Of Moles and Freckles

This past week I went to the dermatologist to have some moles looked at. This was a unique experience for several reasons. But what stands out is that I learned something and that always makes me excited! I learned that my freckles are not freckles at all. What I thought were freckles are actually moles. All the dots I have on my face, my arms etc are moles! In some ways that seems gross because my perception of moles has been somewhat negative. Maybe everyone knows this and I am just behind the times.

Now until this last Monday I have referred to the dots on my arms and face as freckles. Someone could say I have been lying to people! I have been misrepresenting the truth. But I don't think anyone would condemn me because I simply didn't know.

Acts 17:30 say that in "the times of this ignorance, God winks."I am not condemned for my misrepresenting moles.

However if I were to continue to tell people I have freckles, that would be wrong! I would be deceiving people as to the true nature of moles and freckles.

This is a rather trivial example but it holds true in the more serious aspects of our lives. We are not condemned for our sins that we do in our ignorance. God is just and fair. However when God's will is made clear to us, He expects us to act and choose His truth. It's like a child who suddenly learns that certain words should not be spoken. The first time the child simply does not know the meaning. But for a child who knows better, he will be held accountable for what he says and his parents will discipline him if he disobeys.

Jesus says in John 12: 35, "Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going."

God reveals truth to us and just like it would be silly for me to disregard what I have learned about my skin, it is foolish for us to disregard what God reveals to us in His word. Let us be wise in the small things in this life as well as that which relates to eternity.

I'm Getting Married!

June 5, 2011

Ode to Muffin

O little fat cat of brown and white,

How I wish you brought me some delight!

If you would stop sitting in the corner to stare

And not hiss at my attempted pat with a glare!

Your name is Muffin, which should mean something sweet,

But having you, it seems to me, is far from a treat.

Muffin, you were a cute kitten indeed,

But something happened, did we not fulfill a need?

We fed, pet, and played with you till you would fall asleep,

But you soured as you grew up, and away from us you started to creep.

You don't seem to care as long as your food bowl is filled.

We're not your servants Muffin, you need to chill!

Muffin, I honestly wish we could be friends.

I wish this gap, we would reach across and mend.

You are a pretty cat and could be nice to hold and love.

Please stop being mean and be like your Creator above.

Stressful Changes

Life is stressful...can I get an "Amen"? The more aware of life that I get, I have come to that solid conclusion: Life is Stressful! It seems to me that at the foundation of this stressful life is one specific thing: change. (Now there may be other things we could point at but for the sake of this little writing, I am looking at change.) Now change is not always negative; it can certainly be for happy occasions: the birth of a baby, a wedding, a new and better job, a new car etc. But I do believe that everyone would agree that all those wonderful occasions bring stress. That new baby will cry an awful lot, a wedding takes a lot of hassle and planning, a new job has to be learned and that new car took a chunk from your savings account. We are also all familiar with negative changes: the death of a loved one, a divorce, being laid off, car accidents etc. Death often brings incredible loss, divorce brings heart break, there is desperation without a job and a car accident, even with minimal damage will undoubtedly cause great pains with insurance agencies. Change= stress. Outside of circumstances people often change. Children grow in each stage to face different issues that often drive their parents wild. Graduation to a new school brings excitement and fear. The lists can go on and on of the stress of all our particular stages and challenges of life no matter how exhilarating or upsetting.

Now, as a Christian I wish to pause now after having painted this picture of general despair. For after all, no matter what happens in life it seems that we are bound to be stressed, right? I wish to ask, who never changes? Of course we know the answer to that! "For I am the Lord, I do not change," Malachi 3:6 makes it very clear. But I want to ask, why is it that we have such dramatically differently attitudes toward God so often. One week we are praising Him! The next week we are sobbing, "God, how can you do this to me?" Is this because God changes His attitude toward us? Of course not. "I have loved you with an everlasting love..." God says to us (Jer. 31:3). We can know God's character and that is of love and goodwill. He does not change. If He does not change, then it must be us changing our attitude toward God. Do we really trust Him, His word to us and His love for us? O, how we need to trust God and turn to Him when we are in those negative changes. Who does not wish sympathy and love when they are stressed out? Who better to receive that from than the infinite loving Creator who knows us better than anyone else?

These thoughts have come to me as I have reflected on this past year. So much has changed in the past year and it seems that it shall be the same for 2011. It is stressful! I could choose to be distressed, worried and upset when I realize how unsettled I am. Or I can trust in my God who is my Rock and know He will see me through. That is my wish for you as well.

"On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand."

"Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me."

Tiny as a Pin Hole

Recently as I was driving I had to slam on my breaks. I was making a left-hand turn and was awaiting a car to pass before I made my move. What I did not notice was the car speeding up behind the car I was watching. As the first car went through the intersection I was already turning, then spying the other car, I slammed on my breaks to avoid hitting it. With a swerve from him and jerking stop from me, we avoided collision. After that alarming moment I shakily continued and quickly noticed that my breaks were not what they used to be. I had to put my foot to the floor to stop. Now I am not a car buff and so it is very possible that my breaks had been going for some time, but with that slamming stop they were completely gone. With the help of my friend Ben who is a car buff, we were able to determine the problem. I had a leak in my break fluid line over my right rear tire and thus I had no pressure in my breaks. I asked him how big the leak was, "oh, probably the size of a pin hole." A pin hole! My whole car could have come to a crashing stop over a pin hole! The whole vehicle was rendered not functional because of a tiny, tiny hole. I could have crashed in to a car and disaster could have ensued all because of a leak the size of a pin hole!

Isn't that ironic? A tiny, tiny weakness in a car disables the entire thing. What a great spiritual analogy that is! In our lives we can be all set but if there is one specific sin that we refuse to surrender or deal with, it can corrupt our whole being. Just as if a physical part of our bodies is damaged or not working right and that hinders our whole body, so it is with our spiritual lives. If we want to be complete in Jesus, we need to be completely His.

James 4:7-8 says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you...." We must continually resist anything that comes between us and God. As we walk step by step in our Christian journeys closer to God, we will surely become entirely His.

Guard your heart

In Proverbs 4:23 the Bible says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." When I think of guarding, I think of the middle ages. I think of a treasure guarded in a stone castle with a moat surrounding and a thick wall. Something that is guarded is not readily available and not easily seen. It is protected and kept secure. We are to guard our hearts.

Why are we to guard our hearts? Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked..." Our hearts are fickle and easily swayed. We cannot trust them. That is why our hearts need to be guarded.

This is completely counter to our present society. In movies, books and television, we are constantly told to follow our hearts. Unfortunately when we do this, we do not encounter the happy endings we see in movies. We are left with baggage, single mothers and broken families. Following our hearts is not the reality media portrays. In contrast to following our hearts, the Bible cautions us to guard our hearts. Do not put them out there. Do not wear your heart on a sleeve. Guard it. Keep it secure. Song of Solomon 8:4 cautions "do not stir up nor awaken love" until it is time. When is it time? When the Lord says it is. We will only know if we are connected to Him. May God give us the courage to follow His way and not the world's.

http://codybateman.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/heartinhands.jpg

What is Death?

What is death?
Death is no answer. It is no solution.
Death offers nothing to satisfy. It is the epitome of separation.
Death, the opposite of life, the opposite of birth.
A birth offers hope and joy.
The first smile, the first laugh. The first step.
Death is the last. The last vacation. The last visit.
The last independent drive in a car. The last week. The last day.
Life in reverse is death. The loss of vigor. The loss of ability.
We gather to celebrate lives. The memories and accomplishments are recalled. We do not want to forget a thing of those we loved.
But as the years pass and the pain numbs, a granite stone is all that is left of many loved ones.
What is death?

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die,"John 11:25,26.

What blessed hope is this! Where would we be without Jesus? As unnatural as death is, Jesus experienced it, to conquer it. That though our loved ones may die, they in Christ shall live again. What will be forgotten will be remembered. Those who are parted will be together again. The joy and the firsts will one day be renewed. Praise the Lord!

In memory of my great Aunt June, a joy to know. I wish I knew her more. I praise the Lord for her life. I praise the Lord that we will see her again. That her life was full and blessed. And her passing was without prolonged suffering. Those who have known her have been blessed. May we all know the Lord that we may all meet together with her again.