Vengeange Is The Lords

Psalm 118:1-6; Romans 12:18-20 KJV; 11th Sunday after Pentecost; Leave vengeance to the Lord and strive to get along even with your enemies.

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Count The Cost This New Year

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

                                                 (Luke 14:27-28 KJV)

It is a tradition as each new year arrives to look back a bit and evaluate what was good and also what may have been better in our lives. Then we sit down and make a few plans for the upcoming year(s). As we plan for any future changes in our lives it is only wise to count the cost of those changes we desire. Are they feasible? Can we afford them financially, physically, emotionally, spiritually? 

This year we sold one home and bought yet another. It required a lot of praying for direction as the home we purchased had been foreclosed on by HUD. The financial cost was doable. However, this morning my body is aching pretty good. As with many foreclosed homes there is a lot of damage and a lot of work to be done. After a couples of weeks we finally got hot water into the house yesterday so my granddaughter Ashley and I started shampooing carpets and washing walls last night. My shoulders did not care at all for all that reaching up to get the cobwebs out of the corners! After a couple more days of cleaning, I do believe my body will adjust. 

As Ashley and I were digging a trench for wiring last week, she wanted to know why anyone would buy a home if you had to dig trenches before you could live in it. I am so accustomed to having to repair homes that we've purchased that I never considered that digging trenches would be out of the norm! But, her question made me think about whether young people today have a grasp of what it means to be willing to pay the whole price for anything. When they say they are going to get something that they want have they truly counted the cost? There is indeed a cost for the decisions we make because there are consequences, either good or bad, for both what we choose to do or choose not to do. 

As young people plan for their futures after High School are they figuring in their ability to accomplish what they are planning? Many school counselors have pushed for everyone to go to college and to set as many youth on a college bound track for quite a few years now. However, not all students have the gifts needed or even the desire to go for a four or more year degree. Many are more suited to a particular trade which can be accomplished through trade or technical schools.

Other youth might plan to join the Armed Services. I have reminded many young people that they need to count those costs. Not everyone is equipped to served in the military. Military service requires not just physical endurance; but, mental and emotional well being as well. 

Prayer (communication with God) and planning go hand in hand. With His help we can much better grasp what our gifts are and if we can pay the price of whatever it is that we are about to commit to.

Prayer (communication with God) will also help us to know how to take up our cross and follow Jesus. The gift of life and salvation are free gifts from God. But, when you decide to follow Jesus there is a cost. The path; the way of Christ, you follow will not be understood by everyone. Some will even despise you for taking up your cross and following the path that Jesus leads you on. It will not be easy. But, Christ is with you as you journey on the path that he has prepared for you. 

May the peace of the Lord be with you as you journey with him through this and future new years.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Jesus Is Empathetic

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing."
Eccl 3:4-5

"Jesus wept."    (John 11:35 KJV)

When Jesus' friend Lazarus died, Jesus wept. He surely would not have wept because Larzarus died for he knew full well that he would be raising his friend from the dead in short order. Jesus wept when he spoke with Lazarus' sisters. He wept to see them suffering so much sorrow and grief. 

This is called empathy. It is being aware of how others might be feeling or what they are actually experiencing. Empathy comes when we actually care about others. It appears to be lacking in way too many people these days. For many acts of sympathy are merely for the purposes of acting in a way that the people around you expect you to act. Acts of sympathy and genuine empathy are not the same thing.

Years ago, I had a secretary in my substance abuse office at a youth correctional facility. He was a resident there for shooting his step-father. His step-father did live. However, this secretary was unable to show any empathy for the victim. This young man had been horribly abused by him for many years and one day he broke. The other teens harassed him for not having any empathy since acquiring empathy was one of his treatment goals. One afternoon, I overheard another of my secretaries laughing at him for probably never getting out because he had no empathy. I believe this second secretary was there for armed robbery which also shows a lack of empathy for others. It was like the pot calling the kettle black. He  was not just pointing out that if he wanted to ever be released it would be helpful to work on understanding what others are going through and what they might feel. It was belittling him for having a mental health problem. I reminded this second teen that he also was not showing any empathy for the suffering that the secretary had gone through since he was a little boy. I reminded him that he was also unable to empathize with his suffering whether it be legitimate from anyone's viewpoint or not. I corrected him in order to remind him that this first teen was not the only one who needed to learn empathy before they would advance in their treatment programs. Belittling others for their mental health problems is not empathetic and does not help them in their healing. That does not mean that those in authority do not confront the issues. It means that there is a proper way to deal with their illness and that does not mean emotionally or mentally abusing them further.

I check the incarceration databases every now and then to verify that some of the young men that I treated and those who worked for me have not been re-incarcerated. Neither of these two young men, who are now in their 30's, have been. Thanks be to God!

True empathy comes when from loving others and wanting them to know the joy and peace and the love that comes from God through Jesus the Christ.

Learn to love as Jesus loves. Ask God to give you empathy for your fellowman so that all might live in peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

No Adultery

The Sixth Commandment.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and decent life in words and deeds, and each love and honor his spouse.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php



What has been done cannot be undone. How hard I try to impress upon our young people (and older) that one can certainly be forgiven their sins; but, we cannot erase our past relationships! They will always be with us emotionally and spiritually. No one except your previous partner and you may ever even know about these liaisons; but, that does not negate the fact that you were joined to one another, if only for a few minutes. And... once joined; you will never be completely unjoined. No matter how hard you try to erase the memories, they will be permanently imbedded in your mind, coming to the forefront when you least expect it.

God did not create this commandment because he doesn't want you to enjoy life. In fact, he wants you to have an abundant and, yes, even a joyful life. Marriage and family can truly be a blessing from God. The children will come and go to raise their own families. But, how wonderful it is to have one person to share your entire life with. The less our lives are encumbered with old lovers making entrance into this new relationship; the less encumbered our lives are with carrying old baggage; the more pleasant and peaceful our lives will be.

There are those who have the mistaken idea that adultery only applies to those who are in a committed relationship: that it does not apply to those who are not married or living together. This is false. Adultery includes having sexual relations (doesn't necessarily even have to include sexual relations) with anyone that you are not bound to, in marriage, for life. Any and all sins can be forgiven by God. However, in this world there are most often consequences for our sins. Adultery has many adverse effects on self and on family. The harmful effects of parents' multiple relationships on children has been well documented. Adultery and the inability to be faithful to those whom we claim to love harms the whole family as well as society around us.

This commandment was not given to benefit God; but, to benefit humankind. If you desire a peaceful life, remain faithful; first to God, and then to one another.

May God help us to be faithful to those whom He loves.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Honor Your Father And Mother

The Fourth Commandment.

Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother [that it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long upon the earth].

What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.

(http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php)

In this fourth commandment we are told that we are to honor those who have authority over us so that it may be well with us and that we might live long upon the earth.  Think about the chaos in so many homes and our school systems because many young people; rather than honor their parents or teachers, are allowed (and sometimes encouraged by other people in authority) to be outright disrespectful; defiantly rejecting all authority. How much learning can be done in this kind of environment? How many children are being taught to disrespect and connive against our police officers who have sworn to protect us? It makes it very difficult to serve and protect or teach anyone when one is being cursed at or emotionally or even physically attacked.

God has given each of us people in our lives who are meant to teach and guide us; to care for us. Parents, police officers, teachers, doctors, employers are just a few examples of such people today. Sadly, not all of them have our best interests at heart. There are those who think that everything should be done for their glory to the detriment even of the children. Martin Luther reminds us, in the Large Catechism, that even though the Commandments do not speak directly to the duties of those in authority; scripture reminds us all that we are to love and care for one another. This applies to not just the parents; but, anyone and everyone who might have the duties to teach or care for or protect our children. If we teach our children that it is all right to disrespect others; they will also learn to disrespect us.

We should honor all in positions of authority and those in authority would be wise to guide those who they have authority over; to teach them the ways of the Lord. Do not enable them to disrespect others in authority. If honor, respect, and even integrity could make a come-back; then we would all live long and peacefully upon the earth.

God's Peace - Pr. J