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.
Monday, November 12, 2007
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.”
Monday, October 29, 2007
Hope
.
This . . .
I was attending Colby Jr. College back in 1972. A friend, Kathy, came bouncing in announcing . . . I like the way that sounds so I think I'll say it again. She came bouncing in announcing, "I've written a book!"
I answered with, "Wow, that's great! What's it about?"
Her response, "I don't know, I haven't read it yet."
She wasn't joking.
.
That is how this blog is. I don't know what it's about because I haven't read it yet, but as soon as I do, I'll let you know. No joke.
.
That . . .
I don't like halloween.
.
This is That . . .
I Thessalonians 5:8 talks about the hope of salvation.
Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for.
I Corinthians 13:13 says now abide faith, hope and love.
.
There is a line in The Princess Bride that says, "I don't think that word means what you think it means."
I think the word hope might be a word like that.
.
The word hope in the above passages has nothing to do with wringing our hands and "hoping" that things will work out.
.
A simple definition of faith is,
Confidence in God's promises related to the present.
A simple definition of hope is,
Confidence in God's promises related to the future.
So faith focuses on the present and hope focuses on the future, but they both are certainties.
There are many, many prophetic promises in the Bible that have "certainly" already happened, and there are many others that "certainly" will happen.
As believers, we should exercise great faith
in believing the now promises of God.
And we should also enjoy a great hope
for promises related to the future.
They will certainly come to pass . . . I hope.
.
I don't like Halloween.
This . . .
I was attending Colby Jr. College back in 1972. A friend, Kathy, came bouncing in announcing . . . I like the way that sounds so I think I'll say it again. She came bouncing in announcing, "I've written a book!"
I answered with, "Wow, that's great! What's it about?"
Her response, "I don't know, I haven't read it yet."
She wasn't joking.
.
That is how this blog is. I don't know what it's about because I haven't read it yet, but as soon as I do, I'll let you know. No joke.
.
That . . .
I don't like halloween.
.
This is That . . .
I Thessalonians 5:8 talks about the hope of salvation.
Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for.
I Corinthians 13:13 says now abide faith, hope and love.
.
There is a line in The Princess Bride that says, "I don't think that word means what you think it means."
I think the word hope might be a word like that.
.
The word hope in the above passages has nothing to do with wringing our hands and "hoping" that things will work out.
.
A simple definition of faith is,
Confidence in God's promises related to the present.
A simple definition of hope is,
Confidence in God's promises related to the future.
So faith focuses on the present and hope focuses on the future, but they both are certainties.
There are many, many prophetic promises in the Bible that have "certainly" already happened, and there are many others that "certainly" will happen.
As believers, we should exercise great faith
in believing the now promises of God.
And we should also enjoy a great hope
for promises related to the future.
They will certainly come to pass . . . I hope.
.
I don't like Halloween.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
This . . .
I remember taking Elliott to baseball practice the other year when he was about eight. It was around 4:30 in the afternoon and he let me know he was really hungry, so we stopped at Taco Bell for some tacos. As he was eating his third one, he looked over at me and said . . . "This doesn't count as supper does it?".
.
That . . .
I saw Cindy, Kenny and Matt Hudgens at Wal-Mart this evening.
Kenny said, "How are you?"
I started to answer fine, but then, decided to say good, only it came out, "fude".
The question is how do you spell food? I mean good is pronounced good, and food is pronounced food, so how do you spell the word good with an f in front pronounced like a word that rhymes with hood only with an f? I don't think you can spell that word, but trust me, you can say it.
.
This is That . . .
James 4:4
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
I think it might be good to read that again.
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
.
James chapter six says we used to know this, but we don't anymore.
I am feeling a bit prudish. It is not easy to "not be friends with the world". That TV show is funny and fun to watch, but I somehow think we should not be friends with it.
.
That music makes my flesh feel great. I "love" that song, that singer, that group.
I don't think we should be friends with that music.
.
That actor or actress has values that make me want to puke, and going to a movie they are in denounces all that I believe, but it's only a movie, right? And so entertaining.
I don't think we should be friends with that actor, that actress or that movie.
.
We have rolled our eyes and shook our heads at the idea that stores shouldn't be open on Sunday, that dancing as the world dances is evil, that rock 'n roll is of the devil, that we shouldn't allow Elvis to gyrate his hips on the Ed Sullivan show, that "Woodstock" was immoral and rebellious, not a new freedom of speech full of peace and love. That "Saturday Night Live" is trash.
Maybe the old fogeys were right after all. Maybe I'm turning into an old fogey.
.
People say, "Get a life"; "Lighten up"; "Times have changed".
I think times HAVE changed, but God hasn't. My flesh is crying out, but my spirit is not agreeing. This is not an easy thing; the way to destruction IS broad and the way to life IS narrow.
.
Call me an old whatever, but I believe we need to re-evaluate who and what we are friends with, repent, and confess . . .
"What a friend we have in Jesus".
I remember taking Elliott to baseball practice the other year when he was about eight. It was around 4:30 in the afternoon and he let me know he was really hungry, so we stopped at Taco Bell for some tacos. As he was eating his third one, he looked over at me and said . . . "This doesn't count as supper does it?".
.
That . . .
I saw Cindy, Kenny and Matt Hudgens at Wal-Mart this evening.
Kenny said, "How are you?"
I started to answer fine, but then, decided to say good, only it came out, "fude".
The question is how do you spell food? I mean good is pronounced good, and food is pronounced food, so how do you spell the word good with an f in front pronounced like a word that rhymes with hood only with an f? I don't think you can spell that word, but trust me, you can say it.
.
This is That . . .
James 4:4
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
I think it might be good to read that again.
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
.
James chapter six says we used to know this, but we don't anymore.
I am feeling a bit prudish. It is not easy to "not be friends with the world". That TV show is funny and fun to watch, but I somehow think we should not be friends with it.
.
That music makes my flesh feel great. I "love" that song, that singer, that group.
I don't think we should be friends with that music.
.
That actor or actress has values that make me want to puke, and going to a movie they are in denounces all that I believe, but it's only a movie, right? And so entertaining.
I don't think we should be friends with that actor, that actress or that movie.
.
We have rolled our eyes and shook our heads at the idea that stores shouldn't be open on Sunday, that dancing as the world dances is evil, that rock 'n roll is of the devil, that we shouldn't allow Elvis to gyrate his hips on the Ed Sullivan show, that "Woodstock" was immoral and rebellious, not a new freedom of speech full of peace and love. That "Saturday Night Live" is trash.
Maybe the old fogeys were right after all. Maybe I'm turning into an old fogey.
.
People say, "Get a life"; "Lighten up"; "Times have changed".
I think times HAVE changed, but God hasn't. My flesh is crying out, but my spirit is not agreeing. This is not an easy thing; the way to destruction IS broad and the way to life IS narrow.
.
Call me an old whatever, but I believe we need to re-evaluate who and what we are friends with, repent, and confess . . .
"What a friend we have in Jesus".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)