Useful Reading.

 Useful Reading.

 

Finished reading a book by M.R. DeHaan this afternoon. Its title is 35 Simple Studies on the Major Themes in Revelation. It was definitely worth the time to read as it gave me some definite things which had not occurred to me or that had never been said in any Bible study or sermon in my memory. It would be unfair—and probably less than useful—to just give you a book report, but if you can pick this one up at a used book place or get in on Amazon, it might make you think beyond what we usually hear in any sermon.

 

One of the things about being a believer in Jesus as the son of God, is that we are told so much in the New Testament that is just spread out with little details here and there with no overall explanation of what or how it all fits together until reading in Revelation. A discussion among some of the church members the other day brought out the point that some of us were so very naïve about what we were committing to when we asked for the covering of our sins by the sacrifice made by Jesus. Books like this one by DeHaan help immensely to provide a more comprehensive picture of what we need to expect in our relationship with God. This picture also creates a clarity of how important our example is to others, especially to our family. No doubt my parents were very concerned about their son and daughter over the years.

 

Heard a lawnmower making noise across the street. Albert is getting their grass cut down before the weekend, and it just makes me wish my mower were in shape to get this done even if it might cause extra pain to use the zero turn. By the time Blake is supposed to come on Tuesday, we are supposed to have rain again. Even after trimming up some of the edges of the grass along the back walkway, the grass is well beyond my ankles. Healthy grass after several years of chicken stuff!

 

Having a background as an English teacher has its disadvantages. The other day an x-ray tech asked me to “lay” down on their table. The other tech was getting my body situated and listened with nodding when the old woman said, “Lie, not lay.” She said, “Yes, my mom would say the same thing! She used correct English and insisted on it!” We just smiled at each other.

 

It looks as if we are banging away at Iran again. Not surprising considering that they are being so defiant. They think if they hold out long enough that they will get us to just go away. As long as President Trump is in charge, it does not look as if we will back off. And that’s probably a good thing. No one wants to see “boots on the ground,” but if it means that we will prevent Iran from having a nuclear bomb, then so be it. May God protect our military, our allies, our leaders and the world as we know it.

 

My friend Judie Brunson has invited me to lunch tomorrow. We are celebrating a birthday a bit after the fact, but just getting together is pretty much a celebration whether or not it involves food. Her family was much bigger than mine when we were growing up, but we still have many things in common. We both love horses! Anyway, tomorrow should be fun.

 

The other day at Bible study we had a discussion about some of the things that need to be renewed in the church building. It seems that in the nursery, all the beds would have to be replaced because they have a standard that has changed over the years. Who knew that car seats have an expiration date!!! The same is apparently true for cribs. They can’t even be given away!! Of course, my children grew up in church services and were kept on the floor in front of my feet on a pallet until they were old enough to sit in a chair and be still. In fact, one of the funniest things about the pallet that our children used was the fact that it was given to us by a friend and it was an owl in embroidered shape. My kids were very fond of the “owl” blanket. In my estimation, unless they needed a room for nursing mothers where they could put a speaker so that they could hear the sermon, a nursery would pretty much be useless. The services at Lakeside Baptist are only about an hour long. Our children sat through two-hour services for as long as they went to church! Put a child on a pallet and train it to stay for an hour and that takes care of “child care.”

 

Maybe tonight we should all just consider that in the plans that God has for us, the battles of the future will not be over meaningless philosophies or religions. If we have asked for our sins to be forgiven and our lives to be in the hands of God the Father because of the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ, then our future is assured through faith on His promises. Let us pray that Christ will come soon.

 

Rest well, my friends. You are loved.