Some Butterflies

Indian Fritillary


Cabbage White


Don't know...


Small Copper on ...


Small Copper on Clover

Just the Convenient Parts

Some of my friends really dislike my sarcasm. I’m surprised they remain my friends. I do attempt to employ sarcasm for effect and impact, though I don't always get the result I hope for.

But let me warn you ahead of time, this post might not be fun for some. These thoughts are partly a result of my study of 1 John, chapters one and two. And in particular, 1 John 2:6.



Can Christians just keep and obey the Scripture they are comfortable with and they feel is convenient? No, really! Should we just keep the feel-good verses, chapters, and books? Or those that are in times with the social thought of our day?

Some who who say they are called by His name so easily and routinely toss aside certain parts of the Word. Passages that have recently been brought to my attention are those that deal with our body-not-being-our-own, verses against homosexuality, premarital and extramarital sex, and others like those.

Well if we’re going to ignore any of His Word, why not John 3:16? I mean, accepting God’s free gift and then trying to live for Him, or avoid living for Him, is just too tough, and as I was informed recently, that half of the church doesn’t live the life their pastors and the Bible expect them to anyway. Oh, really, now?

Then let me propose that we go a step further and toss all the salvation-is-a-free-gift kinds of texts. Why not? I say let’s stop making others feel guilty about the worry of hell by saying goodbye to grace and mercy! I mean, the majority of people, in or out of the church, don’t believe at least some parts of the Word, so maybe they're onto something. And offending the majority is not what we want, is it?

NOW! BACK TO REALITY!

Is all of the Bible His Word or is it not? How dare we cherry-pick His Word for our convenience' sake, or because of what a certain percentage of so-called-believers is not doing! God have mercy on us for our blatant arrogance! We are to respond to Him and obey Him, or we are lying to ourselves.

AW Tozer said:

"It is altogether doubtful whether any man can be saved who comes to Christ for His help but with no intention to obey Him. Christ’s saviorhood is forever united with his lordship. Christ must be Lord or he will not be savior. Any professed faith in Christ as personal Savior that does not bring the life under plenary obedience to Christ as Lord is inadequate and must betray its victim at the last. The man that believes will obey; failure to obey is convincing proof that there is not true faith present."

John wasn’t advocating that salvation comes through perfectly obeying a set of rules, and neither am I. Yet, John didn’t pull any punches when he wrote that those who claim to live in Him cannot separate themselves from obeying Him.

Here’s part of what he wrote...

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6

In His Grip,
Kevin

Dragonfly (Calopteryx Japonica)

This is the "ao hada tonbow", literally, the blue-skinned dragonfly. Just as I was squeezing the trigger, it stretched it's wings for me. Here's that series.

Gripped,
Kevin

Sparrows

Most of the migratory, colorful, popular birds have migrated to cooler places. Or at least they've moved up into the mountains and away from our home, which is in the city. There are plenty of tree sparrows around, though.

The tree sparrow is a not-too-appreciated birdy, and maybe that's why I like 'em. Their colors are not too bright, nor very cheerful. They can be noisy and their manners wanting. Yet God has even them in His thoughts.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. --Jesus (from Matthew's gospel)

Here are a few that have visited us recently.

In His Grip (and His thoughts),
Kevin

From the Flag Iris Fields

Morning pruning ...




The flag irises ...

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord!

I listen to worship music via the internet, while working at home. And even though it's not a new one, this song never ceases to get me to stop whatever I'm doing and really worship along. Thanks Matt and Beth Redman!

Here's a bit from my current favorite, "Blessed Be Your Name".

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there´s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I´ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

Please visit Matt's website... www.mattredman.com

The Flag Iris are Blooming

I went to Kikko Park today with Jazz to have a look at the Iris beds. WOW! They are looking great. I love to go there in the mornings when these remarkable flowers are unfurling. Is that why someone decided to call these flags?

Jazz was his usual patient self as he awaited his master's next command, always eager to obey. Scroll down a bit to see Jazz being the perfect photographer's assistant.

In His Grip,
Kevin