Occasionally I climb a rope, sleep in late, or play a computer game just because I can. I wonder if God ever does the same, or should I ask, do I ever mimic God in this? I’m sure the clear thinking person, brainwashed in world view laced with Freudian philosophy, could find a motive, but for those who aren’t looking, is there a motive? There’s freedom in knowing that not everything must have a purpose. That’s my motivation!
Love is patient…
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is
I do know how to pay attention
How to fall down into the grass,
How to kneel down in the grass,
How to be idle and blessed,
How to stroll through the fields,
Which is what I have been doing all day
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Be still and know that I am God
… Received this in a note from a friend.
1) We need to remove the dichotemy between the sacred and the secular. That means, understand the project at work or the homework for school as an act of worship, in the same category as the praise song at church. As a result, do it well!
2) Be intentional, whether at home or afar.
Here are a few others thoughts to mull over:
How does one evaluate which geographical area, culture, or ethnicity is most in need of the gospel? Is it according to lack of an existing witness, area where there will be the most converts, or area that is most resistant to the gospel? Over the weekend, I heard two different speakers who both advocated advancing the gospel to mutually exclusive parts of the world. They differed because they were using different methods to evaluate greatest need. But what the heck, should those decisions really be made according to greatest need to begin with? Just don’t let the discussion over need blur the point, people are dieing, and God said to shine!
On a different note, since we’re so intent on cross-cultural missions, should I be concerned when nearly an entire missions conference consists of white Caucasians?
Quote from Ron Luff, former second in command of the Kirtland, OH cult:
The Reorganized church faith “is contingent upon revelation,” Luff explained. “People are constantly having visions and hearing voices of some form, some type of revelatory experience, seeing angels. If they don’t have this, according to the Book of Mormon, it’s as though there had been no redemption made.”
Taken from here: http://www.rickross.com/reference/lundgren/lundgren2.html
Overheard this in the grocery store, wife explaining to her husband, “That’s not an apple. It’s a peach.” Totally understandable, but funny none the less.
Stole this from facebook. Enjoy…
This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property. It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania . This guy’s response is hilarious, but read State’s letter before you get to the response letter.
SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County
Dear Mr. DeVries:
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:
Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.
A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department’s files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, InlandLakesand Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.
The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2008.
Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
David L. Price
District Representative and Water Management Division
Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries
Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County
Dear Mr. Price,
Your certified letter dated 12/17/07 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane , Trout Run, Pennsylvania .
A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood “debris” dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials “debris.”
I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.
These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.
My first dam question to you is:
(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?
If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued.
(Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.)
I have several concerns. My first concern is, aren’t the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation — so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department’s dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.
If you want the stream “restored” to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers — but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English..
In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers’ Dams).
So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2008? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them.
In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! The bears are not careful where they dump!
Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.
THANK YOU,
RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS
Since taking 10 credit hours this summer, I’ve noticed that getting lost in busyness eases patience. Sometimes in life, you want to chase down big decisions, but it’s better to wait a while. Busyness helps that wait!