The Life and Times of Joe Suttle

The “Sesame Street” song sort of comes to mind. Hasn’t been a lot of sun up in the sky. Once again, it’s a “say inside and read/write/study”. Oops, did I say “study”. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Also depends on what you are in the mood for. Did get a little studying done, but did not get enough help out of the book I was using. Need to find the info somewhere else, and then maybe it will be understandable enough that I can pass it on to my class.

Went to San Fran this morning, and that was a mess. Traffic (even at 10) was the “pits” Once we were on the Bay Bridge, it wasn’t too bad. Because we were running late, told Karen and the boys to sit back because I was going to be a cab driver again. Think Karen only grabbed for something once, but we made it to the appointed place by the rescheduled time.

Still working my way through James, and stuck right now in chapter 1. Eventually, there will come some words about it, but not right now.

We got the seeds, and have them in the starter box/greenhouse. Those little peat pellets must have some potent “kickstart” formula in them. Seemed like little sprouts were up in two days. When I plant seeds outside, it’s like it takes forever to get started in the sun. After the seedlings got too tall for the greenhouse cover, we moved them to the top of a bookshelf (to keep them away from our plant-eating cat (Jack). Needless to say, Jack found a way to get to the top of the bookcase and nibble off the tops of a lot of the seedlings.

He does that with other plants we bring in the house – better than a “brown thumb”. Even goes for the flowers that we put in vases in various places. Don’t know what it is with him – maybe he just likes green foods. Will have to get busy today and tomorrow putting together the planter boxes outside so we can transplant the veggies. Still have a ton of other yard work to do, and time is just flying by. Feel like the White Rabbit – “I’m late, I’m late…”

I am surprised that the Amaryllis is still blooming (Jack tried to eat that too), Even got so big that a stalk broke off, and we put it in water – and it just keeps on blooming. Those are some big beautiful flowers. Just have to keep the bulbs ready for next Christmas, and even buy some more.

The plants will survive, and if we stick to the Word, so will we. Even though James is writing to Christians who are being persecuted, he encourages them to stay true to the Word. Those who hold (keep on) the course get the prize at the end of the race (life). This is not a race to run against anyone else but myself. When we take our eyes off the target or finish line, we stray from the race. James in 1:12-19 reminds us that we control our eyes and thoughts. Lingering on what looks or feels good (or we think it will) distracts us from (tempts) and we lead ourselves astray.

Funny how we joke about “men never asking directions”, yet here we are people who will talk to almost anyone about almost anything, getting their opinions, but don’t have time to open the “map”. Take a look for yourself. Even if you are puzzled, read on, because somewhere on or in the “map” there is an explanation. James has some interesting stuff about “light” and “dark” – more about that another time. Just a thought – if “good” and “perfect” are from above (God), where does the other stuff come from?