Back From the Holiday

Memorial day was hectic to say the least. I'm glad to be back from the holiday. I'm glad my pastor was back from vacation. He preached an excellent sermon on the trinity.

Bad Storms

     I've been through two tornados in my life.  These two tornados came within about a quarter mile of where I was.  The first time came when I was visiting my grandparents in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  I remember the clouds began to look ominous and then the emergency sirens went on in my grandparents apartment building. My Mom and I looked out to see what was going on, and there was a tornado on the the ground in the city headed our way.  We all took shelter inside the apartment as best we could and prayed. A little later we went out and could see that the tornado just missed the building.  The tornado was still on the ground and you could hear it destroying homes and businesses.  I think that was about an EF-4 tornado.
     The second time a tornado came near me, I was at home with my dog Toby.  A tornado warning was issued for the county where I live, so I got Toby and the two of us headed down into the little storm shelter behind the house. I pulled the door shut and the two of us huddled together waiting for the storm to pass.  What a terrible storm it was. We had huge hail that broke up the garden and smashed up cars. The wind blew fiercely and knocked down a couple of trees in town. While this was going on, Toby and I just stayed together and waited .  I was never afraid when the two of us were together. The storm passed and we emerged. Thankfully, the tornado lifted up in the air and passed to the northwest of town.
     I'm praying for those in my area suffering from what the storms have done.  Pray for the people of Joplin and Sedalia Missouri, and the people of Reading Kansas.  May God be with you all in this difficult time.

Poetry

     I've been reading a lot of Mary Oliver's poetry lately.  I enjoy how she makes the natural world come alive with meaning.  I enjoy her prose poetry in particular.  Juan Ramon Jimenez, another favorite poet of mine, uses the prose poem frequently as well.  I've not done much in this form, but I'm going to work on some prose poems in the days to come.  I hope a little bit of inspiration comes to me from Oliver and Jimenez.

Jude--Part 7

     Jude continues to compare those who teach false doctrine to unsavory characters in the Old Testament. Cain murdered his brother Able. Balaam took money to prophesy against the people of Israel. Korah led a rebellion against Moses.
     Jude goes on the say that Enoch had the false teachers in mind when he prophesied that one day the Lord was coming to execute judgment.
     Doctrine is so important. Churches really ought to make more of an effort to teach doctrine so people will known what they believe and why they believe it.

Verse for the Day

Matthew 11:28--"Come unto me, all ye who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Tornado again

     Pray for the people in Joplin, MO. These tornados are horrible. I wish the rotten weather would end.

Tornado

     Last night we were in a tornado warning three times.  A town to the west of me had significant damage.  Please pray for the people of Reading, KS as they begin the recovery process from this terrible storm.

Jude--Part 6

     Jude is really letting the false teachers have it.  In verse 9, Jude talks about the Archangel Michael and Satan arguing over the body of Moses.  This is a controversy about the book of Jude. Jude quotes extra biblical sources as if they are true.  This occurs in the Michael account and later in the book when Jude mentions Enoch.  I dont' find this particularly troublesome.  I believe these stories are true, yet the works in which they are contained are not canonical.
     The story we are discussing comes from a book called "The Assumption of Moses".  No one is really sure what the argument over the body of Moses was really about as Jude doesn't go into detail.  Whatever the dispute Michael said "The Lord rebuke thee" to the devil. In other words,take it up with Jesus. He is the judge.
     I find it interesting that many evangelists are always casting out one spirit or another. Michael left it with Jesus.  Whose example should we follow?  I think you know the answer to that question.

Art Gallery Favorites

I posted yesterday about my visit to the Nelson Art Gallery.  Some of the artists whose paintings I enjoyed most were Church, Kensett, Schreyer, Turner, Welliver, Chardin, Bricher, and Innes.

Art

     I visited the special exhibit of Monet's water lilies at the Nelson Art Gallery in Kansas City this morning.  The paintings were great and the exhibit as a whole was very well done.  Since I was there, I looked at the rest of this magnificent gallery.  It was a fantastic morning

Jude--Part 5

     Jude continues by describing the false teachers.  He states that they denied the Lord Jesus Christ.  They denied His grace, or they turned His grace into an excuse for lawless behavior.  This is similar to what Paul discussed when he stated that some said we should sin in order that grace might abound. Jude would join Paul in saying--God Forbid!!
     Jude compares these false teachers who have walked away from the truth to those who rebelled against God after leaving Egypt, the fallen angels, and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is not a good company to be in.---More on Jude later.

A Few Recommendations

     I've been watching a great program on PBS's Create channel called "Landscapes Through Time".  This program is about the history of landscape painting.  The host is a painter himself, and he really explains the craft of painting along with art history.  This is one of the best art programs I've watched.
     I've also been listening to a new CD by Yanni entitled "Truth of Touch". I think this is the best CD Yanni's come out with in many years.
     Finally, I'd like to recommend a book series.  I've just finished the second book of the Cat in the Stacks series by Miranda James entitled "Classified as Murder".  This book is excellent.  I wish I had a big Maine Coon Cat like Diesel.

Church This Week

     Church this morning was fantastic.  We sang my favorite worship song and the other songs and special music were great too.  The executive pastor preached the sermon.  I thought it was one of the best messages I've heard for a long time.  Thanks be to God.

Trying to Remember

     This is a day I need to remember that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Jude--Part 4

     Jude continues by talking about earnestly contending for the faith.  I believe this means standing up for sound doctrine.  Giving a defense for what we believe and why we believe it.  It means standing for orthodoxy against error. 
     Not everyone can be correct.  There is an historic Christian faith which has been passed down from generation to generation. 
     One of the best indicators of whether or not a teaching is true or not is what the teaching holds about the person and work of Jesus Christ.  Any teaching which denies the humanity and divinity of Jesus, His atoning death, and bodily resurrection is in error.

Tigers

     Tigers are one of my favorite animals.  It hurts me deeply when I consider the possibility of their extinction.  If humanity can't come together and save this animal, what can we save?  This month's issue of "Natural History" magazine has a great article about Siberian Tigers.  The World Wildlife Fund and The Wildlife Conservation Society are two organizations to support to help save the tiger.

Various thoughts

     Yesterday for Mother's Day in my church, we wore gold ribbons in memory of our mother's who have passed away.  I thought that this was a nice gesture.

     Last night, I finished a really good book entitled "Until Tuesday" by Luis Montalvan.  It is the story of an Iraq War veteran and his service dog. I highly recommend this book.

     II Peter 3:9-" The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Mother's Day

     It's Mother's Day today.  I really miss my Mother.  This is the second Mother's Day since she's been gone, and I think I feel worse this year than last.  My Mom was a great person.  She worked as an office manager for a doctor's office for over 40 years.  She was thrilled when she was included in Who's Who in the Midwest in 1997,98 and 99.  She was also instrumental in getting a new sewer system in our town through her service on the sewer board.
     Mom was also dedicated to serving in the church.  She taught Sunday school for many years as well as children's church and vacation bible school.  She served as Secretary/Treasurer at a church and directed the youth choir.
     Mom loved dogs and raised collies for many years.  She won many ribbons with them at the dog shows.
     She was a great cook, a great friend, and someone I could always count on.  I wish I could say happy Mother's Day to her today.

I Don't Recommend This

    I just had the misfortune to listen to a supposed Christian comedian named Tim Hawkins.  He was singing a song called The Dog is On Fire.  This was absolutely disgusting coming from someone claiming to be a Christian.  What is worse, were all the people laughing at this revolting attempt at humor.  I learned that this fellow is really popular in churches.  My God! What has happened to the church!

Toby's Birthday

     My friend Toby would be 28 years old today if still living.  I really miss him.  I know that he is in Heaven with Jesus and my parents and that we all will be reunited someday.  Happy birthday my forever friend.

Jude--Part 3

     We left off in Jude with the question of what is the faith once delivered to the saints.  Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:3-4 that the faith is "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
     The phrase according to the scriptures is of vital importance.  It is by the scripture that we differentiate truth from error.  We must become thoroughly well versed in the scriptures so that we know the truth God has revealed to us.
     We must test every teaching in light of God's Word.  Paul commended the Bereans because they tested what he said by the Word.  We must be people of the book.

Peace

     We live in a troubled world.  There is so much war and violence.  I will be praying for peace today, and I hope that you will join me. Pray for Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and wherever else there is conflict in the world.

Jude--Part 2

     Jude continues his epistle by telling that his intention was to write concerning the common salvation all share in Jesus Christ.  Everyone who is a believer in Jesus shares in a common salvation.  We are brothers and sisters in Jesus no matter where we come from.  However, Jude didn't end up writing on this theme.  He felt that it was necessary to write urging believers to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.  What is the faith once delivered to the saints?  Will discuss this more later.

Easter Report

     We received the report for Easter at my church yesterday.  We had an attendance of over 3,300 on Easter morning.  As great as this is, the statistic I'm most pleased with is the 20 people who came to know Jesus as Savior.  I pray that many more of those who visited on Easter will respond to the gospel in the coming weeks if they've not done so already.

     I have a thanksgiving to report.  A piece I wrote about my dog Toby was accepted for inclusion in an anthology of animal stories to be published this summer. 

Verse For The Day

I Corinthians 15:22--"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."