Boondoggles and Freebies

Since all the changes at work, I've noticed a number of things. The first thing of course is that I have a job. That's good. In addition, my position is better and I can work out of my home if I want. The second thing I noticed is boondoggles and freebies seem to be winding down, at least according to some of the first hand stories I've heard. It reminded me of the stories I heard about Fred Thompson when we were in Memphis.

Fred Thompson?? Yes, the Senator from Tennessee arrived in Washington in 1994 shortly after I arrived in Memphis. He brought with him a background of acting in a number of movies and a rapier wit. Early in his Senate term, he said, "I've still got a lot to learn about Washington. Why, yesterday I accidentally spent some of my own money."

Fairplay

A few weeks ago Nancy and I visited the little town of Fairplay. The family joke (going back close to 80 years) was let's go to Fairplay for a vacation. They could only imagine driving up into the mountains in a Model T for 110+ miles to an old abandoned mining town. The only part left now is a place called South Park (sound familiar?). South Park is pictured below and is a very interesting place. I recommend a tour of each little building, much of it left as it was over 100 years ago.

What binds us to God?

Everyone deserted Christ, even Peter the Apostle ran off and denied him three times. Only the thief on the cross stayed with Christ. Only he really remained faithful to the end in the final moment. Of course he was bound by his own immanent death and the utter consciousness of his own sin. Does sin bind us to God? No, but something nearby does.

The difference I think between a non-Christian and a Christian isn't that the Christian isn't a sinner. He is a sinner and maybe a greater one at times. The difference is in how he regards his sin. The non-Christian sinks deeper and deeper and lets it get power over him. The Christian has a savior who rescues him from sin and Christ is the source of "grace." With grace the believer can then be transformed as with a father who gently helps him go forward. SK writes, "That a person wants to sit and brood and stare at his sin and is unwilling to have faith that it is forgiven: is this also guilt in that it is a minimizing of what Christ has done?"

How we regard what Christ has done for us and and that he's forgiven us is what should bind us to him.

Thanksgiving in Dallas Cont.

Along with overeating and falling asleep during the boring football games (although Colorado beating Nebraska was NOT boring, just very satisfying) we had a great time in Dallas. Below is a photo of everyone taken at Dee's house right before we ate, and ate, and ate. We had to use the house next door to cook some of the food. Dee's neighbor's we're out of town.

Of course Seth Andrew was horrified at all the eating. It was his first Thanksgiving. Although he evidently does his fair share of eating, so don't look so surprised pal.

Below is David and Maralie laughing at something funny. She has a great sense of humor, she laughs at all my lame jokes.

It was really nice to see Aunt June "June Bug" at Thanksgiving. Here she is pictured with Noelle and Maralie.

Thanksgiving in Dallas

A trip to Dallas for Thanksgiving and we're with the kids and "you know who!" Our new grand baby Seth Andrew. We got to spend lots of time with the Noelle and Seth and their new addition.

It's hard to get a good photo of the boy because he squirms quite a bit. I had to take nearly 100 photos to just get a few average ones.

And of course Noelle is a great mother and sees to every detail including lots of love and attention.

Another day of hiking

Nancy and I went hiking up at Roxborough Park the other day. The weather was great and we enjoyed hiking up and around the red rocks in the area.

On the way back to our house we spotted a few deer lounging around in some farmer's field. We are very fortunate to live so close to so much wildlife and beautiful hiking areas. The entrance to the Park is in the canyon behind the deer in the photo.

Thanksgiving

Somewhere I read, "Ingratitude dries up the springs of compassion, but gratitude opens them up." It's probably a good time to reflect on what God has done for you. And, I don't mean the material gains and benefits you might enjoy, but God's example of service and love toward others. And this perhaps shows the most gratitude towards God...imitating Him.

Sacred Classics

Nancy and I don't get very good radio reception at our house. I don't know why, except maybe we're too close to the Dakota Ridge. At any rate, we enjoy listening to the Sacred Classics program on KVOD on Sunday mornings before we go to Church but the reception is poor. All we get at Church any more is contemporary music, so this is pretty refreshing. We simply stream the music into our house through the computer and turn up the speakers. It works great. Click on KVOD and try it.

Blessed are the meek

A good friend asked me the other night what I thought about Jesus words, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” He asked me what I thought meekness means. I had to think about it a little, so I did some research. Meekness I think is probably anti-American. Americans want to be strong, battle hardened, and we want to win by our strength. I’m sure in Jesus day as he went up the mountain to preach these words, his followers were expecting him to set up his kingdom on earth and be powerful in battle, win and beat the Romans. This is what men were looking for. Instead they get this meekness stuff. What was Jesus after?

Jesus did not begin in the material realm and build an army; he came to teach men that character comes before conduct. He came to teach the spiritual before the material. So I think the beatitudes have a lot to do with character. What kind of character does God want us to have? The word “blessed” is used over 40 times in Jesus sermon. Normally we would think of the word as something which is bestowed upon a person from God. Instead, I think it has more to do with a consciousness or condition we are in. Blessed refers to a condition or what he wants us to be. Really he wants us to be happy. Jesus described characteristics such as poor in spirit, they that mourn, the meek, etc. These are the characteristics that go to make the perfect “character.” The ultimate purpose is to bring multitudes of people into the kingdom of God and for them to be blessed and happy.

“Blessed are the meek” are those who are obedient to God and his rule, meekness is a submissive spirit, the spirit of true humility, and waits for orders. The meek inherit the earth. In other words they will find rest for their souls. According to G. Morgan, “The men, poor in spirit, mourning over failure, comforted by the One great Comforter, are meek; and “they shall inherit the earth,” for they have partaken of the very spirit of the King Himself.” I also think Jesus teaching was in contrast to the Pharisees (Jewish leaders of the day) who were proud and arrogant.

When you read the Sermon on the Mount you see the depth, the breadth, the beauty, and the supreme wisdom of God and how he teaches his people.

Too many rules

A few weeks ago I was in Williamsburg, VA for some meetings. Some of us stayed over the weekend and enjoyed the colonial village. We walked around town and took a very nice guided tour. The next thing you know, Ed and I have been arrested!


Here we are doing time for our crime! I guess I'd been watching so much baseball, and I was chewing gum and well...you know...expectorating, and it just seemed like the thing to do. The next thing you know, they'll tax our tea.

God

I ran across one of my favorite quotes from SK today. It goes like this: "It takes more courage to suffer than to act, more courage to forget than to remember; and perhaps the most wonderful thing about God is that he is able to forget men's sins."

I find it interesting also the way in which God creates the universe. Does he use the same method with man? God creates everything out of nothing - and all God is to use he first turns to nothing. Have we really come to grips with what God has done?

Football

The Broncos aren't doing so well this year. For the Broncos it's eleven men who spend hours trying to move a small object 100 yards. It's the same as the post office! They have a lot on the ball. Unfortunately, it's never in their hands.

Intelligent Design

This book is very good and I highly recommend it. While there will no doubt be some controversy surrounding it, I don't think it's wise for believers to stick their heads in the sand either or just compartmentalize their thinking. This book will cause you to think about what you believe through an inerrant Bible and yet enable you to still come to grips with the idea of an old earth. Fictionalizing some weird new science isn't the answer for a hard thinking Christian and it's certainly offensive to a mainstream well educated scientist. You can order the book on Amazon or on the link above.

The Grand Canyon Evolution and Intelligent Design

My father's new book is now available. Go on Amazon to order it or click here. The title of the book is The Grand Canyon Evolution and Intelligent Design.

The book is about how he believes a Christian can reconcile the scientific notion of an old earth with the Genesis account written in the Old Testament of the Bible.