God Botherers Inc

Reading from one of my old Dad's diarys I saw on a November page, "As you go through life take time to smell the roses". Years later his quote is still making sense, especially to a very busy retiree!
I had just finished a book shelf type cabinet for Yooralla and there were two things I just could not find, a fourth packet of plastic shelf supports and a vernier.
I did what I normally do, I told God that I could not find them, as I had the idea that He knew where both things were. To do my part, I started to clean up the shed. In due course this was done but still no missing things were being pointed out to me.
As I went back inside I was thinking , perhaps He is busy running the universe, perhaps the things will turn up later, perhaps I should have consulted St Anthony, perhaps it doesn't matter much any way.
As I went to go in the back door I spotted two card board boxes sitting on the BBQ, waiting to be torn up to go in to the recycling bin. As I picked up the boxes and began to tear them up, LO and Behold, in one of them was the fourth packet of shelf supports. I went into the garage to the recycle bin to put the cardboard in, and as I raised the lid, the back of my hand came against something on a shelf above, something covered with dust, Lo and Behold it was the vernier.
I know that some readers will think, "A God botherer indeed".
I read just last week a claim made by a star gazer , it went like this, "There are as more suns in the universe that there are grains of sand on all the beaches in this world.
Old Bildad was telling Job off in Job 26 and after talking about the glories of what God had made he went on to say, "But these things are only hints of His power, only the whispers of what we have heard. Who can know how truly great God is"?
Another translation says, "These are only the edges of His ways". (I like that one)
Call me a God botherer if you like, but it is well worth your while to try Him out.
"Seek and you shall find" said Jesus and Isaiah 55;6 says "Seek the Lord while he may be found".
It is much more important to find Him than it is to find some temporal possession.
Tell Him you really want to find Him. See what happens.
Here is a picture of the trifles that I was looking for

Back in the back yard

We are in the grip of a drought, but the springtime is lovely
Today we went over to Olinda again for another picnic.
What a beautiful back yard we have.
Even the natives were friendly.
Here are the Australian Kookaburras, the jokers of the bush.
Only the best of our lunch was good enough, they didn't go for the potato crisps!



It's a bit of a worry to realize that this backyard could be ablaze this summer.
Way back in the 1940s, about a hundred and ten years ago, I grew up on a mallee farm. 10 inches of rain a year would have been wonderful, but we got practically none for a while and there were dust storms so black one could get lost in them.
My Dad used to pay good money for Inigo Jones's long range weather forecasts. I remember him telling me that at the turn of the century Inigo said there would be a 10 year drought. It looks like he was not far off the mark.
I would like to think that this is what is happening and that global warming is a product of the "alone in the universe mind", but who knows?
Any way, I am going to enjoy the bush while I may.


I have included here some of the words of Jesus, telling his disciples what to expect in the "last days" just in case this global warming thing is a reality:-
Luke's Gospel chapter 21.
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Distress of nations,comlexityy, the sea and the waves roaring,Israel.
Doesn't look so far fetched now does it?
Now North Korea have the bomb.
I,m just so grateful that I am a believer.
Visit my back yard, it will blow away the cobwebs.

Nostalgia is not what it used to be!

What a nice week we had, Larry came from Hobart to attend a leaders conference and went home again Friday night. His bed here became vacant at that time as Greg and Sally arrived.
Larry took us to the back beach at Sorrento for lunch on Friday and on Saturday morning Greg and I went to the Monash University where there was a model exhibition. We had a great morning and why Peta Sue and Sally declined to come could only be comprehended by a female mind.

As soon as we entered we stopped at the Sherline exhibition of CNC machine tools
http://www.sher.com.au/
Greg got into a deep discussion with a man about the computerization of these machines, and as I was lost to most of the discussion my mind wandered around to thinking of the name Sherline. My mind went back to 1947 when I was the apprentice at the Red Point Tool Company in Prahran. This company was owned and ran by Mr. Sher.
Mr. Sher had a little son Ronnie, I remember little Ronnie coming in a time or two (about 5 years of age), holding tightly to his father's, (Mr. Sher's) hand. Over the years I had often wondered about little Ronnie, was he still alive? Did he follow in his father's footsteps?


As I waited for the deep discussion Greg and the man were having to conclude with the intention of asking the man if Sherline was in some way connected to The old Red Point Tool Company, I saw a little old man behind the counter with name tag that said "Ron Sher"
I asked him if he was the son of Mr Sher, and he replied, "I am indeed".
As I told who I was, his face lit up with surprise, as had mine.
We talked about the old factory and he was able to tell me about his journey as he followed in his father's footsteps.
I was very pleased, what a great thing to happen.
Yes, though nostalgia may not quite be what it used to be it is still alive and well in the human heart.


In the old photo above, I am the little apprentice sitting in the gutter.
Mr Sher is jut right of centre. The coloured photo below is of Ron (right) during his sojourn in America. The other Photo is of Mr. Sher himself!
I still remember all the people in the old photo with clarity. A young mind must be something like a sponge. I now have trouble remembering people I met a year or two ago, sometimes even yesterday!
Peta sue has just had a proof read and said, "We did lot more than that at the weekend". We went to Ben and Zoe's and watched the first half of the AFL (Australian Rules) Grand Final on a big screen along with lots of other "young" people, then we went to Paul's and watched the rest of the game, again on a big screen. The only downside was that the team I barracked for lost by one lousy point.
On Sunday morning we went to the Berwick vineyard Christian Church and afterwards to the home of our new Pastors Geoff and Jo Baker, for a dinner. We had good food and good fellowship. The good food consisted of Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding followed Lemon Cheesecake made by their eldest son Timothy.
In the evening we watched the TV to see Brisbane down Melbourne in the NRL (Rugby) Grand Final. Again, not a good result.
Well, Winners are Grinners, but life is good.



http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A160274b.htm