Plumbing, real and metaphorical:

It's nice when it stays in the pipes.

I never lived in a house that lacked running water. I am old enough, though, to remember some relatives who had the kind of water you had to run and get. Much of the world has to deal with unreliable, unsafe water supplies. I am blessed to live in a place, actually places, that have safe water, available at the turn of a faucet handle. It's a great blessing, as long as it works. Curmudgeon alert: I know of few things more aggravating than plumbing that doesn't work. The drip-drip, or worse, spurt-spurt demands immediate attention. Make-shift repairs often don't work, and it seems that no matter how many spare parts one has, a trip to the plumbing supply store is unavoidable--sometimes two or three treks are needed. In its a blessing. When it gets out of its proper channel, running water is a pain in the neck.  Many good things are that way. Praise, when channeled through the discipline of truth, encourages others greatly. When it overflows and becomes flattery it can destroy character. Rebuke when controlled by love helps the person receiving it to grow. When it is polluted with bitterness it eats away a person's self-worth like acid. We need to make sure that our good is controlled so it doesn't degenerate into a curse. Keep it running in the right channels. It's STTA (Something To Think About).

Other Eclipses

Don't Let the Evil  Eclipse the Good

I was on the wrong side of the globe to see the eclipse today. I know some of my friends in North America enjoyed it. I figure somewhere across my great nation there is someone, who in spite of all warnings, stared at the eclipse without protection. I hope the damage is temporary. Though I was thousands of miles away from the path of totality, my mind has been occupied with other eclipses, and the dangers inherent in them. I'll put my thoughts in simple prayer form.       Lord, don't let: The trivial in my life, eclipse the important. The irritation that comes with relationships, block the blessing from view. The tendency to weariness, shade the light of victory that comes when we break through. The darkness of sin, overcome the brilliance of holiness. Lord, help to know, though my eyes are incapable of seeing Your Holiness, that it is still there. Someday the sin and fallen-ness that blocks it from view will be taken out of the way, and I will see your face. Though it is dark now, let me know that measured by your clock it is only for a moment. May I wait patiently for Your light to shine. Amen.   ". . . we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is"  (1 John 3:2, NLT).      ". . . they will see His face" (Revelation 22:4, NLT).   It's STTA (Something To Think About).

You can tell a lot by how someone walks.

Walkers:

We met Carmin this morning. We've said "Good morning" to her many times. She is one of the regulars on the abandoned road where we walk most mornings. One morning I teased her about not being able to fly. She was walking along, arms extended, flapping them up and down, looking like she was trying to get off the ground. Kathy has commented several times that she always looks happy. I think her husband is "Ninja-man." I gave him that title because he would carry his umbrella, shoved into the back of his shirt. That and his sort of Asian look make him resemble a Japanese warrior. We found out that Carmin walks to control her weight. She's lost 70 pounds. Then there is Art. I met him yesterday. A couple of weeks ago I saw him running. His movement reminded me of a man constantly falling down. Each step hit the ground just in time to keep him from completing his fall. I'd guess that he is late 40s. His determination is obvious. When I saw him yesterday, he was running, not falling. His progress is impressive. He finished his run about the same time Kathy and I finished our walk, so I went over and talked to him. He's training for a marathon. I could go on. There's mom & pop, bicycle-man, the fashion queen, and one guy who is a serious runner. I form opinions about people I have never met based on brief encounters when we pass each other on an exercise path. It doesn't only happen on walking-trails. After sharing three chapters of the Bible's most sublime truth, Ephesians 1-3, Paul says, "Therefore I . . . implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. . . . " (Eph. 4:1) On our morning walks,  I see military personnel upright, shoulders squared, folk who obviously have all day--no hurry, athletes doing wind-sprints, oldsters like me (not my wife) fighting the ravages of time, people who obviously care what they look like, others who obviously haven't given that a thought. Today, as I walk through life, will people see the characteristics in me, that mark me as a child of God? Lord, help me to walk well. Amen.   It's STTA (Something To Think About).

Not a good day . . .

It's a sad day for Virginia.

Normally, when people ask where I'm from, I answer with a measure of pride. "I'm from Virginia." That's not easy to do today. Perhaps you have followed the news from Charlottesville VA, home of the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and a place of Southern charm. Of late, the news has been anything but charming. There is a statue in a Charlottesville park of General Robert E. Lee. The General, and Traveller, the horse he is riding, are undeniable parts of Virginia and US history. The cause for which Lee fought, whatever his personal views may have been, was a cause that denied liberty--in the most absolute sense--to millions of people. We can, and should rejoice that slavery in the United States was abolished. In recognition of that, the park where Lee's statue sits was recently named "Emancipation Park." And so, the stage is set for a conflict of dueling rights.  "We have a right, even an obligation, to remember our history." "I have a right to go to the park without seeing a man who oppressed my people honored as a hero." "We have a right to speak freely, especially here in Mr. Jefferson's home town." "We have a right to oppose you, to point out that some whom you regard as heroes, were our oppressors." "We will not be silenced." "Neither will we." One of the ugly skills of evil is the ability to so twist virtue that it becomes self-destructive. I can hear the Council of Hell chuckling as they spin their plan. "We'll take their rhetoric defending freedom and use it to enslave them. It is a demonic sport that is played out well beyond Charlottesville. City councils, police, and courts are mostly made up of people of good will. They want to do what is right, but this kind of evil presents cases where those tasked with keeping law and order, while, at the same time respecting liberty can't win. "Freedom of speech" that only protects the speech of those with whom the majority agrees is not really freedom.*  Yet allowing the kind of hateful rhetoric, and offensive public display that is likely to produce a tragedy like the one that took place in Charlottesville Virginia hardly passes as protecting the public. Open your window and you hear the cries, "Somebody needs to do something!" Indeed, and that someone is you and I. One of the clear teachings of Scripture is beautifully summarized in the words of our Lord,    “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12, NASB)   Using the Lord's gift of Himself as the chief example, the Apostle Paul reminds us to, "count others more significant than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3, ESV). Each of us needs to stop being so insistent on "my rights," and start being more concerned about loving others. Much of what is wrong in our world will not be cured by more police and better laws. It will be made better by kindness shown to others. I may have a right, but I must consider my neighbor before I exercise that right. Perhaps I can't stop evil from putting on a show, but I can refuse to be a part of the audience. If enough of us do that, the evil plan will suffocate in the vacuum. I challenge the news services to start. I remember Paul Harvey who used to report on some senseless crime, "Of course, he would want me to give his name." Period, silence, next story. Instead of rushing to be the first to report a group of idiots carrying tiki torches, why not set the standard by being the first to hit the mute switch? The answer doesn't involve somebody. It must start with ME!   It's STTA (Something To Think About).  (*I state without equivocation that the speech of the white supremecists who showed up at Charlottesville is vile. The question is, "Can the law make them stop saying it, without at the same time infringing on the rights of others to say what they think?" Not everything that is legal is right, nor can/should everything that is wrong be made illegal.)

Finally, I'm Important Enough . . .

I'm Really kind of flattered.

I think the last time anybody threatened me with bodily harm was back when I was a freshman in high school. Since then I guess I've never been important enough to threaten. Until the other day, that is. Kim Jong Un says he is going to incinerate me, or something like that. It may have lost something in translation. The Supreme Leader, the Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, says he'll have a plan to bomb my home, by next week. Wow, from a nobody to somebody worth shooting with an ICBM. I'm really kind of flattered. You may think I'm out of line to make light of Dennis Rodman's buddy and his bellicose ranting. I figure if God can laugh at this sort of bluster, it ought to be OK for me have a chuckle. In spite of my humor, this is serious. My neighbors out here in the Pacific, where America's day begins, don't seem to be too worried. We are taking responsible action, which at this point isn't much, and we're trusting the Lord. Earlier today I posted some more serious thoughts on a blog I maintain. If you didn't already see the post you may want to click here. A friend of mine who lives in South Korea mist of the time reminded me earlier today, that there is risk involved in living anywhere. Especially when we go to a place to do the Lord's work, we shouldn't be afraid. That courage does not come from knowing that nothing bad will happen. I can't know that, because I have no guarantee that it is true. I do know that my Lord has promised to never leave or forsake me. He told me to not fear him who can only kill the body, but to fear Him who can destroy body and soul (Matthew 10:28). I don't figure I have much to fear from Mr. Kim, but I know that his oppression of the people of North Korea is great. I pray for them, and I encourage you to. Wherever you are in this world, evil abounds. Sin and death reign. God's people have the message of peace. Instead of worrying about what the Korean dictator might fire at us, let's do all we can to send out the Good News.   It's STTA (Something To Think About).

Even a dog depends on its mom for good raising.

"Bow-wow, mommies here to help you."

I heard an interesting article on NPR this morning. A group of scientists did a study on what kind of canine mothers raise the best guide dogs. The dogs that assist sight impaired people with mobility have to be smart, obedient, and well-behaved, so if we can produce more dogs with that disposition it would be great. It turns out that the dogs who coddle their pups tend to produce the poorest guide dogs. Dogs are different than people, and successful people need traits that aren't all that useful to a companion animal and vice-versa.Still it is an interesting concept. I'll only allow myself one analogy. Parents matter. Mom, dad follow the guidance God gives us in His word. Be steady. Persist in offering thediscipline and instruction of the Lord. Love unconditionally.   It's STTA (Something To Think About).

The Click-track of life:

"Click . . . Click . . . Click . . ."

My grandson is a drummer. I'm not a musician, but I know from what other musicians say, and just from being able to tell when someone is good at something, that he is really good at it. I'm not into the type of music that his band plays, but I know that, as he puts it, It has to be "tight." I would describe They Will Fall's music as chaotic, but it is a very carefully planned chaos. In order to keep it together, they generally use a "click-track." A steady rhythm click, click, clicks in Christopher's ear to keep him on track, not to mention with "the track." In a recent Facebook post, Christopher commented, "I've noticed in myself after playing to clicks for years now that I've lost a lot of feel as a musician. I've lost a little bit of the ability to read the other musicians. It's easy to become a robot and forget that music is supposed to provoke emotion. . . . [S]ometimes it's refreshing to just rely on each other's individual artistic voice and not rely on a Macbook Pro to dynamically lead through a set." Though, as I said, I'm not a musician, I identify with the balance this sharp, young man talks about. My style is to take my ear-bud out and just respond to what is going on around me, fly by the seat of pants, just let it come, and live in the moment. If I let that tendency rule, though, I find, at the end of the day, that my "to do list" has become a record of all the things I didn't get done. If go into by-the-agenda mode, I walk by hurting people without helping, "click, click," and though others are rejoicing, I am oblivious to their joy. "click, click, click." The Apostle Paul we meet in the New Testament was an incredibly disciplined man, yet he was aware of, and responded to, those around him. “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15, NASB95). The Lord Jesus, though clearly dedicated to a Divine timetable--“He had to pass through Samaria.” and, “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem;” (John 4:4, Luke 9:51, NASB95)--took time to reach out to children, was aware when a woman in need touched Himin a crowd, and reached out to her. Lord, I have things to do, things I believe You want me to do, and others are depending on me to accomplish, yet, I know, Lord, that all around me others are rejoicing, hurting, discouraged, exhilarated, weary, or bored with life. Don't let me ignore them. Help me remember that the most important things aren't things at all. They are people. People for Whom You, Christ, died. Keep me balanced. AMEN   It's STTA (Something To Think About).

Time Flies on Wings. It won't wait for you

I've thought a lot recently about a poem I read back in high school. I'm fairly sure that Andrew Marvell's intentions were not--how does one put it?--all together honorable, toward "his Coy Mistress." Still four lines from the poem have stayed with me for half-a-century, now:    But at my back I always hear Time's winged chariot hurrying near; Thus, though we cannot make our sun Stand still, yet we will make him run.  Events have conspired, of late, to make me acutely aware of times passage, and the eroded landscape it leaves behind. My little brother had a birthday. Two of the youngest senior citizens I know were just confronted with the reality of mortality. My younger grandson is now fourteen. Though you'd never know it by looking at my lovely wife, in a week and a day we celebrate our Forty-fifth Anniversary. Just this morning I talked to a friend considerably younger than me; we discussed his retirement. It was the second serious conversation I've had this week about age and mortality. I'm surrounded by people younger than me, not only the students at Pacific Islands University, but the staff. Some of them are younger than my sons.  As if that wasn't enough video footage of the winged chariot rolling, unhindered along. The subject matter this week, for the class I'm teaching was heaven. Finally, though I started the week with good intentions, here it is Fridayand I'm just now giving you something to think about. It's not nearly as poetic, but the following has some of the same sentiment and is more my style than the verse of the Cavalier Poet. "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to slide across the finish line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, and shouting GERONIMO!!!"    Whether you prefer the version from the literature book, or the doggerel from the Internet, there is something to be said for the sentiment. As a fellow preacher reminded us Don't waste your life. I could say more, but I think you've got it. Go live Life. Love Jesus. Like the great apostle "finish your race. It's STTA (Something To Think About).