The Plumbline

Back in 1988, Bobby McFerrin released a song that rose to the number one spot in quite a short period of time. The song's lyrics: "Don't worry, be happy!" Did you realize that saying had been around since the 60's and was attributed a 'spiritual master' from India? The idea of the saying had many meanings in the 60's that depended upon when and where it was used. I'd like us to think of it this way - stop fretting so much about the stuff you cannot control and learn to control what you have been given control over - your emotions! I don't know about you, but one of the hardest things in life has been to keep my emotions under control. I get down, bounce back up, fret about stuff, and rest in peace. It is a roller-coaster of sorts, huh? Just how many times do we have to go up and down this roller-coaster of emotions before we learn to get some control over them? I, Jude, am a slave to Jesus Christ and brother to James, writing to those loved...

A tapestry is a type of weaving whereby a warp is used to construct a fabric consisting of a warp upon which colored threads are woven. The process is done by hand and will eventually produce a particular design - most of the time a picture of sorts.  Anyone who engages in this art of tapestry weaving will tell you about the significant amount detail worked into the finished product.  Many of these tapestry pieces will be multi-dimensional.  In other words, they don't just hang flat on the wall, but have texture which is part of the imagery of what is being portrayed.  For example, if the tapestry depicts mountains, the craftsman may use some bulkier yarns which are not as well processed as others, leaving larger loops of this yarn or not pulling them as tight on the loom.  The process gives the work a "dimensional" image.  The warp is made up of the same size threads or yarns strung across the loom over and over again in consecutive rows.  This becom...

  6-7  Moses and Aaron told the People of Israel, "This evening you will know that it is  God  who brought you out of Egypt; and in the morning you will see the Glory of  God . Yes, he's listened to your complaints against him. You haven't been complaining against us, you know, but against  God ." (Exodus 16:6-7 The Message) We were "unpacking" Exodus 16-17 at our small group last night, and in the course of the reading, God began to "unpack" a few life lessons for me that began to speak to my heart.  If you have not guessed by now, the life lessons I get are those that speak to where I am "at" in my life at the moment.  So, you are going to get a little insight into my life right now!  As you can well imagine, Moses and Aaron had a difficult job trying to lead a huge group of people out of Egypt and then "herd" them into the Promised Land.  This group of unruly folks are found complaining because they have run out of provision...