The Plumbline

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. (John Wesley) Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. (Psalm 34:11-14) Work to maintain it. Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes we make is to not apply ourselves 'enough' to what it is we are taught about how to live among our fellow man. We speak without thinking, tell half-truths when the full truth would make us uncomfortable, seek things God clearly says will entangle and ensnare us, and then wonder where our peace has gone. We gave it away without even noticing that we were doing it! Now we find ourselves trying to get it back, while trying to mend what...

I have a question for us today - how long does it take to fall? Answer: Not long at all! While on vacation, I missed that the roadway had a rather uneven spot because I was too busy taking in the lake, birds, and scenery to notice about a two and one-half inch drop off in the concrete roadway where the concrete had become uneven. You guessed it - I biffed it big time! Down I went and up I popped - sore, skinned up, bruised, but too proud to stay down for long. When we fall, we don't want anyone around us to notice that we fell, right? We want to recover as quickly as possible, so that no one really "sees" that we have fallen. You guessed it - my fall was not only observed - the couple called out asking if I was okay or needed any first aid. Obviously they could see my rather skinned up forearm and the blood beginning to form in droplets within those jagged scrapes. As much as we might want to fall "unnoticed", every fall we take in life is observed by someone - ...

As you read these words, I am about half-way through my vacation, taking some time to "catch my breath" and renew my spirit.  Each time I have the opportunity to get away for a while, I usually create some kind of "countdown"  calendar or clock.  I am blessed to have a "smart phone", so it has an app for "days until" which I can use for this exact purpose.  It helps me to focus on the time I have until I get to enjoy this much deserved break in the hectic routine of my life.  The "expectation" builds as the count gets below 30, but it builds at a frantic pace once it is under 10 days.  Have you ever noticed just how much the last 3-4 days just drag on???  Why is that?  I think it is kind of like a mother about to give birth - the day is approaching, the expectations are high, the moment of "delivery" is imminent, but the agony of waiting is driving you nuts!   God , my shepherd!   I don’t need a thing.  Y ou have bedded me d...