CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

My wife had me take her to see the brand new CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART.

Truly it is a magnificent facility. We enjoyed the experience. There were even some pretty pictures there. And there were some pictures, art or what ever, that were only cluttering up the walls. In truth maybe not. They may have been covering up holes in the walls of the new buildings.

When we got home I begin to wonder, what the CRYSTAL BRIDES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART cost?

A trip to the Internet gave some insights. As expected it was not possible for this old guy to get exact numbers. But what I found was something like this;

Expected yearly expense to be met, 16-20 million dollars per year. [Just to maintain it]

Approximate assets, about 800 million dollars. I think that included the art on display. Now that is a bunch of money to bring a little culture to this area. A walk through to see some pretty pictures.

I am familiar with this area. I live uncomfortably close to it. I also know that we have homeless people and families. There are hungry people here. The Salvation Army shelters are full and church food pantries are running low.

It makes me wonder about misplaced values.

Forgive me. On second thought I remember several of the churches we passed on the way to see CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART. Perhaps this is simply a demonstration of American churchianity on a grander scale than theirs.

I no doubt am too much in the flesh. I would rather see a hungry stomach filled and a poor widow sheltered from the weather than someones mind enlightened to cultural things.

There possibly is as spiritual side to it. After all, poor hungry people need to see pretty pictures too.

HOPE IN THE MIDST OF DISASTER

We live in a world that offers no true hope.

If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you pay any attention to what His word says about these end time days. If you have been listening as God is warning us through the ministries of today. Then you know that our beloved nation is headed for disaster because it has turned it's back on God - just as Israel did.

The prophet Jeremiah lived in a time like our own. God was preparing to destroy Jerusalem and Judah in Jeremiah's life time.

However in the midst of this God said,

"But I will bless the person who puts his trust in me. He is like a tree growing near a stream and sending out roots to the water.It is not afraid when hot weather comes, because its leaves stay green; it has no worries when there is no rain; it keeps on bearing fruit."-Jeremiah 17:7,8 (TEV)

"My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus name."

GREATEST TREASURE

TREASURE!

MONEY.

STOCKS.

BONDS.

REAL ESTATE.

???????????

HEY! I HAVE EVEN MORE IN THE BANK.

[If I did not. I would be bankrupt.]

Where is your greatest treasure?

Money sure is not mine. Mine is in a very

simple, life dependant, fact. God helped

me see this in a statement He made about

about Israel and Jerusalem in particular.

"He always protects his people and gives

them wisdom and knowledge. Their

greatest treasure is their reverence

for the Lord." - Isaiah 33:6 (TEV)

If I have a fear of God. A reverence of

God, I have everything.

His blessing. His health. His help. His

wealth. His wisdom.

You name it. What ever my need, I have

it from him if I reverence him.

Can you say that with your bank account

in today's economy?

THINGS HAVE CHANGED

Oh how things have changed!

Healings and miracles were the norm for the apostles. This got them in trouble. They did not have a license to heal. They did not even use the approved medicines. Then to add insult to injury - they did it for free.

But the authorities made and interesting observation about these apostles.

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." -Acts 4:13 (NIV)

They saw two elements: a. They were uneducated. b. They had been with Jesus.

Today we are "schooled". And today we send sick people to the doctor to die at his hands.

But God also use "schooled" or "learned" people in the same way as Peter and John. Consider the apostle Paul. Education is not the missing element.

What was the cause of change?

Makes a person wonder what the missing element is!!!!!!!

DISCOURAGEMENT THERAPY

Discouraged?

I knew a man who was always happy and up beat. Dick was an inspiration just to be around. He was a successful business man and pastor. In fact, even on his death bed he was winning people to Christ.

One night he told us his secrete. [This was before he died. Just thought I would let you know.] When he was discouraged, he would get in his car ( To be alone.) and go for a ride. Then he would begin to praise the Lord.

Try it. It works. Your discouragement will leave.

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Updated King James Version.

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NEW BEGINNINGS

"The Christian life is a life of new beginnings." said the old Divine. [An expression

that was used for famous preachers of the past.]

That offended me. No I thought. That implies we mess up, fail, fall short or sin and

have to start again. I have given myself totally to the Lord and it is from here until

death us do part.

I have lived a Christian life for more than fifty years since then. (Not necessarily an

an exemplary one.) And I can assure you that, "The Christian life is a life of new

beginnings."

One of the sisters is taking a break from blogging and it got me to thinking. Isn't

this the way the Lord made things.?

Nature it's self is that way.

God gives us a new day every twenty four hours. Some one was kind enough to

point out how "evening and morning" were the first day. The day starts with rest.

Praise God.

A new week starts every seven days - with a day of rest.

There is a new moon every month.

A new year starts with a winter of rest.

And the Israelites were to give the land a rest every seven years.

Life wears us down to where we need a new start. And the new start, starts with a

rest in the Lord.

"Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you

rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and

humble in spirit; and you will find rest."

-Matthew 10:28,29 (GNV)

Have you ever had a new beginning????

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GOTTA QUESTION FOR YOU PREACHER

I'm just a simple old man. Some things are hard for me to understand. Please explain something to me real simple like.

My understanding is that preachers preach because they want to take the Gospel to a lost and dying world. Now that is a very noble thing to do. May God bless you for doing it.

But what I do not understand is how gathering a group of Christians (Already "saved" people.) around you and preaching to them is taking the Gospel to a lost and dying world. Then doing it again and again and again adinfinitum.

Any clarification you can offer me on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanking you in advance.
An old man.

WANTING THE HONOR

The company I worked for was bought by a new owner and we moved into different facilities. I do not know why, but I was anxious to see the new business cards.

No, I was not going to have any. My position did not require business cards, but most of my coworkers did.

The day the new cards came I grabbed one of my manager's cards. At first glance of the new card something went all over me. Like a chill, a premonition or a scare.

It was obvious. The pride of the new owner overshadowed everything else. Clearly the business would fail. Why?

The Scriptures say, "Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall." - Proverbs 16:18 (GNB)

The business started with a bang. Perhaps it would be better to say a big splash. And as you already guessed, a few years latter ended with an unpretentious end.

God hates pride and arrogance. See Proverbs 8:13 and other Scriptures.

The Scriptures teach us, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." - James 4:6,10 (GNB)

If we want to be lifted up, exalted, honored, praised, we have to humble ourselves before God. He will lift us up in his own time and way.

The loftiest position a human can attain on earth, is flat on their face in humble submission to God our creator.

THE LORD'S HERITAGE

I can still see it.

That small casket

there in Oakdale

Memorial Park.

In that casket was

Priscilla. My first

born. My own flesh

and blood.

About a year latter

there was another

small casket at Oakdale Memorial Park.
It was my second born, Patrick.

Both had been "still born". Young fellow that I was, it still was

not obvious to me that God was dealing with me. That is another

story. But in time it was settled when I yielded and permitted Jesus

to not only be my saviour, but my Lord.

By this time it became a question to the wife and I if we could even

have children.

But there is also another scene in my mind. I can still see that small

room where we met for prayer and Bible study before Sunday

School.

I do not know who was leading that morning. Nor what they said.

But I do remember the two chapters that were used and the portions

of them that God used to speak to my heart.

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb

is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children
of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they
shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."

-Psalms 127:3-5 (KJV)

"Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:

thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Behold that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD."

-Psalms 128:3,4 (KJV)

You almost know the rest of the story. The Lord gave us children.

And you know kids. They grow up and have kids.

But the chapter did not stop there. It's last verse says,

"Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children and peace upon Israel.

-Psalms 128:6 (KJV)

By the way,

I have seen my children.

I have seen my children's children.

And I have seen my children's children's children .

Praise God for that.

ISN'T GOD GOOD?

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Would you like a free download of

THE HOLY BIBLE

Go to the link below for a free

download of the

Updated King James Version.

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