Author: Doug

Faith and Servitude

servitude at meal timeWhile reading in Luke 17 this morning I came across a passage about servitude that stopped me with confusion. Starting in verse 7, Jesus asks his disciples, (I’m paraphrasing here) If you are a master and have a servant who spends his day working in the field, when he comes in from the field, would you say, “Sit down and eat, then fix my dinner”? No you would say, “Get cleaned up, fix my dinner then you may eat as well.” Would you thank the servant for doing as he is told? I think not. Likewise, when you have done all that is commanded of you, you will say, “We are unworthy servants: we have done only our duty.”

Up to this point Jesus has been teaching on repentance and faith, then this tale about servitude pops up. What’s that all about? Continue reading “Faith and Servitude”

Movie Review: Alien Trespass

Alien Tresspass
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As part of our Simple Life Formula, Marie and I have a few standing traditions that help us appreciate one another and enjoy life.  One such is Schlocky Sci-Fi Friday

Every Friday evening Marie fixes Chinese food and we curl up together on the sofa to eat the Chinese food and watch an old B grade (we prefer the term ‘Classic” ) science fiction movie.   Movies from the 1950’s and 1960’s and in black and white are preferred.  Among our all-time favorites are such classics as The Day the Earth Stood Still, Destination Moon, and Rocketship XM but we have a large collection of movies on DVD and VHS, the majority of them Sci-Fi.  Another “classic” joined the file last night.
(No spoilers here) Continue reading “Movie Review: Alien Trespass”

Debunking Myths About Introverts

Originally composed by Carl King I expanded upon it.

introvertsMyth #1: Introverts don’t like to talk.

This is not true, not true at all. We just don’t see the sense in talking unless we have something to say. We hate small talk. Hate it! But if you get an introvert talking about something we are interested in, we may not shut up for days. Continue reading “Debunking Myths About Introverts”

The Wicked Steward’s Wealth

wealth, money, mammon
Photo Source: cyberchurchtoday.com

In Luke 16 we find an often quoted passage of scripture:

13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (NKJV)

Mammon is a Greek transliteration of an Aramaic word meaning wealth. In this context, wealth could be bags of gold and silver coin, but it can also tradable goods such as jugs of olive oil, measures of wheat or barley, cakes of dried fig, or skins of wine.

This passage is often quoted in a sermon cautioning believers against getting caught up in the pursuit or wealth. In the prior twelve verses, Jesus tells a bizarre tale of someone who does just that. Continue reading “The Wicked Steward’s Wealth”

Movie Review: The Thing From Another World

thing from another worldThis week’s Schlocky Sci-Fi Friday Movie was one of our favorites; a timeless classic: The Thing From Another World.

Arctic researchers witness the crash of what they determine to be a UFO.  When they investigate the crash they find and retrieve a large humanoid alien who had been embedded in the ice.  Assuming the thing to be dead, they return to their base with it.  But, of course, it is far from being dead.  At their base it goes on a rampage and kills a couple of the scientists who, determined to communicate with it, buck the military authority.   The Thing, then sets about accomplishing what was (apparently) its mission. Continue reading “Movie Review: The Thing From Another World”

Sweet Shot

I’ve been a fan of Star Wars since the first movie hit the screens in 1977.  So when I came across this sweet nostalgic shot of the Star Wars cast (except C3-PO) I just had to share it.  I’m not sure of the original source… that’s the way it is with stuff on the Internet.

Star Wars Cast Shot out of costumeLeft to Right: Han Solo, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2

To round out the set, this is Anthony Daniels, who inhabited the C3-PO costume.  He’s very thin!

Star Wars Cast_C3-PO

Iffytober and Frost

In Tennessee, October is an iffy time for gardening and the weather-guessers don’t offer much help. During the summer their inaccuracies may mean having to water on a day we didn’t plan to, but little else. In October a new foe comes a-calling: frost.

Some of the crops in my garden will handle frost just fine: lettuce, spinach, Brussels sprouts, onions, garlic to name a few. These will grow just fine on into the winter. But the last of the summer crops are not so hardy.

Basket-peppers-green

I still have tomatoes, bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapenos, red potatoes and sweet potatoes growing heartily and producing. I hate to rip these out for fear of a frost that dos not come, then get an additional two weeks of Indian summer where more of those items would have ripened. I still have two flats of green tomato relish canned up from last year’s frost aversion.

So I keep covers handy: bed sheets, light blankets, plastic sheeting all work well. I keep a box of spring clamps in the barn as well to secure these to my box frames. Until we get an actual freeze, this will keep the plants alive by keeping the frozen dew off the plants. Play it safe: cover up anytime a frost is possible. (Read More…)

Adventures in Mechanicland

mechanicI took our pick-up truck to our mechanic shop yesterday morning because the check engine light has been coming on and the engine runs rough, especially in wet weather. It rained all last week, so it ran rough almost all the time.

I had them scan the computer: “multiple misfires”.

My pet theory has been that a spark plug wire was going bad. When it gets wet it arks to the block causing a misfire. What they said supported my suspicion. Continue reading “Adventures in Mechanicland”

Hit-n-Run Evangelism

In this world which is increasingly hostile to Christians, evangelism is a touchy subject.  Many churches prefer to take an, “If they’re interested, they’ll come to us” stance in order to avoid creating any sort of enmity.  Matthew 28: 19 & 20 says:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  (NKJV)

evangelism tent revivalThese are the marching orders Jesus gave His disciples (past and present) before ascending to return to God in Heaven.  In this directive are four points we need to understand. Continue reading “Hit-n-Run Evangelism”

Froggy Weather

tree frogMy, but it has been froggy weather lately.  That may have something to do with the rain we’ve had all week; lots of rain, consistent puddles, tadpoles = frogs.  Although I think most of those I’ve seen are tree frogs.  I’m sure the ones I’ve heard are tree frogs: their trilling is pretty distinctive.  I don’t know what conditions are favored for these critters to breed.

Kathy caught a young bullfrog the other evening and tried to eat it.  Kathy is a dog; don’t get too freaked out by that statement.  Marie stopped her because she knows some frogs and toads are poisonous.  I don’t think we have those here, but it could give her an upset stomach and cause her to puke up frog bits in our house.  Yech!  I disposed of the dead frog.

Here a Frog, There a Frog

A while back Marie and I made a trip into town.  When we got there Marie noticed that a tree frog and made the trip with us by snugging into the passenger side mirror housing; in the small gap between mirror and housing.  It was just sitting there looking at her.  I can only imagine what it was thinking after that ride!  I hope it likes it’s new home, for it was gone when we came back out to head for home.  But that was just the first of many!  Read More…