From Lost Shoe to Tracting up the Place...

 See the Shoe?

I do not know whether other people notice shoes that are abandoned out in public, but I do.  I have seen them on the side of the road, in parking lots, and even right in the middle of busy hotspots like the Power and Light District.  

(I'm not sure how one loses a shoe when out and about.  

-Is it rejected and cast aside purposely?  

-Did it fall off and the owner didn't notice?

-Did it fall out of a vehicle when the door opened?

-Was it left by a person being kidnapped, to leave a clue, to help law enforcement to find and rescue him?

-Did the owner simply get tired of it, and just say, "Shoo"?

Sorry, these possibilities came to mind, and I ran with it.)  

Whenever I do see a shoe left out in the open square, I am reminded of a certain verse of Scripture: 

In Mark 8:36, Jesus says, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"  

I like to use it as an object lesson.  If I see it while I'm witnessing or street preaching, I will often point it out, and springboard from the lost sole to the lost soul and the Gospel. 

Today, when I saw the shoe pictured above out in a QuikTrip parking lot, I decided to make it into a Truth dispenser.  I wrote a note on a card, put some tracts in it, and placed it where it could be seen.  

From a shoe that used to leave tracks, to a shoe where tracts have been left for others. 

Abortion must be abolished.    

Coming to Terms with Using Terms like "Gay"

"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness." (Proverbs 15:2).

It is a good practice to think about the words we use, what they mean, and how we can speak "aright".

The word in question in this post is the term "gay".

Right off, I will say that I personally could not recommend using the word "gay" as any sort of slur, especially in a flippant way.  I think the reason is because I am stuck with the knowledge of what it means.  

The word "gay" in truth means cheerful, happy, merry, jovial; brave, bright, fine, etc. that does not seem to me a proper term of insult.  

We find it once in Scripture.  James 2:1-3 "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:"

The word "gay" there in James 2:3 means someone's finery in apparel.

In modern times, the word was co-opted for the sodomite homosexual death style (not really a lifestyle) to endeavor to make homosexuality seem more acceptable and normative, and fun.

The casual use of it can have unexpected consequences.  I know of people who were teased and called by that term in derision so much that they began to believe that perhaps there were of that identity.  Others hearing it, have been influenced to think that it is something to laugh about, and thus is not so serious a sin.  

As a rule, I try not to use it to mean anything of that perversion, because those who are in bondage to that abomination are not truly gay in the proper meaning of the word. "Even in laughter, the heart is sorrowful: and the end of that mirth is heaviness" (Proverbs 14:13).  I have talked with homosexuals in front of sodomite bars, and when they got away from their companions, sometimes they would express their guilt and their desperation over the chains of this wickedness that they loved and were enslaved by, even groaning and crying.  So the meaning of the name does not belong to that conduct of identification.

Furthermore, when I hear that term attributed to other, especially by Christians, even in a joking or flippant manner, to borrow from another brother's expression, "I feel part of me die inside".  That sin with which the term is linked today, effeminacy and sodomy, rejection of God's design and enslavement to unnatural lust, is not a laughing matter.  I know people who are pursuing that path to their own perdition, and it grieves me. 

Ponder on these verses from one of my favorite psalms:

Psalm 119:136 "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law."

Psalm 119:158 "I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word."

Psalm 119:53 "Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law."

How can I laugh at that which is destroying my fellow human beings?  It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.  We are to shine light on it, reprove it, but how can I make it a joke?  

I am not seeking to bind another man's conscience, but the topic was raised by someone recently, and I felt compelled to share my thoughts and position.  

Abortion must be Abolished. 

Why I Don't Apologize when I'm Wrong Anymore

I made a post on social some time ago, saying, 

"I will never apologize again when I am in the wrong!"

There was a thread of comments by some stunned friends...

"Huh?"

"??? This doesn't sound like you."

"Sounds like you are ripe for politics."

"If you don't apologize then you will get a bad reputation with people."

My statement caused a good deal of head shaking, consternation, and questions.

Then I explained.  In case you have one eyebrow raised in incredulity as to my meaning, I will explain it to you as well.

What does it mean to say, "I apologize."

Some years ago, I discovered that the words "apology" and "apologize" come from the Greek apologia.

Due to our modern use of these words, this root might be expected to mean to "to confess one's fault" or "say I'm sorry", but that is not the case.

Apologia means "to give a defense, a reasoned answer; to defend oneself"

This is why a Christian apologist is NOT saying "I believe in Christ...sorry about that."

Considering that the word means to "give an answer" to clear or justify one's self, beliefs, stance, or actions in a reasoned defense, why should a GUILTY person give an apology?

IF I AM IN THE WRONG, I should not apologize, but rather admit I am wrong, express my sorrow, and humbly ask for forgiveness.  I keep the apologetics for when I defending my faith (or when I am giving a reason of why I don't use the words "I apologize" when confessing my being wrong).

Now some have said, "But that is not what the word apologize means today.  Why do you bring this up?"

I completely understand what most people are talking about when they say that they apologize for doing wrong.  I do not fault other people for using the word "apologize" to express their guilt and sorrow.  I don't interrupt to correct them for their usage when they come to me, or grumble that they must not mean it because they used that word.  That would be ridiculous.  

I just choose to not use that word when I am confessing guilt, expressing regret and repenting.  I like words, and words have meanings, and I desire to be consistent and careful as to the words I let out of my mouth.

But besides my own personal decision, why bring it out?

The root of the word means to give a reasoned defense, and therefore it is a great way to teach an important concept that is valuable to keep in mind: 

It is all too easy to put a defense up (apologia) even while seeming to say I was wrong ("apologize").

I have noticed that when someone is saying that they were wrong to do something, often their "apology" does include excuses of why they did what they did (apologia).  When someone comes out and issues an "apology" to say that what they did was wrong, but then in their confession tell why it was OK to do so, there is a problem.

When we are wrong, instead of explaining ourselves to try to justify what we did, is it not better to simply confess and forsake it?

Therefore I am just sharing that this is why I do not use the word "apology" or "apologize" when I am wrong, but rather follow this confession found in Scripture:

Psalm 38:18  
"For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin."

Thank you for letting me engage your thought.  Aren't words wonderful?   

Abortion must be abolished.

Winging It

Imagine a group of hens watching a chicken in a rotisserie oven, thinking they are watching TV.  

                                 

Here are some thoughts that came to mind when I first saw this image...

Fry-Day Night Feature Film.  Now for some of the best parts.  Thought I'd "wing it" and make a few poultry (paltry) remarks.  When you come a breast of the situation, most of you will thigh a heavy sigh.

Notice those viewers flocked to see it.  You know, to get a bird's eye view.

You know that one of those hens knows this is no yokeing matter and is mentally crying fowl, while another thinks she's in line for the tanning booth, musing "Can't wait till I'm a lovely golden brown too."
  
Another chicken is thinking that it is all a stunt by some brave rooster to prove he's not chicken.  She's probably saying, "Well, for someone who doesn't have any guts, you gotta admit he's got pluck!" 

Yet another of those hens has got to be a reporter, waiting for an interview.  She can't wait to grill him with questions, and get the scoop.  She's dreaming even now of maybe winning the Pulletzer Prize.  When asked if she wrote the article, she'll probably say "I wrote it, yessirree (rotisserie).

Of course some featherbrained hen doesn't have eggscellent eyesight, and so her vision is a little skewered.  She'd likely to say, "We know him, don't we?  That's got to be Bobby" isn't our Bobby cute?  He always was a great dancer.  Look at him turn and turn without getting dizzy.  Mother always said he was the spitting image of Fried Astaire!"

This post will likely ruffle some feathers.  Some may cackle, others might crow.  Some may say that I am just a dumb cluck.

But now is when I take a couple drumsticks and go "Ba-dum-chicken!"

Abortion must be abolished.

The Pun is a Tool

A mosaic of puns at work one day while moving shovels, rakes and other tools.  

I like to "implement" puns into whatever I am doing.

Various Puns Vocalized:

"When push comes to SHOVEL, we can HANDLE this!"
"When you tell the plain truth about a digging tool, that's calling a SPADE a SPADE."
"Ho, HOE, my fine fellows!"
"We're really RAKEing in the dough now!"

The mind ADZE another, which I want to make into a joke, so I AXE my friend:
Me: "What king of jackets do ditch-diggers wear?"
Coworker: "TRENCH coats." (I work with quick thinkers!)
Me: "I see that you DIG what I am saying."

Thought of another that I told myself:
Me: "Did you hear about the singles bladed axe that was accused of giving a piece of wood a splitting headache?"
Myself: "No. Did he do it?"
Me: "We don't know yet, but it has been aWEDGEd that he did.  One tool said she even SAW it happen.  Sounds CLEARCUT to me."

I should do a follow up pun, but if you have heard one joke about a single bladed axe, you've heard a MAUL.

The HOLE idea of a pun rant is to pun till you hit an EMBLANKMENT.  Not being one to throw in the TROWEL, I make a last DITCH effort.

Me: "Did you hear about the spy who did a stakeout in a ditch?"
Coworker: Waits for my answer.

I know.  PITiful.

WELL, around this time, some of you might be groaning in a GUTTERal tone, and others may be PIPEing up, "SEWER is this going?"

I have thought of putting in a PLUG for something, or singing an ending jingle in FAUCETo, but I have the sinking feeling that this post is going down the DRAIN.  Just felt LEAD to share with you.

Furthermore, 
ABORTION is child sacrifice and MUST BE ABOLISHED. 

What's in a Name? William Livingstone Samuel, for Instance?

Two years ago, on this day, our family faced a tragedy.  We were 21 weeks along in our second pregnancy, and Deana, Tirzah, and I were expecting the arrival of the little one on February 9th of 2013.  But the birthday of our child came much sooner.  Our first son was born on September 28th in the afternoon in 2012, already departed to glory.  His name was William Livingstone Samuel, the name we had previously determined.

I well remember holding his little lifeless form in my hand, tears rushing down my cheeks.  Even at such a young age (it is thought that he passed away at 17 weeks), he was so wonderfully made, with a sweet face, little fingers and toes, perfect down to the little bone in his ankle.  The nurses were so kind, and worked hard to get his footprints for us--we treasure that precious card today.

We wept over his death with many tears, and still miss him every day.  But God is our Comfort, and His word was and is faithful to console and strengthen our hearts.  My little son's life was not in vain. God has used even this evil thing to do much good.  The brief life of my boy has provoked me to good zeal and even more earnest desire to rescue other babies whose lives are at stake.  I do not know how many times I have shared my loss with parents at the abortion mill.  And it has helped me better understand and stirred me to come alongside others who are hurting with a similar pain.

We now have two children on this earth, Tirzah and our second son, Edward.  We love all our children, and will welcome any more God chooses to send us.  And how I look forward to seeing William again, when I get Home (I Samuel 12:23)!

Today, I wanted to share about his name in honor of his birthday.  Anyone who knows me is aware that I like names.  Names are significant.  They have meanings, nuances, and can be influenced by other people that bear the same name.

His first name is William, which when dissected, is Will + Helm, as in a helmet.  Thus the meaning for this name has been rendered, "Constant Protector; Determined or Strong Guardian".  Deana has always loved this name, and I highly esteem many Williams that I know.  It is a old and noble name, denoting royalty and integrity.  You may know about William the Conqueror (AD 1028-1087) the
Norman king, who took and reigned over England.  A lot of kings, princes, dukes, and knights have borne that name in courts and in battles.  Therefore we chose it for our son.

There have been many Williams in history, a good number of which were defenders.  Here are a few of my heroes named William:
William Wallace - AD 1270-1305
warrior; the greatest patriot of Scotland, who yielded his life for his country!
William Tell - Circa AD 1307
patriot; crossbow shooting folk hero of Swiss history!
William Tyndale - AD 1494-1536
translator; martyr; defender of the holy, infallible word of God for the common people!
Dean John William Burgon - AD 1813-1888
pastor; dean; champion of the Bible; humble student and staunch defender of the Scriptures!
William Booth - AD 1829-1912
preacher; defender of the poor and the vulnerable, seeker of souls!
William Wilberforce - AD 1759-1833
abolitionist; battled against the British slave trade, the evil of his day!
William Borden - AD 1887-1913
missionary; gave all for his Saviour - "NO RESERVES, NO RETREATS, NO REGRETS"

I also love that this name was the name of six of the 56 valiant men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, pledging their lives, fortunes, and sacred honour, to see their land and people have liberty.

William Whipple - New Hampshire
William Ellery - Rhode Island
William Williams - Connecticut
William Floyd - New York
William Paca - Maryland
William Hooper - North Carolina

William was given two middle names.  There are so many great names, I couldn't have just one!

We wanted each of our children to have a name of a great missionary, with which to challenge them in their lives. For William we decided on Livingstone, in honour of my childhood hero, the courageous and "forward-minded" missionary, David Livingstone (AD 1813-1873), who gave his all to see interior Africa opened up to the Gospel.  You can read more about him in another blog post of mine here! 

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the true "Living Stone" (I Peter 2:4), and we desired that our son would reflect the Redeemer, disallowed of men, but precious to God.  Christians also, as the redeemed, are called "lively stones" (I Peter 2:5).  In William's corner, where his body rests, there is a large stone, found in Wyoming by my dear parents and siblings, and laid there in memory of him.

We also wanted distinctively Bible names, and we picked Samuel.  His name means "asked of God" or "heard of God."  Samuel was one of the two greatest leaders of the nation of Israel, alongside Moses.  His name is mentioned 142 times in the Bible.

Moses and Samuel are highlighted in Scripture as men who were not only incredible leaders, but also men of prayer and mighty intercessors for their people.  For an example of each, consider Exodus 17:8-15 for Moses, and I Samuel 7:7-13 for Samuel.  Below are two verses that reveal the power of their appeals.
Psalm 99:6 "Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them."
Jeremiah 15:1 "Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth."

Samuel was the only man in the Bible about which it is specifically said "...the LORD...did let none of his words fall to the ground" (I Samuel 3:19).  Samuel's words were true and carried through because Samuel was speaking what he heard from the LORD.  "Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD..." (II Kings 10:10).

Samuel served the LORD from his weaning to his death.  He was the last of the judges, and anointed the first two kings of Israel.  He was a prophet who foretold of the coming Messiah.
Acts 3:24 "Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days."

I don't have space here to write all that the Lord did through Samuel.  You can search the Scriptures for more.  Suffice it to say, he was a hero of faith, as it is said in God's Hall of Faith... "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:" (Hebrew 11:32).

Before he was born, the biblical Samuel was dedicated to the LORD.  I Samuel 1:11,22,28 "I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life...I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide forever...I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD."  As with each of our children, we had dedicated our little Samuel to serve the Lord Jesus Christ all the days of his life, little knowing that his life would be so brief, and that he would "appear before the LORD" ahead of us.

How I yearned to have a William, a defender of the weak, a staunch protector of life!
I wanted to raise a little Livingstone to go FORWARD for Christ!  To dare for His God!
I desired to see a little Samuel grow, to speak the words of God and stand in the gap for others!

So what am I to say?

It would be easy to blame God and shake my fist.  It would be natural to pity myself and spend my time in bitter grief.  But then Satan gets a foothold, and I cannot allow any ground for the devil in my life (Ephesians 4:27).  The fact is, "...I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (II Timothy 1:12).  I know that in this world cursed by sin, there is trouble, suffering, and death.  That the Christian life is going to involve persecution, sorrow, and affliction.  I do not always have to understand my God, but I can always trust Him.  "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him" (Job 13:15).  His word is true, no matter how I feel.  "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28).

So in faith, Deana and I can smile, even through tears at times.  Watch what our God will do!  "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD" (Job 1:29).

What is in a Word? INVESTIGATE

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).

   My mind is a little peculiar.  Sometimes things jump out at me.  It is rather strange.

   Real life example- I am sitting in my house, minding my own business, when I see three books on a shelf.  They are on unrelated subjects, and all I can see are the titles on the binding.  But for some crazy reason, my mind starts to try to find how the books are the same and how they are different.  I note that the three books were authored by three different people, that the binding are three different colors, yet that the lettering are all gold colored.  The symbol of the publisher is on the bottom of each book, and each were published by a different publisher.
   Especially the words grab my attention.  My mind sets to work, checking to see if the titles have the same amount of syllables.  Then I start counting to see what letters all three books bindings have in common and discover out that each book contains three L's, if you include the author's name with the title.  I do all this while seated, and never even touch the books.  After this ordeal, my mind is satisfied, that is until I sit here again.  Then my mind will want to check on those titles again, just to make sure that they haven't changed.  

   Another instance- I am sitting at a friend's home.  I see a sentence stenciled on the wall, a clever decoration.  My mind starts to dissect, going through the alphabet, checking to see what letters are used in the sentence, and which are not included, if all the vowels are present or not, etc.  I count to see which letter is used most often in the sentence.

   This type of thing has been happening ever since I learned to read at age 3 1/2 to 4 years of age.  Most times when this happens it really doesn't make much difference, except my mind is getting a workout.  It can even be a mental strain, and sometimes I have to purposefully think of something else.

   But there are some benefits that rise from it at times.

   When looking at a word, I am often struck by the wondering of where that word came from.  I think back to whether I have learned what roots it came from, and search for related words.  For instance, the words course, courier, current, cursive, and cursor key, are related words, derived from a root cursus meaning "to run".  Therefore, when I see a word with the same root, my mind checks it to see how it fits.  From childhood, I have been fascinated with words and their history.
   Moreover, I appreciate the richness and depth that is to be had in the English language, and how words can be grouped in "families".  There are words that can be used to communicate the same meaning, but each can have also its own flavor, and specific dynamic.  For instance, sauntered, ambled, tiptoed, and stomped are all words that can be used to describe someone walking, but each conveys a varying attitude, manner, and quality.  Seeing how words can be the same and different has often been an aid in learning and adding words to my vocabulary both in and out of school.

   Other times, when I see a word, I see words inside the word.  By dissecting these inner words, I can understand the meaning or application of a word.

Let's take a look at the word INVESTIGATE.

INVESTIGATE: to search into; to examine with care and accuracy; It comes from the Latin, investigo, "to follow a track, to search."

Dissecting the word from the viewpoint of studying the Bible, we find certain inner words...

IN - You need to get IN the Bible.  Open it, ask God to teach and shew you what you need to know.  If we don't get into the Bible, how can we expect to know it?
"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy word." Psalm 119:18
"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Psalm 119:130

INVEST - Spend time in the Bible.  Invest time hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Scriptures.  It is worth the investment.  And remember, where your treasure is there will your heart be also.
"O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97

VEST - The vest covers your heart.  Don't just get knowledge for your head.  Take the truth to heart.
"Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart"
Psalm 119:34

I - See how the Scripture applies to you personally.  Don't just say, "Oh my brother needs to hear that!"  Consider yourself first and see if you line up with God's word and where you need to repent and confess sin and do things God's way.  Then you can share with your brother what the Lord is teaching you and encourage him to do the same.
"I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies" Psalm 119:59

GATE - A gate swings.  It is active.  Put hinges on the truth of the Bible you have learned and swing with it.  Live according to the precepts and principles of the word of God.
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" Psalm 119:105

   Let us be diligent to study the word of truth, to be approved workmen!  Let us not end up ashamed because we neglected the Book of the Lord!

   Let the words of the psalmist be reflected in our desire for the LORD and His word...

"Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation according to thy word.

So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  

I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 

And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes." Psalm 119:41-48

   There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.