Thursday, May 24, 2007
Afternoon in the Fort
I arrived in Virginia being picked up on time to enjoy lunch alone with my wife at Wegmans. If you every get to the East coast Wegman's is the place, but that was not the end, after getting to my daughters house and after the arrival of Isabelle, She and I spent the afternoon in her cardboard fort. What a joy to crawl in and lay upon blankets and pillows( I was tired) and talk and talk with my Granddaughter, a very advanced 6 and 10/12th year old. Caption Jack was at the controls of the ship and our periscopes were up. Even Elliot the long slipped in to curl up and join the fun. I also was able to hold my newest and 4th granddaughter Sophia, small and so delightful to know another little girl for Papa to spoil.
My Love
well, today in just a few minutes I will be leaving for the airport to fly out to Virginia to meet the bride of my youth, the love of my life, my sweetpea, Patty. I will also have an opportunity to meet for the first time a little sweetpea 6 my newest granddaughter Sophia. I am sure glad that I will be, once again, in the presence of my wife, it is difficult to imagine not having another person to share life with, I do not know how so many do it, living alone, without another. True without another there is no conflict, self is always considered first, my way is never opposed, yet how can that be any good. Mankind is designed to be social, the first and foremost reason for mankinds existence was to have fellowship with God. Man was not designed to be alone either as God, himself said it is not good that man should be alone, no we are make to be with another. I for one am so glad that God has blessed me with Patty, she is the one the God designed for me.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Complexity
As I sat and read my sisters blog site http://ketorambles.blogspot.com entitled simplicity I could not help myself to respond in the comment section regarding how as siblings we could not be any different, but the perhaps it is not a sibling matter but rather a gender issue. In her effort to simplify herself she feels the need to loosen the grip on some “stuff” in an attempt to clear her mind…….etc.
I was compelled to respond that I thrive on the stuff in my area; it stimulates my mind, the more the clutter the more I think. The more I think the better a person I become. The ability to think is a true gift of God and I desire to put it to best use, and having the clutter enhances that gift. I know my dear wife would agree with my sister and thus I have concluded it has to be a gender thing. But alas I tried to remove some, not all, of my clutter the other day by participating in a neighborhood garage sale. I spent hours in preparation hauling stuff up from my space in the bowels of our home. I even hauled my art display panels up to create a clean and clutter free environment for the other gender to rummage around my stuff. The love of my life being away caring for our daughter as she cares for the newborn Sophia even, over the phone, gave me a list of “our stuff” I could include. The day was a complete bust in regards to ridding me of clutter. Oh, I sold a couple of my art works, drawings in pen and ink, and just a very few of “our stuff” but as for my stuff, it remained firming in my possession. I took it as a sight from my dear Lord that I was to continue to enjoy the companionship of my clutter in order that I might continue to think. It seems clear that the void of clutter would have created a void in my thinking. Now I know that we as people have gathered onto ourselves way to much stuff and that for the most part many have had to rent space at some remote location in order to store their stuff, it is in fact one of America’s fastest growing businesses. Again I must thank my Lord for allowing me to have the bowels of our home so to display all my stuff.
I cannot imagine having to drive my car to some storage space and gain entrance to my area in order to sit among my stuff to think.
Ah, the wonderful life of complexity!
I was compelled to respond that I thrive on the stuff in my area; it stimulates my mind, the more the clutter the more I think. The more I think the better a person I become. The ability to think is a true gift of God and I desire to put it to best use, and having the clutter enhances that gift. I know my dear wife would agree with my sister and thus I have concluded it has to be a gender thing. But alas I tried to remove some, not all, of my clutter the other day by participating in a neighborhood garage sale. I spent hours in preparation hauling stuff up from my space in the bowels of our home. I even hauled my art display panels up to create a clean and clutter free environment for the other gender to rummage around my stuff. The love of my life being away caring for our daughter as she cares for the newborn Sophia even, over the phone, gave me a list of “our stuff” I could include. The day was a complete bust in regards to ridding me of clutter. Oh, I sold a couple of my art works, drawings in pen and ink, and just a very few of “our stuff” but as for my stuff, it remained firming in my possession. I took it as a sight from my dear Lord that I was to continue to enjoy the companionship of my clutter in order that I might continue to think. It seems clear that the void of clutter would have created a void in my thinking. Now I know that we as people have gathered onto ourselves way to much stuff and that for the most part many have had to rent space at some remote location in order to store their stuff, it is in fact one of America’s fastest growing businesses. Again I must thank my Lord for allowing me to have the bowels of our home so to display all my stuff.
I cannot imagine having to drive my car to some storage space and gain entrance to my area in order to sit among my stuff to think.
Ah, the wonderful life of complexity!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The meaning of Life
This morning as I sat here contemplating the meaning of my existence I had to consider several aspects of why we, the human species, are alive and well upon planet Earth. It is for certain for a reason other then self gratification or for that matter even for the purpose of the benefit of the human race itself. I have considered that it is an important issue to assist our fellow man through this life, to lend a helping hand to those in need. God knows there have been times I have been one of those who needed the hand of another, and still even within those times I have been able to extend a hand to someone else. But is that all there is? Man helping man or women, I use this term not as a sexist, but in a general mankind sense.
For what greater good do I exist? Why do I have life? Is there an answer? I believe so,
Col 1:10-12
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
NIV
I, we have been created in order that we may live a life worthy of the Lord. That is to bring him glory and honor, if we do lend a helping hand, and that is certainly one aspect of living a life worthy of the Lord, it is not for the sake of our honor, that is we should not expect honor for helping another, no the honor is his! The humanist might disagree, but I cannot accept that all we are and will ever be is a mortal life leaving only the mark we make on this world behind, no we are children of the most high God and his glory must be above all else for some day we will all stand before his throne and give account for our lives. Oh how I desire to hear,” His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant ……Come and share your master's happiness!'
That is the true meaning of life, to bring him glory and honor, to praise his holy name!
For what greater good do I exist? Why do I have life? Is there an answer? I believe so,
Col 1:10-12
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
NIV
I, we have been created in order that we may live a life worthy of the Lord. That is to bring him glory and honor, if we do lend a helping hand, and that is certainly one aspect of living a life worthy of the Lord, it is not for the sake of our honor, that is we should not expect honor for helping another, no the honor is his! The humanist might disagree, but I cannot accept that all we are and will ever be is a mortal life leaving only the mark we make on this world behind, no we are children of the most high God and his glory must be above all else for some day we will all stand before his throne and give account for our lives. Oh how I desire to hear,” His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant ……Come and share your master's happiness!'
That is the true meaning of life, to bring him glory and honor, to praise his holy name!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
CREATED FOR HIM
Col 1:15-17
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
NIV
It seems so strange to hear the phrases “I would like to do” “it is my desire” and “I want” in light of this concept of being created by him and for him. How do we justify our wants and desires for physical pleasures, wealth, security, knowledge and recognition when our purpose is clearly defined as being created for him. How do we justify the pursuit of worldly gain, the pursuit of worldly endeavors, careers, professions for the purpose of enjoying a particular lifestyle, in view of this scripture? It is surely true the having of such is within the will of God, for he has told us he is aware of our needs and we will have them also.
Matt 6:24-7:1
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
NIV
The key to the possession of these “things” is the placing of seeking him first, being created by him and for him.
When we consider the difference between the temporal and the eternal, which has the greatest value? Why then do we place such a great importance on those items which surround our temporal beings rather then what surrounds our eternal being?
Nothing matters except what we do with our relationship to God. Let us strengthen our resolve to find out what pleases him.
Col 1:15-17
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
NIV
It seems so strange to hear the phrases “I would like to do” “it is my desire” and “I want” in light of this concept of being created by him and for him. How do we justify our wants and desires for physical pleasures, wealth, security, knowledge and recognition when our purpose is clearly defined as being created for him. How do we justify the pursuit of worldly gain, the pursuit of worldly endeavors, careers, professions for the purpose of enjoying a particular lifestyle, in view of this scripture? It is surely true the having of such is within the will of God, for he has told us he is aware of our needs and we will have them also.
Matt 6:24-7:1
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
NIV
The key to the possession of these “things” is the placing of seeking him first, being created by him and for him.
When we consider the difference between the temporal and the eternal, which has the greatest value? Why then do we place such a great importance on those items which surround our temporal beings rather then what surrounds our eternal being?
Nothing matters except what we do with our relationship to God. Let us strengthen our resolve to find out what pleases him.
The Beginning
Well today is the first day of the new blog, Why I am doing this I, at this time, am quite unsure, although I must admit it seems a bit inviting to be able to share my thoughts with others, yet at the same time not so desirable. The first thing that I do wish to extend to you all is the feeling of joy and gladness regarding the birth of a new granddaughter. Sarah my youngest daughter has, on May 17th of this year 2007 given birth to Sophia. Now I am the proud Grandfather of Victoria, Margaret, Isabelle and Sophia, 4 in all. It is a grand and glorious day and I am known as Papa. The Lord has be gracious to me that I am able to be here and enjoy these wonderful young ladies.
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