("The Secret Of The Stairs" is the title of a book by my spiritual father, Wade Taylor. The words are taken from the Song of Solomon. In the book he talks about our life experiences being as the risers on a set of stairs that bring us up higher in the things of God; as we ascend on the riser we then step onto the horizontal piece and walk out - and work out - the new thing that God is doing in our lives.)
I want to touch your hands, my Lord, and see
The marks of what you did that day for me.
I want to touch your side and really know
The pain and suffering you did undergo.
In things of Thee too casual I am;
My faith at times seems like a cheapened sham.
Too comfortable am I in things of God -
I want to walk the road that You have trod.
If I am suff'ring, let it be with You,
If I'm rejoicing, Jesus, be there, too.
And if I'm only passing time away
Then intervene and rescue back the day.
I want more purpose in this life of mine;
All lesser interests are just wastes of time.
I want to love you with the kind of love
That sent you here from realms of light above.
Oh, catch me up to higher realms with Thee
Where I can be who I was meant to be,
To stand on Zion, breath the upper airs,
To'ascend and know the secret of the stairs.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Let There Be Light
In the dark and dim recesses of eternity past,
In the high, vaulted chambers of the heavens so vast,
'Twas all inky blackness for ever and 'aye,
No light would ever be seen by the eye.
As ages rolled on 'twas always the same,
No light from a star, from a lamp or a flame.
For there was never a source of light ever born
To pierce the great darkness and bring on the morn.
For eons and eons the darkness prevailed
As a dark, conq'ring demon that had all impaled.
The darkness, victorious, ruled in its might,
One long, never-ending, unquenchable night.
And then, of a sudden, in the midst of the night,
There thundered from God the words "Let there be light!"
And the darkness rolled back as the light issued forth
To the East and the West and the South and the North.
Now darkness will never again have full sway -
Moon and stars rule the night and the sun rules the day.
Darkness eternal has had its great fall,
And God, who is light, rules high over all.
E'en so was my life once ruled by the night;
For, oh, far too long, was the darkness my plight.
Nor reason nor wisdom could pierce the dark cloud
And my life was enveloped by a dark, smoth'ring shroud.
'Twas darkness without and darkness within;
Darkness held sway, accomp'nied by sin.
And never a thought came to mind of the light,
And I relished the darkness and reveled in night.
And then, oh the day, I remember it well
When the light issued forth and pierced my dark shell.
It flooded my being, it flooded my soul,
I could see, I could feel, I could hear, I was whole!
Then Jesus came in and my chains fell away
And I rose up to walk in an endless new day.
Though darkness may come, 'twill ne'er rule again
For His blood has now covered my guilt and my sin.
And I walk in the light as a child of the King
Who has saved me from shame and from guilt and all things
That once were as darkness to my dark, troubled soul;
I'm a child of the light, I'm cleansed and I'm whole.
In the high, vaulted chambers of the heavens so vast,
'Twas all inky blackness for ever and 'aye,
No light would ever be seen by the eye.
As ages rolled on 'twas always the same,
No light from a star, from a lamp or a flame.
For there was never a source of light ever born
To pierce the great darkness and bring on the morn.
For eons and eons the darkness prevailed
As a dark, conq'ring demon that had all impaled.
The darkness, victorious, ruled in its might,
One long, never-ending, unquenchable night.
And then, of a sudden, in the midst of the night,
There thundered from God the words "Let there be light!"
And the darkness rolled back as the light issued forth
To the East and the West and the South and the North.
Now darkness will never again have full sway -
Moon and stars rule the night and the sun rules the day.
Darkness eternal has had its great fall,
And God, who is light, rules high over all.
E'en so was my life once ruled by the night;
For, oh, far too long, was the darkness my plight.
Nor reason nor wisdom could pierce the dark cloud
And my life was enveloped by a dark, smoth'ring shroud.
'Twas darkness without and darkness within;
Darkness held sway, accomp'nied by sin.
And never a thought came to mind of the light,
And I relished the darkness and reveled in night.
And then, oh the day, I remember it well
When the light issued forth and pierced my dark shell.
It flooded my being, it flooded my soul,
I could see, I could feel, I could hear, I was whole!
Then Jesus came in and my chains fell away
And I rose up to walk in an endless new day.
Though darkness may come, 'twill ne'er rule again
For His blood has now covered my guilt and my sin.
And I walk in the light as a child of the King
Who has saved me from shame and from guilt and all things
That once were as darkness to my dark, troubled soul;
I'm a child of the light, I'm cleansed and I'm whole.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
A Root Out Of Dry Ground
He hath no form nor comeliness
That he should be desired,
No beauty in his countenance
That he might be admired.
No natural beauty rests on him,
Not thus will he be found.
He is a rod from Jesse's stem,
A root out of dry ground.
When he stood on Jordan's shore,
There soon to be baptized,
No one knew him as he was,
He was not recognized.
He knew hunger, he knew thirst,
When Laz'rus died, he wept.
Fully God, yet wholly man,
All in him is kept.
He is a man as we are men,
He draws our human breath;
He walks our dusty streets with us,
He shares our Nazareth.
He who knows me as I am,
Who walks where I have trod,
Identifies himself with me
To bring me close to God.
That he should be desired,
No beauty in his countenance
That he might be admired.
No natural beauty rests on him,
Not thus will he be found.
He is a rod from Jesse's stem,
A root out of dry ground.
When he stood on Jordan's shore,
There soon to be baptized,
No one knew him as he was,
He was not recognized.
He knew hunger, he knew thirst,
When Laz'rus died, he wept.
Fully God, yet wholly man,
All in him is kept.
He is a man as we are men,
He draws our human breath;
He walks our dusty streets with us,
He shares our Nazareth.
He who knows me as I am,
Who walks where I have trod,
Identifies himself with me
To bring me close to God.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Cast Up A Highway
The voice of one crying - hark, do you hear;
Does his voice in the wilderness fall on your ear?
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, do not wait;
Cast up a highway, make it smooth, make it straight."
There cometh a king, will we hearken to this,
And prepare Him a way in the rough wilderness?
Cast up a highway and cast out the stones,
A highway that He may come unto His own.
Not to the temple or court was John sent,
But into the wilderness where it was meant
That he should awaken the people of God
To cast up a highway on plain common sod.
So quick! To the work! Are there stones in the midst?
Do we want Him to find such a welcome as this?
Habits or lusts, or any such thing?
Cast up a highway for Jesus our King!
And He will come gloriously in splendor astride
A white, armored horse He only can ride,
On this highway of holiness, soon you will see,
He'll call out your name and say "Come ride with me!"
Then He'll catch us all up in His arms there to ride
With our great King of kings, we'll be right by His side
As He travels the earth on this holy highway
On His conquering steed and we'll walk in His ways
And we'll rule and we'll reign with our great King of love,
This One who has come from heaven above.
And the way that we labored so hard to prepare
Will be the great highway that with Him we'll share.
Does his voice in the wilderness fall on your ear?
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, do not wait;
Cast up a highway, make it smooth, make it straight."
There cometh a king, will we hearken to this,
And prepare Him a way in the rough wilderness?
Cast up a highway and cast out the stones,
A highway that He may come unto His own.
Not to the temple or court was John sent,
But into the wilderness where it was meant
That he should awaken the people of God
To cast up a highway on plain common sod.
So quick! To the work! Are there stones in the midst?
Do we want Him to find such a welcome as this?
Habits or lusts, or any such thing?
Cast up a highway for Jesus our King!
And He will come gloriously in splendor astride
A white, armored horse He only can ride,
On this highway of holiness, soon you will see,
He'll call out your name and say "Come ride with me!"
Then He'll catch us all up in His arms there to ride
With our great King of kings, we'll be right by His side
As He travels the earth on this holy highway
On His conquering steed and we'll walk in His ways
And we'll rule and we'll reign with our great King of love,
This One who has come from heaven above.
And the way that we labored so hard to prepare
Will be the great highway that with Him we'll share.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Song of Love
Away, my love, come be with me,
The time of loves has come;
The winter time is past and gone,
The dove begins her song.
My heart is ravished with thy love,
'Tis far surpassing sweet;
I eagerly await to hear
The approaching of thy feet.
The cool of day has come again,
To the garden let us go;
Leave other loves behind to share
The love that we both know.
The time of loves has come;
The winter time is past and gone,
The dove begins her song.
My heart is ravished with thy love,
'Tis far surpassing sweet;
I eagerly await to hear
The approaching of thy feet.
The cool of day has come again,
To the garden let us go;
Leave other loves behind to share
The love that we both know.
Friday, April 01, 2005
The @ Sign
The funny little a with its tail circling back around it is probably one of the most commonly used symbols today. So it is truly amazing to learn that there is no official, universal name for it. The most accepted term, even in many other languages, is to call it the at sign. But there are dozens of different words used to describe it. A lot of languages use words that associate the shape of the symbol with some type of animal.
Here are a few examples of the many exotic terms associated with the @ symbol:
Before it became the standard symbol for e-mail, the @ symbol was typically used to indicate the cost or weight of something. For example, if you bought five oranges for $1.25 each, you might write it as 5 oranges @ $1.25 ea. It is still used in this manner on a variety of forms and invoices around the world.
The actual origin of the symbol is uncertain. It was used by monks making copies of books before the invention of the printing press. Since every word had to be painstakingly transcribed by hand for each copy of a book, the monks that performed the copying duties looked for ways to reduce the number of individual strokes per word for common words. So, the word at became a single stroke of the pen as @ instead of three strokes. While it doesn't seem like much today, it made a huge difference to the men who spent their lives copying manuscripts!
Another origin tale states that the @ symbol was used as an abbreviation for the word amphora, which was the unit of measurement used to determine the amount held by the large terra cotta jars that were used to ship grain, spices and wine. Giorgio Stabile, an Italian scholar, discovered this use of the @ symbol in a letter written in 1536 by a Florentine trader named Francesco Lapi. It seems likely that some industrious trader saw the @ symbol in a book transcribed by monks using the symbol and appropriated it for use as the amphora abbreviation. This would also explain why it became common to use the symbol in relation to quantities of something.
Here are a few examples of the many exotic terms associated with the @ symbol:
apestaart - Dutch for "monkey's tail"
snabel - Danish for "elephant's trunk"
kissanhnta - Finnish for "cat's tail"
klammeraffe - German for "hanging monkey"
kukac - Hungarian for "worm"
dalphaengi - Korean for "snail"
grisehale - Norwegian for "pig's tail"
sobachka - Russian for "little dog"
Before it became the standard symbol for e-mail, the @ symbol was typically used to indicate the cost or weight of something. For example, if you bought five oranges for $1.25 each, you might write it as 5 oranges @ $1.25 ea. It is still used in this manner on a variety of forms and invoices around the world.
The actual origin of the symbol is uncertain. It was used by monks making copies of books before the invention of the printing press. Since every word had to be painstakingly transcribed by hand for each copy of a book, the monks that performed the copying duties looked for ways to reduce the number of individual strokes per word for common words. So, the word at became a single stroke of the pen as @ instead of three strokes. While it doesn't seem like much today, it made a huge difference to the men who spent their lives copying manuscripts!
Another origin tale states that the @ symbol was used as an abbreviation for the word amphora, which was the unit of measurement used to determine the amount held by the large terra cotta jars that were used to ship grain, spices and wine. Giorgio Stabile, an Italian scholar, discovered this use of the @ symbol in a letter written in 1536 by a Florentine trader named Francesco Lapi. It seems likely that some industrious trader saw the @ symbol in a book transcribed by monks using the symbol and appropriated it for use as the amphora abbreviation. This would also explain why it became common to use the symbol in relation to quantities of something.
Thursday, March 31, 2005
Job's Reply
"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42: 5, 6)
After all that went before, all the conjecturing and all the reasoning, all the self-examination and Job-examination, God spoke. "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with majesty and exellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty."
And Job was reduced to one simple answer: "I abhor myself." At that point he saw God.
I want to see God. Is this what it will take?
Isn't that what Paul said: "I count all things as loss that I may know him."
Isn't that what John the Baptist said: "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Isaiah, too: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord."
It all comes down to that - more of Him and less of me. In that order. My self-reduction cannot be done in my own strength - then it would still be me.
Lord Jesus, give me such a vision of You that I no longer want to stand out or be noticed, but only for your glory. Shine, Jesus, shine.
After all that went before, all the conjecturing and all the reasoning, all the self-examination and Job-examination, God spoke. "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with majesty and exellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty."
And Job was reduced to one simple answer: "I abhor myself." At that point he saw God.
I want to see God. Is this what it will take?
Isn't that what Paul said: "I count all things as loss that I may know him."
Isn't that what John the Baptist said: "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Isaiah, too: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord."
It all comes down to that - more of Him and less of me. In that order. My self-reduction cannot be done in my own strength - then it would still be me.
Lord Jesus, give me such a vision of You that I no longer want to stand out or be noticed, but only for your glory. Shine, Jesus, shine.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
The Light Of The World
Go and sin no more, my son,
I thee do not condemn.
I came to save not only thee
But all the race of men.
I am water for the thirsty,
I am sight unto the blind,
I am healing in the body
For thee and all mankind.
If I may come and heal thee
I will make of thee a light,
And shine through thee to illumine
This sad world's darkest night
That men may see my glory,
And, seeing, shall be healed,
When I may come in power
As Christ in thee revealed.
I thee do not condemn.
I came to save not only thee
But all the race of men.
I am water for the thirsty,
I am sight unto the blind,
I am healing in the body
For thee and all mankind.
If I may come and heal thee
I will make of thee a light,
And shine through thee to illumine
This sad world's darkest night
That men may see my glory,
And, seeing, shall be healed,
When I may come in power
As Christ in thee revealed.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Ain't No Blue In Bluegrass
I've been out of town and haven't posted for a while.
I went to a bluegrass festival with my daughter. Mary started going to bluegrass concerts with me to have an activity to share with me and ended up liking the music. This thrills me no end since no one else in the family likes it. Mary says that bluegrass is the perfect cure for sadness and depression - you can't be blue listening to a 5-string banjo.
I never cease to be amazed at the skill of the musicians in picking this hard-as-nails, lightning-fast music and singing the high mountain-tenor harmonies. Most of it is home-grown, done out of pure love for the music.
The concerts are always alcohol- and smoke-free in a good family environment and there is never anything off-color. Bluegrass groups always include gospel songs in their performances and have at least one gospel CD; they talk openly about their love for the Lord Jesus.
Mary and I have a favorite group that we follow around. The group is called Phoenix and they are based in Charlottesville, VA. The 4 members of this band have all played professionally with full-time travelling bands (a secret desire of mine) but stopped that and now play bluegrass just for enjoyment. It really comes through in their performances, not that the other groups lack anything, but Phoenix really spreads joy and excitement in a concert.
One thing that grabs me about bluegrass is that 4 or 5 people can create that hard-driving music with little acoustic wooden instruments using no electronics (other than a PA system so they can be heard). The bass (almost always an upright, hardly ever electric) provides a rock-steady 1-2 beat, while the banjo, mandolin and fiddle weave intricate patterns around it.
I grew up with bluegrass and country music in the '40's and '50's. Bluegrass was raw and had an edge to it in those seminal years. Much-improved recording technology and the need to reach a wider audience have resulted in a more refined sound while retaining the essential form and feel of the music.
They don't play bluegrass on the radio like they used to, so the festival has emerged as the venue for playing and hearing the music. These are 1-to 3-day events with a variety of artists each doing two 45-minute sets during the day. There are also some concert halls around. And my wife never has any shortage of bluegrass music in our house (not that she wants it).
I went to a bluegrass festival with my daughter. Mary started going to bluegrass concerts with me to have an activity to share with me and ended up liking the music. This thrills me no end since no one else in the family likes it. Mary says that bluegrass is the perfect cure for sadness and depression - you can't be blue listening to a 5-string banjo.
I never cease to be amazed at the skill of the musicians in picking this hard-as-nails, lightning-fast music and singing the high mountain-tenor harmonies. Most of it is home-grown, done out of pure love for the music.
The concerts are always alcohol- and smoke-free in a good family environment and there is never anything off-color. Bluegrass groups always include gospel songs in their performances and have at least one gospel CD; they talk openly about their love for the Lord Jesus.
Mary and I have a favorite group that we follow around. The group is called Phoenix and they are based in Charlottesville, VA. The 4 members of this band have all played professionally with full-time travelling bands (a secret desire of mine) but stopped that and now play bluegrass just for enjoyment. It really comes through in their performances, not that the other groups lack anything, but Phoenix really spreads joy and excitement in a concert.
One thing that grabs me about bluegrass is that 4 or 5 people can create that hard-driving music with little acoustic wooden instruments using no electronics (other than a PA system so they can be heard). The bass (almost always an upright, hardly ever electric) provides a rock-steady 1-2 beat, while the banjo, mandolin and fiddle weave intricate patterns around it.
I grew up with bluegrass and country music in the '40's and '50's. Bluegrass was raw and had an edge to it in those seminal years. Much-improved recording technology and the need to reach a wider audience have resulted in a more refined sound while retaining the essential form and feel of the music.
They don't play bluegrass on the radio like they used to, so the festival has emerged as the venue for playing and hearing the music. These are 1-to 3-day events with a variety of artists each doing two 45-minute sets during the day. There are also some concert halls around. And my wife never has any shortage of bluegrass music in our house (not that she wants it).
Thursday, March 24, 2005
It Pleased The Lord
"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. (Isaiah 53:10)
We will never be able to plumb the depths or scale the heights of the meaning of this verse. This was pleasing to God, so great was His love for the lost and fallen human race. So great was His love that it cost Him the life of His only begotten Son, and that at great expense of suffering, all that we saw in "The Passion" and more.
This one event stands far and above all others in history. All eternity stopped and took notice that day as the precious, beloved Son of God offered Himself on the cross to work out God's plan to win us back to Himself. Angels cried and hid their faces, and the sun went behind a cloud. The earth shook violently, thunder rolled across the skies, and lightning flashed in jagged streaks. And it rained blood that day, soaking the ground a crimson red, as Jesus Christ the cross ascended. Grace and glory God extended as the Lamb our race defended.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
It pleased the Lord. Never let a day go by without thanking Him for what He did that day. Never treat it as something we don't need anymore now that we're saved. Hold it always before your spirit and your soul. May we see the full outworking of His salvation in our lives so that "the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand."
We will never be able to plumb the depths or scale the heights of the meaning of this verse. This was pleasing to God, so great was His love for the lost and fallen human race. So great was His love that it cost Him the life of His only begotten Son, and that at great expense of suffering, all that we saw in "The Passion" and more.
This one event stands far and above all others in history. All eternity stopped and took notice that day as the precious, beloved Son of God offered Himself on the cross to work out God's plan to win us back to Himself. Angels cried and hid their faces, and the sun went behind a cloud. The earth shook violently, thunder rolled across the skies, and lightning flashed in jagged streaks. And it rained blood that day, soaking the ground a crimson red, as Jesus Christ the cross ascended. Grace and glory God extended as the Lamb our race defended.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
It pleased the Lord. Never let a day go by without thanking Him for what He did that day. Never treat it as something we don't need anymore now that we're saved. Hold it always before your spirit and your soul. May we see the full outworking of His salvation in our lives so that "the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand."
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
The Way
I realized this morning that the word "Christianity" is not in the Bible. That is an invention of man that turns what the Bible calls "The Way" into a set of beliefs. Christianity becomes a series of doctrines and teachings, and we have blindly followed and accepted the premise that if we believe in these things then our lives will somehow be affected.
It's possible to believe in the resurrection but not be touched by it's power. Oh, I might try a little harder to be good, or have some passing hope for a moment. But Paul prayed "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection." He said "The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God..." That's more than having faith "in" - it's the "faith of" the Son of God. (Gal. 2:20 - KJV)
We have a new and living way, a Man who went to the cross, who was crucified, dead and buried, who descended into Hell, who rose pure and holy and led captivity captive, who lives now and forevermore.
Jesus didn't die so we could have a statement of beliefs, and He didn't walk out of that tomb so we could have ten steps to follow for a happy life. He has come as the great Lover of mankind. Let's fall in love with Him all over again!
It's possible to believe in the resurrection but not be touched by it's power. Oh, I might try a little harder to be good, or have some passing hope for a moment. But Paul prayed "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection." He said "The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God..." That's more than having faith "in" - it's the "faith of" the Son of God. (Gal. 2:20 - KJV)
We have a new and living way, a Man who went to the cross, who was crucified, dead and buried, who descended into Hell, who rose pure and holy and led captivity captive, who lives now and forevermore.
Jesus didn't die so we could have a statement of beliefs, and He didn't walk out of that tomb so we could have ten steps to follow for a happy life. He has come as the great Lover of mankind. Let's fall in love with Him all over again!
Monday, March 21, 2005
The Carpenter
His fathers' shop was rude and bare
But Jesus labored daily there,
Making from the rough-hewn wood
Pieces that were true and good.
With gentle patience he would take
The crooked piece and make it straight,
And shape it with his laborer's hands
According to his father's plans.
In Father's house He labors still
According to His Father's will;
Every rough and knotty place
He smooths with His amazing grace.
The fruits of all His labors tell
A house where He and God might dwell;
And plank to board He fastens them
To build the New Jerusalem.
But Jesus labored daily there,
Making from the rough-hewn wood
Pieces that were true and good.
With gentle patience he would take
The crooked piece and make it straight,
And shape it with his laborer's hands
According to his father's plans.
In Father's house He labors still
According to His Father's will;
Every rough and knotty place
He smooths with His amazing grace.
The fruits of all His labors tell
A house where He and God might dwell;
And plank to board He fastens them
To build the New Jerusalem.
Friday, March 18, 2005
God's Original Intent
"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23)
We don't read the Bible for what it says - we read it for what we think it says. When we look at this verse we interpret it as "For all have sinned and are going to hell," or "For all have sinned and need to repent."
What it really says is not that we're bound for the worst (which certainly may be true, but it's not what this verse says) but that we're missing the best. God's original intent was for man to live in His Glory, in His manifest Presence, in Him. But sin got in the way, and the original intent was lost.
Sin has its consequences, to be sure, and the worst of all is separation from God. But He has paid the price so we may now come - even come boldly - and be restored to the original intent.
We need to get on with the business of restoring - and being restored to - the glory of God, our true dwelling place. There are those who will have an eye for the highest and best and will press into that which God has for them. Let us be done with lesser things and rise to the challenge and the call - the Glory of God!
We don't read the Bible for what it says - we read it for what we think it says. When we look at this verse we interpret it as "For all have sinned and are going to hell," or "For all have sinned and need to repent."
What it really says is not that we're bound for the worst (which certainly may be true, but it's not what this verse says) but that we're missing the best. God's original intent was for man to live in His Glory, in His manifest Presence, in Him. But sin got in the way, and the original intent was lost.
Sin has its consequences, to be sure, and the worst of all is separation from God. But He has paid the price so we may now come - even come boldly - and be restored to the original intent.
We need to get on with the business of restoring - and being restored to - the glory of God, our true dwelling place. There are those who will have an eye for the highest and best and will press into that which God has for them. Let us be done with lesser things and rise to the challenge and the call - the Glory of God!
A Few Laughs
A guide was showing Niagara Falls to a man from Texas.
Guide: I'll bet you don't have anything like this in Texas.
Texan: Nope, but in Texas we have a plumber who can fix it.
Policeman: Tell me, why did you park your car here?
Motorist: Well, the sign says FINE FOR PARKING.
Old man (to his wife): What on earth are you doing?
Wife: Knitting up some barbed wire.
Old man: How can you do that?
Wife: Easy! I'm using steel wool
Guide: I'll bet you don't have anything like this in Texas.
Texan: Nope, but in Texas we have a plumber who can fix it.
Policeman: Tell me, why did you park your car here?
Motorist: Well, the sign says FINE FOR PARKING.
Old man (to his wife): What on earth are you doing?
Wife: Knitting up some barbed wire.
Old man: How can you do that?
Wife: Easy! I'm using steel wool
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Enoch
"And Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him." (Gen. 5:6)
I have alway felt that this little verse about Enoch has to do with something more than God simply catching him away. Enoch walked with God - his life was in step with God, he lived to please God, he was sold out to God. In the process of living such a life Enoch was transformed into the man God wants, he was a vessel filled with the Presence of God. This is borne out in the New Testament by Paul's statement that "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, but not I, but Christ liveth in me." (Gal. 2:20).
(This is a song I wrote - maybe it'll work as a poem.)
I have alway felt that this little verse about Enoch has to do with something more than God simply catching him away. Enoch walked with God - his life was in step with God, he lived to please God, he was sold out to God. In the process of living such a life Enoch was transformed into the man God wants, he was a vessel filled with the Presence of God. This is borne out in the New Testament by Paul's statement that "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, but not I, but Christ liveth in me." (Gal. 2:20).
(This is a song I wrote - maybe it'll work as a poem.)
Enoch, you were the seventh man;
You showed forth the fullness of God's plan
For a man who walked so close with God,
Even here on common sod,
That he wasn't any longer just a man.
Enoch, the Lord had taken you
From all that you could say and you could do
Up into a higher realm
Where all you were was overwhelmed
By all that God could ever be for you.
I am crucified with Christ and yet I live,
Yet not I but just what Christ can give;
It's not by power, not by might,
Not by strength and not by sight,
For all I ever have or do are His.
Now I no longer live for self alone,
But just to be consumed by Christ the Son -
A burning bush on holy fire,
Caught up with an intense desire
To be with Him and be forever one.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Forever And Forever
"And of the increase of His government there shall be no end."
Lord, will there be no end to the growing sense of your Presence, no end to delighting in you more and more every day?
"No, there will be no end."
Lord, will you forever continue to reveal your Glory in ever-increasing measure?
"Yes, forever."
Lord, will I never cease to be amazed at Your power and might?
"No, never."
Lord, will you always lavish your love on me, cover my sins with your blood, and make Yourself more real to me every day?
"Yes, always."
Lord, will there never be any end to our love relationship that is the delight of my life and the joy of my heart?
"No, no end. I am yours always and forever and always have been. You are the delight of my heart and the apple of my eye. I gave everything for you and I will never let anyone take you away. I am jealous over you with a white-hot, fiery love that burns hotter than a thousand suns. Settle it in your heart then, child, that I will be your God and your Friend forever and forever and forever. There will be no end to our love. Long after the last star in the sky ceases to glimmer and shine, long after the last ray of the sun has made it's long journey across the endless reaches of space to the farthest corner of the universe, you will be in my heart. Eternity will prove the depth of my love for you."
Lord, will there be no end to the growing sense of your Presence, no end to delighting in you more and more every day?
"No, there will be no end."
Lord, will you forever continue to reveal your Glory in ever-increasing measure?
"Yes, forever."
Lord, will I never cease to be amazed at Your power and might?
"No, never."
Lord, will you always lavish your love on me, cover my sins with your blood, and make Yourself more real to me every day?
"Yes, always."
Lord, will there never be any end to our love relationship that is the delight of my life and the joy of my heart?
"No, no end. I am yours always and forever and always have been. You are the delight of my heart and the apple of my eye. I gave everything for you and I will never let anyone take you away. I am jealous over you with a white-hot, fiery love that burns hotter than a thousand suns. Settle it in your heart then, child, that I will be your God and your Friend forever and forever and forever. There will be no end to our love. Long after the last star in the sky ceases to glimmer and shine, long after the last ray of the sun has made it's long journey across the endless reaches of space to the farthest corner of the universe, you will be in my heart. Eternity will prove the depth of my love for you."
Monday, March 14, 2005
Here For The Duration
I have just been asked by my company to stay on past my termination date due to my knowledge of the application system and the business. This is very good news because it means I won't have to go looking for another job, which is something I really don't want to have to do at my age. Unfortunately, one of my co-workers had to switch with me so he'll be out on the street in December.
Unlike my contractor friends, who like living on the edge, I have always enjoyed the security of a full-time position. And now I'll be able to continue saving for retirement and putting into Social Security (it ain't broke yet), as well as having the benefits.
I don't know how long "the duration" is because this company is winding down; we have to make good on our obligations (claims payouts) while not taking in any premium income, since we have ceased our marketing operations. At some point in time it will be more feasible to sell our liabilities and/or outsource our claims handling and IT work.
But right now it looks like I will be able to retire at retirement age. And then ... and then ...
Unlike my contractor friends, who like living on the edge, I have always enjoyed the security of a full-time position. And now I'll be able to continue saving for retirement and putting into Social Security (it ain't broke yet), as well as having the benefits.
I don't know how long "the duration" is because this company is winding down; we have to make good on our obligations (claims payouts) while not taking in any premium income, since we have ceased our marketing operations. At some point in time it will be more feasible to sell our liabilities and/or outsource our claims handling and IT work.
But right now it looks like I will be able to retire at retirement age. And then ... and then ...
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