Settling Down

Bible Study this evening. Just was. Prayer in Chapel first; pastor gave some words on Luke 11:2-4, the essential prayer, short and sweet. Then off to the classroom for Colossians 2. This verse on point as Paul was counseling Colossae on how to deal with the Gnostics. We might as well include many a present day intellectualist "system" in this vein. Easy to do, plainly.

Last Sunday was good. After having to work the previous months, I really appreciated being there. Got to mention The Robe in our discussion of John 19: how to claim relief when Satan attempts to exert his "power" to hurt us? The study guide cited Ephesians 6:10-18. There are quite a few military metaphors there. I thought of this too and segued into that family friendly movie, everything working out. We closed with the Roman soldier at Calvary who said that surely Jesus was the Son of God.

The pastor preached on 2 Corinthians 8:2. Generosity.

Question: "Are you a consumer or a contributor?"
Honestly, comme ci, comme ça. Not good; not hot or cold.

He said that God is the epitome of generosity and it's God's will that we be so as well. That such generosity cures materialism, our needs met while we understand and temper our wants. And that generosity is always a blessing. I thought immediately of this.

Everyone can be generous.

Chores

Have to get laundry done this morning after putting it off for some time. Now that it's cooling you don't have to change every day - or several times, as the case may be. Need to do a blanket too. The comforter isn't quite enough.

Try to get by without turning on the furnace except for company. Cotton warm-ups are good in the house overnight. Never need the heat during the day. Feeling colder sooner this year; they say your blood thins. Matter of acclimatizing; I've had thirty years! The best is yet to come until June or so.

Some replanting to do as well. And the flora needs feeding.

Then appointments this afternoon.

Church tonight. I'm not prepared yet. Dependability awfully important.

Come About

An acquaintance of mine has lent me a book about the development of stealth technology at Lockheed. He's a naval veteran of submarine tending. It's an interesting read but goes over a lot of old ground. I'm sure not up to speed in these regards going forward, merely aware from a distance of such as the build up of the Chinese navy.

Kelly Johnson was the chief designer at the Skunk Works from prior to WW II until he handed over those responsibilities to the author of the book noted. A lot of it is a paean to him from his protégé and does present a business management model for those in production.

One of his directives was: "Starve before doing business with the damned Navy. They don't know what in hell they want and will drive you up a wall before the break either your heart or a more exposed part of your anatomy."

Sub tender says it's because what's wanted doesn't exist yet.

Dedicated

Had a friend in Oregon who'd dress down capriciously.
And chic - she'd wear a garage mechanic's shirt, bloused.
Forget how she completed the ensemble below,
le pièce de résistance a venetian blind cord cinching her waist.

A hoot, she was. Did I tell her?

I'd formerly worked at Bloomingdales selling domestics.

One day, the ladies got exited as a guy swept through...
one of them clued me in - "It's Givenchy!"

Dress up or down?

Fell asleep real early last night and am up before dawn.
Started reading this. Not as good as I'd hoped it would be.
Trade relations. Swapping stuff; getting shafted; getting sick.
Been there having gone through that some time ago.

Swiped the picture from another blog.
(Church today, later this morning.)
Haven't got a thing to wear!
Loved the show... probably still going somewhere.

Nice waterworks!

Just getting around to reflecting on the pastor’s words last Sunday. Preaching on Ephesians 3:19, he went into aspects of our Christian experience. Toward illustration, he utilized a small cup and a bucket. Into either we can receive God’s blessings. The choice is one’s own.

He made the following points:
* The quality of faith is measured by the alteration of attitudes.

* The quantity of it is demonstrated by the reach of our love.
* Its size is manifested by our appreciation of these blessings.
* Finally, our joy is exhibited by the peace we feel amidst suffering.

Categorically, a fine sermon.

"I'll have the bucket, please."

Back at It

So you will walk in the way of good men
And keep to the paths of the righteous.
Proverbs 2:20

Not much else to say.

(Please, God, help me through the circumstances.)
Nothing I can do but trust in The Lord.
And get back in the fold.