Stuck In Anaerobic?

http://newspaper.li/bacteria/

The decay of debris at the depths of a pond is done by bacteria. And sometimes bacteria are more adaptive than humans. 

On sweltering summer days the wind is still, and oxygen is not dissolved in the water. As dissolved oxygen is depletes, bacteria change living and growing to survival and struggle. They switch to anaerobic respiration. These days are not good.

When the wind blows, waves add oxygen to the water. When oxygen is present, bacteria use aerobic respiration to break down the debris. These are the good days.

Bacteria switch back calmly and without hesitation.

Some opportunities look good and we look forward to great successes. Time after time the Devil tricks us. Once more, he has played us for fools. Now sinners, we battle against unfavorable conditions. We feel bogged down. Improvement appears impossible. Liars feel compelled to continue lying. Thieves have no choice but to continue stealing. Unchecked anger agonizes over titanic outcomes. It is survival and struggle. These are not good days.

Then the refreshing breeze of hope comes. He is Jesus. He furnishes the freedom to switch. He presents to the burdened consummate circumstances in which to thrive. Jesus presents liars freedom to tell the truth, thieves to earn a living, and anger governed.

So why does mankind persist in prospecting for solutions that exclude Jesus?

Bacteria switches, instantly, when the opportunity for oxygen comes. Are bacteria brighter than we are???

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

How about posting your comments on FaceBook's post?

Straight Line

I managed to do it again, and I did it very well.

I'm mowed a straight line across my wide yard.

Not amazed? You should be. My yard is 75 yards wide.

How do I do it? I stare at an object 100 yards beyond where I need to go. I fix my eyes on the object.

As long as I keep my eyes on the object, I can drive a straight line. But the moment I look away, I get out of line.

As long as Peter stared at Jesus, he walked on water. When he looked away and saw the waves, he sank.

Luke 9:51 indicates that when Jesus realized his ascension was approaching, he became determined to go to Jerusalem. Going to Jerusalem would cost him his life. So he 'fixed' his eyes on heaven and he endured the cross.

Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us about 'fixing' our eyes on Jesus. The passage has 2 challenges:

• to put aside the sins that weigh us down,
• to live with patience the life before us, keeping our eyes 'fixed' on Jesus.

If I fix my eyes on Jesus, I will see him:

• overcoming temptation with Bible verses.
• preaching repentance.
• serving the ill.
• telling people how to be happy.
• warning people about following him, and the trouble that will come.
• teaching the extent of our influence.
• indicating the importance of conflict resolution.
• teaching the extreme need to not stumble with sins like adultery.
• urging careful mate selection.
• promoting promise keeping.
• retarding retaliation.
• loving his enemies.
• practicing a non-showy piety.
• praying.
• mastering money.
• wiping out worry.
• showing the self-condemning nature of judging others.
• handcuffing hypocrisy.

This is the author and perfecter of our faith. When I fix my eyes on him, I will walk his straight line.

Editorial on 'Christianity'

Editorials voice one man's view on a subject, controversial or undisputed. Would we read more carefully if the piece was written by God's Spirit?

The Spirit of God is responsible for ALL the Bible. He used men to write the message (2 Peter 1:20-21).

As the Spirit wrote the editorial on Jewish history (Psalms 106), concurrently He was writing an editorial on people in 'Christian' religious groups today.

An examination of this 'editorial' finds the following relevant to many church-goers.

• They do not understand God's wonders (v.7). Many go for social reasons and do not know basic Bible stories.
• "They did not remember... "(v.7). When God's goodness is forgotten, it leads to rebellion.
• He saved them for His name's sake (v.8).  Salvation is designed to add praise to HIS NAME.
• "...they believed his word..."(v12). Some genuinely believe God's writtings, but often it is "believed" as a convenience. Watch what they do with belief later.
• "They quickly forgot his works..."(v.13). It is the "believers" who QUICKLY forgot, not those outside 'Christianity'.
• "They did not wait for His council..."(v.13). 
• When people forget, they overlook The One with the best answers. 
• In typical American haste, we imagine God has forgotten our requests. In fact, He may be waiting for the best time to bless us.

God's Spirit was not finished with His 'editorial'. 

• "And tested God..."(v.14.). What part  seems wise to you?
• "...they became envious..."(v.16). See God's works. Remember His kindness. Absorbe His wisdom and council. Who has better that you should "envy" them?
• "...and worshippes a molten image."(v.19). Were pennies, nickels, dimes, or quarters ever molten? Do the 'saved' woo or worship their jobs (a god?) to gain the 'molten god' of filthy lucre
• "They forgot God..."(v21). How often do 'the saved' substitute God with the target of our envy or the bling of a shiny molten god.
• They did not believe His word (v.24). Once God's word is no longer authoritative, then truth is suppressed, fellas become fools, sexual misconduct is supported, minds become depraved, wrong abounds, evil expands, greed grows, envy elevates, slaying is a solution, trickery thrives and malice multiplies, scuttlebutt substitutes and slander supersedes truth, independence is idealized, bragging booms, iniquity is invented, children disobey parents, understanding is undermined, love is lost, and mercy becomes minimal. Read Romans 1:18-32.

Then God's Spirit added these notes.

• They grumbled (v.25). They were not content with God's blessings. Sound like anyone you know?
• They did not listen to the voice of the Lord (v.25). At first, they did not BELIEVE His word, and now they will not LISTEN to Him. Does this create sporadic attendance?
• They joined themselves..." (v28). They JOINED another religion. Sadly, my friends JOIN religious groups. When following God's plan, HE ADDS them to His fellowship (Acts 2:47).
• They made Him mad (v29). What would, or should, God do to members of His church that make Him mad?
• They were rebellious against His Spirit (v.33). Why resist any part of God? What good will result?
• They did not conform to God's orders (v.34). God has always damned disobedience.
• They mingled with other nations (v.35). They were blending with people God had said to blot out. Do people blend their ideas of growing churches with God's specific commands?
• They learned other nations practices (v.35). The practices were picked up from should-be-extinct nations. God's church is not to be a mix of picked up 'practices', but pure, as God planned.
• They served the idols of other nations (v.36). God is Spirit. Worshipping Mary, an image of a relgious diety, or the statue of any man is idolatrous.

Furthermore, how many read these words and think since they have believed, or done a series of actions, they are eternally secure and can not be sent to hell. Hmmm. Let see if they have the same God.

After these digressions GOD THEN:

• Got angry and ABHORRED HIS PEOPLE (v. 40).
• GAVE THEM OVER to other nations (v.41).
• Their ENEMIES OPPRESSED them (v.42).

What an editorial!

----------------

So some of you agree while others disagree. Put your ideas up for discussion by adding comments.
Would you share this page with others?

Zeb and Sons Fishing Company

Zeb had always been a commercial fisherman. He had followed in the steps of his father, a fisherman. Over the last decade he and his boys had experienced phenomenal company growth and expansion. Grandpa would have been proud of the boy’s work ethics. And his dad would have been proud when Zeb began to hire employees to accommodate increased demand.

This success had translated into a better income for the company, himself, the boys, and their families. The company, with freshly hired help, now could add two boats to their mini-fleet. Now they could fish, dry, pack and ship two and sometimes three shifts each day.

But his sons, Jimmy and Johnny, were something else. They were true Galileans. Yes, they were brothers, and yes, they fought among themselves. But he, nor his wife, could cool their tempers. They were a pair of hot-heads. And they fed off each other’s anger making them fierce in debates. If you found them separated you might win a heated discussion, but if the second one showed up, it was time to hush and leave. Zeb called them Thunder's Sons.

Although they were fierce competitors, they could be equally loving and thoughtful. There were times when Johnny was young that he wanted to spend extra time with mom, and he could because of the success of the business. Jimmy had an uncanny ability to see the needy and empathize with them. Zeb didn't understand where this came from considering how wealthy the boys had always lived.

But about a week ago Zeb and Sons Fishing suddenly became Zeb's Fishing. No, there was no mutiny. Both his sons had suddenly quit. Zeb could make no sense of it. Here the two successful, hard working sons had a growing company to manage after his death and a very healthy income. But they had just walked out. It was so sudden. They just left Zeb and the hired help in the boat. They didn't wait to get home. They didn't discuss this major change in the business with him. They just left. And what was more, when they left, they walked off with those small-time competitors from down the road, Pete and Andy.

He could not understand what this Jesus from Nazareth had to offer that he couldn't give them. He just did not understand!