Okay Then...

Okay, this is going to be incomplete but I thought it more than worth putting out for you to see.  I was given a book for Christmas.  I opened it up to start to read the forward...  first of all, the name of the book is These are the Generations  by Bea and Foley.  It is about a North Korean couple...I think, after all I am barely into the forward.  Here are the first two paragraphs.

  When my wife and I speak about North Korea at events in the West, people always ask us, "How can we pray for the North Korean Christians?"  So we asked a group of North Korean underground Christians that question, they answered, "Pray for us? We pray for you!" 
  When we asked why, they replied, Because Christians in the West still have some wealth and freedom and power.  Most have not yet experienced what it is like when all you have in this life is God."

 When I considered this, my first response was, "Well that crosses all of us off the Christian list... so we have to get poor and helpless" (a semi-sarcastic thought)... just being honest.  Then I thought of all that we do have that takes the place of  true relationship, things like: cellphones (you know the type that you play games on, text and get on the web with), including Androids, Ipads, Ipods, tablets,etc. That is besides the computers, laptops, game cubes, Nintendos, not to mention the tv, dvds, movie theaters, restaurants, all the entertainment and recreation areas that are available to us at a drop of a hat... how much more should I list.  The worst of us still have more than 90% of the rest of the world.
 Our time is divided, with all the gadgets that we possess to save time we should have 34-36 extra hours in each day, just waiting and wanting for things to do.  I bet most of us could go without prayer, meditation or even worship for a week and feel okay.  Most however, would be going through withdrawal symptoms if we had no internet connection or entertainment for that same week.  SELAH (stop and think about it for a while)


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Man, Oh Man

A few years ago, actually a couple more than just a few, I was working with a friend who was contracted to build addition.  The owner took care of some of her grandchildren.  One, in particular, was a little 2-3 year old boy who didn't have the largest vocabulary in the world.  As a matter of fact, to the best of my knowledge, he only had a one word vocabulary... "MAAAAAAAAAAN!".  To get the full extent of the his WORD you have to say it with a heavily nasally sound and hold it for 4-5 seconds and he said it quite loudly.  He loved to watch me, though he was on the inside of the house, I could easily hear him.   He would pause several seconds between repeating his exclamation of  "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!".   I must have heard it hundreds upon hundreds of times that morning.  At lunch I complained to my fellow workers, who had been working elsewhere, that I was going nuts and was absolutely losing it and needed a move to different area or I would be killing something or somebody by the end of the day.  They all laughed and was told "To suck it up.  It couldn't be all that bad.  He is just impressed with you and likes you."   God had mercy on my soul and he went down for a nap shortly after lunch.
   I was away on another job for several days, upon my return the leader of the project came to me saying that he was sorry.  While away he was finishing around the area where I was "maaaaaaaaaaaanned" to death.  Needless to say, I was afraid of that, because I had noticed a new twitch in one of his eyes and a continual drool coming from the corner of his mouth.
  Its an easy thing to judge someone when you don't realize the extent of their life, but you can do the right thing and pray and support them without knowing everything.  Being critical is easy.  To support and lift them up without reward is a bit harder and is being a more mature person.

Reminder:  Due to Facebook's desire to make more $ (using the Promotion button) at any given time only 50-70% of your friends see your posts or in my case the notifications of these posts.  If you want an email of the posts or an alert to my latest blog postings, please email me at smbutler@outlook  dot (.) com (written that way to help avoid spam) or any other way you contact me and give me your email address.  You'll stay up to date and maybe get a smile on your face and Jesus stronger in your heart.  I promise not to spam you or sell any info.

The Only Way to Celebrate Christmas

  What is the most important thing to do this Christmas season?  Getting all our shopping done?  Getting all the decorations up?  Getting the house all cleaned before everyone starts to come over?  Getting all the food ready and on time?   Sorry, if these were any of your answers you were and are wrong.  "Ah", you say, "the most important thing you should be doing is bringing Christ into the Christmas season."  "You are wrong, eggnog breath!"  At least in the way you mean it.
  What you celebrate and  how you celebrate really don't matter in the least.  I really don't want to get into the debate about Santa, Jesus and the tree and which is which. However, the most important thing about this and every Christmas season are you attitudes.  That is right!  It is letting your love and your representation of the Christ show forth.  Your demanding of  having it your way and pouting that you only got to sing  one Christmas carol after singing about Rudolf, Saint Nick and White Christmas is what stinks and brings shame.  Maybe it was your shortened temper on display, for all to see and they did see it, when you went off on someone because things weren't going right in the kitchen or store or even on the road.  Take a deep breath relax, do without that extra pie, arrive ten minutes late, give one less or even all gifts.  What people will remember is not the lack of something or even that perfect gift you got them, but rather your meltdown over the mashed potatoes or unlit candles. 
  Try celebrating Christmas by representing the one you supposedly celebrate Christmas for!  Hmm, now that's a thought worth giving.


 Reminder:  Due to Facebook's desire to make more $ (using the Promotion button) at any given time only 50-70% of your friends see your posts or in my case the notifications of these posts.  If you want an email of the posts or an alert to my latest blog postings, please email me at smbutler@outlook  dot (.) com (written that way to help avoid spam) or any other way you contact me and give me your email address.  You'll stay up to date and maybe get a smile on your face and Jesus stronger in your heart.  I promise not to spam you or sell any info.

What did you say?

It has been almost 25 years since we moved to Kentucky.   When a Kentuckian asks me, "When did you move here?", the easiest way to convey it is to reply, "The year Rick Pitino came to UK", as the  head basketball coach (he is now regarded as the traitorous wretch that now coaches the Lousy-ville Cardinals).  Being here this long, I have lost my northern accent and ways.  According to the locals I am not quite there, yet (Milea has assimilated much more quickly).  From the outside Kentucky is known for (listed in no particular order):  Bourbon (named for the area or specific counties it is created in), horses, tobacco, hillbillies with missing teeth and the uneducated.  From the inside, KY should be known for (listed in a particular order):  college basketball, horses, Bourbon, tobacco, friendly people and, I would like to add, the hard of hearing.  I am not sure if it is hereditary or environmental, I am leaning to the latter.  A lot of people feel that KY could easily have the license plate "The land of Allergies".  I am not sure, but this may be the cause of the deterioration to our hearing, the allergies causing more fluids in the ear canals thus more  "plugage", drainage  and possible excess production of ear wax.  When our kids were small we found that they were getting hard of hearing and upon closer inspection we found their ears were almost or completely closed off with wax.
  Today, I was talking to a man who was walking down the street, he replied to me, "What did you say?" and then went on to answer my question without me clarifying.  I recognized this pattern, as I have found this in my own life, and NO, I don't think its just cause I am getting old! Can you say "ALLERGIES?"  Phillip's wife, Kaitlin, insists we, in particular me, speak too softly (and carry a big stick, my interjection) she seems to have succumbed.
  Further proof of this hearing condition follows... from the outside upon talking to some "locals" you may get the impression that they are unedjumecated, but in reality, I believe, it is just a hearing condition that has led to a mispronunciation problem.
Bardstown Road... is often pronounced "Bargetown"
Across...  often is pronounced "accrost"
I heard recently that someone cut "the amBiblical cord" on their new baby
Also heard a lady at WalMart ask for help in finding a printer "cartlage"  (not believing my ears, I followed the conversation and found it repeated)
I recently saw a Craigs List ad... "Almost Brain New Laptop"  (add a southernish twang to that and you'll understand)
While talking to a man, he related that "There was a bad accident and both cars were in the 'medium'."
We also have 'Chimley' or sometimes 'Chimbley' sweeps  Also saw a hand printed sign on a truck door advertising "Chimley Repair"
Recently...  "Lets sing a 'hymnal'" (it took us all night)
And there are many more...
 I have noticed, thanks to Anna's husband Steven, (who seems to talk quietly and very fast, and if it were not for my lightening fast brain that is somehow able to process and analyze the sounds that come out while he talks and even though there seems to be a delay in my understanding, often 5-10 seconds behind him finishing)  I also need some ear cleaning and have succumbed to living in KY.
Beyond my theory of hearing loss... I have absolutely no 'ideal'.


Reminder:  Due to Facebook's desire to make more $ (using the Promotion button) at any given time only 50-70% of your friends see your posts or in my case the notifications of these posts.  If you want an email alert to my latest postings, please email me at smbutler@outlook  dot (.) com (written that way to help avoid spam) and give me your email address and you'll stay up to date.  I promise not to spam you or sell any info.

Have you lost it?

In the realm of "love" or relationships the first stage would be attraction, then  infatuation,  as time passes, most people go into a period of adjustment (or the assertion themselves) and trying to adjust (change) the other person to try to make (force) them to become more like you and finally comes either acceptance and appreciation for the other person as they truly are (actually, it is how they were, because you probably were not able to change them and still have them liking you) aka love or you don't submit to this maturation and get a divorce or end the relationship.  The time spent in each of these stages will vary because, some of us are too stubborn or stupid to learn the lessons of life.  In our pride of needing to be right, most never get through the attempting to change the other person stage and will continue to move from relationship to relationship.  This is the same period of time if we would only look at changing our self instead of the other person growth and maturity can blossom within us and any relationship.
   We use these same patterns of behavior in most relationships. I have seen it in platonic, love and business relationships.  This is also true in the church world and also how it is with our relationship with God.
   I am afraid that the declaration of our church age, as a whole, may be not that we left our first love, but that we never took the time to find it!
   In our relationship with the Father, we delighted in the deliverance from our problems and guilt through Jesus Christ (attraction).  We regularly attended services, and devoured our Bibles (infatuation).  Then the problems start, we see the faults of others and the short comings of the organizational church, and with our active flesh and pride (and like faults or sins)  start wanting God to change so we don't have to.  Seeing that He doesn't change, we then find another group that will believe differently so we can remain unchanged or leave and abandon the church and/or Him altogether.  We then miss out on the best part of all relationships, where we can actually enjoy not only the other person but our own self.  Here we sit in the divorce stage making up doctrine and beliefs to justify ourselves so we don't have to do the work of change (which really isn't that hard, if you will just submit yourself to Him.  He will do the change in you* and all you need to do is say "Yes".)
  Infatuation is good but, matured love is better!  This is the agape love we hear about, but not see very often.

*More on change later

Bumper Sticker

  As you drive you see all kinds of bumper stickers, some are funny, others say how good their kid is doing in school, even who to vote for and finally there is occasionally the kind that makes you think. There are so many various stickers that within an hour, if not minutes, of seeing them you  don't remember what they said.  There are the occasional ones that do however stay with you (then becoming a mind sticker).  I saw one of those a month or two ago.  (No matter your belief system or political affiliation, I ask that you read this to the end.  Promise?)
  I am not now quite sure what other stickers there were on the suv, if there were any, but this one said, "You cannot be both Catholic and a Democrat".  It got me thinking... my first thought was, something along the line of  'wow this person knows how to draw a line in the sand'.  After that, things like 'and people think I am pretty black and white',  'this is one sticker that you won't see very often' and then finally I started to consider what is it was that they are trying to convey.  As I thought of the various items that would cause this person to put this on their vehicle (smallish suv,  funny I can still slightly picture the vehicle) the only one I could come up with was abortion.    Now before you shut me off please read to the end.    (You promised)  This post really isn't about abortion, but I will have to deal with it till I get to my main point.
    This person obviously thought that abortion is wrong and the act, probably murder.  Over 15 years ago I watched a video about abortion, afterwards I cried for hours.  I remembered working, the rest of the day, in a house with tears rolling down my face.  I can take you to the spot.  For those of you who have never seen such a video or haven't FULLY investigated the issue (3000 abortions are still being done each DAY in the USA)  and watched video of people that worked in the clinics, you should, Youtube has some, so you can  at least make an informed decision.  Here is one to start you off on that road, Video  It is graphic but nothing like what I saw years ago.  It has no spoken words, a few french  subtitles and music in that background that tempers down (probably to much) the video.  I would again encourage you to do a full investigation to decide for yourself.
   If the act of abortion cannot be considered murder, when does the act become murder? At which week or day or second before birth does the "fetus", aka baby, aka human become a life?   Is it only when her or she is on the outside, then killing them, that possible crime is committed?  If that is true, then any "fetus" that is still alive after an abortion and is then "terminated" (just writing that makes me feel like a Nazi dealing with a Jew) would then qualify as a murder.  Why is someone charged with a double murder if a pregnant woman is killed?  Or if you favor abortion and think that the intent or desire of the woman determines whether it is a "fetus" or a baby, why are women who give birth and "dispose" of the body charged with murder?   (The Democrat party line is one of abortion and unrestricted abortion and promotion and funding of abortion.   Lets rephrase that, the Democrat party line is one of murder and unrestricted murder and the promotion and funding of murder.  Which is,  I believe, what the person in the suv was trying to convey.)
  Now on to my point... what morals or beliefs (from your religion) do you have that would or could stop you from belonging to a political party.  Any?  If you have none, I would have to say you are either ignorant, willingly looking the other way or really not in contact with your God.  If there is none or you look the other way, I am sorry to tell you, your god is your political affiliation.  Good luck with that one!  As for Christianity,  Jesus said that you can only serve one master, you'll love the one and hate the other, or hate the one and love the other.
(slight deviation here) "Well I am a (insert political affiliation here) because we watch out for the little person  (except the "fetus'" of course)."  Why is it, as a whole, people who belong to your party don't give or give little to charities?  Do you know that Bill Clinton takes a tax deduction for giving his used underwear to Goodwill?  Now that's charity!  I once belonged to a church that if you did not give and give generously you were put down and really not considered a part of them.  In the same way if you are giving other people's money away and not your own (and not being more generous with your own) you are just as deceived.
  (Back to point)  Are you more outspoken in your political affiliation or your relationship with God?  What has your attention?  You may want to consider that.
  **A bite to chew on for awhile**  Milea recently saw a facebook post of a past teacher's quotes, given by the students.  There were a lot of good ones, but one really caught my attention.  "Intellectual deception follows moral rejection." 

Big Headed Pastors AKA 98lb Weaklings

  You may think I have a problem with the office of the pastor.  That would be wrong of you to think this of me.  Yes, I belong to a local church body, that even has a pastor and I actually like him and am growing to respect him more each day, even though he is wrong about things from time to time.  He is not perfect and has flaws, like all of us do.  He, however, does not exalt himself, puts others first, seems to love God more than himself, loves and exalts those that would normally be considered "weak and without a lot to give back" and even has passion.
I want to state here that Jesus Christ is the Head or Shepherd of the Church, but He has appointed people to watch over our souls, those people are  sub-heads or sub-shepherds. Often, they lose sight of their appointment and decide its their career and start looking out for their own selves, similar to what our Washington DC politicians end up doing, once they get into office.  Others build their own local kingdoms.  While yet others do their job properly with integrity.  I believe that a lot of the problems of leadership is because there is a void that the congregation, or body, has allowed to happen by being weak and immature and are in essence a 98lb weakling.  We have this mature big head and an under sized weak body.  It is time for us to do some maturing and put on some spiritual muscle.
We often exercise, well some of us do anyway, to keep our bodies strong and/or flexible, but do we do it spiritually?  Here are a couple verses that hold keys and instruct us in body building.
 Daniel 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong (stout), and do exploits.  (note the key is to "know their God".
Have you ever thought how Jesus growing up on this planet got to know Him?  "Well He just had the knowledge from before."  No, He was a human just like us,  except without sin, but, He did spend time seeking (and finding)out the Father.  The gospels say that "He grew in knowledge". 
Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Here is also an exercise we tend to neglect and because of it we are weak.  What you don't use you lose.  The adage you see on church ad boards that says "7 days without prayer makes one weak" is true.
 "Be strong and of good courage".
(I wanted to put a picture of Jesus in the "Uncle Sam needs you" poster pose, with the words "be strong and of good courage" under it,  but I have other things to do today)

As I contemplated this post, the words to an old Joni Mitchell song came to mind.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

In my walk as a believer
I have walked in great victory and great shame
I have lived with the and for the Church (the people) and lived apart from as many as possible
Been in love with the Church (the people) and despised some
I have seen the best and the worst from this loved people
Grown to love pastors for their great love and grown to despise others for their abusiveness
I have seen the Church from both sides (as a babe and as a pastor)

  I am getting the feeling its time to shed.  There have been times in church history that have been like a snake that is too big for its skin.   There comes a point of getting rid of the old or maybe like a caterpillar its time to metamorphosis into something new.  Martin Luther was at the center of one of those moments.  The protestant  revolution was another.  However, in each case the man made institution of the church has not been changed but, remained top heavy or pastor dominated (which causes the people to relax in their actions and relationship with the Father).  I say the man-made church as opposed to the Church that is a living and breathing organism.  Instead of the freedom in Christ we end up rules and regulation, dos and don'ts and programs to try to make up for the lack of the Holy Spirit's power in our individual lives. 

  True freedom comes at a cost, sometimes at the loss of life.  I know of at least One who died to get you that freedom.

Hypocrisy of Words or Words of Hypocrisy Pt 3

   So, why are we looking at this (Parts1&2)?   Our goal is to live a consistent life and one that is pleasing to God.  To be pleasing to God you have to realize that we need to live by God's standards and not by society's standards.  So lets continue...
  What is wrong with one word over another?  See last post on synonyms of the word we use for our rears.  Do all these words not all convey the same meaning?  Is one more wrong than the other?  If I were to ask you to picture each one of these synonyms would any of them create a different picture even slightly?            
  I am not trying to offend but let's talk openly and honestly.

 **You may wish to cover your eyes to the following sentence.**

  Let's consider the word "ass" for a bit.  "Steve...  Steve... get on and move to the scriptures..."  Okay here is one for you:
  Ge 22:3  And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass...   (whatever that means)  Sorry, I couldn't resist (the truth is I could  of resisted but chose not to) this verse has always had a funny side for me... and probably only me.  When I was growing up the word butt had the same stigma that ass has today but, butt has lost it's "wrongness".  What is the standard that most of us use?  It is generally our society or group of people we are around.  So lets look at their track record.  This is the same society that has determined that it is okay to kill an unborn baby but not kill a murderer or a whale or owl or cat or dog?  Can we let their judgement be our guide?  What does God say about it? Anybody? Anything?
Okay, there are verses:
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
  Let's look at three different statements and see which might be wrong or acceptable.
"You're an ass!"
"Look at his/her ass!"
"Please move your ass."
 Okay, to call someone an ass is wrong (we are commanded to bless people with words and not cut them down or curse them, curse meaning; to call evil upon or to speak abusively or contemptuously of or loathe or detest).  So we could consider calling someone an ass wrong or corrupt.  The second, I believe would also come under the banner of corrupt communication because it is making fun of (taken one way) or enticing another to lust (taken another).  The third... first a story. I was with someone at a restaurant a while ago and we were sitting on the same side of the booth.  In ordering we realized that if we would exchange various items from the other's order, once the food got to the table, we could both could get the perfect breakfast.  When the food came we started the great exchange, however, some of their food was my way so I asked the other person, "Move your muffin." to which they responded by sliding farther away from me on the booth seat.  Is there really a difference between asking someone to move their muffin or to move their ass?  I know some are flinching but, honestly consider.  Scripturally speaking, I believe the third is acceptable.  Think about it, you are not "cursing" or deriding someone...  "But Steve you are being crass."  Oops I forgot... Jesus said don't be crass. (Crass being unrefined)
  I really would like to get into a look at swearing but I guess that is for another time, I swear it is. (Selah)
  I know some are having a problem with this.  In the end,  there are three things I would like to accomplish by these three hypocrisy blogs.  First, watch our own mouths and what we are actually saying (part1). Second, where do your standards come from?  Are they just traditions of men, or just religious actions or are they from God? Or do you make man's standards, God's?(parts 2&3) Third, start to develop a less harsh judgement of others (I guess in today's lingo, be tolerant. The New Testament puts it  like this, love covers, overlooks, a multitude of offenses), even though they may not measure up to your definition of refinement and acceptability.
  Will I be using the word "ass" more? Probably not.

Hypocrisy of Words or Words of Hypocrisy Pt 2

I  first want to say that the, briefly up, last post was a mistake. Sometimes I have fleeting ideas and I'll write it down and make it a draft for future use. I guess I accidentally posted one of those drafts.  For you that "need" to know, I was pondering on how we are hypocritical with our words and I thought of the old tv show "Alice".  This show got away with the "acceptable" term of "Kiss my grits, Mel" because they changed one word in a common sentence to get across the desired meaning but yet keeping it  "acceptable". Anyway I accidentally posted  just the phrase "Kiss my grits".   So if  you were to look at my blog you would see that phrase all by itself.  Sorry about that.
  (Please read pt 1 before continuing, as I will not be repeating the concept of substituting words for the same meaning, but thereby making the intent acceptable.)
  It is said that Eskimos have a hundred words for snow... not to be outdone Americans seem to have developed their own list for synonyms, but not for snow.  I was recently at a Blueman Group show and they had a routine that they started to flash synonyms for your butt (by the way, when I was a kid it was wrong to say the word "butt"). It contained some, but not all of the following:
  arse,  back off, backside, balloon knot, behind, booty, bottom, breech, bum, buns, butt, buttocks, caboose, can, cheeks, derriere, dookie maker, duff, fanny, fundament, hams, haunches, hunkers, keister, mud flaps, Minneapolis and St. Paul, muffin, nates,  patootie, posterior, pressed ham, rear, rear end, rump, seat, tail, tail end, trunk, tush, whoopee cakes AND THERE ARE MORE!
  Now, what makes one word more acceptable and others for the same thing not acceptable?  It would be what the current society (or group of people) that you are in, thinks. In keeping with our butt synonyms how about  the word a**? (asterisks put in as some people find this word not acceptable....to be dealt with)  Lets think about this for a moment shall we?  So, in one group it is okay to use this word but, with your parents it is wrong.   You say,  "I would never say the word a**!"  Okay, are there any words that you would use in front of someone... let's say your spouse or best friend that you wouldn't say in front of your pastor or priest?  So, what you are saying is that it is wrong to use it in front of some people but, not others, right?  Do you think that your pastor has virgin ears?  That if he/she heard them, they would be ruined?  That if you say it in front of them, they will think less of you?   Yet you use it in front of others?  Can you say "hypocrite"?  I grew  up as a PK, aka preacher's kid, aka professional killer.  I would often hear "You can't do that you are a PK".  Trust me, I was a good kid and the worst things that I did was nothing, but I wouldn't conform to some of the people's concept of the perfect version of the PK.  I just want to insert here that you should only judge people for who they are, not what or who their parents are.  In the church there is often a standard or what is acceptable for the PK and what is acceptable for the average church going kid.  In doing this it causes a lot of PKs to resent the church.  I was a chaplain for the local police department and comments were frequently followed by "Sorry, Chaplain"  Like they thought they were corrupting me.  I had to reassure them that their comment was fine for them and it didn't offend me.  Why would it?  Does someone who doesn't know God have the same standard as me? Why are we talking about this?  One of the major problems with the church is it's extreme hypocrisy and the world sees it.  I saw a pastor, that regularly preached love, kick his daughter out of anger.  Maybe you argue with your spouse all the way to the parking lot of the church's meeting but, it miraculously ends as the car door opens.  Do you talk one way in church and one way at home?  Again can you say "Hypocrite"?

This is getting long so it will be continued...

Hypocrisy of Words or Words of Hypocrisy Pt 1

It has always amazed me the way that Christians talk  and never realize what it is that they are saying.
Christianese. What is it?  It is the major language of the Church today in the U.S.  It is the language of acceptability.

   If I were to call this animal a "gix" and teach that to young children so that they would only know it as a gix, does it make or change the nature of the animal in any way?  No, of course not, it is still a giraffe  to you (or as the Fins say a "kirahvi") and a gix to others.  It would just be substituting one word for another, but leaving the original meaning the same.
Lets look at some words that we actually use, even though at one point someone made them up like I just did with gix.
"Gosh"  can anyone tell me what a gosh is? I didn't think so.  Some will say it is just an expression with no meaning.   Okay, how is it used....  "Oh my gosh!"  could we translate it to "Oh my God!"?  Yes, we can (otherwise known as OMG today).  It was made up so that Christians could say it, but not use the name of the Lord their God in vain.  Another example then, seeing so many of you are doubting...
"Jeez" what is a "jeez" maybe just maybe "Jesus"?
"Jimminy Crickets".  It must be that the J.C. is just a coincidence.  That must be it. Yeah, just a coincidence.
"Holy Smoke"? Holy Spirit?  Oh yeah, just another coincidence.  And there are more.
  If you were to stop and ponder just how easily you can interchange all these "words"...  yeah, what a surprising coincidence.
   Is anyone out there willing to cut through the um.... "poopy" and see the truth?  All we are doing is "gixing" and giving our God a new sounding name.  Really, He is better called Jehovah, Yahweh or Abba Father but we have chosen to call Him God or Gosh.  Selah (stop and think about it)...
To be continued....

Revisionist History

Every post of mine goes through several rewrites and corrections before it ever sees the light of someone else' monitor.  Every once in awhile I will even go back over and read some old posts and find all kinds of errors (I found one post where someone must of hacked me and even wrote about my two cross-dressing brothers, it was entertaining so I left it).  Sometimes a new thought or direction will come to me, about a post I am writing, the next day or even while sleeping, so they usually sit as a draft for at least a day or two.  Of course, rewrites on the computer are easy (except I have yet to find a whiteout remover that works on the screen).  However, rewrites of life are a lot harder.  I know you will find this hard to believe, but there have been times Milea has asked me "Why did you say that to ...?  It was a bit shocking!" or preaching with the old zipper down (I have heard of pastors even going to the bathroom with the mic on and blessing the congregation with new sounds of praise, not me though, really not me), or ... never mind I am not quite ready to reveal this next one and nobody that reads my blog knows of this public goof from my teen years.  Ever have those moments that you wish you could go back and change? Or maybe do the Jedi hand wave to cast a spell "What you just saw never happeenneedd!" to make others forget your foolishness? (I almost have that one perfected!  However, so far it only  has worked on my kids when they were younger.  Milea was there too, but for some reason it seemed to work the opposite on her and actually reenforced the occurrence, as she will bring them up at the most inopportune times. Which happens to be anytime, in my book anyway).
  God  also does the Jedi trick, but His version works quite strangely because it makes Him forget! I have seen Him do it for us and for some of us on an hourly basis! (not me mind you, but I do know someone...).
 Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
  It is one thing to forgive and forget someones else'  faux pas and sins, but your own?  That can be a whole other matter.
  Now if only you and I were more godly (God like), life could be a whole lot easier..  The sad thing is that these memories will not only haunt us, but will also hinder us into doing the right and good thing in the future (fear of failure).
Now, what was I talking about? ...(I am practicing my forgetfulness.)

Dissed... tracted II

  As a gardener, mostly veggies, I tend to grow way more than I need.  To get rid of the extra produce I get my neighbors and friends to come get some or I will pick and bring the abundance to them or a common meeting place. ( I do however need to do some guarding of my asparagus and blueberries from a certain grazing daughter.)  So these people get the benefit of all my labor, the composting, the turning, the weeding and planting, and the fruit is free (I really don't mind it is a hobby and relaxing for me and I like to bless people).
  There are people of the past and present, that we know very little about, who work(ed) in the kingdom of God that did the same thing. They were not gardener, but they did cultivate the soil. Charles Finney got credited with bringing "revival" to many places.  What you may not know is he had someone going into the towns and cities ahead of him, weeks to months, to pray for that place so that they would be receptive to God.    People marvel on the result of Finney's preaching, but you need to consider he was just picking the harvest off other people's labor.  Some of you may know who Charles Finney is, but I bet nobody can name me who the prayer was.  Who will get the greater reward?  If they both did their jobs right and weren't proud and seeking their own, they will probably share equally in the fruit of their labor.
  Praying for a move of God isn't the easiest thing, but then neither is true praying,. it requires time, patience and diligence (three requirements I have problems doing).  I am no pro as God has been dealing me about them.  If there is any hope for our nation we need to be attentive to prayer, out of a right relationship with Him.

Being Dissed...tracted

 If any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant!  I can hear it now... Loud and clear.  There are several, no wait, most of the female persuasion out there saying,  "What do you mean 'if any'? That should be most men, if you ask me."  Would it also help you if I told you  that this is a verse too?
1Co 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
As I sat down to write and the word 'ignorant' kept coming to me. So, I looked it up and found this verse.  I guess I have always missed seeing this one.  It is one of those verses that if you aren't paying attention you just skim over it.
  It is God's desire for us not to be ignorant and miss out on our callings and abilities as believers. Sad to say, it is too often the case (including the female gender).
  God has been showing me occasionally and repeatedly through His small voice that distractions are hurting His people. Often the plaguing distractions come by avoiding or missing the real issue by dealing with the side issues instead.  Right now we are getting taken major advantage of through these distractions.
2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
    The one that He has been dealing with me the most is that this country's problems will not and CANNOT be addressed or fixed the way we are trying.
  Although there are many problems out there, in the forefront seem to be politicians that are self serving, corrupt and giving the appearance of, through their actions, wanting to bring this country to it's knees, but they are not the main problem.  There is not anyone or any group out there that has the solution (in the political arena) for our country.  Though the problems seem to becoming from the political parties lack of oversight and diligence,  what God has been showing me is that the problem is first, the people of our country.  We are (as a whole)  self serving, selfish, lazy and ignorant. Ouch!  Maybe this should be a Selah moment.
  Yes, as citizens of this country we need to pay honest attention to what is going on and who it is that is serving us  Most of our debt issues are coming from the "entitlement area"  where people are being lazy and taking when they should be out working and supplying for their own needs.  (I am not against helping those that TRULY need it.    Here's an example: do you know that  those that are on long-term unemployment benefits, the majority find jobs within  4 weeks of their benefits running out? What is happening?  For a lot of them, they are on a paid vacation and only get serious when the future of no money motivates them.  It is fraudulent and they seem to be afflicted with a all to common disease called LBS (lazy butt syndrome, which will also add on the lbs).  I hate to tell you this, but just electing certain people will not solve our problems.
Okay, the political stuff is over.  Now let's cut to the hard part, our number one action is to be praying for a move of God though this nation, not settling for a handy little "revival" but, going for the gold.  If the people had an encounter with the Almighty and were changed,  we would not only see change in their outlook and actions, but there would also be a change in the political arena.  Now, that's not that hard is it?...  except if you really take this seriously and actually take up the call to pray.  Can you shut yourself off to other distractions and do it more than just once or twice?  Thus the dilemma.  Where are our eternal values and motivation?  I think we have missed something or are missing something.  Maybe it time for another Selah moment...

Not what you might expect

I am strange.  "Well duh!" you say.  Here are some things that you may not know that I am sure will make you wonder some more.
I don't like suspenseful movies.  Do you remember the show "Lost in Space"?  It had June Lockhart, Dr Smith  (the evil one) and of course Robbie the Robot.

As a kid it would freak me out!  I would quickly change the channel till the suspense was over. The picture of Robbie flailing his arms over his head saying "Danger, danger!" along with the music would just do it to me.  Alien vs Predator are you kidding me?  I guess I am just a sensitive soul.  Some of my kids are the same way.
If I watch something like "America's Funniest Home Videos" and a older person falls or a guy gets it... I hurt,  ahh... umm..... somewhere.  Really, it is so strange.  I can deal with pain, see previous blog, but something about the thinking and picturing other people about to get it just pushes my boundaries a bit too far.
Sometimes you will picture a radio personality a certain way and when you actually see their picture you think, "That's not them". Our minds conceive of things a certain way and have a hard time dealing with reality or change.  Videos of old people falling doesn't inflict more pain upon them, no matter how many times they are repeated.  I remember watching an AFV video, the shot was of a baseball game from behind home plate.  The batter fouled the ball straight back, the ball came right at the camera.  I ducked because that ball was heading straight for me.  Everyone else laughed  (at me). Things are not always what they seem.
We do the same with the Word.  We freak out at what we think it says.  We misunderstand and end up in condemnation to what we think it says and live in that deception. Ever read this verse?
John 15:5    I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
I used to get condemned that I wasn't bearing enough fruit until God showed me that the most important fruit we could start to bear was love, joy, peace, patience and so on. (ever try to develop your  "so on"?   It is not all that easy.)     The possibility of not understanding the Word is why it's so important to spend time with the author.  I don't know how many times I have heard that still small voice telling me something that gave me understanding to my previous misunderstandings. Understand?

Drilling for Gold...(the red kind) or Give till it Hurts

Milea has been "hinting" that with our iron rich diet, that being a guy and as of late not having any accidental blood letting, that I needed to go give blood (too much iron in the blood can cause joint pain and more). So, I had time and went down to the local Red Cross to donate. Everything went well till I got ready to give. (please note: I have a very high tolerance to pain, although I have never given birth- not by my choosing- I have stepped on many nails- as a kid and as best I remember all in my left foot, cut the tip off of my right index finger and shocked the doctor that stitched me up because of my calmness, a week later detached the end of my finger that was previously sewn on- which hurt much more than the original incident, sent a giant splinter of wood though my knuckles pinning my hand closed, I could go on but I think you may have gotten the point. So, I sat down on the chair to start the blood letting... I commenced with my normal banter to break the ice, the supposed nurse AKA (also know as) the pile driver commenced to clean my arm and locate the vein (the future location of the beam to be driven in to hold the future structure). (Please note: I have given blood before probably 5 times without complaint or incident).  Here is a picture of my pile driving nurse.

As she started "inserting" the beam I noted that the angle of the beam was about 45 degrees to the predetermined mark over a vein. (being in construction I am good at seeing angles and possible projections of beams). Seeing that my vein was right below the surface and very predominate, I could tell she would strike "gold" real quick.  She proceeded to insert the beam that appeared to go through the vein and further into the muscle (of which of course, I have an abundance of) and continued to nearly the full length of the 1 1/2 to 2 inch needle. Seeing that I was not getting paid for the blood, I gave her my complaint about the beam going through my arm. She responded that she was very experienced and has been a pile driver for 17 years. After which she removed most of the needle and with a sideways motion inserted it into my vein. Upon which she again commented on her previous experience and said she must have driven the beam to the side of the predetermined correct position noting that I must have been inserting to many previous beams in that location and it was hard for her to get it right. (The last construction project in that location was a year or two ago). After reassuring me as to her experience we finished the procedure. Later in the evening I noticed what must be a bug bite on the back of my arm several inches above the location of the beam insertion but on the opposite side. hmmm

Tick, tick, tick.

This last weekend  my darling wife and I went on a spur of the moment trip,  my inclination is to stay put and relax, hers is to explore, (it is really a strange thing because that inclination is totally opposite of our personalities, I am more daring and she likes safety.  But then, being around me is far from safe, so she must have an inward desire to live on the wild side). Friday morning I asked her if she could get off work, after a  trip into the office to do a few things and me attending to my  gardens, we finally packed and got on the road by noon!  The weekend was full of hiking the woods and trails of Natural Bridge and Buckhorn Lake State Parks, but due to the slightly wet (drizzly) weather on Saturday and Sunday we (I), who didn't want to freeze off my nether regions out in a boat, weren't able to get out and on the beautiful lake. The lake is a man made one, of which this state has many, and rather large (we are not talking acres probably easier measured in square miles), and set in the hills of Eastern Kentucky which are now very green and lush with flowers all over the ground and trees.
Our hikes along the trails were pleasant, even if hilly, with many interesting and beautiful flowers, rocks (excuse me, boulders- Milea seems to have developed a boulder fetish which is yet to be fulfilled in our yard... wondering what to get her for a birthday or Christmas? A BIG rock and I am not talking diamond would delight her...) and trees, oh yeah then there are the small brooks and the chipmunks. Our normal banter and teasing were in full bloom (when we could catch our breath enough to talk).  After our hike on Saturday we went back to our more than ample "cabin" more like a medium sized 3 bedroom house with kitchen, to rest and read. When all of a sudden I awoke with such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter... well I sprang to my feet because Milea did one of her SCREAMS and a movement quicker than I have not seen the likes of since she had dreamed of a mouse in our bed years ago or the last time I made an honest attempt to tickle her feet (which results in not a movement to get away but rather to kill). My (now natural) instinct, to get away (due to the whole kill thing), was slowly being brought into check, due to her being six feet away and on the other couch and I was personally not responsible and in less trouble. What had aroused my heart rate was that she had found a tick crawling up her arm and her quick movement was the flinging motion to get it off her.  "You did WHAT?"  Was my well thought out response to her explanation.  Now I was desperately searching the "wood tick camouflage" colored carpet not to be the hero, but rather not wanting the thing to find me.  As I searched, I instructed her on wood tick etiquette, things like... thou shall not fling ticks upon or towards thy neighbor and other important things like hold them till you can kill the suckers and so on...  Her defense was the usual "I couldn't help myself" schpeel. After not finding it we went back to reading after itching, scratching, checking ourselves over and over and over for more ticks, I at least moved to higher ground. There is nothing like having a tick (or getting a tick thrown at you) to get the mind's imagination working in full gear... here a tick, there a tick, everywhere a tick, tick. After a recovery period and further scratching and checking we went to dinner and came back to the room for further reading, which was rudely interrupted by a yelp and yet another fling and more reinforcement of etiquette instruction, as well as searching for movement in the carpet and my personal space.  After a long while of searching and instruction we went back to our reading and imagining... Thankfully my mind relaxed... after remembering that my personal bug magnet was in the room and not sitting next to me! (Its true, much to her displeasure.  :)  )
A while later I heard a calm "Its crawling up my blanket",  she had needed a blanket because I would not get near her until the bugger was captured and beheaded, (see comment on bug magnet).  I gratefully got up  removed it, beheaded it and praised her for her calmness and NOT FLICKING IT TOWARDS ME!
And yes it was probably the same one...(see comment on bug magnet).  Now we could get back to normal life after more checking and mind imagining.  
As I awoke early this morning one of my first thoughts was what if we had the same response to sin that Milea had toward that tick.  The repulsion, the quick get it out of here and far from me response that holds no, not even a seconds hold on our being...  Sitting here and writing this I realized that sin is a lot like a tick, it tries to attach itself to you and then live by sucking the life of God out of you and possibly infecting you with its own disease.  I repeat...  what if we had the same response to sin that Milea had toward that tick.  The repulsion, the quick get it out of here and far from me response that holds no, not even a seconds hold on our being...

Guarding what's yours

As a kid we used to sing a chorus in church and I also remember my mom singing this around the house...  "All the promises in the Book are mine every chapter, every verse, every line. All are blessings of His love divine. All the promises in the book are mine"... Side note:  I don't think I ever heard all the words (interesting). Here is the link to the whole song lyrics  "All the Promises" link
I can't say that this is really the case because some promises are directed at differing individuals or nations or even the Devil (his promises are some I don't want).  However there are a lot of them that are for us. Jesus gave us this one: 
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
So Jesus said it so it is done and peace is always ours, right? Yes and no.  Peace is always there for you, whether you walk in it is up to you.  Look at it this way... (except in an outage and/or nonpayment situation) electricity is always available, but if the switch isn't in the "on" position you will remain in the dark. (Selah)
You can have peace in any situation, even though you may be a storm, you can have perfect  peace inside and out. The question that you must figure out it is... is your peace switch or worry switch in the on position and shining bright in you life?
 Pr 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
This verse holds the key. You could easily translate this verse to say "Guard your heart for from it will come the perspective and manner in which you will live your life".  Your thought life digs the banks in which the river of your life must flow in.  The good news is, you can direct and change, in large part, what course your life takes. (Just looking at this last sentence and pondering on it would help any of us.) What is it that you are continually thinking about?  Is it the problem or the worst possible results of the situation or is it the best?  We all get caught in these situations like: arguments, lack of money, abundance of bills or physical maladies, any of which can possess and dominate our thoughts.  Keeping your peace during a problem or using and possessing any other promise comes down to guarding (or keeping) what you allow yourself  to dwell on.  Fighting is often involved to control your thoughts. 
Here are some clues:
1.What does the Word say about the situation
2. Say these out loud (if possible) and reenforce the truth
3. Who is your god? Is He weak and unable to help and deliver you? Could He be strong and able enough to help you?
4. Sometimes it takes effort, "keeping your heart" can take some of your time.  The battle may be to get rid of the thought patterns that you made (ones of failure or worry).
More later...