What Matters Now?

Gadhafi, Qadafi, Moamer Kadhafi, Muammar Gaddafi,Qaddafi, or the nick-name President Reagan gave him, Mad-Dog.  I read that there were 112 ways to spell the Libyan dictator's name.  The linguistic wonder was even the subject of a Saturday Night skit. 
For over forty years the alphabet-soup ruler of the African nation reigned with absolute power.  His terror reached around the world, to Scotland, Germany, and Syracuse New York.  His palaces were huge, his wardrobe beyond even Elton John's.  In the "end" he was dragged out of a highway culvert and killed.
I put quotation marks around "end" because we know it isn't the end.  Hebrews 9:27 gives us the truth, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
Gadhafi was known as a "Strong-man" here.  Before God he is weak.  Even at the end of his life he was surrounded by guards and servants.  Before God he will stand totally alone.  The only thing more varied and colorful than the Libyan dictator's name was his wardrobe, but before the Lord nothing will be covered.  Not only the deeds he has done, but the thoughts of his heart will be judged.
About a day yet to come John said, "I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."  (Revelation 20:12-15)

Some things you just can't avoid, no matter how powerful you are.

It's STTA.

I had just done the final burst on my Airdyne, so it may be that all the blood had gone out of my cranium, but I think I heard the news say that a majority of Americans thought we needed to rally around a hopeful message. "Amen!" says the oxygen deprived one.  But--and that is a big word right here--but, what do we hope for? All across America, right down to the little community where I live, it seems there is agreement on one thing.  We are in a mess.  Once you get beyond that generic observation, though, unity splatters like my wife's china bowl after I drop it on the ceramic floor.   

More laws.

Fewer regulations.

Tighten the borders.

Remember we are a nation of immigrants.

Free Trade!

Impose Tarrifs.

 

Occupy Wall Street or put them all in jail.

 

So for what do we hope?

I'm not encouraging civic lethargy, but if I might be so bold I'd like to give an answer I once heard from Curly Fine, of Three Stooges fame.  When asked if he was a Democrat or a Republican, I believe he answered, "Neither.  I'm a Pedestrian."  Our hope ought to not be based in what the government can do but in the way we walk, 

and that's where God's word comes in.  Scripture frequently gives instructions for walking in such a way that engenders legitimate hope.  Here is one example:  ". . . walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love. . . . just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;" (Ephesians 4:1-4)  

 

Let's rally 'round that hope.

It's STTA.

Here's hope:  http://covingtonbiblechurch.com/lifesmostimportant.html

My wife and I have lived in two houses for our entire 39 years of marriage.  Our first nine months were spent in a trailer between Clarks Summit, where I was finishing college, and Tunkhannock, PA--our church was near there.  I know the more accepted term is "mobile home," or "manufactured housing," but ours was a trailer, with the odd quirks associated with that kind of house.  Since then our home, remodeled almost constantly, has been at 2106 S. Carpenter Drive.  You might think that for folk who have avoided the American urge to move and/or build bigger and better that simplicity would come easily.  You would be wrong.  
My part of the garage is a paradigm for the rest of my life.  If someone had charted the clutter in my "shop" over the years it would probably look like a perfect up and down oscillation.  Clutter, just plain dirt, and disorganization will increase until it gets to be too much.  Then a cleaning, putting away, creating organizational solutions, and just getting rid of stuff binge will begin.  After that there will be a steady state of "Doesn't this look nice?" and "Doesn't this make your shop a more inviting place to work?" that will last for a few days or maybe weeks, before, "I don't have time to clean up." will cause the curve to inch upward again.  
My wife's mottos are "Simplify," and "Eliminate and Concentrate."  As is true about almost everything, I'd be far better off if I listened to her more.  
My head and heart need cleaning as well.  There are times when the clutter--and in my head the clutter doesn't even stay still; it swirls around--gets so great that it prevents regular, more important activity from progressing.
This morning my grandson helped me out.  

"Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread."  

What an uncluttering thought!
Sharp kid!

It's STTA.

BTW, you can find that bread here: http://covingtonbiblechurch.com/lifesmostimportant.html

Sure Could Use Some Good--even sensible--News:

As I often do, I started this morning by watching some news.  As usual, it was mostly bad.  This morning, though, a particular kind of badness struck me.  Country singer Hank Williams Jr. seemed more ready for football than to answer questions about the current political scene.  His answers were mostly mono-syllables, barely above grunts, though he did manage to link our president to Adolph Hitler.  Then we were given the benefit of Roseann Barr's careful analysis of the economy.  Everyone who earns more than $100 million--no doubt, a number arrived at after careful study--should give back the excess, or go to Cambodian style re-education camps, or, failing said re-education, be beheaded.  Is "demouthed" a word?
Then there was an enlightening series of interviews with the residents of a tent-village, who want to "take over Wall Street."  As near as I can tell none of them have any idea what they will do with the financial capital of our nation if they manage to seize it.  Perhaps watch Roseanne reruns, hang out with Rowdy Friends, and broadcast old Michael Moore movies?
I was about to despair of hearing not only good news, but any that actually made any sense, when the story of Josh Ripley helping a cross-country competitor came up.  

Lord, help me to live so as to help those in need, and to encourage those who search for good news like a thirsty man in the desert looks for water.  
Amen

It's STTA.