Musical Saturday Morning

I was sitting in Panera eating a sandwich on Monday and this really odd song came on.  I knew it .... but there was no way for me to identify it ... sigh.  It took a few more days for me to remember it was a James Bond theme song, so that narrows the field.  And it was the last of the Pierce Brosnan films.  So, narrowed even further!

A quick visit to YouTube and I had the song as well as the video ... only trouble was, the Bond version may not be very kid friendly!  So, a few more clicks and I had the Madonna version.  Sort of a PG but better than the full blow British Bond (yes, there are differences!)  ... so enjoy a very odd song!

Picasso Perspective

"It is all a matter of perspective.  How you see the world around you is what you can communicate.  And, you get to choose what it is inside of this perspective that you wish to concentrate on ...", and so began another day of lecture in 1966 by Pablo Picasso.  As one of six of his students, I quietly exhaled and knew I was about to be utterly lost again for another four hours ...  it was all so philosophical!

No, I was never to become the artist I desired to be, my father's brutality on such an endeavor was without bounds.  Luckily, I had a brain and learned how to use it.  And when I became a Christian, my new father (God) felt my life needed to be complicated by "knowing" all manner of things I should never have been able to ...

I had a chance to catch up with one of my old students last fall.  She had been in my classes for 7 years, I was her sitter for a while before that, so I knew her extremely well.  When she had problems during those troubled Junior High years - I advised her on what to do.  When the rush of the hormonal teenage years where upon her - I advised her as to her best course of actions.  When it became time for life - I advised her on her best path.  And when it was time to marry - I advised to not do so.

Mind you, she had twin problems: she had a deceitful spirit and I knew early on that anything she said to me was suspicious at best as far as truthfulness would be desired.  And she would never accept that I had any idea as to what was best for her.  So, yeah, although I gave her truth - as God would reveal it to me - she could not accept what was said.  After all, I am just an old German computer nerd and she is, well, above all mankind in her mind.  So, yeah, lots of problems along the way.

The marriage did not last long and she took off and married again - to a guy almost exactly like that first non-Christian disaster!  Well, that one did not do so well either and so along came number three, again a carbon copy of that first two.  None of them where Christian, she insists on being unequally yoked - as Paul put it.  So though she desires happiness - she never finds it because she is looking at the wrong perspectives and places in life!  And now, she is shattered.  She realizes that she will never find that elusive happiness and real love.  I offered no advice as to her course of action this last time - she never has listened, she always chooses wrongly, and once upon a time, long ago, she actually had met that someone - but he was not "hot" or special, just a solid Christian young man.  He still is single, still is thinking about maybe looking again but all of the females he can find - would not even consider him still.

Such is the curse of a generation bent upon self destruction - because they are smarter than God, their elders and anyone else whom would dare speak against their deeply held desires.  And I have not given up on him, though I may have to drop kick him to even ask a girl out, when/if the time is right ...

So why would I even continue to try?  No one listens, everyone forgets what you tell them, even the last time I tried - the person came back years later with "God just does not talk" to them and they were so lost as what to do ... and yet I had so plainly told them over and over again what they needed to do!  But, that path is of no interest to them!  I could laugh were it not so tragic.  Yet, there once was one whom did listen once ...

Random woman in line for popcorn at a movie struck up a conversation with me and out of nowhere comes this question about life ...  And God told me what I needed to share, what I need to tell her to validate that she was hearing was not of me.  And she listened, and she did as I had told her.  I only saw her again was a few years later.  Two decades later she hunted me down and told me all which had happened, what she was saved from and how happy she was to have stumbled upon me!

Really?  I can only tell someone something, God tells me, and she is only one I have known of to have listened.  Well, then there is another whom did exactly as told, but had long forgotten what was told  - sometimes I giggle to think of how God had set them up to do exactly as He wanted.  Though they will be in Heaven before they ever figure it out.  :)

Where you set your eyes, is where your path will begin.  It is all a matter of perspective.  That is why we are responsible before God and do so poorly for we only see what is of no value in our eyes - but priceless in God's.

You can change your path, you can learn to  value what God values, and your rewards will not be of this Earth ...  so expect unhappiness and frustration when you choose the wrong perspective.

Worship

So I was thinking about the idea of worship.
In my church it means we sing songs without end which only express God from a warped man's viewpoint.  Songs by Redman are amongst the worst in that regard.  Nothing wrong with his songs as long as you understand there is a whole lot of "me"-ism contained in them.
And that is not impressing God!

Romans 9

God wants to be adored
Not analyzed!
Yet so much of our pulpit time is spent trying to out think God!

Man's pride is adversed to the idea that God is to worshiped!

Everything which exists is God's
Everything we have is because God lent it to us
We do His will, for His glory
We get no say, no credit, nor do we deserve any!
The world is God's
God created us
He is sovereign
Our arrogance comes between us and God
 - Evolution arguments
 - "Its not fair!"
 - No acceptance of predestination
 - Nothing special about us, compared to others
 - We are unworthy
 - We are not able to choose wisely
 - God, in His sovereignty, chooses us even in our sin
 - We want control

...

And I have thought on this and realized that an unexpressed idea for many decades lay in here. 
What stands between us and God?
What stands between the Church and God?
There is a disconnect here I could never have grasped.


I will see if I can continue my thinking on this tomorrow .....

Let It Snow!

No we did not have a white Christmas .... My last one of those was in Colorado!  Living in Washington State you might get a raining Christmas or a fog shrouded Christmas but never snow ...  Of course, back home in Basel-stadt, snow was the rule - even if it was just a tiny amount!

So when the weathermen all decided it would snow on New Year Eve, we all snorted, they are NEVER correct!  Of course if we did get the 1/2" they were predicting - it would make a mess of Seattle!  It is not like it snows at least once a year in Seattle, so people ought to be able to adjust ... but, heck, they panic when it rains around here!  And that is over one third of the days of the year!

So the new years came, no snow, no flakes.  How ever does one get a job where they are wrong 100% of the time and still retain a job?!?!?!?!?  I could easily do this bad of a job with no training at all!

I woke up at 3 AM to see just a dusting of snow.  I thought, "Huh, we just get that half of an inch after-all!".  I rose again at 6 AM to see an inch of snow.  When I got up at 10:00 to see a full 4 inches of snow!  Really?  This would be a disaster for the area!

But it was not until I went out for a drive, first drive with an artificial leg in the snow!, so cool! - that I realized that living at 600 feet above sea level put me in the snow zone - whereas the rest of the entire area is not!  So we are still snow bound and no one in the entire area even has a flake to look at!

Our snow plow slid into a 3' deep ditch!

Of course a tree had to come down due to the weight of the ice which preceded the snow - and 4,000 homes where now without power.  No biggie to me, our furnace went out on the 24th and we are still without a working heater ... sigh ...  Luckily I am Swiss Boy, able to stride across glaciers in my underwear and laugh at the less hearty!  But, it sure can be cold putting on that artificial leg first thing in the morning!

Nothing like ice under the snow!

Now, a week later, we are still snow bound.  I still drive to the store daily to get my daily walk in - sure not going to risk my leg on ice when I am only days away from surgery!  Not much traffic is moving anywhere, nor are there many people out walking around.  I think all of my neighbors froze to death!

Hope the pictures are to give you a few laughs ...

Christmas Joy

Matthew 2:1-15

What Do You Seek?
Your joy is directly related to what you seek.
What do you seek?
What should you seek?

Were Are You Looking To Find Joy?
Where it is determines the outcome.
The road you are on determines the outcome.
Intention/desires have no meaning.

What Do You Give?
Joy is related to what you give.
Wisemen gave gifts fit for a king.

A final thought:
The Christmas Season is a good time to forgive others and set yourself free!

2016 - Stats

Well, with one aching hand, this is going to be a short typing job! 
Sorry ..

I always marvel that anyone reads my thoughts, especially now that my mind is wiped!

But, last year was an interesting blogging year.

I expected to lose my readership, it doubled!

The valuable posts - yeah got almost NO reads.
Fluffy titles did well.
And the most reads for the year went to my first road trip ....
No idea why.

Russia continues to hold the lead for readers.
America.
Germany and France.
African nations.
And then the Far Eastern countries
About 58 countries, but only 20 are daily readers.

Most downloads continues to be from Russia.
And if I include my father's blog on his life, Russia again leads the pack!

Embarrassingly, this blog is now attached to curriculum from 12 colleges around the world, 6 porno-sites link to this and 3 switching sites in closed countries!  I am not sure what to make of this redirecting activity.  I have to laugh if someone is thinking that this is an adult site and find out they are facing a real life Christian ...  I probably ought to write more Bible based stuff ...

Finger are throbbing, must go now ...

End of Year

This was probably the  most interesting holiday season!
And remember all I had to do, had to be done one handed due to the broken fingers -just like the three days I spent on this little post!
AAAAARGH!

I did lots of zooming around to acquire all  needed for the family events.  And just the sear rudeness of people was almost riotous it was so humorous!  Just gotta be the first to the stores, the parking spaces, cash register - accompanied by all of the yelling and fights this ensues!  I get away with laughing in mad peoples faces only because I am so build pretty darn solid!  And no one guesses that I am missing a leg!  Else, yeah, I would pay ... :)

All of the dinners went well.
But, it is plainly obvious I can not cook a meal any longer - if I prep and start it - someone will have to  help finish it.  Sigh ...
My children can not be counted on to tell me they can not make an event, even two hours after I talk with them and they say they are coming!  Nor will they call and tell you ..... grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
And, I think this will be the last time I cook for the entire family!
Just too much work!

Most humorous was going to lunch and there was this pleasant appearing woman whom sat facing we at an adjoining table.  I paid virtually no heed.  At one point I was looking around and saw she was staring at me, hands cupping her chin.  You might see a pose like this in a movie ... but in real life?  Very odd.  I ate a little more and look up to see her now still cupping her hands but with both middle fingers extended at me.  Don't ask me, I have no idea what the heck her problem was!  But, I had a good laugh at her and she got up and left!  Which only made me laugh more.

Yes, mirthful but I have no idea why.
The weirdest things cause me to laugh or cry unexpectedly.
Apparently there is a pill for it, but I take enough pills as it is.
And really not going to so that I do not laugh at rude young women ...

Christmas Eve my sink drain clogged up.
The furnace died.
A zillion ants moved in from the cold.
Brakes went out on the car.k
A repairman replaced the thermostat on the furnace, but no heat - $505!
Today the furnace guy comes.
Thursday the Toyota gets repaired.
Yep a costly week ahead of me!

Hope your new year was good and will be peaceful !