Of Geese And Eagles

I was out at the Marion County Lake this morning looking at a property, and was astounded at the number of geese out there! There must have been several thousand sitting on the ice.There have been frequent sightings of bald eagles at the lake this winter. Today, the only one I saw was an immature one that didn't have the full bald eagle features. He was still an impressive looking bird. Anyway, I tried to get close to him to photograph him, but he got nervous and took off.As soon as the geese saw him take off, they got nervous and starting flying too. There were geese flying everywhere!!

I'm guessing that they think they are safer in the air than on the ground. Out alone, a goose is easy prey for these eagles. However, banded together in large numbers, it is more difficult for the eagles to single one out. Safety in numbers!!

The bible tells us that there is safety in numbers for Christians. Hebrews 10:25 says "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Matthew 18:20 says "For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them."

These geese have figured it out that there are great benefits to sticking together. We as Christians can learn a valuable lesson from them. Alone, we are vulnerable to the world and its pitfalls. When we meet together in Chriatian fellowship, we can build each other up.

De Colores

MasterCard Fraud

Whew, what a day!! Our bank was informed today by MasterCard that a fairly large number of our customer's debit cards were compromised. Apparently, someone out there was able to launch some sort of virus into one of their vendor's systems, and it downloaded the debit card numbers to them. We have spent the entire day calling our customers who were affected and let them know that we had to shut down their cards. Most people were appreciative that we let them know.

I am amazed how many people almost exclusively use their debit cards instead of writing checks. They are great until something like this happens.

If you use your debit card a lot, be sure and check your account fairly frequently to make sure someone is not using your info to spend your money. At least look at your bank statement once a month!! Better yet, don't use the debit card for any on-line purchases. That seems to be the most common place where security gets breached.

De Colores

Corrosion

Wow, was it cold last night! Our thermometer showed about 3 degrees at 7:30 this morning. I guess we should be thankful that we don't live up north, they have temperatures that are 20 -30 below zero!!

When we woke up this morning, I thought something didn't feel right with the air temperature inside the house. Sure enough, the thermostat was set on 70 degrees, but the temperature showed 67. The furnace wasn't running, so I knew we had some kind of issue. I called our local repairman, and he came over and quickly diagnosed the problem. He said there is a sensor rod that detects when the burners are lit and tells the system that it's ok to run. If the gas comes on but the sensor does not detect heat, it will shut the system down, so you don't have a problem with gas leaking into your house. Any way, this sensor rod had become dirty and corroded over time, and didn't operate properly. Even though the burners lit, it couldn't tell, and it shut down the furnace. The repairman cleaned the sensor rod, and immediately the furnace fired up, and we had heat again!

That sensor rod reminded me of myself and my walk with God. Sometimes, the "dirt" of life can corrode our spirit. We cease to study, pray and seek God. We aren't sensitive to God's leading. We don't detect the "fire" that God puts in us. We become incapable of functioning like God designed and created us to. Only when we get rid of the dirt and corrosion through repentence and turning back to God can we again get that fire back in us that makes us effective Christians.

I am thankful for furnances, and I am thankful for people who know how to fix them! I am most thankful however, for God and His amazing love and grace that continually cleanses us of our dirt and corrosion in our lives.

De Colores

Blessed Be The Tie That Binds

This coming weekend, all 9 of the Kelsey children (my wife Lori included) will all get together for the first time since their mother Viola Kelsey passed away nearly one year ago. It will be a time for reminiscing, story telling, laughing and I'm sure the shedding of a few tears.

Viola was truly the "glue" that held this family together. It was important to her that the "kids" get together and maintain the family ties. She never was loud or overbearing. Her quiet demeanor and dignity just commanded a certain presence whenever they were together.

I'm glad they are getting together and remembering the "tie that binds". Somewhere up in heaven, I'm sure Viola is smiling her approval also.

De Colores

Forgiveness

During my morning prayer time, I spend some time asking God to forgive my sins. I also ask God to forgive those who may have wronged me in some way. As I was going through this ritual this morning, it dawned on me that I keep having the same people come to mind when I ask God to forgive others. It seems to me that I am having a hard time forgiving them myself. I ask God to forgive me of all the sins I have committed, and expect Him to wipe them away immediately. Why then, do I continually hold on to the trangressions of others against me? I should be able to ask God to forgive them, forgive them myself, and go on. What if God acted the same way as us? What if he made us over and over ask for forgiveness for the same act? Our sins would pile up so high and bury us so deep, we would be completely smothered!

When we ask God to forgive others who have wronged us, it should allow us to be freed from anger and hurt feelings that can shackle our joy. Author Kay Scott wrote "Forgiving others does not get them off the hook, it removes their hook from us." There is a freedom for our soul when we are able to let go of a hurt. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells Peter that we are to forgive people "seventy times seven." I think what Jesus was probably telling Peter is that oftentimes we have to work at the forgiveness thing. Sometimes it takes a while to get over a hurt. However, once you are able to let go, a certain freedom is felt, and a burden is lifted.

When I get to the forgivness part during my prayer time tomorrow morning, I am going to genuinely try and forgive some old hurts. If you have some too, won't you try and do the same? If I expect God to forgive me, I find it only fair that I should be expected to do the same.

De Colores