Games
TV
Computer
Give your attention to those you are with.
Learn how to say, "No"
Mark 6:30 - 32
The worst enemy you face as a Christian is business. We usually know when we are too busy, but doing anything about it is all but impossible! For us to make time means we have to do without something, some event, some party, some friend, some - what ever. But, our culture pre-programs us for more - not less!
Study Scripture
God really wants you to do this!
God created a day of rest just for you to consider his Word.
Jesus kept the Sabbath (Saturday).
Jesus separated himself from his friends and followers for prayer, rest and time for just the 12.
Find Your Identity
Hint, it can ONLY be found in God!
What defines you?
- Who you are in Jesus
- What you do
Stop glorifying the business of this life!
Slow Down
See more.
Learn more.
Share more.
Plan For It
Free time is not going to be found on its own.
Be intentional in stopping.
Be intentional in taking time for rest.
Be intentional in refreshing yourself!
Unplug
Social Media
Games
TV
Computer
Give your attention to those you are with.
Learn how to say, "No"
May 11, 2015
Chain That Girl Up ...
So been quite a week! In a not so good way.
First up, all things remain the same, Kris lives in a vacuum, occasionally interacted by one of the children or the odd friend, but pretty much a vacuum. So, baseline is rather miserable for a human being.
Wednesday I had two molar decide to abscess on me. Dentist appointment is Tuesday, thank you God for Synesdine Toothpaste!
Thursday I accidentally backed my scooter over my left foot breaking toes :( again ...
Now when son moved out on his own last October, he refused to take his dog and forced me to take on the care and feeding (not to mention vet bills!) for the portly Jack Russell. However, when my surgeon told me that I was going to be drilled - about 14 times THROUGH my shin, ankle and foot to realign and hopefully force my bones to reconnect - I faced a solid DNA problem. I am a Habsberg, I have no immune system to prove it! And with an incontinent dog - I can see the bone infection coming already!
So, I told my son to get the dog a new home ASAP three weeks ago. He did nothing.
So, I put the dog on the internet and found a home for him in two days, on Friday. Which makes me apparently the most evil man in the entire world ... Two children are still talking to me, my mother barely, and surprise - surprise, Swedish Rocket Scientist ... He whom has taken Gaelic Girl's side in eery argument for almost 40 years - broke with tradition and told her she was part of the problem here. :) Now she is not talking to him as well. :) Maybe he will be a trusted friend again one of these days .... ?
Bought a professional Bissell rug cleaner and had oldest daughter do the just the main dog areas to lift the pending disaster out of the rug ... and did it ever! Awesome machine. She will do the entire house in a few months but for now, this is good.
Saturday night, I took my mother out to dinner for mother's day, with Youngest Daughter and GG in tow, and a disaster lay straight ahead. All went well until mother goes, "You never liked that dog did you?". YD burst into tears, long deep sobs - and she actively hated the dog mind you! GG erupted into her usual gut Kris at every opportunity and mother was joining right in!
As for me, my last dog was a Basenji, I am happy with him being my last dog. This aberration, well he is a dog but not really, he was more of a toy dog than something I know would have my back in a fight! He was a sweet dog, rarely ever got into trouble and I am sure is exactly what a retired person might want ... Oh, wait, I am retired but I am not so dead as to want a toy dog ...
Going home from the event, my back went out getting back into the car. I was in so much pain that GG decided to take pity on me and adjust my back - yeah it worked, but I still spent 15 minutes sobbing on the floor afterwards unable to move. That was too much for YD and she retreated to her room. I guess having a sobbing father was too much or just too much drama for one day ... LOL.
And I was at my end. All of the above plus so much more I never share, was the end of me. I took two codeine and knocked myself out.
Sunday was not much better. I did the responsible thing and asked GG out to dinner for mother's day. Only YD did not blow her off in that regard. But it was a busy day, one my "friends" had her house cleaned out - turned out to be the daughter. Yeah, my Russian God-Daughter! So, got the mother unit settled down and went out to dinner.
GG starts up with the entire problem of this girl and I said, "Back home we would chain her up in the woods and beat the holy #$^$#%@$%$#$^# out of her for several days until she was broken and understood exactly her problems. GG took real exception to this as did several others in ear shot. (understand this is the least of this girls problems, at 14 she was in federal prison on 26 counts! she was let out for bringing down the moral standards of the prison! At 14!!!!!) Luckily, I was wearing my "I am not stubborn, I'm German" tee-shirt. So when it started to get ugly, I inflated my chest, stood up and suddenly all of those 5' people were facing someone whom was 6"3 and far out weighed them. It got real quiet ... and it remained so through the rest of the evening and night ... :) I am laughing still, self righteous people are a real problem in this state but never want to actually address the problem, complaining and threatening is so much easier. At least until someone calls your bluff. :)
And the clock is ticking on my surgery date ... so much to do, so little time, and no hope, save a tiny glimmer in my soul ....
First up, all things remain the same, Kris lives in a vacuum, occasionally interacted by one of the children or the odd friend, but pretty much a vacuum. So, baseline is rather miserable for a human being.
Wednesday I had two molar decide to abscess on me. Dentist appointment is Tuesday, thank you God for Synesdine Toothpaste!
Thursday I accidentally backed my scooter over my left foot breaking toes :( again ...
Now when son moved out on his own last October, he refused to take his dog and forced me to take on the care and feeding (not to mention vet bills!) for the portly Jack Russell. However, when my surgeon told me that I was going to be drilled - about 14 times THROUGH my shin, ankle and foot to realign and hopefully force my bones to reconnect - I faced a solid DNA problem. I am a Habsberg, I have no immune system to prove it! And with an incontinent dog - I can see the bone infection coming already!
So, I told my son to get the dog a new home ASAP three weeks ago. He did nothing.
So, I put the dog on the internet and found a home for him in two days, on Friday. Which makes me apparently the most evil man in the entire world ... Two children are still talking to me, my mother barely, and surprise - surprise, Swedish Rocket Scientist ... He whom has taken Gaelic Girl's side in eery argument for almost 40 years - broke with tradition and told her she was part of the problem here. :) Now she is not talking to him as well. :) Maybe he will be a trusted friend again one of these days .... ?
Bought a professional Bissell rug cleaner and had oldest daughter do the just the main dog areas to lift the pending disaster out of the rug ... and did it ever! Awesome machine. She will do the entire house in a few months but for now, this is good.
Saturday night, I took my mother out to dinner for mother's day, with Youngest Daughter and GG in tow, and a disaster lay straight ahead. All went well until mother goes, "You never liked that dog did you?". YD burst into tears, long deep sobs - and she actively hated the dog mind you! GG erupted into her usual gut Kris at every opportunity and mother was joining right in!
As for me, my last dog was a Basenji, I am happy with him being my last dog. This aberration, well he is a dog but not really, he was more of a toy dog than something I know would have my back in a fight! He was a sweet dog, rarely ever got into trouble and I am sure is exactly what a retired person might want ... Oh, wait, I am retired but I am not so dead as to want a toy dog ...
Going home from the event, my back went out getting back into the car. I was in so much pain that GG decided to take pity on me and adjust my back - yeah it worked, but I still spent 15 minutes sobbing on the floor afterwards unable to move. That was too much for YD and she retreated to her room. I guess having a sobbing father was too much or just too much drama for one day ... LOL.
And I was at my end. All of the above plus so much more I never share, was the end of me. I took two codeine and knocked myself out.
Sunday was not much better. I did the responsible thing and asked GG out to dinner for mother's day. Only YD did not blow her off in that regard. But it was a busy day, one my "friends" had her house cleaned out - turned out to be the daughter. Yeah, my Russian God-Daughter! So, got the mother unit settled down and went out to dinner.
GG starts up with the entire problem of this girl and I said, "Back home we would chain her up in the woods and beat the holy #$^$#%@$%$#$^# out of her for several days until she was broken and understood exactly her problems. GG took real exception to this as did several others in ear shot. (understand this is the least of this girls problems, at 14 she was in federal prison on 26 counts! she was let out for bringing down the moral standards of the prison! At 14!!!!!) Luckily, I was wearing my "I am not stubborn, I'm German" tee-shirt. So when it started to get ugly, I inflated my chest, stood up and suddenly all of those 5' people were facing someone whom was 6"3 and far out weighed them. It got real quiet ... and it remained so through the rest of the evening and night ... :) I am laughing still, self righteous people are a real problem in this state but never want to actually address the problem, complaining and threatening is so much easier. At least until someone calls your bluff. :)
And the clock is ticking on my surgery date ... so much to do, so little time, and no hope, save a tiny glimmer in my soul ....
May 9, 2015
Musical Saturday Morning
I never liked any of the Jackson music, ever. And, Michael? Oh please, no matter what the populous believes - we are talking talentless hack ...
However, to take one of those worthless highly popular songs and make a satirical statement out of - well, now we hit creativity! And if the satirist can make me laugh, so much the better!
So, a little Weird Al Yankovic .... to start the morning off right!
But, to be fair, "Weird Al" is not someone I enjoy that much. I liked Eat It because he was slamming Jackson and the vacuous culture he represented. But, this is actually the Yankovic I grew up listening to and still enjoy:
Yeah, Al's father!
However, to take one of those worthless highly popular songs and make a satirical statement out of - well, now we hit creativity! And if the satirist can make me laugh, so much the better!
So, a little Weird Al Yankovic .... to start the morning off right!
But, to be fair, "Weird Al" is not someone I enjoy that much. I liked Eat It because he was slamming Jackson and the vacuous culture he represented. But, this is actually the Yankovic I grew up listening to and still enjoy:
Yeah, Al's father!
May 8, 2015
On The Wrong Road?
Time for a reality check. You know you better than anyone else, so the following questions should be easy for you to answer about where you are in your walk with Jesus ...
Mark 6:14 - 30
What can you say? Herod orders the head of John, the Baptizer, head to be lobbed off! And I think we can learn from Herod's failure ...
Do You Have Unresolved Sin?
In your past?
In your present?
Due to our own hard hearts, we are incapable of recognizing our own sin.
We no longer can heard God's quiet voice.
But we can make this right through confession of this sin to Jesus.
Are You Flirting With Truth?
Or embracing it?
Herod listened to John, the Baptizer.
Herod was spiritually curious.
But, in the end, Herod rejected John and his message, for his own lust for his brother's daughter.
Have You Gained The World?
Power, possessions, position.
Herod had it all.
But, if this is what you seek, you will lose your soul.
Do You Live To Impress People?
Well, we are supposed to be loving God, not worrying about status, pomp and circumstance!
Herodius wanted John dead for speaking against Herod and her sin (Herod had taken his brother's wife and married her! Once Herod divorced her and she returned to her first husband ... ugh, Roman politics!)
But, Herod is torn. He likes John, but now due to the public demand for John's head, he will lose face if he does not kill John.
Herod is trapped by his own lusts, sin and loose talk.
What Is Your Legacy?
Will it be one of honor or shame?
Well, if you are reading this then the jury is still out on this.
You have plenty of time to turn our life around and put your feet solidly on the narrow road to God.
Mark 6:14 - 30
What can you say? Herod orders the head of John, the Baptizer, head to be lobbed off! And I think we can learn from Herod's failure ...
Do You Have Unresolved Sin?
In your past?
In your present?
Due to our own hard hearts, we are incapable of recognizing our own sin.
We no longer can heard God's quiet voice.
But we can make this right through confession of this sin to Jesus.
Are You Flirting With Truth?
Or embracing it?
Herod listened to John, the Baptizer.
Herod was spiritually curious.
But, in the end, Herod rejected John and his message, for his own lust for his brother's daughter.
Have You Gained The World?
Power, possessions, position.
Herod had it all.
But, if this is what you seek, you will lose your soul.
Do You Live To Impress People?
Well, we are supposed to be loving God, not worrying about status, pomp and circumstance!
Herodius wanted John dead for speaking against Herod and her sin (Herod had taken his brother's wife and married her! Once Herod divorced her and she returned to her first husband ... ugh, Roman politics!)
But, Herod is torn. He likes John, but now due to the public demand for John's head, he will lose face if he does not kill John.
Herod is trapped by his own lusts, sin and loose talk.
What Is Your Legacy?
Will it be one of honor or shame?
Well, if you are reading this then the jury is still out on this.
You have plenty of time to turn our life around and put your feet solidly on the narrow road to God.
May 7, 2015
Jesus Help Us
Who is Jesus?
Someone whom went home for a visit.
While there he was mocked, belittled, discounted by the townsmen.
Those whom had known him for 30 years, should have known his character.
They wrote him off as a bastard ...
Mark 6:1 - 6
Jesus faces a town full of critics, and yeah, they were more than just slightly rude.
Not To Prejudge Who You Are
The townsmen questioned Jesus:
We know the family.
He is not Messiah material!
We know he is not a King.
Not To Become Familiar
With familiarity comes loss of wonder and awe of whom Jesus is!
Familiarity also breeds contempt.
Yet, Jesus was:
Not To Rebuff Your Presence
You really do not want to miss Jesus' blessings.
He healed.
He choose not to more, due to their lack of faith. (Matthew 13:58)
So, what is the point here?
Jesus came as a man, enough so that everyone back home knew of him and guessed at the rest.
He left, began His ministry and then returned home.
But, those whom had known him, well no honor there for Him, even if he could heal people.
The same is true for us.
I left home to study computers. I became a Christ a few months later. When I returned at Christmas - well yeah - NO one wanted to see a changed Kris. I was supposed to that same troubled child whom had left. A view held by my father to his dying day - 38 years later!
Like Jesus going home and finding rejection, so was my homecoming. And a lifetime makes no difference to those people of my family nor my school chums.
Amazing .... And yet, no different than Jesus already modeled for us.
Someone whom went home for a visit.
While there he was mocked, belittled, discounted by the townsmen.
Those whom had known him for 30 years, should have known his character.
They wrote him off as a bastard ...
Mark 6:1 - 6
Jesus faces a town full of critics, and yeah, they were more than just slightly rude.
Not To Prejudge Who You Are
The townsmen questioned Jesus:
- Where
- When
- How
We know the family.
He is not Messiah material!
We know he is not a King.
Not To Become Familiar
With familiarity comes loss of wonder and awe of whom Jesus is!
Familiarity also breeds contempt.
Yet, Jesus was:
- Sinless
- Perfect
- Condemn through contempt
Not To Rebuff Your Presence
You really do not want to miss Jesus' blessings.
He healed.
He choose not to more, due to their lack of faith. (Matthew 13:58)
So, what is the point here?
Jesus came as a man, enough so that everyone back home knew of him and guessed at the rest.
He left, began His ministry and then returned home.
But, those whom had known him, well no honor there for Him, even if he could heal people.
The same is true for us.
I left home to study computers. I became a Christ a few months later. When I returned at Christmas - well yeah - NO one wanted to see a changed Kris. I was supposed to that same troubled child whom had left. A view held by my father to his dying day - 38 years later!
Like Jesus going home and finding rejection, so was my homecoming. And a lifetime makes no difference to those people of my family nor my school chums.
Amazing .... And yet, no different than Jesus already modeled for us.
May 6, 2015
Next Step
So, through a rather rough struggle:
I came to the understanding that no matter how much I personally object to it, I have to take the next step in the healing of my right ankle and foot. I have to YIELD to what appears to be God's desire and SUBMIT to this surgery and associated recovery period of being an invalid. To know that ALL of my plans for the rest of this year are now cancelled. And all my heart longs for would now take a miracle to transpire ...
And it is against my nature to be COMPELLED to do what I have no wish to do.
I have not had to face something this hard since my days of working behind the Iron Curtain.
The date is set, May 15th, with surgery to begin at 9:30 AM. Your prayers are greatly desired.
As for me, I am just sick on the inside.
I am not sure if this is fear but it is an emotion I really do not enjoy.
- prayer
- meditation on His word
- balancing desire versus His desire
- settling back on faith alone
- yielding
I came to the understanding that no matter how much I personally object to it, I have to take the next step in the healing of my right ankle and foot. I have to YIELD to what appears to be God's desire and SUBMIT to this surgery and associated recovery period of being an invalid. To know that ALL of my plans for the rest of this year are now cancelled. And all my heart longs for would now take a miracle to transpire ...
And it is against my nature to be COMPELLED to do what I have no wish to do.
I have not had to face something this hard since my days of working behind the Iron Curtain.
The date is set, May 15th, with surgery to begin at 9:30 AM. Your prayers are greatly desired.
As for me, I am just sick on the inside.
I am not sure if this is fear but it is an emotion I really do not enjoy.
May 5, 2015
A Christian In An Un-Christian World
Event across the day, weeks and months do not seem to be well understood in this western theology thought system. You know the one with the fuzzy teddy bear "God" whom would do nothing without our permission and certainly never hold us accountable for our actions!
Yet God, the real God, the whom created you and me and all we know - does as He pleases for His glory and not ours. He Creates and just as easily can destroy. When He destroys, it is without sin - other than our own - His destructions are for our benefit, for our correction, for His glory.
Hebrews 11:32-40
God Never Promises An Easy Ride
Paul brings up the list of God's witnesses, His faithful, those whom bear His name.
Warriors, politicians, prophets, His martyrs, the lowly in this life.
They all had a hard time, often failing, but always overcoming through God's strengthening them.
Our heritage is guaranteed hardship in this life.
God May Provide Escape
The miraculous shutting of the lions mouths for Daniel.
The flames not consuming Daniel's friends.
Saved from execution.
Saved from imprisonment.
People restored back to life as a witness of God's power.
Faith Guarantees Hardship
Hardship, not ease, is what is littering the path of the faithful.
All Christians are guaranteed this.
And God guarantees to give you strength through whatever test or hardship you are about to face.
Sometimes that is the endurance required to just survive - in the face of man's logic.
Trust God
God has planned something better that anything we can find in this life on our own.
Even though God may plan our path for us, trust Him that it is the best path for you.
Know that rewards are what you receive at the end, not the beginning, not the middle, just the end ...
Keep your eyes focused on the prize - Eternal Life, with God, true Peace, true Love, all with a purpose we do not yet understand.
Yet God, the real God, the whom created you and me and all we know - does as He pleases for His glory and not ours. He Creates and just as easily can destroy. When He destroys, it is without sin - other than our own - His destructions are for our benefit, for our correction, for His glory.
Hebrews 11:32-40
God Never Promises An Easy Ride
Paul brings up the list of God's witnesses, His faithful, those whom bear His name.
Warriors, politicians, prophets, His martyrs, the lowly in this life.
They all had a hard time, often failing, but always overcoming through God's strengthening them.
Our heritage is guaranteed hardship in this life.
God May Provide Escape
The miraculous shutting of the lions mouths for Daniel.
The flames not consuming Daniel's friends.
Saved from execution.
Saved from imprisonment.
People restored back to life as a witness of God's power.
Faith Guarantees Hardship
Hardship, not ease, is what is littering the path of the faithful.
All Christians are guaranteed this.
And God guarantees to give you strength through whatever test or hardship you are about to face.
Sometimes that is the endurance required to just survive - in the face of man's logic.
Trust God
God has planned something better that anything we can find in this life on our own.
Even though God may plan our path for us, trust Him that it is the best path for you.
Know that rewards are what you receive at the end, not the beginning, not the middle, just the end ...
Keep your eyes focused on the prize - Eternal Life, with God, true Peace, true Love, all with a purpose we do not yet understand.
May 4, 2015
Foot Pain, Party and Zane Grey
So, Saturday was the official - take your own foot out of the cast, unwrap it and give it a bath day!
Unwrapping went well, even the bath okay.
The original doctor's instruction was to then run a light gauze wrap and stuff back into the cast ... only i about fainted from the pain by then! Yeah, with no stitches holding the meat together - i was sure i was going to explode the foot off the end of my leg! Very unpleasant!
So, having a few of the compression tubes from last year, it was with the greatest of difficulty that I got one on! The foot is still quite larger than it was last year! Guessing a few days in the compression tube and it will be squeezed down to something closer to a foot size it was before the surgery! But, the pain was greatly relieved and I really do not want to take it off again!
Not to say I was not on codeine for the rest of the day and night, but it was at least controllable at that point.
Old Kris loved Zane Grey, something about his stories were very understandable and enjoyed by me. New Kris, not so much. There are one or two Zane Grey's I still like, but by and large, his works hold no interest for me any longer. There is one Louis L'Amour I really like, but like Zane Grey, sorry - your works are mostly soap operas.
However, Saturday, one of the local TV channels set aside the entire day for Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre - yeah French spelling. However, some excellent performances by many Oscar winners, good story lines, I approved! Now to find a copy on DVD is possible!
And Saturday was the observation of Oldest Daughter's birthday! She is now 27 years old. When I think of her as the 10 year old I adopted on the Chechnian border in 1998, I am amazed at not only by her mother instincts with her two children, but also the beauty, grace and joy she brings with her. Yes, that does make me smile.
This was the girl whom drove me get on the internet in the first place! I was so depressed at the failure of our relationship and by her lifestyle decisions. That was how I found Miss Manners, aka Kelly, whom offered what was to be some very sage advice in how to deal with a troubled teenager. I will remain forever in her debt.
But, adopting a 10 year old is tough gamble, because a tremendous amount of damage can be done by then in a girl's life - and was. Which makes parenting, especially as a huge male, even harder. I was never loving back then, I did not know how to be. Yet, she has survived and greatly enjoys this "new" Papa - whom can feel and love and be trusted.
Yeah, she may be the best relationship I have amongst the rascals.
But, I was disappointed that the first two kids I adopted, did not bother to come to the party. Even though they both like Olive Garden, no calls, no texts, nothing to say they would not be there - even though they both had confirmed they would. Certainly, there is a disconnect between the two sets I adopted.
Sigh.....
Life!
Unwrapping went well, even the bath okay.
The original doctor's instruction was to then run a light gauze wrap and stuff back into the cast ... only i about fainted from the pain by then! Yeah, with no stitches holding the meat together - i was sure i was going to explode the foot off the end of my leg! Very unpleasant!
So, having a few of the compression tubes from last year, it was with the greatest of difficulty that I got one on! The foot is still quite larger than it was last year! Guessing a few days in the compression tube and it will be squeezed down to something closer to a foot size it was before the surgery! But, the pain was greatly relieved and I really do not want to take it off again!
Not to say I was not on codeine for the rest of the day and night, but it was at least controllable at that point.
Old Kris loved Zane Grey, something about his stories were very understandable and enjoyed by me. New Kris, not so much. There are one or two Zane Grey's I still like, but by and large, his works hold no interest for me any longer. There is one Louis L'Amour I really like, but like Zane Grey, sorry - your works are mostly soap operas.
However, Saturday, one of the local TV channels set aside the entire day for Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre - yeah French spelling. However, some excellent performances by many Oscar winners, good story lines, I approved! Now to find a copy on DVD is possible!
And Saturday was the observation of Oldest Daughter's birthday! She is now 27 years old. When I think of her as the 10 year old I adopted on the Chechnian border in 1998, I am amazed at not only by her mother instincts with her two children, but also the beauty, grace and joy she brings with her. Yes, that does make me smile.
This was the girl whom drove me get on the internet in the first place! I was so depressed at the failure of our relationship and by her lifestyle decisions. That was how I found Miss Manners, aka Kelly, whom offered what was to be some very sage advice in how to deal with a troubled teenager. I will remain forever in her debt.
But, adopting a 10 year old is tough gamble, because a tremendous amount of damage can be done by then in a girl's life - and was. Which makes parenting, especially as a huge male, even harder. I was never loving back then, I did not know how to be. Yet, she has survived and greatly enjoys this "new" Papa - whom can feel and love and be trusted.
Yeah, she may be the best relationship I have amongst the rascals.
But, I was disappointed that the first two kids I adopted, did not bother to come to the party. Even though they both like Olive Garden, no calls, no texts, nothing to say they would not be there - even though they both had confirmed they would. Certainly, there is a disconnect between the two sets I adopted.
Sigh.....
Life!
May 2, 2015
Musical Saturday Morning
Hmm, a first Saturday morning for the month! So, it is time for a little 1980's!
May 1, 2015
Conversion With Ease
Today's "christian church" bears no resemblance to Christianity. It was rapidly corrupted by long lists of Do's and Don'ts. Rules were created to determine what makes for a Christian or not. Value added considerations for what comprises a valid conversion or not! Etc!!!!!
Everything today is weighed, valued, studied, condemned if it does not match with "their" expectation.
So, to make this really easy for you - if you believe in any DENOMINATIONAL statement of faith, welcome to the false church of paganism. Too harsh? Nope. Got lists of laws you have to follow - written or unwritten - yup, you are there. Sure Christianity was your desired choice of salvation, but you ended up with a pagan religion called christianity, not Christianity - better known as The Way in the first century.
Luke 19:1 - 10
Compare your religious experience with Zacchaeus ... and commitment ...
He Sought Jesus
He wanted to see Jesus.
He wanted to hear Jesus.
He climbed a tree in order to try and do both.
He was curious, I would guess that the Holy Spirit had been working on him sufficiently long enough to push him to be there that day and to climb a tree where Jesus would ultimately see him! Though I doubt his thought was, "I want Jesus to see ME". If the Holy Spirit was convicting him, he knew he had done wrong and he knew he needed salvation.
He Obeyed Jesus
Jesus stopped under Zacchaeus' fig tree.
Jesus called him down.
Jesus told him that he would be hosting him that night.
And Zacchaeus came down from the tree.
He did as requested. He had no reason to. He came to listen out of curiosity at the least. And now this Rabbi, this Jesus was talking to him!
He Served Jesus
We are told that Zacchaeus stood up, so perhaps he had prostrated himself before Jesus?
He declared he would make his thefts as a tax collector right.
Jesus declares that this son of Abraham has found salvation.
_____
So what does this tale tell us of Conversion?
Something: curiosity, opportunity or the Holy Spirit provides the desire to search out this Jesus.
You respond and do what you have to, to learn about this man.
He (God) will respond to your response and provide you the opportunity to obey Him.
You will have the opportunity to serve.
-------
Hmmm, you and God in a transaction to come to salvation.
I have no doubt that there were those whom had told him of Jesus (witnessing).
I have no doubt he was told where Jesus would be (invitation).
And then it was all up to God.
Notice how there were no requirements for exhibit any gifts or fruits, how he was unbaptized, etc! And yet declared to be saved.
It does not get any easier than this!
_____
Interestingly Zacchaeus climbed a fig tree we are told. The fig tree was always the symbol of Israel in Jesus' examples. Was this a picture of Jesus calling His people out of Israel?
____
Points to remember about Conversion:
Pretty simple huh?
See how denominations are created? Man's desire to put in rules and regulations on what each of those bullet points are and really mean ... and yet, Jesus already told us what they meant to Him, and well, He ought to know.
Everything today is weighed, valued, studied, condemned if it does not match with "their" expectation.
So, to make this really easy for you - if you believe in any DENOMINATIONAL statement of faith, welcome to the false church of paganism. Too harsh? Nope. Got lists of laws you have to follow - written or unwritten - yup, you are there. Sure Christianity was your desired choice of salvation, but you ended up with a pagan religion called christianity, not Christianity - better known as The Way in the first century.
Luke 19:1 - 10
Compare your religious experience with Zacchaeus ... and commitment ...
He Sought Jesus
He wanted to see Jesus.
He wanted to hear Jesus.
He climbed a tree in order to try and do both.
He was curious, I would guess that the Holy Spirit had been working on him sufficiently long enough to push him to be there that day and to climb a tree where Jesus would ultimately see him! Though I doubt his thought was, "I want Jesus to see ME". If the Holy Spirit was convicting him, he knew he had done wrong and he knew he needed salvation.
He Obeyed Jesus
Jesus stopped under Zacchaeus' fig tree.
Jesus called him down.
Jesus told him that he would be hosting him that night.
And Zacchaeus came down from the tree.
He did as requested. He had no reason to. He came to listen out of curiosity at the least. And now this Rabbi, this Jesus was talking to him!
He Served Jesus
We are told that Zacchaeus stood up, so perhaps he had prostrated himself before Jesus?
He declared he would make his thefts as a tax collector right.
Jesus declares that this son of Abraham has found salvation.
_____
So what does this tale tell us of Conversion?
Something: curiosity, opportunity or the Holy Spirit provides the desire to search out this Jesus.
You respond and do what you have to, to learn about this man.
He (God) will respond to your response and provide you the opportunity to obey Him.
You will have the opportunity to serve.
-------
Hmmm, you and God in a transaction to come to salvation.
I have no doubt that there were those whom had told him of Jesus (witnessing).
I have no doubt he was told where Jesus would be (invitation).
And then it was all up to God.
Notice how there were no requirements for exhibit any gifts or fruits, how he was unbaptized, etc! And yet declared to be saved.
It does not get any easier than this!
_____
Interestingly Zacchaeus climbed a fig tree we are told. The fig tree was always the symbol of Israel in Jesus' examples. Was this a picture of Jesus calling His people out of Israel?
____
Points to remember about Conversion:
- There is no magic place
- There are no magic words
- Your calling upon Jesus for help is all there is
- You are expected make your sins right
- You are expected to read and obey
- You are expected to pray and obey
- You are expected to fellowship as a Christian (not as a Southern Baptist or whatever!)
- You are expected to observe communion
- You are expected to grow and to teach others
- You are expected to fail, pick yourself up, start over as needed
Pretty simple huh?
See how denominations are created? Man's desire to put in rules and regulations on what each of those bullet points are and really mean ... and yet, Jesus already told us what they meant to Him, and well, He ought to know.
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