Scripture
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
~1 Timothy 1:15, NKJV
Quote
I hate sin. It makes me feel miserable. How can anyone love it?
~Ya’akov
I don’t know when or if the truth {that life is a continual struggle} will ever penetrate this thick skull of mine. I can tell you for a fact that I talk too much; use my self as an example too often and even assume that some things which have been a problem in the past or no longer a problem. Guess what, I was wrong to assume anything. I am most certainly a death and hell deserving sinner. I try my best to keep my guard up so that I can detect and ward off any prideful thought but pride is sneaky. Pride is a back stabbing, scum sucking low life and a snake in the grass. I literally hate pride. Well you would think that if a man hates pride as much as I do that he would not allow it to trip him up so often. Paul’s testimony in Romans seven really resonates with me…So the trouble is not with the law {moral code}, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. I thank God that I know right from wrong but when you know what is right and you don’t do it-guilt and misery follow and I am not fond of either.
I have always wondered if Paul was sincere in the above verse…I am chief of sinners. I think of Paul as the most devoted Christian that has walked this sin cursed earth and I feel reasonably certain, that if he met me, he would not feel that he was chief among sinners. He did have the cruel treatment and death of Stephen on his conscious. We all, when confronted with our sin, look for someone who is worse than ourselves. When Jesus confronted Peter…Peter said, “What about John?” You have heard me say many times that the reason we love the story of Jonah is because he was an A-hole. He had a miserable rotten attitude and he hated gentiles. If ever a man was cursed with that Jewish pride of superiority, it was Jonah. I am bad to look for someone who has a worse record than myself and there is something in me, stubborn pride I suppose, that does not want to admit that I am chief of sinners. The acid test is how we relate to others and how we treat them. When we look with disgust upon the weird…8 ear piercing, a ring in the nose, tattoos up the neck and arms, a vape or a cigarette in their mouth and a can of bud in the hand…and we think to ourselves…THANK GOD I AM NOT LIKE THAT FREAK…is our sin of despising another human being not far worse than their disgusting habits? I know how men look upon a beautiful woman but how to we look upon those who are not beautiful? Jesus had the ability to treat all humans with kindness and love.
How many body piercing did the Gadaren maniac have? Only the LORD knows. He came running toward Jesus screaming at the top of his lungs and was as naked as a jay bird. He had pierced himself multiple time with sharp rocks. He slept in a grave yard when he slept–crazy people don’t need much sleep. You talk about a freak and a misfit–he may be the definition of both. How would I have responded to this man. I would have commanded those we me in the boat, “back her up boys, we are getting out of here; yonder comes a crazy lunatic wearing nothing but a birthday suit. Let’s get out of here ASAP.” Why can’t I treat people the way Jesus did? The LORD knows, I have had plenty of opportunities and I seem to fail every time. Every now and then, the LORD allows us to do something so stupid that it humbles me and makes me feel so low that I have to look up to see anyone. This is why we need to wash the feet of the dirty and unfit; you can’t look down on a man when you are washing his feet.
Extra
No flooding and no run off but we did get a good shower. It rained hard for about 10 minutes. When people like Don Morris say that haven’t had rain, I believe them. Hartselle gets one every week. Iron Man and Kneel get rains and we don’t. Joe David lives one mile away and he gets rains that we don’t. He probably has mud today but there is no mud around here. I am thankful for the showers.
Holidays are wonderful but they go by in a hurry and I really fouled up Labor Day. I enjoy grilling or smoking chicken and turkey but my pit boss bit the dust. I couldn’t get it to work. I have never really cleaned it and I dropped it once while loading it on a trailer. So I had to smoke the old fashion way which means a lot of work and I was give out by the time I got the chickens done. They didn’t look good or smell good to me but June says they were OK. Unless I get a new smoker, no more chickens on Labor Day. I labored on Labor Day.
June read me a review about the new Disney movie or program that is being advertised. It is pure evil. When will Christians wake up and stop supporting Disney? I have been harping for 30 years and no one will listen. If this doesn’t open your blind eyes, nothing will. DISNEY IS EVIL and if you support them, don’t tell me or let me find out because I will lose respect for you. If professing Christians would take a stand, Disney would be forced to give up this devilry.
Have a great week and thanks for reading the blog.