RISK!!

It has been a long time since my last post. I thought it was time for something of worth!

C.S. Lewis wrote on courage in The Screwtape Letters:

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality.
A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions.
Pilate was merciful till it became risky. (137-8)


John Piper wrote on risk in Don’t Waste Your Life:

Risk is right. And the reason is not because God promises success to all our ventures in his cause. There is no promise that every effort for the cause of God will succeed, at least not in the short run. John the Baptist risked calling King Herod an adulterer when he divorced his own wife in order to take his brother’s wife. For this John got his head chopped off. And he had done right to risk his life for the cause of God and truth. Jesus had no criticism for him, only the highest praise (Matthew 11:11).

Paul risked going up to Jerusalem to complete his ministry to the poor. He was beaten and thrown in prison for two years and then shipped off to Rome and executed there two years later. And he did right to risk his life for the cause of Christ. How many graves are there in Africa and Asia because thousands of young missionaries were freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the enchantment of security and then risked their lives to make much of Christ among the unreached peoples of the world!

And now what about you? Are you caught in the enchantment of security, paralyzed from taking any risks for the cause of God? Or have you been freed by the power of the Holy Spirit from the mirage of Egyptian safety and comfort? Do you men ever say with Joab, “For the sake of the name, I’ll try it! And may the Lord do what seems good to him”? Do you women ever say with Esther, “For the sake of Christ, I’ll try it! And if I perish, I perish”? (89-90)

We also do not have to go far to know the mind of God on risk and courage. One example of many is Hebrews 11:35-39:

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,

Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Summer?

Here it has been two months since the last of my irrelevant babbles. Time sure does fly when you are not involved with anything of worth. Here in MN the summer just does not seem to want to take hold. A nice day, a couple of rainy uncomfortable days and then an OK day. I guess I shouldn't complain, all too soon, I suppose, it will stay at 90 and my shorts will melt. I'll really be in a fix then.
The working hours have picked up a little, the company picked up some charter school summer routes, that may run over into the school year next year. But, I really enjoy my short weeks. The older I get the more rest I seem to need. More aches and pains than last year, my back is still not good and my knees are giving me some grief. Come July I need to have my eyes checked, the vision has been getting worse. Unfortunately, since the cataract surgery and the retinal surgery, there is only so much that can be done. The left eye can only be corrected to 20/40, if it gets any worse, I can't legally drive anymore. Well, I guess there is always disability!

Later....

And the Light Bulb Comes ON!

Having been born in 1947 and growing up in the 50's, 60's and 70's I listened to a lot of, what is now known as classic rock n' roll.But I just listened to it not paying much attention to who the group was or who was in it, except for a few. Now I spend a lot of time at answers.com checking on people who's name rings a bell. I learned, along with many others, that a lot of the mega stars of today started out as members of other bands and groups many years ago. Some were studio musicians and song writers for others and a few recorded their own material.
This blurb was triggered by Creature's finding out some history about Waylon Jennings and Buddy Holly. Some others with an interesting history are: Kris Kristopherson, Paul Anka, Roger Miller, Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson. If you check out the history of many recording artists you may find some surprises linking song writers and performers.

Later.....

SICK and WHINEY!!!

I hate being sick. Somewhere in the rule book it should say that we grow out of this sort of thing. Yesterday, on Wednesday afternoon, I started really feeling bad. In addition to the slight cold that I have had for a few days I started feeling crampy and bloated. At first I thought it was just that time of the month but then I remembered that I am male. Just like me to look for a quick way out. By the time I got home I had to run for the bathroom. Just a terrible mess! Everything I ate magically transformed into a baby type of liquid and didn't want to stay in me very long. It has been a little tough taking the meds when I wasn't sure if they would stay there long enough to do any good. Today, in the evening, things are a little better I've been able to retain some toast for a while, but I still don't dare be too far from the little room. Needless to say I have taken a few days off, hopefully back to work on Monday. MasterQ caught the cold!

later

Sports again?

Richfield girls were at it again in hockey last night. It's probably a night they would want to forget. The were matched up against Blake HS and Blake girls were really on their game. The score does not represent how well Richfield played but, they lost the sectional playoff game. See some you next season and we will be cheering for you all!

Later

#3

Richfield boys varsity hockey won 3-2!

later

#2

It's still winter here, we have had some good weather lately. Mid 20's and very little wind, but that is about to change. The prediction is for the wind to pick up and the temp to drop. WIND CHILL!!!! I wouldn't mind so much except that I walk to work and I am there more often. One charter driver quit and another got himself fired so the issue of # of hours available is not an issue. But there is an issue! Around here it's feast or famine. Instead of 20-25 hours it's 40-50, just no happy medium. I think I just need something to bitch about.
On another note, I saw Creature playing hockey last night. In my charter travels I get to transport high schools teams to games. Last night I transported Richfield H.S. girls to Parade Ice to play St. Louis Park. The St. Louis Park #21 sure looked like Creature. About six feet tall, red hair back in a pony tail, and pretty much the same physique. Boy did I have to retake about 4 times. She also got 4 penalties, Yup that was Creature! Never put blades on this girls feet and a club in her hands!! Richfield won 4-2 GOOD TIME. Tonight I take the Richfield boys to West St. Paul, hope they do as well

Later....

New Year....

To end, the old year, spent Christmas eve and day at MasterQ and Creature's mom's(pictures coming). It wasn't an event that makes the top of the list, but it was better than being alone on the holiday. I now understand why the holidays are sometimes the worst time of the year for some. Spending time with family and friends is a time to be treasured and kept as.....It's terrible when one loses one's cho-cho of thought!!! The KIDS got some new toys, always good, and Me, I got what I think I wanted?!? And Creature got a cute fuzzy TN CREATURE, that I saw in my dream!! (flicker)! Baby cows? If this sounds nonsensical, it is, unless you can put a couple of blogs together. Creature knows...
It is a little nippy here today, this morn, -4. It's about a +15 right now. What I would give for TN temps.
Bought a couple of audio books yesterday. One online that I am listening to today and one that is coming in the mail. Both are Stephen King's. The one with the headphones is the first installment of The Dark Tower (The Gunslinger), the one on the way is Cell. I enjoy some reading, but having to use over the counter reading glasses, my eyes get tired, so I tried this option. I found an inexpensive way to download books to itunes, that if I bought them from the book stores was expensive, $7.49 compared to @ $30. Then if I want them to be more portable I can always burn them to CD.
Enough rambling.....

later..........