I've been found out!!

After all this time my abilities have finally betrayed me.

Andrew Silow-Carroll: Fly the friendly skies --- or go to Israel

If you haven't flown internationally this may not be relative to you. However, if you've ever made a Holy Land trip you'll be right at home with these thoughts.

Andrew Silow-Carroll: Fly the friendly skies --- or go to Israel

Solomon had it right and so does "Mallard Fillmore"

Proverbs 25:4-5 (The Message version) Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice; Remove the wicked from leadership and authority will be credible and God-honoring.

Eye for an eye, a new perspective

A unique trial is taking place in Saudi Arabia and the ultimate end could be the 21st century model for "an eye for an eye".  See the story at  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/19/report-saudi-judge-considers-paralysis-punishment/?page=1 

As much as I might practice the love of Jesus, and experience His mercy, and be expected to promote that mercy to others, you have to appreciate the concept that this case suggests.  It is the embodiment of SELF and, if you will, selfishness. Agree/Disagree?

To Mosque or Not to Mosque...

While opinions fly to and fro on whether or not to include a mosque in the Freedom Plaza complex I'll let my fingers enter where my common sense fears to tread.  The following is not intended to sway you to my opinion or to denigrate yours.

The First Amendment to the Constitution provides for freedom of religion.  That generally has provided that if a religious organization wants to meet in a place that is permitted for the use, then they should NOT be prohibited from exercising their right to peaceful religious assembly.  For that reason I agree that the developers of the Park51 project have the right to pursue their project.  HOWEVER, just like the First Amendment to the Constitution also protects the freedom of speech it restricts that right when the resultant speech threatens the welfare of others.  

Everyone is familiar with the scenario that says you have the right to say anything you want but you can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater.  The reason you can't is because the stampede that follows would likely harm people in the crowd.  Your right to exercise your speech  is limited by the potential to result in harm unintended and unrelated to your opinion.  I believe this rationale, when applied to the exercise of religion, applies as well.

SO, like the free speech example, I think that while the Park51 folks may have the right to the exercise of their religion I also believe that right is subject to restriction when unintended and unrelated harm to the surrounding public, inconsequential to the beliefs or tenets or their organization, is the result.  I hope all those seeking a place of religious worship find it in a location that doesn't result in harm, unintended or otherwise, to the general population.     .

Thirteen O'clock

Lately I spend a lot of sleepless nights.  Or more accurately, sleepless periods during the night.  I have no problem getting to sleep.  It's more a problem of staying asleep.

Tonight I can blame it on my wife.  (Isn't that convenient?)  Deb was on vacation for the last week and returned home last night after midnight.  Having been in another time zone, and being a woman, she wanted to talk about her trip to wind down.  So we lay in bed, her talking and me listening like a good husband until after 1:00AM when I finally tuned out and she tossed and turned until finally being extinguished around 3:00AM.  

Tonight she was exhausted so we turned in around 9:00.  She read for a short while and I watched some TV until we were both out quickly.   Thirteen o'clock rolled around and I was wide awake as though waiting for more vacation tales.  At first I tried to go right back to sleep but realized quickly that wasn't going to work.  I prayed for a while; family, friends, needs, church, health, wisdom, forgiveness, praise.  Surely praying would put me right back to sleep but, no.  Not tonight, that is, this morning.  

I've found that on nights like this I can become really sharp related to planning for upcoming activities, jobs or events.  Sometimes I get up and go to the computer to record my thoughts. Occasionally I'll sit up on the side of the bed and jot myself a few notes.  These nocturnal strategy sessions usually produce some succinct results that have proven very valuable.  So here I am again.  

As part of my prayer tonight I recalled the wrestling match between Jacob and the Lord.  How Jacob clung to the Angel of the Lord until morning approached and in the end had a new name, a new promise and a new limp.  I prayed that if this were my match I would hold on until I had seen God even if it made me limp.  In the end I knew that I had touched God and He had touched me and when I return to my bed it will be in the confidence or our earliest prayers; Now I lay me down to sleep.  I pray, dear Lord, my soul you'll keep.  If I should die before I wake, my soul, dear Lord, I know You'll take.

Nitey, night.

"The wind’s on our side, boys! That’s all we need!"

So says Joshamee Gibbs.  Severn River Church had an outdoor service yesterday and Pirates of the Caribbean was the theme.  We had props, a parrot, costumes and lots of fun.  

In building props I used 3 saws, a jointer, a bandsaw, 2 drills, glue, screws, screwdrivers,  hammer and nails, rope, lots of rope, knife, the flagpole from my yard, a tunneling bar and sledge hammer.  Finally I used the most intricate tool of all; my double edged razor with the guard removed on one side. 

While having dinner with my daughter Ariel and talking about the upcoming service she made the comment "you should do mutton chops for pirate Sunday".  I told her I had already started filling in the cheeks for that exact purpose.  What I didn't say was that I had already planned to "bare the chin" as well.

For 15 years or so we've had a slogan in our house; "suffering for Jesus' sake".  It started when Ariel was a missionary in Israel.  She and some co-workers had taken a day off and gone to the beach.  That meant they were in Tel Aviv and the beach was the Mediterranean.  As the event was captured on video one of the girls said "we're suffering for Jesus' sake".  When we got a copy of the video with that and other events for Christmas that first year she was away, we adopted the phrase and have teased each other with it since.  

So after spending a few treacherous moments yesterday morning with said straight razor I have modified it to the following; "Shaving for Jesus' sake".  Aarrg, where is me flask? 

It's on the list

This weekend my wife and I had a typical exchange.  I passed the kitchen trash bin and saw a repair that needed to be made.  The tools and the glue were in the garage workshop and I thought as soon as I can I will make the repair.  The following day she passed the the same situation and said "do you think wood glue would fix the trash can?" and I responded "it's on the list."  Of course at this point she just rolled her eyes.  I'm sure that what her eyes said, but not her mouth, was "the list? That black hole? It'll never be heard of again." 

The lists.  We all have them.  Those things we see, think, discover that need a portion of our time and attention.  Worthy of both, we get to the items that are most demanding.  "The squeaky wheel gets the grease" and all that.  Still, it doesn't suggest that the things on the list that remain undone aren't important.  They just lose to other items on the list.  Some items lose to others because of time, value, difficulty or deadline.  Others lose because of neglect.  "Out of sight, out of mind."

This morning I read  "Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them." (From Psalm 146, The Message)  I thought "this is the ultimate end of all lists."  It reminded me of an old lyric; "Only one life, it will soon be passed.  Only what's done for Christ will last."  In light of that reminder I must evaluate my lists with the eternal perspective in mind and always remember that if it's worthy of attention it's worthy of action.  In other words, don't brush off the prompting of the Spirit.  Someone's eternity may depend on it.

"Raise your right hand and repeat after me, I..."

The Message version of the Psalms has been particularly interesting to read this year.  I find so many passages that are just plain RELEVANT.  For instance, Psalm 116 ^12-19 What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?  I'll lift high the cup of salvation—a toast to God!  I'll pray in the name of God; I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it together with his people.  When they arrive at the gates of death, God welcomes those who love him.  Oh, God, here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service!  I'm ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of God.  I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it in company with his people, In the place of worship, in God's house, in Jerusalem, God's city.  Hallelujah!  

Promises.  You've made'm, I've made'm.  And I have enough trouble keeping the promises I make to people who are HERE, in front of me, holding me accountable.  Making promises to God who, while He may be in my heart and mind, isn't here in front of me is easy.  What if He were?  How would he look?  Smile turned down into a frown?  One eyebrow raised in a menacing fashion?  Looking dismayed out from behind a hand raised to the forehead?  Eyes glancing at his watch or calender in anticipation of my failure?  Never!!

God's generous response to my foolish promises is His fore-knowledge that while my spirit may write checks that my body can't cash at least I was promising HIM.  What does He need that I can give him?  Nothing.  BUT, what do I have or what can I give Him as my "pledge"?  Obedience.  Pure and simple.  As the kids sing; "O, B, E, D, IENCE, Obedience is the very best way to show the I believe."