This morning I listened to a minister make the comment that we were not a Christian nation. I started to get angry and in my typical fashion yell at the TV that "Oh yes we ARE!!" when he added, "We are a nation that tolerates Christianity, and that fuse is growing very short."
I sat back down in my seat, stunned. He was right! The USA was initially set up using Judeo-Christian principles, but our founding fathers were very careful to not embrace a state sponsored church, or a church sponsored state. Our nation was set up in a manner that anyone would be able to practice their religious beliefs without fear of persecution. For nearly two centuries, we enjoyed our freedom to be Christians, and we operated under the assumption that the reason our wonderful Country was blessed by God, was because we were a Christian nation.
At first I was furious with that preacher because I thought he had bought into Mr. O's assertion that the USA was not a Christian nation, but a Muslim one... until he added the second part of his statement. "We are a nation that tolerates Christianity..." and then the sobering part, "but that fuse is growing very short."
We are not a Christian Nation (even though we use to believe we were) we are a nation that tolerates Christianity. We are NOT a Muslim nation, we are a nation that tolerates Islam. (And I hope that does't bite us in our backsides, but I believe it will eventually because Islam is not a tolerant religion.) We are not a Jewish nation, but we tolerate Judaism. We also tolerate atheists, agnostics, Hari Krishna, Moonies, Scientologists, Buddhists and any number of other religions, whether they are "real" religions or not.
Even with the disparity of religious belief's, we are still (suppose to be) "One Nation Under God," at least until the atheists succeed in having "Under God" removed from our pledge of allegiance. (Which I hope never happens!)
I am looking forward to the second coming of the Messiah. After the short marriage feast, He will return to earth to rule with an iron hand for 1,000 years. At that time we, and every nation on earth, will be "A Christian Nation" ruled by Christ Himself.
Then, after that last great battle when all of the enemies of God are finally crushed, we will never again have to defend our belief to anyone. I'm ready!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Anyone also means me
When Jesus was teaching His disciples about forgiveness, He told them that if they took their offering to the altar and remembered that someone had "aught" against them, they were to leave the offering, and go make amends with that person.
He also told them that when they prayed, they were to ask God to forgive them, even as they have forgiven others. He told them, and us, that if we do not forgive others, that God could not forgive us.
I had a preacher tell me once that when we are forgiving others, we also need to forgive ourselves! We ask the Lord to forgive us, but then we continue to beat ourselves up because of past sins, that God HAS forgiven us for. This preacher went on to ask me if I counted myself better than God, because if God had forgiven me, then who was I to not forgive myself?
That is a hard lesson to learn, but one that I feel is important. When we are trying to be obedient to the Lord we strive to forgive anyone and everyone who has wronged us.
Shouldn't that anyone include ourselves?
He also told them that when they prayed, they were to ask God to forgive them, even as they have forgiven others. He told them, and us, that if we do not forgive others, that God could not forgive us.
I had a preacher tell me once that when we are forgiving others, we also need to forgive ourselves! We ask the Lord to forgive us, but then we continue to beat ourselves up because of past sins, that God HAS forgiven us for. This preacher went on to ask me if I counted myself better than God, because if God had forgiven me, then who was I to not forgive myself?
That is a hard lesson to learn, but one that I feel is important. When we are trying to be obedient to the Lord we strive to forgive anyone and everyone who has wronged us.
Shouldn't that anyone include ourselves?
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Temper - Temper!
(Are you an “Africanized Bee?)
Let’s consider the bee for a few moments. They are a marvel of God’s engineering! This tiny winged insect sips the nectar from flowers and by some wonderful metamorphosis, turns it into honey. In the proccess of sipping the nectar, they pollinate the plants, which in most cases is necessary for the plants to produce fruits and vegetables.
The bee communicates with it’s hive-mates using vibrations of it’s wings because it’s entirely dark inside the hive. By using it’s intricate dance a bee can tell others in the hive exactly where she found a large group of flowers, waiting to be sipped.
Most bees are cautious insects. They carry a stinger that can inflict a painful wound on a human or an animal that comes too close to the bee, but at a great cost to the bee! The bee sting is fatal to all the bees, except the queen of the hive. All others have one chance to sting, and unless they are threatened or provoked, they usually choose NOT to use it. In order to sting, the bee must inject her barbed stinger into her victim, then an internal pump starts to work, pumping venom into the victim until the reservoir is empty. When the bee pulls loose from the victim, the barbed stinger stays in and pulls part of her internal organs out, and she dies.
Most bees are so very careful to not use their stingers, because they “know” they will die, and they are important to the hive! Only in extreme cases will a bee choose to sting, choosing rather to fly away if at all possible.
But, the Africanized bees are different. These bees are easily provoked and they immediately fly into a rage and attack en mass. They angrily swoop in to attack anyone who gets too close to them, not caring that they will kill themselves with their own anger.
How like bees we are! We have become a society of “Africanized bees!” Almost every day we hear on the news about “road rage,” a new phenomenon in which otherwise intelligent human beings snap and become murderous simply because someone was driving incorrectly.
Go to any supermarket and get in line to check out, and watch the tempers rise as people wait in line for their turn. We immediately turn from rational human beings to raging lunatics in our impatience to be checked out and on our way.
We need to pray to ask God to remind us to “be angry and sin not.” We need to be slow to anger, and cautious with when and where we choose to use our anger. Let’s not kill ourselves in our hurry to blow up at another human being. Let’s not be “Africanized bees.”
WoSLaL 1956
Let’s consider the bee for a few moments. They are a marvel of God’s engineering! This tiny winged insect sips the nectar from flowers and by some wonderful metamorphosis, turns it into honey. In the proccess of sipping the nectar, they pollinate the plants, which in most cases is necessary for the plants to produce fruits and vegetables.
The bee communicates with it’s hive-mates using vibrations of it’s wings because it’s entirely dark inside the hive. By using it’s intricate dance a bee can tell others in the hive exactly where she found a large group of flowers, waiting to be sipped.
Most bees are cautious insects. They carry a stinger that can inflict a painful wound on a human or an animal that comes too close to the bee, but at a great cost to the bee! The bee sting is fatal to all the bees, except the queen of the hive. All others have one chance to sting, and unless they are threatened or provoked, they usually choose NOT to use it. In order to sting, the bee must inject her barbed stinger into her victim, then an internal pump starts to work, pumping venom into the victim until the reservoir is empty. When the bee pulls loose from the victim, the barbed stinger stays in and pulls part of her internal organs out, and she dies.
Most bees are so very careful to not use their stingers, because they “know” they will die, and they are important to the hive! Only in extreme cases will a bee choose to sting, choosing rather to fly away if at all possible.
But, the Africanized bees are different. These bees are easily provoked and they immediately fly into a rage and attack en mass. They angrily swoop in to attack anyone who gets too close to them, not caring that they will kill themselves with their own anger.
How like bees we are! We have become a society of “Africanized bees!” Almost every day we hear on the news about “road rage,” a new phenomenon in which otherwise intelligent human beings snap and become murderous simply because someone was driving incorrectly.
Go to any supermarket and get in line to check out, and watch the tempers rise as people wait in line for their turn. We immediately turn from rational human beings to raging lunatics in our impatience to be checked out and on our way.
We need to pray to ask God to remind us to “be angry and sin not.” We need to be slow to anger, and cautious with when and where we choose to use our anger. Let’s not kill ourselves in our hurry to blow up at another human being. Let’s not be “Africanized bees.”
WoSLaL 1956
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Excited again!
This morning I learned our local church will be getting a new pastor. He is a dynamic preacher, full of the Holy Ghost, and he knows how to yield fully to the Spirit.
For several years, I have been looking for a new church home, but more than a little reluctant to go anywhere else. I love my church, I miss my kids (I use to teach the teen class), I miss my friends, but I simply could not go over there, and for some reason, the Spirit wouldn't lead me to another church. Now I know why! He had something better for us!
Today I am excited about going to church again. I feel hopeful about the future of the local church, and I am so thrilled that we are getting such a Spirit-filled minister to lead us. I'm also more than a little thrilled that he is the State Youth director because that is where my heart is.
Blessings!
For several years, I have been looking for a new church home, but more than a little reluctant to go anywhere else. I love my church, I miss my kids (I use to teach the teen class), I miss my friends, but I simply could not go over there, and for some reason, the Spirit wouldn't lead me to another church. Now I know why! He had something better for us!
Today I am excited about going to church again. I feel hopeful about the future of the local church, and I am so thrilled that we are getting such a Spirit-filled minister to lead us. I'm also more than a little thrilled that he is the State Youth director because that is where my heart is.
Blessings!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Spring in my neck of the woods
Today the wind is blowing at a steady 25mph with gusts much higher. It's suppose to be in the 90's again. The weather has been brutal this spring with only a very few really nice days.
My garden lies unplanted still. We may have to wait for a fall garden this year if we aren't able to get out in the next few days. Already it's much too hot for many plants.
Even with the foul weather, I am thankful to the Lord for all of His provisions, and for keeping Bubba and me safe. He has provided for us in ways that are almost miraculous. He is our provider, and our friend.
Blessings!
My garden lies unplanted still. We may have to wait for a fall garden this year if we aren't able to get out in the next few days. Already it's much too hot for many plants.
Even with the foul weather, I am thankful to the Lord for all of His provisions, and for keeping Bubba and me safe. He has provided for us in ways that are almost miraculous. He is our provider, and our friend.
Blessings!
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