Should The Bible Become The Forbidden Fruit?

MAN! There have been many occasions in my life where i have been the recipient of some truly extreme judgment with the Bible being used as the justification for it. And you know, as much as i hate to admit it, there have been many times where i've done the same to others. Obviously, i'm NOT proud of that fact.

Taking that knowledge about myself and coupling it with the message Pastor Keith gave this past weekend REALLY set my mind in motion about it. You see, in his message, he reminded us of the cornerstone (my words) of all our sin in the story of Adam and Eve and the ever important Forbidden Fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. As we all know, prior to their eating it, they didn't know of an evil. They only knew of good. God's good.

Pastor Keith also reminded us of how we can live either a life based in judgment or one based in love. That we can't do both. When thinking about various events and people i've come across, i can't express just how convicting this message was for me. I was downright blown away by it. That's where i started wondering about whether or not the Bible should have been THE forbidden fruit because of the way so many "good-hearted" Christians have come to use it. But i really think, "No, it shouldn't have." It's not what's IN the Bible that's the problem, it's what we get OUT of it. Think about it. If we just crack it open every once in a while, it seems we're more prone to misuse what we THINK we've read. A closed Bible leads to a closed mind leading to a closed heart.

Now, i would love to say that i've always been a person that acted lovingly to all those i come in contact with but in all honesty, i KNOW i haven't. So obviously, i have a LONG, LONG way to go, but what an amazing God we have that is so patient with me and constantly, and gently, leads me in the direction He knows i need to go to get there. Is that awesome or what?

It looks like i just REALLY need to remember the love that God feels towards me, and the amazing heart He showed for all of us through His Son. And, if i work to return that love to God and to others in that same way, then i should do okay, right? While it's easier said than done, it's NOT impossible. Opening myself to God and what He has done and planned for me, then i'd think it would only lead to an open heart. At least, i'm thinking it can't hurt to try.

Just a thought. (My apologies to Pastor Keith if i misunderstood the context of his message in any way)

laters!

AH-HA!!!! The Plot...I Mean SNOW...Thickens!!!

Just having a little panoramic fun this morning before heading off to work!

Just click on the image to see a larger version.

laters!

Wah da heck iz all dis white stuff??????

This is NOT typical for us in our area but quite fun to look at.  The drive to work this morning wasn't too bad either.  Now, after it all freezes and becomes ice tonight?  For that drive to work in the morning?  YIKES!!!!

Anyhoo.

Laters!!!

It's All Shiny and New!!!!

I have worked for good ol' Blue (no, NOT IBM) for 26+ years now.  For that whole time i was at the same location, until today.

The corporation built a new Texas corporate headquarters and my team was moved this past weekend.

I gotta say, it did feel weird not driving to work the same ol' way but as silly as it sounds, i was excited. And MUCH to my surprise, it's 1 1/2 miles closer to my house, putting it just 6 miles away.  Hey, when you drive an old car ('74 Beetle), that matters....lol

My personality allows me to accept change(s) very easily.   In fact, the more things stay the same, the more nuts i go....SHEESH!!!!  so imagine 26+ years in the same place....BLECK!

Anyhoo, here's the new sight.

And if you wave, i just might wave back!!!!

Thanks for humoring me.  Hope you are having a most wonderful day!


Laters!

Using Mercy As An Inspriation to Run

Last night i just did NOT want to get out and run, but i knew i had to.  I'm starting to look for some local area runs (15K+) to help get me motivated.  I want to train better than i had for the previous organized events i've done.

Anyhoo, after much bickering with my inner demons (they always want me to surf the couch), i begrudgingly laced up my shoes, grabbed the dog leash and got ready.

See i was SO un-motivated, i decided to take our older dog out with me. Her name is Mercy. She's a chow mix and about 9 1/2 years old and since i figured i wouldn't get going out to break any sound barriers, i figured she'd be the better companion.  i take her when i'm doing short, light, easy and slow runs.  i don't take her anymore for the longer or faster ones.

i decided to keep the distance short (5K) and the pace very slow.  'd LOVE to say that the pace was slow for Mercy's benefit but i'd be lying.  :)   For a good deal of the run, SHE was pulling me.  Oh, and since i decided to run it Galloway Method style (4:1), every time my watch went off for the 1-minute walk cycles, she'd look back at me like she was saying "Come on you LOSER.  I'm biologically older than you are and i ain't no wuss!  LET'S GO!"

It ended up being a really good run.  Not so much because i finally dragged my butt out there but because of taking Mercy with me.  It is so awesome to see how excited she gets when she hears me say "You want to go for a run?"  She knows what that means.  She heads to the front door and sits, waiting for me to connect the retractable leash to her choke chain.  And when we step out the door, she's ready!

It's like years melt off her face and from her gait.  i swear, sometimes, i think i see a big smile on her face and a bright gleam in her eyes from the excitement of being out.  It's either that, or she's just ready to get a break from the new puppy, Grace, we adopted in December.  I'd like to think it's because she just loves being out there with me.  Whichever it may be, i'm just thankful i had a good run with a good running buddy.

i hope we get to have many, many more.


laters.




Miles:  5K with Mercy
Low point(s): Right knee was hitting me with a few twinges, went way too soon have a big dinner
High point(s): Seeing Mercy's excitement at being out, the smells from the various fires from the chimneys