Know anyone who needs to hear this? Besides you and me?
This video is great. Well done.
Of course, the ending of the parable doesn't work out too good for the forgiven one in the full parable, does it?
Don't be that guy.
"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Meant to be a blessing, but could be turned into a horrific curse.
Lord, have mercy.
Hat tip, Higher Things.
It's been almost 8 months since I posted anything. Not a record, but not what I envisioned for 2021.
At the beginning of each year, I try to set a few goals to keep me from being a slug. Last year I set a very high posting goal for this blog at 100 posts.
Let's see...how'd I do? Sixteen you say? Well, at least I wasn't even in the ballpark and fell just short. Such things are deflating when you come close and still fail.
Once I realized I was going to fail on this one, I guess I went big.
The rest of my goals weren't so bad.
I actually hit my push up and squat goals in early September. I finished the year with 15,000 of each.
I have no idea how many steps I took, because things took a major change for me last year in the phone area.
I stopped carrying my phone with me. I would sometimes go days without even checking it, only to see it was dead. (I highly recommend doing this if you can).
And since I was using my phone to track my steps, I no longer tracked them.
However, things took a dramatic turn for me last year regarding my overall health and fitness. In addition to the above body weight exercises, I added significant amounts of weight training as well as now walking and running.
Last year I wrote the following: "I'm getting a little slower, a little grayer, a little less strong, and a little less energetic...I am honestly exhausted."
By the grace of God, I can honestly say that is no longer the case. I am faster, stronger and more energetic than I was a year ago. And I don't know how, but I think I am less gray. Thank you.
I did well with reading. Finished the Bible around Thanksgiving, reading 4 chapters a day.
Would like to get in more reading this year, in general.
As far as specific goal setting, here is what I think is realistic:
1- 15,000 push ups and squats
2- 10 books
3- 50 blog posts
4- Run my first 5K.
5- Recite the Lord's Prayer, The Creeds, Luther's morning and evening prayers every day. I can't believe I haven't done this every day. Maybe I should just read the Treasury of Daily Prayer every day.
6- Listen to Issues, Etc and morning chapel every day it's available.
7- Get up at the same time every day. I had been doing this for 10-15 years prior, but last year I became a little less rigid about it. That was a bad idea.
As always, Deo Volente.
Checking in again.
Today I hit 5000 pushups. I will hit my goals by mid to late October, God willing I stay healthy and no unforeseen circumstances. I have added a lot more exercises, too.
I have finished Luke, John and Acts in the New Testament.
I decided after finishing Acts that I would do 4 chapters a day in the Old Testament, and suspend the New Testament, so that when I get back to it and start to read the Epistles it would be in bigger chunks than just a chapter a day.
I think the Epistles should be taken in larger chunks to help the reading context.
So I have now read from Joshua through Ezra 4.
My posting is way behind, but I am still confident I can make that up with the summer close at hand.
I have yet to sit and watch a baseball game this year. I do check the standings.
Hope everyone is well. Blessings to all!
Long time no see. Or such.
If you have the time check out Fighting For the Faith's breakdown of covenants.
Then listen to Dr. Arthur Just's lesson on the Passover/Last Supper in Luke from Issues, Etc.
Then think about how well they tie together.
Think about what remembrance is referring to here, as we hit Maundy Thursday.
God does everything for us. We do nothing.
Wow! Deep, amazing and awesome stuff going on here, Maundy Thursday.
It will take about 2 1/2 hours, but there is no way you won't be glad you spent it.
1.
2. Encore: The Passover According to Luke – Dr. Arthur Just (issuesetc.org)
Been awhile since I last checked in.
If I were king, my first official act would be to outlaw wallpaper.
I hope that gives you an idea of the kind of days I have been having the past 11 days. I am convinced the only people who decide to hang wallpaper in a room are those who have never had to take it down.
Not good, clean fun.
But I have persevered and conquered so far, thanks be to God for that. Just one room to go.
'Nuff said about that, except I hope you will give me due consideration for the position just for that stroke of genius alone.
Anyway, we are now two months into the year. I have been able to keep up reading and exercising, despite my mess.
I have read since February 20th, the date of my last post:
Deuteronomy.
Luke 8-18.
I am at 2400 push ups and 2200 squats.
I am behind on posting, but I have a good reason and should be back posting regularly again soon. I have a back log of ideas coming.
Friday Reading:
Numbers 10-12.
Mark 15.
Saturday Reading:
Numbers 13-15.
Mark 16.
Sunday Reading:
Numbers 16-18.
Luke 1.
Monday Reading:
Numbers 19-21.
Luke 2.
Tuesday Reading:
Numbers 22-24.
Luke 3.
Wednesday Reading:
Numbers 25-27.
Luke 4.
Thursday Reading:
Numbers 28-30.
Luke 5.
Friday Reading:
Numbers 31-33.
Luke 6.
Saturday Reading:
Numbers 34-36.
Luke 7.
We have been trying to incorporate Morning Chapel into our daily routine, although some days it doesn't work out. You can find it at Issues, Etc.
I appreciate the variety of the worship formats, from the Divine Services to Matins and such.
When my reading and either Sunday Service or the Chapel Services come close together, it is a pretty cool thing- "Hey, we just read this!". Doesn't happen often but does enough that it gets "extra" attention from my mind. I know, that is pitiful, but it is true.
Sometimes the opposite happens, a service has a reading or sermon on something I know is coming up in a few days or relates to the readings somehow in the near future.
This happened with the reading from last Tuesday in Numbers 22 about Balaam and his ass. We had just had a message from Morning Chapel the previous week on that.
Definitely worthwhile to make the time to listen when you can.
Friday:
Leviticus 16-18.
Mark 8.
Saturday:
Leviticus 19-21.
Mark 9.
Sunday:
Leviticus 22-24.
Mark 10.
Monday:
Leviticus 25-27.
Mark 11.
Tuesday:
Numbers 1-3.
Mark 12.
Wednesday:
Numbers 4-6.
Mark 13.
Thursday:
Numbers 7-9.
Mark 14.
The countdown is at 6 days for Spring!
I have to admit I had no excitement about the Cardinals looking toward the next baseball season, until a couple weeks ago.
That is when the Cardinals front office seemingly woke up from a several years nap.
Since then there have been 3 major developments which have changed my level of interest.
1- They traded to get Nolan Arenado for as little as anyone could imagine, and avoided having to pay for him at all this year.
2- They re-signed Adam Wainwright.
3- They re-signed Yadier Molina.
I think they have another move left in them, now that they are awake. Time will tell. But I am glad to see the team trying to win something, rather than just hanging around the edge of the playoffs.
I am just glad they finally stopped slumbering. Get them some coffee and we might have a real contender by opening day.
Tuesday Reading:
Exodus 25-27.
Matthew 26.
Wednesday Reading:
Exodus 28-30.
Matthew 27.
Thursday Reading:
Exodus 31-33.
Matthew 28.
A few things I wanted to note in this past 3 days reading set.
First, I could have posted this in Genesis 20, but it also goes with Matthew 27 which deals with the crucifixion.
Fighting For The Faith once again came through here in the series on Understanding The Old Testament. It's another must see in this series. If you haven't seen it, you really need to do so. Go to:
(129) A Pirate Christian's Guide to the Old Testament Part 3 - YouTube
Really awesome.
Secondly, is the seriousness of the Sabbath in Exodus 31.
However, as we read a few chapters ago in Matthew, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Applying the principles we have learned from Pastor Rosebrough, to reconcile this we are to see and understand that Jesus is the Sabbath.
Lastly, I chuckle every time I read Exodus 32, for the sheer "ludiocrisy" of Aaron and his quick thinking. That well thought out excuse he gives for the golden calf incident.
Either he's stupid, or he thinks Moses is stupid, or he is just a terrible liar.
Probably all 3.And that goes for every one of us, too. .
Anyway, it is one of the funniest moments in the Bible. I'm sure this is what I must look like to God at times. So glad this part of the story was recorded.
So much good stuff here. Thanks for reading along.
Saturday:
Genesis 46-48
Matthew 16.
Sunday:
Genesis 49-50.
Matthew 17.
Monday:
Exodus 1-3.
Matthew 18.
Tuesday:
Exodus 4-6.
Matthew 19.
Wednesday:
Exodus 7-9.
Matthew 20.
Thanks to Barb The Evil Genius for pointing out my mistake on my post January 11th when I stated that the year was a third over. Of course I meant to say the month. I have left it up there as is, without correction, in all of its glory.
But what if that could be true. Think of all the great things that could happen if the year was only 31 days long.
First, we would all live much longer. Instead of our life expectancies being only 80 years roughly, they would instead be 960 years. Which is as old as Methuselah.
We would spend many more years in school. It would take us 144 years after kindergarten to even graduate high school. Think of how much more we could learn and how much smarter we would be.
Think of all the time off.
Saturdays and Sundays would account for roughly 8-10 days of the year. We would have to jam in all the holidays in the 21 to 23 days remaining. New Year's, Martin Luther King's Birthday, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I count 10 holidays.
That would mean we would only work 11 to 13 days a year.
The only downside I see is having to file income tax returns every 31 days.
What do you think? Sounds great to me.
You're welcome. Sometimes great things happen by accident. But I'll keep working on more ideas to advance our world, too.
Tuesday:
Genesis 34-36.
Matthew 12.
Wednesday:
Genesis 37-39.
Matthew 13.
Thursday:
Genesis 40-42.
Matthew 14.
Friday:
Genesis 43-45.
Matthew 15.
In 2019's last post I embedded a video from Fighting For the Faith about understanding the Old Testament.
That series was awesome. As I read through the story of Joseph and his brothers, I am reminded of this in particular.
Here is the link. Very incredible.
Saturday and Sunday:
Genesis 25-30.
Matthew 9-10.
Monday:
Genesis 31-33.
Matthew 11.
Well, we are a third of the way through the year. Let's take a little inventory on how the year is going:
Pushups 600.
Squats 600.
Steps ? my app is amiss because I don't like walking with my phone. I am not hitting 10,000 though I am sure.
Posts 6.
Doing well except not sure how to get the steps in now and count them.
Genesis 13-15.
Matthew 5.
I have the Lutheran Study Bible and one of the footnotes on Melchizedek from today's reading states that the early church fathers and even Martin Luther "associated" him with Shem.
I don't remember ever reading that anywhere, even though I have read this multiple times, but if it were true would be kinda cool. So, to test whether this theory is even possible, I pulled out the ol' reliable Timechart Of Biblical History. There are some pretty cool charts on that resource that put forth timelines.
If you don't have this, you should. Remember yesterday when I mentioned the basement of the Ark Encounter being their bookstore? Well guess where I bought this book?
The timeline is a treasure trove of people, blood lines and contemporaneous events.
By studying the timeline, I am happy to report that not only was Shem alive when Abram walked the Earth, but he was also alive at the time Isaac was born! And the Great Sphinx was built.
No wonder Abram treated him like he did- it may have been his great-great-great-great...OK, I am too lazy to try to calculate how many greats I need...grandfather.
So it is very possible this legend could be true.
It helps when you live over 500 years. You sure get to see a lot. Not sure I will make it, though. We'll see.
Genesis 10-12.
Matthew 4.
I love reading about The Flood, so yesterday's reading was the foundation of all that.
If you haven't yet been to the Creation Museum or The Ark Encounter, you are missing a couple visits you will never forget. Make it your summer destination if possible.
The Ark Encounter is awesome. We went there in 2018. I am looking forward to going back.
The massive structure is stunning to behold. The exhibits are so well done, from the weather and climate, to the engineering explanations of how the ark could have functioned, including waste removal and fresh water systems, to the feeding and living quarters.
And I could spend a couple hours alone in the basement in the gift shop, just looking at the books and resources.
I also recommend Answers In Genesis, the force behind both, as a worthy charity of which to contribute. I have never been disappointed by anything they have ever done and have gladly given my hard earned money for a few years.
These are some photos I snapped with people in the foreground in order to try to show the scale of this structure. It might help to click on each photo to see as the post itself will not do it justice.
Massively awesome. Can't wait to go back.
Saturday:
Genesis 4-6.
Matthew 2.
Sunday:
Genesis 7-9.
Matthew 3.
I haven't changed the look of my blog in a long time, until now.
I must say I really like it, and don't think I have ever had a theme like this one. Maybe I'm wrong.
Is there any way to go back and view historically what our blogs looked like say 5 or 10 years ago. I can remember a few themes, but not all of them.
I remember a black and gold theme after the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series, to signify the win and trophy.
I remember a baseball and grass theme at one time.
But I have stuck with mostly reds due to the Cardinals, and grays and blacks and off-whites.
It would be nice to put a picture up on this blog, but can't figure out how to put it in the background instead of having it tile across.
Anyway, we will go with this one for awhile, at least until Spring. The start of which has apparently not been declared yet. Hurry it up already!
So what do you think? I kinda like it. Looks good, no?
Good morning!
Haven't posted since 2019. So, I'm sure a lot has happened. Anyone want to fill me in?
And will it take long? I have some things to do. Please hurry it up.
Anyway, I haven't changed, at least not that I have noticed. Except I'm getting a little slower, a little grayer, a little less strong, and a little less energetic.
Actually that last part is not exactly true. I am honestly exhausted.
Other than those 4 things, I really haven't changed.
But a little rest in the near future, starting today, and I should be good as new soon.
While some would say this past year has been trying, and it certainly has been that, and a lot of people would like all this to end and go back to the way it used to be, and I certainly can understand that, just think about those who lived through a couple World Wars.
Think of the uncertainty, the sacrifice, and the day-to-day grinding it took to make it through those times. We are just about a year into this, and people are already weary. Can you imagine having another 3 years of this to endure? I have my doubts that "we", collectively, could do it.
We just gotta take it one day at a time, lest we forget tomorrow is promised to no one. I know not how we could forget that in the year we just had, but I have at times.
So, since we're now going to be living one day at a time...
...let's set some goals for the year!
It's been three years since I've taken a through-the-Bible reading journey, both personally and on this blog. So here we go again.
For today:
Genesis 1-3.
Matthew 1.
Please join me. We will definitely finish before the end of the year, unless someone gets sick. Or I actually get interested in professional sports again.
Like baseball.
And the New Year is a good time to start exercising again, something I have neglected the past 10 months. I will set very modest targets this year, which I hope to blow through. No more 25,000 or 30,000 push ups or squats goals as in years past, at least not this one. How about 10,000 of each, and 10,000 steps a day? That's easy to remember.
Looking forward to lots more posting this year. I'll say 100 posts sounds doable to me, if not down right frightening for anyone still out there reading.
I can't believe I still have some followers.
I may even venture into something called MySpace and Twizzler(?), which I have heard are becoming popular.
Of course, Deo Volente.
