Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Friends,

An interesting story that relates to a recent post on my other blog...

One winter’s eve over a century ago, Ira D. Sankey the songwriter was traveling by steamboat up the Delaware River. On the trip, he was asked to sing. Afterward, a man with a rough weather-beaten face came up to him. He asked, “Did you serve in the Union Army?” “Why, yes,” said Mr. Sankey, “from 1860-62.” “Can you remember if you were doing guard duty on a bright moonlit night in the Spring of 1862?” Surprised, Sankey said, “yes.” “I was also there,” said the stranger, “but I was serving in the Confederate Army.” I saw you at your post and I said to myself, “that fellow will never get out of here alive.” I stood, concealed in the shadows, while you were exposed by the moonlight. I took up my musket and took aim. Just then, you raised your voice and began singing, “Savior, like a shepherd lead us, be the guardian of our way…” The song stirred up many memories in me…of my youth, and my God-fearing mother singing it to me. As you sang, I took my finger off the trigger, and when you finished, I lowered my rifle. I thought, “The Lord who is able to save this man from certain death is surely great and mighty.”

Blessings,
Don

The Pack Is Back

Friends,

I love cheese...and I have some love for the Green Bay Packers too. Star QB, Aaron Rodgers, just wouldn't allow the Packers to be denied and led his team to victory 31-25. My greatest disappointment is that I picked the Packers to win 31-24, so the two point conversion by the Steelers messed me up...lol. The Packers led from start to finish, and at halftime, it looked like they might just run away with it, as they were up 21-10...but the Steelers were not going away easily. It was worrisome for Packer fans to see three of their starting defensive backs head to the locker room in the second quarter...and in fact, it turned out that all-pro Charles Woodson was lost for the game with a broken collar bone. So, with the sullen locker room at half time for the Packers and an angry locker room for the Steelers, one had to wonder what effect it would have on the teams. The Packers did come out flat in the third quarter and the Steelers quickly closed the game to a four point lead for the Packers, and then it was game on from there. Despite some significant drops by wide receivers, Rodgers just kept the Packers offense churning...and along with some timely defensive stops...they were able to turn the momentum back in their favor in the fourth quarter. So, even though the Steelers were game opponents, it just seemed like it was Title Town destiny from beginning to end. Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers, 2010-11 Super Bowl Champions. And here is a little secret...I don't think it will be the last one for this crew. :-)

Blessings,
Don

Volcanic Io

Friends,

Some space shots are done with infrared or ultraviolet settings, so the true color of the object is not revealed...and such pics I, typically, will not show. So, with this in mind, below is a photo of the closest of Jupiter's moons, Io (pronounced Eye-Oh...I don't name them, I just try to pronounce them :-) in its true yellow color, due to a high sulfur content. The friction from the gravity of Jupiter, as well as other large moons, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, tugs and pulls at the surface of this strangest of all planets, creating intense volcanic activity of molten rock...it looks like the moon is literally being turned inside out. Scratch it off of the list of potential habitable places... ;-)

Blessings, Don

Old Testament Argumentation for New Testament Authority

Friends,

I was spending some time the other day perusing another blogsite and, once again, came upon the tried and untrue connection between the Old and New Testaments that well-meaning brothers have been making, since...well, Noah got off of the gopher wood ark. :-) Following, in greater detail perhaps, are some thoughts regarding such use of analogy. I have never completely understood why so many arguments drift to Old Testament argumentation in order to try to prove or approve New Testament authority? Actually, I do understand why this takes place...believers with a certain legal world view seek to defend the New Testament as a primarily legal covenant, as is the Old. If we spend some time absorbing the Sermon on the Mount at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, as well as many of Jesus' other teachings, we begin to understand why this is not feasible or correct. It is legal in its atoning aspect, but in most every other respect, it is about love, grace and mercy. It is not consistent reasoning...the necessity of Noah having to use gopher wood (cypress, if we really want to be technical), Nadab and Abihu's sin, Uzzah reaching out to touch the ark, etc. are fear illustrations that do not apply to a covenant of grace and truth. If we want to make such a "fear argument" concerning keeping rules and regulations, then Ananias and Sapphira should be quoted (which was clearly an exceptional situation, but not without prupose). We no longer rely upon the Old Covenant for our authority and so drawing arguments or conclusions from it in order to propagate New Testament authority is an argument that God never intended for us to make.

Blessings,
Don

Science Fiction Becomes Science Fact...Again

Friends,

Sailing through space on solar winds was first suggested by astronomer, Johannes Kepler, 400 years ago. Now, such a thought is becoming a reality. Below is an artist rendition of the 10 square meter solar sail that is now the first of its kind in earth's orbit. It relies on small, but continuous pressure from sunlight in order to thrust. From time to time, it will shine brightly as it passes overhead in the night sky, so it should be easily visible to the eye.

Blessings, Don

A New Adventure

Friends,

I have (re)started a blog with a spiritual theme, primarily, as some would prefer to read messages about spiritual matters exclusively. This is what I hope to accomplish at brokenchains4all.theobloggers.com. I used the title for this blog, Broken Chains 4 All on blogspot, originally, but discontinued it a couple of years ago. I will continue with 1 Middle Man, concerning spirituality, sports and space, but will be putting lengthier, spiritual messages related to the theme of that blog, particularly, there. So, I encourage you to check it out...I hope that it will be a blessing and encouragement to you!

Blessings, Don

To Tweet or Not To Tweet

Friends,

If you have heard about it, you are probably as amazed as I am. Jay Cutler's sitting out the second half of the NFC Championship with a knee injury drew a significant, negative response...not from the media so much...but, remarkably, from former and fellow players via twitter. It would seem that the Bears QB's typically sour attitude has not won many friends, but the animosity expressed by those through their tweets is sadly surprising. He just does not have the benefit of the doubt at this point in his career. It was revealed today that the Bears QB does have a significant injury...a second degree sprain/tear of his MCL. So, those who criticized him so severely do not appear to have a leg to stand on (sorry about the pun :-). I don't know how this is going to affect Cutler or the Bears going forward, but it does appear that his teammates have his back...at least for now. I hope that he can do some soul-searching and realize that his persona is very important...not that he has to be president of "the happy people club"...just more friendly and likeable. I hope some of the former and fellow players will also do some soul-searching, and not be so quick to condemn. The moral of the story still is -- better be certain of what you want to say before hitting the tweet button.

There actually was some football played over the weekend...even though the above story completely overshadowed the Packers win over the Bears. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers jumped out to a quick first half lead, 14-0, and held on in the second half as Bears' third-string QB, Caleb Hanie, brought the Bears back to make it somewhat respectable in the end, 21-14. In the other game, the Pittsburgh Steelers jumped out to a 24-3 half-time lead over the New York Jets before the Jets also rallied in the second half, making the final score, 24-19. The Steelers are going to their third Super Bowl in six years. They won it in 2006 and 2009. The Packers are back for the first time since losing to the Broncos 13 years ago. They also won the year before, 1996-97, beating the Patriots. It should be a good game in two weeks...very good quarterbacking, excellent defenses.

One final note...I agree with injured standout Packers TE, Jermichael Finley, and do not agree with the Packers' management, concerning the decision to leave players on injured reserve out of the Super Bowl team picture and other festivities. These guys gave their hearts and souls for the team just the same as those who were not injured, or who were able to come back from injury. Whatever happened to all for one and one for all? I think anyone who played for the Packers in 2010 deserves to be in a team photo, whether it is for the Super Bowl or otherwise.

Blessings,

Don

The Sanctity of Human Life

Friends,

Yesterday was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, one of the most important days of the year, in my estimation...especially given the fact that we live in a world that seems to drift further away from understanding or valuing human life. In trying to teach children the value of coins, they wonder why eight pennies would be worth less than one small dime. If you melt down the pennies and the dime and compare the results the pennies might have more value due to their copper but still a dime is worth more. A dime is no prettier than eight pennies, so why the difference in value? The reason for the difference is that their value is determined by their creator. The U.S. Treasury department says that it takes ten pennies equal one dime. And what is true of coins is true of all creation. So, the ultimate reason why persons are to be valued more than property is not found in their natures but in God's nature. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:26-27). Human life is valuable because God…the Creator of all life…says it is.

Out of all that God created, He designated human life as having the greatest value. Our superiority over the rest of the created order is based on this fact and this fact alone. So, only when we allow God to value creation...as He has the ultimate right in order to do so...do we find a basis for regarding human life as being more valuable than anything else. It is He who has made us…and not we ourselves…and it is He who has made this ethical distinction, not us humans. The Genesis account says that God first created the earth and its atmosphere. Then He created all living creatures that live on earth, in the seas, and in the air above. God appraised this part of His creation by saying that, "...it was good.” But, God wasn't finished. On the 6th day, He created Man – human life. Now, look at Genesis 1:31 and see how God evaluated this part of His creation. He said that human life was not just good…but very good! He said this because human life was the climax all the rest of creation. He stopped creating once He made us…for everything else was made with human beings in mind. We were made by God…we also know that human life has value in that only human beings were created in the image and likeness of God. Finally…human beings are of such inconceivable worth that God sacrificed His own Son so that they could be saved from their sins. This is an estimation of human worth beyond our comprehension. Our value is indicated by the fact that God not only loved us enough to create us in His image, He also loved us enough to pay the unbelievable cost of redeeming us. Romans 5:8 says, "God demonstrates His own love -- He shows how much He values human life in this -- while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." If or when anyone should begin to question just how valuable is the life of a human being, these thoughts need to be considered.

Blessings,
Don

Saturn Storm

Friends,

We are aware of the perpetual, giant red storm that exists on the planet Jupiter, but there has recently been captured a large storm on the planet Saturn. Much like storms on our planet, this storm started small, but has spread out across the planet...ok, maybe that is just bit more dynamic than our storms.

Blessings,
Don