Surprise

Surprise!

“God has a wonderful surprise for you!”  the angel said to Mary.   

And Mary said, “OK!”

Mary Said to Joseph, “I have a surprise for you!”

        
Joseph thought about it. 

          
 And God told Joseph it was OK.

“Surprise!”  the angels said to the shepherds.  “Go. Find the stable.  

There is a surprise.  The Savior - the Messiah is born.”  

They went and were surprised.  So were Mary and Joseph.

The star was no surprise.  

Wise men were looking for it.  They packed up and followed.

God is full of surprises.  Some are fun and exciting.  Some are 

hard.  But in God’s hands, they turn into blessing.

May you have a glorious Christ - mas 

and a Surprising New Year

Surprise?!!

We are still Living (in LaConner)

Laughing (at the aging process) 

&  Loving Life (and each other).

Caught

Caught...

In John 8 the Pharisees interrupt a church meeting Jesus is holding in the temple courts.

They drag in a woman caught in the 'act'! What 'act'? Adultery! And following 'custom' they stripped her to the waist.

Moses' law says to stone her to death. Roman law says only Romans can execute. Don't see anything about stripping.

They (the Religious Right) are out for blood. The woman's and Jesus' blood. They now want to mix Him up on the law and probably stone them both.

Here is my view:

They, the (Religious Righteous or the Righteous Religious) 'caught' her. (I have always though adultery took two) Then they dragged her to the temple. Seems to me, she probably wasn't out on the street committing adultery. Certainly, she and her partner were in some secret or at least enclosed place. The 'RR' was probably out prowling around trying to catch someone in the act.

Perhaps, the partner in this adultery could outrun the 'RR' or was too big and heavy to drag through the streets. Or, maybe a Pharisee?

They drag her in. Interrupt Jesus and his teaching to expose the sinner.

Expose physically - stripping her to the waist. To show how shameful she was? And, so they could all get a good eyeful?

Expose her morally - caught in the act.

Look at us, they probably thought. We are such moral, law-abiding men of God. We would never do such a thing. And it is our job to help God stamp out sin. Adultery in particular.

She was caught. Dragged. Stripped. Exposed.

Jesus turned the whole thing around. Took the attention from the Caught and Exposed to the Catchers and Exposers. He said,"You, who are without sin, throw the first stone."

Now, this is where I get a little nervous. His words point to my heart. I suddenly become part of the 'RR'. Catching others. Judging others. Dragging - telling about others. Exposing - gossiping about others.

And then Jesus says to me "Go and sin no more."

Caught. Again. Exposed. Again. But, forgiven - once again.

  Penalty of Law...

Under penalty of law this tag cannot be removed, except by consumer.  Thus reads the tags on many things. In 'olden' days this tag left off (except by consumer).

I was especially irritated by those tags on 'my' mattress.  How dare 'they' tell me I had to leave that ugly tag attached.  Were 'they' going to come into my house and check tags?  Say, make a sweep through the neighborhood to check mattress tags?  And what was the penalty?  Jail time?

That ole rebel in me rose up.  I cut and tore off those tags.  And threw them away.  Nobody ever checked. I doubt if my kids ever realized what a lawbreaker their mother was.

Recently, I purchased a lap desk, so I could have a firm writing surface while sitting outside. There it was 'under penalty of law... However, except by consumer was there.  I don't know when that phrase was added.  It probably was one of those laws that worked it's way through various law making agencies. There is probably a good and useful reason. But, I fail to see what it could be. Just think of all the ink that could be saved.

Oh my, I just turned the tag over: Warnings and Cautions

#1 Don't use for sleeping.

#2 Not a toy.

#3 Choking hazard.

#4 Avoid inhaling filling.

Plus, four more warnings.

I was thinkin'.  How many people even read these warnings.  How many rip or cut them off? How many don't care or notice?

The other day one of Dan's Tshirts came through the wash inside out. I noticed a tag, got my scissors and grabbed the tag. Much to my surprise, there was a picture of scissors and cut lines.  Perhaps, others are bothered also.

How many pay attention to God's warnings.  Under penalty of law...Galatians 5:13-26 gives us examples, reasons, penalties and a wonderful escape clause...Live by the spirit!

And it is obvious who is doing so. Those living by the Spirit will show these signs: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law-- no penalty.

No warning tag to rip off, just a Bible to warn and direct and a Spirit to empower.

Prepared…

  Sunday night - Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers. TV is on. Recorders set. Snacks ready.

 

  KABOOM! Thunder. I mean loud, loud thunder. Lightning. The whole sky lighting up. Pouring rain. Oh, the wind decided to make an Oscar award appearance. Not only here in Yakima, but in Seattle also.

  The game was in Seattle. This was a really big game. The 12th man was trying to set a Guinness book world record noise level at this game. The stadium has no roof. There was lightning, thunder & rain to match ours. Game delay. More game delay. I was on our deck watching the weather show. Lights flickered.

Lights went out! TV off—then on. Takes 10-15 minutes to re-boot.

  I decided I’d better prepare for the power outage. Looked for my lanterns. I have two. One oil and one battery. The oil one was in a safe place, waiting for such an occurrence. I could not find it. The battery one was easy. An open shelf in the garage. However, it would not turn on. I had taken the batteries out and had not purchased replacements.

  I searched for candles. And one of those lighter sticks. All I could come up with was the lighter and a 3” candle. I left them on the counter awaiting another power outage. Lights were back on. TV had re-booted and the game had re-started.

  I went back out to watch the weather show. I got to thinking about the 12 bridesmaids (woops only 10) who were waiting for the Bridegroom. All had lanterns. Only half had oil. I was llike the foolish ones with one light source. If the power went out again a 3” candle would not last long.

  Back to thinkin’… I have many Bibles. I spend time with Jesus. But how prepared am I?   Who and what is my power source? Can I find my Bibles? Do I count on the Holy Spirit to light me up and show me the way to go? Or do I only have me? About as much help as a 3”candle. Best do some thinkin’ and plannin’?

P.S: Seahawks 29  49ers 3. Noise level record sent.