2014: BE CROWNED!

Psalm 65:11" YOU CROWN THE YEAR WITH YOUR GOOD BLESSINGS, AND YOU LEAVE ABUNDANCE IN YOUR WAKE."

Something's NOT QUITE RIGHT...

So, I've been pondering something for quite some time..."mulling it over"; "trying to understand"; "make sense of"; "reserve judgement, etc."... all thing thins your supposed to do when you have a very definite and decided inclination about some thing, some one or some issue, etc. I think I'm finally "there", I think I've figured out what it is that is making me think so much about this subject.


HERE IT IS: I don't like the way our American  Christian Culture is evolving right now. And I'm not willing to blame it on the media (which has it's own issues); perceptions; etc., etc. etc. I'm squarely placing the onus on "Christians". We are the ones playing out our own feelings, attitudes, reactions, and so on on every social media outlet possible. We Facebook, Tweet, Blog, Instragram...all over the place. Trying to WHAT? WHAT in the world are we trying to prove? WHAT in the world are we trying to defend? WHY are we so prone to acting the victim and expecting the world to meet our expectations of what we have decided is "the right way of living" ?

I'm sorry, but I just don't believe that we are called to make the unholy, holy...the impure, pure. ONLY GOD can do that. Why are we trying to build our version of HIS kingdom on this earth. Called to be kingdom builders? OH YES, most definitely...but HIS kingdom, not our version of it. THANK THE LORD, HE WILL NEVER ALlOW OUR VERSION TO WIN OUT!!!

SO, NO... I don't think our democracy is God-ordained. NO human form of government has been or will be ordained by God. When we all get to heaven, it will not be a democracy. He is the KING and we won't be voting on anything. WHAT A SHOCKER to us! Thank goodness that we will have the mind of Christ in heaven, because quite frankly, American Christians, would not be able to handle it.

SO, NO... I don't think Christians are called to exemplify holiness by spewing hateful rhetoric at those who do not know God. I believe we are to be holy, because HE is holy. And the only way any of us do that is by the power of the Holy Spirit. Speaking the TRUTH in LOVE. 'Not really seeing that from many of our Beloved "Christian Role Models" and their loyal followers.

SO, NO...I don't think it's ok for "Christian" commentators to act like Non Christian commentators. To be liberal and mean- spirited is no more or less wrong than to be conservative and mean- spirited. Why in the world our supposed "thought leaders" in the Christian Culture patterning their work after the world? WHAT sense does that make?

So, NO...I don't think to be a Christian it means we are to blindly follow certain "Christ-iany" speakers; radio/tv hosts; reality shows; etc., etc. Since when did we ever think we were supposed to check our brains and thoughts and opinions "at the door"? To have the Mind of Christ should be just that the Mind of Christ, and "NOT the  Mind of Man-who-talks-a-big-Christian-game, etc."

SO, NO...I don't think it's ok to major on the "small things". I don't really care about the Elf on the Shelf vs. those fake kids on the mantle (whatever they are called)...I'm not really going to freak out about Santa or no Santa or whether he is white, real or ....whatever. And, I'm certainly not going to attach Christmas to ADVENT. I'm not going to call Halloween a "fall party" (where kids dress up and get treats just like in HALLOWEEN) to FEEL better about it. I'm not going to "Christian-ize" every thing of the world so I can sort of enjoy it, but in a way that I've (completely and totally and mistakenly) "holie-fied"it.

SO, NO...I'm not going to rail about contraception and who takes it and who doesn't. Here's an idea: if you don't believe it's right to use contraceptive devices don't.  Start by being personally holy before expecting those who don't believe to understand what that really means for themselves...after all they don't even know the ONE who IS HOLY.

So, NO...I'm not going to side with "certain politicians" (either party) because certain churches, or religious pundits tell me too. For so many of us, we take the easy way out. We get someone to think for us. It's just easier, quite frankly.

So, NO...I'm not going to buy into all the talk about Christian Purity, when frankly so many of our young ladies and men dress and act no differently than the world. Their very parents going to several Bible studies a week and sitting in that pew every Sunday. I've seen more embarrassing clothing at church than I thought possible. As adults in the church we flirt, we "play with fire" in relationships and we are broken as models.  Our divorce rate is not different than that of the worlds. And we have as many youth pastors showing up in the news as predators as we do non Christian coaches and teachers.

For all of this, the failing of our Body of Believers, and MY OWN FAILINGS every day at personal holiness, GOD still uses the CHURCH. HE STILL chooses to work through His bride. WE are HIS AMBASSADORS and CHRIST IS making HIS appeal through us. I'm praying in 2014 our Appeal is on CHRIST's behalf and NOT on our own "Christian version of holiness".

So, NO...I don't give up hope, on myself or my brothers or sisters in Christ. God is so full of grace for all of us.  But I still think something's NOT QUITE RIGHT...and I'm praying we will look more and more like the early Christians and less and less like 21st Century Christians; more and more like JESUS FOLLOWERS. I'm gonna try to figure out what  exactly that is this year. I'm going to find some really good role models and STICK TO THEM LIKE GLUE. Their out there, I know they are.  Their just harder to find...

White Santa & Megyn Kelly's Apology

When you mess up...fess up...this is NOT an apology...no way excuses the cursing on  Jon Stewart's part, but the point is still there...

White Santa & Megyn Kelly's Apology: Megyn Kelly let's American in on her funny Santa joke.

This is it...the real meaning of Christmas!

Speaks for itself

What would one even think of being able to add to this? It's beyond the ridiculous. Sadly, it's so indicative of how little we think and consider before emote...It's our culture today...sensationalism and appearance before TRUTH or true gentleness and kindness towards others.

This isn't news, it's bad manners...and a lot more!

When Nothing is Sacred

I couldn't help but think of this old song that I've always loved, it just seems so fitting for where we find ourselves these days! We settle for such much LESS than what God has for us. In doing so (myself included!) we cheat Him, ourselves and we are a very poor reflection of what living an "abundant life" is to those who need to see/hear/feel that the most. 

In other words, if we are settling, then how in the world could you and I as believers expect anything different of those who don't know Jesus? What in the world would make them want what we have? It's not much different, and actually looks pretty weak in so many ways.  I want don't want to be that anymore. I don't want to live like that, think like that, BE. THAT. I want to say a bit NO to it ...and a Yes to the Sacred...FOR REAL!

 

 

 

When Nothing is Sacred

People need true love, but chase infatuation

They need a hope, but live on short supply

People need wisdom, but get more education

People need forgiveness, but settle things eye for eye

 

People need identity but are satisfied with titles

They need true courage, but bravado looks sincere

People need a living God, but seem content  with idols

People need destiny, but settler for careers

 

And the soul remains unsettled

And the world -a wilderness

In a time when nothing’s sacred

And soul’s settle for less

 

People need faith, but place their bets on science

They need a refuge, but stay out in the rain

People need each other, but rely on self- reliance

People need a Christmas, but settle for a holiday

People need dignity, but survive on ego

They need the truth, but will take an alibi

People need a Savior, but much prefer a hero

Most long for heaven, but have settled for the sky

 

And the soul remains unsettled

And the world a wilderness

In a time when nothing’s sacred

And soul’s settle for less

 

-Billy Sprague

Ready to say ADIOS to 2013

 

Mulling over what one word I would use to best describe 2013...all I could come up with was

 

"BRUTAL"

 

I know, not very "cheery" or hopeful, right? It's the truth though. And if I think longer, I can come up with a second descriptive word

 

"COMFORTED"

 

Yes...those fit perfectly the more I think about it. Brutal because the world was so harsh in so many ways, and it just didn't stop...it kept piling on, and it didn't let up. Here' what I would put in pile of "BRUTAL":

• Massive, Draconian job cuts at work. Many seemingly without rhyme or reason. Hurts that run deep for those of us who had to make cuts (that we didn't agree with) and for those whose positions were cut: such disappointment and hurt. It still physically hurts to remember it.
• Deep disappointment in leadership, or lack of, and not believing in or supporting much of the decisions that were being made.
• Feeling extremely let down by those above and around me at work.
• Watching a few people around me make massively hurtful decisions that cost them ...A LOT...myself included.
• Standing by and seeing my family hurting and knowing that I couldn't do much except pray and support as best as I could figure out (yep, prayer was pretty much IT...and I found out IT was more than enough)
• Experiencing personal pain, both mental and physical the like of which brought me to my knees (literally) at times.
• Watching family and friends experiencing horrifically difficult deaths of loved ones, and no one was exempt: young children (LOVE YOU BRAVE BEE!), fathers, friends, cousins, co-workers. Death was so final and encompassing this year.
• Personally struggling with crushing FEAR....like I've never experienced before.

HURT? FEARFUL? ...oh yes, BRUTAL...

 

Looking back, I know the Heavenly Father's hand was on me, arms around me, comforting me in significant ways, through special people (in no particular order :-)

• My Bible Study gals, who prayed, texted, prayed, texted over/for/with me...over and over and over again
• My "bestie" Stacy...who let me cry, ate breakfast with me, and challenged me to love Jesus and pursue holiness NO. MATTER. WHAT.
• My family, who just let me be me and not try to "make it better" with easy/simple/surface type platitudes. REALNESS!
• Jennifer Ruttan's chair and cover on many a Friday nite...a trusted place to "let it out"; "let it go" and "move on"...
• SWEET Jesus time...a new and appreciated longing for Heaven, the home prepared for me that is REAL, is in my future, and will NOT DISAPPOINT!
• The best banquet team I've ever been on. Just Jesus and lots of awesome gals. Easy...sweet...restful...restoring...a bunch of Ragamuffins  in desperate need of Healing and Community with the only ONE who can do it.

So, would I want to relive 2013. NOT A CHANCE! Am I grateful to look back and see God comforting me through His Word, His Spirit and His people? OH YES!  So on to 2014...LORD Come Quickly!