JUS THINKIN

I heard a story of a young man wanting to be baptized, so he called a preacher who agreed to meet him at a tank (pond) on a ranchers land in Texas. The young man and some friends arrived there first, and while they waited on the preacher they all went swimming. Tragically, before the preacher arrived something went awry and the young man drowned. This being a steadfast “baptism doeth now also save us” congregation, great discussion went on through out that brotherhood about the status of his salvation.

There is a similar story about a young man who went to a summer church camp and was encouraged to be baptized. He and a number of his friends decided they wanted to be baptized together, however when the camp counselor called his father, he was disallowed doing so because of his fathers concern if it would be a baptism of regeneration, or peer pressure. This young man rebelled in his heart against his dad by deciding he would not in the future be baptized either.

I am not discussing the guilt of the father or son on this occasion although their may have been better ways for both to react. I’m just wondering, If circumcision could be of the heart and not of the flesh, then could it be so for baptism. Could a drowned boy and a boy who was not allowed immersion be baptized of heart? Hmmmm…

One more thing. Why do you think that when virtually every new believer in the New Testament was baptized, it is so hard to be grasp in this day and age. Sure, I admit it’s a mystery, but more of a mystery is that something so simple is so hard to swallow when it doesn’t fit these reformation- restoration doctrines? I dunno?!… I’m sure it has something to do with my upbringing. That gets em off the hook in their minds anyway.

Some folks may assume I ask leading questions to get into a quarrel. I ask questions because I have questions that are unresolved in my mind. I hold to a particular idea because it is all I have for now (feeble as it may be). Maybe someday you’ll be the one who shows me the answers I’ve been searching for.

Thanks for dropping by, Bubba

DOT DOT DOT - or- I DON'T PRAY THE ROSARY

Sometimes when I talk to God, I go beyond a request for some person, family or event. I begin to think into the pain or grief, possibly the joy, maybe the road ahead for a newly married couple. That’s my dot dot dot times. This could go on for quite some time while I empathize with a family in turmoil, think of the joy my wife or children (whom I have just prayed for) have brought me, or dwell on the ways I can improve my service to God. What happens is… I forget where all this started and where it might have ended.

I don’t pray the rosary, so sometimes I don’t know where the prayer left off, and the musing began. This led me to wonder if my musings have become part of my prayer, or have violently interrupted it. Should I have said amen before my musings? Should I say amen after my musings? Once I have mused, should I find a place in my prayer to go back to and resume from that point to an amen? Do I gotta say amen at all?

This is really about “amen”. What is it? What does it mean? What is it used for? When should it be used? Is it a word that magically rockets our prayers to God?

I have long ago studied the word, its origin, and uses, but just recently I did again just because I was wonderin how I felt about it now. I could tell you what I think about amen, but that would take all the mystery out of it for you wouldn’t it.

Let all things be done to the Glory of God … AMEN.

WHADAYATHINK THEY'RE FOR

Whadaythink they’re for? Well. they’re for diggin post holes, stringin wires, mowin grass and building fires. For cutting wood and splittin too, washing dishes, scoopin poo. Kids don’t have much else to do so you should make them work for you.

I grow a garden, my poor back and I could have a heart attack, So when sowin reapin, all sept eaten for my ol bod would be a beatin. I choose instead to train my kid, course then I say how good he did.

Course I’m always willin when I can, to help a needy friend. I tell him “Take my kid with you and keep him to the end.” But if they carry on too long I think they might abuse him, I tell them he must come on home I really need to use him.

THIS IS DEDICATED TO MY FANTASTIC SON LUKE WHO IS ALWAYS WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP, OR IN FACT DO THE WHOLE JOB BY HIMSELF. I KNOW HE WOULD RATHER BE DOING SOME FUN KID STUFF MOST OF THE TIME, BUT HE SELFLESSLY HELPS ANY WHO ASK.

THANKS LUKE FOR YOUR SELFLESS EXAMPLE.

FIREPROOF

I haven’t been to a movie theater in over 30 years. That is until I read about and heard reviews on FIREPROOF the movie. This movie was produced by a large church and it starred Kirk Cameron. Now I don’t know anything about any star really so Kirk didn’t influence me at all to see the movie.

What did influence me is the subject. It deals with a couple having marital problems, and ends with their marriage being made secure because of commitment to give all to make it work.

I was so impressed by the reviews that I bought both my girl and my sons in law tickets along with my wife and I and our young son, We all went to the theater together to watch FIREPROOF. When I saw the price of popcorn and drinks I almost backed out, but I sucked it up and placed my order like a veteran movie-goer… “giant popcorn and drinks please“.

Anyway, the movie was great. My emotions ran full circle as my heart pounded in fear, I laughed when I saw myself or others through the acting. I got big lumps in my throat from time to time and dared my tear filled eyes to overflow. Then again my heart pounded at the greatness of God and His goodness to us all.

The movie was timely for my two daughters and their families who are not too far into their relationships… It was good for me… been married 34 years.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone, even those of you who have it all together… but I think it might be wise to waite and pop corn after you get back home.

NAILS IN MY BOARD

I heard a story long ago, and perhaps you have too. I don’t remember some of the particulars, but what I do remember will probably suffice for my intended purpose.

Goes like this: A young boy was having problems being a good boy, as young boys sometimes do. His dad was having a hard time helping him to learn to be good, as dads sometimes do.

One day the dad had the young boy sit down with him as he laid out a plan to help the young boy see how often he was disobedient or did other thoughtless wrong things. He Gave him a nice clean 6’ long 2”x12” board and a box of 1 ½”nails. He told him that every time he did something wrong he was to drive one of the nails all the way into the board. When he did a good thing he would be allowed to pull 1 nail out of the board.
The son agreed and thus began the sequence of driving and pulling nails. At first the nails were being driven at a fierce rate while the pulling was somewhat sporadic. However, as the young boy saw his board filling up with nails rapidly, he began to make extra effort to do good things so he could pull more nails out. He would go to his dad triumphantly when he had a good day and show him the board. His dad would congratulate him and encourage him to keep up the good work.

This kept on over a few years when finally one day the son now older and the father-son relationship on the sound footing of Jesus; the son went to his dad and declared that he had removed the final nail. They both hugged and rejoiced at his growth. (it’ about here that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir begins singing THIS IS HOW IT FEELS TO BE FREE.) Then they walked out, dads hand on sons shoulder to look at the board.

They both stood there for a long while… nothing said. When the son finally turned to his dad, there were tears in his eyes. I told you he’d grown older. There were tears in his dads eyes too, for you see the board was nearly destroyed by the claw hammer digging and prying to remove the old nails… and all those holes….

They hugged as his dad explained that… yes with Jesus and repentance your sins are forgiven. And yes you can feel free and forgiven. But your sins leave scars. You are not the only one damaged by your indulgences. That board will never be brought back to its original cleanness and newness. The board represents the effects of your sins on your parents, friends, and Jesus. Forgiveness and eternal life are gods gift to you… repentance and restitution are your gifts to God ands those you’ve sinned against.

People, don’t think it odd if you feel forgiven and free from your sins, but those you have sinned are having a little harder time rejoicing with you. You need to start sanding down that ole board, putting some putty in the holes, and trying to make some sort of restitution to the ones you’ve hurt. Sure, it may be hard, but that’ll when you know how it feels to be free.

People do not drift toward Holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated. --D.A. Carson

It is perilously easy to have amazing sympathy with God's truth and remain in sin.-- Oswald Chambers

DON'T SWEAT THE GOOD STUFF

There’s an old saying ”Don’t sweat the small stuff” meaning don’t bog yourself down and muddle your life with little things. Thus my title DON’T SWEAT THE GOOD TIMES. Blessed people are muddled down in fear of the future which may or may not be as they predict.

There are so many messages of gloom and doom going around that I just thought I would remind folks of who was in control.

If I believe that God created all things (which I do) and that He knows all things (which I do) and that he has prepared the paths for us and is with us unto the end of the world (which I do). Then why would I feel like the world is all out of control. It may be out of my control, but it’s not out of Gods control.

I heard a quote on Paul Harvey News the other day. “ How do you make
God laugh?… Tell Him YOUR plans for your life.

See… this is I believe the secret to a happy and joyous life. Accept Gods plans for your life.

Folks are all frightened that America is falling apart, the economy is failing, some foreign government is going to take over OUR country. There are millions upon millions who have never seen nor possibly dreamed of the fortunes and advantages that we have and grew up having. Boy, wouldn’t they like to be in YOUR shoes today as you wait for your world to collapse in on you? And no foreign government is ever going to take over MY country, they can’t reach it from on earth.

God knows those who are suffering in foreign countries and in the ole U S of A. If you find yourself being one of those please take comfort in this. Mt 28:20 “… and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.


Ps 31:22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

David said in his HASTE “ I am cut of from before thine eyes.” He knew better, just looked too closely at his worldly surroundings and was a little quick to assess his situation. Maybe so are we. But God was still right there, and He’s still right there with us.


"This time like all times, is a good time, if we but know what to do with it." Ralph Waldo Emerson


Ps 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

OH MY GOD

I was watching Brad talking to Tabitha, and Ohmygod, he turned and looked straight at me.

You shot a hole in that nickel? Ohmygod, how did you do that?

Oh-my-god you should have seen the look on Brenda’s face when she opened her gift.

Oh-my-god… that’s the weirdest spider I’ve ever seen.

It seems that the God of the universe has lost the reverence that folks ought to feel for Him. His name has become a trendy byword which is not with ought offence. Regard the following quotes instead and see the difference.

Ps 71:12 O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

Ps 71:4 Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

Ezr 9:6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

Da 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

Ex 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (#2 of the 10 commandments)

DOORS

Doors; as common in our lives as… Doors; there’s a bunch of em in our lives. Those of you who live in cities and towns encounter doors on a very regular basis. If you want to shop, push through a door; Eat, another door; haircut, another door. There are doors that only let you in, doors that only let you out, and doors that let you in or out.

Ever seen someone (or been someone) who walked up to a business, confidently reached for the door and pulled only to have the door jerk back? Ok then, push, and as before the door pushes back. Next we look to see if this is the right door and if the business is open or closed. Its really pretty amusing to watch the antics of this little routine.

When we walk up to a door we usually expect to be allowed its use, else we wouldn’t have approached it. Doors are most often used to allow one entrance or egress. Sometimes we enter a door into a place we didn’t expect to go. We might enter a restaurant that looks respectable enough on the outside, but lets say the waitresses have a little less skirt than modesty requires. You would want to know that the out door is working fine and that you would not have to continue in this environment any longer than is necessary.

I live in the country surrounded by woods and there are a lot of doors here that I can walk into and out of. In my thoughts I can walk in and out of doors at will. I have actually walked in doors while on a walk praying that needed an out door immediately. The Bible says that every man (or woman) is tempted in the same way, but that with every temptation God provides a way of escape. (a door… an egress).

There is no doubt in my mind about this truth. When a temptation… when every temptation I have ever had since I knew good and evil has at first entered my mind … I knew the door was there and I knew where it was. I want to tell you the truth… IF I WANTED TO ENTERTAIN THE TEMPTATION EVEN UNTO SIN WHICH BRINGS DEATH, I HAVE CLOSED MY EYES TO THE DOOR… THE WAY OF ESCAPE, AND ENDULGED MY FLESH UNTO DEATH.

I thank God that His free gift is eternal life, because I had stacked up a 401k with the wages of sin.

There IS a way of escape. It is not known of the world, nor do they care for it, but to those who are exercised in righteousness it is quit visible, very available, and enormously effective.

Ro 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Be sure to check before you enter a door… Should you find yourself hiding in the dark instead of the rock… make sure your out before closing time….

DAVID POSED NAKED

Pornography in ancient times is quite evident from the ancient writings and artwork that are available. I don’t suppose there ever was a time when men have not used women in images, writing, or otherwise against Gods intended purposes… and for that matter women-men.


Even the Bible documents such things, mostly in relatively simple language, but in King David’s case in fair detail. David had a porn problem. (first when he was a popular young kid he did like a lot of young stars today and posed nude for Michelangelo…<-{humor} I know Michelangelo wasn’t even born when David lived. (He carved the statue using a photograph of David) Ok ok, a little fun, but David really did have a porn problem.


Read…2Sa 5:13 “And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.”


And…V. 13. David took, &c.-This may well be reckoned amongst David's miscarriages, the multiplication of wives being expressly forbidden to the king, De 17:17. It seems to have been his policy, that hereby he might enlarge his family, and strengthen his interest by alliances with so many considerable families. But all these did not preserve him from coveting his neighbour's wife. Rather they inclined him to it: for men who have once broke the fence, will wander carelesly. (John Wesley’s notes on the old testament)


Every man (one) is “tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust” right?…(2Sa 11:2) “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself;… ‘and enticed‘…and the woman was very beautiful to look upon“….


“Then when lust hath conceived… (3)‘And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ it bringeth forth sin:… (4)‘And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.’ and sin, when it is finished…And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child‘. bringeth forth death“…(2 Sam 11:15) And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die‘.

Here’s the whole picture described in the letter from James chapter 1:14; “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”… and death… and death… and death…


Watch the progression…(2Sa 12:1) “Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.”


(2Sa 12:13) “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die….14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die“.

Sin when it is finished brings forth death?… Who’s death?… Uriah died, the child died, David and Bathsheba suffered a kind of death.


Who dies when we sin? Our friend?… our children?… our parents?… our spouse?


“Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme…” where do we go from here? To the giver… to the river of life.


Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (Jas 1:21) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

VINYL IS NOT FINAL

We are not a rich family, but God has graciously provide all our needs, and given us a comfortable place to live. I have been finishing our house for about 25 years. Only recently did I finish the almost final thing on the house; the dining-room. I have waited for all these years for just the right materials for the walls. Hurricane Rita has provide that in the form of 10” redwood fence planks. These fence boards were well weathered and had plenty of character.

But… I don’t want to talk about the dining-room, I want to talk about finishing the house. You see, a couple years before I finished the dining-room I remodeled the bath-room. That’s right, I remodeled the bath-room before I finished the house. We like it. My wife got the fixtures she wanted. Everyone loves the design and the pine beaded planking on ceiling and walls accented by white beaded panels at the fixtures. The floor we chose was not real expensive, but we all liked the textured plank look of the fiberglass backed vinyl.
It’s a nice comfortable place to read a short novel or meditate for a while. I even installed one of those little fans in the ceiling (at my wife’s request). I think its to make noise so your not disturbed by things going on beyond the door.

Well… a coupla days ago I was sittin there meditatin… makin faces outta tha texture on the floor when I noticed it. Right there tween my feet it was. I wadnt quite sure whadit was till I looked closer. Then I sure nuff knew. A knife cut in my new vinyl floor.

I’ll just leave it right there for YOU to discuss. I gotta tell ya I seen this kinda thing before and after id gone through termites, dog scratches, pine-beetles and such I figured it out. This time I jus cut to the chase. This time I knew right off it was a knife cut. Now… who dun it, and what am I gonna do bout it. You tell me….

MY JESUS

My Jesus is… well, not what He used to be. He’s not now, nor ever really was beautiful.
Wait, wait, wait… before you condemn me to everlasting torment, let me explain. I know there are many popular songs and such that proclaim His beauty, but that seems a little too feminine to me. Powerful, magnificent, even tender and loving, but beautiful just is not in my vocabulary towards men.

Besides “…Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. “

I said, He’s not what He used to be; its not really Jesus that’s different, it’s stuff that’s different. I never did really go hog wild about it but I use to wear a hat with several “Christian “ symbols on it. When I look back I’m pretty embarrassed by the whole thing. Jesus was on my hat instead of in my heart.

You see… my Jesus is the obedience, compassion, love, mercy, grace, perseverance, strength, humility, power, wisdom… that I see in his life recorded in the scriptures. These are the things I desire to permeate my life. My desire is to have him smile on me as I imitate him through the strength of His spirit.

My Jesus is no longer pins on my hat. I suppose there my be a place for the symbolisms, but I hope the SUV with the two big fish and three little fishes truly has a home devoted to God. I hope all those folks wearing WWJD bands around their wrist … have visions of the blood of martyrs for Christ flowing through their veins. I hope those T-shirt people have warm spirit filled bodies underneath those “ Abreadcrum & fish “ threads. I hope we all remember that Jesus didn’t draw crowds by His advertising, but by His life.

My Jesus is my savior, my hero, my hope, my Lord…. Or did I just invent my own SUV sticker…?

Lord… Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee…. Sigh….

NICE FISH

What a catch! Nooo, not the fish; Me. Did my wife get a deal when she got me! I use to have a little dimple fore I got a little heavy. I have a very complicated personality giving her plenty to do figurin me out….

Not really. I’m talkin bout the fish. He’s one of my one year old pond raised babies. He weighed in at 3 ¼ pounds, and was more than a meal for my little family of three.

I got tired of takin a boat out spending all day and not catchin fish, so I dug my own pond, stocked it with channel cats and hybrid blugill. Now If we want fish for supper I net a few grass shrimp, and go fishin in the pond. One is all I need, and if I happen not to catch any at least I didn’t spend all day and gas doin it.

I’m just blessed. God is good.

MY THREE DOTS ...

My three dots (…). Three dots have a specific place in proper punctuation. They mean something has been left out that was not necessarily needed to convey the thought, but had to be recognized as being there (briefly). This is often used when quoting a source but only drawing attention to the content including pertinent information.

MY THREE DOTS …are for meditation. They are when I take a little stroll into my mind to think deeper into the subject than I am sharing with you. It is an invitation for YOU to think beyond my written words into those things that are closer to you. Take a long stroll. Take a long stroll. Look back into your life when this subject touched you. Look forward to when it may. Dwell there… (I’ve given you three whole dots worth of time to stay) then move on with me.

MY THREE DOTS … are a sigh… a sadness…a journey… a madness… You never really know, but it’s always an invitation to walk down my pipeline with me…. (My pipeline? That’s another story.)

COULDA SHOULDA WOULDA

Is there no end to the things we can desire? I submit that there is no end, and that marketers and advertisers will never let you forget it. “Look, here’s a better car, look, a better house, better food, better toys, better cloths, better body, better tools, better job, better husband, better wife, better vacation, better haircut, bla bla bla, bla bla bla…

A lady might say; “You know, if only I had waited till I was 30 to get married I would have been able to enjoy my younger years, or If only I had gotten married younger I wouldn’t have had to work and could have enjoyed my younger years.”

Some one might wish they were born in different neighborhood, or maybe a different time. Maybe a man might wish he had married a woman with a big ranch and lots of money. How bout that nicer car and bigger house.

A married woman might wish she had a job outside the home so she could make more money to buy more stuff, or a woman who had to work wish she could stay home. How bout that pretty kitchen in Southern Living magazine, or the fancy machine in the sewing magazine. Maybe she wishes she looked like Marie Osmond, or Marie Osmond looked like Phyllis Diller.

Some man might want a bigger truck, a motorcycle, how bout a fancier new cell phone… another set of games for the “Wii”… a better this a bigger that. I’m kinda tired of thinking like this aren’t you?

Lets try to be more Godly, and learn to be more content with the things God has so graciously provided… It’le be very rewarding.


Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Heb 13:5)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1Tit 6:6)

SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD

We all know we have sinned. That’s not a very hard concept to grasp. When we look back on our lives, or yesterday for that matter we cringe at the falls and transgressions that appear when we just consider. Problem is we tend to go through life making choices based on other than Gods will. We just blindly follow our lust. We don’t stop to consider very much at all unless it has to do with our 401k or something important like that.

Short of the Glory of God. I’m afraid I can’t fathom how I could come close to the Glory of God. What if in some minute way I might reflect His Glory…I feel like I tarnish it the next instant. I certainly have no glory of my own.

Short of the Glory of God? I walk in Christ footsteps like a drunk man trying to walk the line in a field sobriety test. Rivers of living water flow from me like a faucet plugged with the mineral deposits of decades of bad water.

My desire is to come near to the Glory of God. My prayer is to please him, do His will, and have him remember my sins no more. When I look at my sins, my weakness, my failures, I need not be reminded that I have sinned and come short of the Glory of God… but… When I consider… I realize that the Glory of God is come near unto me.

Praise God for His tender mercies and grace.

NEW YEARS, WHAT'S THE FUSS

Talk about on the same page… the bald headed man (Gabe) (he’ll hate that) wrote a blog about New Years day. I had planned a blog on the same subject. I mean, what’s all the fuss. A new year happens every day.

How much energy and cost goes into celebrating THAT day. God gives us a new day every morning. His mercies are new every morning. The past is behind us every morning.
Perhaps New Years day is a good day to think of Gods providence… but what day isn’t.

It surely is a good day to be thankful for His goodness …no… that’s Thanksgiving day isn’t it.

I suppose it’s good to have days marked on the calendar to remind folks to remember Gods goodness… but do we?

New years eve; I bought a few fireworks for the kids, we ate party foods, I went to bed bout 8:45 thankful as always.