Several Things I Want You to Know

The snow that you see falling is a simple gift from  Wordpress.com who hosts the site Brokenbelievers.  It was an option, and I liked it.  So, whether you like it or not.  The snow will fall on your screen.  Get out your shovel.

We also have just surpassed 90,000 hits.  That’s a whole lot of clicks.  It seems very unreal and quite improbable.  Brokenbelievers is positioned to be a real factor in the lives of struggling believers, many who have a serious mental illness.

We also have just hit 900 posts.  So 900 times, something of substance has been posted on BB.  This is basically a library that you can draw on.  From my firsthand position, a whole lot of good things are now available.  You can tap them all.

I’m so glad that I can do something that really matters.  And that is how I really feel.  I have just started a spanking new blog that is studying the Psalms.  You can find it at http://www.psalmslife.com.  It’s new, but I sense a momentum building from eager hearts.  Please look at it, and let me know what you think.

When you feel it’s appropriate and OK, please leave a response in the reply action after each post.  These are like mini-transfusions and I am grateful for each and everyone.  I do listen, and am hoping to be quite responsive to your comments.  Your email address is most sacred, it will never go beyond me.

Thank you for your willingness to read, and then care.  You are special and you bless me.

21 Things That Are Worth Doing

1.Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.

2.Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.

3.Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

4.Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

5.Be forgiving of yourself and others.

6.Be generous.

7.Have a grateful heart.

8.Persistence, persistence, persistence.

9.Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.

10.Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

11.Commit yourself to constant improvement.

12.Commit yourself to quality.

13.Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.

14.Be loyal.

15.Be honest.

16.Be a self-starter.

17.Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.

18.Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

19.Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.

20.Take good care of those you love.

21.Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.

I scraped this up from some corner of the internet, I don’t remember where though.  I suppose a Christian believer might consider these scented with a self-help philosophy from the world.  But as I read (and re-read) I can see many definite connections to definite Bible principles.  But perhaps you should read aware and alert.  Blessings to you! –B.

Happy Thanksgiving to You!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered out of the lands,
From the east and from the west,
From the north and from the south.

Psalm 107:1-3, NKJV

 

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Understanding Bread

I have learned a lot about my Christian walk in the last few years.  Most of it has been gathered from ordinary life experiences.  Like working on a farm, hanging wallpaper, driving too fast in a cornfield (!).  If I set long enough I can list 100 more, each with a lesson or two.

Been thinking about baking bread though.  The flour, and water, and yeast are combined and mixed (kneaded).  It takes some patience and timing.  Experience is really helpful.  My Great-grandma made the best bread in Northern Wisconsin.  (As a little kid, I got a slice of bread soaked in cow’s milk for a tasty snack.)

After I grew up, got married and moved to my cabin in Alaska.  I decided I would show off my bread-making prowess to my young wife.  I floured the table and set myself to making “Grandma’s bread”.  I was going to be the star, hotshot baker!

As I worked the dough something just didn’t feel right.  I surmised that I didn’t have enough flour–it just wouldn’t come together.  I kneaded the dough for quite sometime, while I racked my brain trying to fix the out-of-control mess on the table.  I was getting embarrassed.  It was taking far too long, and the texture was all wrong.

I was getting very irritated at this growing mess. It was then my brave wife graciously pointed out that perhaps it was because I was not using white flour like I thought, but powdered sugar!  See, we had just moved in, and she had been wanting to label the canisters but hadn’t got around to it.

I took the lump outside and buried it in the yard.  It’s been over 20 years but I’ve been told that grass still doesn’t grow there!  The funny thing was I thought I was making bread, but I guess what I really was making was humility. (I keep having to learn this).

When you make bread, you need clean ingredients; pure flour and good water.  If you just came in from the barn you should wash your hands–throughly.  Whatever you mix in, stays in.  (My mom would get a little crazy and throw in raisins or nuts, which I hated.)

You do not sweep the floor and add it to dough, nor do you add chalk or anything that may look like flour.  In the same way, you and I make spiritual bread.  It  takes experience and good and wholesome ingredients.  It takes patience.  You can’t accelerate the process of baking bread.

I hope you can see my point.  We try to mix up a fresh batch of our discipleship everyday. The table is our hearts–it must be clean.  We add the flour and the yeast.  We only use clean water, purity must be maintained.

I’ve been struggling with some things in my discipleship.  I haven’t been too picky about many things.  Purity of heart and mind are areas of compromise.  As a result, I have not been pleased with the outcome.  I am embarrassed by the quality of what I serve up to my guests.

I believe there is nothing as tasty and fresh bread from the oven, served up with homemade jam!  Man, that is good.  Maybe, I’ll make up some bread.

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