Tag: KJV

Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts

For today’s little sermonette let’s consider Isaiah 6:3 in the King James Version of holy scripture. It says…

1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Isaiah 6:3, KJV

This classic song is probably one of my absolute favorites. I love worship songs that are part bible, part prayer, and part spiritual song. I heard a preacher say recently that he believed God was a musician at heart. I really liked that. Miriam, the sister of Moses, was a musician. King David was a musician and that was evident by his early ministry in King Saul’s court easing the evil spirit that tormented him. Hymns and worship songs played a big role in the New Testament as well and music to this day is a key component in the house of God. Here is one of my favorite renditions of Holy, Holy, Holy.

Some U.S. football wisdom

Sometimes in life you simply have to play the ball from where it lies on the field, right now, today. There isn’t anything you can do about what happened in the first half of play. There isn’t anything you can do, right now, about a fumble or a turnover seven snaps ago. If you are 2nd down and 3, a good or a bad play, on 1st down can be altered, erased, or done differently.

Let’s consider something that Paul the Apostle said to the Philippians…

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:13-14

There isn’t anything you can do about yesterday and you can’t control what might or might not happen tomorrow. You can only worry about today. You can only play the ball from where it lies, right now, today. That should be your focus. That should be your primary concern.

Where is the ball placed today? What is your biggest challenge today. Who can you help, or pray for, or be a blessing on…today? Jesus said it another way, “Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.”

Amen.

Beware of dead flies

Remember when that now infamous fly landed on Mike Pence’s head during the VP debate with Kamala Harris? It was unfortunate and untimely to say the least. I couldn’t help but wonder what the conservative right, and this ugly version of the Republican Party, would say if a fly landed on the head of Kamala Harris?

It might have sounded something like this:

“Flies are usually a sign of a demonic presence.”

“She could be a witch.”

“She’s really Hillary Clinton!”

“She could be the antichrist.”

“She is the antichrist!”

Let’s consider what the book of Ecclesiastes says,

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

Ecclesiastes 10:1, KJV

Dead flies can be inappropriate jokes or profane senses of humor. Dead flies can be obscene stories or ill-timed castigations. Dead flies can be unwarranted or unfounded prejudices. Dead flies can be long-harbored grudges or unresolved bitter feelings. Here is the lesson: Dead things rot, decompose, and decay and will eventually pollute anything sweet or savory around it.

God help us to keep the apothecary of our attitudes, actions, and aspirations a sweet-smelling concoction of love, joy, and peace. God help us to be diligent and self-aware enough to keep the flies away from our spirits before they pollute and spoil the whole pot.