Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day, a holiday we probably enjoy without the proper consideration of those who died for our freedom. I think a good question to ponder on this date, is what would you die for. I have not known a lot of people in the military, my Grandfather served in WWII, my Uncle in Vietnam and one of my friends has served in the current military campaign. Fortunately, none of them paid the ultimate price in the line of duty, but each was willing. I hope that there are no war protests going on today. Today is not a day to state your opinion concerning if you think any of the wars that have been fought or are being fought are just, just a day to remember those who died so that you can state your opinion.

Now, back to my question. Some have paid the ultimate price and given their life for our country, what are you willing to give your life for? I think most people would say for their family and most people would probably say for their country, but this is the most amazing thing about the incarnate God, who is Jesus Christ. He gave His life for all of us. He knew that we would be in constant rebellion to Him, that we would deny that he existed, ignore what he has directed and live our lives in direct conflict to Him. For most countries this might be enough to start a war with a people who were like we are toward God, for God this was enough to finish a war for us, by paying the ultimate price, the life of His son, Jesus.

So on Memorial day, please remember and honor the soldier even if you do not agree with the wars we are fighting. Also, remember Christ, because just as a soldier fought for our physical freedom, Christ fought and won for our spiritual freedom, He paid the price and He was now won the war so that we may live in peace with Him here in this world, and for eternity in the World to come.

Very Shortly I shall resume regular blogging activites, for my mind and heart are being stirred.......
I have now finished reading the OT, and am very ready to move into the NT and see what God has in store. I will be anxious to see what is recalled to my mind as I go through the NT.....

Which World are you worthy of?

I have so many things on my mind right now, but this passage of scripture keeps popping in my head, and I have to wonder for myself and all of us, which world are we striving to be worthy of?
This one, or the world to come?

Hebrews 11:37-40

37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about i sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, il treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. 39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Opening Day

It is one of my favorite days of the year. Actually, it is my favorite day of the year. Baseball is back, and soon to follow is the warm weather that I have dearly missed for the winter. The 1st game everyone starts tied for 1st, nothing has gone wrong and we can all hope that this year our boys will come through. For the time being I will forget all the reasons why the Rangers will probably not be good and look to seeing Josh Hamilton in his second full season, seeing Chris Davis for a full year, seeing this defensive whiz Elvis Andrus at shortshop and hoping Ian Kinsler will stay healthy for a full year. I will be interested to see Hank Blalock and how he reacts to his final year of his contract. I am going to believe that McCarthy will be healthy all year and pitch to his potential, that Matt Harrison will develop and tha Millwood and Padilla will go out throw 2oo innings. If all this happens then we can hear "The Rangers win the Pennant".

"Spring Hopes Eternal"

Pressing On

Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Today, when I was at the park, this scripture kept popping up in my head, and I think there are some things I learned while joggingh and meditating on the above mentioned passage.

1. You have to press on even when you don't feel like it. Each time I run, there comes a point when I want to stop. This point is always long before the distance I want to run. I have a choice to make, I can give myself credit for how far I have run and quit, or I can forget about what I have done so far, and keep moving to the goal I set when my run started. (sometimes, I press on, sometimes I quit). As we walk with God, the same thing happens. We are going to have tough times where we just aren't "feeling it" and the choice will come to I quit, or do I press to the High Calling of God

2. You must forget those things that are behind, but you also must understand that those things in the past affect your current situation. For example, I normally run a little over 7 miles 2 or 3 times a week. Well, for the last couple of weeks, I have had a pulled hamstring. Therefore, I have not been running for 2-3 weeks. Well, today the result was that I could not near as long as I normally run. This application makes sense spiritually too, for when I take a week or two away from God's word and prayer, then it makes my spiritual walk that much harder for me.

Overwhelmed

The following passage overwhelmed me on Saturday as I was reading along

Lamentations 3:21-26

21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him." 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. 26 It is good to wait silently for the salvation of the Lord.

The above is one of the best reasons to read the Scripture and be enlightened on a regular basis.
This was written by Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations, or book of Lament as some call it. It is something that the Jewish people will read to be reminded of the utter destruction of their city. If your read the prior book, Jeremiah, you will see that Jeremiah is calling the people to turn from their wicked way and to be obedient to the Lord. The message throughout Jeremiah is to choose life or to choose death, and the people continually disregard the message of Jeremiah that he is given from the Lord and choose death. Due to their constant rebellion and disobedience God allows Jerusalem to be overthrown. The following book is Lamentations and in it you find the above nugget.

How does this apply to us? Well, our God is so good, that even when we are constant rebellion and disobedience to Him, he offers his mercy every morning. Mercy is not getting what you do deserve. If you read along in the book of Jeremiah, you can see that God was really giving every opportunity for the people to turn to God and follow Him, but when they did not, they chose death. Even when they made this choice God was telling them to accept his mercy and wait patiently for Him. So, for us here is some great news.

1. In life we have a choice, it is life or death. Life is to follow God through Jesus, death is to ignore Him and live life your own way.
2. If you are far from God and think that you are so far against Him that you can never turn to Him, you are wrong. The people of the above mentioned passage openly disobeyed and basically mocked God. How did God respond? He said his mercies are new every morning. I would encourage you to carefully consider continued disobedience, because the people went through a really hard time because they were so disobedient, but in the end God was still there.
3 No matter how bad any situation is, we have hope because of our Great God!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a great God we have
He died for us when we were totally in rebellion to Him, and often times continue in Rebellion against Him. I still can not comprehend that a man, who was also God, would come to Earth and die for each of us knowing that so many would reject Him, but his Mercies are new every morning. I can not comprehend how he continues to pursue a relationship with each and every one of us in spite of the fact that we are so quick to forget about Him. His mercies are new every morning. I can not believe that God continues to work on me in spite of the fact that often I am a miserable failure at what he is instructing me in. His mercies are new every morning. I can not believe that God put my sins and your sins on a very bloody cross knowing that we would continue to rebel against Him. His mercies are new every morning. I can not describe how unthinkable it is to know that Jesus is right now preparing for me and for you a place to dwell with Him forever. His mercies are new every morning.

Looking for......

I am reviewing some things I wrote a few years back today and I came across what I was looking for in a wife a few years ago (I am still looking, and I think these are some good guidelines)

1. A Dedicated Christian
2. Willing to do whatever God leads
3. A sweet spirit
4. A great witness for Jesus Christ
5. Willing to stand up for herself