Category Archives: Light hearted

By Faith?

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You read the first chapter of Genesis and take note that its all the way to the 26th first before God pronounces the reason for creation.  “Let us make man in our image.”

And then you read in 1st Peter chapter 1, an allusion to something similar.  “Even angels long to look into these things.”  And this remark is given after a short discourse on the value of faith.

Everyone of us has wondered why faith is so important.  It is because faith has to do with performing God’s will even though we don’t know the outcome.

Take note as to how all the creatures involved in creating what is creation, did not hear the reason until some distance into the building.  And even while salvation among men is in full swing, the angels still long to look into these things.  Unless the translation is wrong, I noticed that Peter did not use the past tense of the word “long”.

Remaining obedient though  we have no clue, is not only essential now, it is a pattern of behavior for all God’s creatures for eternity.  And this ought to renew our devotion to serve without full understanding.  Frankly folks, that will be our state of affairs forever.

Surely there are moments  of revelation,  or revealing, like when a truly disasterous experience comes to us, only to reveal later, it was the only way to a magnificent blessing.  

But there is a great plenitude of times that we will simply have to serve in pure faith.  I would take this to strongly urge myself to produce a willingness to believe.

We love him.  We trust him.  And our love and trust never disappoint us.  If he asks us to rub two asparagus together for an hour and a half, who are we to question his orders? 

(Frankly, I can’t imagine the slightest possible good that can come from rubbing two asparagus together for an hour in a half.  But it was the most ridiculous exercise in faith that my imagination could conceive. 

. . . If the lord ever asks any of you to do that, please take the time to drop me a line and tell me what the outcome is.)

By His Grace

How to Start Your Soul

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A few years ago they gave me a tractor to drive that was rather odd.  In order to start it, you had to push two unmarked switches simultaneously while turning the key to start the engine. 

Anyone who was not trained how to start the tractor, could not possibly steal it (unless of course they towed it away).  Fortunately for me, the company wanted me to drive the tractor so they explain the process.

I know a man who is convinced that God has lied.  The man has a certain tendency toward sin.  He has heard what others have said.  They speak about freedom in Christ.  They speak about forgiveness and the power to overcome.  But in his search this man did not find either.  So he assumed that Jesus has lied.

God wants us to live a life of overcoming and freedom.  And he has written a manual as to how we can accomplish that.  But the man I spoke of does not read the manual.  How then can he know?

He refuses to believe the testimony of others.  He refuses to believe there’s something he doesn’t understand.  He cannot start his soul.  So he blames the one who made it.

Now, the way I explained it doesn’t sound reasonable at all.  But it makes perfect sense to this man.  And I will say he is not alone. 

There are millions who have not been able to grasp the freedom of forgiveness and strength to overcome.  Perhaps they are not as bold as this man, in that they do not call God a liar.

But if God has promised the freedom of forgiveness and the strength to overcome, their actions speak louder than their lips.  For they have ceased struggling for what is expected of them.  And they quietly wait their turn to be judged by God.  I really can’t imagine what they’ll tell him.

Let’s sum this article up with what is simple and obvious.  If you want the freedom of forgiveness and the strength to overcome sin, all you have to do is read the Bible and pray.  Yep.  It’s that easy.  (Did I mention you have to believe?  Yes those two unmarked buttons work just like they said they would.)

By His Grace

BA BA BA BIG! (Trouble)

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Has anyone else noticed the size of shopping mall buildings and movie theaters?  They are absolutely gigantic. 

When did that happen?  When did it become popular to put merchandise into buildings 10 times too big?

I do remember the tiny little stores when I was a child.  But even then, if you went to the big city, you could go to Woolworths five and dime.  And Sears was no small pickens.

When it happened I guess it’s not really that important.  But the fact that stores are larger than church buildings sort of gives me a startle.  I guess it just proves what’s important in America.

Just for fun I’ll share thought.

Imagine if every piece of merchandise was taken out of every large store in America, taken to some remote place, and heaped up in a mound.  Does anybody have any idea how big that mound would be?  I would guess it wouldn’t be fair to call it a mound.  A mountain is more like it.

You could call it idolatry.  You could refer to it as a manifestation of greed.  And if you singled out all the products, I suppose every commandment of God would be broken.  But what good would it do to accuse humanity of something they will never let go of?

But I’m pretty sure this wasn’t God intent when he made Adam and Eve.  Maybe a guy might own a broom, an axe and a shovel.  A knife and hammer would be pretty handy.  The guy might own a bed and a table and chairs.  And all the fixings for farming should be included.  But what about all the other stuff?

Still man has made his temples.  He’s pretty proud of what he’s done.  And no amount of words is gonna to take it away. 

The people are happy.  The rich business owners are happy.  Industry is happy.  And every form of wickedness is happy.  (And it wouldn’t be fair to the world to leave out Christian merchandise.)  0k.  So even the Christians are happy.  Hmmm.

Wow!  We’re all just one big happy family.  The only one that’s a bit disgruntled is God.  But he doesn’t seem to matter much in the larger scheme of things, does he?

Now ain’t that just something to ponder?

Isaiah 2:6-22

By His Grace

Anomaly

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An anomaly is when your dog talks to you in words you can understand.

An anomaly is when you have a day that goes perfectly well.

An anomaly is a building constructed within specified time and under budget.

An anomaly is a spring day when every driver in the United States does the speed limit, and obeys every traffic law.

An anomaly is when the Sun takes a vacation.

The gospel of Christ Jesus is not an anomaly.  It has been set before the foundation of the world.  We, my friends, are the anomaly.

It is very curious that man should desire to straighten out the Gospel.  It is very telling, as to what is in man’s heart, when he calls the Gospel anything but true. 

It is not an anomaly when someone rejects the Gospel.  Among men, it is an anomaly when the Gospel is received and performed.

By His Grace

The Magnificent Tiny Man!

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Oh you are successful,
You little rascal you!

By doing what no other
Tiny man on earth could do. 

How amazingly strong are you!

With thumb extended,
And held way high,

You cast a shadow on your tiny little eye;

Blocking out the Sun from shining,

On the rest of all mankind!

Such is the one who determines in his heart to do only the portions of Christianity which bring him profit.

By His Grace

Missing Acquaintance

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Where did you go, my tiresome burdensome friend?  Have you gone to pester some other hapless heart? 

Did you not notice me packing in the night?  I could not find you as I put my things where they belong.

I do not long for your accompaniment.  Nor do I desire your council.  But I had more room on my shelves than expected.  By accounting,  I found you missing.

What a pleasant surprise

Is this foretold sunrise. 

The place where you have died,

My old friend, “Fear of Demise”.

By His Grace