Hanging Like a Monkey on a Tree

September 8th, 2006

Hanging Like a Monkey on a Tree

Today I finished my third week of school. There are still thirteen more ahead, including a class that is during the Fall Break, but outside of that, I will only have just two classes to concentrate on after next week. It still feels overwhelming at times. It’s good to revisit certain scriptures to help connect not only with drive, but… I don’t know. It’s something that encourages me.

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’”

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Luke 18:1 give up:
ekkakeō (verb)

• To be utterly spiritless, to be wearied out, exhausted


• to be (bad or) weak, that is, (by implication) to fail (in heart): - faint, be weary.


• To turn coward or lose heart.

1st Timothy 1:12-18
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight…

1st Timothy 6:11-16
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time - God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

2nd Timothy 4:1-8
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

How not to give up… well, it takes a number of things. Here’s what I’ve noted from these scriptures, and it helps me quite a bit…
#1: Pray
#2: Realize that I am in a fight and fight it
#3: Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness
#4: Study the Word; read it in season and out of season; it will correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.

The last one, I took a little liberty of of twisting the scripture ever so slightly. The Bible preaches to me and it does it all the time… so I feel it fits. All the same, Johnny Out.

A Wife's Lamp

September 7th, 2006

Today is my wife’s birthday.

Proverbs 31:1-31
The sayings of King Lemuel - an oracle his mother taught him: “O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel - not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I want my wife to feel loved. She is loved by me, by her son, by those around her, and by God. She has a healthy fear of God. I love this line, “Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.” I feel that describes her in so many ways.

Proverbs 31:11 full confidence:
bâṭach (verb)

• To trust


• To trust, trust in


• To have confidence, be confident


• To be bold


• To be secure


• To cause to trust, make secure


• To feel safe, be careless


• Figuratively to trust, be confident or sure: - be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.

“Her lamp does not go out at night.” Now, there are several directions with this verse… she works all night long, which is probably the most talked about with it. But when I read it, I thought of something else entirely.

Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

“At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’”

“Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’”

“‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’”

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.”

“Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’”

“But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’”

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

I thought of this because she’s prepared. She knows what to do in most situations and she has great spiritual advice in times of despair. A great encouragement to me and I know she’s a great encouragement to others. She has a good lamp and she has the oil to keep it burning. And when the bridegroom comes, she’ll be ready. I sure do love that woman. Well, uuuhhh… Johnny Out.

Good Marks

September 6th, 2006

Well, today is a friend of mine’s birthday! And I was hoping to get for him some “Guinep”, which is a hard to find fruit. I mean, this fruit is tough to find. I’ve looked all over the place, called, searched the internet, and walked into suspecting stores, all to find zero – NADA – zip. But I have found out a lot about this fruit. More about this fruit than probably those who grow it. Well, maybe not, but you never know. It goes by a number of different names, including Mamoncillo, Limoncillo, Spanish-Lime, Quenepa, Ginep, Chenet, Kinnip, Gnep, Genep, Quennette and Honey Berry. Here is a picture as I call for help in trying to get an ultimate birthday gift for my friend, CC:

Something that CC may not have known is that the seeds can be roasted and eaten like sunflower seeds or chestnuts. This fruit has it all. So, onto something about the Bible…

I read last night the first chapter of “This Doesn’t Feel Like Love”, which a friend of mine, Ben, let me borrow.

1st Corinthians 10:10-13
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1st Corinthians 10:13 bear:

hupopherō (verb)

• To bear by being under, bear up (a thing placed on one’s shoulders)
• To bear patiently, to endure
• To bear from underneath, that is, (figuratively) to undergo hardship: - bear, endure.

1st Corinthians 10:13 a way out:
ekbasis (noun)

• An egress, way out, exit (applied figuratively to the way of escape from temptation)
• The issue referring to the end of one’s life.
• Meaning to go out; an exit (literally or figuratively): - end, way to escape.
  

Sometimes I feel I can’t take it. Sometimes I wonder, if it is more than I can bear. And if God is providing a way out, I don’t see it. Maybe it could mean being medicated and feeling fuzzy headed and useless. It doesn’t sound like an enjoyable “way out” but I would admit that it puts me way out there. And coming from an addict, it may seem strange to say, but I don’t like it. It seems that it’s a never-ending high.

Galatians 5:16
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

I like the word live. Live by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16 live:
peripateō (verb)

• To walk
• To make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities
• Hebrew for, to live, to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self, to pass one’s life
• To tread all around, that is, walk at large (especially as proof of ability); figuratively to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or votary): - go, be occupied with, walk (about).
  

So, this is how to live… I walk in God’s way. I follow the LORD. I make due use of the opportunities God gives me. And that is living in God’s way. How I use those opportunities is what sets up my character. It defines my character.

2nd Corinthians 12:7
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

2nd Corinthians 12:7 thorn:

skolops (noun)

• A pointed piece of wood, a pale, a stake.
• A sharp stake, splinter.
• Withered at the front, that is, a point or prickle (figuratively a bodily annoyance or disability): - thorn.

(From Vincent’s Word Studies): Opinions are divided, generally, between mental or spiritual and bodily trials. Under the former head are sensual desires, faint-heartedness, doubts, temptations to despair, and blasphemous suggestions from the devil. Under the latter, persecution, mean personal appearance, headache, epilepsy, earache, stone, ophthalmia (inflammation of the eye). It was probably a bodily malady, in the flesh; but its nature must remain a matter of conjecture. Very plausible reasons are given in favor of both epilepsy and ophthalmia.

But the point remains, whatever the thorn was, it was sent by Satan, well, a messenger from Satan. And the way out… it may not be until I die. I don’t know. And how hard is that to think about, to stick with it for months, years, with never-ending pain. I thought that it would be a hard thought, but at least right now, it doesn’t seem so bad. Tomorrow is a different day and I may feel differently then, but I am not going to worry about tomorrow until tomorrow gets here. Today has enough trouble on its own, or so it is written.

Galatians 6:17
Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Galatians 6:17 marks:
Stigma (noun)

• A mark pricked in or branded upon the body. To ancient oriental usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or the stamp of their master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their bodies to indicate what master or general they belonged to, and there were even some devotee’s who stamped themselves in this way with the token of their gods
• To “stick”, that is, prick; a mark incised or punched (for recognition of ownership), that is, (figuratively) scar of service: - mark.
  

I am owned by Christ. I am marked by him. Satan’s messengers can put thorns in my path, but I will walk in God’s way, however difficult it may be. And it hasn’t been easy these days. I will bear what God deems worthy and try to make the most of the opportunities presented, and when a way out, a way to escape temptation or should God call for an exit, then AMEN, let me take the way out from temptation. This was interesting. Johnny Out.

ALL IN

September 4th, 2006 & September 5th, 2006

I missed the Jubilee. I wanted to go. I prayed for those who were blessed to go, that they would have a blast and walk away with something in their hearts. As for me, I didn’t go, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t learn anything from the weekend. I had the pleasure of taking IV Steroids again over the latter three days of the week. And during this experience, I walked into the IV room where there was this teenager getting a treatment of her own. I guess she was about 16 or 17 or so… she was young. And she had to be excused at one point, I asked the nurse about her, she said that she was mature for a girl her age going through MS. She also gave a bit of warning to me for the medical school, but on the side she said that the youngest patient the medical school is treating is a four year old child.

And that put things into a real perspective for me. I had to really role that around in my head. It wasn’t one of those “instant inspirations” like some smart people get, but for a nimrod like me, it takes a few days to sink in.

1st Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I put this up here for a reason. Not that it is just scripture, but there is more to it than that. This is a biblical definition of love, in a sense.

Love – patient, kind, humble, hopeful, unfailing, protecting, trusting, persevering, …

So here it is, a definition from the bible of what the definition of love is. And here I have this disease that is causing me indescribable pain at the age of 32, there is a girl who is a teenager going through roughly the same thing, and most likely a four year old out there who also is going through the same thing. So what is the difference between us all? What separates us?

Mark 12:28-31
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Now, there is a definition of love, and I am to love the LORD with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Is my love to God patient? Does my love to God show trust? When I pray, is my prayer self-seeking? What does my love for God say about my devotion to God? There is a teenager who may have known life without her disease. There is a four-year old who doesn’t know anything but the disease. And here I am at the age of 32 complaining. What do I have to complain about? I’ve been blessed in many, many ways. Here are just a few blessings God has given me…

Some Blessings:

• Family


• Friends


• Books


• The Bible


• Food


• Transportation


• Home


• School


• Doctors


• Medication


• A Cat


• Baseball


• Traffic


• Telephone


• Computer


• Hot Summer Days


• Cold Winter Nights


• Rainy Days


• Holidays


• Movies


• Toys


• Light Bulbs


• Paint


• Cartoons


• Comedy


• Flowers


• Butterflies


• Poetry


• Chocolate


• Frogs


• Lizards


• Opossums


• Armadillos


• Raccoons


• Rabbits


• Deer


• Chickens (and Roosters)


• Stars in the Evening Sky


• Meteor Showers


• Sunsets


• Storm Fronts

I really could just go on and on… I think I should have put chocolate down twice. It’s just that good. But I think about this: the Bible doesn’t command God to love me with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his mind and with all his strength. The reason is, God already does that. He already does. Johnny Out.

Spiritual Goals for 2006: Update

Goals for 2006: Updated on 9/1/06

Baptize Someone: not accomplished yet – feeling good about this one.
Memorize 12 Scriptures: I don’t have a number as to how many I know, but I feel good about this as well.
Get 12 Visitors to Church: four in eight months. Fizzling… there is still hope!
Get out of Debt. Especially:

• Take Care of Dr. Haefeli’s Picture Frames. – One left!


• Take Care of Asset Acceptance. – Payments are being made.


• Take Care of Credit Cards in a Major Way. – Payments are being made

Be consistent with CR – Health has been a MAJOR hindrance.

• By being in attendance. – hasn’t been a priority within my heart.


• Bring a visitor to CR sometime during the year. – hasn’t been a priority within my heart.

A True Tithe – Doing it now.
Consistent Family Devotionals – Really making strong progress. Becoming more consistent

Other Goals:

Look/Consider House – thoughts have been made. Two year lease on apartment has kept it on the back burner.
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!