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The True Meaning of Christmas (are people still looking for it?)

I have heard that many people believe the true meaning of Noel, Christmas has gotten lost in the the hubbub that surround this holiday.

Poor Vision

Proverbs 29:18 is one of the Bible's most misunderstood and misused verses. I have experienced it used by some church and ministry leaders to lead people astray, down a path they should not go on and no one should follow.

As One......

The church that Diane and I attend in Galax believes that the people in the church should be as one person. This sounds simplistic, but it should be.

SPAM!

I am the only volunteer Community Help Forum Moderator for Squarespace. We have been inundated with spam, hundreds of posts every day, posted by tens of bot spammers.

Mabry Mill

The Mabry Mill stands as a monument to the enduring spirit of the mountain people.

Reap What You Sew

The sun is shining, the air is clean and crisp. I started out my day with a cup of freshly ground coffee, that Diane made for me.

Self-Righteous

When I was a boy, my father told me many things. One was that only what you do for God will last.

Worms!

I have a large leaning pot that sits on my motorhome lot. It contains two Calibracho Cappuccino plants that I planted in that pot back in the spring. I have taken very good care of those two little plants, or so I thought. I watered them and fed them Miracle Grow and they took off and grew like mad.

Dealing With Things

It’s a bit strange sometimes how the words I read in the Bible on a particular date seem to go right along with what's happening to me at the time. Today is one of those days.

Creation!

Creation is a wonderful thing, The heavens and the earth display the glory of God.

That Day!

Bearing one another's burdens. We need to do that, it is essential to life and love, to help each other until That Day Comes.

Farewell

The last letter from Major Sullivan Ballou, written to his wife before the first battle of Bull Run.

It Doesn't Add Up

Sometimes the arithmetic of life does not add up.

Acting On Your Own?

There is a very important question in the four words in the title of this post. Let me make those words a bit more personal. Are YOU acting on your own?

A Silly Question

The children of Isreal, who had experienced God’s delivering power, while in the desert, asked God silly questions.

Are We There Yet?

Larry Norman said many years ago in one of his songs “I wish we'd all been ready”.

Debt Free!

A story in the Galax Gazette reminded me of this post I wrote some time ago.

Imagine that you and your family are in financial trouble. It could be caused by sickness. You could have medical bills that are very high, or the main breadwinner out of work due to a layoff or fired or who knows what.

The Sea of Self-Delusion

I don’t normally make a political statement, not directly anyway. Not much point in cursing the darkness, but this morning I feel the need to at least point out that the darkness exists and it is dangerous, but there is hope.

Ups and Downs

A quote from a famous person (and it could fit me too), and a few more.

My best personality trait is that I think I'm very approachable. And my worst is that I can be moody.

Hold Fast!

The main purpose of this HoldFast symbol was for people who worked as a deckhand. It was a sign of good luck for them, and it encouraged them to maintain a good grip especially when the weather and the sea are trying to loosen it.

Help! (I need sombody)

Many years ago there was a song written and performed by a very popular group:

Find Your Place (money can't buy it)

Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from his place.

Five Thousand Words

I read somewhere that the average person speaks between five thousand and twenty thousand words a day.

A Philosophical Self Discussion

On more than one occasion in my past as an employee or friend or even a family member, I have found myself being “accused” of being an idealist.

Wisdom Revisited

The Bible talks a lot about wisdom. The word wisdom appears over 200 times in any translation of the Bible. It is used 46 times in the book of Proverbs alone.

Y'all Pray For Me Now!

My Mom and Dad have a lot of pictures hanging on the walls of their home. They also have a lot of plates. The kind that used to be popular years ago, with pictures of tourist places and churches

Mercy

The quality of mercy is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Faith and Facts

People have asked me, in times past, how can you believe there is a God when there is so much evil in the world? It seems so stupid!

Three Part Question

Have you ever looked back over your life and realized that there were things that could have happened, bad things, but did not happen because the Lord God Intervened?

A Great Misconception

The title starts this post out. I think that people have the idea that God will not tolerate, and doesn’t want to hear our complaints, or our frustrations, some of which can be wrapped in anger, about our problems in life.

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You Are The Man!

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end

When Real Life Meets God

I am sitting here at my laptop trying not to complain out loud.

Are You Making God Sick?

You may be thinking, What a terrible question to ask. How can anyone make God Sick? Is that even possible? What does that have to do with Fire?

Attitude

When I was a young kid, I got into trouble a bit. I brought a lot of that trouble upon myself because I "took an attitude." That is exactly what my Mom used to say. "Don't you take that attitude with me!" or "Don't you give me that look!"

I Stand In Awe

There is so much life here where we live. The Blue Ridge Parkway is just up the street. I don't have to see the seven wonders of the world, not when I have maybe the eighth one right outside my window.

See The World

I remember when I was about ten years old I was fascinated with the thought of travel. I wanted to see the world and visit exotic places. Great places, wonderful places. I wanted to be impressed, have those Wow moments,

Memory

I have been told by some people I have a remarkable memory. That may be true but I can't remember who told me that. Not really I know who it was.

Operation Manna

Just before the end of World War II, in Europe, a very important thing happened. It took place in Holland.

Holiness? What is it?

The Bible says, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness”

Nest In Your Hair

We all have problems, the world sure has problems, but that is really not new news, the world has always been in trouble from one cause or another……

Way Maker

I have to think about the children of Isreal when all two million left Egypt and found themselves on the banks of the Red Sea. They had water in front of them and the army of the Pharoh behind them.

The News

The news is terrible, cities on fire, chaos is reigning over our whole country, seems no one is in charge or taking control.

Not Our Circus!

I have a question for you. I bet I already know the answer, it is the same for just about all of us.

The Low Down

All of life is peaks and valleys. Don't let the peaks get too high and the valleys too low.
John Wooden

Doomed to Repeat

There was a blood-red sky in China yesterday that has been in the news today. There is a blood-red moon eclipse coming to the Americas this weekend. These red phenomenons are provoking chatter about the “Last Days”.

Don't Be Anxious

Life can be depressing. The news adds to that depression when we watch it or read it of course. Much of it is not true, but it still makes us anxious.

His judgment cometh and that right soon.

This line comes from the movie Shawshank Redemption. It is not a direct quote from the Bible,

Don't Envy the Wicked

We look at the world around us, sometimes through social media glasses, and we see the wicked prospering. Many of the wicked folk, and as much as I hate to point this out, are in politics.

One of Those Days

Ever had one of those days when everything seems to be against you?

Fear

The English language can be a confusing thing sometimes. The same word can have multiple meanings. Take the word "Fear"

Tune In! (Storm's a-comin')

Tune into God, point the antenna of your heart towards Him. We can call out to God in our day of trouble but we can also call out to Him the day before as well.

HELP!

There are days when my prayer is short and very simple. HELP me God!

Prophets

Years ago, when I was young, there was a lady named Jean Dixon. She predicted the world would end in 2020

Down But Not Out

As the view got closer, I could see that this man had gray hair and a beard and was wearing red and white striped trousers, and had on a blue jacket. I recognized him.

Get Up!

I was a lazy kid. I can’t deny that. My Mom had a hard time getting me up in the mornings

Don't Be Fooled

My father, who is in his nineties seems to get get a lot of phone calls. Dad answers his calls no matter where the call comes from. I wish he wouldn’t do it but he does.

Anger and Revenge

There is a saying that being angry at someone, to the point of losing decent perspective and only wanting revenge is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die from it.

Wisdom

A sapient person, that is what I strive to be. That is just a fancy way of saying I want to be a wise person, a true wise person.

A Ruler

What is a ruler? Is a teacher a ruler? Is a Mayor a ruler? Is a King a ruler? Is a President a ruler? Of course they are…

The Man Born Blind

I suppose that many people have a favorite Bible story. I do. It is from the Gospel of John, Chapter 9, It is the story of Jesus and The Man Born Blind.

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Give Us This Day

Diane and I face another day today, with its joys and its problems. We ask the Lord to provide what we need for today, grace and bread.

Wait on Him

I read this today, “Lord give me patience and give it to me right now!” I know the feeling.

Integrity

The message that Diane and I heard in church today reminded me of this blog post I wrote from some time ago.

There is a desirable human quality that is very scarce now. It is integrity.

More Words About Words

We can’t get away from it. It is with us all the time, our tongues and what they produce and what is that?

Our God, He Loves Us!

This morning I am listening to great music by Steven Curtis Chapman. His story and his music really have something to say in this day of trouble

The Tongue

The book of Proverbs is about attitude, having a good one. It is about an attitude, towards God, being tuned in to Him. It could be called "How to have a Godly life for Dummies"

More Valuable Than Gold

What are, better yet, what is true riches? What is the most valuable thing you can have?

It's Just Business

"Nothing personal - it's just business" Have you ever had someone say this to you? This phrase is used when someone is about to be fired or worse.

A Ounce of Prevention

One our nation's founding fathers, Ben Franklin, had a saying that has survived through time:

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Hope!

The movie "All is Lost" has one of the simplest endings of any movie I have ever seen. However it is one of the most moving as well.

All That Glitters

The New River has rocks that glitter, but I can tell you, they do not contain gold.

Baker's Dozen

I spent the first ten years of my life in a very close knit community with lots of Navy folks. My best friend and school mate lived right next door.

Be Careful What You Say

When Diane and I still had a wood and brick house, and it was a good one, there was an antique plate that Diane hung over the back door in our kitchen. It had these words printed on it:

Sticks and Stones

I am sure you know the old saying “Sticks and Stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” If only that were true. Words hurt, and sometimes they hurt a lot. They hurt me rarely now that I am an adult, but they sometimes hurt me a whole lot when I was a kid.

Treasure

Have you ever fantasized about winning the lottery, or finding a buried treasure somewhere?

Put On Your Armor

We have a number of folks here in the mountains that ride motorcycles. Some have trikes, some bikes, but they all have one thing in common. When they ride, they dress for it.

East From West

Back in 98 or 99 I was sub-contracted by the Navy to install a new ship-board phone system/intercom on a heavy lifter named the Buffalo Soldier. It was part of the Merchant Marine Re-supply fleet anchored in the bay of Diego Garcia. It was a long flight to get there,

Pray Without Ceasing

The Bible says to pray without ceasing. How does one do that? The Bible puts no restraints on that order, in other words there are no circumstances that say stop praying, giving thanks and rejoicing.

Awesome!

If you had to describe God with only one word what would it be? Don't think about your answer long, just say the word.

I can't do it. Not exactly, one word does come to mind:

Awesome,

The Great and Terrible Day

What is that day? Is it the end of time? Is it the day our Lord Jesus returns? If it is the last lots of people hope that day comes soon.

Star Struck

Have you ever been starstruck? Have you ever met somebody who left you in awe, and in my case, so much so that you were speechless?

My Best Friend

The Lord God is my best friend. My wife is second, well she is the best human friend that I have on this earth. Do you think of God as your friend? You should, don't be one of the many that do not.

Stay in the Box!

Have you ever noticed that when something takes you by surprise, your first reaction is usually the wrong one?

Be Careful of What You See!

There is a song, about little children. Diane, who if she hears a song one time never forgets it, sang it to me this morning when I asked if she remembered it.

Skipping Rocks

Have you ever skipped rocks across a pond? It is fun. I obviously want to skip it as many times as I can, and I think my record is something close to thirteen hops maybe more.

Thunder and Lightning

This morning we have been listening to the rain on our roof, seeing flashes of lightning and hearing some mighty big thunder.

In God We Trust

"In God We Trust", is the official motto of the United States of America and of the U.S. state of Florida. It was adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1956, superceding E pluribus unum, "one from many" which had been in use since the initial 1776 design of the Great Seal of the United States.

Where is HE?

Those who say "there is no God" and practice life with that belief, will at some point find out they are wrong. God will show up.

Praise

PRAISE; This is another great word that is also a noun and a verb. It is the expression of approval and admiration for someone.

The man was full of praise for the woman he loved.

The man praised the women he loved.

I am not talking about the lip service kind of praise, but something much deeper.

Wonder

WONDER: a feeling of surprise mingled with admiration, caused by something beautiful, unexpected, unfamiliar, or inexplicable.A great word, wonder, both a noun and verb, and part of an adjective, Wonderful.

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