Rock Salt and Lava Lamps – Strike Anywhere Matches

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have had a lifelong love of strike anywhere matches.  My Grandfather kept them on hand to light his furnace.  He kept wax coated ones in his fishing tackle for melting line ties.  I learned to make match rockets from them in elementary school.  Perhaps this is the very best use of matches in the history of matches. 

For the curious and mischievous out there here are links to both simple match rockets and complex ones.  For my young readers please do this with a RESPONSIBLE adult.  I will say that if NASA teaches one how to do something, it must be OK to do it.  Please do not do this indoors.  That is just a bad idea.  If you make them please share your experience with me.

I also keep strike anywhere matches in my home.  I light the candle that is part of my morning devotional time with them.  I keep them in the kitchen, the bathroom, and my office.  I have at various times struck them on odd surfaces just to see if I can strike them there.  They do truly strike almost anywhere.

I realize that the fire of Christ in me must be ready to kindle in any situation.  I must be ready when it is convenient and when it is not.  I must kindle in the moment to be the light that Christ requires of me.  Any situation is the right situation to be loving, kind, and good.  I am required to be this. 

It does not mean that I inject “holy talk” into every environment.  It means that no matter the environment or the situation my light must humbly represent the Light of the World.  I must come to life to be a reflection of who Christ is in any circumstance.  The Jesus is willing to use me for this purpose baffles me.  It also is the way of things so I must follow. 

I must also remember that matches are dangerous.  Misused and abused matches can burn me and can burn others.  I must not kindle in a way that causes harm or damages others.  After all matches are only good if they are used for good.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Rock Salt and Lava Lamps – The Nature of Light

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have only been in total darkness a handful of times.  A few times I have been in caves.  Where I used to teach there was a professional dark room for photography.  As humans we are rarely in complete darkness.  There is  a true sense of disorientation in total darkness. 

The nature of light is that the darker it is the less light is necessary to cause stark contrast.  Some of us fear the dark.  I have never met someone who fears light.  It is light that draws us.  It is light in which most of us labor. 

A single match struck in the darkness of a moonless night can be seen from a mile away.  That is the nature of light.  Light draws us.  I am to draw people.  Light makes us feel safe.  I am supposed to make others feel safe.  As we look at the light aspect of this time together we need to remember that the light that we bear is not our own. 

Light of the World – Michael Card

  

You are the Light of the World oh Lord

You make Your servants shine

So how could there be any darkness in me

If You are the Light of the World

You are the Light of the World

You are the Bread of Life oh Lord

Broken to set us free

So how could there be any hunger in me

If You are the Bread of Life

You are the Bread of Life

You've overcome the world oh Lord

And given us victory

So how could I fear when trouble is near

If You've overcome the world

You've overcome the world

Wipe every tear away oh Lord

And teach us the song of the Lamb

The promise is true but it's still up to You

To wipe every tear away

Wipe every tear away

Wipe every tear away

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)