I have just returned from a lazy drive to and from a little town about 15 minutes or so from my house, said trip having been made to the Dogwood Antiques Show/Sale in that little hamlet (names and places changed to protect the innocent, namely me since I didn’t request permission to write this little blogette.)
Every year the garden club in that fair town puts on this happy little event to raise money, for what I’m not sure, but I’m guessing it’s for a good cause. Antiques dealers from here and there, around the South mostly, set up tables for buyers of the four-dollars-at-the-door tickets to browse and make purchases, if they so desire. I mostly just like to look, but if you’re so inclined, you can pick up some very old and some not-so-very-old furniture, dishes, books, jewelry (lots of jewelry,) kitchen utensils, dolls, pictures, figurines and whatknots, and (my favorite) depression glass. (No, I didn’t buy any.)
The dogwoods along my drive, drenched in their beautiful white, cross-shaped flowers, seemed to be saying, “See? We didn’t let you down!” As if the ladies of the club would have been dismayed if their little blossoms hadn’t appeared to help lead the way to the Civic Center. After all, it WAS the Dogwood Antiques Show/Sale. The population of the little town was 455 at the 2000 census, so for them to even have a civic center is quite astonishing. It appears to have once housed their school, maybe in more hustling, bustling times when maybe there were more hustling, bustling children.
This was my second year to visit their to-do, and once again I enjoyed every minute of it, from registering for the door prize to be given away at 2:30 p.m. (no, I did NOT win,) to the tea room which served lunch for extremely fair prices. Barbecue plates for $5.00 (you ain’t been to the South if you ain’t had pork barbecue!) and pimiento cheese or chicken salad sandwiches for $1.50. The desserts appeared to have been home made by the ladies themselves: coconut layer cake, chocolate layer cake, pies, and caramel layer cake, my choice for this trip. Delicious. At one point a hard-working gentleman helper walked into the tea room and one of the ladies behind the counter asked what time he closes. He told her he closed at 1:00. It was 10 minutes till two, so she assumed her forthcoming request would be moot. He wanted to know her request anyway. It appeared that she needed some primer (he must own a paint or hardware store) and he said he’d get it for her. She told him just to leave it on his step and she’d pick it up. I love small-town America.
I downed my pimiento-cheese-on-wheat sandwich, chips, and one bite of the dill pickle (dill’s not my favorite) and about half of my soft drink, savored every bite of the cake (I was good...I didn’t get the thickly coated caramelized end piece that I wanted) and it was back to the antiques tables where I took another stroll through to admire all the items of antiquity and the few new/newer items and decided to make my purchase and go home. Oddly enough, my purchase was something brand new, three linen bread cloths to line my baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas, my old ones having been stained and greasy from my yeast-roll bakings at that time of year.
Okay, so this turned out not to be a blogette after all but a full-blown blog. Those of you who know me knew it wouldn’t be a blogette, didn’t you?
So what makes someone like me, who doesn’t blog often, want to write about something so plain and unintellectual? The fact that God is good...all the time, whether you can see it today or not...and loves us enough to not only send His only Son to provide for our sin atonement but also allows us simple pleasures. Lazy dogwood-scattered drives, caramel cake, pretty colored glass, and reminders that, even though wars rage around us and gas prices are swallowing us alive, small-town America can still be good.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Time after Time
My husband, my son, and I went on a post-Christmas shopping trip this past year and had a really good time. Among the items my husband purchased were a pair of matching clocks for our bedside tables. Digital. Up-to-date. Streamline. Nice.
Yesterday it was really windy here. And cold. We even had some snow, which really excited us since we live in the Deep South and don’t see the frozen white stuff often. At some point during the day our electricity flickered off for a few seconds, I guess because the wind was blowing so hard it affected the power lines. Anyway, the power was off just long enough to make almost every clock in the house blink an annoying reminder to reset them all. Ah, but not our new streamline bedside clocks. They were on the ball and, as John Cameron Swayze, the Timex man, used to say, “they take a licking and keep on ticking.” So we went around and reset the various blinking electronics.
Eventually bedtime came around and we remembered to set our clocks ahead one hour, since Daylight Saving Time would begin in the middle of our snoozing. (Note: It’s Daylight SAVING Time, not Daylight SAVINGS Time. Sorry, but I’m ticky about that kind of stuff.) I hardly ever set an alarm, but I decided I would set the alarm on my cell phone, which I keep by the bed, so when I woke up, looked at my new clock and it was 7:50 a.m. and my cell phone alarm should have gone off at 7:30, I was a little perturbed. I got up and was getting ready for church this morning when I realized that my watch and my cell phone said 7:30 and my new bedside clock said 8:30. I was confused. My husband was up by then and I questioned him as to his opinion on the situation. We then proceeded to check every timepiece we could and also a couple of TV stations. Everything read 7:30 except our bedside clocks, which couldn’t possibly be wrong because we both remembered setting them one hour ahead as we crawled into bed…at the same time. We were in the room together when we were setting our clocks. We can vouch for each other.
Now we were both confused. I consulted the internet, doing a quick search for “atomic clock” and checking the first two hits. Yes, it was this weekend that we were supposed to set our clocks ahead. We have always taken great joy in always remembering the cute little verse we were taught years ago to remember how to set our clocks for the time changes: Fall back, spring up. Clever, huh?
Finally, we realized what had happened…our new clocks were programmed to set the time all by their onesies, just like our computer and just like our cell phones. Sooooo…not only did we set our clocks ahead one hour as we retired last night, but at 2:00 a.m. today our new, intelligent clocks also set themselves ahead one hour.
My husband was not amused as he had not slept well on Friday night and had looked forward to getting a good night’s sleep last night, albeit minus an hour. No, he was not amused at all. He’s ticky about that kind of stuff.
Yesterday it was really windy here. And cold. We even had some snow, which really excited us since we live in the Deep South and don’t see the frozen white stuff often. At some point during the day our electricity flickered off for a few seconds, I guess because the wind was blowing so hard it affected the power lines. Anyway, the power was off just long enough to make almost every clock in the house blink an annoying reminder to reset them all. Ah, but not our new streamline bedside clocks. They were on the ball and, as John Cameron Swayze, the Timex man, used to say, “they take a licking and keep on ticking.” So we went around and reset the various blinking electronics.
Eventually bedtime came around and we remembered to set our clocks ahead one hour, since Daylight Saving Time would begin in the middle of our snoozing. (Note: It’s Daylight SAVING Time, not Daylight SAVINGS Time. Sorry, but I’m ticky about that kind of stuff.) I hardly ever set an alarm, but I decided I would set the alarm on my cell phone, which I keep by the bed, so when I woke up, looked at my new clock and it was 7:50 a.m. and my cell phone alarm should have gone off at 7:30, I was a little perturbed. I got up and was getting ready for church this morning when I realized that my watch and my cell phone said 7:30 and my new bedside clock said 8:30. I was confused. My husband was up by then and I questioned him as to his opinion on the situation. We then proceeded to check every timepiece we could and also a couple of TV stations. Everything read 7:30 except our bedside clocks, which couldn’t possibly be wrong because we both remembered setting them one hour ahead as we crawled into bed…at the same time. We were in the room together when we were setting our clocks. We can vouch for each other.
Now we were both confused. I consulted the internet, doing a quick search for “atomic clock” and checking the first two hits. Yes, it was this weekend that we were supposed to set our clocks ahead. We have always taken great joy in always remembering the cute little verse we were taught years ago to remember how to set our clocks for the time changes: Fall back, spring up. Clever, huh?
Finally, we realized what had happened…our new clocks were programmed to set the time all by their onesies, just like our computer and just like our cell phones. Sooooo…not only did we set our clocks ahead one hour as we retired last night, but at 2:00 a.m. today our new, intelligent clocks also set themselves ahead one hour.
My husband was not amused as he had not slept well on Friday night and had looked forward to getting a good night’s sleep last night, albeit minus an hour. No, he was not amused at all. He’s ticky about that kind of stuff.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Part II, Signs of the End of the Age
I promised you a continuation of yesterday’s blog. Here it is. Thanks for showing back up!
One of the ways that people are being misled in the end times is by what they see in their own...and other...churches, unfortunately. For awhile now, it has disturbed me that we are spending time in church just playing church, using it as a social club, and with the last days coming nearer, I...and a lot of other people worldwide...see this as dangerous. Sad, actually. Jesus Christ says that we are supposed to be talking with people about Him, telling people how He can forgive their sins and save them...it’s something we should have been doing all along, but with His return closer than ever...and seeming to be upon us, if the Bible scholars are to be believed (and I think they are) we should be all about being sure the people we love have received Him as their Savior and will be with us in Heaven when we’re raptured. (Yes, that’s in the Bible, too...just because the word “rapture” doesn’t appear in the Bible doesn’t mean it’s not gonna happen. There are a lot of things that are not in the Bible, but they’re real.)
And before you start calling me “holier than thou,” there’s something you need to know. I’m 53 years old and have only been a Christian since I was about 30. That’s about 30 years that I sinned...and sin is anything that displeases God...and believe me, I displeased God a LOT in those 30 years, so lest you think I’m coming from some high and mighty place, forget it. I’m coming from a place where I know how both sides live, and I wouldn’t return to who I used to be for all the money in Donald Trump’s, Ted Turner’s, and Bill Gates’ bank accounts combined! My life now is too good to ever want to go back to who that other person was! ‘Nuff said. Onward.
I guess the main thing I’ve noticed in churches, not just one or two either, is that the primary focus isn’t on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, dead, buried, and risen from the dead for our salvation. They’re afraid of stepping on people’s toes. It seems churches want to focus on man-made things and liturgies and programs and plans and buildings and what color the carpet is and what the newest book is...when the only Book that’s really necessary is The Holy Bible; but it appears that it’s not enough for some folks, preachers included. I believe this grieves God because He’s told us, in the Bible, all we need to know to live the life He’s called us to if we just read it. I read it through every year and have done so for about ten years, and I can tell you there is stuff in there that you never knew was there! It’s an amazing Book!
If you’re a Christian and have tried to read it and are having trouble, maybe it’s because of the wording. I will admit that the King James Version is hard for me, so I use the New American Standard, which, according to one of the introductory pages, is the translation that is nearest to the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic texts. But there are others to choose from, just be careful. And be sure you’re reading a TRANSLATION and not a paraphrase...especially don’t read “The Message” paraphrase. The author has actually ADDED TO and TAKEN AWAY FROM the Bible in writing that one. For instance, compare 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Go to www.biblegateway.com and compare any version with “The Message” and see for yourself. There are many other passages that have been twisted for whatever reason. Stay away from that one! Some people have said that they don’t use it as a study Bible but just for reading. Why would you do that? What is the purpose? Why would you need a different version to study than you do to read?
I guess I said all that to say this: We should get back to what’s most important...the basics of the Bible and not the baseness of the world.
One of the ways that people are being misled in the end times is by what they see in their own...and other...churches, unfortunately. For awhile now, it has disturbed me that we are spending time in church just playing church, using it as a social club, and with the last days coming nearer, I...and a lot of other people worldwide...see this as dangerous. Sad, actually. Jesus Christ says that we are supposed to be talking with people about Him, telling people how He can forgive their sins and save them...it’s something we should have been doing all along, but with His return closer than ever...and seeming to be upon us, if the Bible scholars are to be believed (and I think they are) we should be all about being sure the people we love have received Him as their Savior and will be with us in Heaven when we’re raptured. (Yes, that’s in the Bible, too...just because the word “rapture” doesn’t appear in the Bible doesn’t mean it’s not gonna happen. There are a lot of things that are not in the Bible, but they’re real.)
And before you start calling me “holier than thou,” there’s something you need to know. I’m 53 years old and have only been a Christian since I was about 30. That’s about 30 years that I sinned...and sin is anything that displeases God...and believe me, I displeased God a LOT in those 30 years, so lest you think I’m coming from some high and mighty place, forget it. I’m coming from a place where I know how both sides live, and I wouldn’t return to who I used to be for all the money in Donald Trump’s, Ted Turner’s, and Bill Gates’ bank accounts combined! My life now is too good to ever want to go back to who that other person was! ‘Nuff said. Onward.
I guess the main thing I’ve noticed in churches, not just one or two either, is that the primary focus isn’t on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, dead, buried, and risen from the dead for our salvation. They’re afraid of stepping on people’s toes. It seems churches want to focus on man-made things and liturgies and programs and plans and buildings and what color the carpet is and what the newest book is...when the only Book that’s really necessary is The Holy Bible; but it appears that it’s not enough for some folks, preachers included. I believe this grieves God because He’s told us, in the Bible, all we need to know to live the life He’s called us to if we just read it. I read it through every year and have done so for about ten years, and I can tell you there is stuff in there that you never knew was there! It’s an amazing Book!
If you’re a Christian and have tried to read it and are having trouble, maybe it’s because of the wording. I will admit that the King James Version is hard for me, so I use the New American Standard, which, according to one of the introductory pages, is the translation that is nearest to the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic texts. But there are others to choose from, just be careful. And be sure you’re reading a TRANSLATION and not a paraphrase...especially don’t read “The Message” paraphrase. The author has actually ADDED TO and TAKEN AWAY FROM the Bible in writing that one. For instance, compare 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Go to www.biblegateway.com and compare any version with “The Message” and see for yourself. There are many other passages that have been twisted for whatever reason. Stay away from that one! Some people have said that they don’t use it as a study Bible but just for reading. Why would you do that? What is the purpose? Why would you need a different version to study than you do to read?
I guess I said all that to say this: We should get back to what’s most important...the basics of the Bible and not the baseness of the world.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Signs of the End of the Age
SIGNS OF THE END OF THE AGE
Because I love people...all kinds of people...all religions, all races, etc., etc., I’m writing this to everyone because I don’t want to see anyone fooled, misled, attacked...or left behind. I have been contemplating the Bible passage Matthew 24 where Jesus is questioned by His disciples about the end times. He spells it out to them:
1. Many will come in My Name claiming to be Christ and will mislead many.
2. There will be wars and rumors of wars.
3. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
4. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
I’ve seen every one of these things happen.
However, He says these things are merely the beginning of what He calls “birth pangs,” meaning that the end is only beginning to manifest itself. Then He says that:
1. Christians will be delivered to tribulation, killed, and hated by all nations because of His Name.
2. Many will fall away from Him and betray one another and hate one another.
3. Many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
4. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
5. The Gospel will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
6. If anyone says to you, “Here is the Christ,” or “There He is,” don’t believe them because false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
7. Just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
I’ve seen signs of 1-6 in this list, too. Heck, some of it has even happened to me (no, I haven’t claimed to be Jesus Christ!) and because of these things, I feel that God has put a burden on me to send out a warning to all who call themselves Christians: Read Matthew 24 and think on these things. Do you see any of it happening? Are you participating in any of these things? What is a false prophet? (It may not be what you think.) Do some research...even if it’s just a little. Are you sitting under teaching that’s not of the Lord Jesus Christ? Think back on what you’ve heard in church recently...even as long ago as 3-4 years...or more...or less. This leads to my next blog....tomorrow.
Because I love people...all kinds of people...all religions, all races, etc., etc., I’m writing this to everyone because I don’t want to see anyone fooled, misled, attacked...or left behind. I have been contemplating the Bible passage Matthew 24 where Jesus is questioned by His disciples about the end times. He spells it out to them:
1. Many will come in My Name claiming to be Christ and will mislead many.
2. There will be wars and rumors of wars.
3. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
4. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
I’ve seen every one of these things happen.
However, He says these things are merely the beginning of what He calls “birth pangs,” meaning that the end is only beginning to manifest itself. Then He says that:
1. Christians will be delivered to tribulation, killed, and hated by all nations because of His Name.
2. Many will fall away from Him and betray one another and hate one another.
3. Many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
4. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
5. The Gospel will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
6. If anyone says to you, “Here is the Christ,” or “There He is,” don’t believe them because false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
7. Just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
I’ve seen signs of 1-6 in this list, too. Heck, some of it has even happened to me (no, I haven’t claimed to be Jesus Christ!) and because of these things, I feel that God has put a burden on me to send out a warning to all who call themselves Christians: Read Matthew 24 and think on these things. Do you see any of it happening? Are you participating in any of these things? What is a false prophet? (It may not be what you think.) Do some research...even if it’s just a little. Are you sitting under teaching that’s not of the Lord Jesus Christ? Think back on what you’ve heard in church recently...even as long ago as 3-4 years...or more...or less. This leads to my next blog....tomorrow.
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