What's It Worth III

I began this treatise with the story of our yellow dog, Zeus. We've had numerous wonderful pets including dogs, and most of them grew old and eventually died.
Zeus was only one of them, but his indomitable spirit--the way he would look at me with that funny expression--and laugh. He'd laugh just as if he and I shared a private joke. And I guess we did. It made me sad, yet gave me wisdom. I knew he suffered greatly, yet enjoyment of life does not center around a pain free existence. Life is meant to be lived--like a full-flavored soup or stew--you need the bitter and the savory for a rich and delectable product.

In my writing course the instructor is teaching on the 'lie' in our characters' lives. Since we've just begun on this subject, I am not attempting to expound one way or other. I do however see that people--all of us at all ages have lies that we have incorporated into our lives.

The first woman, Eve, is told a lie: 
Genesis 3:1  "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2)  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3)  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4)  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:"

It could be funny, if it were not so idiotic--but most people still believe this lie. Perhaps they would agree with the premise that they will die--just not today. And that day never comes, in their minds.

It is understandable for young children who, in their inexperience with life they don't have the ability to reason from point A to point C or D, but when people move into teen years and pre-thirties, it is more of the mind set that they are invincible--I'm too young to die--mentality. After thirty, people move into denial--I know it will happen someday, but that will be when I'm OLD.

2Kings 20:1  "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live."

This question is on occasion asked of audiences: How would you live if you knew exactly that you had only so many days/months before you were supposed to die?

Here is another lie that people believe, and it comes in different shades:

•  there is no God, 
• we are all going to the same place, 
• I'm not accountable to anyone but myself,
• I'm a christian because...

According to the instructor of the course after a certain age the 'lie' is no longer a valid reason. A person can reason through things for them self. I would say I've seen many people taught these things when they are older, and for some reason they never can reason out of it. Even when you reason with them, they appear set to believe what they choose to believe.

You can point out to them that evolution is not a fact, but a belief system. In past centuries scientists believed not only that there was a God, the God of the scriptures, but that he created everything just as it says in the scriptures. They weren't stupid people--for example Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most renowned scientist of all time. They all believed there was a God, and many set out to glorify Him in their work. Only since the group of godless, atheistic scientists became the aggressive know-it-alls has it become mandatory for teachers to teach evolution, and children to learn AND believe it as a fact.

• evolution has never been proven to be fact--
• it has no basis in reality--
• it is very destructive to people, and our society as a whole    

For the second fallacy, if people don't change their beliefs, yes they all will go to the same place--but it won't be a good place. Satan wants everyone to believe that lie--just like the lie that there is no God, and the lie that 'we shall not surely die'.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6
Jesus did not say, find your own way, or there are many ways, or any such idea. He said I AM THE WAY. The only way-- no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

You can believe that or not, but if you don't believe it you had best be prepared for the worst. We will all be accountable to God for our actions whether it's based on truth or fallacy:

Romans 14:11  "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12)  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

Another lie is that just breathing the air in this country makes one a christian. Or, just believing that there is a  God or believing something about Jesus makes them a christian.

No, what makes for a Christian is following in Jesus' footsteps. All the way from Jesus' baptism through his final days, His life was one of service, sacrifice, and obedience to God's will.


I'd like to leave you with this: Satan is the 'father of lies'. That's what Jesus tells us. These are some of the lies he wants us to believe:

• We will never die 
• we are all going to the same place 
• I'm not accountable to anyone 
• I can do it my way and still expect God to say 'well done'

  Don't believe Satan's lies.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
 

What's It Worth II

My Grandfather was a tall red-haired man that most often seemed to have a purpose. He was always going some place, always doing some thing. Even when he wasn't doing anything he was doing something. Some people are like that. His main occupation was with husbandry, or as we call it today--farming. The amount of changes he must have seen in his lifetime.

Born in March of 1898, he passed away in March of 1992, and as some have said it isn't the beginning nor the end that makes the difference, it's the dash in the middle. He was the second son of Samuel and Oda Mae Magill, born at home as was the custom in his day, he grew to manhood in a time of hard work, as well as many hardships. There wasn't much time to be idle in those days, not that they didn't have time for getting together, but their time was always occupied.

He met and married Margret Arena Coe, they had three children, one son and two girls. They lived through the depression raising their children in those perilous times.  Grandpa told of digging a basement for a quarter. Back in that day there wasn't any fancy equipment--only a team of horses, a wagon, and a shovel--for a quarter.

What's a day worth to this generation? What's a quarter worth today? Many things seem cheap in this day and age. When there are 3,288 abortions per day, or 137 per hour, 9 every four minutes, or 1 every twenty-six seconds. Life is cheap. That's just abortions. What about children? The ones that make it into this world? We need to stop rushing madly in all directions and step back...and take a look at what we're doing.

There was a time when parents both were home taking care of their ground, their homes, their families. Of course that was so long ago most have forgotten that time ever existed. With modernization people left that lifestyle behind. We now have more things, but what have we traded for it? We have more things, but less time, or as someone has put it: we are so busy trying to make make a living, we don't have time to live our life.

I remember as a child growing up we did work hard, but it was a work we enjoyed. We enjoyed working together, and when our work was done we would often take a time to play a game or two before commencing our evening chores. Sometimes on occasions we would play games in the evening as a family.

So, then, what's a day worth to you? What's your life worth to you? Are you living it? Some folks think that 'living it up' is really living, but in reality following God's plan makes time worth while. When you become serious about 'living the good life', that's where to invest. Instead of trying to 'do it your way', do it God's way. Heaven--that makes it all worth while. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

What's It Worth To You?

He was an old yellow --probably mixed breed--dog. Like many of our dogs he came into our family by chance and for only a short time--about ten years. Like most humans, we became attached to this animal. His silly foibles, and his whatnots. His name was Zeus, and like I said he was a yellow dog--and a couple of sons could tell me what main breed he was. He was a medium height, probably around fifty pounds, short hair, and a good all around chum.

Some of the whatnots that Zeus had were characterized by his good nature. He was good with children. He was good with people in general. He had a slight limp from being rolled by an automobile when he was young, but that didn't slow him down in his young life--only as he grew older. The story of the squirrel has several lessons in it.

We live in the country, in a cold and snowy winter wonderland. There is an abundance of feed all summer, but winters can be tough for the little feathered friends, so we feed the birds in the winter.  One winter day I glanced out the porch window, and sitting in the tray of the feeder was a plummy squirrelly tail, busily waving away. I thought, whoa, that's no bird! What's that goofy squirrel doing on the bird feeder? I reached over and tapped on the window, thinking of course the squirrel would get the message and disappear, but no such luck. I actually think he became more industrious in his feeding with the tail waving more vigorously. Well, I  thought, squirrelly is a bit bold--so I tapped again, just a bit more loud this time--still no change in the foolish beastie. The next time I tapped, and I said out loud, "Hey, Squirrel, get out of there!"

I couldn't believe the audacity of the creature. I had one last Ace in my hat. I cautiously went down the steps to the back door, opened it somewhat quiet, and hollered out, "Sic em, Zeus!"
Rocky the flying squirrel hit the ground about ten feet from the bird feeder, flying like a bird, and a streak of yellow was behind him nipping at his plummy tail. From that time on it was Zeus the squirrel dog. We never figured out if his limp slowed him down so he didn't ever catch the varmint, but we had the quiet little feeling in the back of our minds that he didn't really want to catch them.

That feeling was underscored by his Sunday habit. As he grew older he slept more, and was less active, which is only normal, of course. His Sunday habit gave him away somewhat. We would pull into our drive, and as we came up to the top of the drive, and stopped in front of the garage, he would jump up (usually he had had his foolish body laying in my flowers) and he would look all around like what? where's that rascally squirrel? I'll get him! His gaze would come to rest looking down at our grove of trees like he was searching for something, and off he would fly as if he was chasing that dumb squirrel. Sometimes there was actually a squirrel, but most often he was just on a goose chase for no reason. No reason except to make it look like he was a good watch dog taking care of things while we were away. We would snicker at his antics and praise his efforts at watch doggedness. 

Each year he was slower--except when we came home from church on Sunday. And he kept getting thinner. Every year I would think, there's no way the poor thing will make it through this winter, he's getting so thin! We fed him all he would eat, gave him worm medicine, but to no avail. You could see his hip bones, and his limp became more pronounced.  And he'd look at me with a laugh. It was a quiet laugh that said--yes, I know I'm dying, but we sure had fun, didn't we--and we'd do it all again, just the same--

The day we brought home two boarder collie pups he was miffed. He looked at me like : What's wrong, you think I need these two nincompoops?  He acted like he was real put out, but true to his nature, he was good to the two dumb-head pups. They in turn rolled over him, played with him--until he would tell them in a cross manner, enough already! They'd leave him alone about five minutes then start all over again. They slept with him, sometimes on top of him, or snuggled with him.  Either way they kept him warm, and I'm sure they were a comfort as well.

He developed a lump on one of his cheekbones--the vet said it was one thing or another. It was either an infection, or cancer. We gave him his medicine twice a day--dogs like peanut butter, so we would roll his medicine up in a ball of peanut butter, and play catch with him. We'd throw it, he'd catch it and swallow in one smooth move. He always was good at catch. We thought it helped him, and maybe it did some. Of course it wasn't enough. He just kept getting more thin.

Even after these past few years I can still see him. I knew he was suffering, and he was in pain, yet there was still that spark of something that said but we sure had fun didn't we.

There will never be another Zeus, but that's all right. Just like there are no two snowflakes that are alike, he was a good old yellow dog--and we sure had fun didn't we?

What's On Your Plate?!

It will come as no surprise for those who are acquainted with my family if I were to say there are a few of my friends, relatives, and acquaintances that have a different point of view than most of the rest of the world.  As a friend of the family said some time back, 'When it comes to Westphals the only thing normal is a town in Illinois'.

Be that as it may, the story is told of a friend/relative that went to town and bought a set of all white dishes. He told his wife he wanted to know when he was done eating. "There's nothing worse than spending five minutes trying to clean up my plate only to realize it was some doodad painted on the plate and not food at all."

I'm going to confess right off, there's a whole lot of wisdom in that thought. I won't tell anyone there aren't doodads painted on my dishes--some dishes have more doodads than there are doodads on others. However, as we begin the new year we should consider the need to begin with an all white plate.

Begin with less doodads. I sometimes (often) think most of us would be better off if in some way all of our electronic gadgetry would suddenly stop working. Or if we could eliminate one by one some of the gadgets we have acquired.

Having been born in the early 1950's I know that television, radios, and such whatnots are not necessities, but I also know that-- having started typing on a manual typewriter, and not having a printer until just a few years ago--there are some devices that make life easier. It doesn't make life faster--just easier.

I can work on an article, a manuscript, or a design quickly and efficiently. I can rearrange words, paragraphs, phrases, check spelling or use a thesauruses in the same manner. Ditto with dictionary and research items. It wasn't just that the manual typewriter required more finger strength, but does anyone remember the reason 'whiteout' was invented? Sometimes one mistake made a whole page unusable. Gasp here. Printers are true wonders as well. What used to take me forever to reproduce for my Bible classes I can zip right off ten or twenty copies in a few minutes.

I can keep-in-touch with friends and family that I wouldn't have access to in a matter of moments via the computer. It is not quite as personal as a face-to-face conversation, but it beats not hearing from each other at all for years.

A Bible illustrator friend mentioned a time back that with the new electronics it would make his original mode of work--the pen, paper, and ink--archaic. That is sad indeed. I do still enjoy the pen, paper, and ink--even the letter writing aspect. I enjoy the canvass, paint, and oils, or the feel of the pottery clay, or even just the sweat of an honest day's work.   

At times what seems to be the worst disaster that could happen in our lives turns out to be the one that leads us to where we need to be. For instance, my son-in-law almost lost his arm in a power tool accident. That was three years ago. During these three years he and my daughter have learned to live on workman's comp. They went from the comfortable salary he made as a landscape supervisor (extraordinaire, I might add) to a very small stipend.

The back-story is that several times throughout their marriage I have encouraged her that in scriptures we are taught for the wife to be a keeper at home. This was reinforced by her experience that when she did at times work away from the home, their money situation never improved, she missed her children, her husband missed her at home, and it really didn't work out as it was (in theory) supposed to work.  When she stayed in the home they were blessed in unimaginable ways.

Now they are faced with three years of surgeries, pain, and problems we can not begin to enumerate. There have been those who are incredulous that she didn't rush out and get a job in order to help, but even though that may be what appeared to be what was needed here are some things that happened in spite of not doing things in the worldly wisdom's way, but following God's way.

•  One thing: we have a lot of must haves, that we really don't need. Hint--They have cut down on t.v. time, cable, phones and doodads. 

• They do things as a family. Before the accident her husband worked very long hours and missed out on the time with their children. Now he is home and has more time with them as a family, and those times are valuable. 

• They have learned to trim down on their grocery bill in some very inventive ways. The children have some of their own chickens--they all work at raising a garden, some fruit trees, and such like that help in small ways. 

• They have become more prayerful, and more quietly dependent upon God, who is our true source of blessings. 

• It has also been our blessing to be able to find small ways to help and bless them in their time of need.

What a shame so many people rush out trying to do things their way, leaving God out of their thoughts and ways. Now as they are nearing the end of this trial and about to begin a new chapter, yes, things again will change. God does want each of us to be busy with the 'job' he has given them to do. My son-in-law will soon be released--and God willing be able--to find gainful employment. He has gained much through his struggle these last three years, and God is willing that he will benefit from those life lessons.

I would leave you with this thought--How big is your God?

~Psalms 50:10  "For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11)  I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12)  If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
  ~Psalms 46:10  "Be still, and know that I am God..."
Hallelujah! What a Savoir!

Be At Peace

    He said, she said, we said, and they said, all went to town on a summer's day. Sitting in the back of the wagon, spirits began a dragin' until tongues they commenced to waggin', and the journey went downhill from aye.   
   Ever notice how things go?  It can be something that IS said, or something that IS NOT said.  It can be a look, or not looking at all.  Have you ever tried to make someone happy who is determined to be angry?
   The day is steamy.  Sweat drips down my face, and I'm just sitting still...in the house...I'm hot, and tired, and no matter what the kids do...
   "I'm hot and miserable, and I'm determined that everyone else will be too!"  I  tell the kids, and we laugh.  It lightens the moment and we make it through the day knowing 'it's the heat' and we just need to 'chill out'.  If we back off and give each other some space...things will be fine.  
   "Well, you couldn't make that person happy if you whacked 'em with a new stick!"  This is true with some folks.
  When we were growing up some of our adult   neighbors were friendly enough but their youngsters were a different critter.
      Those were the days when walking wasn't thought of as an affliction.  The neighbor kids would walk by our house on their way to visit their grandpa who lived about a mile away on the other side of us.  Our dog was a good mannered German Shepherd.  However, Like most living things he never liked being teased. 
   We tied our dog, Rocky, on a long lead when we went to town.  When we returned from town we could tell if the neighbor kids had walked by when we were gone.  We lived on a gravel road, and we would find rocks that had been pitched at the dog.  He never did like being teased...and he never did like those kids. 
   Matthew 7:12  All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets. 
      Funny how we perceive or judge things.  If you don't like the exact things someone else likes, that doesn't make you a bad person. 
Drama—too many people live in dramavilIe. Dramaville people are self-centered. Whether they think the world revolves around them or not, they at least WANT it to. They want to be the center of the universe. They connive to make it so.
That would create the opposite world of peaceful.  The ability to be thankful under easy or perverse situations is a good beginning on being at peace.  
   Romans 13:8  “Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.”
  Romans 12:16  “Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17)  Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men. 18)  If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.”
Being at peace starts with self. A person must learn to give up self. When people stop trying to make life ‘all about them’, much of the drama fades away, and life becomes more simple, life becomes more peaceful—at least on the inside. Hallelujah, What a Savior.

Balm in Gilead

   "There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole",  What a beautiful song!  How often we miss the very thing that would 'make us whole'.  Very few people come from a 'perfect' home.  Every day the statistics warn us that homes and families are crumbling. 

   "Yes," she says to me, "one of his brothers is an alcoholic—for the most part the rest have done alright." 

   I have seen alcoholism up close and personal.  In my opinion the cause of my mother's alcoholism was a deep inner wound.  A wound that would not heal, and she drank to ease the pain.  Even so, it would not go away.  No matter how anyone tried-- the very help she needed--she wouldn't accept, and she fought against it.

   Why is it that some folks make it out of poor situations, and some don't?  One man told his children as they left home, "Your mother and I aren't perfect, we have our faults.  Some of those faults you have picked up, but now as you leave home you have to make a decision. If you take them with you, they are no longer ours, but yours.  You make the decision."

   "My mother did this, my father did that, that's the reason I do what I do."  No, we make our decisions.  Why do some children follow in their parents footsteps and become alcoholics, single mothers, smokers, druggies?  To some people it is the way they expect life to be, and that is self-fulfilling.  And then there is Amy.

   "I saw my mom, and I thought, I'm not gonna be no single mom."

   Is life perfect for Amy?  No.  It isn't any more perfect for her than for anyone else.  But she's smart enough to see how hopeless the other life is.  She has laid hold on something better.        

   Ecclesiastes 4:9&10 "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.
10)  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.

     "She wasn't really a very good mother, was she?"  my cousin stated the fact. 

  "No, she wasn't, but maybe she did the best she could with what she had to work with," I reply.

   "Yeah, that's probably right."

   And maybe that's why some people make it and some don't.  Some wallow in self-pity, blaming others for their problems.  Others accept that we all fall, we all have problems, and that's just the way things are.  We would like for things to be different, but they aren’t.

Hebrews 11:13-16 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14)  For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own. 15)  And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16)  But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Rivers We Must Cross

Crossing the Rubicon is a phrase that means a particular spot--in life-- in which there is no turning back. It comes from the life of Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was a general before he was an emperor.

Many rulers were popular war heroes in history, and Caesar had endeared himself to the common population through the many war campaigns he had won. The assembly had ordered him to stay where he was, however Caesar disobeyed and crossed the Rubicon River and headed back to Rome. In so doing he declared his intention of becoming the ruler of Rome. An action from which he would either be the victor, or the vanquished.

Hence the phrase Crossing the Rubicon came to mean an action from which there was no turning back. Once he crossed the Rubicon the ruling assembly fully understood what Caesar's intentions were.

In each of our lives we find many Rubicons. Oh, we may not recognize them as such, but none-the-less they are points from which we make no turning back decisions.

Isaiah 28:10 "For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.... 12)  to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13)  Therefore shall the word of Jehovah be unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. "

Jehovah is not happy with Ephraim. He's trying to teach them, but will they listen? No, they will not listen. Therefore he leaves them to their own devices.  A lesson here is that God gives us the truth. He instructs all people as to how to get to heaven, but just as it says in Ecclesiastes 7:29  "Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."

God made man (people) to be upright. He made us to fear him and seek him,  but all fall short of the glory of God. All have sinned and erred from the truth. Not just stumbling from the truth, but to seek out --as it says--inventions in order to go astray. They work to do evil. They work to misunderstand truth.

2Thessalonians 2:11 "And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: 12)  that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

When a person goes out of their way to look for a lie to believe they will surely find it.

Day by day we want to search out good, not evil. Day by day we want to make wise, godly decisions, but we can't make those decisions without honest, humble prayer. There are decisions day by day we are making that may not look big, but it's the small minute decisions we make to be honest in our dealing with friends, relatives, maybe even strangers. Making good choices line upon line, time after time, gives us good standing with God, and it should give us good standing with others as well. Seek the good paths; don't seek out workings of error. If you are going to cross a Rubicon, it needs to be into the grace of God. It needs to be the river into righteousness, and for righteousness.

Isaiah 28:16 "therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste."


What Rubicon are you crossing today? Choose wisely.    Hallelujah! What a Savior.