7/6/2019
The SIMH today was unpleasant, and I don’t want to tell you about an unpleasant song or its writer or who made a hit out of it, etc., etc. Someone must not of thought that song was unpleasant, so why did I? Good question. I think the thing which determines our like or dislike of a song has as much to do with our mood at the moment as it does anything. At any rate, I believe a more pleasant number will be there tomorrow.
Hoping you all had a super-duper 4th of July! Thank God for independence. We were so independent we worked in the yard and mowed grass till heat and weariness drove us in. Mowing is on my agenda again for today. (This is a big lot!) Sometimes when I’m mowing, I think of buying a riding mower. Then, if my sanity is holding, I think how little exercise that would be. And if I get any exercise any more worthwhile than walking behind a mower, I don’t know what it is.
Are any of you, uh, up-in-years-folks engaged in any “plank” exercises? I can’t seem to remember it at the time of day I can fit it in, but I do get benefit from it—if, and when. How about you? Do you plank? (How long has it been since someone asked you that?—haha). Once, when my wife ran several miles a day, a friend asked her about some of the details of when, where, etc. While she was telling him about it, another friend asked him, “Do you run?” He laughed out loud! He was in his 60s at the time, hardly had an ounce of fat anywhere, probably weighed what he did when he was 21. Run? He didn’t need to run, he said. Ya know, he was probably right. I ran just about all I was ever going to run while playing on the basketball and baseball teams when in high school—cause I had to. I couldn’t seem to make my body ever understand I should run because I wanted to. (I don’t doubt the benefit, but I’m pretty sure the desire has to be there.)
Something I noticed yesterday while working outside. The type of exercise and muscle usage really makes a difference in fitness. I felt really good mowing, the walking and the stop and start at corners and odd shaped edges didn’t seem to create fatigue. But then, I had to dig two holes; the first to remove a small tree and its root system, the second to replant the small tree and its widely spread out root system. This required two groups of muscles: the first for removal — back and leg muscles, and the second for replanting—the stomach and arms. The fatigue set in. Then, when I got some rope and 3 stakes to hold the tree against the wind, stooping and hammering really showed me how low my energy level had dipped—it was just 3 little stakes! Anyway, it was a quick recovery and all is well. Something to work on.
Half the year has gone and as usual, the week of July 4th is a planning time, at least mentally. Though I sincerely believe in setting goals for one’s self and for the business venturing one is involved with, I’m not in favor of goals for the ministry. (Many years ago, someone smarter than I told me to walk through the doors which open and to quit trying to kick doors down. I understood.)
For the ministry, I expect to be doing whatever is brought to my attention to do, primarily being what I do now. a Monday night “live” internet (seen at zoom.us/j/2103785748) at 7 pm, followed by the recorded message being put on YouTube channel, Brother Jerry Lockhart. Also, twice monthly on the Sundays I’m available I will teach at Grace Bible Church in Alexandria, AL. (Unless they find someone who can be there full-time.) There are only two more scheduled conferences that I know of for the rest of this year: In September, the Grace Bible Church of Chattanooga, TN will hold their 39th annual conference (20th-22nd.) Then, in October, the Navarre, FL conference will be held the 25th-27th. Both these conferences will serve the Lord in gladness of heart in spite of our earthly circumstances. I intend to be at both and hope you are, also.
Today, I’d like to leave you with 3 basic and substantive bible verse. If you will let the Spirit lead you in study, these 3 simple verses will guide you into a deeper understanding of how the Lord is willing to lead us, both individually and collectively:
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?(Ps.11:3) (Foundational truth first lies in the process of believing that God’s plan for the ages is in place and He has not yet been surprised at any event, nor shall He ever be.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Col. 2:8) (The “any man” means just that. Being spoiled by man’s opinions and philosophies of life its not being sent by the Lord. Examine and prove all things by the Scripture.)
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Lk.12:48b) (Here we sit in the 21st century after the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth. Before the end of the first century, we had been given the entire word of God in written form. It has been mangled and marauded down through the centuries, finally being put together through the auspices of the English language in the form of the King James Bible. And in the last 118 years+, it has been maligned anew by the writing of supposed experts whose own religious “philosphies” have permeated our plain as day doctrines through more than 100 “versions” which claim to be God’s word.)
Read and re-read these 3 verses and let the Lord lead.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
the Elder's Blog 