It’s not enough to “like”

I notice something this week about ‘like’ ‘unlike’ and comments. Many people click the like or unlike button on other posts. Not so many people leave comments. 

It is interesting in topics I follow there are usually more likes to unlikes, but the comments are general negative. 

Our efforts to produce ‘remarkable’ content should prompt responses  from both those who agree as well as those who disagree. 

It is easy to click a button, but more risky to make a comment. 

If a majority of the comments are opposite what the general consensus, the reader is left with an invalid perception. 

If we agree with a post, we should be willing to speak up for them.

It’s not enough to click ‘like‘ if we want to influence the world.  

Remember Me

Satan thought that he had won

When God turned away from the Son.

But his time was done before it begun

In the Son’s death a soul was won. 

A heavenly host proclaimed your birth

And God the Father acknowledged your worth

But Your death was graced by a sinner’s plea

And praise God he spoke for me.

Remember me in Your kingdom

Remember me on Your Throne,

If you walk for me through the gates of hell

Remember me when You come home. 

Turns out the work of the cross isn't easy

Every March my church has an auction as a fund raiser. I’ve always wanted to create an original fabric art piece for it, but never had time. This year I was determined to submit something. I came up with what I thought was a simple idea for a picture of a cross. The original idea was to sew sins patchwork style and ‘nail’ them to the cross with 2 french knots. Then I could  add the 3 nail holes and pretty much be done.   

Once I actually started, it didn’t quite work out the way I thought. In BSF, we were beginning to study Isaiah’s prophecies of the Messiah. These passages would not let me take an easy way out of showing the work of the cross. The phrase ‘Sorrow and love flow mingled down’ from When I Surveyed The Wondrous Cross kept crossing my mind. 

I added the blood and water flowing between the sins. But the fabric wasn’t enough, I used a running stitch to outline the blood and water. There were times I felt the pain as I stitched 

I spent a three and a half solid weeks on the cross alone. The week of the auction, my Mom said she wanted to bid on my work. It was such a relief. I didn’t believe I could finish it on time, and I was really sick. 

We made a donation and I have more time to work on it. I’m glad, I know there is so much more to do. This is a work in progress. I’ve learned a lot from this project, but nothing more important than there is nothing easy about work on the cross.

The Easter Bunny made an appearance at my house

The Easter bunny visited my house in 2011

She dropped by last Thursday, a little early this year. No doubt drawn by the fresh cut weeds/grass. And the fact the dogs were inside most of the day due to the rain.

This is, of course, a Texas Easter Bunny (a jack rabbit). She took off the second I walked into the yard.

This is the second year in a row she has made an appearance at Easter.

Are you looking for good devotional in this Holy Season?

Are you looking for good devotional in this Holy Season?

I heartily recommend Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace in His Presence. DiAnn Mills recommended it to me this spring at the Church Library Conference. I was able to get a copy in the vendor area.

Every day in reading this book, I've heard Jesus speaking to me. This sensation is so powerful, that I often find myself turning to the book's cover to remind myself that Jesus was not actually the author.

One day this week, I had a couple of meetings and emails which left me wondering what was my mission and direction. My mind kept spinning phrases over leaving my sleep disturbed. The next morning every word spoke specifically to my needs. The central context were these words, “I died to set you free, and that includes freedom from compulsive planning. When your mind spins with a multitude of thoughts, you cannot hear my voice.”

There are several variations of the devotional. I have a feeling I will be adding this to my Kindle library in the near future.

Here is a link to amazon for this devotional.
http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Calling-Enjoying-Peace-Presence/dp/1591451884

Which side of the crack are you on?

This week marked the 16th anniversary of the Oklahoma CIty bombing. I remember exactly where I was when I learned of this tragic event.

A relaxing retirement luncheon at the local Steak and Ale ended. For a final time as co-workers, we spent 2 hours in great fellowship. We reminisced about the years together, the good times and the bad. In celebrating our friendships, we experienced the loss our friend’s departure created, yet cherished the hope of our own retirements. Well fed and humored, we passed the bar as we left. On the mounted TV was the image of half a building. We stopped and stared. For a fleeting second, the question passed through our minds, “What side of the crack would I’ve been on?”

As federal employees located in an off-beat location, the sight was chilling. As quickly as the shocked filled us, an urgency to get back to work replaced it. We were all classified as ‘essential’ personnel.

The image of half a building has never left me. Reinforced by the stories from survivors and victims loved ones it lasts. The crack, where seconds before, co-workers stood. The break time phone call to home and suddenly no one on the other end.

Every time a fire alarm sounds, I wonder - what side of the crack am I on?

There is a more important crack. C. S. Lewis described it in The Great Divorce, the crack between heaven and hell.

Today, on Good Friday, which side of the crack are you on? Unlike bombing victims, this is a choice you make. Will you turn to Jesus?

The First Earth Day, 1970

I was a Senior in High School on the first Earth Day, in 1970, which was on a Wednesday. Our class talked the administration into letting us have a day off from class in honor of this great event to clean up our city. A Service Day, of sorts. Reluctantly, they went along with it. Loaded with garbage bags and gloves, in small groups, we picked up litter around Duncanville. Many of the rural crown black top roads we cleaned are now three-four lane paved streets with curbs and drainage.

It was a beautiful spring day. My Dad let me use his ’64 Olds convertible. It was one of my favorite times to drive that car.

It felt good to be picking up trash. It felt like a brave step forward to be doing something for the world. It felt like the beginning. Graduation was a month away. Yes, the world was large, but is wasn’t scary. We were going to make it different, better.

Now, I wonder...have we? Maybe, it still isn’t too late.