The Automobile

I am convinced that the automobile is the bane of modern man's existence.

Lesson on Redemption from Hardwood floors part 1

I started work on refinishing my hardwood floors recently. (Maybe this was not the best idea with school starting next week, but all in all an adventure.) As Michelle and I ripped out the nasty cream carpet we discovered a true wasteland of what was once a beautiful hardwood floor. The bedrooms were the worst, sun damaged, covered and I mean covered in paint, but not beyond repair. As we sat talking, pulling up staples and nails, a thought dawned on me. Years of negelct and abuse brought the floors to this point, and now we get to make them better. We have the privellage of redeeming them back to their oringal beauty.

I am really proud to own the house we do. I thought wow, we are redeeming these floors; more than that we are redeeming the house. I sat thinking for a moment about the various families and stories that have occurred in our old home before we were there. You see the previous owners really went the house go to the wayside. Not the greatest family situation. Now we are here making this house and hopefully this neighborhood a better place.

As I yanked nails out of the wood, I thought about the process that God takes us through in redemption. It is not always pleasant, but it is always worth it. So, I am learning a lot about home repair, and the nature of God, and how He redeems us.

Holiday

I just returned from the most refreshing of vacations. What I love about vacation is that I am away from home at the stresses of home. On vacation marriages are smoother, days are easier, and fun abounds.

Our travels took us to Cleveland, Hershey, Boston, Plymouth Rock, and Niagara Falls. It was blast. The best part was time to enjoy life, and enjoy Michelle.

It causes me to think though, why we tend to need to get away from it all to really enjoy it. Not that I do not enjoy life and it’s activities every day. However, through our holiday (that is what they call vacation in Canada) I find a deeper sense of appreciation for Michelle, and she for me.

So it dawns on me, that stress is rooted in worry, and worry is from the devil and sin. So why do we worry? Why don’t we just live life like it was a holiday, at least free from the stress part?

Matthew 6:27-34 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.