Be Careful; Be Watchful

(Photo by M Toerner; 12/2007)


We observe people day in and day out; people at work, loved ones, friends, people on the street. When we look at a person, we are unaware of the invisible "filters" we use to assess them. Yet, we consistently and persistently use such filters. They probably go hand in hand with the workings of our flesh.

Our assessment filters are like the blinds on a dirty window. The dirt and smudges corrupt and taint the view. We can "see" things, we can make things out, but we don't always see things clearly. Dirt and smudges distort our comprehension. Window blinds restrict light, clarity, and brightness.

We try to see clearly, but we can't; not because we don't want to. It's because we are prevented from doing so. We might look through this window (the above picture) and say, "Is the person on the right my sister? No, ... well, maybe ... I can't be sure." When we draw major conclusions about others because we think we KNOW or SEE pieces of evidence, we still need to be careful. God doesn't want us to make judgments of others. He knows that filters, dirty windows, and partially closed blinds, obstruct our vision. Be careful about judgments you make of others. Our vision is often obstructed.

Be careful; be watchful; reserve judgment.
murphy

Calcasieu Lake - View from my sister's destroyed house.

(Photo by M. Toerner 12/2008)

My sister's and brother-in-law's home was ruined this year by Hurricane Ike. This is the second time they have had to deal with a house ruined by a major storm. Rita took its toll just a few years ago.

They will be bulldozing their house in the near future. Please pray for Karen and Bubba. They are weary and worn thin. Doing this whole thing twice is beyond belief. Their spirits are still high and they are looking toward the future.

That's why I'm posting this picture. This is what one can see from their front yard. It is Calcasieu Lake in Southwest Louisiana. In this photo, the neighbor's wharf has been restored. It is a hopeful sight. Pray with me that they will be able to keep pressing through. In time, they will have a new home. God is faithful.

I sincerely appreciate your warm wishes and prayers (on their behalf).

Murphy

Pushing God Out of Our Culture

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary a while back.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.

I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina)

Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Tell someone about this article if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it or delete it ... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein

Something to Think About

A friend of mine opened his wife's lingerie drawer and picked up a gold box wrapped in silk paper. He commented, "This isn't any ordinary package." He unwrapped the box and stared at the exquisite silk camisole lying in the gold box.

"She got this the first time we went to New York , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never worn it; she was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it." He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died.

He turned to me and said, "One of the things I've learned from my wife's death is, 'Never save something for a special occasion; every day of your life is a special occasion.'

His words literally changed my life. Now I...
* read more and clean less
* sit on the porch without worrying about all the stuff I "should" be doing
* spend more time with my family and less at work
* understand that life should be a wonderful experience; not just something we survive

Now I ...
* don't save all of the good china, crystal glasses, and silver for special occasions
* use the crystal glasses every day
* wear new clothes to go to the supermarket (if I want to)
* don't save special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to

"The words, 'Someday...' and ' One Day...' are fading away from my vocabulary."

"If it's worth seeing, listening, or doing, I want to see, listen, or do it now."


I wonder what my friend's wife would have done if she had known she was about to die? I think she might have ...
* called her relatives and closest friends
* called old friends to make peace over past quarrels
* gone out for Chinese food (her favorite)
* made amends for the hurts she inflicted on those closest to her

Failure to do these small things is what I would (we all would) regret the most.

Each day, each hour, each minute, is special.
Plan for tomorrow, but live for today because tomorrow is promised to no-one.
May you choose to live life wisely today.
May you love others well (your family, friends, and even your enemies.)
May you live in a manner worthy of your calling.

May you live the kind of life that is rewarding and meaningful as you approach death.

With much fondness, Murphy

The Art of Virtue (Part 2)

Benjamin Franklin thought that thirteen virtues were essential for living a meaningful life:

1. TEMPERANCE - Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2. SILENCE - Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

3. ORDER - Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

4. RESOLUTION - Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

5. FRUGALITY - Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself, i.e., waste nothing.

6. INDUSTRY - Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary
actions.

7. SINCERITY - Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. JUSTICE - Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. MODERATION - Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. CLEANLINESS - tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.

11. TRANQUILLITY - Be no disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

12. CHASTITY - Rarely use venery (sexual intercourse) but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

13. HUMILITY - Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Quoted from The Art of Virtue by Benjamin Franklin, pp. 42-43

Meditate on these and ask the Lord how you are doing in each category. Let him speak into your life as to where you need to grow.

Murphy

Hide and Seek

(Photo by M. Henderson)

I grew up in southwest Louisiana. We were the first family on the block, but as time passed, other families came too. Eventually, we had a pack of children and we played together after school and during the summer. We built Christmas tree forts, played softball and football. When we were younger, one game we loved was, "hide & seek."

My favorite places to hide were: the wooded area behind our houses; the dirty clothes hamper in the hall bathroom (it was empty of dirty clothes); under the long built-in vanity; and in my bedroom in the huge closet.

Both of my sons loved playing hide & seek too. When my husband walked down the hallway toward their bedroom, I'd throw a sheet over the boys and pretend I did not know where they were. Walking into their bedroom, Mike would play along and say, "Dorable, have you seen the boys?" At which time, the boys would giggle and scream with glee.

Most people think the goal of "hide & seek" is to hide so well that you'll never be found; but this isn't the case. The real goal is to hide well enough to make the game fun, but not so well that you're never found. The fun really comes in the near misses. It's when you are just about to be found and you dart from your hiding place and make it back to base before the person playing "IT" can catch you. It is just awful to hide so well that "IT" can't find you. In fact, we will give our position away by making some silly noise just to keep the game interesting.

There is an adult form of "hide & seek," but instead of hiding from "IT," we hide from God and others. We hide from God because we assume He is angry, disappointed, and demanding. We hide from others because we feel inferior and ashamed. We wear "masks" so others can't see who we are for fear they will not accept us as we are.

Hiding from God started in the Garden of Eden, but it is truly pointless. We hide from the Person who loves us perfectly and completely. He's the only Person who values and cherishes us. Plus, because He is God, an all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present God, do we really think that our puny attempts at hiding will work? I don't think so.

Do you hide from God? Are you afraid of Him? Do you know Him as your good Shepherd and perfect Father? The truth is, God is the only Person we DON'T HAVE TO HIDE FROM. Perhaps we hide because we believe all the false accusations and bad press written about Him. If you knew Him personally, you would never have to hide again. Wouldn't that be a great thing?

Praying for you today,

Murphy