It will come as no surprise

In the aftermath of the liberal 1990s where progress was measured in how much money a person had in their wallet, the size of their portfolio, the opportunity for coporations like Enron and Worldcom to screw people, a President who was immoral in the oval office, a nation that joined the rest of the world in appeasement peacemaking which allowed Saddam to divert mass sums of money from his people though the defunct oil for food program, and ignoring the gathering threat at the nations borders...It comes as no surprise that our nations moral metal is being tested as it embarks on making past mistakes right, honoring its pledges to the Iraqi and Afghan people, bridging a real gap between the west and the North Koreans (instead of being suckered) and seeing enormous change stirring in the Middle East...It comes as no surprise that evil people and those with evil tendencies would ignore the hope that is stirring, would instead prefer to fall back into their 1990s mindset of self-preservation and isolationism...It comes as no surprise that people hate excellence when they would prefer to sit in the seat of mediocrity where a government handout to the local grasshopper is more valuable than a nest of ants working together...It comes as no suprise that Americans feel that their right to liberty and money is far more relevant to those who share our borders and a hope for a better life...It comes as no surprise... that these series of tests will one day show us how judged we are...

Pet Peeve

It really bothers me when people go through the 15 items or less line at the grocery store and they have more than 15 items. I saw a woman who should have known better go through with a cart of over 30 items. I counted them. The teller said nothing.

I have a number of other pet peeves I am going to share over the next few days. Please... don't be like the people I tell you about.

Definately worth a read: Comparing Presidents

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/
frontline/shows/choice2004/leadership/greenstein.html

Do Facts/Truth Exist??

There are no longer such things as facts. Social humanism killed truth/fact a long time ago. Today there is only relativistic interpretation of events. That's what happens in a standardless society bent on self-preservation, rationalization and mediocrity.

A Person for all Seasons

Genesis 43: 15-34

What were Joseph's sanctifying virtues?

1. He worked well under authority and respected those under his authority.
2. He returned good in the place of evil; he was forgiving. (Romans 12:17-Do not repay evil for evil). Do more than is required, replace evil with good, love your enemies.
3. He executed his stewardship with complete trustworthiness. He used his position for the common good (John 17:4)
4. Whenever he spoke he spoke truth. He didn't tell everything he knew but what he did tell was true.

A mistake is not a sin.

Suffering & God's Use

Hebrews 5:1-10 & Genesis 37:12-36

1. To show and move one beyond their suffering and longing.
2. Faith develops where one is at in their life and not where one was or where one will be.

New Orleans: Out of the City of Death

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina one begins to think about ones home. Where is home, what is a home, who makes up a home? People long for a permanent home that is non-hostile, one that is safe, secure, comfortable, peaceful. In the gulf region 3 million people are without homes. Citizens in New Orleans fled as best they could the city of death and hostility. There is another city of death and hostility and it is one only Jesus Christ can get one out of.

Judging Others

Ever heard the phrase, "Judge not lest ye be judged"? I am sure that most have. Unfortunately when people toss this phrase into a discussion they rarely include the full context where the phrase comes from (Matthew 5:1-7:27).

The command to "Judge Not" is not a requirement to be blind toward truth telling... but a plea to be discerning, gracious and merciful. The passage where this verse is found is part of a larger sermon Jesus taught called the Sermon on the Mount. The entire sermon is needed for understanding. Chapter 5 emphasizes the Kingdom of God... especially as it relates to the law. Jesus lays out the spiritual "order of opperations" (PEMDAS). Blessed are the poor in Spirit. The person recognizes their fallen nature. Blessed are those who mourn. The person is sorrowful and seeks repentence... and so on. Jesus builds the truth upon a solid rock foundation. Man is evil. God is good. God justifies man. Jesus is the justifier. Chapter 6 emphasizes the Fatherhood of God and the freedom that provides. Chapter 7 emphasizes the Judgment of God and the impact that has on our lives.

With an truthful understanding of Chapter 5 and 6, chapter 7 and the "Judge not" passage makes more sense. Here are some of the misinterpretations of this passage:

1. We should never judge or criticize anyone for anything.
2. We are not to be discerning.
3. Love and Judgment are incompatible.

The first misinterpretation is the one unbelievers usually use. They use this interpretation in the political/social arena to justify actions, attitudes and beliefs.

Here is the irony about judgment. If one judges in your favor then that person is being open minded, progressive, tolerant etc... but if a person judges against you then that person is being close minded, out of date and intollerant.

The thrust of this passage is distinguishing between true and false religions... between truth and hypocrisy. It reveals the natural human tendency to see the faults of our neighbors while blithely overlooking our own. What misinterpreters fail to realize is that their interpretation is blind to a simple truth. Judgment is meant to bring one to repentence and conversion.

But there are many Christians who do not understand this and they use the hammer of justice like the Pharisees and Scribes used it. They were oppressively judgmental. They were unmerciful, unkind, unforgiving, censorious (harshly critical/ inclined to find fault), lacking compassion and lacking grace. The truth be told many non-christians are often censorious as well--and judge all that is wrong with the world to be the fault of Christians, their Bible and whomever the world perceives to be their "political" leaders. These are erroneous views of judgment. Keep the context in mind, "Judge not lest ye be judged" ... "for in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." This is not saying not to judge but to be right in your judgment. God will measure His judgment upon mankind according to the standard of measure mankind uses; may it be a measure of grace and mercy.

The Blame Game

Why do people believe nothing bad should ever happen to them and when something bad does happen why do they try and find someone to blame? Sometimes events occur and people are to blame and sometimes events occur and there is nothing anyone could have done.

We live in a fallen world. Bad things are going to happen. Get over your self importance.