Some Assembly Required

A modular home was being lifted into place last week in E&R's neighborhood, so of course I had to grab a few grand babies and walk over to have a look.  The kids loved the big crane and watching the workers climbing all over the structure to get everything to set in place.  It was fun to watch.  The two-piece house set perfectly on top of the basement walls.  The pitched roof consisted of a clever, hinged design that easily lifted up into place, and then there was also the pre-made front porch waiting to be attached.  Wow.  Instant house.

A good home, like a good house, requires some assembly.  A man and a woman fitly joined together and resting securely on the foundation of a common faith in God and His word.  Many problems on a construction site can be avoided if the laborers will only pay close attention to the blueprints and simply follow the plan.  God certainly has a plan for marriage; including your's.  If we try to put things together without consideration of the master plan, we will eventually discover that things don't fit very well. 

Chuck

Friday Favorites:

"The gospel does not prompt you to mere reflection; the gospel requires a response."

David Platt

Radical

"Thy Word" Wednesday

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Psalm 119:103

Poke It

After working in the yard the other day I noticed something crawling around the brim of my ball cap.  Not one to shy away from an opportunity to play with a bug, I allowed this inchworm to make his way around my hat while I got the attention of one of my grand babies.  "Poke It", I told her.  "See if you can get it to move".  Bugs are fun to play with, hours of enjoyment, and free entertainment. 

I hope I never out grow the wonder of my Lord's creation.

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” Proverbs 6:6

Chuck

Trapped

This has been the worst year ever for fruit flies!  Have you noticed that too?  Especially these past few day, they have been relentless in their peskiness.  I had all I could stand and headed to google for an answer to this miniature infestation.  Scrolling past all the "prevention" tips I landed on a page with some interesting inventions for ridding my kitchen of the invaders.

This device is simply constructed of a glass vase (any glass jar will do), a funnel-shaped coffee filter, a rubber band, and a piece of strawberry (any fruit would work).  A small hole in the bottom of the filter allows our little friends to enter but the shape makes it difficult for them to escape. 

The first evening I caught over 20 fruit flies, then an additional dozen last night (they are hard to count) and what you see is this afternoon's bounty.  I don't know where they are all coming from, but their "end is destruction, whose god is their belly".

You don't have to allow pests to fill your life for there is a very simple solution to their removal.  Our Lord reminds us of the forgiveness and cleansing available "if we confess our sins" and "if we walk in the light".  If something is bugging you, isn't it time to get rid of it?  The blood of Christ was shed for you and me so that we don't have to be destroyed in the trap of sin.

Chuck (198)

Friday Favorites:

“I want to put a ding in the universe.”

Steve Jobs

1955-2011

Wordless Wednesday

You Snooze, You Lose

Our trip yesterday to the Big City was long and tiring so when the train started heading across the Meadowlands I started heading off into la-la land.  A very dangerous practice, it is, to fall asleep in the company of someone with a camera at their disposal.  Don't I look comfortable?  

Just a reminder that someone is always watching.  Others are alert while may not be. So be on guard.  “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thess 5:6)



Chuck

Who?

Today was date day for my dear wife and I.  We headed to NYC via train and hit some spots a little off the tourist beaten path.  Chelsea Market, the Union Square outdoor greenmarket, and the garment district were all on the list of fun things to do today.  Since we arrived in town quit early we decided to head first to Rockefeller Center and see the Today Show being broadcast live.  As you can see in the pic we made it and caught a glimpse of the weather guy, Al Roker.  After he did his typical weather stuff he took a few minutes and interviewed this young fellow, whom I was clueless about.  There were folks all excited to see him, they were waiving, and holding up signs.  "Scotty, write your number on my hand" read one of them.  I soon found out that it was Scotty McCreery.  Who?  He was the latest winner of the American Idol show.  Oh, well.  I missed that one.

I suppose being famous has its ups and downs.  Some are remembered for weeks or months and sometimes years.  Infamous ones are often remembered longer.  But worldly fame and having your name in lights is dull in comparison to the knowledge of having your name written down in glory.  Crowns given out here in this world will soon decay so set you affection on things above.


Chuck

Siesta

End of summer siesta is officially over.  My seasonal sabbatical is complete.  It is Blog-tober the 1st and I'm back at it.  Sometimes you just run out of stuff to write about, or it may be better to say that I ran out of words to express myself.  Please note that men have a limited number of words, not only in their vocabulary, but also at their disposal for dialog.  I see the same situation in my grand babies.  My only grand son (AKA - Dave-the-man) limits his conversation to comments or questions centered around construction equipment.  "Pop pop, is that an excavator?"  Yet anyone of my grand daughters can carry on an extensive conversation about anything.  This now includes GB#6 (not even 18 month) who will sit on my lap, look we straight in the eyes, and babble several indistinguishable sentences.  If I don't respond she will repeat an identical babble-sentence.  She knows what she is saying, and she has plenty to say.

Well, I have stockpiled a mountain of mouthfuls.  Ready for another season of observation and application.  I know that words are important, and that some words should never be on vacation.  I'm thankful that the Word of Life never gets tired and so neither should I grow weary of "holding forth the Word of Life".  Thanks for reading my words.


Chuck (195)

"Thy Word" Wednesday

“Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.”

Proverbs 5:18

Late Bloomer

Flowers are always welcome in the yard, but I must say that I was surprised by their appearance last week.  While we are getting into a Fall State-of-Mind, the rose bush decided to bloom again.  I'm no horticultural expert, but it just seamed to me that the plant was done for the season, that it was getting ready for the winter and we wouldn't see any more flowers till the Spring. 

We have all met folks that were in a Fall State-of-Mind when it come to the ministry.  They serve God in short little spurts and then dry up for a while.  But then we have also seen those who we would expect to be slowing down after a long and productive life yet they are still flowering.  Although it's late in the season they have no intention of going dormant while there is life left in them.  Just one more rose before the Winter.

Chuck

Pennies from Heaven

"Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven", so the song goes.  Well I'm about sick of the rain part, but the penny part was fantastic.  We finished up our Church's Vacation Bible School on the day that hurricane Irene hit town.  There were a few outside things that were planned that had be brought inside, but other than that, it was a very successful VBS. 

Each year we have a bit of a competition between the boys and the girl with a penny offering.  There are many Churches that do the same and it always seems to enliven the group and helps to build the daily anticipation.  This year was no exception.  The girls did win with about 85 lbs as compared the fellows 76 pounds of pennies, but the real winner is the work of ministry when all those pennies (over $300) are sent to a missionary to help them with their work.  Amen!

Every little penny makes a difference.  Although each new penny weighs in at about 2.55 grams it only takes about 181 of them to make a pound.  Some young'ins brought in dollar bills and put them in the bucket, some brought in quarters, and dimes and even dollar coins, (No Chuck E. Cheese tokens this year) but for the most part, there were bucket-loads of pennies.  The smallest things that we can give, when added together with what is given by others, will assuredly add up and make a very substantial impact.  Never think that what you have in your life will not make a difference.  It all adds up to God getting the glory.


Chuck

You are what you eat

Last week was a real eye-opener for me concerning eating and running.  If you follow my Run Keeper posts you may have noticed that I've steadily increased the length of my runs, and longer runs require more energy to keep this body of mine moving forward.  Last week was very busy with VBS at Church but I still planned to have at least one long run.  So Thursday I ran ten miles and it was terrible!  Because of VBS I had not been eating sensibly.  Also that morning I woke up a little late and just had a hand full of dry cereal before I headed out the door.  Ten miles later I felt sick & wiped out.  That was the first time I had ever puked (graphic but true) after running and I was exhausted for the rest of the day.  In contrast, this week in preparation for my official long run I had a pasta dinner the night before.  I got up an hour before I ran and had a bowl of grits with honey.  Nine and half miles later I felt great, I had plenty of energy and could have kept going.  I'm telling you, it's all about what goes in you that determines what you can expect to get out.

So why do we starve ourselves of the Word of God so often?  Why do we fill ourselves with junk and then expect spiritual power when we need it?  Why do we rise up too late to spend the time we need to prepare for the long and trying tasks before us each day and then are surprised that we are exhausted and spiritually wiped out at the end of it?  Victory is all about what goes in to us, for that will certainly determine what we can expect to get when we need it the most.


Chuck (197)
φάτε τα ζυμαρικά

Friday Favorites:

Today's quote is from 1972 Olympic Marathon, Gold-Medalist, Frank Shorter (no relation):

"You don't run 26 miles at five minutes a mile on good looks and a secret recipe."




Chuck

"Thy Word" Wednesday

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

John 12:24-25

Thank You, Irene

The storm has past, the rain has ceased and the wind had diminished.  Hurricane Irene left us without power here in Pemberton Borough for over 20 hours, which is not too bad considering that some may not have electricity for days.  Yet I am very happy about the following things:

1. We have sunny skies and moderate temps for the next few days
2. There was a great turnout to help clean up at NTBC after the storm
3. In relocating all of our perishable we were able to weed out a lot
4. We decided to thaw out the cheese cake (finally!)
5. No TV, DVD, Wii, DSL, etc ...
6. Had an excuse to make a pot of percolated coffee

Storm clouds do have silver linings and greater still, the storms of our lives are back-lite by the Glory of our God.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28

Chuck

Friday Favorites:

The following quotes come for Lecture to my Students by C.H.Spurgeon, particularly from chapter 3, The Preacher's Private Prayer:

"Texts will often refuse to reveal their treasures till you open them with the key of prayer."

"If we cannot prevail with men for God, we will at least, endeavour to prevail with God for men."

"Great talents you may never have, but you will do well enough without them if you abound in intercession."

"The minister who does not earnestly pray over his work must surely be a vain and conceited man.  He acts as if he thought himself sufficient of himself, and therefore needed not to appeal to God."


Chuck

The Whole World

Last week was Family Camp out in Ohio with our friends the Frymans and the folks from Cornerstone Baptist.  Two of my boys and their families were able to go, as well as some others from NTBC.  I had a fantastic time of canoing, playing volley ball, and just plan relaxing.  For the past few years we have taken a slower approach to getting there.  Instead of driving straight through (8-9 hours) we have gotten a room about halfway across PA and spent the night, giving us a leisurely drive the next day.  To add more fun to the mix, we took GB's# 4 & 5 with us.  After arriving at the motel, riding the elevator to the 3rd floor and finding the room we drew the curtains back and this is what the kids did.  One of them said, "Wow, the whole world is out there!"

Yes it is.  There for us to explore, enjoy and engage with.  God warns us not to love it, but to love those who are in it.  He reminds us that we are in the world but not of the world.  Our Lord also has commissioned His church to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  Draw back the curtain and look, the whole world is out there.  Let's get started on the adventure of a life time.


Chuck (195)

"Thy Word" Wednesday

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 21:6

Know it All

Today my dear wife and I are on a road trip with grand babies #4&5. Let me give you a small glimpse of how it went: "Ummmm, mom-mom?"; "Yah Dave"; "Do tractors live in New Jersey?"; "Yes Dave."; "Oh, Ok". "Ummmm, pop-pop?; "POP-POP?"; "Yes Dave?"; "What's in chicken?"; "Meat!"; "Oh, Ok". Are you getting the idea? There had to have been, without any exaggeration, two dozen of these inquiries before we hit the Jersey Turnpike. Should I be amazed by his endless curiosity? For a 3 year old most of the world they live in is un-explored and fascinating.


Lord, open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Give me an endless passion to know more about my life in Christ. That I might know Him, that I might seek His face continually. "Ummmm, Lord?"

Chuck

Raindrops

3AM was the time that I woke up on Sunday when I heard the storm.  There were distant claps of thunder and a ever increasing pelting of rain against the window air-conditioner. I listened for awhile, dozed off and awoke an hour later to steady sounds of a downpour.  The storm literally lasted all day.  This is not an exaggeration or a hyperbole.  Now if I said that it rained cats & dogs that would be a hyperbole, but we'll leave the animals out of the conversation.  There was lots of rain.

Seeings that it was Sunday, my first thought was that attendance was going to be very low at church.  Have you heard the old saying?  "It takes 100 gallons of water to bring someone into a Baptist Church but only a few drops to keep them away."  Why do I do that to myself?  Should I preach any different if there were just a few wet souls in the congregation as compared a church-full of dry ones?  I've preach to just a pew-full the day after a snowstorm, and I've ministered in a few country churches where my family doubled the size of the congregation.  It's not about counting the people that you minister to, but ministering to the people that counts.

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night..."  Just deliver God's Word.


Chuck

Friday Favorites:

My favorite city to visit has got to be New York.  I went just a few weeks ago and I was there again today.  I hope to be there again in a few weeks.  I get to be the tour guide, the navigator, the subway director, or  what ever you call it.  I love that town.  I love the crowds, the noise, the packed subway cars.  I love walking through Central Park, listening to the street musicians, seeing people from all over the world.  I love eating at different places, there is every type of food imaginable.  I love the history, the art and the culture. 
I Love New York!
(Except the Yankees)

Chuck

The Shirt

This is the Logo on the new tee-shirt that I got last night at the 15th annual, Flying Pig 5K race.  Enjoyed the race, love the shirt!  I must admit that I signed up for this race for two specific reasons.  The first was that there was a "Piglet" race for kid and I thought some of my GB's would enjoy that.  Secondly, and admittedly, the primary reason for signing up was for the shirt.  When I first saw the flier for this one I said immediately, "That will be a cool looking shirt!"  I wasn't disappointed, it is a cool looking shirt.

The standard practice in these organized races are to supply a race-day shirt for signing up early.  I'm sure most of the cost is taken care of by the sponsors of the race (blatant advertisements on the back) but the shirts are normally of good quality and enjoyable to wear.  This is my 7th race shirt and I would say it has the most interesting logo.

I am very confident that the rewards that we receive in heaven for running "the race that is set before us" will be far superior to this Flying Pig shirt.  Yet the rewards of glory are not the reason that we run.  The goal is not simply to stack up crowns, like we pile up race shirts.  The reason we fight the good fight of faith is to Glorify God.  It's not about us and our achievements.  It's not about our abilities, our accomplishments, or our records.  It is all about Jesus Christ and Him being lifted up. 

“24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”
1Corinthians 9:24-25

Chuck (196)

Wordless Wednesday

My Ways

From the top of Barnegat Lighthouse you can see this smile Face.  From the ground you can make out the rocks and that there is a design intended, but the actual effect can only be seen from a proper distance.


So are the rocks in our lives.  Up close there are many bumps, sharp edges, and obstacles.  As believers we know that they are intended for something, yet we can't always see the proper image.  Our perspective always improves the higher that we climb.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Chuck

Join the Race

Ecclesiastes 7:8 tells us that "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof", and that was the case last Thursday morning.  At 5:30 AM, when we started our 13.1 mile run, it was dark and drizzly.  Although the rain kept the temperature down a little, it just made everything WET.  By mile 6 the rain had stopped and while we crossed the Jersey countryside on several farm roads, the sky stayed overcast, the temperature stayed down, and the run went well.

Jan, the young man in the picture, stayed in the lead the whole time.  There needs to be someone willing to push hard and stay strong till the end.  My son Tom had to be at work at 8, so he left after mile 7.  He didn't have to be out there in the rain but he was.  Thanks Tom.  The other gentleman, Daniel, had never run any type of distance race before.  Although he's in the military and is in relatively good shape, he only runs 3-4 miles during his PT.  I was amazed how well he did!  I'm glad he was there by my side those last 6 miles and especially the last 3/4 of a mile, which seemed to last forever.  Although Daniel is not an experienced "runner" he is a great encourager.  We had a half-mile left and we were both spent, but we just kept talking, joking and running.  We crossed the finish line together in stride.  We all can use that type of encouragement.

Join the race.  Someone will have a better finish because of you.


Chuck

Friday Favorites:

"Space," it says, "is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space"

Douglas Adam

Happy Birthday

Today "... and Counting" turns ONE YEAR OLD!  Blogs grow up so fast.  Thank you for being a part of this ever-developing exercise in cyber expression.  You have encouraged me to accomplish some much needed personal goals.  All of you who follow "... and Counting" regularly have provided me with a great deal of public accountability for which I am extremely grateful. 


This year's journey has ...

* ... Proven to me that I can not come up with 365 days of clever things to say. 

* ... Kept me looking at the events of my life and wondering what type of Spiritual Application could be found there.  What started off as, "That'll Blog!", developed into "That's a Blessing".

* ... Taken a medical trip through my annual check-up, my "every-5-year" colonoscopy, and my poorly diagnosed knee pain & re-hab.

* ... Logged a lot of miles jogging in Jersey, as well as Louisiana, Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York.

* ... Tread on graveyard sod to say "Fair Well For Now" to a dear servant of the Lord.

* ... Seen Grand Babies grow and do a bunch of really cute things worth Blogging about.  I Love Being a POP-POP!  Could you tell?

* ... Given me a opportunity to share many of my "Favorite" things on Fridays.  I've really enjoyed that.

* ... Kept me looking for good photo ops. 

* ... Encouraged me to drop a few pounds.  One year ago I weighted 239.8 pounds.  This morning after running I weighed in at 191.0!!!!  My BP is down to normal and I'm feeling great!  In case you never noticed before, at least once a week I would post my weight, very small, next to my name. 

* ... Helped me to focus more closely on all the Blessing which my Lord has given me: My dear wife, who has been my very best friend since I was 15 years old; my 4 children whom I love so much, and still kiss on the checks (even the hairy ones); and my 6 (... and Counting) beautiful grand children.  God has been so good to me.

Well Happy Birthday to "... and Counting"

One year old ...


Chuck (191.0)

"Thy Word" Wednesday

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:20

The Stalk

I had to get a picture of this.  I know it's not the best shot, but all I had was little iPhone.  If you look close you can see a lone cornstalk growing amongst the soybeans.  All by itself, rising up over the crowd, not being intimidated or hindered in any way.  I think that will preach!

The child of God often finds himself in that situation.  You may be "The Lone Christian" in your work place or classroom or neighborhood.  So don't just blend into the beans.  Rise up Christian; grow tall, stand out in the crowd.  Don't stoop to being a soybean when you're a cornstalk covered with ears that are full of kernels.  Let everyone see your fruit and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Chuck (195)

Friday Favorites:

Some of my favorite Bible Verses:

1. Ephesians 2:8-9 was preached the night I saw my need for salvation and put my trust in Jesus Christ and asked God to save my lost soul.

“8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.” 

2. 1 Corinthians 10:13 was the first verse that I ever memorized.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 

3. Romans 12:1-2 was preached the night that God called me into the ministry.  I remember that night as clear as if it happened yesterday.

“1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

4. Ephesians 4:11-12 was a passage of scripture that God showed me when I started pastoring.  I had asked Him to help me focus on what I needed to do in the ministry.

“11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"

Do you have a favorite?


Chuck

Old Bay

The other afternoon was beautiful so I decided to sit outside on the boat dock while I did some needed reading.  About a half of chapter into it Bro. Berny walked down to the dock with a white, five-gallon bucket in his hand.  "I need to check my crab traps" he said, and he asked if I wanted to handle the net in case any tried to escape.  That sounded great to me.  I hadn't been crabbing in years.  He pulled up the first one, which was attached to the side of the dock where I had been reading.  You could tell by its condition that this trap has been in the business for a long time.  Twisted wires and bungee straps held together panels of moss covered grates, yet with all those years of operation the devise still served its purpose; there were crabs.  Eight in all had found their way to the fish head, but only three were "keepers", which was perfect; one for Bro. Berny, one for Sis. Cindy, and one for yours truly!

As you can see, those blue claws are about to have their lives spiced up.  The smell of Old Bay seasoning invokes wonderful memories of many crab feasts, but it isn't a great experience for the crab, it's the smell of death, as with various activities in many peoples lives.  Some love the smell of beer but the brew will eventually destroy their liver, or their family or their life.  It's the smell of death.  The smell of burning rubber may be evidence of a fast car on a city street until that young man who is showing off meets with a tragic end.  Be careful of what smells attract you, they may end up being the smell of death.  Your Death!


Chuck

"Thy Word" Wednesday

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:12

Don't Bug Me

The sun was rising over the Moriches Bay the other morning.  The air was cool and the birds where singing.  It was beautiful.  I hate to spoil the view, but the mosquitoes where terrible.  Why do those little pests have to ruin all the pleasant moments?

Sin always shows up when we are enjoying the pleasures of God's creation.  The life-sucking parasite reeks havoc on everything it can.  We need the repellent of prayer and the Word of God swatter.  That pests will always be around but we don't have to let them land and bite.

Chuck

Friday Favorites:

My favorite place to run is OUTSIDE.  Treadmills work in a pinch, but they are not my thing.  It just seems like such an unproductive exercise, lots of sweat and you get nowhere.  Reminds me of some jobs I've had in the past.  Come this winter, when there's 20" of snow on the ground and the temperature is 14 below I may be tempted to drag our collapsible treadmill out of the corner, but for right now I'll take the fresh air, the sun, and the open road.


“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:”
1 Corinthians 9:26



Chuck (195)

"Thy Word" Wednesday

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” 

1 Corinthians 9:24

Super Tool

The grass needed to be cut today, no matter what the temperature predictions were.  I started early to beat the heat, but 15 minutes into the weed harvest I broke my mower.  The pull start sting snapped right at the starter clutch and so I had to rip the top off my mower.  It's a relatively easy fix ... if you have the right tools!  I couldn't find my 1/4" drive ratchet anywhere (Sorry if this term is too technical for you.  Simply replace it with 'Thing a ma jig'.)  Since it was only going to get hotter if I waited, and since the lawn was half cut, I really needed to get 'er done.  So I reach for my "Super Leatherman" and figure out what to do to get my mower apart.

This has got to be my favorite tool in the toolbox.  I can do just about anything with it, and have:

 * Gutted a deer and many squirrels
 * Re-wired several rooms in my house 
 * Trimmed drywall and molding
 * Cut down a Christmas Tree
 * Cut & bent Ductwork
 * Installed several doors
 * Auto, bike & weed-eater Repair

I think you get the point.

The Bible is the greatest tool that you can have in your toolbox.  It is so versatile that it can be used to fix your Marriage, your Finances, your Family, and your Eternal Future.  You can carry it everywhere and it requires little if any instructions to begin to use it and see immediate results.  It's light but indestructible.  It's design in simple, practical and will fit countless applications.  If you were ever stranded in a hostel world, I would recommend that if you could only have one tool, bring your Bible along.

Chuck

All Rise

Here I was, sitting in an airport in Shreveport, LA.  The clock was striking 12-Noon and an announcement comes over the P.A.; "Will you please stand for the playing of our National Anthem."  I had never heard that one before, with the exception of baseball games.  What was equally surprising is that everyone that I could see stood and faced the flag the was hanging from the rafters in the center of the concourse.  Even those who were walking to security or heading to the only food joint in that airport all stopped and waited for the music to finish.  Oh, and no one shouted "Play Ball!" either.  I can't image that happening in the Philadelphia International Airport, and if it did I don't suppose too many folks would stop or stand.  

As we should honor our Nation so should we honor our Lord.  There are time that we should stand when His Word is read, we should pause before we eat to say a word of thanks.  We should stop our work week on the Lord's Day and give Him our undivided attention.  Just as Patriotism is never out of style so we should never grow weary in Honoring our God.


Chuck (197)

Friday Favorites:

"If you don't take the time to be healthy, you'll have to take the time to be sick."

wellnesswork/bloomfire.com

Wordless Wednesday

(Yes I know it's Thursday ... I took Yesterday off)

The Home Stretch

This Blog seems to be turning into a runner's Blog, but that's what I've been doing a lot of lately, running.  The home stretch is defined as the portion of a racetrack from the final turn to the finish line, it's where the runner has the end in sight.  I have the finish line in view in a few areas of my life right now.  Last year, at this time, I was about to turn 50 and was 50 pounds over weight and dealing with the possibility of starting blood-pressure medicine, today my BP is around 122/71 and I'm 7 pounds from my goal.  Last year at this time I couldn't run a whole one mile, yesterday I ran 11, next week I plan to run 12 and, if all works well, I want to run 13.1 miles on my morning of my birthday.  That's the distance of a Half Marathon.  Some of my kids and I have ran in five races since March and are planning on a race each month through out the year.  Yes, if I can find some Winter ones I plan on running.  It is a good feeling to have the finish line in sight.

Yet with a any race, once you cross that line you don't hang up the shoes and stop running.  You look for the next track, the next race, the next challenge.  When the Apostle Paul said "I have finished my course" he wasn't anticipating retirement from the ministry but the sword of the executioner, because only physical death should stop the child of God from serving his Lord.  Find a race, train and complete it.  Set another goal, another challenge, work towards a good finish, collect the tee-shirt and move on to the next. We are always rounding another turn on to the Home Stretch.


Chuck (197)

Big Dog

This morning whilst running through Birmingham (NJ not AL) I had quite the surprise when this VERY big dog comes running across a lawn, barking and heading straight for me.  No, there wasn't a fence, and no, the owner was no where is sight.  I thought I was a going to be breakfast.  The big guy was only 20 feet from me when he came to a complete stop.  The barking continues and he followed me along the property line until I was around the corner.  I'm sure he was proud of warding off a stranger, and I was relieved that I still had my arms and legs.

I could see a small black box on the dog's collar, so it appears that there was an invisible fence around the perimeter of the property.  Fortunately for me that dog knew and respected his limits.  When we understand and respect the limits that God sets, everyone wins and no one gets hurt.  We don't run off and get lost or cause a mess in someone's life.  Everybody benefits when lines are defined and limits are enforced.  


Chuck (196)

Friday Favorites:

My FAVORITE Fast Food Restaurant is Chick-Fil-A.

I never went to one growing up, never really knew they existed until one of my wonderful DIL's suggested it.  She is not a red meat eater but chicken sandwiches are on her menu of eatable items.  After my first visit there I fell in love with the place.  We seldom hit the Burger joints any more, nothing against them, but those chicken sandwiches are great.  Oh and they're also healthier.  And besides all that, all Chick-Fil-A franchises have a policy of not opening on Sunday.  The founder of the chain, Trueet Cathy, has stated that the business exists "To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."  Sounds good to me! 

"Eat More Chicken!"

Chuck (194!!!!)

Sock Monkey!

This PIC is from GB#2's birthday dinner the other night at Chick-Fil-A, and you can see clearly one of the presents that she received, a Sock Monkey.  She has a few of them already but one is worn out and another is pink, so she was excited to get another "Real" Sock Monkey as a replacement.  There are lots of people who take this Sock Monkey thing seriously.  There are web sites, there is a Facebook page that you can "Like", there are festivals to attend and different exhibits found in various museums.

Anyone can take the simplest item, or the strangest ideas and create a cult following.  A few examples: The Flying Spaghetti Monster, L. Ron Hubbard's Church of Scientology, and of course the latest fiasco from Harold Camping.  These examples runs the gamut from Bazaar to Blatant disregard of the truth.  God is not a fictitious creature of imagination, nor a θ (theta), nor do His truths need to be discovered through the engineering calculations of man's wisdom and education.  Some people will bow down to the strangest things.  “Then said Jesus ... If ye continue in my word ... ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)  Monkey, Madman, Mathematics or Messiah ... Think before you bows.

Chuck (198)

"Thy Word" Wednesday

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” 

Psalm 33:12

SPAM

I hope you don't consider my Blog to be that, but I do hope that you will pause a few minutes to recognize that on this date, back in 1937, the Hormel Food Corporation introduced SPAM into the food markets of America.  Happy Birthday to you! All kidding aside, I like SPAM.  We often ate it when I was a kid.  Mom would slice it for sandwiches or we would fry slices up for breakfast along side of eggs.  It is also great for dicing & mixing into an omelet.  Yes I know the jokes: Some People Are Missing; Yes I've heard the Monty Python Skit; Yes I've read the ingredients.  But I still like SPAM.

Hormel has been able to market this product all over the world and it has caught on in many different countries yet one of the down sides for SPAM here in the US has always been it's price.  It is manufactured cheep and sells for cheep.  You may ask, 'Why is that a down side?'  Many folks in this country believe that it's poor people food. 

There are many people that have the wrong opinion about true, biblical religion.  There are no thrills, there is no extra cost.  It's simple and easy to practice, so basic that even children can take part in it.  Many have said that religion is just a pacifier for the poor.  Too many people would rather make fun of it instead of partaking in it.  The cost of this faith is low because the price has already been paid by our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  The way is simple because that is God's way of making available to whosoever will come.  Simple faith.  Nothing extra needed.

Chuck

Friday Favorites:

This week's 'Friday Favorite' is a quote from one of my grand daughters.

"I know everyone that I know.  But I don't know strangers."

GB#3

Thai

My dear wife and I have been on a Thai food kick for a few years now.  I can't remember exactly when it started but I'm sure it was related to some missionaries somehow.  When ever we are in a new area, traveling through a State, off visiting someone, we google "Thai Restaurant" just to see whats around.  This past weekend we were heading over to Philly, for a date, to a restaurant that I found online call Lemon Grass (very Thai name!).  Joyce was checking the website out whilst I was driving and noticed that they closed after lunch and wouldn't be open till 5.  It was 3:30!  Another google attempt found another spot just 10 minutes up the road, so off we go.  First observation: No one else in the place, bad sign, but it was early.  Second observation: The waiter was NOT oriental, he was Albanian.  He told us that his wife was Thai and that his daddy-in-law was the cook.  OK, we'll see.
 

That was the best Thai food that I ever ate!  Wow, I felt like licking the plate after I finished eating.  We had the mango & sticky rice for dessert and it was spectacular also!  Note to self ... Judge the restaurant by the food not the facade.  Works with people also, the appearance may not be in accordance with expectations but the substance may be spectacular.

Chuck

Debt

I was in NYC today, my favorite BIG city, meeting up with one of the missionaries that our Church supports.  Bro. Paul Morrison is getting a ministry started in Fishkill, NY and we got together today at Time Square for lunch.  After eating a Rubin on Rye with ginormous onion rings, we headed around the block for some coffee.  About a block off of Broadway, somewhere around 44th St. we ran across this 'National Debt Clock'.  Wow, that's a BIG number, 14.8 trillion bucks, and still counting.  The other number is the amount that each household in the US would have to contribute to pay off that debt.  Should I write a check?

This reminded me of the debt that I owed.  No, not of dollars & cents but of sin & death.  I was in debt so deep to God that an eternity in hell would not even begin to pay the interest.  BUT ... 'by his own blood he (Jesus) entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us'.  Paid in full!  The Blood of Jesus was enough to pay for ALL of my sins, and yours too.  If you are trying to settle your debt with God any other way, you will eventually be eternally bankrupt and cast into hell.  There is no possible way for you to square things up with God, so He has taken care of your sin debt through His Son, Jesus Christ.  'For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.'  I hope that you have received this precious gift.

Chuck