Saturday, June 1, 2013

Week of June 2 devotional notes


Sunday June 2-Ps.96 is part of the clear editing hand in the psalms that arranges some praise material in line with the acclamation that God is king. In the blooming buzzing summer, it is not very hard to hear all of creation joining in songs of praise of God. On the other hand, our dangerous storms elicit prayers for protection. Some find scientific discoveries putting praise and awe into the background. where does praise emerge from your inner being?

Monday-I’d like to think about teasing a bit. Among men, it can be a sign of being comrades, but it is always a fine line into cruelty. Teasing is a way of boring into a vulnerability without saying so openly. when someone takes offense, we respond that I was only teasing. Teasing usually is aggressive, as it seeks ot put someone in their place, and it is rarely complimentary.

Tuesday-I had a question about cremation recently. At some point in the past it was frowned upon, but that seems ot be fading. It seems beyond me that the creator of heaven and earht can be deterred by a method of burying remains. My father was blown to bits in a tanker explosion, so we do not have a body to be buried, merely marked on the Delaware River. So, I do not see it as impeding the resurrection of the body. It refers to this embodied l9ife of ours, so our very self, not a ghost, our very self, will perdure within the very life of God.

Wednesday-I’m hoping to see our younger daughter at a meal or meals while I am at the Indianapolis Reformed Roundtable.No matter how oftne we speak on the phone or through other electronic means, it is no substitute for actually seeing them and breaking bread with loved ones. Just recently on the phone, I heard her becoming more sophisticated in her watching of movies; her mind is growing and deepening; her awareness is heightened. Iwonder if God shares such wonder at our signs of development over the years.

Thursday-I’m working on images in Zechariah lately.for a projected set of essays on the Minor Prophets/ Book of the 12. One is the flying scroll. We could make a CGI of that or a book, or use the old RKO radio signal from a tower.What messages do you think of utmost importance to heaven at this point? What message would you like to send worldwide for all to hear?

Friday-an old song says that”sometimes it’s better when we don;t touch our dreams.” One reason for that is that reality has a way of failing to live up to our expectations or dreams.In time, we may learn that the striving for a dream is as important as its completion. The very distance of a dream adds to its allure.What dreams are you holding dear? Do you have aspirations for your spiritual life?

Saturday-Addiction may well be a powerful way to speak of sin. I was listening to some people speak of their struggle with stopping smoking. Some were able to do it cold turkey, and others needed help. Many of them needed to make some changes in places and in triggers that called them to smoke.What would be the impact if we took some of these practices and sage advice and applied them to the areas where sin is addictive in our lives? where does grace come into the picture? Do we require external aid to be able ot battle the inner demons that drive us into sin?

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