What do you consider stealing?
For that matter, what is lying and are we allowed to do it in certain circumstances?
Rahab told a couple of lies to the Jericho police who were searching for the two men who were spying out the land by order of Joshua. James says she was justified by her works for the men of Israel (James 2:25). One could make the argument that lying is a lack of faith, but James and the author of Hebrews clearly state Rahab acted on faith.
We could split hairs here and say that the command in the ten commandments is "thou shalt not bear false witness". However, God says that lying lips are an abomination in His sight. So is lying relative?
What about stealing? I have been having problems with security on my computer. It seems to be too secure. I can't copy/paste something from another website to blog about it. The "accelerator" doesn't accelerate. Was that God "saving me from sin" by blocking my ability to "steal" something from another website?
I remember sitting in church one Sunday with worship on my mind. Bro. Kriss is preaching on the 10 commandments and we got to "You shall not steal".
You know, I really thought I was an honest person until Sunday's sermon.
Yes. I have taken pens and notepads and calendars from work to use at home. Oh, not like slipping a handful into my pocket, or anything like that. I just stick it behind my ear or in my notepad and think nothing about returning it to work. I've taken calendars for organization. I've used work internet for writing blog entries.
There are so many ways we rationalize and justify the things we do that maybe aren't entirely wrong but are still on the shady side of right. Okay, so I did put in a huge amount of overtime with no comp time or salary upgrade. That still doesn't make it right, does it?
Just when you get to thinking you've got a handle on living Christ-like, along comes God and pretty much slaps you on the wrist to say: "You aren't there, yet. Keep working. Keep striving. You are still under construction."
That, my siblings, is very humbling. It isn't painful, but crow doesn't taste very good no matter how well it's served.
What do you consider is stealing? Lying? Are there gray areas?
Rahab told a couple of lies to the Jericho police who were searching for the two men who were spying out the land by order of Joshua. James says she was justified by her works for the men of Israel (James 2:25). One could make the argument that lying is a lack of faith, but James and the author of Hebrews clearly state Rahab acted on faith.
We could split hairs here and say that the command in the ten commandments is "thou shalt not bear false witness". However, God says that lying lips are an abomination in His sight. So is lying relative?
What about stealing? I have been having problems with security on my computer. It seems to be too secure. I can't copy/paste something from another website to blog about it. The "accelerator" doesn't accelerate. Was that God "saving me from sin" by blocking my ability to "steal" something from another website?
I remember sitting in church one Sunday with worship on my mind. Bro. Kriss is preaching on the 10 commandments and we got to "You shall not steal".
You know, I really thought I was an honest person until Sunday's sermon.
Yes. I have taken pens and notepads and calendars from work to use at home. Oh, not like slipping a handful into my pocket, or anything like that. I just stick it behind my ear or in my notepad and think nothing about returning it to work. I've taken calendars for organization. I've used work internet for writing blog entries.
There are so many ways we rationalize and justify the things we do that maybe aren't entirely wrong but are still on the shady side of right. Okay, so I did put in a huge amount of overtime with no comp time or salary upgrade. That still doesn't make it right, does it?
Just when you get to thinking you've got a handle on living Christ-like, along comes God and pretty much slaps you on the wrist to say: "You aren't there, yet. Keep working. Keep striving. You are still under construction."
That, my siblings, is very humbling. It isn't painful, but crow doesn't taste very good no matter how well it's served.
What do you consider is stealing? Lying? Are there gray areas?
Defense of Marriage Act repealed by Obama and Eric Holder
Once again we see a blatant disregard for federal law instituted by Congress and signed by President Clinton a decade ago. The Dept of Justice is supposed to defend the Laws on our books, but Eric Holder has now donned the robes of Judge and DOMA will no longer be defended.
Practically, this won't ultimately be a problem because Congress does have an obligation to uphold its own laws or to repeal the laws, the President does not have the power to declare any law unconstitutional, however this just shows the problem of arrogance that is exuding from the White House.
Practically, this won't ultimately be a problem because Congress does have an obligation to uphold its own laws or to repeal the laws, the President does not have the power to declare any law unconstitutional, however this just shows the problem of arrogance that is exuding from the White House.
Loose lips of Obama admin are a dangerous liability
Bradley gets in a twit of anger and leaks all kinds of state secrets and what's happened to him? Now two lamebrains from the White House blab out loud to the AP about some secrets and want to remain anonymous because they aren't authorized to talk about that particular secret. Self-preservation only applies to their own hides and either for love of money or love of the press casting them goo goo eyes, they eagerly share all rumors whether fact or fiction.
It's the kind of thing that is happening regularly in the Obama admin. From Obama advertising full-page in every newspaper in the country what day U.S. troops are pulling out of Iraq to Secretary of State letting fly with some other military strategies in another country (was it Argentina?) somewhere in South America, to White House aids who heard one of our own is, was, maybe a CIA agent. The White House shoots back that Pakistan had already accepted the man into the diplomatic corps at the US Embassy.
This proves beyond any doubt those in control of our highest office don't care one whit for the lives of our citizens who are risking life and limb in service to our country.
Why can't they clap a trap over their protruding flappers when it comes to the safety of our own over seas?
It seems no government personnel who is above pay grade 12 can slap a muzzle on their tongue to keep all the juicy tidbits to themselves. They are so hungry for attention and for, oh let me just be blunt, hungry for the temporary rush spilling their guts to the press gives them. Or is it they aren't making enough money and need to go on the AP's payroll, or pitch a post to the Washington Post, or Huff a song to Huffington?
I am beyond indignant. I am furious that traitors are not tried and convicted of treason and as convicted traitors are not executed. In my estimation, capital punishment is the only just punishment for anyone who puts American families in the line of fire.
The Circle of Light
Luke 15:8 Or what woman having ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma does not light a lamp and sweep the house, and look carefully until she finds it? 9 And finding it, she calls together the friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I lost.
The drachmas, in Jesus time, was equivalent to the Roman denarii and was worth about 18 cents, so ten coins was worth about $2 or approximately ten days wages. James Merritt told his congregation back in March of 2002 that these ten coins this woman possessed were her engagement ring and that losing one was equal to declaring herself a prostitute. I could not find a source that stated that. However, I found a wealth of information concerning the Jewish wedding traditions… some of which give me chills and thrills when put into Christian context.
The first tradition is the matchmaking. Our first indication of matchmaking is when God created Eve for Adam. Now, hold that thought a moment. Abraham sent his servant to search out a bride for his son Isaac (Gen. 24:2-4), for he had no desire for Isaac to have a Canaanite woman as bride, thus Rebecca came to Isaac’s side, went into his tent and became his wife. All very simple, but there are some wonderful Christian truths here.
Our matchmaker is the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit teaches us all things and reminds us of all we learn about our Father and our Bridegroom. But, Act 1:2 until the day He was taken up, having given directions to the apostles whom He elected, through the Holy Spirit, indicates who we come to Jesus through. Peter points out in Acts 2, the prediction that God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh (Then being exalted to the right of God, and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He poured out this which you now see and hear.) It is only through the Holy Spirit that we are able to understand, are drawn to, and through the Holy Spirit we are chosen by God. God is the Great Matchmaker, for He desires all to come to Him and none to perish (2 Peter 3:9). By His design, we are made perfect through the Bride Price.
The Bride Price. Abraham sent ten camels to the house of his brother, Nahor, to pay the Bride Price for one of his daughters. Abraham had no notion who God would give to Isaac, but he gave as much as he deemed the bride to be worth—which was a considerable amount even by today’s standards. He also sent bride gifts of bracelets weighing ten shekels and a nose ring for the Bride. The servant asked for God to show by sign who would be Isaac’s bride. The tradition continued with Isaac’s son, Jacob who gave something of considerable value—his time in hard labor. In all, Jacob spent about twenty years in service to Rebekah’s brother, Laban. Something of value was exchanged for something of value, the Bride. The traditional Jewish reason was for the provision of the woman in case something befell the husband, or in case of divorce.
Our Bride Price was the life of the most perfect man ever to be born on earth. Jesus our Savior and Lord, paid the price the Father set for us. His blood was of such great worth, it paid for all (1 John 2:2). Oh, what price that was.
In Jewish tradition and literature, the Marriage is called kiddushin which means sanctification or dedication. Our kiddushin begins with our acceptance of the Bride Price and the bestowing of the Seal of Promise. Often the bridal contract or ketubah are found the words “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. Set me as a seal upon your heart.” How sweet is that promise sealed with Christ’s commitment. We celebrate the cycle of the seasons as we are sanctified in our walk with Christ. May we be ever sitting at His feet, drinking in His word which is so powerful that it brings an army to its knees. May we spread His Circle of Light and bring hope to the perishing. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
Keeping God First
This is precisely how I feel sometimes: the depths of despair, as Lucy Montegomery has Anne Shirley sigh in Anne of Green Gables.
It feels like forever. The constant waiting and waiting. When, Lord? When will You go to my defense? When will You fix this problem? When will I see daylight? When will I feel normal again? When will I be able to look up from this problem and focus on others again? When will You release me from this prayer vigil? When can I stop and rest?
That's just it. We must rest or we burn out. God knows just how long we need because it was He that issued the 6 day work week and the 1 Day of Rest. Only that day of rest is supposed to be completely devoted to God and the worship of Him.
Huh?
Isa 58:13 "If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, GOD's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there-- 14 Then you'll be free to enjoy GOD! Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all. I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob." Yes! GOD says so!
I am not preaching "no football" on Sunday afternoon. What I am saying is that I have to sit down with God everyday or the anxiety takes over. I have to practice giving it all to Him or I'll take it back and try to "fix it" all the while making the matter worse. Some problems fix themselves, other problems need the hand of God. I have a lot of the latter kind of problems, yet I get in God's way while He's trying to fix them... or teach a lesson. You can go ahead and admit you are like that, too, because I know I'm not in the boat alone. We are skimming over the water far too fast, I can't row that fast so I know I'm not the only one rowing.
Keeping God first is a DAILY thing, not just a Sunday thing. Peter sank when he took his eyes off Jesus. The disciples couldn't remove the demon from the boy because they didn't have the faith of a mustard seed. David was lollygagging at the palace when he should have been at the war front with his men and that's when he lounged on the roof and caught sight of Bathsheba. The Bible is full of all kinds of examples of life situations that went awry when folks quit putting God first and that was the first step down their path to trouble.
Not so, Joseph. He got up in the middle of the night and went to get his bride who was pregnant and brought her home with him, effectively silencing any recriminations against her. The likelihood of Mary being stoned was almost certain. I think about my life and I don’t see one problem that has that kind of likelihood of an end result. So why am I so anxious? Was Mary anxious? How did Joseph feel when he looked upon his swollen bride?
It is one thing to read about an event, to imagine the sweat, the dust, the cold, the animal smells, but it is something different to live through it.
And that is just the beginning of trials and tribulations. God never promised easy living. What would we ever learn if life's most pressing decision was which bon bon to eat next? Job had an easy life until God allowed Satan to put his foot in it. So, guess who's messing with us now?
Did God allow Job to be harmed past endurance?
Did God share with Job that Satan was the one playing havoc in his life?
Were any of us around when God laid the foundations of the world and when He hung the stars in place?
The correct short answer is, “No.” Although, I’m quite sure that if I had been there, I would have given Him a suggestion or two about how to hang the world. I would have completely not known that it hanging crooked in space is a good thing, not a bad thing. If it didn’t hang crooked, then we wouldn’t have our seasons, and I love the changes as the year progresses.
My new book...
I have the final galley proofs of my new book Refreshment in Refuge, published by Westbow Press.
It is exciting to know that God will be touching lives through this book.
I visited Michael Hyatt's blog this morning and his post about Temptations has been something I've been praying about for a long time. It isn't that I think since my book is published that I'm some kind of female Elvis or the like. Fame scares me.
It scares me because of what it has done to so many people. Then I recall what Jim Roan said in one of his motivational speeches. "Fame and fortune only bring out what's already in the soul to begin with. It magnifies generosity or stinginess." I also remember the illustration of one of my favorite authors shared with me, that the only thing separating us from the garbage is the garbage can lid. Amazing how that brings one down to earth rather quickly.
It is exciting to know that God will be touching lives through this book.
I visited Michael Hyatt's blog this morning and his post about Temptations has been something I've been praying about for a long time. It isn't that I think since my book is published that I'm some kind of female Elvis or the like. Fame scares me.
It scares me because of what it has done to so many people. Then I recall what Jim Roan said in one of his motivational speeches. "Fame and fortune only bring out what's already in the soul to begin with. It magnifies generosity or stinginess." I also remember the illustration of one of my favorite authors shared with me, that the only thing separating us from the garbage is the garbage can lid. Amazing how that brings one down to earth rather quickly.
Psalm 46
1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. A Song For Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
The Sons of Korah who stood in all their pride in front of the Tabernacle and Moses and dared to point fingers saying, "You take too much upon yourself, you and Aaron. The whole congregation is holy and the LORD is among them." Numbers 16:1
How presumptuous, and how arrogant, and how wrong they were. The ground fell out from under them and they went into the pit, two hundred and fifty of them along with all their belongings and all their households with them. All because of pride. They wanted more than what God had set for them to do, they wanted to be priests, but were not of Aaron.
I rejoice that we live today under grace and though we are held to a higher standard, we are given so much strength to live to that standard. We are not alone, we have God with us, indwelling us so that we are not of baser things, but new creations to bring God glory. Praise His holy name, Amen.
He doesn't take sides
Jos 5:13 And it happened, when Joshua was beside Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked. And, behold! A Man stood in front of him, and His drawn sword was in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are You for us, or for our foes?
Jos 5:14 And He said, No, for I now come as the Commander of the army of Jehovah. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped. And he said to Him, What does my Lord speak to His slave?
Jos 5:15 And the Commander of the army of Jehovah said to Joshua, Take your shoe off your foot, for the place on which you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so.
With sword in hand, Jesus was ready for battle. But, He said "No," to Joshua's question.
No, He doesn't take sides. He is the God of Republicans and of Democrats. He is the God of Northerners and of Southerners, of blacks and of whites, of rich and of poor.
Why don't people see this?
He doesn't take sides, He is ready to take over if only we would move over and let Him take over. We are not in control, no matter how much we'd like to be in control, we are not. It's that simple, but not simple to understand or accept. It rather boggles the mind.
Joshua fell to his face. He knew. Without God humans can do nothing. Joshua was facing a daunting task...take over of a country. The Canaanites had weak stomachs for they had heard about God parting the waters for the Israelites. Rahab told them this. But when God parted the Jordan for them to cross over, the people of Canaan lost all hope and their stomachs melted!
When God takes over, things just go right. Joshua and the Israelites stomped around Jericho for a few days and the walls came tumbling down. Cool. They ate well, and all was right with the world until Ai.
Look what happened there. It is much more than one tiny town defeating the huge army. That defeat put some of the heart back into the Canaanites. All for a purple robe and a gold bar. A family was lost into the depths of the earth.
When we take the sword back, we not only hurt ourselves but hurt those around us. Yes, it is best to let God take over. He's much better at it than we are and, besides, He can see the whole picture while we only see a few pixels.
Jos 5:14 And He said, No, for I now come as the Commander of the army of Jehovah. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped. And he said to Him, What does my Lord speak to His slave?
Jos 5:15 And the Commander of the army of Jehovah said to Joshua, Take your shoe off your foot, for the place on which you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so.
With sword in hand, Jesus was ready for battle. But, He said "No," to Joshua's question.
No, He doesn't take sides. He is the God of Republicans and of Democrats. He is the God of Northerners and of Southerners, of blacks and of whites, of rich and of poor.
Why don't people see this?
He doesn't take sides, He is ready to take over if only we would move over and let Him take over. We are not in control, no matter how much we'd like to be in control, we are not. It's that simple, but not simple to understand or accept. It rather boggles the mind.
Joshua fell to his face. He knew. Without God humans can do nothing. Joshua was facing a daunting task...take over of a country. The Canaanites had weak stomachs for they had heard about God parting the waters for the Israelites. Rahab told them this. But when God parted the Jordan for them to cross over, the people of Canaan lost all hope and their stomachs melted!
When God takes over, things just go right. Joshua and the Israelites stomped around Jericho for a few days and the walls came tumbling down. Cool. They ate well, and all was right with the world until Ai.
Look what happened there. It is much more than one tiny town defeating the huge army. That defeat put some of the heart back into the Canaanites. All for a purple robe and a gold bar. A family was lost into the depths of the earth.
When we take the sword back, we not only hurt ourselves but hurt those around us. Yes, it is best to let God take over. He's much better at it than we are and, besides, He can see the whole picture while we only see a few pixels.
Why do we argue?
I love to bounce thoughts off brothers and sisters in Christ. I have to be so very careful which discussions I enter though because some of them go into phaser blast mode where no one learns anything.
Now, it seems that everyone has an agenda.
Why is that?
Why can't everyone have patience with their siblings in Christ? I do not understand where some people get their interpretations, either. I know we are reading the same Book, but I do not think we are reading the Whole Book and taking into consideration the Whole of Scripture. That must be the case and why we have such a difficult time agreeing. I find agendas exhausting.
Some want just the OT without the inconvenience of obeying the commands of Jesus-all 1001 of them.
Some want just the warm fuzzy God, who will let everyone into Heaven just because He is so good and loving.
Some insist that only a very few will get into Heaven because God predestined them.
Some do not know what the resurrection means.
Some do not believe in the Triune God, even though Jesus speaks of the Triune.
Some are content with half-truths.
Some are content with half-lies.
Some would judge rather than love.
I find it very exhausting.
Come Lord Jesus, come quickly and settle this unsettlement
Now, it seems that everyone has an agenda.
Why is that?
Why can't everyone have patience with their siblings in Christ? I do not understand where some people get their interpretations, either. I know we are reading the same Book, but I do not think we are reading the Whole Book and taking into consideration the Whole of Scripture. That must be the case and why we have such a difficult time agreeing. I find agendas exhausting.
Some want just the OT without the inconvenience of obeying the commands of Jesus-all 1001 of them.
Some want just the warm fuzzy God, who will let everyone into Heaven just because He is so good and loving.
Some insist that only a very few will get into Heaven because God predestined them.
Some do not know what the resurrection means.
Some do not believe in the Triune God, even though Jesus speaks of the Triune.
Some are content with half-truths.
Some are content with half-lies.
Some would judge rather than love.
I find it very exhausting.
Come Lord Jesus, come quickly and settle this unsettlement
Outlawing Bully Talk
I have written a lot about bullying, and I still find it appalling that children are still doing it. What I do not find surprising is that the LGBT proponents have tucked that verbiage into their bag of tricks to twist the arm of America into believing homosexual lifestyle is normal. How you ask?
Space Shuttle Challenger remembered
I know that debris from the shuttle was found across Louisiana and Texas and it all came from a ruptured O-ring.
Isn't it strange how the smallest thing can cause the greatest trouble? The old saying goes For lack of a nail, the shoe was lost. For lack of a shoe the horse was lost. For lack of a horse the rider was lost. For lack of the rider, the battle was lost, all for the lack of a nail. Or something like that.
I mourn those seven adventuresome astronauts who accepted the challenge and set their faces toward space. I admire their courage and their intestinal fortitude. May God Almighty be with their families as the world remembers that long ago explosion.
NASA: Most distant galaxy found by Hubble
I can't help but chuckle every time a scientist goes on national TV and talks about things that are more than a billion years old, or for that matter more than 20,000 years old. The reason is that scientist aren't considering God in their equations.
Of course, there are more scientists that do not believe in God than that do believe in God or so Scientific American have told us time and again. That does not eliminate those scientists who do believe in God, including those who didn't then couldn't help but believe because of their scientific findings corresponding so closely with the Bible.
Here we have the classic example of Universe-Longevity. Why, I wonder, is it so imperative that we are comforted by the longevity of our home's existence?
God chose this space to plant earth and our sun, He chose to give us heavenly bodies to study and wonder about, then in the proper timing He has allowed us to explore further and further into space with the telescope and with our limited space ships. God created the universe as it is, uncrowded and vast, and He created it old, just as He created Adam a full grown man and Eve a full grown woman.
Of course, there are more scientists that do not believe in God than that do believe in God or so Scientific American have told us time and again. That does not eliminate those scientists who do believe in God, including those who didn't then couldn't help but believe because of their scientific findings corresponding so closely with the Bible.
Here we have the classic example of Universe-Longevity. Why, I wonder, is it so imperative that we are comforted by the longevity of our home's existence?
God chose this space to plant earth and our sun, He chose to give us heavenly bodies to study and wonder about, then in the proper timing He has allowed us to explore further and further into space with the telescope and with our limited space ships. God created the universe as it is, uncrowded and vast, and He created it old, just as He created Adam a full grown man and Eve a full grown woman.
When Christians Hurt Christians
I've just written a book by that title, but it won't be out this fall. I have realized there is some more information I must gather and I'm hoping you will help me.
I have a great passion for the subject because--you guessed it--I was crushed by some people who proudly called themselves Christian.
When this happens, you really wonder if they are true believers or if they're just mouthing words that have never rooted in their hearts. It is bad enough that Christian adults wield a double-edged sword at their fellow siblings, but why would people who love each other do it? This is something that I have not been able to fathom.
Daughter to mother, son to father and the other way around young people do not have the maturity yet to know how their words, the pin pricks as my neighbor used to say turn into sword stabs. Undoubtedly, God gave parents the thick skin protectant from the pin pricks and the sword stabs so that we would never break off all relations with our children. We parents know this is something that is bound to happen; and perhaps it is because we recall with shame the swords we brandished at our own parents. We knew it would come back because of the famous mother's curse, "May you have children exactly like you!"
However, when we ravage our children or we castrate our husbands or we wrap our wives in barbed wire, we are not hurting those who have angered us as much as we are doing it to God our Father. Jesus said, "When you do it to the least of these, you do it to Me." Of course it is understood that He was talking about feeding and nurturing the flock, but how much more we should recognize that whatever we do to others we are doing it to our Lord.
That should make us pause before we lash out. It should throw cold water on our rage. But as far as I can tell, Christians seem to be turning this verse around and accusing the sibling of unfaithful actions rather than recognizing the blame resides at their own front door.
How can that be? How can self-righteous people use the Bible to slice and dice their siblings without regard to how they are slicing and dicing the Holy Spirit right along with their sibling?
It is rather auspicious to think what we say and do doesn't really matter in the long run, because if it hurts the least of these, it hurts our Father. If it causes the least of these to turn their foot from God's path it is worse than blaspheming the Holy Spirit because that makes us a stumbling block and it would be better that a millstone be tied around our necks and we be thrown into the sea. That's how Jesus felt about it. How can we be any different?
I'm hoping you will help me for this will be my thesis for my Master's in Communication.
How were you hurt by a Christian? What did you do about it? Is it resolved, yet?
How did you hurt another person while believing what you did was of God? How did you realized it wasn't? What did you do about it? Is it resolved?
If you do not want to answer here, would you please, please email me? GLburgess at gmail dot com.
I have a great passion for the subject because--you guessed it--I was crushed by some people who proudly called themselves Christian.
When this happens, you really wonder if they are true believers or if they're just mouthing words that have never rooted in their hearts. It is bad enough that Christian adults wield a double-edged sword at their fellow siblings, but why would people who love each other do it? This is something that I have not been able to fathom.Daughter to mother, son to father and the other way around young people do not have the maturity yet to know how their words, the pin pricks as my neighbor used to say turn into sword stabs. Undoubtedly, God gave parents the thick skin protectant from the pin pricks and the sword stabs so that we would never break off all relations with our children. We parents know this is something that is bound to happen; and perhaps it is because we recall with shame the swords we brandished at our own parents. We knew it would come back because of the famous mother's curse, "May you have children exactly like you!"
However, when we ravage our children or we castrate our husbands or we wrap our wives in barbed wire, we are not hurting those who have angered us as much as we are doing it to God our Father. Jesus said, "When you do it to the least of these, you do it to Me." Of course it is understood that He was talking about feeding and nurturing the flock, but how much more we should recognize that whatever we do to others we are doing it to our Lord.
That should make us pause before we lash out. It should throw cold water on our rage. But as far as I can tell, Christians seem to be turning this verse around and accusing the sibling of unfaithful actions rather than recognizing the blame resides at their own front door.
How can that be? How can self-righteous people use the Bible to slice and dice their siblings without regard to how they are slicing and dicing the Holy Spirit right along with their sibling?
It is rather auspicious to think what we say and do doesn't really matter in the long run, because if it hurts the least of these, it hurts our Father. If it causes the least of these to turn their foot from God's path it is worse than blaspheming the Holy Spirit because that makes us a stumbling block and it would be better that a millstone be tied around our necks and we be thrown into the sea. That's how Jesus felt about it. How can we be any different?
I'm hoping you will help me for this will be my thesis for my Master's in Communication.
How were you hurt by a Christian? What did you do about it? Is it resolved, yet?
How did you hurt another person while believing what you did was of God? How did you realized it wasn't? What did you do about it? Is it resolved?
If you do not want to answer here, would you please, please email me? GLburgess at gmail dot com.
Counting pennies for the missing
Back in 2007 I wrote an article for my hometown newspaper about the pennies Mississippi Baptists are collecting as a stark visual memorial to the 50 million babies aborted, they have since filled it up.
By Gina Burgess
Lifestyles Editor
In Jackson, across from the Capital, stands a bullet-proof glass case that is half full of pennies. It stands at the corner of the Baptist Building and is a Memorial to the Missing--missing babies that have been aborted since the 1973 Roe v. Wade case made abortions legal.
The case was designed to hold 50 million pennies which amounts to $500,000 and will weigh in, after it’s full, at 156 tons. That is about how much 75 elephants weigh or the same weight as Mickey’s Fantasia hat at Disney World.
“It’s not the 50 million pennies that are important,” said Jimmy Porter, executive director of the convention’s Christian Action Commission. “It’s the 50 million children.” Each penny is in memory of an aborted child.
Innovations
Innovation is not actually something that is new, but the renewal or transformation of something that already exists. We look around and see innovation everywhere in our lives, even our language has innovations from earlier generations to today.
I wrote a book in the early 1980s which had no reference to cell phones, paperwork was done by hand, the internet was dial-up, and cordless phones were not widely used because any electrical storm could wipe out the phone with one lightening strike close to a phone line. Astounding how the inventions of yesteryear have been innovated to more powerful, smaller, and exponentially faster than lightening household necessities.
How did I report the news without a laptop? How did I capture sports-action photos without a digital camera? How much easier it is today not having to have a light meter, or having to use chemicals to develop film and photos. There is something nice about that, but there is something rather missing today.
I recall being in the darkroom and talking to God about the people in the photographs, I remember submitting a photo and several people ooing and ahing over the almost incredible shot... or tisking because of the missed shot. I also wonder if that photo that is worldwide famous of the soldiers and marines who raised the flag over Iwo Jima would have been as perfect if taken with a digital camera. Would the photo journalist have been as precise with a smaller camera, or would the angle have been as perfect if his camera didn't need to be positioned perfectly on the rocky hill top, especially with the wind so fierce?
We take for granted our contraptions of today and get into such a frenzy if something takes longer than 30 seconds to finish heating or to turn green or what have you. Are we in too much of a rush today to enjoy a breezy, sunny afternoon doing nothing but sitting on the porch peeling an apple and listening to children laugh and play?
Have we lost the art of thinking? Where did imagination go? One could say it never left because we have all these wonderful inventions like motorized tooth brushes and microchips that let you know when your tire is going flat--but only if they are put in correctly. My microchip told me that my right front tire had only six pounds of pressure. I checked it and put air in it and checked it but nothing was wrong with it, the problem was with my right back tire. Why do we trust the microchips instead of our eyes and our ears? I still think our children are growing up without as much imagination as we had when we were children, and we didn't have as much imagination as our parents did when they were children.
When my father was a little boy he carried around a stick in his pocket. The stick was named Little Boy and he was a soldier, or a cowboy, or whom ever my father wanted to play with at the time. None of those eight children who were his siblings were ever bored. Whenever I told my mom I was bored, she thought of a gazillion chores for me to do. By the time she quit listing, I was out the door and down the street saying, "I'm not bored, and I'll never be bored again!" I gave my own children the same courtesy, and they rarely said they didn't have anything to do or that they were bored.
It is too easy to look something up on the internet, and search engines are so precise these days that there are very few side paths that can distract us from the goal at hand. Ten years ago, searching for information on the net was an adventure and I could get sidetracked so easily because I'd see something I'd want to know more about and follow the link. Today the only place I can get sidetracked like that is in my Bible study. It's an adventure to study through word searches and use lexicons. For those things I shall be eternally grateful for the innovations from man's imagination.
The idea of innovations as a post subject came from John Saddington who lives at Tentblogger
I wrote a book in the early 1980s which had no reference to cell phones, paperwork was done by hand, the internet was dial-up, and cordless phones were not widely used because any electrical storm could wipe out the phone with one lightening strike close to a phone line. Astounding how the inventions of yesteryear have been innovated to more powerful, smaller, and exponentially faster than lightening household necessities.
How did I report the news without a laptop? How did I capture sports-action photos without a digital camera? How much easier it is today not having to have a light meter, or having to use chemicals to develop film and photos. There is something nice about that, but there is something rather missing today.
I recall being in the darkroom and talking to God about the people in the photographs, I remember submitting a photo and several people ooing and ahing over the almost incredible shot... or tisking because of the missed shot. I also wonder if that photo that is worldwide famous of the soldiers and marines who raised the flag over Iwo Jima would have been as perfect if taken with a digital camera. Would the photo journalist have been as precise with a smaller camera, or would the angle have been as perfect if his camera didn't need to be positioned perfectly on the rocky hill top, especially with the wind so fierce?
We take for granted our contraptions of today and get into such a frenzy if something takes longer than 30 seconds to finish heating or to turn green or what have you. Are we in too much of a rush today to enjoy a breezy, sunny afternoon doing nothing but sitting on the porch peeling an apple and listening to children laugh and play?
Have we lost the art of thinking? Where did imagination go? One could say it never left because we have all these wonderful inventions like motorized tooth brushes and microchips that let you know when your tire is going flat--but only if they are put in correctly. My microchip told me that my right front tire had only six pounds of pressure. I checked it and put air in it and checked it but nothing was wrong with it, the problem was with my right back tire. Why do we trust the microchips instead of our eyes and our ears? I still think our children are growing up without as much imagination as we had when we were children, and we didn't have as much imagination as our parents did when they were children.
When my father was a little boy he carried around a stick in his pocket. The stick was named Little Boy and he was a soldier, or a cowboy, or whom ever my father wanted to play with at the time. None of those eight children who were his siblings were ever bored. Whenever I told my mom I was bored, she thought of a gazillion chores for me to do. By the time she quit listing, I was out the door and down the street saying, "I'm not bored, and I'll never be bored again!" I gave my own children the same courtesy, and they rarely said they didn't have anything to do or that they were bored.
It is too easy to look something up on the internet, and search engines are so precise these days that there are very few side paths that can distract us from the goal at hand. Ten years ago, searching for information on the net was an adventure and I could get sidetracked so easily because I'd see something I'd want to know more about and follow the link. Today the only place I can get sidetracked like that is in my Bible study. It's an adventure to study through word searches and use lexicons. For those things I shall be eternally grateful for the innovations from man's imagination.
The idea of innovations as a post subject came from John Saddington who lives at Tentblogger
Amazing what fog exposes
I took this photograph a long time ago just before Thanksgiving after praying for God to please give me a delight to print in my newspaper as a holiday special. This would have been a beautiful photo on a crystal clear morning or noon, but not nearly as interesting as on this foggy morning.
I've looked at the photo everyday, through three computer changes and I still find things I haven't noticed before. Such as today, I noticed a second house on the hill. Why had I never noticed that before?
The trouble we humans have is we see the fog of daily living without bothering to look through the fog. We see the abrupt sales clerk and take offense without thinking she may have had some really bad news. We take the honking horn behind us as an affront without thinking that person may be in an emergency.
Of course, the clerk may just be in a bad mood or be that way all the time. The honking horn may be an indication that that person in traffic behind is just blowing impatience all over those around him. But, what if...
Prayerworks...
When I have a chance to brag about God and how He works, that just makes my heart sing. You just can’t outdo God. He has taught me so much through my prayers and his answers to my prayers.
But it didn’t come through some mysterious blast of supernatural knowledge. He has taught me over many years through our conversations and through how He has worked in my life, constantly striving to make me perfect.
He started very early on when I was old enough to understand what He was doing, and mature enough to want to understand more. He had answered many prayers of mine when I was a child, you know those selfish prayers like “Oh, please God let me get this and such for Christmas!” Or “Please God, I studied for this test, help me get an A.”
God taught me about obedience to His commands…
One day my youth pastor’s wife asked me to teach her young boys how to swim. I was a lifeguard at our club pool and had been giving lessons at the Y because I was a certified water safety instructor. So, I told her of course I’d teach them. I picked them up one afternoon and took them to the bayou where everyone cooled off from the summer heat. Those little fish didn’t need lessons. They were naturals. So, we played for a couple of hours and I took them home, refusing the pay she offered me because you lose your WSI certification if you take payment.
Babysitting for the little girl and baby next door kept me in extra funds. My sister didn’t like babysitting so I got all that kind of work. Plus we cleaned house for Mom and received money every two weeks for that. So I tithed regularly. It was never a question for me. I knew it was something God had said we must do, and Jesus had promised that God would care for me more than the flowers of the field, and to never worry where my basic needs would come because He loved me. I knew it, but it was more head knowledge for me because I was so young.
The next Sunday morning it was time for my tithe and all I had was a five-dollar bill. I checked with everyone to see if they had change so I could tuck my two-dollar tithe in the envelope. No one had change, there was nothing in my hidey-hole where I kept my emergency money. So, I held up that envelope and prayed, “LORD, please take this five dollars, take what you need and give me back the rest.” I fully expected Him to keep the whole five dollars, hadn’t a clue how He could give me back anything because the likelihood of three dollars coming my way was slim followed by nil. My reasoning was that whatever money came my way would be tithed anyway. I don’t know what I was thinking. I certainly wasn’t testing God, although I really meant what I prayed.
Between Sunday school and church service, Mrs. Ford called out to me on the breezeway.
“Gina, I just don’t feel right that you taught my boys and I didn’t pay you.” All the while she was digging in her purse. I tried to be kind, but insistent that I couldn’t take any money, wouldn’t take any. The crucial thing for me was to keep my certification so I could work as a lifeguard again. Then she pulled out some money and thrust it in my hand. I pushed it back to her. She said, “All I have right now is three dollars, but I’ll give you more later. Please, just call it babysitting money.”
Three dollars? My mind spun around. Three dollars! LORD God, You are a fast worker! I graciously smiled and turned toward the sanctuary, a prayer of thanksgiving on my lips that God had heard and quickly responded to me, that He had considered me worthy of an answer, but more importantly He had given me a testimony of tithing that has impacted my entire life!
He has taught me humbleness…
God has a great sense of humor and doesn’t mind using it to teach me lessons. I love it when He does. About six months after I was terminated from my economic development job with the local parish government in Louisiana, I was walking in the backyard just full of myself and the things I had done. I had a moment of temporary insanity, forgetting how I had been praying so intently that He help me get those twelve goals accomplished that I had ambitiously set. I was telling God how important I was to the local parish government in Louisiana, what a great thing He did by giving me that job, how without me all that grant money I brought in to do all this good work would never have been awarded, and I lifted my hands to Heaven and actually said—“God, just how much do You think all my work in this parish is worth?” I paused for a moment, then put my hand in my pockets and glanced down. At my feet was a shiny new quarter. All my work was only worth about two bits!
He has taught me to wait on Him because He knows best…
I was on my way across town to help my daughter pack up some things to move. It was a blistering July day and my car had no air conditioning. God and I had been having this ongoing conversation about getting the air conditioning fixed because it had been broken since April. Once again I was talking to God about it. I asked God if it were possible to please just let me sell come cemetery property so I’d get the eight hundred dollars it would take to fix the air conditioning. I reminded Him that I should get to my appointments cool as a cucumber. He reminded me that my appointments were at night when it was cool. I reminded him that I had places to go and things to do during the day time, too, and this summer was particularly hot. He pointed out that this July had been markedly cooler than last July.
I ended my prayer with, “But, I’d like to get from point A to point B cool and refreshed and not smelling like a horse!” He was quiet for a moment. The light turned green and I turned the corner heading to my daughter’s apartment when suddenly, my large thirty-two ounce glass of ice water tipped over into my lap. Oh, yes, I arrived very cool and very refreshed. I laughed all the way to the apartment. I can’t think of anything sweeter than sitting in His lap and laughing together!
Just two short months later, my daughter had just dropped me off at work then my A/C-less Ford Thunderbird had a crushing encounter with a Ford Explorer. My Thunderbird was about the size of a Mustang after that. God knew that encounter was coming, so He kept me from pouring eight hundred hard-earned dollars into that car which would have been a waste.
Those are just a few of the many times God has taught me great life lessons through prayer. He taught me lessons about being on time when He gave me grace for being late to an extremely important meeting by turning every light green just before I got to it. He’s held time still for me, I kid you not, I got to a meeting inside of two minutes on a trip that should have taken at least 15 minutes. He has covered me with His gentle hand when I was devastated by rejection. He has given me employment and He has taken employment away, all for my protection, to keep me from the clutches of Satan or to send me on to my next ministry. That is a story that will have to wait to another day.
Prayer works, or Power of prayer, or prayer power, are misnomers. They imply that the one responsible is the one praying. God is the power and majesty in what goes on here on earth. God taught me that when He taught me humility.
David Jeremiah once said that prayer is what draws us into God’s will and His plan both for us and for others. That was an astounding lesson for me. The power is God and prayer plugs us into that power. So it should be prayerworks, not prayer works! The workings between God and His children is the relationship that God established reconciling us to Him through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. Prayer is our recognition of that relationship and His omnipotence, as well as our submission to His divine will. Prayer is that testimony we exhibit everyday when we verbally trust Him. We know we are settled in His will when we are Prayed up by being Adored up, Confessed up, Thanked up, then we can Ask up a storm to the only One who can make it happen.
That term has got me to thinking. Actually, it was God who was getting me to thinking. He was telling me that It is He that works, He that has the power, He that answers prayer. All we do is align ourselves with His will through His word.
Prayer power has that connotation that the person praying is doing the work, like the mere lifting up of a prayer is the work which plugs the power into the request. Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but I was amazed when I asked God to recall to me those times He has answered my prayer. I was engulfed with the pretty as well as the ugly of my life. His constant tending to my business has made me more aware of how much He does.
Let me lift up my voice and heart in praise. Let me understand Your ways, teach me them, Lord. Help me to bring you glory and honor. Help me to know the power of the wicked is but straw, easily burned and the ashes spread by the wind of Your breath. Thank you, God for so many blessings they cannot be counted in a single day. I rejoice in You. I give thanks for Your Son. I praise your Holy Name for yours is the power, yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory forever and ever amen.
Shout out with praise!
Shout out with praise
To the LORD on His Throne!
Sing with me all the earth,
For He set me Free.
He unlocked the shackles
He unwound the chains
I am Free.
He filled the darkness with Light
Fear fled, demons tremble.
I am Free!
He bent down to lift me up.
He put the chains and shackles on my foes.
But, I…I am Free!
It was I that caused His great pain, you see.
It was for me that He stuck to that tree.
It was I that raced down that path of ruin,
That pursued the pitiful gain.
Yet, His love swelled greater than oceans
His love reached past the universe
He counted the cost
and found it worthy
to set me Free yes, even me, to set me Free
The babies’ breath is on His cheek…
My tears have rolled down His fingers…
Yet the universe is too small for His shoulders.
He cared enough to set me Free.
Shout ye people of the earth.
Sing hosannas to reach the stars.
Sing with me and praise His name for
He paid the price to set us Free!
To the LORD on His Throne!
Sing with me all the earth,
For He set me Free.
He unlocked the shackles
He unwound the chains
I am Free.
He filled the darkness with Light
Fear fled, demons tremble.
I am Free!
He bent down to lift me up.
He put the chains and shackles on my foes.
But, I…I am Free!
It was I that caused His great pain, you see.
It was for me that He stuck to that tree.
It was I that raced down that path of ruin,
That pursued the pitiful gain.
Yet, His love swelled greater than oceans
His love reached past the universe
He counted the cost
and found it worthy
to set me Free yes, even me, to set me Free
The babies’ breath is on His cheek…
My tears have rolled down His fingers…
Yet the universe is too small for His shoulders.
He cared enough to set me Free.
Shout ye people of the earth.
Sing hosannas to reach the stars.
Sing with me and praise His name for
He paid the price to set us Free!
Can you follow directions?
Ever notice the directions on products? Some of them are quite humorous, such as “do not operate this hair dryer when sleeping.” Really? Visions of women lying in bed with their blow dryer grasped in a white-knuckled grip trip through my mind. Another favorite is the peanut package on airplanes which says, “Open packet. Eat nuts.” I guess that is for those who would rather slip the packet into their purse and smuggle it off the plane. Found on a Korean kitchen knife, “Keep out of children;” on a batman costume, “This cape does not enable user to fly;” on a shampoo bottle, “Use repeatedly for severe damage.”
When the directions make sense to us, we use them as guidelines to use the product or put together the object we’ve purchased. I know several men who’ve said, “Don’t read me the directions, I can mess this up all by myself.” They were alluding to the fact that most directions found in something that must be put together by the purchaser are often difficult to decipher. One usually needs some sort of class in instructions-ese to understand how this part A really does fit in part B and is enclosed by part Z. So what good are directions that make no sense? Maybe a chuckle or two.
We have societal “understandings” like no burping or nose cleaning in public, we have basic work ethics, and we have laws of the land that require certain behaviors toward others such as paying our bills and obeying traffic signals and signs. These are established as directional guides of society so that people will go in generally the same direction. Of course, common criminals travel against the flow. Sometimes godly people travel against the flow because they’ve lost their GPS or compass.
I wrote a column Shake Well Before Using which points out we have a choice in our direction. Our choices, which stem from our God-given free will, determine the path we trod. When we deliberately decide to follow the footprints of Jesus, and allow Him to carry us when the load becomes too heavy, then our path is well-lighted so we can clearly see the stumbling blocks Satan tosses in our way. We have support, relief, and supernatural wisdom which are our birthright through Jesus.
Even so, some godly people are drawn toward the world’s siren song. Some tread down side paths because they have lost sight of the ultimate purpose. Never fear, God won’t leave them on the wrong path. He has determined a plan for their life and side trips are the way for believers to learn lessons the hard way, rather than the easy way. These unwise choices result in pitfalls and potholes that could so easily be avoided if the Lamp of God had been used.
Even so, some godly people are drawn toward the world’s siren song. Some tread down side paths because they have lost sight of the ultimate purpose. Never fear, God won’t leave them on the wrong path. He has determined a plan for their life and side trips are the way for believers to learn lessons the hard way, rather than the easy way. These unwise choices result in pitfalls and potholes that could so easily be avoided if the Lamp of God had been used.
A somewhat famous actor on TV back in the 1970s and early 1980s did not use that Lamp I'm talking about. You might know him better as the husband of Mary Ann
Mobley (1937-2014), a former Miss America from Mississippi. His name was Gary
Collins (1938-2012), quite a handsome fellow, distinguished-looking, and successful
in his own right. He was in the series The Sixth Sense, and had guest appearances on shows like Jag, Hollywood Squares, and even on a Perry Mason Mystery.
However, in 2007 he walked out of a Biloxi, MS restaurant without paying his $59 bill according to a news article from several years ago, which is a felony in the state of Mississippi. The article reads like a litany of all his brushes with the law. An updated report states Collins told the police he had ordered dinner, and the kitchen was taking too long to bring his steak. He was drinking alcoholic beverages and he was afraid he'd be too drunk to drive home so he left. He had two previous drunk driving convictions, so I can understand his dilemma. Yet, he should have paid for the drinks and canceled his order.
However, in 2007 he walked out of a Biloxi, MS restaurant without paying his $59 bill according to a news article from several years ago, which is a felony in the state of Mississippi. The article reads like a litany of all his brushes with the law. An updated report states Collins told the police he had ordered dinner, and the kitchen was taking too long to bring his steak. He was drinking alcoholic beverages and he was afraid he'd be too drunk to drive home so he left. He had two previous drunk driving convictions, so I can understand his dilemma. Yet, he should have paid for the drinks and canceled his order.
It would be just another actor/police story if I didn’t remember an interview from decades ago.
I remember watching a talk show hosted by Dinah Shore one summer morning with guests Mary Ann Mobley and Gary Collins who had just gotten married in November, 1967. During the interview, they both expressed how blessed by God they were to have found each other and discussed how being Christian in Hollywood affected their careers. I know, I can hear someone asking, “How in the world can you remember that from so long ago?”
I was thirteen years old, and I had aspirations of being Miss America. I thought Miss America was the most fabulous woman on earth at that time. Furthermore, I carefully watched those actors who professed Jesus (and there weren’t that many, in fact there still aren't that many).
What is extraordinarily sad is I can’t find any reference to that interview anywhere. After extensive research, I found a quote by Mary Ann about growing up in the church and feeling strongly about it. I also found out that she bought chimes for her church, Brandon Methodist Church, with her first check as an entertainer as well as that is where the couple got married. She made the mustard seed necklace famous, and often quoted Luke 17:6 when talking to the press. She and Gary were married until he died in 2012 (45 years). That is certainly an achievement.
This just illustrates that bad choices and bad decisions are not the property of fools, idiots, and unbelievers. Only Jesus never made a bad choice or decision. Peter said, “Don’t wash my feet, Lord.” The disciples deserted Jesus in His hour of need. David watched a woman bathe. Solomon married foreign wives and had 1,000 women in his household. Rehoboam listened to the young kids on the block rather than the wise old sages. These weren’t the smartest decisions made by believers and they certainly weren’t the last. The world is full of people who have made, and will make unwise choices.
Of one thing I’m absolutely sure: No matter how bad the choice or the consequences, God gives us the opportunity to humble ourselves in His presence and to turn away from the dark path back to the lighted one. Sometimes, God will even pick us up when we’ve reached the dead end and put us back on track. The key is recognizing when we’ve made a wrong turn, accepting the consequences of that decision, and following the directions for the best product available under Heaven which is the Christian lifestyle.
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