Is This You?

“I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ” (Galatians 1:6,7 NLT).

In this first letter written by Paul, we get the feeling that he was disappointed by those who apparently started “creating their own version of the Gospel” and people who should have known better, were believing the lies. From this letter, we truly understand that there is “nothing new under the sun” when see the divisions occurring in the early churches. And since there are so many people–who feel they have the only “right version” of Christianity and what it means, we get a better understanding of all the denominations that pervade the nation, fooling people even the more.

My claim to fame–not being a Bible scholar–is my relationship with God and my desire to please Him. I have studied–other denominational doctrines–and I am amazed that so many people can take off in so many directions, from the same book–The Bible–and then re–recreate new doctrines by segmenting passages of scriptures to justify their new doctrine, promoting their personal beliefs. The fact that they do this helps me to understand The Word even more–no scripture is for any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20,21).

When people promote doctrine that is based on personal belief and opinion, chaos soon reigns, making what God has said (not man) of no effect. Twisting The Word to make a person feel comfortable in what they do–is a mockery of faith in God. And we know, that God is not fooled or impressed by the mockery, only foolish people are snared because they prefer man’s doctrine over God’s.

Have you turned away from The Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you promoting some other gospel or doctrine that has nothing to do with faith in God, but self or man? Have you examined lately, what you believe and why you believe it? Does your lifestyle align with God’s Word or man’s–political correctness and trends? We know trends have cycles and some trends become cyclonic– sweeping people up into doctrines that leave them and their loved ones devastated–lost forever from the truth. Is this you?

My prayer for all is that we learn to seek God for truth, hear and obey Him, and then promote The Good News–that He orchestrated through Jesus Christ. Salvation–freedom from sin–only comes because of His grace and mercy–not by ritualistic behaviors that cannot change anything or anyone. Get to know Him for yourself and know that He only wants the best for all of His children.

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Sometimes, Thinking Hurts!

Writing, as a process, is thinking.

Thinking, random thoughts or focused ones,

Sometimes leads to deeper thoughts.

When I think, I write.

When I write, I think.

Some days, my thoughts are clear.

Some days, my thoughts are cloudy.

I can look at the sky and think about God.

I can look at a newborn and think about God.

I can look at flowers and small creatures and think about God.

I can look at an ocean and think about God.

I can look at a mountain and think about God.

Then, I look at what our society is and think,

How did we ever get so far, from thinking about God?

Does God want us to kill and rob?

Does God want us to hate for no reason?

Does God want us to abuse children and the elderly?

Does God want us to sit back and do nothing–

Never speak of the evils of this world and who’s behind them?

When we speak, do we speak Truth as God sees Truth?

Or do we speak, a politically correct truth that has nothing to do with Godliness?

When we lie, do we not understand that lying is the influence from Satan?

When we kill and destroy people or property, do we not see Satan’s influence?

When we hate people–for no other reason than they are different,

Can we not see Satan’s influence?

If our relationship with God is right, we’ll think as He instructed,

And seek to help those in need and take care of families.

If our relationship with Satan is maintained,

We shall soon cease to exist, since his goal is to destroy mankind.

With all that is going on in the world,

With all the thoughts that bombard my mind,

Sometimes, thinking hurts.

But then, I write, and write, and write.

 

God help us to align our thinking with Yours that we might do what You would do in any situation, guided by love.

Can We Talk?

When I think about all that is going on in our society (the violence, disrespect, fall of educations, parental apathy, general apathy, dispassionate natures of people, etc.) and how things are just not the way they used to be, my heart gets a little heavy. So, can we talk–honestly?

I know that there is no progress (forward movement) without change, but I am wise enough to know that all change does not lead to progress.  When I think about how the term “progressive” is used today in the political arena, I sometimes cringe.  I’ve always considered myself to be a Democrat because of the stance that had been taken to right wrongs and the fight for justice for all people.  But I tend to see myself on the side of some Republicans (not all–especially not those affiliated with the Tea Party and their lack of compassion for people who are not rich) regarding “some” of their Christian views (not the extremists). I cannot say that I am a true “progressive” because I can not support all the issues they promote.

I guess that is truly the problem–there are far too many issues that affect far too many people for me to see myself strictly on one side or another of the political chaos. Now, that I’m writing this, I can see that is the problem–the political chaos.  I know that God is not the author of confusion, so that only leaves one spirit that is.

I would encourage everyone reading today, to search deep within their hearts and to seek the mind of God to help us to determine which direction we should take.  I am concerned that the current trends to “change what God has said to pacify people” is going to have major implications in our society and not just on a political platform.  If we take a close look at the history of man, we will discover that whenever man has openly, rebelliously opposed God, that society or culture ceases to exist. Is this where we’re headed?

In light of all that I see and am bombarded with on a daily basis, I stand on my former premise that I would rather be Godly righteous, than politically correct.  After all, the politicians and the political arena only have confusion to offer and that is not of God.

May God continue to bless us with wisdom and knowledge and direction to avoid the pitfalls of trends and political correctness.