Only In California

Even as an avid motorcyclist, with years of experience on multiple bikes under my belt, but I don't think I'm brave enough to try riding around with one of these strapped to the side!

Vintage BMW Motorcycle and Surfboard Combo Defines Style

What say you dear reader? Would you dare it?

~ Ride Safe ~
Sparky

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Are You Listening?

Are You Listening?

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

The Apostle Paul had much that he yearned to teach the Hebrew believers — wonderful truths that would have thrilled their hearts — but these truths were “hard to be uttered,” or difficult to explain to them, since they were “dull of hearing.” The word “dull” in Heb. 5:11 really means “slothful,” or indifferent (as in Heb. 6:12). They were not merely hard of hearing, as we say, but were too lazy, too indifferent, spiritually, to pay attention. They were not sufficiently interested.

This is always a serious condition in the light of the fact that “God hath spoken,” and that disobedience to His Word will be judged (Heb. 1:1,2; 2:1-3). Yet, alas, this is the condition of the professing Church today. The great majority of religious people are not sufficiently interested in what God has said to engage in diligent, prayerful study and, like those of Paul’s day, still have to be taught “the first principles” of the Bible. They have remained babes, spiritually, unable to digest anything but “milk,” and so remain “unskillful in the Word of righteousness” (Heb. 5:12-14).

What has brought this condition about? Is it because our Bibles are being burned and the Church persecuted for reading it? Is it because God is unwilling to lead us further into His truth? Most assuredly not. It is because so many men of God in high places no longer have the single passion to know God’s Word and to make it known. They could be as greatly used of God in teaching the Scriptures as their predecessors were, but they are “slothful of hearing” and hence can present their hearers with little that is of true value.

This, in turn, is reflected in the religious masses. They “love” their Bibles, but not enough to study them diligently and become workmen whom God can approve. Let us not be numbered among these. Rather, let it be our one great desire to gain a clear understanding of God’s Word, rightly divided — for His sake, for our own sake and for the sake of the needy souls about us.

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To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Tools ... And How To Use Them

 

Band Saw:

A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut large pieces into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.

Belt Sander:

An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.

 

Channel Locks:

Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.

 

Common Screwdriver:

A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.

 

Drill Press:

A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.

 

Hacksaw:

One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle... It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.

 

Hammer:

Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

 

Hydraulic Floor Jack:

Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.

 

 

Oxyacetylene Torch:

Used almost entirely for igniting various flammable objects in your shop and creating a fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.

 

Phillips Screwdriver:

Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.

 

Pry Bar:

A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.

 

PVC Pipe Cutter:

A tool used to make plastic pipe too short.

 

Skill Saw:

A portable cutting tool used to make boards too short.

Table Saw:

A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity. Very effective for digit removal!!

 

Two-Ton Engine Hoist:

A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of all the crap you forgot to disconnect.

 

Utility Knife:

Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door. Works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.

 

Vise-Grips:

Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

 

Wire Wheel:

Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. Also removes fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, 'Oh crap'.

 

Damn It Tool:

Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling 'Damn It' at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need.

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ The Counsel Of Kindness

The Counsel Of Kindness

by Pastor Ricky Kurth

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

While probably everyone has an idea of what it means to be kind, the precise definition of kindness might surprise you! Let’s begin by seeing how the Bible defines this word, as we compare Scripture with Scripture:

In II Chronicles 10, Rehoboam had just inherited the throne of Israel upon the death of his father Solomon (9:29-31). When the people asked if he would ease the financial burden that his father had placed upon them (10:1-5), Rehoboam “took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon” (v. 6). These elders wisely replied,

“If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever” (v. 7).

However, the parallel passage in I Kings 12 records their words differently:

“If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever” (v. 7).

Far from a discrepancy, this variation in what these men were heard to say that day is God’s way of defining kindness. To be kind to a man means to be a servant to him. This agrees with Webster’s definition of the word “kind”:
“Disposed to do good to others, and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants…,” etc.

How important is kindness? When Rehoboam “forsook the counsel of the old men” (I Kings 12:8), and determined to be more unkind than his father ever dreamed of being (vv. 14,15), “Israel rebelled against the house of David” (v. 19). This was the beginning of the great division in the twelve tribes of Israel, as Jeroboam led ten of the tribes in revolt away from the house of David, driving a wedge between the ten tribes of Israel and the two tribes of Judah (I Kings 12:20-33). In other words, millions of people were divided for a thousand years—all for the lack of a little kindness!

In closing, while your lack of kindness is not likely to have that kind of monumental effect in the world, it will affect someone. Why not rather decide right now to be Pauline in practice as well as in doctrine, and “be ye kind one to another!”

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ The Gospel Of Salvation

The Gospel of Salvation

by Pastor Paul M. Sadler

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

The Word of God teaches, “The wages of sin is death.”  When Christ stepped across the stars into this world of sin and woe, death was powerless over Him.  Christ knew no sin!  He was the sinless, spotless Lamb of God; therefore death could not lay its icy grip upon His shoulder.

Tell me then, how is it that, at the end of His earthly ministry, He’s suffering and dying in shame and disgrace?  You see, Christ wasn’t dying for His sins, for He knew no sin (II Cor. 5:21; I John 3:5).  He was dying for your sins and my sins upon that cruel tree.  Our sins and iniquities were laid upon Him that He might redeem us back to God through His precious blood.

Now God turns to a lost and dying world with the good news of Calvary.  Simply believe that Christ died for your sins personally, and rose again the third day, and God will wonderfully save you from the wrath to come, according to the riches of His grace.  Do you know the joy of sins forgiven?  If not, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:13; I Cor. 15:3,4).

Funny Friday ~ Honda Hands Commercial

Did you recognize all the Honda products? I think they make just about everything with a motor.

~ Ride Safe ~
Sparky

Our Week So Far

Well, I’ve been busier than a one-armed paper-hanger this week. I had to have a YAG laser procedure performed on both eyes to improve vision quality. This had to be done on separate days, of course, so the doctor could charge the insurance company twice! sarcasm alert!! And I just love having my eyes dilated twice and then cooling my heels in a doctor’s waiting room for hours on end. NOT! Then Hubby ran over a nail with his Moto Guzzi. Because his Italian mistress has to have tires balanced in a certain way, that meant driving all the way down to Jax, and all the way back, to have the tire mounted and balanced properly. An entire day blown on that. Mix all those events in with the daily work and it made for a busy time in the Sparky household.

I am so looking forward to Fall. Even though it’s cooler than usual for August, I am tired of the heat, humidity, and bugs. I think I’ve only rode the V-Strom I think three times since summer officially started. Last time I rode was a short stint into Waycross to buy some grass fungicide. Because of all the rain, our grass has been getting some nasty Brown Spot. I wore all my protective gear but because of the heat index, I opted to leave my heavily armored Joe Rocket jacket in the closet. I was so nervous the whole time I was moving! There were quiet thanksgivings offered by me when I arrived home without any mishaps. Rather than do any more risky behaviour, though, I’ve parked the metal steed until it cools off a bit more. I thought about going for a night ride but do you know, in all the years I’ve ridden (since my early teen‘s), I’ve never had a bike out in the dark. For those of you unfamiliar with motorcycling, it’s a whole new dynamic when riding on two wheels at night. It is imperative to slow down, be highly visible and use even greater caution than usual. There’s all manner of dangers in the dark: critters, road debris, impaired drivers and so forth. So, for now, the “V” sits in the garage hooked up to the trickle charger.

My only sister-in-law worth speaking too, and I, are going to let our currently short hair styles go long. Since mine was so incredibly short when I started letting it grow out several weeks ago it was starting to look very unkept. So, I decided to have my local hair person trim it straight across the back and make the edges look neater. I’ve been doing the bangs myself. Now, hopefully when it grows out I won’t look like I should be on Food Stamps.

Our 34th wedding anniversary is this Sunday. I still have the pink wedding dress in the photo. I can’t wear it (must have shrunk?? … lol) but it is in the closet! To save money during the economic depression, we plan to stay home this year. Sweetie said he’s going to cook a super spectacular meal. He always does anyway, but I can’t wait to see what treats appear. I think the only thing that would make it even more special is if we could take the bikes out.

We’ll see …

~ Ride Safe ~
Sparky

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Asleep In A Storm

Asleep In A Storm

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
Printer Friendly Version

What a disappointing scene! A terrifying storm, souls in danger of death, but Jonah, the man of God, fast asleep.

Sailors are not soon frightened in a storm, but this time the fury of the gale was so great that “the ship was like to be broken” and even the sailors were driven to their knees “and cried every man unto his god” (Jonah 1:4,5).
Can it be that Jonah, the only man aboard who knew the true God, was sleeping? Sleeping while souls were perishing? This was the shameful truth, and not one of us would blame the terrified captain for rudely awakening him and crying: “What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God!” (Verse 6).

But let us not be too ready to condemn Jonah, for we may be more guilty than he. Surely the world today is passing through a fearful storm and souls all about us are in peril of their lives. If they do not accept God’s way of salvation; if they do not trust in Christ, they will perish. And what are we doing about it? Are we pleading for them in prayer? Are we doing what we can to reach them for Christ? Or are we fast asleep?

“What meanest thou O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God!” And when you have cried to God in behalf of your unsaved relatives, friends, and business associates, He will send you to witness to them of Christ and His love. Not until you have talked to God about them will you be ready to talk to them about God.

Politically, morally, spiritually, the night is dark, the storm is raging and souls are perishing, but “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts” (IICor.4:6). “… We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others” (I Thess. 5:5,6).

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Desperation Saturday

It's really cooled off here with all this lovely rain. It's got me feeling fine this evening and thought I'd share the fun.

Enjoy!

Desperation Samba
(halloween in tijuana)
By: Jimmy Buffett, Will Jennings, Timothy B. Schmit
1985
This song brings to mind two things. first, an image of robert mitchum
Standing in the doorway of a bar in tijuana, and second, a line by
Thomas mcguane, my brother-in-law, from his book, panama,
"the night wrote a check the morning couldn't cash."
- used by permission of author

Halloween in tijuana
Full moon in my eyes
I wonder how in the hell I got here
Without a disguise

Should I take this last step
Or turn myself around
Or follow my intuition into that border town

Yo quiero a bailar en mexico [I want to dance in mexico]
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos [ ...with our friends]
Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos

Pretty girls they beckon
From their rooms above
Skeletons are dancing
In the name of love

Don't know where I'm goin'
I don't like where I've been
There may be no exit
But hell I'm going in

Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos
Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos

I hear the people singing that same old haunting tune
I drink because I know it's me against the moon

Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos
Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos

-- spoken:
"tss, tss tss"
"hey, psst amigo!"

Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh

Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos
Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos

- notes:
Background vocals: timothy b. schmit, harry stinson
Featuring reggie young on gut string guitar and
Harrison ford on the bullwhip

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Just For Fun ~ Our Day In Pictures

A Banded NetWing beetle

landed on the office window.

(Sorry, it's a little blurry.)

Hubby was greeted by a baby Hognose snake

in the workshop this morning.

And we enjoyed zucchini lasagna for supper. YUM!

(our receipe here)

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

A Meeting Between A Crank And A Skank

I see that Obama is hosting a friendly cough tête-à-tête with former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton today.

President Barack Obama hosted Hillary Clinton for lunch on Monday, treating his former secretary of state to grilled chicken, pasta jambalaya, and salad, amid speculation that her possible 2016 White House run could also be on the menu. [more]

That's not quite right, is it dear reader. The only ones on the menu (read: cross-hairs) will be the American taxpayers. Again. The happy couple actually enjoyed roasted taxpayers and skewered TEA party, while spitting islamic wrapped wads on them and watching them simmer.

My husband coined the phrase, Crank and a Skank. It's really fitting when you realize that "Crank" is now a slang drug term.

Also, NBC will be snuggling up to the Skank soon too. They plan to run a 2 hour special about her highness and all her, eh, 'accomplishments'. I guess they'll leave the Insider Trading, and the Whitewater, Rose Law Firm, Beghazi scandals out of the lineup though. They are becoming quite extensive and too long to list in my humble blog. But, what difference does it make?! Right?!

Who says America doesn't have royality ... 

~Ride Safe~

Sparky

The Fascinating Fungus Amoung Us

We've been getting a lot of lovely rain this year. Along with the green grass and budding trees, our yard is full of so many interesting mushrooms! I've been on a real tear taking photos everywhere. (Hey, I'm a poet and don't know it! ha ha) I didn't try to learn all the names since mushrooms are very difficult to identify unless you're practically an expert. There are so many varieties! Below are a few of my favorites from around our property.

~Ride Safe~
Sparky

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ That Precious Deposit

That Precious Deposit

by Pastor Paul M. Sadler
Printer Friendly Version

Berean Bible Society

The story is told of how a wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.”

The young man held out his package. “I know this isn’t very much, I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.” The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.” The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the great works of art he had collected.

The man died a few months later. Shortly thereafter, there was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having the opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.” But the auctioneer persisted. “Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?” Another voice shouted angrily. “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!” But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?”

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have $10, who will bid $20?” “Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.” The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, going twice, SOLD for $10!” A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now let’s get on with the collection.”

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction is over.” “What about the paintings?” “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets every thing!”

God gave His Son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, “The Son, the Son, who’ll take the Son?” Because, you see, whoever takes the Son inherits everything! ¹

EARTHEN VESSELS

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Cor. 4:7).

In biblical times earthen vessels were clay pots that had been thoroughly baked in an oven. They were fraught with imperfections, which meant that no two were exactly alike. Archeologists have discovered that those who lived during that period secretly buried their treasures in clay pots for safekeeping. As we shall see, the master illustrator uses this facet of everyday life to illustrate a grand spiritual truth.

Those who have taken the Son are heirs, joint-heirs with Him. As members of the Body of Christ, we are partakers of His glory, His power, and His reign. In short, we are the recipients of the wealth of heaven! While the believing Gentiles will partake of the blessings of the kingdom, they are not said to be heirs. In the kingdom, heirship is a question of nationality. In the present dispensation of Grace, heirship is based upon relationship. We are one in Him. Therefore, what rightfully belongs to Him, we have come into possession of, and will share it mutually with Him for eternity (Rom. 8:17 cf. Eph. 3:6).

Today when men want to safeguard their riches they place them in vaults made of steel and concrete. But God’s ways are not man’s ways. God has deposited the riches of His grace in earthen vessels. We need not wait until we arrive in heaven to learn what we presently possess in Christ. We have this treasure, that is, the gospel of the grace of God in earthen vessels. Those who have been saved by grace are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. But what we positionally enjoy in Christ must become a practical reality in the Christian experience if we ever hope to maintain a godly testimony among men. For example, we are forgiven in Christ, but grace teaches us that we are to forgive others even as Christ has forgiven us.

In the year 1818, Tamatoe, King of Huahine, one of the South Sea Islands, believed the gospel. He discovered a plot among his fellow natives to seize him and other converts and burn them to death. However, he organized a band to attack the plotters and captured them unawares. Having exposed the plot, he forgave them, and set a feast before his would-be captors. This unexpected kindness amazed the savages, who burned their idols and became Christians. ²

But why would God place these unspeakable riches in such an unsecure place? We are unworthy sinners, weak and frail, who have the sentence of death within us. Perhaps the hymn-writer, Robert Robinson, has expressed it best, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” The answer to the question is found in the latter part of our passage. “That the excellency [exceeding greatness] of the power may be of God, and not of us.” While others usually think more highly of us than they should, essentially it is the power of God working through us that produces results in the Lord’s work.

Many years ago I was invited to minister the gospel at a Bible camp in the Rocky Mountains. On the last evening, I spoke on “The Danger of Falling Into the Hands of An Angry God.” Earlier that day I hadn’t been feeling well, due to altitude sickness. In addition to being exhausted that night, I was short of breath. At ten thousand feet it doesn’t take much to get winded. I now understand why it took Moses so long to return from Mount Sinai with the tablets of stone. He undoubtedly had to keep stopping on his way down to catch his breath! As I arose to speak that evening I thought to myself, this is going to be an absolute disaster. It was, or at least I thought it was, until I learned two months later that an entire family was saved that night. Brethren, the gospel is the “power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom 1:16).

At the Judgment Seat of Christ no one will be able to boast regarding what he or she has accomplished, for the power is solely of God and not of us. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” In the final analysis, God will receive all the glory and honor and praise and adoration for the great things He has done. We are merely vessels through whom God has poured out the riches of His grace to a lost and dying world.

What is your attitude toward the Mystery? When the final chapter of your life is written and the book is closed, will you be able to say with the Apostle Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”? May you have no regrets at that day!

Notes:

1. Author unknown. ↩
2. Paul Lee Tan, Signs of the Times, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Assurance Publishers, Rockville, MD, 1979. ↩

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To The Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.
 

Why I Blog

Our Front Door
Why do I blog? I‘ve been pondering that for several months. You know, we all have our sack of rocks to carry around. Mine is I’ve been dealing with the now imminent loss of a much beloved miniature schnauzer, Maxie. She's been my almost constant companion since she was about 4 months old. If she survives long enough, she’ll be 15 years old next October. Her deterioration has been excruciatingly slow. At the risk of being overly dramatic, it‘s hanging over my head like the sword of Damocles because I know she‘s “doomed“. She’s really going downhill, some days faster than others. Every day I keep expecting to find her lifeless body in the yard or laying in her bed. It’s tearing me up inside and I lost sight of why I blog.

But back to why do I blog. I started blogging to help keep me fresh, creative, and to learn from others. I blog to share ideas. I blog to maybe even make a few “virtual“ friends along the way. Lo and behold, I found I enjoy writing even if it’s about mundane every day stuff like “I cooked a new dish today". If I want to have topics to write about, then I must get off my over 55 year old duff and create. My blog is about my faith in Jesus Christ, motorcycling, my pets, family, my homemade creations, the garden, my digital photos, my (feeble) stab at decorating on a budget, Libertarian politics and whatever floats into my fluffy noggin. I’m not an expert in any of these areas, they are only the view of the world from my perspective.

The blog was started many years ago just for me. I also wanted a record of my existence. I wanted a way to share My Thoughts with that big cyber world out there. I didn't care if anyone read it but me and I lost sight of that. I am not a professional writer, and my grammar, I’m sure, leaves a lot to be desired, but I wanted to put my life down in words and photos.

So, pull up a cyber rocker and join me on the porch if there’s time. There’s plenty of beer or tea or whatever to go around, depending on your propensity. If not, that’s OK too. I just appreciate y’all stopping by for a spell. Thank you for your patience and for putting up with my Irish temper tantrums.

Have a blessed day folks.

~ Ride Safe ~
Sparky

Hiatus. 1. A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break

I don't get it.

I have over 80 followers but very few readers or comments. This has left me feeling a little disgruntled, miffed, depressed, disappointed. Truly, though, I may be simply bored with blogging. Or maybe I am boring. Therefore I have decided to stop for awhile.

For my blogger friends that do bother to comment and visit I will be visiting your blogs as usual. And do feel free to e-mail. Anytime.

Thank you and God bless,

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Remember, Freedom Isn't Free ~ Memorial Day Tribute

 

In spite of all the crazy things going on in the world. In spite of our once (real or imagined) noble government officials who seem to be comprised of entirely scoundrels, cads, heels, thieves and monstrously outrageous liars. In spite of an overwhelming fear of the future, the corruption, the rampant inflation, the dangerous atmosphere if you disagree with the officials and the ever multiplying scandals, I am still proud to be an American. I still wouldn't live anywhere else.  And it's mostly in part to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day, at home and abroad, who vow to protect the Constitution of the United States.

Besides, I truly have faith that things will get better here, for as Queen Elizabeth I said in 1583 after several failed assassination attempts, "They are seeking to take my life but it troubles me not. He who is on high has defended me until this hour, and will keep me still, for in Him I do trust."

So dear military, I humbly thank you for the sacrifices you've made for all Americans. I will remember that freedom isn't free. You are very appreciated by me today and every day. I support the troops but not the pointless wars, which is why I want you all to come home. I will always with every breathe of my body remember and honor our heroes and patriots who died for our country and our Constitution. You are here to protect Americans, not whatever worthless butt is occupying the Oval Office seat at the moment.

SO LET'S BRING THEM ALL HOME SAFE NOW!

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Funny Friday ~ Biker Bar

I called your house the other day and was told you were down at your favorite biker bar with some friends.

I wasn't sure where that was, but was told I wouldn't have much trouble finding it.

Sure enough, I drove just a couple blocks

and there it was ... 

 There is nothing like the feel of the sun on your face and the wind in your hair, is there?

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Dead Works

Dead Works

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

Twice in Paul’s epistles he refers to “dead works”. In Hebrews 6:1 he writes about “repentance from dead works”, while in Hebrews 9:14 he declares that the blood of Christ avails to “purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God”.

Mark well, these references are not to wicked works but to dead works. These “dead works” are the so-called “good works” (whether moral or ceremonial) which men did — and still do — to make themselves acceptable to God. They are “dead” because they are not the product of regeneration or spiritual life, but the mere attempt on the part of unregenerate sinners to justify themselves before God.

Paul himself, once zealously religious, but wholly unsaved, had to repudiate his “dead works” and count them “loss” to find salvation in Christ, through whom alone he could produce good works which God could accept. (See Philippians 3:4-9).

This is why he later declared by divine inspiration: “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…” (Eph.2:8-10).

“Dead works” are not only unacceptable to God, but an evil substitute for the faith He desires, “for without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb.11:6). But “he that believeth on the Son of God hath life” and this life is bound to bear fruit– the good works with which God is truly pleased.

The difference between the “good works” of the unregenerate man and the “good works” of a true believer, then, is that the former are “dead works” while the latter are the precious fruit of life possessed.

No man can please God while he denies the truth of His Word or rejects His Son, so graciously given to die on the cross as our Saviour. To try to win His favor by “good works” while rejecting Christ is like sending a gift to a man whose beloved son you spurn and despise.

“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:35,36).

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Tea Party IRS Protests May 21

On behalf of Tea Party, Patriot groups, 9/12, liberty activists, and the American people, we are calling for anyone and everyone to protest the IRS’ complete abuse of power on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at noon local time. [link]

Will you attend? Will you protest now while you still can? Or will you live under tyranny and lose all your liberties instead?

The choice is ours. For now.

h/o Legal Insurrection

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

A California To Texas Translation Guide

Presidential Mothers Of 5 Living Presidents #MothersDay

They say a picture is worth a thousand words ...

... this one has to be worth $16+ Trillion, wouldn't ya say?

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky