No such thing as "Call Waiting"

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

- Galatians 5:13

Even before In the beginning ...

God is love.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

- Deuteronomy 7:9

But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

- 1 John 2:5-6

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

- 1 John 4:8

Got sand?

The argument that "There is no empirical proof that God exists; therefore God does not exist" is wildly popular, and seems entirely sufficient for the folks who embrace it.

But God preceded human logic; that means he gets to make the rules.

Every one of them.

---

Imagine you've got a bucket of sand. Grab a handful, and let it slowly slip out through your fingers. Imagine each grain of sand represents a universe the size of our own. Then think about all the grains of sand contained within each one of those universes, and imagine that they're all universes, too.

Pretty big, eh?

Now remember that God is infinite, and that Graham's number of universes squared doesn't come close to representing a microscopic speck of what Infinite means.

---

Trying to prove "God does not exist", based on the limitations of man-made words and concepts, strikes me as as intellectual arrogance.

Mr. and Ms Atheist, you're just not that smart ... and God is much, much much too big.

every post fails every day

Regular regulars may have noticed that posts are sometimes followed by quotations from scripture.

I don't tack on scripture to prove that my voice is authoritative, or to come across as a know-it-all. My voice, my opinions and all the posts you see here, are totally, completely, absolutely and ultimately inadequate.

The scripture verses included in my posts are here as markers, or guide points, that will hopefully draw your attention away from me ...and toward what God himself has said and is saying through his living word.

Origins

I've wondered a lot about how Jesus, literally God's son, could willingly allow himself to be crucified, a truly horrific death, to save anyone who believed in him.

I've also wondered who I'd be willing to be flogged for and be crucified in place of, rather than see them endure the same torment ... and frankly, there aren't many. And there's fewer still who I'd be willing to die for knowing that they'd still scorn, reject and mock my sacrifice and the agony I'd endured on their behalf.

What's the difference between me and Jesus?

Jesus was human, after all, just like me ... so what did he see that I can't?

Well, Jesus was perfect and without sin for starters ... so I'm not sure I can even begin to imagine anything that comes close to explaining why Christ loved us as much as he did ... and does.

---

A few weeks ago I saw a mother duck scramble up a rock embankment to protect her babies from a dog. Even though I was a long distance away, it was such a spectacle that more than a handful of people walking the Promenade (a sidewalk along the waterfront) turned and stopped ... as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Mommy meant serious business.

The dog, I'm guessing, was merely curious ... about lots of things ... and wasn't expecting to be whipped up on as the object of Momma Duck's wrath.

So guess who backed down and slunk away?

I thought the folks standing around watching to see what Mom might do would actually start applauding.

----

The closest I can imagine to answering why Christ willingly chose to sacrifice himself on our behalf comes back to Love.

Being totally human, yet being totally divine at the same time, Christ knew perfectly and divinely that we are imperfect and weaker than we believe possible; that no matter what else we might think, we are totally helpless, unable to save ourselves ... and are completely useless without him.

Who's your go-to guy?

What's a "go-to" guy?

A go-to guy is a problem solver ... the guy you can always count on to find a solution.

I think the term originated in professional football and was used to describe the one tried n' true receiver, the player who the quarterback can fall back upon for a guaranteed catch if the called play suddenly begins falling apart and threatening the offense with a loss.

-- --

If real-life could be depicted as a football offense, the starting line-up might look something like this:

Quarterback - You

Center - Career

Guards - Ambition/Goals

Tackles - Anger, Wrath, Self-righteousness

Tight End - Marriage/Relationship

Running backs - Social Contacts & Connections

Wide Receivers - Material Possessions

Wing Back - Bank Account (your go-to guy)

Punter - God

So long as the offense is moving why spend too much time thinking about punting and Special Teams, right? So long as you're reading the defense and your team's gobbling up real estate and marching toward the endzone, why bother having a punter at all?

Then let's say it's 2nd and short and your Social Contacts fumble the ball. Now it's third and long, obviously a passing play, which the Defense (Sin) reads perfectly ... and your Bank Account drops the ball. Time to run a fake or a quarterback sneak? No, you recognize it's finally time to (reluctantly) call in your Punter to take the heat off your offense.

Sorta hope the Punter hears your personal snap count when it's time to hike the ball, don't ya?

Might be time to think about swapping a few players into some different positions ... before the game counts down to the two-minute warning.

After all, there's no such thing as a tie in sudden-death.

We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will.

- John 9:31

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.

But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.

- Isaiah 59:1-2

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

- James 5:16

Learn how to drive, hon!

- Thursday blog lite

From Allstate Insurance, a list of the ten worst cities for automobile collision risk:

1. Washington, D.C.
2. Baltimore, MD
3. Glendale, CA
4. Hartford, CT
5. Newark, NJ
6. Philadelphia, PA
7. Elizabeth, NJ
8. Providence, RI
9. San Francisco, CA
10. Los Angeles, CA

-source here

A Man in A Room in The World

Ever heard it said, "So-and-so is so honest, you could let them walk through your house with a thousand dollars sitting out in the open, and he (or she) wouldn't touch it."

As far as compliments go that's pretty good ... but is it good enough?

How about this: "So-and-so is so trustworthy, he (or she) could be alone in a room all night with your spouse and nothing would happen."

You probably have friends who're that trustworthy, but let's take things a little bit further.

"So-and-so's faith is so great, he (or she) could be locked in a room piled high with stacks of hundred dollar bills, three super-models and a suitcase filled with drugs and alcohol and nothing would happen."

Wow, now that's a bold statement, isn't it? I think I've got some friends whose faith is that great.

But did you notice how the third example was a little different? The period of time changed ... to a weekend ... two half-days and two full nights. That means So-and-so is likely to get thirsty, and probably a little hungry, too. And this time the hypothetical room's locked, too.

So where's So-and-so gonna get nourishment? Maybe the super-models are plush with burgers and bottled water, and maybe they're not big fans of sharing ... but they are big fans of negotiating. What's So-and-so gonna do?

And what about boredom? Without TV, books or the web, So-and-so is probably gonna start looking for a distraction ... entertainment ... to ease the tedium.

If you feel like hollering "I could stay in a room full of cash and tranquilizers, pain pills and alcohol with three members of the opposite sex for an entire month and promise not to touch any of them," go stand in front of the mirror and slap that self-righteous scowl off your face.

Then think about this: maybe I missed mentioning your favorite sin, but you're already staying in a big room called the World.

See, the World's got more cash and more sexual temptation and more drugs and mind-numbing sensations than would fit in a room the size of Fort Knox. The World's a big place chock-full of big temptations ... and whether you're hungry for nourishment, entertainment or pleasure the World's willing to step forward and make it available.

It's just a matter of time.

--- ---

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

- Pslam 119: 9-11

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

- 1 Peter 2: 2-3

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."

But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

- John 4: 31-34

Passionate, Passion-not, or just Passing By?

It's not a coincidence that people making an impact in their field are passionate about their calling.

They're the ones who're committed, dedicated and determined to keep going ... no matter what the weatherman, the pundits, the experts, the critics, the bloggers or the know-it-alls, happen to forecast for the future.

At the opposite end are the Passion-not people; they show up and participate because they're supposed to ... but secretly could care less whether the goal is achieved, just so long as working on and participating in the project gives them a platform (to look down from, and keep their hands from getting dirty by actually partcipating and becoming involved) for their input, opinions and advices.

And because they're skilled at steering clear of hand-on involvement, Passion-not people are cheerfully willing to offer their criticism and sarsasm instead.

Then there's those who are neither Passionate nor Passion-not.

The folks who're Passing By are usually found among the new faces, the recent additions who're about to pop with excitement and enthusiasm ... at first, anyway. Then for whatever reason, they start remembering that no matter how hard they participate or devote themselves to the goal, their needs go unnoticed and their personal ambitions and expectations remain unfufilled.

Feeling rejected, misunderstood or that their immeasureable talents are being wasted, they withdraw from the task, brood and get moody ... neither quitting nor committing to the goal ... but not turning down a pay check, either. Basically, within a short period of time, they're merely "present" ... and taking up space in the background.

Co-workers or teammates might think a Passer-By has fallen asleep on the job, but they're actually playing possum ... always keeping one eye open for the next Best Opportunity to come along.

Life onboard a dinghy

One of the first differences I noticed between boats here and the boats I was accustomed to seeing was that almost 100% of the vessels over about 35 feet have dinghies ... small inflatable or hard-bottom boats with outboard engines. Dinghies are considered a "must" because they're used as tenders, for running back and forth to shore.

Like, for the times when you're anchored out in your favorite scenic cove or inlet over a long weekend, but still need groceries or supplies.

Occurred to me a few minutes ago that while there must be literally hundreds and hundreds of dinghies around the marina, I've never seen anyone living onboard their dinghy. Nope, not once.

They're all inside their air-conditioned yachts, watching their favorite shows or movies on their 65" plasma screens. Or enjoying the jacuzzi on the upper deck. Or grilling steaks on the foredeck.

A dinghy has none of those and never will; it's simply to small to contain them.

Trying to live onboard on a 8-foot long dinghy when you've got an awesome 65-foot cabin cruiser waiting just an open door away just doesn't make much sense.

--- ---

But sometimes believers will try to live their lives that way ... in a cramped, uncomfortable enclosure, totally exposed to the elements ... because they're unwilling to receive the gifts God has offered us in his grace.

Must be tough living in a dinghy, wouldn't you think? Especially by choice ... when you don't have to.

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

- Matthew 6:31-33

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

- Romans 5:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

- James 1:17

So, I hit my thumb with a hammer

Well, not recently ... though I have in the past (and probably will again). Thing is, when I have hit my thumb with a hammer I didn't start painting my elbow with iodine or think it'd be a good idea to wrap my big toe with a band-aid.

Guess what else? The last time I got a splinter in my foot, I didn't rush to the phone and make an appointment with a dentist to have a tooth pulled. And the last time I had a stomach ache I didn't reach for the poison ivy lotion.

I mean, that's common sense ... right?

---

I'm not sure anyone could count the number of ways people have dreamed up to fix what feels broken inside. Whether it's drugs, alcohol, sex, deceit, materialism, pride, pornography, wrath, greed, pride or foul language, seems like folks are constantly inventing new solutions to make the old pain stop ... or at least, to make it go away and give them peace for a little while.

Kind of like putting drops in your eyes after you've just had your leg burned off in a fire.

Doesn't make much sense to ignore the source of the pain, does it?

- from July 2, 2009 11:59pm

I wanted to go to bed, but then ...

This occurred to me:

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.

Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts 15:36-41

Back in Acts 13:13, upon arriving in Pamphylia, John had left Paul ... and Paul was still a bit upset over John's desertion. In fact, Paul was so angry that he and Barnabas actually "parted company."

We don't know why John Mark chose to leave Paul in Pamphlia; the Bible doesn't offer any explanation. But we do know that on the one hand, the Apostle Paul could steadfastly insist that circumcision wasn't required for Gentiles ... yet on the other hand, apparently Paul could also be stubborn ... or even have his feelings hurt ... over unimportant details.

-----

Several months ago I read a blog disparaging John Mark as an example to be avoided, written by a pastor who used him as an illustration of what happens to those who "fall away." This writer went on to marginalize John Mark as a quitter who'd "missed out" on the opportunity to participate in the glory of Paul's ministry throughout the Mediterranean ... and that also meant any opportunity to do good works for the Kingdom.

According to the blogger, once John Mark chose to leave Paul, even if it meant losing a ministry with Barnabas, Paul was so angry and disappointed over the apparent betrayl that he was forever done with John Mark.

But apparently, and this is what the pastor-blogger missed completely, the Holy Spirit was not.

-----

Today we know John Mark better as simply Mark ... the author of the gospel bearing his name.

This is how I got cussed out and called bad names at the grocery store

- from July 2, 2009 11:16PM

I was just a few steps away from the grocery store's door and the elderly woman, on her way out, was pushing her loaded cart toward me on the sidewalk.

I moved to my left to get out of her way. She instantly jogged her cart to her right.

Thinking it was the typical, no-problem & simultaneous mis-communication, I stepped back to my right. But she swerved back hard to her left soon as I did .... nearly knocking me over before I could get out of her way.

She'd intentionally tried to hit me ... but before I could process what that meant, the real venom and fury came flying from her mouth.

Which I'll merely describe as an amazing 15 second liturgy of lightning fast invectives, expletive gerunds and 4-letter perjoratives. Aimed entirely and personally at me.

Sure I'd heard every one of those words before, just never assembled in such imaginative and blistering combinations. Wowee, as they say.

I didn't say or do anything but walk away as her curses bounced off my back ... but like you know, Yikes.

What gets in to some people?

--- ---

I found out later that this woman is notorious for her behavior ... which often include graphic threats of physical harm and sexual dismemberment. I also learned that she's homeless and mentally ill. And that she treats everybody the same way she treated me.

So it wasn't personal at all. In fact, I'm pretty sure she'd forgotten all about me by the time she let loose on whoever happened to next cross her path.

So there was no problem at all letting go of it.

--- ---

We call folks who imagine evil intentions from others and who then verbally attack and insult strangers "mentally ill." But we have different names for folks who imagine evil intentions from and who then verbally attack and insult people they know.

We often call them "friends," "spouses," "bosses," "teammates," "boyfriends," "girlfriends," "co-workers" and "family members."

It's much harder, but our reaction should still be the same: Let go of it.

"Oh No, I Never Would ..."

Remember in the Old Testament how Job was minding his own business, living his upright life ... fearing God and shunning evil? But then what happened?

-- -- --

Falling has been on my mind a lot over the past week. Seems like there's been so much of it recently; kinda makes you wonder what's going on.

I'm jumping straight to the point: We live in the world and because we're in the world, we're gonna be faced with temptation. And neither you nor I has enough imagination to predict what form it may come in next. I think that's worth remembering.

A Frontal Assault on a seemingly impregnable fortress seems heroic, but a smart enemy never attacks a superior force from the front. Instead, he cunningly relies on stealth, misdirection ... and all-out surprise.

---

None of us, not you, not me, not your pastor and not anyone else is invulnerable to temptation. Before anyone, no matter how highly they exalt (and profit from) their own righteousness, points their trigger finger at a fallen brother, they should stop and think about this:

Sin can touch you. The enemy can find you and the enemy is the detroyer. Of everything ... families, careers, ministries and witnesses. To think you're immune from sin, no matter what kind, is to equate yourself with Christ.

You really don't want to do that.

Nor should you feel energetic, proud or boastful ... condemning, ridiculing or creating additional grief for those who've been tricked and fallen prey to the enemy's lies. That's not your role, your commission nor is it your commandment.

Christ is our example ... and he commanded us to forgive others as he forgave us. Angry demands, vindictiveness and the perception of opportunities to settle grudges or long-held scores merely proves who's listening to themselves, instead of listening to the Spirit.

"But but but ..."

The resurrected Christ never scolded or wagged his finger at Pilate, at his accusers, or even at Judas who betrayed him. Nor did he ridicule Peter for denying him three times. And neither should we accuse, humiliate or condemn anyone who's fallen, much less someone we feel certain has disappointed or betrayed us.

Do NOT judge ...

Unless you know what's coming around the next corner in your life. And unless you're omniscent, all-powerful and Mighty to Save, you don't.

In fact, you don't even know what your situation or circumstances will be like even one year from now. Or next month or next week. Or even an hour from now.

Only God knows.

And one day he'll be judging You, too.

"The Gospels are fiction: they're all made up."

During an informal discussion with some folks a few weeks back, I got derided a little bit when I came right out and asked, "You don't think the Resurrection was real?"

That brought guffaws, laughter and a handful of theories explaining why the Gospel accounts of Christ's resurrection were pure man-made fiction.

Sorry, but I'll save revealing how the discussion concluded for another time.

-- -- --

Remember in Acts 8:26-40, when after explaining the meaning of scripture to the eunuch, Phillip was suddenly taken away by the Lord and just as suddenly re-appeared about 50 miles away in the Philistine city of Azotus? What was that about? Was it teleportation, or a "literary device," or what?

My personal impression is that the event is literal; my impression doesn't matter.

The point is that if the Gospel accounts of Christ's resurrection were fiction, dreamed up later by authors eager to endorse secular agendas, why stop with the Resurrection?

After preaching in Azotus, why not have Phillip pop over the Mediterranean to Rome? Why not include tales about flying carpets, 8-eyed sea creatures and jaunts through outer space to other planets?

Because tales of magic carpet rides seem too far fetched? Well, think back to the Resurrection. If you're scribbling down fiction to get the reader's awe and attention, once you've raised your central character from the dead and described his ascension into Heaven, seems like the rest of the field is wide open to toss in any other fantastic event you'd like.

Just to make sure the reader sees that the "hero" in your tall tale is the best, most powerful tall tale hero of all. Ever.

But the gospels don't include any nonsense or inventions or fabrications. All the gospel writers had to do was write down true events.

And 2000 years later, the truth they recorded is more amazing ... more powerful and more wonderful ... than ever.

The thing about falling is ...

"Gravity holds no responsibility for two people falling in love."

Yep ... and the ground don't much care, either.

Small things - part 1

1. Where have I been?

Haven't posted in a while; here's why.

Friday night I was walking back to my boat and tripped over a piece of driftwood someone had thoughtfully left lying beside a dock box, and went sprawling (it looked so luch like a shadow from a dockline I never even saw it). I caught myself in time to keep from taking a bath in the Chesapeake, but my left (bad) knee took the impact.

I've logged 12 hours of sleep since then.

2. Life with ADD

I've heard folks who don't have ADD suggest that folks with ADD should simply make a List, and learn to CONCENTRATE and FOCUS. Here's why that "solution" doesn't work:

Let's say your List says "Call Bill." In reality, here's what happens: I'll dial Bill's number and then immediately put the phone back down on the table and go on to the next thing on the list ... never mind that when Bill answers all he hears is my background noise; I'm already busy CONCENTRATING and FOCUSING on the next task on my List.

True. Did it twice yesterday.

40 Pounds of fresh-baked Cuban bread

My friend Tim, above, used to be in Jesuit seminary but now he's the Business Manager for one of Baltimore's most upscale bakeries ... with trucks making fresh deliveries all over the county each morning (I forget all the details, but his bakery includes 4 full-time bakers who do nothing but make croutons).

Tim keeps a boat here at the marina, so one day I half-jokingly asked if he'd be willing to tackle Cuban bread. He'd never heard of "Cuban bread" and was intrigued at the idea of tackling something entirely unfamiliar, especially when I mentioned the prerequisite palmetto leaves baked into the crust tops. So I emailed him two recipes and he told me he'd start on it at 3AM.

Imagine my surprise this morning when I showed up for my "delivery" and Tim gave me 40 pounds of Cuban bread. Imagine seeing my face when I saw the palmetto fronds on top. Imagine you'd been here when we tasted it.

Why 40 pounds? Why not just bake a loaf or two? Tim explained that 40 pounds is the smallest batch his kitchen's geared to bake. Wow.

The photo above might not look like exactly 40 pounds because Tim is a generous man: in the 10 minutes it took me to walk from my boat, Cuban bread was becoming a hit with folks who just happened to be passing by.

what weighs 40 pounds and can't be found north of Ybor City?

More later ....