Gospel:

The word "Gospel" means good news.
While the word has been politicized and distorted we get our word "Evangelical" from the Greek word for good news.
It is the "Glad Tidings" of Christmas cards and songs. The angel told the shepherds, "Unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Savior, Who is Christ, the Lord." That is indeed good news.Perhaps the single verse in the Bible that best summarizes the Gospel would be John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The great theologian Paul gives the primary facts of the Gospel message--Jesus Christ, God's great Christmas gift, died for our sins, was buried, and rose to life again--all according to Scripture.This good news is only truly good if you receive it. Have you?
It's STTA

A Little Boy--And An Entire Culture--In Need Of Help:

As I write there is an international situation brewing over a little boy living with his mother's family in Brazil. Sean went with his mom to visit family in Brazil. While visiting family in Brazil, Sean's mom decided to split from her husband (his dad), obtained a divorce in Brazilian courts, and remarried. About a year ago she died. Now the question is the same one put to Solomon three Milennia ago.
Who gets to keep the child?
The only differences between this case and millions of others are distance and publicity. Hang out in an airport around holidays and you can see it being played out. A visibly upset parent trying to help clearly frightened children, while at the same time holding back their own emotions. It's not how it should be.Adults are supposed to care for children. We can do better.
1) Let's reverse the trend. Childen need a mom and a dad. Let's emphasize marriage and the preservation thereof.
2) Many of us are a safety net in the lives of these children of broken homes. Let's not let them down.
3) Rather than justify the sorry state to which family life has descended in our culture, let's help the next generation learn a better way.

It's STTA.

Thank You!

Thanks from the Covington Bible Church to all of our friends in the Alleghany Highlands who have shared their words of kindness in regard to the Blizzard of '09. We were all ready to present the Live Nativity.

Bread for the House of Bread, Bethlehem had been prepared. Sets were built, and costumes ready for actors to wear.

Just a short time before starting time our team had to make the call to cancel the event. Since then so many of you have shared words of encouragement. Thank you.

James comments that all of our plans are subject to change, whether we admit it or not. Speaking to a group of business men James says, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that."

I don't know why, but God chose to allow the snow to fall. It compelled us to cancel our presentation, but it seems to have only heightened your gratitude.

Thank you.
It's STTA.

Just Whose Idea Was This Snow?

(A word of explanation:


We had planned for most of a year to present a 3-day Live Nativity at a park near our church. We were set up and ready to go when the decision had to be made to cancel because of the weather. The following are some of my thoughts:)

Thoughts on the “Blizzard of ‘09” and the Live Nativity that Wasn’t:
Like many of you, I have been working to process the disappointment of having to cancel two of the three nights of our Live Nativity. (As I write the third night is in jeopardy.) We:

• Made costumes,
• Built sets,
• Set up the Bethlehem village,
• Printed and distributed invitations,
• Bought music and put it on CDs (Not to mention buying a bunch of batteries and a new CD player),
• Prepared bread, fruit, and hot-chocolate, with at least a nod to historic accuracy, to be served in the village whose name means, house of bread. (I had also made known that for the duration of the Live Nativity the candy-canes weren’t candy-canes; they were replicas of David’s shepherd staff.)
• Had guides ready to guide, hosts and hostesses ready to offer hospitality, counselors ready to share the good news, pray with people, and be the touch of Christ to those in need.
• Strung wires, set up lights, hauled in generators, heaters, pottery wheels, chickens, and a goat named Suzie.
• Prayed, had good motives, and served with gladness.

I was really looking forward to reprising my role as the Mayor of Bethlehem, harassing, and being harassed by the Roman Soldiers hanging around town.
So be ye Calvinist, Arminian, or Ignorantite, the question hangs out there like the disco-ball that Larry didn’t find—Why? (Our tech-guy had been trying to locate one of the old mirrored globes for a particularly dazzling effect--and no, he doesn't look like John Travolta.)
OK, let me get the short answer out of the way first. It is both an easy and a hard answer—easy, in that it doesn’t really require a great deal of thought, hard in that after I think about it for quite a while I am still stuck with it—I don’t know. I know I’m supposed to be the answer-man for questions related to God, but without the least flippancy, and after considerable thought—some of it when I tramped around the Life Nativity setup in the knee-deep snow, this morning—I come to the same conclusion: I don’t know.

I do, however, know some answers that I can eliminate:

1. In some great cosmic battle, Satan did not win.
   An answer often given, based on poor theology is that the Devil got his way. As is generally the case with bad theology, there is some Biblical support for this way of thinking. In 1 Thessalonians 2:18 Paul speaks of his intentions of coming to visit the saints at Thessalonica, but explained his failure to appear with these words, “Satan hindered us.” Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2, and the passage makes clear that he is pretty well getting his way among the “sons of disobedience.” That is a point that Satan, himself, makes in Job 1, and God does not dispute it. Yet as is clear from the book of Job, and countless other passages, the devil is only able to rage because God chooses, at this time, to let him have his way. At present the “whole word does lie in the power of the wicked one” (1 John 5:19), but his ultimate defeat is sure, Revelation 19 & 20, and God’s people need not fear him now (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9). If Satan had a part in this snow storm it was only because God allowed him to.
   
2. God didn’t forget, take a break, or allow a situation to get out of hand.
   The Bible tells us that from the smallest—the sparrow for instance, Matthew 10:29—to the greatest God controls nature. In Exodus God clearly controlled the elements to bring about the deliverance of the Israelites, In Job 38-41 God confronts Job with His control of nature, and in Romans 8 there is the “all things” promise. God used a storm, a hungry fish, a fast growing plant, a lowly warm and a hot wind to get the Prophet Jonah's attention. Read Psalm 139.

Probably if I applied myself, I could come up with more things that I know aren't, but that will do for now.

I also know that sometimes it is God’s plan for His people to fail. At least when we use a human metric for success and at least for a time. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel were largely failures. By the standards used to measure many modern ministries, Jesus was a failure. At the end of His three-year ministry there were but a hundred-and-twenty who remained loyal, and this band to use Paul’s description of another place “were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble” (1 Corinthians 1:26).
It is clear that as the Lord spoke through Isaiah, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways . . . as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9) Again I am driven back to my original answer, but now it is now more profound and I give it with more conviction. I don’t know.
I’ll be perfectly honest with you. I don’t like what happened this weekend. I’m struggling with the feeling that one friend of mine badly disappointed some other friends of mine, even though when I think about it, as I am in writing this article, I know that isn’t so.
We prayed that God would allow us to reach out to our community. I’d say that about a thousand invitations to the Live Nativity were distributed. None of those people we invited were able to come, but we were able to let each of them know that we care. As we talk to people in the weeks to come, we are bound to hear—I already have—things like, “What a shame, you folk put all that work into the Live Nativity and weren’t able to do it.” I’d recommend that we honestly acknowledge our disappointment, but then go on to explain that we did it because we love the Lord, and desire to serve Him. From the beginning this has been God’s event, not ours. We don’t know why he chose to snow on it, but we’ll leave that with Him. While I’m on the subject of reaching out: I've already heard stories of how people used the opportunity afforded by an evening off to reach out to neighbors and friends. I suspect that there have been, and will be, other opportunities for outreach because our big event "failed." Let’s be on the lookout.

We are always apt to say, “Why me?” Actually the question ought to be, “Why not me?” In this world of tragedy, a failed Christmas event doesn’t rate very high on the scale of significance. It is obvious, from scripture and observation, that in God’s plan this world, at present, is a place of floods and sickness, and wars, and snowed-out Live Nativities. My late Father-in-law, my pastor in my teen years, used to say about life’s difficulties that they “make us long for heaven.” Indeed.

Lord I long for the day when my worship of you will be unhindered by the fallenness of this world.

We planned and set up this Live Nativity as a recognition of the supreme importance of Jesus Christ’s first coming. The blanket of snow serves to bring about a longing in my heart for Your return, Lord.

“Even so come, Lord Jesus."

Where to Look for Real Solutions:

The periodic scandals involving politicians ought to be the least of our concerns. Though blue dresses, suppressed emails, and unpaid taxes tend to grab the headlines, what ought to really concern us is what has become all too mundane in the seats of power. Granted the scandalous does serve to give us a magnified view of what goes on everyday, but too often the titillating headlines divert our attention from--even make us calloused to--the day by day operation of government, which far too often would be seen as scandalous, if we weren't so used to it.
On a human level, I recommend integrity over over charm, and honesty over image, but looking higher, I am reminded of a promise that came to ancient Judah, at a time of corruption in the seat of power.
". . . a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace. . . . [He will] uphold it with justice and righteousness. . . ." (Isaiah 9:6-7, NASB95)
Ultimately the answer is a child!

With a wish for the best of Christmases, it's Something To Think About, from the Covington Bible Church.

Making Up Our Minds About Christ:

I have been encouraging folk to eliminate as many "I have to"s as possible from their Christmas celebration. Here is something, though, that you really do have to do. You have to decide--specifically, we all have to make up our mind about what we'll do with the Christ of Christmas. To not make a purposeful decision is to accept the default condition. Now, I'm not saying you are a bad person, or hostile to Christianity, or anything like that, but you need to realize that this world is not a Christ-friendly place--not when you look at it from the standards of Jesus Christ. John records, "He came unto His own and His own received Him not." It's a pattern that hasn't changed in last two millennia. If you just go along, that's where you'll end up. So, it is important for each of us to decide.
Over the next three Sundays we'll be looking at some of the characters of Christmas, and examining the decision we must make. This Sunday we visit Mary, as she decides to yield.
I hope you will join us at 8:30 or 10:55.With wishes for the best of Christmases, it's STTA, from the CBC.

Minarets or Steeples?

"Banning the minaret may serve to hide Muslim influence from view, but it does not address the underlying issues at stake." So comments Al Mohler on the recent Swiss law banning the construction of minarets--the most visible symbol of Islam. The towers, traditionally, are the place from which the muezzin, five times each day, calls the faithful to prayer. In the same way that many church bells have been silenced, strict noise pollution laws prevent the call to prayer from being announced publicly in Switzerland. Still the towers are seen as a powerful symbol of Muslim influence, in the land of John Calvin. Even though there is no similar US restriction, the ethos that compelled the Swiss to outlaw building any more minarets is alive and well here and elsewhere. Ours is an age of symbolism, largely devoid of substance. Where there is no vibrant Christian message that changes people's hearts, we are reduced to lobbying legislatures to make sure that steeples outnumber minarets. When that is the case we may have already lost.
It is STTA.

Click here to read Mohler's article:

CRASHING THE PARTY:

Something is amiss about Michaele and Tareq Salahi.
For several days it was reported that this couple crashed a White House event, but they appeared on TV this morning claiming that they were invited, even though several officials in the President's administration say they weren't. I don't know what happened, and it doesn't matter what I think happened.
What I do know is there are a great many people who are hoping to get into heaven on their own terms. The God of the Universe, Who knows all, is the one Who keeps the books, and Jesus Christ is the only way. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) It is a party that cannot be crashed, but there is an invitation. Accept it on God's terms.

It's STTA

A MARTHA OR A MARY CHRISTMAS:

It wasn't Christmas, the holiday hadn't been invented yet, but Jesus came to the house of some friends, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. So, I guess we could say, it was Christmas for them.
It won't surprise you ladies to find out that Brother Lazarus didn't figure in the domestic equation at all.
The way these two ladies of the house chose to entertain the Lord gives us a powerful example of how we can have a better Christmas this year. 

"Martha welcomed [Jesus] into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations . . . and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." (Luke 10:38-40)

Whenever I teach from this story, I always find ladies sympathizing with Martha, but let me ask a simple question. "Will you be so busy doing things to supposedly celebrate Christ's coming that you will never get around to enjoying Christ? Will yours be Martha or a Mary Christmas?" Don't let the pressure of the season distract you from the Reason for the Season.

It's STTA.

BLACK FRIDAY, EMPTY HEARTS:

Retailers hope it will put them in the black in the midst of a shakey (to say the least) economy.Clerks in stores regard it as black for other, more obvious, reasons.Shopper--at least the serious variety--look on today in much the same way that Ike surveyed Normandy on D-Day. Black Friday speaks volumes about what is wrong with our current American Christmas celebration:

• We remember Christmases of long ago with softly falling snow. The problem is the chances are less than 1 in 5 that my area will have a white Christmas, so we try to buy a substitute.
• We think back to a time when we received a gift that warmed our heart, and so we try to buy enough to impress kids who are already jaded by way to much.
• Just moniter yourself. How many times do you find yourself saying "I have to . . ." in relation to the Christmas celebration.

Even though Black Friday will be history by the time many of you read this, maybe there is hope. Buy less and invest more this Christmas. It's STTA.

It's Good That Thanksgiving and Christmas are Neighbors:

Thanksgiving:The day families gather to eat turkey, dressing, and pie, watch football, and for many, to plan a major shopping campaign the next day.I always think it is a good thing that Thanksgiving and Christmas come so close together on our calendar. Let me explain.Paul spoke of God's indescribable gift. He was speaking of the gift of God's Son. "God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son." When Paul mentioned that gift, he mentioned it in profound thanksgiving. The celebration of Christ's birth should begin, continue with, and never end in giving thanks for the gift of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.Focus your attention on the gift of Jesus Christ, and you'll have a good Christmas this year.

It's STTA

Will you have a good Christmas, this year?

If your household is like mine, the Holiday Season has already begun. There is a tradition that I try to keep going in my home. My wife likes Poinsettias. I try to watch for the first ones to arrive in the stores, so I can get Kathy one early in the season. The first of the lovely red Christmas plants is on our dining room table.I tell you about our little tradition to remind you about one of the ways to insure that you have a good Christmas. Christmas is a wonderful time to emphasize family. Even though my little tradition involves purchasing a gift, I'm not talking primarily about buying, rather I'm encouraging us to look for ways to invest in those we love. Gifts that are bought may not last until New Year. Investing--giving our time, energy, and love--ourselves in our families will bring results that will last for eternity.The flower, lovely as it is, is like the wrapping on the gift. The gift is my love.If you truly give yourself--not just stuff--you're more likely to have a good Christmas.

It's Something to Think About.

President Lincoln and a little boy:

Long before there were TV networks--before Oprah or even Donahue--President Lincoln pulled off the perfect soft-news coup. Shortly after coming to office, presiding over a nation that was ripping itself apart, President Lincoln wrote this note on bahalf of a young boy: I did see and talk with master George Evans Patten, last May, at Springfield, Illinois. Respectfully, A Lincoln"George had met Lincoln at a campaign event, and--kids have always been this way--his friends wouldn't believe him. Honest Abe took the time to vouch for the young man's veracity. I'm generally unimpressed with memorabilia that bring impressive bids at auction, but if you want to buy this note and give it to me, I'll frame it. There are a number of photographs of President Lincoln, but this is a snapshot of his heart, and a lesson from a great man. However busy I am, today, I need to take time to be kind. It's STTA
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/20/lincoln.letter/

WALKING THE WALK:

In a review of the movie Blind Side, (World Magazine) Megan Basham talks about the skepticism of our age. She quotes lead actor, Sandra Bullock, concerning her doubts about the reality of the faith of the family upon which the film is based--a Christian family. Bullock said that she had been impressed--or perhaps I should say "unimpressed" by people of faith "who use their faith and their religion as a banner but don't do the right things, yet still go, 'I'm a good Christian and I go to church and this is the way you should live your life,'" (Quoted in World article)There is a powerful lesson here for those of us who believe. It is a lesson that is as old as Christianity. James speaks about it in Chapter 2. Talk is cheap; in fact, it is free. Show me your faith, then maybe I'll be interested in listening to you. As Ms. Bullock said, "I finally met people who walk the walk."
It's Something to Think About.

IDOLS:

I remember a missionary from a village in Africa showing us a smooth flat, long, black rock. Before the people of this community became believers in Christ this had been their god. It had its own hut and was served daily offerings of food and drink. While visiting a museum in Ukraine, my Ukrainian host pointed to several squat wooden sculptures. He told me that in Ukraine's pre-Christian era folk had worshipped these images.
I have been in American people's garages, houses and yards and seen other idols. One of the clearest results of the Fall--the entrance of sin into our culture and personal lives--is the tendency for the creation of false gods--anything that takes the place in our lives that only God should occupy.The people of Israel were at the foot of Sinai; they could see the smoke and lightning, and their leader, Moses, was on top getting instructions for them from God who had just delivered them from Egypt, yet they were busy making and worshiping an idol.
Find out more Sunday at 8:30 or 10:55.
It's STTA

He does not bear the gun in vain:

I have some friends who are police officers. All of them carry guns. I was recently at a local government hearing where one of my law-enforcement buddies was the official security. He had on his uniform, badge, and patches that identified him as an officer of the law. He carried a gun. As I sit here thinking I cannot recall that any of the officers of the law with whom I am acquainted have ever shot anyone. I didn't observe that anyone at the public hearing, I mentioned, who looked like my friend's gun made them nervous. Thankfully, in the community where I live the reality of Romans 13:4--"He bears not the sword in vain"--is not a reason for law-abiding folk to be afraid. In fact my friend's presence brought security.In recent news the question has been raised about whether an Army officer, who went rogue, should have been able to purchase a gun. Perhaps the more significant question is, "What is wrong with a culture that produces an officer sworn to protect his nation who cannot be trusted?" It could be you and I have a part in that.

It's STTA.

A KID'S GAME THAT'S NOT A GAME:

A common pastime for youngsters, especially little boys, is bug-catching. I remember filling jars with lightning bugs or capturing other insects that I found interesting. Sometimes the captives wee liberated by my mom. Other times--well, there is no need to go there.The other day I saw a presentation about an orphanage in Africa. Not surprisingly, one of the activities that the kids got involved in was bug-catching, or I should say "insect-harvesting." For these youngsters it isn't a game. Properly prepared the little critters provide an important protein supplement. I don't want to go the "Eww!" factor. The fact is, there are a lot of things that others eat that I don't like, and vice-versa. I need to be reminded, though that many in the world live every day without a great many things that I take for granted every day.
Lord, help me to process that rightly. It's STTA..

Pushing the Christmas sled uphill:

As I write there is a group of kids upstairs working on a Christmasproject--gifts for some folk less fortunate than they. I hope they get the point that their leaders are trying to communicate--we all have something that we can use to make someone else's life better. Our Lord told us that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Our Twenty-first-Century, Western culture has made that a hard lesson to teach. The advertising world takes aim at youngsters, seeking to convince them that the good life consists of something bought in a store or ordered on the internet. Kid's are liable to describe a life without the latest gadget, toy, or accessory as dark and dismal beyond any grown-up's ability to comprehend.During this Christmas season it is important for we parents, grandparents and leaders to push the sled back uphill. Just resisting the "Give-me-more!" mentality is not enough. We need to supply other meaningful messages.It's far from the whole answer, but let me encourage you to put something on your calendar. December 18-20 is the Live Nativity presentation here in Covington. (See the box to the left.) It will help you point your kids to, and remind you of, the real reason Christ came.

It's STTA.

MAKE ROOM FOR THANKSGIVING:

Other than Turkey suppliers, it seems most businesses ignore Thanksgiving. Halloween has become a much more profitable celebration in recent decades, and since retailers regard Thanksgiving as the official start of the Christmas shopping season, most stores use the three or four weeks between Ghosts and Goblins, and Turkey-Day to ramp up for Santa Claus. Thanksgiving gets little mention.By nature Thanksgiving is hard to market. Leading up to Halloween, kids ask one another, "What are you going to dress-up as?" and, How much candy do you think you will get?" We are all aware of Christmas expectations. We try to teach kids that it is better to give than to receive, but just look around. Getting gets a lot more press.Thanksgiving forces us, even as greedy as our culture is, to look back on what we have, rather than ahead to what we want. Other than plane tickets and turkeys, how do you translate that into ringing cash-registers?Thank God for that intrepid band of Pilgrims at Plymouth, and President Lincoln, and everyone else who has passed down to us this wonderful holiday. Begin now. Make plans to make this a true THANKSGIVING.
It's STTA.

Blessings in Muddy Boots:

Sometimes blessings wear muddy boots. When they do, they are hard to be thankful for, at least as thankful as we ought to be. I observe a frequent pattern in the Bible--one of my teachers in college called it the conservation of grace. God came down to Mt. Sinai, but Moses had to hike up. In Hezekiah's day,God delivered the people of Jerusalem from the Assyrians, but only after a time of intense soul-searching and prayer. Christ fed the 5,000, but the lad provided his lunch, the Apostles distributed the food and then gathered the left-overs--which, by the way, they ate later. When Peter was imprisoned, God miraculously opened the jail, loosed his shackles, and enabled him to pass by the guards, to escape, but Peter himself had to put on his coat and shoes, and walk to the house where his comrades were praying.Trivial, though the requirement may be, God's provisions often require some effort on our part. God typically doesn't do for us what we can do for ourselves. In the world of finance, we often hear the term "leverage." It enables one to make a small investment and have a huge impact. In the money-world the concept has often been abused leading to disaster. In the Spiritual realm, my act of obedience places me in the realm of God's blessing, as a friend of mine used to say, "Under the spout, where the glory comes out." On the front end, it is worth the investment; on the back end, thanksgiving is always in order.

It's STTA.

"So Tonto says to The Lone Ranger, "What do you mean, 'We,' paleface?"

The election is over.
Stretching back to three days before the civil war--slight exaggeration--candidates and their surrogates have been campaigning.* Now various friends and foes are busy positioning themselves in relation to the winner and losers. Everyone wants to be seen as being a friend of and core-supporter of a winner, while losing candidates may find phones going unanswered and emails ignored.
"What have you done for me lately?" has expanded to, "What can you do for me in the next ten minutes?"An old adage says that "Politics makes for strange bed-fellows." I would add that often politics--at least the Twenty-first Century variety--makes for very poor friendships.
From kids trying to negotiate the social jungle at their school, to hard-charging adults trying to get ahead, there is a temptation and a tendency to use others to try to advance. A true friend will still be my friend the day after I lose, and more to the point: I need to be the kind of friend that others can count on when they really need a friend.

It's STTA.

*For you folk unfortunate enough to not live in the Old Dominion or who are not fortunate enough to not live in New Jersey, I might need to remind you that we just had an off-year election.

JUDGMENT:

Yesterday I sat in judgment-not as the one doing the judging, but as the one being judged.*It’s not fun. If I had been making the call I would have done it differently. My mind raced with, “Yeah, buts!” and “What about?s.” There was a part of me that wanted to say, “How can you judge us? You don’t even know the whole the story. But, I didn’t say anything. My part in the process was a silent one. And in that regard, I was right. I was not the one given the responsibility of passing judgment. My task is to learn from the process and do my job better. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the supreme Judge, and the verdict He will render. Unlike the panel before which my colleagues and I sat, the Lord has all knowledge-no extenuating circumstance escapes His notice. He judges based not only on the truth, but according to the truth of who I am.Before His scrutiny every mouth will stop. Not because we shouldn't speak, but because we will know that we have nothing to say. (Romans 3:19)

Don’t show up for that judgment unprepared.

It’s STTA.


*(Don’t worry. I’m not going to jail. The judgment had nothing to do with legal matters. This concerns the evaluation of an organization in which I’m involved. If you happen to know where I was & why, likewise don’t worry. Our organization is OK. We have some hoops to jump through, but none of them are on fire. We are and will be fine.)

Daily Bread:

The Lord Jesus Christ encouraged us to pray for our "daily bread." That is a term that was used to refer to what a soldier would carry in his pack as food for a day. It implies that we should be in constant dependence on God. David observed, "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread." (Psalm 37:25) The provision of God for His people is a theme that runs through scripture. The supply of stuff, important as it is, is minor when compared to God giving us that which is beyond the material. "Contentment," Paul says, "with Godliness" is "great gain." One of the lies-perhaps The Devil's greatest falsehood--that has circulated since Eden is that God is holding out on us. No God is a God who gives.We'll see that truth demonstrated as Lord provides for His people during their forty years in the wilderness, this Sunday morning at 8:30 or 10:55. I hope you'll join us at the CBC.It's STTA

Telling others to just shut-up!

It's old news now.
But, recently the President of the United States decided to call out one of the big news networks. It's kind of like an 8th grade bully taking a ball away from a group of 3rd grade boys. Sure, he can do it, but he had better not leave anything in the hall, or on the playground. His bike tires are liable to be flat, and there will likely be some unflattering graffiti on his locker.
The President was involved in a common human activity. Political correctness is kind of a unionized version of the endeavor. None of us want to hear what we don't want to hear.
Over-bearing husbands command their wives to shut-up, little kids threaten to beat up the name-caller, dictators exile, or execute, those who say less than pleasant things about them, and all of us are apt to read, watch and listen to that which agrees with what we already think.
If we only listen to what suits our fancy, we might miss what we really need t hear. I'm not in the political commentary business, but I do know that the Bible says some things that you and I don't want to hear. If we are wise, we'll listen to it anyhow.

It's STTA.

Right Stuff, Wrong Place:

This won't be on the radio.
In my physical world, I've been working to get some stuff put way. It is more complicated than it seems. To put stuff away, I have to:

• Decide where it goes,
• Sometimes move something else out of that spot,
• Maybe fix the thing that needs to be put away or thing that is in the way of the thing that needs to be put away,
• Which may necessitate getting out more stuff to fix that thing,
• So, now, the stuff I got out to fix the thing that needs to put away, or maybe the thing that is in the way of the thing that needs to be put away, also has to be put away.
• Then, mid-way through, I may decide that the whole business would be better if I just reorganized the entire business . . .

My wife is not convinced that I'm making progress. I am. My boys will be glad, since they'll have to do the final clean-up after I'm gone--good reason to pray for the Lord's soon return.

Anyhow, I took that tangential journey to let you know that I also some of my cyber-stuff in the wrong place. I had some STTAs posted on the View Through My Keyhole blog. I think all is now on the right shelf in hm-cyber-world.

I feel better.

No Boy with a Drum?!

One time a missionary told me about a man in Brazil who was convinced that Jesus had been born in his country. He had read in the Bible that Christ was born in Bethlehem, and the only place he knew of with that name was a city at the mouth of the Amazon. Stifle your chuckle for a moment. I run across people all the time who believe distortions about the Christmas story almost a grievous.
There is no record of a boy with a drum being at the manger.
And the manger—it wasn’t a cute bed with straw sticking out; it is a place where animals eat.
Wisemen didn’t arrive on Christmas Eve or Day, and we don’t know there were three, or their precise ethnicity, or names.
Saddest of all, most people have no clear idea as to why Jesus born at all.
Mark down some dates. December 18-20 will be the Live Nativity at Jackson River Sport Complex.
It’s STTA for a better Christmas this year.

PARENTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION:

Two stories making the rounds on TV, and a family I’ve been with lately, have reminded me about the direction family life needs to flow:The bizarre tale of the six-year-old lad, his publicity seeking parents, and their strange looking balloon contraption is one account. (click here for story) The other is one more in the continuing parade of moms trying to live vicariously through their little girl’s beauty pageant successes. On the other hand, the real life--real in my life--folk I spoke of have gotten it right. They realize that God placed children in our homes not primarily so we could benefit from them, but so that we can invest ourselves in them. “Bring them up . . .” Ephesians 6 says. That means that we must seek to provide children what they need--which is often different from what they want, or we want, for that matter--to become the kind of women and men that God wants them to be.Parents are the key. It’s STTA, and, if you are a parent, Something to Do!

We Are Playing With Funny-Money:

It should be becoming more and more plain that the money that we use every day, and that some of us are way too concerned about, is an ephemeral fiction. Even in its most substantial form—the bills and coins in our pockets—it is nearly useless in a practical sense. It wouldn’t burn long enough to keep us warm, you can use a dime or a quarter for a screwdriver, but it’s not a very good one, and, even for the basest use of paper, a dollar bill is rather small and stiff. Besides, most of the money we use doesn’t even exist in the physical realm. Add to those considerations the fact that our government—maybe even foreign leadership—can render our money useless in less time than it takes to make an online purchase, and the counsel of scripture has never made more sense.
Jesus classifies earthly riches, as that which moth, rust, and thieves can take away. Matthew 6:19-20) Paul links the word “riches” with uncertainty. (1 Timothy 6:17)
Both encourage putting our trust in that which will last, long beyond inflation, deflation, stagflation, and even decomposition.
It’s STTA.

With apologies to Handel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCFCeJTEzNU

"IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEAD . . ."

Rudyard Kipling, begins a famous poem by saying, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs . . .” and then concludes, “Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!”
The ability to maintain composure under pressure is a quality highly desirable in leaders, and, as the cynical parody of Kipling’s verse humorously indicates one that is disastrous in fools: “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, you probably don’t understand the situation.”
Moses often found himself in situations where he was surrounded by others who were losing their heads, cool, and likely a great deal more. Whether or not Moses kept his head is of less importance than the challenge of God, “Stand still and see what I will do.” (Exodus 14:13)

We’ll look at what the Lord did when people had their backs to the wall this Sunday at 8:30 & 10:55, at CBC. For those of you too far away to attend, or those otherwise occupied, I encourage you to read Exodus 5 - about 19, and take note of the times when the people were a situation where they could do nothing, and God said "Watch this!" (If you'd like you can order a DVD.)

It is, indeed Something God wants us to Think About.

What is the Answer this Christmas?

Thur, 10/15
Right now two competing forces, very active in our world, are competing over you, and the tug-of-war is intensifying as Christmas approaches.
In case you haven’t noticed our economy hasn’t been the best lately. There are a lot of people out of work; others, though they still have jobs, are making less money than they used to, or are looking at the very real possibility of a lay-off. On the other side, at least in part because of the economic downturn, businesses are working really hard to get us to spend money—whether we have it or not--for Christmas presents, decorations, travel, or anything else that will make the cash-registers ring.
Let me suggest that, as you get ready for Christmas, the answer is not that you shouldn’t spend money because of the economy, nor that you should in order to make your own mini-stimulus program. Rather let’s change the focus.
I would submit that neither going on a Holiday spending binge, nor joining the Pre Dickens Scrooge Society will lead to our accomplishing what ought to take place in our families this Christmas. Begin by asking, “What should I do to communicate something worthwhile to my family and friends during this wonderful time of the year?” Let the rest come later.
It’s STTA

What, Exactly, Are You Conserving?

Wed. 10/14
I run across a lot of folk who take pride in being conservative. Likewise, I frequently meet people who spit out the word as an insult—in the same category as accusing someone of not loving his mother.
So, is it virtuous to be a conservative, or is it a vice?
It all depends: If what is being conserved is a good thing, then conservatism is wonderful. If not, then not so much. I know of folk who claim to be defenders of the faith, but the faith they are defending has been wrong for hundreds of years. I find little to praise in that kind of conservatism.
Some folk describe me, and the Covington Bible Church, as conservative. If you are speaking of politics, then concerning the church, that is totally wrong, because other than truly Biblical issues, we really don’t have a position. And even I am often uncomfortable with the title. Sure, I continue to believe and teach the unchanging truth of the Bible, but beyond that I see a lot that needs to be changednot conserved.
It’s STTA.

WILL YOU HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS?

Will you have a good Christmas this year?Even if you haven't articulated the question, it has likely been on your mind. My wife and I were discussing a trip to see the grandkids and we have been swapping ideas for gifts, for the youngsters. I would suspect that some of you domestic-divas have already begun to collect ideas for baking, menus, and especially decorations.
Will yours be a good Christmas?And even more basic, what does it mean to have a good Christmas?· More presents· A taller tree· Frost on the window panes and stockings on the mantle?I think we know somewhere in our heart that it takes a great deal more than that. Over the next few weeks I'll come back to this, but right now, jot down a date. December 18-20 is the Live Nativity at Jackson River Sport Complex.
It's STTA, and something to plan on, for a better Christmas.

Something to Think About,

STTA for 12/16/08

Charles Ponzi died about 60 years ago, but his name lives on, as in "Ponzi Scheme." Apparently, the greatest Ponzi scheme in history has just been discovered. I kid you not, the perpetrator is Bernard Madoff--as in "he made-off with our money."
A Ponzi scheme always has the characteristic of promising something that isn't there, and delivering, at least for a time, by taking money from new suckers and passing it on to older victims, making them think that the scheme is working.
I'll let law-enforcement and financial gurus deal with Bernie, but I'm concerned about spiritual Ponzi schemes that proliferate. Some religious leaders--so called ministers of Christ--promise what nether Jesus nor the Bible guarantees. They make their system work by constantly enlisting new devotees--those who haven't discovered the bancruptcy of the claims yet. If you look on the backside, however, you can find a trail of disappointment and devastation.
The financial experts always tell us to read the prospectus. I say read the Bible. Make sure that the promises that are being offered are really underwritten by the only One Who has the power to deliver.
It's STTA.


STTA for 10/14/08

In Ephesians 5:4 one of the kinds of speech that the Bible says has no place in our lives is "coarse jesting." The term comes from a Greek word that literally means well-turned. Within the context of Paul's teaching it refers to the double-entendre, the skillful twisting of something that is good or benign to that which is somewhat dirty, though entertaining. The judgment call on when something is over the edge can be tough. Appropriate in one context is out of line in another. Does the old adage of "ladies and children being present," still mean anything?
More of us need to run what passes for entertainment through the grid found in Philippians 4:
Is this something that is,
Good,
Honorable,
Right,
Pure,
Lovely,
Of good repute,
Excellent,
And worthy of praise?

When you think about it, sometimes the things that make us laugh aren't really funny.
It's STTA.


STTA, September 18:

Clearly the United States has a problem with immigration. We dare not forget, however, that the "problem" consists of men, women, and children--many of whom only want what we have. I have been privileged to visit some other nations of the world, and I can tell you that for many a job in the US and the level of prosperity it brings is a dream they long for. Some desire it so much that they are prepared to break the law, and risk their lives to bring it to reality.Politicians jockey for position to appear as the candidate who will solve the problem. Unfortunately, it seems that many pols are more interested in voter-approval ratings than in actual solutions.At a recent raid at a plant in Mississippi 600 illegal immigrant employees were arrested. As they were being led away, dozens of other workers lined up to clap and cheer. Having grown up in the home of a blue-collar worker I understand the sentiment, and I also feel a need to rebuke it. To want the law to be enforced is one thing, to rejoice at the calamity of others who are trying to achieve the dream that many of us take for granted is another.Justice? Yes, but tempered with compassion.It's STTA

September 9, 2008

To be called "Mayor" is quite an honor. A couple of friends of mine have carried the title and born it well. The title, however, has lost its shine for Kwame Kilpatrick of Detroit. Recent news-stories often call him "disgraced Mayor Kilpatrick."The details aren't important for our thought today. It is sufficient to say that he lied in ways that were not only wrong, but illegal.Kilpatrick was reputed to have a promising career. Now he will trade his well-cut suits for a prison jump-suit."I would do anything," Mr. Kilpatrick said, "to turn back the hands of time." He is not alone in that desire. God forgives. He often graciously gives us the opportunity to start again, but in this world of time, what is done, is done and the effects of what is done continue on.It's something to think about, not just as you listen to or read this, but before you do something that may come back to haunt you.It's STTA.

September 8, 2008

We don't like "two-facedness."
One of the complaints that I have heard over the years related to someone being one way in one context, and appearing to be a different person in another setting. In the days before 24/7, wall-to-wall media coverage it was a "skill" that many politicians constantly used--some still try. Tell this to that group, and say something entirely different to another crowd. When a candidate gets caught speaking with a forked-tongue, his or her numbers are likely to plummet.
A compliment to be treasured has had to do with the observation that a person is the same wherever you see them. In my realm it usually is put this way, "If I see them on Thursday, they are the same as they were on Sunday morning."
One of the virtues that the Lord puts into His people has to do with consistency. When the Lord does a work in a person's heart it is not just a Sunday morning work. In fact how a person lives at work or school is a much better indicator of a person's heart condition, than the way they act on Sunday morning.
I encourage you to join us at the CBC this Sunday, not so you can act right for an hour, but so you can learn how you should act the rest of the week, and be empowered to do so.
It's STTA

August 21, 2008

One of the lines of questioning at the recent civil forum held at Saddleback Community Church, had to do with human life?
When does life begin?
There is abundant evidence that it begins at conception. In my opinion, the main reason for deciding otherwise has nothing to do with the science involved. It has to with the desired outcome. If we say--dare I say, "admit"--that life begins at conception, then that answer will prevent us from doing some things that we want to do.
Let's just suppose that we draw a DNA sample from an unborn child. We preserve it for 10 years, 20 years, 70 years. No matter how old the person is, that DNA--the stuff of life--will still match.
The social progress that our society has made in the past couple of hundred years has largely had to do with recognizing the value of classes of people who were formerly treated as less than human.
It's a goal we need to continue to pursue. Certainly not fo the other way.

It's STTA.


August 1, 2008


I just visited a friend's house who keeps marine aquariums. In order to keep his fish, coral, crabs and shrimp alive and happy he faithfully tests and changes the water. He knows what to feed each kind of fish and just how much. The lights are on timers, so the aquatic life gets the right amount of light.In short, my friend goes to an incredible amount of trouble to reproduce a miniature version of the ocean surrounding a living reef--an ecosystem that many scientists claim happened purely by accident.As we have seen in recent decades, it only takes a relatively small amount of a foreign substance or a minor change in the environment to radically change--or even destroy--a living community. Not only must each organism be healthy, but each all of them must relate to one another in a healthy way.Sitting here thinking about it I'm amazed at the blind-faith evolutionists have. In spite of constant evidence that random forces produce destruction, they believe that such a beautiful, complex system just happened.Not at my friend's house, nor, I am convinced, in my Father's world.It's STTA.



June 9, 2008
It was raining.I was doing an outside job that I really didn't want to do. I knew that I had other jobs standing in line behind that one. The hopeless, "I'll never get done." feeling was creeping in.Some friends drove by. They said I looked like a man in distress and stopped to see if I needed anything, but most importantly, just to say hi.Proverbs talks about good news from a far country being like a cool drink (25:25). These folk weren't from far away, and they had no big-time news to share, but I found their visit brought a cheerful heart and Proverbs 17:22 says that is a good medicine. It sure perked me up.We have the power at our disposal to help and encourage, and it is virtually free.Lord help us to be Doctors of cheer.It's STTA.

It is our hope that STTA, serve as a cyber-means-of-cheer. We welcome your communication. Write to us at covbc@ntelos.net.



May 13, 2008
Just out of curiosity I typed heaven into mapquest, an online service that tells you how to get to places. Ten options came up--from West Coast to East, bookstore, to pizza, to carpet-cleaning. It wasn't what I had in mind.
Recently, a gentleman asked me how to get to a place, here in our little city.
"Do you know where anything is?"
"Yes." He replied and named a restaurant.
"Okay," I said. "Go there and keep on going."
It is clear in the Bible that those who go to heaven when they die aren't going to be shocked to be there. They are people who already have a relationship with God. In a sense, the directions to heaven are meet God, and keep on going.
I know that's not enough, but if you'll get in touch, I'll give you some more. Maybe we'll have some heavenly coffee--It's STTA.

May 12, 2008

The pictures of devastation that come from Myanmar are heart breaking. People without homes, food or clothing can be seen sleeping on any elevated piece of ground or structure to avoid the threat of further flooding. Thousands have died. Yet it would appear that the ruling generals of the country are far more concerned with their image than with helping their people. While pictures of the rulers passing out token aid are all over the news, plane-loads of real aid and battalions of trained workers are kept out by the inflexible bureaucracy.
It is nothing short of tragic, and horribly wrong.
It is a syndrome that repeats itself many times and in many places—where and when ever we allow personal interest to blind us to the needs of others.
Lord, help me to actually do good, not just pose for the camera.
It’s Something to Think About.

April 29, 2008

I'm not here today to either condemn or defend Jeremiah Wright, but to use the wall-to-wall press coverage about him as an opportunity to think about something we all need to remember.
Solomon wisely observed, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise." (Pr 10:19, NASB95) That has to be balanced with the many statements in scripture that command God's people, and, especially, those of us who lead the church, to speak--to share the Good News, to defend those who need to be defended. To be salt and light.
The other night at CBC we looked at Isaiah 42. In the beautiful picture-language for which the prophet is known, Isaiah predicts the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is a ministry of self-effacement, meekness, and kindness.
Before we speak with boldness we need to be sure that we are bold for the Lord, and we need to remember, that, though Jesus was aggressively forceful at times, the overriding characteristic of His ministry was gentleness.
It's STTA from the CBC.

STTA, 4/10/08
In this day in which almost everything that anyone of importance says is recorded, and with the ease with which one can find statements on virtually any subject from just-about any speaker or writer, a political candidate's record has never been more important. Whatever the office-seeker says today will be rigorously compared to past positions and statements.In a sense that is good. It makes people accountable. But the way this wealth of information is often handled is unfortunate.I believe in change. I preach about it all the time. In my 35 years of ministry I have seen people who were wrong become right. I have also seen people pretend to change for their own advantage.Is a person saying the right thing?How long have they said it?If it represents a change is there evidence that the change took place for good and sincere reasons?Perhaps more important than all other questions: Is there a record of right actions that reinforce what the candidate says he/she has always believed or is there sufficient evidence to indicate that the switch to the "right" position is sincere?The game of political "Gotcha!" probably isn't very profitable. The practice of honestly examining what people said, are saying and what they do, certainly is.
As Jesus said, "By their fruits you shall know them."
It's STTA.

Something to Think About,
April 8, 2008

So much for symbolism: The Tibetan protests have interrupted the procession of the Olympian torch on its way to China for the 2008 Games.
Supposedly the torch is lighted at Mt. Olympus in Greece and then that flame, transferred from torch to torch and runner to runner, lights the great caldron at the opening ceremony. Great care is taken to preserve continuity from Olympus to the site of the current Games.
Those plans were thwarted by protesters in Paris. The flame had to be extinguished so that the torch could be placed on a bus. To say the least that wasn't according to plan.
Along with hundreds of millions of others, I carry a torch that was ignited just outside Jerusalem two millennia ago. It is much more than symbolic.
Jesus Christ lived a perfect life, died as our substitute, and arose from the grave.
He sent his followers out with the light of the Good News. Some of you are fellow runners in the relay. It is essential that the light of the Good News about Jesus Christ not be extinguished.
If you are a by-stander, we encourage you to join us.
It’s STTA.



Something to Think About, March 14, 2008

The news reports on a recent statement that came from the Vatican, weren’t exactly right. At least the headlines made it sound like Monsignor Girotti had invented new sins, adding them to the list of that which is forbidden. In reality it appears that what the Roman Catholic Church is doing is what all Christians need to be doing.
In 2 Timothy 3:17 Paul makes known that the Bible has what we need to equip us for every good work. [On the complete sufficiency of the Bible, the RC church & I do not see eye-to-eye.]


One can’t find computers, automobiles, or ballistic missiles in the Bible, yet scripture tells us how to properly deal with these modern marvels in a godly way.
God’s word contains specific “Thou shalt nots . . .” but more it is filled with principles that guide us into making right decisions on matters that hadn’t even been thought of by the Bible’s human authors. While Moses, Peter, or John had no idea about the world in which you and I live, the Holy Spirit, Who directed their writing, knew, and knows, exactly what I face today. He saw to it that what I need to live the way I should is there for my guidance.
Get in the book!
It’s STTA.



Something to Think About,
February 27, 2008

A Refreshing Response:
I watched a few snatches of the recent congressional inquiry into Major League Baseball and steroid use. It was a bothersome spectacle for a number of reasons. One thing is clear: Somebody's lying!
In contrast how encouraging it is to read about Daniel Naulty. Though not one of the big names who made the news, Naulty is in the Mitchell report as an athlete who used banned substances. Notice I put that in the past tense. Years before congress hauled high-profile players before the committee and the news cameras, this former closer for the Twins and World Champion Yankees saw the wrong of what he had been doing. It wasn't a congressman or an earthly judge who confronted Naulty. His team had just won the world series, when he asked, "Is this all there is to life?" Like David, 3000 years ago, Naulty came to see that his sin had not only hurt him, and many others as well, but chiefly--to use the Psalm-writers words--the modern athlete realized that it was "against [God] and [God] alone that he had sinned." (Psalm 51)
Wisely, David's son Solomon later said. "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." (Pr 28:13, NIV)

Just ask Daniel Naulty. (Click here to read more of his story.)


It's STTA



One of the features of modern life is the inter-relatedness of people all around the globe. As Thomas Friedman says, The World is Flat. We travel to the store in an automobile made of parts from around the world, powered by gas that likely came from the Middle-East, and purchase products from Asia, produce from South America, and who knows what and where else. For those of us who are active in the church it is nothing new. Two-thousand years ago the followers of Christ were sent into the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. Many of us grew up singing about "all the people of the world," and how Jesus loves them.Some mistakenly think that Christianity is a Western, White religion. No, not only is the world flat, but everywhere in the world there is the need to erect not Golden Arches, but the cross of Christ.It's STTA.


Listening to political speeches, I often think that one should be careful to not promise what he, or she, cannot deliver. Perhaps a more relevant reminder is I need to be committed to not believe promises that the politician can't keep. I haven't heard it yet, but any day now I expect to hear a candidate promise to bring us better weather, if elected. The word "politics" come from the word for people. Politics involves giving the people what they want or what they think they want, or even making them think that they are going to get what they think they want. What is discouraging is that this works so often. Political promises have a very short shelf-life, but that is OK. They only need to last until the election.Having said that I don't want you to get the idea that what candidates say is unimportant. Since we are choosing future leaders all we can go on is present promises, sometimes combined with past performance. When politicians promise things that are not within their power to deliver we need to call them on that. If I know that a guy only has fifty cents and he promises me five dollars, don't I have some responsibility to ask where the $4.50 is coming from?I'm Howard Merrell.
I promise it won't rain tomorrow.

It's STTA.



Beyond the Superbowl or Super-Tuesday:
After the Superbowl there is Super-Tuesday--today. If you're like me it seems pretty ordinary. In case you have been taking a Rip-van-Winkle-type nap, let me remind you that nearly half the states in the U. S. will hold primaries or caucuses today to make their choice for the Democratic and Republican nominees for President. Some people who follow such things think that the question on one side or the other might actually be settled today. Some folk hope so--it might bring a reprieve from the political ads.
Those of us who trust the supreme ruler, the God of the universe, need to maintain a balance.
Earthly leaders are important. History is in many ways a record of the good they have done and damage they have inflicted. But, we dare not make the mistake of thinking that they are the ultimate solution. The golden-age of universal blessing will not be ushered in as the result of an election, but by the return of the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
We have a responsibility to vote and exercise our political rights properly, but far beyond that we have the privilege of praying and living out a transformed life, before a watching world.
So what is that? Super-duper, and it's not just on Tuesday.
It's STTA.

I have never tried to literally get ducks in a row, but I figure, unless you're a momma duck, it must be hard. I know that lining up proverbial ducks is nigh to impossible, yet life demands that we constantly try. One problem that we have with quacker regimentation is deciding where to start. We need to make sure that we line up the most important ducks first. The Bible gives an orientation as to what is most important and what can go by the wayside. Too many of us have well lubricated fishing reels, nicely polished golf-clubs, or well-tuned bicycles, yet our private lives, and families are in disarray. The Bible gives guidance as to priorities. It helps us know where to start getting our ducks in a row.


A while back I received an email ad. Like you, I get about a million a day, but this one caught my eye. "Give your opinion on gay-marriage and closeout on digital cameras." it said. Obviously, the piece had some grammatical problems. I don't think the ad-writer intended to link those two the way she/he did. I'm totally in favor of closeouts on digital cameras; if the sale is good enough, I might register my approval by a purchase. "Gay marriage" on the other hand is an oxymoron on the same level as "hot cool things," or "dry water."
Beyond the lack of skills on the part of the ad writer, though, I was struck with how that which was, until quite recently, unthinkable has become so common, so completely everyday. (The same can be said about various heterosexual aberrations as well.) Our society is such that communications about issues that affect not only life, but our entire culture, are placed on the same level as those of merchants hawking their wares.
There is something out of whack here.
It's STTA.

Years ago I visited in an absolutely lovely home, built by a fairly well-to-do and very industrious and clever gentleman. The house was situated so that you could look out large windows and see a lovely mountain stream flowing near the house. My friend had actually considered constructing the house so that the brook would go through the building. It would have been absolutely gorgeous almost all the time. Every once in a while it would have been devastating. He was wise enough to not defy nature.
In looking at the pictures of New Orleans, I noticed that the French Quarter, one of the city’s oldest sections, stayed mostly dry. Hundreds of years ago folk had the same respect for nature as my friend. Near a river, you build on higher ground. As in the Lord Jesus’ parable about the two houses, where one chooses to build can have very long-term consequences.
The Lord’s story was about lives, not houses.
It’s STTA.