Friday, August 14, 2009
God is not mad at you!!
Here I am again. I am so completely fed up with religion. Not my relationship with Jesus, just religion. Rules, laws, self imposed unreasonable expectation, control and manipulation....religion. I can see how much it has injured people. I can see how much we injure one another! That was never His intent. God doesn't love that way. God isn't waiting on the other side of that bush with a baseball bat ready to let you have it. He really had to remind me of that again today. He has to remind me of that often. I can go there so easily. I come before Him cowering and fearful ready for a good slap down. I really think most of us can. I tend forget about my loving relationship with Him and go back to trying to "perform" to meet what I think are His expectations. I think I do that with others at times too. Both in expectation of them and of myself.
Do you want to please God? Love Him, that is all. Really. Not rocket science. In loving him your motives will be altered. In loving Him it becomes about Him, not you. You very naturally won't want to do anything that would hurt Him or cause Him disappointment. He knows that heart and that is the heart that pleases His!
Does God get disappointed with us? Yes. Is He mad at times? Yes....not at his children, but at our behavior. We can make him downright furious. Do your kids make you mad? Mine do! Do I toss them away when they anger me? No, they are my kids! I may not like what they do, but I love them.
Come boldly before the throne! Come like a child, not an enemy. Come expecting His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness!
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
If someone came before me with an attitude like, "I know you are a harsh person and not a loving individual so I really don't expect much from you, but would you get me out of this tight spot I am in?", how do you think I'd feel? How would you feel? How do you think the heart of God feels when we come to Him like that? I think He feels hurt and completely misunderstood.
God is not mad at you! He is not mad at me. He may be hurt about some of the choices we make, but understand my friend that deeply, deeply loves you.
Galatians 5
Christian Liberty 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,[a] and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
More Than A Conqueror
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Rain
Seems it never rains in Southern California
Seems I've often heard that kind of talk before
It never rains in California
But girl, don't they warn ya
It pours man it pours
I never have been a big fan of rain. I don't know if it comes from being raised mostly in a very sunny place or what. In the past I have seen rain as dark, depressing and lonely. My association with it probably comes from one of the most difficult, yet amazing times of my life, spent in the Seattle area many years ago. It was a difficult time in my life, but also one of the most intimate times I have ever experienced with God. It rained for for almost two months solid when we moved there. It was drenched outside, and it seemed a cloud hung over me while I was indoor as well. It was a dark time and a dark place but God met me there. He showed me during that time that He would never leave me and our relationship transformed into something very personal and very real. He was in my every moment and I learned that the world can be falling apart around you and you can still have all you need....in Him. I learned a deep dependence on God that I had never known before. Those years were very difficult, but they were also a very glorious time in my life.
Eventually the sun came back. I had my doubts that it would at that time, but thankfully it did. It had been dark for so long and I had learned to function in that state. When the sun appeared I staggered back into the light and struggled to adjust my vision to the bright light. I eventually got the color back in my face and the bounce back in my step. I was grateful for the sun but even more grateful for the lessons I learned in the rain. I thought maybe that might be the last time that kind of rain came into my life. I hoped so anyway. As much as I enjoyed the close fellowship with God during that time it was a period of time that I did not want to repeat. However, we do live in an imperfect world and rain will come from time to time.
I think you can look at rain one of two ways. Rain does bring darkness, but it also brings refreshment. Rain can keep you inside alone and isolated or you can choose to go outside and dance in the rain anyway. Rain can make you sleepy and you will have to rest, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. When the rain comes you will get wet, but you will get clean too!
I recently have had a time of rain in my life. This one has lasted for a good while. I can see the sun starting to peek through the clouds. Again He has met me during this time. Even if sometimes it was so stormy that it was hard to see Him I could feel His presence. I know that I will look back on this season of rain and take away from it some good things.
Matthew 5:45:45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
Heavenly Father I lift up anyone who might be reading this that is hoping the rain will go away and I ask you to meet them there and help them to embrace the truths you will bring to them during this time. Put your arms around them and bring them comfort and strength and whisper hope into their ears like you have for me. I give you Praise for the rain. In Jesus name, Amen.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Altruistic Machine
You know, I really like that I can sit here at my computer and write what ever I want and no one is going to break my front door down and haul me off to jail. I know you probably think that scenario is a bit of a stretch, but if we continue going in the direction we are going, it might not be that far off. Now that is an ominous prediction and a scary thought for the average American. Probably something someone would make a movie about right? We are after all the "entertainment nation" and we tend to think in those terms. I hate to burst your bubble, but when you start getting rid of self government and start allowing the government to dictate more and more law, unchecked and uncontrolled by the people, you are steadily making progress in that direction. Did you know that in Illinois they passed a law, in the dead of night I might add, making it a requirement for you to be fingerprinted when you sell your home in that state? They did this in October I believe when we were all busy watching election news and caught up in all that drama. http://cbs2chicago.com/local/Mike.Puccinelli.fingerprint.2.957819.html
So to the title of my rant. The problem with allowing the government to step in and commit what they term altruism is that they always want something back. That is usually your money and your liberty. Altruism is the deliberate pursuit of the interests or welfare of others or the public interest. It sounds pretty enduring, but you have to read between the lines where government is concerned. Government is an institution or a machine, not a person with feelings or insight, nor is it a god. When altruism is handed to the government it is ultimately mishandled and used for gain or control. Altruism should function solely in the private sector among individuals without selfish ambition. It works best in my opinion and is a commandment of the Bible for the christian church.
James 1:27:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
The problem with The Bailout or any bailout by the government is that it lacks charity. There is no such thing as a free ride in a worldly sense. There is only one free thing and it cost the One who gave it dearly and it is not of this world. There is only one true charity and it comes from the heart of one who has surrendered his heart to God and is allowing His spirit to freely flow through him. These individuals won't raise your taxes or start governing your life. They consider helping an individual a divine calling. If they are truly motivated by charity from God their ambition is only to please Him by serving others. It is a pure motivation and no matter how hard and jaded you might consider yourself to be, there truly are people like this.
We don't need a bailout from a cruel heartless self interested machine. Our forefathers escaped monarchies that functioned even more cruelly and designed our government to provide maximum liberty without sacrificing morality in the process. We need to understand our history as a people. Instead we are a dumbed down generation content to fill our bellies and our minds with junk. I do pray that America wakes up, but I also understand that much must occur before my Savior returns. So I will write about what is right, whilst knowing it might all be in vain. My only hope is that many come to know Him before that day comes. His is the ultimate bailout plan and the only one with a pure Heart for you and me.
God bless you.
So to the title of my rant. The problem with allowing the government to step in and commit what they term altruism is that they always want something back. That is usually your money and your liberty. Altruism is the deliberate pursuit of the interests or welfare of others or the public interest. It sounds pretty enduring, but you have to read between the lines where government is concerned. Government is an institution or a machine, not a person with feelings or insight, nor is it a god. When altruism is handed to the government it is ultimately mishandled and used for gain or control. Altruism should function solely in the private sector among individuals without selfish ambition. It works best in my opinion and is a commandment of the Bible for the christian church.
James 1:27:27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
The problem with The Bailout or any bailout by the government is that it lacks charity. There is no such thing as a free ride in a worldly sense. There is only one free thing and it cost the One who gave it dearly and it is not of this world. There is only one true charity and it comes from the heart of one who has surrendered his heart to God and is allowing His spirit to freely flow through him. These individuals won't raise your taxes or start governing your life. They consider helping an individual a divine calling. If they are truly motivated by charity from God their ambition is only to please Him by serving others. It is a pure motivation and no matter how hard and jaded you might consider yourself to be, there truly are people like this.
We don't need a bailout from a cruel heartless self interested machine. Our forefathers escaped monarchies that functioned even more cruelly and designed our government to provide maximum liberty without sacrificing morality in the process. We need to understand our history as a people. Instead we are a dumbed down generation content to fill our bellies and our minds with junk. I do pray that America wakes up, but I also understand that much must occur before my Savior returns. So I will write about what is right, whilst knowing it might all be in vain. My only hope is that many come to know Him before that day comes. His is the ultimate bailout plan and the only one with a pure Heart for you and me.
God bless you.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Article by Vox Day, Christian Libertarian
He says it so much better than I do. Check it out.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34361
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34361
Friday, March 6, 2009
Christians Leaning Libertarian- Where The Rubber Meets The Road
Looking back on the politics of the past few decades I have seen a lot of desire on the part of the right and the left to coerce, control and legislate everything. If it moves tax it, make a law about it and challenge it in court. Better yet, sue it! It is so out of control it is amazing to me that people haven't noticed this before, especially christian believers. Personal responsibility has gone out the window. Personal freedom is not far behind. Everyone wants to control everyone else and you must agree with and tolerate everyone else's choices and beliefs. You are not allowed to disagree or have an oposing opinion. I threw a plastic bottle away the other day and the eco-police jumped all over me. I was being a bad comrad apparently. Yes, I should recycle, but chill out already.
If Christ died for our liberty who are we to try and control everyone else? Is our time better spent showing the love of Christ to others and if they are willing leading them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ so the the Holy Spirit may do the work of truth, healing and maturation in their lives? Or do we need congress for that? Can not God bring change in a person's life or do we need to legislate it? Is this not law, the very thing Christ fulfilled in His death on the cross? Does personal conviction come from the Holy Spirit or from a court room? You can convict someone of a crime and send them to jail, but you can not force them to believe as you do. Real change is of the heart and the work of the Holy Spirit, not from coercion.
We do need laws, but only to protect life and our liberty. The role of government should be very limited. What about Abortion you ask? This is where I would differ with my fellow libertarians, but not really if the issue is closely examined. Abortion is the removal and murder of an unborn child. The libertarian, who actually believes and lives by the libertarian philosophy, will adhere to the following; No person has the right to initiate violence on another person. Abortion is violence and murder. The rights of the unborn child do need to be protected, just as any other human being. Don't give me the excuse that it is just a fetus and not a person. Really, stop with the rationalizing. Fetus is a Latin word meaning “young child” or “young one.” It does not mean piece of throbbing flesh in the uterus. I actually had someone tell me that when I lost my first child, "it was just a piece of flesh", they meant it in a comforting way, ok, but my heart knew differently. Someone had died and I was very painfully aware of my loss. So libertarians, lets protect the right to life and liberty of our "young ones" as any other citizen.
Coercion is the use of force or threat to bring about an act or choice. You see many on the right and much more on the left using coercive methods such as taxation, licensing, prohibation, eminent domain and price controls to force people to comply with their agendas. This was not as our founding fathers intended and goes against the very grain of our priciples as a nation.
The constitution used priciples rooted in Biblical truth. That Biblical truth brought about freedom in the deepest sense of the word. It is and has been the most unique and successful form of government ever employed. Don't fool yourself into thinking that our government still functions in that manner however. We have steadily and quietly been moving from that pure form of government from the turn of the century.
Socialism has a right and a left leg and though that right leg has been dragging a bit, it is steadily making ground in our country. As christians and libertarians we have been called to a unique position in society. We are to communicate respect towards our fellow human beings and at the same time love others as Christ did so that they may understand the vastness of God's love for them. This is where the rubber meets the road folks.
Christian Libertarianism
http://www.lewrockwell.com/yates/yates87.html
Interesting reading about the faith of our founding fathers:
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBprinterfriendly.asp?id=8755
On Socialism:
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/009/socialism.htm
On Tolerance:
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/tolerance.htm
If Christ died for our liberty who are we to try and control everyone else? Is our time better spent showing the love of Christ to others and if they are willing leading them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ so the the Holy Spirit may do the work of truth, healing and maturation in their lives? Or do we need congress for that? Can not God bring change in a person's life or do we need to legislate it? Is this not law, the very thing Christ fulfilled in His death on the cross? Does personal conviction come from the Holy Spirit or from a court room? You can convict someone of a crime and send them to jail, but you can not force them to believe as you do. Real change is of the heart and the work of the Holy Spirit, not from coercion.
We do need laws, but only to protect life and our liberty. The role of government should be very limited. What about Abortion you ask? This is where I would differ with my fellow libertarians, but not really if the issue is closely examined. Abortion is the removal and murder of an unborn child. The libertarian, who actually believes and lives by the libertarian philosophy, will adhere to the following; No person has the right to initiate violence on another person. Abortion is violence and murder. The rights of the unborn child do need to be protected, just as any other human being. Don't give me the excuse that it is just a fetus and not a person. Really, stop with the rationalizing. Fetus is a Latin word meaning “young child” or “young one.” It does not mean piece of throbbing flesh in the uterus. I actually had someone tell me that when I lost my first child, "it was just a piece of flesh", they meant it in a comforting way, ok, but my heart knew differently. Someone had died and I was very painfully aware of my loss. So libertarians, lets protect the right to life and liberty of our "young ones" as any other citizen.
Coercion is the use of force or threat to bring about an act or choice. You see many on the right and much more on the left using coercive methods such as taxation, licensing, prohibation, eminent domain and price controls to force people to comply with their agendas. This was not as our founding fathers intended and goes against the very grain of our priciples as a nation.
The constitution used priciples rooted in Biblical truth. That Biblical truth brought about freedom in the deepest sense of the word. It is and has been the most unique and successful form of government ever employed. Don't fool yourself into thinking that our government still functions in that manner however. We have steadily and quietly been moving from that pure form of government from the turn of the century.
Socialism has a right and a left leg and though that right leg has been dragging a bit, it is steadily making ground in our country. As christians and libertarians we have been called to a unique position in society. We are to communicate respect towards our fellow human beings and at the same time love others as Christ did so that they may understand the vastness of God's love for them. This is where the rubber meets the road folks.
Christian Libertarianism
http://www.lewrockwell.com/yates/yates87.html
Interesting reading about the faith of our founding fathers:
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBprinterfriendly.asp?id=8755
On Socialism:
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/009/socialism.htm
On Tolerance:
http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/007/tolerance.htm
Thursday, March 5, 2009
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