Month: January 2011

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A New Psalm

The other day I was bouncing around the book of Psalm investigating the prayers of King David and discovered something very new. It was like this little gem had been hidden from my eyes for years, or maybe someone had remove the page from my bible I dunno. Either way, I found the 141 rendition of the Psalms to be quite fascinating and intriguing. It could be that David’s prayer and my prayer are just matching up, but since I can’t recall this being expressed very much in the all so many bible study lessons I have audited, I found it a good thing to share on this Monday morning as we head back to the ol’ mill, as it where.

3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
do not let me eat their delicacies.

That coupled with a very stanzas of Psalm 143 combine to make a pretty good thought for the day.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD,
for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

As you get out there in the world today and let your light shine, continue to watch your heart and find shelter in the Creator!

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Colorful Frosty Friday

Colors on a Frosty Morning ( click for a larger version)

After I slapped out a plate of frozen waffles for my eldest to consume for breakfast this morning, I took a gander out to back windows to see this magnificent view above.  There’s nothing like the winter sunrise, especially when the sky is clear and dark blue.

It’s pretty impressive each day to see the light overcome the darkness each morning.  Its such a sign of hope and newness and in some ways a remember of our smallness.

Anyway, I hope that you find some enjoyment from that this morning, and that your Frosty Friday gets off to just as much of a colorful start.

And since it’s Friday let’s get the weekend going with a little Psalm of humility and praise from good ol’ King David.

4 “Show me, LORD, my life’s end

and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.

6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you. Psalm 39:4-7 (New International Version, ©2010)

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It’s the crazy full moon

It’s that crazy full moon again, and the kids are letting all the teachers know that with their subtle behavior changes.

Now back to our blog…

I am not sure what the moon stage has to do with anything, but I think they beginning of this entry today demonstrates the scattered interior of my brain today.  I have several half baked ideas, but nothing that is worthy of even a bad post ( which may be where this is heading anyway).

But here is one thing that I think is interesting.  Sunday, I was teaching a class of junior high children about Acts 9 and Saul the Christian Killer’s radical transformation on the way to Damascus.  Towards the end of class I also talked about Brian Welch, the former lead singer of a heavy metal rock band called Korn.  I don’t know Mr Welch, but I read about his testimony on iamsecond.com – a very encouraging web site by the way.  Anywho, Mr. Welch tells a tale that you can watch below, or read about here (by clicking the more content button), in which he had completely lost control to drugs and gets turned around by some words his real estate agent said to him.  His real estate agent walked up to this drug addicted rock star and shared the words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (New International Version, ©2010)

And those words seemed to lead him to Christ.  He quit Korn, he quit drugs, and he was transformed by the power of the Christ.  Wow.

I am sure his Real Estate agent felt a little weird, and a little crazy, but maybe its ok to be crazy with the full moon.  Maybe it ok to be crazy no matter what the moon phase is.

What will your words do for someone today.

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Labor for you Neighbor

Last night Andrew starting watching that classic movie Holes.  By the end of the movie the entire family was sitting around with Andrew enjoying the last few minutes of the movie.  What a great way to end a busy hectic day.

But anyway, when the hero of the movie, Stanley, ends up his the juvenile correction camp, the camp “doctor” is introducing him around acting all “touchy feeling’ and at the very end of that scene he says.

It should be no labor to be nice to your neighbor.

I think that is such a funny line, but one that seems to have some origins some place else

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (New International Version, ©2010)

Let us remember today, what Mr. Pendanski said and find no labor in our neighbors!

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70 Examples

Yesterday my Grandfather turned 96.  On that same day he and my grandmother celebrated 70 years of marriage. WOW!

In this day and age it seems we celebrate 7 years of marriage as a remarkable thing,  there sit my grandparents, married for 70 years as a beacon of the greatness and promises that a committed marriage can bring.

Its a really remarkable thing since they were married for almost twice as long as I have been married when I was born!

I often think about their lives – in the same house, on the same hill, in the same little town for all of those years.  My grandfather’s memory is fading now, but sometimes I wish I could ask him what drove him everyday and what purpose did he find as he headed down to take care of the books at the local glass factory.  I am not sure, but I wonder if he would point to the verse that I think of alot when I think of my grandparents

11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

They have lived a quiet life together, and but they gained great respect.  I hope you join me in celebrating their 70 years together, and that maybe you find some encouragement from their example as well!  And since I have you thinking, maybe consider for a moment, what your ambitions are?