The Plumbline

I have one gate on my yard fence and it is just big enough for us to pull our over-sized trash cans in and out on trash day, get the mower through from the back to the front, and bring in the fresh plantings in the wheelbarrow.  It isn't as wide as my neighbor's which can open big enough to navigate a camping trailer through.  Both gates are functional and both provide an element of security and privacy.  Yet, I am quite limited in what I can send through my gate compared to my neighbor.  On another note - I have no desire to park a camper in my backyard, so I don't really need all that wide of a gate anyway!  As we go through life, we will find some pretty "wide" spaces we get through without much effort, while other areas of life are seemingly "managed" by very narrow passages.  Those "narrower" spaces seem a little harder to find and a lot harder to get through - but what is on the other side is often quite rewarding.  A long time ago I rem...

Even when people don't know they "know" scripture, or that they may be quoting the Bible when they say something, people can be heard sharing tidbits of God's Word with others.  Ever heard anyone recite the "golden rule" without really knowing it was from the Book of Matthew?  The "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" kind thing gets said in many ways, but the "source" of the quote is seldom known.  It was Jesus himself, reminding the crowd who had gathered to hear him preach that their life is made rich when they live by a standard of maybe just a little bit higher than what they see modeled around them in some member so society.  Some might "model" it is okay to return not so kind actions when the actions done "to" them have not been very kind themselves.  I love it whenever I see those who have just the opposite reaction, turning to another in love rather than judgment, giving what they have instead o...