Wed, Feb 22nd - 7:01PM
What I learned from my truck
I was driving around town doing some errands this
morning and got to thinking about the problems I’ve
recently had. Twice this year I have gone out to go to
work and found my truck with a flat tire (different
tire each time). One was so flat it came off the rim
and I had to replace it. It probably wouldn’t have
happened in the cold weather we’ve been having, except
I have a habit of not checking the air in my tires
regularly. I’m driving along the road and I realized,
I just drive my truck till I have a problem, then I
spent a lot of time and money fixing it. I don’t do
preventative maintenance. I realize this is a
generalization for me, and I’m getting better at it,
but over the years, this statement is true. I could
have saved a lot of time and money with just a little
preventative maintenance. Then it hit me, that’s so
true in the spiritual realm too! We just go along our
daily routine, going to and from work, running
errands, and letting the air in our spiritual tires
get low. We don’t get our spiritual oil changed, and
then we break down spiritually and we spend a lot of
time on our knees getting the problem fixed. Wouldn’t
it be nice if we all spent time with God on a regular
basis, for “preventative maintenance” instead of in
the shop, or pulled off along the side of the
spiritual highway broken down?
Just some thoughts from the road by Smokey the dog
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Sun, Feb 19th - 11:41PM
Drawing from the deep well
This Sunday brought to an end our pastor's sermon series "Refreshing Faith". I have really enjoyed it and hate to see it end. The pastor shared a story about a man and his grandfather's well. It was one of those old fashioned wells where you lower a bucket down to get water. This particular well was a deep one and never ran dry. It made a lasting impression on his boyhood. So when he had kids of his own he decided to take them out to the old homestead one day and show them the well he remembered from his own childhood. Well in the meantime electricity had come to the farm, and later running water and indoor plumbing. When he got there he found the old well covered up. He removed the cover and found a rope and a bucket, and lowered it down into the well. Instead of a bucket of cold refreshing well water like he remembered, he found that the well had gone dry! He later found out that this type of well was one where water gradually seeped in from the surrounding soil through tiny channels. As long as water was withdrawn from the well, water flowed to replace it, keeping the channels open. When the water stopped being taken out, the channels filled up with soil, and the well dried up. Don't be like the old well that dried up because of disuse. Keep drawing from the depths of God, and His infinite love.
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Tue, Feb 14th - 4:24AM
God's Valentine
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/5532/GodsValentine.gif
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Wed, Feb 8th - 7:12PM
A Tale of Two Kitties Aslan & Hobbes
along the same vein as the article below I was intrieged by the comparison of Aslan and Hobbes in this article from Christianity Tofay
A Tale of Two Kitties
Lovers of Aslan should heed the warnings from the creator of Hobbes.
by E.J. Park | posted 01/06/2006 10:00 a.m.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/002/5.68.html
Which cat do you like better," I asked my friend, "Aslan or Hobbes?" He hemmed and hawed for a bit, then replied, "Probably Hobbes." He explained that Aslan inspires his faith, but Hobbes—he paused, finding it hard to articulate his appreciation—"I mean, I love who he is to Calvin. He's just, you know; he's just awesome."
If you're a fan of Narnia, comparing Aslan to Hobbes may seem incongruous, if not sacrilegious. After all, Aslan is the Creator and ruler of Narnia, an obvious Christ-figure who sacrifices his life to save the undeserving Edmund. Hobbes is a stuffed tiger with a weakness for tummy rubs. As feline characters go, Aslan is far more serious than Hobbes.
Or so you would think.
With the film release of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Chronicles of Narnia has become a blockbuster franchise with numerous products and corporate tie-ins (McDonald's, General Mills, Virgin Atlantic, Oral-B, and Kodak, to name a few). On NarniaResources.com, a PR site intended to mobilize the church to consume and market the movie (à la The Passion of the Christ), you will encounter on the Frequently Asked Questions page the comforting logic of commercialism:
Q: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is a beloved property with millions of fans around the world. How will Disney marketing bring it to life without over commoditizing it?
A: The Walt Disney Company has many treasures within their vaults and is excited to add The Chronicles of Narnia to their legacy. Because of the devoted fan base and the popularity of the property, it makes sense to develop products and merchandise that allow fans to connect with the film on different levels for an immersive experience.
Of course, this is not really an answer. It is a refutation. Don't be irrational, says the pr site. It only "makes sense" to commodify the property for the good of the fans. Indeed, not to develop products and merchandise would be foolish and selfish. God forbid.
for complete article click on link
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/002/5.68.html
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Wed, Feb 8th - 6:53PM
What would Jesus buy????
I got this article sent to me in my weelky e-mail newsletter from Christianity Today.Here is an excerpt, for the rest click on the link
What Would Jesus Buy?
Saving the world one cashmere sweater at a time.
by Agnieszka Tennant
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/002/26.90.html
Ah, the seduction of sumptuous cashmere.
Lulled into a lustful stupor, I recently stood in the sweater aisle of an apparel store in Seattle and wondered, What would Jesus buy? Immediately, I knew the answer: Jesus would shell out $198 for the cashmere sweater that had me spellbound. Next question?
Just to be on the safe side, I counted off the reasons why this purchase would make the world a better place.
One: The pullover felt dizzyingly soft against the skin. (I'd stop here if I weren't a Christian.)
Two: The sweater felt just as easy on the conscience. The clerk informed me that the soft fibers had been combed gently—and not sheared—from the shedding underlayer of Kashmir goats on Mongolia's frigid high plateaus. Not only did the animals not suffer, they practically got a massage. Animal welfare: check.
Three: No harmful pesticides were used—so none seeped into the ground—as a result of the garment's production. Creation care: check.
Four: My purchase would move the world a little closer to ending poverty-level wages. The Mongolian herders—for whom the goats are a sole livelihood—were compensated fairly, the clerk said. Social justice: check.
Five: The sweater wasn't even for me. It was a gift for my husband. Magnanimity: check.
Six: I was sipping a cup of fairly traded coffee bought at an independently owned store that gives back to the community. Righteous intoxication: check.
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Sat, Feb 4th - 8:11PM
Divine Parenting
I got this in an e-mail some time ago. I thought I'd share it with you all.
Whenever your kids are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to God's kids. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.And the first thing He said to them was: "Don't."
"Don't what?" Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We got forbidden fruit? Hey, Eve...we got
Forbidden Fruit!"
" No way!"
" Yes WAY!"
"Don't eat that fruit!" said God.
"Why?"
"Because I'm your Creator and I said so!" said God, wondering why he hadn't stopped after making the elephants. A few minutes later God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry.
"Didn't I tell you not to eat that fruit?" the first parent asked.
"Uh huh," Adam replied.
"Then why did you?"
"I dunno," Eve answered.
"She started it!" Adam said.
"Did Not!"
DID so!"
"DID NOT!!"
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed. But there is a reassurance in this story. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give them wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble handling children, what makes you thinkit would be a piece of cake for you?
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Fri, Feb 3rd - 9:32PM
10 GUIDELINES FROM GOD
Effective immediately, please be aware that there are changes YOU need to make in YOUR life. These changes need to be completed in order that I may fulfill My promises to you to grant you peace, joy and happiness in this life. I apologize for any inconvenience, but after all that I am doing, this seems very little to ask of you. Please, follow these 10 guidelines
1. QUIT WORRYING:
Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?
2. PUT IT ON THE LIST
Something needs done or taken care of. Put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do list is long, I am after all...God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.
3. TRUST ME
Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me. Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.
4. LEAVE IT ALONE
Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple. You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know that if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.
5. TALK TO ME
I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me - OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family.
Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.
6. HAVE FAITH
I see a lot of things that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?
7. SHARE
You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.
8. BE PATIENT
I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.
9. BE KIND
Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical.
Please, know I love each of your differences.
10. LOVE YOURSELF
As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me. Love your neighbors. But also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget.
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Wed, Feb 1st - 2:32AM
are you polluted?
Our pastor used a demonstration on Sunday. He took a bottle of pure water, and poured various colored liquids into it (all drinkable). The result was a billious greenish brown color. The point was, that once you start sampling (other religions) it has an effect on you, and you are no longer pure. His wife is a school science teacher and she said once you add dye to water, you can dilute it, but no matter how much fresh water you add, the dye will always be there.
A sobering thought aplied to the spiritual realm, don't you think? The only way to stay pure is not to go dying ourselves with foreign religions, like the Israelites did. And if we do get polluted, confess it to Jesus. 1John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
And that's a good thing, cause we could only dilute our sin, not get rid of it, but the power of Jesus blood cleanses us completely.
AMEN!
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Name: Smokey the Dog
