Of God Not The World

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:2 KJV)

The world seems to be in a bit of a mess. There are food shortages and inflation appears that it will be hitting a ceiling and beyond very soon. Gas prices are so high that it takes a good chunk out of the paychecks just to get to work to feed ones family and keep a roof over their heads.

The elite worry so much about how we are destroying our planet and recommend that the average person do things to reduce the harm that are simply out of our financial range. It is not only recommended; but,  governments often legislate it. Yet, the carbon footprint that gets left behind by the elite using private aircraft or taking trips into what is barely outer space is pretty unbelievable. If global warming is in fact getting worse then why are these things allowed? Instead of banning truckers from using older trucks as California does to protect the world maybe these leisurely trips of the rich and elite should be banned.

The ways of the world don't make much sense to me. What is good for some is not good for others?

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (Matt 7:12)

Once, I'm on the subject of what is good for some and not for others: how about the years it takes for politicians and other elite to be investigated for crimes including felonies? It takes years because they can afford great lawyers and that is only necessary if the authorities don't bury the case someplace in some hole in the back room.  Sometimes, it is as simple as who they know. But, the low or middle income person does not receive such assistance. The innocent too often end up imprisoned because they cannot afford the legal fees to fight in their own defense. 

However, we do not have to be conformed to the ways of the world. We know that God is with us even in times of persecution. The way of God for the one who trusts in Him is to do good to all people. In Christ there is no one better or more privileged than another. 

In Christ we live to do no harm! We do not harm others to benefit ourselves. May we all be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we might treat each other as we would wish to be treated and thereby live in peace.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Joseph: The Man Who Raised Jesus

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matt 1:20-21 KJV)

Today we consider and give thanks for Joseph, the man who raised Jesus even though he was not his father.

In todays world it is not uncommon for one or both parents to have higher priorities than to raise their own children. Too many are more concerned about their own happiness than their children's well-being. There are better things to do with their income than to use it to help support their offspring. There are parents who do actually live in the same home with the children; but, make very few attempts to actually raise them. The children are pretty much on their own and sometimes even end up being the caretakers for their parents. 

Children are precious gifts from God. According to the Psalmist:

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 

                                                                                          (Psalm 127:3-4)

Joseph had every legal reason to leave Mary and her unborn son. But, he did not. He stayed so that she would not be put to shame. He stayed and gave her Son an earthly father.

God grant that parents all around the world would not neglect their responsibilities but do the best that they can to raise the children in the way that they should go.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Vengeance is God's

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

                                         (Hebrews 10:30-31 KJV)

Those who do not know Christ often call it karma. In other words what goes around comes around. We most often get to suffer consequences for our own bad behavior. In Paul's letter he wrote that God is in charge of vengeance. Vengeance is one of those negative things that will come back around and bite you if you for some reason you imagine that you have the authority to avenge anything or anyone. God is in charge of vengeance. Yes, we are to call out injustice for what it is. We do have recourse for injustices done to us or others. There are legal and civil means both in the world and in the church for justice to be served. We do not have to be perpetual victims.

I have found, over the years, that those who take vengeance out on others usually  prefer not to use authorized legal means because they themselves do not desire to have their own crimes found out.

Vengeance is God's. It is not ours. 

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

                                                                          (Matt 22:37-39)

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.  (Luke 6:35)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

How Much Do You Love Your Neighbor And Yourself?

He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matt 22:37-39 NRSV)

First comes loving God. It strikes me that loving the one who loves you so much that he would die for you just seems to be a logical reaction to me. How or why would you not love him?

Jesus reminds us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Too often I witness people expressing their love for others by staying out of their affairs. For some reason, a large part of society thinks that loving someone means ignoring what they do; no matter how damaging it might be to their futures?

So, if you love others as you love yourself, I ask you: how much do you love yourself? Do you love yourself enough not to do damage to yourself? Do you not do things that are going to burden you with negative moral or legal consequences? I would think that people who love themselves will avoid participating in activities that would damage their futures. If that is true for you and you desire to love your neighbors as yourself; then, I would also surmise that you would also not encourage or ignore activities that people whom you love to participate in that which will damage their futures.

Loving someone sometimes means saying the hard things. It sometimes mean warning people that they what they are doing or about to do will hurt them and hurt others that they love. That would be the loving thing. That would be the kind thing. That would be the compassionate thing to do.

Often, I hear people saying things like, "It's not my place to judge." It is not judging someone to warn them that they ought to not jump off a cliff or stick their hands into a fire. It is not judging someone to warn them that they have fallen off the path and that they ought to turn around and get back on it. That is simply an expression of love.

Saying nothing is sometimes the most unloving thing one can do. Speaking the truth, and I remind you once again that Jesus is the truth, is the loving thing to do. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Marriage: A Major Commitment

"A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord." (1 Corinth 7:39 NIV) 

Today, my husband and I celebrate the 46th anniversary of our marriage. For the first couple of decades it was pretty up and down. There were times that the only thing that kept us together was the verse from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. The only thing that kept us together was our promise "till death parts us." Marriage is not always "a piece of cake" or a "walk in the park." In fact, it can be quite difficult at times. There will be times that you will not feel "in love" or that you even love the person in any way, shape, or form. Depending on the feeling of love to keep a marriage together is not going to cut it. A genuine commitment is what will keep the marriage together and growing. A genuine commitment to love one another will help the love in a marriage grow.  

The only way to stay together is to stay together no matter what happens. I am not advocating for anyone who is in an abusive relationship to continue to be abused. There are times when two people are also so unequally yoked that they must separate or they risk destroying each other's lives. What I am advocating is that people take a serious look at who it is they are planning to marry. If you are a Christian, it would be very wise to marry a Christian. Paul reminds us in the sixth chapter of 2 Corinthians that we are not to be yoked with unbelievers. It's not a good thing for a Christian to plan to live the rest of their lives with an unbeliever. You will be tried and tested more than you can even imagine. You may even turn your back on Jesus after years of being worn down. 

And... as to this foolishness of sleeping with anyone and in some cases anything... well, that is way more than foolishness. This lifestyle will destroy your life. You will carry a piece of every person you sleep with for the rest of your days even after you finally find the person you will spend the rest of your days here on earth with. When God joined Adam and Eve they became one. When we are united with another, we become one. You may leave that person. You may move on to another. But, you will always be connected to everyone before.

It is a common misperception that we must have a piece of paper to be joined with another in the eyes of God. He sees all. He sees who you are with today and will see who you are with tomorrow. He sees who you are joining yourself to. He doesn't need the state to tell Him who is married and who is not.

Prior to the 16th century, Christian churches did not require any kind of permission from the state for a couple to be married. All that it took was the couple committing (exchanging vows) to live as man and wife and they were married in the eyes of the church. Sadly today, we have come to believe that the only commitment that is valid is the one that we agree to when we sign on the line. Marriage is way more than a written commitment. It is a commitment, for sure. It is a permanent commitment. By using the state authorization to marry, we have given ourselves an escape route. If the marriage doesn't work, we can go through the state so that our marriage is legally dissolved and we are absolved or so we think. The question we must ask ourselves is if it is really dissolved just because the state says so. When we claim that the only valid marriage is one that is authorized by the state we attempt to justify any promiscuous behavior prior to the marriage or after. We attempt to circumvent God's good plan; His will for us. 

I am also aware that there are many who would use what I have just said about not needing the state to approve our unions as an excuse to not make a commitment at all. When I hear people saying I don't believe in marriage meaning they don't believe in legal marriage, I usually also grasp that they mean that they don't want to have to go through the trouble of a legal divorce when they're done with their latest partner. Beware then of those who say they love you but are unwilling to risk making commitments.

There is a big difference between what is legal in this country and what is good and right according to scripture. If you want a good life; if you want peace in your life and you must be with someone then wait for the right person. Jumping around, trying out new partners is really only going to cause you grief. Who has time for that kind of grief? Be faithful to your spouse and be faithful to the one true God. 

May God bless your relationship with your spouse and even more importantly with Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Greet The New Day

Sunrise on Flagler Beach, FL.

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;

    where morning dawns, where evening fades,

    you call forth songs of joy.  Psalm 65:8

I'm a little bit late today. I was on Flagler Beach greeting the new day at sunrise with my granddaughter, who turned eighteen today. She is very excited about becoming a legal adult. A new day, a new era, has dawned for her so it was fitting that she should be up at 5:30 am so that she could begin her day celebrating with the rising of the sun.

My prayer for her is that she will always, every minute of every day, rejoice in the Risen Son, as well.

Let us all thank God for the new day that He has given to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Happy Birthday, Cassie!