INSENSITIVE

So insensitive of me.

SORRY.

There I sat eating chocolate ice cream and thinking of

having a hot chocolate drink before going to bed.

Then I realized that was totally insensitive of me in

this day and age.  Someone might think that I was 

racially prejudiced .  They would not stop to realize 

that my last box of ice cream was vanilla or in the past

I have had strawberry ice cream and other flavors.

You see, when I grew up - or perhaps where - the color 

of my skin was not that important.  What was important

was the kind of person I or my friend was.  Was I honest,

moral, hard working or thrifty etc.?

You will find this hard to believe, but we could even 

joke about each others race, have a good laugh about 

it and go on about our business enjoying the friendship

of the other person, even of different color skin.

But today, oh my.

However, if you are looking for a "cause" to pursue

consider going after the ice cream companies.  Accuse

them of being  racially prejudiced.  Sue them because 

they are so insensitive and racially biased.  Insist that

their ice cream, no mater what the flavor be transparent.

You could even stag protests over the matter.

"Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red, brown, yellow

Black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children

Of the world.

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red, brown, yellow

Black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children

Of the world.

Jesus died for all the children

Red, brown, yellow

Black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus died for all the children

Of the world.

Jesus rose for all the children

All the children of the world

Red, brown, yellow 

Black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus rose for all the children

Of the world."

GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE

I have learned a long time ago that it is not possible 

for me to do much, at least without God's help.  And

of course, nothing is impossible with God.

In fact, God asks us to take "EVERY THING" to 

him in prayer.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything

by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God;"

(Philippians 4:6 NKJV)

Further, if there is something I do not understand,

I am to ask him.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,

who gives to all liberally and without reproach,

and it will be given to him.

"But let him ask in faith...."

(James 1:5,6 NKJV)

God is so practical.  He is concerned about even 

our every day problems.  And one of those problems

for myself was impossible.

My oldest motorcycle had the starter go out on it

a few weeks ago.  I know.  It should not have.  It

was only 34 years old.  But they just do not make

things like they used to.

Now installing a starter is generally not a big deal.

I have probably installed a dozen or more in my 

life time.  But on this particular engine it's a different

story.  From experience I have learned that once you

pull the starter, you cannot put it back in.  In fact,

the two repair manuals I have on this motorcycle

both say, PULL THE ENGINE.

What happens is that when you pull the starter,

the starter comes out of the sprocket and chain.

Then the starter sprocket and the chain fall

down into the housing.  So, you have to pull

the engine to take the back cover off and control

the sprocket and chain.  [The manufacture latter

corrected this problem.]

Fifteen years ago, pulling an engine was more fun

than it is now.  I more than likely have pulled a 

dozen or more engines.  But at eighty one years

old, pulling engines is not fun anymore.

So, what do you do?  PRAY.

God put an idea in my mind about controlling the

sprocket and chain.  And at each step of the way I

had to pray and depend on God to help and guide.

In fact, God had to put a number of others ideas in

my mind as we went along.

But PRAISE GOD.  Instead of pulling the engine,

he helped me put the starter in by just pulling the 

gear shift lever off and drilling a hole, where a hole

is not supposed to be.   [That is where the bolt is in the
above image.    The bolt is now filling the hole that is not
 supposed to be there.] This allowed me to stick a piece of
welding rod in to support the sprocket and chain while the
starter was out - then fill the hole when done.

Image above is the bent welding rod.
Image below the old starter.

To  you this would not be a big deal.  But to this

old man, I praise God for him helping me to do

the impossible.

That is the new installed starter below -
WITHOUT PULLING THE ENGINE.

PRAISE GOD.

I'M NOT GIVING UP YET

Photo courtesy of: www.Pixabay.com

"Stupid people will start

being wise when wild

donkeys are born tame."

(Job 11:12 GNT)

BRIGHT IDEA!

All images courtesy of:

www.Pixabay.com

I am not what I think they call a "sports fan".

Life is just to interesting for me to set around 

and watch other people play games.  I would

rather be doing something interesting myself.

So, if I miss the point somewhere, forgive me.

However, I have at least two son-in-laws who

seem to enjoy watching "ball games".  So a few

times I have had a glance at these "games".

Not understanding all this stuff, it looks to me that

anything they call a ball game is simply a fight over

the ball.

Being a peaceful person I would rather not be 

in on their squabbles.  After all Christ himself

said,

"Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called sons of

God." (Matthew 5:9 NKJV) 

After setting my mind to the problem I think

I have come up with a solution to it.

Buy them all their own ball.

Then they could take it home with them for

whatever reason they want it to start with,

and do something productive.

WHERE BURDENS ARE LIFTED

William R. Newell
gave the answer when
he wrote:

1. Years I spent in vanity and pride,
   Caring not my Lord was crucified,
   Knowing not it was for me He died
   On Calvary.
   • By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
     Then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
     Till my guilty soul imploring turned
     To Calvary.
2. Now I’ve giv’n to Jesus everything,
   Now I gladly own Him as my King,
   Now my raptured soul can only sing
   Of Calvary!
3. Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
   Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
   Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
   At Calvary!
4. Refrain:
   Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
   Pardon there was multiplied to me;
   There my burdened soul found liberty
   At Calvary.

OVER THE HILL OR UNDER

We have an expression "Over the hill" meaning

we are past our prime.  Our best or most useful 

days are gone.  We are more useless now.

I heard a grandfather make the statement;

"It is better to be over the hill than under the 

hill"

But is it???

It just depends.

If in truth we have a vital living obedient
relationship with God - the truth is; being
under hill is better.  Few of us are in a hurry,
but being under the hill would only be our
body.  But our real self, our soul, would be
with God in heaven.

But if we do not have a real born again living
relationship with God - we had better pray we
can stay on top of the hill because the alternative
will be hell forever.

WHERE'S THE POWER?

Many, many, many years ago I would set with my Bible

in my lap reading about the "New Testament Church".

Not being as smart as you are, all I could tell was that

the Church in the Bible was different than the Church I

attended, or you attend.  For one thing they had more 

power than we did.  There were other differences too,

but what were they?

Since then I have spent many years in several different

denominations.  Two of them in particular confidently

proclaimed that they "had the power".  But my question

constantly was, in all the years of attending, "Where's 

the power" you are talking about?

After about forty or fifty years of watching and learning

(Mostly from others) it has become obvious that there

is absolutely no similarity between today's Church - most 

places - and the Church of the New Testament.  We use 

the same words, but over the years have attached different 

meanings to the "Religious" words we use. 

To add to the wonderment of it all, in this country we

have more Bibles, Christian literature, Christian books

and Christian programs than anywhere in the world.

But, about the weakest "Church".

We are like some people the Apostle Paul spoke of when

he said they ... "are always trying to learn but who can

never come to to know the truth."

Many years ago I ask some folks who were visiting our

Church how their pastor was doing - or something.  I 

of course referred to the good pastor as "Reverend".

What a mistake that was.  They let me know real quick

that he was not a "Reverend" any more.  He is a 

"Doctor" now.  Since then this good man has became

nationally famous.

It is obvious the way the Church is going that we 

do not need more "Doctors" of divinity or philosophy

or anything else.

WE NEED PROPHETS

not "Doctors".

But to the point.

Way back before you or I were born Moses had the answer

to our dilemma.  He was speaking to the children of Israel 

about the Law God had given them and keeping it.

Moses told them;

"You know it and can quote it,

so now obey it."

(Deuteronomy 30:14 GNT)