Hello friends and neighbors, glad to see you on this
Thursday, February 3, 2011, where we continue to peek into the cold that so many of our fellow citizens endure each winter. My wife has an electric warming blanket on her side of the bed and it allows her to be as snug as a bug in a rug. She accuses me of slipping my feet over there occasionally to warm them up. Doesn't she realize there's little in the way of knowing exactly where your feet end up when you are sleeping? And, doesn't she also realize that maybe my diabetes plays a role here? You know. The feet deal? That is, if I even do it which has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, at least at this time. My sister lives up in the Dallas area and she is not that unhappy that folks are having trouble getting to their city for the upcoming Superbowl. She gets real stirred up when she talks about how their local government is cutting people left and right but they can come up with huge sums of money to pour into the Superbowl. She said that all of the streets and roads in and around the stadium had priority for deicing while the common, ordinary folks had to make do. I told her that it is the largest sporting event in the world, therefore, I suppose we just have to learn to live with it. We might all feel a little different about trying to get to Dallas if we had tickets for the game and we lived in Green Bay or Pittsburgh. But since we don't, we can complain away!
We lost power here for about an hour yesterday morning. Here in the office we are 100% dependent upon the electrical power. I lighted a couple of candles and essentially waited for the power to come back on. I did do some writing by candle light and it reminded me that much of the treasured documents we hold dear were written by the light of a candle or oil lamp. The Church building where we grew up had these little platforms on the posts that were a part of the structural support. They always had song books on them since I was a kid. I was surprised to find out that their original designated purpose was for an oil lamp. I would have never guessed. We do get used to our modern conveniences. I was born in 1946 and at that time many of the things that are a part of the fabric of our lives were not even invented yet. The first credit card didn't show up until 1950. The transistor radio in 1953. Ray Kroc started franchising his first McDonald's burger joints in 1954. The girls didn't get their hands on a Barbie Doll until 1959. Can you imagine life without pop-top cans? We had to deal without them until 1963. I was married in 1964, the first year you could purchase permanent press clothing. Here's a biggy: The first ATM was introduced in 1969. And, from there it just became more and more technology driven: 1970, first video game, PONG; The first cell phone, now called the brick, introduced in 1973 at a cost of nearly $4000. Post it notes in 1974; First ink jet printer in 1976: In 1985 we got the first version of Windows; First digital answering machine in 1991; DVD's were invented in 1995; and in 2000 we had the completion of the project to fully map human DNA. Since then, widescreen, thinscreen, battery operated cars, phones that do almost any and all things, and everything in-between. Yes, folks, we have come a long way but when the lights are out it sure does make many these
taken for granted items seem a little more special.
Amen.
Many people are wondering about the revolts going on in Egypt with an eye towards how it might fit into biblical prophecy. One thing we do know, according to the Scriptures, is that eventually Israel will be completely surrounded by enemies desiring to obliterate them from the face of the earth. Egypt just happens to be the largest Arab nation in the region. But many in Washington think maybe, just maybe, a new regime coming in will adopt our values and freedoms as a model. My take on that scenario: I do not want to drink any of that Kool Aid. My guess is that whoever takes over either immediately or eventually will be very much more hostile to Israel and likely also America as well. We believe that God's plan and purpose for His chosen people, the Jewish nation of Israel, is not fully completed. We believe that Israel is the key to understanding the so-called end times scenarios. We also believe in a Sovereign God who will keep all promises made, and will fulfill all prophecies given. This should give us, as believers, courage and confidence, as we view these events unfolding before our very eyes. Speaking of that, I can remember growing up without any 24 hour access to the news from every place on the globe and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure we are better off for having it today. But, that's how I see it on this day and I'll try to have something to share when we meet again. Until then, may God bless you and yours.
Amen. ......More later.
We lost power here for about an hour yesterday morning. Here in the office we are 100% dependent upon the electrical power. I lighted a couple of candles and essentially waited for the power to come back on. I did do some writing by candle light and it reminded me that much of the treasured documents we hold dear were written by the light of a candle or oil lamp. The Church building where we grew up had these little platforms on the posts that were a part of the structural support. They always had song books on them since I was a kid. I was surprised to find out that their original designated purpose was for an oil lamp. I would have never guessed. We do get used to our modern conveniences. I was born in 1946 and at that time many of the things that are a part of the fabric of our lives were not even invented yet. The first credit card didn't show up until 1950. The transistor radio in 1953. Ray Kroc started franchising his first McDonald's burger joints in 1954. The girls didn't get their hands on a Barbie Doll until 1959. Can you imagine life without pop-top cans? We had to deal without them until 1963. I was married in 1964, the first year you could purchase permanent press clothing. Here's a biggy: The first ATM was introduced in 1969. And, from there it just became more and more technology driven: 1970, first video game, PONG; The first cell phone, now called the brick, introduced in 1973 at a cost of nearly $4000. Post it notes in 1974; First ink jet printer in 1976: In 1985 we got the first version of Windows; First digital answering machine in 1991; DVD's were invented in 1995; and in 2000 we had the completion of the project to fully map human DNA. Since then, widescreen, thinscreen, battery operated cars, phones that do almost any and all things, and everything in-between. Yes, folks, we have come a long way but when the lights are out it sure does make many these taken for granted items seem a little more special. Amen. 
Many people are wondering about the revolts going on in Egypt with an eye towards how it might fit into biblical prophecy. One thing we do know, according to the Scriptures, is that eventually Israel will be completely surrounded by enemies desiring to obliterate them from the face of the earth. Egypt just happens to be the largest Arab nation in the region. But many in Washington think maybe, just maybe, a new regime coming in will adopt our values and freedoms as a model. My take on that scenario: I do not want to drink any of that Kool Aid. My guess is that whoever takes over either immediately or eventually will be very much more hostile to Israel and likely also America as well. We believe that God's plan and purpose for His chosen people, the Jewish nation of Israel, is not fully completed. We believe that Israel is the key to understanding the so-called end times scenarios. We also believe in a Sovereign God who will keep all promises made, and will fulfill all prophecies given. This should give us, as believers, courage and confidence, as we view these events unfolding before our very eyes. Speaking of that, I can remember growing up without any 24 hour access to the news from every place on the globe and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure we are better off for having it today. But, that's how I see it on this day and I'll try to have something to share when we meet again. Until then, may God bless you and yours. Amen. ......More later.
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