Sunday, April 21, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 04/21/2024
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 04/14/2024
Friday, April 12, 2024
Sense, Since, Scents, Cents
Sunday, April 7, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 04/07/2024
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 03/31/2024
Monday, March 25, 2024
Knave, Nave, Know, Now
Knave, Nave, Know, Now: English is hard. Communication is harder. So much of our communication is non-verbal: pitch, volume, intonation, emphasis, inflection, facial tics, posture, gestures, eye contact, eye movement, ... We do all of these things subconsciously when we speak, yet none of this is communicated when we write. We've tried to adapt to the digital age by capitalizing, emojis, acronyms, bold, italics, underline, ... However, you cannot completely emulate human behavior, hence, communication, by words alone. If it's important, make time to have a face to face conversation. It will mean more to the hearer, whether it's good news or bad.
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 03/24/2024
Monday, March 18, 2024
Peak, Peek, Pique
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 03/17/2024
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
English Is Hard - New, Knew, Gnu
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 03/10/2024
Thursday, March 7, 2024
A Day in the Life of My Brain
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Fog
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Generational Blessing
Sunday’s Blessing – 03/03/2024
Friday, March 1, 2024
Joy for the Journey
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Heavenly Visions
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. (Isaiah 6:1-4 ESV)
At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal.And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:2-11 ESV)
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. (Matthew 17:1–3 ESV)
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:22–28 ESV)
Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. (Hebrews 8:1–2 ESV)
“… and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, …” (Ephesians 1:19-20 ESV)
• Immeasurable greatness of his power – dynameōs – (miraculous) power, might, strength dynamite
• Working – energeian – working, activity – energy• Great – kratous - strength, might – dominion• Might – ischyos – strength, might – force
Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. (2 Corinthians 12:1–6 ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1–7)
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:2–4 ESV)
Sunday’s Blessing – 02/25/2024
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 02/18/2024
Sunday, February 11, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 02/11/2024
Saturday, February 3, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 02/04/2024
Sunday, January 28, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 01/28/2024
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Sunday’s Blessing – 01/21/2024
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Perspective
Thursday, January 18, 2024
The Journey - Month 6
I haven't posted about the journey lately. It's been six months since I moved into the camper. January is a rough month to be in an RV. It's cold! Actually, the newer RVs are very well insulated. As long as you have propane, you'll be ok. Fortunately, the cold usually doesn't last very long in Alabama.
Besides the weather, everything else seems to be getting more routine. Working from home is a little different. Since the space is relatively small (basically 2 rooms) you have to be diligent to separate work from leisure. This hasn't been too much of a problem for me.
With the changing temps, social contact has been minimized. I haven't made any new acquaintances lately. Most of the people I met early on have left. I'm still amazed at the number of resident campers there are. I had no idea so many people lived in RVs.
I'm spending more time writing lately. That is a goal for the new year. I'd like to finish at least one of the writing projects I have started. There are several in the works. The primary one I want to finish is "The Road Back from Nowhere." I started it back in 2022 when COVID broke out.
There are a few writing projects which I started years ago and would like to get back to at some point. One is a book on Baptism. Another is one of my favorite titles: Managed Expectations. I'm also working on "The Names of God II" in hopes of getting 365 names, which could then be turned into a daily devotional.
Beyond writing, I hope to find a new outlet for music. I had the privilege of singing in a Christmas choir. It was very enjoyable. I love the dynamic of choral music. I've also considered auditioning for a musical. We shall see.
I'm recovering from foot surgery. It was a much longer recuperation than expected. It took me off my exercise routine. It's been difficult getting back in the routine, but I'm working on it. Coming off daylight saving time made it harder to get to the gym early. I will get back there soon.
I found out another grandchild is on the way. This time it's a boy! The first male grand. I'm pretty excited.