Philip. 4:13 Paul testified, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”
Some Baptist preacher from Texas called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints a cult. On CNN he went on to say that he had a duty to tell the truth. But I found it ironic that he really didn't take much time to go into detail about how simple it is to be a believer. If he had done so and then he would've seen the flaws in his reason. The simple fact of the matter is that Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, they believe in Christ as the son of God, the living God and God incarnate.
Why I'd venture to point out that it's even in their name. So really this preacher in Texas is focusing on the wrong thing; we all should be focusing on love and the love that Christ brought all of us. Instead he's focusing on division. My prayer for this man is that he finds the love and by finding love invites acceptance, there's room at the table for all of us.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
The voice of reason
No one is reasonable all the time, myself included. I think it's important that we keep an eye on how we view the world and the ironies in our life and though process.
I was visiting with the family member a few weeks ago and this family member said, "We should do away with the government."
Now mind you, this family member is well taken care, this family member has lots of money, lives in a warm home, has nice automobiles and is generally very very comfortable. The irony in the statement of hers, is that if she looks at her life with a careful examination she'll see that her income is derived from a very healthy government pension fund. She also collects Social Security, her health insurance is covered by Medicare this in addition to her A Class state health plan, her son is a government employee, her mother receives Social Security, her mother has an FHA insured reverse mortgage and her son-in-law is an accountant who prepares tax returns.
There is no doubt in my mind that many people feel very abused by the government but alas many of them don't see the irony in their thoughts. Additionally in a society of some 300 million people it makes little sense to take on a libertarian notion. One only has to look at Somalia, Haiti and most of sub-Saharan Africa to deduce that libertarian notions, a society devoid of ordered government simply does not work. It is contrary to human nature to be left to our own devices. There should be a higher degree of control to ensure that people behave in a respectable civilized manner. Even then judging from the million or so people in our prisons, that doesn't always work.
I certainly don't advocate the kind of control that one would find under a totalitarian regime, I believe in an open society, I believe in a plural society, but in examining society one has to understand that many of one's compatriots, because of upbringing, background, education or lack of education may not operate from the same moral foundation as others. Certainly it's reasonable to understand that government has its problems, I see that and I understand that, but to throw the baby out with the bathwater really doesn't make much sense.
I was visiting with the family member a few weeks ago and this family member said, "We should do away with the government."
Now mind you, this family member is well taken care, this family member has lots of money, lives in a warm home, has nice automobiles and is generally very very comfortable. The irony in the statement of hers, is that if she looks at her life with a careful examination she'll see that her income is derived from a very healthy government pension fund. She also collects Social Security, her health insurance is covered by Medicare this in addition to her A Class state health plan, her son is a government employee, her mother receives Social Security, her mother has an FHA insured reverse mortgage and her son-in-law is an accountant who prepares tax returns.
There is no doubt in my mind that many people feel very abused by the government but alas many of them don't see the irony in their thoughts. Additionally in a society of some 300 million people it makes little sense to take on a libertarian notion. One only has to look at Somalia, Haiti and most of sub-Saharan Africa to deduce that libertarian notions, a society devoid of ordered government simply does not work. It is contrary to human nature to be left to our own devices. There should be a higher degree of control to ensure that people behave in a respectable civilized manner. Even then judging from the million or so people in our prisons, that doesn't always work.
I certainly don't advocate the kind of control that one would find under a totalitarian regime, I believe in an open society, I believe in a plural society, but in examining society one has to understand that many of one's compatriots, because of upbringing, background, education or lack of education may not operate from the same moral foundation as others. Certainly it's reasonable to understand that government has its problems, I see that and I understand that, but to throw the baby out with the bathwater really doesn't make much sense.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
God in Everyone
God so loved the world that he sent his son. God sent his son, part of Himself, Himself to die on a cross so that all of us could know love. Honestly, I sometimes find very hard to love humanity. I find it very difficult to see past peoples foibles, failings, meanness, rudeness and selfishness to love them all the time,
any of the time.
Realize that I am often very hard to love. Isn't that the key? When we look at others and we see their failings isn't it like looking in a mirror and seeing our own? When God sent Jesus he did so because he was radically in love with us, he couldn't stand to be without us. He knew without some radical action that humanity would end up separate from God forever.
The living God in his love and glory could no longer face the agony of being apart from his children. Something radical was needed. That's something was a sacrifice, the sacrifice of himself on the cross at Calvary.
In examining that sacrifice and how much it meant to humanity, then why can't I see beyond my own failings, and the failings of others? God can see past my feet of clay, God can see past my pettiness, God can see past my foolishness, God can see past my self-righteousness and He still loves me. God still loves me when I lose my temper, God still loves me when I don't love myself.
So what can I do? Perhaps I'll pray a little harder, perhaps I'll think a little longer before I speak, perhaps I'll step back when I feel myself getting angry and maybe that's all I should do.
any of the time.
Realize that I am often very hard to love. Isn't that the key? When we look at others and we see their failings isn't it like looking in a mirror and seeing our own? When God sent Jesus he did so because he was radically in love with us, he couldn't stand to be without us. He knew without some radical action that humanity would end up separate from God forever.
The living God in his love and glory could no longer face the agony of being apart from his children. Something radical was needed. That's something was a sacrifice, the sacrifice of himself on the cross at Calvary.
In examining that sacrifice and how much it meant to humanity, then why can't I see beyond my own failings, and the failings of others? God can see past my feet of clay, God can see past my pettiness, God can see past my foolishness, God can see past my self-righteousness and He still loves me. God still loves me when I lose my temper, God still loves me when I don't love myself.
So what can I do? Perhaps I'll pray a little harder, perhaps I'll think a little longer before I speak, perhaps I'll step back when I feel myself getting angry and maybe that's all I should do.
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