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
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The War On Prosperity
President Obama has declared war on the free market place. Well, come on, if you paid attention when the man was campaigning, you wouldn't be surprised. Maybe you are not surprised, I'm not. I am amazed at people's astonishment over what is happening! Did they get so swept up in "Obama worship" that they missed "redistribution of wealth"?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iivL4c_3pck The man said those words! This is what we asked for....and this is what we are getting.
I keep hearing about the "evil companies". Does anyone get that these companies provide jobs for working Americans? How many roads and bridges need repair in America? Are all of us going to repair roads and bridges? What happens when those projects are done? What then?
Raising the tax rate on successful earners, capital, dividends, and all private funds is a function of President Obama’s socialist vision. The fruit of this vision will destroy the free market place and impoverish this country. It is all ready set in motion.
There is absolutely no sense in spending money to get out of debt! Is this the change you voted for? Why did you vote the way you did? Was it so something historical would happen? Was is out of guilt? Was it because you are angry at the Republican Party or President George Bush? Or was it because Oprah said so and everyone else was? You either knew the facts or you didn't.
I am watching my freedoms go and if you are honest with yourself so are you. Now if you are a socialist you are pleased as punch right now! The wealth is being distributed for the "common good." Individual freedoms are being stripped away. http://www.aim.org/aim-column/the-obama-fairness-doctrine, http://www.lifenews.com/nat4865.html , http://lifenews.com/nat4875.html Government is getting larger and so is our debt.
Change.....be careful what you wish for.
I keep hearing about the "evil companies". Does anyone get that these companies provide jobs for working Americans? How many roads and bridges need repair in America? Are all of us going to repair roads and bridges? What happens when those projects are done? What then?
Raising the tax rate on successful earners, capital, dividends, and all private funds is a function of President Obama’s socialist vision. The fruit of this vision will destroy the free market place and impoverish this country. It is all ready set in motion.
There is absolutely no sense in spending money to get out of debt! Is this the change you voted for? Why did you vote the way you did? Was it so something historical would happen? Was is out of guilt? Was it because you are angry at the Republican Party or President George Bush? Or was it because Oprah said so and everyone else was? You either knew the facts or you didn't.
I am watching my freedoms go and if you are honest with yourself so are you. Now if you are a socialist you are pleased as punch right now! The wealth is being distributed for the "common good." Individual freedoms are being stripped away. http://www.aim.org/aim-column/the-obama-fairness-doctrine, http://www.lifenews.com/nat4865.html , http://lifenews.com/nat4875.html Government is getting larger and so is our debt.
Change.....be careful what you wish for.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The United States Of......Entertainment
All I could think this week, when I watched the news, is how much the American public reminds me of sheep. Human beings, sadly, remind me of sheep lately. This is not a compliment to the American public. It seems gone is the generation that cared enough to be informed and stand up for what they believe. Gone is a generation that thinks, reads and becomes informed. Instead we have become a nation of followers. We follow each other in a orderly line straight off the edge of a cliff. Sheep are really unintelligent animals. Sheep tend to be somewhat curious about their surroundings. This curiosity along with a lack of intelligence often leads to problems. It is not uncommon for a wandering sheep to find itself caught in a thorn bush or stuck in a hole or falling off some hillside cliff. Sheep are not capable of finding food and water on their own like other grazing animals. Sheep are unable to find their way back home even if they can clearly see their sheep fold.
I think down deep a lot of Americans think that this economic stimulus bill is wrong. Some have looked deeply enough into it to understand that a very small percentage of the bill would have any positive effect on hard working American families. Over the long haul it is going to hurt American families. Most of it is loaded with government garbage (pork) and earmarks. If we taxed every person in America that earned over $500, 000 a year at 100% it would not cover the cost of this bill. Yet, we have a president vowing to knock down half of the deficit in the first four years of his presidency. What!?! Are you kidding me?? The math doesn't work!! You CANNOT spend your way to prosperity.
People are willing to believe ANYTHING and I mean ANYTHING the man says. President Obama has won the heart and adoration of the majority of the American public. Personally, I think they have been duped by charisma, personality and inflated promises that have no possibility of coming to fruition. He has said all the right things, but if you really pay attention not a lot of it adds up. We live in a nation that worships, yes I said worship, entertainers. This is undeniable.
Tonight I was watching Glenn Beck's program on FOX News and he was interviewing Bernard Goldberg author of the new book A Slobbering Love Affair. Mr. Goldberg made the statement that we are "The United States of Entertainment." I agree with him completely. We have elevated entertainers to the positions of earthly gods. The mindlessness of the crowds and mobs that have elevated President Obama to such a level in the very same manner is staggering to me.
So, like sheep, we are looking to a shepard, President Obama, to find food for us, water for us, shelter for us and lead us back home to safety. We are naive if we think even for one minute he is our solution. If we do not stand up, take responsibility for our own choices, and do this very soon, we might very well march off the end of a cliff right with our delusional shepard. Government has never been, nor will it ever be the solution. We must be a people that think and don't just blindly follow. Government should be by the people and for the people! We need to stop being a bunch of brain dead sheep and take responsibility for our choices.....lest we be led to our slaughter.
I think down deep a lot of Americans think that this economic stimulus bill is wrong. Some have looked deeply enough into it to understand that a very small percentage of the bill would have any positive effect on hard working American families. Over the long haul it is going to hurt American families. Most of it is loaded with government garbage (pork) and earmarks. If we taxed every person in America that earned over $500, 000 a year at 100% it would not cover the cost of this bill. Yet, we have a president vowing to knock down half of the deficit in the first four years of his presidency. What!?! Are you kidding me?? The math doesn't work!! You CANNOT spend your way to prosperity.
People are willing to believe ANYTHING and I mean ANYTHING the man says. President Obama has won the heart and adoration of the majority of the American public. Personally, I think they have been duped by charisma, personality and inflated promises that have no possibility of coming to fruition. He has said all the right things, but if you really pay attention not a lot of it adds up. We live in a nation that worships, yes I said worship, entertainers. This is undeniable.
Tonight I was watching Glenn Beck's program on FOX News and he was interviewing Bernard Goldberg author of the new book A Slobbering Love Affair. Mr. Goldberg made the statement that we are "The United States of Entertainment." I agree with him completely. We have elevated entertainers to the positions of earthly gods. The mindlessness of the crowds and mobs that have elevated President Obama to such a level in the very same manner is staggering to me.
So, like sheep, we are looking to a shepard, President Obama, to find food for us, water for us, shelter for us and lead us back home to safety. We are naive if we think even for one minute he is our solution. If we do not stand up, take responsibility for our own choices, and do this very soon, we might very well march off the end of a cliff right with our delusional shepard. Government has never been, nor will it ever be the solution. We must be a people that think and don't just blindly follow. Government should be by the people and for the people! We need to stop being a bunch of brain dead sheep and take responsibility for our choices.....lest we be led to our slaughter.
Monday, February 23, 2009
China Doesn't Like Us........Really
Now you might think I am a bit crazy when I say this....but I don't think China cares too much for the United States. I have suspected this for a long while. I don't think I am the only one who feels this way. Maybe it is coincidental? Maybe not. China poisoned our dogs, some think it was intentional. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3058844 Who poisons someones dog? Maybe they are not real animal lovers over there? Then toys and other products sold in the United States were being tainted. http://www.unmadeinchina.org/contStd.asp?lang=en&idPag=33 Hmmm, I don't know but something isn't right. Recently, I even heard of baby formula poisoning children. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-11-tainted-formula_N.htm. If someone did those things to me personally, I might get the impression that they don't care for me very much. Maybe it is just me.
Now please don't get me wrong. I love the Chinese people. I have nothing against the people. Frankly, I hurt for the Chinese people and the oppression they live under in a communist regime. It is the government that unsettles me and the fact that soon they may very well be "buying" our debt and in turn buying our country. Who owns your mortgage, the bank or you? When you still have a mortgage your property is not yours. Honestly it isn't. We pretend it is, but it really isn't. If you don't make your house payment the bank will take your property. It isn't truly yours until you pay for it completely. So that brings up a question, if we sell our debt to China who does the United States belong to, really? Mrs. Clinton was over there this last week negotiating the deal. Thanks Hilary. So the plan is to sell our debt to a communist country who doesn't like us.... not brilliant. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/20/clinton.china/index.html China has a long history of human rights violations under their current form of government. Just a hunch, but I don't think Hilary brought that up during her visit. Her mission was a mission of desperation.
So if you are still not convinced we are making a deal with the devil please read the following quote. Mr Luo Ping, a director-general at the China Banking Regulatory Commission said "We hate you guys. Once you start issuing $1 trillion-$2 trillion [$1,000bn-$2,000bn] . . .we know the dollar is going to depreciate, so we hate you guys but there is nothing much we can do." China is already so invested in the US economy that they really don't have much of a choice but to bail us out, but do you really want China to own the United States? I kind of feel like we are selling our souls to a government that completely opposes our way of life and our freedom.
Please, please wake up America! In the last 30-50 years we have walked around like a bunch of sheep unaware that we were being led to the slaughter. We just do what everybody else does or what is popular at the time. Our political leaders, like the pied piper, are making decisions that have the potential to "poison" our society and bring it to an end as we know it. Like the rats in The Pied Piper of Hamlin we gleefully dance to our end. It won't be dog food, toys or milk that will lead to our demise but our compromising leaders and communist owner, China.
Now please don't get me wrong. I love the Chinese people. I have nothing against the people. Frankly, I hurt for the Chinese people and the oppression they live under in a communist regime. It is the government that unsettles me and the fact that soon they may very well be "buying" our debt and in turn buying our country. Who owns your mortgage, the bank or you? When you still have a mortgage your property is not yours. Honestly it isn't. We pretend it is, but it really isn't. If you don't make your house payment the bank will take your property. It isn't truly yours until you pay for it completely. So that brings up a question, if we sell our debt to China who does the United States belong to, really? Mrs. Clinton was over there this last week negotiating the deal. Thanks Hilary. So the plan is to sell our debt to a communist country who doesn't like us.... not brilliant. http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/20/clinton.china/index.html China has a long history of human rights violations under their current form of government. Just a hunch, but I don't think Hilary brought that up during her visit. Her mission was a mission of desperation.
So if you are still not convinced we are making a deal with the devil please read the following quote. Mr Luo Ping, a director-general at the China Banking Regulatory Commission said "We hate you guys. Once you start issuing $1 trillion-$2 trillion [$1,000bn-$2,000bn] . . .we know the dollar is going to depreciate, so we hate you guys but there is nothing much we can do." China is already so invested in the US economy that they really don't have much of a choice but to bail us out, but do you really want China to own the United States? I kind of feel like we are selling our souls to a government that completely opposes our way of life and our freedom.
Please, please wake up America! In the last 30-50 years we have walked around like a bunch of sheep unaware that we were being led to the slaughter. We just do what everybody else does or what is popular at the time. Our political leaders, like the pied piper, are making decisions that have the potential to "poison" our society and bring it to an end as we know it. Like the rats in The Pied Piper of Hamlin we gleefully dance to our end. It won't be dog food, toys or milk that will lead to our demise but our compromising leaders and communist owner, China.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Where Are We Going?
Where are we going?
What is socialism?
Socialism is:
Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.
The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.
The word Socialism was first used early 1830s by the followers of Owen in Britain and those of Saint-Simon in France. By the mid 19th century socialist reformist ideas where being explored in Britain, France and The United States. The desire was to transform society from a capitalist system to a more egalitarian system where as the pursuit of personal accomplishment, personal achievement and personal success would become subordinate to values as association, community, and cooperation. These were the first community organizers. This is where redistribution of wealth got it's start! It was thought that this system would eliminate conflict, instability, and upheaval. Good intentions.
There are some serious problems with this kind of thinking. First and foremost history has shown that socialism has never been successful. You could argue this point and many do. There are different kinds of methods and types of socialism. Maybe there is one that works better than the others? Modern socialists argue these things all the time. Of course they have their own versions of success and most dictators count themselves successful if they have subdued the people. I don't think the people feel that way and most people that I know who have grown up and lived in a socialist country fought hard to leave and never want to go back. For the citizens involved I wouldn't count that as successful.
So lets take a look at what life would be like if we were living in a socialist nation. The banner will be Solidarity and Common Good. Does that sound familiar to you? Ok, lets look at Solidarity first.
Solidarity: diverse people trained to find "common ground." (The "diversity" is needed to erode the old values) The "common vision" and new values required for this planned solidarity are most effectively planted in minds through strategic propaganda and facilitated group dialogue blending opposing views into an evolving consensus.
Sounds kind of "Hitler ish" to me. Lets meet on a common ground so we can do away with old values and attain a common vision and lets spread that information through strategic propaganda and then get together and come to a consensus. Really think about what that means. Give up your old values and think like us. Do what we do. Think like we think. Believe what we believe. Evolve. Do not think for yourself. We will facilitate your thinking for you and guide you in the right direction thinking like everyone else thinks. Reminds me of a bunch of sheep with a herd mentality.
Common Good: The driving vision of solidarity. American individualism must yield to collective thinking and action. Personal "good" must yield to the "good" of the collective -- including redistribution of resources. Though it sounds compassionate, this process destroyed both Russia's middle class and personal incentive. It left everyone equally poor -- except the elite rulers who controlled everything.
Lets dissect Common Good a bit more. If you are working toward the common good it does not matter how hard you work, you will never become anymore successful than you all ready are. You will probably be poor just like everyone else. There is no need to try, improve yourself or strive for anything better. Your poverty will probably cause you to become depressed. Your creativity will dry up. Since you probably have no other moral compass except state solidarity and you have given up all those old values, your relationships will suffer as you become frustrated at all your suffering for the sake of the state. The likely result would be conflict, crime and immoral acts. Basically the former USSR, only here.
We are currently a free capitalistic society. If you work hard and pay your dues you can accomplish things that people in other countries can only dream of. Conversely, if you don't work hard, if you squander your wealth and are irresponsible you shouldn't be as successful or be compensated equally as someone who has made good choices. The kind of country that President Obama envisions is more of an egalitarian society where wealth is distributed rather than earned or worked hard for. This is very concerning. Fear is the catalyst that is being used to bring about this change and it is unfortunately becoming successful. In addition he would very much like to silence anyone who doesn't agree with his way of doing things, hence The Fairness Doctrine.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Regulation/EM368.cfm
People from across many seas have risked their lives to come here and live the American dream. Many of our forefathers have died to protect what we enjoy today. With the passing of the stimulation package today, the second one, I have to wonder how much longer we will be able to live in a free society. Large government that is controlling and managing our nation's wealth is a risky venture and one I believe will be very destructive to our nation and our way of life. We are risking our freedom and it is a gamble we might very well regret.
Ronald Reagan said:
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
and
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
God bless.
What is socialism?
Socialism is:
Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy.
The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.
The word Socialism was first used early 1830s by the followers of Owen in Britain and those of Saint-Simon in France. By the mid 19th century socialist reformist ideas where being explored in Britain, France and The United States. The desire was to transform society from a capitalist system to a more egalitarian system where as the pursuit of personal accomplishment, personal achievement and personal success would become subordinate to values as association, community, and cooperation. These were the first community organizers. This is where redistribution of wealth got it's start! It was thought that this system would eliminate conflict, instability, and upheaval. Good intentions.
There are some serious problems with this kind of thinking. First and foremost history has shown that socialism has never been successful. You could argue this point and many do. There are different kinds of methods and types of socialism. Maybe there is one that works better than the others? Modern socialists argue these things all the time. Of course they have their own versions of success and most dictators count themselves successful if they have subdued the people. I don't think the people feel that way and most people that I know who have grown up and lived in a socialist country fought hard to leave and never want to go back. For the citizens involved I wouldn't count that as successful.
So lets take a look at what life would be like if we were living in a socialist nation. The banner will be Solidarity and Common Good. Does that sound familiar to you? Ok, lets look at Solidarity first.
Solidarity: diverse people trained to find "common ground." (The "diversity" is needed to erode the old values) The "common vision" and new values required for this planned solidarity are most effectively planted in minds through strategic propaganda and facilitated group dialogue blending opposing views into an evolving consensus.
Sounds kind of "Hitler ish" to me. Lets meet on a common ground so we can do away with old values and attain a common vision and lets spread that information through strategic propaganda and then get together and come to a consensus. Really think about what that means. Give up your old values and think like us. Do what we do. Think like we think. Believe what we believe. Evolve. Do not think for yourself. We will facilitate your thinking for you and guide you in the right direction thinking like everyone else thinks. Reminds me of a bunch of sheep with a herd mentality.
Common Good: The driving vision of solidarity. American individualism must yield to collective thinking and action. Personal "good" must yield to the "good" of the collective -- including redistribution of resources. Though it sounds compassionate, this process destroyed both Russia's middle class and personal incentive. It left everyone equally poor -- except the elite rulers who controlled everything.
Lets dissect Common Good a bit more. If you are working toward the common good it does not matter how hard you work, you will never become anymore successful than you all ready are. You will probably be poor just like everyone else. There is no need to try, improve yourself or strive for anything better. Your poverty will probably cause you to become depressed. Your creativity will dry up. Since you probably have no other moral compass except state solidarity and you have given up all those old values, your relationships will suffer as you become frustrated at all your suffering for the sake of the state. The likely result would be conflict, crime and immoral acts. Basically the former USSR, only here.
We are currently a free capitalistic society. If you work hard and pay your dues you can accomplish things that people in other countries can only dream of. Conversely, if you don't work hard, if you squander your wealth and are irresponsible you shouldn't be as successful or be compensated equally as someone who has made good choices. The kind of country that President Obama envisions is more of an egalitarian society where wealth is distributed rather than earned or worked hard for. This is very concerning. Fear is the catalyst that is being used to bring about this change and it is unfortunately becoming successful. In addition he would very much like to silence anyone who doesn't agree with his way of doing things, hence The Fairness Doctrine.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Regulation/EM368.cfm
People from across many seas have risked their lives to come here and live the American dream. Many of our forefathers have died to protect what we enjoy today. With the passing of the stimulation package today, the second one, I have to wonder how much longer we will be able to live in a free society. Large government that is controlling and managing our nation's wealth is a risky venture and one I believe will be very destructive to our nation and our way of life. We are risking our freedom and it is a gamble we might very well regret.
Ronald Reagan said:
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free."
and
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
God bless.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The Son Is Visible Beyond The Smog
God has an order. Take a good look around you. You see His hand in nature. The way He designed things. Seasons, death, new life.....it is all very ordered and intentional. He is the author of it all. When we try to buck the system things go awry.
Chinese scientists this last year attempted to change the weather launching chemical filled rockets in the air. I had to chuckle a bit. Such irony. China has some of the worst chemical pollution in the world and they are trying to alter the atmosphere with more chemicals. I was talking to a friend who works in international trade and is in Beijing frequently and he told me of the dreary weeks with no sunlight over there. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23397205/ The sun is out, just not visible because of the heavy pollution. There are not any standards there to deal with pollution or chemical waste. It seems they don't even care. Those people are trying to mess with God's creation and it is biting them in the tail. I am not a staunch environmentalist and honestly I believe this global warming stuff has come a bit off the chain, but that being said I do believe we need to be good stewards of the world God has given us to live in. I believe we need to be a good steward of everything in our lives most importantly our relationship with God, then our marriages and our families.
The breakdown of the family is having a ripple effect throughout our nation that is unparalleled to anything we have ever seen. There is an intense clouding over what is right and what is wrong. It is so thick, like the smog that covers the sky in Beijing, that many people just can't see clearly anymore. Sin is easily rationalized and excused in the emotion filled smoke we have created for ourselves. We are a people living life according to our own defined order and reason. We base that order and reason on our emotions which change like the wind and are not rooted in truth. Like the pollution that covers the sky in China our own order and reason is poisonous and deadly and will lead to an untimely death. This death may be physical, spiritual or in our relationships or all of the above.
Proverbs 14:12:
There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
When we seek to usurp God's plan and order for our lives we have put ourselves in a position of little gods here on earth. We are not God. We are made in His image. We are made to worship Him. We were made for His pleasure. We were made to have relationship with Him. He took pleasure in designing us and there is way we are meant to operate and function. The owner's manual is the Bible and it isn't open to picking what you want to do and what you don't want to do. If you treated your vehicle that way it wouldn't run well or very long would it? I think I will check the oil, but I don't want to change it. I think I will throw some water in my gas tank instead of gas. Preposterous! The engineer that designed your vehicle knows exactly what will help your car to run and what actions will ultimately destroy it. He gave you instructions on what to do and wisdom is following those instructions.
There are people in our nation that seek to "redefine" that which has been designed by God. The come up with their own definition of marriage, their gender and the very gift of life. They seek to do these things to justify their own emotionally led agendas and quite frankly their sin. It is out of God's order and design. The ramifications of such choices will not send us as a nation down a good road. As believers in Jesus Christ though, we are on a different road. That is the good news. Our road leads to life. We view this place as a temporary stop on the journey and while there is work, trials and tribulation here, it is not the final destination.
Psalm 34:19:
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
God has put forth an order for living that for believers will bring blessing. We mustn't redefine what is right based on the principles of this dying world or our emotional hurt. We must submit to God first and then to the order He has put forth. This order is not there to enslave us or cause us to lose out on having fun or entertainment, but to provide a structure that will protect us and keep us in His safety. Don't let your vision be clouded. Yes, the smog is getting thick out there, but the Son hasn't gone away! He is there for you and for me.
Ephesians 6:14:14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
God bless and be encouraged!
BTW, If you have never made Jesus Christ Lord of your life and you would like to click here:
http://www.jesussaves.cc/prayer_salvation.htm
Chinese scientists this last year attempted to change the weather launching chemical filled rockets in the air. I had to chuckle a bit. Such irony. China has some of the worst chemical pollution in the world and they are trying to alter the atmosphere with more chemicals. I was talking to a friend who works in international trade and is in Beijing frequently and he told me of the dreary weeks with no sunlight over there. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23397205/ The sun is out, just not visible because of the heavy pollution. There are not any standards there to deal with pollution or chemical waste. It seems they don't even care. Those people are trying to mess with God's creation and it is biting them in the tail. I am not a staunch environmentalist and honestly I believe this global warming stuff has come a bit off the chain, but that being said I do believe we need to be good stewards of the world God has given us to live in. I believe we need to be a good steward of everything in our lives most importantly our relationship with God, then our marriages and our families.
The breakdown of the family is having a ripple effect throughout our nation that is unparalleled to anything we have ever seen. There is an intense clouding over what is right and what is wrong. It is so thick, like the smog that covers the sky in Beijing, that many people just can't see clearly anymore. Sin is easily rationalized and excused in the emotion filled smoke we have created for ourselves. We are a people living life according to our own defined order and reason. We base that order and reason on our emotions which change like the wind and are not rooted in truth. Like the pollution that covers the sky in China our own order and reason is poisonous and deadly and will lead to an untimely death. This death may be physical, spiritual or in our relationships or all of the above.
Proverbs 14:12:
There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
When we seek to usurp God's plan and order for our lives we have put ourselves in a position of little gods here on earth. We are not God. We are made in His image. We are made to worship Him. We were made for His pleasure. We were made to have relationship with Him. He took pleasure in designing us and there is way we are meant to operate and function. The owner's manual is the Bible and it isn't open to picking what you want to do and what you don't want to do. If you treated your vehicle that way it wouldn't run well or very long would it? I think I will check the oil, but I don't want to change it. I think I will throw some water in my gas tank instead of gas. Preposterous! The engineer that designed your vehicle knows exactly what will help your car to run and what actions will ultimately destroy it. He gave you instructions on what to do and wisdom is following those instructions.
There are people in our nation that seek to "redefine" that which has been designed by God. The come up with their own definition of marriage, their gender and the very gift of life. They seek to do these things to justify their own emotionally led agendas and quite frankly their sin. It is out of God's order and design. The ramifications of such choices will not send us as a nation down a good road. As believers in Jesus Christ though, we are on a different road. That is the good news. Our road leads to life. We view this place as a temporary stop on the journey and while there is work, trials and tribulation here, it is not the final destination.
Psalm 34:19:
The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
God has put forth an order for living that for believers will bring blessing. We mustn't redefine what is right based on the principles of this dying world or our emotional hurt. We must submit to God first and then to the order He has put forth. This order is not there to enslave us or cause us to lose out on having fun or entertainment, but to provide a structure that will protect us and keep us in His safety. Don't let your vision be clouded. Yes, the smog is getting thick out there, but the Son hasn't gone away! He is there for you and for me.
Ephesians 6:14:14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
God bless and be encouraged!
BTW, If you have never made Jesus Christ Lord of your life and you would like to click here:
http://www.jesussaves.cc/prayer_salvation.htm
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Reverse Sexism. Don't Be A Man Hater!
My high school aged son came home today telling me of a tendency of one of his female teachers to make statements that are derogatory to males. Some of these statements consisted of "Oh, that is just like a man, "and "Well, of course you wouldn't understand that you are just a guy" etc. etc. She would say these things out of frustration when he and his other male classmates would make a mistake or not understand a concept she was trying to get across.
I don't know if you have noticed, but in the media men are portrayed very negatively. There are many programs on television that show them as weak, ignorant or morally inept. Movies are even worse. They put out a message that it is not OK to be male or behave in a masculine manner. I am frankly really tired of it. I would imagine many men are very tired of this as well. Especially men who are trying very hard to be good husbands and fathers. I have sons and this isn't helping them. It is demoralising and emasculating. It is wrong.
I can remember growing up in the 70s and 80s, when I was a young girl, men calling women all sorts of names. "Dumb broad" was one of those names, among others. It wasn't even aimed at me at the time. It was a generalization. It devalued me as female and it was very damaging to me as well. It made me look at my femininity as if something was wrong with being female! You can change your clothes, shoes and makeup but you cannot change your God given gender. I think the pendulum has moved to the other extreme at this point and you can see the vengeance in the attitudes of the media and woman-kind as a whole. As a society we view males in a very negative light. Masculinity is something to be scorned. This a dangerous move for our society. It causes havoc in marriages, in the family and in the lives of young men struggling to find out who they are and if who they are is OK. It causes a great deal of confusion in an already struggling young generation.
Men are wonderful. There is nothing wrong with being male or having male attributes. I admire their strength, courage and fire. I love that men love women! This is the way God made them. Those are all good qualities. I don't want men to stop being manly. As a society we lose when we force someone to be ashamed of their God given gender.
As a people whenever we stereotype or make blanket statements about the other gender it is very wrong. Yes, even if you are a woman! We don't get a free pass to act disrespectful because we were mistreated in the past and maybe even now. It won't make it better. If further widens the gender gap. God intended men and women be one in marriage. How can you be one with someone whose gender you despise? That can not happen.
My husband gave my son some very good advice regarding the incidents with his teacher. He told him to not get offended and offered up an explanation as to why she might behave that way. He said maybe she is having problems in her marriage or with a son. Perhaps she was mistreated by another male, maybe a male authority figure (which is probably pretty likely). He said "whatever the case may be do not get offended with her but ask her if he had offended her in any way." Maybe then she would think more carefully about her words and that they have the ability to damage these young men she is teaching. I wondered to myself if it had been a man making derogatory statements about women to my daughter would I have been so full of grace and forgiveness as my husband was? If it was a male teacher he would probably be reprimanded, maybe even fired. Since it is acceptable in our culture to "male bash" nothing will probably be done about this matter. However, I was really impressed how my husband handled the situation encouraging my son to give the woman grace.
There is a way human beings are supposed to relate. Specifically, there is a way men and women are supposed to treat each other.
Titus 2
1But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior,not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Our mouths are powerful things. With them we can give life or we can bring death. I think the old sayings are the best. Previous generations had some simple truths that contained the most profound wisdom. If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. We need to stop tearing down people, specifically men. Maybe if we spent more time building people up and using our words to encourage others this world would be a much different place. As women we truly need to not return evil for evil. It won't accomplish what we are hoping for. I don't know anyone who is motivated to be better with harsh put downs and criticism, do you?
Proverbs 18:21:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Lets get past what is "acceptable" in our culture and do the right thing. Male bashing is just as bad as female bashing. It is all hate. As Christians this is not an acceptable standard. As a mother it is heartbreaking.
God bless and Good Night.
I don't know if you have noticed, but in the media men are portrayed very negatively. There are many programs on television that show them as weak, ignorant or morally inept. Movies are even worse. They put out a message that it is not OK to be male or behave in a masculine manner. I am frankly really tired of it. I would imagine many men are very tired of this as well. Especially men who are trying very hard to be good husbands and fathers. I have sons and this isn't helping them. It is demoralising and emasculating. It is wrong.
I can remember growing up in the 70s and 80s, when I was a young girl, men calling women all sorts of names. "Dumb broad" was one of those names, among others. It wasn't even aimed at me at the time. It was a generalization. It devalued me as female and it was very damaging to me as well. It made me look at my femininity as if something was wrong with being female! You can change your clothes, shoes and makeup but you cannot change your God given gender. I think the pendulum has moved to the other extreme at this point and you can see the vengeance in the attitudes of the media and woman-kind as a whole. As a society we view males in a very negative light. Masculinity is something to be scorned. This a dangerous move for our society. It causes havoc in marriages, in the family and in the lives of young men struggling to find out who they are and if who they are is OK. It causes a great deal of confusion in an already struggling young generation.
Men are wonderful. There is nothing wrong with being male or having male attributes. I admire their strength, courage and fire. I love that men love women! This is the way God made them. Those are all good qualities. I don't want men to stop being manly. As a society we lose when we force someone to be ashamed of their God given gender.
As a people whenever we stereotype or make blanket statements about the other gender it is very wrong. Yes, even if you are a woman! We don't get a free pass to act disrespectful because we were mistreated in the past and maybe even now. It won't make it better. If further widens the gender gap. God intended men and women be one in marriage. How can you be one with someone whose gender you despise? That can not happen.
My husband gave my son some very good advice regarding the incidents with his teacher. He told him to not get offended and offered up an explanation as to why she might behave that way. He said maybe she is having problems in her marriage or with a son. Perhaps she was mistreated by another male, maybe a male authority figure (which is probably pretty likely). He said "whatever the case may be do not get offended with her but ask her if he had offended her in any way." Maybe then she would think more carefully about her words and that they have the ability to damage these young men she is teaching. I wondered to myself if it had been a man making derogatory statements about women to my daughter would I have been so full of grace and forgiveness as my husband was? If it was a male teacher he would probably be reprimanded, maybe even fired. Since it is acceptable in our culture to "male bash" nothing will probably be done about this matter. However, I was really impressed how my husband handled the situation encouraging my son to give the woman grace.
There is a way human beings are supposed to relate. Specifically, there is a way men and women are supposed to treat each other.
Titus 2
1But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior,not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Our mouths are powerful things. With them we can give life or we can bring death. I think the old sayings are the best. Previous generations had some simple truths that contained the most profound wisdom. If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all. We need to stop tearing down people, specifically men. Maybe if we spent more time building people up and using our words to encourage others this world would be a much different place. As women we truly need to not return evil for evil. It won't accomplish what we are hoping for. I don't know anyone who is motivated to be better with harsh put downs and criticism, do you?
Proverbs 18:21:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Lets get past what is "acceptable" in our culture and do the right thing. Male bashing is just as bad as female bashing. It is all hate. As Christians this is not an acceptable standard. As a mother it is heartbreaking.
God bless and Good Night.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Don't Let Government Drive Your Car
If you do something for someone long enough they will soon forget how to do it for themselves. I notice this when we drive certain places. If I am not the one driving chances are I will not pay much attention to how got there or how to get back home. I just coast along in the passenger seat enjoying the scenery, taking it all in, but not really noticing street names or landmarks. I am just chilling out. I am not responsible, the driver is. I am just along for the ride.
Already we have surrendered many of our responsibilities to a government that is more than willing to hop in the driver's seat. The educational system is an example of just one. A lot of parents leave it up to the school system to discipline and train their children. Schools are not equipped to provide the time and attention a child needs. These teachers do the best they can. The parent's irresponsible behavior not only impacts their own children but impacts the class in which the student is a part of. We keep pouring money into this system and programs thinking that somehow that will help, but really it is the families inability or refusal to get involved that is at the root of the problem. They are not made to take responsibility and maybe the kid gets some special label or diagnosis. Then they really have an excuse, a medical one at that, to let the experts handle little Johnny. Parents are responsible for disciplining and training their children. It effects society as a whole when they do not. It tends to travel through the generations as well. Grandpa did time, daddy did time and now little Johnny just got picked up for shoplifting. Could there be something to teaching some boundaries and limitations? It isn't the school's responsibility. It starts at home.
Proverbs 22:6:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
I don't want to be along for the ride. I want to drive my own car. I want the American dream. I want that sense of accomplishment that I have when a job is well done. I want that for my children. I would prefer we equip people and not do it for them. At the end of the day how can you look at yourself in the mirror knowing that you have given the government that much power and control in something as personal as your family or your finances?
For those of you that are old enough to remember think about the former USSR. Did those people look happy? Their families fell apart. Poverty was and is still rampant. The divorce rate was and is still huge. The orphanages over there are full of abandoned children even today. The crime rate was and still is unbelievable. The devastation to families that a communist society caused will continue for generations. That is BIG government. Take away a sense of accomplishment, make everyone equal (no matter how hard they work) and the very minimum they need to exist. Is that the answer? Well, you saw the experiment over there. How did it work out?
Do you like your freedom? Did we learn any lessons from communist Russia? Big government does not solve things.
Drive your own car. Pay attention to where you are going and how to get home.
God bless.
Already we have surrendered many of our responsibilities to a government that is more than willing to hop in the driver's seat. The educational system is an example of just one. A lot of parents leave it up to the school system to discipline and train their children. Schools are not equipped to provide the time and attention a child needs. These teachers do the best they can. The parent's irresponsible behavior not only impacts their own children but impacts the class in which the student is a part of. We keep pouring money into this system and programs thinking that somehow that will help, but really it is the families inability or refusal to get involved that is at the root of the problem. They are not made to take responsibility and maybe the kid gets some special label or diagnosis. Then they really have an excuse, a medical one at that, to let the experts handle little Johnny. Parents are responsible for disciplining and training their children. It effects society as a whole when they do not. It tends to travel through the generations as well. Grandpa did time, daddy did time and now little Johnny just got picked up for shoplifting. Could there be something to teaching some boundaries and limitations? It isn't the school's responsibility. It starts at home.
Proverbs 22:6:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
I don't want to be along for the ride. I want to drive my own car. I want the American dream. I want that sense of accomplishment that I have when a job is well done. I want that for my children. I would prefer we equip people and not do it for them. At the end of the day how can you look at yourself in the mirror knowing that you have given the government that much power and control in something as personal as your family or your finances?
For those of you that are old enough to remember think about the former USSR. Did those people look happy? Their families fell apart. Poverty was and is still rampant. The divorce rate was and is still huge. The orphanages over there are full of abandoned children even today. The crime rate was and still is unbelievable. The devastation to families that a communist society caused will continue for generations. That is BIG government. Take away a sense of accomplishment, make everyone equal (no matter how hard they work) and the very minimum they need to exist. Is that the answer? Well, you saw the experiment over there. How did it work out?
Do you like your freedom? Did we learn any lessons from communist Russia? Big government does not solve things.
Drive your own car. Pay attention to where you are going and how to get home.
God bless.
Why So Offended??
I am beginning to notice a trend. Everybody is angry. Everyone is up in arms about this and about that! Good grief. Try to have a discussion with anyone anymore. You must agree with everything they say or there will be a war!
Now there are some things to be angry about. For example- the mass slayings of people in the Sudan, murders and abuse of young children, genocide in the middle east, racism, sexism....and the list could go on. If the anger produced from those sorts of horrendous things spurs you to speak up or take action in a civil way that produces change that is great! If seeing other people suffer makes you want to help them, that is wonderful. That kind of anger is a good thing. It is productive. That kind of anger isn't anger at an individual but at a situation that is harmful. Jesus was angry when he came into the temple and saw it being desecrated by the money changers. This was His house and it was supposed to be a house of worship. How would you like it if you came home and someone was doing some vile thing in your house? He got mad. He took action. He didn't kill anybody, but He had them scrambling to pick up their things and get on out of there. You go Jesus!
John 2
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
Now the kind of anger I am referring to is different. It is the kind of anger we experienced as kids when no one wanted to play the game we wanted to play so we got all snotty, took our ball and headed home. Hmmm....we thought, see if I ever play with you again! Come on now, you know we all did it. Ok, maybe it was just a few of us, certainly not you. That is a sinful, immature kind of anger and it is very unproductive. It produces no positive change.
People are going to disagree with me. Since I am a rather opinionated individual I experience this now and then. That doesn't give me the right to become offended and disrespectful towards you. You don't have to be on the same page as me for me to be ok with you. I hope I don't have to agree with you for you to still love and respect me. I have a responsibility as a believer in Jesus Christ to forfeit my right to offense. This was an incredibly hard concept for me to grasp when I first became a christian. I have also never been real fond of the word forfeit. I kinda like winning. Wow! I have no rights. I could feel my neck stiffen this first time I heard this. Ouch. I had grown up being all about my rights. Now you are telling me I have none. I could hear a small voice in my head (you may know that Voice) saying "it is time to grow up girl."
2 Corinthians 8:9:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
If I am sold out to Christ and I am to be "Christ-like" I need to be poor in the sense that I don't hang on to anything or anyone but Him. That includes my rights. Wow, what a concept. He gave up his rights hanging on that cross. He had an opinion, he voiced it, people didn't like it. Many say it was that opinion that put Him up on that cross. It was, but much more than that. However, looking down on those people that were crucifying Him He forfeited His rights and said Father forgive them.....
Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Why did Almighty God forfeit His rights? Simple........LOVE! He loves us even in our most ugly moments. Boy I have had some ugly moments. That is a topic for another time. Maybe.
So there is this tidal wave of thought out there. It goes something like this, "You don't agree with what I am doing or what I believe or what I think so I think you are being mean to me. You are being intolerant and insensitive! You are being politically incorrect! You are not doing it my way, so I am going to be angry at you." This was not the Jesus kind of righteous anger. This is a selfish anger. It is control and manipulation.
We are just people aren't we?! As people we are going to mess up. I am so grateful for His grace.
I won't be giving up my opinions in an effort to make anyone like me. I don't bow down to approval. However, just know that if you don't agree with me it is alright. I won't get offended. I hope you don't either.
God bless and good afternoon to you!
Now there are some things to be angry about. For example- the mass slayings of people in the Sudan, murders and abuse of young children, genocide in the middle east, racism, sexism....and the list could go on. If the anger produced from those sorts of horrendous things spurs you to speak up or take action in a civil way that produces change that is great! If seeing other people suffer makes you want to help them, that is wonderful. That kind of anger is a good thing. It is productive. That kind of anger isn't anger at an individual but at a situation that is harmful. Jesus was angry when he came into the temple and saw it being desecrated by the money changers. This was His house and it was supposed to be a house of worship. How would you like it if you came home and someone was doing some vile thing in your house? He got mad. He took action. He didn't kill anybody, but He had them scrambling to pick up their things and get on out of there. You go Jesus!
John 2
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
Now the kind of anger I am referring to is different. It is the kind of anger we experienced as kids when no one wanted to play the game we wanted to play so we got all snotty, took our ball and headed home. Hmmm....we thought, see if I ever play with you again! Come on now, you know we all did it. Ok, maybe it was just a few of us, certainly not you. That is a sinful, immature kind of anger and it is very unproductive. It produces no positive change.
People are going to disagree with me. Since I am a rather opinionated individual I experience this now and then. That doesn't give me the right to become offended and disrespectful towards you. You don't have to be on the same page as me for me to be ok with you. I hope I don't have to agree with you for you to still love and respect me. I have a responsibility as a believer in Jesus Christ to forfeit my right to offense. This was an incredibly hard concept for me to grasp when I first became a christian. I have also never been real fond of the word forfeit. I kinda like winning. Wow! I have no rights. I could feel my neck stiffen this first time I heard this. Ouch. I had grown up being all about my rights. Now you are telling me I have none. I could hear a small voice in my head (you may know that Voice) saying "it is time to grow up girl."
2 Corinthians 8:9:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
If I am sold out to Christ and I am to be "Christ-like" I need to be poor in the sense that I don't hang on to anything or anyone but Him. That includes my rights. Wow, what a concept. He gave up his rights hanging on that cross. He had an opinion, he voiced it, people didn't like it. Many say it was that opinion that put Him up on that cross. It was, but much more than that. However, looking down on those people that were crucifying Him He forfeited His rights and said Father forgive them.....
Luke 23:34 And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Why did Almighty God forfeit His rights? Simple........LOVE! He loves us even in our most ugly moments. Boy I have had some ugly moments. That is a topic for another time. Maybe.
So there is this tidal wave of thought out there. It goes something like this, "You don't agree with what I am doing or what I believe or what I think so I think you are being mean to me. You are being intolerant and insensitive! You are being politically incorrect! You are not doing it my way, so I am going to be angry at you." This was not the Jesus kind of righteous anger. This is a selfish anger. It is control and manipulation.
We are just people aren't we?! As people we are going to mess up. I am so grateful for His grace.
I won't be giving up my opinions in an effort to make anyone like me. I don't bow down to approval. However, just know that if you don't agree with me it is alright. I won't get offended. I hope you don't either.
God bless and good afternoon to you!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Where It All Went Wrong
I am not a numbers person. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that. Balancing my checkbook is a daunting task for me. However I run a small business and have managed to run it pretty close to debt free for the past 7 years. Granted, I only have one employee, me, and very little overhead. I am very blessed in that I have a very "money wise" spouse that has helped me stay on track and not borrow to keep the business afloat. That is his philosophy and I have heeded his advice and it has served me well. Now as a small business person I have felt the poor economy to some degree, but all in all things haven't been too bad and so far the doors have stayed open. I hope that this will always be the case, but there are certain realities in business one must soberly understand. If someone does it better, cheaper or faster if will effect my bottom line. If I don't do my part and keep on top of trends in my industry and in the business world, my business will suffer. If my debt outweighs my profit I will sink. The "fittest" and the best survive and that is the way it is. It is the natural trend and it is to be expected. I think small business owners know this better than anyone. I find it strange that large corporations don't seem to understand this. It is pretty apparent to me and I am no economic genius. Maybe I just feel the pain a little sooner because I am such a small operation. I don't know. Just common sense I think.
So now we have this big bail out that is supposed to come in and save the day. I have some questions. Where is congress going to get all this money? What happens the next time all these corporations and banks start to sink? Who saves them then? When does it all end? How many generations will feel the effect of these decisions? I think I probably know most of the answers to those questions and you probably do too. I hope you do. We will pay for this. We will pay again unless someone starts thinking and soon. It will effect our children and their children for probably a long time. Again, just common sense I think.
I am not a numbers person. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that. Balancing my checkbook is a daunting task for me. However I run a small business and have managed to run it pretty close to debt free for the past 7 years. Granted, I only have one employee, me, and very little overhead. I am very blessed in that I have a very "money wise" spouse that has helped me stay on track and not borrow to keep the business afloat. That is his philosophy and I have heeded his advice and it has served me well. Now as a small business person I have felt the poor economy to some degree, but all in all things haven't been too bad and so far the doors have stayed open. I hope that this will always be the case, but there are certain realities in business one must soberly understand. If someone does it better, cheaper or faster if will effect my bottom line. If I don't do my part and keep on top of trends in my industry and in the business world, my business will suffer. If my debt outweighs my profit I will sink. The "fittest" and the best survive and that is the way it is. It is the natural trend and it is to be expected. I think small business owners know this better than anyone. I find it strange that large corporations don't seem to understand this. It is pretty apparent to me and I am no economic genius. Maybe I just feel the pain a little sooner because I am such a small operation. I don't know. Just common sense I think.
So now we have this big bail out that is supposed to come in and save the day. I have some questions. Where is congress going to get all this money? What happens the next time all these corporations and banks start to sink? Who saves them then? When does it all end? How many generations will feel the effect of these decisions? I think I probably know most of the answers to those questions and you probably do too. I hope you do. We will pay for this. We will pay again unless someone starts thinking and soon. It will effect our children and their children for probably a long time. Again, just common sense I think.
Galations 6:7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Now, I have this four year old little girl. She is incredibly honest. She will make statements like "I want a piece of candy" or "I want that toy" or "I want to watch Dora". You know she doesn't say she needs any of these things, she says the word want. She is quite accurate. She doesn't need candy, she needs healthy food. She doesn't need a toy, she has many, but she needs warm clothes to wear. She doesn't need to watch Dora, she could watch something else, but she does need a warm place to sleep at night. Kids are amazing. Most the time they are pretty honest and there can be some pretty awesome lessons in that. We adults should pay more attention. Maybe as adults we should be a little more honest with ourselves and others?
Mark 8:36-38
36What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
This all might be an over simplification, but you need to remember I am not a numbers girl.
Want: to desire; wish or long for.
Need: something useful, required, or desired that is lacking.
There is a difference. Do you see the difference between the two definitions? No one wants to admit it, but wants and needs are not the same. If we don't have the money for what we want, we have no business buying it.
Ok, so this is where I believe it all went wrong for our country. What I have observed over the years is a lot of folks who want what they really don't need and are very willing to go into debt over it. This represents your average Joe, like myself, to big corporations that overextend themselves. It is a lack of wisdom. Quite honestly, I have done it a time or two in my life and I pretty much have always had my hand slapped as a result. I have learned the painful way that I don't like having my hand slapped so I try real hard not to do that anymore! America is getting it's hand slapped for getting greedy, managing poorly and not watching it's bottom line. It is natural. It is to be expected. It must happen so we can gain wisdom and not do it again. Congress wants to stop that hand slapping, but they will only delay it. This might anger you or scare you and I am sorry if it does. It is the truth. It will only be more painful if delayed. It will hurt people that deserve it and it will hurt people that don't deserve it. It already is and congress can't stop it. It will rain on the just and the unjust. We must learn once again to be a nation that loans and doesn't borrow. We must again be a nation of producers and not consumers. We need to learn to be competitive and not apathetic. It is time we have a work ethic again and not get drunk on the sweat of others. The whining of the wants will be hushed and muffled in the loud groaning of the needs. This is beginning to happen.
Proverbs 21:20 says, "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up."
I must say this one last thing. Know Who your provider really is. It isn't Uncle Sam. It isn't the company you work for. It isn't the business you run. It is the Lord God Almighty. If you are a believer you have nothing to fear, honor Him in your life and in your finances and He will provide for you needs.
Philippians 4:19:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
God bless you and good night.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Unaccountable America- Blameshifting And Generation X
1 Corinthians 13:11:11
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
I am part of a generation that blames everyone else for their troubles. Now I understand that when you are a kid you can not control everything that comes your way. Having been given a birds eye view of our foster care system here in Georgia I am pretty convinced of that. As a child you are vulnerable to the whims of the adults around you. A lot of tragedy occurs because of irresponsible adults that victimize young children and I have been a witness to that first hand as a former foster mother and adoptive parent. A statistic I am more than familiar with is the amount of inmates in our prison systems that come from broken homes and out of our foster care system. That being said I do believe in personal responsibility and when one becomes an adult the blame and excuses game must end.
Generation X has spent a good deal of time exploring their pain and blaming Mom and Dad for their poor decisions. That has translated in our society to adults who can't take responsibility for much of anything and a new generation that thinks they are owed everything. I have never seen so many grandparents raising young children as I do today. That is shameful. You see politicians, sports figures, celebrities and many others who have behaved irresponsibly and blame everyone but themselves. We can not get beyond what we "feel" and that reflects in our actions. There is a time for mourning, but it seems we get stuck there feeling sorry for ourselves. We want a "bail out" for everything. Give me a free pass! I want, I want, I want. Give it to me now! I deserve it. I love the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the original, yes I am that old) and the character Violet could be a symbol of the last twenty to thirty years. "I want a golden goose daddy, give it to me NOW!!"
We don't want to have to work for anything. You owe me! You owe me because you didn't_____ or you wouldn't_______or ______ happened to me. You fill in the blanks. Honestly, it is getting tired. As a country we need to get beyond our toddler years. Life is hard and I am no stranger to that believe me. If one has had a bad time of it, it doesn't help him to stay in the mud wallowing around with the pigs. Tell him to get his backside out of there and point him in the right direction. That is the "loving" thing to do. You can give him hug too and tell him you love him, but please don't tell him it is fine if he'd like to stay there because it is not. Help him to learn how to survive and not to depend on you or our society. That is the kindest thing you can do for anyone. “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown
President Barack Obama made statements in his inaugural address about personal accountability. I really hope he understands what that means. There are some executive orders he gave this week that give me a different impression of what he meant by those statements. Irregardless, it starts with us. It starts with us personally, in our families, in our finances, in the work place, in our civility towards other human beings and the laws of this great country. The buck stops here baby. Step up Generation X!
Herbalmama
When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
I am part of a generation that blames everyone else for their troubles. Now I understand that when you are a kid you can not control everything that comes your way. Having been given a birds eye view of our foster care system here in Georgia I am pretty convinced of that. As a child you are vulnerable to the whims of the adults around you. A lot of tragedy occurs because of irresponsible adults that victimize young children and I have been a witness to that first hand as a former foster mother and adoptive parent. A statistic I am more than familiar with is the amount of inmates in our prison systems that come from broken homes and out of our foster care system. That being said I do believe in personal responsibility and when one becomes an adult the blame and excuses game must end.
Generation X has spent a good deal of time exploring their pain and blaming Mom and Dad for their poor decisions. That has translated in our society to adults who can't take responsibility for much of anything and a new generation that thinks they are owed everything. I have never seen so many grandparents raising young children as I do today. That is shameful. You see politicians, sports figures, celebrities and many others who have behaved irresponsibly and blame everyone but themselves. We can not get beyond what we "feel" and that reflects in our actions. There is a time for mourning, but it seems we get stuck there feeling sorry for ourselves. We want a "bail out" for everything. Give me a free pass! I want, I want, I want. Give it to me now! I deserve it. I love the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the original, yes I am that old) and the character Violet could be a symbol of the last twenty to thirty years. "I want a golden goose daddy, give it to me NOW!!"
We don't want to have to work for anything. You owe me! You owe me because you didn't_____ or you wouldn't_______or ______ happened to me. You fill in the blanks. Honestly, it is getting tired. As a country we need to get beyond our toddler years. Life is hard and I am no stranger to that believe me. If one has had a bad time of it, it doesn't help him to stay in the mud wallowing around with the pigs. Tell him to get his backside out of there and point him in the right direction. That is the "loving" thing to do. You can give him hug too and tell him you love him, but please don't tell him it is fine if he'd like to stay there because it is not. Help him to learn how to survive and not to depend on you or our society. That is the kindest thing you can do for anyone. “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime”—Author unknown
President Barack Obama made statements in his inaugural address about personal accountability. I really hope he understands what that means. There are some executive orders he gave this week that give me a different impression of what he meant by those statements. Irregardless, it starts with us. It starts with us personally, in our families, in our finances, in the work place, in our civility towards other human beings and the laws of this great country. The buck stops here baby. Step up Generation X!
Herbalmama
Friday, January 23, 2009
Beauty For Ashes
Isaiah 61:3:
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Faith is a phenomenon that the world doesn't understand. When they see it, it is puzzling to them. There is the christian believer that can walk through such suffering and such injustice yet remain faithful to their Lord. He is able to experience a "strange joy" irregardless of circumstances. He can forgive what seems unforgivable, love the unlovable, bear what seems unbearable and believe what seems to the world unbelievable. The apostle Paul attained it. In my life I have seen it. I have experienced it. Still not to the extreme that others walk it. They inspire me. They challenge me. They give me hope.
I look around and see the depravity of mankind. The cruel selfishness they can exhibit. Then I see the great love they can express and the true ripple in the stream of life that love can produce. That is the kind of "change" that is a pleasure to see and experience. That is an unworldly kind of love that in and of ourselves we are not capable of. This is the "Christ kind of love". As we surrender to His purposes, God will funnel this love through us. No one expects or wants trials or tribulations. In our humanness we don't posses the understanding that God has. He knows there is a sunrise a few more steps down that road on our journey. At that low moment the darkness is all encompassing. We are "now" creatures only seeing what is before us and it is tempting to allow ourselves to be swallowed up in the waves of pain we feel with each trouble we face. "Why" is a useless question as I have heard it said and a tired one at that I might add. Child like faith in a loving God is the only answer and the answer that produces life, love and forgiveness beyond worldly understanding. The Rock provides safety as the waves threaten to overtake us. We must cling to it.
1 Peter 4:12:12Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you.
God is with you in every moment of every struggle you might face. No matter what your human eyes see, no matter what your human ears may hear, no matter what your human brain may comprehend or not...He is with you.
Psalm 34:18:18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Dedicated to my friend, who is experiencing what no mother should have to. I am praying for you! This darkness will not last forever. There is a sunrise ahead, and it is beautiful!
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Faith is a phenomenon that the world doesn't understand. When they see it, it is puzzling to them. There is the christian believer that can walk through such suffering and such injustice yet remain faithful to their Lord. He is able to experience a "strange joy" irregardless of circumstances. He can forgive what seems unforgivable, love the unlovable, bear what seems unbearable and believe what seems to the world unbelievable. The apostle Paul attained it. In my life I have seen it. I have experienced it. Still not to the extreme that others walk it. They inspire me. They challenge me. They give me hope.
I look around and see the depravity of mankind. The cruel selfishness they can exhibit. Then I see the great love they can express and the true ripple in the stream of life that love can produce. That is the kind of "change" that is a pleasure to see and experience. That is an unworldly kind of love that in and of ourselves we are not capable of. This is the "Christ kind of love". As we surrender to His purposes, God will funnel this love through us. No one expects or wants trials or tribulations. In our humanness we don't posses the understanding that God has. He knows there is a sunrise a few more steps down that road on our journey. At that low moment the darkness is all encompassing. We are "now" creatures only seeing what is before us and it is tempting to allow ourselves to be swallowed up in the waves of pain we feel with each trouble we face. "Why" is a useless question as I have heard it said and a tired one at that I might add. Child like faith in a loving God is the only answer and the answer that produces life, love and forgiveness beyond worldly understanding. The Rock provides safety as the waves threaten to overtake us. We must cling to it.
1 Peter 4:12:12Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you.
God is with you in every moment of every struggle you might face. No matter what your human eyes see, no matter what your human ears may hear, no matter what your human brain may comprehend or not...He is with you.
Psalm 34:18:18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Dedicated to my friend, who is experiencing what no mother should have to. I am praying for you! This darkness will not last forever. There is a sunrise ahead, and it is beautiful!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Our Tax Dollars Will Be Funding Abortions In Other Countries
Tomorrow, Thursday, January 22 2009 newly elected President Obama will be issuing an executive order on Thursday that will reverse the Bush Administration's policy that bans the use of federal dollars by non-governmental organizations that discuss or provide abortions outside the United States. This order will be signed on the 36th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Ruling. That ruling legalized abortion in all 50 states.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/21/obama-lift-ban-funding-groups-providing-abortions-overseas/
Many Pro-Choice activists would be surprised to learn that people can have a change of heart. There are many, many stories of women that feel differently later in life about the choices they made long ago. It isn't as simple and sterile as it seems. These are real people that live real consequences and experience real pain. These are real children.
Here is a quote by Norma McCorvey. Norma McCorvey is the Roe part of Roe v. Wade.
She wrote in her book, Won by Love,
"I was sitting in O.R.'s offices when I noticed a fetal development poster. The progression was so obvious, the eyes were so sweet. It hurt my heart, just looking at them. I ran outside and finally, it dawned on me. "Norma," I said to myself, "They're right." I had worked with pregnant women for years. I had been through three pregnancies and deliveries myself. I should have known. Yet something in that poster made me lose my breath. I kept seeing the picture of that tiny, 10-week-old embryo, and I said to myself, that's a baby! It's as if blinders just fell off my eyes and I suddenly understood the truth--that's a baby!"
I felt crushed under the truth of this realization. I had to face up to the awful reality. Abortion wasn't about "products of conception." It wasn't about "missed periods." It was about children being killed in their mother's wombs. All those years I was wrong. Signing that affidavit, I was wrong. Working in an abortion clinic, I was wrong. No more of this first trimester, second trimester, third trimester stuff. Abortion–at any point–was wrong. It was so clear. Painfully clear." http://www.leaderu.com/norma/nmtestimony.html
God forgives. God heals. God restores. God loves you.
My heart hurts right now. That is about all I have to say tonight. God bless America. Please pray for President Obama.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/21/obama-lift-ban-funding-groups-providing-abortions-overseas/
Many Pro-Choice activists would be surprised to learn that people can have a change of heart. There are many, many stories of women that feel differently later in life about the choices they made long ago. It isn't as simple and sterile as it seems. These are real people that live real consequences and experience real pain. These are real children.
Here is a quote by Norma McCorvey. Norma McCorvey is the Roe part of Roe v. Wade.
She wrote in her book, Won by Love,
"I was sitting in O.R.'s offices when I noticed a fetal development poster. The progression was so obvious, the eyes were so sweet. It hurt my heart, just looking at them. I ran outside and finally, it dawned on me. "Norma," I said to myself, "They're right." I had worked with pregnant women for years. I had been through three pregnancies and deliveries myself. I should have known. Yet something in that poster made me lose my breath. I kept seeing the picture of that tiny, 10-week-old embryo, and I said to myself, that's a baby! It's as if blinders just fell off my eyes and I suddenly understood the truth--that's a baby!"
I felt crushed under the truth of this realization. I had to face up to the awful reality. Abortion wasn't about "products of conception." It wasn't about "missed periods." It was about children being killed in their mother's wombs. All those years I was wrong. Signing that affidavit, I was wrong. Working in an abortion clinic, I was wrong. No more of this first trimester, second trimester, third trimester stuff. Abortion–at any point–was wrong. It was so clear. Painfully clear." http://www.leaderu.com/norma/nmtestimony.html
God forgives. God heals. God restores. God loves you.
My heart hurts right now. That is about all I have to say tonight. God bless America. Please pray for President Obama.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Is RESPECT a dirty word?
1 Peter 3:15-16:15But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.
16[And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear ([unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives]. (Amplified Bible)
You have your opinions, I have mine. "Potaitoe, Potahtoe, Toemaitoe, Toemahtoe"....lets call the whole thing off! Don't worry, I can spell potato and tomato.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you probably know that we are called to a higher standard. I hope you do. We are called to respond to one another and others in a courteous and respectful way. We are not to compromise what we believe or hide our heads in the sand. We are to speak in a way that communicates respect for the individual. However, as human beings we all have the tendency to insert our emotion and forget about what the Word challenges us to do.
Unfortunatley, believers are shrinking from discussion about "The Hot Topics" because they are afraid of the response they might get or perhaps people will get mad at them. I don't know, but that isn't a correct response either. We are not to fear man.
Galatians 1:10Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).
We are not supposed to bow down to the worlds standards. We are not supposed to keep quiet and just accept the "status quo." We happen to live in a country that currently allows us to voice our opinions. That is a really good thing and I truly hope it stays that way.
It is possible to logically explain what you believe and do it in a kind, respectful way. There is no guarantee that it won't cause offense. The Word of God offends people because it is the truth. The truth hurts sometimes and honestly the truth will either make you better or bitter. Some people get bitter. That is beyond your control.
What is in your control is your delivery method. If you are attacking the person and they really didn't ask for your opinion, you are wrong! If someone asks you what you believe about something and you answer them honestly and in the most kind way, you have shown them respect. We have some folks here in my neck of the woods that wave around pretty vile signs and yell at people when they drive by. They have no respect for anyone. It doesn't communicate the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is a huge turn off. I don't like being identified with them. They are just as mean and hateful as the some of the liberal folks that storm churches and throw blood on people. That spirit is very similar. It is based on hate and anger. If you want to be heard, no matter who you are, love and respect people.
1 Corinthians 13
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
So I look around and I see people everywhere who are bent on getting their way. You can't make people believe what you believe. You can not force them to accept what you believe or your agenda whatever that might be. Respect it seems has become a dirty word. I hope that changes, don't you?
God bless,
The Herbal Mama
16[And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear ([unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives]. (Amplified Bible)
You have your opinions, I have mine. "Potaitoe, Potahtoe, Toemaitoe, Toemahtoe"....lets call the whole thing off! Don't worry, I can spell potato and tomato.
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you probably know that we are called to a higher standard. I hope you do. We are called to respond to one another and others in a courteous and respectful way. We are not to compromise what we believe or hide our heads in the sand. We are to speak in a way that communicates respect for the individual. However, as human beings we all have the tendency to insert our emotion and forget about what the Word challenges us to do.
Unfortunatley, believers are shrinking from discussion about "The Hot Topics" because they are afraid of the response they might get or perhaps people will get mad at them. I don't know, but that isn't a correct response either. We are not to fear man.
Galatians 1:10Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).
We are not supposed to bow down to the worlds standards. We are not supposed to keep quiet and just accept the "status quo." We happen to live in a country that currently allows us to voice our opinions. That is a really good thing and I truly hope it stays that way.
It is possible to logically explain what you believe and do it in a kind, respectful way. There is no guarantee that it won't cause offense. The Word of God offends people because it is the truth. The truth hurts sometimes and honestly the truth will either make you better or bitter. Some people get bitter. That is beyond your control.
What is in your control is your delivery method. If you are attacking the person and they really didn't ask for your opinion, you are wrong! If someone asks you what you believe about something and you answer them honestly and in the most kind way, you have shown them respect. We have some folks here in my neck of the woods that wave around pretty vile signs and yell at people when they drive by. They have no respect for anyone. It doesn't communicate the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is a huge turn off. I don't like being identified with them. They are just as mean and hateful as the some of the liberal folks that storm churches and throw blood on people. That spirit is very similar. It is based on hate and anger. If you want to be heard, no matter who you are, love and respect people.
1 Corinthians 13
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
So I look around and I see people everywhere who are bent on getting their way. You can't make people believe what you believe. You can not force them to accept what you believe or your agenda whatever that might be. Respect it seems has become a dirty word. I hope that changes, don't you?
God bless,
The Herbal Mama
Monday, January 19, 2009
Politically Correct=The Word Police?
Lately I feel as though I am living in the book 1984 by George Orwell. Well, maybe not to that extreme, but there has been a definite shift in our thinking in this country and quite honestly it is a frightening thing. Mr. Orwell called it, the powers at be, "Big Brother". I am going to be referring to them as the "The Word Police". "The Word Police" tolerate very little opinion that doesn't line up with theirs. By "The Word Police" I mean and I am referring to some of the left, primarily the loudest and most angry ones. They are disrespectful and quite honestly rude. The crazy part of all this is that they make up the minority. Roughly 89 % of all Americans believe in "a God", yet a small but loud group of atheists today had plenty of attention by our media as they demanded that President Elect Obama not use God's name or The Bible when he is sworn in to office tomorrow. As a Christian I believe my right to believe the way I do is under attack. I am very fortunate to live in the South where my beliefs are not uncommon and even if they are not agreed with, they are at least tolerated to some extent. Whether you agree with this or not our founding principles in this nation are deeply rooted in Christianity or at least The Bible. Some say the founding fathers were not Christians, but Deists and while that might or might not be true they did look to the Word of God in designing our government. Principles such as Liberty and Freedom are rooted in the New Testament. Our laws draw similarities to The Ten Commandments in the Old Testament. Yet, the very freedom that these people have been given to be loud and angry and demand that God and all His influence be removed, is given to them by our Biblically rooted governmental system.
Hello! What is wrong with this picture? So lets see if I am getting this right....you, "The Word Police", want me to say what you want to hear and agree with everything you say and do. You want to remove my right to free speech, but keep yours because you have decided that what I believe and say does not line up with what you believe and say. You want to abolish God, any trace of Him and enslave us all to your way of thinking?
Wow! Send in The Word Police or should I say send in the Clowns? The irony is comical to say the least.....in a very sad and frightening way. You have your freedom because of a governments accountability to principles taken from The Word of God, The Holy Bible.
A line from The Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
A verse from The Holy Bible:
Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Can anyone tell me where we are going?
Where are we going?
This country has given individuals the right to conduct their lives in a way that is of their choosing, but within the confines of our laws. We have laws that exist to protect our society as a whole. These laws have been put in place by officials elected by the people. Remember that 89%? Those are the people.
Many people from many different countries have desired such a freedom and left their home countries in pursuit of our way of life. Is that freedom and liberty coming to an end? If "The Word Police" have their way, that might very well be the case. There are some things that I believe are wrong and some things I believe are right. Should I not be allowed to respectfully disagree with you or you with me? That isn't the American way.
Well, that is my Pondering The Great Questions for today.
God bless,
Herbal mama
Hello! What is wrong with this picture? So lets see if I am getting this right....you, "The Word Police", want me to say what you want to hear and agree with everything you say and do. You want to remove my right to free speech, but keep yours because you have decided that what I believe and say does not line up with what you believe and say. You want to abolish God, any trace of Him and enslave us all to your way of thinking?
Wow! Send in The Word Police or should I say send in the Clowns? The irony is comical to say the least.....in a very sad and frightening way. You have your freedom because of a governments accountability to principles taken from The Word of God, The Holy Bible.
A line from The Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
A verse from The Holy Bible:
Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Can anyone tell me where we are going?
Where are we going?
This country has given individuals the right to conduct their lives in a way that is of their choosing, but within the confines of our laws. We have laws that exist to protect our society as a whole. These laws have been put in place by officials elected by the people. Remember that 89%? Those are the people.
Many people from many different countries have desired such a freedom and left their home countries in pursuit of our way of life. Is that freedom and liberty coming to an end? If "The Word Police" have their way, that might very well be the case. There are some things that I believe are wrong and some things I believe are right. Should I not be allowed to respectfully disagree with you or you with me? That isn't the American way.
Well, that is my Pondering The Great Questions for today.
God bless,
Herbal mama
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Is Feminism A Curse?
Yes. This answer comes from a former feminist.
This might seriously start a fire! I have never shied away from fires though. I don't mind being bold for the right reasons.
From what I have read of early women's rights activists they had very good intentions. You know what they say about good intentions. Some things were very clear. Women were being hurt and abused and had been for a very long time. They were devalued and treated like second class citizens. Something happened. They got mad. They became offended. They took matters into their own hands. They had a plan. Very much like Sarai did in the old testament when she struggled with her own barrenness.
"Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal." Genesis 16:1-2
God had promised her a child, but rather than wait on the Lord, she took matters into her own hands. In her old age, He asked her to have faith. Nothing is impossible with God. However, Sarai chose another path. God did eventually bless her with Isaac, but not before Ishmael arrived on the seen via Hagar.
No I propose that what we know as modern feminism is rooted in a very similar manner. Anytime one is offended and takes action rather than calling on "our All in All", our Creator, we risk calamity. Such was the case with Sarai, and all you have to do is observe what is going on in the middle east to see the results of that decision.
Anyway, back to feminism. Somewhere in the midst of the bra burning and the marches and the trying unsuccessfully to juggle work and home...we forgot to seek God. This mistake has cost us dearly as a society. We now have mass amounts of gender confusion, children who are lost and out of control, a public school system that can't and honestly shouldn't have to control them, men abandoning their wives and children as they have lost their roles and respect in the family. We have abortion and throw away children and we put them in "the system" and ask our government to raise them. Are we better off? We have become a matriarchal society and it seems things are just getting worse. No, we (women) can not do it all. The family was not designed to work that way. God has an order and we have forgotten it. What we are living in now was born of offense and we are dealing with the consequences of it! Nothing born of an offense will ever prosper.
If we are loving our men as Christ loves us, we will love them whether they behave or not. That doesn't mean we put ourselves or our children in a dangerous situation, but we don't become offended at every turn of the wind either. Christ-like love is without qualification. He didn't die for the well behaved. He died for all. If we are truly following in his footsteps we will learn to submit ourselves to our husbands in obedience to God, not because they always deserve it. Simply because we love God. Honestly, do we always deserve love? Yet, we have a Savior that loves us even when WE are in the mud.
Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
Now I hope you understand, as I have come to, that in God's economy women are not second class citizens.
1 Peter 3:7b (ESV)
7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
We don't deserve abuse or mistreatment. We are co-heirs with men to the kingdom of heaven! We are equal in value, but our roles are different and unique. There are some things that only we can do and should do, as it is with men. Men are to be our protectors and the leaders in the home. Men are to submit to Christ, their Head and we, in obedience to God are to submit to our husbands. That calls to question, should they (husbands) not operate in obedience to God should we also be disobedient to God in dishonoring them? No, as mom said "two wrongs don't make a right!"
Well that is my "Pondering The Great Questions" for today!
God bless you.
Herbal Mama
This might seriously start a fire! I have never shied away from fires though. I don't mind being bold for the right reasons.
From what I have read of early women's rights activists they had very good intentions. You know what they say about good intentions. Some things were very clear. Women were being hurt and abused and had been for a very long time. They were devalued and treated like second class citizens. Something happened. They got mad. They became offended. They took matters into their own hands. They had a plan. Very much like Sarai did in the old testament when she struggled with her own barrenness.
"Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal." Genesis 16:1-2
God had promised her a child, but rather than wait on the Lord, she took matters into her own hands. In her old age, He asked her to have faith. Nothing is impossible with God. However, Sarai chose another path. God did eventually bless her with Isaac, but not before Ishmael arrived on the seen via Hagar.
No I propose that what we know as modern feminism is rooted in a very similar manner. Anytime one is offended and takes action rather than calling on "our All in All", our Creator, we risk calamity. Such was the case with Sarai, and all you have to do is observe what is going on in the middle east to see the results of that decision.
Anyway, back to feminism. Somewhere in the midst of the bra burning and the marches and the trying unsuccessfully to juggle work and home...we forgot to seek God. This mistake has cost us dearly as a society. We now have mass amounts of gender confusion, children who are lost and out of control, a public school system that can't and honestly shouldn't have to control them, men abandoning their wives and children as they have lost their roles and respect in the family. We have abortion and throw away children and we put them in "the system" and ask our government to raise them. Are we better off? We have become a matriarchal society and it seems things are just getting worse. No, we (women) can not do it all. The family was not designed to work that way. God has an order and we have forgotten it. What we are living in now was born of offense and we are dealing with the consequences of it! Nothing born of an offense will ever prosper.
If we are loving our men as Christ loves us, we will love them whether they behave or not. That doesn't mean we put ourselves or our children in a dangerous situation, but we don't become offended at every turn of the wind either. Christ-like love is without qualification. He didn't die for the well behaved. He died for all. If we are truly following in his footsteps we will learn to submit ourselves to our husbands in obedience to God, not because they always deserve it. Simply because we love God. Honestly, do we always deserve love? Yet, we have a Savior that loves us even when WE are in the mud.
Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
Now I hope you understand, as I have come to, that in God's economy women are not second class citizens.
1 Peter 3:7b (ESV)
7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
We don't deserve abuse or mistreatment. We are co-heirs with men to the kingdom of heaven! We are equal in value, but our roles are different and unique. There are some things that only we can do and should do, as it is with men. Men are to be our protectors and the leaders in the home. Men are to submit to Christ, their Head and we, in obedience to God are to submit to our husbands. That calls to question, should they (husbands) not operate in obedience to God should we also be disobedient to God in dishonoring them? No, as mom said "two wrongs don't make a right!"
Well that is my "Pondering The Great Questions" for today!
God bless you.
Herbal Mama
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
