A couple of years ago we traveled back to Orlando for my 30th high school reunion.  On the way home we stopped by St. Augustine for a little sightseeing.  We had wanted to climb to the top of the old lighthouse but Stefani was under the height limit and could not go.  This little three year old cried because she had wanted so badly to walk with Mommy and Daddy up the winding stairs to view the ocean.  On the way we drove by the old fort, Castilio de San Marcos. 

One of the things we learned was water placed in the moat was destroying the structure of the fort and they were working to discover how they could save the oldest 17th century fort in the United States.  Water can have both good and bad effects on man. 

The recent devastation in Japan by the tidal wave was surprising given the people had erected retaining walls to prevent such destruction.  Our own flooding by Hurricane Katria was made worse by earthen walls.  Man's means of saving himself will always fail.  The one who places his existence in the hands of God will have a fort which can never be breached.  One means of taking a walled city was waiting them out.  Eventually your enemy will surrender.  When you use God as your fort, your children will also be protected and kept safe.  What a wonderful promise for a dad who loves his family.  The fort will not fail.  Such as in the song by Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress is Our God.  Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. Proverbs 14:26

Candy Bar Theology

When I was a child candy bars generally focused upon the Herschey and Mars brands.  There were simple chocolate bars, chocolate bars with nuts, chocolate bars with nugget, and chocolate bars with rice krisps.  The general idea though was CHOCOLATE!  In fact I toured the Herschey plant once.  OH! so near all of that chocolate made my head spin. 

When I was a kid, I would mow lawns for $2 a yard (that was a long time ago) and would take my hard earned loot and ride my bike as quickly as I could to the Little General store.  This was the pre-7-11 days and this small store had my favorite candy--Hershey's with almonds.

Theology is much like a candy bar.  The sweetness can only be reached by removing the packaging and getting to those smooth and delicious morsels.  We have to get beyond our pre-conceived ideas of God and the denominational views of church and read the wonderful love letter God has sent us.  The first part of theology is "theos" or God in the Greek.  He is the sweet and wonderful part of theology. 

What happens to chocolate if it sits on the shelf too long?  The oil in chocolate separates and you see a white residue.  The chocolate can even become grainy.  Then like chocolate, you cannot leave God on a shelf (or on the coffee table to gather dust) but must consume Him daily.  "Taste the Lord as see He is good" is a reminder he must be ingested. 

My mom knew I had gone the store because strangely I had a chocolate residue around my mouth which gave it away.  When we do Chocolate Bar Theology, is there a residue around you which others can see?

LAUGHTER IS MEDICINE WE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT

From Healthguide.org the benefits of laughter proves what the Bible teaches.  Proverbs 15:13 says, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit."  

Laughter is good for your health

• Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
• Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
• Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

I wondered about laughter and the Lord.  We never see Jesus laughing in Scriptures.  We see sober and somber pictures of Jesus with the light behind his head.  No smiles are seen on him like the Mona Lisa.  Smiles were not part of the art world at that time.  Life in art was seen as almost emotionless. 

However, I can see Jesus playing with the same children which the disciples tried to keep from him.  I can see him laughing and joking with the same disciples who walked with him for three years.  I see Jesus joking with Philip when he asked him about feeding the thousands knowing what he would do to take care of that need.  When Jesus said to his disciples, "You of little faith," probably had a smile behind his lips because he loved them so much.

Laughing does not have to be because the joke was offensive, sexual, or even political.  Laughter is the best medicine because it was given to us by God.  I said before, if you want to make God laugh, make plans

Vacations are for Vagabonds

The word vagabonds comes from the Latin adjective vagabundus, “inclined to wander”, from the verb vagor, “wander".  Years ago families would pile into the family station wagon and with it loaded to the gills begin an annual trek somewhere.  I remember our old Dodge Dart.  Mom and Dad in the front and three boys struggling for space.  One time we stopped at a truck stop on our way north from Florida.  Strangely this truck stop had cages of birds for sale.  Of course, one of these birds knew who to make that famous "wolf's whistle".  One the way out of the bathroom, a bird whistled at mom and when she could in the car we could not convince her it was a bird instead of one of those truckers.

I believe our minds begin the process of "vacation migration" long before the car is filled with gas.  We begin the process of choosing our destination--sometimes thinking of a warm climate while the snow swirls around us.  We plan a budget and events which would mark our time and later be the topic of speech and memories. 

I recently was talking to a man who had lost his wife two years ago.  He had since begun to travel with a new companion.  I asked him if he and his late wife had done the same thing.  He said they had planned to but she got sick and eventually passed away.  Taking medical equipment had been tried but made the trips difficult.  We think vacations need to be large and expensive.  However, it is small things which add up to lasting memories. 

Don't wait for time which may never come.  Become a vagabond with the love of your life while there still is life.