A Love of Others

December 30th, 2006

A Love of Others

“I love you, I just don’t like you.” Have you ever heard that being said? Have you ever said it? I’ve said it. It never sat right with me. There’s a good reason for that, and that’s because it’s garbage. You can’t love someone and not like them. Imagine what it would be like if your spouse never liked you, yet married you. Imagine what it would be like if your parents never liked you, yet raised you. Imagine what it would be like if God never liked you, yet watched over you. Now, of course, all of these tell you they love you but don’t like you. It doesn’t fly. It just doesn’t fly.

“Multitude” is an interesting word. In the NIV Bible, it is used ten times. In 1st Peter 4:8, I looked up multitude and found that the Greek word “plēthos” means a multitude such as a great number (of men or things). It can also go further to mean the “whole number” or a “whole multitude”. Dictionary.com simply says that a multitude is a great number and is also defined as “a very great number.”

Now, in this year of 2006, I have learned a few things. I have learned that I don’t like those who are like me, that is in my sinful nature. I see someone making the same mistake and I become angry. And if I am not careful, I end up saying a statement very much like that of: “I love you, but I don’t like you right now.” It doesn’t work. It doesn’t fly. I love baseball, I just don’t like baseball right now. That’s stupid. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever written.

Before I get into some scripture, I want to share one definition of love from Dictionary.com which defines love as “to have a strong liking for and to take great pleasure in.” This definition shows that when someone likes someone and that feeling grows, it blossoms into love. One cannot love without liking first. If I am to say that I don’t like someone, then loving them is not even in the equation.

1st Peter 4:1-11
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do - living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

***Love covers over a multitude of sins. Here’s the hang-up. If I love someone, then I should be able to see past their sinful nature and love the person, irregardless of what muck and junk they carry. Love covers this up. And if I don’t like someone, I don’t love them, and their sins are not being covered up by my sight. What I am trying to say, if I don’t love the person, I can’t look past their faults and I become critical of them and their shortcomings. How can I offer hospitality to them and not grumble in my heart if I am focusing in on their sin like a heat seeking missile? It’s not possible.

James 5:13-20
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

***In the book of James, the second “multitude of sins” verse is listed. By the way, there’s only two in the NIV Bible that carries that phrase. Elijah is a man of prayer. James is writing about him and then mentions that bringing someone back to Christ saves them from death and covers over their sins. Is this random? Nope, it is association. Sick? You should pray. In sin? You should pray and get others to pray as well. Someone leaves God? You should pray from them. If you don’t like them, but love them, then it is definitely a righteous prayer. WRONG! You have to like them to love them, and a loving heart will promote a righteous prayer. This is where I have fallen short, but I am growing. I’m not growing as fast as I would like, but a seed doesn’t turn into a monstrous oak overnight. This is what I will be working on in 2007. A New Year’s resolution? No, a New Year’s goal for the year 2007. Resolutions tend to get broken but goals are something to be attained and worked on over time. I don’t have New Year’s resolutions, but I do have New Year goals. Keep safe out there, Go Cowboys, Go Rangers, Go Mavs, may all three teams be blessed with success and not make me sick when I pay attention in your direction. Family and Friends, may the New Year bring you plenty more happiness and joy than the previous year. All take care and don’t forget to feed you pets. Johnny Out.

Upcoming Posts

Here are some ideas I have... with this post that I update, it keeps it in my mind and allows me to role around the idea even more so that it can be so big and huge it can end up to be huge post like the "Paint a Picture" post.

Upcoming Titles (I think):

• The Power of One Word
• Refurbished Man
• If - Then
• The Right Tools (a follow-up to "paint a picture")

Frankly, Scarlet, I Give a Gift. (Part II)

December 27th, 2006

Frankly, Scarlet, I Give a Gift. (Part II)

Matthew 5:38-42
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

Matthew 5:42 Give: The Greek word is didōmi which means to give. That is on the most basic meaning. Going deeper, it means to give something to someone of one’s own accord to give one something, to his advantage. It also means to bestow a gift. Here’s a list of some other meanings:

• To grant, give to one asking, let have


• To supply, furnish, necessary things


• To give over, deliver by reaching out, extend, present


• To deliver by a writing


• To give over to one’s care, entrust, commit


• Something to be administered


• To give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed


• To give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward


• To furnish, endue

There is plenty more. I could give something to someone when they ask for it, and it would be to my advantage. Maybe. I really have a hard time wrapping my mind around that one. How can it be to my advantage to give to someone who is bold enough to ask? I can spout off a truck load of “what-ifs” on this one, but to be honest with you, these generally don’t happen (IE: Someone running up to ask for a house, car, $1,000 dollars, etc.).

I wouldn’t really know what to do in those situations, but I do understand that the Bible says to get advice and many advisors make victory sure. If someone asks for your car, get advice first (and not from me, please! I don’t know the answer to that one.). But here is something that I have figured out, at least from this passage and the Greek background. I think of it this way, have I not struck the cheek of Christ on both his right AND left? I have taken his cloak and tunic. I’ve made him walk more than two miles. The amazing thing about this whole picture: I’m forgiven.

There’s still more, though. If God has put up with my disaster that I call a life, and still has a heart to love me in spite of me, wouldn’t it be at least the slightest bit possible that he might knock that last verse down to help me out? “Give to the one who asks you…” is what it says. And as I mention time after time in my blog, generally to remind myself, is that if God is willing to give to me, and I am supposed to imitate God, then I would most definitely have to have a heart to give to others.

• Forgive as you want to be forgiven.


• Love as you want to be loved.


• Give as you want to be given to.

Maybe this makes sense, maybe it doesn’t. It makes sense to me. The real kicker is to accomplish these things without expecting anything in return. It’s like the stock market, you don’t know if the rewards are going to come back or not. You can put money in a broken piggy bank and later there’s not even money on the floor. The real heart is the effort. No one knows for sure if the pink pig is going to break, but someone has to invest in it, nurture it, believing in it, and if things work out, it works out. But you won’t know unless you try, as the saying goes.

Matthew 6:1-4
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

This giving is a benevolence, which is a giving to the poor and needy. It’s a different Greek word, eleēmosunē, meaning charity, pity, and mercy toward those in need. And even though it is a completely different word in Greek, it is the same in English. A part of me wants to combine the definitions in this case. It would make sense. The first says to give what is due. The second says that giving to the poor should be done in secret. It makes sense to me to put them together in saying, Give to the poor what is due them in secret. Whether it be money, material items, or food, it would be best to be done anonymously, that is if heavenly wages is the pay dirt one seeks. Johnny Out.

Spiritual Goals for 2006: Update

Goals for 2006: Updated on 12/27/06

Baptize Someone: didn’t accomplish.
Memorize 12 Scriptures: done.
Get 12 Visitors to Church: nine for the year.
Get out of Debt: Actually, somehow I fell into more.
Be consistent with CR: Didn’t happen this year. I have ideas, though.
A True Tithe: No longer at 10% but what we are giving is a sacrifice.
Consistent Family Devotionals: Could be better. This year was better than last.

Other Goals:

Look/Consider House: Not happening in the foreseeable future.
Lessen Jenny’s Hours at Job with a Smaller Budget: Jenny is now on salary, big pay raise, and working less hours… BIG-BIG BLESSING!

Frankly, Scarlet, I Give a Gift

December 26th, 2006

Frankly, Scarlet, I Give a Gift.

Genesis 32:1-21
Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.

Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my master Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’”

When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”

In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.”

Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,' I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”

He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. He put them in the care of his servants, each herd by itself, and said to his servants, “Go ahead of me, and keep some space between the herds.”

He instructed the one in the lead: “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?’ then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.’”

He also instructed the second, the third and all the others who followed the herds: “You are to say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’” For he thought, “I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.” So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp.

*Interesting*

Genesis 43:1-14
Now the famine was still severe in the land. So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

But Judah said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?”

They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”

Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift… a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

***Interesting still***

Esau didn’t forgive Jacob, which means ‘deceiver’. His name changes to Israel, which means ‘struggles with God’. But the wrongful party or group sends gifts to make amends. It works for Israel in both circumstances.

"Give Peas a Chance"

December 25th, 2006

“Give Peas a Chance”

Wow. Christmas is gone. I don’t rush to scriptures about Jesus’ birth during the holiday. I tend to hear those plenty from others. It’s not a bad thing to hear them, I just don’t want to “over-kill” myself with those scriptures that my heart becomes weary of the Bible. So when I found my starting scripture, I then read it in context to find that it was in the birth of Christ, I found that a bit surprising.

Luke 2:8-20
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Verse 14 is the scripture in question. Peace. Give peace a chance. “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.” (Contemporary English Version) Glory to God in the highest, and on the earth peace among men with whom he is well pleased. (Bible in Basic English) “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!” (Good News Bible)

Peace on earth, but it is only to the people who please God who can get this peace, that much is for sure clear. The Greek word is eirēnē which means “a state of national tranquility free from the rage and havoc of war.” Is this the peace that the angels were talking about? Let’s try another definition. The Messiah’s peace that leads to the peace that salvation brings. Peace is a harmony and a concord between individuals. Could this be the peace the angels were talking about? I think this would be the peace.

Revelation 6:3-4
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

Revelation 9:20-21
The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

There are two categories I can be in: The first is the peace group. The second is the group who doesn’t have peace. The first is the repentant group. The second group doesn’t repent. The first has a love for God and others. The second has a love for themselves. The first is humble. The second is prideful. The first worships God. The second worships something else, like a house, money, or school/work.

1st Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Now, what really confuses me about the scripture in 1st Peter is that it uses “seek” and “pursue” in the same sentence, but in a way that they should mean something else. I thought they meant the same thing.

Seek (verb):

• To go in search or quest of


• To try to obtain


• To make a search or investigation

Pursue (verb):

• To follow close upon; go with; attend


• To follow in order to overtake


• To strive to gain; seek to attain or accomplish


• To proceed along the course of; follow

Now, I can see that I was a little off. They are close in meaning, yet so very different from each other. It’s like following Christ, I can think I am pursuing him, yet I really haven’t even sought him out. Have I sought out peace? Am I pursuing it? Does peace attend my character? Have I gained peace?

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!” To have peace, I have to have God pleased with me. To have the LORD pleased with me, I have to have repented and turned away from sin. Once I am pursuing a relationship with God and not the desires of the sinful nature, I will also be seeking and pursuing peace. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased!” Johnny Out.

Five Things I’ve Learned! Four Roasted Birds, Three French Toast…

December 24th, 2006

Five Things I’ve Learned! Four Roasted Birds, Three French Toast…

Wow. Christmas is here. You know, this year has been something. I think I’ve cried more this year than probably my whole life leading up to this year. And being 32, that may say a lot about me, it may not (being I’m a guy and stuck with some sort of guy label), but I think it does and that’s what matters. This year, my health plummeted into some sort of nastiness, still undiagnosed. My son turned one. I went back to school to finish my degree (AGAIN). The cat urinated on the Christmas presents. The cat did #2 on my pants, while I was still wearing them. The cat is still alive (WHAT?!). I alienated some family members and built better relationships with others. I suffered from some memory loss, which put me in the hospital. I’ve seen the emergency room at least four times this year that I can recall. I could be off (memory card now played once). What I wanted to share in this post is a number of things that I have learned this year. I am not certain if there is going to be scripture involved, how much if there is, or whatever… just shooting from the hip (as always):

#1: I’ve learned that irregardless of what I do or what happens to me, God is still with me and loves me. God wants me to draw closer to him in whatever situation I am going through, good, bad, or ugly. (Ben Doke helped me with this one, as did others – THANKS)

#2: I’ve learned it is good to have different types of friendships – in distance, personality, and interests. “Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house — too much of you, and he will hate you.” Proverbs 25:17 (Thanks CC for helping me learn this one)

#3: I’ve learned to control my speed, but more than that, to obey the law of the land I live. “If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable.” Proverbs 28:9

#4: I’ve learned that I have trust issues. This is an issue that ranges from friends and family all the way up to God himself. And trust is a huge thing to God: it kept Moses from the promised land, Judah was overtaken, Jeremiah pointed out trust in possessions. “It [love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:7. I am supposed to always trust. I’m not sure if I am even partially trusting in God. Am I going to let this keep me from the promised land? (Thanks addiction for pointing this one out)

#5: I’ve gained a better understanding on forgiveness and hope. This has also opened the door to a better understanding of grace. (Thanks undiagnosed illness for help on this one)

There are plenty more, I will share those in the next few posts. Merry Christmas – Johnny Out.

Itchy and Scratchy

December 22nd, 2006

Itchy and Scratchy

This is a bit upsetting. Did you know you can check your driver’s license online? Well, how about everyone else’s? Now you can see anyone’s Drivers License on the Internet, including your own. I just searched for mine and *BOOM* there it was… picture and all (and I still look funny)! Modern technology at its best, I guess. Privacy, where is our right to it? I removed mine and I suggest you all do the same, unless you have a great picture and don’t mind everyone having your address to boot. Go to the website. Just enter your name, City and State to see if yours is on file. After your license comes on the screen, click the box marked “Please Remove.” And follow the information to have your license removed from the internet for public viewing. It will still remain on file with the law enforcement. Here’s the link: http://www.license.shorturl.com/

Now, I checked this on snopes.com and this is the real deal. It is going to be on the News all day long today, so be ready to hear about it so much, you’ll get sick of hearing it. Another thing, get this sent around to your contacts ASAP! We don’t need this spreading around. PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS: You should be alert during the next few days. Do not open any message with an attached file called “Invitation” regardless of who sent it. It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which “burns” the whole hard drive (C drive) of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address in his/her contact list. That is why you should send this e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it. If you receive a mail called “invitation”, though sent by a friend, do not open it and shut down your computer immediately. This is the worst virus announced by CNN and has been classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever. This virus was discovered my McAfee yesterday and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus. This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Drive, where the vital information is kept.

SEND THIS E-MAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW! COPY THIS E-MAIL AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM, IT WILL BENEFIT US ALL.

Mark DeRosa sings in the shower. Kameron Loe has two large pet rats that, without the tail, are roughly 15 to 18 inches long – and pretty fat. CJ Wilson is a surfer type of person, whereas Ian Kinsler seems to be more reserved in personality, the “wallflower” type of person. 27% of U.S. male college students believe life is “a meaningless existential hell.” 43.7% of all statistics are made up right on the spot. 80% of arrested criminals are male. By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you cannot sink into quicksand. Charlie Chaplin once won third prize in a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest. 90% of bird species are monogamous; only 3% of animals are. A Baboon called “Jackie” became a private in the South African army in World War I. A chameleon can move its eyes in two directions at the same time. A Chicago law forbids eating in a place that is on fire. A cockroach’s favorite food is the glue on the back of stamps. A dentist invented the Electric Chair. A female ferret will die if it goes into heat and cannot find a mate. A Kentucky statute states, “No female shall appear in a bathing suit on any highway within this state unless she is escorted by at least two officers or unless she be armed with a club.” Later, an amendment proposed: “The provisions of this statute shall not apply to any female weighing less than sixty pounds nor exceeding 200 pounds; nor shall it apply to female horses.” A Michigan law states that a wife's hair legally belongs to her husband. A man and woman in Mexico City were engaged for 67 yrs and finally married at the age of 82 yrs. A monkey was once tried and convicted for smoking a cigarette in South Bend, Indiana. A Portsmouth, Ohio law ranks baseball players with “vagrants, thieves and other suspicious characters.” A Saudi Arabian woman can get a divorce if her husband doesn't give her coffee. A Saudi Arabian woman can get a divorce if her husband doesn't give her coffee. According to Illinois state law, it is illegal to speak English. The officially recognized language is “American.” After his death in 896, the body of Pope Formosus was dug up and tried for various crimes. Al Capone's business card said he was a furniture dealer. All nude people in your house must be registered in Kentucky. Although not named in the New Testament, tradition names the two thieves crucified at the same time as Jesus as Dismas and Gestas. An old law in Bellingham, Washington made it illegal for a woman to take more than 3 steps backwards while dancing. At Arkansas State University two people cannot hold hands while standing in a doorway unless they belong to a union. At Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Florida, on June 26, 1985, organist Wilbur Snapp played “Three Blind Mice” following a call by umpire Keith O'Connor. The umpire was not amused, and saw to it that Mr. Snapp was ejected from the game.

Now, if you haven’t already done so: “WHAT?!” Now, some of this stuff is true, and some of it is not true. What are you going to believe? There is always the “ignorant card”, so you can believe everything that is served up nice and neat for you. There are other options. Now, I can personally tell you that CJ Wilson said it himself that Mark DeRosa sings in the shower. He also admitted to being a surfer dude. You can look at him and tell he’s a bit eccentric. Kinsler, I figured that out from talking with him. A very nice guy, I can’t say that enough about him. I’ll give you those, because you won’t find out those things, typically anyway, on the internet when you do any research, should you choose.

Question: If someone tells me something to be fact, should I research it out for myself?

Answer: It really depends. I guess the real question is: Is it going to cause a big cause/effect or not? You don’t have time to question if the Subway sandwiches are really 7 grams of fat or less, but if there is time to do personal research, GREAT! That sort of thing could be timely or not, depending on how the research is done. I am not all that interested in researching Subway sandwiches, so you won’t find that on my blog.

Acts 17:1-15
When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.

As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

What is the Greek definition for the word “examined”? The word “anakrinō” means to examine or judge. Furthermore, to investigate, examine, enquire into, scrutinize, sift, question (specifically in a forensic sense of a judge to hold an investigation or to interrogate, examine the accused or witnesses). You can also look at it as to judge of, estimate, and/or determine (the excellence or defects of any person or thing). I took that from the Thayer dictionary. And so maybe those things above don’t require deep research, but the Bible does. More importantly, the example of the Bereans shows me that I need to study things out in such a manner as to sift, examine, investigate and even judge scriptures. I would think that with judging a scripture, it doesn’t mean since I don’t like this scripture, I throw it out and not obey it. That would be sin and I don’t want to go there. I get there to often as it is, I don’t need another scratch on my vinyl (that’s a record for those who aren’t up with the past). It’s important that if someone says something, especially with scripture, to check it out for myself. Should someone come up to me and say that the Pope doesn’t follow this scripture and he is in sin, it would be good to check it out the scripture, right? And Mr. Pope sins, although I surprising couldn’t find a website that would actually come out and say it.

This was all I could find: “It’s my understanding that the Holy Father receives the sacrament of reconciliation weekly.” A good dodge statement, but in a sense, it does say that, and I am assuming that when they say Holy Father that it isn’t the Father in heaven but some man on Earth, he [the Pope] sins. God can not sin and the Pope is not God. Some have said that Peter was the first Pope, but he didn’t really lead the church. Paul did more of that, at least for the Gentiles. Peter focused more on the Jews. And neither claimed to be a Pope, which should be noted. Another thing that should be noted is that Peter and Paul both sin, which is noted in the Bible. I’ve seen people cry on television for Michael Jackson and the Pope. I still don’t know why. Both breathe air and will some day pass away, but God lives forever. When I say my prayers at night, during the day, I should pray for those people, MJ and the Pope, but not pray TO them. Otherwise, I’ll just end up being a monkey on a driver’s license: funny and yet sad. Johnny Out.

Remember When...

December 18th, 2006

REMEMBER WHEN…

The good old days of yester-year. Those were the times. Yep. It’s taken a few days (its been a strange few days, to say the least) to regain memories (and I am sure that many more days ‘til I regain them all back – who knows really)… and I’m not really sure what I am going to write about here, if I am going to email this one out or let this just sit on the blog. I don’t know. I can’t explain how I felt Saturday, knowing I didn’t know anything, except for one single word: lost.

This is what I learned from this experience: lost is not knowing where you are and not knowing how to get where you want to be. When you are lost, you want to get somewhere but you don’t know how from the current position.

I kept telling people that I wanted to go home. They would ask me where home was… “I don’t know,” would be my response. I didn’t know where it was or how to get there.

Psalm 119:169-176
May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word. May my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise. May my lips overflow with praise, for you teach me your decrees. May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight. Let me live that I may praise you, and may your laws sustain me. I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands.

A wise friend of mine once said that irregardless of the situation, good – bad – indifferent – whatever the fortune, it should draw me closer to God. Now, I can’t say (just being honest) that I was drawing closer to God when I couldn’t remember who the President of the US. In fact, I don’t think I was really doing much of anything.

Jeremiah 50:6-7
“My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. Whoever found them devoured them; their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they sinned against the LORD, their true pasture, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’”

“Be Careful What You Think You Know.” That quote came in handy… although I didn’t remember it, I still applied it quite well to my situation. Have you ever been so scared that you want to run? And you’re not sure what the situation is, but it just doesn’t seem right? When I was in the hospital and they started poking needles into me, I thought about leaving. I wanted to go home and THEY WERE TORTURING ME! Maybe I am the only one who could see it from my perspective, but that’s how it was.

Ezekiel 34:1-6, 15-16
The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Luke 19:10 lost (Thayer):
apollumi

• To destroy; as in to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin or to render useless or to kill or to declare that one must be put to death or to metaphorically to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell or to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed

Compare this lost to the Old Testament ones… such as:
Ezekiel 34:4 lost (Brown/Driver/Briggs)
'âbad

• Perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.


• (Qal) - perish, die, be exterminated or perish, vanish (figuratively) or be lost, strayed


• (Piel) - to destroy, kill, cause to perish, to give up or to blot out, do away with, cause to vanish, (figuratively) or cause to stray, lose


• (Hiphil) - to destroy, put to death or of divine judgment or object name of kings (figuratively)

And all the other passages I used in the OT use 'âbad when referring to lost.

Revelation 12:7-9, 17
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring—those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

THE MULLIGAN - PART I

December 14th, 2006

THE MULLIGAN

Did you know… that of the fifty states in the US only fourteen contain an “M”? Did you know that more than twice that contain an “N”? Actually, those that contain an “N” are 33. Most people can’t name all fifty states in less than three minutes from memory. So to limit it to just those that contain “N’s” or “M’s” would be down-right impossible to do – name just the states that contain a “N” from memory in less than three minutes. NO CHEATING!

2006 is drawing to a close and with two a half weeks to go, I say “se la vee.” It has been a memorable year, to say the least, but to call a mulligan? NO! Wouldn’t it be great that mulligan’s applied to other areas instead of just kids play? A kid hits a ball in a tree – it’s a MULLIGAN!!! You walk to school with homework done but still at home – MULLINGAN!!! You’re talking to your boss and something just comes out wrong and its like you spilled boiling coffee of everyone’s eyeballs – MULLIGAN!!! Of course, mulligan is another way of saying “do over”, but it’s still the same thing. But did you know that mulligan’s don’t come anywhere near as often as they do when you are a child? Don’t get me wrong, I have a loving and generous bunch of friends and family, but I sit back and look at situations of others and hear stories of other people and you hear them cry “mulligan” and yet nothing is happening for them.

Proverbs 23:6-8
Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.

Proverbs 25:14-17
Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give. Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. If you find honey, eat just enough - too much of it, and you will vomit. Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house - too much of you, and he will hate you.

Proverbs 26:11-12
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.