Although this is a young industry, I am saying for the record, it is serious trouble. I have had the pleasure of traveling by air recently, and the delays and cancellations are growing at a record pace.
If we as citizens of the USA, could have dumped as many dollars into the high speed rail system we would have been FAR better off. Today we have over bloated, expensive and outdated system.
Many will say that air travel is the best and safest today. Perhaps they are right, and as Americans we have chosen to have time over customer service. We should have listened to our European ancestors on this one and scrape the air industry except for overseas and dump that stimulus money into high speed electric rail trains!
One other point, I dare any terriost to take over a train, BIG DEAL~!
Venting over, but will come out if we don't get on at 6:46 to ATL!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Why we Worry?
Do not be anxious about your life. - Matthew 6:25
Why do we worry? Because we don't believe. We're not really convinced the same Jesus who can keep a sparrow in the air knows where our lost luggage is, or how we'll pay that car repair bill. Or if we believe He can deliver us through our difficulties, we doubt if He will. We let satan sow seeds of doubt in our minds about God's love and care for us. Have you ever done this, I know that I have?
The great antidote to anxiety is to come to God in prayer about EVERYTHING! "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). Nothing's too big for Him to handle or too small to escape his attention. Paul said we're to come to God "with thanksgiving." We should thank Him for His past faithfulness in delivering us from troubles. We should thank Him for the fact that He's in control of every circumstance of our lives and that nothing can touch us that He doesn't allow. We should thank Him that in His infinite wisdom He's able to work in this circumstance for our good. We can thank Him that He won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The promised result is not deliverance, but the peace of God. One of the reasons we don't find this peace is that all too often we won't settle for anything other than deliverance from the trouble. But God, through Paul, promises us peace, a peace that is unexplainable. It will guard our hearts and minds against anxiety to which you and I are so prone. So when you become overwhelmed today, draw on prayer and believe that God can and will carry you.
Why do we worry? Because we don't believe. We're not really convinced the same Jesus who can keep a sparrow in the air knows where our lost luggage is, or how we'll pay that car repair bill. Or if we believe He can deliver us through our difficulties, we doubt if He will. We let satan sow seeds of doubt in our minds about God's love and care for us. Have you ever done this, I know that I have?
The great antidote to anxiety is to come to God in prayer about EVERYTHING! "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). Nothing's too big for Him to handle or too small to escape his attention. Paul said we're to come to God "with thanksgiving." We should thank Him for His past faithfulness in delivering us from troubles. We should thank Him for the fact that He's in control of every circumstance of our lives and that nothing can touch us that He doesn't allow. We should thank Him that in His infinite wisdom He's able to work in this circumstance for our good. We can thank Him that He won't allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The promised result is not deliverance, but the peace of God. One of the reasons we don't find this peace is that all too often we won't settle for anything other than deliverance from the trouble. But God, through Paul, promises us peace, a peace that is unexplainable. It will guard our hearts and minds against anxiety to which you and I are so prone. So when you become overwhelmed today, draw on prayer and believe that God can and will carry you.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Faith of the Shepherds
Lately, I have been reading a daily devotion from Martin Luther - Here is the one from Dec 24th, enjoy. It is amazing that a man that lived hundreds of years ago, can write about issues that we are still dealing with today!
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2:15
If these shepherds hadn't believed the angels, they wouldn't have gone to Bethlehem. Neither would they have done any of what is recorded in Luke. But when unbelievers say, "Yes, I would have certainly believe the message if an angel from heaven announced it to me," they don't know what they are saying. For whoever doesn't receive the Word on its account will never receive it no matter who preaches it - even if all the angels come and preach it to them. Moreover, those who believe the message on account of the one preaching it aren't believing the Word. Neither do they believe in God through the Word. Instead, they believe in the preacher. As a result, their faith doesn't endure.
But those who believe in Word overlook the one who is preaching it. They don't honor the Word because of the person. On the contrary, they honor the person because of the Word. They never place the person higher than the Word. If the preacher is ruined, falls from faith, or begins preaching a different message, the believers would rather let go of the preacher than give up the Word. They would stick with the Word regardless of the person involved or the situation.
This is the true difference between genuine and human faith. Human faith is always attached to the person. It believes, trusts, and honors the Word because of the one who speaks it. On the other hand, genuine faith clings to the Word, which is God himself. Genuine faith believes, trusts, and honors the Word because of what it is, not who said it. Faith so strongly senses that the Word is true that no one can tear it away - not even the same preacher who first brought it.
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." Luke 2:15
If these shepherds hadn't believed the angels, they wouldn't have gone to Bethlehem. Neither would they have done any of what is recorded in Luke. But when unbelievers say, "Yes, I would have certainly believe the message if an angel from heaven announced it to me," they don't know what they are saying. For whoever doesn't receive the Word on its account will never receive it no matter who preaches it - even if all the angels come and preach it to them. Moreover, those who believe the message on account of the one preaching it aren't believing the Word. Neither do they believe in God through the Word. Instead, they believe in the preacher. As a result, their faith doesn't endure.
But those who believe in Word overlook the one who is preaching it. They don't honor the Word because of the person. On the contrary, they honor the person because of the Word. They never place the person higher than the Word. If the preacher is ruined, falls from faith, or begins preaching a different message, the believers would rather let go of the preacher than give up the Word. They would stick with the Word regardless of the person involved or the situation.
This is the true difference between genuine and human faith. Human faith is always attached to the person. It believes, trusts, and honors the Word because of the one who speaks it. On the other hand, genuine faith clings to the Word, which is God himself. Genuine faith believes, trusts, and honors the Word because of what it is, not who said it. Faith so strongly senses that the Word is true that no one can tear it away - not even the same preacher who first brought it.
Christmas?
Well it appears that Christmas plans for many are being changed with the weather. I hope all are safe and enjoy the holiday. As you get ready to celebrate this wonderful time of our Savior's birth, I hope that the extra time that has been given to you that you spend in meditation and reflection of His birth. God has a way of slowing all of us down to listen to him.
I am including a few pics of the last snow storm for DSM, hope that this one is much less.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Time?
Another year and you wonder where did it all go? You watch your babies having babies and wonder where did it all go? As you get older, it seems like time moves so quickly. I know that one day my time will run out, and I hope that others will remember me? Isn't that a fundamental human need, to be remembered?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Letting Evil Flow Past
This is a great devotion from my recent readings from Martin Luther
And I saw that all labor and all achievement sping from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4
In this passage, the writer of Ecclesiastes is saying, "I saw people who were extremely capable at their jobs, but they didn't accomplish anything the way they wanted to, because it was not within their power. Their hostile neighbors hindered their efforts."
It's biblical and comforting to know that we shouldn't worry about all the problems in the world. Human concerns and trouble are everywhere. When I was a new preacher, I tried to solve everyone's problems. But people rightfully told me, "You're too inexperienced to reform rascals." The same advice could be given in any job situation. Every occupation has its own problems. Therefore, you should live in the present, enjoy what you have, and just let all the evil flow past you. This is how to defy the world.
In short, if you want to live peacefully. remember that much of what happens in this world will seem meaningless. Don't be sad when something bad happens in your life. Instead, enjoy the blessings you still have. If you have been officially given the responsibility for making something better, then do what you can and leave the rest up to God. But if you want to voluntarily take on more responsibility, trying to straighten out everything that is crooked, cure every evil, and throw the devil out of this world, then you'll only cause yourself a lot of pain and sorrow. It's like trying to stop the flow of a swift river. You can't control what people do in this world. Rather, the one who created all things is the one who controls them.
This is a great devotion for all of us, and it really hits me hard. Too often I think and dewell on the negative of the work that I am doing and the things in my life. I need to believe that God is in control and I need to enjoy the ride that God puts me on and enjoy. That is truly the meaning of true happiness! These devotions from Martin Luther are what 500 hundred years old but they still are so real.
And I saw that all labor and all achievement sping from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4
In this passage, the writer of Ecclesiastes is saying, "I saw people who were extremely capable at their jobs, but they didn't accomplish anything the way they wanted to, because it was not within their power. Their hostile neighbors hindered their efforts."
It's biblical and comforting to know that we shouldn't worry about all the problems in the world. Human concerns and trouble are everywhere. When I was a new preacher, I tried to solve everyone's problems. But people rightfully told me, "You're too inexperienced to reform rascals." The same advice could be given in any job situation. Every occupation has its own problems. Therefore, you should live in the present, enjoy what you have, and just let all the evil flow past you. This is how to defy the world.
In short, if you want to live peacefully. remember that much of what happens in this world will seem meaningless. Don't be sad when something bad happens in your life. Instead, enjoy the blessings you still have. If you have been officially given the responsibility for making something better, then do what you can and leave the rest up to God. But if you want to voluntarily take on more responsibility, trying to straighten out everything that is crooked, cure every evil, and throw the devil out of this world, then you'll only cause yourself a lot of pain and sorrow. It's like trying to stop the flow of a swift river. You can't control what people do in this world. Rather, the one who created all things is the one who controls them.
This is a great devotion for all of us, and it really hits me hard. Too often I think and dewell on the negative of the work that I am doing and the things in my life. I need to believe that God is in control and I need to enjoy the ride that God puts me on and enjoy. That is truly the meaning of true happiness! These devotions from Martin Luther are what 500 hundred years old but they still are so real.
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