|
The Problem Of Being Right
|
Nov 17, 2009 6:46 pm
76 Views
|
To be right means someone else is wrong. In all of the past, present, and future, no one person has had the same personal experiences. We are all unique individuals. What is right for me is not necessarily right for you. The more right individuals claim to be, the more wrong they are making other people.
Consider Jesus. He claims to be the embodiment of truth itself. This makes the rest of us, who accept this claim of His, to be in the process of conforming to His view. This is alright with me. But when other people claim to be the truth there is conflict. No two people can be the truth as no two people are ever alike.
Maybe individuals who claim they are right on any issue should modify their claim to this is what is right for me. It may not be right for you, but for me it seems to be the best view.
I know people want certainty, stability, and security. Maybe these people should focus their attention on God for this. Let Him be our certainty, stability, and security. This would make people less right about everything and easier to get along.
|
|
|
4
Comments
|
|
|
The Power of Science and of Faith
|
Nov 17, 2009 12:46 am
58 Views
|
Both Science and Faith are powerful.
Science accesses the power of what is visible, provable, and repeatable. Faith accesses the power of what is invisible, not provable and repeatable.
Yesterday at 2:22 pm eastern time the Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off on a journey to the ISS caring many vital spare parts to the Space Station to keep it functioning well for 10 more years. It is indeed a powerful model of science at its best.
If you believe the Bible record, the power of faith has done just as wonderful of things for people. The mouth of lions were stopped. People received their dead back to life. The litany record of this is Hebrews chapter 11 in the New Testament.
God spoke and the universe was created. God spoke and the earth's many systems were brought into being. This is quantum physics at its best. Jesus spoke and many wonderful things happened, as Lazarus coming forth from the grave after being dead four days.
We have this faith power given to us. When we need it, and are prompted to use it, I feel we should.
|
|
|
2
Comments
|
|
|
What is He like?
|
Nov 14, 2009 4:07 am
79 Views
|
He is extremely pure and sensitive.
He can be patient, but when His reputation is offended He will react. He can not deny Himself. He will not tolerate His name to be tarnished. Using His name in vain is more than just cursing. It is in some way compromising God's integrity which He will not allow. He is extremely protective of His Name's sake.
This always seems to surprise people. They do things in God's Name thinking they are doing right. They forget that doing things in God's Name must also be done in God's Way. Moses, the most humble man on earth and closest to God in his day, found out this terrible truth in the most heart wrenching way. In anger he called God's people rebels and slammed his rod against the rock to bring forth the water. He obeyed God in action, but not in spirit. He misrepresented God's Name and this lesson was once again written down in history for all time. God loves us, but even more He loves His Name. We must enter His courts with praise, thanksgiving, and an attitude of awe. Possibly, then we might be safe and survive well
People who supposedly represent Him must do so accurately and not in anger, denunciations, and condemnations. The most challenging and strenuous parts of Jesus ministry was not just His message but to present it in a Holy way. Even Jesus trial and especially His Crucifixion had to be done in a Holy way. As the scripture says, like a sheep before the shearers, He was quiet and unresponsive. All the pressure on Him had to be met in the most respectful way. We think Jesus is wonderful because of His miracles and kind nature. True enough, but as wonderful to me is His attitude of Holiness in representing Jehovah, Elohim, El Shaddai.
Shalom Aleichem
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
|
The Stem & The Flower
|
Nov 10, 2009 1:51 pm
124 Views
|
The religious straight jacket has so many people immobilized. The good news is too hard for people to believe. Such a great gift from God, so undeserved, is more than we can receive and for sure more than we can pay back in kind.
Look at a flower. For a long time the stem was only evident. First the blade and then the stem appeared and grew and grew until finally the purpose of the stem along with its root system was fulfilled. The flower appeared and blossomed fresh and new in all its glory. The beautiful stem and leaves were then mostly forgotten in lieu of the overwhelming attraction and beauty of the flower.
The Old Testament is the root and law system whose purpose like the stem was to bring into being the glorious flower or Jesus and His gift of grace to all. The stem controlled the development until the flower was born.
Jesus is our flower. We can now look upon Him and the gift given is freedom from sin. We are free to be who we are. We are filled with His love. We are not focused on the law but on Him who in us fulfills the law. The stem was rigid and confining. Looking at Him we see world wide brothers and sisters. The beauty of His Personality brings out love and focuses our attention on love not law keeping. WE are inspired by the flower or Jesus. Everything is simplified to love. The flower focuses our attention on beauty itself. Looking at Jesus we are free to love. We have been forgiven, so we can forgive. The law constantly reminded people of their sins, but never forgave anyone. It, like the stem, just reminded people of a glory to come.
WE are free in Jesus to love now. He, like the glorious flower, draws, inspires, and directs our attention. The flower sits on top of the stem, not below it. Lets rise above to the glory that is ours. Even though we can not pay God back and have to accept His gift in humility, we can get used to it as all His gifts are beyond pay back.
|
|
|
4
Comments
|
|
|
Reality Can Be Too Painful
|
Nov 6, 2009 7:12 pm
141 Views
|
When the going gets tough, sometimes people find out they are not tough enough to get going but they freak. I feel life is way bigger than we can handle. We have two choices. WE can find reality and conform or we can lash out and create our own world no matter who we hurt, ourselves included.
Recent headline events show people making either choice. It has taken me much, if not most of my life, to find some semblance of reality. Religion hints at reality. What is reality for you?
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
|
The Rape That Would Not Quit
|
Oct 30, 2009 12:20 am
242 Views
|
It was 9:00pm Friday evening, October 24, 2009, a week ago today. The Homecoming dance of the Richmond, California High School was over. It was time to go home. She, age 15, phoned her dad to come pick her up. Someone asked her to go over to another area of the campus a short distance away. There she was raped for 2 1/2 hrs., from 9:30pm until 12:00pm and left unconscious.
When found she was taken to the hospital in critical condition and remained there for four days. 10 people were involved in the felony rape according to police and 10 others watched. Some have been reported to have even taken pictures and cam recordings. No one called 911. So far six have been arraigned: Montano, Smith, Peter, Morales, Ortega, and Marcelles and more arraignments are expected. Some of these were wearing bullet proof vests in court.
Why? In my opinion, the exalting of self and the depersonalization of people is so evident. I have been watching advertising on TV and much of the time its about empowering the individual, rather than community, or relationships and respect for others. Christianity re personalizes people. This electronic age is making brutal heroes of the individual, rather than Christianity's approach of making servant heroes out of people.
The exalting of the individual at the expense of others is the way of the world, not the way of the cross. This degeneration and isolation of the individual exalts self and masks the depravity created until it breaks out upon society.
|
|
|
3
Comments
|
|
|
Ceara Sturgis Senior Picture Is Banned !
|
Oct 19, 2009 1:12 pm
396 Views
|
She is a straight A student. She plays the trumpet. She is a goalie on the High School soccer team. She is also openly gay. She has no girl clothes. She wears only boys clothes.
The Mississippi High School, Wesson Attentance Center, has refused to print her picture because she is wearing a Tuxedo, as in the picture. She says that this year book picture represents who she is. The high school has no policy in place on cross dressing, yet it does have a policy in place against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, or sex.
Anyone who has read the Bible knows God's view on gays and homosexuals. But, what many do not know in my opinion, who have read the Bible, is God's view on our sins in the New Covenant or Agreement He has made with the world. All sins of everyone are on the cross and paid for in blood or the death of Jesus. What we deserve, He bore. Anyone can come to Him and have their sins cleansed. There is power at the cross for us to change. Jesus does not refuse anyone who bows before Him. He accepts all comers and makes them part of His family. Everyone in his following is family. Should we then kick out family members or leave this to Jesus who is Head of the family?
Of course the High School is not a Church. The governmental institutions are a long way behind the Church, yet I wonder sometimes how far ahead we as a Church are from our schools and government agencies.
|
|
|
2
Comments
|
|
|
Technology Violence Student Violence
|
Oct 17, 2009 3:57 am
345 Views
|
You can not tell me that violent video games, violent movies, where violence is glorified so that the heroes are the most violent of the pack is not affecting our kids? How can any reasonable person believe that filling our minds with image and sound and thoughts of extreme violence day after day does not set in motion our students to follow suit?
It happened again. This time its near Mrytle Beach in northeast South Carolina. A 16 year old student of Carolina Forest High School, yesterday, is dead after stabbing the high school's resource police officer who shot him in defense.
Before this it was Chicago where black students beat to death another innocent black student. Next, four black students set on fire a white student. What is our responsibility as Christians? I feel we are duty bound by Jesus to witness. By this I mean show a difference. Our society is now desperate for a visible difference. If we Christians can not show a difference, then we are worthless to the world. I believe we can. But, we are going to have to clean it up and stop fighting among ourselves and stop acting like the world. I am not talking about preaching holier than thou, but walking our talk more. This requires more of Jesus in us and less of us in Jesus. It's not our help that Jesus needs. It is our humility He needs so His spiritual maturity can grow in us. He is the big Boss. The less we try to be little bosses to the world and respect His leadership in our individual lives the more the world will see a noticeable difference in us. Perhaps then more of the world will come our way and this will diffuse the violence at least somewhat.
What is your solution?
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
|
Interracial Marriage
|
Oct 16, 2009 7:01 am
389 Views
|
Black and white, or hispanic and white. or asian and European, these are possible combinations of people with differing race. Where is Jesus on this? As usual, He is way out ahead of the rest of us. He does not believe in any divides at all. He believes in love. He believes in the new creature. He makes all things new.
Where are we in this 21st century of prejudice, bias, discrimination, and law observing civilization? I feel we have made some progress toward the Masters call and empowerment, but not much really.
An interracial couple in Hammond, Louisiana were denied marriage by the justice of the peace because he felt these marriages don't last and its hard on the children.
This man, Terence McKay age 32, and his white girlfriend Beth Humphrey age 30, were denied marriage by the white justice of the peace because they are interracial. Is this Christian? No, it is not!
|
|
|
5
Comments
|
|
|
Take Risk To Get Ahead?
|
Oct 7, 2009 9:00 pm
444 Views
|
To get ahead, find good fortune, make progress, the Pilgrims left Europe and sailed the seas for many weeks to the shores of the new world. Now we have the United States. The Jews left Egypt and followed Moses, Joshua, and Caleb to the land of promise. Now we have the Bible. Benjamin Franklin went to France to secure favor for us during the revolunary war with England. Now we have the U.S. constitution and the Statue of Liberty.
First I prayed like there was no tomorrow, then I left the state of Kansas 24 years ago to move and live on the coast of South Texas. I knew no one here, had no job, did not know the city, and it was an icy winter giving treacherous travel until I got here 3 days later. Now with a house, family, and business I can from experience say fortune sometimes favors the foolish. To get ahead history is on the side of those who start out not knowing how they will get there, or even exactly where they are going, but with the help of Providence they will persevere and be blessed.
We live in times of economic distress felt especially by the 15 million unemployed in America. “We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone - but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy”, said Walter Anderson.
There are four cardinal virtues. One of them is fortitude or the attitude and action of stepping out on an uncertain path toward a definite goal. God requires fortitude of us. He wants to be in on this risk taking of ours so we can experience his Providence and grow in creativity.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
To link to this blog (CaringInAction) use [blog CaringInAction] in your messages.
|
|
|
| Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
61
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
101
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
141
|
15
|
16
|
172
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
26
|
27
|
28
|
29
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
