Throw Down

It's been many years since I dealt with or thought about our Laundry Chute.  We had one in the two-story home where we raised our kids.  It was in the floor, as I recall, and the size of a smallish heat register like we have now.  As the kids stuffed the dirty garments in, they traveled down through 2 floors to the basement.  Occasionally they would put a playful item down...the cat (just kiddding), hair brush, a shoe...then run down and retrieve it. 
Hadn't thought of it until just now overhearing my daughter ask her son if she should "throw down his dirty uniform".  We don't even have one in this house.  Mostly, the throw down I heard recently was in referring to Bobby Flay on the Cooking Channel.

 

          

How many words left in my Word Bank?

One speaks only a certain amount of words during their lifetime and then they're done.  When the 'breath of life' has left, they're done speaking.  Right? 
I've lived alot of years; too many to waste any that's left...or my words, either.  I will spend some words writing in this blog.
It's raining and dark as I write in mid-morning on Sunday.  While listening to Alistair Begg's message (really good on gospel), I thought of this illustration on Redemption and Reconciliation:
Years ago, before charging items on a credit card and immediate possession, we would put the item on 'lay-away'.  Put down a small amount, take home a payment book, pay regular payments until the price is paid.  On the day I paid the last bit, handed in the book and received the item I had hoped for, waited anxiously to use or wear.  That day the item was paid in full: REDEEMED !  I finally owed no more...it was mine.
(Almost 50 years ago, I dealt with Jesus concerning my sinful life and pledged a lifetime allegiance to Him: I was redeemed, purchased by His payment).
Let's imagine my item was my mixer or  toaster oven.  I would hug that long waited for box, take it home, rip off the box and enjoy getting to know how to use it.  It was mine!  It had been redeemed and I could wear it out if I so chose.  Getting to know all it could do, becoming 'friends' with it, showing it to others or using it to share with them...that's the reconciled part. 
Just so, Jesus has become my 'friend'...and He calls me His friend, also.  This is a pretty simple illustration of redeemed and reconciled, but I'm hoping it might be helpful to someone reading this.
Oh...my mixer isn't my best friend, just my kitchen friend.  Jesus is my very best friend.

Please email or comment if this isn't clear or you have questions.

Sleeping through the storm

I've had this short story in my Bible pocket for 10 years or so.  It makes me smile every time I take it out to read.  Can't credit it as I cut it out of a book or magazine.  Hope it encourages you.

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast.   He constantly advertised for hired hands.  Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic.  They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.
As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.  Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age approached the farmer.  "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.  Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him.
The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.  Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore.  Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters.  He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up!  A storm is coming!  Tie things down before they blow away!"  The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir.  I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."
Enraged by the old man's response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot.  Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm.  To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarps.  The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred.  The shutters were tightly secured.  Everything was tied down.  Nothing could blow away.  The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, and he returned to bed to also sleep while the wind blew.  When we are prepared, we have nothing to fear.  We can secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves firmly in God's Word and God's love.

First Presidential Debate Tonight

I'll be praying for God's man of choice...it's entirely up to Him.

Here’s what I think:  it’s better NOT to have internet…TV coverage is enough to warn and turn you about B. O.  I pull up so many daily news servers each day…the awful acts of this president continues to shock me…today is the worst yet.  It occurs to me:  did David or Saul have ‘watchers’ who reported to the people?  Or did the people rely ONLY upon God to place their king and protect them??

I try to rein in my fears and disgust by remembering:

God is my Rock, my deliverer, my salvation, my stronghold.  Psalm 18