John 21:2-3 (ASV) ² There was together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. ³ Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing.

Spring is my time of year. I absolutely love it. I love the freshness in the air after a late afternoon spring shower. The cool evening breezes blowing through the open windows of my apartment gives everything that springtime freshness. It is a time for fishing, hiking, bicycle riding, a late day stroll or anything else you can do in the great outdoors.

After being cooped up all winter springtime arrives with a welcoming offer to come outside and play. Backyards are full of children laughing, parents pruning and mowers humming as the smell of fresh cut grass fills the air. At last spring has arrived.

Students have difficulty focusing on their studies as the springtime sunshine beckons them to adjourn to the outdoors. Teachers also fight the temptation to take the class on a road trip. Those of us who must work for a living fight the urge to play hookie and head for the lake for a day of fishing.

Such must have been the feelings of Peter and some of the disciples. Jesus had just recently been crucified and appeared unto them as risen.

He had appeared to them on two prior occasions while they were hiding from fear of the Jews. In spite of His appearances things were different now.

The disciples where at a lose for what to do without Jesus leading them around each day. So Simon Peter being a fisherman by trade decided to go fishing. Five other disciples decided to go along with him.

Despite the fact that Peter was a fisherman they fished all night and caught nothing. That sounds a great deal like my fishing experiences. I have gone on several occasions only to come away with nothing to show for it but mosquito bites and a cold. I never did manage to catch anything on any of my so called fishing expeditions. I can certainly identify with their lack of a catch.

Continue reading “Gone Fishing” →

Isaiah 43:19 (ASV) Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Death Valley National Park is known as the lowest, hottest and driest portion of North America. A vast wasteland of bad water, lost mines and briny pools.

Death Valley was named by gold seekers who undertook to cross this desolate region in 1849 on their way to the California gold fields. The valley yielded gold and silver in the 1850s, and in the 1880s borax was discovered and taken out by mule-drawn wagons.

In spite of the harsh environment, a large variety of small animals and desert plants are found in Death Valley. Especially after the rains of 2005. Heavy rains had resulted in disaster for other parts of California through flooding and mud slides. But the rainwater brought the desert to life.

Death Valley may no longer deserve its name. Normally the hottest and driest place in North America, this desert area in California has experienced the wettest year in a century. As a result, colorful wild flowers are in bloom. “Vast fields of desert gold poppy, Eschscholzia glyptosperma, desert star, Monoptilon bellioides, evening primrose and phacelia have sprouted in the usually barren moonscape, which includes the lowest point in the Western hemisphere.”

Western Pennsylvania has just started into the Spring season, winter has loosened its grip on the area and sunshine and cool breezes have taken its place.

Birds can be heard singing each morning even before the sun rises. The days are getting longer and the nights are getting shorter. Soon the trees will begin to sprout forth new life.

It is truly amazing how the earth renews itself each and every year. No matter what may be going on around the world in the course of our human experience; the seasons remain. Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall the cycles continue year after year just like God planned.

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Gen 8:22 (KJV)

These words were uttered by God himself after having destroyed the world in a flood during the days of Noah. Afterward God looked upon Noah and promised to never flood the earth again because of man’s sin.

And Noah made an altar to the Lord, and from every clean beast and bird he made burned offerings on the altar. 21 And when the sweet smell came up to the Lord, he said in his heart, I will not again put a curse on the earth because of man, for the thoughts of man’s heart are evil from his earliest days; never again will I send destruction on all living things as I have done. Gen 8:20-21 (BBE)

God’s word is reliable and faithful, it can be depended upon to hold true through the test of all time. Regardless of what man may say or do God’s word will remain steadfast and true. It is because of this that we can place our trust in God’s word and character. When He says He will do something He means it. When He says He will not do something He means that as well.

Continue reading “God Will Make a Way” →

When I was younger we had a dog named Spot. Spot loved to run and play. As a kid I could not wait to get home from school to play with Spot. I enjoyed throwing his toys and watching him chase them and run off with them trying to play keep away. Because he had four legs to our two he was usually successful at keeping the toy away until he wanted us to throw it again.

Not only did Spot like to run around our back yard he also liked to chase rabbits and birds and other small wild life. We lived next to a major road and we were concerned about Spot darting out into traffic so my dad built a nice pen for Spot. The pen, which was 20’ X 20’ X 8’ was well shaded on three sides by trees. A huge dog box was placed inside. We always made sure Spot had plenty of food and water and it appeared Spot enjoyed his home in our back yard.

One of Spots annoying habits was digging. Spot would dig anywhere and everywhere. Spot would dig around under his pen and no matter how many times we would fill in the hole Spot would just dig another one.

One night Spot dug himself a hole big enough to get out and ran off.

The next morning we were devastated to find Spot no longer in his cage. We searched all over the neighborhood trying to find Spot. We hung posters offering a reward for the safe return of our beloved dog. We knocked on doors and searched through the woods trying to find Spot

Continue reading “See Spot Run” →

Mark 11:12-14 (GW) ¹² The next day, when they left Bethany, Jesus became hungry. ¹³ In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn’t the season for figs. ¹⁴ Then he said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” His disciples heard this.

It is true that fig trees around Jerusalem normally begin to get leaves in March or April but do not produce figs until their leaves are all out in June. This tree however would seem to be an exception in that it was already, at the time of the Passover, full of leaves. Therefore Jesus thinking that there could be fruit on this tree headed over for to eat. This got me to ponder some interesting thoughts.

Initially we could say the tree had no fruit because it was not the season for fruit, but then wouldn’t Jesus have been unjust to curse the tree because it did not produce fruit before it was time? However; I think, upon deeper reflection and knowing Jesus is not unjust, we see things a little differently.

This passage starts by saying Jesus was hungry. Therefore he would have been looking for food. From a distance Jesus saw this fig tree in leaf. Now one could say a couple leaves could mean in leaf but I think from the context we could conclude it was in full leaf. Why else would Jesus, who is full of the wisdom of God, go toward the tree looking for food? Upon closer observation, Jesus found this full leafed, fig tree to be nothing more then all show and no go. Worthless for the purpose it was created, to produce figs.

Okay, it was out of season for fruit, but it was also out of season to be in full leaf. Why then would the tree be in full leaf if it were not full of figs? There is not much it is good for other then to deceive a hungry traveler into thinking there is food for him to eat.

Continue reading “A Fruitless Life is Cursed” →

My car broke down the other day. Water was running out all over the place and I was far from a mechanic to get help. Therefore I decided to fix it myself. I called the tow truck and had it towed home so I could work on it the following day.

I do not pride myself on being an auto mechanic. In fact my mechanical skills leaves a lot to be desired. I know just enough to be dangerous but not enough to be of any real help. I can usually diagnose a problem but beyond that I am pretty inept at doing the actual repairs.

As I slept through the night thoughts of taking the car to the garage flooded through my mind. I really did not look forward to getting up the next day and tackling a job that I find repulsive at worst and distasteful at best. As the day unfolded I soon realized why I am not a mechanic by trade.

TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE

After jacking up the car and placing it on jack stands, spreading cardboard on the floor beneath the engine, I crawled under the vehicle to make an attempt to repair what I thought was a blown radiator hose. After 2 hours of grunting, growling, godless outbursts, blooded knuckles, water soaked clothing, and oil stained arms, hands, and face the job was finally completed. Or so I hoped.

It did not take long for me to realize that the problem still existed. As I poured water into the radiator it would run right out onto the ground. All that time and effort had been spent in vain. All my good intentions had been wasted on the project. My attempts at saving a few dollars only ended in costing me additional money. I still had to pay for repairs after buying all the tools and supplies for my failed attempt.

Continue reading “Mr. Fix-It” →