Giving Thanks

In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday I wanted to share a Peanuts comic strip with y'all.

It shows the Peanuts gang inside getting ready to enjoy a sumptuous turkey dinner and in the next frame you see Snoopy sitting on top of his dog house with a bowl of dog food. We all know how much he hates his dog food and he has a look of disgust as he is depressed because he can't be inside to share in the meal. In the third frame he resolves himself by thinking- "It could be worse, I could have been born a turkey."

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Have a blessed Thanksgiving

Is God Fair?

Have you ever felt like God has forgotten you, or that wicked people seem to get ahead, have more stuff, and don't seem to have as many burdens? When I say wicked, I mean people who are living with principles of "self" instead of God's principles.

In Psalm 73 Asaph is complaining to God about ungodly people because they-
have no struggles
don't have the same daily burdens
get away with oppressing others
mock God
are always carefree

In verses 13-15 He says not only is there no benefit to being good, but there is also a price to be paid for being good. And his heart is grieved.(vs.21)

Envy and comparison will always be a stumbling block to faith.

Notice starting in verse 16, he begins to turn his heart towards God. He said that he walked into the sanctuary of God. He isn't talking about corporate worship here. It's private and personal.

Turn our focus totally toward God and get alone with Him.

In verse 18 He starts to see that the wicked have costs too. And nothing is always and all.
He sums it up in verse 28, "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your good works.

"As far as I can remember, being a celebrity has never helped me make a good picture ... or command the obedience of my daughter, or impress my wife. It doesn't even seem to help keep fleas off our dog, and if being a celebrity won't give one an advantage over a couple fleas, then I guess there can't be that much in being a celebrity after all." - Walt Disney

So... Is God fair?

Absolutely Not!

Or else we would get what we deserve. Thank You Jesus!

Our National Motto

If I were to ask the average American Joe or Jane what our national motto is, do you think they could tell me? Do you think they would even care? Well if you've been a reader of my blog for any time at all, you've probably guessed that it has something to do with God. Well you'd be right. It's "IN GOD WE TRUST."

This all came about because a simple preacher wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase in 1861 proposing that we should acknowledge Almighty God on our money because it would- "relieve us from the ignominy of heathenism. This would place us under the Divine protection we have personally claimed. From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters."

From 1938 until the present, that statement of faith has been on virtually every form of American currency.

A law passed by the Joint Resolution of the 84th Congress and approved by the President on July 30, 1956 declared "IN GOD WE TRUST" the national motto of the United States of America.

Notice that our motto isn't "IN god WE TRUST", or "IN gods WE TRUST." It signifies the one true GOD above all other gods. It's really scary how prophetic that simple preacher's concern about disowning God was when you read and hear about the ACLU and other groups passionately trying to eliminate any and every mention of the Triune Godhead.

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His inheritance.

Isaiah 60:12 For the nation and kingdom which will not serve You shall perish, And those nations shall be utterly ruined.

Are we as passionate about TRUSTING in our GOD?

Stretch Out Your Hand

"Do you want to be healed?"

"It is easy to tell people that you are feeling tense. It is not as easy to tell three or four people in a small group of the great ache in your heart because a relationship with your husband or wife, son, daughter, or friend has fallen apart at the seams. Nor is it easy to talk of your fears—losing your job, the operation you face, losing your mother who is dying. But when you do and turn with hope to God and the prayers of members of the group, a slow inner transformation begins that never fails to surprise people and that keeps them coming back." Avery Brooke, Healing in the Landscape of Prayer

I think many folks visit church for the first time due to a great big ache in their soul that longs to be acknowledged and healed. Is your community the place where true transformation and healing begins? Or is it only a place where you can tell people you are feeling tense?

Transformation is a $10 word that is tossed around the church often. I wonder if we talk about transformation so much because it is so rare?

Perhaps the first step toward healing or transformation is to admit that we need healing. Maybe the next step is to show or acknowledge our wounds. Perhaps that is what Jesus meant when he said: "Stretch out our hand."

Is your congregation a place where folks can stretch out their hands?

You Are There

Have you ever read a story or parable in the Bible and wondered what you would be doing if you were there? Think of the feeding of the 5000. Would you be discussing with your friends the impossibility of a seemingly endless supply of food coming out of the basket being passed around, or by faith would you just accept it?

What if you were in the garden with your best friend over the past three years? Your Lord and Savior is in obvious pain and stress and you can do nothing about it. All of a sudden a huge and intimidating group of soldiers appears to take Him away and possibly kill or torture Him. What are you going to do? Flee? Throw yourself in front of Him inviting imminent death? Or stand numbly in shock as they take Him away.

I was reading in Luke 5 this morning about the paralytic man and his four friends that were carrying him on a stretcher, doing what they could to get him to Jesus. I would hope that I would be one of those men willing to do anything necessary to get my crippled friend to the feet of Jesus where he will have his sins forgiven and paralysis ended. Would I be? Or would I be pushing through the crowd trying to see and hear the prophet for myself not even thinking of my friend? Or, worse yet, would I just stay home because of the hassle- and I hate crowds-and they're all dumb anyway for following anybody anywhere?

What am I like today? Am I willing to do everything I can to bring my sick, broken, and sin paralyzed friends to the feet of Jesus? All too often I just stay at home.

Neighbors and Enemies

It seems like pain and suffering in ourselveswould teach us a little about pain and suffering in others.

Too often it doesn’t.

It seems like having a loved one face a potential life threatening illness would soften our hearts to others who are facing a life threatening illness.

Too often it doesn’t.

It would seem that knowing the fear pain, confusion, hurt and loss that is associated with a loved one’s suffering would move us in a manner that we would never want to see another human suffer.

It would be rather hypocritical to beg God to heal and cure my friends and family while I live a life that perpetuates indifference and even hatred toward others.I may not be violent, but I surely am not following Jesus when it comes to loving my enemies.

Something seems wrong with "Dear God, please heal my wife." While I advocate sending kids off to a foreign land to kill and hurt the "enemy" and to be killed and injured by the "enemy." Does God only hear my prayers? I mean, does God hear my prayers for healing of a loved one while ignoring those who live opposite of my views? If God hears my prayers knowing my potential for evil, what would possess me to think that somehow God wouldn’t hear the prayer of those who differ from me? That is about the same mentality as, "Please God help my team win" while hoping the opponent’s quarterback gets creamed.If I am going to pray for a loved one, it would seem that God would expect me to pray with at least the same intensity for the healing of others. Too often I don’t. I wonder how that impacts God? Seriously, I wonder what God must think? "Dude, I know you love your wife, but how 'bout passing on some prayers for those you can't stand."

Perhaps that is a mark of my spiritual maturity? Praying with the same intensity for those I dislike as those I love. Passionately praying for those who I think are my enemies the same way Jesus instructed. If so, I am not all that mature.
I need to repent. I mean if I am going to use the Word and talk about repenting I ought to at least repent and turn toward the Love and believe the Good News. That is, that God loves us all the same. Even those I don't like.
But while I am begging God to heal those I know and love there are those with whom I differ who are begging God to heal those they love. Tonight as we pray for a friend to be healed from cancer there is a mother begging God to return her son or daughter home safely from a war or a dissident begging God to help end government oppression and abuse or some woman begging God to end the violence in her own home. If I am going to pray, then my prayer life ought to transform my world view and the way I live. My prayer life ought to not be only for my healing but the healing of the planet. Because, prayer really isn't all about me.

Lord in you mercy hear OUR prayer(s).

The Band of Bullies

Walking down the street you are heading towards home. It has been a delightful day with areas of victories and successes to be proud of. And then it happens before you can realize it: you are in danger. A bunch of guys come out, seemingly out of the blue, and surround you! This band of bullies begin the initial taunt and jeering of your character and personality. You stand there stunned asking yourself, how do they know my weaknesses like they do? There is an obvious leader who decides to confront you by saying to you, “sissy, what are you going to do about it?” Your heart races, and the fear for your life begins to take view asking yourself internally “What should I do? Where can I run to? Who is going to help me?” So, the gang leader again approaches you and this time physically pushes you in the chest saying “loser, what are you going to do about it?” And before you know it this bully has your arm twisted behind you back which causes an intense sharp pain in the arm as you crouch over facing the ground attempting to levy the pain away. Taking advantage of your position of weakness, the bully gets really close to your ear and whispers, “hey loser, what are you going to do now?” This band of bullies are now in full force laughing and making belittling comments about who you are and your predicament. One of many probable thoughts running your head is how did I ever get into to this? And more importantly, a thought that if I get out of this, I will never in my life time walk down this street again.Feeling helpless, powerlessness, ambushed, overwhelmed and fearful are common themes in recovering from sin. Such experiences occur when sudden attacks corners us, like being surrounded by the band of bullies. Their main goal is to remind you of your past behavior and who you were when in the throngs of a familiar pattern of sin and acting out. This band of bullies knows nothing of edifying, encouraging or mercy. For that is not their job. The band of bullies job is to remind you and distract you from the Truth that God has offered mercy for all your sins, even your vices. And this band of bullies know that if they can distract you enough from the Truth of mercy, emotionally you will spiral and not experience victory in your behavior, thoughts and feelings.Mercy is a powerful word in that it is received, as it is accepted. God so desires you to grasp that His mercy is powerful and wants you to take it in to be part of you. When we sit in the shame and guilt of past behavior, tormenting thoughts and feelings feeds a defeated attitude. In that we then become polarized, stuck in the moment. U2, a famous rock band from Ireland, wrote a song entitled “Stuck in a moment” which was written after a friend of the band completed suicide after a long battle with his “demons.” To summarize the idea that being “stuck in the moment” is the twisting of the arm by the enemy and we place our face to the ground in a powerless moment. But crying out for help and receiving that mercy from God empowers us to not be “stuck in the moment” but moving towards better and hopeful moments. Being “stuck in the moment” can be pure helplessness but not powerlessness. Your prayer life has a strong part in the ushering the power of mercy into your life, and maybe more forgiveness towards yourself.One can encourage people to take the mercy God offers, but it takes faith to accept that mercy in spite of life events and situations. God offers mercy to you irregardless of your situation brought on by you or by a band of bullies. Crying “uncle, UNCLE, UNCLE,” will not release you from the enemies clutches. It is relying and believing on the mercy of God that you can say “Jesus help me” or, “God help me,” and/or “Holy Spirit, help me I am in danger” chases off the band of bullies. God’s mercy is the element that will pick you up no matter what befalls you. It is the key to your accepting and receiving forgiveness from God. Even though He gives it, you have to receive it by faith.Continuing with the introduction story: So you are facing the ground and the band of bullies are in full force, so you call out, “God help me.” Then in a powerful quiet approach, three blurred figures come towards the band of bullies. This blurred three approaches with synchronized momentum as they come quickly from behind the leader of the band of bullies, who has no idea what is happening. But then he sees that his troupe is breaking apart and then running off, leaving him all by himself to deal with this blurred three which comes into focus as One. As He approaches, makes eye contact and states, “Flee, NOW.” The leader releases your arm and struts off saying with a defiant attitude, “yeah, whatever, I’ll be back, you’ll see.” As he walks away you fall to the ground narrowly miss hitting your face as your one un-injured arm supports the hard landing. This Helper is now reaching out to you offering comfort and encouraging you to sit and recover because He will keep watch for you. You are too weak to get up now, “rest with Me” He says. Then He reaches out and takes your arm over His shoulder and supports you to stand. He brushes you off, and walks with you home.On the way home, you finally recognize who it is. It’s your Heavenly Father. “Dad” you say, “I am so embarrassed, they made fun of me and all that I was.” He responds, “First my child, I love you for who you are today and who you will become tomorrow and lastly I can assure you I will deal with that band of bullies in due time.” He smiles and you both continue the walk home. “It is sure a long walk home,” you say. He responds, “yes, but I am here right with you to support you if you let me, I wont force myself on you, please don’t do it alone.”

James 4:7

Guilt and How to Feel Forgiven

1. Remember that what God has forgiven, you have no right to continue feeling guilty about. In other words, if God has forgiven you, then you must be willing to forgive yourself.

2. Confess the guilt as though it, in itself, is a sin. When you refuse to accept God's forgiveness, you are saying that Christ's sacrifice was not enough to handle your sin.

3. Discipline your mind to stop thinking about whatever keeps making you feel guilty. satan wants to keep you bound up in guilt so you will be ineffective for God.

4. Pass along that forgiveness to others. Comforting others with the same comfort that you have received helps greatly in the healing process.

5. Give yourself a break. It takes time. There will be setbacks, but with patience and persistence you can break the stranglehold of guilt and unworthiness.

Without Love

Speaking the Truth in Love?

What does it mean to speak the truth in love?Have you ever noticed that those who claim to speak the "truth in love" rarely are compassionate, loving people?

Wonder why that is?

Rarely do I see the love.As a mater of fact, most often when I hear someone saying, "I’m just speaking the truth in love" I can be fairly sure it’s not about love or truth. It is frequently about manipulation, control, or some distorted, ego-centric ideal of truth, which isn’t really truth.

It reminds me of Jack Nicholson in the movie, A Few Good Men. You may recall when on the witness stand his character said, "Truth, you want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!" For some reason this high-ranking officer assumed he possessed and controlled the truth. Like many folks in religious circles, he justified his actions as truth while hiding behind his hatred and power.

And that is where the problem lies.

Without love,there is no truth.

For, according to Jesus the supreme reality, the ultimate meaning and value of existence-- the truth--is love.And love appears to be the truth that many can’t handle,especially for those so caught up in speaking the truth.

In You I am well pleased

I was reading in Luke 3 and I thought this was really cool! Starting at vs. 21. Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased."

The first thing I noticed is that this account of Christ's baptism is unadorned compared to the other gospels. John isn't even mentioned! I also found it interesting that it said He was in the act of talking to God when heaven opened up.

What really blew me away was the end of verse 22 where the Father says,"You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased. Why would God say He was pleased? Is it because He is holy? Or is it because He is a good teacher?
I think God chose to speak aloud in front of the masses for the first time in over 400 years because Jesus was willing to humble Himself by identifying Himself with the Gentile people. Who were these people? As John the Baptist said back in Luke 3:3, they were being baptized of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. They were non-Jewish sinners that Moses' law could not save. And as we all know, Jesus was sinless! I think that's why God was so proud. Jesus led by humility. There was no need, but He set an example for us, even at the beginning of His ministry.

Waiting on Heaven

Waiting On Heaven
If I should die upon a day and there soon be forgotten.
I'll soar above to old friends dear and play on clouds of cotton.

Of pixie dust and fairy lands and dreams of come what may
-all childish tales I've left behind for promised crowns to lay.

With lions and lambs and streets of gold and banquets where we feast,
I burst with joy to know someday I'll sit with the King of Peace.

JG

Are You a Camel?

There is a Middle Eastern way to teach camels to become useful to their masters. The way it works is that when a camel is young, the teacher will continue to pile object upon object on the camel's back until it is so weighted down that it has no choice but to kneel down. The teacher then begins to take weight off of the animal's back. When the camel feels it can, it will rise up. The teacher will then tap the camel on the hump to kneel. Of course, the camel, being immature and stubborn will not readily kneel so the patient teacher will again pile burdens on the camels back, occasionally tapping on the camel's back until it kneels again. Eventually the camel kneels with just a gentle tap on the back and becomes a willing tool for it's master.
How much does this sound like us? If we learn to kneel in prayer and look to our Master for instruction, our burdens will be light.

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Jesus in the Temple

We had an interesting and lively discussion last evening in Bible study. We have been studying the book of Luke and we were in chapter 2. When we started talking about Jesus as a child of 12 in the Temple(vs.41-51), people started asking alot of questions and providing various opinions. I must say, I found this very exciting because you can read a passage over and over and it's like you're skimming the surface and then SPLASH! you're immersed in it.

Several points here:
1. In that culture and time, a child was not considered responsible for his or her own sins until the age of 13. Jesus was 12 at the time.
2. If Jesus were of age and in the Temple telling the teachers of His intimate relationship with His Father, He probably would have been drug out and stoned.
3. No self- respecting Jew would have said "My Father". They might have said "Our Father".
4. Some translations say in vs. 49, "in My Father's house". I like the more literal Greek, "about My Father's affairs."
5. Mary was most likely relaying this message to Luke years later and held these memories dear to her heart.

Questions:
1. Did Jesus "sin" when He chose to disappoint and worry His parents in vs.48?
2. How did He know about "His Father's affairs"?
3. In vs. 48 again, If His parents were amazed at His knowledge, who taught Him?
4. vs. 50. Why would His parents not understand His statement, considering their hidden knowledge of His conception?

Where The Buck Stops

“To pass the buck” is an American colloquialism signifying to evade accountability by passing it on to someone else. President Harry S. Truman had a card on his desk bearing the words, “The Buck Stops Here.” The motto meant that blame for just about everything stopped at his desk. He would not, or could not, blame someone else for failure by a federal government agency.
President George Bush evidently adheres to the same motto. He accepts blame for real and alleged failure by the federal government to respond adequately to Hurricane Katrina. “I accept responsibility,” he said. The buck sits on his desk.
That may be good politics, but it is nonetheless silly. It is not the President’s job to micro-manage government handling of disasters such as befell New Orleans and neighboring communities. It is not within the scope of his office to answer for the respective performances of the designated first-responders to local disasters.
Thinkers who argue about federalism and states’ rights generally agree that – given the Constitution as it stands – police and fire departments are local agencies that answer to local communities, not to the federal government. Accordingly, the Louisiana National Guard takes its orders from the governor of Louisiana, not from anyone in Washington. Only under grievous circumstances would the President try to usurp the rights and powers of state and urban agencies.
That, of course, is precisely what President Bush should have done. We now know that New Orleans’ mayor was incompetent and Louisiana’s governor no better. While they dithered, the President should have sent the Louisiana National Guard into New Orleans. Of course, if he had done so, he’d have been savagely criticized for what his critics now say he should have done but did not do. They would drop every buck on his desk.
Presidents are expected to take the blame for national disasters in which they played a part. John F. Kennedy authorized the Bay of Pigs debacle in Cuba. Because it was a federal action, he was held responsible for it. The buck was on his desk.
Israel’s King David understood accountability. For his arrogance (which was shared by the people), God sent a plague that killed 70,000 people. David was horrified. “I am the one who has sinned and done wrong,” he confessed. “These are but sheep. What have they done? Let your hand fall upon me and my family.”[1] David knew that the buck was on his desk. The plague was his fault.
Hurricane Katrina was nobody’s fault. The flooding in New Orleans was nobody’s fault except, perhaps, politicians who – in spite of repeated warnings that a Category 4 or 5 hurricane would hit someday – failed to allocate funds for bigger and better levees. On whose desk did that buck stop? And who failed to evacuate the city in time? Not the President. It is sweet of him to accept responsibility, but unless it is politically astute, it is quite silly. The buck for the mess in New Orleans does not stop on President Bush’s desk.
Don Cole.

With One Hand Tied Behind Our Backs

I went to my bible study Tuesday night at the church. It's given by one of the teaching pastors. He asked if anyone had heard what happened after the last service. He said that 2 families had gotten into a fight. He didn't elaborate, but now it's out there. Right away my alarm system went up that this wasn't cool. Needless to say, at break, as I sat in my chair waiting for the study to resume, I heard no less than 5 people discussing the incident. I could have screamed! I mean seriously, we don't need to worry about satan using the unsaved or his demons to destroy us Christians. It seems like we do a good enough job all by ourselves.
I constantly see instances where we tear each other down. Sometimes even destroying a brother or sister in the name of Jesus Christ. People throw around terms like, "righteous indignation", or chastising someone who doesn't live up to the standards that we ourselves could never attain. There seems to be so much judgement flying around out there and not enough compassion, or coming along aside one another.
I was just thinking about Jesus and how he would correct people; and it seems like He was only slightly forceful or aggressive when speaking with the "Holier than Thou" sect. (Pharisees, Saducees, Jewish Tribunal). When dealing with His beloved disciples and followers and many people that were concidered the dregs of society, He was gentle, compassionate, and understanding of their flaws. He said Himself that He did not come into the world to judge but to save it. And in John 8:15 He said that we judge in human terms while He doesn't. We shouldn't cause others to stumble. 1 Cor. 10:32.
I have been SO guilty of being too liberal with my tounge and not stopping to think of who I'm hurting or the consequences of my actions. I truly feel that by my lack of spiritual maturity, I helped tear apart a church family instead of coming along side and bringing my brethren together. So I truly am the worst of these. But the point is that we are to grow and mature and learn from our trials and temptations to use that awful tounge to spread juicy stuff about those we are to love the most. Never forget that we are called to be the Light in this World for those unsaved family, friends, and aquaintances around us. So, let's stop tearing down and start lifting up.

This morning

I was talking with God on my way to work this morning and I was thinking of times when I've felt like my prayers were not strong enough to get an answer from Him. Isn't that silly? I mean, of course He wishes to answer our prayers... If, and that's a big word, IF it is in His will or if we are following His will, which to me is pretty close to the same thing. Then of course, I start feeling guilty... like, what am I holding out on Him about, or what am I not allowing Him to have total control of or me submitting to. God forbid I should be deliberate about it. At those times, I drive myself crazy because I slip back into those patterns of guilt and self condemnation. It's nice to know that someone's got your back when you're wallowing in those murky places. I pray for my family daily, and not just the perfunctory mass prayer, but sometimes even a pleading, supplicating prayer. I know my wife prays for me like that and I wonder if it's okay to ask others to make a commitment to pray for me daily. Strength in numbers and all.

The Other Side of the Desert

The Other Side of the Desert.

How do you use your power?
While studying on Matt. 4 about Jesus’ 40 days in the desert this was brought to mind. It said that after fasting and being alone in a barren place, Jesus was hungry. While the story leaves to our imagination what Jesus endured in the desert, one can only imagine what must have gone through his soul.
The story suggests that the Tempter came along at what appeared to be a moment of weakness in Jesus’ life. The goal was to get Jesus to use his power to save himself.
Evil used sustenance, beauty and power to tempt Jesus.

How often are you tempted by sustenance, beauty and power?

I know there are times when I am feeling lonely, tired, hungry and weaker than usual that I want to use my power to save myself. I want to depend on myself to relieve myself of what I am facing or have just faced.

But the story teaches that Jesus never used his power to save himself, rather he used it to resist the temptation to save himself.

He used his power to continually trust God.

He used his power to resist the voice that wanted to take him down and chose to listen to the Voice within that reminded him of who he was as God’s son.

He allowed God to sustain him.

Imagine if we used our power in the same manner. Imagine if we used our power to resist the temptation to save ourselves from what the world tempts us to think is the right way. Imagine if we used our power to simply trust God.

Imagine if we used our power to listen to the Voice within that reminds us that we belong to God.

I am not suggesting that we are Jesus, I am suggesting that we need to silence and resist the voices in the same manner he did.

In order to do that, we must know who we are as children of God.It is when we are tired, hungry, alone, and weak that we need to speak out against those things that want to steal away God’s desire for us.

The story ends by telling us that the devil left him and the angels came and attended him.

This story ultimately reveals Jesus’ identity, and it can remind us of our identity.We always need to be reminded of who we are as God’s beloved. Our fear and pain may tempt us to seek sustenance, beauty and power, but the truth is that by holding on, God will not leave us alone, but will send his angels to attend to us-- especially when we have just walked through the desert.

Led Zeppelin rethunk

Thank You..."And so today, my world it smiles, Your hand in mine, we walk the miles, Thanks to You it will be done, for You to me are the only One. Happiness, no more be sad, happiness....I'm glad. If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving You. When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be You and me." (Plant/Page 1969)

String 'em up!

I stopped by a friends home yesterday and she was watching Oprah who was doing a show from an area that had been devastated by Katrina. She said that she had been crying with Oprah and Faith Hill, so I know that it touched her heart. Here's the troubling part. The next words out of her mouth were, "Some heads gotta roll." (Needless to say, this floored me, coming from a follower of The King of Peace.) I asked what she meant and she said that she thought that we needed to find out why it took so long to help these people and who was responsible for that and they needed to answer for that and be thrown out of office and that she even e-mailed Oprah and suggested that with her clout she could make this happen. She asked if I agreed and I said that I didn't. She said that it was good that at least one of us cared. I told her that it wasn't that I didn't care, but I didn't think we should be acting like- In the name of Jesus, heads gotta roll. She said that righteous indignation was okay. I think that is a misrepresentation of righteous indignation, which if you look at our example; He was indignant when people were deliberately oppressed or taken advantage of. I don't feel that any mistakes that were made were deliberate. Mistakes were definitely made. All over the place. For one, I don't think anyone thought it was going to be as bad as it was, especially when so much media emphasis is put on categories and mph. Also, the canal wall breakage was devastating. Anyway, I said that my wife and I had been praying for not only the families affected but also the people directing the relief effort and all the volunteers. With all that said, here's what that conversation lead me to think about this morning.
I have to say that mob mentalities really scare me, because at times, we humans seem barely better than animals. I've seen it happen too many times with terrible results. Just look at our past. Lynchings, race riots, gay bashing, the witch hunts, the crusades, or more recently, the looting and violence after the hurricane; or how about the release of a criminal named Barabbas and the hanging of our sinless Savior on a cross because they were offended by Him. Why, because He insulted their pride? All examples of mob hysteria and "righteous indignation."
God's Word tells us:
Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke6:37
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John3:17
Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, "I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it," says the Lord. Romans12:19
We all remember the story in John 8 where Jesus asks for he who hasn't sinned to cast the first stone and then asks the accused where her condemners are.
And finally, let us pursue peace and not let bitterness spring up like it teaches us in Hebrews 12:14-15. Jesus said we ought always to pray. That means without ceasing. If we are always talking with Him, it doesn't leave any room for bitterness and vengeance.

Released and Embraced

Jesus allowed even Judas to come close. What does that say about God's love?I was reading about Judas today and was reminded at how often I intentionally betray God. As I meditated, I wondered when was the last time I sold God out with a kiss? That is, when did I pretend to be a friend of God only to doubt in my soul that He really has it under control? When was the last time my fear about trusting God to be who God claims to be allowed me to deny God? It is often when I lose perspective on who God is that I am so willing to sell-out, even for just a moment.Betray comes from the Latin word tradere, which means "to hand over." Anytime I betray God I essentially hand myself over to my doubts, fears, selfishness, insecurities and systems of injustice. I look around my world and I recognize my indifference I realize that I am not living into the love of God. I am not trusting that love is the bigger, perhaps more difficult, way. This probably happens more often than I am aware, but the story of Judas demonstrates that I shouldn’t lose myself in my guilt and think that I am beyond God’s mercy and forgiveness for when I do, I essentially kill myself. The guilt that leads me into believing that God is incapable of loving me or forgiving me.Like Judas, who returned the coins, there are those who sometimes want to remind you of your falleness; folks who want to keep you down for your indiscretions. Judas allowed those voices to remind him of his betrayal rather than his friendship with Jesus to remind him of his chosenness. We must hear the voice of love calling our names reminidng us that it is finished, to turn back and come home. Just as I need to forgive others to release myself from bondage or resentment, I need to forgive myself to release myself from the bondage of guilt. Forgiveness is not about accepting unacceptable behavior, but the release of the self-destruction associated with unforgiveness and the resentment and guilt associated with it. God did that for us.Through Jesus, God did for humanity what we couldn’t do for ourselves. He removed the noose that we placed around our necks and smothered us instead in love and strangled hate, unforgiveness, and death forever. Reminding us that we are loved beyond our comprehension, even when we think we don’t deserve to be loved, no one is out of reach of the arms of Love that embrace us all like babes where we are made alive forever.