Lines of Demarcation

A recent visit to Southern Pennsylvania gave the opportunity to see a marker for something many of us may have thought to be mere legend - the Mason-Dixon Line. Surveyed between 1763 and 1767, this line forms parts of the borders between Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia (then Virginia) and Delaware. The term "Mason-Dixon line" later became a popular if not totally accurate means of distinguishing the Northern States from the South. The stone referred to by the historical marker on the roadside sits about 500 feet to the east, easily seen to be jutting up in the backyard of a homeowner. I wonder how complicated it is for him to pay his property taxes.
Many want to "blur the lines" between right and wrong, or good and evil these days. We may thank the Lord there is a fixed standard - God's Word, the Bible. In it, God clearly marks out the "difference" between Himself (incomparably and absolutely holy) and us (ruined, guilty, fallen sinners). There is a marked distinction between His abode (Heaven - a place of eternal bliss) and Hell (the place of everlasting judgment and separation from Him). There is also a decided choice to be made, whether to repent of one's sins and to by faith receive His Son as Savior, or reject Him to one's eternal loss.
Just as we saw on the roadside, there is a difference. Make sure your choice is the right one. "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:18

Jim Leaptrot update

Dear all,
Lisa (Leaptrot) Shepley has set up a CaringBridge site for her father - you can link it here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jamesleaptrot1/mystory. Not much added yet, but it is a good way to keep up with things.
Linda is still staying in the area. Your prayers are coveted.

Inside the cup

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." - Matthew 23:25 ESV. This Scripture came to mind as I looked down on my coffee cup today. It's a white cup, a gift from a vendor friend of mine. From the outside, it still looks like new. the inside tells the tale, however - my many cups of morning java have left some heavy staining. Before I commit it to the dishwasher, I am reminded of the Lord's words to those who put on a good front for others, but inside were not as clean as the outside appeared. How like us sometimes - putting on a good show for others, but if only others were to look inside! "For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV). What does the Lord see in me?