Greetings, dear people.
I just returned from my old man jog. I don’t mind calling it that because that’s what it is. Those driving by probably snicker. It probably looks more like a joke than serious aerobic exercise. Oh well. I’m not trying to win applause for speed and style. I just know that it’s a worthy discipline—that doing something in the vein of exercise is better than doing nothing. While I know so well that I’m falling apart, I sure don’t wish to face another by-pass surgery.
I need to knock out a bunch of lumber machining with my molder/planer. Hopefully I can make a dent in that today. The 1x5 material will be used in a ceiling paneling application.
I hope your day is blessed in ways that only He can impart.
Have a blessed day.
Love and prayers, Ray
There is a part of me that could wish to respectfully complain a bit to God. I mean, on one hand He clearly creates the genders, hardwires them with gender attractions, scatters beautiful attractive females all over the place, but then commands me, in so many implied words, “You must not take notice!” That’s kind of a tough assignment! I don’t really believe that I’m more supercharged with testosterone than other typical men. All I know is that, even though I’m an old guy, with 50 years of faithful marriage on record with my college sweetheart, I can’t seem to stop noticing.
I have to reason that noticing is not the problem. How I choose to manage the notice is the determiner—whether or not it moves from unavoidable recognition to lust, or, worse yet, to pursuit.
No—I do not wish to dissect the phenomenon of lust with uncomfortable detail. But I do want to pay careful attention to the bottom line of not only this facet of practical living, but to the whole of Jesus’ teachings here in this “Sermon on the Mount.” And what do I see as a glaring bottom line? Simply this: NO ONE IS EVER GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY OR ACCIDENTALLY BECOME A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST!—OR ACCIDENTALLY FALL INTO GOD’S HEAVEN! I am convinced that there is no substitute for commitment to God’s purposes motivated by love for God—no substitute for constant seeking, participation in relationship, and worship—no substitute for 24/7 mind control within the parameters of His revealed Word. I’ll add one more requirement—there is no substitute for daily putting on “the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:10-11). After all, let’s make no mistake about it—our private lives are, in fact, battle scenes!