SPREADING OUT

 Can you tell from many of my post subjects that I spend a great deal of time outside in my yard?  I had much rather be digging in the dirt that scrubbing toilets.  Previously, I have given you the saga of transplanting rocks.  Though not completely finished---a large part of this project is finished.  The interesting thing is---I keep finding rocks down in the dirt as I dig.  And these are not native rocks--they are rocks someone bought and for some strange reason, I find them all over the yard---most buried--but some on the surface.  

New Bed of Transplanted Lilies-they will eventually have annuals in front of them and a rock border.  The rocks to the left by the fence were all "transplanted" from the yard.

The yard will be an on-going topic and project.  Any gardener will tell you---you never really finish---there is always something to do and some new project looming on the horizon.  My latest project has been organizing the lilies.  There was a huge bed of lilies beside the back patio---a variable hodge podge that had been ignored and taken on a shape of its on.  Lilies grow from bulbs and these bulbs reproduce by growing new bulbs.  They begin to spread out as the bulbs do their work of making more lilies.  Most of the time the beds become thicker as new lilies emerge, but those bulbs will also begin to grow new lilies quite a distance from the bed.  How do those bulbs get so far away from the original bed?  My guess is a bulb gets cut in half by a mower or a spade and is dropped  away from the bed.  If the soil is conducive to lily growth--before you know it they are springing out of the ground.  They are spreading the beauty of the lily out of the confines of where you wanted them growing.  I have a yardman who helped me recently transplant those lilies into a uniform bed.  The question becomes--how long will they stay within the confines of the bed?  When will a lily show up in the middle of the grass?  Invariably it will happen.

As I thought this over, I realized Mother Nature was the original missionary.  We will cover this one more time tomorrow, but did God not teach us through nature how to spread out and multiply?  When I think of those bulbs producing new bulbs, I am reminded of the great commission.  Go forth and spread the Good Word as we are instructed in Matthew.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,"

Matthew 26:19

I KNOW ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS

Let me begin by saying- I know just enough about technology to be dangerous and this is definitely a first world problem.  Somehow I have managed to switch my Facebook page on my computer to the language of Portuguese.  NOW---here is the problem---I write my blog on my computer--and certainly do not try to type all of this on my cell phone.  BUT, when I try to look at Facebook to respond to your comments while using the computer it is in Portuguese.  HOW IN THE WORLD DID I MANAGE TO DO THAT????  I did it a LONG time ago--and have finally figured out a few months ago how to have it all translated to English.  BUT though that helps--it is NOT fixing the core problem.  I need to find the switch to flip this back to English.  NOW in my defense---I have checked my settings---not only on Facebook, but on my search engines also.  I strongly suspect it is a computer problem--BUT for the life of me---I cannot get back to English.  Most days--I am too busy or distracted to fool with it---BUT when I do--it can eat away a couple of hours.  I am literally running in circles looking for the answer.  The basic problem--the core of my dilemma--is my lack of technical knowledge.  Since I have a way to have it translated, I have become satisfied and content with getting by.   I know just enough to get by and am guilty of speeding through things without reading the book and end up getting myself into a deep hole.  

My brother, who is the computer genius of the family,  told me a long time ago, there were hackers in the world who knew only enough to change things around on the computer.  The problem though was they did not follow the guidelines in how changes need to be made and often made changes--no one could figure out how to fix once the hacker was out of the picture.  I am guilty of being a hacker---lacking formal education, stubborn to a fault about reading manuals, I can manage to get myself in a self created quagmire.  All because I do not know enough about the subject matter.  I call myself a writer---and yet refuse to learn the correct usage of the tools of my hobby.  What can I expect---but to be unintentionally using a language I cannot understand.  

Circle up---here is the point of this ramble----how many of us call ourselves Believers, yet do not read the manual?  How many of us are too busy -too distracted- and know just enough to be dangerous.   Do we call ourselves experts, but yet do not know the language of Belief?  One thing I have learned on my journey to sanctification---God is infinitely broader than I can even begin to understand.  I could study all day--every day---and never truly understand the depths of God.  When I think of the times I have pulled scripture out of context, I cringe.  How many times have I mislead someone--because of my lack of knowledge about the things of God?   Are we always searching for a true picture of who God is?  Are we reading His manual, listening to His teachers, and willing to discuss the mysteries of the faith?  If an unbeliever asks you questions, can you adequately give a correct answer?  Daunting when we consider the great commission and our responsibility. 

"And Jesus had greeted them again, he said,

'I am sending you,

just as the Father has sent me.' "

John 20:21

HUDDLE UP!

 I am reading a book recommended by my blogger friend, Martha (you can find her HERE & she is a wonderful poet and writer).  It has hit me squarely between the eyes and humbled me---more about that to come---after I finish reading it.  In the Introduction I became convicted and hopefully will take it all to heart and grow.  Really a great book--that I am certain  will inspire future posts.

The book is about how we should be listening.  In the introduction the author challenged me about who I am listening to.  I am guilty-guilty-guilty of loving to be in that holy huddle of believers.  I love to discuss our faith with other believers--love to be challenged by them---love to study -learn- and be stretched by my peers.  The truth was pointed out quickly by the author--that in most ways we all look alike.  Their views closely parallel mine and, when we discuss, it becomes a "social echo chamber".  GASP!  Here is an excerpt from the introduction---not even into the meat of the matter yet -

"The great hope of the Internet has been that dialogue will prevail, that people with different theologies, worldviews and politics will log in to learn, grow, and communicate with those who disagree with them.  Yet, it would seem that social media has helped people connect with like-minded people, and the unfortunate consequence has been the intensifying and radicalizing of beliefs and the deeper entrenchment of people's beliefs.  We settle into our own little truth corners."

Think you are not guilty?  When is the last time you explored an opposing viewpoint with anyone in any arena?  Are we afraid of being challenged?  Can we not listen to each other?  My sweet counselor friend told me when my daughter was leaving to go off to college, "Be sure she is grounded in her faith, because it will be challenged in the upper education environment."  Well---are we grounded enough to be able to listen to another so that we will have the opportunity to explain our faith?  Can you explain that faith?  I don't mean with "the party line"---I mean on a personal basis.  Have you thought about what God has done for you personally and, given the opportunity, can you discuss it without condemning another's view?  Are you aware that usually we go on the attack when we are feeling insecure or threatened when discussing with someone of an opposing view?  One more quote from the book introduction ~

"What the Bible portrays as a household of faith instead becomes a scattering of encampments, people who warm themselves by their own fires, whoop with their own war cries, listen solely to their appointed leaders and only interact with the other camps when firing arrows."

I am not a Biblical scholar, but I am pretty certain Jesus did not preach war---and I know for a fact he did not always sit with those of like mind.  He listened.  Now, do not get me wrong--we are instructed in The Word to gather together to worship.  Iron sharpens iron.  We are also given the great commission---and we can only be obedient if we are wiling to step out of the huddle.  I am being challenged with every page and pray these words will cause you to think also.  Huddling up is great--but the real action begins once the huddle is broken.  It's time for me to step away from the huddle.  BREAK!

"All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of

The Father

The Son

and

The Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

Matthew 28:18-20