Sunday, February 28, 2010

Weather or Not

Safe haven, yes at one time weather and the earth’s episodes were a safe haven for conversation. But they are no longer a safe haven for me.

Just think about conversing about the weather, earthquakes and tsunamis. My neighbor believes that “mother nature is out of control”. The “weather is out of control”. Earthquakes just “will not cooperate” and should only happen occasionally at our convenience. Imagine, two earthquakes in a short period of time, one a 7.0 quake and the other 8.8 quake. Come on Mother Nature, get with it.

Turn on the TV and watch for the tsunami. Did you miss it? Rerun, rerun!!!

Then my TV station’s “Giver of all weather” the weather man. What weather will he give me tomorrow? What do you have there for the world? What shall you give, snow, rain, a severe clear, a rain dance? Can I put my order in for February 30th? I want a warm temperature with clouds. Good fishing weather.

Has God abdicated His omnipotence? What is that stuff “God’s omnipotence”?
“God approves and determines to bring about every action necessary for the existence and activity of Himself and all creation.”

(1 Kings 19:11-12 NIV) The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

God has not abdicated. The problem still is we do not know Him!


Eutychus

Monday, February 22, 2010

Marriage

I stood ready to make another appointment. The date the receptionist selected was in conflict with my grandsons wedding times. The receptionist enquired as to the age of my grandson. I said twenty two. She paused and said, “Marriage sucks.” I assumed that the lady was in her twenties and I replied, “I have been married for fifty five years.” My response was as matter of fact as hers. The lady said, “You are one of those, they do not make your kind anymore.”

About a twenty word exchange. “Marriage sucks”, disappointment, anger, disgust and what?

“I have been married for fifty five years”. Rather a neutral statement

“You are one of those; they do not make your kind anymore.” “Those” and “your kind” signified that I was an alien, different species, the old guy or. Was it a compliment or a dig? No matter!

I felt sadness. It seems the editorial remark meant that the lady had a less than fruitful experience; her marriage relationship was a failure, “suck”. I wish marriage for the lady could have been honorable, pleasant, moments of joy, moments of sorrow, times of making up and fruitful.

What keeps a marriage going for two, twenty or fifty five years? I cannot presume to tell you in one word or one year. Elizabeth Browning may have said it.
http://www3.amherst.edu/~rjyanco94/literature/elizabethbarrettbrowning/poems/sonnetsfromtheportuguese/howdoilovetheeletmecounttheways.html

Later in the week I came across Albert Mohler’s blog:

http://www.albertmohler.com/2010/02/18/did-he-get-married-too-young/

I do know my wife and I started out with our view of what marriage was to be, a worldview of marriage. Please no snide smile, I believe you have to have a worldview.

I hope my grandchildren have a worldview of marriage!!


Eutychus

Monday, February 15, 2010

To Him Be the Glory

"To him be glory both now and forever."
- 2Pe_3:18
Heaven will be full of the ceaseless praises of Jesus. Eternity! thine unnumbered years shall speed their everlasting course, but forever and for ever, "to him be glory." Is he not a "Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek"? "To him be glory." Is he not king for ever?-King of kings and Lord of lords, the everlasting Father? "To him be glory for ever." Never shall his praises cease. That which was bought with blood deserves to last while immortality endures. The glory of the cross must never be eclipsed; the lustre of the grave and of the resurrection must never be dimmed. O Jesus! thou shalt be praised for ever. Long as immortal spirits live-long as the Father’s throne endures-for ever, for ever, unto thee shall be glory. Believer, you are anticipating the time when you shall join the saints above in ascribing all glory to Jesus; but are you glorifying him now? The apostle’s words are, "To him be glory both now and for ever." Will you not this day make it your prayer? "Lord, help me to glorify thee; I am poor, help me to glorify thee by contentment; I am sick, help me to give thee honour by patience; I have talents, help me to extol thee by spending them for thee; I have time, Lord, help me to redeem it, that I may serve thee; I have a heart to feel, Lord, let that heart feel no love but thine, and glow with no flame but affection for thee; I have a head to think, Lord, help me to think of thee and for thee; thou hast put me in this world for something, Lord, show me what that is, and help me to work out my life-purpose: I cannot do much, but as the widow put in her two mites, which were all her living, so, Lord, I cast my time and eternity too into thy treasury; I am all thine; take me, and enable me to glorify thee now, in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that I have."

Spurgeon

Eutychus