Opus 2024-027: Firsts: Veggie Enchilada

We were at a Mexican restaurant in Texas.  That is not as exciting as being at one in California but you have the trade off of being in California.  Weaker Mexican food trumps the Peoples’ Republik.

I have been working through the menu at this place and my eye fell on their Veggie Enchilada.  To be honest it didn’t fill me with anticipation but the different chilies listed made it a real possible discovery.

Not really.  It was still just a tortilla wrapped around a bunch of limp vegetable matter.  It did not rise to the occasion.  About all I can say for it is I was willing to try something new.  That is not as exciting as it is portrayed.  

Next time I will try their cheese version.  How can you go wrong with cheese?  I hope I don’t find out.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-026: Critical Mass: Spare Us

Earlier I asked the question of which is more important to God, the righteousness of the leaders or the faithfulness of the general population?

I personally would go with the general population.  If it were the leaders then no nation would be safe and there would be little the common people could do about it.  That brings up the question of critical mass.  In case you don’t remember your high school science, critical mass is the term used to determine if there is enough nuclear material to start and continue an atomic explosion.  In terms of what I am talking about it would be more a question of how many righteous people God would require to spare a nation.  What percentage?  What kind of a ratio?

If the people are the measure of God’s wrath then what kind of percentage of faithfulness do you need among the people? We have an example of this in the destruction of Sodom.  It was a major city in the area.  Of course that could mean only a thousand people but it was still major.  God was willing to spare it for just a few.  How many will God require for America?

Are we ready to be judged or is there enough salt left?

If God feels we need a purging to initiate revival then get ready for hard times.  Keep in mind that He promises to see us through.  If you know anything about the history of persecution, it often is extreme in one place and barely a ripple just down the road.  That is one way in which God brings punishment on a people as a whole and spares those whom He wants to spare.

Be faithful.  He will be.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-025: Beware! Google Ahead

I noticed today when I logged on that Google was informing us that they would soon have a new and improved sign-in page that will have a “more modern look and feel.”  I am already wondering how many more clicks and buttons will be required to get done what I am already doing.  Notice how optimistic I am.  I assume I will figure out how to do what I am already doing.

It reminds me when I was forced to move from my first computer, a Kaypro using C/PM.  It was at least a decade before Windows caught up with some of the things I had been able to do.  It is the modern idea of progress.

As they say, sit down, hold on, shut up and enjoy the ride.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-024: Follow the Directions

Trusting God is a way of life and the way of thinking. My son understands technology in a way that I can never grasp. I trust his knowledge. I don’t need to understand it. The better I understand it the better I can operate in this world of technology, but I will not understand on his level no matter what I do.

I watched him walk his mother through a process over the phone of getting her computer working again. All she had to do was follow directions. She had to trust him. She had to believe what he was telling her. It wouldn’t be enough just to believe it and not to do it. It would not do her any good to do anything if she didn’t know what she was doing and didn’t have somebody she trusted.

How like this is to our daily spiritual walk.  We must trust what God tells us.  We must put feet to the lessons.  God can only go so far without us moving out in faith.

Interesting times lie ahead.  Make sure your faith is ready to walk.  Make sure your trust is ready to hold on.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-023: Don’t Pray for Healing

Recently the pastor was sharing about his wife’s heart problem.  Like many people she has developed atrial fibrillation, A-fib.  She had gone through a procedure called cardiac ablation.  They send a lazar up your blood vessels and singe a section of nerve in the heart.  This blocks the too frequent messages being sent and returns you to a regular heart beat.  At least that is the story and they are sticking with it.

I have been praying for her healing but got a surprise.  He shared that what was needed was not to heal because if the healing continued she would be forced to endure the procedure again.  The heart would reestablish what was there before, recreating the problem.  Now that is an interesting twist.  I made a joke about praying wrong.

Isn’t it wonderful that God knows what we mean even when we don’t.  This is a classic application of a Bible promise,

(Rom 8:26 KJV)  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Actually praying for the opposite was not how I usually thought of this verse but in this case it fits.  God thinks of everything.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-022: Crazy Talk

Why am I talking to a cat?  Since I have had a cat dumped on me and it insists on getting in my face I find myself asking it stupid questions.  Do I expect an answer?  Do I think it understands?  Am I crazy or have I just surrendered to the cat culture?

Is this a sign that I am losing it?  I hope not.  At least I am aware that asking the cat what it thinks it is doing will not generate a response.  I will consider it a victory if it will simply understand the meaning of “NO”.

homo unius libri

Opus 2024-021: Whether Weather Happens

The wisdom of the elders said, “It’s gonna be a cold winter.”  Remember those days.  People used to look at the Farmers’ Almanac or observe how certain insects behaved and know what was coming.  The response was to prepare.  Chop more wood.  Can more tomatoes.  Knit extra sox.  It was called life.

The wisdom of the children now says, “We’re all gonna die!”  In their panic they are ready to do anything the government calls for so that they can be safe.

Weather and climate have always been with us.  Plague and infestations have come on a regular cycle.  War and rumor of wars are a way of life.  Panic doesn’t solve anything

Examples of historic climate change are all through literature and the news.  

If you read Genesis you find frequent reference to famine, probably caused by drought or insects.  
Abraham fled to Egypt during a famine.  Later his decedents went again during one that was seven years long and was predicted by Joseph when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream.  Krakatoa exploded and the volcanic ash disrupted the seasons for years.  Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompeii.  

Are we looking at disaster in the future?  Of course.  Volcanoes still happen.  We are waiting for the earth-shattering eruption in Yellowstone.  The giant meteor is expected any day.  The sun could give us a natural EMP blast that would cripple our technology.  Biden could be elected for a second term.

So get right with God.  Store up toilet paper.  Learn to start a fire and plant some kale.  The kale is to remind you that things could get worse.

homo unius libri