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Highway to Hell

Franticly trying to cancel out the doldrums of driving 300 miles last night, I was scanning the radio dial looking for Art Bell to keep me awake with his caller’s stories of human eating cows.  However, all I could turn up was two for Tuesday on a classic rock station.  So I crossed the Savannah River into South Carolina,  ACDC finished up Black in Black and starting rocking out Highway to Hell.  Could this be fitting I wondered.  And since I had started my trip by passing a church with a sign that said “No, its not as hot as hell!”, I thought maybe someone was trying to get a message to me!  
Anyway, as I arrived at my hotel, I was told that all they had was a small room with a small bed, not the majestic spacious king bed in the gianormous suite that I usually am granted at this establishment.  Then as I was brushing my teeth to head off to dream land, I discovered the stopper in the sink was stuck on stop.  (two strikes?).  Finally this am after I awoke and prepared to hop in a day starting shower, I came to the brutal reality that there was no hot water in this room! ( I would find out after the cold shower, that the entire hotel was without hot water).  Man, welcome to hell!  I could only think what else does this day have in store for me.  
But really, the entire time, as I tried to complain to myself, I was always stopped short by realizing how fortunate I am to be able to sleep safely in a cool dark room in a comfortable bed, and that I am actually able to take a shower in clean water ( hot or cold.)  And about the stopper, I just reached up under the sink and pulled the lever by hand – not really much of a problem at all.  None of these things even remotely resemble hell.  But boy, don’t we let them ruin our days often!  Little things that appear to be so big take us away from the blessings we are giving. 

This sort of reminds me of some of the words of Paul over in Philippians  

Do all things without grumbling or questioning,  Philippians 2:14 ESV 

 10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.   Philippians 4:10-13 (New International Version) 

 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 (NKJV) 

Well that reminds me of another sign I saw on this trip, at the Big Biscuit Barn just a few miles from my home.  “Praise the Lord, Eat A Biscuit”.  Hm,, I think I am heading to breakfast….

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Living It Out

Yesterday on the way home I was listening to the radio trying to stay awake.  After a particular song was played, the DJ came on and told a story about how he loved that song and that it meant so much to him because his son’s youth group had performed a “phenomenal” black lite presentation to that song at his local church.  hm…

Later in the evening, I was given the opportunity to watch  Harding University’s drama team called Theatron perform several skits with a message.  In one particularly impressive skit, the final message was, “it took us two minutes to write and practice this skit, and it may only stay with you for two minutes – unless you do something about it”.

So since I received the same message twice within two hours, it seemed fitting to share it with you this morning.  We can’t just talk it.  We can’t just say love each other.  We can’t just say, yes I care about people.  We can’t just say I love the Savior Jesus, we have to live it out!  We can’t just sit in our churches and bounce the message off the interior walls.  Live it out today!

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.   James 1:22-24 (New International Version)

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everyday

everyday.

It has such an overwhelming tone to it.  Sometimes it seems just so hard to find the motivation to get up and get going, to go to work and live the day.  The monotony of it all can feel so extreme.  It’s here that I have found myself over the last few months.  Maybe you are too?  Pained by the everyday, the monotony, the seemingly meaningless nature of the activities of the day.  I find myself disappointed when the day is over, as I know that I have to get up in the morning to do it all again. ARGH.  Its sort of like Toby Mac says in his song Tonight.

We go back, we go forth,
We go back
I’m sick with vertigo
Weary of my ways, my days
My absent flow so
I wanna feel a new day

This has really been heavy on my heart lately and I think, it just should not be that way.  I have been trying to figure out how to combat this, by focusing on the people and the mercies and the little things that are so amazing that are around us everyday.  And I find comfort here in Lamentations:

21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

22It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:21-26, King James Version)

So, realizing that his mercies are new every morning, I am trying to change my approach to the mundane, and to see the amazing things the Lord is setting before me.  How about you?  Any ideas?

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Summer Harvest

Do you like tomatoes? If so I have some for you!  I am currently picking handfuls of Cherry and Roma tomatoes a day from my square foot garden.   I am also starting to bring in cucumbers,  squash and peppers.  I have a few little bitty really hot peppers that have grown amazingly, I am just not exactly sure what do to with them. If you have some suggestions, I will gladly listen!

Its been a great experience this spring, taking care of these vines by directing their growth and providing support and water.   And finally what a pleasurable experience walking into the house with hands fulls of fresh produce.  Its a great thing being a vinedresser.  I can only imagine the pleasure the Lord gets in when he observes the fruit we bear.  Check this out – still from the Johns:

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:1-8 (New International Version)

This is to my Father’s glory!   Yep!  The Father loves to walk into the kitchen with a big grin on his face and an armful of fruit – your fruit!  Live today in a way that glorifies the gardener by producing fruit!    Are you not sure what fruit you can produce?  Take a quick look in Galatians and if you know the song sing along while you read it.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

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Oppression and Freedom

I like picture of the day and picture of the week blogs.  There are several sites like that that I frequent.  I think it helps get a perspective of what is going on all around the world.  This week, the WSJ picture blog seemed to be full of pictures of oppression – riots, ethnic fighting, and police brutality.  Its was really heartbreaking to look at those images.  But at the same time it was so motivating to know the freedom we are blessed with here in this land.

So with Juneteenth right upon us as well, It seems such a great time to consider the freedoms we are afforded.  But not only the freedoms we have as a citizen of the country we reside, but the freedom we are given from our Savior.   Many people view following the Christ as a binding and limiting engagement.  But check this out.

23“Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive. 24Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

and

13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  Galatians 5:13 (New International Version)

We are called to be free!  We are blessed that we have been delivered a message that allows us to live, not by a series of laws, but by the spirit of love.   Boy, that something that brings joy and hopefully stokes you up a little bit.  And just imagine the feelings of the American slaves when they realized that the rumors of their freedom were true!

How are you using your freedom?