All of one blood: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

Acts 17
“For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.”

A Church on every corner.  Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Original Free Will Primitive Baptist.   (?lol?)

UMC, AME, PHC, UPC,….Episcopal, Community, Catholic…..whatever…

Democrat, Libertarian, Republican……

Than there are differences of race, creed, colors, left handed, right handed, blue eyed, brown eyed, pink eyed….

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     (People are different, but all the  same.)

WHO CARES?  (Can’t we just get along)?

God that made the world and all things therein

With  all the ways we seek to devide ourselves.   It seems a strange thing today, to realize we are all:  “made of one blood, all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:”   Acts 17:26a,27

ONE BLOOD, ALL NATIONS, TO DWELL ON THE EARTH TO SEEK THE LORD.

So as we segregate ourselves in Worship, Politics and every other way we can imagine, God commands us to love one another.  

Why can’t we get along?   Genisis 11.

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.”

Genesis 11:5-8
King James Version (KJV)
And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

The Lord scattered us.  It is natural.  We can’t do things as one, because we don’t understand each other.

So, we need to quit trying to be one, and agree to love as one.  Live in harmonious differences.

We should be able to agree to disagree.  We are one in the blood of Christ.  That is enough unity.

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Now go out and share Jesus, not your church, not the preacher, not our programs, or personalities ….  it is all about Jesus and His blood, that is what we share.

That is what makes us one.

Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com

whatsoever he doeth shall prosper : The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

“whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Who is he?  Do you know him?  Is he you?

Some people appear to sail through life, like Midas, everything they put their hand to, turns to gold.

They are full of the joy of the Lord, they are givers, they love life, and everyone they meet, loves them, they are content, kind, and forgiving.

(The rest of us, hate them.   lol)

These people seem to thrive, as the rest of the world struggles.

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Could I be more like them?  Is there a secret only they know?  Are they special in the Lords sight?  Is there a way to join them?

Is it possible that I could be he

Is there a way that:  “whatsoever I doeth shall prosper?”  If you believe the word, YES.  We must first take control of where we sit, stand and walk.

Psalm 1
King James Version (KJV)
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Walking in the counsel of the ungodly.
The worldly view of what to do.  It is ok to…?   You don’t take medical advice from your tax guy.  Don’t rely on the world for Spiritual counsel, (walk in worldly wisdom).

Don’t hang, (stand), around with sinners.
Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners.  Yes, He did.  He did not join them in their sin, He led them in the  way of repentance.

Don’t Sit in the seat  of the Scornful. 
Do not think you are better, smarter, more qualified than those doing the work.  You aren’t.  We must judge Godly judgement.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Delighting in the law of the Lord.
Love the Lord, love thy neighbour,  pray, sing, rest, believe, act on the Word in love.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

You will be like a tree, nourished, fruitful, evergreen, prosperous.
God will supply all your needs, you will do His work, souls will be saved, you will overcome the wicked one.

The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

The destination of the non-believers.
The ungodly and sinners, will not stand in the judgement, or with the righteous in fellowship.

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

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Will, “whatsoever you do prosper”?   It is up to you.  Love, believe, trust in and act on the Word.

Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com

An old love remembered: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

Reading Jonathan Caswell’s “By the Mighty Mumford” blog, reminded me of a much loved hobby.

Model Trains:  Twenty years ago,  Because of lack of room elsewhere in our home,  I had a model train setup, inside my piano. (On top of the harp). 

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My wife helped me build and paint the mountain and even came up with the pine trees.  The buildings are all paper models.

It was wonderful to have a world I could control.  lol

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We enjoyed it for many years and even took it to a few local train shows.  (notice the attempt to enlarge with the mirror)

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                (My sweetie 20+-years ago)
After moving to the home we are in now, I found an old worn out baby grand I planned to strip down and use for permanent layout.

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I ran out of steam after getting it prepared and finally turned it into my planter.
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That is why we have a piano planter in our front yard.   

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Anyone else have a harmless old love?  My new love Neglected Caroline.

Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com

there is more hope of a fool: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

When I married the love of my life, 31 years ago, I was confounded and confused.

She didn’t know she was supposed to fix breakfast daily.

That lunch could be soup and a cold sandwich once in a while, (but that’s not a real meal).

Dinner was meat, potatos and vegetables. 
Unless it was a special occasion.  Then it was pizza.

Who brought up this women?  She hadn’t a clue how to eat.  She wouldn’t even make gravy. 

O the horrors of married life.  What did I do?  What did I do?  What could I do?

I did the only thing I could.  Adapted, Improvised, Overcame. 

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                         (What a turkey)
I got my own breakfast, ate what was served, and liked it.  (lol)

A harsh reality was learned.  Not all families follow the same rules, think alike, or do things the same way.

Over the years it became apparent that our families were different in other ways also.  Bette’s family were all Born Again Christians.

I was raised in the Catholic Church and had only been saved for 4 years before we were married.   Bette’s family had a joy in life. 

My family enjoyed sarcasm, biting words, we found joy,
in one-upmanship.

I hate it when I do that now, (and I do, on occasion). I get that Rachel Maddow smile, when I think I’ve been clever.  I wasn’t.

James wrote:
in many things we offend all.”

I am sorry to say, in many ways on many days I have offended all.  You would think an adult male would control his words.

James had more:
Even so the tongue is a little member,”
But the tongue can no man tame.”

He asks:
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

This is my latest folly.  PRIDE…   Of who I think I am, Of what I think I know, Of where I think I should be in the class room.

That’s right, no meek and mild submission.  I must let everyone know, how much I know, how big a fool I am.

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One-upmanship….a hateful trait.

Proverbs 29:20
King James Version (KJV)
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

If I could only learn to be quiet.

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Amen

Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com

the path of the just: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

As Christians are we on the path of the just?  Are we even aware of what path we are on? 

Do we realize that people are following us, even people we don’t know?

Our lives, actions, comments, attitudes are on open display, to influence lives around us.  Do people see kindness, love, grace under pressure?  Are we honest, do we have integrity, are we moral, responsible, God like people?

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Are we a shining light, that gets brighter as the days go by?   Are we closer to God today then yesterday?

People see and follow us.  Let us walk in the light, so people are led to the light.  Too often in my life, I’ve led to the dark side. 

Proverbs 4:18
Amplified Bible (AMP)
But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].

Lord, help me to walk in the light.  Help me to be uncompromising, just and righteous.

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Help us be,  a light that leads to You.                                        

Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com

The Piano-The Church: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

The Piano:

A beautiful thing, invented over 300 years ago.   The inventer could work on them today.

I never counted but am sure there are over 1,000 moving parts, all working in harmony, closely side by side, a hairs breath from each other.

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Eccentric Caroline – 1/27/16 – piano planter

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Eccentric Caroline – The veneer is really pulling apart,  I had hoped it would last several years.

I wonder how long it can stand?

Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Know you are loved.
theunfetteredpreacher.com

Sex addict – The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

The first time I heard of a “sex addiction”,  it was  the reason a certain public figure couldn’t keep his fly zipped.

As an alcoholic, (dry for many years), I’ve always thought I was powerless against my addiction.  This is the party line.

We have 12 step programs to help us defeat all sorts of addictions.  Alcohol, drugs, shop lifting, smoking, sex, nose picking, finger licking, ect….

I can only come to one conclusion, these addictions are real,  I know they are, I fight several daily.

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Let my soul live: The Fix-it Shop-Filling Station

Lord, I am disappointed, discouraged, dismayed and disgusted…..both hopeless and hostile.

My brook has dried up, I do not understand, is there anyplace of relief?  Of provision?

I am dead, waiting for the grave.  Looking to You, O Lord, my strength has failed.  Lead me to Your light.

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