As I said several months ago, I am not a good blogger. I have not had an original thought in two months....kidding. I have finished up lessons for Teen VBS 2011 and working on Spring Teen Discovery 2010. In addition to that we had camp, back to school things and our own Discovery. Surely that explains it. No original thoughts this time either. But in the words of General Mac., I shall return.
Oh, if you would like to read my latest Pastor's Pen then check out www.westwoododessa.org
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
I admit it, I am not a good blogger. It has been almost a month since my last post. My wife broke her foot around the last of May and could not drive and needed to be off of it a lot. So many of our plans were put on the shelf until she became more mobile. Thankfully, she did not have to have surgery and is now out of that “Frankenstein boot.” One good thing, she could not sneak up on me. That was a joke in case you did not catch the levity. Along with preparing the manuscripts for 2011 Teen VBS, getting ready for our own VBS and my battle with the squash bugs, I have not had the time for blogging.
Speaking of squash bugs. In my last blog I mention that they are evil. At that time, I had only seen the evidence of their presence. I foolishly referred to it in the singular. Boy was I mistaken and evil is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to describing these creatures. I finally saw one, destroyed it and gave it only a casual thought. However, not only did I begin to see more stems cut off, but also I saw leaves beginning to turn yellow and start to shrivel. Then I saw them....literally hundreds hiding under the leaves, at the base of the plant, on the fence next to the plant. After discovering there seems to be no effective method of getting rid of them except hand-picking them from the plants, I resorted to a method my father-in-law used...soapy water. It does actually kill them, but there were so many of them.
As I sprayed the plant, the enormity of the task quickly became apparent. Wave after wave of them came out from behind leaves. Okay, now here comes the analogy. I really did see a comparison with fighting those bugs and the work we are doing as churches and as individual Christians. Fighting against evil seem just as daunting a task as getting rid of squash bugs. About the time you think you are making headway, a new wave of evil hits. Then there are times when the task appear too big, and you consider giving up. It even seems you can hear the Devil say we are no match for him. The truth is, we are no match for him on our own. However, we have read the end of the Book and we know who wins.
I have a feeling, unfortunately, I know how the squash bug battle will turn out, but I have the first Adam and the fall to blame for that. However, the “last Adam” will give us the victory in the battle against evil (1 Cor. 15:57).
Speaking of squash bugs. In my last blog I mention that they are evil. At that time, I had only seen the evidence of their presence. I foolishly referred to it in the singular. Boy was I mistaken and evil is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to describing these creatures. I finally saw one, destroyed it and gave it only a casual thought. However, not only did I begin to see more stems cut off, but also I saw leaves beginning to turn yellow and start to shrivel. Then I saw them....literally hundreds hiding under the leaves, at the base of the plant, on the fence next to the plant. After discovering there seems to be no effective method of getting rid of them except hand-picking them from the plants, I resorted to a method my father-in-law used...soapy water. It does actually kill them, but there were so many of them.
As I sprayed the plant, the enormity of the task quickly became apparent. Wave after wave of them came out from behind leaves. Okay, now here comes the analogy. I really did see a comparison with fighting those bugs and the work we are doing as churches and as individual Christians. Fighting against evil seem just as daunting a task as getting rid of squash bugs. About the time you think you are making headway, a new wave of evil hits. Then there are times when the task appear too big, and you consider giving up. It even seems you can hear the Devil say we are no match for him. The truth is, we are no match for him on our own. However, we have read the end of the Book and we know who wins.
I have a feeling, unfortunately, I know how the squash bug battle will turn out, but I have the first Adam and the fall to blame for that. However, the “last Adam” will give us the victory in the battle against evil (1 Cor. 15:57).
Saturday, June 13, 2009
It's evil! The squash bug, that is. It struck again, during the night. Four stems surgically severed about 3 inches from the ground. Fortunately, I had harvested the zucchs that were ready. Little beans are appearing on the bean plants (which is the best place for them to be, and pods of okra are coming on). My initial venture at gardening seems to be successful. Every plant I have has veggies on it. This I consider a success.
That is probably not of a great interest to others, but isn't that what a blog is all about?
Well, I've made the blog connection this morning.
That is probably not of a great interest to others, but isn't that what a blog is all about?
Well, I've made the blog connection this morning.
Friday, June 12, 2009
My blogging has apparently taken a back seat to other activities. In addition to helping around the house and assisting my wife while she is recovering from a broken bone in her foot and my normal pastoral duties, I am in the process of writing the material for Teen VBS 2011. The manuscripts are due the first of July. I also am writing the material for Spring Discovery 2010. So, blogging is not at the top of my priority list.
Also vying for what little time I have left in a day is my first attempt in a looooong time at having a garden (for my gardening experience read my Pastor's Pen @www.westwoododessa.org). My gardening project this year is a modest one. I have one zucchini plant, one yellow squash, three tomato plants, two bell peppers, two okra plants (big whoop) and about a dozen bean plants. Now that you know the intimate details about my garden, I will tell you that even with this modest attempt I am sort of proud of myself. I started it about five weeks ago and so far nothing has died. The zucchs have come in first and we have harvested 4 so far. I am patiently (well maybe not so patiently) waiting for the tomatoes to get here. Sort of like watching for water to boil. Yet in defiance of my diligent dusting of insect poison there is a problem lurking among the leaves. Recently each morning, I have found stems sticking up in the air with their tops surgically severed. The evidence is there...I have a squash bug on the loose. The only remedy, as best I can determine, is to find the critter, pick it off the plant and destroy it. Pick it off...no problem! Destroy it...no problem! Finding him...now that's the challenge. So far, he is winning. Any suggestions?
Okay, gotta go. I have to give a squah bug a drink.
Also vying for what little time I have left in a day is my first attempt in a looooong time at having a garden (for my gardening experience read my Pastor's Pen @www.westwoododessa.org). My gardening project this year is a modest one. I have one zucchini plant, one yellow squash, three tomato plants, two bell peppers, two okra plants (big whoop) and about a dozen bean plants. Now that you know the intimate details about my garden, I will tell you that even with this modest attempt I am sort of proud of myself. I started it about five weeks ago and so far nothing has died. The zucchs have come in first and we have harvested 4 so far. I am patiently (well maybe not so patiently) waiting for the tomatoes to get here. Sort of like watching for water to boil. Yet in defiance of my diligent dusting of insect poison there is a problem lurking among the leaves. Recently each morning, I have found stems sticking up in the air with their tops surgically severed. The evidence is there...I have a squash bug on the loose. The only remedy, as best I can determine, is to find the critter, pick it off the plant and destroy it. Pick it off...no problem! Destroy it...no problem! Finding him...now that's the challenge. So far, he is winning. Any suggestions?
Okay, gotta go. I have to give a squah bug a drink.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
ISN'T IT AMAZING?
Haven blogged in a while. Life gets busy and time passes swiftly. Here it is summer already. The rains (showers) have finally come, at least for a brief time. Dry is normal for West Texas, but this year it seems to be unusually dry (or at least in our area). Recently, however, afternoon thundershower and storms brought refreshing rain.
Isn't it amazing how God's ways work so better than man's. It should come as no surprise, though. We can water our yard for several days with no apparent results. Then after giving up the hopes of reviving a crispy brown lawn a shower comes along and then... voila! over night the yard turns green.
Why shouldn't that be the case, God has been doing it that way since the beginning, well the rain part didn't start until the time of the flood. The point is that God's ways are always best whether it's watering the earth or dealing with man.
Just another thought off the top of my head.
Haven blogged in a while. Life gets busy and time passes swiftly. Here it is summer already. The rains (showers) have finally come, at least for a brief time. Dry is normal for West Texas, but this year it seems to be unusually dry (or at least in our area). Recently, however, afternoon thundershower and storms brought refreshing rain.
Isn't it amazing how God's ways work so better than man's. It should come as no surprise, though. We can water our yard for several days with no apparent results. Then after giving up the hopes of reviving a crispy brown lawn a shower comes along and then... voila! over night the yard turns green.
Why shouldn't that be the case, God has been doing it that way since the beginning, well the rain part didn't start until the time of the flood. The point is that God's ways are always best whether it's watering the earth or dealing with man.
Just another thought off the top of my head.
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