Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

I hope to get off on a jog before I sit down for breakfast. Becki is already dressed and stressed—preparing to be away for several days. I’ll try to cope with missing her. I’ll be dropping her off at the airport about noon. Her main objective is to spend some time (perhaps final time) with her seriously ailing sister, Lorna. She’ll also be able to be with her ailing sister, Charlotte—and her ailing brother, David. Of course, Becki’s ailing too with an escalation of diabetes. I guess we’re all ailing to one degree or another.

Thano and I did not make it to the Columbia River last evening. We judged we wouldn’t have enough time to do what we wanted to do. Instead, we just ran up the hill east of Estacada and test-drove the kayaks in the North Fork Reservoir. We didn’t attempt any sailing. The pedal propulsion system of Thano’s Hobie kayak is impressive. I’m already covetous, because it will allow for motor-less and paddle-less trolling and hands-free fishing.

Have a great day.

Blessing. Dad/Ray.

When a person is passionate about something he believes in, believing also that it’s a good passion, how likely is he to be ashamed of that passion? Not likely. If a person is passionate about fishing, and he has a big-fish story to tell, will he be ashamed to tell it? Not likely. If a person is passionate about following the Trailblazer basketball games, and they happen to achieve a dramatic win over the Tinker Bells, will he be ashamed or quiet with his rejoicing? Not likely. So if a person has been enlightened at heart level by the Spirit of God, transformed by repentance and surrender to Christ, made to rejoice in his new perspective, new lifestyle, new love for God, new love for His Word, and new hope of eternal life, will he be, or should he be, ashamed of that new-found passion? No way! He is able to sing “AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME” with an entirely straight unashamed face.

When the counselor/author of Proverbs 3 advises, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck (not like a hang-man’s noose, but like an identification tag or necklace of adornment), write them on the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 3:3), the advice becomes most meaningful and profound when we equate “love and faithfulness” with this passionate love relationship with one’s Maker/Redeemer.

Before Becki and I were married over 48 years ago, we had to resort to snail mail communication for a time. We exchanged true love letters. I absolutely loved those letters, those expressions from her heart and mind in her own attractive hand writing. They were the next best thing to being in her physical presence. I loved Becki’s mail because I loved Becki. I think the point is obvious—if I love God, I love His mail! If I love His mail, I love God! But if I claim to love God yet do not love His mail—hmm—something is haywire—and I may be guilty of being a two-timer! It’s just simple math.