FIND THE OPEN MAN!
The Lakers team that showed up in Denver last Friday night is arguably the greatest Lakers team in history, and there is certainly no team on the planet capable of defeating them. We know that Gasol, Odem, Ariza, Fisher and Bynum are capable of 20+ points per game when they show up, not to mention the bench, when they are mobbing. If Kobe delivers his usual output on Thursday, and the rest of the Lakers are already warmed up, the Lakers will win the first two games at home and the next two in Orlando. Maybe the Laker starters should scrimmage the bench mob somewhere for about 15 minutes just before tipoff time so they can hit the floor running and make that triangle offense really smoke! Then just look for the open man and get about 10 guys in double figures! This has been a great season! Great job, Phil! Here comes your 10th championship and the Lakers 15th!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Monday, June 1, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
GUANTANAMO VS. HARDIN, MONTANA
GUANTANAMO VS. HARDIN, MONTANA
Hardin, Montana made the news recently by offering its high security prison as a possible relocation facility for Guantanamo detainees. I have been through Hardin several times and recommend it as an ideal location which will furnish much-needed employment and economic stimulus for the State of Montana, as well as present a viable alternative to the facility at Guantanamo. This would be a “perfect fit” for the dilemma confronting our government, and we should move quickly toward the implementation of this much-needed change. Bipartisan support in Congress for this solution will go a long ways toward restoring our international image and show the world that we intend to right the wrongs committed in our handling of prisoners-of-war. Let’s help President Obama to fulfill his commitment to close Guantanamo prison by moving ahead in a bipartisan manner!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Hardin, Montana made the news recently by offering its high security prison as a possible relocation facility for Guantanamo detainees. I have been through Hardin several times and recommend it as an ideal location which will furnish much-needed employment and economic stimulus for the State of Montana, as well as present a viable alternative to the facility at Guantanamo. This would be a “perfect fit” for the dilemma confronting our government, and we should move quickly toward the implementation of this much-needed change. Bipartisan support in Congress for this solution will go a long ways toward restoring our international image and show the world that we intend to right the wrongs committed in our handling of prisoners-of-war. Let’s help President Obama to fulfill his commitment to close Guantanamo prison by moving ahead in a bipartisan manner!
Mark Overt Skilbred
SPECTER AND BIPARTISANSHIP
SPECTER AND BIPARTISANSHIP
Now we’ll have bipartisanship, whether the Republicans like it or not. The lack of bipartisan support for the Obama administration, particularly regarding the fiscal stimulus package has exasperated both Democrat and Republican voters at a time when cooperation and expediency are urgently needed to prevent even more economic damage from being done. I applaud Senator Specter’s candid remarks which were addressed to both houses of Congress and the American public. Now is the time to work together on programs which can quickly turn this economy around and head it in a new direction. The whole world is hoping for signs of improvement and depending on us to lead the way forward. Doing nothing is the worst thing we can do in this present moment, so my hope is that other Senate and House Republicans will join Senator Specter in supporting the Obama administration’s efforts to make the economic corrections which are necessary to move us forward quickly.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Now we’ll have bipartisanship, whether the Republicans like it or not. The lack of bipartisan support for the Obama administration, particularly regarding the fiscal stimulus package has exasperated both Democrat and Republican voters at a time when cooperation and expediency are urgently needed to prevent even more economic damage from being done. I applaud Senator Specter’s candid remarks which were addressed to both houses of Congress and the American public. Now is the time to work together on programs which can quickly turn this economy around and head it in a new direction. The whole world is hoping for signs of improvement and depending on us to lead the way forward. Doing nothing is the worst thing we can do in this present moment, so my hope is that other Senate and House Republicans will join Senator Specter in supporting the Obama administration’s efforts to make the economic corrections which are necessary to move us forward quickly.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
COUNTERCLOCKWISE
COUNTERCLOCKWISE
1. Turn back the clock.
2. Think younger.
3. Act younger.
4. Commit to a healthy diet for your whole life.
5. Commit to a realistic exercise program for your whole life.
6. Make use of your renewed energy to help others.
7. Set a great example.
Mark Overt Skilbred
1. Turn back the clock.
2. Think younger.
3. Act younger.
4. Commit to a healthy diet for your whole life.
5. Commit to a realistic exercise program for your whole life.
6. Make use of your renewed energy to help others.
7. Set a great example.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Saturday, May 9, 2009
THE DANIEL DIET
THE DANIEL DIET
“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age: The king would then have my head because of you’ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.’ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.” Daniel 1:8-21 NIV
Many people would be helped by a change to a vegetarian diet. I have learned to make the most of illness to reform my diet. On April 5th I awoke realizing that my stomach was upset by what I had eaten the night before. I had a piece of lemon meringue pie which soon caused further upset and loss of appetite. Rather than fight the symptoms, I decided to study them and see where they led me. It took three days for my appetite to return, and I ate an apple to celebrate. I then ate an orange and followed that with a banana. I followed this order and fruit diet, eating only fruit and juice and one salad and one vegetable soup for the next 3 weeks. Then I switched to only vegetable salad for one week and this week I alternated, eating first fruit and then a vegetable salad, as my appetite allowed me. The logic was that by eating freely of fruits and vegetables, I could minimize my cravings and maximize the internal cleansing process. Ultimately, I would like to lose 50 lbs, but my main concern is to eliminate any potential for health crises by improving my body’s ability to defend itself. I feel that by July 5th I will have reached my weight-loss goal and established a good foundation for a better diet. Tomorrow begins my 6th week and I have already reduced by one full pants size. I have also increased my walking routine by one mile per day, and I hope to increase from 7 to 14 miles per day by the end of September. My energy level has improved and so I have eliminated caffeine from my diet, with the hope of deriving my energy from a combination of a vegetarian diet and a regular program of exercise. I added a multi-vitamin to my diet this week and this helped to increase my energy still further. I plan to add some forms of omega-3 in a modest amount, in order to supply other ingredients that my body starts craving. If you have any other recommendations for me, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks!
Mark Overt Skilbred
“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age: The king would then have my head because of you’ Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, ‘Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.’ So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.” Daniel 1:8-21 NIV
Many people would be helped by a change to a vegetarian diet. I have learned to make the most of illness to reform my diet. On April 5th I awoke realizing that my stomach was upset by what I had eaten the night before. I had a piece of lemon meringue pie which soon caused further upset and loss of appetite. Rather than fight the symptoms, I decided to study them and see where they led me. It took three days for my appetite to return, and I ate an apple to celebrate. I then ate an orange and followed that with a banana. I followed this order and fruit diet, eating only fruit and juice and one salad and one vegetable soup for the next 3 weeks. Then I switched to only vegetable salad for one week and this week I alternated, eating first fruit and then a vegetable salad, as my appetite allowed me. The logic was that by eating freely of fruits and vegetables, I could minimize my cravings and maximize the internal cleansing process. Ultimately, I would like to lose 50 lbs, but my main concern is to eliminate any potential for health crises by improving my body’s ability to defend itself. I feel that by July 5th I will have reached my weight-loss goal and established a good foundation for a better diet. Tomorrow begins my 6th week and I have already reduced by one full pants size. I have also increased my walking routine by one mile per day, and I hope to increase from 7 to 14 miles per day by the end of September. My energy level has improved and so I have eliminated caffeine from my diet, with the hope of deriving my energy from a combination of a vegetarian diet and a regular program of exercise. I added a multi-vitamin to my diet this week and this helped to increase my energy still further. I plan to add some forms of omega-3 in a modest amount, in order to supply other ingredients that my body starts craving. If you have any other recommendations for me, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks!
Mark Overt Skilbred
Sunday, April 5, 2009
THE WATCHMEN--THOUGHTS FROM EZEKIEL 33
THE WATCHMEN--THOUGHTS FROM EZEKIEL 33
The Word of The Lord came to me: “Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself. “Son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’ “Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness.’ If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done. And if I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right—if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live. “Yet your countrymen say ‘The Way of The Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so. Yet, O house of Israel, you say, ‘The way of The Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his own ways.” Ezekiel 33:1-20 (NIV)
God wants us to live for Him in the present moment! There are those who have lived for Him in the past, but they have become disloyal followers and have stopped living for Him in the present. There are also those who did not live for God in the past, but are now living for Him. And there are those who did not live for God in the past or in the present, but who will live for God in the future. God is patient, not wishing that any should perish, but He is also warning us that we cannot depend on our past relationship with Him to excuse our present evil. God wants us to follow Him in the here and now, and He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us and give us victory over sin in our present reality. There is a war going on between the forces of good and evil in the here and now, and just as soldiers must daily prove their loyalty in their service to the king, so we must daily show whose side we are on by supporting God in the here and now. Never mind that you gave excellent service in previous battles, because our kingdom is endangered right now, this very day. What good is it that you helped God win previous battles, if you prove to be a traitor today? What sort of reward should you expect when your good actions are followed by the betrayal of your fellow soldiers and rebellion against the God you serve? Lucifer had been exalted to a prominent position in heaven before his betrayal and open rebellion against God. Should God praise and reward you for sitting on the sidelines while the enemy wreaks havoc on humanity? If you are only a spectator in the conflict, you could easily become a traitor or an enemy soldier. Jesus said that He wishes we were hot or cold, but because we are lukewarm instead, He will spit us out. In a similar fashion, God welcomes those who have deserted Satan’s army and are now seeking admission into the Army of The Lord. God says very plainly that those who turn away from evil are welcomed into His Kingdom, and their sins will be remembered no more. God is interested in the here and now because this is where the action takes place. Yesterday and tomorrow have their proper places, but both are constantly being affected by our present choices. Jesus gave us examples of those who were invited to the banquet, but gave excuses for not attending. Their places in the banquet hall were given to former outsiders in the highways and byways who were now compelled to come. The foolish bridesmaids who allowed their lamps to go out were refused admission for their failure to prepare. God has appointed some as watchmen, to warn us when we are doing evil and to show us the proper pathway to heaven, but it has become rare to hear God’s watchmen speaking the necessary words of warning. There are certain sins which recently are considered too controversial to mention, such as abortion and homosexuality. The supporters of these two sins are not afraid to speak in favor of them, and their representatives fight hard in state and federal legislatures and courts to win their approval, while God’s watchmen, soldiers and representatives are afraid to even bring the subject up! Why is this? God has given us His guidelines in the Bible so that we will have a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. In the Bible we find God’s rules for living in harmony with Him and with our fellow man. Why then do we not exhort each other to avoid these two sins and hundreds of other sins and evils that assault us on an hourly and daily basis? Are we more concerned with not offending others than we are about obeying God? Furthermore, God has told His prophets to speak the truth to us whether we will listen or not. Paul told Timothy to preach the Word both in and out of season. That sort of preaching has always been unpopular, except when the world is in the midst of a revival. You periodically hear nostalgic calls for revival preaching, and there are some who yearn for true revival, but the majority seem to be content to have their ears tickled week after week with the latest clever teaching, historical Bible commentary, theological debate, humanistic rhetoric, creation vs. scientific argument, ecumenical-political backslapping, pop-culture-hyped, frenzied and repetitious praise choruses, and whatever else currently passes for partially-religious entertainment, which seems to be more concerned about emulating the world than worshipping God. Even when there is nothing inherently wrong with our method of worship, if our main concern is to appear attractive to the world, we risk sacrificing our main purpose, which is to lead others to Christ and assist them in their pursuit of a Godly life. But for many churches, any extraneous activity which remotely resembles religiosity, which will not offend anyone and will attract new membership is considered acceptable, while warnings are considered too harsh. Many of today’s churches have elements within them who are more concerned about their finances than about their mission. So whatever happened to exhortational preaching? Where are the watchmen on the walls who warn us of ever-present dangers both without and within the Kingdom of God? The world says that it is a personal choice whether we practice abortion and homosexuality and that no one has a right to tell us what to do on these and many other issues. God says that murdering and willfully causing the death of innocent children and homosexual perversion of God’s plan of procreation are sins which are punishable by death. The lack of exhortation from the pulpit regarding these issues is so palpable that laymen are forced to scream in the streets, online and otherwise and are called religious wackos and right-wing zealots for defending, supporting and recommending the God they serve. When the Church refuses to do its duty in defending God and His Kingdom, God is well-able to raise up servants and soldiers who will do what is required. You will recall that Lucifer began his great fall from his self-exalted platform within heaven itself, and for this reason he and those who rebelled with him were cast down from that great height and made an eternal example of the end result of our rebellion against God. Our watchmen need to wake up, warn us to turn from our evil ways and make preparations for the Bridegroom Who is certainly coming soon. When their messages are passionless religious drivel that totally miss the mark of exhortation and leave us without motivation in our quest for a vibrant and living relationship with our Creator, we are in danger of becoming irrelevant and unproductive Christians who lack the necessary zeal to be good soldiers. If our watchmen have become complacent, who will recognize the voice of our Bridegroom when He arrives and be prepared to follow his instructions? Jesus says that we “diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life” John 5:39-40. Watchmen must do more than warn us of our failures—they must point us toward a relationship with Christ Himself. Only God can provide the zeal which will sustain us both in our battles with apathy and complacency and in our eternal conflicts with the forces of evil that surround us. Let us earnestly pray that God will provide us with watchmen who are worthy of their high calling, who will warn us about our many sins, preach the Word both in and out of season, and exhort us to fight the good fight of faith while there is still time.
Mark Overt Skilbred
The Word of The Lord came to me: “Son of man, speak to your countrymen and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not take warning and the sword comes and takes his life, his blood will be on his own head. Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning, his blood will be on his own head. If he had taken warning, he would have saved himself. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’ “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself. “Son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’ “Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness.’ If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done. And if I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right—if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live. “Yet your countrymen say ‘The Way of The Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so. Yet, O house of Israel, you say, ‘The way of The Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his own ways.” Ezekiel 33:1-20 (NIV)
God wants us to live for Him in the present moment! There are those who have lived for Him in the past, but they have become disloyal followers and have stopped living for Him in the present. There are also those who did not live for God in the past, but are now living for Him. And there are those who did not live for God in the past or in the present, but who will live for God in the future. God is patient, not wishing that any should perish, but He is also warning us that we cannot depend on our past relationship with Him to excuse our present evil. God wants us to follow Him in the here and now, and He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us and give us victory over sin in our present reality. There is a war going on between the forces of good and evil in the here and now, and just as soldiers must daily prove their loyalty in their service to the king, so we must daily show whose side we are on by supporting God in the here and now. Never mind that you gave excellent service in previous battles, because our kingdom is endangered right now, this very day. What good is it that you helped God win previous battles, if you prove to be a traitor today? What sort of reward should you expect when your good actions are followed by the betrayal of your fellow soldiers and rebellion against the God you serve? Lucifer had been exalted to a prominent position in heaven before his betrayal and open rebellion against God. Should God praise and reward you for sitting on the sidelines while the enemy wreaks havoc on humanity? If you are only a spectator in the conflict, you could easily become a traitor or an enemy soldier. Jesus said that He wishes we were hot or cold, but because we are lukewarm instead, He will spit us out. In a similar fashion, God welcomes those who have deserted Satan’s army and are now seeking admission into the Army of The Lord. God says very plainly that those who turn away from evil are welcomed into His Kingdom, and their sins will be remembered no more. God is interested in the here and now because this is where the action takes place. Yesterday and tomorrow have their proper places, but both are constantly being affected by our present choices. Jesus gave us examples of those who were invited to the banquet, but gave excuses for not attending. Their places in the banquet hall were given to former outsiders in the highways and byways who were now compelled to come. The foolish bridesmaids who allowed their lamps to go out were refused admission for their failure to prepare. God has appointed some as watchmen, to warn us when we are doing evil and to show us the proper pathway to heaven, but it has become rare to hear God’s watchmen speaking the necessary words of warning. There are certain sins which recently are considered too controversial to mention, such as abortion and homosexuality. The supporters of these two sins are not afraid to speak in favor of them, and their representatives fight hard in state and federal legislatures and courts to win their approval, while God’s watchmen, soldiers and representatives are afraid to even bring the subject up! Why is this? God has given us His guidelines in the Bible so that we will have a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. In the Bible we find God’s rules for living in harmony with Him and with our fellow man. Why then do we not exhort each other to avoid these two sins and hundreds of other sins and evils that assault us on an hourly and daily basis? Are we more concerned with not offending others than we are about obeying God? Furthermore, God has told His prophets to speak the truth to us whether we will listen or not. Paul told Timothy to preach the Word both in and out of season. That sort of preaching has always been unpopular, except when the world is in the midst of a revival. You periodically hear nostalgic calls for revival preaching, and there are some who yearn for true revival, but the majority seem to be content to have their ears tickled week after week with the latest clever teaching, historical Bible commentary, theological debate, humanistic rhetoric, creation vs. scientific argument, ecumenical-political backslapping, pop-culture-hyped, frenzied and repetitious praise choruses, and whatever else currently passes for partially-religious entertainment, which seems to be more concerned about emulating the world than worshipping God. Even when there is nothing inherently wrong with our method of worship, if our main concern is to appear attractive to the world, we risk sacrificing our main purpose, which is to lead others to Christ and assist them in their pursuit of a Godly life. But for many churches, any extraneous activity which remotely resembles religiosity, which will not offend anyone and will attract new membership is considered acceptable, while warnings are considered too harsh. Many of today’s churches have elements within them who are more concerned about their finances than about their mission. So whatever happened to exhortational preaching? Where are the watchmen on the walls who warn us of ever-present dangers both without and within the Kingdom of God? The world says that it is a personal choice whether we practice abortion and homosexuality and that no one has a right to tell us what to do on these and many other issues. God says that murdering and willfully causing the death of innocent children and homosexual perversion of God’s plan of procreation are sins which are punishable by death. The lack of exhortation from the pulpit regarding these issues is so palpable that laymen are forced to scream in the streets, online and otherwise and are called religious wackos and right-wing zealots for defending, supporting and recommending the God they serve. When the Church refuses to do its duty in defending God and His Kingdom, God is well-able to raise up servants and soldiers who will do what is required. You will recall that Lucifer began his great fall from his self-exalted platform within heaven itself, and for this reason he and those who rebelled with him were cast down from that great height and made an eternal example of the end result of our rebellion against God. Our watchmen need to wake up, warn us to turn from our evil ways and make preparations for the Bridegroom Who is certainly coming soon. When their messages are passionless religious drivel that totally miss the mark of exhortation and leave us without motivation in our quest for a vibrant and living relationship with our Creator, we are in danger of becoming irrelevant and unproductive Christians who lack the necessary zeal to be good soldiers. If our watchmen have become complacent, who will recognize the voice of our Bridegroom when He arrives and be prepared to follow his instructions? Jesus says that we “diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life” John 5:39-40. Watchmen must do more than warn us of our failures—they must point us toward a relationship with Christ Himself. Only God can provide the zeal which will sustain us both in our battles with apathy and complacency and in our eternal conflicts with the forces of evil that surround us. Let us earnestly pray that God will provide us with watchmen who are worthy of their high calling, who will warn us about our many sins, preach the Word both in and out of season, and exhort us to fight the good fight of faith while there is still time.
Mark Overt Skilbred
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
PROCRASTINATION IS EXPENSIVE!
PROCRASTINATION IS EXPENSIVE!
I attended Concordia Moorhead from 1968-1972 and we helped with the sandbagging in those years just like they are doing again this year. Question: Since these periodic floods are cyclical to the extent that their recurrence is guaranteed for the future, what long-term plans have South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota made for the future? Have you asked the Army Corp of Engineers or some other agency to look at long-term solutions for the area from Big Stone Lake to the Pembina area, including dredging, reservoirs, agricultural diversion channels which could double as irrigation infrastructure, permanent dikes, levees, catch-basins, pumps, etc. with an eye to both the prevention of flooding and the enhancement of controlled irrigation of the fertile Red River Valley? Since future flooding is guaranteed if there aren't substantial changes made, why not begin now to put in place an infrastructure which will plan for future flooding, take advantage of precious water resources, and increase and broaden the further development of the region's vast agricultural potential. Rather than viewing this flooding as a temporary inconvenience, why not prepare for what is a predictable certainty and make use of this water resource for future generations? I know there will need to be several versions of environmental impact reports and political discourse between the states impacted and our Canadian neighbors, so this process should begin soon, so that we don't continue to pass this problem along to our grandchildren without addressing the issue and making an attempt to improve the existing infrastructures. I believe that the long-term savings and benefits are worth the costs involved and will more than repay future generations through enhancements to safety, agriculture, transportation, parks and recreation. By proactively pursuing a program which considers long-term savings through the prevention of future floods, such as the one which devastated the Grand Forks region in recent memory, we can make a compelling case for improvements which will be supported by all the federal and state agencies which are impacted. There will also be near-term benefits of employment and financial incentives which should attract business, capital and investment to the region. Since the Fargo-Moorhead area is centrally located in the heart of the Red River Valley, it is the logical place to regionally locate the solutions for this shared problem in an area which is best able to implement solutions. Sandbagging and other equivalent temporary solutions only serve to postpone the inevitable solutions for future generations, when costs will have certainly increased due to more-extensive redevelopment and infrastructure. It is not too soon to begin this process, and we should start now before another year and its attendant problems demand our attention.
Mark Overt Skilbred
I attended Concordia Moorhead from 1968-1972 and we helped with the sandbagging in those years just like they are doing again this year. Question: Since these periodic floods are cyclical to the extent that their recurrence is guaranteed for the future, what long-term plans have South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota made for the future? Have you asked the Army Corp of Engineers or some other agency to look at long-term solutions for the area from Big Stone Lake to the Pembina area, including dredging, reservoirs, agricultural diversion channels which could double as irrigation infrastructure, permanent dikes, levees, catch-basins, pumps, etc. with an eye to both the prevention of flooding and the enhancement of controlled irrigation of the fertile Red River Valley? Since future flooding is guaranteed if there aren't substantial changes made, why not begin now to put in place an infrastructure which will plan for future flooding, take advantage of precious water resources, and increase and broaden the further development of the region's vast agricultural potential. Rather than viewing this flooding as a temporary inconvenience, why not prepare for what is a predictable certainty and make use of this water resource for future generations? I know there will need to be several versions of environmental impact reports and political discourse between the states impacted and our Canadian neighbors, so this process should begin soon, so that we don't continue to pass this problem along to our grandchildren without addressing the issue and making an attempt to improve the existing infrastructures. I believe that the long-term savings and benefits are worth the costs involved and will more than repay future generations through enhancements to safety, agriculture, transportation, parks and recreation. By proactively pursuing a program which considers long-term savings through the prevention of future floods, such as the one which devastated the Grand Forks region in recent memory, we can make a compelling case for improvements which will be supported by all the federal and state agencies which are impacted. There will also be near-term benefits of employment and financial incentives which should attract business, capital and investment to the region. Since the Fargo-Moorhead area is centrally located in the heart of the Red River Valley, it is the logical place to regionally locate the solutions for this shared problem in an area which is best able to implement solutions. Sandbagging and other equivalent temporary solutions only serve to postpone the inevitable solutions for future generations, when costs will have certainly increased due to more-extensive redevelopment and infrastructure. It is not too soon to begin this process, and we should start now before another year and its attendant problems demand our attention.
Mark Overt Skilbred
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