Monday, Monday, dah, dah...

Well, here is my first "official" posting. Kellie ordered me to post one tonight or else. Anyone that knows us well knows that there would be T-R-O-U-B-L-E if I didn't follow the orders to a T. So without further ado, here I go...

Today was a good day. I was busy at work but not pull-your-hair-out-by-the-roots hectic. Those lovely moments will be plenteous during the summer. On my way home, I received a call telling me that a tree near Lake Wheeler had been partially cut down. Tears were shed and a nose dripped over this latest development in the remake of the bridge. Of course, we all know whose tears and nose drips I'm referring to and they certainly weren't mine! Kellie can be a tad sentimental and this tree has been there for as long as we can remember. One large branch of it curved nicely over Penny Road and was, for me, a landmark. Not that I am happy it's gone and, indeed, am a little saddened by this situation, but I realize that the prevention of people plunging into Lake Wheeler if the bridge collapses does tend to take precedence over a tree. Does anyone have a tissue???

Over the weekend I finished a book entitled Hideous Beauty by Jack Cavanaugh. Wow! It really made me think about spiritual warfare. Without giving too much of the plot away in case there are interested readers out there, it is a fictional account that poses this question--How much of what we think of as "everyday life" or "accidental" occurrences is really a direct cause of or a byproduct of the unseen spiritual warfare that has waged since the fall of Lucifer? There are always stories in the news about people and their guardian angels and we all have moments in our lives where we wonder how we made it through a specific incident when anyone could see the odds were against us. But how many people think about the evil side of spiritual warfare? Lucifer and his minions are walking about day and night using every trick in their dark book to make sure they take as much of mankind as they can with them to the bowels of hell. Two verses that come to mind are I Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

and II Corinthians 11:14

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into
and angel of light.

These two polar opposites of Satan's personality are equally dangerous. As a "roaring lion," Satan roams throughout God's creation trying to devour everything in sight. Most people believe that they would "hear" the roar and run away, but Satan is wily and will pounce on any unsuspecting person. As an "angel of light," Satan uses the subtle approach. He clothes himself in a robe of "light" and leads people away from God because they are blinded by his "beauty". Eventually, his true being is revealed and it's too late to flee from his deception. Hence, the "hideous beauty". Beautiful light covering a depraved darkness that is not unlike a black hole in the far reaches of the universe that consumes all true light around it. Thankfully, God has beaten Satan and has provided a way for ALL to escape this trap to eternal damnation if they would open their eyes to the TRUTH.

Well, this past weekend was a first for my bird feeding adventures. I had 4 Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) feeding off the ground under my feeders! I was able to count them for Project Feederwatch! Who knew I would ever had geese under my feeders??? Of course there is the concern over the inevitable droppings in the yard, but I am only feeding until the first of April and after that they should move on to more productive tables. I will keep you posted on the goose comings and goings.

I guess that's it for now. I didn't realize all this was in me today! LOL My sister told me I need to come up with some kind of saying for every post. Well, I don't know what that will be yet, but I will work on it. In the meantime, have a blessed day.