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)
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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