Monday, January 28, 2019

no more golf at the country club
















After years of arguing, of neighbors posting pro and con signs on their yards, of a certain group of old farts not getting their way, and turning a once beautiful country club area into an eyesore, they are starting the building process.  Finally.  We will soon find out just how much traffic will be added to our overcrowded streets, how they will address the issue, how our home prices will be affected, up or down, and was the fight all worth it.  After attending one meeting of the group opposing it, ECCHO, all I could figure was they had to much time on their hands, and looking around the room, if the protest carried on much longer, most of the people in the room would be dead before a decision was made, living out their last few years depressed, upset, and miserable.  Now I am not for the destruction of our once beautiful neighborhood, but get real, this is SoCal, and the only finite commodity is land.  And what was this neighborhood before it was built on......and the argument continues.....
We used to ride the cart paths at night with our sons, the smell of cut grass filling the air daily, and very little traffic.  But as the Country Club began to implode, do we really need 63 golf courses in San Diego, and are the old farts getting what they deserved, they admitted they were against the new generation with long hair and tattoos.  And membership dwindled below a sustainable level, getting what they wanted, at a price they couldn’t afford to pay.  But living on the edge of town, it was commonplace to see wildlife, to see ducks and cranes, to see large turtles by the pond, and to hear the animals in the night.  Seems they are being displaced too, and we even have seen cranes in our yard, and the ever present singing of the  coyotes at night, bragging on their catch.  In fact there are so many coyotes now, it has become unsafe to walk, as they travel in packs, and are not afraid to go after animals of any size.  We have neighbors who have lost pets to them climbing walls and fences, and coming face to face with humans, and not backing down.  I guess it was their land before golf and golfers, but still their eerie singing in the night sometimes sounds like it is just outside your window.  Sometimes it is, as pets are disappearing all too fast.  The scavenger coyote also becoming the predator......
I wonder when Satan fell from heaven, from grace, how it affected the sounds of heaven?  He was the music, he was all the instruments, he was the prince of the air, and them suddenly he was gone.  Earthbound and down, becoming the ultimate predator, going after anyone and all he can, trying to keep them from Jesus, to keep them out of heaven.  Not necessarily to destroy as we think of it, total obliteration, but many times just making you miss heaven, or as Agent 86 used to say, “missed by that much.”  And so we see him as the ultimate predator, going after the weakest ones, those who brag on themselves and have no time for God.  Who goes around and like the coyotes at night, the cries can be heard of another soul lost, and his victory song getting louder as it gets closer.  Being forced from heaven, he was given over to the earth, to its peoples, and has no descriminatory practices, he hates everyone equally, and everyone is fair game.  But as many are busy looking for the return of Jesus, they neglect to see that Satan knows the Bible better than they ever could, and knows his time is coming soon, so is stepping up his plan.  Getting more aggressive, and splitting people among themselves.  Dems vs. GOP, conservative vs. liberal, destroying marriages, destroying families, and making sin acceptable, all in his final purge on mankind.  Just as God is all love, Satan is all hate.  And even the elect are being deceived, sometimes rushing to their own destruction, willingly, doing what is trendy, following church dogma, and allowing sin a foothold.  Denying Jesus in actions, their words becoming hollow because they don’t walk their talk.  Or maybe not talking their walk.....
I can say with some assurance that whatever you think heaven to be, it will much better.  For eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor mind imagined the kingdom to come.  They talk down heaven, while boosting up hell, all for selfish desires. then when they don’t get their way, blame God.  But let this be a warning to all, as Jesus told us the poor will always be among us.  We see it daily as the homeless population grows, as food stamps are common, and a quality of life is not what is desired.  But Jesus as usual was talking on a higher level, a spiritual one, he was talking of he poor in spirit.  Of which there are two types, the poor who have denied Jesus and rejected his spirit, and the even sadder ones, who claim victory in Jesus, but deny the spirit given unto them for life.  Still doing it their way, and finding no joy in the spirit, the one they chose over Jesus.  And like coyotes, singing in the night after their hollow victories, causing dissent among true believers, and appearing cult like, which they are.  By their actions you cannot discern them from an atheist, overtaken by sin and an appetite for the things not of God, but wanting to portray themselves as godly.  They didn’t make up this belief, they got it from somewhere.....only knowing what they are taught, but never knowing the one who can save.  Knowledge puffs up,  the spirit comforts.  Gives wisdom, protects and guides.  Yet some just study on into oblivion.....
Be assured that Jesus came to separate the sheep from the goats, he knows who are his.  The world is changing and not for the better, but Jesus is still in the business of changing lives.  By his spirit.  Life and wildlife are changing daily as the building begins, but note what God has said.  Take heed of his spirit, trust in him.  He warns unless he builds the church, we labor in vain.  Money may buy a fine building, some nice choir robes, and the latest technology for the congregation, only love will make the place alive.  God is that love, “by his spirit,”says the Lord.  Not by Bible covers, new carpet in the foyer, not by a famous pastor.  Not by a huge congregation, or by teaching, memorization, or study.  By his spirit.....the coyotes are howling, maybe so close you have gotten used to them.  But do you know the still, small voice of Jesus?  Jesus who?  The Christ.  My friend.  No more golf at the country club.....we should have seen it coming.  How you see Jesus in your future will dictate your decisions today......and your decisions today will impact tomorrow, too.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com