My last duty station was near Fort Walton Beach Florida. I had bought a home there and was interested in not mowing every square inch of it, so any information that I could find to make that easier would be ok with me.
After I got out of the Air Force in 1992 I went through several job changes and finally worked for a national commercial pest elimination company. One of my accounts was a gulf side hotel that had a wonderful tropical garden throughout that the owners did not mind me getting cuttings from. That was around 1997. I had been doing the normal thing of foundation plantings, and there was a row of pine trees along the west side of my property that I had been placing pine straw and live oak leaves. If you have ever been to the Emerald Coast, especially Destin, which is where my home was, you know that the sand there looks like sugar. After years of placing the pine needles and oak leaves deteriorating had made the soil go from white to black, and very fertile. I could sink the cuttings and 90 percent would root. About that time there was a show on HGTV called The Designer’s Landscape with Gary Alan. He showed how NOT to use foundation plantings and using French Curves and layering with perennials to reduce mowing and to increase the value of your property.
So, as I stated in my last post my wife and I moved to Texas and have bought a home south of Austin. I was looking for landscape ideas on YouTube and found my old friend Gary Alan on it. The home that we bought only had Razzleberry foundation plantings under the front window, so, as before, I started using Gary’s suggestions. I have lowered the amount of my lawn, which is the most costly planting per square foot on your property. You have to water it more, do more maintenance and fertilize more than perennials and annuals that have a mulch covering. So, here we are, 20 years later, and what I learned so long ago is still just as accurate today as it was then.
Just as that info is still valuable, so is an event that happened almost 2000 years ago! That we need redemption, and that one day we will be in a better garden than we can build today if we accept that redemption.
Moved To Texas, Well Back To Texas
Tired of shoveling snow, and the last kid graduated and moved out, I took my wife’s offer up to move back to my Home State. I left when I was a young man of 18 when I joined the Air Force. That was 38 years ago. Man am I getting old.
We have been here for 2 years now, living just inside of Weird (if you live in central Texas, you will know just what city I am talking about) in an apartment for the first year, and then buying a house in San Marcos.
We looked for a church for quite a while and finally found one just a mile away. That is the closest one we have joined since we were married. We have both jumped in both feet.
I have asked my wife if she likes it here and she is glad to be out of the cold we lived in in Minnesota. Me too.
Anyway, just a short note to those interested.
Take care, and be blessed!
WHY DO WE ENDURE DEPRESSION?
Do we have to? Where does it come from?
Certainly depression does not come from our Father. For “there is none good but one, that is, God“. Depression comes from the evil one. He is the “Accuser of the brethren.”
We can only be accused when we do things wrong, when we miss the mark of the high calling of God. Depression comes when we know that the things we have done are not right and we worry that we have hurt someone OR and much worse, we are afraid we will be found out. It also hampers our relationship with our Father God, if we have had one with Him.
We were not made to be separated from our Loving Father. We were made to be in relationship. It makes us whole, it makes us free.
How Should I Pray?
Many people pray when things go south for them. Why wait for that? That is like trying to fill your gas tank up with a 1 gallon gas can when you have run out of fuel!
Some people say they do not know how to pray, so that is why they wait for a crises! How can you learn anything without trying it first. Don’t procrastinate with this most important thing! The more often you do something, the better you get7 at it.
So, what is prayer? It is simply talking to the God of the Universe. Just imagine, YOU CAN talk to the most powerfull force in the universe! And He will listen to you because to Him, you are the most important thing in His universe! Why? Because He loves you!
What is prayer? It is simply talking to God! You see, He is interested in you, in fact, he wants to have a dynamic relationship with you. He even talks back to you, and, no, that is NOT a crazy thing. In fact Jesus states,
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
And NO that is NOT just the Bible. The Holy Spirit speaks even today for he “Guides you into all truth”. God the Father speaks to us with that “still, small voice”.
How can you know it is God speaking to you? If it goes against worldliness and if it is immediately followed by a condemnation for even thinking something is from God. The devil does not want you to succeed spiritually, and he is quick to condemn!
Also, if it goes against scripture, it is NOT from God!
So, what are you going to do? Wait or Practice? It is really up to you! If you want a relationship, you have to talk AND listen.
Let me know how you are doing!
Thoughts on Thinking
What is the issue with thinking? Most people base their thinking on personal desires, opinions, and biases. While these bases of thinking can get you through life, sometimes successfully, they limit you, sometimes in a pathological way.
Why so?
Because these ways of thinking are selfish, greedy and based on self-aggrandizement. They are not based on higher critical thinking. The basis of it are “What’s In It For Me”. Whole philosophies have come out of this way of thinking, including Ayn Rand’s “Objectivism”.
We have to get past this and to think on a higher level. We need to start asking “why”. Why do we think the way we do? What do we accomplish by this way of thinking?
Where will it lead us?
Basic thinking allows us to “exist”. It can get us through life, but it does not allow us to understand how, or why. It also is based on selfishness.
We have all seen the result of this way of thinking; a parent yelling at their child, or a spouse berating their partner. This damages other people, and although we may get momentary satisfaction, and our desires met, this way of thinking ultimately leads to harmed relationships, and unhappiness for us and others.
“for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Is. 55:9
We need to get to a higher way of thinking about things or we will be led by base emotions or be led those who can think on a higher level.
An example: When we hear things through the media, critical thinking is very important. Why? Because a lot of quotes are either out of context, or only half quotes. Then whole reports are fashioned from those misleading statements to lead us to think in a certain agenda driven way.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK on these things.” Phil. 4:8
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Action NOT Theory
I once was a member of a Multi-Level Marketing Company. One Saturday night my up-line decided to have everyone over to call people we knew. We had our scripts ready and practiced. My wife and I went into one of the bedrooms and made our calls to see if people we knew would let us come over to discuss the business.
While we were putting the plan into action ALL of the people in our up=line were talking about making calls, what they would say if someone answered IF they made those calls, BUT NEVER MADE ANY CALLS. I came out a little perturbed and said, “Are you going to make calls or is this just a Theory session?” They did not like what I said.
Faith is not THEORY, it is action. We do not become more Christ Like by just thinking about it. We do not grow spiritually by talking about helping others. We only do so by determining in our hearts to DO those things and actually DOING THEM.
If you are caught in a sin, a habitual sin, you must determine to do something else and pursue it with all your heart. Theorizing does not get you there. Write down your goal, put 3 or 4 action steps down then do them.
When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God.
1 Corinthians 10:31CEV
Our Country Has Lost God’s Blessing
That is the only explanation that our country would be seeing such deviant behavior being pushed by the President. Our media refuses to report on the true unemployment rate. We are being invaded by those who want to end our way of life that we have known for many many years. Churches are accepting things that historically it called sin. Companies are buying politicians to work against the citizens of this country.
What say you?
Being A Christian Isn’t Easy
I do not know how the myth was arrived at that all your troubles would vanish away the moment you accept Christ. This is SO far from the truth that it makes one laugh.
Hebrews 11:37 states of those of faith “….they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain…”
It is absolutely NOT a crutch religion, for that would make life nice and safe, however, we have an adversary, as 1 Peter 5:19 describes:
“Your adversary the Devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Now, I will say this, actually I am issuing a warning, about some who claim Christianity, if your life NEVER seems to have opposition, then your enemy must not be too worried about you and what you are doing for Jesus. If you actually do submit your life to Christ, then you will find “in this life you will have trouble”. Your family will come under attack, some friends might leave you, even some family members might abandon you. But, that is OK, for you will have “one who sticks closer than a brother”, at your side.
There are some speaking today in a group called the Emergent Church, who are speaking lies in hypocrisy. One such is the Pastor of Solomon’s Porch in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, Doug Paggit. In this interview we hear him saying what seems ALL will eventually make it to heaven. This in DIRECT opposition to the one whom he claims as savior said, in Matthew 7:13:
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”
He does not believe in Heaven. He equates all religions as viable, however Jesus stated in John 14:6:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The reason I am stating this is because if you oppose this modern, Laodician church age in which people do not want to hear that God will hold them accountable for their actions, and beliefs, by finding those who teach what they “FEEL” God should be like. They are creating a god in their image and after their likeness, which is idolatry, and God will not hold them guiltless.
The indication of what Jesus said is EXCLUSIVE, in that there will NOT be many who find the way to salvation. This is one of his, so called, “hard sayings”.
We are in the “People Choose” age, where the Bible is condemned, condensed, contaminated and co-opted. In which all those parts that make people feel bad are thrown out, never preached on, and are condemned by liberal theologians. It has been called a “Hate” book by Jesus Seminar’s John Shelby Spong because it condemns homosexuals who do not repent of that sin to the lake of fire. Actually Spong hates it so much he removed it’s LOVING warnings to adulterers, homosexuals, liars and murderers, from it’s text. In Fact, since Spong has removed warnings from the Bible, the Book of Revelation states he will be condemned:
Revelation 22:
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Before you spout the often liberally spouted: “judge not” misquote, I am letting you know this, God has sent prophets to WARN of the impending judgment of Almighty God. He has also given us HIS word of those warnings as well. If a person does what the Bible states emphatically NOT to do, they will receive in themselves the condemnation that God has warned them about. It is a dangerous thing to call what God condemns as sin, as not sin. You make yourself an enemy of God when you do so. I don’t care if it makes you feel good inside to justify sin in your heart, God WILL NOT BE MOCKED, and there is a lot of mocking going on in our western culture.
If you do not repent of your sin, and your toying with sin, and your mocking of God, you will be judged by Jesus, you will be found wanting, and you will be tossed into the Lake which burns with fire for eternity. It will NOT be his fault that you are placed there, it will be YOU, and YOU alone who made that decision. Put another way, in American Jurisprudence, and American Law, you can be put to death for spying, if you CHOOSE to spy, and you are condemned as a spy and you are put to death, it is YOU and YOU alone that is the cause of your death. You knew before you did it what the consequences would be if you were caught. It does not matter WHY you chose to do it, even if you DISAGREE with the government on that secret, you will still bear the consequences of YOUR action. The same is true with God, he warned you, you chose to disbelieve him, so it is NOT HIM to blame for what happens if you disbelieve his warning. Because he carries out the sentence that he warned you about before hand, it is still YOUR fault you will go where you go.
May God give you eyes to see and ears to hear.
Now On to Another Year
What is in a year? Heartache, drama, sickness, pain, moves, death, new life, promotion, success, these and more.
What do you expect in the coming year? More of the same, a new leaf? Isn’t it interesting that so many make themselves promises that are doomed from the moment they are conceived? Why? They are not specific. Like, “I want to lose weight!” no you don’t, not specific, but by changing three words in that “promise”, success is achievable, “I will lose 15 pounds!” success will become more likely. You see, we live in a world of non-specifics, and it is a world of non-success. By defining your goals, you put success into it.
When you say, “I want to live a better life!” What does that mean? How do you achieve it? It is non-specific, therefore it is not achievable. What IS a better life? More stuff? Perhaps it is less stuff. Ever think of that? But again it is not achievable because it doesn’t mean anything.
I can give you a hint of what a better life is, however, that would be my view of a better life. But, I will give it anyway.
A better life can be achieved, by giving your life away. It is a sad fact that most try to hang onto everything they have for dear life. This is a sad edict on humanity, for nothing is truly ours. It will belong to someone else when we die. It is only on loan, and we are stewards of it at best. Most of it ends up clogging a landfill. But, it does not have to be that way.
The most fulfilled life is one given away to others, more specifically, one that is used to help others less fortunate than oneself. It is given personally, not taken by mandate of the government. It is giving food to the hungry, giving glasses to those with poor eyesight, time to those who have no one to talk to, a ride to someone who needs it. It is taking some of that stuff in storage that you will not use again and donating to an organization that helps troubled youth with proceeds from it’s sell.
I have been in the process of getting my home ready for sale. I cannot believe the amount of accumulated junk (in my opinion, but salable items in a charity’s opinion) that I have looked through and given away. I still have more to go. It is teaching me a lesson about life here in the US. We hoard things, stuff we don’t even know we have, when, we should either use it or give it away to someone who will. Now, some will say, why not sell it? What would you do with the money? Buy more stuff that will become meaningless to you?
Real LIFE does not come by accumulating, but by giving of yourself. You know who did that for all of us? Jesus. He laid down his life, so that we might have life, a more abundant life, that is, a life full of meaning. He mentored us, he showed us what to do to have a meaningful life, one that really counts, one of happiness, and peace, and fulfillment. He gave his life away, for joy.
Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 He also told us that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend.
I hope you specifically determine to give your life away this year, to touch another life in such a way as to help them have a better life themselves, see if that gives you more joy that all that stuff in boxes you have forgotten you have.
You Have To Be Educated Out Of Knowing There Is A God
Those who CLAIM to be Atheist did not get there by natural means. They have to be brainwashed out of the knowledge of God. They have to disregard what is written in their hearts, and still there is the nagging feeling they are wrong. They have to deny the evidence that is all around them that an intelligent being HAD to create all that can be known, seen, and felt.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.
“He set eternity in their heart” It cannot be denied that men want to live forever, they are afraid of the finality of death, they morn when family or friends die, it just seems unfair! Some have used this to blame God, and try to erase him not only from their minds, but even from the public forum. But even if successful, they will never be able to rid their heart of knowing they want eternity.
The Bible says of those who try to do this as being the hight of foolishness.
Psalm 14:1a
The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God.
Logically, there is no way to prove there is no God, those who claim atheism will object in two areas to this:
1. It would be incumbent upon those that claim God exists to prove it,
2. You cannot prove a negative
However, both objections are fallacious. All of recorded human history shows belief in higher powers, the atheist view is new, so in order for that view to be accepted, IT MUST BE THE ONE TO PROVE HUMAN HISTORY AS BEING WRONG.
Negatives are proved all the time! Two proof of this:
modus ponens: affirming the antecedent or the law of detachment
and:
Modus tollens: denying the consequent
other proofs are negative balances, negative temperatures, etc.
Again, it is incumbent on the denier to prove their point.
Life force in it’s very nature proves God. Why is something alive? When someone dies, everything that was in them physically before they died remains, however, something changes, we all know it, there is no LIFE left in them. What is that life force, science has no answer, they try to say it is electrical impulses, but, electrical impulses remain for quite a while after the life force is removed, blood cells still have electrical impulses much longer than brain cells, although, by a limited time.
People have changed lives, this also proves a higher power, and also is a great problem for atheists. They can come up with other explanations, which atheistic scientists try to do in many areas of science, but all of these fail the test. The problem for their arguments is the diversity of personalities that have their lives changed when God is accepted on Biblical terms.
I love this part of Ecclesiastes 3:11
“he hath set eternity in their heart”
It is a set of words beautifully put together, it brings up feelings of wonder and nostalgia all at the same time. It is a comforting, alive, and profound set of words that proclaim a truth that can only be denied by a lying heart and lips that hate God for unsubstantiated reasoning.
If you are tired of the struggle against your heart, please take the time to write to me. We can discuss it, I care for you!
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