This . . .
My Mom said, "I hope Arkansas misses McNutt, cause I liked him."
.
I just heard a guy on TV say, "Sometimes it's always good to . . ."
Hmmmmmmm?
.
Cool quarterbacks sometimes always wear baseball caps.
.
That . . .
There is something noble and great about writing. Writing forces you to decide what you think and what you believe. Writing also helps others to decide what they think and believe - through their agreement or disagreement with what you said.
Shawn Blanc
.
This is That . . .
So now I am supposed to write something brilliant about what I think and what I believe in order to help others decide what they think and believe through agreement or disagreement with what I write about what I think and believe.
Hmmmmmm.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
It's Me God, Jerry.
This . . .
I was living in Madison house in Wichita, Kansas with Brian, Doug, Jim, Gayle and Schoon. One evening while walking with my Golden Retriever, Gandolph, I came across a dead possum in the yard. I knew it was dead because Gandolph ran right up to it barking as ferociously as he could and it didn't even move a bit. No one wants a dead possum in their yard, so I picked it up by the tail and flunged it over the back fence as far as I could. It landed with a thump. I went inside to tell someone, and when we came out to look, it was gone. You got it, a possum playing possum.
.
That . . .
Today was trash day, so I was gathering up the trash this morning when I discoverd a dead possum in one of the trash cans. I knew it was dead, because it stinketh. I am talking stinky stink. I put a bag of trash over it and took the can to the street hoping the trashmen would just toss the whole thing in the truck possum and all. Well, when I came home at noon there was the trash can with the possum still in it. Only now, the possum was looking at me. I took it across the street and dumped it out realizing it just couldn't get out. It happily ran off into the woods to take a bath I hope. At the bottom of the can was a bag of poopy cat litter which explained the stink.
You got it, a possum playing possum.
.
This is That . . .
Believers in Jesus don't usually play dead, but I fear we often play alive. It's called pride. We really care what people think, and we want them to think that we lead great Christian lives and that we are way, way, OK . . . Great in God's eyes when maybe we're not.
I don't want people to just THINK I am alive,
I want God to KNOW I'm alive.
Like a song says,
I don't want to talk ABOUT Jesus like He's not in the room,
I want to talk TO Him face to face.
How bad would it be to stand before God and say, "Boy you wouldn't believe how great I was in the eyes of all the believers down there."
And God might say, "Now what was your name again?"
I was living in Madison house in Wichita, Kansas with Brian, Doug, Jim, Gayle and Schoon. One evening while walking with my Golden Retriever, Gandolph, I came across a dead possum in the yard. I knew it was dead because Gandolph ran right up to it barking as ferociously as he could and it didn't even move a bit. No one wants a dead possum in their yard, so I picked it up by the tail and flunged it over the back fence as far as I could. It landed with a thump. I went inside to tell someone, and when we came out to look, it was gone. You got it, a possum playing possum.
.
That . . .
Today was trash day, so I was gathering up the trash this morning when I discoverd a dead possum in one of the trash cans. I knew it was dead, because it stinketh. I am talking stinky stink. I put a bag of trash over it and took the can to the street hoping the trashmen would just toss the whole thing in the truck possum and all. Well, when I came home at noon there was the trash can with the possum still in it. Only now, the possum was looking at me. I took it across the street and dumped it out realizing it just couldn't get out. It happily ran off into the woods to take a bath I hope. At the bottom of the can was a bag of poopy cat litter which explained the stink.
You got it, a possum playing possum.
.
This is That . . .
Believers in Jesus don't usually play dead, but I fear we often play alive. It's called pride. We really care what people think, and we want them to think that we lead great Christian lives and that we are way, way, OK . . . Great in God's eyes when maybe we're not.
I don't want people to just THINK I am alive,
I want God to KNOW I'm alive.
Like a song says,
I don't want to talk ABOUT Jesus like He's not in the room,
I want to talk TO Him face to face.
How bad would it be to stand before God and say, "Boy you wouldn't believe how great I was in the eyes of all the believers down there."
And God might say, "Now what was your name again?"
Monday, November 26, 2007
Set Your Love As A Firey Seal Upon My Heart
This . . .
My daughter-in-law Lee Ann was complaining about a hiccup attack she was having. So I quietly walked up to her and then suddenly yelled as loud as I could right in her face. After she got up off the ground, she didn't hiccup again. I never really believed that scaring someone would keep them from hiccupping, but now I wonder.
.
That . . .
I just ate a bon-bon. It was delicious. Make that two - both delicious.
.
This is That . . .
Song of Solomon 6:8
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm;
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy as cruel as the grave;
Its flames are flames of fire,
A most vehement flame.
.
What are you most pasionate about?
Where does passion come from?
What makes you cry?
.
My sister Jeanette and her husband Brian renewed their marriage vows over this past Thanksgiving week-end, after 25 years of marriage. Then various family members spoke blessings over them; and then we sang a choral arrangment of an Irish Blessing to them. I was all about singing, but I could only get out a few notes because of the emotions welling up inside of me.
This is not an unusual thing, I am definately a weeper. Feelings of love and being loved are strong emotions, bringing great joy if experienced in a positive way, and great sadness if that love is something only longed for.
For me, loving God and experiencing his love most often brings tears.
I embrace those moments.
I want Jesus to be the one I am most passionate about.
.
And so I pray, Jesus, . . .
Come and set your love as a flame upon my heart.
I long to love you even as the Father has loved you.
Give me a passion for your name.
Set your love as a firey seal upon my heart.
My daughter-in-law Lee Ann was complaining about a hiccup attack she was having. So I quietly walked up to her and then suddenly yelled as loud as I could right in her face. After she got up off the ground, she didn't hiccup again. I never really believed that scaring someone would keep them from hiccupping, but now I wonder.
.
That . . .
I just ate a bon-bon. It was delicious. Make that two - both delicious.
.
This is That . . .
Song of Solomon 6:8
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm;
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy as cruel as the grave;
Its flames are flames of fire,
A most vehement flame.
.
What are you most pasionate about?
Where does passion come from?
What makes you cry?
.
My sister Jeanette and her husband Brian renewed their marriage vows over this past Thanksgiving week-end, after 25 years of marriage. Then various family members spoke blessings over them; and then we sang a choral arrangment of an Irish Blessing to them. I was all about singing, but I could only get out a few notes because of the emotions welling up inside of me.
This is not an unusual thing, I am definately a weeper. Feelings of love and being loved are strong emotions, bringing great joy if experienced in a positive way, and great sadness if that love is something only longed for.
For me, loving God and experiencing his love most often brings tears.
I embrace those moments.
I want Jesus to be the one I am most passionate about.
.
And so I pray, Jesus, . . .
Come and set your love as a flame upon my heart.
I long to love you even as the Father has loved you.
Give me a passion for your name.
Set your love as a firey seal upon my heart.
Monday, November 12, 2007
More on the Kingdom of God
This . . .
I was talking to our one fish today.
"I am lonely", he said sadly, "being the one and only fish in the tank".
"You ate all the other fish", I reminded him.
"They were delicious", he said, "but I'm still lonely.
.
That . . .
I love winter in Arkansas. It means you don't have to run the air conditioner near as often. Except when you have a fire in the fireplace. Then you have to run it about the same as summer.
.
This is That . . .
How do we define the Kingdom of God?
Here is one definition . . .
The Kingdom is anywhere the obedience to God's reign or government is manifested in peoples lives. Jesus is the King and so wherever he reigns as Lord . . . there is the Kingdom.
So the Kingdom of God, here and now, requires our cooperation. The Kingdom is already here in part wherever people yield to Jesus and make him Lord. But the Kingdom is not yet fully come until Jesus comes and rules and reigns during the millennium with fullness over the whole earth.
I guess that was more "a little one person discussion" than a "definition".
I invite you to jump in and think out loud with me.
I was talking to our one fish today.
"I am lonely", he said sadly, "being the one and only fish in the tank".
"You ate all the other fish", I reminded him.
"They were delicious", he said, "but I'm still lonely.
.
That . . .
I love winter in Arkansas. It means you don't have to run the air conditioner near as often. Except when you have a fire in the fireplace. Then you have to run it about the same as summer.
.
This is That . . .
How do we define the Kingdom of God?
Here is one definition . . .
The Kingdom is anywhere the obedience to God's reign or government is manifested in peoples lives. Jesus is the King and so wherever he reigns as Lord . . . there is the Kingdom.
So the Kingdom of God, here and now, requires our cooperation. The Kingdom is already here in part wherever people yield to Jesus and make him Lord. But the Kingdom is not yet fully come until Jesus comes and rules and reigns during the millennium with fullness over the whole earth.
I guess that was more "a little one person discussion" than a "definition".
I invite you to jump in and think out loud with me.
The Kingdom of God
This . . .
If anyone has a baby boy on the way . . .
I have a great choice for a name.
Kabob.
If it happens to be a girl . . .
Kabobbette would be good.
Remember, you heard it here first.
.
That . . .
I spent the week-end with my son Nathan and his wife Amy and two children, Elijah (Almost two) and Lucy (three months). The guest bed is in Eli's room, so we were sleeping together, me in the bed and him in his crib.
I had to get up at 3:30 a.m. to go to the bathroom - the room was dark. As soon as I got out of bed, I heard Eli say in a very awake and very cheery voice, "HI!"
I went on to the bathroom, giggling a bit, and then came back in the room to hear Eli say in a very excited and bright voice, "Hi, grandpa!" He has always called me paw paw, but this time it was grandpa.
Then he said again, "Hi, Grandpa, what 'ya doin'?"
"Sleepin'", I replied.
Then we both went back to sleep.
.
This is That . . .
I have been meditating on "The Kingdom of God".
Is the Kingdom of God here now? I believe it is.
Is the Kingdom of God yet to come? I believe it is.
What about the Kingdom of Heaven?
When we pray, "Thy Kingdom come" what are we praying for?
When John the Baptist said to repent for the Kindom of God is at hand, what did he mean?
There is a lot I don't know, but one thing I do know - A kingdom has a king and the King of the Kingdom of God is Jesus.
The Kingdom is here and He's the King.
The Kingdom is coming and He'll be the King . . .
and His Kingdom will have no end.
What say you?
If anyone has a baby boy on the way . . .
I have a great choice for a name.
Kabob.
If it happens to be a girl . . .
Kabobbette would be good.
Remember, you heard it here first.
.
That . . .
I spent the week-end with my son Nathan and his wife Amy and two children, Elijah (Almost two) and Lucy (three months). The guest bed is in Eli's room, so we were sleeping together, me in the bed and him in his crib.
I had to get up at 3:30 a.m. to go to the bathroom - the room was dark. As soon as I got out of bed, I heard Eli say in a very awake and very cheery voice, "HI!"
I went on to the bathroom, giggling a bit, and then came back in the room to hear Eli say in a very excited and bright voice, "Hi, grandpa!" He has always called me paw paw, but this time it was grandpa.
Then he said again, "Hi, Grandpa, what 'ya doin'?"
"Sleepin'", I replied.
Then we both went back to sleep.
.
This is That . . .
I have been meditating on "The Kingdom of God".
Is the Kingdom of God here now? I believe it is.
Is the Kingdom of God yet to come? I believe it is.
What about the Kingdom of Heaven?
When we pray, "Thy Kingdom come" what are we praying for?
When John the Baptist said to repent for the Kindom of God is at hand, what did he mean?
There is a lot I don't know, but one thing I do know - A kingdom has a king and the King of the Kingdom of God is Jesus.
The Kingdom is here and He's the King.
The Kingdom is coming and He'll be the King . . .
and His Kingdom will have no end.
What say you?
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Pursuing Righteousness
This . . .
I rather enjoyed this news article in yesterdays paper.
Charles Everson, 49, and his wife, Linda, were both unhurt after a 600-pound cow fell about 200 feet off a cliff and struck the hood of their minivan while the Michigan couple were celebrating their first wedding anniverary in Manson, Washington.
I can just imagine someone asking after they got home,
"So, how was your trip?"
And the cow's family must have been quite upset.
.
That . . .
When God thinks of us, is he mad, glad or sad?
Well it depends on our heart.
If we are pursuing righteousness he is very glad.
If we are in rebellion, he is for sure sad, and maybe mad.
.
If we think he is mad, and he's not, that's called condemnation -
we don't want that.
If we think he is glad, and he's not, that's called presumption -
we really don't want that.
.
This is That . . .
God is glad when our hearts are turned towards him. He knows we are but dust, and so he is forever merciful, kind, and quick to forgive.
He loves us even in our weakness.
.
When we sin, God wants us to stand before Him, ask for forgiveness, repent (turn from) our sin, and declare war on it by purposing in our heart not to give ourselves to sin in any way. We may fall in an area of sin many times, yet still declare war on it by hating it as our enemy and determining within ourselves to love God.
.
Weak love is not false love. Weak love is immature, but still sincere,
and God desires us to be confident in His delight over us
while we are yet weak and maturing.
God sees us as beautiful, even in our weakness.
God loves us and has glad, happy feelings towards us, as we go thru the journey of pursuing righteousness, stumbling along the way.
.
Rebellion is another thing.
I rather enjoyed this news article in yesterdays paper.
Charles Everson, 49, and his wife, Linda, were both unhurt after a 600-pound cow fell about 200 feet off a cliff and struck the hood of their minivan while the Michigan couple were celebrating their first wedding anniverary in Manson, Washington.
I can just imagine someone asking after they got home,
"So, how was your trip?"
And the cow's family must have been quite upset.
.
That . . .
When God thinks of us, is he mad, glad or sad?
Well it depends on our heart.
If we are pursuing righteousness he is very glad.
If we are in rebellion, he is for sure sad, and maybe mad.
.
If we think he is mad, and he's not, that's called condemnation -
we don't want that.
If we think he is glad, and he's not, that's called presumption -
we really don't want that.
.
This is That . . .
God is glad when our hearts are turned towards him. He knows we are but dust, and so he is forever merciful, kind, and quick to forgive.
He loves us even in our weakness.
.
When we sin, God wants us to stand before Him, ask for forgiveness, repent (turn from) our sin, and declare war on it by purposing in our heart not to give ourselves to sin in any way. We may fall in an area of sin many times, yet still declare war on it by hating it as our enemy and determining within ourselves to love God.
.
Weak love is not false love. Weak love is immature, but still sincere,
and God desires us to be confident in His delight over us
while we are yet weak and maturing.
God sees us as beautiful, even in our weakness.
God loves us and has glad, happy feelings towards us, as we go thru the journey of pursuing righteousness, stumbling along the way.
.
Rebellion is another thing.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Uncle Hutson
.
This . . .
Uncle Hutson was a favorite uncle. I've got stories.
Hutson and Hazel lived on Beaver Lake and had a high powered ski boat. Hutson was always coming up with some ski trick so he could show off when we came to visit. A favorite involved a dry dock take-off. He would stand on the dock in a single ski, dressed in street clothes. The boat would start close enough to the dock for there to be several loops of slack rope between him and the boat. Hutson would light a cigarette and then signal for the boat to take off. When the rope slack ran out he would jump out from the dock and take off skiing in his street clothes, smoking a cigarette. He would take a quick loop around the lake and then crossing the wake he would propel himself back toward the dock and wind up sitting down on the side, still smoking his cigarette.
.
When they were little, my dad asked Hutson one time,
"When you finish that apple, can I have the core?"
Hutson answered, "When I finish this apple there ain't gonna be no core".
.
That . . .
Hutson was not a Christian, but he was nice about it. My dad would witness to him, and he would just grin and say,
"Well I'll keep that in mind."
Eventually he wound up with cancer, in the hospital on his death bed.
My dad was strongly urging his brother to accept Christ. Hutson felt it just wouldn't be right to live a life without God and then get on the train at the very last minute, at the very last stop. My dad told him, "It doesn't really matter who you go to the dance with, but it is very important who you go home with".
Hudson said he would think about that.
My sister, Jeanette, wrote a very powerful letter to Hutson, telling him that God was very merciful, very kind, full of love and longing for Hutson to come home with him. Hutson spent his last days clutching that letter on his chest. At last he prayed with my dad (his brother) to receive Christ as his saviour.
It will be good to see Hutson again, and be together with him for eternity.
.
This is That . . .
I found this website on a link of a link of a friend. It is totally encouraging, inspiring, entertaining . . . in a word, great.
I couldn't figure out how to get a direct link, but this address will take you to the blogsite where the video is. It is under a post entitled "ressurection".
Get a cup of coffee, get comfy, and enjoy.
.
www.raretune.com
.
This . . .
Uncle Hutson was a favorite uncle. I've got stories.
Hutson and Hazel lived on Beaver Lake and had a high powered ski boat. Hutson was always coming up with some ski trick so he could show off when we came to visit. A favorite involved a dry dock take-off. He would stand on the dock in a single ski, dressed in street clothes. The boat would start close enough to the dock for there to be several loops of slack rope between him and the boat. Hutson would light a cigarette and then signal for the boat to take off. When the rope slack ran out he would jump out from the dock and take off skiing in his street clothes, smoking a cigarette. He would take a quick loop around the lake and then crossing the wake he would propel himself back toward the dock and wind up sitting down on the side, still smoking his cigarette.
.
When they were little, my dad asked Hutson one time,
"When you finish that apple, can I have the core?"
Hutson answered, "When I finish this apple there ain't gonna be no core".
.
That . . .
Hutson was not a Christian, but he was nice about it. My dad would witness to him, and he would just grin and say,
"Well I'll keep that in mind."
Eventually he wound up with cancer, in the hospital on his death bed.
My dad was strongly urging his brother to accept Christ. Hutson felt it just wouldn't be right to live a life without God and then get on the train at the very last minute, at the very last stop. My dad told him, "It doesn't really matter who you go to the dance with, but it is very important who you go home with".
Hudson said he would think about that.
My sister, Jeanette, wrote a very powerful letter to Hutson, telling him that God was very merciful, very kind, full of love and longing for Hutson to come home with him. Hutson spent his last days clutching that letter on his chest. At last he prayed with my dad (his brother) to receive Christ as his saviour.
It will be good to see Hutson again, and be together with him for eternity.
.
This is That . . .
I found this website on a link of a link of a friend. It is totally encouraging, inspiring, entertaining . . . in a word, great.
I couldn't figure out how to get a direct link, but this address will take you to the blogsite where the video is. It is under a post entitled "ressurection".
Get a cup of coffee, get comfy, and enjoy.
.
www.raretune.com
.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
On This Side Of The River
.
This . . .
I was watching "The 700 Club", a Christian program with Pat Robertson tonight on the ABC Network.
Before the program, they put up a disclaimer that said,
The following CBN telecast does not reflect the views of ABC Family.
Then after the program, they put up another disclaimer saying,
The preceding CBN telecast does not reflect the views of ABC Family.
I don't need my finger to gag.
.
That . . .
is enough to make me want to pray for my enemies.
They used to say that the program "does not necessarily" reflect the views of the ABC Network.
But no more Mr. Nice Guy. They have taken the gloves off, come out of the closet, and are declaring "in your face" immorality and rebellion against Christianity.
It's time to shout out the truth.
.
This is That . . .
.
Jesus is the son of God. He is the living word of God. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except they come thru Him. He came to earth as a man and lived a life without sin. He was crucified on a cross as a substitute for the sins of the world. He died and was buried, but his sacrifice conquered death. He rose again and ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the father where he interceeds for us day and night. His father God is preparing a bride for him even now.
Oh, how He loves you and me.
Sin will come to fullness in the world bringing great tribulation. At the same time, God will pour out his Spirit with great power. There will be a great harvest and revival unlike anything followers of Jesus have ever known; and a great falling away.
Many Jews will die, and many Christians who stand with the Jews will be martyred as well. Every Jew who survives will be saved as they declare, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
As the Spirit and the Bride say come, Jesus will return to earth again and he will rule and reign from Jerusalem with his bride for a thousand years. He will judge his enemies, and it will not be good for those who have rejected him. Heaven is coming to earth. After the millennium there will be a new heaven and a new earth. God will again dwell among us and talk to us face to face, and we will be with the Lord forever. His Kingdom will never end.
.
The previous statement reflects my views completely, even though my views are subject to change as I pray for the gift of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
.
The way is narrow and few there are who find it.
.
Joshua 24:15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
This . . .
I was watching "The 700 Club", a Christian program with Pat Robertson tonight on the ABC Network.
Before the program, they put up a disclaimer that said,
The following CBN telecast does not reflect the views of ABC Family.
Then after the program, they put up another disclaimer saying,
The preceding CBN telecast does not reflect the views of ABC Family.
I don't need my finger to gag.
.
That . . .
is enough to make me want to pray for my enemies.
They used to say that the program "does not necessarily" reflect the views of the ABC Network.
But no more Mr. Nice Guy. They have taken the gloves off, come out of the closet, and are declaring "in your face" immorality and rebellion against Christianity.
It's time to shout out the truth.
.
This is That . . .
.
Jesus is the son of God. He is the living word of God. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except they come thru Him. He came to earth as a man and lived a life without sin. He was crucified on a cross as a substitute for the sins of the world. He died and was buried, but his sacrifice conquered death. He rose again and ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the father where he interceeds for us day and night. His father God is preparing a bride for him even now.
Oh, how He loves you and me.
Sin will come to fullness in the world bringing great tribulation. At the same time, God will pour out his Spirit with great power. There will be a great harvest and revival unlike anything followers of Jesus have ever known; and a great falling away.
Many Jews will die, and many Christians who stand with the Jews will be martyred as well. Every Jew who survives will be saved as they declare, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
As the Spirit and the Bride say come, Jesus will return to earth again and he will rule and reign from Jerusalem with his bride for a thousand years. He will judge his enemies, and it will not be good for those who have rejected him. Heaven is coming to earth. After the millennium there will be a new heaven and a new earth. God will again dwell among us and talk to us face to face, and we will be with the Lord forever. His Kingdom will never end.
.
The previous statement reflects my views completely, even though my views are subject to change as I pray for the gift of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.
.
The way is narrow and few there are who find it.
.
Joshua 24:15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
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