Aaron and Hur Chapter 2

Blogging progress report: updated

Because of the popularity of the blog and my posts, I find it necessary to fiercely edit my time. For that reason, I block all games on Facebook, and try to limit my conversations on both Facebook and Twitter.

Please know this. I am eternally grateful for your encouragement and help. I will not forget you. I will remember you all in my prayers.

Wonder why I'm posting one of my meditations and then a blog link? You know I'm focused on publishing the Parables. I have learned that my friends like to read the blog, but won't notice my posts as a typical blog post (crowded timelines?) The links are noticed if I post one of my short meditations or 'unique' comments with it. Go figure.
I'm really humbled (and puzzled?) when those with huge followings read my posts.
In July I've been bunching several posts together, 3 to 5 on Facebook and 10 or more on twitter. I've been posting 3 inspirational thoughts combined on one Facebook blog link. The same principle seems to be at work. The attraction of the inspirational thoughts seems to cut through the clutter of busy time lines on both Twitter and Facebook and readership of the blog has gone up, with over 300 views in one day, a new record.

2011 February Pageviews: 979 (I posted blog posts on one day and worked on mini meditations the next as an after thought)
2011 March Pageviews: 916
2011 April Pageviews: 718
2011 May Pageviews: 1,131 (I started posting the mini meditations more frequently but still separately from the blog posts)
2011 June Pageviews: 1599 This week I posted the mini meditations and blog posts combined. I’ve been stunned with the results.
2011 July Pageviews: 2941 Bunching posts to break through busy timelines.
2011 August through the 10th Pageviews: 1994
Total page views in 2011: 31,171

Countries and languages that have viewed my blog in 2011 total 109 countries and34 languages.


Algeria
Anguila
Antigua and Barduda 
Argentina
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangledesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czeck Republic
Denmark
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Gabon
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guernsey
Hong Kong
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Korea
Latvia
Lebanon
Lithuania
Luxemborg
Maldives
Malawi
Malaysia
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nepal
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Pakistan
Peru
Phiilipines
Poland
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Sri Lanka
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia


LANGUAGES
Arabic
Bahasa
Bashkhir
Bulgarian
China (Hahn)
Croatian
Danish
Dutch
Filipino
German
Greek
Hungarian
Indonesian
Japanese
Korean
Latvian
Lithuanian
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Setswanna
Sinhala
Slovak
Spanish
Swahili
Swedish
Tamil
Thai
Turkish
Urdu


God gets the glory for this. It is not my doing.

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Thoughts from Psalms 1 and 118

this post taken from my journal on February 8, 2011

Mary and I spent the day helping Don, her son and my step son, get ready to move to California. He's taking a better job designing new electric cars that are being manufactured there.

We stopped at Wendy's to try out their new Asiago Spicy Chicken sandwich, I also got to stop at Burger King and tried their new jalapeño and cheddar Steak Burger sandwich, Overall a good day!

Also enjoyed doing my devotions all day over my Droid. I'm taking the Lord at His word that He will make what I do successful if I delight in His Word.

I posted my devotion in tweet sized links as I studied God's Word on my Droid on the run. This method gives me a chance to take advantage of those small moments where I am waiting and standing around, which happens often in my life.

Today's devotion:

Psalm 1 Verse1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

I delight in the Law of the Lord because it is DNA of my Savior & Redeemer.* To know Jesus the Living Word I must know Jesus the Written Word.*

I'm learning how to meditate on His Word day & night so what I do will prosper.* I put Bible apps on my phone & computer.

Seek the Living and Written Word and Eternal, Joyful, Life will anchor, refresh, and warm you.*

Thoughts on humility: It's easy to be humble when I realize the Spirit teaches me all truth, the Father directs my every step, Jesus has chosen me from before the foundations of the world, and everything, including and especially me, is sustained by Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mathew's 5th Birthday Party

My name is Mathew! I'm 5 years old!

.

So this is what ice cream tastes like? 
Very good!

Verrrrrry interesssssting!

On Tuesday May 24, 2011, all of Mathew Daily's friends and relatives met at Cici's Pizza on Main Street in Mishawaka Indiana to celebrate Mathew's 5th birthday.
Mathew is my second oldest grandson.

His cousins, Allie, Libby, and Zach were there, along with his aunts and uncles, his grand mother Shirley Daily, his grand father, me, along with his step grand mother Mary, and his Great God Parents Rick and Barb Van Wechel.

Let me help you!

His younger brother Liam was the center of attraction for a while, for it was one of his first times eating ice cream, an experience he really relished. Great God Parent Barb was in charge of the feeding frenzy.

Be sure to stop at The Adventures of Mike and Mary Blog!
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The Miracle of Understanding

On most days my goal is to be more like Jesus. But when I read this story, and see how the servants trusted her, and God listened to her, I want to be more like Mary.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding- from the Book of John

One thing that is apparent to me, as I look at the story of the Wedding and the Wine, is that the central character of this story is not the couple who is being married, for their names are not even mentioned. It is not the governor of the feast. It is not the servants. It is not the disciples. It is not the Lord Himself, although most certainly He is an important part, for He is the reason the book of John was written.
The central character was not part of the wedding party, and did not sit at the main table. The central character did not help with the details of the planning, or help with the work of the event. This character did not perform a miracle, and was not called to sit at the feet of the Master. The central character was Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The Lord and His disciples were there because of Mary. She was the one who was held in high esteem by the servants, and probably by the couple themselves. It is clear that Mary was chosen for the wedding. If there was any culling of the guest list, Mary’s name survived it.
It was not the first time Mary was chosen. God Himself chose Mary, and He chose her for the same reasons that the couple chose her for the wedding guest list. One of those reasons was that she was a woman who listened. Mary was a very good listener.
When the angel came with the announcement that she was chosen to bear the child of the Heavenly Father, she listened. She listened deeply, with all of her heart, and with great understanding. She had been listening to God much of her young life, and she continued to listen deeply after the birth of her Son, not only to God, but to others as well. She would listen to their problems, their stories, their conversations about the events of the day, with deep and keen interest. It was easy to talk to Mary. She would draw you out. She would ask your opinion. Her ears would perk up if you started to tell your story.
When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Mary was chosen because she had understanding. If you deeply and intently listen to others, and if you deeply and intently listen to God, God grants to such a person a rare gift, the gift of understanding.
Knowledge is when you know what you are thinking, and why. Understanding is when you know what the other person is thinking and why. Knowledge is good. Understanding is better! Mary had that!
There is a reason the servants were standing near when Mary spoke the words, “They have no wine.” The servants did not go to the couple being married. The servants did not go to the governor of the feast. They did not go the Lord Himself. Each of these had the capacity to solve the problem. Instead, when the servants noted that the wine was gone, they went to a person they knew would listen to them, and would understand the dilemma. They went to Mary.


When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come."
His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."
Mary had deep understanding. She understood that her Son, like all males, already had an agenda for the day, and that agenda did not include turning water into wine. God has perfect plan in place. Approaching God for help successfully takes this into consideration. It is not wise to ask for God’s help by starting off with the premise that God has screwed up, and He needs your artful intervention to fix things. God is not asleep at the switch. He knows what He is doing.
She understood the consequences of offending the wedding guest. To make a marriage work, it takes everybody’s help. This is the reason why so many marriages fail today. We are quick to intercede with advice that breaks up relationships. We hold the offending parties to a high, almost impossible standard, and then if one of them fails to make the grade, we quickly advise to cut the losses, and bail out. We don’t want to do the painful, tedious work of listening with understanding, and prayerful and respectfully approaching the only Person Who can really make a difference, The Lord God Almighty. All of this takes time and effort. It is an effort that few of us are willing to make.
Mary also understood the nature of God’s perfect plan, the incredible effort and work that God has made to put our worlds together, a world filled with joy and beauty and love and friendship and mistakes and failures and learning and struggles. Yet she boldly, but reverently suggested an improvement, an upgrade, an innovation, for she knew that it is a desire of God that His Children be a part of the planning process.
God had to literally check the consequences of this bold move to see how it would echo through the hallways of Eternity. In a moment the massive mind of God double checked every possibility, and saw that the suggestion was a good one. The same mind that saw the details of the Cross, and the motion picture in exquisite detail of the return of Christ, shifted His massive mental gears and added an addenda to the planned Word of God. So now, 2000 years later, on Valentines Day, because of coincidental timing, I am sharing this story from the Word of God with you, a story that, before Mary came into the picture, was not in God’s plan, but is now shared at thousands of weddings, if not millions of weddings, and read in pulpits, and mulled over in devotions, innumerable times.
This all happened because of Mary. She listened, and she understood, and a group of servants took their problem to her, and listened to her.
Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water, and said…WOW!.
On most days, my singular goal is to be more like Jesus. But sometimes, when I read this story, and I think of how the servants trusted Mary so much that they followed her advice to the letter, and bore the water with trembling hands, and closed their eyes as the Master of the wedding drank, waiting for his angry reaction, for the spewing of the water from his mouth, for the humiliating reproof, and instead hearing…”WOW!” because they trusted Mary, sometimes….I want to be more like Mary.

Zach and God's Perfect Plan

On Sunday night, May 22 I asked my friends on the internet to pray for 5 month old Zach, who was scheduled for an urgent surgery to have his eye removed. Will You Pray for Zach Now!?
God gives us an incredible freedom to go directly into His Throne Room to ask on behalf of others and even ourselves to ask Him to change His Plan, to suggest that He come up with a second plan that will spare someone we love, or even ourselves, a great deal of suffering.
God delights in our presence, and reminds us constantly that He loves doing impossible things, and we have not because we ask not.
But we come into His presence reminding ourselves constantly that He already had a plan. It was, is , and always will be a perfect plan. We come committed to praise Him in all things and thank Him for all things, and to not point to the finger of blame at ourselves or our brethren if God decides to continue with His perfect plan, or to pout because God did not obey our wishes and change destiny every single time we ask.
The surgeons removed Zach's eye on Monday morning. The healing process is progressing well. It appears that all the cancer was removed. Tim, Zach's father, is keeping us posted on his blog. Pastor Tim Brown's blog 
I thank all of you for taking special time our of your busy lives to pray for this urgent need. I knew I could count on you! I pray that you will continue to pray for Zach and his family, for I have resolved to never stop praying for him, and for you, my friends. But I have also resolved that I will never cease praising God in all things, even if His plan involves suffering.

Will You Pray for Zach NOW?!

On Sunday May 22 Mary and I learned that the son of one of our pastors Tim Brown at Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church has a 3 month old son by the name of Zach who was diagnosed on May 19th with "a rare eye condition in his left eye called retinoblastoma. This cancerous tumor on his eye has caused his retina to detach which is how we first became aware of the problem–the symptom is called “no red-reflex.”

Senior Pastor Alberta has asked for as many as 500 people to pray for Zach on Monday, May 23, at 9 am, Eastern Daylight Savings Time.  Surgery is scheduled to remove the eye.

Of course, I thought of all my faithful friends, many of whom are prayer warriors.

Please set an alarm or reminder and join me for 15 minutes to pray for this.

I believe that love, prayer, faith, and God's magnificent grace can make a difference.

I am willing to put my reputation and ministry on the line for this little boy. I am asking God to put His stamp of  approval on this ministry by a down pouring of His Healing grace in time to stop the surgery, so that God would be glorified.

This will put me on the line so to speak. Either God desires me to invest myself in this ministry or He does not. Either God wants me to continue publishing the Parables or He does not. An out pouring of grace would clarify the direction He wants me to go.

I long to see the name of God glorified with a clear cut intervention that will rob Satan of any chance to deflect praise from God.

I know that prayer is not a button, and God is not a puppet. It is His choice. Will you, my friends, pray with me?

Dog pack against Israel: Exhaustion?

The enemies of Israel have found over the last half century that Israel is a lion, and as such can't be defeated in a head to head confrontation with her. So they have resorted to the only strategy that could successfully defeat Israel in the decade to come.
They are resorting to the dog pack strategy.
The most successful hunters on the savannas of Africa are not the lions, but the dogs.
The strategy of the dog is to keep the prey busy with small but vicious attacks, always being ready to distance yourself from the attack if the prey, even and especially a lion, should turn on the dog and focus . That always gives another member of the pack an opportunity to attack while the lions back is turned.
A normal dog pack would never take on a Lion, but a dog blinded by insane racial hatred might.
The dog pack allayed against the Lion of Israel is using the US as a distraction, and as a wedge to get Israel to let down it's defenses so that further small vicious attacks can be renewed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/21/world/middleeast/21prexy.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&src=ig
My advice to Israel is to do what any larger cat wisely does when being circled by dogs. Nothing. Sit on your haunches, protecting your underbelly, rest for a big attack, take a few small hits or bites, lick your paws, which sharpens your weapons, and don't be distracted by meddlers.

Sunday Detroit Metro Airport Bomb Threat

On Sunday May 15, 2011, around 8pm I tweeted: Bomb threat going on NOW at Detroit Metro, not on news. Detroit close to largest USA Muslim populatiion. Don't ask how I know.

Later I posted: Nothing on the news but my source says a man was apprehended.

I also posted:Shortly after I notified all of you the first time he called to say planes were being cleared to fly and a man was apprehended.

I also posted: My problem with revealing my source is he doesn't know how well connected I am with internet friends, so in a sense he doesn't know he's a source. He hasn't made me take a vow of silence, but I'm sure if others found out he was giving me info he'd be in trouble. He's very dependable and very knowledgeable. So, don't ask.

Here is a summary of my thoughts: I've done a thorough search of the news on Google and Twitter, and nothing is posted yet about Detroit for Sunday May 15th. but there is an incredible amount of posting about activity for some time about Detroit Airport. One man tweeted that the flight attendants are searching the lavoratories every 15 minutes.


 My source said that there was intelligence that someone was planning to use the oxygen manufacturing boxes above the seats to either make a bomb or be disabled and then he would hide in the bathroom with the only working oxygen mask. Now steps are being taken to disable the bath room masks to stop that from being a refuge for a terrorist.

According to local news hoaxes and or threats are common for Detroit Metro Airport. One FBI chief says their big concern is the lone wolf attack. This was reported before Bin Laden was killed.

I can't vouch for all the reports my source is passing on, for I can't double check him or his sources. But he is very dependable and knowledgeable.

Here is what I can say for certain. A threat was perceived today, May 15, 2011, at the Detroit Metro Airport. Large amounts of airline and airport manpower were involved in checking for a bomb and in taking shelter. Flights were delayed. Shortly afterwards, an all clear was given, and activity and flights were back to normal around 9 pm.

Of course it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. PLEASE keep the Detroit Metro Airport and Airlines in your prayers.

Bin Laden Dead? Why US Prevails

I started this blog on Sunday night, May 1st, 2011. (well before the President's broadcast) Could this report be true? I was hoping and praying that it was.

According to a New York Times report, Bin Laden was pursued to the death by an American Special Forces Unit. This was reported by 2 US Senators. President Obama made the announcement later Sunday evening.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/osama-bin-laden-is-killed.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimespolitics&seid=auto


This does reveal that no one can risk the wrath of the world's mightiest nation with out facing severe consequences.
America has faced intelligent, technologically savvy, and fierce to the point of suicidal opponents before, and prevailed. They did so with the support of a smaller but politically and militarily adroit ally Britain, and a consistent but totally different politically ally, Russia. This motley crew defeated a well oiled military machine because God aided their strengths and girded up their weakness, but did the very opposite for the Axis powers.
The next day, Monday, the NY Times published two interesting articles, and I have included their links below.
The first is a lengthy obituary of Osama Bin Laden.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/02osama-bin-laden-obituary.html


The second NY Times link is a reconstruction of the events that led up to his death.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/asia/02reconstruct-capture-osama-bin-laden.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&src=ig
I have assured our US friends before that we need not worry about enemies that are technically savvy and suicidally fierce AS LONG AS GOD REMAINS OUR ALLY.
God will remain our ally as long as we are useful to Him in 3 ways. 
1. Our language, because of our economic, scientific, and military leadership, will be a stepping stone for publishing the gospel around the world.
2. Our economic engine will help poor families provide for their basic needs world wide.
3. Our military might will provide an umbrella of protection for Israel.
Of course, some day this will all end. The fierce lion with the wings on it's back will be stripped of it's wings, and will be made to stand like a man. Babylon the great city with 7 hills (Moscow? Jerusalem? Rome? Washington DC?) will fall. A new super power will step up to the plate (Israel).
UPDATE: The world is celebrating the confirmed death of Osama Bin Laden, although our friends in the Muslim world are being discrete, for fear of retaliation. An enraged Al Queda will seek out US targets, but unable to reach the hardened targets in the US, they strike at the unprotected soft targets closer to their home. US sympathizers will be an easy target.
It is important for us to congratulate our US troops and also our US President for their efforts at finding Osama. More importantly, it is vital that we thank our God for His Hand in guing their efforts. Turning our backs on God now by receiving all the praise will cut us off from His future guidance.
Here's a link to a recent news cast.
http://youtu.be/-FmHti8iBQM
I've also included a video obtained from ABC. It was taken from inside the compound where Bin Laden died. I got the heads up from one of my Resource Gold and Forever Friend tweeter @NotAJoe 
Strange that I don't watch the news, but my internet friends keep me a step ahead. But then, what are friends for? ;-)

The Navy Seals that took out Obama were minsters of God- they did not bear the sword in vain. Dr Alberta/CEPC/ Brighton MI/5.15.2011

My Home Schooled Sports Freak Grand Daughters

Allie and Libby have recently joined a travelling basketball team (not a home school team) and played their first game in Valparaiso, Indiana. Libby's team won handily, 23 to 9 but Allie's team was up against a team that my daughter said was very fast, and the score was tied all the way to the end of the game.


During overtime Allie's team won by 3 points. Guess who made the 3 points? Yep. Allie! 


There was some debate about whether Allie could continue with the travelling team because it's associated with the Public School system and Allie is home schooled, but one coach convinced another reluctant coach to keep Allie because if they didn't have her on their team, they would have to play against her.

They won the year end tourney in Mishawaka.

During their regular season the girls play for the Michianna Christian Athletic Club (for home schoolers) which has multiple teams boys and girls in basketball and volleyball. Allie is playing her last year for the elementary girls team, alongside her sister Libby.


They won the end of year tourney aginst three other private schools, and then went to The National Homeschool Basketball tournament where both their teams won first place.


Earlier in the year there was a tournament for Christian Schools Girls Basketball in Fort Wayne. At the end of the tournament Allie was picked to represent the team for the elementary Girls Free Throw Contest, while another girl from the Wildcats (our team) was picked for the Junior High Contest. Both of our Wildcats won. Both scored 9 out of 10.


Ally and Libby also play for the Junior High Girls. Libby gets to play every about every other game if there is a comfortable lead. 


Ally is a starter and lead scorer for both the Elementary and Junior High teams, and the leader in overall points in the Elementary team, while she's in 2nd place in the Junior High.


Ally won't be able to play in Elementary Girls this coming year, for she will be in 7th grade. Libby has 2 more years where she can play both teams. She's going in to 5th grade.


The girls also play soccer in at least 2 different teams, and yes, their teams have won tournaments, although last year they only got 2nd place.


Tim, their father, has been the Elementary Girls Basketball Coach this last two years.


God has really blessed me with some awesome grand daughters. 


My next article on this will be about my younger grand sons, who are also showing extremely promising signs.

Youtube adds Channel for your fans!

YouTube, recently purchased by Google,  has added a neat feature for those who store their videos and also keep track of their favorite vids.
It's called a Channel. It appears like a TV on your screen and visitors can find and play all of your uploaded videos, and all the YouTube vids that you have Favorited.
This approach fits me perfectly, since I store all my videos and pictures online, and don't back them up on my computer. 
Why? For one, I don't own a computer. I use Mary's a lot and others when I am out. I don't want to load down someone elses computer. In fact I really want to own as little as possible.
The other reason the Channel fits me well is that I like to collect things that inspire me or cause me to laugh and pass them on.
Stop by my channel and look around. Hit the play lists or view the uploaded videos of my family. http://www.youtube.com/user/hoosiergrandaddy?feature=mhsn#p/a
The channel also has stats to show how many people have viewed not only your channel, but also where they are from, percentages, and more.

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