Love and Correction #T

Many people raised in the Christian faith memorized the 23rd Psalm when they were yet children.  This Psalm of David is held in high esteem by both Jews and Christians as an expression of joy in the Lord, our shepherd, our provider, our guide, our protector, and our salvation.  Most people, even those of other faiths or no faith are familiar with this Psalm, given its value as literature and its frequent use.
 
This morning, though, we will focus on one line, quoting from the KJV: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

It was only recently that I really grasped the import of the rod and staff imagery.  We readily think of the shepherd using his staff to rescue a sheep from a pit, and this is good.  We may think of the rod as an instrument of protection used by the herder to fend off the wolves.  Also good.  But it occurred to me that the rod throughout scripture was a symbol of the head of household, and even as the Master is the Head of His flock.  Moreover and equally important, I think, we see references to the rod as an instrument of correction.  You may verify this observation by checking some of the references listed at the end of this article.  These will suffice for openers.

From the Pentateuch: 

Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chastens his son, so the Lord thy God chastens thee.  Deuteronomy 8:5

From the Proverbs:  

He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him betimes. Proverbs 13:24

And from the Revelation:  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Revelation 3:19

 Because He loves us he corrects us, guiding us from sin and error.

For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:6

If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?  Hebrews 12;7

Are you comforted by the Lord's correction?

References:  Deuteronomy 21:18, 2 Samuel 7:14, Job 5:17,  Psalm 94:12, Psalm 118:18, Proverbs 3:11. Job 5:17 1 Corinthians 11:32

Joyous Anniversary

from me to my Beloved Beautiful Better Half!

Thank you, Sweet Thing, for eighteen rollicking years.  

May I have a few more years with you?

We know not what the future holds, but we know Who walks with us into the future.
I love you, Grace JoAnn

 

The Love of God

When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God. 

--Leviticus 19:33-34 (The Message)

God's chosen people were given many directives relating to their mode of living. To fail in the observance of these rules was to sin, and atonement was required.

It was made clear to the People that those who were aliens and chose to dwell among them were to be treated with respect, and with the same consideration one would give to his own, to abide with them in love, in fact.

But this is Old Testament law, by which we are not bound.  Really?  Jesus said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17 KJV) And then He reiterated the law of love, stating that the two greatest commandments were to love God, and to love your neighbor.  Then he upped the ante when He said, But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. (Matthew 5:44 KJV)

Thus I am asking myself this morning, Mister, are you living the love that Christ showed to you, and demands from you?

Probably to shut off the news channels and open the Bible would be of great benefit to most of us.

All We Need is Love? Still True

This oldster spends perhaps too much time in the past, but I have a lot of past.  This article is a re-presentation of the very first devotional, or spiritual life post ever displayed on String Too Short to Tie.  It was put up four days after the inception of the blog itself.  Pastor Keith mentioned herein was the assistant pastor six years ago when this was written.  He has since moved on to another community as lead pastor of a congregation there.

Today my youngest child, Kenneth, turns forty-seven.  Happy birthday, Kenny!

All We Need is Love?

This morning's worship service started with the congregation singing "Since Jesus Came into My Heart."
I have ceased from my wanderings and going astray
Since Jesus came into my heart.
And my sins which were many
Are all washed away. 
Since Jesus came into my heart.

Floods of joy o'er my soul
Like the sea billows roll
Since Jesus came into my heart.

The title of this post is the title of Pastor Keith's sermon which he introduced with a video of the Beatles' "Love, Love, Love." Then a short, romantic clip in which a young man declares his love for his lady and her response is "You had me from 'Hello.'"  The point? Love as social concern is good, but falls short. Romantic love is good, but falls short.

The scripture lesson is I John 4: 7 - 21.
Perfect love is of God, for "God is Love." The Bible is God's love letter to us. It reveals God's power, God's truth, but most of all, God's love.

14: And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15: Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

We can have perfect love.
Perfect love is made complete in us when we love one another. "Love isn't love until you give it away."
Love one another.
Love of God and others is a commandment.

20: If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21: And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

After church the BBBH (Beloved Beautiful Better Half) and I went to Jim Dandy for the breakfast bar. We made a sincere effort to love the Methodists and Presbyterians who were there also.

Celebration of Marriage!

 

Twenty-five years ago I had the privilege of attending the wedding of son Craig and the beautiful Kim.  The ceremony was conducted at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Indianapolis.

.

Saturday we were privileged to celebrate with this couple as they marked a quarter-century together.  The party was designed and hosted by their three daughters, Elizabeth, Jennifer, and Anna.  Here we see the daughters administering the "renewal of vows."  The girls wrote and conducted the ceremony; and who better to create vows for the couple than three young people who had lived in their home sixteen to twenty-two years?

It was lovingly done, but certainly with humor and poignancy.

And the happy family sets forth on the journey through the next quarter-century!

Fourteenth Anniversary

 As it was, fourteen years ago today.














And still smiling today.

The ornamentation atop the wedding cake.  The little figurine was painted by Beloved Beautiful Better Half herself.  Note the reality with which she endowed the item, she the cute little blond, I the white-haired older man.

Happy Birthday, Baby

Dear Beloved,

Old and broken, shattered pieces on the floor.  No, not a vase or urn, but the man who walked through your door.  He thought his life was over, nothing left to live for; but you picked up the pieces, reshaped them, glued them, and even more: you loved him, cared for him, gave him the life he needed.  Today he laughs and smiles and lives, he's so glad he heeded the gentle words you said and accepted the kind offerings that your love gives.  Let's go on together so long as we have life.  I know that in this walk the Lord has led: I am forever grateful that you've agreed to be my wife.  Happy birthday!

Love,
David

Today is BBBH's birthday.  The number associated with that, she says, is quite large.  Yes, I suppose it is, but as someone wisely pointed out, it is only a number.

BBBH and vanilla, Port A, Texas, 27 Feb 2013

_____ty ess eye ex

Valentines Day Observed

 We did not forget to express our love for one another on Valentines Day.  I understand the symbolism of the red rose; but you need to understand that the yellow rose is the favorite of BBBH, hence she got yellow roses.  Please note the fancy vase.  (Yes, that merits the "vahz" pronunciation.

I happened upon an old sketch I used  a long time ago, so I repurposed it as a greeting card.  Someone enhanced my work, and now the caricatures actually resemble the inhabitants of this domicile.  As for my response to her question, 1) Hmm, why did she ask? and 2) it is a true answer, and trumps the "You are so beautiful" and similar lines, though they may be true, too.

AND, she had her t-bone steak dinner!

Just call me the last of the romantics.

"13"

A year ago today I wrote a glowing tribute to my wife and the twelve happy years of marriage we had experienced together.  I prefaced the article with the above picture, and I repeat that here now because 1) we don't look any better today than we did then, and 2) it is quite possible that this is the most recent picture of the two of us together.

So.  Today is our thirteenth wedding anniversary.  The number won't seem very large to our contemporaries in this walk down life's pathway, but to two people who were well into their sixties before they started this adventure, it seems pretty significant.

This thirteenth year was no less tempestuous than any of the previous years, but the love is stronger, and if we live long enough we'll let you know how year fourteen went, in, say, about 365 days.

I still love you, JoAnn.

p.s. It turns out that there is a more recent picture, and I've used it before, too.  We were in the jewelry store, just before Christmas.  And here's how it was done.

She took a picture, I took one; and here we are!