Obedience

I've just begun reading Thomas Watson's *The Ten Commandments* in an effort to learn from the Law. Already I'm feeling the heat. This book was one of three that Watson published in a collection called *A Body of Practical Divinity*. (The first book was called *A body of Divinity* and the third *The Lord's Prayer*.) Apparently Watson didn't write much else, but every reference I find to this book is golden.

Almost four years have past since I first purchased the book. It is funny to me that I have such a strong memory of buying it. During a two-week stint in South Africa with the Wegener family, we checked out a Christian book store in Capetown that was supposed to be quite good. The store as a whole was just alright, but an elderly man who frequented the store had just passed away and his survivors had put his entire library up for sale in this shop. On David Wegener's recommendation, I bought three books there that day. The second and third were Watson's *The Lord's Prayer* and Murray's *Redemption Accomplished and Applied,* which is amazing.

Anyway, enough with the nostalgia. I've only begun this one, but it promises lots of conviction and lots of growth. The first part is on obedience. Watson asks the question, "What makes our obedience acceptable?" Aside from the obvious but all important intermediation of Christ, his observations were cutting. Sincerity, for instance. Purity of intent. And, this is where I fall so desperately short, joyfulness in giving our obedience.

I often jokingly boss people around with the command, "Like it!" or "You'll do it and you'll like it!" Well, joke's on me. Sometimes I get the suspicion that we'll spend eternity watching God's homevideos of how we thought we knew what we were doing, but suddenly in a really ironic manner discovered we were wrong/hypocrites/idiots/sinners, like a divine version of "Punked." Does anyone else get that feeling? If the gag reel of my life is available in the life hereafter, please bring popcorn.

Just a wonder...

How much time would I need to have off to do all the things I've been putting off "until I have enough time?"

There's the learning another language, not to mention linear algebra and real analysis. And I've got quite a bit of working out to catch up on. There's also the book I'd like to write and the things I'd like to ready. Oh, Lordy, the things I'd like to read! I've got at least two-hundred books I'd like to digest. I wish that number was shrinking. There are artsy things, too, like taking a great photo and making a film.


I suppose if I dedicated a hundred hours to each hobby I'd like to pick up, eight hours to each book, two hours to each film, and a five hundred hours a piece to the three or four languages I'd like to pick up, that totals to... around 4,000 hours.

If I devoted two hours a day to this list it would take me two thousand days to tackle it. That's like six years. And what if the list increases?

Should I hope for less, or get cracking? Your comments please.

Peace,
Krammy

Worry

Jesus said, "Do not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough cares of its own."

I don't come across this way to most people, but I'm a very anxious person. Lately, I've done quite a bit of worrying about the future. Where will we live? What will we do? How will I ever pay back my student loans?

I wonder whether I'm doing the right thing by burdening my family with thousands and thousands of dollars of debt. At the same time, I wonder whether taking an easy job would be wasting my gifts. Do I need to pursue my interests into the red? Is that glorifying God?

I only ask this question, I now realize, because I'm afraid that God won't bless me if I choose the wrong path. This is where Jesus words comfort me. "When your child ask you for a fish you do not give him a snake do you? How much more will your heavenly Father give you good things when you ask Him!"

Sometimes it is hard to remember that God is not the Devil.

Peace,
Krammy

ok ok already

Maybe I fell off the horse.

What horse you ask? Well, in mid January I put up a little post about how I was gonna post or journal every day. As you can tell from the date on my most recent entry, that hasn't quite been the case. Time to get my life straightened up I suppose.

Speaking of getting my life together, Della and I have been going to the gym semi-regularly. We've been five times in the last two weeks, which is more than either of s could boast for the last five months put together. I'm seeing a chiropractor these days, too. I wasn't kidding about straightening up. I had no idea how crooked I was (literally, although married life is illustrating the figurative aspect).

Well, I better not blow everything I've got to say tonight. I'll have nothing left for tomorrow.

Have you heard of this?

So last week I was introduced to an elite secret club. I was not offered to join, they don't offer invitations. For, this club is so elite I would not even be granted the paper work necessary to fill out an application to join. I'm of course referring to a select group of people, sometimes mentioned in rap videos, that meet some ridiculous credentials that entitle them to carry an American Express Black card. Or it's proper name, the Centurion Card.

It was a legend I had only heard about until yesterday. This mysterious card, was described to me as being a black covered piece of gold that only two of our employees have ever seen before. The holder of the card may use it just like a credit card, but there are some conditions.There is a US $5,000 one-time initiation fee for new primary card holders, plus the annual fee of US $2,500. Requirements include minimum annual spending of $250,000, exceptional credit history and significant financial assets.

A new Centurion card is crafted from anodized titanium and offers numerous exclusive privileges including:
A dedicated concierge and travel agent
Complimentary companion airline tickets on international flights with the purchase of a full fare ticket
Personal shoppers at retailers such as Escada, Gucci, and Neiman Marcus
Access to airport clubs, first class flight upgrades, membership in Sony's Cierge personal shopping program
The list goes on.....

So who has the cards? Jessica Simpson, Noel Gallager, Janet Jackson, and some guy a helped yesterday. Man, I did not see that coming. Sweet man, mid- 40's, a little over weight, with some tender feet that only Merrells could fix. We spent about 20 minutes looking for the right shoes for him, and some insoles to help his fallen arches. I tried to BS my way through, as best as I can, say a few stupid things that I have to apologize for, and then it's time to check out.

There it was. Heavier than I had imagined it would be. I was stunned but had to play it cool. I didn't want him to know that I knew. I wanted to ask, " so how do you spend close to $700 a day each year?" I didn't say a word. I actually didn't ask to see his I.D. or look to see what the name was on this magical card. I was just in complete shock.

How would you spend $250,000 a year? Over $20,800 a month? $5,000 a week? $686 a day?