REFLECTIONS
ON FAIRY TALES AND MYTHS
1-27-12
THE OTHER DAY I WAS MAKING A POT OF SOUP AND BOBBY WAS WATCHING ME CLOSELY WHILE HE WAITED WITH
UNFULFILLED HOPES THAT I WOULD LET HIM HAVE THE KNIFE AND CHOP SOME VEGETABLES. (HIS HOPES WERE UNFULFILLED BECAUSE I KNOW
HIM TO WELL TO PUT A KNIFE IN HIS HANDS). HOWEVER, GOING ON WITH MY STORY, WHEN BOBBY FIRST MOVED IN WITH
ME I FOUND OUT HE HAD NEVER HEARD A FAIRY TALE. NOW I HONESTLY THOUGHT THIS WAS SOMETHING EVERY CHILD WAS
RAISED ON. WHATEVER THE REASON, IT MADE ME SAD TO KNOW HE HADN’T GOTTEN
THIS EARLY EXPERIENCE. SO AS I WAS CHOPPING VEGETABLES AND BOBBY WAS IN A LISTENING MOOD I TOLD HIM THE
STORY OF NAIL SOUP. I HAVE ALSO HEARD THE SAME STORY USING A TWIG RATHER THAN A NAIL. I AM NOT GOING TO
TELL THE STORY HERE BUT HE HAD NEVER HEARD IT. MY NIECE WAS THERE THAT DAY AND WAS WORKING IN ANOTHER ROOM.
WHEN SHE CAME IN THE KITCHEN, I WAS TELLING HER HOW BOBBY HAD NEVER HEARD IT ONLY TO GET A BLANK LOOK FROM HER AS SHE
ALSO HAD NEVER HEARD IT. NOW WHILE THIS IS NOT A FAIRY TALE AND MAY NOT
BE AS WELL KNOWN AS CINDERELLA OR HANSEL AND GRETEL I JUST ASSUMED EVERYONE KNEW THE STORY. THERE LIES
THE PROBLEM. HOW OFTEN DO WE ASSUME SOMEONE OR EVERYONE KNOWS THE STORY OF OUR LORD? WHEN
I TOLD BOBBY THE STORY OF NAIL SOUP, HE WAS NOT IMPRESSED. HOW MANY HAVE HEARD THE STORY OF JESUS AND NOT
BEEN IMPRESSED? MAYBE THEY HEARD IT WHEN THEY WERE VERY YOUNG BUT IT WASN’T
PART OF THEIR LIVES. GOD IS VERY REAL TO ME, AS IS HIS SON, BUT HOW MANY DO NOT HAVE THAT SURETY THAT GOD IS REAL? THE STORIES
JESUS TOLD AND HIS DISCIPLES PASSED ON TO US WERE REAL, BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE JUST ANOTHER
FAIRY TALE, A MAKE BELIEVE STORY PASSED DOWN JUST FOR FUN. IN
OUR COUNTRY, WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO HEAR ALL ABOUT JESUS AND TO TELL ALL ABOUT HIM AS WELL. HOWEVER,
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERYONE HAS HEARD ABOUT HIM. IF YOU KNOW THIS STORY AND ARE NOT SHARING IT MY
FRIENDS, THEN YOU ARE PART OF THE REASON NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THE STORY. I
WAS SAD THAT BOBBY DID NOT KNOW FAIRY TALES. HOW MUCH SADDER SHOULD WE BE THAT WE HAVE NOT MADE SURE EVERYONE
KNOWS THE TALE OF JESUS?
MATTHEW 28:19 THEREFORE GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE
SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, 20 AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS,
TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE.” ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reflections on Ennui
1-20-12
I have not actually heard it expressed that I remember,
but I would imagine when my dad was a boy they never sat around saying I am
bored. Now if you are like me you hear that expressed often. While surrounded
by TV, computer, books, games and any other number
of things to occupy
his time, my son says I am bored at least once or twice a day. I try really hard not to say the first thing that pops into
my mind when I hear this. Actually, I do not try that hard I just
say it “Well clean your room, that will keep you occupied.” Or possibly
“dig your dirty clothes from under your bed that will take at least an hour”. I just don’t understand
how he can be bored. I think that is
one of
the big problems in our world today. We have quit actually doing things. Our progress
in technical areas has made so many things
available to us in so
many areas that we have become lazy in all areas. At one time when the preacher told us the Bible verses
he was
going to be reading from, you heard the rustle of pages turning.
Instead of actually knowing where the book is our children are just
learning how to spell it well enough to Google it. We do not even have to know if it is in the Old or New Testament.
I can still look it up
but yes, it is easier to type it in.
I heard a Bible question asked not long ago and the answer was given “That is in the book of David”
Now while David is featured prominently I do
not recall the book of David. But I really don’t understand the boredom factor even given
that advancement. Instead we should be using that technology
to reach out to even more lost people.
Admittedly,
I am slower doing physical tasks than almost anyone else but if I examined my life carefully, I really do
not think it comes from laziness. In fact, I don’t seem to have enough
hours in the day to accomplish the things I need to do. Although
if
I really examine my life I do admit, I have been known to put off doing one thing by doing something else. I blame it on my
advancing
age but it is probably procrastination. As
a matter of fact I said about something (I don’t recall what) recently that it was procrastination
as an art form. I like to read and my entire life I have had to force
myself to do the simple things that need to be done before I allowed
myself
to read. Now I should have much more time to read since I am not going to an outside the home job but I
seem instead to have
less time.
Now what you ask is this leading too. Actually, I was beginning to wonder myself. The time we
have is given to us by God. As
to what He expects us to do with that
time turn to Romans 12:11 and you will read Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.
So if you are looking for
a way to stop the boredom you feel in your life, turn that time over to God. Each of us has unique talents
and
abilities. Most of us are not dynamic preachers or wealthy philanthropists,
but our contribution is just as important. Paul wrote in
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Now there are varieties
of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same
God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation
of the Spirit for the common good.
Now to me that sounds like a cure for ennui. It does not take a pill or a
shot to cure us. It just takes
using the time and talent you have been
given by God to serve God.
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REFLECTIONS ON MAYONAISSE
1-11-2012
IN A RECENT SUNDAY SERVICE A JAR OF MAYONAISSE SAT NEAR THE PODIUM FOR
MOST OF THE SERVICE BEFORE WE FOUND OUT WHY. I WAS ON THE CHAT LINE AND WAS ASKED WHY.
I HAD COME IN A LITTLE LATE AND THOUGHT I HAD MISSED SOMETHING. NOT AN UNUSUAL THOUGHT AS I OFTEN MISS
THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. FOR INSTANCE I HAD NOT
EVEN NOTICED
THE JAR UNTIL IT WAS POINTED OUT TO ME WITH THE QUESTION. AS THE SERVICE PROGRESSED WE FOUND OUT THE REASON. (IF YOU
WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER I SUGGEST
YOU WATCH THE ARCHIVES).
NOW SOMETIMES I AM MADE TO FEEL ABNORMAL BUT I DO NOT LIKE MAYO. I DO HOWEVER LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS MADE
WITH MAYO LIKE THE HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH YOU MIX UP WITH
THE DREADED MAYO AND MILK), MOST OF US
HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS THAT WE ARE ALLOWED TO DECIDE IF WE WANT TO ADD TO OUR LIVES OR NOT. WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE
CONDIMENTS,
THIS DECISION THAT WE ARE GIVEN THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE TO MAKE IS REALLY NOT GOING
TO AFFECT US IN THE LONG RUN.
BUT THAT
IS THE WHOLE POINT HERE. WHEN SOMEONE SAYS TO YOU, IN THE LONG RUN, WHAT DOES THAT PHRASE MEAN TO YOU. DOES IT MEAN
THE FIRST THIRTY YEARS OF YOUR LIFE OR THE FIRST
SIXTY OR NINETY. SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME
DOESN'T IT. HOW LONG DOES THE PHRASE ETERNITY SOUND. JUST A TAD LONGER.
SO LET'S SAY YOU ARE THAT PERSON EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT WHO IS SUCH A GOOD MAN OR WOMAN BUT THEY ARE NOT SAVED. MAYBE
YOU ARE THAT PERSON AND YOU ARE DOING YOUR UTMOST
TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE. AND OF COURSE YOU DO BELIEVE
IN GOD AND YOU DO BELIEVE IN HIS SON JESUS WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS AND ROSE IN 3 DAYS. AND YOU DO BELIEVE
IN THE
BIBLE, WELL AT LEAST IN THE PARTS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH. SO WHAT IS HOLDING
YOU BACK FROM USING THAT FREE CHOICE HE GRANTED YOU, TO TURN YOUR LIFE OVER TO HIM.
WELL ONE OF THE FIRST EXCUSES WE HEAR IS "IF HE OR SHE CAN GET INTO HEAVEN I SURE CAN." I AGREE;
YOU SURE CAN... THAT IS AFTER YOU TURN YOUR HEART OVER TO HIM. HERE IS ANOTHER
GOOD EXCUSE,"THAT
PERSON IS SUCH A HYPOCRITE. THEY GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY AND ACT JUST AWFUL THE REST OF THE WEEK." WELL IT IS TRUE
THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE THAT. BUT THEY HAVE
TO LIVE OUTTHEIR JUDGEMENT JUST LIKE YOU DO.
WHAT THEY DO IN THEIR LIFE IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO ANSWER FOR, NOT YOU. BUT YOU DO HAVE TO ANSWER FOR YOURSELF.
NOW WHAT YOU ARE LIVING RIGHT NOW, IF YOU ARE BEING SUCH A GOOD
PERSON IS JUST LIKE I AM WITH MAYONAISSE. YOU ARE NOT ACCEPTING THE JAR AS A WHOLE BUT TRYING TO PICK OUT
THE PARTS OF IT YOU LIKE OR CAN MAKE OUT OF IT AND USE JUST THEM. HAVE YOU SEEN THE PERSON WHO HAS TO READ
THE INGREDIENTS ON THE SIDE OF THE JAR WHILE THEY ARE IN THE STORE
AND THEY READ THOSE INGREDIENTS
EVERYTIME.
THE INGREDIENTS DON'T CHANGE. THEY ARE STILL
MAYONAISSE. BUT IF YOU PICK ONLY THE PARTS OF THE INGREDIENTS YOU LIKE IT DOES NOT MAKE MAYONAISSE. YOU CAN THROW ALL THE
EGGS IN
THE JAR YOU WANT BUT UNTIL YOU ADD THE OTHER INGREDIENTS YOU JUST HAVE EGGS. YOU
CAN BE THE BEST PERSON IN THE WORLD BUT UNTIL YOU ADD GOD YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE JOINING
HIM
LATER AND FOR ETERNITY.
SO GO BACK TO THE STORE PICK UP A JAR OF MAYONAISSE AND TRY YOU
A BIG SPOONFUL. I BELIEVE YOU MIGHT LIKE IT BETTER THAN YOU THINK.
1CORINTHIANS 13:1-3 THOUGH I SPEAK WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN AND OF
ANGELS, AND HAVE NOT CHARITY [LOVE], I AM BECOME AS SOUNDING BRASS, OR A TINKLING CYMBAL.
AND THOUGH I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY, AND UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES, AND ALL KNOWLEDGE; AND THOUGH
I HAVE ALL FAITH, SO THAT I COULD REMOVE MOUNTAINS, AND
HAVE
NOT CHARITY, I AM NOTHING. AND THOUGH I BESTOW ALL MY GOODS TO FEED THE POOR, AND THOUGH I GIVE MY BODY TO BE BURNED, AND
HAVE NOT CHARITY, IT PROFITETH
ME NOTHING"
DISCLAIMER: I LOVE GOD AND I LOVE MY CHRISTIAN LIFE BUT
I WILL NOT BE EATING A SPOON OF MAYO ANYTIME SOON.
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REFLECTIONS ON EXAMPLES
10-29-11
I WAS CLEANING HOUSE AND THINKING, WHICH MEANS I AM PROCRASTINATING NOW, BUT I DO MY BEST THINKING WHILE CLEANING
HOUSE. WHEN SOME THINGS POP INTO MY BRAIN I HAVE TO WRITE THEM DOWN RIGHT AWAY OR I FORGET THEM. ALSO WHEN I AM CLEANING
I LISTEN TO MUSIC. I LIKE IT LOUD AND ALL MIXED UP.
TODAY IN MY SELECTION WAS A CAROLE KING SONG
"YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND". THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS.
WELL ACTUALLY I LIKE ALL HER SONGS. IT WAS RECORDED IN 1971 WHICH IS A FEW YEARS AGO. I WAS 20 AT THE TIME SO TOO YOUNG FOR
THE TODAY THOUGHTS I GUESS. MY THINKING TODAY RANGED ALONG THE AREA OF THE DIFFERENCE IN TODAYS SONGS FROM THOSE RECORDED
SAY IN THAT DECADE. WE HAD I WILL SURVIVE, HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE, BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED
WATER, YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND, WE ARE FAMILY, FAMILY AFFAIR, SUMMER BREEZE, YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE DANCING, YOU'VE GOT
THE BEST OF MY LOVE, TOP OF THE WORLD, WE MADE IT THROUGH THE RAIN, CLOSE TO YOU, LOVE WILL KEEP US TOGETHER, HE AIN'T
HEAVY HE'S MY BROTHER. WELL YOU GET THE IDEA.
COMPARE
THAT TO THE DECADE 30 YEARS LATER WHEN WE GET UR SO GAY, I KISSED A GIRL,MANIC DEPRESSION,
TIK TOK, LOVE GAMES, BORN THIS WAY. PAPER GANGSTA, TAKE IT OFF AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THE EXAMPLES
SET BY TODAY'S CELEBRITIES LIKE LINDSAY LOHAN AND CHARLIE SHEEN. AND SPEAKING OF CHARLIE SHEEN IF YOU WANT TO WATCH A GOOD
SHOW WITH THE KID'S THAT ONE HE WAS ON WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A GOOD PICK.
IN THE 70S OR SO WE HAD
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY, THE BRADY BUNCH SHOWS YOU COULD WATCH WITH THE FAMILY. WELL MY WHOLE POINT HERE IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT
MAKES UP OUR LIVES OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH IS PEPPERED CONTINUALLY WITH SEX, VIOLENCE, AND HATRED. I AM SURE THERE ARE GOOD
THINGS OUT THERE BUT THEY ARE SO BEATEN DOWN BY EVERYTHING AROUND THEM, THEY STRUGGLE TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY. I AM
EQUALLY SURE THERE WERE BAD THINGS IN THE DECADES PRECEEDING THE ONE WE HAVE JUST LEFT AND THE ONE WE HAVE JUST ENTERED BUT
I DON'T THINK THEY WERE AS PUBLIC. ROCK HUDSON SPRINGS TO MIND. MAYBE HIS LIFESTYLE WAS NOT GOOD BUT WE DID NOT KNOW
ABOUT IT THEN. TODAY IT TAKES A VERY VIGILENT GUARDIAN TO CATCH AND STOP THESE BAD EXAMPLES FROM BEING AN EVERYDAY PART OF
A CHILD'S LIFE.
ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN DO THAT THOUGH, IS TO INTRODUCE KIDS EARLY ON TO SOME OF
THE OLDIES BUT GOODIES. AND I HAVE SOME WONDERFUL EXAMPLES READY. HOW ABOUT WHAT A
FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS, AMAZING GRACE, THE OLD RUGGED CROSS, OR WANT SOMETHING NEWER
HOW ABOUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE, THANK YOU, OPEN
THE EYES OF MY HEART. THE GOOD THINGS ARE STILL THERE. WE ONLY HAVE TO BE ATTENTIVE ENOUGH TO FIND
THEM.
SO SEND YOUR KIDS TO CHURCH BUT COME WITH THEM. SET THE EXAMPLES YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SET.
DON'T BE ONE WAY IN PUBLIC WHERE EVERYONE CAN SEE YOU AND NOT FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT AT HOME. DON'T LET HIM OR HER SEE
YOU WATCHING THINGS ON TV YOU WOULD NOT WANT THEM TO WATCH OR READING BOOKS YOU WOULD NOT WANT THEM TO READ. OPEN UP AND READ
THAT DUSTY FAMILY BIBLE ON THE COFFEE TABLE. DON'T ACT ACCEPTING OF THINGS IN PUBLIC AND THEN BLOW UP ABOUT THEM AT
HOME. REMEMBER PROVERBS 15:1 . WELL I AM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT IT SAYS. YOU WILL HAVE TO
LOOK IT UP YOURSELF AND THEN TEACH IT TO YOUR CHILD
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Reflections
on Beginnings and Endings
October 14, 2011
Quite often when listening to a sermon, or
reading a book, even watching a TV show, I will hear a single line or phrase which catches my ear and stays in there until
I do something with it. Sometimes I just make a paper to hang up on our blackboard or some other place
where it is read frequently until another replaces it. This one I wanted to look at with more depth.“Begin With The End In Mind” I can think of a large number of
ways that phrase could be used. You cannot in my opinion reach a goal unless you have first set one.
We have goals that we set without any actual thought behind them. For instance “I am going
to get that right if it is the last thing I do.” There is an unconscious goal.
And of course we have goals set with great deliberation. “I am going to learn how to play
that song on the piano by the end of the month” In both cases we are beginning something with the
end in mind. At the beginning of every year we set numerous goals. We may not thing
of them as goals but they are. We call them resolutions, or decisions or promises or oaths but they are
in fact goals we are setting in our lives.As you read in your Bible (and
reading your Bible is often a goal) you will read about numerous promises God made to us. Now if you look
back on the goals you have set, the promises you have made, often just to yourselves, how many of those goals did you achieve.
The Bible says: Phillipians
4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus".. God
has promised in II Corinthians 12:9 that His grace is sufficient for
us. And in Ephesians 2:8 He has made provision for our salvation by His
grace through faith. Romans 5:2 It is through an obedient faith that we have access into the grace of God.God has promised that His children will not be overtaken with temptation. Instead, He assures
us that a way of escape will be provided. This promise is recorded in I Corinthians 10:13.
Jude wrote: "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present your faultless before the presence of
his glory with exceeding joy" And the most important
promise of all God has promised us victory over death. God has promised
that all things work together for good to those who love and serve Him faithfully (Romans 8:28). It may be difficult for us to see and understand how this is accomplished at times, but God has promised
it, and He will deliver.As I look back over some of my own goals and promises,
I can truthfully say that even those I started out really determined to keep, I did not do that great a job of keeping.
I can also say that there has never been a single time that God acted as poorly as I do. God has
kept every promise to me personally, or to the population of the entire earth. I have trouble just keeping
promises in my home. God begins with the end in mind.
He knew the end or the goal for each one or us long before there was an us. He has kept all those
goals in mind since then too. So let’s try this one more time and try to do it with a more Christ
like attitude. Start small if you need to and build up. Try to begin with the end in
mind.
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