A Great Concern

We live in troubling times.  We need greatness.  I can see no greatness other than that of being with Christ so as to be like Christ, to be formed as Him.  When the lines of the great are ordered and we all look across at each other will Christ be among us?  It is our only hope, Christ in us and us among others.  However, the greater concern must first be—is Christ formed in us? 

Know This, America

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Free To Know You Don't Know Much

One of the greatest gifts of the personal relationship is always being confronted with the fact you don’t know very much.  The one who knows he knows little is free to learn from every quarter, the raindrop, the loving touch or the Still Small Voice of God Almighty, Maker of the former two, heaven and earth, and the you that doesn’t know much but is free to know Him who knows all.

Go To The Right Where

There is no greater truth than the truth that there is truth.  That idea, more than any other has set the course of humanity.  Today the idea goes more like this—there is no greater assumption than assuming our assumptions.  That idea more than any other will get you lost.  I see this all the time.  You won’t go if you’ve lost the map to where you're going and you’re just as lost if you don’t go anywhere as you are if you’re going to the wrong where. 

A line made while hiking.

Where Did The Oreo Come From?

Before creation, while God was still thinking it all up.  A discussion between God and an Angel;

God, “I have an idea, grass!”  “What is it?” asked the angel.  “Well, it's green and it grows close to the ground and will cover the earth.” “Oh great!” said the angel, “why are you making it?”  “Because humans will have to mow it,” answered God.  “But why mow it?” asked the puzzled angel.  “Well,” said God, “when you mow it, it releases this wonderful fragrance that all humans will love.”  “Great,” said the angel, “let's do it.”  “Well there’s more!” said God.  “Really?  What?” said the angel?  “Well, it will be food for all the animals.”  “Thus covering all the earth; right?” said the angel slowly catching on.  “Yes” responded God, “and the fact that it is better to walk on with bare feet and I have this other idea called children and they will want to be barefooted most of the time and I needed to take that into consideration, grass will be better than rock on their little feet.”   “I guess!” said the puzzled angel,  “Don’t know what you mean by children but if you say so I believe you.  So grass, food children, great idea, grass.  I like it! Let's move forward!!”  “Well there’s more,” replied God smiling now.    “Really!” said the angel.  “Yes really,” said God, “ do you want to hear about it?”  “Sure” exclaimed the angel, never knowing what was on God’s mind.   “Well”, said God, “there’s this idea I have, Cow.”  “COW!” said the angel, “What’s that?”  Amused, God said, “It’s an animal, big, long tail, comes with horns, moos a lot…”  “MOO’s a lot,” interrupted the angel, “What’s that?”  “Never mind,” said God, “not really important to the story.  But anyway, this cow will eat this grass and I’m going to give the cow the ability to turn the grass into milk!”  “Milk!” said the angel once again interrupting God, “What’s that?”  God smiled at the angel, one of His favorites, still young and impulsive.  “Hard to explain,” said God, “but I’ll give you a foretaste of the glory divine. Here” said God, handing her a round object.  “What’s that?” said the angel taking it from God.  “It’s called an Oreo,” said God.  “An Oreo!” exclaimed the angel.  “Yes”-said God, handing the angel a cup. “What’s this?” asked the angel.  “A glass of milk,” said God.  “Oh milk, what cows make out of the grass!” said the angel.   “Yes,” said God amusingly.   “What do I do with these?” asked the angel looking at the cup and the Oreo.  “Dip the Oreo in the milk,” said God.  Dipping, the angel said, “Ok—now what.”  “Eat it,” said God.   Slowly the angel put it into her mouth and began to chew while a gleeful smile began to spread across her face.  “Oh my goodness Praise God!!!—I mean, Praise You!” she exclaimed.  “Exactly!” said God. 

   

Please Come With Me

There is no greater life than to have heard and heeded the call.  A singular obsession calling your better self to every moment and every task your hand is set to.  The work goes on and on and the further down the row the fewer backs are counted.  Backs scared from toil in cosmic wars and battle waged—and faith engaged.  As each day the signal calls, and fewer still take up the cause, and slower now with aged limbs, but stronger still with spirit stout, the row is hoed, the hill made low, the valley filled, the pathway blazed.  And clearer now the bell that tolls, and more of those that line the rows, who have been to the end of field, and cheer those on that labor still—and greater still is the longing felt, for others to come and fear not the welt, but only know the greater life, lived by those who heed the fife.