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)