2018 October 20 Saturday

2018 October 20 Saturday in Liberty Hill and Austin, Texas

57° and overcast at 3:30 a.m. No. I did not intend to be up at that time of the morning. It was either a guilty conscience it more likely a full bladder that roused me from my slumber. Since I was awake, I worked on this morning's MUSINGS©. I eventually went back to sleep and slept 'till after eight.

No rain in the forecast for today. But that doesn't mean that it isn't wet. The puddles (our moat) still has lots of water and the trees are still dripping.

[caption width="2581"]

The Handbell Choir presents amazing performances, ringing a series of small- to large-sized handbells with different tones to create beautiful melodies and harmonies. The resonant sounds originated from ancient bells created in the late 1600s. Handbells are not hard to learn and ability to read music is not required.[/caption]

The annual Harvest Fest was busy for such a gloomy day. We (the choir) sang from 10:30-11:00.

The choir.

Lunch at China Spice. Not a large selection but good. The hot and sour soup was too spicy for me ... and that's unusual.

We watched Tate's football game. There were some very good passes and catches. Unfortunately they were by the other team.

I got a shot of the sky that was almost a sunset. That's as close as I've seen lately

G'nite y’all!

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And my sermons blog http://thomasewilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

TESTED

MUSINGS - October 19, 2018

TESTED

Mark 7:24-29
And rising up, he went from there to the area of Tyre and Sidon. And entering into a house, he intended no one to know about it, but he was not able to remain hidden. For a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit, as soon as she heard about him, entered and fell prostrate at his feet. For the woman was a Gentile, by birth a Syro-Phoenician. And she petitioned him, so that he would cast the demon from her daughter. And he said to her: “First allow the sons to have their fill. For it is not good to take away the bread of the sons and throw it to the dogs.” But she responded by saying to him: “Certainly, Lord. Yet the young dogs also eat, under the table, from the crumbs of the children.” And he said to her, “Because of this saying, go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

I'll admit that this encounter with and insulting dismissal of this Greek woman has always bothered me. It seems so ... so un-Messiah-like. He who came to save everyone* from every time, shouldn't turn away anyone who earnestly seeks him. Previously he had placed no restriction on whom he healed. He had saved the life of the servant of a Roman soldier**, forgave the Samaritan woman at the well,*** and crossed the sea to cast demons from a foreign man.****

This woman comes to Jesus with high expectations because of the good things she has heard about him. Indeed his fame has spread so that, evern though he intended that no one knew he was there, he was constantly sought for. He came to seek the Lord. But the lost also come seeking him.

She falls before his feet and begs for her daughter's release from the demons who attack her. And he dismissed her with a word often used by the Jews against non Jews, "dog". It is equivalent to a more modern term "S.O.B." Why these hateful words from this loving man?

Take note the he didn't not say he would not have grant her petition. He only said, "First allow the sons to have their fill."

She wisely heard his words and responded, feed the children first but remember that the dogs must also be fed. To her credit, she did not demand to be moved to the front of the line but only asked to be heard in her turn. Because she humbled herself, her daughter was healed. He had tested her and found her faith sufficient.

There are times I take my wants and needs to the Lord and don't immediately receive an answer. Perhaps it is because "I'm determined to have things, but I can't get what I want. I quarrel and fight. I don't have the things I want, because I don't pray for them. When I pray for things, I don't get them because I want them for the wrong reason--for my own pleasure. (personalized from James 4:2-3) And sometimes maybe I don't receive because my faith is being tested like the woman in our scripture reading was tested.

*1 Timothy 4:10 and Acts 27:22-31

**Luke 7:1-10 Z f

***John 4:4-10

****Mark 5:1-15

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GIGO

MUSINGS - October 18, 2018

GIGO

Mark 7:14-23
Then he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand! Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. It's what comes out of a person that makes him unclean. Let the person who has ears listen!"

When he had left the people and gone home, his disciples asked him about this illustration. Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand? Don't you know that whatever goes into a person from the outside can't make him unclean? It doesn't go into his thoughts but into his stomach and then into a toilet." (By saying this, Jesus declared all foods acceptable.) He continued, "It's what comes out of a person that makes him unclean. Evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, cursing, arrogance, and foolishness come from within a person. All these evils come from within and make a person unclean."

Remember that this is a continuation of the events that began at the beginning of this chapter when the Pharisees accused the disciples of being unclean because they didn't wash their hands before they ate.

GIGO* is programmer slang that means if the input data is flawed, them the output will also be flawed. The same principle applies in logic. If the original premiss is flawed themy the conclusion will be flawed.

The Pharisees premiss was that a person could become spiritually unclean by not following the strict observance to cleanliness and dietary laws. Jesus declared this to be a case of GIGO*. It is what is in the mind and heart of a person that makes them unclean. Proverbs 23:7 echos this thought. "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."

Maybe we all needed to check out lives for GIGO*.

*Garbage In Garbage Out

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

2018 October 17 Wednesday

2018 October 17 Wednesday in Liberty Hill, Texas

44 degrees and raining to start the day. It did reach the high of 51 by 2 in the afternoon, still overcast and still drizzle.

This photo could have been taken at any time today because this is how it looked all day.

Before going to grandies this morning we stopped at Subway and picked up sandwiches for lunch. This was supposed to be a brown bag lunch day at grandies however only four of us brought our lunches. Most of them left right after the meeting rather than stay to play a game. Which was pretty unusual. Six of us played canasta.

Cell phones don't get very good reception in our RV Park. So if we want to make call, we usually do that while we are in town. Since we were in town I called Becky, my ex, to see how they were doing with the flooding in the area. she and Dave have not been too badly affected by the flooding. And we assured her that we are all right also.

Supper with some of your choir members at Dahlias this event before going to choir.

Choir practice in the original church this is now the chapter

G'nite y’all!

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UNCLEAN

MUSINGS - October 17, 2018

UNCLEAN

Mark 7:1-13
The Pharisees and some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus. They saw that some of his disciples were unclean because they ate without washing their hands. (The Pharisees, like all other Jewish people, don't eat unless they have properly washed their hands. They follow the traditions of their ancestors. When they come from the marketplace, they don't eat unless they have washed first. They have been taught to follow many other rules. For example, they must also wash their cups, jars, brass pots, and dinner tables.)

The Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples follow the traditions taught by our ancestors? They are unclean because they don't wash their hands before they eat!"

Jesus told them, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites in Scripture: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is pointless, because their teachings are rules made by humans.' "You abandon the commandments of God to follow human traditions." He added, "You have no trouble rejecting the commandments of God in order to keep your own traditions! For example, Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother' and 'Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death.' But you say, 'If a person tells his father or mother that whatever he might have used to help them is corban (that is, an offering to God), he no longer has to do anything for his father or mother.' Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God's word. And you do many other things like that."

This is an unusual confrontation between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees. In most of the recorded conflicts they have, the Pharisees ask a question of Jesus for the purpose of trapping him. Jesus in turn asks the Pharisees a country question that they either can't answer it are afraid the answer.

Jesus did not counter their question with a question this time. He went on the offensive and attacked them directly and specifically. He points out how they use manmade traditions to circumvent the laws of God.

My first reaction is, "Go get 'em, Jesus!" But one of my favorite study technically it's put myself into the story. I'll try to see it through The eyes of all those involved. I can be comfortable putting myself in as one of the disciples or even Jesus. But as I look through The eyes of the religious leaders, I become very uncomfortable. I am them. That makes me question my own traditions. Do they really line up with the Holy Scriptures or do I just follow them because that is what I was taught?

How about you? Are you willing to dive into the scriptures and seek the truths for yourself? Or will you just accept what you've been taught?

Here is an example: "The Lord helps those who help themselves." You've heard it before, right? Do you believe it? Don't. It's not scriptural, not found in the Bible. As a matter of fact it is the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. He taught that the Lord helps those who rely on Him and follow His commandments.

Are you willing to accept what I just said? Or will you study to show yourself approved? (2 Timothy 2:15)

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

TOUCH THE HEM

MUSINGS - October 16, 2018

TOUCH THE HEM

Mark 6:53-56
They crossed the sea, came to shore at Gennesaret, and anchored there. As soon as they stepped out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. They ran all over the countryside and began to carry the sick on cots to any place where they heard he was. Whenever he would go into villages, cities, or farms, people would put their sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched his clothes was made well.

This episode brings to mind the woman who for twelve years had a bleeding problem. She snuck up behind Jesus the touch his clothes for a healing. However, it is different in that these people begged his permission to touch his clothes. They knew him to be busy with healing so many others that they didn't want to distract him from that work. We will soon come to the story of a Greek woman who begs Jesus for crumbs from the table. These are stories about humble people, faith filled people, who come to the Lord begging for help.

And the Lord responded and all were healed.

Lord, I don't want to bother you today with my little problems. Just let me touch the edge of your clothes and I will be fine.

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

2018 October 15 Monday

2018 October 15 Monday in Liberty Hill, Leander, and Cedar Park, Texas

35° windy (feels like 31) and rain. It rained constantly all day, some times harder than others but never stopping.

This first image is from 3:30 a.m. I'll explain why I was awake at that time, in a moment. The second image is from 9:25 p.m. We were never in the center of the storm, but it just kept coming.

Leander Senior Center is where we had lunch (baked chicken, brussel sprouts, and diced potatoes). The only ones there were Jerry, Gloria, Ella and I.We played Rummikub until one Arlette arrived. I stopped playing so d she could play. Another woman named Sue (which we'd never meet before) and Fran also arrived. That was the total turnout for lunch.

The center also prepares meals for the Head Start day care and for z Meals On Wheels. Which is a great use of country resources. However, this creates a parking problem. There are only three designated handicap parking spots plus one for the center manager. If you look at the photo below, you will see that two spots appear to be open. However the delivery drivers for the Meals On Wheels are blocking the spots. They are technically not taking the handicap parking spots. However they are blocking them so that no one else may use them.

After lunch we went to Walmart. I needed to buy some camping chairs. Next Sunday we have family coming out for a meal. And we have not enough chairs. I purchased two extra large heavy duty (500 lb. capacity) camping chairs and for regular camping chairs.

Upon returning home we played games, read, watched television, and napped. Not much else to do on a cold rainy windy day.

G’nite y’all!

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

ONE MORE STORM AT SEA

MUSINGS- October 15, 2018

ONE MORE STORM AT SEA

Mark 6:45-52

Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to Bethsaida ahead of him while he sent the people away. After saying goodbye to them, he went up a mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. Jesus saw that they were in a lot of trouble as they rowed, because they were going against the wind. Between three and six o'clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. He wanted to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought, "It's a ghost!" and they began to scream. All of them saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he said, "Calm down! It's me. Don't be afraid!" He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped blowing. The disciples were astounded. (They didn't understand what had happened with the loaves of bread. Instead, their minds were closed.)

Once more Jesus send his disciples across the sea. If you'll recall, the last time he was with them, when the storm arose, and they were terrified. He called them cowards for their lack of faith. (Mark 4:35-41)

This time, after feeding and teaching the 5,000, here stayed behind to pray. The disciples were alone and battling the sea and the wind.

Here is the part I've overlooked every other time I've read this passage: from his view point on the mountain, Jesus could see that they were having trouble. That was in the evening. However, he waited until early morning to take his stroll through the waves. And then ... and then, "He wanted to pass by them."

It appears to me that, though he was watching over them, it was his intent that they continue to struggle under their own power ... or use the power here had given them. The author said that they still did not understand, that their minds were closed.

How many storms in our lives do we have to go through before our minds are opened and we understand what Jesus had been teaching us?

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

2018 October 14 Sunday

2018 October 14 Sunday in Liberty Hill and Cedar Park, Texas

63° that reached 86 under make sunny skies.

It was a usual Sunday morning with breakfast at church. We sang in the choir for the nine o'clock service. Pastor Saint did an excellent, thought provoking sermon on Mark 10:17-31. We also had a guest soloist on the harp. I'm sorry I don't remember her name. While she played the sanctuary was dead silent except for the harp. No children making noise, no one whispering, no rustling of papers, nor clearing of throats. Everyone was captivated by the beautiful music.

After church and Sunday school, we drove to Cedar Park for prescriptions and a few groceries.

It was a day of rest.

G’nite y’all!

Visit my daily devotions blog https://musingsdevotions.wordpres mys.com/

And my sermons blog http://thomasewilliams.blogspot.com/?m=1l

All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

HANGRY

MUSINGS - October 14, 2018

HANGRY

Mark 6:35-44
When it was late, his disciples came to him. They said, "No one lives around here, and it's already late. Send the people to the closest farms and villages to buy themselves something to eat." Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "Should we go and spend about a year's wages on bread to feed them?" He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." When they found out, they told him, "Five loaves of bread and two fish." Then he ordered all of them to sit down in groups on the green grass. They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart and kept giving them to the disciples to give to the people. He also gave pieces of the two fish to everyone. All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets with bread and fish. There were 5,000 men who had eaten the bread.

Just a few verses back we read that Jesus and the disciples had no time to rest or to eat. I think they were becoming hangery. Recent commercials by Snickers have made great use of the ideas of being so hungry that you become angry. Maybe they needed a candy bar.

Here is the scene. The disciples, with stomachs growling, come to Jesus and say, "it's late and THE PEOPLE are tired and hungry. Send them away." The disciples didn't want to appear self centered before the Master. So instead of saying that THEY we hungry and tired, they appealed to his concern for THE PEOPLE. "Send them away."

Jesus turned the tables in them and said, "YOU feed them." This was the work for which Jesus was training them. "Feed my sheep," Jesus would later repeat to Peter three times. (John 21:15-18) Out of the thousands who followed him, Jesus hand picked twelve for special training. These were the ones who would continue his work once he was gone from the Earth. "You feed them."

"But we can't."

"What do you mean, 'you can't'? Have you tried? Have you looked? What do you have?"

How often have we come to Jesus and said, "We have nothing with which to help."

He whispers back, "Nothing? Have you looked? Have you tried? You bring what little you have and I will multiple it!"

Maybe all you have is a dollar, a smile, a shoulder to cry on, an arm to lean on, a word of encouragement, a few tools, a gallon of gas, or a loaf of bread. Whatever you have, give as if you are giving to Jesus. He can turn a little into more than enough. They can be twelve baskets left over.

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williamsu