What a Life!!!

Last week had another wonder time in Tahoe, seeing several friends, enjoying great food and seeing no bears.

What a life! But I did wrestle with some bear proof trash barrels. You have to get the twist of it and hope the bears don't.

For Love of the Game

Watched my grandson's high school football Friday night, good game. Amateur sports, what fun and they play for the love of the game. What a concept.

Liberty Bell, How to Ring It

Several years ago I was visiting the city of Philadelphia and had the opportunity to see the Liberty Bell and even touch it. I don't know if I have ever felt more patriotic. When I think of our history and all the Bell represents it is really magical. America's struggle for freedom is never over. Not only did it need to be won, it must also be defended with relentless vigilance.

The following is some historical perspective on the Liberty Bell usahistory.org

"Inscribed on the Bell is the quotation from Leviticus 25:10 "....proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof..."

Though it was rang many times it's most resonant tolling was on July 8, 1776, when it summoned the citizenry for the reading of the Declaration of Independence produced by the Second Continental Congress."

But then it became silent

"There is widespread disagreement about when the first crack appeared on the Bell. Hair-line cracks on bells were bored out to prevent expansion. However, it is agreed that the final expansion of the crack which rendered the Bell unringable was on Washington's Birthday in 1846.

The Philadelphia Public Ledger takes up the story in its February 26, 1846 publication:

"The old Independence Bell rang its last clear note on Monday last in honor of the birthday of Washington and now hangs in the great city steeple irreparably cracked and dumb. It had been cracked before but was set in order of that day by having the edges of the fracture filed so as not to vibrate against each other ... It gave out clear notes and loud, and appeared to be in excellent condition until noon, when it received a sort of compound fracture in a zig-zag direction through one of its sides which put it completely out of tune and left it a mere wreck of what it was."

The Bell is silent.......... yet I hear it ring. I hear it ring each time citizens exercise their freedom in the polling both. I hear it ring every time the pledge of allegiance is said. I hear it ring every time the national anthem is sung. I hear it ring when our finest military men and women are shipped out for another mission. I hear it ring when the Sun rises to make it's journey over America the Beautiful. I hear it ring as the Sun sets on another day of freedom. Oh, I hear it when a new born baby citizen cries out freedom. Yes born to be free.

I am reminded of the song written by Lee Hays and Peter Seege "If I Had A Hammer." My favorite verse is the second stanza.

"If I had a bell

I'd ring it in the morning

I'd ring it in the evening

All over this land

I'd ring out danger

I'd ring out a warning

I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters

All over this land"

Well I don't have a bell but I do have a voice. And with all the strength of my heart I cry out Let Freedom Ring. As a citizen of the United States I cry out Let Freedom Ring. As a Christian with a firm faith in God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ I cry out Let Freedom Ring. And as a member of the human race and for the human race I cry out LET FREEDOM RING!!!

The Bell is not silent. "It is the Bell of Freedom" and may it ring each day in the hearts of everyone.

Eagle

"On the backs of our gold coins, the silver dollar, the half dollar and the quarter, we see an eagle with outspread wings. On the Great Seal of the United States and in many places which are exponents of our nation's authority we see the same emblem.

The eagle represents freedom. Living as he does on the tops of lofty mountains, amid the solitary grandeur of Nature, he has unlimited freedom, whether with strong pinions he sweeps into the valleys below, or upward into the boundless spaces beyond.

The Eagle became the National emblem in 1782 when the great seal of the United States was adopted. The Great Seal shows a wide-spread eagle, faced front, having on his breast a shield with thirteen perpendicular red and white stripes, surmounted by a blue field with the same number of stars. In his right talon the eagle holds an olive branch, in his left a bundle of thirteen arrows, and in his beak he carries a scroll inscribed with the motto: "E Pluribus Unum."

As I reflect on this, for me, it represents the heart of America for peace, the strength of America for defense, the unity of America in purpose, the vision of America for freedom and the glory of America as expressed the the song: "America the Beautiful"

I love America. I pray for America. I celebrate the grace of God in blessing America. And sometimes I weep for America (911). I will always be true to the Biblical values and principles on which America was founded.

God bless, preserve and protect America!

FREEDOM

Elections are just around the corner so let me share an acrostic which government leaders and all who seek office should commit themselves to. FREEDOM is the heart of the issue and understanding the accountability it requires.

Faithful to the Constitution

Responsive to the People

Efficient in their Service

Examples in Humility

Diligent in the management of their Office

Observant to the Principles on which our Nation was founded

Mindful of the Providence of God

God Bless America!!!

AMAZING GRACE

God's grace, in-view of my sin, is amazing. Why?

Sin is not incidental or accidental, but rather intentional. It is the deliberate act of our will to disregard and disobey God. Too often we are soft on sin, God never is!

However, God is amazing in His forgiveness of all who turn to Him and ask to be forgiven. Consider the very meaning of God’s name as explained by Him.

“Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty…" Exodus 34:5-7 (NLT)

Years later the prophet Daniel would write:
"O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. 9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him." Daniel 9:8-9 (NLT)

Manny years later Jesus would express God’s forgiveness as no one else ever could.
" When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross…..Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing…" Luke 23:33-34 (NLT)

The Apostle Peter sums it up in this way:
"He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” Acts 10:43 (NLT)

Today when I reflect on the breadth of God’s forgiveness it is truly breathtaking. When I experience it, it is truly amazing grace.

The Psalmist sums it up well:

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! ² Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! Psalms 32:1-2 (NLT)

I'M NOT EXACTLY MR. FIX IT!

Yesterday I was working on our sprinkling system, a couple of them had become clogged, so I thought I can do this. Well, I did. But in the process I got soaked, wasn't sure I could get the water turned off and thought the water police came by, not good!. It was a little stressful but turned out to be a confidence builder. It was so simple, yet I thought I had to use some big wrench to loosen them. Sometimes we can make life more complicated than it really is. It reminds me of Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."

I am glad that God is concerned about little things. Because it proves to me that what is important to me is important to Him, however small my concern may be. Including a tiny screw that I dropped in the grass which was needed for the sprinkler to work. Well, it was found and I am glad and they're working. I am not Mr Fix It, but I know who is.

BTW Thanks for my nice welcome to blogland. Was encouraged by your comments.

In the Beginning

There always needs to be a beginning, so for me, this will be a beginning. A journey of sharing my reflections from my recliner on various subjects which I hope will be interesting and helpful to those who stop by.

A couple of days ago my grandson had a swimming accident in their swimming pool at home. He is 11 years old and had been in the pool many times. Yet this time as he dove in head first, he tucked his head into his chest and hit the bottom of the pool head on. There was a jolt to his body. It was nearly a very tragic accident. After several ex-rays, MRI, and brain scan it was discovered the he had three contusion to his vertebrae. The neurologist said he was very lucky, it could have been so much worse.
So I begin today being very, very grateful for God's protection at a extremely critical moment. I do not always understand life, but here is what I do know: Romans 8:28 (NLT)
".....that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." All things are not good, but God uses all things for our good, yes even tragedy. This is a very personal discovery and certainly transforming. For me it is an anchor and a hope. Just thought I'd share this reflection from my recliner.

*Watercolor of me in my recliner by my wife Wanda