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"I do my own duty: the other things do not distract me. They are either inanimate or irrational, or have lost the road and are ignorant of the true way." - Marcus Aurelious



"Fear God and keep His commandments. for this is the whole duty of man." - Solomon

Seeds

Seeds are amazing things. They are remarkable mechanisms from the wonderful workshop of the cosmos creator. I was reminded of it while planting Spinach earlier this year. Something we usually take for granted has some very awesome and thought provoking qualities.

Amazing #1 – Seeds look nothing like what they shall become. Dry and minuscule will become large and leafy. Hard and bitter becomes soft and sweet. A berry can become a bush, while a nut can become a tree. There’s great potential in those little pieces.

Amazing #2 – Seeds look dead, but are really dormant. That means alive but in super slow-motion. There are things going on inside the seed but at an indecipherable rate. They can remain vital for many years in such dormancy. When they come into the right environment they awaken, springing to life. A symbol of resurrection. Interesting note, water and light (two symbols for truth), create the wake-up alarm environment for seeds.

Amazing #3 – A seed contains the stamp of divinity. Scientist know what makes up the seed, (the chemical processes, the genetic material), but they can’t get their own to work. That’s the life quality. The spark of God. It can only be illustrated and imitated but never has been duplicated.

Amazing #4 – They get there. They hide in fruit, ride the breezes, float on water, stick to fur or in my case, come in packages of 500 mg for $1.69. But they sure do get around. They were designed that way by the God of all creation who does global things greatly.

Amazing #5 – Seeds are prolific multipliers. Normally, one seed will produce one plant, bearing much fruit or flowers. Each fruit and flowers has more seed. Some even have hundreds. This is multiplicity on a scale that boggles the mind.


Amazing #6 – Versatility. Seeds are used for more than growing. Some are ground, pressed, baked or boiled as food. Some seeds are valued for their exotic flavor. They are even used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. God put all of that into seeds. Awesome.

Amazing #7 – Greatest of all, the concept of the seed is used symbolically in Scripture. It is used for: Children and generations – (Gen.12:7). Faith – Mat. 17:20. Christians – Mat. 13:38. The Holy Spirit – I Jn. 3:29. The Word – I Pet. 1:23. Jesus Christ – Gal. 3:16.

Hope dealing through seed sowing. May God help us all to grow.

"Memoria"

It's Memorial Day and thoughts are centered on past and present battles with soldiers lost and living. I think it is an excellent time to remember the greatest warrior of all who fought the greatest battle of all and paid the ultimate sacrifice to win - Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation.

The Struggle - Good and Evil, Light and Darkness, Truth and Error.

The Place - Gethsemane and Calvary

The Antagonist - Satan, aka Lucifer, Diablos, Beelzebub, the Serpent, the Dragon, the Accuser, the Wicked One, the Prince of the Power of the Air. He was a liar and a murderer from the beginning who sought to dominate the lives of men through the fear of death in order to diminish the glory of God.

The Hero - The Messiah, aka Jesus, Emanuel, Savior, Lord, Deliverer, the Lamb of God, the Great Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Bread of Heaven, Justifier, Redeemer, Teacher, the Light of the World, the Fullness of God, the King, the Word, Counsellor, Creator, Majesty and on and on. Suffice it to say He was God in the flesh, who came to do what we could not.

The Battle - On the cross of Calvary, amongst the curses and the flies, naked and exposed before a mocking crowd, thirsty between two thieves, a betrayed, beaten, and whipped Christ did the unthinkable - He died.

The Victory - The Devil never saw it coming. Such self-deprecating strategy was beyond the mind of Satan. If the Devil would've figured it out, he never would have crucified the Lord. Jesus died to get to Satan's domain, bring him under control and open a way for His followers. Then He did the incredible - He Arose.

And He lives for evermore.

"King of my life, I crown thee now
Thine shall the glory be
Lest I forget thy thorn crossed brow
Lead me to Calvary

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary."

If everybody loves a hero, they ought to love Jesus Christ.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb 12:2)."

Thanks Again Jackson

The Parkview Church of Christ gave a repeat performance of spirituality, hospitality and kindness. It was an exquisite joy to return and preach for their Spring Revival. They love the Word and love people of the Word, so I was right in the mix.


Thank God for Richard Wiggins, the Minister of this great work. He has the heart of a soul-winner and ambition for God's glory. Great things will come out of his dedication and vision.



So many members blessed me with tokens of love. Sister McRae, for her wonderful help. The Longstreets, Woods, and Ellis families for Crawdads, Golf, Iron-Man and Red Velvet Cake. Brother Wilson is a happy preacher.



"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6)."

The Divine Family

“God setteth the solitary in families… Psalm 68:6”

The word Family is a special word with special meaning. It is powerful in its descriptiveness and dynamic in application.

It is primarily used to describe the relationship of a group of people. Normally it conveys togetherness, covenant and a sense of belonging. To say one is a member of a family is to say that one is part of a larger whole. Every culture, age and race has some equivalent understanding of family. Whether the word is house, clan, blood or kin, family conveys an almost spiritual commitment and connection.

The word family has an emotional effect on us as well. Some feel warmth and love as we remember childhoods filled with wonder and love. Some reminisce fondly over big meals with big laughs and wild stories. Some feel negative emotions due to abuse, neglect, betrayal and even molestation. Nonetheless, family still carries a special meaning.

It is used as a defense or apologetically. We have all witnessed the classic scenario of someone complaining about a fault or shortcoming in another. When harsh treatment is recommended they reply, “I can’t, do that. He or she is after all, family.”

Associates use the word family in an attempt to express extreme closeness. “We are like family,” they say, in an effort to convince or express trust and covenant. Supposedly this statement implies that an unbreakable bond has been established.

Businesses use the word family. As a new recruit starts with a new company the owner announces, “Let’s welcome Mr. Jones to the Amperhurst Family.” Mr. Jones jumps in and calls his first client. He skillfully announces “Amhurst has a new line of poppernogals to add to its family of wooserbands.” While we don’t know what Amperhurst does, we know that Mr. Jones is connected because the owner said he was family. Additionally, we have no idea what a poppernogal or wooserband is, but whatever they are they are connected or relative as well.

Family is used even in the underworld. When a common thug joins up with other thugs, thieves, villains, and such like, they become a crew. When someone in the crew does sufficient work for a crime boss he gets “bumped up”. This is a promotion into a larger and more affluent group of criminals. He becomes a made man and is reported to be part of a “Family”. He is there by connected and entitled to a level of privilege in the crime circles.

Scientist uses the word family. Biologist especially use family in there attempt to classify an organism. Situated beneath order and above genus it shows the categorical likeness and essential similarities. Interestingly, breeding or reproduction is only possible within the category of family.

We could go on and on in our discussion of the word Family. But I have told you all of this to bring out one great point. Of all the uses of family there is one use that is the most rewarding and beneficial. It is the way that God uses family.

Paul says that God is the Father (Eph. 3:14). Jesus is called our brother (Heb. 2:11). The Holy Spirit is our adoption agency (Rom. 8:15). We are called children of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:15-17). We are called the family of God (Gal. 6:10).

God calls us family. He wants us to know that we are connected to Him in a covenant relationship. He wants to create positive emotions and joyful memories of being and growing in His house. He wants us to know that we are protected and privileged as His family. He wants us to know that we share in His likeness and character. He wants us to know that we belong to Him and that we are never alone. He wants us to know that he associates with us on a level beyond friendship and circumstance. He even wants us to know that no matter how far away we fall, we can always come home.

Thank God through Jesus Christ for the Family of God. We all can belong to the greatest, most meaningful family that there is.

Divine Help versus Self Help

Which would you choose? While the answer may be obvious when presented in such a manner, it is surprising how often we look for help from failing sources and neglect the perfect work of the God of eternity.

Self-help has been a hot topic for the past century. Samuel Smiles published ‘Self-Help’ in 1859 with the opening statement “Heaven helps them that help themselves.” That statement was actually a paraphrased quote from Benjamin Franklin’s, ‘Poor Richards Almanac’ of 1733-1758.

The movement gained momentum in 1936, with the entrance of the famous book ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie. Presently there are countless books, video and audio resources, groups, lectures, seminars, retreats, etc. Some sources are legitimately helpful while some rely on mysticism and superstition.

While this blog moment is not meant to deride selfhelpology (or is it selfhelpdom), it must be understood that no one can help us like the Divine Helper. I read many sources and works in the Self-help genre, but all pale in comparison to what God says. Truth be told, the best of the self-help works really are regurgitated, modernized principles borrowed from God in the first place.

One of the greatest statements of self-help in scripture, therefore the world, is found in James 4:10. “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” Also in I Peter 5:6, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” This is a repeated theme in scripture. It is illustrated in real life stories as well as pointedly admonished. It works. The way to get up is to go down, the way to get more is to give it up. Humility is the key because it resembles the character of Jesus Christ.

Humility has a number of demonstrations, but all of them lead to exaltation.
Humility means obedience. That will exalt you.
Humility means worship. That will exalt you.
Humility means service. That will exalt you.
Humility means compassion. That will exalt you.
Humility means carefulness. That will exalt you.
Humility means sacrifice. That will exalt you.

Divine help is paradoxical. The best way to help the self is to get the self out of the way. Denying self and embracing the person, character and Lordship of Jesus Christ is the best thing you can do for continued, meaningful, Godly success.