Margo's Moments--Spirit-filled Suspense that touches the heart.
My dad used to let us sit on a big old tarp and he'd run and drag it behind him. Better than any E ticket ride at WDW. He also turned that tarp into a tipi and told us the story of Pocahontas. Later, he was my choir director and my driver-to-get-everything-for-science-projects, etc.. He was diligent to keep a roof over our heads, AC and heat working, food in the pantry, clothes in the closets. He wasn't perfect but he was my Dad and I miss him this Father's Day and always.
I remember another Father's Day whose significance started some years ago when my husband and I toured Scotland. One morning, I got up very early, sleepless, and sat downstairs in the living room of this cute little old hotel in Ft. William. Another sleepless traveler on our tour soon joined me. It was a few weeks before Father's Day and he mentioned where his estranged daughter lived. He named my hometown without knowing it and a street less than a mile from my house. We were both amazed that I knew his daughter's neighborhood.
When we got home, I couldn't forget that. We got our photos developed and I thought about delivering one of him to the daughter. He had told me her name. Would I be butting in where I was not welcome? Why were they estranged? Did he abuse her, or something? Would I just be opening old wounds? We're called to forgive. We don't have to put ourselves back in harm's way.
I prayed. And kept praying. What should I do?
Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. The night before Father's Day, I looked her up in the phone book, drove to her house, and rang the bell. Thank goodness, she came to the door. I introduced myself and handed her the photo. She was amazed. I told her we had traveled with him, that he missed her. "Tomorrow's Father's Day. Maybe you'd like to give him a call." She thanked me and I left.
I don't know what happened. I never heard from her. But maybe there was a reconciliation. I pray for that.
All I could think was that, sitting there in Ft. William, Scotland, across the Atlantic Ocean and thousands of miles from our homes, her father and I discovered that out of all these United States, towns, and streets, I lived near his daughter. I knew what I had to do. What would you have done?
Interesting story within the story Mexico by James Michener. Ancient civilization got intoxicated on the juice of maguey and later their great, prosperous, peaceful civiliation was known only as the Drunken Builders. They just *watched* with some alarm as an aggressive tribe of the War God moved closer *every year.* Just watched and wondered what would happen to them. They hoped something would happen to the others and make the problem just go away.
Finally, the War God people marched into the Drunken Builders' bulidings & sacrificed the people to the War God. Cut out their beating hearts.
This troubled me b/c sometimes when I discuss current issues with others, I find that some argue from emotion, not facts. Sometimes they call me a name because I don't agree with the policies of the candidate they like. But they can't always give me a real reason to like him, either.
I know I'm not as informed as I could be.
So, are we sometimes intoxicated with *entertainment* & emotion while an enemy comes closer and closer, instead of being really informed on issues that will affect the rest of our lives and our children's and theirs?
Walter Martin said the cults can make "doctrinal pretzels" out of Christians who may know what they believe but not why they believe it. Where is it written?
So can politicians make pretzels out of our views. Where is it written? Who said so? How do *they* know?
My friend plays golf and has a trainer but her husband is sometimes out of work as an independent contractor and she wants me to pay her medical bills. Oh, yes. She wants socialized medicine. Who does she think pays for that? Just for an example.
Whether politics or religion--do we know what we believe--and why?
Workin' on that! Starting by reading Economics in Plain English. This economy thing is terrifying. China says we are trying to default. Will they try to foreclose?
I don't understand it all but I'm going to try. At least I'll understand more than I do now. I hope.
Some people have a lot of love and compassion for other people. This is good, of course.
But their theology seems based on emotion and maybe traditions of men and not on Scripture.
I once took a class at friend's church, bought all three books, read them, attended a few sessions. It was all about feeling better about ourselves because of God's grace and how much He loves us.
Yes, indeed, He does.
But the course didn't give a true picture of the Gospel. I found sin (Shh!) mentioned only once, in a footnote in the back of the book. And then you had to look up the verse.
I quit the class. It seemed a waste of my limited time.
It's the whole truth of the Gospel that sets us free!
If we want to feel better about ourselves, we have to know this: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
On the other hand: "But God shows His love to us in this, that when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
If we feel guilty, we probably are. But God is waiting to forgive. That promise should make us feel better about ourselves. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," 1 John 1:9. What Good News!
Click here to enjoy Honeytree singing Clean Before My Lord
Way of the Master --Great tv show with that cute Kirk Cameron. Here they explain to a cute teenage boy and others how we break the Ten Commandments without even realizing it.
"I am Not Ashamed of the Gospel." Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Jewish man who believes Jesus is the Jewish Messiah
The Gospel is offered to "whosoever will."
John 3:16, "God loved the world so much, He gave His one and only Son, that *whosoever* believes on (places everything ON) Him will not die but have eternal life." If you like, go down the margin and push the red button for more information.
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