TRASHY PEOPLE!

 Yesterday was garbage collection day in the hood.  All of the different forms of garbage are collected on the same day each week----three bins.  It takes 3 different trucks to collect the three bins---recycle, yard waste (those things which will decompose) and plain old garbage.  Living in the big city allows this expeditious garbage collection---though it takes the entire day for everything to be picked up.    All of those years in Ruston (when I was in the city limits) there was garbage day and a different day for recycle.  SIDENOTE---MY RUSTON FRIENDS WILL FIND IT INTERESTING THAT EVEN IN A CITY THE SIZE OF FORT WORTH THERE IS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT ARE THEY REALLY RECYCLING OR JUST THROWING IT ALL IN THE SAME PLACE.  I prefer dealing with all of my garbage on the one day and not having to think of garbage again until the next week.

We have come a long way since the days of my youth.  Another story I have told you before is about having a burn barrel (old oil drum) in which we would daily burn our garbage and the ashes were collected periodically (I don't remember how often) when I was growing up.  If you recall the story, I told the possums would get into the barrel and when I would take the garbage out to burn they would snarl up at me.  This led to me throwing garbage all over the place while screaming and later being sent to pick it up.  WHERE AM I GOING?  Man has a propensity to create garbage.  At some point in the past, it occurred to the authorities who rule that the garbage brought rats and other vermin who spread disease.  It would lead to better health for the masses if the garbage was dealt with.  Thus the birth of the garbage collection system which has evolved into the description above.  I must say, we are much better at our collection system--someone finally realized we would be someday be overrun if we did not come up with a better plan.  ESPECIALLY for those items which take thousands of years to decompose.  I always feel like a better citizen when I buy something made from recycled goods!

Since the early days after creation, man has struggled with a garbage problem.  In the earliest of days everything would finally decompose since everything was made from decomposable (God made) materials.  When man became involved in the production process and man made goods were available, the garbage problem began its slow and steady increase.  Today we are faced with a huge problem--we are a consumer society now and most consumable goods seem to be disposable---to a degree.  There is a colossal industry all for the disposing of our garbage.

I am certain you see where I am headed---sin.  Sin is the definitive garbage and like today's man made goods--not often easily disposed of.  Some sin lasts generation after generation with little hope for dealing with it.  BUT GOD---He is in the BIG business of forgiveness and forgetting.  He is a virtual master at disposing of our sin--but we have to be wiling to put it in the can and stick it on the curb.  He will do the rest. 

"For I will forgive their inequity,

and I will remember their sin no more."

Jeremiah 31:34

COLLATERAL DAMAGE

 There is a great deal being said about collateral damage in the news these days. " Collateral damage is a term that refers to any unwanted or incidental damage, injury, or death that results from an activity, especially when it affect civilians." Dr. Google.  It is absolutely heartbreaking to see the toll of suffering which is a direct result of war and we have always had wars in this broken world.  Man's insatiable desire for control, revenge, conquest, or any other form of greed brings about wars.  Wars inevitably spill over to the innocent caught in the midst of the chaos produced when man wars against man.

Though I have read a great deal of World War II historical fiction, the devastation was crystal clear when we visited Berlin several years ago.  After the Allies bombed Berlin there was almost nothing left of the once great historical city.  OH, today it has been rebuilt, but the history that was evidenced in the original structures was lost when the city was systematically flattened.  I would dare say---conquering evil was accompanied with the incidental damage of war.  BUT was it incidental?  Following the near destruction of multiple cities in England and other European countries, there was certainly knowledge of the devastation that would be experienced by some innocent Germans.  An eye for an eye---may have been the battle cry or the only way to stop the spread of the evil was the annihilation of even the seeming innocents since they had stood by (at a minimum) and allowed the evil empire make war on the world in an effort to conquer it.

  I am not here to debate collateral damage then or now, but point out our own actions can have collateral damage when they are self seeking.  In man's struggles against his fellow man, when we allow sin (evil) to result---we are inviting collateral damage.  It reminds me of an atom bomb exploding---the destruction at the epicenter is total, but there is a tidal wave of destruction which follows destroying everything in its path.  I think of the scorched earth tactic used in wars to prevent the enemy from using the resources destroyed.  Sin not only affects the one standing in the direct path, but can ripple out in a wide circle.  What we thought would only affect the one directly hit---can also affect many others in their shadow.

It is really quite daunting to really think about the affect of our sin.  To look beyond our direct target and see who else will be affected.  I am so thankful for a God who forgives when we repent, but the damage is not undone.  Read Job--as hard as we try--the loss suffered cannot be restored.  A daunting subject---but there are times we need to carefully consider our actions and all they might incidentally damage.  I, for one, am convicted.  

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,

brawling and slander,

along with every form of malice.

Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other.

Just as in Christ God forgave you"

Ephesians 4:31-32

HELP IN RECOGNIZING THE SCHEME AND THE SCHEMER

 It seems I speak of sin a great deal lately (or so it seems to me).   Perhaps this is a sign of my own personal struggle with sin?  In my defense, I am reading Leviticus in my annual walk through the Bible plan and when you read ALL those laws---you can get bogged down in how anyone could ever live a sinless life.  (THANK GOD & JESUS FOR FREEING US FROM THE LAW)  We are studying Genesis on Sunday morning and just hit upon the very first sin.  Poor Eve--what a thing to be remembered for.  This past Sunday (March 3) the pastor taught on the Devil's Schemes.  I walked away with a page full of notes and the certainty I needed to address this.  What hope am I giving if all I am talking about is  how fallen man has a propensity to sin and no help in fighting off that inclination?

Satan has a game plan and I will give you the high points of what I heard~

ISOLATION---BOY--did this hit me in the face.  In many ways since the pandemic I have lived a very isolated life.  It began with a huge amount of caution, knowing I did not want to have the plague.  (I do not handle suffering physically well either.)  Once the habit of being home became ingrained---my introverted self found that I did not mind being alone.  NOW--I love people--enjoy almost all of you (I will not name names of those I might run from).  BUT my mother seems to have passed on her introvert gene to all three of her offspring.  My sister in law told my brother, "This pandemic shut down played right into the hands of you James'es."  Well not intentionally--but all three of us do not mind periods of aloneness.  The Word instructs us---to meet together.  My favorite together is small group and one on one.  We need others to hold us accountable and be our truth tellers.  At times we do not realize what we are in the middle of and its danger unless someone hits us in the face with it.  God places those in our lives who love us enough to lovingly point out where we are headed.

DISCONTENTMENT-- A friend recently told me of a meeting with a missionary from a third world country where poverty causes a daily struggle for the necessities of life.  The missionary told her--"I feel sorry for you Americans!  You live in a land of plenty and extravagant riches of abundances which become a huge distraction from the God who supplies WHAT WE NEED."  We are guilty of fighting against the concept of enough.

DOUBTING GOD--  When things are going south for us--when tragedies come--when everyone seems to have more--when we are struggling, there is that evil whisper--"How could a loving and good God allow this? This is not fair.  Why should I listen to a God who allows this?"  You can quickly find in the Word proof that not only is God good in the midst of trouble, but He is faithful and will sustain us.

RATIONALIZATION--  NOW I have at least discussed this with you.  Our need to tell those little white lies.   Sin making sense in our convoluted attempt to justify the wrong path we have taken.  The pastor gave this quote from one of the other pastor's on the pastoral team, "You will never find in sin what you went into sin seeking."  BUT we still try to rationalize our guilt away.

LOOKING FOR COMPANY--We seek validation by association.  We were told  to examine ourselves and ask the question, "Are your friends beginning to change?"  We all want others to love us for who we are---even when we are sinful we are seeking approval.  Where is your wisdom and accountability coming from?

BLAME SHIFTING-- Another one we have discussed before.  The ultimate aim for Satan is he wants us to blame God.  In the "sin in the garden" story, God asked three questions-

Where are you?

Who told you that?

What did you do?

It had never occurred to me God wanted Adam and Eve to confess, probably because I was so focused on the fall of man.   Biblical confession is needed for God to redeem our sin so that we can live in reconciliation with Him.  Satan wants us to blame God---but God NEVER tempts anyone.

 DIVISION--Satan's ultimate goal is to cause a break--a division between us and others and, most importantly to our enemy---us and God.  We allow him to win if we turn our face from God.  

That crafty old devil is a smooth talker--a magician of words who wants first and foremost to place doubt in our minds.  I pray we all will seek truth and remember Who God is.

I am not certain I have ever devoted an entire blog to a sermon (I prefer the term lesson).  This was too important to not share.  

"Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren,

that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God,

to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

For in that He himself has suffered,

being tempted,

He is able to aid those who are tempted."

Hebrews 2:17-18

SUMMER SESSION #12- LATE AT NIGHT IT COMES CREEPING A--ROUND

 

Everyone in my season of life knew immediately what this blog title was referring to.  We all know the song.  You are welcome for sticking yet another golden oldie in your head for the day.

Even the blackest of thumbs can grown this here in the South.  I currently have some in my flower bed.  Think--handle it with kid gloves---or better yet a long metal instrument.  This stuff grows in the sun--in the shade--in the wild--in the flower bed--and is SO innocent looking.  Why it has those lovely little white berries on it and grows even when you totally ignore it.  In fact, it does best when ignored.  Before you know it--your world is overgrown with it.

My first case of poison ivy was not until I was an adult.  Did I develop an allergy to it or had I some how managed to avoid it?  There is no avoiding it here, so I must have developed an allergy.  Since that time, I have had it many-many times.  I have had it in my eyes, around my ears, on parts of my body it could not have touched, between my fingers and toes, up my arms, around my legs.  There are not many parts it has not spread.  For you see, if you scratch, you invite it to spread.  The allergy is to the "oil" from the plant.  It causes these blisters to form.  Scratch it and that allows the spread.  Can I tell you how difficult it is to abstain from scratching it?  It is an itch like no other itch. 

I have all but bathed in calamine lotion.  At best it is a very temporary help.  I have used Benadryl cream, Benadryl by mouth, (then you sleep while you are scratching)  and various other over the counter remedies.   The very worst of times, I have had injections of a steroid. The best topical I have ever found had lidocaine in the lotion which will temporarily numb the area.  Every time I itched, I applied more.  Before you know it, you cannot feel any part of your body.  Truthfully this incessant itch will get better--in about two weeks.  As with many of our maladies--time is the healer.  Time and staying out of the poison ivy.  (I currently am battling a bout of this malady.  Thinking washing my hands after coming in from a weeding session would take care of the problem, I was puzzled a day or two later when I first thought something had bitten me in the middle of the night--right under my nose)  Turns out I obviously had the oil on my hands and wiped sweat off my face and neck before washing my hands.  I am still suffering 10 days later---SIGH!

NOW--for a real kicker--the vines loose their leaves before any other plant in the fall.  BUT the plant oils are still in the vine.  I have gotten a really nice case by pulling vines not suspecting it was poison ivy since the leaves were gone.  AND to add insult to injury, I have gotten it from a pair of gloves I used a YEAR before that had come into contact with the plant oils.  YES--once again I got the rash from touching the long idle but oil laced gloves.  DO NOT FOOL AROUND WITH POISON IVY!

HERE is my solution---a liberal application to the leaves of Round Up.  For all you environmentalist---you OBVIOUSLY have never had poison ivy.  This is the way to nip that rash in the bud before it even gets a toe hold and requires no touching by me.  Spray this on the leaves, it takes the poison to the root, and the menace dies.  Don't go fooling around with this lovely plant--stop it before it has begun its dirty deed.

NOW--I know I do not have to spell out today's application of this summer lesson.  You ALL know I am speaking of sin.  Ask the HS to head the sneaky bugger off before it has a chance to come creeping a-round.

"No test of temptation that comes your way is beyond the course

 of what others have had to face.

  All you need to remember is that

God will never let you down; 

he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; 

he'll always be there to help you come through it."

I Corinthians 10:13 (The Message)

SUMMER SESSION #2 - WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE--CAN HURT YOU

 With warm (HOT!) weather comes an annoying pest.  I live in the South--we have a plethora of insects.  In the few months of winter, we get a short respite, but they come back as soon as it begins to warm up (March).  The infamous 

No see ums (that is the Southern Scientific Name) are a tiny insect that you really and truly cannot see.  The first notice you have is their infamous bite.  For something so tiny they have a MOST annoying bite.  They seem to really love the beach.  Be warned--do not go without bug spray AND your sunscreen.

Those are not the only nuisances we have to put up with.  There are ticks and mosquitoes galore.  Do NOT walk out your door early in the morning or late in the evening without repellant.  Why some say the mosquito is the state bird of Louisiana.

Lest I forget we have wasps, yellow jackets, bees and hornets flying around looking for a victim as well.  Most of these we can see--they are clearly visible to the naked eye.  BUT the no see ems and the scourge from my childhood chiggers are tiny and almost invisible to the naked eye.

We called these little pest red bugs in my childhood--a magnified image would give you the reason why--they really are red.  These buggers LOVE to hide under the cover of any place your clothing fits tightly.  Think waist band, sock tube, leg bindings on your underwear.  They would walk right up your leg from their hiding place in the lush grass of summer and enjoy a banquet.  The first notice you have of the invasion is the itch.  NOT just your ordinary everyday itch, but the itch that made you want to claw your skin off.  Until I became a more sophisticated teenager who was not rolling around in the grass, my summers were spent scratching where the chiggers had been biting.  Only poison ivy can hold a candle to this misery.

My mother was proficient in stopping the scratching.  Another lesson from my youth (there were things like manners my mother was on a quest to teach) 

DO NOT SCRATCH IN PUBLIC

Can I tell you what a tall order that is when you are about to itch to death!!!  This lead to Clorox laced water baths -COOL WATER or bathing with her favorite remedy 

Germicidal soap.  I am fairly certain she brought this remedy from her youth when her father was a druggist and owned a pharmacy (pre need for a license or schooling since there were not many medicines).  It is exactly what you would expect--a strong medicinal smelling antiseptic soap.  There was a bar in the children's bathroom and strict orders many a night to use it.  How wonderful to smell like a hospital and itch.  This accompanied with a thick lathering of calamine lotion was a nightly ritual.  Those little monsters enjoyed their banquet, but they ended up down the drain after their final meal.  

Such a sweet memory from my childhood--😆.  Where in the world could I be going?  Why you must see it---those little nuisance sins which sneak up on us and grab hold before we know what it happening.  The next thing we know we are scratching the scab off our wounds and unable to leave it alone.  We need a good soaking in cool fresh water of the Gospel with a major application of sin ridding repentance followed by the thick application of the soothing Holy Spirit.  

OH, the memories of long ago summer pasts and the lessons learned.

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds 

on the things of the flesh,

but those who live according to the Spirit

set their minds of the things of the Spirit."

Romans 8:5

Remember during the summer the blog will only post two times a week.  If you are not already signed up to receive new blog notifications via email, please do so on the right side of the blog page.  I am also taking a social media break this summer so there will be no Facebook notification of new blogs.  I am thankful for each and every reader and pray you will also be able to rest during this season.

I KNEW BETTER!

 I come from a long line of allergy sufferers.  My mother took so many antihistamines in her lifetime that it lead to a serious condition which required big time surgery.  I do not take anything for my allergies, but instead sniff and blow a great deal.  My little Buddy is probably one of the offending allergens.

He has no need to fear being eliminated from my environment.  That along with dust mites, pollen, etc., which are impossible to totally avoid, are the offending parties.  So I keep a box of tissues in every room, my car, and usually my pocket.  I KNEW BETTER than to put a tissue in my pocket and not check those pockets before washing the garment.  IT HAPPENED!

  NOW to compound the problem, the tissue was in the pants pocket of a pair of BLACK pants.  I wash all my dark clothes together in one load.  We all know I have a pair of black yoga pants for every day of the week.   NOW the tissue did not stay confined in the pocket of those pants which would have made life easier.   The water shredded it into a million (I PROMISE) tiny pieces.  Those tiny pieces stuck like glue to each and every garment in the load.  I now am the proud owner of a load of dark--speckled with white--clothes.  Do you know what fun it is to try and remove all those tiny specks from the spot they decided to stick?  The dryer helps, but is not full proof.  It eventually takes hand picking some of those little shreds.  NOTE TO SELF--CHECK POCKETS--YOU ARE NOT RELIABLE FOR REMOVING TISSUES!

SO,  it occurred to me how like sin this problem is.  When we sin, it has a ripple effect.  The sin does not remain in one piece--only affecting us or maybe one other.  It gets loose in the world and the world shreds it into pieces which stick to all those in its path.  It is like throwing a rock into the pond.  The rock does not sink without causing ripples.  Those ripples leave the place of impact and travel all the way to the edges of the pond.  Even those edges can be affected by the wave if it is large enough.  Then we are left to try and clean up the mess we have made.  NEVER dreaming one little sin could leave such a huge mess.  The answer--just as we need to check our pockets for offending tissues to keep from making a mess of things-  so should we carefully consider the mess we will make by that one little sin. 

WHO KNEW--laundry could stimulate a blog!

"Be sure that your sin will find you out."

Numbers 32:23

ROUND TWO

 

The next round of my annual check up began this week with a visit to the dermatologist.  My past sins are catching up with me.  For all you young people (I do not think they read blogs), please heed my warning--too much sun has dire consequences.  Beyond the age spots and barnacles, I also had a pre-cancerous spot burned off.  NOW when they say the word "burned", that is actually what they do, except it is more like a freezer burn.  I had this spot on my nose that kept popping up...Bless that sweet PA's heart...she tried to dress this up with, "Mrs Lora, your skin really looks good...considering (my word not her's).  Considering how many years I have revolved around the sun and how much sun exposure I have enjoyed.  I MIGHT even be guilty of getting out in the sun--even today---without sunscreen.  I just do NOT THINK--the sun is shining, it is a nice day, I am lured outside without a thought to the consequences of no sun screen.  SO yesterday, I had that suspicious spot burned off.  My nose will glow and look yucky for about 6 weeks.   PLEASE NO RUDOLPH JOKES IF YOU SEE ME!

WELL, the bell doth toll for the one who has been out in the sun FAR more than I should have.  NOT to mention the numerous sun burns I have allowed over my entire life.  I had to pay the cost---with a burning away of the offending cells.  NOT FUN!  The brutal truth is who knows how long ago my exposure to the sun (sin), started this process.  One thing is for certain, when we sin there are always consequences.  We are not doomed to eternal damnation when we sin because of our sacrificing savior, though we do not get to avoid the consequences of our sin.  It can be painful--my nose is sore!

To quote one of my favorite musicians, "You Gotta Think!"  Think before you act upon some impulse, consider the cost, and remember the bell will toll!

"So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God

but go on living in spiritual darkness;

we are not practicing the truth."

I John 1:6

CHECK UP

 

In my annual effort to keep Medicare Advantage off my back, (they will relentlessly call you), I am working on having all my parts checked.  Call it my 1,000 mile check up (or some number resembling the miles I have been this year--I gave my OCD a rest and quit keeping track of the miles some time ago.  The poor doctor is having to put up with a crotchety old woman.  When he got to the memory test, I told him I was not doing that.  He looked at me in surprise.  I said--"That stresses me out and at this stage of the game--we all have memory problems."  Bless His Heart---wonder what explanation he gave Medicare?  I did manage to make him turn red as a beet and laugh.  I DIGRESS!

The big test is the blood test and this is NO finger prick--this is the give us a pint test.  SO after digging around for a vein to do the blood work in three different places, they finally had enough blood to run all those tests.  I LOVE the fact that you can now go into your patient portal and look at the numbers yourself.  WELL--the familial predisposition to high cholesterol reared its ugly head.  My overall number went up 50 points from last year.  NOW, in my defense, I had a delicious piece of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting the night before at small group.  WORTH IT!  It might be time to also confess, I have been eating cheese (gasp) and crackers for lunch the last couple of months AND making my morning latte with cream added to the frothed almond milk.  BAD--BAD!!  Thankfully, my good cholesterol is really high and the doctor is NOT making me take those meds (DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT) to get the numbers down.  That high number of good cholesterol is probably the by--product of exercise, BUT I did not exercise enough to negate my poor eating habits.  SO new game in town, I am adding a supplement to help lower that number, increasing my exercise and giving up my daily cheese and cracker splurge (back to turkey--GOBBLE GOBBLE).  I am confessing my downfall,  leaving those bad habits behind, and turning over a new leaf.  I have been given another chance to avoid those meds I DO NOT want to take.  Thankful for second chances (or third, or fourth or fifth...)

As I thought this over, it occurred to me this little story is a great deal similar to the sin in our life.  We have to fess up and change our ways to have a better life.  Our good works will not negate the consequences of our sin.  We can NOT work our way out of the end results of sin.  There is only one way to leave it behind---confess and change  PERIOD.  End of Post- NO more needs to be said.

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

but the one who confesses 

AND renounces them finds mercy."

Proverbs 28:13

CLEAN UP THIS MESS!!!!

As I spent the morning cleaning up the mess I sometimes live in, I started thinking about the messes our lives can become.  Often the mess is our own doing---empty glasses by my chair, dishes in the sink, clothes in a heap--sin in our life, unrest in our minds, greed in our eyes, or terror with no trust.  We worry--we fret--we covet--we rewrite the truth---and we are left with the mess in the wake of disobedience.  We have to stop--regroup-and clean up our mess--with a big splash of grace and a little scrubbing on our knees.

One of the problems when we create a mess---is those around who are subjected to the stink, disarray, and waves of grief created by the messes we make.  If you come to my house and it is in a big mess, you must suffer the consequences of the unclean--and perhaps even the stench.  So it is with the sin in our life, it is one thing when our sin has a lasting effect on our souls and our hearts.  It is quite another when those that love us are bowled over by the poor choices we make.

They are blind-sided with the waves of sorrow, grief, and despair from the repercussions of the sin.  There are times that the innocent are impacted by our narcissistic pursuit of what makes us happy-with no regard for anyone but our self.

I have been reminded of this today, and am praying for eyes that are open to see how my actions--impact others.  My sin may be forgiven, and I may be clean---but the truth is--others are still left with the scars of my actions--even at times unknown to me.  This puts an entirely different face on sin--how could I --why would I---cause pain to another?  Praying for eyes to see and a heart to know---the messes I have made and the power to clean them up---and make them right--in the eyes of God and those in the path of the stink I create when I make a big mess.

Today I am thankful for the joy of grace and praying

to be mindful of those in my wake.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God"
I Corinthians 10:31