terry.a.lindsey@charter.net

account

Definition of account is “a report or description of an event or experience”. It is giving a detailed description of what has been achieved. What if we were really held accountable to our own actions? As humans, we tend to jump to the actions of others and become judge and jury. We can watch disastrous football games, not to mention a few I saw this weekend, and say what a terrible show of teamwork. We can watch politics through eyes of someone in the entertainment world and agree with their assessment on how well someone has or has not done. As mentioned last week about the devastation of Hurricanes “Harvey” and “Irma”, we can be a spectator and judge the actions of others or we can put on the weapons of light. The day will come when we will be held accountable for our own actions.

In Romans 14:4 we are questioned who are we to judge someone else? In verse 12, we are reminded that each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. If we were standing in a court of law charged for being a Christian, would there be sufficient evidence to convict us? We can go to church daily but not really know why? This might seem harsh but is it harsh because there is an element of truth that we choose to deny? I continue to be humbled by my minimal effort to be the hands and feet of Jesus helping others pick up the pieces of their shattered life. I spent two more days this week in that effort after these recent storms but when I compare myself to the efforts done by others, I fall short. Is that a fair assessment on my efforts? Not really for every effort is a step in the right direction. I believe we should do what we can when we can and by any way we can. Even Peter questioned Jesus in Matthew 18:21 just how many times should he forgive someone who has sinned against him. Answer not just 7 times but 77 times. Likewise, we should forgive and move on in His service for time is running out for us and we will eventually give an account of ourselves. Be the hands and feet for Christ by being Christ like and serve others any way you can but first let’s forgive and forget so we can be free to serve with a clear intention.

The below message was recorded September 14, 2014.

Weapons

Flooding in New Orleans not even resulting from a named storm but were our neighbors impacted? Yes

In this day of conflict, which by the way is not new just packaged in modern terms, we are faced with many different challenges. We hear threats of war and weapons of mass destruction. We see impacts of storms like “Harvey” and “Irma” with its natural destructive weapons of wind and water. What can we do? Great question. We can choose to be a spectator and watch the conflict unfold in the comfort of our own homes and perhaps even criticize why more is not done. After all, the news media feeds our desire to see more destruction as negative events are great marketing tools. We see news reporters standing in the wake of the storm and reporting every second of the event. For what reason? To report to the millions of spectators hanging on every picture in hopes of seeing some catastrophic event that we can tell one another we saw. I am convinced even sports events are all about vicariously watching someone else in action. We can watch then when the event is over, we go back to what we were doing. But what if you are the one living the nightmare? Is it over once the rain and wind stops?

Did you know just a few inches of water in your house results in removal of wet flooring and sheet rock to stop the growing mold. Mold remediation is most important after the waters subside. That means removal of your treasures to prevent further contamination.

In Romans 12:15, Paul encourages us to” be happy with those who are happy and cry with those who are crying”. He goes on in verse 21 to say “Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good.” That sounds more like a call to action instead of a spectator sport. Further in chapter 13:8 he also says “don’t be in debt to anyone except for the obligation to love each other.” How do we love each other? It is easy to love your friends and family but how about your neighbor? How do you love someone you do not even know? Perhaps, a start is to serve them as if you were serving yourself. How would you feel if flooded or impacted by wind or some other weapons man made or course of nature? In verse 12, we are told to “get rid of the actions that belong to the darkness and put on the weapons of light.” In my opinion, the weapons of light is summed up in one word. Love! I spent 3 days last week and 2 more days this week with a team of volunteers removing personal items too damaged to use again so that we could do mold remediation. We did not just go into the houses with a wrecking crew instead we entered as neighbors crying, praying and offering our hands and hearts to help wherever we could. This effort is certainly not a spectator sport or not enjoyable but was it Christ like? Yes! When we spend time loving on people that are hurting, we are spending time in the presence of God. Matthew 18:20 says when two or three gather in my name, I am there with them. So as we change the channels on our TV to something more current, remember some of our neighbors have trashed their personal affects due to water or wind damage and are looking for help. Love them by helping them wherever you are able.

Sixth Sense

The definition according to Merriam-Webster dictionary of sixth sense is “a special ability to know something that cannot be learned by using the five senses. A power of perception… a keen intuitive power.” Okay, then why are we so sure or judgmental when us humans cannot predict what appears obvious in hindsight? Hindsight is 20/20! Right? Our five God given senses are sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch. We have body organs that facilitate these senses if we are so blessed to be born with them. Eyes for sight. Nose for smell. Ears for hearing. Tongue for taste. Finger tips and special sensors all through our body for touch. Pride is not one of those gifts from God. I believe if we really exercise our five senses then we have an excellent chance to become perceptive of our surroundings and perhaps even possess that intuitive power defined as a sixth sense.

Can we predict rising water? Perhaps, but can we foresee a historically high water event?

As the picture shows there is water everywhere. We are all experts now is saying why didn’t the authorities do something sooner. After all, the weather folks forecasted a huge hurricane that would dump water over east Texas. Did we not listen to the warnings? Well, yes we all listened to a forecast but did we have a sixth sense to predict just how bad it was going to be? I took this picture just outside my house in Louisiana but is no where near the historical event as seen in the Houston area. Should I take precautions? Yes, like getting sandbags and making sure I have ample food and drink in case “Harvey” continues its destructive path over us. But does that cover my potential risk? If it is not a monumental water event, I am confident all is ok. Does that give me the right to condemn others for their lack of preparedness whether victims or authorities who some say should have known? My point is that we all live our lives making preparations as if it all depended on us but in reality we should be aware that we are all subject to conditions beyond our anticipations. We use our five senses to help protect our bodies to the best of our abilities. If we really exercise our bodily senses, we may even become very perceptive far beyond our known abilities. When we possess that intuitive power, we can be used in a mighty way.

In Matthew 16:17, Jesus acknowledged Peter’s intuitive power as a gift from the Father and because of Peter’s gift, Jesus saw the foundation of his church. Now that is a precious gift to us all. In Romans 12:2 we are advised not to conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we can receive God’s will. I believe we should tone up our senses, and tone down our rhetoric. We should not look at terrible events that have happened and be prideful that we would have done better after hindsight. We should build up our senses or gifts given to us to a level where our perceptive powers can act in advance of the inevitable news cycles after the fact.

do or do not

We are blessed to have scientific knowledge at our finger tips but what if we were born when eclipses signaled a terrific event? It would be a moment of extreme anxiety but today we make it a celebration because we know the outcome. We are not blinded because we are educated on how to protect our eyes. Do you believe in miracles or do you not believe until proven by science?

The exclusive trajectory of this eclipse is first time over the US since 1776 and first total eclipse of the sun visible at all in the US since 1979. Scientist say with a certain amount of confidence that this phenomenon will cease in about 600 million years because of the moon’s slight changes in orbit. Now that is a long time! The next time we have such an event in the USA will be in 2024. But are all things explained by science? I think perhaps not all things can be explained away.

I think we can be a agent for miracles or in other words we can do an action that prompts divine intervention or we can do nothing and never know the outcome of our inaction. Let me use the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish as described in Matthew 14:13-21.

Have you ever consider the message within the message? It took the disciples efforts to feed themselves and their master before the real miracle was possible. What if the disciples had not taken a small action? Would there have been a larger miracle that day? Maybe, but I suspect the moment would have past without the miraculous event. I contend we must take action before a greater action becomes perhaps a miracle. I have heard it said that God cannot steer a parked car. We must get in the car and start on a journey before we can be led to a higher calling. I consider this dilemma has a decision to do or do not.

Where will the next miracle occur and will you be party to the doers or the do not group?

Stepping out of Wales

I promised more on the Welsh language which I think is very peculiar in a wonerful way. Their dialec when spoken in English sounds similar to the Scots but more singing in their pitch, in my opinion. However, when you hear them in their native tongue, not too recognizable. Their towns are sometimes more of a description to the area. The most longest one is translated into a location as follows. “Mary’s Church by the white hazel pool, near the fierce whirlpool, with the Church of Tysilio by the Red Cave.” (See picture for the Welsh word for the town.)

This postcard says it all. Can you pronounce it?

We arrived in Conwy on the 3rd Day in Wales and booked into an awesome B&B called Gwynfryn. You can find them at their website at www.bedandbreakfastconwy.co.uk. Interesting that the owner bought the place from the Methodist and converted the sanctuary into the breakfast area and the vestry into rooms for guest. We all loved the accommodation and hospitality so highly recommend. You can see loads of pictures on my Facebook site as well as their site. Conwy is a very quaint town. The food and pubs are great so the B&B is very well located just inside the castle walls a block from the high street and a few blocks down to the harbour. A great location for day trips to Snowdon and Caernarfon Castle where Prince Charles became Prince of Wales.

Sanctuary converted into a breakfast area but note features of the sanctuary remained as is. Lovely preservation!

The next day we were off for a Day in Liverpool translated from lava pool. The ancients saw the sea weed in the Mersey and thought as lava. Liverpool has a mythical bird called a liver bird with seaweed hanging from their mouths as statues on some older buildings. Gerry and the Pacemakers made the Mersey famous with their song of crossing the Mersey. Lyrics starts with “Life goes on day after day…So ferry ‘cross the Mersey”.

We really went to Liverpool for one reason. You guest it. Beatle mania, not me, but my wife as she always wanted to tour their museum. It was awesome even for me. Lol. She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, that song will be in your head all day. Right? Oo, she loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah. We nearly over stayed our time at Liverpool as almost missed last ferry back to Gwynfryn for our home away from home. Apart from the Cavern famous for Beatles’ jam sessions and where Cilla Black worked, did you know about their original hangout at the Casbah Coffee House?

On our 5th day, we headed to Snowdon after an awesome tour of Caernarfon Castle. Charles became Prince of Wales there but that is modern history as the castle dates back to 1283 where Edward 1st shored up his kingdom from the many who claimed rightful king over Wales. I find it very interesting to see ancient power struggles. How will history write our chapter 1,000 years from? That is of course we do not blow ourselves up before then. Hmmm
After Caernarfon Castle, we were off to ride an old steam driven incline train up to the summit of Snowdon. It reminded me a lot of Pike’s peak in Colorado without the wildlife except the sheep. Wales have sheep and a lot of them. They are white dots all over the landscape. Very beautiful hills and valleys!

View from Snowdon. The Seagul is a long way up.

We headed back home to Gwynfryn after another awesome pub dinner and drinks.

Our 6th day fell on a Sunday so naturally a traditional roast dinner is in order so headed to Llandudno for a great meal. I had lamb of course but the roast pork or beef looked just as good. The promenade at Llandudno is spectacular along the semi circular beach front. Alice in wonderland author lived and wrote masterpiece there. We went on to the Great Orme on another steep path train to the summit. What an great site to see.

Day 7, we sadly said goodbye to Great hosts Monica and colin and granddaughter Libby (3 years old serving us with big smiles) at Gwynfryn in Conwy headed back to England. We shall always remember our steps into Wales and look forward to when we return. Would you like to meet us there?
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