Was in San Diego and then in Boston during the past 10 days. Beautiful and historic places. In So Cal there is visible evidence of an urgency to look good….. ” not that there is anything wrong with that ” to quote Jerry Seinfeld. Its the weather, the outdoor life, all combine to sometimes. ” push ” the people there to be so concerned with their physical appearance. It seems most of the leading plastic surgeons are out there or are married to the “Housewives” of Orange County or Beverly Hills. It’s competition that becomes difficult as one matures. To the visitor … It seems somewhat artificial and not as important as other important areas of life. In and around Boston the emphasis is different altogether. Seemingly forsaking appearance there is extreme emphasis on the intellectual…being smart..smarter, the smartest.
The reputation and history and influence of Harvard drives people to have abounding desire to not merely gain knowledge but the pressure is extreme to be seen as excelling in some academic area. And the “push” is almost a desperation to not fail as it is to succeed. The competition is just as strenuous and even more so than other areas as it is mental and can become a longer battle than the “looking good ” battle in Southern California. To the visitor … It seems overemphasized and not as important as other areas of life. But, there are great people there. And there are great people here. We are all Gods Children. We have desperation and various types of pressures operating on us. We live here…. What do visitors think of us? In what areas are we artificial and in what areas do we get desperate about??? West Coast, East Coast or here in Birmingham…. Looks matter, being smarter matters…. and other things that visitors find us shallow and artificial about. Matthew 6:33 gets it right. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness…. and all these things will be added into you ” All these things. They become different things when we seek Him. Seek Him Terry Bethea August 18th, 2014

John 1:1

Says it correctly.

The second phrase in that verse….

 “…The Word was God…”

To read the Word is to bring into our hearts, mind and Spirit…the presence of

God.

And to give it a place of Prominence,

of Highest Priority…

brings a Promise….

Matthew 6:33

Terry

In the DFW airport… and it’s unique how so many people search for and stand and look intently at the Departures signboard. Looking for Directions. That’s what the Church is. That’s what we need to be individually…. Information and direction givers. If our lives are pursuant of Christ and our behavior is indicative of that pursuit, then we will be looked upon by direction-seekers for help. And we need then to be fluent in direction giving. If our eyes are looking at Christ…. and our feet are moving toward Him…. our compass will be true north and our directions will be proper. Proper directions is what everyone seeks and needs In every airport…. Our lives are like being at an Airport…. Walking to some temporary destination In order to get to where we Are wanting to go… Toward some sense of safety and settling. May you be a well guided “Signboard ” Terry August 9 Dallas

In Galatians Paul talks about bearing ones own burdens. He also writes about bearing one anothers burdens. Growing into maturity, which should be occurring by age 30… Leads a man to understand there is a higher plane of responsibility than when he was 16. An earlier Metro devotion spoke of not needing to be “carried”. At 30, we should not need to be carried by anyone else. At the same time there are moments and maybe periods of time when, having grown into some level of strength and maturity….we should be able and wiling to help , encourage and even “carry” someone else for a short while. His leads us to, and in, those moments. Be strong enough to carry your own weight … and be slow to take on more for yourself …. Taking on too much too quickly can damage you and especially your spouse. Be open and aware when someone of your own gender needs to be “carried ” for a while. We have all needed that at some point. You will not be able to handle your own and anothers issues unless you have grown into some level of maturity. Grow . Be strong enough for your own burdens. Then, notice other guys, and be willing to help and assist them in a time if pain or distress. Both of the above are what we are called to do. Terry