Inspiration Thursday - Abundant Life

Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people?  If Christ said, "I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly", then why to Christians seem to suffer the same difficulties in this life as non-Christians?  Why do some bad people seem to catch all the breaks?  These are not easy questions to answer, but there are some clues to why Christians must often journey through some very difficult times in their lives.
First of all, we live in a society that has very little use for the Christian life or its Biblical world view.  Our world is not all that different from the world that Christ walked in.  We should not expect better treatment than our Savior.  Christ was physically abused, verbally abused, bullied, denied by one who loved Him, betrayed by one who served Him, rejected by one who was crucified beside Him, and ultimately killed for his world view.  Why should we feel entitled to better treatment from this world than the King of kings?  Still there are circumstances in this life that we may be required to face that we just don't understand?
The Bible tells us, "...He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends the rain on the just and the unjust." (Matthew 5:45).  Tornadoes destroy the homes of Christians and non-Christians.  Crimes are committed against Christians and non-Christians.  Deadly diseases afflict Christians and non-Christians.  Christians live in this world and as long as we live here we are subject to the same difficulties in life as everyone else.  Why?
There are many reasons, but one is that God is preparing you for a special ministry.  Think about it.  Most successful support groups are made up of people who have experienced the issue.  WeightWatchers is filled with people who have successfully overcome eating and weight issues.  Alcoholics Anonymous is made up of people who are waging war on alcoholism.  We are best prepared to mentor someone through a difficult situation when we have been through that situation ourselves.  It is not an absolute requirement, but there is credibility, sympathy, and understanding that only those who have walked through the valley of despair can understand.
Our muscles grow, strengthen, and mature when they are stressed and exercised, not when we are stretched out on the couch watching television.  Likewise, our faith and trust in God grows stronger and more mature when it is stretched.  We can exercise our faith by spending time with our Savior, in prayer and Bible study.  These activities prepare us for the day when our faith will be tested...and it will be tested.  The next time you are required to travel through a difficult life situation, instead of asking "Why me Lord?", say "Precious Lord, Take My Hand."  Have a blessed day.

Wordless Wednesday - Spillway Revisited

Changing Seasons

 Click on images to enlarge

 

 

 Winter

 

 

 

 

Early Spring

 

 

 

Late Spring Rain

I find it very interesting how the same place can change with the seasons and the weather.  I have photographed this spillway of one of our local lakes several times and it is never the same.  

Ruby Tuesday

We've had a long winter and a short spring. However, the Knock-out roses in the front flower bed are beginning to bloom profusely and they will continue to provide a brigth red color to the landscape all summer long. I love capturing images of them in the morning when the dew is still on the petals.  The morning after a rain is an especially good time to photograph these blooms.

Memorial Day 2014

Last night my wife and I were watching the Memorial Day Concert from Washington D.C.  It was a very good program.  There were performances by a multitude of entertainers honoring the men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States and made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives on behalf of this great nation.  The most moving segment was the salute to the Greatest Generation, the veterans of World War II.
They were the children of the Great Depression.  They were a generation of humility, honesty, integrity and honor.  They did what they had to do, because it had to be done, and nobody else was going to do it.  They saved the world.  They came home, raised families, and built the greatest nation of the face of the earth.  Many of them kept the horrors of war to themselves, because no one would believe what they endured on the battlefield.  You cannot explain war to someone who hasn't been there.  My father was one of those men who went to war, came home, and lived a long and fruitful life.

Dad passed away in 2009 at the age of eighty-nine.  We are losing this marvelous generation at a rate of over 2000 per day.  They will not be with us much longer.  We owe everything that we are to them.  I miss my Dad.  If you have someone in your family that is a member of the Greatest Generation, cherish them.  Talk to them and learn from them.  They are history, and soon we will only be able to read about them in books.  Have a blessed Memorial Day.  Miss you Dad.

We Are The Champions

Today my wife and I traveled down to Fayetteville to watch the state championship soccer matches.  Both the Bentonville boys and girls teams were involved.  Regulations (someone paid for the photographic rights) prevented me from getting to photograph the events, but I captured this image of two of the girls hoisting the championship trophy.  The Lady Tigers defeated the Bryant, AR girls 3-2 in a thrilling match.
Immediately following the girls match, the boys defeated Springdale Harber 3-0 to make it a sweep.
This year the Bentonville Tiger sports teams have captured 12 state championship trophies.  It's been a very good year.

Skywatch Friday

Up, Up & Away!

 

The Walmart shareholders meeting is just a few weeks away and that means there will be several specail events planned for those who are in town.  Last year shareholders could ride in the Goodyear blimp.  It will be interesting to see what is planned for the upcoming meeting.

 



Inspiration Thursday

 

 

Have you ever noticed that as we grow older time seems to pass more quickly?  Our youthful adventures seem like they happened in another lifetime and like they happened only yesterday. Perhaps the most difficult part of the aging process is the various ailments that beset us.  Yes our memories are not what they used to be, but it's the physical issues that we must adjust to that make life challenging.  Arthritis sets in our joints and no pain reliever truly relieves all of the discomfort.  Joints begin to fail and replacement surgery appears to be in our future. 20/20 vision succumbs to bi-focals, reading glasses, or cataract surgery.  Heart-caths, stints, and Pacemakers become a part of our conversations with friends and family.  We wind up using so many artificial devices to get through life that we feel like the "Six Million Dollar Man". It can all be a little depressing.  There is hope.  Keep one thing in mind.

"This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24).  Life may not be as enjoyable as we would like.  Every day may not bring joy to our soul and we may not always feel like rejoicing.  But, whether we know it or not, God is in control.  He knows where you hurt.  He knows what troubles you and He cares about your physical well being.  He feels your pain.  Yes, He does.  God has given us physicians and medicine to manage many of our ailments and I believe He expects us to make use of these things.  He has also given us His Son and He expects us to to make use of this relationship.  While some may experience a miracle healing, most of us must endure some sort of physical malady in the fall and winter of our lives.  God has given us some advice to deal with all of life's problems. "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3).  God may choose not to heal us from our infirmities, but He gives us the strength, comfort, perserverance, and courage to face each day and deal with our burden.  We may have never known that such power was available to us until we needed it.  It is clear that time alone with God, reading His Word, and talking to Him through prayer, are essential to our relationship with Him.  Only then can we say, "This is the day that the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it."  I may lose my mobility, I may lose my health, I may lose many things, but I want to be able to stand before my Lord and say, "I Never Lost My Praise." Have a blessed day.