today's task

The task before us is at times arduous and seemingly endless.

And yet we push onward.

What is the motivation needed to remain steadfast and on course?
Where does that confidence come from?

What are the goals and objectives of the day?

Simple, simpler, simplest.

Movies and television are engineered so that each and every millisecond of the feature is planned. There is not a blink of an eye, a glance, nudge or gesture that is not recorded with reason. Every nuance is purposefully utilized. For in the end, each of those milliseconds is invaluable to tell the story.

Our story and use of these milliseconds is equally invaluable.

These moments are to be taken and cherished beyond reason and shared with the world and it is in this, and by doing so, we can give glory to God in the highest. For these moments are His and the true and unabashed joy of this life is found nowhere but in Him.

the line of scrimage

There are some who will find this picture sexy and enticing and others who will find it repulsive and disgusting. 

Some like chocolate, some vanilla. 

Our collective differences are the formulas that make up the environment in which we live. 

God's good word says- "blessed are the peacemakers". Some say; "a gun is a peacemaker"

God's good word says- "if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" Most would cry foul. 

Pearl Jam sings "there's no right or wrong, but I am sure there's good and bad" and of this I am sure, there is good and there is bad. 

Which is stronger a good offense or a good defense. 

What if the answer is neither?

What if the answer is neutral, is love neutral?

Is love an offense or a defense? 

Maybe it's the line of scrimmage and where both sides should start?

Do unto others as you would have done to you, always take the road less traveled. 

Love your neighbor as yourself - -  Jesus defines our neighbors as  e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e. 

Practice love. 

God's good word(s)

"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies DO GOOD to those who HATE YOU, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. G.I.V.E. to E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E. who begs from you and from one who takes away (steals?) your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." Luke


I can add nothing.

peace

Overnight Tragedy

At about 3:19 AM , Margaret, my wife and I awoke to flashing lights. Having not been asleep long, it took us a few minutes to get to our senses.

Had the police pulled someone over outside of our house, had someone had a heart-attack and the EMT's were responding?

And then I noticed a constant and steady sound of agony, a wailing of sorts - slow and steady - . I was becoming more coherent and I stumbled into my clothes to go outside. 

Margaret said she could see smoke and embers from our bedroom window and I still did not think it was a fire. I exited our home and the smoke became apparent as did the depth of what was happening and my senses went on overload.

The crying is where my feet brought me, across from the burning house was a person laying swaddled in a white blanket, curled in a fetal position and this is where the agony emanated from; the sobbing and shaking of this grown man. The pain of his guttural sounds almost too much to bear. He just lay there; heaving, amid the chaos of flame and the diligence of the trained fire personal.

I wanted to hold him, hug him and absorb his hurt and pain, but I did not have courage to do so. A chair was brought for his wife to sit upon and the house burning was her focus as her husband sobbed.

The trauma was overwhelming as neighbors gathered to witness. I texted our children that we loved them and it was then that the wife of a firefighter whom I recognized approached the seated wife. She knew what to do as she hugged the woman and consoled her not with words, but with action. I wished I could have done the same..and then it happened as Mrs. Firefighter finished hugging and walked the mere 7' towards me and as she recognized me from town she also recognized my heart. She could see hurt, nothing compared to the displaced family, but hurt and sadness nonetheless and as the distance between us expired we hugged. A hug of security, a hug of the moment, a hug of life, a hug of support.

I have seen and experienced very little tragedy in my life and on this morning the tragedies unfolded before my eyes.

I wanted to reach out in love and support to the husband and wife and yet it was someone else who did that for me. And at the end of the day I think that is what we all need to be doing for each other -
* show support
* show love
* words are not always needed
* actions speak louder than words

(special thanks to the men and women of Collingswood, Gloucester City, Pennsauken, Bellmawr and Runnemede Fire Departments (and any I missed).

Each moment is special and to be cherished and opportunities to show love are to be seized. 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." 

fortunes better than me

planted a tree

thought would last longer then me

the winds blew it down

then it's bough's made a crown

your face formed a frown

and from there life was found

Psalm 2

Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, "Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, " You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. ESV

This is heavy metal! So many thoughts. How the election and our leaders of our country and planet work in vain. How "man" plots and plans and .... as stated at the very end - "Blessed are all who take refuge in him."  

I love how Jesus is referenced here;  "As for me, I have set my King on Zion...", "You are my Son", "Kiss the Son". 

So often I think....God and heaven, sure belief in those two are easy, but Jesus....JESUS CHRIST being the Son of God, well now that belief requires........ well what does it require - - hope? faith? 

Rest assured...."blessed are all who take refuge in him"
Amen, amen, amen.

PSALM 1

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked  nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he mediates day and night. 
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement. nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous  for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. 
ESV

Most times, when reading the word of God, I hesitate to expound upon it. When I read this, I think about how when we seek God and look for Him and work on learning His word and truth, that when we do that,and "mediate on his law day and night"....I think HOW CAN I EVER GO WRONG????

I think when we read "In all that he does, he prospers"  we think that we will have much more then food/shelter/clothing, but have the latest phone and gadgets. And I think all that is being said here is that in prospering we will have tranquility with what we have. I love the opening lines and how our "delight"  is to be in God and not others, especially the wicked. The bottom line here is to delight in the LORD and nothing else.

May we work at this.

May God bless you.