Musings From A Rolling Eyed Turtle

“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.” I stared at the words.   They hadn’t changed a bit over the years nor had their meaning for me.   I suppose I hadn’t really expected them to change, nor did I want them to. The small, dull ache that ate at my heart was expected.   I had grown accustomed to its visits of late, coinciding with the times I read those words.   I would rather this visitor didn’t come – its presence invariable indicated that something was not quite right. Those words, found in Psalm 34:3, were part of a proposal I had made some years ago.   It was not the type made in a board room before stockholders, business associates or executives.   The proposal I had was to the woman I wanted to marry.   “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together!”   The words were the foundation of the hopes and desires I had for our future lives together. Cheryl accepted my proposal!   We had the words printed on our wedding invitation – a pu

The old adage for real estate is that value is determined by the three L’s:   location, location, location.   Properties with nice views of mountains or water or sunsets generally have a higher value.   Properties that are near schools or shopping or recreation can also have a higher value. Location is also a huge factor in our relationship with God and our ability to worship Him.   Jesus said that the pure in heart shall see God (Matt 5:8).   In terms of great views, that one tops them all! In terms of being near, the Psalmist wrote that it is good to be near God (Ps 73:28).   James wrote that when we draw near to God, He draws near to us (4:8).   This drawing near, according to the writer of Hebrews, is not necessarily going to a geographic location, but it is a matter of the heart – we draw near to Him with a true heart and a full assurance of faith (10:22). Location, location, location…having a wonderful view or being near to that which is desirable normally incre

Best. Easter. Ever!   It was last year - 2017. I was with my father.   While it was Easter, it was not likely that I would be celebrating Easter with him.   Our beliefs were miles apart.   Over the years, he had shown no appreciation for my faith in the Resurrected One.   The Bible that I believe to be true, he had viewed as basically a bunch of conflicting stories, about at the same level as fairy tales. He was living in a memory care facility, not by choice.   But, since it was Easter and since he was a captive audience, I decided to read the Biblical accounts of the Resurrection to him.   He didn’t protest so I read to him for about an hour.   It was the first time that I can recall reading the Bible to him.   Yep, Best. Easter. Ever! Then two months later, Father’s Day came around.   I didn’t spend it with my adult children; I spent it with my father.   He was on hospice care with days or perhaps weeks to live.   He couldn’t eat and was fading rapidly.   He could barely t

A while back, I read about a journalist who, after having grappled with pressures to report the “truth”, left her position with a prominent newspaper.   While I’m not quoting her word for word, she essentially said that her editors had been asking the journalists to report the “truth” by creating a reality that fit their image of what they believed. Reality, by definition, is the true situation that exists or something that actually happens.   By that definition, reality cannot be something we create. In the media today, what is true or real is often hidden or distorted or thrown out if it doesn’t fit the image of how they think life should work or how they want it to work.   As a result, the media goes to great lengths to create a reality that fits what it wants and values.   But the word of God is reality.   It records something that actually happened.   In addition, it is the only narrative that consistently points to what truth really is. “Sanctify them by the tru

For us, a tent is something that you put up when you go camping.   For those in the ancient Middle East , a tent was often their home.   But even then, it was much more, it was a place of: Hospitality – Abraham welcomed three strangers to his tent (Genesis 18:1-8).   Abraham, as the host, was culturally obligated to provide food, water and shelter. Protection – if you welcomed a stranger under the roof of your house (or under the shelter of your tent), you were also obligated to provide protection (Genesis 19:8, Judges 19:23).                  Meeting – you welcomed people at the entrance to you tent and you often met with them inside.   In fact, there is a “Tent of Meeting” mentioned in the Bible where people could go to seek the Lord (Exodus 33:7-11). When we move beyond our camping perspective, we can begin to appreciate the significance behind a question that David asked in Psalm 15 (v1). “O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?” His question holds two rather