The Zipper

By Raoul Pascual

Raoul’s 2 Cents

Roller Coaster Decade

Believe it or not, It’s been 19 years since terror hit the Twin Towers. This has truly been a wild decade. Who woulda thunk we’d be in such a grave mess? Riots to the left of us, forest fires to the right, Covid above us, and deaths of loved ones below us. It seems as if every year gets worse and worse, right?

They say “Vote because this is the most important Presidential election ever!” Don’t they say that during every single Presidential election? It should be funny but somehow it really is true — every election has been more important than the last.

I used to worry but I’m learning NOT to pray for life to get back to normal because normal isn’t normal. Change is. And, if you believe Biblical prophesy, the world IS supposed to get worse as we approach the End Times. Is this the End Times? Maybe. And maybe the anti-Christ is already living among us and we are the generation destined for the battle of Armageddon. This can be scary unless you trust God. He may not remove you from trouble but He promised to see you through.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:19

I’m learning to accept that my plans are more like suggestions to God’s big and wonderful plan. His plans go in a straight line. They’ve never changed. My plans go every which way. And the further I move away from God’s plan, the more restless and insecure I become. So now when I pray, I pray that God’s plan become MY plan. Perhaps you should too. Of course this is just me.

Be safe, be healthy, and remember: God has a plan for his children … good plans with a future and a hope. TGIF people!

Raoul

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. — 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for sharing this joke.

Video: Did You Steal My Makeup?

Thanks to Bok of Quezon City, Philippines
You don’t have to teach them how to lie.

Video: Chinese Village Couple’s Joyful Dance

Thanks to Ernie of Fresno, CA
Uplifting film of a farming family who just love to dance.

Tom’s Puns

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA who sent these puns.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Mel of Washington, D.C.

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA

One more from Peter Paul

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5 Comments

Arnie

September 11, 2020 at 11:17 am

Who needs a plan if God already has a plan? I don’t think God needs redundancy from humans like us. He is in total control. Que sera sera! Just one favor from God: Let me in on the PLAN!! Please!!

Reply

Raoul

September 11, 2020 at 11:22 am
Ah … this is the old predestination question. What’s the point in doing anything if we are already destined to do something?

This is obviously a very complex topic but my brief take to it is this:
- We will never fully understand how this works
- God allows us to have free will
- God already knows what our choice will be although we don’t
- There are good, bad and gray area choices. Some more important than others. Some little mistakes lead to bigger ones (ie. addiction).
- We will definitely make mistakes. No one is perfect except Christ. Of course we should try to minimize our mistakes.
- Only one choice is consequential: Our faith in Christ in our hearts. This is the key to our salvation.
I agree with you. I wish God would make it easy to figure out His plan for our individual lives. The consolation is the way to decode His plan is through the understanding of the Bible. Mix this knowledge with our human weakness and this is where it gets complicated (ie. we tend to do what we know we shouldn’t do). We all have a lifetime to deal with this tension.

Hey, appreciate your comments.

Reply

Art

September 11, 2020 at 11:23 am

Amen to that Raoul !

TGIF.

Reply
Tom

September 11, 2020 at 11:25 am

Love it, especially Willa what a great idea and wish I had interviewed my kids at that age. Your two cents worth are much more valuable as are the dancers that know how to enjoy quarantine and help others in isolation. You are indeed appreciated in your efforts to make us smile and think. Tom of Pasadena

Reply
Laura

September 11, 2020 at 1:48 pm

I love today’s TGIF newsletter,

Laura

Reply