The Small Joys That I Enjoy II: The Highlights of a Single Christian Man.

Greetings,

 My original post, the one at the beginning of the blog
was a topic on the small joys that I like. But there is
something else I wish to add. Small joys are actually
my highlights. I say that because as a single, Christian
man who likes the quiet, no-frills life I take pleasure

in little things, even things which by world standards

seem insignificant.

 My biggest highlights, the ones I consider the ultimate,

are the church activities as well as the main church

worship services. Any fellowship activities like our
Fellowship Sundays and the flock group meetings

A flock group meeting is a fellowship gathering at a

member's home where we fellowship, eat, and

talk about that day's sermon.

 Then there's my favorite, our church's pinewood

derby.  From the build night to the race itself are

my most favorite of highlighted joys. It is also

where I get the opportunity to mix my hobby of

scale model auto building with church activities.

 As a single, Christian man, I do not need much

to be happy, I find more joy in church events

than any big time sports event or partying, the

latter two I don't even partake in.

I leave you with these verses:

"That you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to

mind your own business, and to work with
your hands, as we commanded you."  
( 1 Thessalonians 4:11)

Have a blessed day. :)

"Turn! Turn! Turn!" Ecclesiastes III:I-VIII: The Spirals of Life.

Greetings,


Some weeks ago at work while taking my lunchbreak in my car I tuned into
an AM station that played oldies of the 1950s to the 1970s. I had originally
wanted to eat outside and under the pine tree where I usually sit under but
I felt drawn to turn and walk back toward my car, so I did.
I usually listen to a Christian station but this time I didn't do that and as I
tuned to the oldies station an old tune titled, "Turn! Turn! Turn!" by the
1960s pop group The Byrds came on. When the group began the vocals
I immediately thought about the spirals of life which an elder friend and I
had talked about recently during a counseling session we had together.
the words to the tune, 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' immediately got me thinking
about the spirals in the spirals of life because as in the title of the said
tune that was playing on my car's stereo, a spiral does indeed turn, turn
and turn.  Oh, was the Lord ever shining His light on me just then!

 As of recent I have had certain issues which had gotten me down
spiritually which really shouldn't have and the song I just heard had
remided me of what my church elder friend was counseling me on.
This old classic pop tune just helped to make it abundantly clear
that there was a time for everything be it good or bad.
 The trouble with me was ( and still is sometimes) is that I very often
idolized the good things no matter how big or small they were that
when certain thing changed or even seemed to me to change for the
worse (I often perceived the worst) well, I don't handle it well. The
incident in question nearly broke me emotionally and the worst part
was, it was more perceived than it was real. Like I wrote in my one
post about the quaking aspen tree, I 'quaked' at the slightest issue.
Not healthy, is it?

 Now I had gotten over that issue in question and always kept in
mind the things my elder/counsellor had talked about, but when
that old pop tune came on it enlightened me even more and a
great peace had swept over me that day. I find that the Lord
can even use old pop tunes to speak to us.  Who said that
rock and roll was the devil's music?  It isn't if the Lord uses it.
I actually had two blessings that day, peace and the opportunity
to gain more wisdom. Thank you, Jesus!


Have a blessed day.

Hebrews II vs. III-IV: How Shall We Escape?

Greetings,

On Wednsday night services, our church has a work night
as well as devotional services.  One of the tasks we do is
changing the lettering on the church road sign out in the
front of our church.  The one in the pic above is the
latest message, which brings me to the topic.

 This has to be a scary verse if the word escape is used
in it and it seemed like an excellent message to put out
for everyone to see.
 So then, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a
salvation if it was spoken by God Himself and confirmed
to us by those who heard Him?
 It would seem quite clear because the salvation spoken
of was delivered by an even greater Messenger than the
angels, which was Jesus Christ Himself. In verse four
of Hebrews chapter two it is mentioned God made it
clear by signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the
Holy Spirit. Seeing all that, how can we as believers
neglect so great a salvation? I could safely say we would
be without excuse.
 I believe the message here is to make sure your salvation
is sure. There are a lot of professing believers out there
believing they are saved and on their way to heaven but
may find out the hard way that they were not truly saved.
How shall we escape indeed?!?
 That answer lies in Hebrews chapter one and that is to
give earnest heed to the things we heard, or we will drift
away.  (Hebrews 2:1)
 After all the signs and wonders, how could one not drift
away?  But it can happen, that is why the author of Hebrews
warned the believers then.  That holds true for believers today
as well, hence the message on our church sign.
 I admit I have questioned my own salvation so I was glad
for that passage of scripture. I believe we must all search
ourselves and make sure each day our salvation is sure so
as to not neglect it or drift away.  We as believers have
heard from the Lord because we have heard the gospel
message. We must not neglect to hear it or we will drift
away.  And I need it as much and probably more as
some others.
 Let's not neglect our salvation. It is too priceless.


Have a blessed day. :)

The Quaking Aspen: Shaking at the Slightest Issues.

Greetings,


So far I 've been enjoying the early fall season here
in southwest Ohio and took full advantage of it by
taking walks up and down the street where I live on
and watching the trees along the street changing colors.
The trees' branches reach out almost over the street to
form a sort of tunnel and in the fall it is something to see.
 Speaking of trees a story from the spiritual guidebook
Our Daily Bread titled 'Quaking Aspens' got my attention.

 In this story the author tells of a story of certain trees
whose leaves fluttered at the slightest breeze while the
other trees around them appeared calm and steady.
 When the author pointed them out to his wife she told
him those were called quaking aspens. The aspen
leaves are so flat that even the faintest breeze makes
them shake, hence the name quaking aspen.
 Reading this story really hit home with me as I have
had some issues some weeks back which were really
quite minor and perceived as something worse and
like the said aspen tree that quaked at the slightest
breeze, I "quaked" at the slightest issue.
 But it was the issues in question which helped me take
a good long hard look at myself and where I stood in
my faith. Sad to say, I wasn't standing very strong.

While in counselling with a church elder who is also
 a close friend, I found out that I idolized the good
in life to the point that when bad came , well, I
couldn't handle it. And these were slights, too.
Idolatry often does that.
 My church elder friend then illustrated to me the
spirals of life where it curves up (good) then down
(bad). Kind of like being on the mountaintop then
down in the valley. There was a hymn that we sang
at a church I attended before moving here in Cincinnati
that spoke of being in the mountaintop and down in the
valley. I forget the title of that hymn but the spirals of
life illustration my friend drew made me think about that.

 This also reminds me of the Old Testament book of Job
in chapter two when Satan strikes Job with boils from head
head to toe and his wife tells him to curse God and die.
Here is how Job replies:

"You speak as a foolish woman. Shall we only accept
good from God and not adversity?"   Job 2:10


One thing about Job, he wasn't like me, the author of the
ODB story or the quaking aspen tree, and his issues were
far worse than what I had experienced, yet Job was stead-
-fast in his faith.

Two Thessalonians 3:16 reads:

"Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace
always and in every way."

Phillipians 4:6 reads:

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests
be made known to God. And the peace of God, which
surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus."

True peace is the presence of God in a conflict, not
the absence of the conflict itself.  And it is because
of that reason that I haven't withdrawn from the faith
nor left the church. I have my elder friend and other
church family to be thankful for this as well.


P.S.  Just to let everyone know that the issue in
question that I went through was not a church
issue, it was personal. There is no cause for
concern.


Have a blessed day. :)

He Gives Richly All Things to Enjoy.

Greetings,


The last few months have been a blessing financially. I had been
on mandatory OT from May of this year to August and that blessing
has helped me pay down some debts. Thank you, Lord!

 Reminds me of a passage of scripture from 1 Timothy 6:17 which
says,  "Command those who are rich in this present age not to
be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God
who gives us richly all things to enjoy."   (NKJV)

 Now Paul was giving Timothy instructions to the rich not to trust in
riches alone nor to be arrogant but to worship God alone who gives
them richly all things to enjoy.
 Now not all of us are rich but I strongly believe that God gives folks
of lesser status all things to enjoy as well. I believe God's blessings
vary.
 The Lord has also given me richly all things to enjoy as well.  Some
of those examples you may see in my very first post.  The things God
gives us don't always come in the form of money or other material
blessings.  Now I will say that God did bless me financially what with
the overtime I had mentioned earlier, but I used that to pay down debts
rather than on things I wanted. I did use it for things I needed and the
Lord knew my needs. He has even given me the privilege of a hobby

for which I am very thankful.

 Now my greatest pleasures are not secular hobbies but in church duties
and activities.  As greeter I have duties however I don't see greeting as
a duty I see it as a joy.  Having little fun times with the kids of the church
is another. Leading the church pinewood derby I can add in. (I see that
as using my model car interests to serve the Lord.) There's also our
church gatherings as Fellowship Sundays, flock groups, ( a fellowship
gathering at a member's home) and Family, Fun and Friends Night held
every third Friday of the month.  God has given me richly those things
to enjoy.

 Now of personal interests there is my model car hobby, but there is
also using weight machines at the gym and running on the elliptical.
And there this blog as well as writing and illustrating in my other
blog, Newberry.  

I really do believe little is much if God is in it. I gather little but yet
I have no lack.  Thank you, Lord Jesus!

Have a blessed day.

"Why Do You Stand Gazing Up Into Heaven?"

Greetings,

 In the book of Acts I thought about Jesus disciples when they
were gathered together and witnessed Jesus' ascension into
heaven. (Acts 1:9-11). They continued looking up even after
the cloud received Him out of their sight. That was no doubt a
grievous moment for them as He had lead them, mentored them,
and loved them during the three-and-a-half years of His earthly
ministry. Some of the disciples were probably in anguish and
grief. 
 But as grievous as it no doubt was for Jesus' disciples, He had not
really left them, for He had told them that the Holy Spirit would
come to them before His ascension and that they would receive the
Spirit's power. (Acts 1:8)
 All that had happened was a transition of Jesus' ministry from Jesus
to His disciples, who were now His apostles. And the work Jesus
had them carry out was the Good News that Jesus had conquered
the power of sin and death and that anyone who received Him as
their Savior would escape the torment of everlasting punishment in
hell.
 Now all this could not have been done had Jesus not left them
physically. At first Jesus left them physically when He was buried
three days after His crucufixion, but He returned to His disciples
in a glorified body. But it was His second departure that would
have the ultimate significance.
 The change must have been rough on His disciples but that did
not deter them from the purpose as to why Jesus ascended back
into heaven.  In fact it was for this very reason He had chosen
His disciples so that they could carry out what Jesus had started.


I too,have experienced change which had taken place over a year
ago at our church and one personal change just recently. Those
changes were grievous to me as well and I admit I do not handle
change too well. In fact, in one case I actually had some moments
of anxiety. But the Lord and some fellow believers had helped me
through it just as God did with Jesus' disciples. I had the Comforter
(Holy Spirit) just as Jesus' apostles did.

 I too, realize that I must continue with the ministry the Lord has given
me which for right now is the greeting ministry of my church along with
certain other things. I can't let grief  or anxiety deter me from what God
has allowed me to have; especially if I am going to represent God's
house to fellow believers as well as visitors. Jesus is also with me in the
form of the Holy Spirit as He was with the Apostles after he ascended
into heaven. And I must continue on with what He has given me.

I leave you with this verse from Acts 1:9-11;

 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He
was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And
while they looked steadfastly toward heavenas He went up, behold,
two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of
Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?  This same
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in
like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

 Have a blessed day.

Made in the USA: I support American-made Model Kit Manufacturers.

Greetings,

 As of recent I purchased a few 1/32 scale automotive
model kits at a local bargain outlet called Ollie's and
one from Hobbytown USA.  The one shown in the
picture is a 1949 Ford Tudor coupe.
 Now when I saw the American flag on the boxes of
these kits that gave me hope for the USA as still being
a country that can produce things.  I only wish I could
see more real cars being built in America rather than
across our borders to the north and south.
 I realize by buying American-made products that I am
not only supporting the company but the workers who
do the work in making them. And I can think of no better
way to do it than with my hobby.
 There are other American kit manufacturers here in the USA
however, their products once produced here in the US are now
made in China.  One particular brand(s) AMT/MPC, which were
taken over by a company called Round 2, has shipped the tooling
for their products over to China. As much as I love the AMT/MPC
brand of hobby kits, I sometimes wonder if I am being a disgrace
to all those workers who got laid off when Round 2 shipped their
operations overseas. 
 I think I can see now why I see the encouragement from some
patriotic groups to 'Buy American.'  To support American workers
rather than the corporations that employ them.
 Now I am not against corporations in general but I am against those
American corporations that sell their workers out so as if you buy
their products; you support that greedy corporation only rather
than the workers that were once employed by them. These
companies have sold America out.  The corporate elite do
not care about the plight of America because they are global and
their pockets get lined regardless of where an item is made.
 I just hope no other kit manufacturer offshores their production
operations because I may have to stop buying their products which
could mean the end of my hobby.
 The thing is, most items made overseas are everyday items we need,
and you, me and the rest of us are supporting greedy corporations
whether we like it to or not and whether we want to or not.
 Well, hobby kits aren't considered a basic necessity so that can be
sacrificed with no loss.  (Though I'm not thrilled at the idea) But while
I still can, I will support the workers of American-made kits along with
any other item that carries the American flag such as the kit in the pic
does.


Have a blessed day.