A fly in the ointment?

As Judy and I were having lunch today on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, I was reminded of this line about the fly in the ointment.

You need to have the scene set for you to understand what I am talking about.

You see - the Spanish love olive oil - and I am not talking about Popeye's girlfriend.

They lace everything with it, and I mean everything!!

We had ordered a lunch consisting of fish and a salad and of course the salad as well as the fish was swimming in olive oil. Some of the local flies were making a nuisance of themselves, one decided to join me for lunch. It came in for a landing, You guessed it - in my plate of salad and particularly in the olive oil, where I must confess I killed it and with no remorse whatsoever. The only remorse I experienced at all was the fact that it turned my otherwise healthy appetite into extreme disgust with the salad, especially when I picked the dead fly out of the olive oil and threw its lifeless body to the ground with contempt. The meal was just not the same after.

It's like preaching the truth, but only part of it.

The trouble with false doctrines are that they tend to take away people's appetite for truth and it turns them off from reading (eating) the Word of God. Jesus said to beware of false prophets.

I think false prophets are like the fly in the ointment and like the one I encountered today on the shores of the Mediterranean ;it met its Waterloo in my salad.

I’m Busy Checking My Investments!! The main news topic for the past few days, for sure!!

It is so amazing that twice this summer I heard sermons which were more or less on this topic. They were in two different locations and the speakers did not know each other. Yet, both spoke on a similar topic. I guess God must have thought I needed to hear the message more than once. Then, with all the news this week about investment and economic problems ("problems" is downplaying it) in the USA which are spilling over into Canada, I couldn’t help but share the summaries of these two sermons with you . . . as I have been busy checking my investments. You can have the benefit of my having heard the messages, even if you were not there.

The first one came the last night at our church family camp - and the topic was “Increasing Your Worth”. And the whole sermon led to the conclusion that the only way you and I are going to be worth more tomorrow than we are today is if we invest into the next generation. And the speaker illustrated her thoughts by giving some examples of people who had invested into her life - and that not one of those people who had prayed for her, mentored her, corrected her, had lived to see or hear her in her role as well-known Canadian speaker/minister. I couldn’t help but think of the people who poured into my life as I was growing up - the people who invested in me as a teenager. There was the lady who was my Sunday School teacher all during my teen years, who started every single lesson with the scripture, Romans 12: 1, 2 - “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” I thought it was a little predictable and even a little boring at the time after the fifth or sixth year of hearing it . . . but today, as a “mature” adult, I get it. As they say, do the math, and calculate how many times she read that scripture with us.

And then her husband who was the Sunday School superintendent for all of my growing up years and before I had graduated from High School, saw my potential and asked me to teach a Sunday School class - of teenagers, no less. I don’t know if he ever knew that eventually I became a public school teacher but . . . he invested in me. Then there were the three couples who over a period of my teen years took at least one evening a week and spent with us teens of my church community. Whether or not they ever have known the depth of my gratitude for their investment, I am so grateful. And the list goes on and on. There were the couples who allowed us teens to show up and use their homes for the evening to hang out and maybe cook pizza or something, leaving their houses a lot less neat then when we arrived. They invested in the next generation.

. . . Then about a month ago, in another location, I heard a young man preach an very similar sermon - investing in the next generation. It has jarred my thinking - what am I investing in? I have never been one to do much investing in stocks and bonds or in the “stuff” of this world, but am I investing in others?

Our city is the perfect place to invest in people - our city has had an influx of immigrants of several thousand over the past couple of years. What a place to invest!

Also, our church as a few youth and I worry that I am not investing into their lives in the way that people invested into mine. But, I can pray. And I can invest financially into their camp expenses and youth conventions.

Needless to say, it is a time for introspection. I’ve just barely scratched the surface of this topic. What am I investing in? Will my worth tomorrow be greater than today? A very big question to ponder.

Bless each of you as you ponder with me.

Submitted by Naida

Keeping it simple. I just read a passage from the book of Acts in the Bible which said these words, "Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men and brethren, what should we do? Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that you may be forgiven ; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."I quoted from the NRSV. Why do we complicate what the Word of God clearly teaches? We analyze scriptures to the highest possible degree but we miss the point sometimes with all of our doctrinal views and we try to persuade others and all we accomplish is to cause division and strife. A lady in our church gave an interview and in the interview she testified to an experience in a prayer meeting where tongues of fire were seen on the roof of the building where they were praying, just like the tongues of fire that descended on the Day of Pentecost as recorded in this same chapter 2 that I quoted at the outset. And I made a statement to those around me who would listen, to the effect if we would pray like that, then we too would see the same thing happen. And referring back to the words of Peter, Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...this is still the truth and it still works today and I make no apologies for saying it. Why do we complicate what God has said to us in His Word? By the way, I am in Malaga, Spain and if I haven't published your comments yet just be patient and I will do so when I get back home...in themeantime, let's keep it simple.
Randall

If Psalm 107 says anything to me, it is this; this life and its circumstances are temporary. The trials that we face are temporary; challenges that come to us daily are temporary. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us of Abraham, called by God to forsake his birthplace to travel to a land he knew nothing of, living in tents, finding no permanent dwelling, they sought a city whose Builder and Maker is God. Judy and I are moving from the house we had built for our family thirty years ago. We hardly ever considered the prospect of moving but we are in that process now. This life is temporary; it is a proving ground. Watch the evening news and see just how temporary this life is. My mind draws me to think of those people in the Southern USA who have lost everything they own because of the storms, hurricanes and they probaly thought their homes were permanent dwellings but in a night all was lost.
Look at the stock market and see what temporary means..you could lose it all in a few minutes..or it could turn around in a short period of time. Let me read to you some verses from 107: 33 He turns rivers into a wilderness, And the watersprings into dry ground; 34 A fruitful land into barrenness, For the wickedness of those who dwell in it. 35 He turns a wilderness into pools of water, And dry land into watersprings. 36 There He makes the hungry dwell, That they may establish a city for a dwelling place, 37 And sow fields and plant vineyards, That they may yield a fruitful harvest. 38 He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; And He does not let their cattle decrease. 39 When they are diminished and brought low Through oppression, affliction, and sorrow, 40 He pours contempt on princes, And causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; 41 Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, And makes their families like a flock. 42 The righteous see it and rejoice, And all iniquity stops its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise will observe these things, And they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Just about everything you read here is temporary. So in light of all these things, what really counts as far as your life and my life is concerned? Is it moving into a newer home? Is it buying a new car? Is it serving in a church program that makes you feel like you are serving God and that will get you favor with Him? Is there any security in this life? In another psalm, 37, the psalm writer said it this way:"I have been young and now I am old; yet never have I seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread." There is security in this life but what about the next? Are we eternally secure in this life? Is there hope beyond the grave? I think that the patriarch Job struggled with some of these questions. From the 23rd. chapter of the book of Job starting at the first verse:1 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Even today my complaint is bitter; My[a] hand is listless because of my groaning.
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!
4 I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me.
6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me.
Truly God does take note of us and though this life is full of tests and trials yet there is a place that God has prepared for those that love Him, a dwelling place of God eternal in heaven and it is waiting for you...all you have to do is surrender your heart and life to Jesus and you will find that eternal security that there is in God as long as you walk in His love and put your trust in Him.

The greatness of Our God - We serve an amazing God!!

This is not a news item - I’m sure you all agree with me that our God is truly amazing. We do not have to wonder who has created this world and all the things in it. I have been so reminded of this fact this week - on the news has been much time devoted to the attempt by scientists to recreate the big bang - have you seen that this week? And they will probably be awarded the nobel prize for science for their work. Well, I do not have to wonder how this world has come into being.

This month every year is a fun month for me because it is “pickling month” - I don’t need the pickles but find it a fun exercise (therapy!) and I only make them to give away - I had a great Aunt Ruth (just thought of it at this moment) who would work all summer picking berries, etc., making jams and jellies - only to give them away. Guess I must have got it from her.

These two things this week - big bang project and my pickling project - has reminded me of the greatness of my God. A few weeks ago I did a blog about the hand of God - and mentioned at that time about the creativity of God.

Just look at this picture of this red pepper (just before I chopped it up for my pickles). We give it so little thought - but who could create such a thing? A red pepper with a green stem - I never look at one without amazement.


A couple of years ago, I took this picture of a little shrub - with both white and pink flowers on the same stems! Amazing!



I also have a little framed needle point which reminds me of the greatness of my God – every time I see it. When a person puts any thought in it, he has to believe in the existence of God and in the greatness of God.



And, think of this little phrase - “A man can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the apples in a seed.” (Don’t know the author).

And, then, I serve a healing God - He has recently provided healing for my friend. How great is Our God!!

There is no news in this little blog but I thought I might as well remind you ... as I have reminded myself – we serve a Great God - no one can deny that fact.
As you continue to ponder the greatness of Our God, ponder the following scriptures --
Psalm 48:1 “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.”
Psalm 71:19 “Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!”
Psalm 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
And, most of Psalms 95 and 96 speak of the greatness of Our God.

Then, if you have the time and/or interest, check out a couple very well done videos on You Tube -

How Great Thou Art - www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q8ESzK5pCw Or equally wonderfully done is another video on YouTube - the singing by Kevin MacDougall of How Great Is Our God (words and music by Chris Tomlin).

Blessings on you today as you contemplate the greatness of Our God.

Submitted by Naida

Miracles - I have been amazed over the past couple of years at the amount of air time by our national radio station - CBC - spent on spiritual topics. I recently heard a CBC radio interview with a doctor talking about his being an atheist. He was asked by the interviewer what it would take for him to believe in God and give up his atheism. He responded that if he saw a miracle of God, then he would believe. Then he described a situation which would be a miracle of God - an amputated leg growing back to a fully functioning leg.

It seemed a little extreme but it reminded me about the teaching I’ve heard over the years about miracles and that today, Christians seem to view miracles to be for their comfort.

We somehow have come to believe God for the miracle of cures from various diseases, reduced pain, financial gifts, and so on — all for our comfort, MY comfort. I think we have come to these ideas from teachings that go by us - especially by television preachers. “Send this or that and you will get your miracle”.

I thoroughly believe in miracles and I believe in God, who is so able to do miracles. And, I believe God heals us when we call on Him - He is the Healer. In fact, He invites us to come to Him with our needs.

But, imagine if we prayed for miracles, only so that the unbelieving would believe. We talk about signs and wonders - but I’m not sure what we are thinking they will be. I’m looking forward to the time when miracles happen for no other reason but to catch the attention of the lost. I believe for that.

Just yesterday in another interview in another setting, I heard again an occasion where God showed His power in a supernatural way - not for people’s comfort but to draw the attention of the unbelieving person. A dear lady was telling of a time in Romania when she was with a group of young people praying - and an unbelieving neighbour called for the fire department when she saw fire coming out of the top of the building where they were praying. Two other times I have heard of that same thing happening, once in Ontario and another time in Nova Scotia. I’m sure there are other accounts of such happenings – God doing such a supernatural thing, not for our comfort but to show His power and His glory.

The Bible, of course, is filled with accounts of miracles of God - sometimes they were for the comfort of His people as with the children of Israel but on those occasions, the people did not even pray for such a thing; God just provided in a supernatural way.

Re-read some of the miracles that Jesus performed - the feeding of the five thousand or the turning of the water into wine. Yes, the provision from the miracle did provide for the comfort of the people, but the supernatural action of God in all of these cases was to show His power, His glory, to do something that in no way could be accomplished by men.

I long to see His miracles.

For His Glory – not for my comfort!!

Submitted by Naida

One of my previous blogs is entitled "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases" and of course that is taken directly from the psalm 107...several places actually. And in that blog(August 22 I think it was if you want to refer to it) I referred to verse 4. "Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town;" This is a picture of my own life; I've been there, done that, as the modern vernacular puts it, even of late and it has caused me to look inward and I do not like what I see. I mentioned the desert we had to drive through when we were in Arizona; it was a detour and it was a wasteland. One place marked on the Arizona road map was called Nothing, and as you drive through the desert you will actually come to a place where there is one building, a shack of a place with a sign on it that says...Nothing, and as you pass that building and look in your rear view mirror there is another sign that says...At all. A town called Nothing At all. Sounds funny, doesn't it? I have been wandering in that desert town called Nothing and it has caused me to do what these folks found here in verses 4-6 have done. "Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, And He delivered them from their distresses." How many times can I fall and still ask for His forgiveness and how many times will He reach down and pick me up and establish my way one more time? "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases" How I thank God that when He forgives me of that sin, He also forgets that I have ever sinned. When I have hurt somebody (as I have done more than once in the same way) I ask for forgiveness but that person says "NO", what am I to do? I will call upon the LORD. I will cast my heavy burden on Him for He cares for me. He cares for you too.