I'm a packer, which means I take a good look at the profiles (the fiberglass cut outs which are then shipped to paint detail, then vaneer, and then the window and doors department where the product is pieced together and complete), wipe them down with some chemical, and then stack them onto their repsective crates.
I've noticed that the longer I will work with this company the more familiar I will be with the routines and opporations; I will also become more familiar with the humor in each individual worker. I've grown to notice that there's a lot of absurdly funny things during my shift. For instance, last night one of the opporators gave out some hats with draw strings which look as if one might go out on a safari any minute during the work hours--but you can't do that for it is against company policy. "No imaginative safaris allowed." And even last night, another example sort of makes it's way into my recollection. At about 3 AM another opporator had put a sticker, which is used around the factory for work purposes, on his blue jump suit which said, "Do Not Stack." Thanks, man, it would have been bad for my credibility if I had tried to stack a human being onto one of those crates. Of course, most anything is funny at 3 AM.
Last week, when checking out the quality of one particular kind of profile, I noticed there was a bow in the 10-15 foot long piece; so I went to the opporator who ran that production line, and trying to put a little humor in the statement, warning him of the problem, I said, "Hey, you've got a rainbow in your profile." He looked at me with his eyebrows up and tried to analyze what I had siad. "A Rainbow?" I haven't said it since.
This morning I went to an employee training meeting with the company's HR lady, learning about the company philosphy (which is really the Golden Rule), the company's expectations from employees, setting goals, the quarterly evaluations that each employee (including supervisors) must take. I also applied for the company;s benfits package of medical, dental, vision insurance. I was pretty tired going into the meeting, my eyes felt as if they were burning, but I made it through in a coherent way; I am thankful to God for the chance to have such benfits on the horizon. God is preparing me for my tasks ahead, as He is preparing each of you.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Two Expositions: One on God and the Other on the Pride of Man
"All the ways of man are pure in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the spirits" (Proverbs 16:2).
As a precurser to my personal discoveries of today, which incudes some insight on the humor found in eating from a pack of sunflower seeds, I wish to expand on yesterday's topic. Love, honor, and respect come into play in one's genuine submission to the will of God. In this submissive state, a man gives his life to the LORD and his ways are directed towards the glorification of being made whole in Christ. In 2 Peter 1:2-3 Peter writes that by the knowledge, the understanding, the faith grounded in Christ He has given to us "all things that pertain to life and godliness" and "called us by glory and virtue". The worship of God isn't any special ceremony (though it is perfectly sensable to say that we honor God's name in singing songs about Him and His characteristics and in the ritual of communion, which is done not for the sake of ritual itself but for the reminder of the union between God and man through the atonement of our sins; for it should only be done by those who have been saved by His grace).
With that said, I'll move onto my experience with sunflower seeds and the moral which I have found from out of the message on the back of the pack. I went to the Dollar Store in Summit this afternoon, buying some chips and cookies for the "junk" part of my work lunches. As I strolled through the rows of goodness for a buck, I happened to come upon some David Sunflower Seeds. I didn't have the yearning, burning desire to eat any seeds before that instant, but once I gazed into the pack of seeds I buckled down and bought it, the Ranch Flavor that is.
Once I was in the truck, I opened the pack and gave it a good rip and took out some seeds, savoring them in my mouth one by one until I cracked each shell open to taste the salty treasure inside. As I cracked, ate, and spit the remainders into a foam cup, I looked down at the back of the pack with the curiosity of today's consumer. This is what caught my eyes:
With that said, I'll move onto my experience with sunflower seeds and the moral which I have found from out of the message on the back of the pack. I went to the Dollar Store in Summit this afternoon, buying some chips and cookies for the "junk" part of my work lunches. As I strolled through the rows of goodness for a buck, I happened to come upon some David Sunflower Seeds. I didn't have the yearning, burning desire to eat any seeds before that instant, but once I gazed into the pack of seeds I buckled down and bought it, the Ranch Flavor that is.
Once I was in the truck, I opened the pack and gave it a good rip and took out some seeds, savoring them in my mouth one by one until I cracked each shell open to taste the salty treasure inside. As I cracked, ate, and spit the remainders into a foam cup, I looked down at the back of the pack with the curiosity of today's consumer. This is what caught my eyes:
CONGRATULATION! YOU'RE A SEEDER!Seeders are unique. They're cool, confident, independent,
active, and hard working. They know that eating DAVID Sunflower Seeds makes what they do more enjoyable. Things are better with DAVID because they're a snack and an activity. Experience SNACKTIVITY(tm).
For a moment as I went down the road, thinking about this message, I thought to myself, I do feel pretty cool, and I know that I'm confident. Heck, I'm a self-made man! I'm full of energy and spunk! I'm the epitomy of manliness! That was when I chuckled and listened to the voice of what is true and good, He said, "You're eating sunflower seeds." Stinkin' seeds! I was sucked in; totally duped into thinking I was some big shot full of good beans; mindlessly lead into the wilderness of meglomania; suduced by sunflower seeds! Come on! Seeds, really?
That pretty much sums up my story. The moral is self explained, I think. Don't falsify or magnify yourself with seeds and pride. If you want to know more, you can drop a comment or question somewhere on my site, and if you don't want to know anymore write me a letter and enclose it with some Jumbo Seeds: B.B.Q style. Because that just completes everything but what needs to be completed. Thanks a lot.
"Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established" (Proverbs 16:3).
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Let Us Seek Him
"'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me,Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."MARK 7:6-7, Jesus, quoting Isaiah 29:13, to the Pharisees and scribes in part of his response to the question as to why his disciples did not wash their hands according to the traditions of the Law before they had their meal.
Let's put off disputes of religiosity, shall we? Let us look at the power of God who dwelt in the flesh as a man as the Christ, who came into the world for the purpose of delivering all from the bondage of sin, in a very quiet way. He is the Redeemer of Jacob, the Savior of the Gentile--all those who are not Jewish--He came to us as King, but not in the manner of a king. He was born in a cave! He rode a burro into Jerusalem, not on a stallion as military savior might, and the people shouted "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD" (Mark 11: 9)! I have had an ongoing dispute with myself and sometimes with others about matters of worship and organization, a debate of sorts which comes and goes in laid back and tense forms. It is for the purpose of recognizing that God is the One I, we, ought to focus on.
I've discussed with folks things like rituals, observances, traditional methods of worship in the Church's history, things which are outward practices and not nearly as important for discussion as the things of God, things above. But I have come to realize that something like organized churches, groups of Christians, as the body of Christ, the Bride, are worth discussing. If Christ didn't come to save men then He surely would have come to end the existence of mankind; this Body is a beautiful thing, and in so many ways in so many lives, the salvation ought to be mentioned repeatedly between the members and to the world. "We loved Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4: 19 NKJV). I would much rather talk of God than of our own religious practices, but on some occasions the moment has raised for me to converse about today's methodologies within the many denominations of Christianity. Such talk can be interesting to talk about, so I've learned; but there's a point in which the topic becomes irrelevant, distracting itself from the Word, that the talk is not based on the principles of God's teaching and truth anymore but becomes merely a focal point on the mannerisms of man trying to please himself by his own works.
Yes, I have been caught up with the wrong thoughts towards the Lord, thinking along the lines of pride that something I have accomplished could possibly be the primary reason why God created the universe. Now that's egotistical! If it pleases me it must please God, I have thought.Well, actually, no that is not how it works, chimes in the voice of truth. And such reasoning that our methods, our traditions, our rituals, are to the beat of the ultimate drum of worship irritates me in my mind and heart. I cry inside when I feel pressured by popular practices of corporate worship (singing psalms, hymns, and "praise songs" in a programmed format to fit the fads of the day in a time and place designated for God's children to come together for exhortation, ministering, and preaching) to do the same things as the people singing up front on stage. This are some of my thoughts I think and speak when I am in the conversation on anything to do with today's acts of worship. And suddenly, I've come into the trap that worship is anything finite; God is infinite, precisely God but not precise in time. He is the Lord of the cosmos, of our dusty bodies enveloped in the things of the world. He made us. He is big, we are less significant than a flake of dust, or a drop of water. But He gave us life and loves us innumerably. So if a three minute song and a couple dollar bills is our idea of worshiping God then I think we are sadly mistaken and have limited something of ourselves and our relationship with Him in the process.
I have so many words streaming forth in my soul, longing to be shared in a concise way, so if this is a jumbled, non-seminary argument, then that's fine by me but possibly not what many may think. May God give these words purpose for others to read and understand, to go to their Bibles and look into the Word, and then live out the life of worship unto the Creator. There's a road to walk down, and it's not an easy road to travel on, but may it be more often traveled than not.
To the Christian, in Paul's words: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (1 Corinthians 10: 16-17). Let us seek Him at all times. Should we quibble the same arguments of rituals until the day that Christ returns? It seems useless, but there may be purpose in it even though I don't fully see it. May God grant me the understanding to not partake of useless arguments and at the same time uphold the gospel in the aspects of speech, action, and exemplification.
Let's put off disputes of religiosity, shall we? Let us look at the power of God who dwelt in the flesh as a man as the Christ, who came into the world for the purpose of delivering all from the bondage of sin, in a very quiet way. He is the Redeemer of Jacob, the Savior of the Gentile--all those who are not Jewish--He came to us as King, but not in the manner of a king. He was born in a cave! He rode a burro into Jerusalem, not on a stallion as military savior might, and the people shouted "Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD" (Mark 11: 9)! I have had an ongoing dispute with myself and sometimes with others about matters of worship and organization, a debate of sorts which comes and goes in laid back and tense forms. It is for the purpose of recognizing that God is the One I, we, ought to focus on.
I've discussed with folks things like rituals, observances, traditional methods of worship in the Church's history, things which are outward practices and not nearly as important for discussion as the things of God, things above. But I have come to realize that something like organized churches, groups of Christians, as the body of Christ, the Bride, are worth discussing. If Christ didn't come to save men then He surely would have come to end the existence of mankind; this Body is a beautiful thing, and in so many ways in so many lives, the salvation ought to be mentioned repeatedly between the members and to the world. "We loved Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4: 19 NKJV). I would much rather talk of God than of our own religious practices, but on some occasions the moment has raised for me to converse about today's methodologies within the many denominations of Christianity. Such talk can be interesting to talk about, so I've learned; but there's a point in which the topic becomes irrelevant, distracting itself from the Word, that the talk is not based on the principles of God's teaching and truth anymore but becomes merely a focal point on the mannerisms of man trying to please himself by his own works.
Yes, I have been caught up with the wrong thoughts towards the Lord, thinking along the lines of pride that something I have accomplished could possibly be the primary reason why God created the universe. Now that's egotistical! If it pleases me it must please God, I have thought.Well, actually, no that is not how it works, chimes in the voice of truth. And such reasoning that our methods, our traditions, our rituals, are to the beat of the ultimate drum of worship irritates me in my mind and heart. I cry inside when I feel pressured by popular practices of corporate worship (singing psalms, hymns, and "praise songs" in a programmed format to fit the fads of the day in a time and place designated for God's children to come together for exhortation, ministering, and preaching) to do the same things as the people singing up front on stage. This are some of my thoughts I think and speak when I am in the conversation on anything to do with today's acts of worship. And suddenly, I've come into the trap that worship is anything finite; God is infinite, precisely God but not precise in time. He is the Lord of the cosmos, of our dusty bodies enveloped in the things of the world. He made us. He is big, we are less significant than a flake of dust, or a drop of water. But He gave us life and loves us innumerably. So if a three minute song and a couple dollar bills is our idea of worshiping God then I think we are sadly mistaken and have limited something of ourselves and our relationship with Him in the process.
I have so many words streaming forth in my soul, longing to be shared in a concise way, so if this is a jumbled, non-seminary argument, then that's fine by me but possibly not what many may think. May God give these words purpose for others to read and understand, to go to their Bibles and look into the Word, and then live out the life of worship unto the Creator. There's a road to walk down, and it's not an easy road to travel on, but may it be more often traveled than not.
To the Christian, in Paul's words: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (1 Corinthians 10: 16-17). Let us seek Him at all times. Should we quibble the same arguments of rituals until the day that Christ returns? It seems useless, but there may be purpose in it even though I don't fully see it. May God grant me the understanding to not partake of useless arguments and at the same time uphold the gospel in the aspects of speech, action, and exemplification.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Recap On the Factory
They said I'd be a bit tired, yes sir, they all said it down at the plant. I believe I'll have stories to tell to my kin or neighbors later on down the road in life about how I worked in a factory; the life of a factory worker is not a lonely job, for you have many comrades manning the machines, helping you pack the goods (vinyl "profiles" for the processing of windows). I'm not singing "A Hard Day's Night" yet so I'm feeling well, alert, and keen thanks to the Master's hand and provision. I prayed on the steps going down to my room yesterday afternoon, having read the last column in the War Cry, the Salvation Army's monthly newsletter, about fear. The writer wrote, very strikingly to my mind that when one is not praying continually he becomes soft, weak; I understood that any worries I have had about anything should be dealt with in front of God, at His feet, in prayer.
Last night, funny thing, I used my step dad's old small ice chest with the "Real Men Love Jesus" sticker on the front of it, reporting to my first day on the job. I had not really desired to wear my faith "on my sleave" or in this case on my lunch box, but the Lord called me to do it; for the only excuse that I had creaping in the back of my mind was that I shouldn't profess Christ's name in the workplace on the first day of work. What will people say, exclaimed the horrid thought. They would simply have to take it or leave it. And I found out that my supervisor is a Christian, who had come up to me while I was on the job, first making small talk ("Is that you mail Jeep out there...?"), and then he asked, "I saw the sticker on you lunch box." And so we eventually had a discussion at 11:45 PM on the lunch break about Scripture, and even the Somolian co-worker whose father is a minister in east Tacoma joined in. Things happen on God's watch weather you want them to or not.
And now it begins again, my friends. I ought t o go put the coffee in my thermos, drink the joe I have in my cup, check my lunch box with that sticker of inspiration, and drive off down to Fife. May you all have a good night's rest.
Last night, funny thing, I used my step dad's old small ice chest with the "Real Men Love Jesus" sticker on the front of it, reporting to my first day on the job. I had not really desired to wear my faith "on my sleave" or in this case on my lunch box, but the Lord called me to do it; for the only excuse that I had creaping in the back of my mind was that I shouldn't profess Christ's name in the workplace on the first day of work. What will people say, exclaimed the horrid thought. They would simply have to take it or leave it. And I found out that my supervisor is a Christian, who had come up to me while I was on the job, first making small talk ("Is that you mail Jeep out there...?"), and then he asked, "I saw the sticker on you lunch box." And so we eventually had a discussion at 11:45 PM on the lunch break about Scripture, and even the Somolian co-worker whose father is a minister in east Tacoma joined in. Things happen on God's watch weather you want them to or not.
And now it begins again, my friends. I ought t o go put the coffee in my thermos, drink the joe I have in my cup, check my lunch box with that sticker of inspiration, and drive off down to Fife. May you all have a good night's rest.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Time to buckle up,
Settle down,
Here you are,
Don't look down.
This morning at about I got a call, and before I picked up the ringing phone I knew it would be for me. It was from the recruiting office at Milgard, asking for me to come down to fill out some forms for employment tomorrow morning for the next evening I will be at work. I prayed for a job and now I have one. It is God's will.
I asked many times in the last two months since I returned from my extended post-high school graduation trip to California, "Whatever happens, Lord, it will be your will." It amuses me how my mind works, separating itself from a situation and in turn can make one moment in life seem like the most important thing. I look at the newness which this job brings my way, thinking it is the single event or the only thing in life which matters, and doing that creates a weird feeling in my stomach when I concentrate too much on it. I have found that this feeling is treacherous, false, blindly shallow. It is the simple emotion that is expressed in any event which is outside one's normal bout of life and living life; with this emotion, I dare not travel too far. First day of kindergarten wasn't so bad as I found out a few minutes into it. High school wasn't dream but I managed to learn some things. Earning my driver's license wasn't the elaborate, sophisticated process I had thought it would be. Life brings more than childhood stages, there are difficult ledges to climb on and valor in doing so, and in the graciousness of the Father we are not given a preview of our entire life journey before we're born.
My step dad's father, Al, is in the hospital with many complications, pain, and incoherence. He is 78 and almost completely blind. He has lived with diabetic neuropathy, an eroding of the body's nerves brought on by diabetes; right now he lives his last days on earth closer to the death than some of us, or maybe not. To conquer death not death itself was God's plan. Though we suffer for a while on earth, to suffer in eternity without God is the ultimate sorrow. But Al has been receptive in the example of the gospel, and the last time I had talked with him he seemed as one who has lived through the fire of this world and does not want to walk through the fire of death. Lord, You know Al's heart. Continue to work in his mind, and show him peace in there for the infinite life ahead.
In flesh there's birth,
In flesh there's death,
And then there's life.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
On Peace and Genuine Meaning Found in Christ
"There is no peace," says the Lord, "for the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22).
In sin, one continually is at war with himself and God; there is no lasting peace in wrong doing. The wanderer flees unceasingly. As I said yesterday, of a widely known thought, each man, woman, and child can look heavenward and call out to the Creator and have lasting peace. In my life I ought to take more thought of the advantages which this peace prepares inside of me.
The Christian no longer needs to hunger or thirst for meaning here in this world because he has been fed and watered with the contentment found in Christ. As He said, "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (John 6:33). Christians needn't any other particular to attain fulfillment inside, as there is no void to fill. When there is no hole there is no need to continue piling on substitutes for the peace he already has. If Christians pine for more, they do so in vain. Nothing else can stop the hunger or quench the thirst as Jesus does. He gives life, but the earth only gives death.
I have been trying to keep active lately, waiting for the test results from Monday to reach Milgard and in turn reach me. A lesson rings out over and over again Johnny Cash's song: "Don't take your guns to town." That's not quite it. The actual lesson for myself is that I must not restrict my ears and eyes to one goal, such as looking to the potentiality an upcoming job, but on all things in life--having broad vision and ambitions. Although, Johnny Cash has a few good points in his Western ballads (like the senselessness of killing, as one music critic pointed out), keeping our focus on the Lord is the best advice we ought to adhere to. Look at Philippians 3:20-21. The apostle Paul wrote to the church:
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."
As the latest peace talks unfold between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the new Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas, who have had a few meetings in the "process," we will see how long the potential peace lasts. Each treaty seems to be made to cover the last treaty, and the last treaty for the last. This generational game of flip-flop between each nation is one more accessory which comes with time I suppose; it is never eradicated, for there is always a new conflict that will come along. John Lennon was a dreamer, I will give him that, and he wasn't the only one of the kind he supposed himself to be. But could you imagine peace between nations as the world currently now exists and works? The most effective way to have peace is to have control, something which many dictators and idealist have given a nod to; utopian despotism is the only way a world could attempt to make peace. The idea is you won't have any conflicts if everyone is on the same level. But any government of man is destined to falter.
To Pilate Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36).
In sin, one continually is at war with himself and God; there is no lasting peace in wrong doing. The wanderer flees unceasingly. As I said yesterday, of a widely known thought, each man, woman, and child can look heavenward and call out to the Creator and have lasting peace. In my life I ought to take more thought of the advantages which this peace prepares inside of me.
The Christian no longer needs to hunger or thirst for meaning here in this world because he has been fed and watered with the contentment found in Christ. As He said, "For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (John 6:33). Christians needn't any other particular to attain fulfillment inside, as there is no void to fill. When there is no hole there is no need to continue piling on substitutes for the peace he already has. If Christians pine for more, they do so in vain. Nothing else can stop the hunger or quench the thirst as Jesus does. He gives life, but the earth only gives death.
I have been trying to keep active lately, waiting for the test results from Monday to reach Milgard and in turn reach me. A lesson rings out over and over again Johnny Cash's song: "Don't take your guns to town." That's not quite it. The actual lesson for myself is that I must not restrict my ears and eyes to one goal, such as looking to the potentiality an upcoming job, but on all things in life--having broad vision and ambitions. Although, Johnny Cash has a few good points in his Western ballads (like the senselessness of killing, as one music critic pointed out), keeping our focus on the Lord is the best advice we ought to adhere to. Look at Philippians 3:20-21. The apostle Paul wrote to the church:
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."
As the latest peace talks unfold between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the new Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas, who have had a few meetings in the "process," we will see how long the potential peace lasts. Each treaty seems to be made to cover the last treaty, and the last treaty for the last. This generational game of flip-flop between each nation is one more accessory which comes with time I suppose; it is never eradicated, for there is always a new conflict that will come along. John Lennon was a dreamer, I will give him that, and he wasn't the only one of the kind he supposed himself to be. But could you imagine peace between nations as the world currently now exists and works? The most effective way to have peace is to have control, something which many dictators and idealist have given a nod to; utopian despotism is the only way a world could attempt to make peace. The idea is you won't have any conflicts if everyone is on the same level. But any government of man is destined to falter.
To Pilate Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (John 18:36).
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Seattle, Washington: Down on Alaskan Avenue, on one of the piers there, this was one of the wonderous views to anyone's eyes which have been deprived of the sight of the ships and the bay. I might describe Seattle, or what I have chanced to see in my few trips there, to the gnat's eyebrow, but I'll just say that a good feeling comes over me when I lean out on the railing overlooking the waves and simply stand there for a few minutes. Ah, salt spray!
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"...The word of God is not chained" (2 Timothy 2:9).
"Bel bows down, Nebo stoops;
Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle.
Your carriages were heavily loaded,
A burden to the weary beast" (Isaiah 46:1).
Modern man admires ancient civilizations, the Summerians for their centralized communications and cities, and the Egyptians for their superb mathematics, architecture and magnificent structures such as the pyramids. We are still in awe and are stupified by the mechanics which allowed the ancient Brits to build Stonehenge; we are romanced by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But man is mortal. We who are young should remember that nations rise and nations fall. Old men and women, in general, are more keen about life, for they are proportionally closer to the end of the span of life than the youth are.
Dynasties rise, some linger, and some fade out. The Mayans died out, but the Chinese are abundant. The Germans have had Three Reichs. The Greeks sell islands. John Lennon really digged the idea. Man has been in the game of progress for such a long time, looking to the seas, to the forests, the skies, the stars, the depths of the Universe. In so doing, man has worshiped many things in petions or praise of such things like good harvests and a newborn baby. Gold, silver, wood, mountains, the Sun, the star systems, even the planets have been worshipped. The earth has even been worshipped and is still worshiped by some groups today. Things which have been produced by the goldsmith, silversmith, and craftsmen are carried into homes and miniature shrines still today for the purpose of representing some deity or sacred place; things of man's making have been worshiped. Why not? There's God, and then there are gods. There is the Creator, and there's the creation. If it's all good, then why not call out to everything? To answer this, I will give another question: Does one compliment the casserole or the one who baked it?
It is clear that the dish of food has no feelings, or intelligence, it is not a living thing; it couldn't say 'thank you' even if you praised it for it's succulent taste or fragrance. And it also could not object to you eating it. So therefore it would not be unreasonable if you would praise the thoughtful host who made you the casserole.
To make this entry short, and perhaps to stretch this thought out for a few days, I will note that mankind has the capacity to look heavenward and praise the Lord. It is difficult to assume that all men in the past have known the God all creation by name, but it is well know that His name has been spread worldwide, starting in the beginning, spreading through Jerusalem, and entering many a jungle, forest, desert, and plateau. Bel and Nebo were deities of the Babylonians. But were they really powerful? No, they were dead, useless, pieces of dead weight which needlessly made the cattle weary as they were carried from place to place.
"I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images" (Isaiah 42:8).
"Bel bows down, Nebo stoops;
Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle.
Your carriages were heavily loaded,
A burden to the weary beast" (Isaiah 46:1).
Modern man admires ancient civilizations, the Summerians for their centralized communications and cities, and the Egyptians for their superb mathematics, architecture and magnificent structures such as the pyramids. We are still in awe and are stupified by the mechanics which allowed the ancient Brits to build Stonehenge; we are romanced by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But man is mortal. We who are young should remember that nations rise and nations fall. Old men and women, in general, are more keen about life, for they are proportionally closer to the end of the span of life than the youth are.
Dynasties rise, some linger, and some fade out. The Mayans died out, but the Chinese are abundant. The Germans have had Three Reichs. The Greeks sell islands. John Lennon really digged the idea. Man has been in the game of progress for such a long time, looking to the seas, to the forests, the skies, the stars, the depths of the Universe. In so doing, man has worshiped many things in petions or praise of such things like good harvests and a newborn baby. Gold, silver, wood, mountains, the Sun, the star systems, even the planets have been worshipped. The earth has even been worshipped and is still worshiped by some groups today. Things which have been produced by the goldsmith, silversmith, and craftsmen are carried into homes and miniature shrines still today for the purpose of representing some deity or sacred place; things of man's making have been worshiped. Why not? There's God, and then there are gods. There is the Creator, and there's the creation. If it's all good, then why not call out to everything? To answer this, I will give another question: Does one compliment the casserole or the one who baked it?
It is clear that the dish of food has no feelings, or intelligence, it is not a living thing; it couldn't say 'thank you' even if you praised it for it's succulent taste or fragrance. And it also could not object to you eating it. So therefore it would not be unreasonable if you would praise the thoughtful host who made you the casserole.
To make this entry short, and perhaps to stretch this thought out for a few days, I will note that mankind has the capacity to look heavenward and praise the Lord. It is difficult to assume that all men in the past have known the God all creation by name, but it is well know that His name has been spread worldwide, starting in the beginning, spreading through Jerusalem, and entering many a jungle, forest, desert, and plateau. Bel and Nebo were deities of the Babylonians. But were they really powerful? No, they were dead, useless, pieces of dead weight which needlessly made the cattle weary as they were carried from place to place.
"I am the Lord, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images" (Isaiah 42:8).
Monday, February 28, 2005
Today's Lesson: "Physicals and B#maj7"
Happy Birthday to my brother Jason. He's soaking up the winter down in Modesto, California.
Had some interesting experiences at the health clinic today, being my first check up in a great while andmy first drug screening. I won't elaborate on today's escapades, for they really have no words of wisdom in them; although, one particular physician's disdainful memories of marching band were entertaining for me as the assessment came to a close. He truthly didn't like "band" when he was in 8th grade; and I am sure by the clues that it wasn't his thing, for he made a slightly sneering face when he recalled that it all really consisted of students marching in the rain. "I hated it," he said. Those physicans can be surprising at times. All in all, it was a good visit. The results ought to reach Milgard in a couple days.
I made a stop at the South Hill Library this afternoon and picked up a copy of Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin' and the music book The Definitive Jazz Collection. I have quite a good collection of Dylan albums, but evey now and then I feel especially inclined to use the free stuff from our state government's library systems, so the CD's are frequently checked out. I usually check out too many books for one sitting of a month, therefore, many books go back partially read. As for the Jazz book, I took it off the shelf wondering if it had "I've Got Your Under My Skin" as sung by Old Blue Eyes Sinatra, and wonder of wonders it did include the song! But I've discovered I'm an ignoramus when it comes to playing Jazz rhythms or chord changes on the guitar. I must learn this wonderful style of musical delight. I can play a few nice progressions (and if any potential reader cares) like Galt, Cadd9, D9 and other chords which I have no name for.
More to do and learn tomorrow. I must do some more studying in Isaiah and James; the moments of anticipation leading up to this job have taken my other desires, such as reading and studying, away and gained "center stage". Aye, the praying will be plenty abundant this evening!
Had some interesting experiences at the health clinic today, being my first check up in a great while andmy first drug screening. I won't elaborate on today's escapades, for they really have no words of wisdom in them; although, one particular physician's disdainful memories of marching band were entertaining for me as the assessment came to a close. He truthly didn't like "band" when he was in 8th grade; and I am sure by the clues that it wasn't his thing, for he made a slightly sneering face when he recalled that it all really consisted of students marching in the rain. "I hated it," he said. Those physicans can be surprising at times. All in all, it was a good visit. The results ought to reach Milgard in a couple days.
I made a stop at the South Hill Library this afternoon and picked up a copy of Dylan's The Times They Are A-Changin' and the music book The Definitive Jazz Collection. I have quite a good collection of Dylan albums, but evey now and then I feel especially inclined to use the free stuff from our state government's library systems, so the CD's are frequently checked out. I usually check out too many books for one sitting of a month, therefore, many books go back partially read. As for the Jazz book, I took it off the shelf wondering if it had "I've Got Your Under My Skin" as sung by Old Blue Eyes Sinatra, and wonder of wonders it did include the song! But I've discovered I'm an ignoramus when it comes to playing Jazz rhythms or chord changes on the guitar. I must learn this wonderful style of musical delight. I can play a few nice progressions (and if any potential reader cares) like Galt, Cadd9, D9 and other chords which I have no name for.
More to do and learn tomorrow. I must do some more studying in Isaiah and James; the moments of anticipation leading up to this job have taken my other desires, such as reading and studying, away and gained "center stage". Aye, the praying will be plenty abundant this evening!
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Dipping Into the Word
"Rain down, you heavens, from above,
And let the skies pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,
And let righteousness spring up together.
I, the LORD, have created it" (Isaiah 45:8).
Salvation came a while back. It's still knocking, too. When it came it came with such a humble entrance, sound words, self-sacrifice by the carpenter called Christ, and by the "first fruits" of His life by conquering death. And by my study here, He continually mention the coming of salvation to the people of Israel; an overwhelming gift of joy was decreed, that all men, "the nations," would be blessed, "Israel shall be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation..." (v. 17). At this point the context is pointed towards Cyprus, "whose right hand I have held," said God. "I even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me" (v. 4).
We were all lost; every one of us was uttering alone. Those who have yield their lives back over to Yahweh are indeed blessed because they have recognized that their reasoning won't show them joy, happiness, of life for eternity. I know there are many here in the world of men who zealously believe that the pursuit of happiness is what matters. "It's whatever that makes you happy," the overly sympathetic friend tells his chum. "It's all about you." Oh, will you not ever look at yourself in the light? Truthfully, are you that good? Gals, when all is said and done during the day, when you're home and all free of make up and formality (in any form), when you've cleaned up your face, when your peach, olive, black, brown, tan, or white skin is bare of all dress and pleasantries, do you think of what is real? Men, when all your successes have brought you to the end of the night, when no one pays you any mind, and all your certificates and plaques with snappy slogans and quite astounding victories are the only things looking back at you before you close your eyes to sleep, do you wonder if this is all there is? Or do you carry the thought for a moment, toss it away and say aloud in the darkness of your room, "At least I'm happy now"?
Dipping into the Word, something has just put itself to my attention. It faces the hope that one can look upon with the focus on the Living God.
"For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing,And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten" (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
Are we nothing if we have no souls? Simply pieces of wasted products of chance? John Cage, the "chance" musician didn't take the concepts of hollow art into his daily routines. The man frequently consumed mushrooms of the mind-altering kind, saying if he randomly selected any species of mushrooms like he practiced his theory about life in his music (that all is chance and meaningless), then he would die very quickly. There is no hope for the idea that all is nothing and, for he who believes that indeed is but a shell of a man, with no joy to come--no reward to enjoy. And greatness is soon lost through the generations. You may know this, that a dead emperor cannot stand up, conquer or rule.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
And let the skies pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation,
And let righteousness spring up together.
I, the LORD, have created it" (Isaiah 45:8).
Salvation came a while back. It's still knocking, too. When it came it came with such a humble entrance, sound words, self-sacrifice by the carpenter called Christ, and by the "first fruits" of His life by conquering death. And by my study here, He continually mention the coming of salvation to the people of Israel; an overwhelming gift of joy was decreed, that all men, "the nations," would be blessed, "Israel shall be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation..." (v. 17). At this point the context is pointed towards Cyprus, "whose right hand I have held," said God. "I even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me" (v. 4).
We were all lost; every one of us was uttering alone. Those who have yield their lives back over to Yahweh are indeed blessed because they have recognized that their reasoning won't show them joy, happiness, of life for eternity. I know there are many here in the world of men who zealously believe that the pursuit of happiness is what matters. "It's whatever that makes you happy," the overly sympathetic friend tells his chum. "It's all about you." Oh, will you not ever look at yourself in the light? Truthfully, are you that good? Gals, when all is said and done during the day, when you're home and all free of make up and formality (in any form), when you've cleaned up your face, when your peach, olive, black, brown, tan, or white skin is bare of all dress and pleasantries, do you think of what is real? Men, when all your successes have brought you to the end of the night, when no one pays you any mind, and all your certificates and plaques with snappy slogans and quite astounding victories are the only things looking back at you before you close your eyes to sleep, do you wonder if this is all there is? Or do you carry the thought for a moment, toss it away and say aloud in the darkness of your room, "At least I'm happy now"?
Dipping into the Word, something has just put itself to my attention. It faces the hope that one can look upon with the focus on the Living God.
"For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing,And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten" (Ecclesiastes 9:5).
Are we nothing if we have no souls? Simply pieces of wasted products of chance? John Cage, the "chance" musician didn't take the concepts of hollow art into his daily routines. The man frequently consumed mushrooms of the mind-altering kind, saying if he randomly selected any species of mushrooms like he practiced his theory about life in his music (that all is chance and meaningless), then he would die very quickly. There is no hope for the idea that all is nothing and, for he who believes that indeed is but a shell of a man, with no joy to come--no reward to enjoy. And greatness is soon lost through the generations. You may know this, that a dead emperor cannot stand up, conquer or rule.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
Friday, February 25, 2005
Almost Hired
"Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;
Walk in the ways of your heart,
And in the sight of your eyes;
But know that for all these
God will bring unto you judgment" (Ecclesiastes 11:9).
"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,If it is found in the way of righteousness" (Proverbs 16:31).
Almost hired. I received a call from the recruiting office telling me where and when to go to Multi-Care health clinic for my physical and drug screening. Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow!
Daily I must keep the desire to serve him in my heart, pressed against the wiles of idleness in mind and bodily exercises; taking the chance to "step out" as a friend of mine recently encouraged me to do. I wish for the ways of my heart and the sight of my eyes to be able tools for the God who judges both open and secret works of man, good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14), that my youth would be a most cheerful passage into adulthood and a fond memory to seek inspiration and gladness from in the future. I stumble and trip over the sorts of snares which pervade a young man's life, such as pride and lust, envy, and laziness, but I thank the Lord that He cares for me, the bruised up, banged up sinner who has regularly proved that he is not perfect in the sight of God. But, Father, keep me in your ways. I write continually of patience and the worth of it, so please, guide me in my own persistence in this war for right actions.
As for the man who has wrinkles, permanent blue bruises on his skin, with calluses on his worn out hands, he looks back with a smile, looking back on the back-breaking work he has done in his almost centennial length of life, and his splendor is in his gray hair. He lived through it. Many a man has done that, I think, looked back and smiled; maybe a smile of ease is not expressed, but the sort of smile of laughter, of an inside joke, that makes an appearance on the aged brows of many men at the end of their life. God's calling His men out of the cities, out of the countryside, out of the ghettos, out of the farms, out of the town houses, and out of the bungalows to do His work. Am I one of those men? Yes, I am. I am hesitant? Naturally, at first, but I dare not think about running or sailing in the opposite direction as Jonah has done.
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11).
And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth;
Walk in the ways of your heart,
And in the sight of your eyes;
But know that for all these
God will bring unto you judgment" (Ecclesiastes 11:9).
"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,If it is found in the way of righteousness" (Proverbs 16:31).
Almost hired. I received a call from the recruiting office telling me where and when to go to Multi-Care health clinic for my physical and drug screening. Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow!
Daily I must keep the desire to serve him in my heart, pressed against the wiles of idleness in mind and bodily exercises; taking the chance to "step out" as a friend of mine recently encouraged me to do. I wish for the ways of my heart and the sight of my eyes to be able tools for the God who judges both open and secret works of man, good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14), that my youth would be a most cheerful passage into adulthood and a fond memory to seek inspiration and gladness from in the future. I stumble and trip over the sorts of snares which pervade a young man's life, such as pride and lust, envy, and laziness, but I thank the Lord that He cares for me, the bruised up, banged up sinner who has regularly proved that he is not perfect in the sight of God. But, Father, keep me in your ways. I write continually of patience and the worth of it, so please, guide me in my own persistence in this war for right actions.
As for the man who has wrinkles, permanent blue bruises on his skin, with calluses on his worn out hands, he looks back with a smile, looking back on the back-breaking work he has done in his almost centennial length of life, and his splendor is in his gray hair. He lived through it. Many a man has done that, I think, looked back and smiled; maybe a smile of ease is not expressed, but the sort of smile of laughter, of an inside joke, that makes an appearance on the aged brows of many men at the end of their life. God's calling His men out of the cities, out of the countryside, out of the ghettos, out of the farms, out of the town houses, and out of the bungalows to do His work. Am I one of those men? Yes, I am. I am hesitant? Naturally, at first, but I dare not think about running or sailing in the opposite direction as Jonah has done.
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11).
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