dual personalities

Tag: scripture

July 7, 2022

“And in your book they are all written, the days fashioned for me”*

by chuckofish

As you know, I am reading the Bible on a schedule. Recently I finished the book of Deuteronomy. I read this, the conclusion where Moses is renewing the covenant between God and Israel before he dies on Mount Nebo:

11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-20)

Once again Moses is saying, you know what you should do, but you won’t do it.

The Apostle Paul makes a big deal of this chapter in Romans. So does John Steinbeck in his magnus opus East of Eden.

Here’s Tim Keller’s take on how it points to the Gospel. If you have 45 minutes–put down Instagram–and watch it.

Boy, he’s good.

*Jeremiah 2: 16

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May 11, 2022

“Therefore by their fruits you will know them”*

by chuckofish

It is hot and sultry in flyover country. (Too hot.) The first of the iris are starting to pop…

…and the rest will soon follow suit…

Don sent this picture of a Celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) or wood poppy, a Missouri native that usually flowers for over a month…

…and these wise words:

The celandine poppy has taught me more about gardening than any other plant. I have planted it in multiple places in my garden over a 30 year time period. What I have learned is that plants thrive where the conditions suit them. It kept disappearing in places that I thought would be perfect. Finally I put it in a spot that supports its growth. Now it grows so well on its own that I have forgotten that it is there. People are like that too.

People are like that!

You have brought a vine out of Egypt;
You have cast out the nations, and planted it.
9 You prepared room for it,
And caused it to take deep root,
And it filled the land.
10 The hills were covered with its shadow,
And the mighty cedars with its boughs.
11 She sent out her boughs to the Sea,
And her branches to the River.

–Psalm 80: 8-11

*Matthew 7: 20

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May 5, 2022

A garden of cucumbers*

by chuckofish

I am reading Isaiah now in my daily reading plan and it is full of wonderful things. The author gets right down to business in chapter one:

Alas, sinful nation,
A people laden with iniquity,
A brood of evildoers,
Children who are corrupters!
They have forsaken the Lord,
They have provoked to anger
The Holy One of Israel,
They have turned away backward.

Again we are reminded, it has always been thus. It is my policy (mostly) not to comment on current events and I am not going to now. No, I’ll just share that I ordered a new needlepoint pillow kit to work on while I listen to my favorite podcasts while I attempt to block out everything that’s going on.

This is how I deal with the gathering gloom.

And we remember what Stephen Charnock wrote back in the 17th century:

“Some rude and rough stones were taken out of Nero’s palace; some that were servants to the most abominable tyrant, and the greatest monster of mankind; one that set Rome on fire, and played on his harp while the flames were crackling about the city; ripped up his mother’s belly to see the place where he lay; would any of the civiller sort of mankind be attendants upon such a devil? Yet some of this monster’s servants became saints. Phil. 4:22. “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.” To hear of saints in Nero’s family, is as great a prodigy as to hear of saints in hell.”

So we’ll just continue to keep watch in our garden of cucumbers.

Happy birthday, Soren Kierkegaard, and happy Cinco de Mayo, which is the yearly celebration commemorating the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. That is the reason for drinking margaritas on May 5–in case you were wondering. The day gained nationwide popularity here in America in the 1980s due to advertising campaigns by beer, wine, and tequila companies. Today Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl.

Meanwhile, it’s almost the weekend! Have fun hanging out…

*Isaiah 1:8

4 Comments
April 26, 2022

He who digs a pit will fall into it*

by chuckofish

In my daily Bible reading I have really enjoyed Ecclesiastes. I recommend reading the whole book. It is chock full of good stuff and is perfectly and absolutely revelatory for today’s modern reader. The Twitter possibilities are endless: “Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child.”

Anyway,

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
Or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
Or the wheel broken at the well.
7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“All is vanity.”

(12:6-8)

And the conclusion of it all is: “Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” Yup.

Meanwhile I am also reading Dear and Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell, published back in 1959. Saint Paul refers to Luke as the “beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) and it is he who is the subject of this novel.

Caldwell, you will recall, was an enormously successful writer of best-selling novels in her heyday. She did serious research and knows her subject; there is a lot of information about ancient medicine. She writes well, but the style is stilted and dated. I am 163 pages in (562 pages) and Luke is still a boy…and unfortunately I now see that the action all takes place before he ever meets up with Saint Paul. But I’ll keep going.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that tomorrow is the 200th birthday of Ulysses S. Grant, 18th U.S. President and Commander of the Army during the Civil War, who holds an honored position in our family.

We will toast Cousin Lyss on the 27th and will probably have a party down the road to celebrate.

This is an interesting article about the U.S. Grant statue across from the Union League Building in Brooklyn. Also, please note that The Grant Monument in front of the U.S. Capitol will be the scene of a commemoration of Ulysses S. Grant’s 200th Birthday today! U.S. Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, the Architect of the Capitol, J. Brett Blanton, and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society are hosting this hybrid in-person and livestreamed commemoration. This year also marks 100 years since the dedication of the Grant Memorial, located along the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool and recently restored by the Architect of the Capitol to its former glory. Thank you, Sen. Blunt!

Well, once again Anne has hit the nail on the head. (And I have to say, this adults-and-their-American-Girl-doll trend is particularly disturbing.)

“If you are feeling similarly foolish, or disappointed, or just stressed and depressed, get up out of your bed and go to church. For there is a new kind of economy, a different way of being that all the world longs for, though it is impossible to see until you find yourself there with other disappointed people. For the basis of our life together is not your work. It is rather the meaning underneath, which is forgiveness. If you don’t know what to do with yourself, you can cling to Jesus who forgives your sins, because he shed his own blood for that singular purpose.”

*Ecclesiastes 10:8

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April 21, 2022

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life*

by chuckofish

What is it about Easter candy? I have a hard time resisting–especially those malted milk eggs.

I had a lovely birthday. A beautiful flower arrangement from the OM was delivered while I was on the phone with the boy, who called to say Happy Birthday.

Daughter #2 checked in with Katiebelle before daycare…

Happy Birthday, Mamu!

Daughter #1 drove in from Jeff City after lunch and we went to an event at our favorite local store where our Insta-pals the Madcaps (@madcapcottage) were the special guests.

It was great to meet Jason and John, who seem like old friends. Jason’s Mom and my Mom both went to Middlebury! OMG. Daughter #2 told them it was my birthday and Jason said, “40 is a great year!” Bingpot! Then we met Becky across the street at 19th North for some wine.

We opened presents at home and ate some of an Edible Arrangement from my old friend Denise…

What more can anyone want?

Indeed, birthdays aren’t so bad. I refuse to be depressed like most modern poets, such as Donald Hall: 

Let us stifle under mud at the pond's edge 
and affirm that it is fitting
and delicious to lose everything.

Heck, no. I prefer to think positive: We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

…and also this:

The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Psalm 92: 12-15

Ever full of sap and green!

*Proverbs 16:31

3 Comments
April 19, 2022

Let’s take another crazy trip around the sun

by chuckofish

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

–Ecclesiastes 3:10-13

I realize it may seem trite and simplistic to say, but having had cancer followed immediately by the Covid pause, I know that it is important to wake up every morning and rejoice for the new day. It is important to live your life without fear and without anxiety. And I also know, along with Kenny Chesney, that “the second coming’s coming; it’s right around the bend.” So hang on.

Tomorrow is my birthday, so I’ve been thinking about that and I’m grateful to have taken another crazy trip around the sun! I hope to take many more.

I go to a church now where we all raise our hands in praise and blessing at the end of each service and it brings the tears to my eyes every time. We live coram deo–“before the face of God.” Indeed, our privileged purpose as Christians is to live humbly under God’s authority and to live joyfully to His glory.*

So count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, and know that it’s all good. Love your families and hold them close, stay loyal to your old friends, and don’t be afraid to try something new!

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March 28, 2022

Blessed assurance

by chuckofish

The sun came out, but it was windy and cold here in flyover country this weekend. March is still roaring like a lion! We are awaiting the lamb…

God is good and I look for and find small pleasures in his name*.

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment?

—Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

Daughter #1 and I had fun hanging out and singing along to Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. On Saturday we buzzed around, shopping for fabric and children’s clothes and perusing an estate sale. We went out to lunch. We gabbed away in the Florida room and enjoyed happy hour at home. On Sunday she got up early and drove downtown to have breakfast with a college friend before church. I went to my adult education class at church and then the OM, boy, daughter #3 et al met up at the 11 o’clock service. The seven of us almost take up an entire pew!) The wee twins were again super well-behaved, keeping their natural depravity in check during the hour and a half long service. I was super impressed.

After church we went home and ate bagels and jelly beans and, although it was chilly, played outside for awhile.

Rapunzel!

As my mother always said, “Keep it simple,” and my friend Nicki said, “Lower your expectations.” Praise the Lord–everything will work out.

*Read this for more on this subject.

6 Comments
March 24, 2022

Wisdom is better than rubies

by chuckofish

We have had a lot of rain this past week, so things are really greening up in our neck of the woods. Don reports that “the daffodils and the jonquils have exploded – a feast for the eyes.” I’ll say.

As you know, I am slowly reading through the Bible (four books/one chapter at a time). At the moment I am reading the book of Proverbs and I highly recommend it.

Wisdom is pretty rare these days, but you can find it if you look in the right place.

I am also reading Paul Zahl’s book Peace in the Last Third of Life.

Interestingly, he, after “45 years of conducting services in cathedrals and so-called ‘prominent’ [Episcopal] churches,” is still searching for wisdom. I think he knows his denomination no longer cuts the mustard and he has started looking farther afield for answers, even to Paula White’s Pentecostal church in Florida where she knocked him over with the statement Open yourself up to the Supernatural Power of God. He quotes from an article in the WSJ which said that the ‘moderately’ religious are in the decline in the U.S.A., but that the ‘intensely’ religious are on the upswing. One feels he is on the right track, but the answers (and peace) are not to be found in pop psychology (Be a good listener) or in pop music. The answers are in the Bible and in Jesus Christ. Zahl is still too reserved to come right out and say that.

Here’s more good stuff from Anne who does come out and say it: “But setting all joking aside, I will say once again, with more tears, that if you want to be happy, or have any nice things, you can’t go after happiness or the nice things. You have to abandon yourself into the arms of Jesus who knows what you need and whereof you are made.”

On another note, I want to acknowledge that Saturday is DN’s birthday and to wish our son-in-law a happy day.

He is a wonderful husband and father and an all-around great addition to our little family unit. Praise hands 🙌🙌🙌 and thank you, Jesus. Rest assured we will be toasting you multiple times on Saturday.

Speaking of the weekend, daughter #1 is driving home tomorrow. We hope to put the finishing touches on our plan for driving to Oklahoma and Texas in early April, which is right around the corner. There’s also at least one good estate sale to check out and I’m sure we’ll work in some of our other favorite activities.

Well, hang in there! Check out the emerging floral and fauna in your neighborhood.

Though we cannot love you as we ought, O Lord, let us love you as we are able, that guided by your light and kept by your power, we come at the last, into your glorious presence. Amen.

–Thomas Ken
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January 31, 2022

“If life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car”*

by chuckofish

Another quiet weekend passes by. I went to an estate sale where I picked up a few books, including They Were Expendable, which jumped out from a lower shelf in a packed basement. This is a book which has been out of print for some time, so I was thrilled to find it. My guardian angel was working with me then!

On Sunday we all went to church where the sermon was on 2 Timothy 1:8-14.

But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.[a]13 Follow the pattern of the sound[b] words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

1:12-14

We then headed to our house to eat the shepherd’s pie the OM had made ahead of time. The temperature had reached 40 degrees so the wee twins got to run around outside and drive the Raptor around the cul de sac.

Lottie thought about driving, but then was a little too timid to do so. She also balked at rolling down the hill. She is of an age where she does not abandon herself so willingly to such activity. She reminds me a little of myself in that way.

The wee boy has no such restraint. He relishes getting so dizzy he falls down. Anyway, they had fun and it was good to breath the cold, fresh air.

I downloaded the TNT app on our Amazon Fire Stick and so now I am able to watch Supernatural (2005-2020) to my heart’s content. You remember Dean and Sam, “Two brothers [who] follow their father’s footsteps as hunters, fighting evil supernatural beings of many kinds, including monsters, demons and gods that roam the earth.” It is pretty crazy, I admit, but Dean is dreamy and demons are real. They mostly live in Washington.

In other news, this is very cool:

Another good reason to visit the National Cowboy Museum before May 1 when the Santa Fe Trail 200th anniversary exhibit closes. We are starting to plan our trip for early April! (#Hashtag The Cowboy)

February starts tomorrow–spring is in sight. But don’t miss February looking forward to warmer temperatures! And guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

*“If life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car / and objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are.”–Meatloaf, RIP

6 Comments
October 26, 2021

“If the thunder don’t get you then the lightning will”*

by chuckofish

We had some crazy midwestern weather the other night, tornadoes et al, but we are okay and no one died. We are once again reminded that with all our scientific advancements, they still can’t control the weather, try as they might. They’re not even that good at predicting it.

While daughter #1 was home this past weekend, we watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), which, as you know, is one of my top-five American movies of all time. I have recently re-read the Truman Capote novella…

…and it was good to see the movie and how great Audrey Hepburn was (as opposed to Marilyn Monroe, whom TC imagined in the part.) We enjoyed it and it lifted our spirits, as all favorite movies do.

Anyway, it got me thinking–in the middle of the night when all great thinking is done–about my top-five movies of all time and how they haven’t changed over the years.

They are (in order by year of production): The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) directed by Michael Curtiz; Stagecoach (1939) directed by John Ford; The Wizard of Oz (1939) directed by Victor Fleming; Shane (1953) directed by George Stevens; and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) directed by Blake Edwards.

These movies are in my opinion perfect and I would not change a thing about them. I guess it’s sad that there is no movie on my list after 1961!

It got me thinking about what movies would round out my top 10 and I came up with these: To Have and Have Not (1943) directed by Howard Hawks; The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) directed by William Wyler; My Darling Clementine (1948) directed by John Ford; The Searchers (1956) directed by John Ford; Ben Hur directed by William Wyler (1959).

Those are 10 great movies!

Do you have a top-ten list? You might try making one. And then buy the DVDs. They’ll be canceling them soon. I mean did you ever see the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episode (2020) where they do the take-off of Toy Story? At the end Ben Mankiewicz starts to introduce what’s coming up next on TCM–some movie with Debbie Reynolds saying something ethnically offensive about the Irish–and then he says, “And next on TCM…Nothing.” Blank screen. I’m not the only one that worries about this.

Speaking of movies, here’s an article by Paul Zahl about Hammer horror films, just in time for Halloween. He even comments on private baptisms–“let’s hear it again for private baptisms on Saturday afternoons — public baptisms on Sunday morning are starting to get old.”  Amen, brother.

And this is a great article about the importance of actually going to church on Sunday morning and the inanity of “self-care Sunday.”

Where is that big eye freaked out emoji? Decorate “some” pumpkins? How many? With what? But seriously, if that freaks you out as it does me, keep scrolling to discover that “loving yourself first” is one of the key ingredients of self-care Sunday, as well as taking a hot bath and “loving yourself instead of loving the idea of other people loving you.”

I saw this quote from Jeremiah 10:23 in a daily devotional I follow: “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
    it is not for them to direct their steps.” True, true, true.

Curious, I looked up the rest of the prayer, which in typical Episcopalian fashion, the author of the devotional had left out. Oh golly, always look for the context:

Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
    it is not for them to direct their steps.
24 Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—
    not in your anger,
    or you will reduce me to nothing.
25 Pour out your wrath on the nations
    that do not acknowledge you,
    on the peoples who do not call on your name.
For they have devoured Jacob;
    they have devoured him completely
    and destroyed his homeland.

Have a good day!

*The Grateful Dead

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