The Wisdom of Alexander

A record of the descendants of John Alexander, ...

2011-12-13T20:19:00.000-08:00

A record of the descendants of John Alexander, ...: ""

'via Blog this'

Alexander family records : an account of the fi...

2011-12-13T18:49:00.000-08:00

Alexander family records : an account of the fi...:

'via Blog this'

The Alexander family of Scotland, Ireland, and ...

2011-12-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

The Alexander family of Scotland, Ireland, and ...: ""

'via Blog this'

The Judas Connection

2011-06-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

If you were to ask Christians which Apostle are you most like, I would guess that most would pause long enough to appear to give reflection and then answer, "Peter, because like Peter, everyone knows I am a follower of Christ but I may be caught in a moment of denial every now and then." This is the comfortable answer sprinkled with just a dash of humility. Unfortunately for a great many of us, if we are to be honest with ourselves, it is a lie. We are in fact most like Judas. We know the story of Judas, right? Why do you think that is? Do you think "Almost all of the Bible applies to me but not that part. No. That part is for someone else." This is one truth that we all like to ignore but that makes it all the more true.

Like Judas we try to follow Christ. We know we are chosen and are loved by Him. We have committed almost all of our lives to being His follower. ALMOST. But despite all we have learned and all we have grown with Christ, there is still at least one part of our old life we hold on to. Maybe it's one "reality" that we can't just ignore. Maybe it's one little vise that nobody knows about so it's hurting no one. Perhaps it's just "the way of the world" or the things that "everyone has to do to survive." We ask forgiveness every Sunday knowing full well that we can return to our old ways as soon as the regular work week resumes.

It is our connection and obedience to something else (sin) that will be used to betray Christ! Judas too could rationalize that it was reasonable to still listen to the Chief Priests of his old life, just as we continue to allow something else to lord over part of our own life. We too rationalize a need for it. "Everyone does it," "I need the release," "It's part of real life," "It's how I earn a little extra [pieces of silver.]"

God knows who He is talking to.

2010-06-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

If you don't know that God speaks to you than none of the rest of what I'm going to say will make much sense so sorry if it doesn't help but here it goes anyway:
When you are getting a message from God that He wants you to take some steps or action that will benefit someone or help to transform lives He chooses you to receive the message for a reason. You may have thought that it was because only you can accomplish it or that you are in the right place and time for the task. These may be true but what is always true is that the life most in need of transformation is yours.

Another way to put it:
Listen, and God will tell you what to do, but if what you hear is "Make your neighbor do..." then that ain't God speaking.

Sorrow can bring you closer to God

2010-03-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

We each take our own path to enlightenment. For each our path becomes part of us. Our journey builds the person we become. Some follow directions, make full use of the road signs, and use only tested well establish roads. They may live out life perfectly fine within the limits of what has already been paved.
Some more ambitious seek a better path wanting more than what the well traveled road has to offer. This person will look for trails that lead off into new directions that reason suggests may lead further than those conventional roads can take them. Paths are selected with purpose in mind for new discoveries and greater understanding. But should a path seem too impassible it will be avoided for safety's sake. Besides, there are many more paths that should still get us to our destination, what ever that may be. Still these trails may lead far into the wilderness and their uneven terrain will bring more pain to any traveler that tread them.
There is still a third type of traveler whom to other seems mad for this third traveler does not look down for even a moment to see any road trail or path. This one will focus on a direction and go toward it. Other will look on with bewilderment as the traveler, with determination and direction, runs head long into the thicket. This type of journey is filled with much more pain than any other. It will seem no one understands, for who could? No one has traveled this same path. This sort of journey is often coupled with self doubt, isolation, and increased yearning for companionship. A stronger desire to connect with another in a meaningful way.
Each person with-in them is that Image of God we were all made in. But in each of us also is the clay of the earth, that imperfect mud to fill the perfect mold. Often the clay leaves gaps as it tries to fill that mold. We use the instincts of the earth to deal with the pain of our journey. We get angry, we cast blame, we bog ourselves down in that dirt forgetting that it's the mold that is perfect. The direction of our journey, the pain of loneliness, the longing to Love and be Loved, these come from the mold in which we are all cast. It is this same Love that led to our creation! Your pain and sorrow however great it belongs to GOD. You are feeling only a small part of His great longing, His great loneliness, His great desire for Love.
As you travel always struggle to fill His image, and whatever your journey, continue it knowing that the greatest Love of all awaits you at it's end.

How to Understand Anyone and Everyone

2009-01-28T15:15:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard the phrase, have faith in what you cannot understand?
That's bunk!
I grew up being told, "No one understands God. That is what faith is for." I thought life was a never ending quest for understanding; of people, of experiences, of what life means. It was only after I was saved that through The Holy Spirit not only is understanding possible, it's what God wants for us all.
It's not that we are to have faith in what we do not understand, it's to have faith in what can not be proven and gain understanding!
Now you know I'm not an empathetic person. That is why God brought my wife into my life. She has all that I lack. But through The Holy Spirit, I have understanding. I know the meaning of life. And I can understand people. Anyone can be understood. You don't have to like a person in order to understand that person. You don't have to like every bit of a person in order to find parts of that person you really love.
Wait, you say? Never mind liking or loving anyone, how in the heck to you understand anyone? That all comes down to the image of God that we were all made in. You've heard the expression "we are all the same" well why do you think that is? Get to know things about yourself that are universal. Things like the yearning to be loved and accepted, the desire share that love with others, the desire to create and make things better. These are things built into all of us by God. Get to know these beautiful things about yourself and not only do have better insight into everyone you meet, but you better know God as well.

Atheists Do Not Exist!

2008-12-25T07:47:00.000-08:00

Well, let me qualify, rational atheists do not exist, and I can prove it! First let us define the terms. By rational I mean able to reason. By atheist I mean one who denies the existence of God. By God lets just say a supreme being, for God is nearly as impossible to define in a single sentence as God is to prove (which can not be done.)
Now to get to it and it's simple really. How can any reasonable person expect to argue the none existence of something that can't even be defined. If you say that I am jumping the gun on God not being able to be defined than I say, define God and then say that that God does not exist. Fine, I will concede that the God of your limited definition may not exist assuming you have some proof, however, what of God of other's definitions. You can not possibly even know all possible definitions of God therefore could not even argue the non existence of all things you don't know about.
Therefore the statement of atheists that God does not exist is a statement of faith not a statement of what is reasoned. You may say as is any faith but what is more reasonable to have faith in something you can not prove or to have faith in the absence of something you can neither prove nor disprove.
So in conclusion if by my ramblings we have not made any more Christians, at least we now know atheists do not exist.
Merry Christmas!

Where do we go when we die?

2008-10-09T03:23:00.000-07:00

We can really know the answer to this! In fact that is the plan, God's plan. He wants us to know in our hearts where we are going. He's invested a whole lot in making sure we do. If you've read my Love & meaning of life post you will know what I mean when I say that Love is integral part of it. He has given us the love between a man and woman as an example. This is to show us a love that is unconditional and by choice, by faith. That's the key; Faith. He has told us how to get to heaven. Not by works of our own but accept the salvation, the free pass, that Jesus gave us by taking on our debt. To believe not by proof but by Faith! The kind of faith down deep in your heart. Now you know.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

2008-10-08T19:53:00.000-07:00

This is sometimes difficult to understand and harder still to accept but here it is: Bad things happen. Sorry, but that's it. Bad things happen. These bad things are not of God's creation. They are of our creation. Well, that may not be the most accurate choice of words when it comes to tornadoes or such, however it is not God that puts us in the path of nature's destruction. Now you are probably saying, "How could God stand by and let this happen?" This is getting to the point of it all. Remember that whole "made in His image" thing? Well part of that is a certain dominion over the world. We are capable of creation and destruction. We are given a world in which creation is challenging but rewarding and destruction is easy but has consequences. Not all the costs of destruction end up being paid by the destructer. That is just how it is when you share the same world. One of our responsibilities as caretakers of this world is to our brothers and sisters present and future.
All this may sound too global and general to apply to our situation today or to the death of a loved one. Here's the thing. The bad is here. You or I may not have created it but we (the human race) have. Weather you believe the specifics of Adam & Eve's story and how original sin created death, the fact is that it's part of our world and it happens. As for God standing by, that's where it may be easy to miss but God is there. He will not undo our destruction but he provides us a way out. He takes on the blame of it by no less than giving His only Son's life! Then when you think you can not get through the suffering and grief he provides a way. It sometimes comes in the form of another person he places in your life. Someone to be there to help you through. Someone often without even their own understanding is able to be there with just the right words or just the shoulder to cry on. Today we may loose one of these unwitting angels of God. This angel may have been blinded to God's Grace by all the heartache he has seen but I pray if he has not seen It that a Just God will take into account his occupational handicap.

Can an old dog teach you a new trick?

2008-03-07T15:04:00.000-08:00

Did you ever train a dog? Well here's the secret behind that... sitting up or rolling over were never the point. The lessons were about responsibility and knowing the limits of one's ability to control. That's right, the lessons were for you! Chances are, if you got anywhere, you figured out that it was no use blaming the dog. You reward or discipline the dog in order to get the desired result. You may have even figured out that the reward worked best. But did you learn the trick? Or is there an old dog out there rolling over and showing you up? The trick you were supposed to learn is how to deal with every other person in your life. Trust me, you will find few that can be controlled like a dog but the principal is the same. You have no more reason to make demands and place expectations on a person than you do on a dog. If you think I am saying people are like dogs you are already forgetting that the lessen is about you. It's just that if a person, or a dog, does not do as you expect then you only have yourself to blame. Don't take it too hard though. Some just take a little longer to train.
Here's a tip (not to take too seriously); when trying to control a person there is no better place to connect the leash than at the wallet. ;)

Get to know your emotions, we do.

2007-12-12T20:33:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if I've read it in a fortune cookie or not, but I'm sure it would fit; One who hides one's emotions from one's self reveals them to the world. You see, emotions can not be hidden. The best you can do is learn to ignore the tell tale signs. You then proceed to display them all completely unchecked. If you have a problem facing your emotions and haven't read the same fortune cookies, take a little poker advise: Look your cards in the face or you'll show your hand.

Longing for Love & the Meaning of Life

2007-11-01T21:01:00.000-07:00

Everyone has a built in longing for Love. When young and foolish, we often confuse it with lust. It takes satisfying at least one of them to know they are not one in the same. In fact, the longing for Love leaves all other pursuits in the dust, for it is this longing that is the reason for being. Well that sounds so trite, "reason for being." I don't mean just a reason to get out of bed or just the spice of life, rather I mean it is the very meaning of life.
Now let me qualify; the Love I speak of, it is not just the best friend love or family love or even just the "I'll lay down my life for you" love. All very important and valuable sorts of love to be sure. I'm talking about The Love, and unless you've had it you only know the longing. It's really the ultimate combination of all sorts of love and what's more important it's returned. To be clear, this Love is unconditional. It is given abundantly without any anticipation of reciprocation and yet the smallest gesture of Love in return brings overwhelming joy.
Back to the meaning of life. This is where it gets rather heady but we are talking the meaning of life. Let's go back to the beginning. God is creative and he's created beings before, Angels even, so God has company but he's still longing for something. He's longing for Love, The Love. So how does one go about creating a being that can overwhelm it's creater? You parents know the answer to this one. That's right create a little you! He made us in His image, to have all the same characteristics, the same longings. Now wait, we are not all powerful all knowing... Well no. That's impossible. Think of it. All powerful, all knowing pretty much means only one. So what's the next best thing? Full autonomy!
Okay here's where I try to tie this up in a neat bow. (Pretty ambitious I know, after all it's just Love & the meaning of life!) The thing that makes The Love overwhelming when it is returned is that you don't expect it. How's God going to get that? Simple, like a wealthy person or royalty might conceal this information so as not to taint the courtship, God offers evidence of His Love but no proof even of His existence. So that's it, the reason we are all here, the reason I am here, the reason you are here, to Love God. Still don't understand? Well, answer this: Have you found Love or are you still longing? Want to know more? I have just The Book.

How to grow up.

2007-10-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

A child asks aloud "who will help me?" An adult asks in silence "how will I do this?"
A child complains about things to be done. An adult tells stories of all that is done.
Or to quote the company that made my favorite cars, "On the road of life, there are passengers and there are drivers: Drivers Wanted!"

Beauty

2007-09-30T07:06:00.000-07:00

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This is true, but true beauty comes from the heart. It is the fusion of cherished memories, fondest pleasures, sincerest hopes and desires. It is our entirety, our self. Do not try and contain it but release it. Let it explode onto the world. It is this true beauty as it radiates from the eyes of the beholden that captures the heart of the beholder.

Be satisfied

2007-09-12T05:59:00.000-07:00

Nothing in this world is perfect. If it were we would have nothing more to hope for. Learn to enjoy when something approaches perfection. Better yet, enjoy all the little steps in the right direction.