(June 30, 2008 Mon 6:19 AM CDT)
Many huge trees are down in Omaha.
"Are you not aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
We must die to self in order to live.
It is amazing that more people did not get hurt
from all these fallen trees.
You can't drive north of 45th and Center Streets
too far because of a tree in the way.
I did see the large orange trucks of the City of Omaha
picking up the stacks of tree branches
piled in a neighborhood east of 10th and Bancroft.
It is going to take a long time to clean this up.
The traffic lights were out in a few places on Dodge Street
near University of Nebraska at Omaha.
There were some large trees at Boys Town split in two.
I heard stories about people caught outside
as the wind, rain and hail hit them.
They had to hide against a wall or building to protect themselves.
The hail actually beat on people who did not take shelter
at Memorial Park after having been warned several times.
My Mom had to toss out all the food in her refrigerator
since the power was out too long.
East of Fremont, Nebraska on Highway 275
I saw a few
center pivot irrigation
systems flipped over.
There have been so many storms lately in the Omaha area
you can't keep track of which storm caused which damage.
I am still wiped out from all the raking and cleaning up my yard.
I was working on a Suduko puzzle
(.3...69.......7...2..4..61...2..9..8..1.2.5..9..8..2...84..2..3...6.......73...8.)
yesterday and I kept making mistakes
as I walked at the Westroads Mall.
I had to give up.
I could not think straight.
were baptized into his death?
Through baptism into his death
we were buried with him, so that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live a new life."
Romans 6:3-4
We must give something up to receive.
Be baptized in the name of Jesus.
The Lord will lift you up from death and destruction.
(June 29, 2008 Sun 7:57 AM CDT)
I lost electricity at my house on Thursday at 4:54 PM
Jesus said to the man,
Stand up.
(Note on 4-15-2009: the day was a Friday not Thursday.)
as this strong wind blew down many tree branches.
It was just like in
October 1997
when many tree branches
fell at that time because of an early heavy snow.
I was in the basement looking out the garage door windows.
Wow --- that was a powerful wind out of the north.
The power was out for 17 hours.
Things are back to normal this morning.
Overnight they fixed the Qwest phone and Internet also.
The cable TV is still not working, but I only watch
The Universe on Tuesdays on the History channel.
I got to meet a lot of my neighbors on Friday evening.
They helped cut up my tree branches and haul them to the curb.
God bless them all.
There are many piles of tree branches to haul away.
It is going to take the city many weeks to pick them up.
The Blue Bunny ice cream Bunny Tracks was getting mushy
so I was eating it yesterday when the power was out.
The food in the refrigerator survived the 17 hours.
I was getting worried that I would have to eat everything.
I tested all the flashlights since there were no lights.
All of them worked.
The garage door did not work.
You had to manually lift and shut it.
No Internet --- how did we survive with no Internet all those years?
It was a disaster.
Two people
did die in Council Bluffs from a tree falling on their car.
Pray for them and their family and friends.
"Stand up and go your way;
your faith has been your salvation."
Luke 17:19
Help you neighbor.
Believe in the Lord.
He will heal our hurts.
Jesus, be with us.
Mend our community.
(June 27, 2008 Fri 7:56 AM CDT)
Jesus taught,
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
"When you stand to pray,
forgive anyone against whom
you have a grievance
so that your heavenly Father
may in turn forgive you your faults."
Mark 11:25-26
If you hold a grudge, too bad.
Please, forgive all those who have hurt you.
You only hurt yourself.
Jesus, help us to forgive,
as you forgave those who killed you.
(June 26, 2008 Thu 6:14 AM CDT)
Pray for someone that used to work on my floor.
"In the midst of their amazement at all that he was doing,
Listen to Jesus.
They died a few days ago.
Pray for them and their family and friends.
Jesus said to his disciples:
'Pay close attention to what I tell you:
The Son of Man must be delivered
into the hands of men.'
They failed, however, to understand this warning;
its meaning was so concealed from them
they did not grasp it at all,
and they were afraid
to question him about the matter."
Luke 9:43-45
Hear what he says.
Pay attention.
Pray to the Holy Spirit to help you understand.
Holy Spirit, come and give us your wisdom and understanding.
(June 25, 2008 Wed 6:16 AM CDT)
"And this recompense of mine?
The message is free.
It is simply this,
that when preaching I offer the gospel
free of charge and do not make full use
of the authority the gospel gives me."
1 Corinthians 9:18
Salvation is free.
It is a free gift to you.
Will you accept this invitation from the Lord?
CIO (check it out).
(June 24, 2008 Tue 6:10 AM CDT)
"Bow humbly under God's mighty hand,
It is a war.
so that in due time he may lift you high.
Cast all your cares on him
because he cares for you.
Stay sober and alert.
Your opponent the devil
is prowling like a roaring lion
looking for someone to devour."
1 Peter 5:6-8
There is a battle.
It is not a fair battle.
The power of God is way way way more powerful
than that of the devil.
Call on the power of Jesus.
Jesus, come and fight for me.
Defend me from evil forces.
(June 23, 2008 Mon 6:12 AM CDT)
Pray for someone in Mesa, Arizona that has cancer.
"When I caught sight of him I fell down
Jesus should be first in your life.
God bless them and their family.
at his feet as though dead.
He touched me with his right hand and said:
'There is nothing to fear.
I am the first and the last
and the one who lives.
Once I was dead but now I live ---
forever and ever.
I hold the keys of death and the nether world.'"
Revelation 1:17-18
Bow down before him.
He will touch you and raise you up.
He is the key.
(June 22, 2008 Sun 11:51 AM CDT)
Today I went to the
SFH
Walk/Run at Lake Zorinsky in Omaha.
"The father of orphans and the defender of widows
God is your defender.
It took me 1 hour and 3 minutes to walk 3.1 miles (5K).
3 MPH.
You could not have asked for a nicer morning.
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity;
only rebels remain in the parched land."
Psalms 68:6-7 (or 5-6)
He is your protection.
He is concerned about the forgotten.
He is on your side.
(June 21, 2008 Sat 10:29 AM CDT)
Maybe we all need a
steam car
"The Word became flesh
He pitched his tent in our camp.
like Jay Leno has.
Not too bad.
It just needs to be computer controlled.
It is better than paying $4 per gallon for gasoline.
and made his dwelling among us,
and we have seen his glory:
the glory of an only Son
coming from the Father,
filled with enduring love."
John 1:14
He came to stay with us in our residence.
Moved into the house next door.
He came among us.
He walked with us.
Welcome him.
(June 20, 2008 Fri 7:53 AM CDT)
"As your fellow workers,
Today is the day.
we beg you not to receive
the grace of God in vain.
For he says,
'In an acceptable time I have heard you;
on a day of salvation I have helped you.'
Now is the acceptable time!
Now is the day of salvation!"
2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Listen to the Lord.
He is calling you.
Come and see.
Now is the time.
(June 19, 2008 Thu 6:17 AM CDT)
"Brothers and sisters,
Look ahead.
I do not think of myself
as having reached the finish line.
I give no thought to what lies behind
but push on to what is ahead.
My entire attention is on the finish line
as I run toward the prize to which God calls me ---
life on high in Jesus Christ."
Philippians 3:13-14
Focus on Jesus.
He calls you to greatness.
Give him your full attention.
Jesus, help us to focus on you.
We seek to be near you.
(June 18, 2008 Wed 6:09 AM CDT)
"They received a message in a dream
The Lord will lead you.
not to return to Herod,
so they went back
to their own country by another route."
Matthew 2:12
He will keep you safe from harm.
Listen to him.
Follow him.
(June 17, 2008 Tue 6:14 AM CDT)
"A cloud came, overshadowing them,
Listen to Jesus.
and out of the cloud a voice:
'This is my Son, my beloved.
Listen to him.'
Suddenly looking around
they no longer saw anyone with them ---
only Jesus."
Mark 9:7-8
Read what he said in the Bible.
He is the Son of God.
He is with you.
Be amazed.
(June 16, 2008 Mon 6:13 AM CDT)
"They gave their disciples reassurances,
It is not easy to live a Christian life.
and encouraged them to persevere
in the faith with this instruction:
'We must undergo many trials
if we are to enter into the reign of God.'"
Acts 14:22
There will be trials.
There will be struggles.
Call on Jesus to help you each day.
Jesus, help us today.
We need you.
We need your strength.
(June 15, 2008 Sun 8:05 AM CDT)
"You are my letter,
People are seeing your life.
known and read by all people,
written on your hearts.
Clearly you are a letter of Christ
which I have delivered,
a letter written not with ink
but by the Spirit of the living God,
not a tablet of stone
but on tablets of flesh in the heart."
2 Corinthians 3:2-3
They are watching you.
What do they see?
Is it pleasing to God?
Be a letter of life.
(June 14, 2008 Sat 9:40 AM CDT)
"Conduct yourselves, then, in a way
Live your faith.
worthy of the gospel of Christ.
If you do, whether I come and see you myself or
hear about your behavior from a distance,
it will be clear that you are standing firm
in unity of spirit and exerting yourselves
with one accord for the faith of the gospel."
Philippians 1:27
Live for Christ.
Many people are watching you.
Is it a good witness to the gospel?
Is that what the Christian life is?
Stand firm.
(June 13, 2008 Fri 8:22 AM CDT)
The story of the
4 boy scouts
"My brothers and sisters,
We will have hard times.
killed by a tornado was very sad.
It was just north of Omaha about 40 miles.
Pray for them and their families.
Pray for those that were injured.
count it pure joy
when you are involved
in every sort of trial.
Realize that when your faith is tested
this makes for endurance.
Let endurance come to its perfection
so that you may be fully mature
and lacking in nothing."
James 1:2-4
There will be sadness.
Call on Jesus to help you.
Jesus, come and be with me.
I need help in these hard times.
Thank you for hearing my prayer.
(June 12, 2008 Thu 6:17 AM CDT)
The former pastor from the church
"Anyone who is so 'progressive'
Be careful.
I went to in Lincoln, Nebraska at
UNL
has died.
Pray for him and his family.
that they do not remain rooted
in the teaching of Christ
does not possess God,
while anyone who remains
rooted in the teaching
possesses both the Father and the Son."
2 John 1:9
Some people teach some strange things.
Is Christ still part of their teaching?
Is he the Lord?
Test what is said.
Call on the Holy Spirit for guidance.
(June 11, 2008 Wed 6:22 AM CDT)
Last night at Siena/Francis House
"Someone asked Jesus,
Call on the mercy of God.
we were talking about this parable in Luke.
'Lord, are they few in number who are to be saved?'
He replied:
'Try to come in through the narrow door.
Many, I tell you, will try to enter and be unable.'"
Luke 13:23-24
He is the one to save you.
You cannot save yourself.
Jesus, forgive my sins.
I have done wrong.
Save me.
I need you.
Change my life.
(June 10, 2008 Tue 6:21 AM CDT)
About 300 houses were damaged on Sunday morning by the tornado.
"Jesus fixed his gaze on them and said,
Believe in God.
Keep praying for all the families.
'For man it is impossible
but not for God.
With God all things are possible.'"
Mark 10:27
He can do amazing things.
Turn to him.
He is your salvation.
It is possible.
(June 9, 2008 Mon 6:17 AM CDT)
I saw the Missouri River yesterday in eastern Omaha.
"In times past,
Jesus came to earth.
It has a lot of water in it and debris from the recent rains.
God spoke in fragmentary and varied ways
to our fathers through the prophets;
in this, the final age,
he has spoken to us through is Son,
whom he has made heir of all things and
through whom he first created the universe."
Hebrews 1:1-2
He is God.
He became one of us.
He talked to us.
People asked him questions.
We have the revealed truth from him.
People captured his words for us in the Bible.
(June 8, 2008 Sun 8:14 AM CDT)
Many
houses have been damaged
in southwest Omaha overnight.
"Let me say this much:
Help those in need.
The sirens went off 3 times 2 AM to 3 AM.
No one was seriously hurt, so thank God.
Many trees are down in various locations in Omaha.
Now the people have to clean up the damage.
Pray for them today.
He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly,
and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully."
2 Corinthians 9:6
Give to those who need help.
Do your part.
Come together.
Jesus, thank you that no one was seriously hurt.
Be with them today and comfort them.
(June 7, 2008 Sat 9:05 AM CDT)
Yesterday I was studying a program to convert C# to Java.
Jesus prayed,
Come together.
It is called
Grasshopper
by Mainsoft.
It is interesting to see the C# world and Java come together.
"I pray also for those who will believe
in me through their word,
that all may be one as you, Father,
are in me, and I in you;
I pray that they may be one in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave me
that they may be one, as we are one ---
I living in them, you living in me ---
that their unity may be complete."
John 17:20-23
Our unity is found in our brother Jesus.
Get to know him.
See the glory of the Lord.
He is praying for you.
(June 6, 2008 Fri 8:29 AM CDT)
"At this the Jews objected:
Jesus claimed to be God.
'You are not yet 50!
How can you have seen Abraham?'
Jesus answered them:
'I solemnly declare it:
before Abraham came to be, I am.'
At that they picked up rocks to throw at Jesus,
but he hid himself and
slipped out of the temple precincts."
John 8:57-59
They wanted to stone him.
They did not understand.
Be open to what God has to teach you.
There are 3 persons in one God:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Jesus, help us to learn more about you.
Teach us, Lord.
(June 5, 2008 Thu 6:16 AM CDT)
I was down in the basement last night for about 30 minutes.
Jesus said,
You have nothing to fear.
Our 3 local TV stations said to take cover
from this huge storm coming into Omaha.
"Teach them to carry out
everything I have commanded you.
And know that I am with you always,
until the end of the world!"
Matthew 28:20
Jesus is here.
He is with you.
He is walking with you.
Have an exciting life.
(June 4, 2008 Wed 6:17 AM CDT)
"God had made a better plan,
God has a plan.
a plan which included us."
Hebrews 11:40
You are part of this wondrous plan.
Do your part.
No one else can do it.
You are that special.
Jesus, help us to do what you have created us for.
(June 3, 2008 Tue 6:07 AM CDT)
"See that no one returns evil to any other;
Do not return evil.
always seek one another's good and,
for that matter, the good of all."
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Be kind to one another.
Yes, others can be difficult.
The Lord asks you to seek to do good.
Jesus, teach us to love one another.
Give us the grace we need.
(June 2, 2008 Mon 6:14 AM CDT)
I updated my
Sudoku program
last night.
I saw the Platte River yesterday on Hwy 75 south of Omaha.
"Now I am going to tell you a mystery.
What happens when we die?
I added a button to solve the puzzle.
It is very high and more storms are coming today.
Not all of us shall fall asleep,
but all of us are to be changed ---
in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the sound of the last trumpet.
The trumpet will sound and
the dead will be raised incorruptible,
and we shall be changed."
1 Corinthians 15:51-52
What is on the other side?
Jesus promises eternal life to us.
He has the answer.
You can live forever.
(June 1, 2008 Sun 8:19 AM CDT)
Yesterday I found a
Java program
that solves
Jesus prayed,
Pray.
Sudoku puzzles in a second or two.
Not too bad.
It uses backtracking and recursion.
It is a small program.
It surprised me how small it is.
I was expecting a huge program.
"To them I have revealed your name,
and I will continue to reveal it,
so that your love for me may live in them,
and I may live in them."
John 17:26
Pray that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit live in you.
Jesus, come to me.
I need you.
Give me grace to live for you and with you.
