Outside My Window

There is a bluebird outside my window pecking at the ground. The color blue is the boldest I have seen on a bird.

I looked outside because I heard a loud noise. It was a woodpecker doing what woodpeckers do to the tree. The tree is about 5 feet from the window. I can see the woodpecker clearly. It has a black feathers with white spots.

Below the tree is a huge variety of grasses. It is not suppose to be that way-it is suppose to be Bermuda grass. Today God chooses the grasses in my yard. I must admit His choices seem to be healthier than mine.

There is a slight mist in the air. Last night it rained and left puddles on the low spots of the sidewalk. A little girl, who is just beginning to walk, it enjoying splashing in the puddle while her dad watches. He is smiling from ear to ear, occasionally laughing out loud. Here comes the mother who is not so happy about the formerly dry little girl.

Our neighbor just got a baby poodle. The poodle is going for a walk. Actually it is wanting to stop and do what dogs do, but instead is getting pulled faster than little paws can go.

Today, I am looking out my window when I am suppose to be studying for the class I will teach tomorrow on creation (Genesis 1). This is a good study session.

Thank you God for letting me see you in action!

“Sync” with God

I love most aspects of technology. I have a hard time remembering how I conducted my business before I had a cell phone. My laptop computer is like a part of my body that I can not imagine being without. I would not be a whole person without it. To keep myself informed and mobile I have a PDA (personal data assistant). Addresses, phone numbers, key contact names, appointments, etc. are all available at the touch of the screen. My PDA helps to keep my life sane. One disadvantage of the PDA is that if I do not keep it in sync with my laptop, it’s usefulness is limited.

I am like my PDA in many ways. I have in my memory lots of useful information. Patricia will add that I have a lot of useless information also (she wants me on her trivia team). Most of the time, I have the ability to come up with the right information…if you give me enough time to think about it.

Another way I am like my PDA is that if the wrong information is input into my memory, the wrong information will come out. This requires on a updated “sync” to keep me on top of my game. As fast as life is, I am updating my facts often. My desire is to always present accurate information.

Now, here is the problem. The places I “sync” to are not always reliable. Some corrupt files enter into my memory. I have to be ever vigil to keep that from occuring. Some information I aquire is thrust upon me by people that I must meet and places that I must go. I input into my memory things I see on television, on the internet and in the newspaper. I listen to the radio while I drive and what I hear ends up in my memory.

What I need to do is “sync” often with God. His word give right information. His word gives right direction (a light for my path). His word is useful for daily input. His word will shape the memory I have about people I meet and places I visit. His word influences and even manages my resources of time and money. 

God Bless!

Relationships

MT 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”MT 22:37 Jesus replied: ” `Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.

39 And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’

MT 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca, ‘ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

MT 5:23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Relationships are important to God.  They are sandwiched in between love for God  and giving God your worship.

Why is it that we place reationships in a much lower status?

Computer Humor

If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their famous sketch, ‘Who’s on First?’ might have turned out something like this: COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT 

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? 

COSTELLO: Thanks. I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer. 

ABBOTT: Mac? 

COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou. 

ABBOTT: Your computer? 

COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one. 

ABBOTT: Mac? 

COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou. 

ABBOTT: What about Windows?  

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here? 

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows? 

COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at the windows? 

ABBOTT: Wallpaper. 

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software. 

ABBOTT: Software for Windows? 

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have? 

ABBOTT: Office. 

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything? 

ABBOTT: I just did. 

COSTELLO: You just did what? 

ABBOTT: Recommend something. 

COSTELLO: You recommended something? 

ABBOTT: Yes. 

COSTELLO: For my office? 

ABBOTT: Yes. 

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office? 

ABBOTT: Office. 

COSTELLO: Yes!  for my office! 

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows 

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let’s just say I’m sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need? 

ABBOTT: Word. 

COSTELLO: What word? 

ABBOTT: Word in Office. 

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office. 

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows. 

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows? 

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue ‘W’. 

COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue ‘w’ if you don’t start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with? 

ABBOTT: Money. 

COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have? 

ABBOTT: Money. 

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money? 

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer. 

COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer? 

ABBOTT: Money. 

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer? 

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge. 

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much? 

ABBOTT: One copy. 

COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money? 

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money. 

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money? 

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT! 

(A few days later) 

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you? 

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off? 

ABBOTT: Click on ‘START’………….      

Rise Again

Go ahead, drive the nails in my hands
Laugh at me where you stand.
Go ahead and say it isn’t me,
The day will come when you will see.
‘Cause I’ll rise again.
Ain’t no power on earth can tie me down.
Oh yes, I’ll rise again.
Death can’t keep me in the ground.

Go ahead and mock my name,
My love for you is still the same.
Go ahead and bury me,
But very soon I will be free.
‘Cause I’ll rise again.
Ain’t no power on earth can tie me down.
Yes, I’ll rise again.
Death can’t keep me in the ground.

Go ahead and say I’m dead and gone,
You will see that you were wrong.
Go ahead, try to hide the Son,
But all will see that I’m the one.
Because I’ll rise again.
Ain’t no power on earth can keep me back.
Yes, I’ll rise again.
Come to take my people back.

And I’ll rise again.
Ain’t no power on earth can tie me down.
Yes, I’ll rise again.
Death can’t keep me in the ground.

Today, Patricia & I went to a sunrise service at a local church. The message was not very impressive, the singing was average, and the hour was early.

But very early in the morning, several women rushed to a tomb to finish the burial process and found it empty. That empty tomb is the message of the morning. Empty tombs are not very impressive, unless it was occupied hours before.

Jesus promised that he would rise again and he did! That promise is the foundation of all other promises of Jesus. That He will “Rise Again” assures me that He will come again.

Come Jesus Come.

The Two Men I Love

On March 5 , 1928 Paul Ray Bartlett was born. On March 20, 1987 Daniel Gary Bartlett was born. My Dad just celebrated 80 years of living. My Son celebrates today 21 years of joy he has brought to his parents.

I have been blessed by being able to love these 2 men.

Easter

This information was sent to me….I hope it is accurate.

This is the earliest Easter you will ever see.

Have you realized how early Easter is this year (March 23)? As you may have heard, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare. Here’s the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here are the facts: 1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you’re 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!). 2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

Daniel’s computer

This weekend I loaded on Daniel’s computer a new malware software program. In the installation, the program searched the entire hard drive for threats and virus contamination. It found 42 “cookies” that might cause a threat and deleted them.

This caused me to think about how God looks into my heart for “cookies” that might threaten my spiritual health. We pray for God to search us and find a clean heart. The “cookies” that are left behind in us are the result of questionable places, thoughts, or actions we visited. God is ready to delete the “cookies” (SIN) in our lives, if we will just ask. God will then find in us a clean heart.

My First Blog

I read several blogs a day. I am challenged, amused, uplifted, or edified by what I read. I hope that what I contribute will be one of the same. I am not sure how often I will post a blog, but as God transforms me, Patricia loves me, or I see something new, I will share it with you.

God Bless!