Good morning and welcome to
Tuesday, March 15, 2011, where our rain storms from yesterday have given way to some low 40's this morning and I am loving every breath of it, even though I have to operate in the dark because of the time change, but I'm sure that will work out also since we need the extra daylight. We do? Maybe we once did but I'm not sure we do any more. I just hate it when they mess with my internal clock. I know we moved the hands on the clocks throughout our houses but in doing so we have to admit that it does do a number on our mental sense of time. I did my best to keep my regular schedule on Saturday but by Monday the adjustment was being felt. I went from unlocking our shop facilities here at the Company in some beginning to be good daylight to dark dark, so much so, you can feel it. It is back to my flashlight and feeling my way around. I believe at one time the extended daylight was promoted as a way for there to be more time to do things in the evenings. You would not be surprised to know there are many studies about all of this available for review. Generally, it is reported that overall electrical consumption is down by 1% because of extended daylight. That may not sound like much but it's fairly significant when you consider how much is consumed in our country. Some think the data indicates some health benefits. Then we have the stats reflecting on automobile accidents and how it impacts driving habits. That may all be well and good but if the idea is to have people spend more money, here's exactly what I heard an economist say the other morning on the Wall Street Journal radio program, "If we are spending so much more at the pump, this means we have reduced the availability of discretionary funds, therefore, we don't have the gas to drive to the mall, and once we get there, if we don't have any coins in our purse, you can see what the overall impact is to the economy."
I almost understood what that fellow was saying. I suppose since we will not have the funds to do anything with the extra daylight we have, we can sit around, twiddle our thumbs, and look at each other, and be able to see things very clear in the extra daylight we've been given. There is no possible way for anyone breathing air on the planet to not recognize that we are living in some very strange times. I actually heard a mainstream commentator say the other day that if they didn't know better, they might think they are reading headlines out of the Book of The Revelation, as opposed to the newspapers. I think about how that Japan is thought to be one of the most advanced of all civilizations on the globe. They came up from the ashes of WWII and became technology driven before technology driven was even a buzz word. Their computer savvy, their advancements in robotics, and in engineering are all well documented and recognized. Today's economic upheaval hit Japan several years ago and they have been in the throes of making agonizing choices regarding their economic survival. While in the midst of this unprecedented challenge, they were still thought of as being one of the world leaders in all categories of expertise and innovation prowess. However, last week when the earthquake and tsunami hit, their lack of abilities to respond were laid bare. We all have seen how the "most well prepared nation in the world" has been reduced to grasping at straws as they deal with this horrific calamity. The bottom line is that we are limited folks, no matter how smart, or how prepared, we are limited. (Newswire: 400,000 Japanese homeless bed down in the cold without electricity/Japan faces potential nuclear meltdown.) When the backup to the backup fails, then what? And, that might just be a really good question for all those counting of human ingenuity alone to solve every problem. That's why many of us choose to apply ourselves and do our best while trusting God to take care of the results as He sees fit.
Amen.
Some might think that to be a pessimistic view. Reality described in terms that mirror the truth God has given to us is always best, regardless of how folks choose to categorize it. I cringed when I read about a noted professor who has a string of theological degrees who recently said we have reached a time when the Bible is no longer relevant, especially as it relates to social issues, like marriage, and lifestyle choices. That comment reminded me of a Bible verse, "There is a way that seems right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 16:25) We who believe what God has said must never be ashamed or apologetic about the clear teachings He has chosen to provide to us. Because I have chosen to cover every word of every verse in the Bible study class I teach, it does not give any wriggle room, although, it does cause us all to wince as we feel the impact and often the conviction that comes from sharing the truth. I know some who rise up against the messenger with the attitude that says, "Who are you to be talking about such things?" But those who do their best to present the truth as it is given within its proper context actually only share what the Message Giver has provided, therefore, like the preachers in the old days would say, "Take it up with the One who gave us the word." I see potential for those dealing with the rubble in Japan. I read in the Book of Jonah about an immense pagan city called Ninevah and how they came to know God when confronted with His warnings of judgment. That means there is hope for Japan, and there is hope for every man, woman, boy and girl, as they come to grips with the limitations of their own abilities, and turn to seek God to meet their greatest need. Okay, that's it for today but ya'll take care now and Lord willing I'll see you real soon.
Amen. .....More later.
I almost understood what that fellow was saying. I suppose since we will not have the funds to do anything with the extra daylight we have, we can sit around, twiddle our thumbs, and look at each other, and be able to see things very clear in the extra daylight we've been given. There is no possible way for anyone breathing air on the planet to not recognize that we are living in some very strange times. I actually heard a mainstream commentator say the other day that if they didn't know better, they might think they are reading headlines out of the Book of The Revelation, as opposed to the newspapers. I think about how that Japan is thought to be one of the most advanced of all civilizations on the globe. They came up from the ashes of WWII and became technology driven before technology driven was even a buzz word. Their computer savvy, their advancements in robotics, and in engineering are all well documented and recognized. Today's economic upheaval hit Japan several years ago and they have been in the throes of making agonizing choices regarding their economic survival. While in the midst of this unprecedented challenge, they were still thought of as being one of the world leaders in all categories of expertise and innovation prowess. However, last week when the earthquake and tsunami hit, their lack of abilities to respond were laid bare. We all have seen how the "most well prepared nation in the world" has been reduced to grasping at straws as they deal with this horrific calamity. The bottom line is that we are limited folks, no matter how smart, or how prepared, we are limited. (Newswire: 400,000 Japanese homeless bed down in the cold without electricity/Japan faces potential nuclear meltdown.) When the backup to the backup fails, then what? And, that might just be a really good question for all those counting of human ingenuity alone to solve every problem. That's why many of us choose to apply ourselves and do our best while trusting God to take care of the results as He sees fit. Amen.
Some might think that to be a pessimistic view. Reality described in terms that mirror the truth God has given to us is always best, regardless of how folks choose to categorize it. I cringed when I read about a noted professor who has a string of theological degrees who recently said we have reached a time when the Bible is no longer relevant, especially as it relates to social issues, like marriage, and lifestyle choices. That comment reminded me of a Bible verse, "There is a way that seems right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 16:25) We who believe what God has said must never be ashamed or apologetic about the clear teachings He has chosen to provide to us. Because I have chosen to cover every word of every verse in the Bible study class I teach, it does not give any wriggle room, although, it does cause us all to wince as we feel the impact and often the conviction that comes from sharing the truth. I know some who rise up against the messenger with the attitude that says, "Who are you to be talking about such things?" But those who do their best to present the truth as it is given within its proper context actually only share what the Message Giver has provided, therefore, like the preachers in the old days would say, "Take it up with the One who gave us the word." I see potential for those dealing with the rubble in Japan. I read in the Book of Jonah about an immense pagan city called Ninevah and how they came to know God when confronted with His warnings of judgment. That means there is hope for Japan, and there is hope for every man, woman, boy and girl, as they come to grips with the limitations of their own abilities, and turn to seek God to meet their greatest need. Okay, that's it for today but ya'll take care now and Lord willing I'll see you real soon. Amen. .....More later.
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