Earlier this Morning. . .

. . . I pull myself out of bed early to prepare the day. Make oatmeal for my wife, who just hopped into the shower. Let the dogs outside. Set out some things for my wife to make a salad for lunch. Cut up an apple, put it in a baggie for my wife to take with her on her drive to her office. Make sure my daughter is getting up. She is almost out of bed. Return the the kitchen. Make two turkey and cheese breakfast burritos and pour a glass of orange juice. That’s my daughter’s breakfast, which I take to her. Room Service. Knock on her brother’s door, ensure he’s getting out of bed.

Now, at last, coffee for me in the kitchen. Read Psalm 118.

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success!

Psalm 118:24,25

Pray a praise for the Psalms. Pray for the family, immediate and extended. See my wife off. Clean up the counter, put away salad items. Daughter comes into the kitchen, ready to go. Son follows, wanting breakfast, which earlier he’d declined. He pours cereal into a bowl. It Will Be To Go, Right! I say.

All in the truck, we drive merrily toward their school, radio plays Country tunes today. Near the school, wait at a signal light for the left-turn arrow. An electrical company van in front of us is two car lengths behind the car in front of him. The arrow is green. The van doesn’t move. Honk! Not beep. HONK! Son says I over reacted. Says I drive like him, slow. Explain there’s a difference. Van needed to know it is time to drive, PERIOD. Son says again I over react, that I do it all the time. He is now getting under my skin. Feeling irritated. Annoyed.

Drop the kids at their high school. Drive toward home. Long stretch of two-lane road with 45 mph speed limit. Another van, mini-van, in front of me. Drives 35. No passing zone. Finally, I’m turning just ahead. Arg! He turns where I’m turning. We turn. Okay to pass now. Pass. Zoom past. Drive 48 now. Leave him in the dust. Don’t feel better. Worse, actually.

Home. Irritated. Annoyed. Lord?

Oatmealraisins (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I prepare my oatmeal and think to myself, “Maybe, it’s all because I’m not doing what I should be doing. It’s a reaction to not serving the Lord the way I should.” I’ve thought before that perhaps I need to return to the truck driving ministry.

Yet. . .

Ashamed. I was ashamed at my reaction to the utility van that wouldn’t go fast enough at the green light. Ashamed and didn’t want to feel the shame at having my boy point it out. So I became annoyed. I tried to explain it all away. I carried that irritation onto another van driving too slow for my taste.

Inhumanity is a horrible thing. Being truly human is being truly perfect. Some how, having been around six decades now, I should know better. Should behave better. I should be perfectly human in all ways. Especially in driving. I’m a professional driver, after all. I have a commercial driver license. I can drive the big rigs. I’m good at it, too.

Ego wants me to think of myself as perfected. PRIDE! I sorta keep forgetting I’m a sinner saved by Grace. Humanity is perfection. Inhumanity is flesh.

But, all is not lost. There’s a song I recall that has a line that sums it up the hope, “He’s not finished with me yet.”

By G-d’s grace we are saved from the punishment we deserve for our sin. By G-d’s mercy we are blessed with good things, things we didn’t earn.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Photo credit: Chiot’s Run)

Children, we are. We stumble. We fall. He picks us up. He washes our face. He says it’ll be okay. Then He gives us an oatmeal cookie! Praise His Holy Name!

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine upon y’all throughout this beautiful week.

Last Night. . .

. . . the remains of the Thanksgiving turkey sat already sliced along side cranberry sauce and stuffing, ready for sandwiches if we ever get hungry again. Earlier we’d shared a quiet meal, just immediate family, as extended family live far away. I drove my son to a friends home, where he’d been invited to share in a fabulous desert his friend’s mom prepared for their Thanksgiving supper. On the drive home I realized my own thankfulness.

Thoughts rattled through my mind of my own high school visit to girl’s home during a holiday. Charlene. She eventually became my first girl friend. I remember that she liked Elvis Presley, had an older brother who’d raced motorcycles. Charlene was a year older, could drive, and had a blue Cadillac. She was sweet and her parents were kind to me. One time when I was visiting her, brother said something or other, to which Charlene said to me, “Don’t mind him, his nose is out of joint.” I said something about no wonder he’s upset if his nose is broken. She laughed. Then gently explained that an out-of-joint nose meant–bad mood. That was a long time ago. I was young. I was immature. I remember there was a song that I liked, that I shared with Charlene, about following a rainbow, following dreams. She asked me if I wanted to follow some rainbow somewhere. I guess I did. We broke up. Eventually I followed the elusive rainbow and discovered there’s no pot at the end of the rainbow, just a rusty kettle, an empty, rusty kettle. It’s so very easy for me to spend moments wallowing in regrets for what i perceive of as bad choices I’ve made. Yet last night, I remembered so fondly G-d’s gift of knowing Charlene, who had invited me to her house one holiday when I was home from military academy, who became someone very special in my life, though she may not have realized it, and whom I hurt just because I was me, am me.

So last night, alone on the drive back home, I found thankfulness in within myself for the true bounty of the Lord’s work in me, in life. I thought how totally blessed I’ve been despite many wrong turns, blind alley ways, dead end streets, I have thought my life’s path has taken. There have been many things I’ve done, many roles I’ve filled. In all, and through all, whether or not I listened, the still voice of G-d spoke to me through His Spirit. The Lord, my G-d, our G-d, has loved me through all my wanderings, meanderings, and loves me yet. And G-d. . .

. . .knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

This morning, early, I am at peace feeling surrounded, encompassed by the grace our Heavenly Father extended to me through His Son, our Savior, our Lord, Y’shuaJesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit. I am blessed, not because of what I’ve done, but because of all the Y’shuaJesus did on my behave. And it is through Y’shuaJesus that I am sealed, my name being written in the Book of Life. Praise the Name of the Lord, Y’shua!

Thank You, Lord.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Thanksgiving 2012

English: "The First Thanksgiving at Plymo... — “The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth” (1914) By Jennie A. Brownscombe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, in America, some of us celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a Federal holiday. It’s a bank holiday. At one time it was a very important holiday. I remember the plays in elementary school, in the 1950s. We spoke openly of the Early American faith in the One G-d, the Judea-Christian G-d, the Father of Messiah Y’shuaJesus. We remembered the Early American Thanksgiving to G-d for His care over them.

Thanksgiving always seemed to hold a special place for my parents. It was a time when they tried to get all their children back home, together at one table. There were few distractions, as is the case at Christmas, with the decorations and the presents. It was a time for my mother to bake an incredible turkey, for my father to carve, for all of us to enjoy. These days, three thousand miles separates me from my brothers and their families. But I remember and am Thankful to our Father G-d and our Savior Lord Y’shuaJesus for the lessons of my parents, for my brothers and their families, and for my family here in Georgia, with whom I shall celebrate the Day.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . . and Thank the Lord for Blessings beyond reason.

Guide to Being a Doormat — Part Two

A March for Jesus (Photo credit: lyan_cruz)

A doormat is like clothing; it takes a while to get broken in right. I ordered a hat early 2006 that commemorates the Asusa Street Revival. If you don’t know about that bit of Church history, here’s a highlight from Wikipedea:

“The Azusa Street Revival was a historic Pentecostal revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California and is the origin of the Pentecostal movement. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African American preacher. It began with a meeting on April 14, 1906, and continued until roughly 1915. The revival was characterized by ecstatic spiritual experiences accompanied by miracles, dramatic worship services, speaking in tongues, and inter-racial mingling. The participants were criticized by the secular media and Christian theologians for behaviors considered to be outrageous and unorthodox, especially at the time. Today, the revival is considered by historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century.”

Back on task. This hat was stiff, and sat a bit uncomfortably on my head. But I really liked it, and wore it anyway. Despite being really old, as my kids’ say, I missed the Azusa Street Revival and the Centennial celebration. But at least I could wear the hat. I wore it in the rain a lot and it softened up some. I wore it while driving truck, while putting tarps over loads. My sweat soaked into the head band and softened that part nicely. The top flattened out after it got squashed too many times, yet it looked much better, really. Being black, and made from cotton, it faded slowly over time. Sweat eventually soaked through the band to the hat’s material, staining it in jagged lines of salt. It’s still a favorite hat of mine, but sits not-so prominently displayed, beneath a few other hats in my closet. It is still a favorite, as it shall be always.

The thing is, usage is part of life, and has a way of breaking things in, whether it is a hat or a doormat or even a person. Use makes things better–before it wears them out. There’s a story about two opera critics speaking about a particular singer. One comments that the woman’s voice is exquisite. The other agrees, but qualifies that saying there is something lacking, too. The first critic thinks about it and agrees, saying that in time, with sorrow and pain, that missing quality will be found, and then she will be flawless, divine.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8:35

So. After all the abuse, all the issues, all the problems associated with the ministry of a being a Doormat Christian, we will still be like the wise virgin who is allowed to enter the Wedding Feast and celebrate with the Groom. There shall always be some oil left in us.

But. But when a wife is told by her pastor she is to obey her husband in all things, that this is scriptural, must she do so always? Regardless? Children are to obey their parents, but must they suffer abuse? Husbands are to love their wives, but in all things? Does love mean unequivocal obedience? These are questions about limits. I have questions about limits. According to scripture, we must obey the legal, political leadership in a country, and as lots of pastors will preach it, these powers are selected by G-d. Yet we all know that Daniel refused to bow to an Earthly king, and his refusal to do so is now scripture, too.

It occurs to me that Daniel’s insubordination is taught in Sunday School as a good thing, while the sermons we often hear as adults tell us how we must be in total submission.

Gotta Go!

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Guide to Being a Dormat – Part One

A doormat holds a very important place in a household. Doormats come in a variety of styles, yet all serve two primary purposes.

First, doormats are the first line of welcoming, greeting, guests approaching the home. As you walk toward a home, regardless of size, one generally approaches a doorway of some sort. The doormat lays inconspicuously before that door. You don’t see it from afar. It’s not a signal, yet to enter one must first step upon the doormat. We look before we step, or probably should, so we see the doormat. It welcomes. Some even say so, having “WELCOME” emblazoned upon them. Others have the household owner’s surname printed on it, which I suppose is to imply the family greets you.

Second, doormats provide a valuable service of cleaning the feet of those who would continue into the home. Some are small, thin, with many different colored pieces of cotton rags tied together that easily collect dirt as feet are swiped across. Some are bristled to more easily scrap mud off of boots. Others lay flat, but are soft enough to care for even tender bare feet of those who remove their shoes before entering.

Doormats are also symbols that allow us to silently perform our scriptural responsibilities.

Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

1 Peter 5:14

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

John 13:14

So. Within the Church we add Doormats to five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds (pastors) and teachers that enable the Saints for the work of Messiah. (See Ephesians 4:11) We provide a valuable service as human doormats, Christian doormats. We go to Church with warm smiles on our faces, singing hymns, listening to the preach tell us how much more we can do, we can endure, for the sake of the Church. We encourage of neighbors. We feel badly when we make a mistake. We try hard to please. We always seem to have a great day. We are always blue sky and sunshine.

As good doormats we smile warmly as we allow people to step all over us, wiping upon us their mud and muck. This is our purpose in life. We quietly refrain from complaint. If we are injured, we simply suck it up, smile, and accept lots more. We take emotional abuse from any and all, and say we are dying to self by not complaining, by not fighting back. The verbal poison people spew out, we gladly accept. If we pray hard, we will be rewarded in the end. We turn the other cheek seventy time seven times every year, year in year out. We internalize the abuse until our bodies rebel and we become ill, disease. And then we suffer in silence because we are doormats and doormats remain quiet.

And when we hear the Groom finally arriving for the wedding celebration, we give our extra oil to the foolish ones who’ve not come prepared. We help them light their lamps. We help them rise up from their sleep. And finally we turn our own lamps up and rise so that we might at last enter the Wedding Celebration.

Will we have enough oil in our lamps?

A Return to the Boy Scout Motto: “Be Prepared”

In earlier posts I spoke of how, while living in rural ranch country, a snow storm could come through causing the main highway to be closed for a week or more. I spoke of preparing a nice pantry and storing it with things to eat. I spoke in another post of my recent rebuilding of my pantry. It’s funny, ‘cuz it has less in it now than before I started to redo the shelves. We intentionally used a lot so we didn’t have to deal with it while my slow rebuild was in progress. It will get back up to a nice level as soon as I shop again at CostCo.

Since writing/blogging about preparing for storms, stocking pantries and such, the eastern United States has been struck with a hurricane and a Nor’eastener. Two back-to-back storms that have played havoc on millions of people. A neighbor here in Georgia finally reached her sister, who lives in Long Island, and evacuated to a place that was safe, but didn’t have electricity. She was hard to reach, as she’d left her cell phone off to conserve power, having no way to recharge it. This brings to mind a communications plan. My aunt once posted a contact list to our family’s website/Yahoo! group. She was traveling and wanted us all to know who to contact “just in case.” It’s a pretty good idea. Make a Plan. Share the Plan.

Okay. So here’s a parable told by Y’shuaJesus, recorded for us by Matthew:

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Matthew 25:1-13

There are two types of people spoken of in this parable: wise and foolish. If the parable were set today, there might be three types. The third being the doormat Christian. Think about it. I’ll get back to you.

In the meantime: Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . . and help you prepare for the night that comes before the dawn.

A Golden Retriever’s Trick or Treat

Here’s a simple story that I find lots of truth: A Golden Retriever’s Trick or Treat By Terence P. Jeffrey

In other news conservative commentator Glenn Beck says it’s time for conservatives in America to leave liberal states. He sites Israels Babylonian exile as an example of how a people who are exiled can build, prosper, and bless others.

Gotta Run. Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

American Election Day

Today is America’s Election Day. For months now candidates have made great efforts to gather support, thereby enough votes. As this day approached, a lot of people speculated who would be the next president of the United States. Yet, American voters, according to a variety of polls, are evenly split between the incumbent president and his primary rival as we go to the voting polls.I read an article that outlined what to look for today as the voting progressed. We can predict the outcome early. We seem to want to know, now, and not wait. Oh, well, that’s not really unusual; we want to know what’s going to happen. Then thing we need to remember is that we just don’t want to take it too far, like King Saul did.

“When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreamsor by Urim or by the prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”

1Samuel 28:5-9, 11-19, NKJV

King Saul inquired of the Lord. Then, not hearing an answer, inquired of a witch. Not a good thing to do. While I’ve never inquired of a witch, that I know of, I know that I’ve prayed about something and before hearing an answer, gone off and mentioned something to someone, who wainting to be helpful, gave me some answers that I acted upon. Later I wondered if I’d done the right thing.

Learning to wait. Wait upon the Lord. Let Him bring answers to us as He desires.

This pray comes to mind today again. “. . .Lord direct your hearts into the love of G-d, and into the patient waiting of Messiah.” [2Thess 3:5] Also, Lord Y’shuaJesus Bless you, Keep you, and Shine upon you always.

Finally. . .

. . . a song came on XMRadio’s The Message that used the Lord’s Name, Jesus.

Jesus, Your Presence is Heaven to Me, by Israel & New Breed surprised me with it’s frequent use of the Name of Jesus. Check it out here. Here’s a link to some other of Israel & New Breed videos on Yahoo!

A Deeper Level (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And read the lyrics here.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

A Peculiar People

It doesn’t seem to politically correct (PC) to say that people are peculiar. If we were to refer to [insert a religion here] as a peculiar people we’d be in PC hot water. Depending upon the religion we inserted, we might have our picture on a wanted-dead poster. On the other hand, perhaps it’s just me that interprets the word peculiar as meaning odd, strange. I picture in my mind the word peculiar as being said with a grimace. I infer something wrong, maybe something heinous. “That’s peculiar.” Something isn’t right.

King James Version of the Bible (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But that’s my problem with the KJV, and my argument with A.W.Tozer. I deeply respect Mr. Tozer, and yet he advised that no version of the Bible except the King James is acceptable for usage. My objection has been the same for many years–it’s like reading a foreign language most of the time. I’ve recently come to read the King James, translating in my head as I read the obvious thee and thou to more modern words. Then I come to peculiar, which sets me off on a task to translate.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people. . .

1Peter 2:9 KJV (emphasis added)

Defining the word peculiar, I find it has a lot of meanings.

pe·cu·liar [pi-kyool-yer] [from Dictionary.com]
adjective
1. strange; queer; odd: peculiar happenings.
2. uncommon; unusual: the peculiar hobby of stuffing and mounting bats.
3. distinctive in nature or character from others.
4. belonging characteristically (usually followed by to ): an expression peculiar to Canadians.
5. belonging exclusively to some person, group, or thing: the peculiar properties of a drug.
6. [in astronomy] designating a star or galaxy with special properties that deviates from others of its spectral type or galaxy class.

noun
7. a property or privilege belonging exclusively or characteristically to a person.
8. [British usage] a particular parish or church that is exempted from the jurisdiction of the ordinary or bishop in whose diocese it lies and is governed by another.

And in another Bible version, I find the translation as follows: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. . .” (1Peter2:9 World English Bible: Messianic Edition)

When I look at the comment on KingJamesBibleOnline.org, I find the following about the word peculiar, “As used in the phrase “peculiar people” in 1 Pet. 2:9, is” “derived from the Lat. peculium, and denotes, as rendered in the” “Revised Version (“a people for God’s own possession”), a special” “possession or property. The church is the “property” of God, his” “purchased possession (Eph. 1:14; R.V., “God’s own” “possession”).”

Strongs concordance shows two words of interest and translated peculiar. First Kaleō, which is to “call” (properly aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise): – bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-) name (was [called]). Second is peripoiēsis, acquisition (the act or the thing); by extension preservation: – obtain (-ing), peculiar, purchased, possession, saving.

Matthew Henry comments that Peter wants to assure Jews who would believe in Y’shuaJesus as Messiah will not become like gentiles, thus losing their place as G-d’s people: “they should lose no real advantage, but continue still what they desired to be, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, etc. Learn, [1.] All true Christians are a chosen generation; they all make one family, a sort and species of people distinct from the common world, of another spirit, principle, and practice, which they could never be if they were not chosen in Christ to be such, and sanctified by his Spirit. [2.] All the true servants of Christ are a royal priesthood. They are royal in their relation to God and Christ, in their power with God, and over themselves and all their spiritual enemies; they are princely in the improvements and the excellency of their own spirits, and in their hopes and expectations; they are a royal priesthood, separated from sin and sinners, consecrated to God, and offering to God spiritual services and oblations, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [3.] All Christians, wheresoever they be, compose one holy nation. They are one nation, collected under one head, agreeing in the same manners and customs, and governed by the same laws; and they are a holy nation, because consecrated and devoted to God, renewed and sanctified by his Holy Spirit. [4.] It is the honour of the servants of Christ that they are God’s peculiar people. They are the people of his acquisition, choice, care, and delight. These four dignities of all genuine Christians are not natural to them; for their first state is a state of horrid darkness, but they are effectually called out of darkness into a state of marvellous light, joy, pleasure, and prosperity, with this intent and view, that they should show forth, by words and actions, the virtues and praises of him who hath called them.

Clarke comments that “They were a holy nation, Exo_19:6; for they were separated from all the people of the earth, that they might worship the one only true God, and abstain from the abominations that were in the heathen world.” (Adam Clarke (1760 or 1762–1832) was a British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar.)

Okay. So we’re a peculiar people in that we are G-d’s possession, for G-d has purchased us through the action of His Son, Y’shuaJesus. Being G-d’s possession means that Jewish Believers or Messianic Jews, continue in their rightful place as G-d’s special people atoned for through the blood of Y’shuaJesus, rather than the yearly sacrifice of an animal. For a Gentile who comes to accept Y’shuaJesus as Lord and Redeemer, it means he or she is grafted into the holy tree as a twig.

While that covers the spiritual and eternal aspect, being G-d’s possession means some other things as well. I am still thinking on this part. I’ll save it for another time.

A thought I have in conclusion, is that by not fully understanding a word from the King James, I delve into the language and come out ahead. Study always takes some work, but is rewarded in a sweetness at the end. . . and more to challenge my thinking.

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Thessalonians (2 Thes 3:5)
Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .