Random Thoughts Tuesday

Kittens circa 1972-the most random image on my desktop.

The hurricane is tearing through the center-south of the US,a great example of God making the rain to fall (or wind blow) on the just and the unjust.
As many as will praise God for their salvation from the effects of the storm, others will curse God for the destruction of their homes, their way of life.

I am finding more blogs across the blogosphere which are delightful. More Christians are blogging, more conservatives are speaking out,and more idiotic ideas are being refuted and spoken to scorn. Proof again that order and focus win out over disorder and lack of focus. The allusion from the Bible is a house built on solid ground, rather than shifting sand.

I almost stopped listening to Marty Roberts for my health-with what he calls the Exile of the Jews from Gaza, and Israel calls "disengagement" Marty was understandably outraged, and I was getting worked up;I could feel my blood pressure rising, and that's not good, for me or Marty. I encourage everyone to go to his website, posted on my links, and find out what he's about. Now that the "disengagement" is done, he has calmed down a bit.

A bit more upbeat, we are looking forward to a 3 day weekend for Labor Day-it doesn't have the same signifigance as Veterans Day or Memorial Day, but it will be nice.
I hope you all enjoy a great 3 day weekend!

A Better Tribute

My apologies for the now deleted post-I wanted to create a tribute to the memory of those who died in the Beslan massacre, but my poor skills made for inelegant art-it looked terrible. This is better, just recording God's art as displayed in a sunset-this was taken a few days after the sunset in the earlier post. We can honor the memory of those who died at Beslan by never forgetting what happened, who was responsible,and praying that it doesn't happen again anywhere in the world. Maranatha!

This Is How The World Looks Today

Actually, this is how the world looked a few years ago at the beginning of Fall when I took this picture. The deer, hiding behind the first picture comes in a bit later.
As I’m looking out my window at that same scene, I think about what has changed; though you can’t tell from the picture, it was an apple orchard, with plum trees in the background. Since this picture was taken, we’ve cleared a few dying apple trees, and brushed back the tangle under the plum trees. Plums are about the easiest fruit to ‘harvest’-lay a tarp under the tree and shake. They are sweet; last year I brought plums in to work for a treat. Maybe I’ll do that again today.
The apple trees in the orchard are past their prime, possibly 90+ years old, and don’t do much anymore. Out in the field beyond the garden are younger trees full of ‘juice’. Last winter the deer would eat as many of the apples as they could reach, and then it was up to me to wade out through the snow with a pole and shake down more. We usually have deer in the yard each night, and we keep an area cleared through the winter to feed them,right about where I was standing when I took this picture. The deer have their regular
trails coming into the orchard, and while eating, often they would ‘hit’ each other, batting a greedy one with a stiff hoof.
This may seem like a different post from me; I just feel appreciative, knowing that things never stay the same, but they do. Though some day the orchard will turn from apple trees to the maple that are taking over, there will always be apple orchards. Though I may move on from here some day, I will always be 'home', and will remember this home fondly.

Random Thoughts Tuesday

Random thoughts Tuesday

(As if giving it a title makes it more official)

The flag of Israel is perhaps the most descriptive emblem among nations:
The “Star of David” has points defending the center in all directions, on a field of white which stands for Holiness, bands of blue above and below the Star designating Peace.
Israel is cupped in God’s Hand, and is Blessed as His Special Possession. Someone at peace with God will desire Peace for Israel, and for those whom God has given the land to: the Jews.

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I have found (remember...Random thoughts Tuesday) the nearly perfect cup of coffee. It is instant, it is strong, it is very good: “Ganocafe Classic”, from Malaysia. I found it in a Christian bookstore/mission, so it has to be good. All ‘fiends for the bean’ should look for it.

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I love to see creative endeavors undertaken-God instilled creativity within us-the first task given to Adam was creative: to name the animals God had made. le asked that Allan or I post one of her songs-and it’s a great song-the more creative we become in honoring God instead of ourselves, the closer we are to His heart’s desire for us. The world’s “creative” people generally focus all of their creative energies on themselves.

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Robert Benchley, in kindergarten, recited a poem his older brother Edmund had given him:

“My mother-in-law hath lately died,
For her my heart doth yearn
I know she’s with the angels now
‘Cause she’s too tough to burn.”

I was thinking about what to post with this picture.
Edgar Lee Masters, in his poetry work, “The Spoon River Anthology” had the late inhabitants of Spoon River sitting in their graves, talking, sharing, remembering their lives and what Life had done to them.
One of the blank verse poems I’ve always liked is spoken by a character commenting on his gravestone:

“George Gray

I HAVE studied many times
The marble which was chiseled for me—
A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.
In truth it pictures not my destination
But my life.
For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment;
Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid;
Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.
Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life.
And now I know that we must lift the sail
And catch the winds of destiny
Wherever they drive the boat.
To put meaning in one’s life may end in madness,
But life without meaning is the torture
Of restlessness and vague desire—
It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.”

A river has always had signifigance as a metaphor for life: water constantly moving, having both a beginning point and a destination; when we say still waters run deep, we are describing our inner movement, and our own 'deepness'. Rivers, especially the confluence of two or more rivers, have always been the starting points for societies,civilizations, all the way back to the Tigris and Euphrates. And an afternoon spent on a riverbank, just watching the water flow by, is a peaceful, pleasant afternoon.
I've always liked this picture; I took it back in 2001 when on a trip with my Lithuanian friends. As I've mentioned elsewhere, Lithuania is flat, and my friends had never seen a waterfall before coming to America. So, when we had a day off, we would go exploring, and found many beautiful memories for them to take back with them. Some of us bought digital cameras that Summer, and when each of them returned home, they carried our photos on cds, and I hope they pull them out from time to time and remember the great Summer we shared. Like a river, we've all moved on, and no longer keep in touch, but we will always remain friends who shared great times.

Is There a Rabbi in the House?

Another article is posted on the Internet telling of a prominent Rabbi-prominent in Russia-I had never heard of him-who recognises signs of the imminent arrival of the Messiah.
From a World Net Daily article: "Russian Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar believes the Earth will soon see the coming a Messiah to judge all mankind."
Of course I differ with the Rabbi in that I see the Messiah returning, having been here before. But I feel that Rabbi Berel is right-it will not be long before Messiah comes and wipes the Earth clean of all sin. That means sinners. Just as a Christian is indwelt of the Holy Spirit, all others are indwelt of sin. Just as only those indwelt by the Holy Spirit will be with our Lord in His Kingdom, those indwelt of sin will be the only ones who won't.
Some call us arrogant for believing in Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Master. To deny His titles is to deny Him. Any who think me arrogant haven't seen me when I've been humbled by my Lord. You can find fault with me and call me names all day, but it doesn't change the fact that you need Jesus Christ in your life, to free you from sin and give you a new life, a holy life, an eternal life of fellowship with Him. According to Rabbi Lazar it won't be long before Messiah comes to judge the World. Are you guilty? Are you fearful to stand before our Judge? I'll be standing in Judgement too, for all that I've done or not done. I will be faced with the evidence of my failures and sins-but then the slate is wiped clean, and I enter into His Joy, and remember my sins no more. That is the Judgement all believers will face. Our slate is wiped clean because we accepted that Jesus Christ dying on the cross in our place is seen by our Father God as an acceptable Sacrifice to blot out our sins.
I know how greatly God Hates sin-I wouldn't want to be Judged a sinner in His Court.

Bug

There's been talk recently about "Intelligent Design"-a creative force which constructed the all of everything. According to the Bible, we would know this Inteligent Designer as God, the triune God in three persons, who is our Creator
and should be Praised as such. Psalm 19:1 tells us of the evidence of our Creator: "The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." That same creative God puts as much beauty into a flower or a ladybug as He does the majesty of the heavens. And He instills in us an appreciation for beauty. I took this picture a few years ago in a park-if you think its pretty, as I do, thank God.

The Blest is Yet to Kingdom Come

Whenever things get kind of rough, and the world seems like it's going to hell,problems face me on every side,I turn to the end of the book to read the happy ending.
"1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

5And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7“He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son."
Praise God for Everything!

Time For a Pool Party!

In the Book of John Chapter 9, Jesus heals a man who is blind:"6When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing."
I've seen mention that that pool of Siloam has been discovered, and coupled with all the rest of what has been going on,it is an exciting time-we are looking for our Lord to return soon! I am so ready for His return, and will be rejoicing whether it's today or ten years from now, 20 years from now-no matter how long, we should all be joyfully expecting His return.

Wittier than I

I bow the knee to no man, but I must respectfully bow down again to Mark Steyn, who has more wit in his little typing finger than I do in my entire existence.
As I call this blog Fine Dry Wit, certain assumptions are made; i.e.-that funny stuff will show up sometimes.
Here you go:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/steyn/cst-edt-steyn07.html

Friday Friday Friday!

Today is a good day-it is my Friday at work, as I am taking tomorrow off-I have unused vacation that I have to use up before the end of the year. So three day weekend, even if I can't afford to go anywhere or do much.
I think God gives us little Blessings along our way, not just because He loves us, and wants to Bless us, but also to get us ready for Heaven, which will be like the best day of our lives that never ends, cubed, squared to infinity, and then doubled again. Heaven will be even better than that, or than I can express now. So God is getting us ready for Heaven living by Blessing our earthly living. Praise God!

Call it Mountain Gospel-close enough

I don't know that the Lord is going to take me soon, but I feel lead to post a song I wrote years ago, which is to be sung at my funeral. I don't dwell on death, and am hardly morose or morbid, but I wrote the song, and shared it with my friend Pam, who is much more talented musically than I am. We sang it in church once years ago, and she's promised to sing it for me...if needed. I think Jesus is going to be coming back soon, so,as it might be unnessesary, here we go.

"Cry no tears for me, when I'm gone.
I'm going home. Going Home!
The Lord said to me, You will be in Paradise
So cry no tears-I have no fear.
I could never stay in this world
Once I found someone Greater, Yes Greater!
And guess who He is?
I think you already know-
I'll be living face to face with my Creator!

Cry no tears for me when I'm gone.
I'm going home. Going Home!
When long days are over,
And mist has burned away
Then I will see
Eternity.
His Love is more than I can now express-
He Loved me, when I was just a mess.
He said, "New Life you can live
If your heart you truly give-
I did, and since I've been living Blest!"

Well, that's it. I was living in the South when I wrote it, further South than John D even! It's basically a country gospel song. I was listening to worship music of Don Moen tonight at work;he's very talented, blessed by God with an ear for simple, lovely worship songs.
I encourage anyone interested in Worship to check him out.
And to all a good night.

The Best Part of Waking Up

The Best Part of Waking Up in America is that I live in a land where I can Praise my God publicly, state my beliefs without fear of being beheaded or imprizoned, and can live and work in a beautiful land, blessed by my God.
There are Christians around the world who would be killed for Praising our God publicly, cannot state their beliefs without fear of being beheaded or imprizoned, live , work and are slaves, and are still Blessed by our God. God is greater than our circumstance-and He loves his children, and has not forgotten one of us, whether we live in America or are suffering in a North Korean gulag, being starved to death,worked to death, simply for holding onto faith in Jesus Christ. God has not forgotten them, and we cannot forget them either. I urge any who stop by here to visit:
http://www.persecution.com/
and, if you can, help support that fine organization. And never forget that if God has Blessed you, you should be blessing others.