Sliced Diced and Mashed/A Far Cry

A Far Cry

But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him.  Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King?  The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 

                                                                                                                                              …John 19:15

               While viewing Amazing Videos, I watched a young Pit-bull playfully running and romping with a seven-year-old.  The mother, sitting close by, was watching carefully laughing and enjoying the playfulness of both small creatures.  Many dogs were at this pound and ready for a home.  Mother and child studied the possibility of taking this pet home, when the scenario changed surprisingly and quickly. 

            Just as quick as the Pit-bull was docile, it turned, and locked his jaws around the leg of the helpless little girl.  Fear gripped the heart of the mother as she frantically pried the jaws open for the prospective little owner to escape.  But before the mother could protect her daughter, he executed another charge at the young girl.  The dog attached himself again to a part of her body.  Mother, racing to her side, saved her from being torn to shreds, but not without first doing damage.

            The perpetrator was filmed later taking the life of a new, helpless puppy.  From a sweet natured, playful puppy to an attack dog in seconds is not new to the Pit-bull. 

My husband visited a home in Brazil and always carefully made his presence known to the family dog, known as a “Fila.”.  Once, slowly placing his hand down for the dog to sniff him and his familiar scent, the dog grabbed and sunk his teeth into his hand.  My husband felt no hint or warning of aggressive behavior coming on.  Pain shot through his hand as he worked it lose.

            This behavior is not just common to Pit-bull or Fila, but in man and mobs.  As Christ entered Jerusalem the crowds cried, “Hosanna! Hosanna!”  Excitement was felt in the air while palms were placed in His path.  Now the crowds are crying out again, but this time shouting,” Crucify him! Crucify him!”  This is a far cry from the Hosannas heard the week before. 

            Mobs and Pit-bull may turn to violence when least expected.  The crowds at the lake turned like a Pit-bull in action.  The crowds, being fed by the lake, didn’t mind the Words of Jesus, but when they were not given bread, physical healing, or wages were not gained, they turned from Jesus.

            Have you turned aggressive because God has pointed something unattractive out in your life?  Or, because this behavior has always been in your nature and you are not letting up your hold on it? God can take that cleverly disguised aggressiveness before it comes out, and turn it into a God loving true Son-like nature.

 There will be no surprise attacks when Jesus grips your heart. Praise Him for He is worthy to be praised.  Worship Him, for He is worthy of our worship!

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/True Luster...Truth Whisperer

True Luster!

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

                                                                                                            ...Acts 17:15-18

            Living in Springfield, Missouri I had the privilege of being around a lot of preachers.  Students, young and fresh out of high school, or young married, came to take classes at the Baptist Bible College.  The college is known for the number of missionaries sent to foreign fields.  But mostly I remember some of the jobs students had during this time.  They had to manage their time wisely to study for exams.  Many took up selling encyclopedias in the sixties, or Lustercraft Cookware. 

              I personally have a hard time selling products like make-up, or Tupperware.  I just don't like to put pressure on anyone. Good pans are worth investing in, but encyclopedias, the facts change too often.  For instance, the population of India is different now than from five years ago, so encyclopedias are not as up to date as the Internet.

Berk Dwiggins told the congregation at the Dunnegan Bible Baptist Church, about his effort in selling Lustercraft cookware about late fifties and early sixties.  He sold one set, and says he still has it today.  We just laughed.  Not everyone is out to be a salesman or saleswoman. 

I hope no one looks at my old cookware, because there sure is no luster where hard work has stolen the shine.  They have been stirred and scraped and sure would have some stories to tell if it were possible. Many sold cookware or encyclopedias years ago, not because they believed in it so much, as it provided an income.  They waited for the day they were ready to enter the ministry, something they were sold on.  The preachers were fanatics, like Berk said, "They believed the unbelievable."  Their faith made it real.  To believe in the virgin birth, the cross, and the resurrection made them fanatics.  I guess I am a fanatic!  I am sold on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

How about your luster?  Has the luster gone out of serving Christ?  Has it become more of a job than a pleasure? 

Want to add some luster or shine to your life?  Invite Jesus into your heart asking forgiveness of sin.  If you know Jesus already, but pushed His Word back behind the encyclopedias, dust the Bible off and let His Word penetrate your heart.  No you didn't lose Jesus you just didn't allow Him to lead the way.  That is why you're off the path now. 

Allow Christ to give you luster in your life.  Let Him stir your heart for the lost and dying around you, like Paul was stirred in the city Athens. 

Christianity doesn't take a salesman; it takes a "truth whisperer."  Believe the unbelievable!

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Easy Does It!

Easy Does It!

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                         …I Timothy 4:1-2

            Driving down the road the Pontiac next to me displayed a bumper sticker reading “Easy Does It,” meaning stay off my bumper—or no tailgating.  I thought, “OK! I believe he wants drivers to stay back.  He doesn’t want anyone messing up his car!  Fair enough!” But when I came beside him in my lane, I glanced over to observe a completely different take!

            The front of the Pontiac was completely smashed in.  He didn’t want anyone ramming into him from behind, but, oops, he didn’t follow his own advice and kissed someone’s back bumper, with the front of his car.  I would have felt real embarrassed still having a bumper sticker on that read, “Easy Does It!”

            Easy Does it, Paul is writing instructions to Timothy.  When I looked at this verse, I felt I needed to understand it a bit better.  Looking through references and concordance I understood what Paul was trying to write Timothy.  In the latter days people just won’t care, or take heed to scripture or godly advice.  They will say one thing and do another with no fear of consequences; apathy sets in.

            Practice what you preach!  Paul continues to say in verse 12-15…be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Till I come…neglect not…Meditate upon these things;

             Wow, was Paul an encourager!  Easy does it should be more than a bumper sticker, it should be a way of life.  We need to practice what we preach, teach and talk, someone will come up beside you and observe.

Homelessly Burdened

Homelessly Burdened

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

                                                                                                      …Psalm 55:22

            In Springfield, Missouri, old Commercial Street sure would tell a bit of history, if she could talk.  Missouri Hotel has been a refuge for many, as well as Victory mission on this once busy avenue of commerce.  Springfield has spread in a different direction now, headed mostly south.

            Driving Commercial Street recently I observed a homeless traveler, obvious by his well packed gear.  One item did not fit the usual description of a homeless man though; an ironing board.  Now what would a homeless man be doing with an ironing board? 

            My first question was, wouldn’t that would be an awkward item to carry, and limit how far he could travel each day? But thinking more upon the subject, I thought maybe he is in a new beginning and is leaving the streets, setting up an apartment.  Of course, an ironing board would be the last item I would be concerned with.  Maybe he used this to lie on, or some old style ironing boards are used to cook on out at camping sites. My imagination ran wild as I pictured him still awkwardly carrying this board.

            I will never know what the purpose was for the strange but curious item laying on top his knapsacks.  I have since ceased figuring out the dilemma, but have come to the conclusion that the ironing board was an added weight, or burden.

            The weight we usually carry is a little less obvious to most than this scene I had you imagine.  If only this man had someone to carry the board to his final destination, the road would have been so much easier to travel. Interesting isn’t it?  Christian, we are not made to carry heavy loads.  Christ said to give them to him.  Some of us look pretty silly to the world because of the baggage we transport around. We hold on too many things worse than an ironing board.  Some wear houses, cars, people and past. What do people see when they look at you?  Are you so burdened, the world sees not a lot of difference in what you carry, and he carries? 

            Walk tall, not bent with the weight of this world, and help direct others to Him.  Trials we have, but Christ says, Ye shall find rest for your souls….Matthew 11:29.   Christ is the “ultimate carry-all.”  If it is a burden He allows us to carry, it will be light, not laborious, as to impede our walk.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. …Matthew 11:30

            Someone has offered to carry our burdens to our final destination for us.  Are you interested?

Homelessly Burdened

Homelessly Burdened

Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

                                                                                                           …Psalm 55:22

            In Springfield, Missouri, old Commercial Street sure would tell a bit of history, if she could talk.  Missouri Hotel has been a refuge for many, as well as Victory mission on this once busy avenue of commerce.  Springfield has spread in a different direction now, headed mostly south.

            Driving Commercial Street recently I observed a homeless traveler, obvious by his well packed gear.  One item did not fit the usual description of a homeless man though; an ironing board.  Now what would a homeless man be doing with an ironing board? 

            My first question was, wouldn’t that would be an awkward item to carry, and limit how far he could travel each day? But thinking more upon the subject, I thought maybe he is in a new beginning and is leaving the streets, setting up an apartment.  Of course, an ironing board would be the last item I would be concerned with.  Maybe he used this to lie on, or some old style ironing boards are used to cook on out at camping sites. My imagination ran wild as I pictured him still awkwardly carrying this board.

            I will never know what the purpose was for the strange but curious item laying on top his knapsacks.  I have since ceased figuring out the dilemma, but have come to the conclusion that the ironing board was an added weight, or burden.

            The weight we usually carry is a little less obvious to most than this scene I had you imagine.  If only this man had someone to carry the board to his final destination, the road would have been so much easier to travel. Interesting isn’t it?  Christian, we are not made to carry heavy loads.  Christ said to give them to him.  Some of us look pretty silly to the world because of the baggage we transport around. We hold on too many things worse than an ironing board.  Some wear houses, cars, people and past. What do people see when they look at you?  Are you so burdened, the world sees not a lot of difference in what you carry, and he carries? 

            Walk tall, not bent with the weight of this world, and help direct others to Him.  Trials we have, but Christ says, Ye shall find rest for your souls….Matthew 11:29.   Christ is the “ultimate carry-all.”  If it is a burden He allows us to carry, it will be light, not laborious, as to impede our walk.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. …Matthew 11:30

            Someone has offered to carry our burdens to our final destination for us.  Are you interested?

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Dust Mites

Dust Mites

But refuse profane and old wive’s fables, and exercise thyself rather unto ungodliness.

For bodily exercise profiteth little; but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

                                                                                                  …I Timothy 4:7-8

            The exercise bike, untouched, sandwiched under layers of dust served only to be a reminder of one more thing we needed to be doing.    Bill was going strong until the days became long and no time or energy was left at the end of the day.  I didn’t miss though His complaining that his body screams when it sees the bike.  This passage of scripture above is one of my husband’s favorites.  He knows it by heart.  …bodily exercise profiteth little…

            Bill seems to have strong health, but he did scare me really bad one time, while holding his hand over the heart.  Gasping for air, I saw him start to go down.  I had accidentally changed the sports channel while he was on the stationary bike. That was his reaction to me changing channels.  What drama! What a fake! I didn’t fall for it, for long.

            My exercise is buying workout equipment each and every summer at garage sales, hauling them home, and back out for lack of use, to sell in another garage sale in the spring.  Intentions are good anyway!

            There are those who exercise their faith in this manner also. They are seasonal Christians, who appear a couple of times a year, weakened from the year’s battles, but hope to find strength in those couple of visits a year.  Not enough done in their lives to make a difference, they have good intentions, but no more than that. 

Weakened by the arrows blow, Satan has convinced many Christians this is all there is in Christ.  They become cold and calloused to the wooing of the Holy Spirit, out of shape, and out of reach. Like the exercise—2 or 3 times a year--it’s the same as no exercise at all.  If there was an emergency and had to run for help, they would prove to be out of shape, to be able to get help in time.

            Christian!  People, family and friends need you!  They are weak and literally look to you to see how you re-act to urgent situations and to see if what you have is worth wanting.  Are you so weakened that your family is no longer looking to you, or even desire to exercise their faith.  Help them find their way back by you, yourself, exercising true faith in God.  Your legacy of truth and commitment will be heard of for years to come.

            Dust the off your Bible, buried under the TV Guide, and learn from Him.  But you say, “There are too many hypocrites in the church!”  There will be one less now.

Sliced, Diced and Mashed/Talk to Yourself?

Talk to Yourself?

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

                                                                                        …Ephesians 5: 18-20

            Walking down the street talking to your self is not uncommon anymore.  In fact I have caught my self in times past wondering who the man or woman was talking to, passing in the grocery store, oblivious to other’s watching.  Looking around, there is just this young man and me, the only ones in the baking isle.  I finally figured out the young man was wearing a very small telephone as an ear phone.  This is much more common now to see, but still, I find it annoying in some places.  Especially when you’re trying to have a nice relaxed evening when all you hear are phones ringing around you.  Just what you need, is to be reminded of work, babysitter, etc.

            As I was standing in line at a supermarket the same thing happened.  A young lady lied to the person on the other end of the line saying, “No, I’m not, I really am at work.”  Funny!  I doubt standing in line at the supermarket, was actually her job.  But there she was like she was talking to someone, but it sure wasn’t me.

            A friend of ours said he has his lunch while listening to Rush Limbaugh.  To anyone walking by and looking in the classroom they might have thought someone else was in the room, but he had directed his conversation to the radio.

            Many of us have conversations with no one around, but do we speak to ourselves in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs like in Ephesians?  I sing, but whether I make melody, I am not sure. This melody is to be in my heart.  If it does not originate there, then it is just singing and not a melody or praise of thanksgiving.   This melody of thanksgiving is to be always, for all things.  That is quite a feat in itself. 

            Go ahead, talk to yourself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; it’s all right.  Actually this activity would help you forget your troubles and lift your spirits high.  Try it!  Sing and make melody in your heart.  Listen! And maybe you can perceive others doing the same and before you know it, a choir of Saints is formed all around you. 

            Many others are talking to themselves, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  You are not alone.  Listen!  Can you hear it?  The Saints are praising God the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  What a melody.  Take time to listen.