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Our Daily Thread 2-16-21

Good Morning!

Last night I went thru the photo archives. Thought I’d share these with Chas and the rest of you. 🙂

These were sent by Linda S. as well. 🙂

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Anyone have a QoD?

70 thoughts on “Our Daily Thread 2-16-21”

  1. Great pictures. Thank you AJ and Linda S.

    We’ve been sharing pictures of my dad amongst the descendants. Many good memories. It’s good once in a while to reminisce.

    Liked by 5 people

  3. Janice Garey @ 7:41 pm yesterday-

    Does the mission board want things translated from other languages into simple English, or more technical materials from academic English to plain language? Lots of people could do either. Maybe they should contact the nearest, trusted Bible college as a project for their students, especially those wanting to go into a translating ministry.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. AJ-You changed one of the pictures while I was typing. The “3rd” one that’s there now is different from earlier. It had Chas and Elvera hugging next to a house at a slightly later age than what’s there now. It was this one:

    Liked by 4 people

  6. PeterL. That is a picture of Elvera in the back yard of our Annandale, Va. home.
    The other’s LindaS sent”
    Elvera standing in front of the motel we had on our honeymoon exactly 50 years before.
    2 It is windy in fort Worth. She is just getting out of the car and going into tour house trailer.
    Sitting on a wall at the Baptist amp in NC. This, I think, is before we were married
    Last one is Chuck’s favorite. This is Christmas day, 1958 in Ft. Worth. That is the house trailer we lived in.
    Chuck is two months old.

    Liked by 6 people

  8. I forgot: Of the earlier pictures: I use this for my screen saver. This is Elvera on her honeymoon in NC.
    The next one, in her brown jeans, the first picture I took of her. That is at a InterVarsity retreat. This was just getting serious, but marriage not yet considered.
    The next is snow on our house in Hendersonville
    And you know the rest.

    Liked by 6 people

  12. Oh, what dear precious photos and memories. So thankful to see them and feel the love. ♡

    We have a touch of snow, a slight dusting, this morning. Yesterday we had a lot of pouring rain and thunder nearby. I saw on the news about three people being killed by a tornado in NC. Yes, it is crazy weather.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. We have power, but the temp is below zero.

    I just signed up for MeWe. Anyone else try that out? Here is my profile if you want to join me there.
    mewe.com/i/peterslebrón

    Like

  15. Morning…lovely photos of you two Chas…. ♥️
    I was on MeWe then cancelled…then I signed up again at the urging of some friends. Seems no one is there but I am NJillSmith and rarely check it out…I keep forgetting to do that 😊

    Liked by 1 person

  16. What wonderful pictures. She was beautiful in more ways than one. That smile shows genuine joy. You are quite dapper as well, Chas. I am so glad you had each other all these years. I am smiling as I look at them. Your son and Linda S, your grandchildren and your great grandchildren are lucky to have this legacy of love of each other and the Lord.

    Liked by 3 people

  17. Such precious photos!

    My daughters had such joy going through photos at my parent’s home when my dad passed away. I was so surprised when my sister’s husband complained about them being so ‘slow.’ Like everything else, apparently, they were supposed to treat this as a job and hurry through it. Everything was like that and the ramifications are still with us. Same with when my mom passed away. Don’t do that. Take time to grieve and enjoy the sweet memories.

    Our friend’s health is deteriorating and a couple of daughters are now flying down to AZ. It is terribly sad for us and them, of course. The Covid just makes it all worse.

    Liked by 3 people

  18. It is currently 25 degrees in the Sunny South. I do not do this kind of weather. Mr. P saw snow flurries when he went to get Little Miss this morning. I have to go out in it to show property at 11.
    I certainly am not going to cancel on these people. The house they like the more is 950K. I also know the owners and why they are selling, so I have to be careful. I have people coming in from Michigan on Thursday to look at properties. They are discouraged because everything they like is already under contract. This is a crazy market and it is all over the US right now. California is especially crazy. People are offering over 100K over asking price, no appraisal, and no contingencies.

    Liked by 3 people

  19. A woman from our church has a son who works in Texas. She asked for prayer for him and his coworkers. They have been stuck in a trailer with no power since Sunday. The roads are glare ice, so they cannot get out. So sad for everyone stuck without power.

    Our governor is insisting on our state going the way of green energy. I can just imagine when we are at -40 and have no power for days. There will be lots of dead people. Maybe we should have some gratitude for fossil fuels.

    Liked by 2 people

  21. Lots of beautiful new snow out there this morning I have tall boots but snow still found entry, in the shoveled yesterday paths. But the sheep are happy and the goats are happy so I am happy. Barney is feeling ever so much better but is still a house dog. Believe it or not, I am feeding him canned dog food as we had some left from the last time he was starving. He was back to Barney, running this way and that, checking all the mouse air holes and any dark empty spot. But he was not chasing chickens! Of course, chickens don’t spend a great deal of time running around in the snow.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. Wow, Janice! Very uplifting. Thanks for sharing that.

    Hey, Chas! Might want to listen to that Max Lucado sermon. I know a lot of folk on here are not Rapture people, but I have been though it won’t bother me if I am wrong (same as my young earth beliefs). But he sure makes a beautiful case for it. I don’t really read much of Lucado’s. I might make more effort.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. I’m looking forward to our deep-dive into the book of Revelation coming up in our sermon series soon. Eschatology has long fascinated the church. Not an easy topic — and one that can cause division — but worthy of study.

    Liked by 2 people

  25. Eschatology–and the origins of the earth–are apologetics issues, not salvation issues.

    It’s like healing–it draws attention to Jesus so people can hear the message, but it’s not a salvation issue.

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Exactly. Talking about them, among believers, should be sharpening not dividing. People can hold different views on a lot of things. Does not make them bad people. All I know is Jesus Christ and Him crucified for me. About the sins that I did commit for which Jesus died on that tree.

    Liked by 3 people

  27. I’m reading what so far seems to be a good book — Christ and Calamity (Harold Senkbeil)

    Appropriate for a calamitous year such as we’ve had (and are still having in many ways).

    Like

  28. We have a mix (a-, pre- and post-) millennial folks in our church. Officially, I believe our denomination is a-millennial. But our pastor is post-millennial. It’s not an easy subject when it comes to serious study and Christians of good conscience can and do disagree (and have through church history). We’re simply not given a play-by-play outline of the future.

    I would say that the recent (1900s) rise of dispensationalism hasn’t helped, however, it’s led to more confusion than anything else, especially once Hollywood jumped on board and added to its rather sensationalistic end-time aspects.

    We usually look to the earlier theologians and historic church positions rather than more recent takes on it all. But even there, yes, there are differences of opinion.

    Liked by 3 people

  29. Kathaleena: Seems to me that you need a new governor.

    There is so much red-tape in dying now days. Seems hardly worth the trouble. I think it was better when they just planted you in the church yard.

    Liked by 2 people

  30. But I don’t believe our denomination holds a “set” view on the topic, though we mostly lean a- or post-mill, following most (but not all) of what’s prevailed throughout church history.

    Like

  33. Ah, someone asked on our denomination’s Q&A website what our “position” is and here’s the answer (rather lengthy, sorry, but some good background here as well):

    ____________________________________

    ~ You’ve asked a question on which there is a large difference of opinion, even within the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. I will try to answer according to the differing “millennial” positions first. Then I will give you my own answer as well as some differing views held in the OPC.

    Dispensational Premillennialists hold to an “any moment rapture,” that is, that (based on their interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) all the prophecies that can be fulfilled have been fulfilled so that Christ may come at any moment. After Christ’s coming in the clouds and the raising of the true church on earth to be with him through the great tribulation and the literal thousand years (the millennium), Satan will be released from his prison in the abyss and wage war against Christ and the saints, followed by the “Great White Throne Judgment,” at which time the wicked dead will be raised, judged, and cast into the lake of fire (hell) along with the devil and his angels, followed by the eternal state. All the above takes place sequentially after the “rapture” as set forth in Revelation 20.

    The Amillennialists hold that Revelation 20 relates to the whole Christian era from Christ’s first coming to His second coming. This position holds to one general resurrection of all the dead, which includes the resurrection noted in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, further enlarged upon in chapter 5:1-6 and Matthew 25:31-46 and 1 Corinthians 15. They are called “amillennialists” because they do not hold the thousand years of Revelation 20:1-7 as a literal thousand years, but as symbolical of the sinless and perfect state of the souls of the righteous dead of the present age (from Jesus’ first to His second coming) awaiting a general bodily resurrection of both the righteous and wicked followed by the judgment of the wicked and the glory of the righteous.

    The Postmillennialists also hold to a figurative, as opposed to a literal, thousand year period before the resurrection and last judgment but with this difference: The Postmillennial doctrine advances the idea (gathered from many Old Testament prophecies, such as in Isaiah and Ezekiel) that before Christ comes the gospel will have universal acceptance in a “golden age” of peace, prosperity, and blessing. Then, following a resurrection and final judgment of all mankind, the eternal state begins. And it is the Postmillennial interpretation of Revelation that says that all those prophecies were fulfilled by the time of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

    Obviously, for the sake of brevity I have left out much that these three positions include. To my knowledge at the present time, the OPC has no minister advocating the dispensational Pre-Mill position. The reason for that is that our doctrinal standards (the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms) teach one general resurrection of all the dead, followed by the judgment of all mankind—saved and lost.

    Premillennialism requires separate and distinct resurrections and judgments more than a thousand years apart, but the Bible clearly teaches the opposite. See John 5:28-29 and Revelation 20:11-15. In the former, this two-sided resurrection is said to be a coming “hour”—not necessarily exactly 60 minutes, but one point in time. The latter says “the dead, small and great …”

    Postmillennialists refer to Matthew 24:34 as saying that all Christ’s previous prophecies would be fulfilled before “this generation” has passed away. So, the 40 years between the crucifixion and destruction of Jerusalem could fulfil those words. But the whole chapter (with its parallels in Mark 13 and Luke 11) suggests that Jesus also prophesies the end of this age. And the end of this age has not yet come.

    I firmly believe that the majority of OPC ministers hold the Amillennial interpretation. This is my firmly held belief. And I think that it is wrong to hold (with the Premillennialists) that, from chapter 4:1 on, Revelation is all future. And I don’t think that the Postmillennialists are correct in assuming that it is all history, from the 21st Century point of view.

    Indeed it is difficult to understand Revelation because of its high symbolism, but most Amillennialists believe that the book is cyclical: treating the inter-advental period (between the first and second comings) in ever-deepening phases, so that there are many accounts of the last judgment as there are many accounts of the glory of God’s children.

    As to the possibility of Christ’s coming at any moment, we dare not say that it’s wrong to look at His coming in that way. The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 and its parallels in Mark and Luke) ends in an earnest appeal for all believers to be ready for His coming. Christ purposely refuses to mention the day or the hour. He even disclaims that He, in his earthly ministry, knew what the Father had kept for himself.

    Revelation starts and ends with the statement, “… the time is at hand” (1:3 and 22:10). How can that be true since John heard those words nearly 2000 years ago? My understanding is that each of us, in his/her generation, will die (Hebrews 9:27). Even those living to His coming haven’t “all the time in the world” to call upon His name. As we die, so will we be in the day of resurrection and judgment! So ever-readiness is advised!

    And another thing: these wonderful prophecies are not always clear as to how and when they will come to pass. One of my seminary professors said, “The only infallible interpretation of prophecy is history.” When it comes to pass, then only can we fully know its meaning.

    I have omitted giving Scripture for every assertion I have made. It would wear out both you and me. However, if you want more specific Scriptures for particular points, please feel free to return with the questions. I will be only too happy to respond.

    P.S. A good book to read on the Millennial Question is The Meaning of the Millennium edited by Robert G. Clouse. It gives four views, argued by those who held those views. There are actually two Pre-Mill views: the “Historical” and the “Dispensational” interpretations. The book is published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL 60515. It’s been in print for a good many years, but I’m sure it is still available. ~
    ________________________________

    Like

  34. I wrote her name in my Bible the first time I saw her.
    I was holding her hand when she died.
    It was a great life together. So far, all of our grand and great grands are following the Lord.
    We have been immensely blessed. It was a good life. She was a good wife, mother, and Christian.

    Liked by 8 people

  35. Donna. My eyes won’t permit me to read all of that. My only comment”
    I am 90 years old. When I was a kid, I remember preachers saying that all the scriptural requirements for the return of Christ have been fulfilled.
    Jesus can return any day.
    Are you ready?

    Seems that we need to be prepared to be called home. God will deal with the “what to do when Christ returns.” God has that part covered.

    Liked by 3 people

  36. Indeed, being prepared is stressed in the long piece I posted.

    Here’s a link to the book he recommended, each view is presented by someone who supports that view so a pretty fair look at the 4 main views that have been held throughout church history

    Liked by 1 person

  37. Being prepared is what one of our port folks — who sends in daily reports on ship traffic — calls the BLUF (Bottom line up front) info in his emails.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. book summary (I just think it’s important for Christians to know there isn’t just “one” view of the end times; historically speaking there have been several, all rooted in scripture; the rise of popular dispensationalism in our own times too often eclipsed the more historic viewpoints)

    _____________________________________

    ~ Christ is coming again.

    Since the first century, Christians have agreed that Christ will return. But since that time there have also been many disagreements. How will Christ return? When will he return? What sort of kingdom will he establish? What is the meaning of the millennium? These questions persist today.

    Four major views on the millennium have had both a long history and a host of Christian adherents. In this book Robert G. Clouse brings together proponents of each view: George Eldon Ladd on historic premillenniallism, Herman A. Hoyt on dispensational premillennialism, Loraine Boettner on post-millennialism and Anthony A. Hoekema on amillennialism.

    After each view is presented, proponents of the three competing views respond from their own perspectives. Here you’ll encounter a lively and productive debate among respected Christian scholars that will help you gain clearer and deeper understanding of the different ways the church approaches the meaning of the millennium. ~
    _____________________________

    Liked by 2 people

  39. You have been blessed and you have been a blessing. May God continue to use you in His service and may He be glorified through it all.

    I will read that DJ, later.

    I used to think everybody believed in the pretrib rapture. But then I met some other people with other ideas, and other people with still other views. But we know Who has it all figured out. And we can trust Him to do it right. I hope for pretrib and try to live for post trib. Knowing it will all pan out.

    Liked by 3 people

  40. So husband is back from taking daughter to her worker. He was desperate or would not have driven in such. He got to the mailbox and found the snowplow stuck. Because he is on the road commission, he has the number so called the guy to ask if he was okay somewhere and needed help. Guy answered, said he was down in Kamiah. Husband asked why he didn’t call, guy didn’t want to bother him. So guy walked the mile or so through the snow to get to the cat they had parked in a shelter for roadwork. He found the brakes frozen. Got that taken care of, drove part way to the plow and ran out of fuel. Frustrating as he had just filled it before the storm so all would be ready. Some needy person stole one hundred gallons of fuel out of it. Another plow driver from another district came by and gave him a lift. And so it is with the best laid plans of mice and men. Hope whoever stole it does not get stuck while out driving with stolen fuel on the unplowed roads, due to loss of fuel. Guy will be back to it soon if not already.

    Liked by 3 people

  43. Chas, maybe try google or duck duck go:
    Max Lucado the mark of the antichrist revealed

    It comes up with him and has three of his videos. The first is it.

    Liked by 1 person

  47. Oh come on Kevin. LOL

    The irony of dispensationalist premillennialism being so wildly popular is that it’s such a “newbie” theory, it literally sprung up in the last 100 years (maybe a little more) and overtook the popular mindset more recently, of course, with the “Left Behind” series and other popular movie treatments.

    But looking at church history, the other views (which perhaps are much better grounded? Just sayin’) have been around, well, for a really long time. There were still differences among scholars and church leaders in some of those interpretations, the odd part is now many modern-day Christians don’t even realize those views exist. We Christians today also have a tendency to “interpret” Scripture through our “headlines” current events lens, which can be short-sighted and misleading to say the least.

    Liked by 1 person

  48. BETTER GROUNDED??? What?

    I never realized there were other views my first ten or twenty years as a believer. Now I rarely meet people who acknowledge the “Left Behind” view. It is a small world, until you go out your door and start down the path.

    Liked by 1 person

  50. getting tired. just got back from market and now need to get ready for school. the grade one teacher is still out so I will be there again. we are thinking that no one has checked the covid tests they did over a week ago so they are still quarantined. everyone is trying to do double duty.

    Like

  54. Some believe that when Christ returns, those who have passed on will come with Him. I haven’t studied that much and don’t have an opinion. If so, I will do what is instructed.

    Liked by 3 people

  55. Our friend passed away. He loved the Lord, so I know he is happy. Please pray for his family. This is an incredibly close family and he was well loved. He and his wife were the ones who had lost three children. This family has known much grief, but their faith is strong.

    Liked by 6 people

  57. Kathaleena I am so sorry for the loss of your friend and thankful knowing he well finished the race and is Home…praying for those left behind grieving the sudden loss of him❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  59. Of course the advantage of ‘post’ is that things get better over time as the gospel goes forth (albeit with plenty of peaks and valleys in between).

    Pre, not so much.

    Liked by 1 person

  61. I haven’t studied eschatology as much as some people, but isn’t the whole idea of a literal seven-year tribulation period pretty much connected with dispensationalism? I’m personally not pre- or post- on the Tribulation because I don’t think that the “event” as presented by dispensationalists is biblical. Unfortunately, the biblical evidence for a pre-tribulational rapture (with the world continuing on with the Christians removed) is just not there, so if there is a seven-year Tribulation, your best bet is to die before it starts.

    Liked by 1 person

  65. DJ, thanks for the synopsis. A handy thing to keep close for clarifying. And the book looks interesting, I see they have it at CBD. But will I be able to focus enough to read it? Maybe.

    Like

  66. Our friend died on the same day his son died on quite a few years ago now. The son was in his early forties and had a brain aneurism while in Las Vegas. His wife had a meeting there and our friends drove up from AZ to enjoy some time with him and his family. They were at the hospital with their son and it seem like he would recover. They were able to speak to him, but then he took a turn for the worst and passed away. One of their daughters died in a truck/train collision in February also. They had a little girl who died when she choked on a cherry as a toddler. His wife’s mother passed away the end of December. She was 103. With Covid her service has still not happened.

    Liked by 1 person

  68. Oh Kathaleena, that’s all so sad, that’s a family who’s had more than their share. I’m sorry for your good friend, the latest. Unexpected deaths are so hard for those left behind and in shock.

    Liked by 1 person

  69. So, one of our stories today:

    Proposal to cut LAUSD (school district) police to hire “climate change mentors.”

    Not my story. But it just makes me laugh (or cry??). (Younger) reporter apparently took it quite seriously.

    I must be getting old.

    At last.

    Liked by 1 person

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