Apparently a cat in Gering, NE was discovered to have plague.
This is the same disease that wiped out much of Europe in the Middle Ages.
Sources say there is no reason to panic, but they didn't write "Ring around the rosey" about picking flowers. I'm frankly just glad that I just have a dog who thinks he's a cat.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
God Loves the Underdog
God picked a guy with a stutter to be the guy who would lead the Hebrews out of Egypt.
He picked an old guy to build a boat to save all creation.
He picked an older guy to be the father of all Israel.
He took a small army against the city of Jericho with its indestructible walls.
He picked a fisherman to be the leader of His Church.
And in the battle for Heaven, He chooses a mere Archangel, that is one from the 8th of the 9 choirs of angels, the second lowest tier of angelic beings, to lead his army against the greatest of the angels, Lucifer, and his army.
The point is that God knows better than we do what we are made of and what it takes to succeed. This is one thing that I try to take to heart in parenting. I know that God can take someone like me with all my flaws and use me to raise children who know Him, love Him, and serve Him. How great is that?
The other thing that remembering God's love for the underdog helps with is in our battle with sin. How can someone with imperfect intellect, skewed desires, and a weak will possibly win against the master of deception? With God.
Could you have killed a giant, led people to freedom across a desert, built an ark, fathered a nation, taken Jericho, or lead a Church? To quote a little scripture:
- Matthew 19:25-26 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible."
So the next time you see an underdog situation, just know that God might be getting ready for something awesome.
Until then, I'm back to my mission...
He was a good man...
Have you ever been to a funeral for someone and in the eulogy they repeatedly say "He was a good man..." or "He is in a better place.."? Sometimes this might be true and that person is making a quick trip to a seat at the head table in Heaven. Other times, you hope the person made it to purgatory. Still other times you have to wonder if the eulogizer even knew this person.
While I haven’t been to a lot of funerals in my life and I genuinely believe that most of the funerals I have been to were for good people, a line in a book I was reading (Be a Man by Fr. Larry Richards) asked, “What will people say at your funeral?” That got me thinking… (uh-oh, now’s your chance to get out before I rant!)
When people die, we always try to say nice things. We’ve all been taught, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”, but why do people feel the need to say, “He was a good man” or “He’s in a better place” even when they don’t necessarily believe it? Is it better to lie about someone or just remain silent or just say, “I’m sorry for your loss”?
When I pass away, I do not want someone just to say nice things about me. The only way I want those words uttered is if I was really a good man or if people who knew me think that I will be joining our maker in Heaven. I’m a far cry from that right now, but I work toward it every day.
I want people to be honest about me, but here are some things I hope they say (not in any order):
“That guy loved his wife.”
“He was a good father.”
“He always stood strong for the Church.”
“He was a good friend.”
“He was a hard worker.”
“He was good at his work.”
“He was a good coach.”
Etc.
That is the guy I strive to be. I know I’m a far cry from perfect, but part of my mission is to have these things said about me when I go – and have them be true.
So I’m back to my mission…
While I haven’t been to a lot of funerals in my life and I genuinely believe that most of the funerals I have been to were for good people, a line in a book I was reading (Be a Man by Fr. Larry Richards) asked, “What will people say at your funeral?” That got me thinking… (uh-oh, now’s your chance to get out before I rant!)
When people die, we always try to say nice things. We’ve all been taught, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”, but why do people feel the need to say, “He was a good man” or “He’s in a better place” even when they don’t necessarily believe it? Is it better to lie about someone or just remain silent or just say, “I’m sorry for your loss”?
When I pass away, I do not want someone just to say nice things about me. The only way I want those words uttered is if I was really a good man or if people who knew me think that I will be joining our maker in Heaven. I’m a far cry from that right now, but I work toward it every day.
I want people to be honest about me, but here are some things I hope they say (not in any order):
“That guy loved his wife.”
“He was a good father.”
“He always stood strong for the Church.”
“He was a good friend.”
“He was a hard worker.”
“He was good at his work.”
“He was a good coach.”
Etc.
That is the guy I strive to be. I know I’m a far cry from perfect, but part of my mission is to have these things said about me when I go – and have them be true.
So I’m back to my mission…
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