Blogshot

"A system is in equilibrium when the forces constituting it are arranged in such a way as to compensate each other, like the two weights pulling at the arms of a pair of scales."

-Rudolf Arnheim

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

-The Apostle Paul

Joy

Joy. There’s nothing like it. It’s the sweetest of all emotions. Highest of the high. Love can be tough, sadness has its depth, anger is hot, even fear has its excitement; but nothing is like joy.

Joy. Often inexpressible, sometimes inconceivable but always incomparable. Joy is that heavenly feeling. Praise comes with it. Hope waits on it. Sadness flees from it. And love labors till it.

Joy. It’s the holla of Hallelujah, the life of the party and the shout of worship. It looks like a smile, sounds like a laugh and smells like fried chicken (or maybe fresh baked cookies).

The Greek word for joy is Xara (Chara). It is derived from another beautiful word Xaris (Charis), which means grace. Joy is therefore, according to Scripture, the state of gladness resulting from the gift of salvation through Christ.

Joy is more than common happiness. Hap means chance occurrence or events. Happiness is based on happenings, or happenstance which is therefore haphazard at best. The grace of God is given through the once and for all time event of Calvary. As our joy is tied to an eternal, immutable event, then we ought to as Paul says, Rejoice always.

Once again it is a matter of focus. If you look to chance occurrences for emotional highs, you will inevitably be disappointed, deflated or depressed. But if the work of God through Jesus Christ is the source of your joy, then you will never be ashamed. As always, we get to choose our emotional state by choosing what we focus on.

This is the only way one can -
Rejoice when persecuted (Mat. 5:12).
Rejoice in hope (Rom 5:2).
Count it all joy in temptation (Jam 1:2).
Rejoice evermore (I Thess. 5:16).
Rejoice in Suffering (I Pet. 4:13).

Get your mind right by getting your sight right.

Hope this hopes you.

Eyelight

Greed. It seems like it has made a comeback recently, but in reality, it has never gone away. Avarice, lust, covetousness has been the singular cause of some of history’s greatest misses. From Eve looking at the forbidden fruit, to David looking at Bathsheba taking a bath. From Ahab weeping for Nabioth’s vineyard, to Judas weeping because he sold the Lord. Greed turned Lot’s wife to salt, gave Merriam leprosy, sent Joseph to jail, got Achan and family stoned and buried Korah and associates.

While that may be ancient history, greed and covetousness has been foremost in man’s destruction until this very day. Madoff and IGA are nothing new. Whenever you hear of oppression, slavery, murder, rape, adultery and such, greed has overcome someone’s heart and led them down the path of destruction.

Jesus says this of greed, “The Light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single (healthy or clear), thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore thy light be darkness how great is that darkness (Matt. 6:22-23).”

The meaning of this becomes clearer when you see the verses before it “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth…., For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” And then the verses after, “No man can serve two masters…, You cannot serve God and mammon.”
What the Lord is revealing to His followers is the pollution of greed and its corruptive power over the heart. As the eye is the source of light (Light = knowledge and truth), then the eyes must be kept clear. If not then it fills the body with darkness (Absence of light = wickedness and ignorance). Our souls either suffer from lack of light or flourish in the abundance of light. We must not let the lust for treasure and the service of mammon pollute our purpose.

Keep your eye focused on light and make sure that nothing blocks that focus and Light will fill your soul. Don’t let your soul become darkened by greed.

Burlington North Carolina

A church is growing to greatness in Burlington. A great people are arising to do great things in that community. It was my pleasure to preach at the Community Church of Christ last week. We had a great time of teaching and rejoicing over the Word. The people were hospitable, supportive and receptive. We had a great time .

I'm proud to claim the minister, Darryl Cannady, and his wife Rita, as my co-labourer cousins. Concientious and considerate, they took great care of me. With their love for God's Word and His people, we look for great things from Burlington. God bless!



A bonus blessing was seeing my friends from Durham. That meant golf of course. I stunk big time the first day, but did better the next. Jamie Foxx finally got his revenge. http://expalot.blogspot.com/2008/01/southside-coc-in-durham-nc.html Don't get too comfortable Johnny, Spring is coming real soon.