Pay more attention

I'm studying Hebrews 1 and 2 today, preparing for some small group stuff.  Chapter 2 starts off with quite a statement, actually it's a whole paragraph statement.
  "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.  For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?   This salvation, which was first announced by the the Lord, was confirmed to us by  those who heard him.  God also testified to it by signs, wonders,  and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will."  Hebrews 2:1-4 (NIV)

Let it remind us of these things-  Pay attention- use discernment,  There is a Great Salvation- and it has been confirmed through generations!  God has confirmed His Gospel, and continues to confirm it by some crazy means- sometimes in ways that you and I cannot explain, and often in ways beyond what "we think" God should do.

A Tribute to Mr. Martin

  I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Martin by way of work.  Being a client of mine, I visited him twice a year or so, and we typically carried on a great conversation.  Mr. Martin recently passed after a full 92 years on this planet.  In our short times together, I developed a deep respect and connection with him, and his wife  (who passed away nearly three years previous).

  I appreciated the fact that he and his wife had shared 60 years of marriage- and still had fun together.  She had become nearly blind so he helped her out quite a bit, and she still had plenty of zip and humor, so it seemed to work well!  Mr. Martin went to the Y every day to swim, even at 90 plus years old.  He never looked to be 90, and always was fit for an older man.  I always laugh when I remember him telling me of his daily swim work out followed by his visit to the sauna to "Sweat it out".  

  One day, at his house, I was admiring a very old picture from WWII.  Mr. Martin  went on to tell me of his reflections of his service.  I was floored as he told me of his memories of D-Day, and actually being on a ship at Normandy.  That conversation will always be a treasure to me.  Mr. Martin recalled to me that his ship had no idea of the mass attack that was about to be launched.   As their ship arrived closer to Normandy, he remembered the ocean suddenly being covered with naval vessels as they converged at once on the beach.  His ship eventually was hit, but was able to be salvaged and he survived.

  I don't often meet people that were at such pinnacle points in our world history.  Mr. Martin's experience and stories were so valuable and rich.  I'm thankful that he shared a piece of his experience, and his life with me.

Rememberance

"To Have and to Hold;  In sickness and in health;  For richer or poor;  To Love and to Cherish;  To honor and protect;  For better or for worse;  Till death do us part."

  Odds are if you are married, you and your spouse exchanged some version of a vow.  It may have contained some or none of the above, but none the less- a vow.  If you're a hipster, you may have created a super awesome, heart wrenching, emo- dashboard confessional vow that forever rocked the world!  Or you may have gone old school or traditional.
  Why do we not step back and remember our vows?  (And when I say "we" I'm pointing my huge pointer finger right in my own face).
  Mighty big words up there in that vow, mighty easy to say on that special day- mighty tough to live on a measly fall day and the dishes need done.  Mighty tough to live if we don't pause and remember.  Pause long enough to let our vows challenge us.
  How I need to pause, remember, and let my vows challenge me.  How about you?