Good evening, special ones.
I did up this little composition this morning, but then became taken up with the affairs of the day—to the point that I thought I had sent it. I just recently realized I didn’t. So here goes.
I hurried out to the front of the property to clear a place that I’m allowing to be a firewood processing area for a fund-raising project with Thano’s church. Soon after that I had someone come for about 3 hours of sawmilling work. Then I ran to town to buy a new battery for our riding lawnmower and finally got it running. I made a dent in cutting the grass. Never did get in my old man nap. I’m feeling it now.
Have a good night. Ray.
I am once again overwhelmed with the perfect logic of Jesus’ reasoning here. And yet it’s a trail of logic that seems to make no sense whatsoever to many people in the world around us. And I think I know why. It’s basically due to the fact that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Since the NATURAL SIN NATURE leaves one destitute of the fear of the Lord, just about all that’s left is stupid. I’m trying to use that word carefully. I’m trying to be void of an attitude of arrogance or condemnation. I think my motive is more like pity, concern, or compassion. It’s just that I think I’ve connected some dots relative to my existence—and I see absolutely no evidence that I have had anything whatsoever to do with my origin—or even my continued living, for that matter—other than a measure of management and maintenance over what has been assigned to my responsibility. But I see no room for any logic or sound-mindedness in the notion that I am nothing more than a mindless accident! That impresses me as just plain stupid!
Yesterday while driving, Becki and I painfully listened to an obviously black guy call in to the Lars Larson talk show with his brain-washed anger—really believing that America is thoroughly governed by “white supremacy.” That poor man could say nothing more about this nation—it’s just “white supremacy” from beginning to end. The guy is clearly so narrow-minded, I’m sure he could look through a keyhole with both eyes (I know—I’ve used that before). I liked Becki’s responding comment—“Has anyone ever had anything to do with choosing their parents?” Where she’s going with that supports logical reasoning. The undeniable fact is that some of us have been assigned to be born black and some white. So how can this clarity allow anyone to assign supremacy to either one?! No clear-thinking white person can tolerate an attitude of supremacy or inferiority—and no clear-thinking black person can tolerate an attitude of inferiority or supremacy. Is there something wrong with my thinking?
Back to Jesus’ line of reasoning—since none of us determined our existence, rather our existence was determined by God, along with the imprint of His image and likeness, it makes perfect sense to surrender our existence to Him. Paul says, “For this becomes your genuine expression of worship” (Romans 12:1, TPT). I quite like the way the KJV puts that verse: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Any lesser alternative to that decree is UNREASONABLE—and actually plays out to be STUPID—all things considered.