Posts Tagged ‘snow’

Happy MLK 2010

January 18th, 2010

It’s the day the government has set aside to remember Martin Luther King Jr and his wonderful work to create racial equality in America.  Its also a day that I get to travel to snowy Maine to work!  Have a mentioned I love snow.

Anyway, its MLK day, so take some time to stop and think about racial harmony and racial tension.  As follows of the Christ, sometimes this seems to be one of the hardest things for us to deal with for really unknown reasons.    But this problems with differences is an issue that is discussed much throughout the history of mankind and also very much in the pages of our Bible.

For instance, Jesus, when asked “who is my neighbor”, tells the all familiar story of the Good Samaritan, a story that fundamental tells us that our neighbor is the person we hate – so go and show them mercy.  He is telling us that everyone is you neighbor and that

” A person’s a person, no matter how small” – Dr.  Seuss.

And we can’t forget the passage dealing with the oneness we have in Christ and how that unity crosses social, gender, racial, or any other barrier you want to create.

Galatians 3:27-29 (New International Version)

27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

So today, honor Dr King, and spend some time thinking about how you are treating your neighbor ( is it as you treat yourself?)

Making Preparations

January 7th, 2010

I was preparing to write about an entirely different topic, when I was checking to see if schools were closing hours before the first snow flake even was forming and I saw this classic poll on the front of my local news station:

You can't have snow with a cupboard full of bread and milk

You can't have snow with a cupboard full of bread and milk

Preparations and plans. Sometimes it’s important to make them.  Apparently, when winter weather strikes its even more important.   It’s always the running joke about hitting the grocery when winter weather approaches, and it always makes good news stories.  That and a story about the road crews loading up the salt and sand.  Winter in the South is fun stuff.  However I noticed yesterday on weather.com, more evidence of my government weather conspiracy plot.  Notice the green circle around Chattanooga!!!

Weather Channel Forcast
Anyway, since snow is once again the talk of the town, and yesterday’s post dealt remotely with the creation, I almost think this is an incredible image to try to conjure up in your mind.  The storehouses of snow.  I think it shows the mightiness and the greatness of the Lord.

20 “Have you ever traveled to where snow is made,
seen the vault where hail is stockpiled,
The arsenals of hail and snow that I keep in readiness
for times of trouble and battle and war?
Can you find your way to where lightning is launched,
or to the place from which the wind blows?
Who do you suppose carves canyons
for the downpours of rain, and charts
the route of thunderstorms
That bring water to unvisited fields,
deserts no one ever lays eyes on,
Drenching the useless wastelands
so they’re carpeted with wildflowers and grass?
And who do you think is the father of rain and dew,
the mother of ice and frost?
You don’t for a minute imagine
these marvels of weather just happen, do you? (Job 38:21-23, The Message)

and since we started with a little bit of planning, how about this verse to consider today:

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Enjoy the snow – if we get it!

( oh, by the way, the conspiracy theory is a joke -just a joke)

Pure As Snow

December 30th, 2009

Whoa!  Did you know that Taylor Switft broke up with Taylor (New Moon) Launter yesterday.   That’s big news for many of Twilight/country music stars out there!  Anyway moving on..

Yesterday I was able to take a nice run in 18 degree weather in some newly fallen snow.  I am enamored with snow.  I am not sure if its because I have such fond memories from my youth around snow and now I never see it, or if its just so beautiful.  I think, on my run, I discovered some of the reasons why snow is so amazing.  This may seem a little cheesy or corny, but this blog sometimes records the ramblings of my mind, and I find that my mind rambles the most on those early morning runs – especially running in places like those around my home town where I have the pathways memorized.

Anyway, it was so pleasant to see the new snow on the ground, untouched and pure with the morning sun reflecting from it.  The snow was so white, and so pure, and the sun would catch it in ways that would make it sparkle like it contained glitter. ( sappy I know).  Anyway, I could not help but to think about how the snow was covering so many things that we consider lowly and dirty – dirt, rocks, fallen leaves, weeds, water (ice, did I mention it was 18) puddles.  But with this covering all the earth was pure, and white and perfect.  Hm, it just reminded me of judgement day and how we will be presented white and pure – with all of our dirty spots covered up.  What a glorious thought!!  That’s one of the cool things about God.  Since he sent Jesus, he make us holy and clean.  Why do I need that you say?  Well, we all have dirty spots in our lives and we all need to be covered with a cover to hide those blemishes.  Why?  – Thats the way to eternal life.  Its really pretty amazing.

Isaiah 1:18 (New International Version)

 18 “Come now, let us reason together,”
       says the LORD.
       “Though your sins are like scarlet,
       they shall be as white as snow;
       though they are red as crimson,
       they shall be like wool.

So anyway, it was a great refreshing run, with a thought about God’s glory that I hope spurns me on to good works and service to my King.  I hope it helps you as well.  ( by the way – did you know that you can add comments on this blog as well – its fun!)

Snow in Chattanooga!

December 5th, 2009

I usually don’t post on Saturday, but its such an unusual event that  I thought I would.

Here is what I woke up to this morning:

Back Porch

Snow in the Mailbox

It appears the government bubble may be broken!

Have a great day and Go Buccaneers!

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped…

Philippians 2:5-6, New International Version

Snow in Chattanooga?

December 4th, 2009

I have said for years that the government had been using Chattanooga for some weather control experiment since it NEVER snows here.  To the north, to the east, to the south, to the west – oh yeah, they get snow, but not the Noog.   Well Paul Barys says the trend may be breaking with this tweet?

PAUL BARYS-Drier weather will move in for the next couple of days. But some snow could start falling early Saturday morning. 3:31 PM Dec 2nd from web

Snow – Maybe!!!

Yo, Ho, we love the snow.

Alright, well lets hope that’s a go, otherwise that State Championship football game is not going to be very enjoyable in the rain and cold. Go Bucs!

Enough talk about the weather.  I have always been one to hate James. As a matter of fact I pulled it out of one of my bibles.  Not because I don’t believe as some in the past, its just hard.  Its practical, it forces you to make your faith move from Sunday morning bible class to the late afternoon meeting where nothing is going your way.  I mean look at this fourth chapter, it just tears you up about thinking that:

  1. you are good,
  2. your will is good,
  3. the way you talk about other is good
  4. the way you talk about your life is good

Essentially, he says, when you are doing for yourself – FAIL! But the good news, no the Great news is  – when you are doing for God – Success.  Like yesterday – submit to Him, trust Him, focus only on HIM – and then life becomes  great.

So, I will tape this back in my bible, and I will do my best to focus on Christ in those tough relationships where I think I am more important then the others  (why I think that I can’t really even comprehend).  What will you do with these words:

James 4

Submit Yourselves to God

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?[a] 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”[b]

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Have a great “snowy” grace filled weekend!