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Calvin and Hobbs
by Bill Watterson
"Calvin Ball" has been a silly joke in our family since we first read it in the comic, Calvin and Hobbs, years and years ago.
The term, "Calvin Ball" means that the rules change constantly for the person in charge - so that this person always wins.
In real life some people play their own "Calvin Ball", although it is not child's play, but for the destruction or at least, to the detriment of others. These people I will call, Master Manipulators, because this is what they are.
How wonderful it works for a Master Manipulator to play their own "Calvin Ball". They, somehow, in some way, achieve their power over others and then control these people by the manipulation of these individuals or groups of people just by making statements, or even using body language. With this, seemingly at their own whims, the "rules" (their own made up rules) change to suit their own purposes, making it impossible to know what and how to behave so that the Master Manipulator will not become angry again. The followers live a life of fear in the shadow of this tyranny. This can go on a life time or until the person or people escape the Master Manipulator's control.
As life has moved on for us, "Calvin Ball" began to be noticed in real life situations as we encountered people who were masters at manipulating and controlling others. At first we would think it couldn't be happening, that it was only a instance that "seemed" odd, but as the time continued the truth agonizingly emerged. We would discuss all the of instances and sadly, realize it was, in actuality, real life "Calvin Ball" --- manipulation and control at its highest level. Although, humorous...it was devastatingly sad.
The "Main Line" cults play their own "Calvin Ball", controlling great masses of people, but individuals can play it masterfully, also, with great effectiveness as they destroy individuals, ruining the lives of the controlled.
Christians are not exempt from being controlled or even being the Master Manipulators.
Christian Master Manipulators are known for abusing God's Word for their own purposes.
Beware of this in others! Read and contemplate the Word for yourself. If you have a notion and discern that this Christian Master Manipulator is twisting the scriptures he uses to say something the LORD never intended, then find a godly person not associated with this Master Manipulator to counsel with you. This may be your first step to freedom away from this Master Manipulator! You do not want to continue to be controlled and manipulated by someone twisting God's truth. This is abuse!
Any abuser uses control and manipulation (real life "Calvin Ball") to use and abuse people. Anyone, intelligent or common, can be fooled by any kind of manipulator. You are not alone.
Our hope must be in God, no matter if a Master Manipulator is controlling us personally, or controlling those we love.
Continue to cry out to God for His strength and His help in the situation.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
By Ted Griffin
Millions of snowflakes fall every year around the world, and yet no two snowflakes are alike! If a hundred artists spent a year designing as many snowflakes, they couldn’t come up with the same variety. Every single snowflake is completely unique.
Equally astounding is the variety of human beings who have lived, now live, and will live on the planet Earth.
God has created each one of us as a unique creation!
Believe it or not -- no one else is just like you. Your physical appearance, your voice and personality traits -- your habits, intelligence, personal tastes -- all these make you one of a kind. Even your fingerprints distinguish you from every other human being -- past, present, and future. You are not the product of some cosmic assembly line;
you are unique.
But the most important fact of your identity is that God created you in His own image (Genesis 1:27). He made you so you could share in His creation, could love and laugh and know Him person to person. You are special indeed!
The Bible reveals God’s total interest in you as an individual. The psalmist wrote in one of his most beautiful prayers,
“I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).
God knew you even before you were born. Then, and now, He has plans just for you, plans conceived in love.
As we appreciate God’s constant concern for us, we really begin to grasp the awfulness of sin. He loves you and me so much; yet how often we go our own way, turning our backs on Him. God’s designs for our lives are then blocked; His mercies do not come to the unwilling.
But even when we turn from Him, we are precious to God. He continues to love us even when we pay no attention to Him. He still sees us as individuals with great value (Psalm 139:17-18).
God is not an unfeeling, cold-hearted ruler of the heavens. He feels our pains; He shares our sorrows. He cares, and He considers each one of us important enough to love.
In fact, He loves us so much that He gave His only Son to die for our sins. The Bible says that this is love:
“not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation [full payment] for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
Because you and I are special to God, He wants to forgive us and give us a full, meaningful life. Can anyone be more special than that?
Yes, you are valuable to God!
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ for your salvation, you can pray something like this today:
Lord, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die for my sins and rise from the dead so that I can know Your forgiveness and live with You forever. Right now I ask Him to be my Savior so that I can live as the unique creation which You intended me to be.
from Good News Publishers, Wheaton, Il.
Let those December winds bellow 'n' blow
I'm as warm as a July tomato.
Peaches on the shelf
Potatoes in the bin
Supper's ready, everybody come on in
Taste a little of the summer,
Taste a little of the summer,
You can taste a little of the summer
My grandma's put it all in jars.
Well, there's a root cellar, fruit cellar down below
Watch you head now, and down you go
And there's
Peaches on the shelf
Potatoes in the bin
Supper's ready, everybody come on in
Taste a little of the summer,
Taste a little of the summer,
You can taste a little of the summer
My grandma's put it all in jars....
Ah, she's got magic in her - you know what I mean
She puts the sun and rain in with her green beans.
And there's
Peaches on the shelf
Potatoes in the bin
Supper's ready, everybody come on in
Taste a little of the summer,
Taste a little of the summer,
You can taste a little of the summer
My grandma's put it all in jars.
What with the snow and the economy and ev'ry'thing,
I think I'll jus' stay down here and eat until spring.
And there's
Peaches on the shelf
Potatoes in the bin
Supper's ready, everybody come on in
Taste a little of the summer,
Taste a little of the summer,
You can taste a little of the summer
My grandma's put it all in jars.
When I go to see my grandma I gain a lot of weight
With her dear hands she gives me plate after plate.
She cans the pickles, sweet & dill
She cans the songs of the whippoorwill
And the morning dew and the evening moon
'N' I really got to go see her pretty soon
'Cause these canned goods I buy at the store
Ain't got the summer in them anymore.
You bet, grandma, as sure as you're born
I'll take some more potatoes and a thunderstorm.
Peaches on the shelf
Potatoes in the bin
Supper's ready, everybody come on in, now
Taste a little of the summer,
Taste a little of the summer,
Taste a little of the summer,
My grandma put it all in jars.
Let those December winds bellow and blow,
I'm as warm as a July tomato.
Canned Goods by George Brown
Over at The Thought Provoker, July 3, 2014, is a heart-stopping quote by Nancy Pearcy concerning raising our children in the LORD. It considers the facts of the high loss our growing children, who are constantly wooed by and to the culture.
When your heart begins to beat again, I encourage you to fight the good fight even more so for your children! All that with which you "fill" their lives, all of your efforts to bring them up in the truth of the LORD, will be their foundation even if they turn away to the culture. They can follow the world's lies, but their foundation, which you instilled in
them, remains, even if hidden. They can seem to be completely and forever changed by the culture, but the LORD has had you and me, as moms and dads, fill them up with His truth.
If you are a mom of a wayward child after all of your loving them up in the LORD, grieve, but continue to pray, for you know the LORD is working even when we do not see a change at all. You have laid a wonderful foundation in them.
We have spent time listening to Unshackled from Pacific Garden Mission many a time throughout our Christian life. Time after time the stories began with the person's testimony of being raised in God's truth. Circumstances or choices changed their direction towards the culture to whatever extent. Eventually, in their waywardness, the person would recall things their family members instilled in them when they were a child, and these seemingly "tiny" events in their past turn out to be the very things which would bring them seeking the LORD again, and back to following Him in truth.
Grieving mothers...Oh, how I grieve with you! The times we wait for our "waywards" can be so long and difficult.
Remember: The LORD is the One who is working!
He is working in our own hearts, so make sure you are willing to allow Him to work and draw you closer to Him. He is also working in our wayward children in their inner person, which takes time, especially when they are fight against Him.
So continue to fight the good fight as your children are growing up, and when they are out of the home, pray, draw nearer to God, praise His name, live for Him, resting in His grace and mercy.
May all of this glorify the LORD!
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