Noses, Tongues, and Chicken Brains

Yesterday I mentioned a song I had once heard about how Americans will swallow almost anything (physically, mentally, and spiritually). The song is on an old cassette from about 25 years ago. A miracle that I found it and that it still works. It was written and sung by a young man, Grady Toland. here is one of the verses.

"My balony has a first name,
it's animal remains.
Like noses, tails and tongues and such,
probably even chicken brains.
But I love to eat it every day
and if you ask me why I'll say;
Because we Americans will eat about anything,
if you wrap it up just right."

Oh, please God, help us to see beyond the wrappings, the ads, and the "testimonials".

Check the Ingredients - Closely

I heard a cute song years ago (I'll try to find the words) about American eating habits. The point of the song was that Americans will eat anything if you put it in the right package. There is a lot of truth in it. I've found that usually tastiness and "addictiveness" is directly proportionate to the amount of dangerous ingredients in the product. Remember the ad ditty, "Jay's potato chips, can't stop eatin 'em."

For the past 50 years American consumption, driven by powerful advertising, has fueled the world's economies. We are a consumer oriented society. The advertisers hawk their wares and we swallow it with only a cursory glance at the ingredients.
"Hmm, wonder what that is? Never heard of it. Gulp.

Buyer beware!!! This has a strong application to American spirituality if you didn't catch it!!

Don't Look Down on Youth

In 1904 a spiritual revival broke out in Wales. God used a man named Evan Roberts. Within a year over 100,000 converts were added to the Welsh church. Evan was 26 at the time. The evangelistic team consisted of his brother Dan(20), Sydney Evans(20), Evan's sister Mary(20), and their singing group "The Singing Sisters" whose ages were 18-22. www.welshrevival.com

The Apostle Paul adomonished Timothy, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." 1 Tim. 4:12

LET THE YOUTH ARISE!!!

False Hopes -- False Fears

Which is worse?

False hopes.....or false fears?

The end result of false fears is a nice surprise since they didn't come to pass.

The end result of false hopes is bitter disappointment.

Weighted Down?

Bear not
a single care
thyself

One is too much
for thee

The work is Mine
and Mine alone

Thy work -
to rest in Me.

author unknown

Rock Gardens and WYSIWYG

Living in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona has been quite an experience these past 14 years. It is so very different from Asia and Northern Europe where we spent most of our adult lives. We've learned to love Arizona.

If you want to have a "Rock Garden" in your yard, it's easy - just do nothing. When we landscaped our front yard the designer wanted to haul in some boulders. I thought he was crazy. Why would I pay a hundred bucks for a boulder when a large part of the state is a rock pile?

Anyway, a friend of ours has a "Rock Garden". They have collected unusual rocks from all over the country, some as large as a bushel basket, and placed them on a mound in the corner of the back yard. Small plants and cacti are interspersed to create a very unique and beautiful focal point. Some of the stones are undoubtedly semi-precious, petrified wood, quartz, garnet, amethyst and various crystals.

I was admiring some of these stones and reached down to pick one up to examine it more closely. When I lifted the stone I jerked back at the sight of several scorpions and some black bugs scurrying from the bright sunlight. But when I lifted a crystal I found no bugs at all.

I asked my friend, "What is it about crystals that seems to repel the bugs?" He gave me a lesson on human nature. The crystals transmit light and bugs like the darkness. These stones can be likened to people. Some folks are transparent. If you poke around in their lives there are no surprises. WYSIWYG - what you see is what you get. Others are opaque. It seem like every time you poke around, a big black bug shows up. You never quite know what you might find.

The Greatest Book on Earth (Poem)

This is the greatest book on earth,
Unparalleled it stands;
Its author God, its truth Divine,
Inspired in every word and line,
Tho' writ by human hands.

This is the living rock of truth
Which all assaults defies
O'er every stormy blast of time
It towers with majesty sublime;
It lives, and never dies.

This is the volume of the Cross;
Its doctrine pure, its history true,
Its Gospel old, yet ever new,
Shall evermore endure.

by J. Sidlow Baxter