Thursday's Thoughts

I got an email that sent a roar of hee-haws out of my mouth that the neighbors 2 doors down might have heard. Since it is fresh on my mind, this may be as good a place to begin as any.

Humor

The joke formerly posted here has been deleted since the humor was derived from belittling the illiterate. I have to admit that it was funny, but I do not wish to spread that type of humor.

A Midweek Guide

Borrowing a question from a discussion group on Facebook, the inquirer wrote,"Why is faith considered a virtue? Is it rude to ask for evidence when someone makes a claim about God?"

There were a lot of good responses. I added my two bits.

I don't consider faith to be a virtue. The Apostle, Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8 & 9 that faith is a gift from God. Through faith we can believe and be saved, but it is only because of God's grace that we can even find faith at all.

A good definition of faith is found in Hebrews 11:1-3 "Faith is a firm foundation for us to build our hope upon, a conviction that something we cannot see does exist. On this basis our forefathers gained God's approval. Faith is understanding in our inner being that the spoken word of God set up the ages so that what we see may shine out of that which has not appeared on the scene."

God rewards faith with greater faith. But verse 6 says, "...without any faith it is impossible to please God; for in coming to Him it is absolutely necessary to believe that He exists, and that He is One who rewards those seeking Him." So we have the obligation to accept the faith He gives, but if we reject it, He will reject us.

It is just and right for God to reject those who reject the faith He gives. He is not one to force himself on anyone. He is not a tyrant that makes people behave in just one way. A person can choose to believe what he wants, act any way that he chooses, and refuse God for all eternity. That is the freedom of choice God gives.

But for those who will allow, He draws them to seek Him as you may be doing now. If so, you can be sure that He will give the faith that you need. It will also be all the evidence that you need.

Something to Share

Monday I kept my appointment with my Dr.'s nurse since his schedule was full. I had been so exhausted lately, and it was time to be evaluated for the (hopefully) positive response to the drug he placed me on. So she ran the EKG and took the paper out of the room. As it turned out, that was the time my pulse rate dropped to new lows -- 38 b/m,she said. I was given the choice of going to the E.R. or seeing a specialist. I chose the specialist. Then it was back to the VA clinic for a blood draw and heart monitor for 24 hrs. Tuesday saw more time in the waiting room at the clinic to have the monitor removed. Now I wait for the results.

God allows the testing of our faith so our faith can grow stronger. My heart rate had been low, averaging 44-45 b/m during the two months of twice daily blood pressure monitoring. But at the time of my appointment it was at the lowest it had been and I felt ready to pass out. After just a short time it was back up where it had been, and I was able to drive again. God is Good!

Quotable and the Not So Quotable Quotes

"You can judge the quality of their faith from the way they behave. Discipline is an index to doctrine." ~ Tertullian (160 - 225)

"Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. We should live for the future, and yet find our life in the fidelities of the present; the last is only the method of the first."
Henry Ward Beecher (1813 - 1887)

Tuesday's Child

We will just have to see what comes up - like tossing a coin!

Quotable and the Not So Quotable Quotes

"For the first half of your life, people tell you what you should do; for the second half, they tell you what you should have done." ~ Andrew Carnegie

"Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." ~ William Jennings Bryan

Humor, if You Can Call it Humor

Courtroom on Record - Actual records of court proceedings

Attorney: How old is your son?

Witness: I can never remember if he is 35 or 38.

Attorney: How many of those years did your son live with you?

Witness: 45 years.


What did the ostrich say to the penguin at the South Pole?
"Whatever you do don't stick your head in this white stuff... It'll freeze your ears off! Oh, I see I'm too late."
(I know, I said I wouldn't post any of my own. Sometimes a person gets desperate.)

Monday Madness

Pardon the technical problems in trying to post the new Friday Quiz. It is in my computer, but will not transfer to my blog. Due to conflicting schedule, Monday and Wednesday issues will be discontinued temporarily.

Quotable and the Not-so-quotable Quotes

"Yes, it was His payment for our sins that bought our peace. We have been completely healed by His [action] taking our blows. Like sheep, we have all wandered off. Every man has traveled his own path and the LORD has given Him up for all our sins." Isaiah 53:5, 6 RSVP to God.

He who is curious about me is indeed a very curious person, himself.

The Friday Puzzle or Quiz

The Friday puzzle will resume Friday but no pictures until My computer is repaired.

T.G.I.F.

Good morning. It is another great day to be alive!


And a good night. The new Friday Quiz will have to wait until tomorrow.

Quotable and the Not-so-quotable Quotes

"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young, but be an example to them of what a believer is like, in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, faith, and purity." 1 Timothy 4:12 RSVP to God

The Friday Puzzle Hints

Progressing from left to right, select 32 letters to remain in the same order and form a complete seven word sentence. Use the list only one time through.

HOW TO HIT AT IT IS YET OUR UFO COMA NONE AND DO NOT KEEP UNTO FOR ON TRUE CLUE LED TOO MANY TO GET FACTS OF EMU EMBRALS NEEDS
CLUE: No two of the correct letters will be found adjacent to each other below.
CLUE: None of the letters are further than 4 spaces apart.
CLUE: Regularity is better than irregularity.
CLUE: The first two out of three words are what you need.
CLUE: The last three words of the last clue are the words.
CLUE: The first two words are "What you..."
GIVEAWAY CLUE: HOW TO HIT AT IT IS YET OUR UFO COMA NONE AND DO NOT KEEP UNTO FOR ON TRUE CLUE LED TOO MANY TO GET FACTS OF EMU EMBRALS NEEDS

Thursday's Thanksgiving

To all of you who celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada, a belated Happy Thanksgiving!

For the rest of this post, I will post the new clue to Friday's Puzzle at the bottom, then continue to fill in the "Sandwich" in the middle as time permits.

Quotable...

"No temptation has laid hold of you except things common to humanity. But a faithful God will not let you be tempted above what you are able to endure, but will with the temptation also make a way out, that you may be able to bear it." 1Corinthians 10:13 RSVP to God.

A Thought to Share

Life is such a precious commodity. This has been brought to the forefront of my thoughts this past week. My new granddaughter is already four weeks old and battling her first cold. She is on the mend now, praise the Lord, and just as sweet as ever.

Some people are going through hell-on-earth with losses of jobs, failures of marriages, death of a loved one, or other unbearable conditions. Yet one thing holds true through all of life's troubles. God is in control and has a plan for the other side of the problem. He is there to see people through and give us a way to escape so we may be able to bear it.

The Friday Puzzle Hint

Progressing from left to right, select 32 letters to remain in the same order and form a complete seven word sentence. Use the list only one time through.
Giveaway clues in the morning, full solution at noon.

HOW TO HIT AT IT IS YET OUR UFO COMA NONE AND DO NOT KEEP UNTO FOR ON TRUE CLUE LED TOO MANY TO GET FACTS OF EMU EMBRALS NEEDS

CLUE: No two of the correct letters will be found adjacent to each other.

CLUE: None of the letters are further than 4 spaces apart.

CLUE: Regularity is better than irregularity.

CLUE: The first two out of three words are what you need.

Whacky Wednesday

Tuesday's Child

I read somewhere this past week that October is "Adopt a Child Month" so Tuesday's Child does fit for a couple more weeks. Tonight will be another short post. Helping a friend move takes a lot of energy out of me. Of course on the good side I do not have to go for a walk on these days.

Quotable and the Not-so-quotable Quotes

To the One able to keep you blameless and to establish you unblemished in His sight with glorious joy, glory, majesty, authority, and mighty power to God alone, our deliverance through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all time, now, and for all ages. Amen. Jude 1:24, 25 RSVP to God

(Editorial comment on the book of Jude: for the size (24 verses) Jude is a difficult book to translate because the words normally used to complete a thought are often not in the original. These two verses are literal, without paraphrase or the addition of completer words.)

The Friday Puzzle

HOW TO HIT AT IT IS YET OUR UFO COMA NONE AND DO NOT KEEP UNTO FOR ON TRUE CLUE LED TOO MANY TO GET FACTS OF EMU EMBRALS NEEDS

Progressing from left to right, select 32 letters to remain in the same order and form a complete seven word sentence. Use the list only one time through.
CLUE: No two of the correct letters will be found adjacent to each other.
CLUE: None of the letters are further than 5 spaces apart.
CLUE: Regularity is better than irregularity.