Randy Wray’s Blog

The central valley of California enjoys a weather related phenomenon known as Tule fog.  Named after a species of grass, this fog is prominent in the winter time — especially following a significant rain.  We had such a rain yesterday and now, this morning, we had the first installment of fog.  Accidents due to this fog are common and are the number one weather related cause of accidents in these parts.

A few years ago there was an 80 car pile up down around Selma.  Prior to that, just north Stockton, there was a 28 car and 12 big rig pile up because of this fog.

The fog is thick and syrupy, something like Greg’s blogs, and can be quite a nuisance.  When the fog arrives it brings an eerie presence.  I keep listening for bagpipes and just know I’ll spot Nessie in an irrigation canal.

The teachings of Jesus, as well as his lifestyle, are applicable to anyone in any culture who desires to follow him.  A follower of Jesus Christ will reflect in her lifestyle the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus.

The teachings of the apostles were applicable to those believers wanting to live out their Christian faith in their culture.  These teachings were given specifically for followers of Jesus Christ to be relevant in their existing culture.

Do these two thoughts agree with each other?  Are these two thoughts in opposition to each other?  Do either of these thoughts make a difference in how we live our life for Christ in our own day and age?

The evening went well.  Sure, we had a few wrong notes and some sound system glitches.  It just proves we are playing live and not with tracks.   The rough count was over one hundred.  Of course when I report this to the Christian Chronicle, with a preacher count, the number will be well over four hundred. 

Many people worked hard and their labor of love was evident.  I was so thrilled to see so many unfamiliar faces in the crowd.  Even more encouraging to hear how they were blessed.

The Long Beach crew had a daunting task.  Load, drive, unload, setup, practice, play, take down, load, drive, unload.  The kids worked hard running the Keynote presentation and videos.  We even managed a couple of meals at the Creamery.  If you are ever in town we’ll go grab a booth and relive some glory days.

The road crew (or roadies) are the technicians who travel on tour with musicians and who handle every part of the production except actually playing the music.

Except that in our project those who play the music have to set up the equipment and take down the equipment.  This is one of those things I really enjoy doing.

We are expecting the arrival of the Long Beach crew today for our community praise event tomorrow night.  Today i get to live the life of a roadie and set up sound equipment.  At times like this, and others, i miss the help of a certain friend of mine from Arlington.

We’d set up equipment and talk.  It was a great way to spend a few hours.

While sitting in my assigned chair, behind the podium, at the memorial service yesterday I had much time to stare at the shelf contents of the podium.

Paper fans, candles, a Bible, Kleenex, other items I couldn’t distinguish, some trash and a plastic bottle of holy water.

I mean no disrespect.  But with my latest kidney episodes and the doctors orders to drink as much water as possible . . .

I gave some serious thought to . . .

. . . after all, I reasoned, my kidneys could use the blessing. 

Today I will officiate the memorial service for Corwin Miller who died at the age of 93.  Corwin was a decorated member of the U.S. Armed forces.

He earned a purple heart for being wounded in action.

He was awarded the Silver Star for "Gallantry in Action Against an Opposing Armed Force."

He was awarded an Air Medal with one Leaf Cluster for "Meritorious Achievement while Participating in Aerial Flight."

He was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal for "service in the US Armed Forces within the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater.”

He was married 50 years to his wife Lois and cared for her tirelessly when she became crippled with arthritis.

Corwin has no family, that I am aware of, who will be in attendance today.

I never knew Corwin.  I never had the pleasure.  I never had the honor.

But I have known, and do know, men just like him. 

Men of honor.

Men of courage, conviction, and character. 

Men of distinction, duty, and devotion.

Shaped like a peanut. 

Made with real peanut butter. 

Described as a peanut butter sandwich cookie. 

An intriguing name that is fun to say.  Notice how it just rolls off the tongue.

I have it on good authority that Steven and Chipper like nutter butter cookies. 

Is there a better cookie out there than the nutter butter? 

A loyal reader and a contributor to the blog via email sent me a fun link this weekend. 

Have you ever wondered how many of you are out there?  Does someone famous share your name?  Did your parents name you after someone famous?  When you try to sign up for an email account has someone with your name beat you to it?

Click here to find out how many of you are out there.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 25 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I appreciate your comments from yesterday.  I agree with most of what was said.  Just on principle I disagree with anything Greg or Brady says but sometimes they leave me no choice but to agree.  I think Brad made a very astute observation regarding the proportion of our love.  Here, at least for me, is the difficult application.

Scroll through Matthew 5 and you begin to see the challenge of loving God more than yourself.  Pay attention to the words of Jesus and you begin to understand the sheer magnitude of loving others as you would love yourself.  Skip ahead to 7:12 and we learn the most important rule is "do to others what you want them to do to you."

When Jesus talks about anger, sexual sin, divorce, lying, retaliation, revenge and animosity he does so with three relationships in mind.  Personal involvement and experience in these eight things (yes, there are others but I’m just trying to get a grasp on this one chapter!) damages my relationship with God.  These attitudes, actions and experiences pollute me and this spiritual pollution keeps me away from an unpolluted God.

This pollution also damages me.  God’s desire for intimacy and holiness has as much to do with his relationship with me as it does with my own personal, spiritual well being; not to mention the actual physical and emotional side effects.

This pollution also damages those around me.  The pursuit of each of these eight things are never solitary experiences.  They, without exception, find a way to damage those around me.

Every single one of these attitudes and actions are expressed because I choose me.  It seems the most consistent choice I make is me and though it appeals to my selfish nature it is no way to live.  Redemption gives me the chance to pursue what’s good for God and me, to pursue what’s good for you and me.

Ultimately I have to decide who I love the most.  Right away that leads me to these two problems.  First, I have to continue making the decision over and over again; in most cases on a decision by decision basis.  Second, I have an inclination to love myself, over and above all others, which completely skews the decision making process.

Jesus comes in and does not dismiss my inclination to love self.  Doesn’t he basically ask me to prioritize my love for myself? 

The first thing he says I need to do is love God with everything.  I need to love God fiercely.  Only when my love for God is that strong can I break the tendency to make selfish decisions. 

The second thing he says I need to do is to love others the way I love myself.  So does this mean I have permission to love myself and think about myself and make decisions for myself?  The expectation is that I will have the freedom (and the desire) to love others and think about others and make decisions that will benefit others.

Nice sounding theory.  What about the application?  How does the theory intersect and change my behavior?