September 29, 2018
September 28, 2018
Jam Packed Week
Such a week!
For some reason I was two days ahead of reality, the entire week!
Chronically late two everything.
After all i thought it was Thursday, When in fact it was only Tuesday!
When I finally got that straightened out in my mind, I had a minor heart failure.
sigh
So very tired of this.
With further investigations by my cardiologist, he called me in.
Seems my heart is a basket case and noit normal.
Numerous blockages.
Bottom of the muscle is dead.
My arteries are oversized and I have one too many.
I need bypass surgery.
But .....
That one extra artery is supplying the entire heart and has no blockages!
So, I can last as long as I can.
With minor complaints from my heart.
At least until the next big one.
Then there will be no choices.
There have been numerous meetings concerning the shooting last week.
Of course the typical government response:
Start a new committee to look into the issue.
Just like the last commission whom after 10 years at investigating gang violence,
concluded there are no gangs nor gang violence!
Now they are shame faced trying to figure out how to cover up the latest gang shooting.
Which of course led to another incidence of gang violence this week.
Oh yeah, I forgot, there are no gangs!
Even when sporting gang colors and tattoos!
And we have sunny days,
So, I get to paint the bridge.
Before the rains come next week!
Busy, busy, busy!
For some reason I was two days ahead of reality, the entire week!
Chronically late two everything.
After all i thought it was Thursday, When in fact it was only Tuesday!
When I finally got that straightened out in my mind, I had a minor heart failure.
sigh
So very tired of this.
With further investigations by my cardiologist, he called me in.
Seems my heart is a basket case and noit normal.
Numerous blockages.
Bottom of the muscle is dead.
My arteries are oversized and I have one too many.
I need bypass surgery.
But .....
That one extra artery is supplying the entire heart and has no blockages!
So, I can last as long as I can.
With minor complaints from my heart.
At least until the next big one.
Then there will be no choices.
There have been numerous meetings concerning the shooting last week.
Of course the typical government response:
Start a new committee to look into the issue.
Just like the last commission whom after 10 years at investigating gang violence,
concluded there are no gangs nor gang violence!
Now they are shame faced trying to figure out how to cover up the latest gang shooting.
Which of course led to another incidence of gang violence this week.
Oh yeah, I forgot, there are no gangs!
Even when sporting gang colors and tattoos!
And we have sunny days,
So, I get to paint the bridge.
Before the rains come next week!
Busy, busy, busy!
September 27, 2018
A Study Gone Awry
Less you think I am perfect or that everything goes as planned:
Now I am not at my sharpest any longer.
If I ever was.
Though I am told I am still formidable in a question of logic and reason.
I think I am dumber than a stump these days.
But .....
This week's study was done along an intuitive line of reasoning.
Usually with reasonable results.
This week, not so much.
We were looking at John 2:4 .....
It is the story of Jesus' first miracle.
I expected a discussion perhaps as to why were they in Cana in the first place.
Maybe something on the presumption of Mary.
But no ....... It was the water pots!!!!!!
One person commented that the water was the entire point.
Another that the jugs were really wash basins.
etc
etc
ETC!
By the time they were done,
They had completely lost the point of the story:
Jesus was obedient to his mother.
As any good Jewish son would be.
They spiritualized the water, the jugs, the wine, the bride-groom.
Nothing was left in the story of God, Jesus or tradition.
I was thunder struck.
Even with a partial brain, it was obvious, at least to me.
But I held my tongue.
I am now slow to speak.
For I truly lack any knowledge anylonger.
Sigh ...
So the meeting ended in a stalemate.
Only frustration and confusion.
And I sat there stunned.
How could something so simple be so easily missed?
How could a knowledgible group be so mislead?
It is like a veil lay over their eyes ......
What does the future hold?
I really do wonder.
And pray with trembling this not a sign of the future ......
Now I am not at my sharpest any longer.
If I ever was.
Though I am told I am still formidable in a question of logic and reason.
I think I am dumber than a stump these days.
But .....
This week's study was done along an intuitive line of reasoning.
Usually with reasonable results.
This week, not so much.
We were looking at John 2:4 .....
It is the story of Jesus' first miracle.
I expected a discussion perhaps as to why were they in Cana in the first place.
Maybe something on the presumption of Mary.
But no ....... It was the water pots!!!!!!
One person commented that the water was the entire point.
Another that the jugs were really wash basins.
etc
etc
ETC!
By the time they were done,
They had completely lost the point of the story:
Jesus was obedient to his mother.
As any good Jewish son would be.
They spiritualized the water, the jugs, the wine, the bride-groom.
Nothing was left in the story of God, Jesus or tradition.
I was thunder struck.
Even with a partial brain, it was obvious, at least to me.
But I held my tongue.
I am now slow to speak.
For I truly lack any knowledge anylonger.
Sigh ...
So the meeting ended in a stalemate.
Only frustration and confusion.
And I sat there stunned.
How could something so simple be so easily missed?
How could a knowledgible group be so mislead?
It is like a veil lay over their eyes ......
What does the future hold?
I really do wonder.
And pray with trembling this not a sign of the future ......
September 26, 2018
Signs of a Christian
One of my God-sons is quite upset by last FRiday's shooting here in town.
The kids involved all went to his high school. with it being aresponse
His office looks over the shooting area.
He was a witness to the death of someone he knew.
He does not know how to respond.
Of course very few people kill one another without hate playing a role.
As a Christian,
You are to LOVE without hypocrisy.
Our LOVE is to be genuine.
Romans 12:9-11
Love Truth
Avoid evil.
Cling to what is good.
In truth, else LOVE is just a feeling.
Hate evil, turn your back on evil.
Show Honor
Be melded with good.
Put others needs before your own.
Remember, you do not need to be first!
Out do others in kindness - this shows honor.
Actively seek ways to show their importance to you.
Find Passion
Our culture is plagued by apathy.
Our churches are plagued by apathy.
Passion is found in investing in others.
Missions,
Foster children,
Orphans,
Widows,
The poor.
Think
Food banks,
Clothing banks,
Car repair and servicing,
Tax preparation.
But, being passionate is hard when you have gang wars in progress.
Yet, this is the very reason your passion is needed.
It takes very little to change an environment.
Your genuine LOVE is all it takes.
Change just one life.
And others will follow .....
The kids involved all went to his high school. with it being aresponse
His office looks over the shooting area.
He was a witness to the death of someone he knew.
He does not know how to respond.
Of course very few people kill one another without hate playing a role.
As a Christian,
You are to LOVE without hypocrisy.
Our LOVE is to be genuine.
Romans 12:9-11
Love Truth
Avoid evil.
Cling to what is good.
In truth, else LOVE is just a feeling.
Hate evil, turn your back on evil.
Show Honor
Be melded with good.
Put others needs before your own.
Remember, you do not need to be first!
Out do others in kindness - this shows honor.
Actively seek ways to show their importance to you.
Find Passion
Our culture is plagued by apathy.
Our churches are plagued by apathy.
Passion is found in investing in others.
Missions,
Foster children,
Orphans,
Widows,
The poor.
Think
Food banks,
Clothing banks,
Car repair and servicing,
Tax preparation.
But, being passionate is hard when you have gang wars in progress.
Yet, this is the very reason your passion is needed.
It takes very little to change an environment.
Your genuine LOVE is all it takes.
Change just one life.
And others will follow .....
September 25, 2018
My Little Town
Is in a state of stunned silence.
Friday, you may have heard on the news we were treated to a drive-by shooting.
Nothing new in that.
We probably get one of those a year.
Rival gangs shooting each other!
Only this time they managed to kill someone not in a gang.
Seems two 17 year olds, after school, decide to go kill someone they hated.
No idea why.
In their minds, he deserved to die.
SWo they planned their drive-by.
Get their 15 year old target, while he crossed one of my town's busiest intersections.
Only, they were horrible shots!
It took 15 shots to utterly misses their target at under 20 feet!
At that distance they could have clubbed him!
Of course, the number one rule of a shooter is: know your background!
Because even they best of us miss.
So where is that bullet going to go?
In this case, through the window of a chiroprator's office.
And killing the receptionist!
The town is sort of stunned.
There are only 33,000 of us.
And some Latino gang thinks they are above the law and can stand against overwhelming odds.
Everyone is sort of walking on eggshells.
The shooters, were instantly caught.
Their car was photographed.
They were photographed.
They are to be tried as adults now.
More thoughts tomorrow.
sigh
Friday, you may have heard on the news we were treated to a drive-by shooting.
Nothing new in that.
We probably get one of those a year.
Rival gangs shooting each other!
Only this time they managed to kill someone not in a gang.
Seems two 17 year olds, after school, decide to go kill someone they hated.
No idea why.
In their minds, he deserved to die.
SWo they planned their drive-by.
Get their 15 year old target, while he crossed one of my town's busiest intersections.
Only, they were horrible shots!
It took 15 shots to utterly misses their target at under 20 feet!
At that distance they could have clubbed him!
Of course, the number one rule of a shooter is: know your background!
Because even they best of us miss.
So where is that bullet going to go?
In this case, through the window of a chiroprator's office.
And killing the receptionist!
The town is sort of stunned.
There are only 33,000 of us.
And some Latino gang thinks they are above the law and can stand against overwhelming odds.
Everyone is sort of walking on eggshells.
The shooters, were instantly caught.
Their car was photographed.
They were photographed.
They are to be tried as adults now.
More thoughts tomorrow.
sigh
September 24, 2018
The World
John uses thew term "the world" 105 times, in five different w2ays.
The world appears 185 times in the Bible.
It does not mean people or mountains, nor any other term which means anything other.
1 John 2:15-17
The world can not give you the love you need.
The world does mean our cultural system.
Think drinking, cards, cussing.
What you do or do not do.
But rules do not work.
It is your heart that matters.
Change the heart, you change the man.
The World Can Not Give You The Satisfaction You Need.
Things can not satisfy.
Nor power.
Nor lust.
We make a false God of:
Family
Sports
Job
Money
We are easily led astray.
Small steps, leading to more steps,
To lead you away from God,
And straight into the world ...
The World Can Not Give You Permanence
Nothiing lasts forever in this world.
Only the Kingdom of God remains.
All we possess are to be destroyed.
The world, as we know it, is passing away.
But in Jesus all we have is secure.
The world appears 185 times in the Bible.
It does not mean people or mountains, nor any other term which means anything other.
1 John 2:15-17
The world can not give you the love you need.
The world does mean our cultural system.
Think drinking, cards, cussing.
What you do or do not do.
But rules do not work.
It is your heart that matters.
Change the heart, you change the man.
The World Can Not Give You The Satisfaction You Need.
Things can not satisfy.
Nor power.
Nor lust.
We make a false God of:
Family
Sports
Job
Money
We are easily led astray.
Small steps, leading to more steps,
To lead you away from God,
And straight into the world ...
The World Can Not Give You Permanence
Nothiing lasts forever in this world.
Only the Kingdom of God remains.
All we possess are to be destroyed.
The world, as we know it, is passing away.
But in Jesus all we have is secure.
September 22, 2018
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