Don’t get all weird on me now and don’t misunderstand.  I’m mainly interested in the dialog.

Here’s a basic definition / interpretation of karma: 

Usually it is believed to be a sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. The results or "fruits" of actions are called karma-phala.Karma is not about retribution, vengeance, punishment or reward; karma simply deals with what is. The effects of all deeds actively create past, present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one’s own life, and the pain and joy it brings to others.

Is there not some element of truth here?  Doesn’t it sound like "what goes around comes around" or "what you reap is what you sow"?

When I’m dishonest and cheat someone am I not responsible for my own actions and the pain it brings to others?

When I’m gracious and treat someone with respect and dignity am I not responsible for my own actions and the joy it brings to others?

Of course one of the major differences between the fruits of Karma and the fruits of the Spirit is my desire to please God and bring him glory through my actions and not myself.

The point is we do see some truth in Karma.  And truth is truth not matter where it may be found.

It’s taken a while but I’m finally able to use my Spanish.

The good news is the mechanic I took my truck to speaks Spanish.  The bad news is I had to take my truck to the mechanic (new brakes).  I’m hoping he was able to see past my lily white skin and see my hispanic heart!    (Anything for a discount)

The good news is the person who is bidding to stucco our house speaks Spanish.  The bad news is the remodel is still going on.

I’ve been approached about the possibility of starting a Spanish service or at least a Spanish Bible study.

Of course, I’m interested.  I’m prayerfully considering if I would do things a bit differently in the formulation of a new Spanish work.  

In His presence there is comfort

In His presence there is peace

When we seek the Father’s heart

We will find such blessed assurance

In the presence of the Lord

Cover me Lord with your presence

Have you ever thought what it would be like to covered in the presence of the Lord?   How would you know?  What would be different?

The closest experience I’ve had is covered in my Talis during a time of prayer.  The physical touch of the garment symbolic of the presence of God. 

Some days it’s hard to come out from under the cloth

Proverbs 8:30 (NCV) I was like a child by his side. I was delighted every day, enjoying his presence all the time, 

Psalm 140:13  (NCV)  Good people will praise his name; honest people will live in his presence.  

Our house band played this past Saturday night (minus our bass player) to kick off a major special event weekend.  Our community of faith holds an annual Mom, Flag, & Apple Pie service which honors members of our community of faith who have served or who currently serve in the military.  A meal is served after services and everyone participates in a pie auction.  The proceeds for the pie auction will fund scholarships to Sierra Christian School.

We tried this time giving the music out a head of time and meeting the night before to practice for a couple of hours, a run through on Saturday afternoon and "live" Saturday night.  From a musician stand point it wasn’t as polished as it could be.  From a worship standpoint it was not over-rehearsed, a genuine expression of praise. 

I’ve only played one or two times since our last praise night.  In the middle of the set Saturday night my left hand (the one responsible for chords on the fret board) actually lost all feeling and was somewhat welded to the neck of the guitar.  All this house remodeling has really taken a toll on my hands.  The upside is I’m ready for Mexico this year!

Check this out.  Sunday my message focused on David’s Mighty Men.  One of the three name Eleazar once fought so long that his hand was "welded" to his sword.  Until that night I had never been able to identify with that experience.  Fortunately it was not in the context of battle.  I just thought it was something that the weekend I was talking about Eleazar and others my hand would actually "freeze" to the neck of my axe.  Sure, it’s a stretch and wimpy comparison but what more do you want?  It’s Monday after all!

We played the Nintendo Wii at some friend’s house last night.  Wow!  What an experience.  We tried our hand at bowling, tennis, golf, baseball & boxing.  The new system has a unique interactive interface.  Nothing to shake a stick at – though you shake and flick and twist the remote.

 Madison and I went three rounds of boxing and can you believe she was trying to knock me out?

I see three things coming, long-term, from the new Wii.  1.  Kids will actually exercise playing video games (talk about your walking contradictions).  2.  Adults will pull and strain muscles.  3.  A class action lawsuit or two will spring up resulting from CarpaWiiTunnel Syndrome and Punching through the television set.

I enjoyed the challenge of the baseball game.  Believe it or not my favorite Wii sport was bowling.  I must be getting old.

I hear quite frequently, these days, of the need to improve communication.  Part of me wonders if its just a response (like the old days when the buzz phrase was "we just need more education") to things we don’t like or that stretch our comfort zones.

Nevertheless, we’ve taken great pains to improve our communication.

Check out our church web page (FAMILY NEWS) devoted completely to communication and let me know what you think.

What do those of you "in the pew" suggest to improve communication?  What do you want to hear, when do you want to hear it, how do you want to hear it?

I’m looking out my office window right now waiting for the birds that visit each morning.  I usually just sit here for a few minutes and watch them go about their business.  Every once in a while a hummingbird will dart in and out.  I keep thinking to install a feeder. 

So I’m looking out the window and I see the fenced area around the children’s play area.  It’s a chain link fence about six feet high.  There is a slight breeze today and there is one leaf hanging on a link.  A natural wind sock indicating the direction of the wind. 

I wonder how long it will remain?  If it were a person I’d wonder how long he can hang on.

Reese deserves full credit for my enjoyment of the Newsboys.  As far as he is concerned any trip in the car, no matter how long or short, is not complete without either the Newsboys or Switchfoot. 

The song Landslide of Love (from the album Devotion) features some very creative lyrics.

opening salvo
didn’t help solve anything
every time we shout our rights out
we get all grouchy and gray

it’s all about me, me
it’s all about what I can take
and if that doesn’t ring true anymore
maybe it was our first mistake

and since we don’t believe in Santa Claus
maybe we’d best stay awake

every time a teardrop falls
it’s kicking up dust in our world of pain
let’s get drenched under God’s good rain
caught in a deluge of mercies
like a pebble clings to dirt
we’re still clinging to bedrock sin
let’s get swept off our feet again
caught in a landslide of love

it’s all about me, me
it’s all about all I can take
the good I try to do goes nowhere
the bad just seizes the day

and if we’re here for something bigger, baby
there’s gotta be some better way

every time a teardrop falls
it’s kicking up dust in our world of pain
let’s get drenched under God’s good rain
caught in a deluge of mercies
like a pebble clings to dirt
we’re still clinging to bedrock sin
let’s get swept off our feet again
caught in a landslide of love 

no, not angels or devils
no, not famine or war
no, not the past or the present
not even the ground separates from God’s love
not even the ground separates from His love

’cause every time a teardrop falls
it’s kicking up dust in our world of pain
let’s get drenched under God’s good rain
caught in a deluge of mercies
and like a pebble cased in dirt
we’ve been anchored in bedrock sin
let’s get swept off our feet again
caught in a landslide of love
caught in a landslide of love

Caught in a deluge of mercies, I like the imagery.

They have an old time telephone on the wall as display. Greg probably remembers using this kind. Brady probably still uses this kind! You just turn the crank and ring a distinctive pattern for who you wanted to call.

One short ring might be for mom.

One short on long ring might be for uncle Charlie.

Two long rings might be for cousin Lucille and so on.

When using these phones everyone knew who was being called by the ring pattern and it seems you were careful what you said because anybody could pick up and listen in on the conversation.

So you see all these new fangled phone services with their IN crowd or their 5 favorites. Nothing new under the sun. The idea reaches back a few years to the early days of telecommunications.

Something like nothing new under the sun?

(ZMAN, I’ve heard your cry and have taken action) 

My advanced biblical interpretation class concluded last night with three students making a presentation based on a verse of their choosing. 

Choices included John 4:27, Revelation 3:18, and Romans 16:1.  I’ve asked them to prepare their thoughts in the form of an article for distribution.

As I sat and listened to their presentation I couldn’t help but feel some "fatherly" pride as  these students applied themselves diligently to translate and interpret their chosen text.

What a feeling!  Those of you who teach and see a student catch on or demonstrate competency in something you taught them know and understand what I’m talking about.  It’s a great feeling.

It reminded me of the old saying: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.  Give a man a boat and you’ll never see him again."