It's Only a Word

Is a good memory a good thing? Perhaps. There are things I want to forget...things I long to forget...things, heart-breaking things I pray to forget; but I don't; I can't.
There is a word, and while it's only a word, it touches the inner parts of our being...our soul.
The word is remorse, and the meaning comes clearer when we think about it as not one word, but two words. Morse: From Middle English mors, from Middle French, morse, bite, from Old French, bite. Think of a morsel of food: It's not a meal, just a small bite.
Remorse comes back to bite again and again...re-morse. The foolish things we did as children or as grown up children are stuck in muck of our memories. And oh how we wish we could undo the past, and more so with each returning small bite
But thank God, He will not remember our sins. Some of us are cursed with too much memory. The prayer of David is my prayer: "Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindness, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to Your mercy remember me for Your goodness' sake." [Psalms 25: 6, 7]

A Long Drive Home

It was a long drive home from the memorial service for Evy. There were probably one hundred people in Skokomish Valley Grange; husband Paul...he's 91...children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. Of course there were lots of friends, who like Evy had been born and and fed from the fertile fields of the valley.
Every once in a while the Skokomish River floods, carrying rich soil over the banks and onto the fields. Where other plants won't grow, in the Skok they don't have much of a choice. Evy didn't have a choice. Like everything else in the valley she grew and blossomed into not just a woman, but more of a character...with character.
Evy never did quite grow up. I don't mean that she didn't grow older, she did, but always kept some...perhaps a lot...of the child that is curious, excited, playful, and sometimes breaks the rules and gets into trouble. Yes; that was Evy.
Our pastor (Jennifer) preached a fine memorial "sermon;" the kind that makes people sit up and think about their own life and destiny. Folks were invited to share their memories of Evelyn, and they did. One old saint (95 years old) was seven years Evy's senior and she had lots to say...mostly about herself and graduating from the eighth grade right there in that Grange Hall.
After the prayers and testimonials we did what people always do after a funeral or memorial; we ate. What is there about food and funerals? It's like a full stomach takes enough blood from the brain that for a while at least you can forget that a precious soul has died and that your turn is getting closer; which was one of the points in Jennifer's sermon...it wasn't really a sermon, more like a question; "What will be your answer to God's call?" 
Will it be "Thank You Lord!" or maybe "No thanks, Lord. I like it right here where I am." 
I'll spend the rest of the day thinking about that. e.c.                 

Smarter 'n me

I bought a "Droid"... it's a phone...a smart phone. Within minutes of showing off the phone to my wife she said, "It'll take you the rest of your life to learn how to use it."  She's probably right; after 54 years I know that.
Actually, it's not just a phone; it's a computer, camera, video camera, hand-held TV, radio, GPS, telephone directory...and Bible. In fact, there are five Bibles (different versions) including Strong's Exhaustive Concordance! During Bible study at church I just touch the app and there it is...the study lesson, complete with links to all the texts in the lesson.
Why is this important enough to write about it? It has to do with the soon coming of Christ; it's all about Him. Anyone with a smart phone--and that's a lot of people--can tune in to Seventh-day Adventist programming--audio or video--anywhere there is a signal and that's almost everywhere. Speaking of which signs of the times are everywhere; lift up your head, our redemption is drawing nigh.
Here's a question: when in history has the whole world been in such turmoil? militarily, politically, morally, monetarily, ecologically, meteorologically (weather)...when?
The news is bad about the food supply...or should I say...dwindling food supply. Much of the world is hungry and if we are paying attention we can see it's getting worse.
On the other side of the ledger it means that the second coming of the Christ is very near, and that is what believers have hoped for since Jesus left this earth after His resurrection.
Why I-phones, I-Pads, I-Pods, Android smart phones? It is for such a time as this; to spread the Gospel around the world at the speed of light; the truth of God and about God is available 24/7.
One missionary from Madagascar told me that there are cell phones where there is no electricity...really? Yes. One person is responsible for collecting phones in a village and charging them at night.
If you want to watch streaming Christian TV on your computer Google these websites...
itiswritten.com
3abn.org
hopetv.org
amazingfacts.org

These links can be a real blessing. It's the Truth. Check it out. Christ is coming...soon!e.c.

Dear Congress Men and Women

Are these verses from the pen of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah fit for today...and tomorrow...and as long as there are politicians intent on imposing their perverse will on the heads of the people? You decide.

Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees,

and the writers who keep writing oppression,
to turn aside the needy from justice
and to rob the poor of my people of their right,
that widows may be their spoil,
and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
What will you do on the day of punishment,
in the ruin that will come from afar?
To whom will you flee for help,
and where will you leave your wealth?
Nothing remains but to crouch among the prisoners
or fall among the slain.
For all this his anger has not turned away,
and his hand is stretched out still.


(Isaiah 10:1-4 ESV)

Does Islam Know of This Verse? Do They Care?

Radical Islamists...so called...believe they are called to terrorize the world into believing as they believe and would destroy all who would disagree, debate, or depart from the faith.
Evidently they either do not know of this verse; or perhaps they misapply, misinterpret...or worse yet...ignore it all together.
Here is the verse as found in the Quran and Hadith: [Surah 10:99] "If it had been thy Lord's will, they would all have believed--all who are on earth! Wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe?"
Many in Islam cannot read and they trust those who tell them what is true when it may not be true. What would be the motive of submerging this verse from the hearts and minds of believers in the world wide nation of Islam? I do not know.
Blessings on all Muslims who read, understand, and live according to Surah 10:99. "Wilt thou..." e.c.

For a Time, a Final Post

Hello dear follower(s); It is with a heavy heart....sorry, wrong speech....Ahem: I have accepted the task of helping to write a textbook for freshman dental students; Christian Ethics for Dentists.
Many days I spend an hour or more thinking, writing, revising, etc., the content of each post. While I am working on the book and Power Point project I feel I need that hour in the morning. It's getting harder to clearly see the computer screen and by early afternoon I have to stop. Therefore, I feel compelled to pause a project that has gone on since 2008. Blessings to all who have read, commented, and connected from near and afar.
But I promise......there will be more....anon. Blessings. e.c.

The Power of Prayer...Daniel 9 and 10

Earlier I commented on Daniel and his prayer recorded in chapter nine verses 1-19. It is a powerful prayer and in my opinion, represents an "ought-to-be" model of prayer for God's people in these end times. In verses 20-22 we read that Gabriel was sent in answer to Daniel's prayer. But there is a second answer, and that too is very interesting because of who comes to speak to Daniel. We read about that in chapter ten.
The scene takes place on the shore of the Tigris River: "I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude." [Daniel 10:5, 6].
If this description sounds familiar it is because it is. Listen to John in Revelation 1:12-15..."Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters."
What Daniel writes in verses 11 and 12 of chapter ten I find thrilling and inspiring: "And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." 'While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. Then he said to me.' "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words."
Daniel's words...his prayers...his humility and strong desire to understand were the key that brought the answers to his questioning. Is it any different for God's people today? Of course not.
If God's people will humble themselves in repentance, asking forgiveness for their self reliance and self righteousness, they will have what they seek as they plead for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: "...I have come because of your words!"
Make it so, Lord. e.c.