Month: May 2023

I’ve been working with our 79 yr. old friend, Toño, on our cement deck. He shared with my wife and me his experience as a brand-new carpenter, many years ago. The day before applying for a carpentry job, Toño, bought some tools such as a hammer, a saw, a pair of pliers, and a square. He told us, “When the boss saw me, he looked me over. Up and down, he eyed me.” “He asked me, you say you’re a carpenter? “Yes sir, I is,” shared Toño. “Then, why are your tools so clean?” “Why, is your hammer untouched?” “Why, does your saw look so shiny?” We laughed. Toño told us, “Everything I had was new-even the tool box!” I told him, “Your shirt was stiff and still had the cardboard within; I bet the price tag and size stickers were on your pants, as well!” “The boss saw I had no experience, at least, not with those tools,” Toño told us! Nonetheless, he was able to prove himself a great carpenter within a few hours and was hired on the spot!
Sometimes, when something’s new, we don’t want to touch or scuff it. We want to keep it shiny. “Get ya hands off,” we bark! We know a church brother, who, probably intending to make a statement at a church wedding, showed up in a brand-new suit. Had the price tag, size, and info stickers dangling from the sleeves! I think the hanger was intact too-sticking up the back of his neck! It was embarrassing for him! Funny to us!
It feels great when we have new garments on as in our favorite clothing item. Same thing happens when you give your life over to Jesus! When God looks at us, He sees the “tags” if you will, of Jesus’ redemption on our lives. He sees a shiny, new, YOU! He welcomes you into the family! You’ll see things in a different light. Even your thoughts and vocabulary changes. When others see you, they too see the new price tags on you. They’ll know you’re spanking new. You’ll be a new creation! Your “tools” will be new! You’ll be the son of The Carpenter (Jesus)!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come” (2Corinthians 5:17).
God Bless!
Sam

The Who sang, “These Eyes.…are crying…” I would say, “These eyes are laughing!” Last night my wife received a phone call from an ophthalmologist reminding her of today’s appointment where she’ll have her eyes dilated. She was reminded to bring a companion to drive her home. After the call, I stood pretended I had a (white mobility) cane, and closed my eyes walking around as if trying to find my way. I told my wife I should show up tomorrow like that for her appointment! I began looking towards my right as if looking at someone speaking when I should’ve been looking left! She said, “They’re going to ask, “Is that your companion?” I said, “At your service!” We got a laugh! Not at blind people, mind you, but at the fact that if I’m in no shape to lead her, I would be of no use!
Jesus said the same thing. In Luke 6:39 He said, “Can the blind lead the blind?” “Will they not both fall in a ditch?” His point? Unless we know the LORD, we are blind. We may have studied great philosophies, ancient beliefs, New Age teachings, but they are empty words and beliefs. Only the Word of God is Alive, and gives life. The ways of the world maintain spiritual blindness upon us. It’s a stronghold refusing to sever itself from us.
There are millions of spiritually blind people leading others into ditches. They’re being led into eternal darkness where they’re unable to see the light of the gospel.
Heard of the recent Christian cult where everyone was starved to death in order to see God? That’s blindness. God makes no such demands on us. Being spiritual refers not to an emotional spirituality, or an aura of sorts, as in an experience achieved at a concert or a “High” sought after. It is not a euphoria resulting from a sporting event.
Rather, it has to do with the sinful condition of man. Without Christ, we’re all spiritually blind, and dead in our sins. Only Christ is the Light of the world. Notice:
2 Corinthians 4:6, the AMPC version reads, “For God Who said, let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).”
Are your spiritual eyes dilated? Having a hard time seeing the things of God? Can’t sense His moving? Your vision may be blurred. Remember, “Satan, who is the god of this world. Has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Even healthy, Christians need to read the Word of God every day to steer away from Satan’s traps.
Sing, “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see you, I want to see you.”
God Bless!
Sam

Recently, my wife was alone with my 86-year-old mom watching Murder She Wrote. Normally, my mom would watch along occasionally asking questions. Unfortunately, as of late, she’s forgetting more and more things. So, a typical 47 min episode turns into a two-hour movie. Since my wife was alone at the time, she received the bombardment of questions.
Where are they? Who is he? Who’s she? Where are they going? What just happened? When did that happen? (It happened right before your eyes)! I never saw anyone enter the room! Where are they????
It’s sad, but funny. When I asked my wife how it went, she cried, “MURDER!” At least now she knows how Jessica Fletcher must have felt! Scripture tells us,
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21). With just our words we can either murder someone, or give life to others. We can put down or build up. Let’s watch our words:
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36, 37 ESV).
As for Mom, sadly, we’re all headed in her direction. We now know every movie watched with her, will be the extended version. Thank God for closed-caption and remotes!
God Bless!
Sam

Sometimes, we can get lost in how things are translated. Take, when we arrived to Puerto Rico 28 years ago. My mom only had local channels, so the programming we watched in NY were gone; lost. At first, we were somewhat relieved when we discovered 3-5 old programs. But once we began watching them, we noticed things were a bit off. In some cases, way-off! For starters, everything was of course, in Spanish. For another, nothing was translated as it should. In other words, new scripts were developed, or lines made up as they went along. For another, the same 2-3 translators translated various shows. And they didn’t try to sound at all like their characters. So, if you heard Yogi Bear, his voice was the same one for Bay Watch and Mr. Cartwright, etc. Forget about the jokes and cliches. Yogi sounded nothing like himself, and from Full House, Joey’s Popeye’s interpretations, weren’t even there. To top it off, Full House wasn’t known as Casa Llena or Hogar Lleno, instead, it was called, 3×3(!).
The program, Silk Stalkings, was translated as Silk Stockings (Medias de Seda)! Suddenly, we were complaining in Spanish! Ay, yai, yai!
I’m sure you’ve read about the car company pushing to sell their NOVA vehicle in Mexico, where NO-VA means No-Go! It didn’t sell!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…So, there we were, my wife and I, last week at Golden Corral having a conversation. She was saying how glad she was that after we’d eat, we’d walk across the mall to Burlington for browsing. However, she didn’t want me to rush her like last time, which I assured her I hadn’t done. After a few mins., I switched our conversation to GC, to our food. I told her, “Go up, walk around, and see what’s there as you always do.” She said, “If I go, I’m going to look at purses.” I responded with, “At persons?” She said, yes, at purses.” I said, “you mean, at people.” She said, “No, at purses.” I realized, we, again, were having two conversations! I said, “I’m talking food! Go look at the food! Forget purses!”
Happens so often! We’re talking one thing and the other person, is talking about something else.
When we talk with God, however, He knows what we’re saying-as well as what we’re not saying. Talk to Him today. He wants to hear from you. He speaks your language! He won’t change words around! And, your message will not get lost in translation!
“God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence” (Psalms 139:1-4 MSG).
God Bless!

Heavenly Father, I lift up before your throne room all moms on this day. I ask a special blessing for those moms who have followed your pattern of loving others. Thank you for their endeavors.
Father, I ask that you comfort those moms who have lost their loved ones, be it kids, siblings, or their husbands. Comfort their hearts during this time of reminiscing. Heal their hurting and aching hearts. Hug them. May they feel your presence during this moment and throughout every day.
Lord, comfort the hearts of those that today find themselves without their moms. Not having them around is saddening. Nothing or no one can fill the space that only moms occupy.
Fill the void in hearts wishing they could have had one more day with them.
Lord, help those moms struggling today with life’s ups and downs. Provide for them according to your riches in glory, and put them on the right track, if need be.
For those of us still having our moms around, may we cherish, and honor them each day.
Thank you, Father, for your wonderful plan of creating moms; not just women to bear kids, but women with hearts, feelings, tenderness, intuition, and God-seeking abilities for strength, decision-making, and to love as only You do.
Be with those whose moms may have fallen short of your definition of a good mother. Help them try to understand what their lives may have been like, and most importantly, help them forgive, move on, and be as loving as you have shown us to be.
Thank you, Lord for all moms do for this world!
“Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12).
Happy Mother’s Day!
Sam

I birthed you. I nursed you.
I carried you. I held your hand.
I fed you and dried your tears.
I dressed you and combed your hair.
I listened to you. I heard your secrets.
I stood by you when you were afraid.
I calmed your fears.
I laughed with you and danced with you.
We cried during movies and held each other close.
I admired your works of art and words of love.
Through the tough times, I was at your side.
You’re grown. I’m old.
You’re my help, you hold my hand.
You calm my fears, you know my tears.
I’m sometimes afraid of times to come,
But you’re there by my side.
Thank you for being the son/daughter I’ve always wanted.
I love you Mom. I love you child.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.
*Read Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13a).
God Bless!
Happy Mother’s Day to all!
God’s comfort to all,
Sam

So many roads to choose from. Smooth, bumpy, rocky, potholed, winding roads, stretches; never-ending, desolate, scenic, going nowhere, leading towards destinations.
Things happen on roads. Accidents. We trip and fall. We bleed. We find acquaintances. Find love, have hearts broken. Fail, succeed. Lose our way; find our way home.
We’re all on roads. Some may be trails, but we’re walking somewhere on a continued journey.
John Lennon sang, The Long and Winding Road has led me to your door. Willie Nelson sang, On the Road Again.
In 1969 The Moments, sang, Love on a Two-Way Street, (S. Robinson, Lezli Valentine and B. Keyes). The song shares how love was found, but lost on a lonely highway.
The Chi-Lites sang: “Oh, I see her face.. On the street… Have you seen her?”

And Robert Frost wrote The Road Not Taken sharing experiences on the road less traveled. What road are you on these days? Looking for that loved one? Where do you find yourself? Are you starting out, or midway to who knows where? Almost done? Lost? Still searching? Asking the tough questions? Have all the answers? Found what you were seeking along the way?
All roads leading to the Truth, lead to Calvary; to where Jesus was crucified. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). We can only meet Him on the road to death; His and yours. It’s where He died, and where we need to die to wants. The only way to live for Christ is by dying to self. See why thousands of other religions are so popular? They don’t ask you to die. They tell you to live to the fullest. Jesus calls us to walk the blood-soaked road He walked. He asks us to deny our desires, to carry our cross, and to follow Him (Matthew 16:24-26); “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it.”

Yes, many roads vie for our attention, but only the road to Calvary leads us to God. It’s the only road to death and to eternal life. Walk the rocky bumpy road. Go on, sing instead, “Have You Seen Him?” Find Jesus there. It is the one less traveled. It is the one less appealing. It’s where your (physical) heart may be broken, but where you’ll find everlasting love (spiritually). It’s the road God wants you on. Jesus is the door (John 10:9 NIV), “If any man enters by me, he will be saved…” You will find Him with open arms welcoming you home. Stop searching! Stop tripping and falling! He’s already bled for you but WON the battle! He secured your salvation! Your name’s written in heaven! Follow the road to your eternal home!
God Bless!
Sam

Cement-mixing day (April 26) is here! Our friend, Toño, brought a guy he knows and he helped us get 8 minis of cement done by noon. Yes, we were tired, but phase two of our work was completed! Phase one being laying blocks, and now pouring cement on an area starting of 36-72” wide, by 14’ long. Phase three will be hooking up the molds and rebars for the elevated deck.  Phase 4 will be mixing and pouring about 35 mini-sacks of cement for the 14’ by 24’ long flooring.

These projects involve hard work, as does keeping our lives right before God.  Salvation, justification, and redemption-Jesus’ completed works, cost Him His life to save yours and mine.

God Bless,

Tired Sam

Grains of sand and gravel

    Three years ago, I had my first cavity ever. It cost me a molar.  It so happens that in early March, 2020, I needed the tooth pulled, but lock-down kicked- in and I was unable to get it done until June. . 

Last week, April 28, I had two molars extracted-on opposite sides, top & bottom. The bottom one came out quickly, but the other one was tough. The dentist pulled and pulled. Finally, he left it for a bit, worked on the bottom one, yanked it out and went back to the stubborn one. I could feel my body moving, then the chair was shaking! When he asked for the big guns, I knew I was in trouble! I was then strapped down like Frankenstein, and managed to glimpse electrical current flashes flowing over my head. I tried in vain to get out of the chair, but from pressure-pliers, to a grinder, and just shy of a jack hammer, I knew I was in for it! In the end, I realized it was nothing gauze and duct tape couldn’t fix!
I was driving home with rolled-up gauze sticking out both sides of my mouth! I felt like a walrus. Every fifteen minutes I’d remove them, and my wife would give me new ones. Definitely an experience worth writing about.
Yep, every now and then, God likes to shake things up in our lives, lest we get too comfortable. He pulls at our hearts (maybe even our molars?). He tends to yank things that aren’t beneficial to us, especially those stubborn, deeply-rooted ones. God is for us! But don’t wait for Him to pull out the big guns! Yield to Him now! Spare yourself the pain! Trust me, duct tape won’t cut it!
In the near-future, however, He’ll be shaking things up in this world, in a bad way. Think, yanking and shaking. People will be shaking in their boots when they see it.
“Then [at Mount Sinai] His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, saying, Yet once more I will shake and make tremble not only the earth, but also the [starry] heavens” (Hebrews 12:26 AMPC).
It’s best to get those pain-y sins yanked out NOW. Bear the pain!
God Bless,
Sam