Been a Long Time

Hi.

Hope you are well.

I was surprised to see that I haven't blogged at all in 2013. 

Sorry.  Guess I didn't need you. 
Shouldn't have dumped you when things got better.

The way we all seem to do with God, huh?

***

Lunch with Don

Had lunch with one of my oldest friends -- twice -- in the past week.

Yes, I have known him since the early '90s.  He is 64 years old, therefore, one of my oldest friends.


My, how things have changed over the years.

Don's wife was ill for more than a decade.  Now, she's in heaven.
She's better off.

Don has a new wife who also loves him.
Life is totally different for him.

Don and I worked together for more than a decade.
A co-worker embezzled unknown thousands of dollars.

I was told Don "should have known."
Our superiors -- who also "should have known" -- fired him.

Don didn't know.  The bandit fooled everyone -- including the auditors.

Don is now a highly valued employee at a new company where he earns twice what he used to make.  Been there for eight years.

He's better off.

*

We drove by our old company yesterday.

Gone.

The company's two buildings -- once owned debt-free -- were sold and subdivided by new tenants.  The only vestige of what was once a life-changing operation blessed by God was the little exit sign by the driveway with a crown painted on it.

Our old company once had 175 employees who earned "living" wages.  Now, fewer than ten remain.  They plan to relocate to another state.

Adios.

*

When I was fired, I was told to sign a five-page, pre-prepared, detailed legal contract forbidding me from working in my career field for a year and not sharing anything I knew about the company for five years. 

Yes, I still have a copy.

I was told I would not receive any severance pay if I didn't sign the contract before I left the building that day.  So, I signed it, under duress, and left.  Once and for all.

After they offered to pray for me.

<shudders>

Only one of those who fired me remains employed there.
All their offices have been given to others.

Did God shut the place down because Don and I were fired?
Nope.

Did God leave the day I got fired?  Or when Don got fired?
Nope.

But it wasn't long afterward, if you ask me.

**

Best Sermon Ever This Morning

Sermons are always easiest to enjoy when the preacher is talking to other people ... especially if they're sitting next to us, getting fried by The Truth they won't listen to from us.


I am thankful for the churches that preach the gospel, Sunday after Sunday.  In many of them, however, once you're saved the heat is off and you can relax.  You are exempt from all future sermons.

But when the messages end with a call to salvation -- instead of using that as a starting point to know and serve God -- it can breed complacency.

In my humble opinion.

*

So today, Pastor John used Ephesians 4 as his text:

³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.


God spoke to me through His Word.

There are times I shock myself when I exhibit zero patience in traffic.  Twice yesterday I blew the horn in Don's car at idiotic drivers.

I figured they would hunt him down, not me.  I was safe.

Today God spoke to me about my temper -- the one I do not allow Him to control.  Especially in traffic.

Like the time an idiot pulled out in front of me
leaving the parking lot of the church next to mine
and I blew the horn.

On the way home from church.
Today.

Lord, please be kind as you deal with my anger issues.

*

I would love to tell you about young men I know who treat their families with such contempt and dishonor that their actions are repulsive.

They dishonor God, themselves and their loved ones by their arrogant insolence.

As I did in my teen years.

If I wrote about them, I would compare their sinful actions to the perfection of God and how they are not even close to being like Jesus.

Would I compare them to myself at their age?  Not so much.

*

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

My conclusion?

 

I must spend more time and effort on my own walk and less time feeling superior to those whom I deem less godly.

 

Even when it's true.

 

**

 

I Believe the Bible, But Very Little that People Say About the Bible

 

As I wrote this blog, I was engaged on Facebook with a famous guy who has written 20 books and has credentials out the wazoo.

 

He wrote and defended this theorem:

 

God's primary goal isn't to use you for his purposes.

It's to enjoy your company.

 

I, with great joy and zeal, told him I believe that is drivel and perfectly incorrect.

 

The Bible says that we are alive to love, serve and honor God.

 

God is not a lonely grandfather hoping we'll visit him more often.

 

God wants to use us to reach a world that doesn't know Jesus. 

Life in Christ is about serving others.  We will have eternity to hang out with God to enjoy one another.

 

**

 

Money and My Hunny Bunny

 

Y'know how old people say their love grows deeper over time?

 

True, that.

 

I love Suzannah more all the time.

 

Do we have the solution to the multi-state distance between us? 

Nope.

 

Do we have solid clues to solve the puzzle? 

Nope.

 

I think we've been together three times since I last blogged -- each time for a week or two.  Last time was in June.

 

I came home to have a grandson.

Thank you very much.

 

She stayed there to have two new daughters-in-law.

Her boys, as we say in the South, "married up."  Big time.

 

*

 

I can afford life here.

I cannot afford life there.

 

She has kids who cannot leave there.

I have kids and grandkids I don't want to leave here.

 

She has no house there.

I have a house here.

I cannot afford to buy or rent a house there.

 

Some would say "long-distance relationships are hopeless."

 

I say Suzannah instills hope into me every morning, afternoon and evening.

 

We begin our day with loving calls. 

We share and pray our way through every day.  We look forward to the next call as much as we have enjoyed the previous ones.

 

Do we fuss?

Sure.

 

Do we always agree?

Nope.

 

Do we know when or how we're going to work things out?

Nope.

 

But imagine having someone who loves you.  Respects you.

Cares about your day.  Prays for your kids. 

Defends you.  Sharpens you.
Misses you.  Enjoys time with you.

 

We share God's word several times a week.  We close out each and every night with prayer and kind words.
 

 

"The desire of the righteous will be granted."

 

**

Stuff

 

Co-hosted a radio call-in program last week on my local radio station.

 

Guy who hosts it thanks every caller.

 

"Hi.  I am thinking of going downtown to shoot squirrels and break into cars because Obama was raised as a Muslim."

 

"Wow!  Great call!  Thanks!"

 

*

 

Guy called in. 

His dog was freaking out in the background.

The caller was freaking out on the phone

 

Obama was raised a Muslim [insert crazoid dog barking sounds here] and Obama won't rest until every cute little puppy is slaughtered by Democrats and terrorists [insert crazoid dog barking here] who are the same people who kicked God out of schools [insert crazoid barking here].

 

Before the host could say,

"Wow! Great call! So glad you took the time to phone in today!"

 

I said, "That's so screwy, you're making your dog bark."

 

No word on being invited back.

I'll keep you posted.

 

**

 

Hurt my right shoulder a couple of weeks ago after returning home from a 750-mile trip on my motorcycle.

 

A few weeks earlier I tipped over (on my bike) on a gravel-covered parking lot.  Went down on my right side ... with my arm out.  Didn't hurt too bad at the time.

 

The day after my long ride I could hardly lift my arm.  Stabbing pains.

 

Still hurts.  Still weak.  Still surviving.
Put the bike up for sale.

**

 

Yes, I have health insurance.  But it isn't much good.

 

For example, after I was a human buffet for bugs that injected me with some kind of allergic-reaction-inducing venom, I went to the doctor.

 

Nobody had a clue why my legs, side and butt looked like I had been attacked by a rabid octopus or two.

 

Went to a quick-fix "doctor's office" by my local Wally World.

 

Spoke to a man with a medical degree from a foreign land.  Where, I do not know.  He was obviously from a country where transportation is paid for with live chickens and/or goats.

 

If I understood correctly, he said

 

"Whad eeece theeeece? Whad beet choo? Where you get theeeece marks?  I hahb never seeen sush marks!  How many goats deed choo bring?"

 

I declined the $170 shot of whatever the heck he wanted to give me.

Accepted the prescription for three meds.

Went to pay the cashier.

 

She asked if I had insurance. 
Told her I only had crummy coverage.

She asked if I wanted to use it. 

Asked her how much it would be.

$100 co-pay toward the $150 bill. 
My insurance would pay $50.

 

I asked how much I'd owe if I did NOT have insurance.

$90.

 

I know.  You don't believe me, right?

That's OK. 
If you said this, I would think you were lying too.

 

But it's true.

 

My insurance is SO crummy

 

"How crummy is it?"

 

my bill went UP by $10 because I had insurance and
DOWN by $10 if I didn't use my insurance.

That is why I have not gone to the doctor for my shoulder.

 

**

 

I would love to tell you the tales of the irresponsible people I know.

 

But they're probably not more irresponsible than people you know.

 

So, take heart.  You're not alone.

 

**

 

I am far less concerned that prayer/God was kicked out of public schools than I am about God being kicked out of churches.

 

Ditching the cross to get people -- who would rather do the Sunday crossword puzzle than hear about God and eternal life -- to come to church without offending them?  Spare me.

 

God is offensive.

 

Being responsible for our sin is offensive.

 

Telling people that God doesn't endorse their every whim, goal, choice or sexual preference is offensive.

 

Telling people that God wants them to submit to His will and His ways is offensive -- and unnecessary when preachers tell them all God wants is to spend time with us.

 

Our sin separates us from God.

The wages of sin is death.

When we die, someone will be called on to pay the debt for our sins.

 

We will pay with our lives -- or Jesus will pay with His life -- for our sins.

 

That's why there was a cross.

That's why Jesus died on the cross.

 

Not for His sin -- He was sinless.

He died for our sin.

He took our penalty of death for our sins.

That's why the symbol of the cross is the crux of Christianity.

 

 

What can wash away our sins? 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus on Calvary's cross.

 

Who will die for your sins?
You or Jesus?

 

**

More Stuff

 

Been in my lovely, comfy home next to the Dancing Deer Forest for 13 years.

 

Lived alone here for nine years.

 

Haven't had a full-time job in almost two years.

 

Haven't missed paying a bill on time (except for my own quickly corrected stupidity or forgetfulness) in all those years.

 

My dandy little 2004 Honda is paid off.

My dandy Kawasaki is paid off.

 

My home is cool.  I have food and plenty of toys.

 

I have money in the bank.

I shared some with my church this morning.

Shared some with my family last night.

 

I am safe, healthy, loved, protected and forgiven.

 

Because of God's loving and faithful provision.

 

I will be well.

Hopefully with Suzannah.

 

And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

How will you be?

 

Where will you be ... forever?

 

 Choose wisely.