Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 21

Evil vs Good

 

Do not be overcome byevil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21, New International Version)

I couldn’t come up with anything witty or wise for today’spost. No long stories of how a Bible verse spoke to me. But sometimes, it’sbest to keep in simple.

Various groups of people have been protesting thefighting in the Middle East. They are either against Israel or Palestine, but Iwonder if either side knows the whole story. But that’s not for me to judge.

I found over fifty verses similar to the one above. I’mpraying that someday people get it.

A gentle answer turnsaway wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1, New InternationalVersion)

A Really Weird Analogy

Ihad already picked out all the pictures for this post, when I just now lookedback at whether or not I shared this a year ago. And I did, with all the samepictures. But never mind, you probably don’t remember.

Soanyway, I had thought about sharing that event from a year ago, but was like –maybe not. Until I started watching music videos this afternoon. My brain justgoes all over the place, doesn’t it?

Watchingrock bands perform always fascinates me. The drummer is always so animated andI have no idea how they do it. The main guitar player often is the lead singertoo, so all eyes are on him, unless he’s not the lead singer. If the leadsinger is not playing an instrument, he or she still interacts with the leadguitar player or even the crowd.

Thenthere’s the bass guitar player. Do you ever watch him or her play? Most of thetime they are in the zone, like they are playing their own song and it just happensto match what the rest of the band is playing. Like they aren’t even on stagewith their band and a cheering crowd of strangers singing along.

Haveyou ever noticed that? Or is it only me? If it’s only me, you will certainlymiss the whole analogy I’m about to make.  

One year ago, this past week, on April 30, my daughter’s dog Bleu died from blasto. It was horrible, but as a mom (and grandma to the pup), I was glad that I was able to be there for both of them.

 

The thing is Bleu always seemed to dance to the beat of a different drummer. Or in this analogy, to a different bass player.

My daughter always thought he was on the autism spectrum. Or maybe it was just the husky in him. But he wasn’t like the other dogs. His mind would be somewhere else, his thoughts not like the rest of his pack. He’d stare off in space looking at something no one else could see.

But it dawned on me today, that he was just a bass player. And every good band needs one.

We all still miss our Bleu. He is irreplaceable.

The First of May!

Lookat that! It’s the first of May. Time to get out and enjoy the sunshine and warmweather, whether it’s nice or not.

LastWednesday, the weather wasn’t too bad. Had to wear a sweatshirt outside, but atleast the sun was shining, so I took a ride.

First to Spirit Falls.

 

Then since it was on the way, I had to stop at the Spirit Cemetery because relatives are buried there.

 

I already have a bunch of pictures of this stone.

Finally stopped at Timm’s Hill, where I met a friend and we took a walk around Bass Lake. I can’t believe I didn’t get any pictures of the actual Hill. But again, I have many pictures of it.

Driving out, I passed Ring School and took the first picture I’ve ever taken of it. I don’t know it’s history, but I might have to try to track it down.

Hopefully the spring weather is nice where you are and you can get out, take a walk, and enjoy nature.

Oh, speaking of nature, I almost forgot. We did see three turtles on a log in a swamp, but two of them dove before I could my camera on them.

A Prayer for the Day

TheLord the Shepherd of His People - A Psalm of David.

   

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Hemakes me to lie down in green pastures;

Heleads me beside the still waters.

Herestores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness

ForHis name’s sake.

   Yea,though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

Iwill fear no evil; For You are with me;

Yourrod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Youprepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

Youanoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

   Surelygoodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life;

AndI will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.  (Psalm23, New King James Version)

I’vehad multiple posts this year where I wrote about Bible verses we may havememorized, and I once mentioned the chapter in the Bible which many of us have committedto memory. Or at least we know most of it because we have heard it so manytimes!

Butwhat does the 23rd Psalm mean for us in the 21st century?

Ijust finished reading a book where the author asked what it would look like ifwe rewrote this chapter to fit our lives. Mine looks like this.

MyLord and God, my shepherd, my guardian. You always take care of me. You give mea bed to sleep in at night and water to quench my thirst. You give me strengthto get through each day and help me to do what is right when I wander. Evenwhen I am surrounded by darkness and evil, You walk at my side and keep mesafe. You provide me the food I need to eat and bless me with everything to satisfymy physical needs. Then You provide me with everything I need for my spiritual needs.You bless me more than I can ever say. Your goodness and love will be with me always,and when I leave my earthly home, I will have a home with You in heaven for alleternity. Amen.

Kindof a nice prayer to say each day. What would your's look like? 

The other thing I've been up to.

I'm sorry that I didn't post an inspirational blog on Sunday. My daughter recently adopted a puppy, and I ended up puppy-sitting him this past weekend. I had been thinking about getting a pup of my own, but after this little furball took over my house for two days, I have definitetly decided against adding another four-legged friend. I'm back up to three grand-puppies and that's enough. 
The two pictures above are from when my daughter first got him. I can't believe how much he's grown in just a few weeks. Below is at my house. 



 He's like a little bear cub. 

where-was-I-wednesday - High Cliff State Park

As you may recall, last weekend was the stateconference of the Wisconsin Society of Medical Assistants in Neenah, Wisconsin.I was president of the organization twenty years ago and every year during the conference,there is a luncheon for all past presidents.

When I walked in the room at 11:31 (it started at11:30), they were so relieved to see me. They were sure something had happenedto me and one of them was just about to call me. One minute! I was one minutelate. But at least I made an entrance.

After all that eating, joviality, and catching up onour escapades of the past year, I jumped in my car to go for a ride.

Oh, but wait, one thing I forgot to tell you. I wasabout three miles from my house when I remembered I had left my camera home. Yes,I know the rest of the world takes pictures with their phones, but that just stillfeels reprehensible to me. A phone is for communicating – calling people, but mostlytexting these days.  

Anyway, imagine how late I would have been if I hadgone back for my camera! My phone would have to do. Argh.

Also, the sun was shining (when I left the hotelanyway) and the temperature wasn’t too bad (upper forties), but the wind. Oh,my gosh.

So I drove to High Cliff State Park to go hiking andtake lots of pictures. Well, taking pictures with my phone, as you alreadyguessed, does not do it for me. And with the wind, my hikes were all cut short.

I made up for all of that by buying a pair of shoes atKohls on my way back through Neenah, then spent the night at a friend’s house.We caught up on things and discussed our trip to Cambodia this comingSeptember! Will NOT forget my camera then!

 

Still windy! I’ll have to come back again someday,with my camera and nicer weather.

Take Down the Ten Commandments?

 

Understand this, my dear brothers andsisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.(James 1:19, New Living Translation)

In January this year, I posted various Bible versesthat I intended to memorize. I think I did pretty well on that goal.

Then, last week, I started adding more passages.Yikes! My brain may be full, but I am going to plow through and try some more.And I came upon this verse.

But here’s what I think. I know certain groups want toremove the Ten Commandments from all public areas, to which I shake my head indisgust. But how about we at least replace them with this verse? How can anyonebe offended by this?

My dear brothers and sisters, always bewilling to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily. (James 1:19, NewCentury Version)

Post this at all the intersections, dearfriends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let angerstraggle along in the rear. (James 1:19, The Message)

So then, my beloved brethren, let everyman be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. (James 1:19, New King JamesVersion)

Whatever version works for you.

Oh, and then live by it. And maybe realize there are more commands in the Bible which would make our world a better place if we all lived by then. 

The Narrow Gate

     “Go in through the narrow gate, becausethe gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there aremany who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to itis hard, and there are few people who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14, Good NewsTranslation)

These verses remind me of Robert Frost’s poem “TheRoad Not Taken.” You know the one. It ends with “I took the one less traveledby, And that has made all the difference.”

Both of these, however, make me think of a fork in theroad. There’s a road to the left and a road to the right, and which one shouldyou take?

Hubby left a random fork on our washing machine last night.When I picked it up, it dawned on me. A fork usually has four tines, which tomy mind means four choices. I know an eating utensil is a totally differentfork than the one in the road, but bear with me.  

People who take the far-left fork blatantly commit allthe sins with no remorse. They lie, cheat, steal, have affairs, and maybe evenkill. They don’t know Jesus at all and they use His name in vain.  

People who choose the next road over try to be goodpeople. They heard about the Ten Commandments and thought it would make senseto at least keep the biggies, like killing and stealing. They provide for theirfamilies and try to help out people in need. But no matter how good they are,they don’t know Jesus as their Savior.  

The tine second from the right is the one people pickwho go to church, try to keep all of the Commandments, and usually ask forforgiveness. They say their prayers and help out strangers. The problem iseverything they are doing is just stuff they do. They say their prayers to someinvisible God because they have been told to. They haven’t asked Jesus intotheir lives; they don’t have a relationship with Him.

Lastly, the path to the far right, the road less taken,the one through the narrow gate. The one which the fewest people choose, butthose are the people who try to keep the Commandments, who ask for forgiveness,who have asked Jesus Christ into their lives, and have a personal relationshipwith Him.

Which path have you chosen? 

Green Bay in a Day

Last week, we had planned on flying to Seattle to visitHubby’s nephew, as well as see as much as we could in the four short days wewould be there. Unfortunately, and as our spring break weather always guarantees,our flight from Minneapolis to Seattle was cancelled due to snow. We banged ourheads together trying to salvage the trip, but decided it just wasn’t meant tobe. (We had cancelled the same trip last June because my back was just too badat the time, not that my pain is 100% cleared up even now.)

I suggested a few places we could drive to for just aday or two so that the week wasn’t a total waste. We decided to head to GreenBay on Tuesday just for overnight. 

As you can see, the stupid late March snow was stillin our yard when we left. And if anyone from the Green Bay area is reading thistoday, I’m sorry that your winter storm was worse than ours this week. Stupid WisconsinFake-Spring. 

First thing Wednesday morning we visited the NationalRailroad Museum. We’d both been there a few times before, but it’s still alwaysfun. Doesn’t everyone have a twinge of love for old train cars, the romance ofthe rails? 

The Merci Train  was a train of 49 French railroad box cars filled with tens of thousands of gifts of gratitude from at least that many individual French citizens. They were showing their appreciation for the more than 700 American box cars of relief goods sent to them by (primarily) individual Americans in 1948. The Merci Train arrived in New York harbor on February 2nd, 1949 and each of the 48 American states at that time received one of the gift laden box cars. The 49th box car was shared by Washington D.C. and the Territory of Hawaii. (From the Merci Train website) 

Some fancy cars. Some not so much. Pretty sure thisbed would give me more pain than I’ve had in a few months. 

Our next and final stop was at the Packer Hall of Fame. 

I took an unbelievably few pictures there. I was stupidlyemotional the whole time we were walking around. 

I’ve become very jaded towards professional sports inthe last couple of years. How can anyone justify the huge salaries any of themare being paid? And how can they make some of the most bone-headed plays? Itjust all seems so staged sometimes, like they are getting those big paychecksto keep their mouths shut when they have to throw a game.

But then there was that one shining season when thePackers won the Super Bowl after a very long drought. When Brett Favre was justa kid with an amazing arm and the spirit of a little boy. When I knew the namesand positions of all the players and Reggie White was the Minister of Defense.

I have two secrets – one I won’t share here oranywhere else EVER! The other is my birthday, I’m just weird about it. But I’lllet that secret out.

Because Reggie White was born on the exact same day asI was. And so sadly, he was called home to be with Jesus when he was only 43. Ireally haven’t got anything else to say about that. If you don’t know anythingabout the man, you can look it up on-line, but I admired him and know he would never throw a game. 

There were lots of displays of him at the Packer Hallof Fame, but I couldn’t get close enough to them to take any pictures. Theother people around me would think I was nuts when I started blubbering.

Now you know a little bit more about me. 

Do you?

 

Fridaywe were left with words such as Disappointment, Dismay, and Desolation.  

Butit’s Sunday morning. Mary Magdalene and others go to the tomb of Jesus, filledwith Dread. They believe their Lord and Savior is Dead and His cold body willbe lying there. Instead, the tomb is empty, Jesus’ body is gone. They are Desperateto find it, to find Him.

AndHe finds them and their Despair is quickly turned to Delight. Jesus is their Deliverer.

Aweek later, however, we encounter one last D word. Doubt. You know the story. Thomas,one of the disciples, wasn’t with the others when Jesus appeared to them. Hedoubted what they told him. He wouldn’t believe until he put his fingers wherethe nails had pierced Jesus’ hands.

WhenJesus appeared to him, Thomas did just that – put his fingers in the holes inJesus’ hands and in His side. Then he no longer doubted.

Whatabout you? Without having seen Jesus yourself, do you believe in the resurrection?Do you have faith that Jesus Christ came to save you from your sins?

Ipray you Do. May God bless you, Chris