LOVE

Love

Achieving love in our hearts can only be accomplished by following the one who is Love. And, the following cannot be accomplished by one of us alone. We must be supported by the righteous power of the Holy Spirit. And, I believe this can only be accomplished in community. 

National Health Care

National Health Care. 

Scrap Obama Care and do not replace it. Government health care severely erodes individual responsibility. Make America and Americans stronger. 

More on Life

"“ Human life is a struggle, isn’t it? It’s a life sentence to hard labor. Like field hands longing for quitting time and working stiffs with nothing to hope for but payday, I’m given a life that meanders and goes nowhere—months of aimlessness, nights of misery! I go to bed and think, ‘How long till I can get up?’ I toss and turn as the night drags on—and I’m fed up! I’m covered with maggots and scabs. My skin gets scaly and hard, then oozes with pus. My days come and go swifter than the click of knitting needles, and then the yarn runs out—an unfinished life!" from "The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language" by Eugene H. Peterson

MORE ON "FINDING LIFE"

This is my Father's world. It is not my duty to fix it. I'm blessed to have been chosen by Him to live here. I'm further blessed by the neighbors He chose to be here with me. We, those He chose, are fallen, lost and subject to sin. By the blood of His Son we have been found and saved. His gifts to me are numerous, wonderful and undeserved. My hope is found in Him and Him alone. We are in "Good Hands". Mine is not to reason why. Mine is just to do and die. He will take care of me. Praise and glory to the King of kings. 

Being upset is not a human right. Its a human condition. We are called to help those who are suffering without causing more suffering. Many have identified the problem. Few are seeking option that comfort and assist. Lots of talk. Not much action

Finding Life

The world does not provide life for anyone. Many are experiencing the effects of trying to overcome that problem. Taking it on as a "do it yourself project" is futile. But, that seems to be step #1. The answer is "ASK". 

Beer, Cigars and Love cont'd "Four Rules of Life"

Four Rules of Life 

The first two rules I borrowed from my son Bill. Well maybe the fourth one also.

Rule #1 There is a God and i’m not him.

This one is really important. Not following Rule #1 has eternal consequences. None of us will like them. There are also some immediate issues to deal with.

Not one of us can prove God exists. We’re not smart enough and it is impossible. Its meant to be that way. Don’t even try. In fact many, almost all, of us were forcefully or without asking given belief. Some claim you can help create your own belief. But, I am uncertain about that. 

Just believe by faith. I recommend it. Things will be forever better. You will perhaps find believing hard to do.

Rule #2 Your mother and your spouse are always right. (I borrowed the mother part from Bill) This is always true, even if they are wrong and disagree with each other.

Getting this rule down and accepting its truth will help you with Rule #3. You will find the basis for this rule in the Bible. The Bible is the most published book in history. It has been translated into nearly every known language. There are 66 books (some say more) in the Bible. The books are authored by more than forty different people at different times in history. All the books tell the same story. Its good reading. I try to read through it once a year. There are many reading programs. You can use any of the translations. The first translation was from God into Hebrew and Greek. We are unable to read the original God version. Sorry! This is the source of your mother’s and spouse’s “I am right information”. So, be careful

Keep the Faith. This leads to 

Rule #3 Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

You can discover the definition of  neighbor in the Bible. Or, just count on God to bring them around. You won’t like many of them. Doesn’t matter. Just do it. 

Maybe you should start by explaining your rules of life. Maybe you leave that for later.

We all have our own ideas about this rule. That’s probably because we consider ourselves to be the best neighbor…and the hardest one for some to love.

Once again, Keep the Faith.

Rule #4 There are no more rules. Stop looking.

Good Living. Get Busy

Don’t forget, Keep the Faith

A final question

What’s the one thing wrong with this world?

I think I know the answer but I’m not telling.

You can guess.

All your neighbors think they know the answer too.

So does you Mom.

Why Did God Gift us the Bible

Do you read the Bible ever? If so, why? What is the message? When YOU read any book what is you reason for taking the time to read? Enjoyment, information, ???? Several years ago, perhaps 10, I resolved to read through The Bible every year. I must be on my tenth trip through. Every year I change the reading plan and/or the translation. This year I am reading from beginning to end in The Message. I read to learn more about God and the history of God's creation. When reading there exists a great temptation to interpret and translate. I also gain by learning more about why God created. This year I've had the revelation of trying to discover the underlying foundations and principles of God's TRUTH. My feeble attempts to rephrase and rewrite usual mask and confuse other listeners and readers. Maybe I'm smarter and wiser Han some other readers but, I'm certainly not wiser or smarter than God. Where do I get this arrogance? Any rephrasing or rewriting I do will for sure be less clear and certainly fall short of the original created by the Creator. Jesus summarizes all the writings, laws and prophets in just two commands. Is God's Word just one Truth, "JESUS"?

Hebrews chapter 4 seems to be mostly about this very topic.

Beer, Cigars and Love. The Sword of Gideon

There but for the grace of God go I. This is not my first Rodeo. How do you feel about the hand life has dealt you? What is the Good News? What does the Bible have to do with anything? Why is it the the most popular book ever published? What is your story? What am I doing wrong? Why do I feel so empty? Looking back I think I must have wasted most of my time? Why can’t I take it with me when I go? When have you ever asked some one to do something for you? How did it go? Has God ever asked you to do something? Why are we often more concerned about how well others are doing their jobs than we are about how well we are do our jobs? Read about Gideon and see if you get any insight into the questions of life???? Where can you find the story of Gideon?

Beer, Cigars & Love an interlude

Beer, Cigars and Love An Interlude
A warning to you in an attempt to tell you what I believe before you read on.

We are all "Sinners" by circumstance. We have all sinned and will sin again. We are all guilty. We are all "Forgiven" by Jesus.

Some believe by Faith they are forgiven and have repented (admitted their guilt) and are saved by God. The one and only God of justice, mercy, Grace and love.

We believe by faith. We are saved by believing.

We witness (work) using faith and works (laws from God described in the Old Testament) and often related to the worldly understandings in order to demonstrate our love. The love we obtain by faith and belief. And, I find joy in the work for my Lord. I pray you do also.

Post #3 Beer, Cigars & Love; The Elusive "Good Life"

Are there rules or guidelines for this good life? Do you have rules, guidelines and truths that shape your life? Just look at us, what are we becoming? Wars, fighting, killings, oppression and destruction everywhere. Where's the love and kindness we seek? The good things seems to be lost and or slipping away. We talk about health, wealth and happiness. Do you have it? Think about the the strange life of Kim Jong Nam. How about Srinivas Kuchibhotla the bright young Engineer from India mistakingly gunned down in an Olathe,  Kansas bar. Why is our democracy failing to deliver? Is it our leaders. We elected them. What's missing? What's the problem? This is not going well.

Post #2 of Beer, Cigars and Free ❤️

Who wants to get on board? What can anyone do? What can you do? We (mankind) have/has been divided and polorized for thousands of years. Is it supposed to be? Or, are we not to live in conflict for all times.
What do you believe? Have you even thought about it or are you (we) just taken in as a way of life? Every thing normal. Do you know what your parents and your grandparents believed? Did they ever tell you or try tell or show you?
I grew up in Western Kansas in the 1940s and 50s. Life seemed good and simple. It's a good place to grow up and live. Many of the folks seem to be wonderful. Especially the ones you consider to be your friends. Do you recall the old B western movies. THE GOOD GUYS ALL WORE WHITE HATS. That's how we could tell them from the bad guys. They wore black hats. In the real Western Kansas world everyone wore a WHITE HAT. Some were in digiuise. How do you think we identified the good folks? Does everyone really want to be a good person? Is that why they disguised their bad actions? Do you want to be a good person? Are you? Are any of us 100% good? What is the difference between a good person and a bad person? How can we identify the really good person? Can good be measured? Is the battle in the U.S. between the good people and the bad people? Be careful which side you choose?

More later in Post #3

💲.10 Beer, 💲 .05 Cigars & Free ❤️

Trump ( We ) has less than a fifty percent chance of turning this situation around. He ( We ) needs help. But, how many are willing and know how? Is there something badly wrong with our country? If so, what is it? Can any one put words on it? We should give it a shot. Let me hear from you. Oh yeah! Only one rule. Comments should be constructive and uniting. Reading Bill O'Reilly's book "Killing Lincoln" might help you. Read Matthew 16:17-20 if you like.

More in a day or so.