partsofspeaking

Scripture for today: Romans  8:15:  For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” To match with I Timothy 1:7:  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.   Need I write more? Why is fear paralyzing us? Fear over everything and so many things that do not seem worthy of it?  My granddaughter turned 7 months yesterday! I had to stop by to see her during a frustrating (due to traffic) trip to Chattanooga from Dalton and back. She was experiencing a new thing: playing with oatmeal.  It was her first experience with oatmeal, which had no sugar or salt. That sounds unappealing but I understand the reasoning. For her, it was more about the texture and swallowing. She actually did swallow a little bit of it, but more was on her and the little desk of her high chair. Her parents were letting her feed herself; I think I ...

The school year has begun for millions of teachers, administrators, and students.  You are prayed for.  I have seen many commercial for the Olympics on NBC, and they run this way:  "You will never see an Olympics like this....with very special guests" followed by a clip of Snoop Dogg.  When did he become a "very special guest"? I would expect someone like an Olympic athlete of the past who accomplished other things (not surnamed Jenner).  I don't see Snoop Dogg as having much to do with the Olympics, athletics, or healthy living.  I visited the Southeastern Quilt and Textile Museum in downtown Carrollton, GA, last week. If you are in the area, I recommend it if you have an interest in the industrial history of the region or in quilting. I will have a podcast episode about it soon. I also visited the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC.  Amazing place, also a podcast. If I were smart, I would incorporate and get some kind of tax write off on t...

 Well, it's still morning on the West Coast.  Romans 5:6ff For when we were still without strength, [ d ] in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. I think we overlook, or rush over, the word "demonstrates" in verse 8. Some translations have it as "shows," which is inadequate as translation.  Here's one explanation:   In the Bible, the wor...

His mercies are new every morning.  Lamentations 3:22-23. My contract starts today, so off to work I go.....as if I don't work every day as a professor and administrator. But I have to stop the flexibility and remote work. I am ambivalent about working from home; good in some ways, not good in all ways. It would be nice if my worlds could be separated. But it is nice to save money on gas and time driving and "getting beautiful" every morning.  We are reading the New Testament through the year at our church, and I am more or less on target. Today I'm on Romans 5, but, you know, I just couldn't get past the first five verses.  Therefore, having been justified by faith, [ a ] we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces [ b ] perseverance; 4...