In class today we talked about pictures, the ones in your mind that you form in thinking about how a day, or a relationship, or a trip to the next town may go. We come up with these based on our experiences or hopes, and we can dwell on them. If we have a vision of something good and reality doesn't match the vision we tend to get depressed, or angry, certainly disappointed. If our picture of vision for our day is negative then most likely it will be. I think there is a lot of truth to this and it matches Bible teaching. Speak good things, think on good things, be realistic. The article says we need to learn to let go of these visions at times- the ones we go over and over building negativity, or the ones that don't quite match reality. We need to embrace the reality and change our vision looking for the positive rather than the negative. All of this is very true. I had the students brainstorm of possible positive things that could happen to them today (I didn't say it but the positive things for them shouldn't involve negative things for other people), and we had some marvelous good thoughts. Good food, smiles from children, somebody holding a door, success on tests. I also asked if they had perfect relationships with others, and to develop a picture of some positives for that relationship (that they control). They readily agreed that focusing on negatives would lead to more relationship deteriorating.

Our next chapter is communications, and in reading ahead one of the statements is that communication is so complex, its a wonder we can. Theres the words, the tone, the posture, talking to a wide variety of listening practices. I believe in communication, and positive change in my life is a result of the visions I have for what I want and the way I communicate them. Interesting next chapter.

The Bible reading unfortunately is still very true even though it was written months ago. I'm still a response three. I do have a vision of what four looks like, unfortunately I also have visions (that I need to let go of) of the potential heartache and heartbreak in going there. it has manifested itself into fear and to some extent paralysis.


Matthew 13 Another chapter rich in teaching, my what sinners we are. Parable of the sower, this seems to indicate there are four Gospel responses. Not understanding or comprehending at all, God open the eyes of those people. Then there are those that hear the Word, receive it, but evidently not understand it because they fade when persecution comes. These are the people who believe the Christian walk is supposed to make life a walk in the park. Prosperity Gospel. The third response is hearing but getting caught up in the cares of the world, keeping the Christian walk separate from the rest of their lives. Go to church listen but do not apply it. These people aren't fruitful they may realize that the Christian walk involves trials, but its all about them. Understanding the Gospel is something the third response does not do. The fourth response are those that understand the Gospel and apply it to life (all parts). These people become the leaven for the world, or the salt. This response is uniquely based on understanding.
I personally feel I'm in the third response, but hoping for the fourth. The "cares of this world" the bondage of debt I have allowed myself to get into. I so want to get out, but don't know how in light of worldly obligations. Its has been one of my more or less constant struggle and prayer. I believe the answer God has shown me involves getting those people around me to embrace the fourth response. Family in particular so my prayer is to get OUR priorities right, because I'm learning and growing still myself. I resolve to follow God's teaching, but then a trial comes and I fail giving the world response instead of the Godly one. According to The Word I don't fully understand.
I see where I want to be but don't know how to get there, maybe I'm too lazy. I hate conflict or maybe its fear.
Continuing in the chapter the wheat and the tares story. Interestingly cleaning up the world is an option but Jesus rules it out, letting the wheat and tares grow together. He does this to prevent any wheat from being uprooted. Wheat being followers of Christ, Tares being those who don't follow Christ. The thought there was how can removing evil from the world uproot good? I think from a practical standpoint removing evil may mean our lives would be affected on a very intimate level. We hope the best for our family members, but we do not know their hearts. There may also be some people who appear Godly but really are not and watching those people get removed may be too much for some Christians to take. After all the wheat and tares are actively growing.
Jesus then describes the kingdom of heaven - a little seed like a mustard seed becomes the biggest plant. A few faithful workers can make a tremendous difference. Or Christians are like leaven, a little causes the whole loaf to rise.
At the end of the age, those who attempt to hinder God, knowingly or unknowingly will be cast into outer darkness where they will realize and regret their bad choices.
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure in a field sell ALL so that you can purchase the field. Or sell ALL to buy the precious pearl.
At the end of the chapter people are amazed at Jesus teaching (He's in His hometown), but they start looking at Him through the flesh and close their eyes to the Spirit that is guiding Him and therefore do not believe. Their unbelief caused Him not to do many miracles. He could have, but did not due to their unbelief. Is a sign of unbelief that few miracles happen? Have you seen any lately?

A short update today, its been busy, I've seen the effects of how lives not lived for Christ hurt not only the person not living it, but those around them. I see that more and more, and I also see the solution rejected because it means change, so how appropriate is Matthew ch 11.

Tomorrow is my birthday, I think I'll limit my driving, or maybe pursue my idea to preheat water going into the water heater. I don't know whether to work on the trail, or maybe just hike it once. I hope everybody has a blessed day tomorrow.


Matthew 11 In Chapter 11 Jesus says nobody born of woman has been greater than John the Baptist. So in terms of human birth John the Baptist was a significant figure in History. However even that fact pales in comparison to those born by the spirit into the kingdom of God. Then Jesus talks about how fickle people are, they criticized John for his behavior, manners, eating habits, etc, and they also criticized Jesus for His mannerisms. People are curious about the kingdom of God but quick to dismiss it. Probably because it doesn't fit with their human plans. It means change at a personal level and admission that we as people are not perfect or even close.
Not long ago I was reminded of the saying about "being too heavenly minded to be any earthly good". Those that don't say that specifically act it out and refer to Christians as "religious", or somehow want us to separate our lives for Christ from our lives for this world. This is what Jesus is addressing in Matthew 11. In the past I have made the "distinction" between duty to Christ and duty in the world, but as I age I see that making that distinction is usually used as my excuse to not be the way I should be in ALL things.
Then at the end is the call for the weary and heavy laden, take His yoke for it is easy and His burden is light.

It has been a while since my last update, I have been looking forward to the change of pace brought about by Thanksgiving. I also needed a break from school so I'm enjoying it. I'm not as prepared for the last three weeks as I would like to be, but I have gotten some of the extras off my plate.

I'm considering posting a link to my new testament thoughts, it will be a .pdf file and very long. I can do this to get my thoughts out to the public, although I would be kidding myself to think I am widely read. Then in the blog I would concentrate on certain issues that come up in life. Most recently with the political season healthcare has been on my mind with the offshoots of abortion and socialized medicine. I'm still thinking about it though. Posting it all at once will not make me as likely to review it after some months and tweak, I think that is a definite positive.

One interesting thing happened recently, I vocalized some positive and specific things I wanted to happen, and I vocalized some things that should happen that maybe I didn't have the best attitude about. It was amazing the insights that I got and how things subsequently happened. I need to keep doing that. I also struggled in the areas where my attitude wasn't as it should be, there was definitely temptation.

I post two chapters tonight Luke 7 after reviewing it and 2 Cor 5. I think 2 Cor 5 is especially good, the thoughts came to me as I was writing and I look forward to reviewing it in the future.

The picture is a view from my trail, the shadow is a cliff called the NC wall (I would say its a shear cliff over 100' (30 m) tall- maybe twice that). Rock climbers like it, although I haven't seen any on it. I'm getting closer to the bottom of my trail, but a great deal of work remains.


Luke 7 A couple of interesting thoughts come out of Luke 7. First is the centurion's slave. We don't know much about this servant other than he was well liked by his master (so he must have been a good slave), and he was near death. So here is a good person in bondage near death and hopefully relief from suffering in this world and Jesus heals him (meaning more servitude) for the sake of another good man. The slave's lengthened life of servitude was a blessing to his master. So we should consider that our suffering and servitude could be a blessing to others.
Next story is parallel. The widow's son (Nain) who had died, and possibly gone to his reward (although we don't know) being called back from death as a blessing to his mother. We are definitely not our own, we are His and sometimes our continuing inconvenience or bondage is used to bless others.
Now the Pharisee story at the end of the chapter. Jesus was invited and went to the home of Simon the Pharisee. Simon did not offer to wash Jesus' feet, kiss Him for a greeting, or annoint His head with oil. That may have taken some sacrifice on Simon's part, that he evidently was not willing to make. The woman on the other hand a known sinner was at Simon's house. How did she know where it was? How did she get in? Did Simon know of her reputation through rumor, or experience? The woman made those sacrifices to make Jesus feel welcomed, comfortable, etc. She did it out of her gratefulness. Are we grateful enough to God to make personal sacrifices to serve others at the expense of our own comfort? To tie it to the last chapter are we additionally willing to make those sacrifices for others who seemingly don't care about them? That is how Jesus wants to live through us.

1 Cor 5 This chapter talks about open and acknowledged sin in the church that is being accepted. A man is sleeping with his father's wife and the church is being accepting of it. On one hand we are all sinners and have transgressed God's law to the same degree as this man, on the other hand we have to be careful what we acknowledge and accept from others. If we accept open sin then in a sense we are condoning it, and even though we should want all people in fellowship with Christ, there are times when we should avoid fellowship with people. Paul gives us a list and a test as to who we can fellowship with. Anyone that calls himself a brother who is sexually immoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a swindler don't fellowship or even eat with that person. I think the establishment of the sin is important namely two or three witnesses -it in the old testament, and also the person proclaiming his knowledge of God. When I read that list certain ones are harder to read than others, to divulge which ones I find easy or feel like I don't have an issue with is an opportunity to express pride so I decline. I do feel like a lot of people find it easy to slander people (myself included). Maybe think their decisions aren't very smart and share that with others - that is very close to slander, so brother Christian we won't be having fellowship with you. We need to be sincere and truthful and yes its easy to be sincere (of your own opinion) and truthful (in how you see things) but slander other people all the same.

Paul's solution to lack of fellowship deserves some thought- hand the man over to satan so that the sinful nature may be destroyed, but the spirit saved. If we don't fellowship with someone they will look for fellowship elsewhere (maybe even a more accepting church or congregation, there are those bodies of people out there who like the Corinthians may be accepting of certain sinful behaviors). Anyway the person will contnue to sin eventually seeing its futility and unsatisfying results, then will want to come back (truly repent and turn from their way). At that point fellowship needs to be restored even if it is years away. It would also be wrong to hold a grudge or to ask people "do you know what this person did for years?" hoping to get to tell the story. Churches I have seen have a long way to go.

Paul says we are to judge within the church, and act. Same sin outside the church by a non-believer we are not to judge. We must show all people the love of Christ both the believer and non believer. We show the openly sinning believer the love of Christ by letting them choose the sin or Christian fellowship, too often we as humans tend to write these people off, but we should pray and hold onto hope. We show the non-believer the love of Christ by introducing him to Christian fellowship. With the goal of a saving knowledge of Christ coming into his heart. Once he knows Christ he may turn from his sins, he may not, he may consider church a social club, in which case we need to carefully and continually keep showing him the love of Christ possibly by ending fellowship.

I think next year I'm going to try and read the Bible out loud. I think of all the things I have said that I shouldn't have, I think its important to vocalize His Words.

Today in reviewing this before I post it I was struck by how similar it is to what I have written recently. I can see God bringing me back to the same points in my life over and over again. I also think its neat that my students told me a couple weeks ago that sometimes they need to see concepts repeatedly to learn them, and here I am living proof.

I have felt bold in sharing the Gospel lately, not so much in quoting scripture, but in pointing out the underlying principles that they speak of. Basically how it is just a good idea, and that it helps people, and it helps me. So I try and look for ways to discuss sound living practices (which are usually found in the Bible) without quoting scripture. It is my hope that God will use me to plant seeds then use His Word to revisit people's hearts. I can do that in the job I currently have- that may be why I'm here and he hasn't sent me somewhere else??

Matthew 7 Matthew seven parallels Luke 6, Jesus is talking about judging. In Matthew 7:2 He says by the measure we judge others we will be judged. Interestingly in Luke 6:38 He says we will receive by the same measure we give. Then the speck in the brother's eye versus the log in our own eye. He says this in my opinion to illustrate that before we judge or give we need to reflect internally and determine our measures. If we aren't generous in our giving can we expect to receive generously- what is our measure? Judging others - we all do it to some degree, but we need the inward reflection that we are not doing the exact same thing we are critical of (or judge others by). I have fallen into the trap of judging others based on the standards I feel I am judged by. Since I have learned to adapt to what I feel is someone else's standard, I tend to hold people to it or adopt that standard when looking at others. Then I feel justified in being critical of others without considering whether I'm being held to a realistic Godly standard. This really needs an example: what is a standard you feel judged by? For me one is my work dress code. I feel I comply but I also notice those people who may be more marginal in compliance. Then I tend to think less of a person that doesn't "comply" as well. What is the Godly standard? In this case probably wearing clothes, and some people sometimes have issues that may prevent them from complying as they would want to, and yet their heart is right before God. Going to church may be a standard, college, mowing the yard, the examples are everywhere.
Once He finishes the log and speck story Jesus says seek and you shall find, ask and it will given to you. Then He compares our Father God to us as fathers, which one of us wouldn't give good things to our children, or give them something they didn't ask for? If you consider the chapter to this point together we are all getting what we ask for, measured out in the same measure that we apply to others.
At the end of Matthew 7 is the same story from the end of Luke 6. We can hear God's Word every day, every week, we can realize Who God is. Demons know His Word. It is what we do with it, do we apply it to our daily lives and try to live to His standards- build on the firm foundation? Do we agree with it, acknowledge it, but live out our lives by our standards- build on shifting sand?
A couple days after writing this I came up with additions to it. Above I was talking about how sometimes we start judging others by the standards we feel others judge us by whether they are Godly or not. God's standard is to look on the heart.
Some people will never change - ever. We can take it as disrespect, laziness, any number of unpleasant adjectives (which God has told us not to do). We can see things and situations so clearly and wonder why others are seemingly so blind. We should look as God does on the heart of that person, not the actions or lack of. Would you agree with the following? Good hearted people often take the ones they love for granted. They volunteer their loved one's time and possessions without first asking- should they? Probably not, but the fact that they do doesn't mean they aren't good hearted. In fact it could mean that they are good hearted.
Good hearted people seek to satisfy needs without considering the consequences or the sacrifices they and others may have to make. Should they?- Probably not, but again it doesn't mean they are not good hearted.
For the real thought provoking idea consider this. We fail God daily, some people become so frustrated trying to do everything right that they walk away. He however never gives up on us. We're inclined to give people three strikes and if they don't conform to our standard we may choose not to have relationship with that person. Are you doing everything you think God requires in your relationship with Him, how many more strikes should He give you?

Well Galatians has given me some insight on frustration (my frustration) and the fact that things don't change at the speed I would like to see. Notice I'm talking about "I", which shows pride or self importance when it should be God. The insight is that getting frustrated with others is a sign of my attitude not being what it should be.

The beatitudes was a good review, and I'm glad I re-read it. We need to walk with God daily, and see ourselves overcoming for "now" which could be defined as a short period of time.

Well this isn't getting school work done, papers need grading, and some planning needs to happen. Getting caught up in that though can be detrimental. One has to be careful about priorities.

Matthew 6 Continuation of the beatitudes. This chapter talks broadly about being noticed by men, doing things to gain men's notice and that is your reward, but doing things secretly (and by secretly - such that only God knows about) God will reward you. It is possible to give to the poor without others being aware of it. "Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" 6:3. Pray to God in private, not openly or publicly, talk to Him as a Friend (because He certainly is or He wants to be). Don't be repetitious, don't try to impress God with your words or phrases (as if you could). Fasting? don't let anyone know. We're so conditioned to seek sympathy and attention this one is especially hard. If we food fast, our feelings of being run down and tired, lack of energy, then have some fuel in that we know we are not eating and others see it by our actions. Again it should be between you and God.
Treasures are another topic- where your treasure is, there is your heart. Want the newest gadget, the latest convenience? Some people accumulate wealth, others memories, the bottom line is are you holding onto this world or looking to the next one? God will do something new for you everyday, so holding onto yesterday's memories can become more of a priority in some people's lives than God.
Hand in hand with treasures is worry- will the finances hold out, why is there a question on that, just what are your treasures? If your paycheck doesn't cover everything then you are sacrificing yourself to the god of this world. Selling yourself into servitude for a clear television picture, some other convenience, some status among your neighbors. Who are you shorting?-God? How do you overcome it? Seems easy in theory but difficult to practice especially with a family. He answers that question- Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you (daily provisions) 6:33. As you seek the things of God the things of this world will lose the glimmer they may have, certainly the importance will dwindle. We also in doing that have a unique opportunity to practice faith. When the Israelites in the desert tried to collect extra manna it went bad. They had to trust that God would provide tomorrow's supply- tomorrow. He does that with our needs, but too often we want that assurance that we have it "covered", and we tend to then slip slowly and slightly toward becoming dependent on ourselves and not God. When we do depend on ourselves then worry creeps into our lives. We have to take things one day at a time, concentrate on today's troubles and ask God to show us what to do. We can't worry about a month from now, or a year, or that worry turns into fear. Our sin is very much like an addiction, our worldly lifestyle is too. Can we imagine fighting off the addiction for an hour which is easier than six months- almost something we could accomplish. Of course we need God's guidance and help in everything. We need to walk with Him in the now.
So a God focus and a day focus (or even the next hour) are the ways we seek His Kingdom and Righteousness. Oh help me Father to practice that- because I freely admit I by no means do that now. The stress of the world has made me realize and re-emphasized the importance of His teachings.

Another pic from my trail, this one should be called falcon point or peregrine point. You can usually see birds from here floating on the updrafts. Although sometimes you see more buzzards.

Acts 16 and Galatians 2 has really blessed me. I wrote my thoughts on them today. I also reviewed Matthew 5 and it blessed me as well. In Acts 16 a man asked Paul how to be saved- he never preached a message, he just let Christ shine through him, and the man realized his need for something more. Something more than just existence.

Galatians 2 was amazing in that I realized that our personal preferences and traditions sometimes become more important to us than serving or worshipping God. Maybe God expects our traditions to change over time to make us aware that that shouldn't happen.

It has been a terribly busy week, but an enlightening one. Alternative energy talks were followed up by a tour of a coal fired power plant. I think energy becoming more scarce can be a way God turns us back toward Him. And just like everything else we expect others to come up with solutions, we accuse people of greed instead of realizing that the end of cheap fossil fuel may be just around the corner. We need to act- make life more simple, efficient, plan more. Instead to this point it is all talk.

Matthew 5 The first chapter of the traditional beatitudes. The followers of Christ are the salt of the earth, He makes us salty. We followers of Christ are also called the light of the world, again its His light shining through us, and as we let Him shine through us it so glorifies Him.
Now some thoughts- calling bad names or making derogatory comments is the same as murder. In the old testament murder is a physical act, Jesus with the new covenant makes murder more of a mental as well as physical thing. Probably because people weren't killed but they were relegated to second class citizens, called dogs- like the Samaritans- people who God created in His image. So the definition needed clarification. Is there a group of people that you don't consider your equals?
He follows this up by saying that in order to be acceptable to God you can't have anything against a fellow human. It further demonstrates the importance to God that we not speak or treat others badly.
Jesus calls lust adultery. From his statement it is possible to be an adulterer and never touch another person. Its mental OR physical. Then He speaks of divorce. Again the practice that Moses allowed needed clarification. People were divorcing their wives over whims, to try and gain something in some way. He said only for infidelity otherwise you are an adulterer. Relationships between men and women in my opinion are not approached correctly in our society. Its all about looks, and then sex based, and all the media seems to promote that. What kids (and others) need is to develop lasting friendships first. Not competitions of some form but open frank lasting friendships. Then let marriages come out of best friends wanting to spend their lives together and have and raise children together. Sex is a wonderful gift from God but it should not be the primary basis for a marriage relationship. Neither should there be a child focus. Marriage should be two people helping each other on the journey through life- best lifelong friends.
Jesus includes a warning about vows. God takes vows seriously (I think this is right after marriage for a reason), He doesn't want us making them, but if we do we are obligated to fulfill them to our own detriment. That is serious, our making a vow before God means it is more important to Him for us to honor that vow than have fun or live a fulfilled life. In other words our well being in this life takes second place to honoring a vow we made before God.
Jesus then clarifies an eye for an eye. In the old testament God wanted mercy rather than sacrifice, He said it on several occasions. An eye for an eye was a physical deterrent to people committing crimes, and in one sense when we act to harm a person created in God's image we should be willing to accept a just punishment. We should be willing to make retribution if we have wronged others. I think the clarification says love your neighbors. God does not want to see anyone perish. If we don't demand the eye for an eye, or appropriate just retribution, then God is showing Himself through those actions. It becomes a witness showing His mercy. Appropriate retribution is just and we all realize it, but God's mercy to us (undeserving as we are) is shown through our loving our enemies. Furthermore it refocuses our attention from what is "fair" to us humans or as individuals and places the focus on God's greatness and mercy.

I have always liked this picture.

I realize I'm jumping around a bit, but what is below has really strongly been on my mind lately. I find myself saying things at work that I regret and do not promote the positive Godly values I believe in. Maybe God is letting me do it because I do seek the attention, or am self ambitious. Anyway its my prayer to somehow stop. If I could live by the Spirit always would I give God the credit, or somehow myself? He is showing His patience with me by allowing it? So I can grow?

Galatians 5 I should type the entire chapter, particularly verse 16 and following. ... So I say live by the spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. I find myself at times able and willing to live in the Spirit or by the Spirit. Then I'll walk along and come up upon a conversation, and someone will hit one of my emotional hot buttons and then I say things I should not. Furthermore I want to say these things. I also will say things that stir up trouble, and maybe act on the thoughts I have. Throw a fit of rage or anger, express my emotion. How do we express our strong emotions without falling into the sin trap?

We can easily identify the characteristics we do that we should not, and this chapter lists them. But we are emotional beings and how do we control them. As a man I'm supposed to be able to hide mine, and I do a very poor job of it especially at times. I get so frustrated with lack of progress on issues, double talk answers to questions, apathy, ignorance, that I create discord (one of the things listed in verse 20), I dissent. I realize my powerlessness in controlling it, and somehow I should let the Lord take it. Or nail it to the cross, but by what means do I make that connection?

If I can always walk by the Spirit I will always have the things of verse 23 and 24. Love, Joy, Peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. How do I always - short answer - keep my eyes on Jesus at all times. OK -how do I do that? Jesus shows perfect love by loving us even when we sometimes act like we don't love Him. We are going to realize an unimaginable joy in His presence one day, And in every example of the rest of it God has shown more patience and perserverance that we will ever have to.

Our sinful nature has passions and desires, and we should not be conceited, provoking, or envious of each other. Our passion should be focused into the work of God and not into the work of self or what we want. I still haven't answered the question- how do we keep our eyes on Him all the time, so that I can walk by the Spirit all the time? I think if we feel like we ever have that answer then we will get conceited which shows we haven't gotten there yet. Paul says work salvation out with fear and trembling (Philipians 2:12). I frankly am afraid of myself, and what I might do and later regret. I do respect God, maybe not enough, because I do the things I hate. That fear of Him should be a deterrent. I feel utterly helpless (and sometimes depressed) about living the way He calls us to, but it is my desire to do so because I see the necessity and the reasons behind it. It is only God that can do it, because we are powerless in our own strength.

The photo is looking south from a wonderful viewpoint along my trail.

I wrote something on the folly of assigning blame or guilt, and I put it in the Acts 5 review. That truth really came to me tonight as an answer to some work situations, home situations, etc. In a nutshell- blaming won't solve a problem, it only causes more. A far better approach is to come to agreement that an unpleasant situation should be avoided and seek to help each other (of all that are involved) of what each can do to act to prevent or support those actions. This can be done without blame and be successful if all parties are willing to participate.

I added the comment at the end of Luke 6, this also came to me today- how aften we fall short of our goal and promises.


Luke 6 Luke gives an account of the man with a paralytic hand being healed. Jesus calls him forward before the group. So we have healing where friends brought the lame to Jesus, healing where Jesus went to the lame and now a healing where Jesus calls the man forth. One interesting thing that jumps out in Luke's account is after asking if it is "lawful" to do good on the sabbath Jesus looks at ALL the crowd - who do not answer.
Luke gives the account of choosing the disciples, Jesus prayed all night prior to naming them. How many decisions do we stay up praying about all night to make sure we do God's will? We usually feel we "don't have time" or we "need our sleep".
Luke then gives the Beatitudes - people who are afflicted either poor, hungry, sad, hated are blessed. They are blessed because those conditions tend to drive people to God and He is there for them to find. Meanwhile those people who are content tend to lose sight of God and not seek Him.
I have lived verse 30 -"whoever takes what is yours, do not demand it back" Upon reflection my attitude in that situation needed work and it still does. I also tend to latch onto wrongs of that nature - God deliver me from that.
Verse 31 is the Golden Rule, which is often twisted to justify retribution.
Then some hard teachings if you deeply consider them. Love your enemies, lend expecting nothing in return- consider what God does for ungrateful men. In a sense we do lend to our children and don't expect anything back. We should consider everyone our children and that might make it easier to obey that scripture. In addition we are told that by the measure which we give will be the measure that is given back to us. How do you measure your giving, is it time, money, prayer, service, and what is your measure in each of these areas? In which area do you not want to receive?
Then at the end Jesus asks why we call Him Lord but do not obey Him. He illustrates two different reactions of those who come to Him and hear His word. There are those that come to Him, hear His Words, and acts on those Words- That person has a firm foundation that will stand the storms
that we all will face. Our other option is coming to Him, hearing His Words and not acting in which case the storms of life will be very trying. We will experience heartache, sorrow, depression, we will feel unworthy because we will realize we haven't followed His Words. It will affect our walk we will feel unworthy and like we let Him down. The good news is that He loves us, accepts us , and can use those storm catastrophes to draw us to Him. We're all unworthy and we cannot lose sight of that. Has anyone ever promised you something and then not delivered? Has the same person done it repeatedly? And you let him/her? In singing the lyrics to some Christian songs tonight I vocally voiced "to You alone I will always worship", and while I believe that and want that in my life, I sometimes slip into worship of more worldy things. So I know I fail Him. Anyone watching us and hearing our music and our singing, and then seeing us later as we fail Him will certainly come to the conclusion we are a bunch of hypocrits. God isn't willing to give up on anyone though, so he gives us far more chances than we ever deserve, and to the unbeliever I don't really know what to say. We are hypocrits, but yet the Person we follow is not. We all have sinned, and it is our nature (some will even admit it), but the Person we follow had no sin. We recognize His life, attitudes, and characteristics as the goals of our own.

I worked on my trail today, I really love the solitude and the views. I also took a picture of myself for the "profile" but it will also show up in this listing.

I've been thinking lately about all my friends and hoping good things for them. I have some friends, family, and I myself am going through some things. Its funny what we go through and i think its very important to remain positive. Of course that is difficult for me, because I have gotten very proficient at negativity over the years. Oh well I need to keep speaking positive outcomes, for my friends, family and myself. Even if I can't see the positive or envision it.

God spoke the world into existence, and we should follow that lead and speak the things we want. Of course some things we want we will realize is not the best thing for us, usually after we get it.

Mark 3 Another Gospel take on healing the man with the bad hand, Jesus then chooses His twelve disciples. Once He arrives home crowds come to Him to such an extent He doesn't have time or a chance to eat. They are wanting Him to heal them. His family comes to see Him thinking He has lost His senses. Later in the chapter he tells the crowd that His family are those who do the will of the Father. In other words relationship with God is more important than the blood relationships of the family. Abraham had this understanding in his willingness to sacrifice his only son Isaac. We cling to our earthly parents and family, but we should cling to our relationship with God. It is important to try and certainly a desire to maintain the earthly family relationships, but God must come first.
Chapter three talks about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The explanation the Pharisees offer for Jesus being able to consistently and completely cast out demons is that He is in league with the demons. Jesus instructs that kingdoms divided will fall. Then we hear the blasphemy talk. I take it that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit involves proclaiming that the Holy Spirit is an evil spirit. That is so counter to how I feel and how other people I know feel that it was hard to type. The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity so it is essentially a rejection of God Himself.

I'm reading in James and reviewing in the Gospels. It is amazing how the points I just wrote on tie into the points I just reviewed. One of the things I wrote tonight and that will later show up in this blog (hopefully) is about catching a vision of what God wants for your family, your work, every aspect of your life. I may have just said it better than I did earlier. I added what actions can you do to bring God's plan about, what is He leading you to do? My work seems to be more chaotic and my reactions are definitely in some cases not Godly responses but oh well only one Person is perfect, and it isn't me. I hope to ponder and reflect and catch a glimpse of His vision.

I also want to make sure I post a pic. Its a picture off of the trail I have adopted. It was recently ravaged by fire, but is coming back. Winter is approaching and the view was quite serene. When I took this I was out alone in the forest- no dogs, no helpers, just me alone with my thoughts and feeling small compared to the vastness of the world.

John 5 Again another twist in reading it chronologically (at least someone's opinion by chapter). Now Jesus is at the pool of Bethesda. He finds a man sick for 38 yrs - 38 yrs is a long time. He asks if he wants to be made well and the man informs Him he has no friends to put him in the water when it stirs. This contrasts the four friends of the paralytic who dug through a roof to get healing for their friend. God sees everything. Jesus told him to get up and take his mat. Later Jesus sees the healed man and tells him to stop sinning or something worse than a 38 year sickness may happen to him. 38 years is roughly half of the expected lifespan of humans. Generally we don't like to be afflicted with anything unpleasant for more than 5 minutes, imagine half a lifetime then imagine that the consequences of sin may lead to a lifelong affliction. People become paralyzed, and lose limbs and although God can fix their physical defects He may choose not to. His grace is sufficient and He wants us to realize that as He told Paul.
I often wonder about the miracles Jesus performed. In chapter five we see our answers He was so totally in tune with the Father, He understood His Father's will, and did what He saw His Father doing. What is God doing in the world right now? I think we lose focus and slip into what God is doing (or can do) for us. We have to be in tune with Him and want His will (Thy will be done), and not expect any personal gains. Jesus later says He does nothing without asking His Father. He judges based on what God tells Him and according to God's will. His human interests are in subjection and are not an influence. Oh that we could be like that. Now that He knows His Father's will, and asks Him what He should do, the miracles come and the miracles then testify in Jesus case that He was sent by the Father. In our case any miracles God performs through us testify to Him as well. We look for honor, and to be used by God we have to realize it is Him and give Him the credit for it.
John 5:39 people search the scriptures, they are looking for the secret code of eternal life. But the Bible points to Jesus, He is real and He has recorded written wisdom and and practical applications for everyday life.
Men's approval isn't what Jesus sought, but rather His Father's approval. He wasn't looking for honor but rather to do His Father's will. One day men will honor someone who seemingly has all the answers but they won't be God's answers. We should seek the honor that comes from God alone, which means we have to be a vessel He can use. This means we need to forget about our wants and agendas and seek His will, and ask Him what we should do. God does not need anyone of us to do His will, He will accomplish what he has purposed with or without our help. He wants us to have fellowship with Him, but He doesn't need it to accomplish His purposes. We need to be in fellowship with God to have fulfilled lives, but we don't naturally want that.

Matthew 12 This chapter contains another version of the disciples in the grain field which I previously discussed. Here is another Sabbath discussion Jesus asks "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?" People particularly the Pharisees interpreted the Sabbath rest as a day to not do anything related to making income. In a sense it is, and furthermore through Jesus illustration of the sheep in a pit people accepted the fact of protecting their wealth or income potential as OK. He is pointing out that helping others is more important than protecting income or wealth, and there is no "day off" from helping our brothers in need. God would rather see us show daily compassion to others rather than a sacrifice (which is usually interpreted as loss of income) to Him. In helping and serving others we are worshiping and sacrificing to Him.
The other point of this chapter is that God clearly states that a person cannot be "on the fence" in regard to accepting Him. "He who is not with Me is against Me; he who doesn't gather with Me scatters." I think that can be applied to us on a moment by moment basis. We need to be cognizant of serving God in ALL things, and further realize that if we don't have God with us and involved in our plans - we are working against Him. Now again we can erroneously build ourselves up by thinking that God needs us, or feel like He depends on our efforts, but we are small- a vapor compared to God.
Lastly I like the tree illustration good trees produce good fruit, bad trees produce bad fruit and trees are known by the fruit they produce. What kind of fruit are you (a tree producing), Are you producing any? Jesus in a later chapter checks a fig tree to find it isn't producing any fruit. My guess is that no fruit is the same as bad fruit, because we can't ride the fence. God should show you things (fruit) that He is producing through your willingness to serve Him. If you don't see any I suggest you reflect on your service and pray and ask Him for guidance. He may be waiting to tell you some things, and lead you into a better way.