Faith – Page 15 – Wanderings

A Dog, A Pig and Patience

joe May 7, 2009 Faith

Winding down my study of Second Peter, but there are still some loose ends. The first one that struck me as strange was the quotation from Proverbs that is in chapter 2 verse 22, "A dog returns to it's own vomit," which is taken from Proverbs 26:11.

There, Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, is making a bunch of comparisions that someone wrote down. Kind of like someone compiling a book of Abraham Lincoln or Booker T. Washington quips. Pithy little statements that can stand alone, but strike at the heart of our lives. Words that don't take any interpretation to be applied to lives.[more]

The truth of the matter is bound up in what we see today. Most criminals, released from jail go back to their old friends and places, and start doing the same thing over again. Or they go looking for the same kinds of places they were in when they stepped out of bounds originally. Maybe it is a good thing that we support half-way houses or the Rescue Mission so that they have someplace else to go. Not only that, but the "pulling" effect of where we grew up or our friends. Maybe that is part of the reason for looking for new friends when you really want to make a change in your life. Whether it's alcohol, drugs, food or sex – a change of scenery helps in overcoming the addiction.

Then there was that pig…even "after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." In effect, cleaned up so it can get dirty again. Kind of like "you have to wash the car so you can see the new mud."

One of the final nails in this box or letter is Peter's reminder in chapter 3, verse 9 that God will deliver on his promise. Not necessarily at the speed that we want or how we count the days to a party. BUT, He will deliver. He delivers because he cares about us. He will fulfill his promises simply because he wants the very best for us.

After all, what God has promised, He will do. We may want it sooner, but He is counting on us to do our part. After all, getting the present means we have to reach out to Him for it. It is always there, it just depends on where we are. There is no UPS or FedEx to deliver God's gift. He does not force us, He simply waits patiently for us to ask.

Too Long Ago

joe April 30, 2009 Church, Faith

It never seems that this much time has passed, but looking at the dates, it has been a long time. And it gets that way with so many areas of our lives. Time goes bye. We don't really procrastinate, we just think that some other thing or things are more important.

The pot boils, the fire dies, or the screensaver kicks in. We or our car run out of gas, or the tires go flat. The ink in the printer dries out or old friends pass on into that land without end.

"It was just yesterday" we cry. Or our voices cry out "I didn't realize it had been that long."[more]

Pastor Dave is doing a "30 Days To Live" series, and it can make you think about what we might want to get done, but our feet still drag. "Can't happen to me" we proudly say, but do we really know. How long has it been since you sat and talked with the people who matter to you? How long have we let those hurts fester between one another? Why are we so afraid to make contact and say "hello" or (worse yet) "I'm sorry?"

Got back to Second Peter this morning, and ran across the "thousand years" in chapter 3, verse 8. After all, how long is a year and how long is a day? After seeing some information about Mount St. Helens, that question has real meaning. If in less than a day's time, a canyon 100 plus feet deep can be carved, you have to ask "how long?" to a myriad of events in history. And then to have scientists tell you that a rock that isn't even a month old (created by Mt. St. Helens) is "millions of years old." Well…

What do we know?

We have today – to say "I love you" or "Forgive me, what I did was stupid" or just to help someone we love. Do you really know what will happen tomorrow. I'm going to make some calls starting right now.

One Day Later!

joe April 13, 2009 Faith

The empty tomb. The scared Roman Soldiers. The anxious Disciples.

All memories of yesterday – Easter morning!

Yesterday was an indelible stamp on history. No one has been able to erase the death and resurrection that happened. Many have tried in many ways. Attempts have been made to distort history – to declare it hallucination or "something". But, they have not been able to erase it from history.

Even attempts to destroy the manuscripts that recorded and reported what had happened – those too failed.[more]

Many would rather believe what others have to say about Jesus or how he said to live, but in the end, when anyone investigates for themself, there stands Jesus. Standing face to face in the words of his disciples and friends – even non-believing historians who recorded what happened. Peter himself said "you will be exploited with false words…"

Peter, James, John and Jesus warned us that there would be those who would try to convince us that it wasn't so. That they (the false teachers) would distort what had happened and lead us away from the truth. If we ourselves know the truth from studying it, then it is hard to be led astray. Everyday we need to seek His truth – then it won't be faint memories from our past, but actions for today.