Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

• Romans 13:1-5

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

• 1 Timothy 2:1-4

You are my strength, I watch for you;
    you, God, are my fortress,
    my God on whom I can rely.
God will go before me
    and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
But do not kill them, Lord our shield,
    or my people will forget.
In your might uproot them
    and bring them down.
For the sins of their mouths,
    for the words of their lips,
    let them be caught in their pride.
For the curses and lies they utter,
    consume them in your wrath,
    consume them till they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
    that God rules over Jacob.

• Psalm 59:9-13

I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.

• Romans 9:2-4

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

• Hebrews 11:13-16

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

• Philippians 3:20

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

• Jeremiah 29:7

Boilerplate

I’m Harold Dykstra.  I’m retired, but I go to food bank distributions all over Tracy and talk to people that need someone who will listen to their story.  My time is well spent.  A police lieutenant suggested that I write down the conversations that I had with an angel.  I did not know she was an angel at the time.  The angel, for a little over a year, indwelled a life-sized posable action figure my children bought me, so that I would not be perceived as travelling alone.  And in a way, she was training me for what I do while talking to the needy.  She probed my heart to find out what I believed and how I express love for others.  She changed my life.

In her leaving, she said someone would come.  I had thought that was Jesus, in His second coming, but a new Babs, a little older, the model for the posable action figure arrived.  While I had no desire to start over with romance, Morrie helped her move in, thinking she was the other Babs who had returned.

This Week’s Question

Last week, Babs argued with me.  I learned that if she just whispered my name, I had to put what I was doing down and make eye contact with her.  If she ever catches on fire and I am putting out the fire with a garden hose, I hope she never says, “Harold, you missed a spot.”  The garden hose is going to go flying and I am going to stare into her eyes.  I have learned my lesson.

This week, she wanted to go to Lily the Pink.  We were going to have to have an afternoon Bible study.  We were going to hang out on the roof with a bunch of people we didn’t know…

From behind me, Babs said, “Harold?”

I had been checking to see if I had cash and a credit card.  The wallet went flying, I spun around and looked her in the eye.  I said, “Yes, dear.  You are looking ravishing tonight.”

Babs huffed, “Harold, I like the energy, and I thank you for the compliment.  That’s the sixth adjective you have used today.”

I asked, “Babs, you are counting?  You know, a girl that can count and does so without being asked can turn engineers wild.”

Babs purred, “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.”

I closed the gap on her and gave her a kiss.  In fact, I may have misreported.  I think she got to “sev-,” but she didn’t finish.

Babs scrunched her nose.  “This is not like you, Harold.  Have you been drinking?  And six adjectives in one day.  Have you been reading the godly lizard again?”

I asked, “Godly lizard?”

Babs looked me in the eyes, “Yes, Harold, the thesaurus.  Short for Theo – Saurus.  The godly lizard.”

“And what if I have, Babs,” I replied.  “It shows that I care enough to stretch my vocabulary just for you, dear.”

She sighed, “Harold, I would rather you stretch your legs and get down on one knee.”

I groaned, “No, Babs, you might have to call the EMT to help me back on my feet.  And with my luck, the EMT knows more than six adjectives.”

Babs giggled, “But, Harold, how do you like my outfit?”

I studied her dress carefully.  She had the blue dress with white polka dots. She had her black athletic shoes for walking.  She had those white short socks on.  I can’t remember if she likes anklets or shorty socks.  This had ‘trap’ written all over it.  “Babs, you look great, wonderful, stupendous, but what am I supposed to see?  Please, tell me.”

Babs giggled, “You are supposed to see me and only me.  But you are supposed to see that I am wearing red, white and blue.  I am being patriotic.  See?”  She did a little spin.

I was getting concerned, “Babs, other than your red lipstick, all I see is a blue dress and white polka dots.”

Babs scrunched her nose, “Oh! I forgot.  I have red lingerie underneath.  Let me undo a few buttons…”

“No, that’s okay,” I replied.  “What are we doing for a Bible study today?”

Babs laughed, “Wow, you were fast!  Let’s look at whether it is sinful to be patriotic.”

I smiled, “You were supposed to pick the Scriptures.”

Babs laughed, “I had AI do my research.”

I sighed, “That is dangerous, Babs.  AI summarizes several websites on the topic, and they may summarize the wrong ones.”

Babs replied, “Duh, Harold, that is why I asked for the Scriptures that prove the points they were making.  That way, I can read the Scriptures and make up my own mind.  See, I have had all three brains working on this one.”

I asked, “Did you not say that the two in front did not do the thinking?  Only the one between the ears?”

Babs groaned, “I am not used to being the one coming up with the verses.  I needed all three to think about this one.  Besides, Harold, I got you to look.”  She giggled and then pointed to her face.  “I’m up here, big boy, up here!”

I laughed, “Okay, what is your first Bible verse, or verses?”

Babs said, “Romans 13:1-5 is my verses that show that we should be subject to government authorities.  It is by God’s overall sovereignty that those people are in power, for good or bad.  As for here, if we as a voting public voted for the guy, then we deserve what we get.  So, we need to obey the laws, and we need to pray for our leaders.”

I nodded, “That’s a good point.  Pastors usually have a three-point sermon.  What are your other two points?”

Babs moaned, “I have seven points, but two of them don’t have verses.  So, maybe five points.  Okay, I am not the wizard at this like you are and I was nervous so I had three brains thinking about the topic and that confuses me.  And Harold, I’m up here.  Up here!”

I huffed, “I was looking into your eyes that time!”

Babs laughed, “You said, ‘that time.’  You just admitted you were looking lower the first time.  My next point, Harold, is part of what I already said.  We need to pray for our nation.  We can look at 1 Timothy 2:1-4 for Paul telling Timothy to pray.  Then, we need to show love for our country and the people in the country.  In Psalm 59, David is running and hiding from Saul.  He does not want Saul to come to harm, he just wants him to come to his senses.  And if God brings Saul to that point, the entire nation will know that David has been vindicated and that God is still God.  And then in Romans 9:2-4, Paul wishes that his own people, the Jews, would come to know Jesus.  So, we need to pray for salvation of the nation, but also the people in the nation.”

I smiled, “Okay, this is pretty good so far, what else?”

Babs smiled, “The next two points kind of go into what I don’t have verses for, but there are verses…  We should do everything in the proper proportion.  Sure, be patriotic, but we need to worship God, and that is where the other point comes in.  We should not worship our nation.  It would become a false god.  A form of idol worship.  And we should always focus on where we are going to our eternal home.  Hebrews 11:13-16 and Philippians 3:20 talk about that.”

I smiled, “That was a great Bible study!”

Babs twinkled, “But I have one more verse.  Jeremiah 29:7 is talking about the Jews in exile, and they should pray for the town where they are, even in exile, for as that town prospers, so do they prosper.  So, we need to pray for Mayor Boaz.  He’s going to be with us tonight.  And we need to pray for Tracy.”

We kissed, and hugged, but not for long.  We had fireworks to observe from the Lily the Pink Big House roof.

And later that night, after the sports complex fireworks was getting close to the climax and the Hoity Toity Club fireworks had yet to start, I got Babs to a secluded corner away from the crowd.  I got on one knee and proposed.  She said, “Yes!”  The ring fit.  And when we kissed, we both swore, we heard fireworks, but all we saw were the flashes of light in each other’s eyes.

Then we heard Pink Lady whisper, “I saw that.  Now that you proposed on my roof, you must have the wedding in the Crystal Mountain.  You are almost family.  No charge.”

Now, all we needed was the date.  If we did not rush the dress, maybe next March.  Babs keeps joking about me wearing a top hat and a green tuxedo.

Credits

All these conversations remind me of my conversations with my wife.  We would talk about anything and everything.  And most of the time, it sounded like a discussion in a Sunday school class.

When we first started dating, my wife would wear something very revealing and then get bent out of shape when I looked.  I keep telling you, I never knew how to date.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.