Siggy’s Blurbs

Soon the hummingbirds will stop coming to my feeder.  And will take the long journey south.  I never know when I see the last one of the season but I will keep nectar out for a few more weeks for any stragglers.  The “passing” of the hummingbirds is another sign the warm weather is out and the cold temperatures are on their way.  I can become too used to their sight and they have to go away for me again to marvel at this creation of God.  It will be April, again, before they come back.  And I will await their arrival.

Tags: April, bird feeder, birds, cold temperatures, creation of God, God, hummingbirds, long journey south, nectar, seasons, warm weather
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Are we our brothers’ keeper?  There is a struggle in Washington DC:  the President wants to raise the ceiling of the National debt we are allowed legally to have.  Our country may default on our interest payments for the first time.  And who knows what international effect that would have on our economy if that happens.

Our economy is really on shaky grounds.  Many people are suffering in this country, have lost their homes, are unemployed and struggling just to put food on the table for their families.  And the rich seem to get richer.

One party wants the President to cut programs like Medicare and others.  The struggles between the major parties are very acrimonious.  The Republicans have not forgotten how the President “rammed” through his bill to provide health coverage to millions of other Americans when he had control of both houses.  I am not going to debate the merits of that bill.

One little fact came to the ‘’surface”:  the US is near the bottom of developed countries as far as the tax rate its citizens pay.  Taxes need to go up and services to the most unfortunate, the ill, the handicapped need to be maintained.  Again, I have to ask:  Are we our brothers’ keeper?

I was amazed how high the percentage is of Americans who do not pay any federal income tax.  It is very high but the rich ought to pay more–a greater percentage than they do.  Those companies with “deep pockets” do not want that to happen and also want to erase laws that prevent them from polluting the water, air, etc.

Raising taxes now in this economic climate is not very popular.  And frankly there is much I do not understand when it comes to the economy but I have to ask again:  Are we our brothers’ keeper?  I do not like the Republicans’ stance.  I am not sure I like the Democrats much better.  Too much of government is run by big business.

Each of us are commanded to help the less fortunate.  I don’t care what your circumstances are.  There is someone around you that needs your help.

You don’t need big government necessarily to help fellow men but one function of government is to protect you and taking money away (and support) from the poorest and making sure the rich get richer does not seem right.  Again I ask the question:  Are we our brothers’ keeper?

Tags: America, big business, Democrat, economy, fellow men, God, government, health coverage, help the less fortunate, income tax, Medicare, National debt, our brothers' keeper, our country, people are suffering, pollution, poor, president, raising taxes, Republican, rich, rich companies, rich get richer, tax rate, USA, Washington DC
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‘Give us each day our daily bread.’ (from the Lord’s Prayer) (in the New Testament).  We are to pray that each day Jesus will give us what we need.  We have to take one day at a time.  And do not look too far ahead.

Yes, God will provide for our needs.  One day at a time.  We have to deal with each day as it comes.  That is all we can pray for–each day that the Lord gives us.  Each day is a gift.  Food and shelter; that is all He promises us.  And He does that a day at a time.  That is how we have to pray–each day at a time.  ‘Give us each day our daily bread.’

Tags: "Give us each day our daily bread", Bible, food and shelter, God, God will provide, Jesus, Lord's Prayer, New Testament, one day at a time, pray, prayer, promise
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Life ain’t fair.  There is no way to get around that.  Wealth is not distributed evenly.  Financial wealth is just one kind.  Gifts given to each individual are never equal and some people are more gifted than others.  That is why coveting is a sin and why each person is commanded to help those less fortunate and it is a sin to walk away and not help someone when it was in your power to do so.

Railing at your misfortune never accomplishes anything.  It makes it harder.  Instead of making the best of your situation.  It diffuses valuable energy that could be directed elsewhere more positively.  Life simply is not fair.  Some people suffer more than others.  And someone pointing out to you that you are better off than X or Y does not help much.  You do what you can and then rest.  And help those around you with whatever you got.  Give cheerfully and you will never be unhappy.

Tags: coveting, do what you can, financial, gifts, give cheerfully, God, help others, life, make the best of your situation, misfortune, sin, suffer, talents, wealth
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I keep looking at the hummingbird feeder viewed from my living room window.  I never know when one is going to come.  Last week I saw three at one time jostling for position to sip the nectar.  The same weekend my wife saw five at one time.  That means at least five hummingbirds know where the feeder is.  I love watching them hover over the feeder.  They are amazing.  Sometimes you might see two feeding at one time.  They are very protective of their space.  All I do is make sure they have nectar and they keep coming.  I am really privileged I can watch them from my living room window.  All you have to do is recognize the diverse variety of birds and thank the Maker for the display.  And that is just birds.  A very small part of His kingdom.  It is as if He had nothing better to do but create birds.  For His enjoyment and ours.

Tags: bird feeder, bird-watching, birds, create birds, enjoyment, God, His kingdom, hummingbirds, nectar, thank the Maker
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‘The poor man thinks money will buy his happiness, the rich man knows it won’t.’  The first time I heard that said it was my pastor (and friend) who told me that.  I am sure it was not his original words.  It is true when you are struggling to pay your bills it is a common illusion.  And not being able to put food on your table is certainly anxiety provoking.  Money can’t replace your sense of purpose.  It is true sometimes your job is a good fit.

You always wonder how it would be not to worry about money.  King Solomon was the richest man in the world, had it all, lacked for nothing and all he could say in the book he wrote was, ‘Vanity, everything is vanity.’  Riches can not buy peace of mind.  If you read Ecclesiastes, the book he is credited with writing in the Bible, and do not read the ending; you miss the whole point.  In it he said the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.  Every person needs a relationship with the Almighty.  It all come down to that.  Money never satisfies.  Ask the billionaire who can buy anything whether money can buy him happiness.  I think you know the answer.

Tags: "vanity everything is vanity", Almighty, anxiety, Bible, billionaire, buy happiness, Ecclsiastes, fear of the Lord, God, King Solomon, money, pastor, pay your bills, peace of mind, poor man, put food on the table, rich man, riches, sense of purpose, wisdom
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The church is not the building it is the community–invisible but real nevertheless.  And there is one body.  There is way too much division between churches.  I am much more comfortable with the idea there is one body.  You can go anywhere and meet another believer and there is that connection.  I attend a Lutheran Church but I consider myself a Christian.  And I am much more comfortable with that.  Too much attention is made out of  issues that don’t really matter.  Every Christian is a snow flake.  To God (and Jesus) every person matters.  The church is an organization where members and non–members are both welcome.  Every person is welcome.  We are all sinners.  There is no getting away from that.  The body of believers is always invisible.  It goes far beyond the buildings they meet in.  Some thoughts on the Church.

Tags: all sinners, believer, body of believers, building, Christian, churches, community, division, God, invisible, Jesus, Lutheran, one body, snow flake, the church
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Sometimes you need to get physically moving to dispel your depression.  I woke up depressed.  I found out after moving around and doing chores most of the depression lifted.  It helps when you do not stay in one spot too long and face your day.  It is too easy to give in to your depressed thoughts.  Thank God for routine.  It does not give you the privilege of bemoaning your fate.  There are always tasks that need to be done.  And you have to focus on that.  It gets you out of yourself.  And that is a good thing.

Tags: bemoaning your fate, depression, doing chores, face your day, get physically moving, God, routine, tasks
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How many more opportunities will I have to see my sisters?  We are meeting them both at the PA and NJ border.  My one sister now lives in California and comes East maybe once a year.  My other sister has a second home in Plymouth.  We used to always go to her house for Thanksgiving in NJ once a year.  Now she has it in Plymouth and that is just too far from us.  I just wonder how many more opportunities will I have to see them together.  We never know how much time we have so all I can do is enjoy the time He gives me.  It is really not up to me.  Time is a gift.  And we never know when it runs out.

Tags: California, enjoy the time He gives me, family, God, how much time we have, NJ, PA, Plymouth Mass, sisters, thanksgiving, time is a gift
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It is only 66 degrees outside today and praise the Lord for it.  It is only a week ago we had a short heatwave–temperatures in the 90’s and it was quite uncomfortable.  It was hard even sleeping when it was that warm so I am thanking the Almighty for his “gifts” when they come along.  So thank the Lord for all the small gifts that come along.  This was just one.

Tags: God, heatwave, His gifts, June, praise the Lord, thank the Lord, thanking the Almighty
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The spring has arrived.  Everything has become green.  Most of the deciduous trees the leaves have come out although there are some late bloomers.  Some trees are only budding.  Spring is almost at the halfway mark.  And there are occasional days where it has skipped the season and went straight into summer but then it becomes cooler again and we know it is still spring.  I inspect my garden every day to see the next bloom of the year.  And then share the discovery with my Other.  Spring is the season of discoveries.  And I always like sharing the latest.  The hummingbird arrived on Easter only last week.  This time my wife spotted the bird first.  I love watching them sip nectar from our feeder.  And fend off other hummingbirds who invade their territory.

Tags: bird feeder, bird-watching, birds, bloom, budding, deciduous trees, Easter, everything green, garden, God, hummingbird, leaves, my wife, nectar, season of discoveries, seasons, spring, summer
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The dark is your worst haven.  It is the time you magnify your problems.  You are all alone.  You can’t escape yourself.  There is no place to hide.  Somehow you have to break the chains the night puts on you.

And strive for the light, where freedom is.  And when you are surrounded by the night, you have to keep an eye and remain open for the light the dawn will bring.

There is always another way but the Devil tries to convince you this is all there is when you are surrounded by the night.

When you are able to open your eyes to the possibilities the new day brings you can break the chains the night brings.

Every person has to face the evil wrought when the night falls.  Nevertheless hold on to your faith when darkness envelopes.

It is never too late to face the light and do not be deceived by the bleakness of the night.  It will end and the light always comes in the dawn we face each day.

Tags: all alone, bleakness of night, break the chains, can't escape yourself, darkness, dawn, evil, face the light, freedom, God, hold on to your faith, light, light always comes, magnify your problems, night, night fall, no place to hide, open your eyes, the dark, the devil, the new day
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