The View From Here

 As of late I have been rather disconcerted with the way the world seems to be going.  The political atomosphere in the US is about as low as it can get and I don’t really like any of the choices we have in presidential candidates. Morality is on a steady decline.  Internationally, we have a war that is drawing out and most people are getting war weary, and we have nations with potential nuclear ability and other nations probably willing to back them.  It is easy to look at everything going on and feel helpless and hopeless.  What can I do to change things?  What will happen if the world blows up in war and life as we know it ceases?  Then the thought occurs that this must be the worst time in all of history.  When and if you start thinking like this the following quote and passage have been very helpful to me for putting things into a more God-centered, big picture perspective.

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

Ecc. 1:9

In times like these, it helps to remember that there have always been times like these.

Paul Harvey

 The world has already seen people and nations acting these ways and the world still exists, but more importantly, God has been there at every turn bringing about his perfect will no matter the choices that are made by man.  Be encouraged, God is in control!  This is not a promise of ease.  In fact, God promises that, as believers, we will experience trials in whatever form they take. Instead it is a promise of hope in our salvation and joy that can be found in those trials knowing that God is refining us.  The world may seem to be falling apart around us (and it may be) but the promises of God are not dependent on a perfect world.  They are only dependent on He who is our cornerstone, Jesus Christ.

 Brian

My wife and I are starting a memory verse program.  We will be memorizing one verse per week and I would encourage you to memorize with us.  I will post the verse to memorize up here every week as a reminder to me to be memorizing and so that you can participate if you want.  It is so important not only to read God’s word but to know it.  It is our weapon against the schemes of the enemy.  We must know it to use it effectively.  Also, if a verse really speaks to me this will give me a chance to convey that.  Without further ado, here is the first verse.

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.

Deut. 7:9

This verse has been especially encouraging to me this last week.  I have been going through a rather dark time of doubt and this verse has reminded me that God is God and of his faithfulness to His people.  Be encouraged, God is faithful to do what He says.

Brian

Well, I haven’t done a random fact in a while and I am sure you are all greatly missing it.  Not to mention they are great space fillers in that they allow me to update my site with content that didn’t cost me much brain power.   Before I get to the real reason for being here, I will throw out another random fact: This post make one hundred and sixty posts that I have written here.  Who would have thought when I started this that I would get there.  Not me.  Sorry for the diversion.  On with the show!

Did you know that… 

In the average lifetime, a person will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator.

I wonder if those little step counters from McDonald’s could keep up with that.  If that is the average person how far does the person that runs or walks for exercise go?  I wonder sometimes how they figure things like this out or if it is just made up.  Maybe I should have called this post ”Random (possibly made up) Fact (statement) #8″. I think I will.  Wow, that was kind of like time travel.  You read the title of the post first only to find out that I decided to change it at the end of the post.  That was a random thought deserving of a new “Random Thoughts” category.  Until next time.

Brian

Despite the fact that I play an accoustic guitar and am a big fan of folk-type music I still enjoy great rock too.  I was a fan of Creed back in their day and I was sad when they broke up but what resulted from that is even better.  Three of the original Creed group plus a new lead vocalist formed this new band.  I really enjoy melodic rock, not the stuff that is a bunch of nonsense notes and screaming vocals but the kind that has melodic form to it.  Alter Bridge accomplishes this with amazing success.  I really enjoyed their first CD, One Day Remains, but their second CD, Blackbird, put them on my recommendations list.  I really like it when a band can perform consistantly.  They are not a Christian band but they either have the conviction or the respect not to throw in random cursing and their songs actually have a positive message to them.  If you enjoy good rock you should definately check them out.  I give their new album five stars all the way.

Brian

Rating:

Sorry for my lack of posting these last couple weeks.  I just haven’t felt like writing much.  I can’t put my finger on the exact reason but every time I have sat down to write on an idea I end up giving up very quickly.  I guess being sick can give you that I-don’t-really-care attitude.  I think I am getting over it so there should be some new stuff up sometime soon.  I have become interested in writing on my fiction again.  I have a couple stories that are shaping up and, who knows, they might actually end up as books one day.  Only time will tell.  Incidentally, that picture is from my desk at work.  Until next time!

Brian