| Strange and Interesting events from May 30 in history |
| 1666 – Great Fire of London ends: 10,000 buildings including St. Paul's Cathedral are destroyed, but only 16 people are known to have died 1882 – The first United States Labor Day parade is held in New York City. 1972 – A Palestinian terrorist group called "Black September" attack and take hostage 11 Israel athletes at the Munich Olympic Games. 2 die in the attack and 9 die the following day. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." William Butler Yeats |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| Keep smiling … it makes everyone wonder what you're up to. |
| Today's Fuel4theFire |
| "Don't make me come down there." Every parent has said some version of that. We used to hear it when we would be rough housing in the basement and we would hit the duct work that ran along the ceiling with a pool cue, a broom handle or a ball of some diverse weight and size. The sickening hollow thud would echo through the house while we cringed in fear of the inevitable response: "Don't make me come down there!" In Genesis 11, the Bible records how the people had become of one mind and used their unity to build a tower in an attempt to reach heaven. They had ignored God's directive to replenish the earth and instead built a kingdom unto themselves. "And the Lord came down to see…" (v.5). It is hard to imagine how 'big' God is. We know that "the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9). We know some of the qualities that God possesses, although I don't think we grasp them fully. How can we really understand an all-knowing, everywhere present God who is not limited as to strength, power and wisdom? How can we comprehend what it means to be outside of time? We can know it and still not understand the height and breadth and depth of who God is. And all of that makes it even more incredible that God is willing to enter into humanity; "And the Lord came down to see…" There were times as a child that I felt good when my parents would 'come and see.' Whether it was a ball game, a school project, or a childish stunt; they cared enough to come down and see. It really speaks of God's great love that He would enter our world; that He is not beyond meeting us where we are at. He does not look at us as bothersome or unclean. Matthew 10:30 says that He has numbered the very hairs on our head. His purpose in that statement has nothing to do with receding hair lines and everything to do with affirming that He knows every intricate detail of who you are. He is aware of every facet of your life. He hears your heart, knows your fears and resides in your dreams. He weeps with your disappointments, hurts when you hurt and rejoices when you overcome the evil one! "And the Lord came down to see…" We do not serve a distant God who has merely set a plan into motion; we serve a God who is intimately involved with a creation He dearly loves. His desire is for us; like a mother with a new born … He cannot get enough of us. "And the Lord came down to see…" He came because He cares and because He wants us to have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). That's a little Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from August 29th in history |
| 1831 – Michael Faraday discovers electromagnetic induction. 1885 – Gottlieb Daimler patents the world's first motorcycle. 1966 – The Beatles perform their last concert before paying fans at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not a bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly." - Jim Rohn |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| Latest Conspiracy theory: Humpty Dumpty was pushed! |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "The Power We Think We Have" |
| I was intrigued by an article I read in the USA Today on August 20, 2010 from the Faith and Reason department. It asked the question and formed an opinion at the same time; "Who, exactly, is 'Christian'? Or Christian enough? Or the right variation of Christian -- i.e. probably the one you are or you like." The article mentioned that 18% told a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life survey that President Obama is Muslim; 34% said he is Christian, and 43% are unsure. The piece sites Michael O'Loughlin, a blogger at America magazine's In All Things. He writes: "There are still pockets of Evangelicals who don't consider Roman Catholics to be Christian; I remember being asked once if I was a Christian, to which I replied yes, only to have my interlocutor correct me. I was in fact Catholic, not Christian. There are also some Catholics who don't believe that some mainline Protestants to be fully Christian (our own Church refuses to call Protestant churches what they are: churches). So even within our own Christian family, there is not a consensus as to who is actually Christian and who is not." The article goes on to say; "One of the largest and longest standing debates at the Faith & Reason Forum is over whether Mormons are Christian. There are conservative evangelicals who see Catholicism as a cult, or confuse the failures of the humans who run the Catholic Church with its spiritual teachings. And there are Jews for Jesus that drive Jewish Jews frantic; pointing out that the core of being "Christian" is that your faith is centered on Christ." Those are interesting facts and figures … I guess. But I have come to realize that our form of government and the political influence wielded by our great nation over the years have led us to overestimate the power we think we have. We have become so arrogant that we think we can vote on truth. 'Are you Christian? Let's vote on it?' That's the power we think we have. States may vote for gay marriage and the right to abort a baby still tucked unsuspectingly within his mother's womb – and it may make it legal, but it doesn't make it right; that's the power we think we have. In realty, truth is discovered, not created. Truth is uninfluenced by your opinion. Our politically polite society wants desperately to avoid offending anyone out there in opinion-land, but we cannot alter who is 'Christian' simply by voting on it. The definition of 'Christian' is not up to you and it's not up to me – it is up to the Bible and to the One who breathed it into existence. Some columnists or talk show hosts may object to the Biblical definition on the basis of narrow mindedness and exclusivity; they may passionately believe I am wrong, but truth is indifferent to passion and belief. It does not matter what public sentiment is or what the approval rating of politicians are or what the ratings of columns like USA Today's Faith & Reason or the viewership of program segments like Faith Matters on Night Line is. The only opinion that matters is the one etched in the heart of God, found in the mind of Christ and written in the pages of Holy Scripture. It is clear; you must be "born again" (John 3:3). Jesus could not have stated the facts any clearer than He did in John 14:6; "No man comes to the Father but by me." Those who lead us down any other road based on convenience or popularity or political correctness are in error and not to be heeded lest the leaven of false doctrine permeate the entire lump; "…men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself" (1 Timothy 6:5). That's a little Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from August 22nd in history |
| 1901 – Cadillac Motor Company is founded. 1989 – Nolan Ryan strikes out Rickey Henderson to become the first Major League Baseball pitcher to record 5,000 strikeouts. 2007 – The Storm botnet, a botnet created by the Storm Worm, sends out a record 57 million e-mails in one day. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "Adventure is not outside man; it is within." David Grayson |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries. |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "Is Faith Blind?" |
| Have you ever seen the wind? Do you know where the wind comes from? Does that mean that the wind doesn't exist or that you have to have blind faith to believe that wind is real? According to the Bible, faith is, "… the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). One of the most common misconceptions about being a believer is that you have to have blind faith. From the passage above we learn that faith is not blind at all; in fact it is substance and evidence. Substance means essence or assurance. The definition also includes the phrase, 'a setting under' and is a reference to a support, as in a beam that holds up a roof or a pillar that undergirds a deck. Evidence carries with it the context of a courtroom. It means proof or conviction. Without being able to see the wind we have to rely on other senses and other proofs. We can have assurance that wind is real by the evidence that we see. I watch the tree branches sway and I hear the howl through corridors of the city streets. While the wind appears to have no origin, that does not diminish the reality of its existence or its effects. The substance and assurance of the evidence and effects undergird or hold up the authenticity of the fact that the wind exists. So do we need blind faith to believe in God? Not if you have a little common sense and two good eyes, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). We understand that the swaying branches are moving as a result of the wind that blows them; though still invisible, it is clearly seen and understood by the effects and evidence. In much the same way, we recognize that creation points to a creator; nothing did not create everything. God is the creator. And there are many other evidences that undergird or hold up the fact that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6). And by the way … he created the wind too; "He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries" (Psalm 135:7). That's a little Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from August 15th in history |
| 1935 – Will Rogers and Wiley Post are killed after their aircraft develops engine problems during takeoff in Barrow, Alaska. 1961 – Conrad Schumann flees from East Germany while on duty guarding the construction of the Berlin Wall. 1965 – The Beatles play to nearly 60,000 fans at Shea Stadium in New York City, in an event later seen as marking the birth of stadium rock. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "A wise man listens, a fool just waits until it is his turn to talk.." |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time. |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "Where Are You?" |
| Have you ever spent time looking for someone? Perhaps it was a lost child or a friend that was overdue. I got lost at the Mall of America once. My adult children were asking, "Where are you?" It is one thing for us to ask the question, but does God ever have to ask that? He did in Genesis 3:9. "And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where are you?" The Bible records that God spent the cool of each day walking with Adam (Genesis 3:8), but one day Adam left God hangin'. It still strikes me as peculiar that God has to ask any question … after all … He is God. You know, no beginning, no end, all knowing, all seeing, all wise … and former retirement investment advisor to Brett Favre. We know that God knows everything; the Bible school word is omniscient. Omniscient means having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things. So why does an omniscient God have to ask a question? I wonder if it is similar to a parent asking a small child, 'what is two plus two?' Certainly the parent knows the answer, and I'm sure God knew exactly where Adam was too. But He wanted Adam to have something to think about. The question poses yet another possibility that makes me sad; maybe God missed Adam. Could it be that God missed Adam like a man misses the love of his life? Could God crave companionship as a deer pants after the water brook? Could a self-sufficient God need fellowship like a musician needs his instrument or miss His own creation as a mother her infant? And so God stands at the end of the sidewalk leading up to Adam's door where they met every day to go for their walk … but on this day, Adam is a no show. "Where are you?" I wonder if there are days that God misses you or me; days where we are too busy for Him or maybe days where we are on the run from Him. It is a sobering thought to think that we cannot just blend in like we did in school; trying to hide in the back of the classroom ducking behind the student in front us in the hopes the teacher wouldn't notice us. But with God we do not go unnoticed. God longs for the outpouring of His child's heart in prayer and praise. He longs to spend time with us and loves to be with us. God is not into just quality time (an hour or so on Sunday morning) … He is always available and willing to meet with us. God values His time with you. We don't want Him to have to come looking … "Where are you?" That's a little Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from August 8 in history |
| 1931 – Workers go on strike at the Hoover dam. 1974 – President Richard Nixon announces his resignation due to the Watergate scandal. 1989 – Space Shuttle Columbia takes off on a secret five-day military mission. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner." ~ Anonymous |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| "Give me ambiguity or give me something else!" |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "Your Smoke Signal" |
| The story is told of the only survivor of a shipwreck who washed up on a small, deserted island. He prayed fervently for God to rescue him and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Over time, he managed to construct a hut out of driftwood and branches, to protect himself from the elements and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his primitive hut engulfed with flames, and smoke billowing into the sky. He was devastated and felt all was lost. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?' The day was spent questioning God and asking "Why." He was angry and disillusioned and finally cried himself to sleep under the stars on the sandy beach. Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island; it had come to rescue him! 'How did you know I was here?' he asked his rescuers. 'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied. The moral to the story is obvious … but never let it be said that I am above stating the obvious. It is easy to get discouraged when things seem to be working against us, but we shouldn't lose heart because even in the midst of our pain and suffering, God is at work in our lives. The Bible says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). And beyond the earthly circumstances, there are heavenly considerations. While the castaway's calamity led to his rescue, we must be aware that we serve a God who is much more interested in the eternal than He is in the temporal. While we grasp for an understanding of how long eternity is, God comprehends to the fullest degree the concept of forever. He is more concerned with our eternal home than He is with our temporal comfort. Because of His great love for us, he is willing to allow hardship, heartache and trial. He knows that while the inconvenience is but for a moment, the benefit can be eternal. " For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18) Given the choice, none of us would choose to have our hut burn down, and as a result we may spend our days on the deserted island of lost souls. But God, who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4), will sometimes allow a tragedy that we may experience the greater good. It is at that point that we must learn to trust the One who knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). So the next time your hut is burning to the ground, remember, it just may be your smoke signal that summons the grace of God and opens the door to greater blessing than you have yet to imagine. That's a little Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from August 1 in history |
| 1291 – The Swiss Confederation is formed with the signature of the Federal Charter. (…thus making holes in Swiss cheese mandatory…) 1831 – A new London Bridge opens. (…the last one apparently had fallen down…) 1941 – The first Jeep is produced. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "The society which scorns excellence in plumbing as a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy: neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water." - John W. Gardner |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| Newest Conspiracy theory: Humpty Dumpty was pushed. |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "Here Comes the Judge" |
| There have been some famous trials over the years; OJ Simpson being the star of perhaps the most famous one of all. Orenthal James was acquitted of murder in 1995. His attorney Johnnie Cochran's statement concerning the glove found at the scene still resonates, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." And acquit the jury did. Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the brutal axe murder of her father and step-mother in 1892 and Biology teacher John Scopes was convicted of illegally teaching evolution in 1925 at the "Scopes Monkey Trial." I can only imagine what it must be like to have your entire life hang in the balance as all the facts come out in the trial, the final statements are given and the jury goes to deliberate. And then the fateful moment arrives; Here comes the Judge. Most of us have not been involved in a court case like that. We have seen them on TV and imagined ourselves on trial or in the jury – perhaps as the lone dissenting juror holding tightly to our principles, like on every show from The Rockford Files to The Odd Couple to Dick Van Dyke. But according to the Bible … many of us will be the defendant in just such a trial. Here comes the Judge. The scene is described in the third to the last chapter of the Holy Bible (Revelation 20:11-15). "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." The throne is the equivalent of the bench from which the judge presides. When God assumes His rightful place behind the bench … those who are not in His good graces will cower in fear; "Here comes the judge". And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. There are two books. The first book to be opened is the Book of Life. The righteous Judge of the universe will search the roll for each name. If your name is NOT found … the second book will be opened which contains a record of your works. Your works will be tried against the standard of God's law. One transgression makes you guilty before Him (James 2:10) and justice must be carried out lest God be made a liar (Romans 3:4). And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire" Justice is rendered through the separation of the wicked from God and being cast into the penitentiary – eternal hell. The way to avoid this famous trial is to make sure your name is written in the Book of Life. If our name is found inscribed on its precious pages, we will be declared righteous by the blood of Jesus. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4). For those outside of Christ their works will be judged. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone…" (Revelation 21:8). "…the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). Receive Christ today, trust Him for your salvation, turn from your sin and He will write your name in the Book of Life. If not; Here comes the Judge. That's a little Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from July 25 in history |
| 1788 – Wolfgang Mozart completes his Symphony number 40 in g minor (K550). 1795 – The first stone of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is laid. 1868 – Wyoming becomes a United States territory. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." Thomas Edison |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| Few women admit their age; few men act it. |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "Ahead to the Past" |
| In the days after basketball was first invented, they hung peach baskets from the side of a building for a hoop and they would actually jump ball each time a team scored; and it wasn't until in the 1950's that they came up with the concept of a 24 second clock to speed up play. In the days subsequent to the invention of the automobile they came in only one color – basic black. They couldn't travel very fast or very far and they were short on modern amenities. They even had a hand crank in the front of the car that was necessary to start the vehicle. That would be fun on 20 below mornings! In the days immediately following the life of Christ, believers met in homes. Time hurries on. No one wants to go back to the peach baskets or the jump ball. No one wants to give up their cup holders or their automatic starters; but we do see people that want to go back to home churches; they want to go ahead to the past. There are a number of reasons; some good and some not so good. The modern church certainly has its faults. Some have become liturgical; they have a form of godliness but deny the power. Others have organized the life right out of themselves; you can't move without filling out a form, checking the policy manual and running it through committee. Some who favor the home church setting have had bad experiences in the churches described above. Others are influenced by the anti-establishment movements of days gone by. Many have been in numerous churches and are rubbed the wrong way by any sense of organization. Some are carrying offense or have not learned to work through conflict in a healthy way. The answer becomes a home church; it provides a greater measure of control, a greater opportunity for their voice to be heard; it feels more like what we perceive the early church to be like. But it is not healthy to want to go back to the way it was. You cannot go ahead to the past. What we fail to realize is that organization is good and it is necessary. The church was not meant to stay in the early church stages, it was meant to grow and growth will require change and adaptation, just like the Model T was meant to develop into a more efficient vehicle and basketball was to evolve into a better game. But some have issue with losing that grassroots feel. Many hearken back to days gone by and long for the early church to be revisited. They are living in the past hoping to experience life like it once was. But even the early church had its problems – and the problems came as the church started to grow; "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring…" (Acts 6:1). Never fails. As the church grew some complained … "It isn't like it used to be," "We've never done it this way before," "We are too big and too organized." Two thousand years have passed, but human nature is the same - even the murmurings are the same! But the church is meant to grow. Growth brings with it some obstacles and hurdles – those are meant to overcome, not run from. One solution is to stay forward looking. We must keep our future bigger than our past. We cannot go ahead to the past and we shouldn't want to. The challenges are before us, not behind us. I often hear the mocking question: "Would the Apostle Paul recognize the modern church?" I don't know if he would or not. The church is not without flaw to be sure. But I know that the local church is the best expression of the early church around. Would Henry Ford recognize the automobile? Would Dr. James Naismith recognize the game of basketball? Whether they would or not does not mean we should go back to the primitive stages of development. The challenges are there for us, but the answer is in tomorrow, not yesterday. That's a little Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from July 18 in history |
| 64 - Great fire of Rome: a fire begins to burn in the merchant area of Rome and soon burns completely out of control. (. merchants had the first recorded fire sale later in 64 AD.) 1870 - The First Vatican Council decrees the dogma of papal infallibility. 1976 - Nadia Comăneci became the first person in Olympic Games history to score a perfect 10 in gymnastics at the Summer Olympics in Montreal. (.Bo Derek played her in the movie.) |
| Quote of the Day |
| "Wherever we look upon this earth, the opportunities take shape within the problems." Nelson A. Rockefeller |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| One Sunday, a young child was "acting up" during the morning worship hour. The parents did their best to maintain some sense of order in the pew but were losing the battle. Finally, the father picked the little fellow up and walked sternly up the aisle on his way out. Just before reaching the safety of the foyer, the little one called loudly to the congregation, "Pray for me!" |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "Tips for Christian Living" |
It was the great theologian Red Green, who said, "Remember, we're all in this together." |
| Strange and Interesting events from July 11 in history |
| 1804 – Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr mortally wounds former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in a duel. (…imagine Joe Biden and Dick Cheney squaring off...) 1914 – Babe Ruth makes his debut in Major league baseball. 1955 – The phrase "In God We Trust" is added to all U.S. currency. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "Don't be afraid your life will end; be afraid that it will never begin." -- Grace Hansen |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| Fun Games for Senior Citizens: 1. Sag, you're it, 2. Pin the toupee on the bald guy, 3. Twenty questions shouted into your good ear, 4. Kick the bucket, 5. Simon says something incoherent, 6. Spin the Bottle of Mylanta, 7. Musical wheel chairs. |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "Not That There's Anything Wrong With That" |
| I am not trying to be judgmental … and I know that I am the wrong guy to share an opinion on this topic; I am after all, a borderline minimalist. And to top it off, I am in a weird mood as I pen this. Nevertheless I ask the question, "What has happened to life in America?" Today I took a leisurely afternoon drive through one of the nicer neighborhoods in Superior, and I was struck by the extravagance and the expense we pour into really meaningless stuff. This from a guy who lives in a basement efficiency apartment; so take it for what it's worth. I couldn't help but notice the decorative yard displays that must have cost in the thousands of dollars and taken hours of someone's time to build or put together. Not that there's anything wrong with that. And the houses! I mean to say (to quote my dad). The avarice (to quote the Grinch). The expense … they cost hundreds of thousands of dollars! Now don't get me wrong, I am not against having a nice house – I think God has a plot of land for everybody to build on – and it costs money to be sure. But when is enough enough? When is the car nice enough and the boat big enough and the house remodeled enough to suit us? When can we stop building something nicer and bigger and better and more expensive? Not that there's anything wrong with that. I think that even Christians have gotten sucked in a bit. We work more hours to earn more money to pay off our big house, both cars and the credit cards we used on vacation. I think we've lost sight of what it is we're doing. There was a day when a family staked their claim to a parcel of land, built their homestead and worked the land for sustenance. It was all very functional. Drive into one the nice neighborhoods of Anytown, USA and tell me if you see functional. There are garages bigger than some people's houses, recreational toys that are worth more than some hard working people make in a year! And yard displays that cost more than the Gross National Product of some third world countries. It is not only extravagant and expensive, it is all consuming. The maintenance and upkeep is almost constant. Plus we have to pay to protect and insure and update and remodel and enlarge and replace. When did we get away from functional? There was a day when dad did what needed to be done; the hunting and gathering; and spent the rest of his time with loved ones and neighbors. Now we have to spend our time manicuring the decorative lawn ornament. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It just seems to me we're missing something. We go to work to pay the bill at the daycare to the people who watch our kids while we work and hopefully we have enough left over to cover the lawn ornament and the extra car we have to have to go to work to cover the daycare and the yard ornament … Is it just me or have we become gerbils running on a wheel? We are running and moving and expending effort and energy, but where is it getting us? Maybe at some point we should regroup and reevaluate what we are doing and what we spend our money on. I bet we could lower our stress level, lower our overhead, work less, simplify our lives and have more time for each other that we've ever had before. We may have to let the lawn ornament go … and I can get you a lead on an efficiency apartment if you want. Not that there's anything wrong with that. That's a little Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from July 4 in history |
| 1903 – Dorothy Levitt is the first woman to compete in a 'motor race'. (…the origin of the woman driver…) 1939 – Lou Gehrig, diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), tells a crowd at Yankee Stadium that he considers himself "The luckiest man on the face of the earth" as he announces his retirement from baseball. 2009 – The Statue of Liberty's crown reopens to the public after 8 years, due to security reasons following the World Trade Center attacks. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty. ~ Frank Herbert |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| Customer: Waiter, is this apple pie or peach pie? Waiter: Can't you taste the difference? Customer: No, I can't. Waiter: Well then, what difference does it make? |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "The Benefit Package of the Overcomer" |
| It is easy to be a victim. I know it sounds harsh, and I don't mean to be unsympathetic; I only say it because it's true. We could all fall into the "poor me" category if we wanted to. Some of the people that you would think really have everything going for them – have overcome tremendous obstacles, gross injustice and great unfairness. They were unfairly treated and then kicked when they were down. But they chose to rise again. They didn't want to live life as a victim … they wanted the benefit package of the overcomer. Revelation is the final book in the Bible and is the revelation or the unveiling of Jesus Christ and the great plan of God for the ages and the ages to come. It makes perfect sense that it is in this book that we discover the benefit package of the overcomer. Chapters 2 & 3 are written to seven churches located in modern day Turkey. At the end of each of the seven letters are listed benefits to those that refuse to fall into the victim mentality and instead choose to persevere and be overcomers. The church of Ephesus is first of the seven and Jesus says, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7). Not a bad benny! You may have wondered what happened to the tree of life (Genesis 2:9; 3:17, 22, 24) after the Garden of Eden; turns out it was moved to heaven to become part of the benefit package of the overcomer. Smyrna is next and in this case the overcomer avoids something that the rest will wish they would have; "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death" (Revelation 2:11b). No one wants to die the first time, but that is a walk in the park compared to the second death (Revelation 20:14). Overcomers will not be hurt by the second death. To the list of benefits Pergamos adds, " To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it" (Revelation 2:17b). I'm not sure I understand all of that – but it sounds like something good! Thyatira is number 4 on our tour of churches; "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star" (Revelation 2:26-28). That's a dream come true for Simon Bar Sinister and it's all part of the benefit package of the overcomer. Overcomers at Sardis are promised great gain as well, "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Revelation 3:5). The church in Philadelphia is where we get three names written on us as a benefit of perseverance; "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name" (Revelation 3:12). Maybe overcomers get tattoos in heaven! And even the church in Laodicea; of which nothing positive is recorded, we see an opportunity to be an overcomer. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:21). It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking like a victim, but it is better to be an overcomer. I know it isn't easy but the benefits are great – even beyond what is listed here! You can feel good about yourself and love life no matter what it throws at you; after all you are not a victim, and you are entitled to the benefit package of the overcomer. That's a little Fuel4theFire. And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from June 27 in history |
| 1759 – General James Wolfe begins the siege of Quebec. 1950 – The United States decides to send troops to fight in the Korean War. (…Hawkeye, Trapper, Radar…) 1954 – The world's first nuclear power station opens in Obninsk, near Moscow. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "See everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little." ~Pope John XXIII |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| Why are you IN a movie but ON TV? If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown too? If your name is Will and you are in the army, do you worry when they say, 'Fire at Will!' |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "The World's Most Powerful Name" |
I recently came across a list of the world's most powerful brand names. The list is not surprising … you will recognize all of the names in the top ten: 1. Coca-Cola 2. IBM 3. Microsoft 4. GE 5. Nokia 6. McDonalds 7. Google 8. Toyota 9. Intel & 10. Disney. |
| Strange and Interesting events from June 20 in history |
1893 – Lizzie Borden is acquitted for the murders of her father and stepmother. (…She later lost the civil suit…) |
| Quote of the Day |
| "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" ~ John Wooden |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| "Doctor, you have a patient here who thinks he's invisible." The doctor replies, "Tell him I can't see him." "Doctor, I have a problem with my memory." The doctor asks, "When did it start?" The patient says, "When did what start?" "Doctor, I feel like a pair of curtains." The doctor says, "Pull yourself together!" |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: "I'm Missing It" |
| It may be the most popular sport in the world and the World Cup may be the world's prime sporting event, but I just don't get soccer. I guess I'm missing it. I enjoy sports as much as the next guy; I can even get into golf on TV, but for the life of me I cannot watch soccer. When my legs were younger I enjoyed playing soccer – but I absolutely can't find the appeal of watching the World Cup. For one thing the field is about three times too big. Trim a few hundred feet off the length and width of that pooch and then get back to me. Maybe then there will be a shot on goal or two. All the "action", and I use the term loosely, takes place in the center of the field. They just chase the ball around for 90 minutes. I watched a few games that my six year old granddaughter played in the YMCA league and even they were more entertaining. At least there you had the distracted kid picking dandelions that provided a few laughs. I watched (i.e. endured) about two minutes of a World Cup game this past weekend and the ball went out of bounds about ten times. Insert "yawn" here. In the USA vs. England "thriller", the final score was 1-1. They call it a draw; I call it a waste of time. In that contest, lasting a perpetual 90 minutes, there was all of twelve shots on goal. That's one shot on goal every 7.5 minutes. Just shoot me … please. Soccer is the game that never ends … it goes on and on, my friend. And I'm missing it. As of this writing, there have been 28 teams involved in 14 games in the 2010 World Cup played in South Africa. Only once has a team scored as many as three goals and only three of the 28 have scored even two! That means everybody else (24 teams) has scored either 1 or zero. Of the 14 games, six have ended in a tie; 2 of the ties were 0-0. I'm missing it. In the Portugal vs. Ivory Coast game that resulted in a pair of goose eggs (0-0), there were a total of three shots on goal. I don't even need to be sarcastic to make my point. And then there are the vuvuzelas; the dreaded noise makers that create the incessant background buzz that would drive Manuel Noriega from his home. It just drones on and on and on. It all adds to the environment we know as the World Cup. Multitudes the world over absolutely love it; I guess I'm missing it. Sometimes the Gospel is preached and people miss that too, but it always accomplishes God's purpose. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:11). So why do people miss it? Can it accomplish the purpose for which it is sent if people are missing it? The answer is "yes." People miss it because they do not mix it with faith on their end. There are two parts in the equation; the seed and the soil. "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Hebrews 4:2). As the Gospel is preached it demands a response. That is the purpose. The hearer is a free moral agent and can respond by an act of his will. Some will reject it or ignore it and some will receive it. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). Paul said it like this, "And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not" (Acts 28:24). As far as soccer goes, I'm missing it. I hope you are not missing the Gospel message; I pray it has found a home in your heart and is bearing fruit that remains. That's a little Fuel4theFire And remember … I love you guys. Tom |
| Strange and Interesting events from June 13 in history |
| 1970 – "The Long and Winding Road" becomes the Beatles' last Number 1 song. 1977 – Convicted Martin Luther King Jr. assassin James Earl Ray is recaptured after escaping from prison three days before. 1986 – Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen are born in Sherman Oaks California. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be grateful. Conceit is self-given; be careful." ~John Wooden |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says 'In case of an emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR'. What's my mother going to do? |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: Beyond Our Wildest Dream |
What would you do if you were rich? That's a question we would ask ourselves as we lay in the grass and stared into the clouds as boys growing up in the East End of Superior. We would pass the long summer days dreaming of limitless riches and all the benefits we could elicit in our convoluted little minds; wealth beyond our wildest dream. |
| Strange and Interesting events from June 6 in history |
1808 – Napoleon's brother, Joseph Bonaparte is crowned King of Spain.
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| Quote of the Day |
| "If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it." ~Toni Morrison |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| "Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is." ~ Francis Bacon |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: A Tale of Two Visions |
The basketball team gathers on the sideline as the coach sketches out a play on his handheld white board. As the huddle breaks we see there are but a few seconds left in the game and the score is tied. The crowd is on its feet; the noise fever pitch! The defense is in place to defend with hands held high. |
| Strange and Interesting events from May 30 in history |
| 1806 – Andrew Jackson kills Charles Dickinson in a duel after Dickinson had accused Jackson's wife of bigamy. (…23 years later he became president; apparently they didn't do extensive background checks back then…) 1859 – Westminster's Big Ben rang for the first time in London. 1922 – The Lincoln Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C. |
| Quote of the Day |
| "We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented with ourselves." ~ Henri Frederic Amiel |
| Chuckles & Chortles |
| "Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night.' " ~ Charlie Brown |
| Today's Fuel4theFire: A Perfect Game |
| Something that almost never happens – happened on May 9th. It is known in baseball as a perfect game. This one was tossed by Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics in a 4-0 triumph over the Tampa Bay Rays. A perfect game is when a pitcher does not allow a batter to reach base for the entire game. No hits, no walks, no errors … 27 up, 27 down. In a word, perfect. This was only the 19th perfect game in Major League baseball history and is a much rarer feat than a no-hitter, which is quite an achievement in itself. To really appreciate how rare this is we must realize that baseball has been around since 1869. I'm talkin' the old west; Gunsmoke, stagecoaches; the OK Corral; that's nearly 150 years of baseball and over a half million opportunities to throw a perfect game. But in reality it was far from perfect; perfect means entirely without flaws. While 77 of Braden's offerings went for strikes, another 32 pitches were outside of the strike zone. Truth be told, that is a worthy accomplishment, but far from perfect. Christians always say there is only one way to heaven, but technically there are two ways to get to heaven: one is to be perfect and the other is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and allow Him to cleanse you from your sins … your imperfections. Perfection is a lofty goal. You only have to miss once to make it unattainable. And when it comes to pleasing a holy, righteous and perfect God, we fall short even on our best day (Romans 3:23). And "pretty good" doesn't cut it when we need perfection. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10). This ain't horseshoes. The good news is that we are not hopeless – thanks to Jesus Christ. The righteousness that we have as Christians is rooted and grounded in Him. He is our covering. When the righteous judge of the universe looks at me He does not see MY righteousness, He sees me through the filter of the righteousness of Jesus. I don't know if this is where the expression "rose colored glasses" comes from – but it sure fits. "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:" (Romans 3:22). I am sure Dallas Braden hoped for another perfect game in his next outing, but it didn't happen; perfect just doesn't roll around too often. In fact, the only time perfection found its way into the human race was in the person of Jesus Christ. He was crucified and offered as a sacrifice for our sin so that we would no longer have to be perfect in and of ourselves. All of our flaws and sins and imperfections were swallowed up in the work of the cross and I am righteous in the eyes of God because of what Jesus did! "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Romans 4:7-8) That's a little Fuel4theFire And remember … I love you guys. Tom |