Doggie reading tutor

Now who wouldn't love a dog that helps kids enjoy reading? Lovely story from our local paper, at the branch library about 4 miles from our house. I think I might want to go read over there...
(Story and video here from TampaBay.com.)

 

I'll do a lot longer blog on this sometime...but it looks like Tucker remembers what it's like to have your very own Adam in the Garden of Eden. Beautiful.

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Without God, there's no freedom

Without freedom to fail, there's no freedom.

Without grace, there's no freedom to fail.

Without God, there's no grace.


"...the LORD has anointed me to proclaim freedom for the captives..." (Isaiah 61:1, Luke :18)
"...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)
"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Galatians 5:1)
"...we may approach God with freedom and confidence." (Ephesians 3:12)
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God's with you...always

I noticed years ago that there were some secular songs that just sang my heart for God. One day, a young friend showed me how God sang to him through songs in the same way...but where the lyrics were actually the dialog between them. It was nothing like what the recording artist had in mind, but it surely did capture God's love for this wonderful young man.

A year or so later, I noticed this one. I always did like this song...maybe, even then, I was hearing a hint of the Great Musician's voice. Here, the plain text is me in one of those dark nights of the soul, and the italics are God. The left column is the lyrics from Cheap Trick; the right is what my heart is singing, almost in chorus. And Brandon...this one's for you.

The Flame, by Cheap Trick

Another night slowly closes in,	It’s 2 AM…
And I feel so lonely.	…I can’t feel you…
Touching heat freezing on my skin,
I pretend you still hold me.	…like in the good times…
I’m going crazy, I’m losing sleep.	…but I can’t quite make it…
I’m in too far, I’m in way too deep over you.	“To whom shall I go?” [1]
I can’t believe you’re gone.	My head knows you’re here,
You were the first, you’ll be the last.	you promised you were Alpha & Omega.
Wherever you go, I’ll be with you.	Everywhere, always.
Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.	“…ask your Father in heaven…”  [2]
Whenever you need someone to lay your heart and head upon.	In your pain and aloneness,
Remember: after the fire, after all the rain,	I was there, then; I am here now…
I will be the flame.	My love for you is eternal.
I will be the flame.	I will burn!  [3]
Watching shadows move across the wall,	Time crawls by when I’m alone
I feel so frightened.	Is there anyone who can take away the fear?
I wanna run to you, I wanna call,	I want you…
But I’ve been hit by lightning.	…but my feet seem frozen.
Just can’t stand up for fallin’ apart.	Helpless…
Can’t see through this veil across my heart, over you.	…marred and broken-hearted.
You’ll always be the one.	But I still declare it…
You were the first, you’ll be the last.	Forever!
Wherever you go, I’ll be with you.	Always
Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.	Remember?
Whenever you need someone to lay your heart and head upon.	Remember?!
Remember: after the fire, after all the rain,	Then, and now…and always…
I will be the flame.
I will be the flame.
I’m going crazy, I’m losing sleep.	I can’t sleep either; I’m dying for you
I’m in too far, I’m in way too deep over you.	The cross was just the beginning of me for you
You’ll always be the one.	I can’t get over you
You were the first, you’ll be the last.	I knew you before the beginning, and we’ll be together through the end, and beyond. [4]
	So remember…
Wherever you go, I’ll be with you.
Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.

 

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[1]  John 6:68-69 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

[2]  Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  Matthew 18:19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  Luke 11:13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

[3] Hebrews 12:28-29  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

[4]  Ephesians 1:3-5, Hebrews 13:5, John 3:15-17, Matthew 28:20, Jeremiah 31:3: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." and Isaiah 49:16: "I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..."
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Walking Max

(by Cyndi Carter)

Max and I walk almost 3½ miles six mornings a week. Best to get out before the worst heat of the day. One morning, it occurred to me just how much I at least try to do to make our walks safe and enjoyable for him. He is a very smart little (pardon me, big) guy, but there are things he doesn’t know about and he needs his human pack leaders to look out for him.

For starters, we walk with a leash, and I try to keep him on my left side to keep him out of the car traffic. I selected a walking route which has lots of sidewalks and shady areas. I listen and look out for approaching cars as well as other dogs which might decide to become territorial (at 9 ½ pounds, Max would just make an hors d'oeuvre). I try to anticipate possible situations that might cause problems, such as a bicyclist coming toward us from around a blind curve. I keep him from trying to sample various wildlife lying in their final sleep by the side of the road or drinking skuzzy looking water from the street gutters, so that he won’t pick up any tummy trouble. I pick him up when we go by a yard being mowed and the trimmings are being thrown out into the street toward him. I keep him off the grass where people are having chemical treatments on their lawns.

So, what does this have to do with anything? Well, I thought about how God looks out for us and protects. First, He gave us His word, the scriptures. Also, He speaks to us directly, giving us a distinct impression of what choice He wants us to make. (And these promptings will not violate His character and views expressed in scripture.) He gives us this guidance and direction not to spoil our fun, or to control us, but to make provision for a full, joyful life. He sees the hidden pitfalls as well as the obvious dangers we might encounter. He sees what walking apart from Him could do to us not just physically, but He sees the possible damage it could do to our hearts and souls. Setting a broken arm or leg may be simple and require few weeks of healing. Healing for hearts and souls can take a lifetime.

We would do well to heed God’s counsel. He gives guidance for our benefit, so that we might have fulfilled lives, healthy relationships with others, and most of all a living relationship with Him. As it says in Hebrews 12:9b “How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!”

I believe Max trusts me to take care of him. As we were walking today, I was thinking how I need to continue to trust God every day, and every moment to take care of me. Not just in things I feel “comfortable” trusting Him with, but everything. The old hymn “ ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”came to my mind, and the words to the chorus are found below:

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more.
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Unhelpful signs, part 1

This theological train wreck is along Interstate 65 between Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama. Yes, there's a hell; no, church won't save you from it; no, threatening people isn't how Jesus preaches Good News; and yes, crap like this makes my whole job harder. I wonder if the owner of this little piece actually knows Jesus. He seems to be on speaking terms with the devil, though...perhaps that's where he gets his information.

"Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!" (John 14:6-7, The Message)

Fortunately for us, Jesus seeks us, finds us, meets us where ever we are and takes us to Himself.
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Spellbound

Ever found yourself not doing something because you're subconsciously afraid of someone else? I don't mean the "ooh, he's gonna beat me up" thing, I mean more the fear we often associate with titles and authority: mother, father, boss, pastor, anyone with a rank or title on their name. Often we might confuse that fear with legitimate respect for someone. It might manifest itself as a reluctance to approach the person or ask them as perfectly reasonable question.

I woke up the other morning with the thought, "That guy (a friend of mine) is absolutely spellbound by her." What riveted me was that word spellbound. Spell, as in a witch casting it by invoking a demon. Bound, as in tied up and helpless. Actor, and action. And this guy doesn't have a clue that there's a spiritual force involved, so he isn't likely to escape until he recognizes and refuses that spirit. (In this case, he's a Christian. If he weren't, well, there's a Holy Spirit he would need first.)

A lot of us end up spiritual cowards in the presence of spellbinders, and that isn't what we're made to be. We're made to be free of such spirits, and to disallow their influence over us. Spiritually, that's the whole point of my book: quit letting anyone and everyone tell you that you're a peon, or ugly, or not-as-gifted. Do you still sin? Of course, and the Bible is pretty clear on what that is. Are you still worth Jesus' full and undivided attention? Of course, and the Bible is extremely clear on that, too.

On the other side of the coin, a lot of us just sort of naturally tap into decidedly unclean, unchristian spirits in the course of our lives: control, intimidation, manipulation. (A lot of this is miscalled management and leadership.) Almost without intending, we end up being spell-casters; spellbinders.

I have an unoriginal but better idea: Let's cast Holy Spirit and his results (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, to name a few) on people, and "bind" (loose) them with that.

"Spirit-loosed." I like that. Be loosed!
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