The Truth and the Media

"The depravity of man at once the most empirically verifiable reality but the most intellectually resisted fact."  --Malcom Muggeridge (and retweeted by DebbieLynne)


Many years ago (when I was much younger in Jesus) I worked in a grocery store in California. One day someone suggested that I become the new owner of a book that was left behind. The book had been sitting on top of the "front end" manager's work station for several days, and at the time it looked to me like it would be a terribly dry and boring book.

This was the book (the newer version has a different cover design):

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At first I was resistant to taking the book (What if the owner comes back? --- but actually it just looked like a book I never would read anyway so why bother?), and another reason I resisted was that I thought the assistant manager (who was Jewish) was mocking me with the suggestion. Looking back on the situation I believe he was indifferent about it and it was my own insecurity that made me think others were thinking my being a Christian was a joke. It doesn't really matter at this point. What does matter is that I did take the book, and I did end up reading it and enjoyed the reading of it very much! I still have it. It is now in one of my many boxes of books that are getting moved to Canada. As I packed it I thought of how many years ago it was that all of this took place, and found myself hoping to read this little gem again soon after we (myself and my books) all are relocated.To think I almost missed a gift that the Lord shared with me? How many other humble messengers were rejected by me? Probably more than I can count, and yet the Lord is ever longsuffering.

Oh, the depravity of man....I'll take that topic to my other blog.

Love and Marriage

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and it was also my last day at the hospital where I've been working for the past 7 1/2 years. I've so been looking forward to leaving that job, it was a tough job that put a lot of strain on my joints and back. It was getting more difficult each day to drag my tired aching body out of bed to get ready for another day of back-breaking activity. And yet, saying goodbye to everyone was bittersweet, and my husband laughed at me when after just an hour of having left that job for the last time, I was lamenting that I was going to miss everyone, after months of hearing me complain of how much I desired to leave. Oh the irony.

While cleaning my locker out yesterday, I carefully removed a piece of paper that was taped to the inside of the locker when I first "moved in". I decided I would make a copy of it and leave the copy so I could take this wonderful page (looks to be a copy out of a devotional booklet) which contained so much wisdom; that way I could have it always. The next occupant of that locker might decide to throw it away if he or she desires and yet I can have this one as a keepsake.

This is what it says:

THE MIRACLE OF MARRIAGE

Read: Matthew 19:1-8

Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." Genesis 2:23

   When Pastor Howard Sugden performed the wedding ceremony for my husband and me, he emphasized that we were participating in a miracle. We believed him, but we didn't comprehend the size of the miracle needed to hold two people together; much less become one.

   After 20 years, I realize that the marriage, not the wedding, was the real miracle. Anyone can have a wedding, but only God can create a marriage.

   One definition of wed is "to cause to adhere devotedly or stubbornly." For some couples, "stubborn" is a more accurate description of their relationship than "devoted." 

   God has in mind something much better for us than a stubborn refusal to divorce. The union of marriage is so strong that we become "one flesh." God wants marriage to be the way it was when He first created Eve from Adam (Genesis 2:21-24). That's what Jesus was explaining to the Pharisees when they asked Him, "is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" (Matthew 19:3). Jesus replied, "A man shall...be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (v.5). 

   To pledge your life to another is indeed an act of faith that requires belief in miracles. Thankfully, God is in the business of creating marriages. -- Julie Ackerman Link

The marriage bond that Joins two hearts
   No power on earth can break
If they commit their lives to Christ
   And of His love partake.  -- D. De Haan

A happy marriage is a union of two good forgivers.

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Hope you had a wonderful Valentines Day as well. 

Conspiracy Theories and Where I am Now...

For quite a while I really "was into" reading, watching Youtube videos, listening to audio interviews etc, on anything that could be lumped into the category of "conspiracy theory". I say "was" like in "time past" AND however, I still agree that the "official version" of what happened to JFK and 9/11 is probably not "what really happened", and after watching hours of videos of the evidence for and against the U.S. landing on the moon, I still think we ( and by "we" here I mean a human being) never set foot on the moon.

 Well, can't say I ever went *that* far lol...

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But be that as it may (I may or may not be right about any or all of that) it REALLY DOESN'T MATTER in the eternal sense of who I am in Christ. This world is going to hell in a handbasket, and I think anyone who has his head screwed on straight should know that by now, so knowing what the Bildebergers say behind closed doors, or knowing who belongs to the Illuminati club, really doesn't add or subtract from the plans God has for those who love Him.
*We (and by "we" here I mean those who are in Christ Jesus, washed and regenerated by His blood) are not of this world, and nothing that this world can do to us can thwart what God has in store for us, nothing.
*We will all die here ....

Changes

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The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
 2Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

I'm moving!

The last few months have brought changes, some enjoyable, some not so much. I must confess that I don't handle change well, I guess that is the main reason that as far as politics goes I lean to conservative much more than to the liberal side, because from what I've experienced liberal changes are usually bad.

HOWEVER...

I am learning to let go (I'm somewhat of a slow learner in this department). It is in God's hands after all, and it isn't up to me to try to keep things (or people) from growing worse and worse. I cannot change people. I cannot even change myself, or keep myself from changing (aging, for instance).

So reluctantly I let go of those things that are behind me, and look forward to a fresh tomorrow, with my wonderful husband beside me. Sure there will be difficult days...and sometimes I might even wish for "the good old days"...but God promises much better things which He has in store, so the difficult challenges are there to prepare me and stretch me so that I will be better able to serve the Lord, and give back a portion of what He has blessed me with.