well ... not ALL plastics

I spray-painted this old suitcase pink. The spray paint said "for most plastics." Apparently not THIS one, because it's been three days, and it's still sticky. :) A friend who does a lot of painting suggested I put it in my car, and let it bake in the sun. So that's currently in process, but I don't see a lot of de-sticky-fying going on!

I was reading some cross references in Philemon while working on a friend's project, and found something that interested me.

Philemon is a personal letter from the Apostle Paul to his friend Philemon concerning the fate of Onesimus, who was Philemon's run-away servant.

Some time after running away, Onesimus came in contact with Paul, and became a Christian. Paul is writing to ask Philemon to accept Onesimus back, and be merciful to him. (He may have stolen or cheated Philemon as he was leaving).

In the course of writing to Philemon, Paul uses the following phrase in verse 11: He says that Onesimus "... in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me."

It was interesting that what Paul was asking Philemon to do was similar to something Paul had done himself.

Earlier, Paul and Barnabus were traveling together, and Barnabus' cousin, Mark, was traveling with them. There was some situation where Mark left the group, and Paul was disappointed with him. (Acts 13-15). However, later the situation was mended, and Paul commends Mark as being "profitable" (2 Tim. 4:11).

I thought it was neat that Paul uses the same word to commend Onesimus to Philemon that he had used about Mark with himself. There was a time when Onesimus (and Mark) were unprofitable ... but God had done a work, and they were now profitable (or useful in other translations.)

God does that! Takes areas of our life that were waste, and grows gardens there ... brings usefulness out of places that were void.

Been walking a lot this week, and hope to get to the gym tomorrow morning (if it's open for Memorial Day ... better check that).