Jesus and Halloween

/
I may get some hate mail on this one from the the Hyper-Religious types, but here I go!

I have celebrated Halloween all my life, and I was raised in a Christian home where I never heard my parents cuss, never saw them drink, smoke, chew or go with people who do (lol!) I was at church on Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and any other time the doors were open. We loved Jesus, actually still love Jesus and we went trick or treating, and I loved it!

I honestly do not see why Christians (some, not all) get all up in a tizzy about it (yea, yea, pagan holiday ... whatever,) I've never sacrificed a cat, I haven't even been tempted to do that! I have never felt compelled to worship Satan, or do anything of the sort ... I just like the free candy and I like dressing up, since I can only do it once a year and not be looked at as a weirdo! I have seen, firsthand the kids whose parents don't let them celebrate Halloween ... they hate it! Of course the parents don't see it, but the kids miss out on a lot of fun, candy and social activity ... but I guess they won't be guilty of celebrating a pagan-satanic holiday either! Toss up I suppose!

I have to say I laugh when I get the sucker that's taped to a Religious Track, I shouldn't, but I do! Don't judge me for that, I am just being honest, and honesty is missing too much from Christian culture! 

Now, everyone has a right to do what they feel is right, no shame or judgment from me! I mean that, but this is my blog and I share my opinion ... if you don't like it, start your own blog!

The Friend We All Want

/
What is a friend? Friends are people with whom you dare to be yourself. Your soul can be naked with them. They ask you to put on nothing, only to be what you are. They do not want you to be better or worse. When you are with them, you feel as a prisoner feels who has been declared innocent. You do not have to be on your guard. You can say what you think, as long as it is genuinely you. Friends understand those contradictions in your nature that lead others to misjudge you. With them you breathe freely. You can avow your little vanities and envies and hates and vicious sparks, your meannesses and absurdities, and in opening them up to friends, they are lost, dissolved on the white ocean of their loyalty. They understand. You do not have to be careful. You can abuse them, neglect them, tolerate them. Best of all, you can keep still with them. It makes no matter. They like you. They are like fire that purges to the bone. They understand. You can weep with them, sing with them, laugh with them, pray with them. Through it all--and underneath--they see, know, and love you. A friend? What is a friend? Just one, I repeat, with whom you dare to be yourself.
C. Raymond Beran, in Bits & Pieces, September 19, 1991, p. 3-4.

Your Best Life Later, Maybe

/
I was talking to a friend of mine who had just finished reading all the Self-Help books written by all the best Motivational Speakers and not too long after all that has was thrust into the worst year of his life (up to this point!) We were trying to find the humor in the midst of the sadness and we thought the title of this blog entry was not only funny, but painfully true at times!

Life can definitely throw us a curve ball! It's rather ironic that right now at Mercy Church we are in a study on the book of Job, speaking of problems, issues and suffering! Wow, Job went through it!

Please don't get me wrong, I am still an eternal optimist! And believe we should hope and pray for the best! Definitely! But the older I get, now just a mere 41, I am coming to understand that we don't always have the "Best Life Now" ... sometimes it's "Later, Maybe." I guess the real question is what is a "Best Life" anyway? Is it stuff? Healthy? Happiness? Money? Friends? Success? Family? Love?

I would imagine it's different for each person, but when I think of the message of Job is that happiness is not found in "things" but found in Trusting God in and through it all; the good the bad, the ugly and even in the indifferent.

Cyber-Bullying

/
I guess you don't realize how big a problem is until it happens to you, or your kid. My daughter has recently become the victim of Cyber-Bullying and it angers me that kids could be so hateful, mean, dirty, nasty and evil (or maybe just ignorant) to send texts like; "I hope you die," "I will punch you in the face," "I will put you in the hospital" and dropping the "F" bomb like it's the word "the."

I did a little research on this and I found out that it's taken very serious by the authorities when this kind of stuff happens ... like we could press charges. We aren't going to do that at this point, but I just wanted to post this so that parents will teach their children to A) Report this stuff to parents when it does happen, B) Never bully someone even by text, C) Report this to school authorites when it does happen, D) This kind of stuff really hurts people.

So all that said, parents please sit down with your kids and help them understand the importance of proper use of computers and cell phones. 

Hate

/
Hate is a very powerful and dangerous emotion! We all have felt it's power burn in us. Hate is an emotion that we need to keep a tight grip on, because I have seen people, unknowingly, allow it to control them, directing their every decision. And it is so destructive!

Hate not only destroys others who are getting the brunt of our hate, but it destroys the person who is wielding it! It's like a cancer.

1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and he who loves  is begotten of God and is coming to know and understand God."

Challenge:


Search your heart today, and if there is HATE in there, get it out ... and walk in love!

Following God part 2 of 2

/

I personally feel that we complicate the whole "God's Will" and "Following God" thing. I am not saying it's just easy, but I think we over-think it too many times. At least I do on occasion.

Here are some simple straight-forward guidelines I follow that have proven to be very helpful:

1) If it's wrong, don't do it!

2) If it's right, you don't have to pray about it, just do it! (this isn't to mean that everything that is right or good is something that you are to be doing ... but you should be able to figure that out)

3) Seek wise counsel (the key word there is "wise")

4) If it's God today, it will be God tomorrow. (patience is a virtue)

5) Follow peace.

6) Life is a journey not a destination. (life has it's ups and downs ... roll with it)

7) Always ask God for guidance.

8) If it's questionable, don't do it.

9) If you are unsure, wait! (#4)

10) Ask yourself, "is this the wise thing to do?" and if it is, then do it.

In my over 41 years on this planet, 36 years that I have memories of (don't remember much before I was 5 years old) many, if not all the decisions I have had to make over my life thus far, have been pretty clear cut. I have made them difficult, or convoluted because the bad decisions I have made have made even easy decisions difficult because I had to dig myself out to see clearly.

Example: You steal something (bad decision) now the police are after you, so you run (another bad decision) you do whatever you need to do to get away (many bad decisions) then you lie to cover up (yet another bad decision) ... on and on it goes that your life is spiraling out of control.

I say, stop the cycle! Just stop, come clean, tell the truth, start making right choices right now, right where you are, and eventually those choices will begin to change your life.

Following God - part 1 of 2

/

Ruth 1:16 "Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."

Yesterday I had an appointment to meet someone and rather then jumping in my car to ride along my friend decided to "follow me" to our destination. That's normally a challenge, not only for the person following but also the person leading. And this is especially true when trying to follow me in a car. I drive pretty aggressive, and fast (obeying speed limit laws though ... cough, cough - Lord forgive me for lying!)

I took off in my normal "I'm going for the Gold" fashion and then realized, "oh wait, someone is supposed to be following me, so I better lead in such a way that is possible to follow." (A lot of lessons there I do not have time to unpack!) I slowed down, even had to pull over a couple times to let him catch up ... but he did a pretty good job following me because HE STAYED CLOSE BY! And therein lies the secret to following God, "stay close by" and you stand a better chance of not getting lost!

I will talk more tomorrow about HOW to "stay close" to God!

Going Crazy

/

Has your life ever felt just crazy busy? Ha ha!

I am sure if your life is anything like mine the answer is "YES!" Well let me encourage you to stay in control, take a deep breath and invite God's presence in to calm things down.

When I am feeling crazy, which is pretty frequent these days, I take a few minutes of my "crazy day" and do something I like. For example I take a bike ride, or read a fiction book, pray, read a Psalm or Proverb, or play a game with the kids, or talk a walk, drink a cup of tea, or even pop in a favorite movie at the end of a long hectic day.

Here is something important to remember; life is a season and this too shall pass!

Rock'em Sock'em

/

I remember playing the old Rock'em Sock'em Robots game! I loved that game!

I was reminded of the story of Joshua (told in the Old Testament book of Joshua) and how he had to fight for what God had given him. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would occupy the land of Canaan, the Promise Land. And many many years later Joshua stands just outside that land. It didn't just fall in his lap, he had to possess it, take it, fight for it. This reminds me of life. Sometimes in life we must fight for what God has promised us.

We must fight for our spouses, fight for our kids, fight for our jobs, fight for what is right! It's worth it!

I want to encourage you who may be tired and want to give up - Don't give up! Fight the fight of faith! Press onward and upward! God is with you! Ask Him to help you, He will!