June 4, 2012

It’s tempting to let the fire of Pentecost cool down as Easter falls further and further behind us.  But the Biblical example is that the fire heats up after Pentecost.  Before Pentecost we account for somewhere around 120 believers.  After Pentecost (actually beginning with Pentecost) thousands turned to the Apostles asking “What should we do?”

I’ve caught myself thinking that things ought to be slowing down some.  Christmas was busy, Lent was busy, leading up to Pentecost was busy…now maybe life will slow down a bit.

But when I think about that, what I am thinking is contrary to the kingdom life.  That doesn’t mean we have to be busy for busy’s sake, but it does mean that the enthusiasm with which we experienced Christmas and Easter ought to continue for the rest of the year.

So as we vacation, go on missions, enjoy the summer in other ways…do all of that somehow expressing the Risen Christ.

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Daughter and son-in-law are busy today working on garden beds.  They are hooked on the health benefits of organic gardening.

Little guy (Jedidiah) has to help too.

Millie’s helping too.

Peace

Jim

 

June 3, 2012

We often chuckle under our breath at Nicodemus in John chapter three.  Nicodemus went to Jesus at night and basically told Jesus:

“Jesus, we don’t understand you.  We recognize that something is different about you but we just don’t understand.”

Jesus began to explain things to Nicodemus and then he told him:

“You are Israel’s teacher and you don’t understand these things?”

We wonder how Nicodemus could not understand Jesus especially since he knew the Scripture and what Scripture said the Messiah would do when he came.  Jesus was doing this stuff (Matthew 11:4).

Reality is we often don’t understand the same as Nicodemus. 

We know what Jesus said, what he taught, the examples he gave…but we sometimes just don’t understand.  How can we see good when there is so much bad?  How can I help when I am only one?  How can we have peace when there is so much unrest?

And I can picture Jesus asking us:

“You are a Christian and you do not understand these things?”

Jesus wants us to look to him to find all of those answers.

The problem for most of us is that we allow the noise of the world to take our attention away from Jesus.  Like Nicodemus, we keep looking for something when all the while the something is living and operating in our presence.

Peace

Jim

 

Another good day with browns on the Elk

 James caught several under the bridge

Partridge and Orange dropper

Black Leach lead fly

I caught several doubles…fun

June 1, 2012

In her little book ‘Jesus Calling’ Sarah Young writes:

“The Peace that I give you transcends your intellect.  When most of your mental energy goes into efforts to figure things out, you are unable to receive this glorious gift.  I look into your mind and see thoughts spinning round and round: going nowhere, accomplishing nothing.  All the while, My Peace hovers over you, searching for a place to land. 

Be still in My Presence, inviting me to control your thoughts…This is the most effective way to receive My Peace.”

Many of us search for Peace in various ways, it seems that usually we search by trying to work out the details of our life.  Many a person has declared that “As soon as I get my life in order I’ll spend some time with Jesus.”  And they go from problem to problem never seeming to get to the point of letting Jesus take control…and bring Peace.

Peace

Jim

 

May 31, 2012

I’m thinking about how Christianity ought to change our perspective.  What I mean by that is that we should be able to see some good in our world, there ought to be a peace that allows a view of the world that lets us know that the bad of the world is under God’s watchful eye.

And before we say anything about how God ought to fix stuff if everything is under his watchful eye…maybe God is trying to fix stuff, but Christian history shows that God usually fixes stuff through those people who set out to follow and be obedient to him, people whose perspective allows them to see the movement of God in our life and in the world around us.  For whatever reason stuff usually stays broken until a fix-it person rises to the occasion.

Most of us generally look like the Maytag repair man…

…instead of a person of God spreading the Fruit of the Spirit…Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control.

Peace

Jim

Mayy 30, 2012

It’s been a long busy day.  Too pooped to write.

Peace

Jim

May 29, 2012

About 10 years ago I started to collect paperclips.  I’ve found them in some of the strangest places one could imagine – anywhere from parking lots to interstate bridges.

I finally stopped really looking for them because it dawned on me that I was looking down everywhere I went and people probably thought I was weirder than I actually am.  I kept them though, and they remind me of the differences in people (I’ll explain that sometime).

But I still find paperclips on occasion, they just seem to yell at me from the ground, or cast a twinkle of light that catches my eye.  And I can’t stand it until I reach down and pick it up.

Paperclips were the farthest thing from my mind yesterday as we went to the zoo with the grandkids.  But sure enough just as we started in the gate…

 

Years ago I wrote an essay about paperclips.  I liked it and one of the daughters liked it…but other than that I suppose folks didn’t have the same weird sense of humor that I must have.

Anyway, enough about paperclips, as we begin this time after Easter called “Ordinary Time,”  let our days be anything but ordinary.  Look for the out-of-the ordinary ways that give opportunities to live the excitement of following Jesus.

As followers of Christ we are called out of the ordinary to help bring about God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven…there’s nothing ordinary about that.

Peace

Jim

May 28, 2012

A day at the zoo…

Tiger at the zoo…

I’d hate to have to sleep like this…

Piper and Millie

Anna, Navy, Anndee, Jedidiah…

And Katie…

And it’s not everyday that you can go to the zoo in the summer time with Santa Claus !

Merry Christmas!  (a little early)

A good day…

May 27, 2012

A good day at church today, lunch, a nap, playing with grandgirls and boy, made a fly or two, walked three miles…not bad.  Tomorrow we head out to the zoo with daughters and grandkids, ought to be a fun (interesting) day.  I like to watch the little ones experience the animals.

Enjoy the holiday tomorrow.

Peace

Jim

Back at it…

Today I decided to get back in shape.  About a year ago I quit walking/running largely because I’ve had this breathing problem.  The doctor says I have asthma and I suppose he’s right since the asthma medicine seems to take care of the problem.

But the last year I hardly remember feeling good, I haven’t slept well, I’ve had some other health problems, and I have generally felt lousy with intermittent times of feeling O.K.  Fishing has been about the only thing that has truly been enjoyable except church (church excites me, it’s fun.  The idea of church being fun might seem strange to some but if church stops being fun something needs to change.  But all of that is a story for another time) 

That said, I believe that God is interested in our mental/physical health and that God would rather us be able to enjoy this life that we live whether we’re fishing or serving him in some way.  Sooooo, I started walking again today trying to tone up the ole muscles so that I can run again and hopefully improve the general health. 

I briskly walked 2.6 miles and then stopped because my legs were tired.  (That was a little frustrating because I used to run 4 or 5 miles every day and not be tired… and I believe I could have walked to California and back).  But Rome wasn’t built in a day so I start back at the beginning.

Anyway, what is interesting is when I told my sweetie this afternoon in a James Brown sort of way: “I feel good.”  Her comment was that she hadn’t heard me say that for a long time.

Maybe my getting back in shape will give her more reasons to smile too.  And that would be good since part of my lot in life is making her smile. 

Peace

Jim