The lesson of the frog and the toad...

At the place where I work we have a trencher and we get jobs were we'll dig a long trench, put pipe in the trench, and then fill the trench back in.

There was one job were it rained on us before we could get the trench back filled in, and so the trench filled up with water. So, by the time it dried enough to put the pipes in and back fill there were all sorts of frogs and toads in the trench. Frogs are sleek and fast! It's amazing how much ground one can cover in just one leap. Toads on the other hand are anything but sleek. They make hopping look like a chore!

Well, we finally got to back filling in the trench. Then with about four hundred feet of trench left I saw a frog in the trench that with each hop would distance itself from the wall of dirt falling into the trench behind it. I thought, "This frog should easily be able to make it to the end of the trench." For I knew they we were not going to fill the last ten feet of the trench because we needed to finish the pipe at the end. But after only five or six hops the frog gave up hope, quit jumping, and tried to hide from sure death by hiding under the pipe, and that frog is still there, under three feet of dirt! I thought, "The stupid frog, it could have hopped the four hundred feet, made it to the end and still be alive!"

Then, with about three hundred feet of trench left to fill I came across this toad hopping for all it was worth to just barely stay ahead of the wall of dirt pouring in behind it...like a wall of death nipping at it's heels! I thought the poor toad probably won't make it a hundred feet till it gets tired and gets covered up. As I watched, much to my amazement the toad never quit hopping, but some how managed to stay one hop ahead of the wall of dirt pouring in over it. The longer the toad kept going the more obvious it became that the toad was getting tired! Its jumps became less coordinated, and it covered less ground with each hop. A couple times it hesitated for just a moment like it was going to give up! After all, it saw no end in sight, and it had no idea that we were not going to fill the last ten feet. For all it knew it could make it to the end, end up trapped, and still get covered! But then just in time it would take off hopping. It seemed the more visibly tired the toad got, the more determined it would press on as if to say, " I have put forth lots of effort, and I'm going to do everything I can so it's not going to be in vain, and every hop is another effort that makes me more determined to make it not be in vain." That toad hopped three hundred feet in the bottom of that trench, and as far as I know it's still alive today!

I believe God let me observe the toad and the frog to give me a visual contrast of what it means to persevere...to keep pressing on when it all seems hopeless with no end in sight. We cannot see the end of the trench, but He can! I found myself cheering the toad on, "Come on toad just keep going, you can make it!" I believe God is doing the same, "Keep on going, keep persevering, be faithful TO THE END and you will receive the crown of life!" (see Revelation 2:10)

The lesson from the late Mr. Frog--

"GIVING UP is DEADLY !"

The lesson from healthy Mr. Toad--

"NEVER, NEVER, NEVER give up!"

Testing...

I'm testing uploading and doing posts from my phone. So in doing this I thought I'd pose a riddle.

When is the half of something equal to its whole?

We have come up with two different answers. Have fun.

Truth vs. Lie

Here is a project and/or somthing to think about!

First, think of someone you know that is a joyful, content, and peaceful person.

Lets think this through!

If evolution is true and that's how we all got here, by chance, what would be the purpose in life? With evolution we all got here by chance, and there is no accountibility for our actions after we die. Therefore, our purpose in life would be self gratification, and pleasure! In other words me first, and that will bring me joyfulness, contentment and peace.

On the other hand if the Bible is true, and we were created for a purpose. According to the Bible, what is that purpose? First of all, we were made to have a relationship with God.

(Jn. 10:14) We were also made to serve. (Matt. 20:26-28) We could go on and on, but notice the trend, God first, others second and me last! This will bring true joyfulness, contentment and peace.

Look at the contrast!


Me first, others last.


OR


Me last, God and others first.

The person that came to mind as somone who was a joyful, content, peaceful person, are they the me first type, or God and others first type person?? Of all the people I know it's those that are God and others first that are consistently joyful, content, and peaceful people. On the contrary those that have the, "me first" additude are some of the most miserable people!

God's word is true in every part of life! It's easy to say, "I believe it." But what are my actions? Am I living the lie of evolution by putting me first? How do I put me first? Unforgivness, disobediance, having bad attitudes, not willing to serve, irresponsibility, and the list goes on and on.

Yet, in thinking this through I had to ask myself, do I deceive myself by "believing" the truth and living a lie?

The Call to Death...

The only effort that I can make that will result in eternal value is that of dying to self and full surrender to Jesus Christ.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Gal 2:20




"And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it" -Jesus (Matt 10:38&39)

From the Pilot in Command

Just for all those out there who wonder if I'm still in existence, I am. That's right its me, Josiah! I have been busy lately, although that has not been only reason I have not blogged in our log lately. I'm not quite sure why I haven't blogged in a while. My time has been busy on other things I guess, and Abi has been keeping it up to date. I wish I could get my pictures off my phone then you would have something to look at, instead of just boring you with words.

Last I checked God is still on the throne, because of that fact, life is good! Abi is doing and look'n great. We are now within four weeks of her due date (aka "The Final Four") and she is transitioning from the cute pregnant feeling, to the final weeks where big and uncomfortable replaces the feelings of cute. Although I think she still looks cute! I have been working for a guy running bulldozer and with all this snow we had been keeping busy pushing snow with the dozers. Today is slow, my boss said to take the day off. So its a get the "to do list" done today! (I don't think the "to do list" ever gets done)

A theme that God has been impressing upon me the past couple weeks is centered around Romans 8:28- "And we know that all things work together for good the those who love God and are called according to his purpose."

Have you ever thought, "Why would God want me with all my mistakes and imperfections?" I know I have. There are times I just plain blow it. As I think about this I come to realize more and more that God loves me not because of who I am, but because of who He is! God wants a relationship with me not because I'm perfect or such a great person, but because He is such a great and awesome God and it is because of who He is. God desire is to take my mistakes, if I'm repentant, and surrendered, and turn those mistakes into something that will bring Him glory!! What a awesome God we serve!

Had a blast on Tuesday as Abi and I went on a date with two other couples from church who were engaged!! Check it out!! Thanks Alaina!

I know its been a long time since I have posted, but its been well worth the wait!!!

Meet Abi!!!

Need I say more!?!

Food for thought...

With all the changes in the family this year. Rachel and Bethany going to China. Andrew going to the Ukraine. I am really treasuring each day that God gives. Seasons in life change. Enjoy the season of life your in. It will not last long, and then it will be gone. Its to easy to miss today dreaming of tomorrow. Today is to short to want tomorrow. So enjoy every day God gives.

If you need a hint for the post bellow I've left it in this posts comments. But you have to let us know if you used the hint.

From time to time I like to throw out a riddle or some kind of trivia. So here we go. I was reading in 1Kings and the end of chapter 6, and beginning of chapter 7 tells us that Solomon spent 7 years building the temple, and 13 years building his own house. How grand Solomons house must have been. I found in Ecclesiastes where Solomon makes a brief comment about what might be considered today as the "master bedroom/bathroom". What is it, and where? See if you can find it.

After over four years and more than $25,000 dollars invested I can now be paid to fly! This morning God gave a beautiful day to take my commercial pilot check ride. And with God's blessings I passed with complements from the examiner. Praise The Lord!

Now it's on to the Flight Instructor rating!

Ok, so its been awhile since I have posted. But then again not much is happing with the family gone. I have been studing a lot, and working some. So as I do not have anything to write about lately I thought I would share that happend a long time ago, one of my Childhood memories. As a person grows and learns, there are two basic ways of learning. From other peoples experiences, and from your own experiences. Well, this is my knowledge that I'm am going to pass on to you from my own experience that AC and DC electricity are diffrent. As a young fellow I was your curios type. I loved, and still do love to figure things out and how they work. When I was eight or nine I got a erector set from dad and mom for Christmas that had a little 3 volt electric motor to power the different things you could build. I noticed that the AA batteries were 1.5 volts and that the two of them were put in series in the battery case. Thus I concluded that when you put batteries in series you added the voltage. So I lined up four batteries in series and put the wires to the ends and noticed that more voltage equaled more rpm's and more power. thus stared my quest to see how fast I could get that little motor to spin. I got a 9 volt battery, then two 9 volt batteries, and they worked really well as the positive and negative sides snapped right together real nice. I began to think of how many nine volt batteries I could get a hold of, and just about that time my eye caught sight of the outlet on the wall. I knew that was 120 volts, wow, that will make this thing spin really fast. So I took the wires and stuck them into the outlet expecting the motor to spool up like a jet engine. Instead all I got was disappointments in the form of a flash, sparks and a puff. That little engine never did work again, it was fried. It was only later that I learned that there was a difference between AC and DC electricity. I will not bore you with the details of the differences, but believe me, there is a difference.

Wow I'm impressed with how well some of you know my siblings. The cutter, cutter thing was Rachel. Stephen was the breaker box. And Andrew was (and still is) our dinner bell.

Working on a bus till the wee hours in the morning with your brothers and sisters, you really get to spend some quality time deepening those ever important sibling relationships. But how well do you know my brothers and sisters?
Which one of my siblings do you think:
-called a utility knife a “cutter cutter thing”
-touched both the hot and neutral electrical connections in the breaker box at the same time, calmly stepped back and said, “ ouch, that kind of hurt”
-was our human dinner bell (ok, so maybe this one is to easy)
So how well do you know my sibling? Who and why, do you think did what?

When it comes to food I will be the first to admit, with a mom and four sisters that can cook really well, and more learning, I am spoiled! Here recently they themed a restaurant that we have been at up in Michigan called, Taboo. Now Taboo serves wonderful lamb, but we didn't have any lamb so instead they used one of my favorite meats, cow tongue. (the meat in the center of the platter) So I come home from work and wonder what's for supper, lift up the lid on the pot and there is a cow tongue boiling around in the pot. That's a little different, but if you can get past the mental block, cow tongue is one of the best parts of the cow. I rate it up there with the steaks. It's very tender and tasty!