seriouslyscorpio

thoughts of the moment and of my life

Author Archives: seriouslyscorpio


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THERE’S A PARTY GO’IN!


Wow….or maybe it should be WOW!! It is party time in SW Florida and the city is not one you regularly party in on Fri. night…well, at least not all the time. IT’S THE GULF OF MEXICO, of course. It is springtime in the Gulf and on the Gulf and the place is jump’in.

Everyone who is anyone in the Gulf Kingdom is coming home to reunite with some and partner up with others. It seems they’ve spent the winter in the deeper waters of the Gulf for safety and warmth, but now the beach waters are 80F and the welcome mat is out.

Mother Nature/God sure set it up right. The breezes are mild, the bugs are few and the snow
birds have gone north. The beaches are relatively quiet as big and little couples come to be a part of the large guest list. As in the order of things, there are some who depend on the lunching of others to keep this arrangement in harmony. I plan to ask Mother Nature/God about this when I visit the other side. If I ever come back, I’ll write about what they say.

Be that as it may, these wonderful creatures come home with great folly. There are schools of little fish…just new babies who stay close to each other or Mom/Dad. Some come from long egg pods that look like snake skeltons…and are they a work of art. Others look like the rubber seals that keep canned peaches tasty.

In the sky, parent and child Osprey glide and squawk during daily lessons. As in our species, many children carry on something terrible when mom quits bringing the daily meal. Goes to prove that leaving the nest is not exciting for everyone.

The skates come to visit for the summer in April/May of each year. They definitely add a ‘shuffle’ to our step when we take our daily walks. You see, they love to nestle in the very shallow waters of the Gulf….looking for tasty morsels. After finding a spot, they wiggle/shiver into the sand and do whatever….maybe take a nap.
However!!

When someone or something comes by unannounced, these tiny darlings become a little startled and whip their tail around to barb whoever is nearby. Well, dang, I can vouch for the fact that THAT HURTS!! Keep in mind, however, I’ve been coming here for 35 years and have only been stung once…and it was my fault….not shuffling in a skate zone. No ticket given, but 45 min of pouring super hot water on the spot to ease the toxins, taught me well.

More later…….your correspondant, from the beach says tootle


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1 CORINTHIANS……THE GARDEN OF FOREVER!


Remember the old song….In The Garden?…..I come to the garden alone…..while the dew is still on the roses….and the voice I hear, falling on my ear….the Son of God is calling…..

And He walks with me, and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own….and the joys we share, as we tarry there, none other will ever know.

Chapter 15 talks to us about this new Son of God and why the whole idea of Jesus’ death and resurrection is so important if one wants to be a Christian. So simple and yet so difficult to hold on to, because we are human…we want the facts, we want the whole story, we want the news as it happens, we want pictures and background, and family responses….. That’s how life is today for us, instant, real, proof in the pudding of FOX and CNN.

But Paul says stake your life on the faith, words, the promise of those who lived before…..and BELIEVE! Christianity is not a half-way belief…it’s the whole package. Christ came for me, He lived for me, He died for me, and He provides a garden filled pathway to heaven.

Resurrection example…..given in ‘The Message’…is so good…..Part of it reads…”What does the ‘resurrection body’ look like? If you look at this question closely, you realize how absurd it is. There are no diagrams for this kind of thing. We do not have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a ‘dead’ seed; and soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don’t look anything alike. The dead body we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different.” It goes on to say “We are only looking at pre-resurrection ‘seeds’—-who can imagine what the resurrection ‘plants’ will be like.

So here we are…..as Paul signs off in chapter 16, planning to come to the newly formed churches for a visit, we still have the words of this wonderful book to rely on. He taught us in so many ways, with so many descriptions, about the wonderful works of God and His son, Jesus Christ. He scolded us and prodded us, embarrassed us, and then praised us in the next sentance.

As we Christians struggle through these days of loss, death of our beloved on a cross, and yet of promises so amazing we cannot properly comprehend. We must keep the this faith…the belief…the beauty…and the prize of what Christ has so graciously presented us.

Believe…..yes you will fall, yes you will fail miserably, but there will be days that you rise to the occasion in thought, word, and deed. Christ shows us the way..he asks us to walk the path with him, regardless of bumpy it may be, and to remember that beautiful garden and the walks we’ll share together….forever.

Happy Easter! He has risen!!


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I CORINTHIANS….THE RESURRECTION


In the chapter discussing the resurrection, I see Paul at his very best. He has been kind, humble even, in some chapters and then very authoritarian in others. He has begged and borrowed to keep the new churches aware of their responsibilities. I can see him writing into the night, maybe as the first glimpse of a sunrise comes through his window. He is working so hard for God..and his church.

And now the resurrection…..the reason, the argument, the motive, for all the previous work….. This is the magnificent ‘closing’ of Paul….the real story…the real reason he has been preaching for days and weeks, about Christianity……IT IS THE RESURRECTION!
And he says it so straightforward, so simple…..If you don’t believe, after all this, that Christ is alive, risen from the dead….then there is nothing more to say. If there is no resurrection, there is, quite frankly, no nothing….It’s a hoax, a good idea, a dream, a lie, a wish even…. Seems it is still kind of simple….this teaching of life ever after…..If there is a Christ…if He did die for our sins and has been resurrected, then everything is cool!

As we move toward Palm Sunday and Easter, this chapter is just what the doctor ordered…good reading, good lessons, good common sense. We are getting prepared…ready to come to terms, once again, the wonderful accounting and belief of the resurrection….how delightful…what a great closing to a new beginning in our lives…

more later….


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1 CORINTHIANS………THE KISS PRINCIPLE


Chapter 14 is long…very long, but full of good info. It (to me) discusses the language of love, prayer, and healing. There are all different kinds of language, some spoken and some unspoken.

It is good to pray in private, to empty your heart and soul and to ask for a refreshing response. It is just as good to use what Paul calls the prayer language in church…a language that speaks to everyone, for everyone. Language that excludes, does nothing. Why keep God a secret?

That is where I say the KISS principle comes in…..Don’t make the discussion of your side by side trip with God, so difficult that no one can understand your point. A language of enlightening might be done in song, by a gentle touch to comfort, or in the ‘local’ slang.
What makes it important is to say how wonderful God is, what He has done for you and what He can do for all. One can speak all day in English, but if other only people listening speak in Spanish, how can the God point be made.

Keep your churches open to all….preach to and pray for all….be a disciple…..


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1 CORINTHIANS…..LOVE


I would never teach or touch this beautiful chapter in 1 Corinthians….The written word in this chapter 13 is every living thing on this planet.

As my Bible Handbook states….”It is one of the best loved chapters in all the Bible, an undying expression of Jesus’ doctrine of heavenly love. More potent for the building of the Church than any, or all, of the miraculous manifestations of God’s power. The Church’s most effective weapon. Irresistible, Undying, Eternal.

Take time and, if possible, begin to make this chapter, yours.


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1 CORNINTHIANS…..THE BODY OF CHRIST, YOU!


Chapter 12 is an enlightning chapter….one all of us must read, and, in doing so, realize just how much we can do for God and one another. We are one…..a body with different parts that do different things. We need all our parts to work for us and others. God’s gifts are handed out to all. Use what He gives us. It helps us to be better and encourages others to be Christian.

Now the interesting part is that sometimes takes awhile, years even, to realize we have this wonderful gift. We hear of others doing special things to help people, i.e. laying of hands, and we think, “I can’t do that”…….never thinking of the things we can do, have done, and are able to do……

Some do what we still call miracles…..even in 2013. But most of us are given gifts we don’t give a second thought to……we are good listeners……we give good advice…..we are soft in our mannerisms,
we are patient….we have time to give….we are healthy and able to help those who are not, etc. The reason I use etc, is because the list is endless….Your gifts from God are so special. Look for them in your own life…and use them well.

You are Christ’s body….it says in the Message. You must never forget this…what a wonderful gift, use it……


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1 CORINTHIANS….CHAPTER 11…COMMUNION


WOW! Paul continues with his writings….and in Chapter 11, he discusses equality of men and women in God’s eyes…..and then communion.

According to my Bible Handbook, it was customary for women to cover their heads in public….except for temple prostitutes. One can imagine what happened when Christian women, who had the opportunity to not cover their heads in church….didn’t! Paul reminds us that men and women are equal in God’s sight…..however, they were told to be careful in certain ares of the cities. It is lovely how Paul shows the differences of men and women….He says that neither man nor woman can go it alone. He says man was created first by God and it was beauty. Then he goes on to say the ‘angelic’ hair of a woman is far more beautiful. And then….he reminds us that every man comes from a woman and everything comes from God….so we should quit discussing who is first, last, or better….

Chapter 11 goes on to teach us about communion. It is a wonderful explanation and in many churches, some of its words are used each time communion is celebrated.

“This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me”……these words begin a ceremony of remembrance, and renewing. It is to remind us of the death of Christ, His promise to us, and our devotion to Him. A party it is not! And that was another embarrassing point Paul had to make to his new Christians.

“After supper, he did the same thing with the cup. This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me”……As the Message Bible states….Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Master irreverently is like part of the crowd that jeered and spit on him at his death. Is that the kind of ‘remembrance’ you want to be a part of? Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe. (These words and actions are so true…whether your church celebrates communion once a day, or once a month)


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I CORINTHIANS……BE COMPELLED!


Each time I read more of this letter, I see the writer, sometimes, just beside himself…..Exasperated, even exhausted! One can see him pacing in the after glow of the sunset, knowing he would have to continue on thru the night.

He further reminds his newbies, he is not asking for the moon. He doesn’t need a big paycheck, not a palace for the duration of the stay, and certainly not taking from those who are disadvantaged, to pay the bill.

The key word here in these pages is ‘compelled’. He is compelled to speak of Christianity. He can’t leave the subject alone. He needs to shout about his Christ, and your Christ. How exciting is that! How many times have you been COMPELLED in your Christian belief? I know I should be more like Paul, so motivated, even at times obsessive in my description of what is Christ all about, and what he means in my life, but I’m chicken. I am not an outgoing ‘evangelizer’, sounding off on busy corners or handling out pamphlets door to door……SOMETIMES I WISH I COULD BE!! I’ve come to understand there are lots of ways to teach and learn about Christ, just like there are lots of ways of healing. Some are loud and even shocking in certain circles, and some are as quiet and calming as the dove cooing before a rain. I understand now we all have healing qualities within….we just have to figure out what they are…ahh, to be compelled in the name of Jesus!!

Chapter 10 looks further into learning and teaching…I like the way Paul talks of drinking of the cup of blessing and having a portion of the loaf of bread….In doing this we take in the very life of Christ and become united. Introducing his thoughts, his teachings, and his promise of eternal life, leaves us enriched.

Paul says there are all kinds of food..real and religious. Be choosy….. eat and share the best from your table and from the table of others. There are many ‘foods’ that should not be eaten, as they have been contaminated by bad teaching. Choose only the best for your body, your life, and your continued service in Christ’s name. Be compelled!!


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CORINTHIANS 1….IT’S A LONG LETTER


I know, it’s been awhile…..but I’ve had company for the past two weeks…and time was spent being a tourist. But on to Corinth.

Chapter 7 gets in to the discussion of marriage…I could go on and use my own words, however, I have a Bible Handbook from the 50’s that belonged to my parents….Think I’ll quote their remarks as it is much better than mine.

” Evidently they had written asking if it is legitimate for Christians to marry. Strange, they were puffed up over the case of incest, 5:2, and yet had scruples about lawful marriage. Paul advises marriage, except for those who have the ‘gift’ of sexual control. Paul himself was not married,8. Some think that he may have been a widower and lost is wife while yet young: for two reasons: one, he was a member of the Sanhedrin, Acts 26:10, ‘vote’, for which it is said marriage was a necessary prerequisite; the other, this chapter seems to have been written by one who knew something of the intimacies of married life.”

I think the chapter discusses morals and ethics….during this period in Corinth. I also am smart enough to know there have been modifications thru the years concerning marriage, divorce, and everything in between. Having been divorced once myself, it was not the easiest thing for me to do almost 40 years ago…it was the hardest thing for me to do. I wish I could agree with marriages being made in heaven, but I think marriages are made by people.
That’s another discussion for another day.

Paul said to be smart enough to stay married if you were, and stay single if you want to be single……and it’s okay of you change your mind about being single.

I love the discussion of consuming the meat offered up to idols….Paul says we all have eaten ‘idol meat’ at sometimes in our lives and it wasn’t the meat that made us bad. Move on in your beliefs and realize it is not the meat at all, for everything is provided by God. Be knowledgable in helping people thru the walk of realizing Christianity. Help the new believer…..

Chapter 9 talks a little about pay…..as in who does, who doesn’t, when, and why. I know this is a wide area that can be discussed forever, but my feelings are Paul says he took on the charge from Christ because he wanted to, knowing that it would not be a paying experience, and that he probably wouldn’t get rich monetarily off it. And for him, just like similar groups today, it is perfectly fine. By the same token he goes on to say he expects help…as in a place to stay, to sleep, to be safe, to eat, and to preach.

What is his point….help him out, help out the leaders of the new church, but don’t deprive your new followers to fill your pocket.

Just keep your eyes on what is right, why you have become a servant of Christ, and how you must respond to non-religious and religious in a like manner.

thanks for reading and thinking…..always ready for a response.


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1st CORINTHIANS….IT AIN’T OVER YET!


Uh Oh! Just when we thought the last paragraph was being written, Paul hits us with Chapter 5 and 6. He is not happy….Looks like the word of the day is ‘scandal’.

He is raising the tone of his voice to remind the newest parishioners of how they are acting, violating laws, and worst of all, not even caring. He demands to know why no one is handling the disgraceful goings-on within his church. It’s an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ position the church leaders seem to be taking and Paul says no way….deal with it.

Let’s set aside 57AD and look at the situation today….Suppose you know a trusted family member, friend, or fellow parishioner is ‘walking on the wild side’ a little too much. Mmmmmmmm, you don’t want this to continue, you know they have more brains than they seem to show, and yet, what do you say? Remember how we talked about the scary side of addressing problems as serious as this? Well, imagine it is your board member, your associate pastor, your treasurer, or your best friend you sit by each service. Oh my….addressing these kinds of problems can be a life changing action for all involved. Still, it’s got to be done.

Mmmmmm again, guess being a follower of Christ isn’t really a piece of cake after all, is it? One cannot negotiate their way out of messing up. By the same token, one doesn’t need to be banished because they did mess up. It has to be somewhere in between. My opinion is that sometimes a ‘time out’ is in order, for all those involved. It’s kind of like counting to 10, only longer.

Taking the proper approach can be a bit touchy….that’s why I, personally, have to go for the time out, if I’m to be the ‘parent’. Maybe there are others who feel the same way about the ongoing problems, so discussing in a group….(the proper way) can be good. Remember, if you/your church have let this go on for a while, you should probably feel a little guilt yourself!

So Paul goes on to remind us that he is with those who have to begin the ‘redo’. God should be right in there, in the middle of the discussions, helping both sides to understand the necessity of acceptable behavior.

Please note: I’m sure this doesn’t apply to many, but maybe, just maybe, a few of us have been on the wrong side of this conversation certain times in our lives….just say’in…

In Chapter 6, Paul reminds us that while we might have to be a judge, we will also be judged, and it is good to be talked to by those who seek the Christian framework in their lives.

So we’ll leave this story for today with the following thoughts….we are all human…we have that wonderful spark of God within, we become more educated with more study, but we are still human….and for that reason, we will always, I said, always enjoy human things. That’s how we are designed… Our ‘free will’ is part of the package, however Christ’s teachings are the pre-arranged part of the same package, if we would only open our hearts and eyes. God owns all of you..and you..and you…and you. What a deal!

later…..