I posted the following a year or so ago under "Gardner Heist":
Shortly after midnight on March 18, 1990, two men, disguised as police, were allowed into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. They stated to security that there was "a problem on the grounds" and to "allow them in." Once in, they duct taped the security guards and stole art works which are today valued at $500 million dollars. That's right. $500 million dollars. One Vermeer, three Rembrandts (including 'Storm on The Sea of Galilee'), and five Degas. The missing art is just that...still missing.
There is a $5 million dollar reward for information leading to the recovery of the art. If you have any clues or ideas, just post them on the "Comments." I'll share some of the reward with you. I promise. :)
*** *** *** *** ***
Yesterday (June 22) Whitey Bulger was arrested. He was a Boston mobster from the
1970's to the early 1990's. It has been written of Bulger that "the last best chance to recover the stolen art is by finding Whitey Bulger." It has also been said that during that time, there was no major organized crime in Boston that Whitey Bulger was not directly or indirectly involved in. With the arrest of the 2nd most wanted FBI fugitive, hopefully the 19 murders he has been charged with will be processed.
And hopefully the art will be recovered due to his knowledge of the crime. Until that time, "Storm On The Sea of Galilee" (Rembrandt) and "The Concert" by Vermeer, both valued in the hundreds of millions, will only be seen as empty frames in a Boston museum.
ABA Meeting
ABA meeting in St. Louis this week. "Bro. Moderator I'd like to say a thing or two concerning the motion in question..."
Business has to be taken care of. Missionaries have to be supported. Hovering clouds of questions concerning the Bookstore, the KJV, church sovereignty, church camps, etc., etc. must be settled. And oh yes, preachers need a vacation too.
Perhaps I should be more involved. I just can't help but think that the business will be taken care of in an atmosphere of Godly wisdom and decorum. So, once again, I'll stay home. I have met some dear people at these meetings. At both state and national meetings, I have also encountered groups and cliques that have obviously existed for decades and I have found entrance into their sacred realms impregnable. Talk about man-made fortresses.
One of the joys of ABA meetings is visiting with missionaries. What a great opportunity to visit with those who are on the front lines of evangelism.
Maybe I'll go next year. Maybe I'll even line up at the microphone to repeat for the 11th time that "the motion in question is a violation of church sovereignty!!!"
Or maybe I'll just stay home again and pray God's blessing on the affair and on my somewhat cynical attitude concerning some people's motives at the meetings. Seriously, God bless the ABA & may His will be accomplished.
Business has to be taken care of. Missionaries have to be supported. Hovering clouds of questions concerning the Bookstore, the KJV, church sovereignty, church camps, etc., etc. must be settled. And oh yes, preachers need a vacation too.
Perhaps I should be more involved. I just can't help but think that the business will be taken care of in an atmosphere of Godly wisdom and decorum. So, once again, I'll stay home. I have met some dear people at these meetings. At both state and national meetings, I have also encountered groups and cliques that have obviously existed for decades and I have found entrance into their sacred realms impregnable. Talk about man-made fortresses.
One of the joys of ABA meetings is visiting with missionaries. What a great opportunity to visit with those who are on the front lines of evangelism.
Maybe I'll go next year. Maybe I'll even line up at the microphone to repeat for the 11th time that "the motion in question is a violation of church sovereignty!!!"
Or maybe I'll just stay home again and pray God's blessing on the affair and on my somewhat cynical attitude concerning some people's motives at the meetings. Seriously, God bless the ABA & may His will be accomplished.
Romans 3:23 ?
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"
Quoted it. Preached it. Referenced it. But wait a minute.
I do not want to dissect this verse like a lab experiment that will have to die in the process. But is Romans 3:23 two descriptions of the same concept (sin)?
Or is this a bit of a distinction between two similar concepts?
"all have sinned" = miss the mark, transgress, violate
"come short of the glory of God" = ?
In other words, can an act or condition NOT be sinful, but just fall short of the glory of God? If that's the case, this verse truly covers everything.
Quoted it. Preached it. Referenced it. But wait a minute.
I do not want to dissect this verse like a lab experiment that will have to die in the process. But is Romans 3:23 two descriptions of the same concept (sin)?
Or is this a bit of a distinction between two similar concepts?
"all have sinned" = miss the mark, transgress, violate
"come short of the glory of God" = ?
In other words, can an act or condition NOT be sinful, but just fall short of the glory of God? If that's the case, this verse truly covers everything.
Getting Older...Faster???
I think I'm getting older...faster.
Meagan graduated this year, Logan enters High School, and Landon goes into 6th grade.
At 44, it seems that I'm getting older...faster. I'm beginning to think about things that I might want to do or accomplish before I get very much older. Hopefully, this condition is not fertile grounds for a "mid-life crisis."
I look forward to climbing Mt. Elbert in Colorado in July with Rabbi Reese.
Mt. Elbert is the highest mountain in Colorado (14,433 ft.) and the 2nd highest in the 48 contiguous states. Mount Whitney in California is at 14,494. For me, this isn't a battle against a mountain. It's a battle against myself and against the mundane. There is something to just "seeing how you will do" in tough situations.
(Mt. Massive is near where we will be camping. 12 feet shorter and much harder from all accounts)
I also look forward to the ministry in my 40's and 50's. I have seen pastors/preachers be very effective for the Lord during this phase of their life.
Some experience with some good health can be conducive to fruit bearing in the ministry.
I look forward to assisting my kids in new phases of their life such as college, driving, school sports, etc. I just hope I live up to the title "Great Dad."
I look forward to finishing just one of the many books/novels I have started.
Whatever is accomplished (or not), I need to remember that a person's identity/worth/value is not rooted in nor based on "accomplishment."
I am loved by God just because I exist. Not because of anything I have accomplished.
I can be kind and compassionate to others and likely never make the newspapers as a result. There is great contentment and peace in living a quality life and not trying to live to impress others or to have others recognize and validate everything you do.
Maybe I am getting older...faster. Oh well, with God's help I'll live a quality life for as long as possible, with eternity to look forward to.
Meagan graduated this year, Logan enters High School, and Landon goes into 6th grade.
At 44, it seems that I'm getting older...faster. I'm beginning to think about things that I might want to do or accomplish before I get very much older. Hopefully, this condition is not fertile grounds for a "mid-life crisis."
I look forward to climbing Mt. Elbert in Colorado in July with Rabbi Reese.
Mt. Elbert is the highest mountain in Colorado (14,433 ft.) and the 2nd highest in the 48 contiguous states. Mount Whitney in California is at 14,494. For me, this isn't a battle against a mountain. It's a battle against myself and against the mundane. There is something to just "seeing how you will do" in tough situations.
(Mt. Massive is near where we will be camping. 12 feet shorter and much harder from all accounts)
I also look forward to the ministry in my 40's and 50's. I have seen pastors/preachers be very effective for the Lord during this phase of their life.
Some experience with some good health can be conducive to fruit bearing in the ministry.
I look forward to assisting my kids in new phases of their life such as college, driving, school sports, etc. I just hope I live up to the title "Great Dad."
I look forward to finishing just one of the many books/novels I have started.
Whatever is accomplished (or not), I need to remember that a person's identity/worth/value is not rooted in nor based on "accomplishment."
I am loved by God just because I exist. Not because of anything I have accomplished.
I can be kind and compassionate to others and likely never make the newspapers as a result. There is great contentment and peace in living a quality life and not trying to live to impress others or to have others recognize and validate everything you do.
Maybe I am getting older...faster. Oh well, with God's help I'll live a quality life for as long as possible, with eternity to look forward to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)