Mom didn’t drive, so on occasion Dad would have to take her somewhere. When that happened and we were left alone, it was like “the rules are suspended!” I don’t recall doing anything really delinquent while they were gone, but a lot of rules were broken while they were out. Mom had rules for living in her house. She was a cleaner. No she didn’t work outside the home. She just constantly cleaned and did laundry but to be fair she had six kids.

There was an occasion where three of my siblings were left at home alone and a fight broke out between the younger two. The disagreement resulted in some pushing and shoving and one of the two landed on the coffee table. This particular coffee table had a single pedestal under it with four legs curving out from the bottom of the pedestal. You can imagine the results.

We never really had anything nice, but what we had was well taken care of. This was not going to be good.

The two younger siblings were busy trying to glue the coffee table back together when the sound of the car door shutting came from outside. Mom and Dad were home…….and no one was ready.

I wonder what you and I will be doing when the Lord returns?

And when he (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:9-11

The faithful in Christ Jesus are those who live as though the Word of God is true.

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

“The days of creation were ordinary days in length. We must understand that these days were actual days, contrary to the opinion of the holy fathers. Whenever we observed that the opinions of the fathers disagree with Scripture, we reverently bear with them and acknowledge them to be our elders. Nevertheless, we do not depart from the authority of Scripture for their sake.” Martin Luther

Love is not about feelings. Love is about making right choices. Love is not about feeling warm and fuzzy. It is about obedience. Love is not about physical desire. Love is about choosing the highest good for the one loved.*

…let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…

*From the blog article ”Are You Thinking Biblically or Culturally?” dated June 11, 2016.

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. What should we do?

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matt 3:1&2

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:1-5

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:29-31

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. What should we do?

Repent: Change your mind. Turn from sin and turn unto God. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

After I left home at the age of nineteen, one of the sweet memories of home was the fragrance of blooming lilacs on a spring breeze. We had a row of lilacs down through the middle of our back yard and every spring they gave off a fragrance that you could not forget.

After we pass through their midst what do others remember about you and I? Is it the fragrance of Christ?

Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

II Corinthians 2:14-17 NKJV

...let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…