It’s all about the heart: Wrapping it up

I had to come back in after I finished this series to share something I read in a blog by Lysa TerKeurst in her blog post, “When my wild heart pushes the boundary.”     She discusses how she had to come to grips with the idea of an invisible fence for her constantly escaping dogs.   She said, “Boundaries aren’t cruel barriers meant to keep my dogs from freedom.  They are protective restrictions meant to define where safe freedom can be found.“   This just says so well what this series was all about.  I hope you will stop by her blog for a funny read, and remember that God has your good in mind when He calls you to a holy/pure life.

As Derek Mansker points out in his post “When is being safe dangerous”,  “How can we find a balance between sheltering them from everything and equipping them to filter what is going on through a worldview of truth?  When is being safe actually being dangerous?”  In this post, Derek is talking about the effort to keep his kids (and youth group kids) safe and when that very safety becomes dangerous for them.

In the Lysa TerKeurst analogy, the dogs were escaping and running into a world that was not safe.  In order to protect them, she had to put some boundaries up.  These boundaries included a small shock when the dog attempted to violate the boundaries.

Too much freedom can be dangerous.

The dogs are free to violate their guardrails, but they will pay the consequences (a shock or an unsafe trip into the world).  We are the same.  We can cross that line at any time, but we enter a world where harm can (and does come to us).

God (parents/society) gives us rules/laws/restrictions/boundaries for a reason.  “They are protective restrictions meant to define where safe freedom can be found.” {Lysa TerKeurst}

 

What do you think of the above statements?

How do they apply to you?

How do they apply to our freedom in Christ?

Can you think of other statements that could apply here?

Worry

“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” ~Sir Winston Churchill

A while back, I tackled this topic “Ways to stop the worry cycle” on Yahoo.  Worry besets the majority of us all of us at one time or another.  Some have the tendency more than others, but we all have had our moments.  The article discusses ways we can stop the cycle, but here I want to tackle the WHY of worry.  If it is common to man, there must be a reason.  Worry can also fall under the sin/bad habit/weakness category.  We all do it, even though worry has been proven to do absolutely nothing for us and a whole lot to us.  It causes stress related illnesses, interferes with our ability to act and communicate/relate with others, and it keeps us bound to the fears that inspire it.

Let’s peek under the cover

When we lift the lid (a smoke-screen of genuine concern) off worry, we see at least three things.  They are fear, control/pride, and lack of trust.  While we may find other factors swimming around in the worry goo, these are the main ingredients.  Sadly, many are unaware these things lurk under their tendency to worry.

Fear

We fear outcomes that might hurt us.  When we worry, we project onto the future some made-up in our mind outcomes for future events.  These are the “what ifs” that often steal our present by causing us to waste time on a fruitless endeavor:  worry.  In most cases, our worst case scenerio never happens.  We will, however, have gone over every possible scenerio and it’s possible conclusion and effect on us {Yes, it’s all about us}, wasting time, brain cells, energy and more.

Control/Pride

I put these two together because they are buddies.  We want to control the things that happen in our lives.  We have a tendency to want to avoid pain and gain the best outcome for ourselves.  It’s still about us, because pain to others causes pain to us as well.  Pride comes in when we actually believe we have control.  We are saying, in essence: “I could do it better if…”; “My life would be better if…”; or “I think the best out come is…”.   All of this involves thinking we know better than God or that we can actually control the future.  NOT!

Lack of trust

This is at the core of worry.  It is the broth that brings the rest together.  We don’t trust others with our future, and we certainly do not trust God with it.  If we did, we would go to Him in prayer and then trust that He has our back.  One thing that amazes me, and yet is part of human failing, is that no matter how many times God shows himself in our lives (or how many times our worries are fruitless), we still continue to worry!  The Bible gives us example after example in the story of the Israelites of how they worried and complained (not just a failing of Israelites), God provided, all was good for a bit, the worry/complaint cycle begins again.   I’m thinking I’m so glad I’m not God, because my patience (and I’m a patient person) would fall so far below what He showed to the Israelites and to the rest of us every day!

What the Bible says about worry:

Matthew 6:25-27  “Therefore I tell you, do not  be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about  your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more  than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor  gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more  value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his  span of life?

Matthew 6:34  “Therefore do not be anxious  about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day  is its own trouble.

Matthew 11:28-30  Come to me, all who labor and are  heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,  for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For  my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Luke 12:25 And which of you by being anxious can  add a single hour to his  span of life?

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you;my peace I give  to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.Let not your hearts be troubled,  neither let them be afraid.

 

Quotes on worry:

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of  its strength.- Corrie Ten Boom

I’ll give you some symptoms of a sign that your faith is  deteriorating–whenever you face all of your problems and you trust only your  plans to get you out–it is a sign that your faith is deteriorating. – T.D. Jakes

No one can pray and worry at the same time.- Max Lucado

Knowing that God is faithful, it really helps me  to not be captivated by worry. But knowing that He will do what He has said, He  will cause it to happen, whatever He has promised, and then it causes me to be  less involved in worrying about a situation.- Josh  McDowell

Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise  and providence of God, and yet it is a sin that Christians commit perhaps more  frequently than any other.- John  MacArthur

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-worry-20-comforting-scripture-quotes/#ixzz1jqHTHQRr

Do not worry about whether or not the sun will rise. Be prepared to enjoy it.  –Author Unknown

Now That All your worry Has proved such an Unlucrative Business, Why Not Find a better Job. –Hafiz

What kind of things do you worry about?

How does worry effect you physically?  emotionally?  spiritually?

What percentage of the things you worry about actually happen?

Do you have any tips for stopping the worry cycle?

What else do you want to say about the subject? 

 

It’s all about the heart, Part IV

If you missed previous posts on this series, you can find them here:     It’s all about the heart;  Part II ;  Part III.

Heading in a different direction, Ann Marie Dwyer, or “Red” as she is called at Mommas Money Matters went a different direction in her comment on part I of “It’s all about the heart.”

Here is the pertinent sentence:

“I often engage in civil disobedience because we have legislators who have no concept of the actual function of society outside their cloistered Senate walls.” ~Ann Marie Dwyer

civil disobedience   (as defined at Dictionary.com)        noun

1. the refusal to obey certain laws or governmental demands for the purpose of influencing legislation or government policy, characterized by the employment of such nonviolent techniques as boycotting, picketing, and nonpayment of taxes. Compare noncooperation ( def. 2 ) , passive resistance.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The USA was founded on civil disobedience as people rebelled against unfair laws.  As we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day today, January 16, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about where civil disobedience comes in.  You can find a biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. Here:  Biography.   MLK, Jr. is one of our finest examples of civil disobedience.  His goal and his dream was to have a country where everyone was free and equal, and his leadership through civil disobedience helped bring us closer to that goal.

When is it OK to disobey?

I would never, ever promote violent civil disobedience, but there are times when a government’s policies and laws go against a person’s beliefs or the good of it’s constituents.  Choosing civil disobedience is not a matter to be taken lightly.  The cause must be a good one.  However, there are times when to obey would mean disobeying one’s own conscience or God’s law.  When we see grave injustice or evil, is it time to be part of the change?  Is there a higher mandate in some cases?

Quotes from MLK, Jr. on civil disobedience

►We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germanywas “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungarywas “illegal.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr., “Letter from BirminghamJail,” Why We Can’t Wait, 1963

►Ordinarily, a person leaving a courtroom with a conviction behind him would wear a somber face. But I left with a smile. I knew that I was a convicted criminal, but I was proud of my crime. ~Martin Luther King, Jr.,March 22, 1956

More quotes by MLK, Jr.

Other interesting quotes on the subject

►If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality. ~Bishop Desmond Tutu

►I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not so desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. ~Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience, 1849

►Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it. ~Albert Einstein

►When leaders act contrary to conscience, we must act contrary to leaders. ~Veterans Fast for Life

►You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it. ~Malcolm X

►If… the machine of government… is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. ~Henry David Thoreau, On the Duty of Civil Disobediance, 1849

►We cannot, by total reliance on law, escape the duty to judge right and wrong…. There are good laws and there are occasionally bad laws, and it conforms to the highest traditions of a free society to offer resistance to bad laws, and to disobey them. ~Alexander Bickel

►Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.  ~Henry David Thoreau

►It is necessary to distinguish between the virtue and the vice of obedience. ~Lemuel K. Washburn, Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays, 1911

What do you think?

Do you agree or disagree with these quotes?

Where is the line?  Is there one?

And finally, a reminder that civil disobedience is not easy:

►It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong. ~Voltaire

What are your thoughts on this quote?

What would you consider worthy of civil disobedience?

What would you risk for your cause?

I apologize for the formatting.  WordPress is acting up.  Angie

It’s all about the heart, Part III

In case you missed them:   All about the heart, Part 1    All about the heart, Part II

Often my “Christian” posts are a part of my study for teaching my 7th, 8th and 9th graders in Sunday School at my Church.  The same is true with Part I of this series, and follows the posts about feeding the flesh and purity.  Today I used this blog loosely as my lesson.  You see last week we learned about Purity – what it is, why it’s good for us, etc..   After class, the students were all in the hall listening to a joke that was questionable.  I’m not sure they even understood why it was questionable or why doing this right after a lesson on purity would bother their SS teacher.

The trial of ”Joke Teller”   

Our first activity of the day was to put “Joke Teller”, a former student who can handle being an object lesson, on trial.  We talked about what would make the joke “wrong”.  They immediately understood that it’s off color nature was not good.  It took a while to pull out of them, however, that the joke uses the Lord’s name in vain twice.  (See the 10 Commandments)  Once they understood what that meant, it was easy to lead them to a guilty verdict, not just for “Joke Teller” but for themselves too for listening (and retelling).  The joke may not seem such a big deal to many, but it was an object lesson opportunity this teacher could not pass up!

Line? What line?

Where’s the line?

For our next activity, we divided into three teams.  Each team had yellow electrical tape on the end of a table as close to the end as possible.  The goal was for each team to compete to be the one to get their car closest to on the tape without going over.  The three winners then faced off for an over-all winner.  We then discussed part of the ways we push disobedience (as per Part I) where we try to go as close to ‘the line’ as possible or even push our toe over it.  One point I wanted them to understand was that when we walk on the line all the time, it’s very easy to fall over the line.

If you can’t see me, I’m not guilty

Our next activity involved a game where a student was blindfolded and placed in a chair.  One at a time, other students were given a chance to try to steal a treasure from under the chair without

undercover

getting caught.  The seated person could use hands and feet and movement to try to tag anyone sneaking around them.  If a ‘thief’ was tagged, he or she became the owner of the treasure.  Then we broke down the next items on the list of ways we disobey (per Part I) by sneaking and thinking that “not caught” is the same thing as “not guilty”.   We used driving as an example (even though none of my students are drivers yet).  I asked them, “What happens when a person is driving along (over the speed limit or not) and they spot a police car?”  Answer:  “Slow down!”  Question 2:  “What does the person do after they get over the hill and away from the police?”  Answer:  “Speed back up!”  {Come on, you know you’re all guilty }

 

Integrity is what we do when no one is looking

Too many of us fall into the mentality that our ‘hidden’ faults aren’t that bad.  One danger here, aside from believing we can cross the line if no one sees us, is that we often tend to judge others for their failings without considering the extent of our own, especially the ones no one else knows about.

Did it ‘stick’?       

I get it already!

I sure like to think it did this time.  Games are a great way to get across to young people as object lessons.  At the end, as I was winding down and bringing them to the conclusion of the lesson, the students each had two coins in front of them they were not allowed to touch (fake ones).  The idea was for others to try to take the other’s coins without getting caught.  That didn’t happen, but as we talked, a couple students started to do/say something not right, and I saw them thought-check themselves.  For me – that’s a win!

I wanted to share the purpose of some of my recent posts for those who care to know.  You each get to make your own choices and suffer your own consequences.  I hope we’ve all learned something as we’ve walked through this together.

How important is integrity to you?

What are some other ways to show these concepts?

Do you think “not caught” is the same thing as “not guilty”?

What do you think of this series and is there anything you would like to see here?

Are there other questions or concepts you feel I could explore with my class?

It’s all about the heart, Part II

If you missed the previous post, you can see it here:  It’s all about the heart.

Derek Mansker of http://nothrowaways.wordpress.com/  made a great comment on the previous post and brought up a good point about a concept that confuses even the most knowledgeable of Biblical Scholars.  Here is his comment:

“Well think about it like this: What does it mean to be free? We are not free in the sense we can do whatever we want. We are free to operate within a certain boundary- God’s. This is a great place to be, but there is that pesky me first attitude that gets in the way.”

Two questions that comes to mind:  Free from what? or Free to what?   We will expand on this in further posts.

In Christ, we are free.  Our sins have been paid for.  Does that mean we should continue to sin?  Paul asks this question in Romans 6:1-8 [v1].  How do we explain this in an understandable way?

1.  We who have accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation, are free from the eternal consquences of our sin.  Our sin has been paid in full, and we no longer need to fear eternal separation from God and paying for our own sin.

2.  We are free of the law of sin.  We live in grace, not the law.  Does that mean we toss the law out the window?  Absolutely not!

a) Our physical bodies are still subject to the physical consquences of sin.  God’s law gives us guiderails to keep us safe and help us live the best life possible here on earth.  If we continue in habitual sin, our bodies will pay the consequences and we may not live as long on the earth as we could have.  We will also have a lot of misery in our lives because the consequences of sin, in the physical body, will still visit us.  If we cheat on our spouse, we will face consequences.  If we stuff our faces with junk food:  we will face consquences.  You get the picture.

b) We are dead to sin and are no longer chained to it to do its bidding.  I use the phrase “dead men don’t eat donuts” to remind me that I am dead in Christ and do not need the things I used to crave.  This takes us back full circle to the posts:  “Getting our feed on” and “Starvin Marvin”.  We feed what we treasure.

c) We have lost our desire to sin.  If we have truly understood what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, we will want to follow Him, thank Him, and become just like Him.  We will also want to please Him.  “Sin” or whatever you want to call it goes against our very nature as His children.  We are free, but we make the choice every day to do what is pleasing and right (or not) based on our love of the Savior and whether we have been feeding the spirit or the flesh.

d) We have Scripture – God’s love letter to us – and the Holy Spirit within to show us what we need to do and why.  It goes back to those guardrails we discussed previously.  The Bible lays out the things that will harm us and the things that will bless us.  The Holy Spirit whispers to us to go to the right or the left.  We are not on our own.

Imagine you bought a new flat screen television.  No, you didn’t buy it completely put together, you bought the parts and plan to put it together yourself.  Even with a guidebook, this would be a difficult if not impossible for the average Joe or Jane to do.  But, in this case, your best friend puts televisions together for a living.  He knows exactly what each piece is, where it goes, and why it goes there.  I’m guessing that even the most technologically impaired among us could get the job done with this helper.

So, is this concept understandable as I explained it here? 

How would you explain it? 

Are there other reasons for following ‘the rules’ even if you’re free to choose not to? 

Do you have other questions I (or other readers) might tackle? 

What do you think?

It’s all about the heart

When it comes to the things we want to do or do not want to do, we want what we want.  Anyone who has spent any time at all with a 2 year old knows the truth in this statement – we do not like it when others put boundaries on us.  Hopefully, as we grow, we learn to accept boundaries from authority figures (including God).  This is true when it comes to living pure/holy/moral lives as well.   There are several ways to respond when God/Parents/Authority figures say “No!” (or do/go/stop/etc.).

You can’t make me!    

I have a grandson, Roland, who has just turned 4.  This child is and was rebelious from the get go.  He simply does not want to do something if others tell him to do it and wants to do it if they tell him not to.  In teaching him to say “I’m sorry” after accidentally hurting someone (which happens quite often), we came to a head-to-head crisis.  At the crisis point, I had him on my lap, holding him there until he said “I’m sorry”.  It was a 45 minute struggle, and I was certainly tempted to let it go.  However, I understood that this was an important thing for him to learn.  Fortunately, I am stronger than he is.  Finally, after 45 minutes, he said, “I’m sorry.”   Game over, Grandma wins.  What Roland didn’t realize is that he won too.  He had learned a lesson about boundaries and doing what’s right.

Where’s the line?

Another incident that sticks in my mind with Roland happened early on.  The molding between the family room and kitchen is the “no cross zone” at our house (at the time).  I remember well the day Roland walked up to the line.  Grandma said, “No!” firmly.  He turned, looked at me full in the eyes, and stuck his toe over the line.  His eyes said, “This is a challenge.  Do you mean what you say or not?”  Grandma took the challenge, and Roland discovered that even a toe over the line is disobedience.

There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forhead; When she was good, she was very, very good, but when she was bad, she was horrid! unknown

The distraction technique

The next disobedience technique comes from my not-quite-two granddaughter.  She learned early, that if she could distract the adult telling her no, she could reach up with the other hand, swipe the item, and run like a bunny rabbit.  She thought she could get away with it if she wasn’t seen.  Of course, this didn’t work very often.  Sometimes it does work because parents can’t always see what their children are doing.  We sometimes think we can pull one over on God too, but He is never distracted.  In fact, He knew  you were going to do it before you did!

Sneaky fingers

Look over there, Gramma!

The next techinique, same granddaughter and similar in style, involves what I call sneaky fingers.  Marilyn is not allowed to touch the keys on my computer.  Of course she wants to do so– really bad.  So her techinque is to stand and watch as if she has no interest in the keys.  Soon a little hand slowly starts moving up toward the keys, slowly creeping upward with a final rush toward a key or two if she makes it close enough.  This is a form of distraction and attempt to hide her intent as well.

What??????

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh!

The next technique I’ve seen in every child I’ve ever had in my care, but right now we’re discussing my two preschool grandchildren as my examples.  My 4 yo grandson was just potty trained.  Yes, it’s true.  He did not want to do it, and he fought every attempt.  His habit was to sneak off in a corner, an attempt to fly under the radar, and poop his pants.  As soon as he finished, he’d go right back to playing until the stench told on him.  Anytime kids are quiet . . . .   Marilyn is really good at this.  If she wants to do something, play with something, taste something, and has been told no, she will get very quiet, fall off the adult radar, and do whatever it was she wanted to do.  This falls into the category of deciet and an attempt to hide the ‘sin’ as well.

Obedience with a but…

The final category involves obedience, but with a heart attitude.  Outwardly, the obedience happens.  Inwardly, not so much.  Marilyn, when told no, stops what she’s doing and gets this hooded, gear-churning look on her face.  She will stand there like that for a minute or more.  She obeys, but Grandma knows she’s doing it out of duress and not because she wants to do it.  This is the category many Christians fall into:  I will obey you God, but in my heart, I’m really doing what I want.  This is the most insidious of the categories as well, because the attitude of disobedience is still there.

It’s all about the heart

Our determination to follow the rules, whether society’s, parents, or God’s, often begins and ends in the heart.  We see a police car and obey the speed limit while in view.  The minute we’re past, how many step on the gas and go right back to disobedience?  Do we think it’s OK to do something if no one is looking?  Do we step our toe over the line to see if we will get away with it?

Actions (or inactions) have consequences

Every thing we do or don’t do, every choice we make, every time we do something we know is not good for us or we’ve been told not to do, has a consquence.  The consequences can be mild or major, they may happen now or later, but they will happen.  Some of us decide experiencing the consquences is worth the momentary pleasures of the disobedience.  Some of us obey — with a but.  Some things have consequences for others.   We think we’re not hurting anyone else by our choices, but that’s not true.  Nothing we choose to do (or not do) happens in a vacuum.  Your choices effect (and affect) others.

So, what’s the point?  Ah, let’s go there.  There is a reason parents give rules.  There is a reason society gives rules.  There is a reason God gives rules.  Are they for our hurt?  Absolutely not! {Disclaimer:  I am aware some human beings may do things for our hurt – we’re talking about the rest of them.}  Do children understand all the rules their parents give them?  If only!  We may not always understand why we need to do or not do something.  Our obedience is not dependent on our understanding.  A right heart obeys because it is the right thing to do.  Understanding comes later.

Do you have a story about one of these techniques or others I have not included?

Have you ever used one of the above techniques or others to try to get your way?

Do you justify breaking rules or laws because you don’t agree with it or because it won’t hurt anyone?

What is your heart attitude?  Are you chronically disobedient?  Do you obey with a but…? 

Feel free to add your stories, questions or comments to this post.  You may be included in a future post

The following is for fun.  Having the granddaughter here…..

Stand Up – Veggie Tales

What is purity?

How many bugs parts. . . until it's impure?

How many bug parts, aphids, thrips, rat hairs, feces, eggs, magots, etc., are acceptable in your food?  According to the FDA, you can have a minimum of these and more in your food before they declare it unclean.  You have probably eaten the equivalent of several bugs (and more) already this year.  Examples (via FDA website):  Pizza and other tomato sauces can have up to 34% mold count; Spinach can have up to 50 aphids, thrips or mites per  100 grams; Peanut butter must have less than 30 insect parts for every 100 grams.  Ok, now that you are sick to your stomach ready to barf aware of what the FDA considers ‘pure’, what do you think?

Purity, as defined by Dictionary.com includes:

(1) the condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that debases, contaminates, pollutes, etc.

(2) freedom from any admixture or modifying addition.

(3) ceremonial or ritual cleanness.

(4) freedom from guilt or evil; innocence.

(5) physical chastity; virginity.

Not gonna happen

We would like (without success) for our food to be absolutely pure.  Unfortunately, it just isn’t possible to keep contaminants from our food — if not along the process, then in your own home.  I won’t give you details in the interest of keeping you here instead of running to the bathroom causing you to never eat again.  But what about us?  God wants us to be pure.  What does that mean?  Is it even possible?

The basics

Just like our food, we allow contaminants in our lives that mar our purity.  Pornograpy is a huge contaminant.  Television, movies, games, etc. can contain images and words that contaminate.  According  to one article, Neilson claims the average child has seen 8,000 murders on TV by the time elementary school is completed. By age 18, that number jumps to 200,000.  The article also brings up the matter of commercialism.  Commercials are made to draw the child.  He sees. He wants. He demands. Often, he gets.  The child is constantly bombarded with images of items she does not have, teaching her that she is wanting in some way if she does not have these things – leading to coveting, envy, jealousy, discontent and more. These are only a few of the examples of “garbage” we willingly allow to go into the minds of our children.  Adult minds are not immune from the effects either.

Bombarded with impurities

Just as it is difficult to have a pure food item, it is difficult to remain pure in a world where we are constantly bombarded with impurities.   So how do we stay pure in an impure world?  Just like our food, it is impossible to be 100% pure in most ways, but if we don’t strive for purity, we will land far from it.  Whether of body or spirit, purity is a worthy goal to pursue.

How do we pursue purity?

1.  Guard our minds from impurities.  One way to do this is to turn off the television, choose not to see that movie, choose not to listen to that off-color joke, choose well the people we hang with, and stay away from certain web sites, among other things.  I could also mention putting on the armor of God here.

2. Fill our minds with the pure things.

• Scripture:  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”  2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)  Meditating, reading, studying of scripture, thinking about good things
• Thinking on good things:  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Our lives will reflect what we fill them with.  Choosing purity must be intentional.  It will not happen if you just kind of hope it does.  It is a choice.  And along with the choice, must come the feeding of purity and the starving of impurity (See previous posts:  “Getting our feed on” and “Starvin Marvin”).  This is true whether you are in a relationship with God or not.  What you feed in your life will show:  you are what you feed on! {You reap what you sow, Garbage In = Garbage Out, . . .}

What are some ways you choose purity?

What are some ways you drift along, allowing impurities in?

What are some ways to make purity intentional?

What does purity mean to you?

Communication Busters: Civility in politics?

In a read-worthy article in Christianity today called “The Cure for Election Madness [How to be political without losing your soul]“ , Amy E. Black brings up some very good points about the political situation today.  Having recently been cursed out and called a few names by those who disagree with me politically and having them point out I’m a highly unintelligent ignoramous for my beliefs, I know exactly what she means when she discusses the lack of civility in politics.  This is nothing new, but it seems to have escalated to a great degree.

Distractors

When a person stoops to name-calling, all real debate, all communication has ceased to exist.  Both sides of the US political scene have been guilty of the incivility, especially as they approach the 2012 election cycle.  Lacking the ability to debate one’s own beliefs or substantiate one’s own claims leads to an attempt to take the voter’s eyes off the real issues.  Mud-slinging is nothing but a distractor from the real issues.  It does what the name implies and covers all the issues with mud, so that you, the voter, can only see mud – everything gets ‘muddied’, muddled, and mutilated.  It also distracts from the fact that the mud-slinger cannot express him/herself in any other way.

What about you?

Most of us have come to accept, even though we dislike it, the idea that politicians are going to dig up the other candidates, great-great-great-great-grandfather’s sordid affair with the midwife and other such superfluous issues.  However, if you discuss politics at all, you must realize that the candidates are not the only one’s slinging mud.  What happened to civility?  Why do we have to put others down for not believing as we do?  They do have the right to be wrong!  So do you!

Amy Black writes:

“If we are to seek peaceful solutions and honor God in politics, we Christians of all people must avoid such hateful talk. James 4:11 commands us to “not slander one another,” an exhortation that should extend beyond how we treat other believers. Whether talking with friends or campaigning for our favorite candidate or cause, we should engage our political opponents and their ideas with respect, welcome the opportunity to learn from other perspectives, and find ways to disagree charitably as a natural part of the political process.”

►Engage other’s ideas with respect

All people deserve respect, even if they are wrong.  Since God is very clear that none of us really understand or get it right all the time, how arrogant are we to think that our beliefs (those not specifically spelled out in the Bible) are the correct ones and that means we can disrespect who we want for whatever reason we want?  ["There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God." Romans 3:11]  To be blunt:  this too is sin.  This does not mean we have to be politically correct and bow down before the forces of evil.  It does mean we disagree in a respectful, Christ-honoring manner.  Jesus was known to call a few people names, such as ‘whited-sepulchers’, but we are not Jesus.  Jesus was speaking of their spiritual condition, and pointing out the hypocrisy of their religious trappings without a relationship with their creator.

►Welcome the opportunity to learn from others

“Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”  Proverbs 27:17   I frequently find, in civil discourse, that I discover some new aspect of something.  It may even lead to a change of mind, change of focus, or at least a shared understanding.  It is the lack of civil discourse which leads folks to start thinking of themselves more highly than they ought, believing they are the true founts of knowledge from which all others must drink.  Once again:  how arrogant!  At the bottom of this tendency is pride:  bow to my wishes, ideas, political beliefs, etc., or I’ll make you wish you had!  I don’t know about you, but when people go on the attack, I don’t want to discuss with them any more.  Some people seem to like arguing, but I don’t like arguing just for the sake of arguing.  That is drama.  I do enjoy a good debate, however, where each side presents their ideas in civility, actually listening to the other person instead of eating them alive for daring to disagree.  It is when we isolate ourselves from the ideas of others (not accepting, but treating the person with respect) that we become narrow-minded hypocrites, full of self, seeking to make others into a carbon copy of us.

►Find ways to disagree charitably

Agreeing to disagree (in the political arena and elsewhere) allows us to share with one another, sharpen one another, and change society as a whole.  Regardless of what you think about my beliefs, ideas and ideals, feel free to agree or disagree, but please don’t scream at me, curse at me or call me names.  People are always in the teaching process.  When someone does the above, he or she has taught me something.  When a person is disrepectful, he or she has taught something.  People constantly teach others about something through their words and deeds:  they give a glimpse into their character, that inner person.  Civil discourse teaches others that while you uphold your own beliefs, you are willing to listen respectfully to others, and maybe, just maybe, learn something in the process.

God cares about the way we argue

“We shouldn’t retreat from the public square and we should work to build a better society. But I’m convinced that God cares about the way we argue as much as He cares about  the issues we espouse.”  This quote from Daniel Darlings blog post “Some great advice for the election season,” [where I discovered the Amy E. Black article].  As we dive into the debates, caucases and general election melee, God is watching and listening.  He cares about how you present yourself to the world.  He calls all of us to love, even when we disagree with one another!

 

Have you been guilty of mistreating another who disagrees with you?

Have you ever been on the recieving end of such?

How do you respond when others disrespect your beliefs or your right to have and express your beliefs, especially in the political arena?

How do you respond when others disagree with you?   Have you ever evaluated or prayed about your response?

You may be the only Jesus some people see.  Evaluate your ideals, beliefs and actions in light of the Scripture, and then go out as a light in the darkness and as salt to savor a bland world, debating with civility and the keeping the real enemy in mind.

“Does He Ever Write Back?

“Watching my little buddy today and he found my Prayer Journal, and as all three year olds do asked, “What is was?”  Told Him it is where I write letters to God.  Very seriously flipping through the pages he asked, “Does He ever write back?”

A friend of mine posted the above on facebook a few days ago.  Her “little buddy” is a 3 year old named Logan.  He is an adorable little cutie that thinks of my friend as a grandma.  Isn’t it funny what kids say?  Little Logan hit the nail on the head.

He sent us the first love letter 

Thinking about this, I have to say how blessed we are – we already have His letter!  He wrote it long before we were born and left it for us to read while He’s ‘away’.  Imagine treating a love letter from your significant other like you treat the Bible.  Some of you will be able to bow out here, but most of us struggle to keep in the Word, reading it, studying it, learning it, and especially applying it.  We often have the urge to do so, but we let life get in the way.  If we really valued this love letter, sealed in the blood of Jesus Christ, we would have a passion that cannot be denied to be in it with every second we could.  Instead, how many can raise their hand to say, “I often have to make myself read the Bible.”  (Or, my Bible is seldom cracked open, much less read.)                                                                                                       But God commendeth His love toward us….(Rom. 5:8)

Intentions    

We often have good intentions, especially after a particularly good sermon, after a revival, or after some other thing lights our fire for the Lord.  But it doesn’t take long for the flame to burn out.  We go back to not doing anything because we’re too ‘busy’, or we trudge along, dragging one foot after the other to do our ‘duty’.   We even want to do it sometimes, but habit takes over and relegates the love letter to the bottom of our ‘to do’ list.

The Helper – NOT!

One issue is lack of commitment.  Another is lack of discipline.  I’m sure there are many more, but there’s also the fact that the enemy, Satan, does NOT want you to read it.  He does not want you to stay close to the love of your life (yes, I mean God).  He is a deciever, but he’s a clever deceiver who makes the counterfit look really good.  One thing my dad always used to tell us when we couldn’t sleep:  “Pray, read the Bible, or witness to the Devil, you’ll be asleep before you know it.”  Sadly, that is true.

Passive Christianity  

Christianity is not passive.  It is a vital relationship with God, and it requires sacrifice and work to maintain.  Just like marriage relationships, one must work at it.  In a passive marriage, the couple will drift slowly apart and wake up one day wondering what happened to the marriage.  It’s the same with our relationship with God.  He gave us a passionate, detailed love letter for us to read while He’s “away”.   What would you think if you gave your sweetie a love letter and he/she just said, “Oh, that’s nice,” and tossed it in a drawer unread?  Passive Christianity is not Christianity at all.

Passionate Christianity

Instead of passive Christianity, it is imperitive that we move to passionate Christianity.  Treat the Scripture like the valuable love-letter it is.  Seek to get as close to God as you possibly can and then put things in place that will help you get there.   It will require discipline; it will require sacrifice; it will require an intentional life, given over to your Love.   Remember back to the first time you fell in love?  You wanted to be with the person all the time.  If you couldn’t be with them, you were together on the phone.  Love letters were cherished and read and reread and put in a special place.  The pulse skyrocketed when he/she came in sight.  You get the picture.  If this is not your relationship with God, it’s time to get that love letter out, caress it, read it, study it, reread it, memorize it, treat it like the priceless treasure it is.

Are you passionate about God and the things of God?

Are you passionate about your Scripture reading/study/etc., giving it top priority instead of letting it collect dust all week?

Do you want to please Him or do you just do the minimum requirements to call yourself a Christian? 

What are some steps you can take to go from passive Christian to passionate soul-mate of almighty God?

Was there a time when you had more passion for the things of God than you do now?  What happened?

“It Takes the Bitter and the Sweet”

Today, I’d like to share a little poem by Helen Steiner Rice (who I love!)

“It Takes The Bitter And The Sweet To Make A Life Full And Complete”

Life is a mixture

of sunshine and rain,

Laughter and teardrops,

pleasure and pain –

Low tides and high tides,

mountains and plains.

But Always in All Ways

God’s guiding and leading

And He alonge knows

The things we’re most needing –

And when He sends sorrow

or some dreaded affliction,

Be assured that it comes

with God’s kind benediction –

And if we accept it

as a Gift Of His Love,

We’ll be showered with blessings

from Our Father Above.

HELEN STEINER RICE

It’s not fair

How often do we praise the Lord for the good things and whine when the bitter things come along?  Like children, we trot out the ‘it’s not fair’ card whenever things don’t go our way.  We whine; we throw tantrums; we indulge in pity parties; we try to ‘fix’ things; we do whatever we can to get away from the bitterness.

Why me?

Why not me?  Why do I think I should miss out on the bitter things in life?  While we’re here on the earth, there is hardship.  It is common to man. We all face it at one time in our lives.

What we’re doing

When we fuss and cry and say ‘why me?’, are we questiong God?  Don’t get me wrong, God can take questioning.  He’s a big God.  What happens though, is that we go from asking questions about the bitterness and start maligning God.  Why did God do this to me?  If You loved me, God, you wouldn’t have let this happen.  I refuse to believe in a God who could allow this to happen.

Character assasination

The above questions are all questions or statements I have heard people say.  And to be honest, I have two responses to people in pain.  I have utmost sympathy and empathy for those who are in pain.  I have had to swallow my own bitter pills, and I understand.  However, when it crosses the line and people start throwing dirt on God, my inner prophet rises up in rage.

What’s the point?

All of us have a mixture of bitter and sweet in our life.  Would we see taste the wonder of sweet if we had not tasted the bitter?  Would we appreciate the light had we never wallowed in the darkness?  Would we seek kindness if we had never faced unkindness?  Life is not sunshine and roses.  Sunshine burns and roses have thorns.

The complete life takes both

As Helen Steiner Rice points out in her poem, “God is always guiding and leading  And He alone knows the things we’re most needing –”   A lot of the bitter in life comes from sin (ours or someone else’s) but God is watching out for each thing.  He knows which dark threads will bring out the beauty of your soul.

Don’t judge

Many things that come into our lives seem like blessings or curses.  We judge them to be so.  However, sometimes those ‘blessings’ are not blessings at all and sometimes those ‘curses’ are not really curses.  We have to look at the tapestry of our lives from God’s veiwpoint.  He sees the beginning and the end.  We see the dark threads and knots of the underside.

It comes down to trust

It really all comes down to trust.  Do we trust God or do we not?  Do we think of Him like some big Santa in the sky who’s supposed to lavish us with whatever we want?  Many do.  But those who know God intimately and personally, know that He is trustworthy and faithful in all things.  He doesn’t leave us alone to taste the bitter; He comes alongside and helps us through it.  And just like the rainbow in the storm, He brings beauty into even the bitterest moments.

Have you ever questioned God’s character?

Do you have a personal experience wherein something bad led to something good or visa versa?

Do you have a story of how God helped you through a bitter time, bringing in pieces of sweetness even in the pain of the bitterness?

Have you ever let the bitter steal your sweet?

What do you think of the premise that it takes the bitter and the sweet to make a life full and complete?

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.”  –Oh_YeahReally  – Brian