Snow? Here? In the Valley of Heart's Deligh? Yes! Well, in the surrounding hills and mountains, anyway. Yes, folks, we got some snow in the hills here over this past weekend. Every couple of years we get a dusting on the hilltops, and it usually stays for a few days. This year I was able to get up into the hills to see, experience, and photograph it. Those who live in snowy areas might wonder what the big deal is. The big deal is that it never snows here! Well, only once every few years, and only in the hills. So it's a rarity in these parts. And one thing I've observed is that people are attracted to, and sometimes fascinated by, things or conditions that are out of the ordinary. For instance, people who live in urban areas like to take time to go out into undeveloped natural areas and parks; whereas people who live in unpaved, undeveloped areas want to see smooth paved roads and concrete. People crave what they do not have. People like to visit what they do not see every day.
A related phenomenon that I have observed is that people who live near tourist attractions tend to ignore them, and visitors to those areas tend to seek out the tourist attractions. I live in the vicinity of the Winchester Mystery House and the Mystery Spot, yet I've only been to the Winchester Mystery House once (at the invitation of my visiting cousin), and to the Mystery Spot never. A friend of mine lives near Old Town Sacramento, yet (as far as I know) he doesn't go there. I wonder if people in Paris view the Eiffel Tower as just another building.
Learning to appreciate my surroundings,
bIsh
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Who are you?
Who are you? What do you do? These are two questions that we hear
countless times in our lives. How do we typically answer? "I
am "Mark. I work for..." Or, "I own such and such a business..."
Or, I do ..." How should we answer these questions? What does the
Bible say?
Romans 1:1-4 "Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle
and singled out for God's good news — which He promised long ago
through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures— concerning His Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to
the flesh and was established as the powerful Son of God by the
resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness."
(HCSB)
Who does Paul say he is, and what does he do? "a slave of Christ
Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God's good news
[Gospel]". "A slave of Christ Jesus". When was the last time any
one of us answered like that? I do not recall ever having answered
someone with that statement. I usually have said, "I am Mark, and I
do..." So many of us identify ourselves based on what we do for a
job, or a hobby, or a business. Yet what is our primary calling on
this earth if we are born again? To tell others the Good News!
Our preacher recently challenged the congregation to think about
this and re-think who we are and what we are really doing on this
earth. I challenge you to do the same.
Who am I? I am Mark, a follower of Jesus, called to spread the Good
News of God's salvation through Jesus Christ. May God give me the
boldness to speak His name whenever and wherever I am.
bIsh
countless times in our lives. How do we typically answer? "I
am "Mark. I work for..." Or, "I own such and such a business..."
Or, I do ..." How should we answer these questions? What does the
Bible say?
Romans 1:1-4 "Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle
and singled out for God's good news — which He promised long ago
through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures— concerning His Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to
the flesh and was established as the powerful Son of God by the
resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness."
(HCSB)
Who does Paul say he is, and what does he do? "a slave of Christ
Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God's good news
[Gospel]". "A slave of Christ Jesus". When was the last time any
one of us answered like that? I do not recall ever having answered
someone with that statement. I usually have said, "I am Mark, and I
do..." So many of us identify ourselves based on what we do for a
job, or a hobby, or a business. Yet what is our primary calling on
this earth if we are born again? To tell others the Good News!
Our preacher recently challenged the congregation to think about
this and re-think who we are and what we are really doing on this
earth. I challenge you to do the same.
Who am I? I am Mark, a follower of Jesus, called to spread the Good
News of God's salvation through Jesus Christ. May God give me the
boldness to speak His name whenever and wherever I am.
bIsh
Monday, February 13, 2006
The Ride
Went on an epic ride yesterday with a friend of mine - epic by my standards, that is. It wasn't that it was really long, but we really pushed ourselves beyond our limits. We went out to a place called Saratoga Gap, or The Gap. We started at the main parking lot, and we went out along the main paths to the Grizzley Flat parking lot. Then we did a most unwise thing, considering the lack of shape we are in; we went down Grizzley Flat, across the creek a few times, then up the Table Mountain/Charcoal Road trail. We got back to the car well after dark, and there was a lot of walking. It's a ride I've done before with no problems, but I was in a lot better riding shape then. My friend and I have not ridden for several months, and yesterday was our second ride in two weeks.
I have chosen to learn from this experience - know your limitations and don't foolishly push yourself farther than you can go. Of course I'm not saying to not push your limits, or improve what you can do. I'm saying to not be foolish about it, as my friend and me were foolish. We went too far. That said, I do want to get back into shape enough to do that same ride with no walking. It will take time, but I know I can do it.
As Clint Eastwood said, "A man's got to know his limitations."
bIsh
I have chosen to learn from this experience - know your limitations and don't foolishly push yourself farther than you can go. Of course I'm not saying to not push your limits, or improve what you can do. I'm saying to not be foolish about it, as my friend and me were foolish. We went too far. That said, I do want to get back into shape enough to do that same ride with no walking. It will take time, but I know I can do it.
As Clint Eastwood said, "A man's got to know his limitations."
bIsh
What does it really cost to follow Jesus?
I subscribe to the Worthy News Brief, and today's message was a
good reminder to me of what our focus should really be. And I
wonder, how focused am I? Would I really risk death to preach the
Gospel? Am I really giving my all to Jesus? What more can I do?
The men mentioned below all died for their faith in Jesus.
Contrast that with what we see from the popular "Christian"
preachers of today - the Joel Osteens, Rick Warrens, Robert
Schullers, Jim Bakers, and the like. Think about your own life.
Contrast what is below with what we (Americans) think of as
persecution. We think we're persecuted when some TV show makes fun
of us. We've got it easy - the apostles and disciples knew
persecution.
Anyway, think about it.
bIsh
______________________________________________________________
From Worthy News Brief, Feb. 8, 2006
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is
not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will
also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep
yours also.
According to traditional statements, Matthew suffered martyrdom by
being slain with a sword in a distant city of Ethiopia. Mark died in
Alexandria, after being cruelly dragged through the streets of that
city. Luke was hung upon an olive tree in Greece. John was put in a
caldron of boiling oil, but escaped death in a miraculous manner,
and was afterward branded at Patmos. Peter was crucified at Rome
with his head downward. James, the Greater, was beheaded at
Jerusalem. James, the Less, was thrown from a lofty pinnacle of the
temple, and then beaten to death with a club. Bartholomew was flayed
alive. Andrew was bound to a cross, while he preached to his
persecutors until he died. Thomas was run through the body with a
lance at Coromandel in the East Indies. Jude was shot to death with
arrows. Matthew was first stoned and then beheaded. Barnabas of the
Gentiles was stoned to death at Salonica. Paul, after various
tortures and persecutions, was finally beheaded in Rome by the
Emperor Nero.
We don't want to be the bearers of bad memories, but it's good to
realize how dedicated to the Lord the early believers were. They
weren't in it for the terrific single's fellowship, the excellent
children's program or good messages on Sunday morning. They weren't
in it for the comfortable new pews, the beautiful Christmas pageants
or the potluck dinners.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James, James, Bartholomew, Andrew,
Thomas, Jude, Matthew, Barnabas, Paul and many, many others after
them -- they were in it for Jesus, our Messiah!
good reminder to me of what our focus should really be. And I
wonder, how focused am I? Would I really risk death to preach the
Gospel? Am I really giving my all to Jesus? What more can I do?
The men mentioned below all died for their faith in Jesus.
Contrast that with what we see from the popular "Christian"
preachers of today - the Joel Osteens, Rick Warrens, Robert
Schullers, Jim Bakers, and the like. Think about your own life.
Contrast what is below with what we (Americans) think of as
persecution. We think we're persecuted when some TV show makes fun
of us. We've got it easy - the apostles and disciples knew
persecution.
Anyway, think about it.
bIsh
______________________________________________________________
From Worthy News Brief, Feb. 8, 2006
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is
not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will
also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep
yours also.
According to traditional statements, Matthew suffered martyrdom by
being slain with a sword in a distant city of Ethiopia. Mark died in
Alexandria, after being cruelly dragged through the streets of that
city. Luke was hung upon an olive tree in Greece. John was put in a
caldron of boiling oil, but escaped death in a miraculous manner,
and was afterward branded at Patmos. Peter was crucified at Rome
with his head downward. James, the Greater, was beheaded at
Jerusalem. James, the Less, was thrown from a lofty pinnacle of the
temple, and then beaten to death with a club. Bartholomew was flayed
alive. Andrew was bound to a cross, while he preached to his
persecutors until he died. Thomas was run through the body with a
lance at Coromandel in the East Indies. Jude was shot to death with
arrows. Matthew was first stoned and then beheaded. Barnabas of the
Gentiles was stoned to death at Salonica. Paul, after various
tortures and persecutions, was finally beheaded in Rome by the
Emperor Nero.
We don't want to be the bearers of bad memories, but it's good to
realize how dedicated to the Lord the early believers were. They
weren't in it for the terrific single's fellowship, the excellent
children's program or good messages on Sunday morning. They weren't
in it for the comfortable new pews, the beautiful Christmas pageants
or the potluck dinners.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James, James, Bartholomew, Andrew,
Thomas, Jude, Matthew, Barnabas, Paul and many, many others after
them -- they were in it for Jesus, our Messiah!
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