How then should we live?

I am getting ready to start a series at church. Rick has done a good job teaching us about love and obeying the commandments of Jesus. 1 John is quite a load! Obeying the commandments is somewhat difficult, but not nearly as difficult as the loving your brother part.

Brothers have a tendency to do things that make them unlovable. They tend to say things that are offensive. They tend to argue about things. You get the picture. They also have a tendency to sin.

Wow, we really are a mess. This is not the every body else we, this is the all inclusive we. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.

We need to get it together. The Lord has us gathering together in local bodies for a reason. We need each other. The church is the group that does the work of the Lord. It is the pillar and foundation of truth. It is the group from which the message of good news goes forth into the world.

How then should we live?

I have to make a confession

Ok, ok ok...I know that I shouldn't have done it...but!!!the temptation was way too great. Please don't quote the "No temptation" verse to me-->I have it memorized. Yes, I gave into temptation and planted my tomatoes and peppers today...BUT, I didn't plant any summer squash....Do I still maintain partial righteousness?

I know it's time to plant garlic and onions when the ones I missed last Fall start to grow in late January. My neighbors, on-the-other-hand, know that it's three weeks off to planting tomatoes when I get mine in the ground.

I have been gardening for about 26 years and still get the itch every Spring to get those tomatoes out early. Up in Denver we had these plastic tomato "walls" you could fill with water and place around your plants. It could snow and your tomatoes would survive. Of course, tomatoes won't start growing rapidly until the ground is around a certain temperature.

Found a lot of things in the garden this afternoon-->I found some round squiqly things that looked like worms and burrowed into the earth when I turned the soil over. I think that we should call them earthworms. I found a few (more) grub worms (which are June bug larvae). I also found one "hidden" fire-ant bed, with only one subsequent bite. Also found quite a few pill bugs (sow bugs).

Please remember that real gardeners shouldn't plant their tomatoes and peppers until after Easter (we ALWAYS seem to get an Easter freeze).

New Pet Peeves

Here are a few of my new pet peeves:
1. When you buy a new clothes' dryer, you have to PURCHASE the "right" cord as well
2. When someone besides you picks the length for the cord, it will inevitably be too short
3. Laying on the ground, screwing (or unscrewing) in the new cord, is not one of the "acceptable positions" when you have bi-focal lenses--> you might as well be doing it by feel
4. Wondering how you could misplace a screw right in front of your eyes (see # 3 above, apparently) AND how that screw could be different from the other 20 screws on the dryer
5. When you can immediately find several of the "right" screwdrivers, you should consequently realize that you really won't need them--> you will, however, need another tool that has conveniently disappeared
6. People who swerve into your lane because they are "texting" while driving
7. People who turn left (suddenly) from the center lane
8. People who, though they are in the left turn lane by the library, really want to take the next right, AND expect you to get out of their way when they make a mad dash for it

Hope you had a good morning too!

Be Content With What You Have

I was talking with a friend last night about a past situation at church that is bothering him quite severely. It crowds out the things that he should be thinking or praying about at times (Phil. 4:8). My counsel to him was to look at the good things that are going on in the life of the Body.

• We have reunited in the bond of Christ with a number of believers. Some, of whom, I never thought we would have fellowship in Christ with again
• There is a pervasive atmosphere of love, care, grace, mercy, and freedom flowing throughout the whole Body
• The AWANA ministry is flourishing, with many new children hearing and responding to the good news about Jesus Christ
• Evangelism is happening, with many non-believers hearing the Word of God concerning salvation
• A brother is able to use and sharpen his gifts, including teaching the Word and the gift of administration
  
• "Stuff" is getting done without scolding, nagging, micromanaging, or ADMONITION from the pulpit
• We are able to focus on ministering to our brothers around the world through mission organizations, instead of worrying about building an edifice to our personal glory

We have many responsibilities to accomplish as a Body. One of them is NOT to worry about what God has promised to take care of. We need to strive to bring Him glory in all that we do and let him take care of that which is now outside of our scope.

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever (Rom 11:36).

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).

Just wanted to post a few pictures of the work that I did this morning in the garden: Planted a few white onion bulbs, planted some potatoes, planted some lettuce (not pictured), and turned under two of the raised beds.

In the picture to the left, along with a partial of my left shoe, lies a garden de-chlorinator. Chlorine in city-water can kill beneficials in the soil, so I thought I'd try one of these this year. I don't know how I'll measure its benefits because there are so many other variables that affect plant growth.

All you gardeners remeber, Keep your spade fork in the ground! And remember my mantra...I will not plant tomatoes, squash, etc., until after the last frost date...ditto, ditto, ditto... :)

Hindsight

You know, we really don't have hindsight. Yes, we can say, "I would have done thus and such had I the knowledge that I have today!" That, however, does little to fix the current situation.

We were in a situation in which many have now had hindsight. Let me tell you, if I knew then what I know today, I never would have gotten into that mess at all--would have steered clear of it like the plague. You know, though, something else would have cropped up--that seems to be the human condition. What do we do when that "something" else crops up? Do we wait for that new batch of hindsight to brew up? No!

He has show thee, o man, what is good and what the Lord requires of thee: But to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

If you find someone who is not doing the above, you don't need hindsight, you need foresight...deal with it, and if you can't, then get out of it.

My measure of hindsight is full of foresight when I see someone still wanting to lord it over others, someone who continues to scheme and whisper behind people's backs (They need prayer so let's talk about them!), someone who can't walk around town without seeing people they have offended...

Hindsight NOT needed...Just proceed with caution.

(Read 3 John for an example of someone to avoid like the plague)