Musings From A Rolling Eyed Turtle

We have natural gas for our furnace, clothes dryer and hot water tank. Recently, we noticed the smell of gas outside the house near the gas meter.   We called the utility company and they came and determined there was a slight leak near the meter. In the process of fixing the leak, they turned off the gas to our hot water tank.   Then, after the leak was fixed, they turned the gas back on to the tank.   But the technician determined that the tank was not properly vented and shut the gas off to it.   The gas could not be turned back on to the tank, he said, until we put in proper ventilation. While we were trying to figure out the best option, we decided that cold water is no fun, even in the summer.   It was somewhat frustrating to know that our hot water tank was just sitting there, full of water but lacking a source of power to heat the water.   To add insult to injury, the technician had hung a sign that said “Danger” and it gave very explicit ...

Light came into the world: “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”   (John 1:9) So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer.   Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.   The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.   While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”   (John 12:35-36) The Light of the World: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.   Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”   (John 12:26) Darkness covered the earth :   “And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” (Mark 15:33) And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, El...

Extravagant - exceeding the limits of reason or necessity; extremely or excessively elaborate, profuse or lavish. Excessive - exceeding what is usual, proper, necessary, or normal If I were to claim that I did something that was extravagant or excessive, you would probably think I was being self serving or egotistical or that I was out of touch with reality. But there is one who is extravagant and excessive.   What He does exceeds the limits of reason and yet what He does is totally consistent with who He is: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. ” (Eph 1:7-8) The incredible riches of His grace are lavished on us and it exceeds the limits of our reason and might even seem excessive.   But His grace is lavished upon us in a measure that is based on His wisdom and insight. “And hope does not disappoint, because the love of G...

You may have heard the expression “mind your manners” or perhaps “mind your step”.   Both have the connotation that you need to pay careful attention to something. I recently saw an object hanging from a ceiling.   The object was hanging down far enough that a person of average height could hit their head on it.   Taped to the object was a sign that read:   “Mind Your Head”. I think the intent was that people walking by the object would pay careful attention so that they wouldn’t hit their head on it.   The phrase got me thinking about another head that we need to mind…. “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church…” (Eph 1:22) “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ…” (Eph 4:15) “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent…” (...

To impress is to affect deeply or strongly.   Impressive is a variation of the word and it means to arouse admiration or respect. If anything could arouse the most admiration or respect, what would it be?   I would argue that it is glory of God! Glory denotes very great praise, honor or distinction bestowed by common consent.   It also has to do with resplendent beauty or magnificence and to exult with triumph. The word glory is used three times in the book of Colossians: Ø   Col 1:27 – “to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles”…   The mystery refers to Gentiles becoming members of the Body through faith.   Members of the Body will be Christ’s companions in glory. Ø   Col 1:27 – “…which is Christ in you, the hope of Glory”.   This mystery also includes the amazing truth that Christ dwells within the believer. Ø   Col 3:4 – “When Christ, who is our life, is re...