Murder is Not the Way of God

Was checking one of my email accounts on Yahoo and saw a link to a disturbing news story.

Abortion doc George Tiller Gunned Down at Church.

Now, to be honest, I'm not all that thrilled about people having abortions for reasons other than health but, guess what? It's the law of the land. That means it's legal people. You don't like it? Then ask the government to change it. They won't? Then live with it. And let others live with doing it!

The people who have been sinned against with this one hateful act are manifest.

There is George Tiller himself. Murdered.

There is his family, some of who probably witnessed it. There are the people who were in attendance at the church. There is society itself. And let's not forget God, which the murderer so clearly did. God is not happy when anybody commits murder. And doing it in His name doesn't make it any better.

Writtenwyrdd recently posted on her blog about banning books. (She's against it, by the way.) The general feeling of those who commented was that people who are in favor of such fascist thinking are people who do not live the faith they purport to support. And they're right.

Consider Jesus. Just yesterday I read in John 8 how religious hypocrites brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus for judgment. This is the account.

Early in the morning he (Jesus) came again to the temple; all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery (where was the man?) and placing her in the midst they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such. What do you say about her?" This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." And once more he bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the eldest, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus looked up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again." (parentetical pieces mine) John 8:2-11 Revised Standard Version

If you would follow Jesus - follow God - then act toward people in LOVE. Jesus did not condemn people, so you don't condemn people. Jesus accepted people for who they were/are. So you accept people - for who they are. Do they sin? Sure, they do. But guess what? So do you. And do you know what? Your sins, though hidden, might actually be worse.

Be careful about associating with those who speak hatred toward "those who sin". They are speaking against you, you know. Is that what you really want to be like? Is that how you wish to be judged? Had this man who committed this murder truly been thinking of God, and what God wants, and how God judges, I do not believe he would have done this deed. Is this how he wishes to be treated?

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give wil lbe the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eyes? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. Matthew 7:1-5 Revised Standard Version

The message is clear. Why is it we so quickly forget it? And now a man is dead.

Who and What Should We Fear

So much of our human cultures are built on fear. We're afraid of this, that, and a host of other things.

Here is a partial list of things we fear:

• Losing our job/finances
  
• Losing a loved one
  
• Losing health
  
• Being attacked/terrorism/mugging/rape/murder
  
• Having our faith corrupted
  
• Gay/Lesbian/Bi-sexual/Transgender people
  
• Religious fanatics
  
• Religious intolerants
  
• Pollution
  
• Governments
  

This is just a very small list, and a good number of them are valid fears. But what does God have to say about all of this fear?

I just finished going through my concordance. What I found were 284 command references to us - from God - regarding fear.

At least 112 times God tells us to NOT FEAR. This is done a LOT when prophetic events are described. Twenty-six of those admonitions occur in the New Testament. Many from Jesus' own mouth. The very first admonition about fear is to NOT.

After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." Genesis 15:1 New King James Version

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus talks about what things will be like in the years shortly preceding his return.

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.(emphasis mine) Luke 21:25-26 New King James Version

When we, who claim to trust God, are afraid of these things - and I am guilty like everyone else - what we are really saying is that we do NOT trust God. If we did, we would not be afraid, because God has already told us to calm down and not be afraid. Not of these things anyway.

There is something we should fear. God tells us this no less than 172 times: 21 times in the New Testament. What is it that we should fear?

God.

If we fear God - if we trust Him - we will be less and less disposed to act out violently and irrationally against those who frighen us. For they will not frighten us anymore.

We become afraid because we become so bound to and caught up in this world that we forget this is but a short time in our existence. ALL of us are going to live forever. The question is: Where?

Do not hinder your chances of living with God by focusing on your fears - especially when those fears drive you to inflict pain, hardship, harassment, and even death to others. Focus on God. Do not be concerned about what other people are doing. It cannot happen unless God allows it. Speak out. Be heard. Make your opinions known. But do so in love and tenderness. Not hatred, fear, and violence. And trust God to keep things under control no matter how things play out.

Render Unto Caesar

Lawyers and judges always seem to be talking in double-talk. Perhaps that's why so many of them enter into politics. Politicians are always trying to say opposite things.

An historic ruling has just been made in California. Sarah Laurenson posted about it on her blog, Short Stuff. I don't even pretend to understand the legalese with which the California Supreme Court declared its ruling, but according to what Sarah says, the English translation is that gay and lesbian couples can be legally married in California. They just can't call it marriage.

While my reaction to the court is that it didn't have the guts to stand up for what it believed in, it is also possible the court doesn't believe in anything and so had nothing to stand up for.

But the GOOD news is that Sarah is still legally married. Well, no, that's not true. Sarah is still legally "wedded". She can't be married. Even though she is.

Like I said, I have trouble with legal double-talk. It's like listening to religious fanatics talk. They can take any sentence from anywhere and make it mean whatever they want. That's my opinion of lawyers, too. I don't have much faith in our judicial system anymore. But there's no other system which works better, so what do you do?

As long as people like Sarah and her spouse (we can still say that, can't we) are left alone to live their lives as they wish. They aren't out to hurt or defraud anybody. Leave them alone. I think that's what this ruling is saying. Stop harassing the innocent.

Those of you who are religiously conservative, I note that you spend a lot of time b*tching and moaning about gays and lesbians, but you haven't had a word to say about Wall Street Tycoons destroying the country with greed and avarice. You b*tch and moan because some Democrat politician supports some legislation which will take money from your pockets, descrying them as immoral and evil. But you never have anything to say about torture, civil rights, or any sins of the Republican Party.

You who seek to be ultra conservative live your lives in fear. That's what you're all about now. God told us about you. Predicted it thousands of years ago.

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Luke 21:25-26 New King James Version

Fear is the big motivator, isn't it? We're afraid of everyone and everything. Yet we claim to trust God. The truth is, if we really trusted God we wouldn't be nearly so afraid.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. but he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 New King James Version

When it comes to our faith, we need not fight. Jesus told us this.

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." John 18:36 New King James Version

Why do you wish to fight in the world over our faith? Jesus says the kingdom of our faith is not of the world, so the battle is not here. Stop fighting flesh and blood over your faith.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 New King James Version

Our battle is not with gay and lesbian people here on earth. They are just like us: human. They need God just like we need God. We need God just like they need God. But the only God we ever tell them about, show them through our behavior, is a God of hatred and intolerance. No wonder they want nothing to do with the God we talk about and demonstrate. I don't want anything to do with that thing either. Give me the real God. The God of love and forgiveness and acceptance.

It is said that one of the chief motivations for Judas Iscariot was impatience with Jesus for not bringing about the kingdom as Judas expected. Are we not guilty of the same sin when we attack gays and lesbians? Are we not the true sinners when we attack people for being in love? How anti-God can you get?

Partly I think we attack those who demonstrate our own sins. Look how often those who seek the demise of this person or that is secretly engaged in the same behavior?

Let us quit hating people and start living the lives that Christ told us to live. That he made possible for us to live by putting God's spirit into our hearts. Who did Jesus ever blast when he walked this earth? Religious hypocrites, that's who. He didn't even blast the Roman Empire. His word on that was, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Matthew 22:21 New King James Version)

Caesar has said it is all right for Gays and Lesbians to be wedded. Let's put this foolishness of harrassing these people away now. We have much bigger and far more important battles to fight anyway. The real war rages in our hearts. With our own sinful natures. Let's not worry about what other people are doing. They're better people than us anyway. They at least love.

To What Does God Belong

Politics.

Jesus once said it is "easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24)

Is it any easier for a politician?

I doubt it. Consider. Has not politics become synonymous with falsehood, deceit, bribery, corruption? That is not to say that every politician is guilty of these crimes, but in all honesty, who believes that many are not? It is an acceptable prejudice.

I saw a bit of a blurb on television regarding how the amount of dishonesty in financial matters is greater in New York City than in any other place in the world. A psychologist was explaining how this is so.

They had done an experiment in which they put several bills of currency in a refrigerator in a workplace. The bills were all left alone. Then they put in a six-pack of soda pop. One by one, the hidden camera showed people taking pop that didn't belong to them. Why so? The explanation was that few people will actually steal "cash", but if the money element is removed one or more places, people will steal. In this case, the money was converted into soda pop. Suddenly, it was much easier to rationalize one's behavior. That is what happens in the banking industry. People don't take money from the vaults. They take stock dividends, vacations, and other things which cost money, but are not money.

That is what happens in politics. Ideals of honesty, integrity, and openness are abandoned for some "greater good".

I knew someone who had a friend who ran for congressional office because he wanted to make a difference. He won the election. However, when it came time to decide whether or not to run for re-election the man opted to retired from public office. Why? Because the system is so corrupt that, in order to accomplish anything, he had to sacrifice what he believed was honesty, integrity, and general character.

It is no secret I have never care for, nor respected, politics much at all. It is more than annoying to listen to people spout phony words of caring and compassion. The more earnestly they speak, the less I believe them.

But what irks me more than anything is how the Republican Party has convinced so many idiot Christians that God is a Republican. That infuriates me. Why? Because of all political parties, the one which LEAST resembles God is the Republican Party.

They are mean, intolerant, hateful, unforgiving, exclusionary, uncooperative, uncaring - the list goes on.

And yet so many Christians think they have to be Republican because that party is officially against abortion. No wonder God keeps calling us sheep. We're about the most stupid things he created.

If you are upset about my blasting Republicans - good. But be upset enough to read your Bible and check out what God says. If you are honest, you will see that God is no more in favor of Republicans than he is of Democrats. And that's the other thing that torks me off. Being against one political party doesn't automatically mean I support another. In no way do I mean to state, or even imply, that I think God is a Democrat. Or has any other political affiliation. God is God. He's above it all.

But where do you see the Republicans in this?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-23 Revised Standard Version

If you want to know which verses of Scripture make me think Republican, here you go:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people. (emphasis mine) 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Revised Standard Version

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 'The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false; I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abondoned the love you had at first. Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. (emphasis mine) Revelation 2:1-5 Revised Standard Version

In essence, it is my conviction that any religion/faith which is political in nature is a harlot religion/faith. God is independent of human conventions.

That is what I believe.

Are You Rich or Are You Poor

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Mark 10:17 Revised Standard Version

It's a question many of us have asked. Some continue to ask it. Oh, maybe we don't use those words, but the question is there. How do I get to heaven?

The punchline answer is, "die". But that's actually the last step, not the first. If you're not on your way there before you die, you certainly won't be after.

So what do you (do I) have to do to get to heaven?

Do you pick up the arrogance in the question? There's an assumption there which is an affront to God. Fortunately, he knows we are flesh and silly and will treat with us on our level, so we can understand him. That's why he became flesh. So we could understand.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:1-3 New King James Version

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 New King James Version

The assumption, of course, is that we can somehow "earn" our way into heaven. We can purchase the right through some deed, or series of deeds, on our part. And that if we were to accomplish these deeds, God would have no choice but to let us in. In effect, we would have more power than God. I think that's what Lucifer tried to do. Just look what happened to him.

Now the truth is, there is something we can do to get to heaven. We can obey God. But that's reactive, not proactive. God speaks to our spirits, and how we respond to him will ultimately determine our future.

This story of the rich young ruler is repeated in the Book of Matthew. There, Jesus' response to the young man is recorded thus:

So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:17 New King James Version.

Keep the commandments. Of course, we can guess the young man's response to that, and Matthew also records that.

He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" Matthew 19:18-19 New King James Version

That pretty much covers all commandments from God. The key to remember here is, "from God," not from man. We mortals have a tendency to add and subtract from God's commandments.

The young man felt he had achieved all of this, but he still wanted to hear it from Jesus. Why? Because somewhere inside himself he probably still felt empty and unsure. His next question supports this theory, for it suggests he senses he is still lacking something. He was.

The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:20-24 New King James Version

When people are rich they have a difficult, if not impossible, task of understanding their need for God, forgiveness, and mercy. Heaven is not a concern. Either they assume they are going, or they don't care one way or another.

I think it is important to point out that a person can be rich in things other than money, and that those other riches can be just as much a deterrent to seeing heaven as money itself. In the movie, "Pirates of the Caribbean", Jack Sparrow accuses Will Turner of being obsessed with treasure. Turner gets indignant and denies it. Then Sparrow says something profound: "Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate." He's right. It's not.

A lot of people who have little, or no, money are rich in other things. Perhaps it's their spouse. Their children. Their fame. Their power. Their friends. Could be anything, really. If we focus on those other things, and money is included in this list, to the point where God is falling out of his place of importance in our lives, there is an excellent chance that God will make us "poor" in order to make us understand where our needs really lie.

It's a horrible experience to lose money, people, prestige, possessions, talent, health, whatever. But if we allow the experience to turn our hearts and thoughts to God, it will ultimately be for our own good. And in due time we will regain those things, people, abilities that we lost. How do we regain someone who has died? But biding our time and living our life until such time that God reunites us in heaven.

It's horrible, and we go through a very natural phase of being very angry with God. Don't get too bent out of shape about getting angry with God. He understands. And he's not intimidated by our anger. He will not respond in kind. He will respond in kindness.

Psalm 103 New King James Version

[1] Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

[2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

[3] Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases,

[4] who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

[5] who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

[6] The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

[7] He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

[8] The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

[9] He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.

[10] He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities.

[11] For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

[12] as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

[13] As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him.

[14] For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

[15] As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

[16] For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

[17] But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children's children,

[18] to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.

[19] The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

[20] Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.

[21] Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

[22] Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!

Quiet Time

Tried to post earlier today but lost interest in my topic and bailed.

It's been hard for me to keep an interest in a lot of things for a while. Guess that's why I quit posting. Not just here. I abandoned all six blogs for a time. Just a few days. It's been nearly a week since I've visited another blog, too.

I have thought about calling it a day and just letting the blogs go silent. But the Legion Blog is a co-produced blog, and I owe it to the other Authors to keep that blog going. I made a promise to try and keep this blog going, too.

But - sometimes - a person just wants to hide. To forget about what is important and only think about frivolous things. No more elected officials pretending they care about anyone other than themselves and the people with money who will keep them in office. No more religious fanatics spewing hatred at Christians, Muslims, Jews, Gays, Lesbians, Democrats, Republicans, Conservatives, Liberals, Blacks, Whites, Foreigners, War, and who knows what else. Just - get away.

We all need rest. Too often we become caught up in the world's fast pace and we come to believe in the importance of doing things. What a waste.

Mark (chapter two) New King James Version

[23] Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.

[24] And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?"

[25] But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:

[26] how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?

[27] And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

So what's the point? The point is this: the Sabbath was created for man. Why? Because people need to rest, and God knows how silly we can be. So he gave us an edict. Rest one day in seven. It is not a sin to work on the Sabbath. But it is sinful to work every day of every week. It's a sin because it is hurtful to ourselves. We burn ourselves out emotionally and physically and spiritually. Then we get sick.

Sometimes the phrase is quite right: Give it a rest. Just for today.

Why Non-Christians See Christians as Phony: #1

My son likes to listen to the music on the Worship Channel. There is very little actual programming there. Most of the time it's classical music played over landscapes and such. He likes listening to it because it's peaceful.

The other day I turned on the television and it was tuned to the Worship Channel, only instead of music and serene landscapes it was a television preacher talking about something. I was only able to stomach a little of him before I had to turn the station. Why is it that when Christians get in front of a television camera they feel some compulsive need to pretend to be "up" all the time. Even when they are up they have to add to it.

To me, this is about as phony as it gets. They look phony. They sound phony. They are phony.

Why is it that television preachers, interviewers, and even guests, feel they have to pretend? Don't they understand that the reason we Christians have the reputation for dishonesty and phoniness is because we're dishonest and phony? It isn't our faith that others say is phony; it's our happiness. NOBODY is that happy ALL THE TIME. NOBODY.

I bet Jesus had days when his body felt run down and he just couldn't find it in himself to laugh and be "up". That doesn't mean he was crabby and irritable, but I bet when he was tired he wasn't all bubbles and joy. What's wrong with admitting that? It's the truth, and isn't God truth?

The only time these people aren't bubbly and "up" is when they're talking about something unfortunate. Then they go way overboard the other way. Real people don't talk that way, or sound like that when they are concerned.

I don't believe ARP (Any Reasonable Person) wants that kind of a preacher. We don't want our preachers and whatnots pretending to care, to be happy, to be anything. We want them to be real. We want to see them be silly when they're in a good mood. Laugh. Joke. Friendly insults to show they are truly getting along. And when things aren't funny, be serious, but not dramatic.

Too many preachers rely on emotion. They believe if they can get a congregation, or audience, to feel spiritual they've accomplished something. They have. They causes people to feel something. What they have failed to do, however, is inspire spirituality.

I remember how the paster at a church I attended back in the 1970s began a sermon. He looked down at his bible and began to (apparently) read.

"For God so loved the world that he felt very gushy towards everybody. That's not what it says, is it? It says God 'gave'."

Those of us who have been raised in Western culture are particularly guilty of relying on our emotions to decide things. It's a horrible practice, because emotions are the biggest liar of all. They are the devil's tool against us.

2 Timothy (chapter 3) New King James Version

[1] But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

[2] For men will be lovers of themselges, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

[3] unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,

[4] traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

[5] having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (emphasis mine)

I don't mean to say that those people I see on television are not real Christians. I have no way of knowing if their faith is real or not, so I will assume it is real. But their acting is just that: acting. And it's bad acting at that. I wish they would knock it off and just be real. Be themselves. I refuse to believe they really are that shallow.

Breaking the Chain of Hatred

Just did something for which I suppose I should feel some sense of pride about. Only I don't.

I was forwarded an email this morning. Didn't pay attention to who originated it. I only concerned myself with the person who passed it on to me.

The email references an alleged email sent by an engineering professor at Michigan State University to the Muslim Students' Association. In it, the professor complains about the protests against a Danish cartoon which portrayed the Prophet Muhammed as a terrorist. He goes on to complain about beheadings, suicide bombings, rapes, and other atrocities. He concludes by telling the Muslims to leave the country.

Now, my personal opinion is that ALL protests are stupid and useless. They're events designed to make people feel good about something, and bad about something else. They're for the powerless to feel like they're powerful. They can also turn into riots, in which the powerless become dangerously powerful.

That Muslims protested the cartoon means nothing to me. Neither do protests against nuclear power, taxes, gay rights, abortion rights, something stupid somebody said, or anything mean anything to me. I am not impressed with protests. A waste of time.

I was concerned, however, with the email's hateful sentiment. In the past I should have ignored it, filing it away with other emails. This time I felt obliged to speak out and sent a return email explaining why I believed the email was not only hateful, but went against everything Jesus taught. God does not want his creation fighting with itself. And as to complaining about the behavior of Muslims, I found myself complaining about the behavior of fellow Christians. For every atrocity committed in the name of Islam there has been an atrocity committed in the name of Christianity. We are not without our own guilt.

I sent the email and soon received a response. The person was thankful for being reminded of what is true and what is right. Perhaps they are through forwarding such hatred. I hope so. Perhaps one day they will respond to whoever sends them the emails and another link in the chain of hatred will be broken. But I am not pleased with myself.

The world is so full of hatred and strife. It spills out like water being poured from a bucket. When it strikes the hard pavement it splashes, reaching even those who want nothing to do with it. Without realizing it, we who wish to be like God find ourselves sullied by petty jealousies, hatreds, and the like. We begin to criticize those who do no worse than ourselves. Our eyes go blind to our own sins and we worsen ourselves by embracing powerful emotions of violence and hatred.

I can pretend to others, and perhaps they may even be fooled. But I cannot truly fool myself. In my heart of hearts I know I am no better than those I try to correct. And certainly God knows the truth.

Romans (chapter seven) Revised Standard Version

[7] When then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I should not have known sin. I should not have knwn what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."

[8] But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment, wrought in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead.

[9] I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died;

[10] the very commandment which promised life proved to be death to me.

[11] For sink, finding opportunity in the commandment, deceived me and by it killed me.

[12] So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.

[13] Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

[14] We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold under sin.

[15] I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

[16] Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good.

[17] So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me.

[18] For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.

[19] For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.

[20] Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me.

...

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

The Trumpet Blows For Each of Us

I have often written about how my grandmother was a writer. Many of her works were published in newspapers and certain magazines. I do not believe she was ever paid. She also self-published a book of poems, and was part of at least two collaborations in which a writers' group self-published a book.

What I had forgotten is that my mother also writes, and has also been published in newspapers and magazines, and also had collaborated with other writers to self-publish. I just came across a book in which my mother's poem leads the way.

When I hear the Trumpet Call
by Helen Delger

Oftentimes I wonder where I will be when I hear the trumpet call.
Will it be in spring when flowers bloom
Or when leaves turn in fall?
Will it sound for me in summer,
Or in winter when cold winds blow?
No matter what the season, when I hear the call I will go.
I just hope that I will be ready to take that chariot ride
To cross over into His kingdom with Jesus by my side.
There to meet all my loved ones who made the journey long ago.
I await a glorious reunion with all the saints I know.
We will be clothed in garments beautiful,
Heavenly angels will sing.
Until joy will fill our hearts when our spirits then take wing.
A heavenly home awaits us there, no down payment is due.
The precious blood of Jesus has paid the price for you.
I still have tasks on Earth to do;
It is not for me to name the date.
Until the trumpet sounds for me, I will trust in Him and wait.

My mother is now the oldest living member of our extended family. All my grandparents have gone. I have one aunt and uncle left (plus their spouses), but they are my mother's younger siblings. Everyone else is gone, including Daddy.

I suppose Mother thinks often about her time to leave. She is well past eighty now. Gone are the days of youth when eternity was that far away. Now it's near the doorstep, and making even the most stoic consider what lays ahead.

We were not big into church when I was young. I do recall attending a Lutheran Church when I was five. But when we moved away Daddy quit going to church. Mother tried to bring us to various churches in the area, but we never continued for long. First Mother would quit going. Then she would quit bringing us. Once, two of my sisters and I were kicked out. We were teenagers. Need I say more?

But I knew God was important. I just didn't know who he was. To me, I visualized him as an old man with a beard - eager to catch me in a wrong so he could send me to Hell. I resolved to live a perfect life.

My definition of perfection was according to my own rules, which were flexible to suit occasions. Thus, I maintained my self-deception for years. Until I was nineteen. Not long before the morning of my nineteenth birthday I had done something which violated my person rules for right and wrong. There was no rationalizing it away. I was haunted. God had me now. I had "sinned". And I was caught. So on the morning of my nineteenth birthday I fell to my knees in the darkness of 4:00 a.m. and asked for a miracle. I asked for forgiveness. It was a Saturday.

For some reason, the message of forgiveness had never come to me. I must have heard it. It just never registered. All I knew of God was that he was demanding to the impossible degree. He wanted to send people to Hell.

The following day I went to church with my brother and heard and understood for the first time that God forgives. It was such a relief! And then I went right back into my self-righteous ways. Until I found myself in the same predicament three years later.

The message of God's forgiveness is preached all over the world. Yet the message most receive is that God is unforgiving, demanding, hard, old, unfair, uncaring, and a host of other horrible things. For this reason many people deny God, or even doubt he can exist. For even the most hardened person eventually must conclude that there can be no such God.

How do we make people understand that God forgives? I struggled with that for a long time. I have now discovered the answer.

We can't.

That is God's job, and he will do it in his own way, and in his own time, with each person individually. For some that means learning it as a child. Others must wait until they are much older. Even old, perhaps. To us that may seem unfair, but God is not unfair in anything he does. He not only factors in everything about a person when deciding what and when to do something, but he factors in everything about everyone and everything else, too.

Our job is to trust. Trust in God. Trust in his forgiveness. Trust in his mercy. Trust in his answers to prayer. Trust that he cares. Trust that all he has said is true and will come to pass. Trusting is how we run the race. It's how we finish the race.

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." Hebrews 10:36-38 New King James

Ephesians (chapter six) New King James Version

[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

[11] Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

[12] For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

[13] Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (emphasis mine)

[14] Stand therefore, having girded yo waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

[15] and having shod your feet with the preparation of hte gospel of peace;

[16] above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one.

[17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

[18] praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints -

I understand that some readers object to my calling Jesus, God - and vice versa. But there is only one God, people. Just the one. So no matter what name you call him, he is still God. Call him what you are used to calling him. He will hear, I am sure. Call in in the honesty of your heart, and he will hear. I do not doubt that at all. God forgives. Not because he doesn't care about the sin, but because he cares more about you and me. Before he even created the world he made it possible for all of us to be forgiven for the sins we had yet to commit. My Bible says he did that by becoming Jesus Christ. You call him what you will. But do accept that God is offering you forgiveness, and a future.

I Am Weak and Foolish

Did not read my scripture this morning. In fact, I don't believe I read it yesterday, either.

Been paging through the New Testament looking for a specific verse which has troubled my mind since I first read it back in the 1970s. Hadn't been able to find it, even using Strong's Concordance. Found it. At last. I was beginning to think I was remembering something that wasn't there. But here it is:

James (chapter three) Revised Standard Version

[1] Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.

[2] For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

The reason I couldn't find it is because my Strong's Concordance is based on the King James Version, which I do not regularly read. I do read the New King James Version, but that has been modernized, too. This is how it reads in the King James Version.

[1] My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall received the greater condemnation.

[2] For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

By speaking out publicly, I make myself to be a teacher, and thus bring myself under the "stricture judgment", and "greater condemnation".

This bothers me. Often. But I so want people to know that God loves them. That God forgives them. That God wishes to talk and live with them.

To hear many television preachers these days one would get the impression that God insists on significant life changes in order to receive his love and forgiveness. But this just is not so.

Romans (chapter five) New King James Version

[5] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

[6] For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

[7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

[8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

[9] Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

And here it is in the King James Version.

[5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

[6] For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

[7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

[9] Much more than, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

It bothers me that I am not a stalwart of faith. I am not someone to whom others can look and say, "I wish I were at least like him." No. Anyone who aspires to be like me has low aspirations indeed. My consolation comes from 1 Corinthians.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the pwoer of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than me. For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in th epresence of God. He is teh source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Revised Standard Version

To Be Known For Who We Are

I tend to look for hypocrisy within myself. Generally, I can find it with little effort. But isn't that what we all do? Look or hypocrisy in someone who stands up and speaks about God as loving and forgiving? We don't particularly like to see people achieve when it comes to faith. It's an ugly truth, but the truth is - it is true. We are very jealous of each other, and afraid others are making it while we are falling again and again. Our instincts all tell us that if anyone else can do it, we can. So when we don't we have no one to blame but ourselves. And so we look for fault in others.

My friend, Stephen, knew me better than anyone else, including my family. My brother insists he knows me well, but he's seldom correct when he tries to 'get inside my head'. Even Stephen wasn't right all the time, although he understood me best.

Stephen liked to try and trip me up with silly questions to which the answer had no relevant meaning. Basically, they were the "how many angels do you say can dance on the head of a pin" sort. I remember him tossing out this possibility to me.

Suppose you saw two men drowning. One was a Christian and the other wasn't. Who would you save first?

I found the question stupid and told him so, but he wanted an answer. I gave him a two-part answer. First, I would try to save whoever was closest first. Second, I can't swim well enough to save anyone.

It was only later that I realized that there would be absolutely no way I would know who was a Christian and who wasn't. The best I could do was guess. For just as even Stephen couldn't know all of my heart, neither can I know anyone else's. I can guess based on visible evidence, but I can be wrong. Some phonies are so good at what they do even the wisest servant of God may be fooled. What chance have I against such wiles? And some legitimate servants of God are still quite imperfect. Look at me. I believe I am God's servant, but I am filled with so many faults and such that many look at me and don't see it at all. We never really know.

How many times have you seen close friends and relatives interviewed after someone has committed some horrible atrocity? Usually it's rape, murder, or child molestation. Or even a combination of all three. Friends, siblings, parents, spouses, fiances, children, and others all stand in amazement. This is not the person they knew. And yet it was. They just never saw it. Some will get angry and defensive, as if they feel they are being judged for their lack of sight. In a way they are, but the judgment is hardly fair. We cannot see into each other's hearts. We can only guess.

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:16-18 New King James Version

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:14-15 New King James Version

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LOD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward apeparance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 New King James Version

The Ultimate Sorrow

We just finished speaking with a neighbor from across the street. His son, who was living with his first wife, committed suicide some time Monday evening or Tuesday morning. I felt sick. Which is nothing compared to what he (and his ex-wife) are feeling. I can imagine no worse feeling than losing a child to death - by any means.

It is as I remind myself so often: I don't have to look far to find people who would love to trade problems with me.

How do I ease such pain? I held him when he told me, and I held him again when we parted. But that comfort is like being given a few coins to pay off your house. The tears of this are going to stain his life henceforth. Hopefully, he will find strength in the love he shares with his surviving children.

It turns out this was not the boy's first attempt. He has been in and out of hospitals to be treated for his depression, and other issues. The help just didn't take. I do not know how things are after death. What I do know is God loves children. We are all children to him, but those we call children seem to keep a special place in God's heart. I pray that this little boy has found peace there at last. Peace that he never could find while here.

Oh, that we could help each other find peace.

Mark (chapter ten) New King James Version

[13] Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

[14] But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

[15] Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not received the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

[16] And he took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Hurting People

I tend to be of the self-pitying sort. That's nothing to be proud of, of course. It's just true. I look at my life, the mistakes I've made, the things which just haven't worked out, and I feel bad about how things are. Even so, I understand that a good number of the things that I'm unhappy about are, in fact, my own doing.

A lot of misery is our own doing. It's called sowing and reaping. I waste my money and then have nothing to fall back on in times of crises. I quit exercising and eat heavy meals, so I got fat. I'm fat, so I have poor health. These are things I could have prevented before they even happened. They're my fault.

The world's financial collapse is not my fault, however. It was not my fault my company was sold, nor that the new ownership decided to dump half the staff. Floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes are not my fault. A lot of misery just happens.

Misery comes to so many people. When I was completely separated from other people my feelings of self-pity grew. Now, having met so many people on-line, I have come to realize that I hardly have a monopoly on suffering. In fact, there are untold numbers who would just love to trade problems with me. I have my spouse and my son. They are neither sick, dying, or gone. I have met people on-line who can no longer say that.

I have met people who are in danger of having their marriage revoked. Nothing I have to deal with. Yet.

There are people with such broken hearts it makes me seem cheerful on my worst day.

There are people who think so little of themselves they make me seem a tower of strength and confidence.

Hurting people. All around the world. I feel for them. It's made all the worse in that there is so so little I can do. All I know to do is love them. Care about them. Really care, I mean. Not this phoney, yeah I care, now get lost kind of thing. I have cried over some. But I can't help. I've no money for those who need that. I cannot raise the dead nor heal the sick. I cannot make anyone other than myself love another person. I am nearly helpless.

All I can think to do is point. Not a finger of condemnation and destruction, but of hope and inner release. I point to God, who I call Jesus. I realize most people do not like the idea that Jesus is God. They use a different name. That is fine. There is only one God. What we call him is less important than that we acknowledge him. The real him, and not a figment of our imagination.

Matthew (chapter eleven) New King James Version

[27] All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the ones to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

[28] Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

[29] Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

[30] For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

If you are troubled in heart, seek out God. The real God. Call him by whatever name you will. Just ask him if he will come talk with you, and live in your heart. Then begin to read God's holy word. You will find him.

Matthew (chapter seven) New King James Version

[7] Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knowck, and it will be opened to you.

[8] For everyone who asks receives, adn he who seeks finds, adn to him to knocks it ill be opened.

[9] Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

[10] Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?

[11] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gives to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

[12] Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the Prophets.

Look for the answer. God always answers, but often in ways we do not understand until a lot of time has passed. So don't go thinking God has ignored you. More likely, you have not been paying attention to God. Don't presume to know how God will answer your prayer. Just know that he will.

Not on Our Own

Had my morning reading today. Read Luke Chapter Twenty-One. Also read fifty verses from the Quran. It began with the widow's offering and finished with an admonition to watch. (My daily reading is done with the Revised Standard Version Bible.)

[1] He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury;

[2] and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins.

[3] And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them;

[4] for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had."

That is a great passage. And it is not a parable, either. It really happened. Someone gave everything they had. I've never even come close to that.

[34] "But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare;

[35] for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.

[36] But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these thintgs that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man."

When I first became a Christian, way back in August of 1975, I would read these passages and feel so good. Oh, I knew I would give my last two coins if I had the chance. What a stupid thing to say. Of course, I never did.

I also was so pleased with myself because I didn't get drunk, and I wasn't caught up in the cares of the world. Didn't even know what dissipation meant.

What I realize now is that I had accepted forgiveness, but then launched out on my own. My pride had not truly been broken. Only slightly humbled as I had come to realize I was not so perfect as I thought. But having received forgiveness I seem to have returned to a sense of self-righteousness. Paul wrote of this in Galatians, Chapter Three. (New King James Version)

[1] O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

[2] This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

[3] Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

It is almost a paradox, isn't it? It's all about faith. And yet our behavior says so much.

Like small children, we get confused over things. We see the evidence of faith and the imitation of faith and we can't always tell them apart. There is real butter. There is margarine. There is real wood. There is veneer. There is the real diamond. There is the piece of glass.

We do this with others, but mostly we do it with ourselves. We don't like to admit when we're phony. We don't like being hypocrites. We don't want to walk around with our heads bowed in shame.

God doesn't want us walking around with heads bowed in shame all the time either. But he does want us to acknowledge when we're being phony and hypocritical. By faith we have been saved, and so we can hold our heads up by reason of faith. Not self-righteousness. We have none - except in our own eyes.

We think to please God, and so we undertake self-assigned adventures and quests to destroy God's enemies, not realize we have set ourselves against God in the process.

Ezekiel (chapter eighteen) New King James Version

[23] "Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

[24] But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

[25] Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?

[26] When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.

[27] Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive.

[28] Because he considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

[29] Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?

[30] Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.

[31] Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?

[32] For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!"

God does not want us dead, so don't be killing yourself. God does not want others dead, so don't be killing others.

It comes down to faith, people. Faith in God. Faith in God to take care of himself and his reputation. We do not need to fight for God.

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." John 18:36-37 New King James Version

I think we would all do so much better if we could just remember that God does not want us hating, hurting, killing, and otherwise oppressing each other. But we try to do it on our own all the time. And then we get it wrong.

It's Easy to Say Anything

What is prayer but talking to God? But do you admit that sometimes it is easier to talk about talking with God than it is to actually talk to him? It is easier to tell others to talk with God than to talk with him ourselves? How easy it is to be a hypocrite.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners complete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air; but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Revised Standard Version

Preaching to others but failing to practice what one preaches. I suppose at times we are all guilty of it. And in today's modern world of fast communication it becomes nigh impossible for public figures to hide any of their hypocrisy. I confess mine, sometimes, because I need the reminders of my imperfections. I need the reminder that I am not a lesbian, so that when I speak (write) with my lesbian friends I am aware that seemingly nothing phrases to me may stir feelings of condescension, resentment, abandonment, judgment, or something else. The same is true when I speak with any woman, or Muslims, or Jews, or some other group to which I have not ever belonged.

I struggle with myself. Where I am in my life, and what I am before God. Where am I going, and why? Who am I really? Why is it that I, a man, should find myself so identifying with women who call themselves lesbians? Why do I ache more for their heartaches, their rejections, their obstacles, than those of others who are "more like me"? I don't understand it, but my caring is real. They are real.

And no two are the same. I think that can be the beautify of meeting new people, be they lesbian, Christian, Mormon, Muslim, Athiest, black, white, Australian, Egyptian, Iranian, or whatever. There are so many things which are common to all of us. We share a lot of the same fears and hurts, no matter where in this world we live, or what we look like, or how we make our way. And yet despite all of this commonality, no two of us are the same. When you think of all of the billions of people on this plant that's quite impressive. Far more than the snowflake theory. Even the hairs on our heads are numbered.

I don't read my Bible everyday. Sometimes I forget. Sometimes I forget and then remember later, but still choose not to read it. Sometimes I do. Did read it this morning. Read in Luke about "rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar, and to God the things that are God's". Read about hypocrisy, too. Christ made frequent warnings about hypocrisy. Probably because it is so easy to fall into. It's almost like walking down an old country road. You really can't do it without getting dust on your feet.

When I was young and first walking life as a Christian I marved at the Apostle Paul. He he such a wonderful relationship with God. He knew so many things. But in growing older I think I have learned something about "praying without ceasing". What it means.

There is formal prayer, often done on the knees or in some other position demonstrating humility before God's majesty. Then there is desperate prayer, when time is of the essence and the heart is crying out for help. There is casual prayer, when the conversation with God is about everyday things. And then there is communal prayer. This is difficult to describe, but sometimes I feel it is what I have with God. It's just the awareness that he is there. There is no need to bow in reverence, or cry out for deliverance, or request this or that, or even talk at all. Just an awareness that he is there. Sometimes I don't talk to my spouse or son, but am comforted by the fact I know they are here. And when they speak to me I hear right off. (Usually.) I think that's praying without ceasing. Keeping God conscious in our thoughts.

Perhaps if we were to all work on doing that we would be less concerned with criticizing women who wish to marry a woman, or hating someone for raising taxes, cutting benefits, or calling God by a name we do not use. Perhaps, if we were to keep God's presence in our lives, we would find ourselves loving more people than we have ever loved before. We might not understand why we love these people, but we would most definitely be happier for it.

There are so many wonderful people to get to know. It's going to take an eternity just to make our introductions.

God's Eyes

The world is filled with broken people. I don't mean just because of the world's economic collapse. Millions of people are suffering due to finances, but that is not what I mean by being broken. Broken people are usually damaged at a young age, not adults. People who are lucky enough to make it to adulthood without being broken generally never have to worry. It's when we are young that we break. And I think we're breaking more young people than ever before.

How do we break people? By teaching them lies about what is important, who is important, and how to be important. We teach young girls that they have to have the right curves in the right proportions in the right places or they are homely, ugly, useless, and unwanted. We teach boys that they must be virile, strong, athletic, and financially well off or they are also useless, disgusting, and without any value.

The sad thing is that, because young people trust their parents, teachers, and other adults, they believe the lies. So when they are faced with the fact that they are not "pretty", athletic, ever going to be rich, they see themselves as failures. We teach most people that they are failures, and by the time they leave home they are convinced of it. And it's not just our own children we teach. We teach everyone.

Children don't just listen to what we tell them. They also watch how we live our lives. We tell them people are most important, and then they watch us ignore people in favor of money. We tell them God loves everyone, and then they hear us rail against the Democrats because they support abortion, or the gays, or some other group. We tell them America is a country of freedom, and then they watch as we support new laws to take away other people's liberty. We tell them we trust God, and they watch us panic and forget to even mention God when things get rough. We don't even wait for his response when we bother to ask. We try to do it all on our own.

So why shouldn't they break when they see that everything we truly hold dear in our lives are the things they are not?

I used to selfishly think I was in the minority, feeling worthless, useless, and completely without value because I am not pretty, wealthy, famous, charismatic, or a host of other things. But on-line I have met so many who suffer as much - or more - as me. My heart breaks for these people because - from the outside - I find I can see enough of what is inside them to know they are truly beautiful people. But they don't see it. They don't believe it when I tell them it is so. They've been lied to too many times by too many people. Like me, they are broken, and my efforts to help them all seem to fail.

I look at these people who are hurting so bad and wonder how anyone could possibly believe God does not love them. There's a gentleness about them. They are the poor in spirit.

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LOD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 New King James

We don't even try to see with God's eyes anymore.

Matthew (chapter five) New King James

[3] Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[4] Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

[5] Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

[6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

[7] Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

[8] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

[9] Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

[10] Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.