"Lightbulb!"

In "Dispicable Me" the main character named Gru says "lightbulb" three times when he gets a big idea. Primarily he used his ideas to steal the moon with the help of his little yellow helpers. But his heart has a major transformation when he meets three little girls, and they become his world. Without getting too much into psychology, it seems to me that Gru had tried to impress his mother as a child, but nothing that he did seemed to win her affection. Now as an adult Gru tried once again to impress his mom by telling her that he was going to steal the moon, making him the most notorious thief in the world, but his old lady was not impressed again.

I have an uncle who is now in his 80's. Since the age of 14 he spend his time and energy thinking of "lightbulb" type of ideas to help others. He became a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and because the Lord blessed his ministry many people will spend eternity in heaven. Very cool! Recently, in his autobiography, my uncle told this story that was born out of one of his lightbulb ideas:

In a newspaper in Mexico my uncle read about a new train service that would run from Ojinaga, Chihuahua, to Topolobampo, Sinaloa. This train service would cross over the treacherous Sierra Tarahumara. The political benefits to this major accomplishment would produce gains in agriculture, industry and commerce, among other things.  LIGHTBULB!!!!!!! The Tarahumara people could now be reached with the Gospel!!! With God's help and many caring people, my uncle came up with a plan to establish a mision in each pueblo where the train stopped. Yearly resources would include $25,000, a misionary, a Jeep, and a horse. A Baptist Church in Oakland, CA, funded the first year of mission work.

Soon my uncle and a couple of pastors were in the pueblo of Samachique visiting a school. A little boy interrupts the visit by running around the school showing off the one sheet of paper that he had in his hand. Now he would be able to write on paper....To arrive at the school, the children of the region would arrive on Monday and stay through Friday, carrying in their meager provisions, a small bag of flavored powder called pinole. Once at school, the girls would sleep in the homes of the locals, and the boys would bunk down on the branches of the most comfortable tree they could find. There was a school district office in the State of Chihuahua, but the data of school-aged children in the Tarahumara region was so old, that the schools were receiving less than the food that was required. This was remedied quickly. Then a building project erected buildings for the schools that served as classrooms by day and as dormitories by night. Thank God for the visionaries who build the railroad, and thank God for my uncle, a handful of pastors, and a church in the USA, whose lightbulb was always shining brightly to find ways to help others.--Rene

Self-Portrait

I heard this quote on the radio:  "Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence!" Makes sense to me.--Rene

Toddlers and little kids

Just came back from a funeral for the uncle or grandfather of two sisters who are friends with my two youngest kids. It is always very sad to see toddlers and and very young children because they really don't know what is going on. They don't know that life ends here on earth. I want to tell them about heaven, and I'm guessing someone has tried to console them. The Lord knows that death hurts really bad. Family and friends were celebrating the life of their loved one. The minister also spoke of celebrating the resurrection because, those in Christ, rise to an eternal life in heaven. The kids need lots of love and compassion to help them grow as a result of deep seated grief...I am sad for them, but I know that Jesus will watch over them.....Rene

The Fruit of the Spirit of God

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not beocme conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:22-26, NIV).

Wow! There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit of God. I hear God saying to me that as I live by His law and produce His fruit, I'm free to do anything that I want. Cool.--Rene

Getting Started

This is my first attempt at blogging, and I'm not really sure what I am doing! It is similar to posting on blackboard when taking an academic course on-line. Communicating in this format is not so much my concern, as it is to know how to structure everything that I believe that God wants me to do...I know that He will help me...I love Jesus and I love you all!--Rene