WHO, ME?

American Standard Version Hebrews 12:1
Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset (attacks you from every side) us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Oft times when reading this verse of scripture I focus on the first section: the cloud of witnesses. It has been suggested that these witnesses are the angels of GOD. Another thought is they are the saints who have died in the faith and are viewing the Christian community on earth.

Whatever the situation is there is somebody watching us, and because of this we are admonished to strip ourselves of two things. The first is characterized as weights.

We could copy baby Snooks of radio fame who always answered, “Why,” every time she was told to do something. “Go to bed; why? Drink your milk; why? “

When the scripture says to do, or not do something the only response that is acceptable is obedience.

The weight is that thing that keeps you from doing the perfect will of GOD. Weights seem to be custom made for each Individual, what affects one might have no effect on another.

Weights include; the love of money, a roving eye, an occasional untruth, or any thing that slows you down in your walk of righteousness.

Sin or perhaps sins would be more appropriate since one who allows sin in his life probably has problems with several things. Sin is the violation of the known will of GOD. Sin disrupts your fellowship with GOD.

You might say “I want to sin!” Of course you do otherwise you wouldn’t do it. The issue isn’t the want to, it is the counting the cost that matters.

The analogy of the race depicts how necessary it is to eliminate anything that would impede your running. The Christian life is likened unto a race. It isn’t a quick dash, and it is more than a marathon. It is a continual running until you join the cloud of witnesses.

With determination, set your goal for the long haul with no detours.

Run ye well, faithful one.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1FQqSGxBso&feature=related

WHEN THE WORLD CHANGED

There is a marker in history that only says; a day of infamy.

It was all that and much more. Dec.7, 1941 was the day when the whole world changed. The unthinkable happened. Our military was attacked and WAR began.

For the next few months survival was the key word. We were saved by the great distance, the broad Pacific Ocean which served as a great moat around our castle.

Every thing changed in a moment, new jobs, new inventions, families were changed. Women found that they could do more than house work and raise kids. Everything pointed toward the “War effort.

The war was made up of millions of events of every nature, it changed the family unit and the effects are still being experienced where God’s will is being ignored as if it were an option.

I relate just one of the events (of the millions) that occurred during the conflict.

One of my uncles who qualified as poor, by poor people’s standards, managed to get a ticket from Tennessee to California to get a job in the shipyard. This meant he had to leave his wife there until he could send for her. This meant she had to move back home to her family until then. My Uncle immediately got a job and started to make good money with all the overtime he wanted.

Month after month passed and his wife began to wonder when he was going to send for her. She kept writing asking for the reason why she couldn’t join him. He kept putting her off until she gave finally him an ultimatum either send for her or else.

Whereupon he sent money for her ticket and she arrived safely. As a normal woman she wanted to know “how come, and why.” And what was the reason it took so long for him to send for her. Little by little the truth came out for she had no intention of stopping until she knew it all.

Since I know those who are reading this can fill in the details and don’t need to know the rest, I could just stop here but just in case, and for the benefit of one person who might get it wrong I continue.

As it turned out there was a young, fresh, woman who attracted my uncle and with the time of separation and the massive temptation they became involved. It was surprise, surprise to the young girl who was told “By the way I have a wife who is arriving soon.”  It seemed that uncle had forgot about that until his memory returned. Just to cut this short, as it happened his wife was pregnant and close to birthing and wouldn’t you know it the girlfriend was also pregnant.

Leaving out the scathing details, he worked things out with his wife. The girlfriend had her child and married a guy that was crazy for her regardless of the former events. What happened next will have to wait for another time.

P.S. I saw the girl friends child and she was the spitting image of another girl of his by his wife.

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

I don’t know about you but I talk to myself quite a bit. In part it is because I’m the only one that is interested in what I have to say. Besides that I am a ready listener and agree with myself most of the time.

I was having one of these conversations with myself about taking a shower, after long deliberations it was decided that I should. I removed my clothes down to my socks and then this called for another discussion.

Should I take my socks off or leave them on and wash them at the same time I showered?

I couldn’t believe how many pros and cons there were concerning this. If I showered with them on I could save time and possibly some soap. But then I would have to wear them dry. On the other side I should take them off and wash them separately and not have to deal with the drying process on my feet.

This type of moronic thinking can be used when making decisions about spiritual things. When the scripture says “This is the way walk ye in it!” it is clear as to what it says, but oft times we may look for another way that is just as good. We think, if GOD had done it this way, it would have been so much better. Therefore I believe it will be okay if I would fudge a little bit on this.

While it seems a little dogmatic to me maybe it would make more sense if - - Surely this scripture can’t apply to this situation even though it seems to. I believe it will be okay to cheat a little because GOD wants me to succeed.

Romans 1:21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

Foolish thinking leads to foolish conclusions and results in foolish decisions and actions. As a man thinks in his heart so is he. Thinking in the heart is self talk; it can damage an individual beyond repair.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

An unsound mind does not come from GOD but rather is a product of external forces, stress and satanic input. Let our inward thinking and self talk lead us to looking beyond the thought of the moment and evaluating and judging the results of that thought.  Any thought acted upon will have consequences.

Ecclesiastes.12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Each action of man is preceded by self talk and can produce interesting results. An interesting climax can be seen in the following URL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr8CPA2YaCI

SONNY (I CAN’T BELIEVE HIM) BULLION

Since I was in short supply of friends when I lived in Tennessee, I had a third cousin named Sonny. When I came to town, I would hang out with him. To say he was a little strange would be an over exaggeration. Sonny not only would do some crazy things, he could see nothing wrong with them. More than once when I realized what he had in mind I would make a hasty retreat.

Sonny joined the army and was wounded in boot camp when a guy went nuts and threw a hand grenade near him. After being mustered out for being unfit due to the injury suffered by the grenade, Sonny now had money in his pocket which was unusual for him.

He bought a car and drove it so reckless that the chief of police who was a friend of his mother told her if Sonny didn’t get rid of that car he would put him in jail. His mother Josephine, somehow got his keys and sold the car for about half of what Sonny paid for it.  He took the money after some protesting about the sale and it wasn’t long before long it was the same old Sonny, broke as usual.

We had a great deal of tolerance for one another in those days. Crazy or not, we allowed people to be who they were. Sonny was in a different category even the most liberal and forgiving were confused by him, he could have been called Mr. Illogical.  I think when GOD saw Sonny HE decided that one of him was more than this world needed.

One fourth of July he went down to the bus station and it just occurred to him to throw a large firecracker over a bus. Talk about bad luck the police captain was standing on the other side and the firecracker knocked his cap off. This got Sonny a free ride to the jail house and it took a lot of pleading by his mother to get him out a few days later.

His mother was a single woman, and it seems she was very friendly with several of the city officials. I think she considered it part of the cost of doing business. I didn’t want to know any more about that so I avoided that issue at all times.

All this was occurring in Columbia Tennessee, and soon I was to return to California.  Before I left, Sonny's mother had a boyfriend that came up from Alabama every week or so and would spend the night. On this occasion Mr. Green’s car was parked in front of the house and Sonny took a gallon of dark black paint and with a paint brush he painted Green’s car, windows and all.

Josephine finally married Green and moved to Alabama, and since Sonny was now grown he had to fend for himself, up unto then he lived off his mother who ran a grocery store where she had to watch the till at all times.

As for me I was as the scripture says; “we are in the world but not of the world” I was in the mix but was not of the mix. I stayed clear of “Sonny’s Follies”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrOcB32BQmM

MY FIRST WEDDING

Courtesy photobucket.com

I remember the first wedding I was in. I wasn't the one getting married, it was my Aunt Minnie. This happened when my parents and I were living in North Carolina.  My aunt Minnie was visiting from Tennessee, and planned to stay for the summer.

There was a young man in town who was quite outgoing, and who knew everyone in the town we lived in. He had several part time jobs as well as a full time job. He had a strange way of getting hired. It seemed like he would just hire himself. If he wanted to work somewhere, he would just go in and start working. He always ended up getting hired.

He worked at the cotton mill for his regular job, but also worked part time at the Soda fountain, Movie Theater, and the Mortuary. He also had a great garden with plenty of vegetables.

When Earnest met Minnie Hazel (my aunt) he decided to marry her. There were plenty of girls in Cliffside he knew, but she was the one that he wanted.  For Minnie it was because of boredom that motivated her to go on a date with Earnest, but with him it was love. They saw each other quite often for it seemed that every time she stepped out of the house, there he was.

When things were getting too serious on his side, she decided to return to her home in Tennessee, thinking that was the end of that.

It wasn't long before Earnest traveled to her home in Tennessee, and was ready for the wedding, which she had no intention of being a part of.  As was his usual style he just moved into my grandfather’s home, and followed him around calling him Poppa.

This seemed strange to my grandpa for he didn't really know him. It was the custom of our people to extend hospitality to others, and Ernest took advantage of it. After some time my aunt decided that the only way to stop Earnest from aggravating her was to marry him, and the wedding was to be that day.

My dad and mom and I were visiting grandpa at this time and it was decided that we would take them to the justice of the peace for the wedding.  My dad had a 1934 Chevrolet coupe with a rumble seat. Earnest and Minnie and I got in the rumble seat with my dad and mom in front. I loved to ride in the rumble seat so this was a treat for me although it was crowded.

A few minutes later we were in front of the JP' house, and my dad blew his horn to let him know we were there. The JP came out before we could get of the car and said; “What can I do for you?” My dad said; “these guys want to get married,” and as we started to get out of the rumble seat the JP said; “Just stay where you are, and I'll do it right here.”

The ceremony took place with us sitting in the back seat with me sitting in the middle. As a rule I was always talking, not saying much but talking. When the JP started the wedding I didn't make a sound, he was asking things like. “Do you?” He also told them to say. “Yes.”

I made sure I didn't say anything because I was sitting in the middle and I was afraid that if I did - - I might be married, and I wasn't ready for that.

It was only about an hour from the time she said yes until she was married, that didn’t give much time to back out. Anyhow it worked out for they were together for many years until her demise.

That was the first time I was in a wedding party and it wasn't for another 15 years, until the wedding was my own.

This post is shared at:  “Tell Me a True Story” http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/

 

GONNA LET YO LIGHT SHINE?

New Living Translation (©2007)
As they approached, Jesus said, "Now here is a genuine son of Israel -- a man of complete integrity." (Without guile).

English Revised Version
”Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”

Matthew Henry quote: “Sin is the cause of our misery; but the true believer's transgressions of the Divine law are all forgiven, being covered with the atonement. Christ bare the sins of the believer, therefore they are not imputed to him. The righteousness of Christ has been reckoned to us, and we being made the righteousness of God in Him. Our iniquity is not imputed, God having laid upon Jesus the iniquity of us all, and made Him to be a sin-offering for us. Not to impute sin, is God's act, for he is the Judge. It is God that justifies. Notice the character of him whose sins are pardoned; he is sincere, and seeks sanctification by the power of the Holy Ghost. He does not profess to repent, with an intention to indulge in sin, because the Lord is ready to forgive. He will not abuse the doctrine of free grace. And to the man whose iniquity is forgiven, all manner of blessings are promised,”

There is nothing you can do to improve GOD’S salvation; it is full, meaning it is all encompassing, meeting all of GOD’S requirements. It is free, it costs you nothing. Your service, tithing, praying, and praising, none of these things can improve GOD’S salvation. The only thing man had to do with salvation was when Christ became the God/man, (the hypostatic union.) Jesus was born, created a man who was sinless and remained sinless through out his tenure on earth.

The goal for every Christian, (as difficult as it may be,) is to be that man or woman who is guileless in GOD’S sight. This means to have no ulterior motive in our service for GOD.

I have seen men (with guile) for their own benefit, take advantage of people who are being moved upon by the Holy Spirit. They care not that GOD sees and knows what is in their heart.

Each day we face issues that will surely test our resolve, but if each morning we put on the armor of guilelessness, the darts of adversity will fall short of their objective.

What could be better than for Jesus to say about you than; behold here is my child in which there is no guile.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqOuj54qpgo

BLUE BERRY HILL

Girls go through several stages and some sub-stages while growing up. They go from the darling stage, where they walk in forgiveness, to the rebellious stage. They start, low level and accelerate until they have reached the perfected rebellion stage. After a time, rebellion wears thin and it becomes necessary to move on to the next stage and that is, “The blame game.”

Here they find targets galore. Of course the parents hold the number one position but siblings and friends are not neglected in this pursuit.

After this stage there are many ways to go but one of the most popular is the, “Get even,” for all the wrong I have been recipient of. It’s time to do the opposite of what they have been instructed to do or not do.

Well lordly, lordly here comes the average boy friend that is able and willing to help out, especially in the area of chastity. He is the expert instructor and the girl is so grateful. She has reached the, “Give and take stage.”

What she is about to find out is; she does the giving and he does the taking. Shortly, his conquest loses it shine, and being afflicted with the Blueberry Hill syndrome, he must move on to help some other damsel in distress.

Though our damsel has entered the bitterness stage, it is alleviated by boyfriend number 2 and the process is repeated until she has the blinders removed and she realizes that there is only one stage left, and that is the real world. This is where she has to put behind her the stages of growing up and shed that old skin for a new skin of maturity and get ready for real life.

Can she skip some of these forgoing unnecessary steps? Absolutely, but then she would have to be “Smarter” than the average girl.

Well what about the boys?

Boys are experts and their modus operandi is to forget the past, forgive themselves and move on to Blueberry Hill where they find their next thrill.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRgFbSc-nI4