The Chameleon
In a short conversation one can become "all things to all people". Question: does that sound positive to you? What does all people mean? Do we want to have something in common with everyone? Which something should it be? Are you a color changing adapter?
Two mothers are in common. Listen to the conversations. Pounds, allergies, doctors, bottles, no bottles...it doesn't take work for two moms to connect. This probably holds true in other areas.
The area in my mind however is that of Christianity. If boldly representing Jesus as your King is a dark Royal blue, what color are we in most of our daily communications. Days ago a man (claiming to be the number one real estate agent in our county - how do you measure that?) came to my business. His reply to "how are you?" was intriguing; "I don't know. It's like when I was in the service overseas. I got into a cab messed up(drunk) and the driver asked where to, I said 'I don't know. Take me home!'"
In this single statement there is no disguise. Many profanities (not mine) and business subjects later after I mention that I am a Pastor, the very next words from his mouth were, "I definitely consider real estate my ministry." The yucky talk disappeared and it was nice and churchy from this point on. The appearance seemed to go from one color to another as though the first impression was to be deleted from memory and replaced with this lovely blue color.
The quandry I have is not what color he was either first or after the shift. Pink, yellow, pale blue, or teal. But rather, how do I know if my true color is blue. Or do I blend given different surroundings? Oh, how often those around me talk blue to me, and then the most pea-green colors to those that may be a closer match? But, this is for me to answer. Do I do this as well?
How comfortable am I in that crucial first impression time speaking of King Jesus? How long would someone have to hold their breath if they were waiting on my mentioning the Savior to inhale that life saving o2. I pray they won't turn blue from the waiting, but from the saving.
JS

God is mad at you. You broke His Law and you were expected to keep it... perfectly. He's mad that is, if you haven't been completely and perfectly cleaned. How can you do that? Trade your sin (Law breaking) for Jesus' perfection (perfect obedience) by repenting (turning from sin) and putting your whole trust (faith) in the person and work of Christ. Make Him your King and Savior (cleaner-upper). Is He mad at you? Ask Him not to be!
JS

It's Da Vinci Madness
How Serious IS a heart attack? If you can't answer that, then how can you use it as a measurement standard? Precisely (Bad pun)! This observation serves a two-fold purpose in this installment:
(1) The 'seriousness' of the Da Vinci Code and
(2) The standards of measuring Truth (capital's on purpose - hang in there)
First, do you remember a book called "Embraced by the Light"? Have you been to the Wal-Mart and seen "Chicken Soup for the Plumber's Soul"? Have you made a pilgrimage to see Mel Gibson's 'the Passion' lately? What I'm driving at is simple. You can repackage Gnosticism all you want. Slap the "FACT" sticker as Dan Brown does on it, but this fad will soon be doused out as all others. Not by Truth I'm afraid, but by a fickle consuming public. In fact, check back and read this in a few months and you'll snicker that I wrote it. Not even a mild heart attack.
Second, the standard of truth for Brown? There isn't one. Yup, that's it. There is no need for Truth when you have truth. Just make it up. If you fall prey to his fantasy story about 80 gospels, a close vote on Jesus' divinity and the 25 gazillion women burned as witches, you deserve what you get. You may have drank the Kool Aid and/or Diet Root Beer too in other circumstances. And you should be ashamed. As Paul says to Timothy:
2 Tim 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. What have you divided to come to your conclusions? The book in question isn't even that good either. It's just the only thing a TV addicted public has read recently, so they think it's good. Hey, Martha. There's words-n-stuff in this here book. I give it 4 stars!
JS

Well, well. well! So there is a "U" and not an "I" in Al's moniker. I am no scribe. For if I were, my entire blog would be canned and not canonized. This error is unpardonable! I will now fall on my own butter-knife. Ouch! It didn't puncture skin, but the bruise will serve as a reminder: From this day forth - I shall exclusively refer to AlthUsius as "Al". I cannot bear the thought of being guilty of Misnomerology. The new discipline in Dan Brown's next book.
Tell Er I'm anxiously awaiting my grade in Smartology. JS

Alright Al, if you insist on posting helpful tidbits instead fo useless chatter; I have no choice but to up the aunty (not sure what that means). The best way to peel a pomegranate is as follows:
(1) Fill your kitchen sink with water (yes, plug the drain first)
(2) Put a strainer (mom used to call it a colander I think) in the bottom of the full sink.
(3) Take half (after you've cut it in 2) of the fruit in both hands and holding it just under the surface of the water, crumble it apart.
(4) Now you'll notice the fruit sinking to the bottom and the pulp and peel float to the top. This stuff tastes like earwax, why would you want to keep that.
(5) Leaving the plentifully full strainer on the bottom - scrape as-it-were the undesirables off the top.
(6) Lift the strainer of plenty full of fruit exlusively and enjoy.
Top that Al (Althisius) JS

I'd like to thank Althisius and the people of the Academy for this award. It has been very hard work (Signing up took 2 minutes) learning to Blog. In the past I thought "Blog" was only a sound made in your abdominal area when you have intigestion. But, now I know it is something that causes it. Reading the inane chatter on the web has proven most disheartening. Thankfully, with counseling and encouragement, I too am adding to the babble. This has been a public service announcement brought to you by the makers of the original 5.25 inch floppy disks - when they were still floppy. See what I mean about babble. JS

I am new. Creation and Blog. I know nothing of this and will have little or no time to learn. However, if you'd like to send me something something (not a typo - I'm urban), feel free. Or, better yet, be free.