I’m home. I arrived in Boise on Monday evening, got my luggage, hauled it out into the "oven" that this valley had become to find my parked car. It was 9 p.m. as I drove home and 97 degrees. What? This so rarely happens in Boise. We get hot days, but it cools off into the 60’s at night. During this heat wave that’s gripped the country, it’s barely getting down into the 70’s by morning. Hope this ends soon. "At least it’s a dry heat," as we westerners say.
Yesterday, two of my grandkids were here. Granddaughter #1 earned money cleaning out my dog kennel. Both of my big dogs shed like crazy and there was a ton of hair and leaves and dirt that had accumulated in there, caught in the wire and the frame of the kennel. She did a great job. Her brother cleaned up the backyard so I’ll be ready to mow tomorrow morning.
When the grandkids went home, I inherited two of my "grand-dogs." Their "parents" are traveling until tonight. My dogs like the grandkids better.
I promised when I left last Thursday that I would share with you a great devotional once it got its permanent link. Now I can keep that promise. Over at Purpose Driven Life, John Fischer writes about The difference between judgment and accountability. I found this a very helpful read. Here’s a snippet:
Jesus was very clear on judging another person. He said not to do
it. (Matthew 7:1) But what about holding one another accountable to the
truth? Don’t we bear some responsibility for each other? And if we are
to do this for someone, doesn’t that involve judging them at some
point?Accountability is an important part of any relationship, especially
one with a shared purpose in following Christ. We need each other in
order to stay on the right track. The lures and temptations of this
life are too great to handle alone. Paul writes, “If someone is caught
in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore that person gently. But
watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)What’s the difference between judging and confronting? Confronting
involves doing something. Judging is all in your head. Confronting has
an element of humility involved, because you know your own
susceptibility to the same temptations. Judging always makes you better
than someone in your own mind. And confronting always means direct
contact. Judging is an evil little secret you keep to yourself or share
with others in the form of gossip.
Take a moment and go read the rest of the post. It’s well worth it.
Well, today I shall try to wade through the disaster that is my office. Papers are everywhere, as is true whenever I finish a book. Plus I have the added piles of mail and magazines that arrived during my travels. And then there are the notes to organize from my brainstorming session this past weekend. Too much to do. Too little time.
Off to work I go.
-rlh-
