June 16
Dilly, the drake, died.. Daffy his duck mate was devastated and would spend hours in front of our cellar window quacking at her reflection. We ended her loneliness by taking her out to a farm with other ducks.
Years later a robin, being territorial, was throwing itself at its reflection in our front window. The duck saw a friend, the robin an enemy. What do I see when I look in the glass? What do I do?
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was." (1 James 1:23-24)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Pentecost
Pentecost means the fiftieth (day). For Christians, Pentecost is celebrated the seventh Sunday after Easter (50 days). It was on Pentecost that the Holy Spirit first came among the apostles. (Acts 2)
We can’t be passive about the Holy Spirit.
How we treat the Holy Spirit is major. How important? Jesus tells us straight out.
“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32)
We can’t be passive about the Holy Spirit.
How we treat the Holy Spirit is major. How important? Jesus tells us straight out.
“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Flag Day
June 14, 1777 the Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes as our flag.
A generic pledge of alliance to "my flag" intended for all nations was written by Francis Bellamy. a socialist minister in 1892. The words the flag of the United States of America was added in 1932 and President Eisenhauer encouraged Congress to add after one nation, "Under God," in 1954. Thanks Ike.
Join me this flag day in saying: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
A generic pledge of alliance to "my flag" intended for all nations was written by Francis Bellamy. a socialist minister in 1892. The words the flag of the United States of America was added in 1932 and President Eisenhauer encouraged Congress to add after one nation, "Under God," in 1954. Thanks Ike.
Join me this flag day in saying: "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
Gone Fishing
June 13
I have a friend who is a financial planner. I have to call months in advance to make a lunch date. Yet he literally will drop everything to go on a fly fishing trip.
Peter dropped his nets when he heard “follow me.” He was leaving for life.
Am I ready to do the same? Will I have the same passion for my Lord as my friend does for fly-fishing? Am I ready to make the commitment Peter made and drop whatever I'm doing and follow Him?
"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Mark 8:34)
I have a friend who is a financial planner. I have to call months in advance to make a lunch date. Yet he literally will drop everything to go on a fly fishing trip.
Peter dropped his nets when he heard “follow me.” He was leaving for life.
Am I ready to do the same? Will I have the same passion for my Lord as my friend does for fly-fishing? Am I ready to make the commitment Peter made and drop whatever I'm doing and follow Him?
"Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Mark 8:34)
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Old Course
June 11
St. Andrews is where golf was invented. I am in Scotland on a business trip and play a round on Jubelie, a links course. I join two local businessmen. About the fourth hole I tee off first. Before me is a tundra of sand, bushes and tall grass. I gasp, “ This is the worst looking hole I've ever seen." A voice says calmly, "You are facing the wrong way sir!"
For years I had been facing the wrong way in my life. Then I changed directions. Do you need a new direction for your life?
"I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life." (John 8:12)
St. Andrews is where golf was invented. I am in Scotland on a business trip and play a round on Jubelie, a links course. I join two local businessmen. About the fourth hole I tee off first. Before me is a tundra of sand, bushes and tall grass. I gasp, “ This is the worst looking hole I've ever seen." A voice says calmly, "You are facing the wrong way sir!"
For years I had been facing the wrong way in my life. Then I changed directions. Do you need a new direction for your life?
"I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life." (John 8:12)
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Who Do You Trust?
June 10
." Cursed is the man who trusts in man. And makes flesh his strength whose heart departs from the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:5) That is my problem. I have been trusting in man. I am judging my life by the world’s standards and by what other people think. No wonder I feel like “a shrub in the desert.” (Jeremiah 17:5) I need to trust in the Lord
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters which spreads out its roots by the river.”
(Jeremiah 17:7-8)
." Cursed is the man who trusts in man. And makes flesh his strength whose heart departs from the Lord." (Jeremiah 17:5) That is my problem. I have been trusting in man. I am judging my life by the world’s standards and by what other people think. No wonder I feel like “a shrub in the desert.” (Jeremiah 17:5) I need to trust in the Lord
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. And whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters which spreads out its roots by the river.”
(Jeremiah 17:7-8)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Drawing on the Ground
June 9
Before uttering those famous words, ’let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone’ we read: “Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger,” (John 8:6)
He does it a second time. What is all this writing in the dirt? Why mention it?
On a subsequent reflection of this passage the reason became clear. The Gospel of John is an eyewitness account. The writer was simply describing what he saw. That is the way it happened. Hallelujah!
“This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.” (John 21:24)
Before uttering those famous words, ’let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone’ we read: “Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger,” (John 8:6)
He does it a second time. What is all this writing in the dirt? Why mention it?
On a subsequent reflection of this passage the reason became clear. The Gospel of John is an eyewitness account. The writer was simply describing what he saw. That is the way it happened. Hallelujah!
“This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.” (John 21:24)
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