Greenpastures313’s Weblog

My day started today with a chocolate belgium cream filled krispie kreme donut. Eighty five cents tax included at the local BP station where I fill up every day. I drove to Ambrose Georgia and assisted in an install for a couple hours, helping my co-worker Mike get to where he could finish up by himself while I got back in the truck and drove to Byron (two hour drive). There I measured up a new kitchen for solid surface counter tops. Leaving there, I traveled to Macon GA, measured and templated existing kitchen for granite. Left Macon, traveled to Warner Robins to check on a sink for another Corian customer (she didn’t know if she had a surface mount sink or undermount, bless her heart, and she couldn’t tell me over the phone). Then I began my jouney back home, stopping in Perry to pick up the “family feast” from Sonny’s and now, 280 miles later, I’m home, getting ready for a good supper!

We leave Friday morning for Mexico Beach FL for the Labor Day weekend! Yayyy! (I think). Hope you all have a great weekend and see you on the flip side. Thanks for reading and pray for residents of the gulf coast.

Change is good but not always welcomed. I developed early on a penchant for change. I think it came from my mother. About once a year or maybe two, she would completely rearrange the furniture. The den in our house was fairly large and could accomodate many different furniture floorplans. The different perspectives made the room seem to fluctuate in size and depth. Some people criticize change “for the sake of change.” I embrace it. One of the greatest reasons for change, in my opinion, is no reason at all. Just because it’s what I feel at the time. There doesn’t always have to be a grand motive.

I don’t care much for the bald spot developing near the top of my head though. Has anyone had any personal results from Rogaine? I’m tempted to give it a try.

This is my oldest daughter Emma (It still seems weird sometimes to say that because for thirteen years she was my only daughter), but I have secretely renamed her “Barb Redivivus” or my oldest sister revived. Looks, attitude, humor – Barbara Jane all the way! some things change but some things stay the same.

But notice how quick the changes can happen. From this:

to this in just a few short months.

Zoe’ changes everyday.

It is inevitable. It is the only constant in the universe.

It’s not that any of us are righteous. “As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one.” (Romans 3.10) Humans are flawed and fallen. Therefore it is pointless to say “At least I’m better than . . .” If your hope of heaven rests on the presumption of less guilt than the next guy, your hope is groundless. You are lost. Don’t contrast your flaws with what you see to be greater flaws in another and think that somehow exonerates you and makes you worthy of salvation. Yet this is exactly what we tend toward. “At least I’m not a murderer, or wife beater, or child abuser, or embezzler” and so on and so on. True, you may be none of these things, but what does the Bible say that you are? “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3.23).

Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness. This is the message of grace which only God can deliver, for God alone is able to look at sinful humanity and call it “righteous” even though it’s not. This is the faith which you and I need, faith that God can make it so, even when it ain’t so.

The wind seems to blow constantly where we live. Our house is situated in the middle of what was once a cotton field, no trees, on a slight knoll, seven acres of open land. I remember framing the upstairs walls on a saturday when a sudden summer storm blew up out of nowhere. One wall, which we had just stood, began to list at a frightful angle. My nephews held the wall with all their might, literally, as I hurried from one end to the other bracing it off. Sawhorses were sliding across the floor, ladders toppling over.  A severe gust is blowing outside even now, as I write this, listening to its whistle. rain pelting the windows.

We are safe in our own “birdnest” enjoying the coolness of the night occasionally stepping out on to the veranda.

          “Lord, keep us by Your grace. Keep those we love by Your strength. Keep our family and friends from every evil thing, and may Your faithfulness be that in which we trust.”  Amen.

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen.

Summoned for jury duty this week. Reported yesterday (Monday) morning, interviewed by prosecution and defense along with about 40 other individuals for an upcoming criminal assault case.

“Please stand when your name is called and tell where you live and what you do.”

My name was called, I stood.

“I live in east Crisp county and I am the preacher for the church of Christ here in town.”

I could see strike coming. I could see in the lawyers’ face and read their minds. “Don’t want no preacher on the jury.”

I was not chosen. The state rejected me. It kinda hurt, just a little. But I still have  a shot. I must call every night to see if I’m to report the next day.

I told my son about my morning spent in the jury pool and told him I got out of it for this case, but that the week’s not over yet.

“How do you get out of it?” he asked.

“Well, you appear eager for starters. You must be articulate and answer well when asked a question. Add commentary as much as possible. Show yourself to be a thinker, somewhat philosophical, assertive and direct, and the lawyers will give you a wide berth. They want quiet followers who fit their profile. In fact, I’ve been passed over twice before, several years ago, and a potential juror who SLEPT through much of the general questioning was picked.

Lawyers – They are so sly, but so am I!

I’m not speaking too out of turn. I know that tomorrow is another day and there’s still Thursday and Friday. I may be yet be chosen, but so far my tactics have worked, not only here in town, but in district court as well (which pays better btw).

The strength required to do this is beyond my imagination. These are “greek gods” with super human athleticism. Their routine is a symbol of the rigorous training required to achieve perfection in form and execution.

Will I dedicate myself to such training in daily living? I confess I fall far short of such discipline. I want to do well in everything. Desire is there, but I’m too often unwilling to pay the price. Sometimes I too readily identify with Al Pacino’s character in Scent of A Woman when he says, “I always knew what the right path was, but I never took it. Why? Because it was too damn hard!”
When desire and dedication come together, things which are impossible become possible. I know the right path, the dedicated path, the devoted path must of necessity be the difficult path, but God has promised to walk with me on difficult paths. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death . . .Thou art with me.” I’m trying to view my daily life through this prism: “What is the right thing to do?”

I don’t care who you are now that’s funny right there!

Our new friend was at church today. Her name is June and we met at the car wash fund raiser our youth held on Saturday. By her own admission June had been looking for a church home. It was a pleasure for us that our paths crossed and we look forward to seeing her again. As she left church this morning she said, “I’ll see you next Sunday.” Please pray that we will present a loving, Christ-filled fellowship before her.

Earlier today a popular landmark collapsed. One of the most popular natural arches within Arches National Park in Utah fell due to “gravity and erosion,” my two main enemies as well. An official in the park said of all the naturally formed arches, “they all let go at some time.” When that happens, will they change the name of the park? No Arches or Used To Be Arches National Park. McDonalds may need to locate there – imagine, Golden Arches National Park. Ironic, itsn’t it, that the very things that created the arches (wind and erosion) also destroys them. Lives here on earth face the same precariousness – They all let go at some time. “It is appointed unto man once to die . . .” Hebrews 9.27
This morning I preached from Luke 5.1-11 – The First Followers. Simon and his gang of fisshermen/partners were, at first, Reluctant Followers (We’ve fished all night . . .), Doubtful Followers (“because you say so” [but it's no use]), and then Penitent Followers (“depart from me Lord, I am a sinful man”). We take the same course on our journey to true discipleship. Reluctance, doubt, but when we experience the power of Christ to do whatever he wills, we repent and leave everything and follow him. What believer is there that hasn’t been shamed at his failure to believe? Depart from me Lord, I am a sinful man.

Today was a fun work day for our youth at First Street and some of us grownups too. I don’t know how many cars we washed, but it was a respectable number. I expected the take for this fund raiser to be less than last summer’s car wash and I was right (down by over two hundred dollars from last year), but we still managed to raise over three hundred dollars toward youth activities, mainly the trip to Winterfest Gatlinburg in ‘09. Several people donated something but didn’t have time to stop or didn’t want their car washed. One nice lady, June, let us wash her car. June works at the local hospital, having moved here from Melborne FL and she’s looking for church home. When she told us that we said “you’ve just found it.” She said she would see us tomorrow. I pray that we will. Sometimes people say things like that to be polite or because they think that’s what we want them say, but June and I talked extensively (doing my job while the teens did theirs) while her car was under the hose and she seemed very sincere and genuine.
The most generous donation was from T.J. T.J. is from Alabama on his way to Florida in a crew cab one ton pickup truck. A gas guzzler to be sure. He showed up in the “eleventh hour” as we were beginning to gather things up to leave this afternoon. I spoke with him about why the kids were raising money. I told thim that some of the money our young people raise goes to other good works such as gifts to a mission work, or to a needy family or to the children’s Home. We don’t use it for our trip to Gatlinburg only. When we finished with his vehicle, he handed me forty dollars and said “keep the change.” We were only charging eight. So tonight I say a prayer fro T.J. hoping that he made his destination safely and that he’ll have a prosperous week. That goes for everyone out there too. Good night, and have a great Sunday with the church.