A Void Where Inhibited

Important note:  I wrote this post in September and left it unpublished until now.  After writing it I decided, with Eric's help,  to receive all the treatment offered.  I am doing much better!  I'm sharing this in case it helps someone who can relate.

 My life is so full, but I feel so empty.  What is this vapor that consumes me? Where does this fog come from that obscures all the blessing I know to be veiled by it?  Dare I call it depression?  Should I be allowed the luxury of a diagnosis that is treatable?   How many people whose support I long for would judge and condemn me for accepting treatment?  How many would instead praise God that there is help for me?  It's so frustrating to be sick and feel obligated to refuse the medicine that could help.  It seems ridiculous that I should be struggling with this since my circumstances seem so easy, but there are also echoes from my childhood to take into consideration.

Eric took me to the doctor on Friday.  I have not been well.  The physical symptoms aren't alarming.  I am tired.  My arms and legs feel week.  I can't quite describe this.  In a way it feels like I have used them much harder than I actually have, but on the other hand they feel almost numb. My heart feels about the same as my arms and legs.  The smallest things seem to wear me out emotionally, and I would  often rather be asleep than awake because I am weary of the thoughts in my head.  It's easy for people to tell me, "just think about the positive and count your blessings," but like I said before it's like I'm in a fog.  It's disorienting.  

My doctor is a great guy.  He spent a lot of time with Eric and I trying to sort through to the cause of these symptoms, taking my faith seriously as we discussed the emotional issues.  It is definite that my iron level is very low, and that causes tiredness, sleep disruption, and can otherwise affect the brain's ability to process things.  I will be receiving intravenous iron treatments every two weeks, which began Friday, until I have had four of them.  None of us, my doctor, Eric or I, are fully convinced that all of my symptoms are being caused by the iron deficiency though.  Depression is a factor to be considered.  Could I cope with it if I was felling better physically, or is my mood actually causing some of the physical symptoms?  We don't know.  

I have a couple of options.  I can wait to see what happens with the iron alone, or I can also start a low dose anti depressant. If the latter were to help that would be a sign that there is a chemistry problem in my brain, and if it wouldn't help I would stop taking it.  We have all three agreed to give the iron a few days to improve my energy level before deciding to take the other medication.  I probably won't feel much improvement until the third day.  I know I have a history of emotional struggles; what I don't know is how long I have been iron deficient, or how significant of an impact that has on my emotions.  I do know this:  I do not wish to let my pride stand in the way of wellness, nor do I want my children to be continually subject to the negative influence of a depressed mother.  

I am very much feeling inhibited.  I haven't been feeling like I can't participate on the Worship Team, or in certain Sunday School discussions.  I skipped a teacher training meeting for CEF, and sometimes just won't answer the phone.  I shy away from social settings because of my inibility to handle my emotions.  I have made blunders recently that I do not wish to repeat.  I know that I am irrational when I am overly tired or hungry, and right now I am always tired.  It doesn't take much to push me over the edge.  I don't like the way I act or the things that I hear myself saying much of the time.  I feel lonely because seclusion seems easier and safer than interaction.  On top of all of that I feel like I would be judged by friends and family for taking the medication, but I don't think I would want to hide it either.  I go to Facebook to see friends in a context where I am not necessarily expected to speak; I am really feeling alone. I know God is here.  Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice," but I have such difficulty focusing in on it in the emotional chaos.  Perhaps I am too busy stumbling around in my heart even as I lie still in my bed. I want the other voices to cease so I can hear His.  I pray for healing.  God is great, God is good, and God is worthy of my praise regardless of how I feel.  Praise The Lord!

In The Gutter

As I was walking to the post office today I spotted a nail on the side of the road.  It was in the gutter and I walked right passed it, but as soon as I did my heart spoke to me.  "You know if you leave that there someone could end up with a flat tire."  I realized that essentially that flat tire would be my fault because I could have taken a step to prevent it but instead ignored that opportunity.  I walked back a few steps and then forward again and saw the nail once more.  This time I picked it up and removed it from its threatening position.  As I carried it I pondered this lesson...

It isn't such a big deal to pick up a nail from the side of the road, but when I think of all the things I could do and don't, it is overwhelming.  How many much more serious situations could I play an intervening role in?  How could I help orphaned children?  How could I help feed the hungry?  How could I help people with disabilities find meaningful productive employment?  How many hopeless hearts could I turn to The Savior?  

I can't help everyone, but I can help someone!  I can't stop every accident or injury from happening, but there are some that I can take proactive steps to prevent.  I can't clean up every messy situation, but I can role up my sleeves and pitch in.  I can't take care of every orphan in the world, but I can make a difference for some.  I can't feed every hungry person in the world, but I can feed some.  I don't know how to help the disabled, but I can support those who do.  I won't be able to lead every lost soul to Christ, but I can start a chain reaction every time I show one person The Way.

It's time to start making more of a positive impact on the world.  It's time to start helping people out of the gutter, picking them up off the side of the road regardless of how they got there.  I pray for the strength.  My last blog post was about running.  I confess, I have stopped again.  Low iron levels sapped my energy, and I quit.  That doesn't mean I am done for good, but I'm definitely taking an extended break again.  I take a lot of naps these days, but I don't want to be all talk and no action.  I don't want to write this post and then do nothing.  I will be emailing a friend today to see how I can help with their cause.  

Praising The Lord for His goodness and mercy!

James 1:27  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
 

Hands Lifted High

In November of last year I quit running.  I would do a little on the treadmill or elliptical here or there, but I really gave up.  In April of this year I came back, and it was hard.  I felt awful and wanted to quit, but I was inspired to literally lift my hands in praise to God and keep going.  Whenever I felt like quitting over those first few weeks, I would lift my hands in praise.  Soon it wasn't as hard and I began lifting my hands in Praise when I felt good.  People driving down the road probably wonder what I am doing, but I am trying to form a habit of praise regardless of how I feel or who is watching. 

I have to admit that I am having a harder time applying this principle to real life.  Sometimes I just get caught up in how bad I feel.  Sunday was the worst day I have had in a long time, and Monday was a close second.  As I sobbed over something I had done that filled me with regret, at one point I did force my hands in the air.  See, I can't always change the way I feel, but raising my hands is something I can physically do, despite how I feel.  It signifies that I am recognizing God's goodness.  

This is something I should practice more, acknowledging that God is greater than my feelings whether  they are good or bad, physical or emotional.  I want to be honest and sincere, so I don't want to pretend that I feel differently than I do, but giving glory to God can be an act of the will even when  my emotions aren't on the same page.  I often wish that I didn't struggle with these negative feeling, and that I could just always be bubbling over with happiness, but that's just not the way things are.  I know that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, so I become concerned when I don't feel joyful, but I should bear  joy in my actions just as I should act lovingly even when I don't feel like it: not as a performance, but as an act of the will.  

I know that my melancholy moods bring the people around me down too.  I surely don't want to be a thundercloud, I would much rather be a ray of sunshine.  Lately things have been rather gloomy, but I really need to let go of those clouds and let the light shine.  I really surprised myself today when someone asked me how I was, and I replied that I was "good" in a fairly convincing way.  I try to avoid doing that if I don't really mean it.  I heard the words come out of my mouth and thought, "What did I just say?  Is that the truth?"  I think there must be some truth to it.  I am definitely much better than I was two days ago even though I feel tired and still lack motivation in places where I am usually most motivated.

I guess it is time to lift my hands to heaven and praise God because He doesn't change like my feelings and moods do; He is always good, and He loves me even though I am a mess...  for now.

"...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:9

What Just Happened?

We stopped at Sheetz in Bellewood today and ended up paying for an unexpected performance.  What I mean to say is: I think we were scammed.  As I was closing the door to the Suburban, a women approached asking for help.  She appeared to be on the verge of hysteria and rather in a hurry.  She told us that her mother had been in an accident and was life flighted to Pittsburgh.  She had called her sister-in-law to come take her out there, but had left in such a hurry she didn't have any money for gas.  If we could just give her $10 she would mail it back to us later.  Yes there were definitely yellow flags all over the situation, but I looked at Eric and he pulled a ten dollar bill out of his wallet.  He handed it to me, and I handed it to the lady.  She said again, "I can send it back to you."  The words that came out of my mouth were something like this:  "In the name of Jesus, God bless you."  Meanwhile I grabbed the woman's hand and squeezed it for a second.  It was like I was not myself.  As she turned to get back in the car with her "sister-in-law" I told her we would pray for her mother, and she said, "God bless you." 

I did glance over to see what she did when she got in the car.  She was talking to the other lady and still seemed to have her tears on.  As I took Eric's hand and bowed my head to pray over a situation I suspected to be fake, the car backed out and drove away without stopping at the gas pump.  They even yelled thank you out the window.  It seemed they were much more cheerful.  A moment earlier she had said, "God bless you," as she had gotten in the car still acting shaken and frightened.  Now it seemed they might be laughing at us.  I had hoped they were sincere despite the feeling that it was a set up, and yet I didn't want her mother to be hurt.  When they were gone and I had prayed for the mom, I expressed my thoughts about what had just transpired.  My sweet daughter didn't want to believe it, and was a bit shocked that I would jump to that conclusion, but after she recalled the details I think she was in agreement.  We all know that $10 worth of gas wasn't going to get them anywhere near Pittsburgh.  I told her that we want to be able to think the best of people, but we have to be cautious too.  We all know that $10 worth of gas wasn't going to get those ladies anywhere near Pittsburgh.  My girl wanted to know why she would have done that for $10.  I told her that if she gets $10 from 300 people she'll have $3,000.  As fishy as it was I don't think we would have given her much more money.

The truth is that we did give her much more than $10.  We showed love and compassion for her.  We treated her as though the circumstances she described were real, and we cared about her.  We shared our faith with her in a couple of short sentences.  We didn't get to tell what Jesus had done for her, but as I squeezed her hand I felt something.  I felt like I was being used as a conduit of God's love.  In a way I received a blessing.  I have no idea what she will use the money for, but maybe that scene will replay in her mind as it does in mine.  Maybe she felt God's love for her at that moment as I did.  Maybe it will be one of many signposts along her journey that point her to Jesus.  Maybe, though, she will just laugh about it and talk about what fools Christians are;  God's Word does say, "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."  1 Corinthians 1:18.  Regardless of what she does, we can have peace in knowing that we did what we could in the moment.  I will pray for the mother despite my suspicions, but I will pray for the daughter all the more.  

Maybe I am wrong.  I don't think so, but I could be.  Maybe she was so happy that someone helped her that she forgot to get gas.  I doubt it, but either way neither Eric or I see any other way that we should have handled the situation as it was.  Maybe we were meant to just show her love.  Maybe we were meant to pray for her.  Maybe we were meant to warn others to beware of the scam in that location.  Watch out if you stop at Sheetz in Bellewood.  I would guess that is not the only location they are visiting, and they are surely not the only ones out there doing this kind of thing, so please just use caution wherever you are. As it is we are only $10 poorer monetarily, but we are a bit more rich in experience.  I pray that God uses the interaction to shine a little light in the woman's heart.  It's a very weird feeling, having the feeling of being taken advantage of, and yet not knowing for sure.  If something like this were to happen again we could consider offering to make the purchase ourselves instead; the tank may have already been full. It was so surreal, though, and neither of us really hesitated.  I have the feeling that we were meant to deliver the message as we did. 

Celebrate Life!

On the morning of October 4 our family is planning to participate in the Celebrate Life 5K and 10 mile bike ride.  We won't all be doing both.  They start at the same time, so we will have to chose one or the other.  I, Juanita, plan to run the 5K, while the kids will likely want to ride their bikes.  Eric will probably run or walk depending on his physical condition.  His back often bothers him, so it will depend on how he is feeling in October. I may end up walking with Eric or we might both decide to ride with the kids depending on the circumstances.  We don't have to decide that quite yet, but we are all going to get out there and do this!  Each member of the family was given a choice of whether or not to participate, and they all said yes.  :)

Celebrate Life is an important fundraising event for the Pregnancy Resource Clinic in State College.  PRC's mission is  to educate, encourage, and empower men and women to make informed life choices. Their services include free and confidential pregnancy tests, ultrasound, STI testing/treatment, materials assistance, abortion recovery support, and more.  Our family wants to help by raising $1200 ($200 per person) in sponsorship for Celebrate Life.  

There are a couple of ways you can get involved!  If you would like to contribute to our fundraising goal you can do that at The Huyett Family's Fundraising Page, or if you are not comfortable giving online, you can mail a donation to Pregnancy Resource Clinic, 423 South Pugh Street, State College, PA 16801. The other way you can get involved is by signing up to walk, run or ride.  Participants have the option of paying a $25 registration fee if they prefer not to raise funds.  There are also volunteer opportunities available year round.  You can find information by following this link. 

We count it a privilege to be able to participate in this event for a worthy cause.  We appreciate each of our sponsors and fellow participants, and are blessed by their encouragement, sponsorship and support.  Sometimes people just need a helping hand and someone to guide them.  Your generosity to PRC provides that for people facing unplanned pregnancies and STIs. 

I leave you with this passage from Matthew 25: 34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Making A Mark

The world is mourning over the death of one man today.  Robin Williams was loved by so many people.  People who never met him thought the world of him because he made them laugh and he made them cry.  He made a mark on the world with his humor and wit, as well as compassion and kindness, and in his passing he has brought instant attention to the cause of Mental Heath Awareness.  The question has been asked, why would a man like this take his own life?  As I watch the struggle to understand flood social media, and as I read post after post on the dangers of depression, I can't help but reflect on my own struggles.

As a teen I remember thinking about suicide.  I remember the feeling that I just wasn't important to anyone, how could I forget, I still struggle with the same thoughts today.  I remember scratching at my wrists with an object that barely had an edge.  What was I doing?  Crying out for some attention is probably the best answer, but flirting with the possibility might be a close second.  I was just making a mark, but what if I slipped and cut deep enough?  It wasn't really going to happen, but what if?  All I really succeeded in doing was scaring my closest friends and causing them to worry about me, but truthfully I still think about dying and wonder how much people would care if I were gone.  I'm only being honest here.  Maybe someone can relate to how I feel and know that they are not alone.  Maybe someone out there is searching for the listening ear of someone who understands.  I understand.  
 

About two years ago I was caught in a pretty tough depression.  As I read the posts of the current day about what depression is really like, I definitely understand what they are talking about. I don't really flirt with suicide anymore. I firmly believe that when I leave this earth is not my decision to make. That may be why I only ever flirted with it in the first place, or it may be because I have just never hit the ultimate bottom.  Either way, instead of planning out how to end my life I would sometimes think about how I might die quickly in an accident or sudden collapse without taking anyone with me.  I would be driving down the road alone thinking, "I am going to drive like I always do, but if that tractor trailer hits me it wouldn't be so bad as long as I die instantly." 

The outcry of today is, if you are depressed go get help!  One of the articles I was reading said that for someone who is depressed, asking for help is counter intuitive.  It is true.  When I was struggling I thought about going to see my doctor, but I didn't have it in me to actually do it.   I hope I never have to go through that again, but if I do I hope someone will take the initiative to step in and help.  While I am sad that Robin Williams ended his life and view it as a tragedy, I hope that good will come from it for others as the seriousness of depression is finally being recognized.  I don't think anyone else could have raised awareness to this degree.  As more and more information is shared I hope that more and more people will be helped.  I hope that they will find the thread of strength that they need to admit what they are going through.  I hope that many will take comfort in the fact that they are not the only one struggling with this, and I hope that friends and family will be understanding, compassionate and willing to get involved.  May the loss of one man's life save the lives of many others.  I don't mean to glorify it or treat it like a heroic thing, nor do I intend to blame or accuse him.  I just know that God can use even tragedy to bring about something good.

Just Because I Can

Last week I helped with VBS.  My job was to hang out with the first grade group and take them from station to station.  It was a large class, and most of the kids were quite upset that they were being called first graders when they were just about to begin second grade.  After the first day they settled down about that and I tried to refrain from calling them first grade.  Since the theme was undercover agents, and as part of the opening skits the students had been ranked as "cadets," that is what I would call out to get the group's attention.

There were several boys in the group who were challenging for one reason or another a it took a lot of work to hold their attention.  There was a pair of cousins who talked a lot, and a couple of kids who seemed to enjoy wrestling.  There was one boy who liked to express defiance, though he usually complied afterward, and there was one boy who was particularly fond of yelling.  Most of the week I didn't notice the yelling, it's not so bad when it's part of the rally, but Thursday night he was doing it while there was relatively little other noise.  There was a big crowd because  it was the evening when all the parents were there to see what the kids had been learning all week. I looked at him and I told him that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.   I explained that there are times when it is appropriate to yell, but this was not one of them.   I told him it would be alright if he raised his hand and was called on to answer a question.  I felt bad though, like I had somehow taken the fun out of it for him.

Later Thursday evening I was talking to Eric, and telling him that a ministry need I had been thinking of filling to had a new volunteer.  I told him that I was glad, and that my words to the boy at VBS were ringing in my ears, "just because you can doesn't always mean you should." For the time being God has specifically placed me in the ministry that leads worship through music.  That doesn't mean that I can't be involved elsewhere, but I want to make sure I am serving well where I am called.  I have served in children's ministry in the past, and still do to some degree with VBS and Good News Club, but I was thinking of  engaging in an aspect of it that it is simply not my time for.  I didn't know it until that moment.

The following morning when I saw the little guy with the big voice I told him that he had taught me a lesson the previous day.  I asked if he would like to know what it was.  He said he did, so I explained that when I told him, "just because you can doesn't mean you should," it helped me see that I don't have to do everything I can do either.  A good friend of mine says that multitasking is the art of doing more than you should worse that you could.  I think I have that right.  That's the general gist anyway.  I happen to agree.  Over committing is a lot like multitasking, only it stretches over a longer period of time.   I am thankful for the peace and relief I felt, for what I learned and that I could share it with the child.

Later that day the same little boy was asked a question by another leader.  "Who are you going to tell about Jesus when you go home?"  His answer was, "me."  The adult replied that he already knew about Jesus, he needed to tell someone else.  I understood him to mean that he knew about Jesus, but he really didn't know Jesus personally.  I stepped aside with him where the other kids couldn't hear and talked to him about it.  He was very emotional and misty eyed.  He said that he wanted to trust Jesus as his Savior, but not then and there; he would do it when he got home.  I don't know if he really went home and began a relationship with the One who gave His life for him, but I am praying for him.  I would rather see someone take the time to really think it through than to just go through the motions.  The words we say and the prayers we pray are meaningless until they are real in our hearts. I do know this, that little guy unexpectedly touched my heart and blessed me.

No Cookie Cutters, Molds or Stencils

If you try to fit people into a mold, either the people will end up bruised and damaged, or the mold will break.  You can't force other people to preform a certain way. There are usually many acceptable ways to accomplish a goal, and each person will have a method that is somehow different from everyone else's. God's a freehand artist.  He created each person uniquely, and each one should be free to serve Him the way they were designed to.  We should be able to express our heart for Him as we minister to those around us.  I am sad and frustrated today because of man made rules and  procedures that must be followed to the specifications of a human taskmaster.  I am burdened.  As a servant I am inhibited by these restrictions.  

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”  There is nothing in there about doing things a certain way, it's just about love.  There is nothing about following a stencil pattern program, it's just about love.  There is nothing about filling a certain number of positions or seats in the pew, it's still just about love.  If each member of the church would truly devote their heart to loving God, they couldn't help but love their neighbor.  If each neighbor was truly loved by a member of God's family, the church, they could hardly avoid being drawn to Him.   

We complicate things with our lists and demands when we could be so effective by just following His two greatest commands.  What were they again?  Oh yes...  Love and love.  Love God, love your neighbor.  He didn't say you had to do it by standing in a certain spot each Sunday morning forcing a smile and speaking with an assigned group of people.  He didn't say you had to do it by following a certain protocol or decorating scheme invented by this or that committee, and he didn't say you had to do it by fulfilling a job description contrived in a document.  He just said love.  Love should flow from inside, not be manufactured on the outside to fit a cookie cutter pattern.  Love must be given freely, not extracted forcefully by a set of expressed expectations.

What if we were to just let down our walls and facades and really do it?  What if we were to love God with all our hearts without reservation or fear, and then let the cup that He fills in our hearts overflow to the people around us.  What if  instead of trying to fix everything that we perceive to be wrong around us we simply reached out our hand to help where we saw a need?  What if instead of targeting people as possible new recruits we welcomed them as friends?  How different would our world be?  How much more joy would we experience if we were acting sincerely instead of staging an act?  How much more would God be glorified?  

I love the church, but I am fed up with programs.  Events are great, and schedules valuable, but I have had it with agendas that bypass the heart.  I don't want to approach visitors like a businessman approaches a customer in a restaurant or retail store.  I don't want to be a waitress who serves because she is hoping for a tip and a repeat customer; I want to serve because I am someone who genuinely loves God and cares for people.  There is not much I can do to change the overall atmosphere, but I can affect the temperature right where I stand.  I can live out a life of authentic love wherever I go.  I can pray that God will use me as a spark that sets the church ablaze for Him, and you can do the same. Together our little lights can illuminate the darkness, but we have to be allowed to shine in our own unique shade of the spectrum.  

Judging For Yourself

Judge not lest ye be judged also. How many times have you heard this or even said it yourself?   It seems that Matthew 7:1 is being taken out of context more and more.  Everyone knows this verse, it seems, and will quote it to make their point whether they believe the Bible or not.  People seem to think it means we aren't supposed to think for ourselves or disagree with anyone else. Of course by saying this a person often implies that it's perfectly acceptable for the them to judge the person they are quoting it to.  How ironic, since it's context is about being hypocritical.   It's about seeing our own faults for what they are before we fault someone else.  It's about making sure that we are dealing with our issues.  We must not ignore our problems while putting our neighbor's under the microscope.  Perhaps it's time our society learns the difference between using good judgement and being judgmental. 

It is possible to use discernment without condemning, and one does not have to condone a persons actions in order to love them as I have often heard folks insinuate.  I will explain a couple of rather ordinary way this applies to me.  I do not mean to offend anyone.  Hopefully these examples are not too controversial.  Discernment leads me to disapprove of smoking cigarettes, and therefore I do not engage in this behavior or encourage it, but I still love people who do it.  If I could help a person quit I would, but I don't have the right to condemn them.  Please understand though, I may have to keep my distance at certain times because of the second hand smoke.  I also do not approve of dirty jokes. It's not that I don't love a person who tells them, but I may not be able to spend a lot of time with that person because my mind is too easily drug into the gutter.  There is a long list of things, some specifically spelled out in the Bible and others that are not mentioned, that this concept can be applied to.  We should learn to discern what is right and wrong and live by our beliefs, but knowing the correct  criteria for establishing this discernment is crucial.

Judgement to condemn or pardon is the right of God alone and given to no man.  Only He is perfect, and only He is able to judge righteously.  He would be completely justified in punishing all of us, but He is gracious and paid for our ransom with the blood of His own Son.  The cost had to be covered.  Jesus paid this price willingly in obedience to His Father and out of compassion for us.  He is love, and therefore He acted lovingly toward us, giving up the opportunity to give us the  penalty we deserve, and giving us gifts we do not deserve instead.  

 Judgement that discerns is a gift from God that should be exercised continually by all of His children. We would all do well to learn discernment.  Understanding that an action is wrong and avoiding the temptation to do it is wise, as is knowing what is right and proceeding to carry that out.  We live in a world that is trying to blur the line between right and wrong.  There is a double standard that says, "everyone should have the right to do as they please, as long as it doesn't affect my special interest."  There are those who would defend a persons choice to have an abortion, but would punish them for leaving their dog in the car while they run into the grocery store.  There are others who would condemn the person who had an abortion and yet would abuse their own child.  To use a more commonplace example, there are those who would criticize someone for smoking cigarettes while over indulging in unhealthy doughnuts themselves.  We are inconsistent.  There is only one way to eliminate this type of contradiction, and that is to acknowledge the line where God drew it.  As humans we are unable to establish a system without contradiction because we all have a conflict within us.  Eventually we will find that we want two different things that cannot exist together.  Our only hope for justice is surrender to God's will.

The following words are part of a song by Casting Crowns, "I'm not pointing my finger, I'm holding out my hand."  The song is called "Love You With The Truth,"  and it's about loving people and inviting them to meet Jesus just as they are.  He accepts us with all our flaws and failures.  Jesus gave His life so that everyone could be delivered from their destructive lifestyle, and all of us are born self-destructing in one way or another.  Those of us who have been freed from our bondage should be eager to share with others how they too can be released from their chains.  Sometimes it seems we are more interested in pointing out the shackles a person wearing than we are in shining a light on the key.  Jesus told the Pharisees, as recorded in Mark 2:17, that it is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick.  He told them He didn't come to call the righteous; He came to call the sinner.  The truth is:  none of us is righteous.   We are all sick or in a state of recovery.  The question is:  Are we willing to admit it and ask the Great Physcian for the cure?

So Close And Yet So Far Away

Have you ever tried to climb into a book and physically interact with the characters on the page?  Of course you haven't.  That would be silly.   Have you ever mentally involved yourself in a story and imagined you were interacting with the characters?  I am sure I have, if not consciously then sub consciously.  Some people like to read choose your own adventure books.  The ending of the story is already written with several different outcomes, but the reader controls which way they go.  Others like to begin with a blank page and write their own story, create their own characters, and design their own plots.  That is the way to really be a part of the story.  A story doesn't write itself; it has to have an author.

Though many don't want to acknowledge it, God is the author of the universe.  His story is a little different.  He designed the characters specifically to be able to interact with Him. He gave them a mind of their own.  He allows them to go where they may and do as they will within the world He created for them.  Though the characters may do what they will, He has defined what is right and wrong.  This is a place where so many people seem to be confused.  They think that because they have a mind of their own that they can define right and wrong for themselves, but what God calls wrong is wrong even if it seems right to one of His characters.  

Part of the author's plot design is to redeem His characters who go astray, and they all go astray at some point as they make their own choices.  They were born with the inclination to do so because their parents did and so did their grandparents.  The inborn inclination to act against what the author defined as right goes all the way back to the first two people that He created with a mind of their own.  When they chose to try to define their own right and wrong they went contrary to the author and have passed down that characteristic of defiance to all generations.  God, however, would not walk away and allow His characters all to self destruct, instead He stepped into the story and made His Son one of the characters.  His Son had a mind of His own, but He diligently chose to always be true to His divine nature rather than succumbing to the nature of the character from whom he was descended in the story.  He showed the other characters what it looks like to follow the author's definition of doing what is right without straying, and He sacrificed his life to pay for all the wrong choices of every other man, woman, boy and girl in the story who would trust in Him.  After the price for sin was paid by the shedding of His life blood, He rose victorious on the third day!   

So many people are so close and yet so far away from the truth.  They want everyone to be accepted, but on their own merit, and for their choices rather than in spite of them.  Instead of admitting that God's definition of right and wrong is true and believing we can be forgiven for doing wrong, they want to make a new standard of right and wrong.  God wants to accept everyone, but He only does that based on the perfectly lived life, sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection of His Son.  He will not accept us for our wrong choices, but He will accept us in spite of them because of Jesus.  The place so many get stuck is that they refuse to admit that they have failed to uphold God's standard of right and wrong and therefore they don't ask to be forgiven for their wrong based on the merit of His Son.  

Rather than reaching out to the author and asking Him to intervene in their part of they story gone awry, some people are now calling out to the story itself and the setting they've been placed in.  They will ask the universe to guide them or provide for them, but the universe has no power.  Only The Creator of the universe has the power to help them.  He made it possible for the wayward characters He created to come to Him through His Son.  Jesus left The Author's side and stepped into the storybook to provide salvation and a connection to God despite our condition.  With salvation He provides new character for His characters.  He gives them the Holy Spirit to help them see things His way so that they can overcome that inherited inclination to make up their own definitions that conflict with His Truth.  

A person does not ask an oven for a loaf of bread, they ask the baker.  One wouldn't get far by asking a ship to take them across the ocean, they must ask the captain.  When a person realizes that they need help they had better ask The Creator, not the creation.  Imagine for a minute if the baker relabeled all of his ingredients.  What if he called the salt sugar, the sugar flour and the flour salt?  Try to bake a cake  with those substitutions.  It's not going to be a cake.  Salt is salt and sugar is sugar, just like wrong is wrong and right is right.  You can't change what it is just by changing the label.  If you substitute wrong for right the recipe is going to fail.  

My prayer is for people to turn to Jesus "the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)  Lord, please use these words to minister to someone today.  There are so many in the world who are confused because they haven't met Your Son.  Maybe they have heard of Him, but He is still a great mystery to them.  Please open the eyes of someone today so that they can see Jesus.  In His precious, awesome and glorious name I make this request.  Amen.  

"Delight yourself in The Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Who Cares?

The things I think about when I am out running sound so right in my head, but trying to remember them and get them down in writing can be a challenge.  The other day while I was running, and praying, and contemplating, I was thinking about a friend who recently denied the existence of God. While I find it hard to comprehend that someone could stop believing in God, without saving faith in Christ they are lost whether they believe God exists or not.  James 2:19 says, "You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that - and shudder."   James is making a case that true faith manifests itself in action, believing there is a God is not enough. Trusting in Christ as the one who paid the penalty for your sin and asking Him to clean your heart opens the door to the Holy Spirit in your life, and the Holy Spirit teaches you to act on your faith.  Jesus won't barge into your life, instead He waits for you to welcome Him in.  I would rather have an honest discussion with someone who is having doubts than to assume that they have trusted in Christ just because they say they believe God exists. 

So, what does it matter if you believe in God or not?  Who cares?  If you believe that there is a God who  created everything but then just left it all to self destruct, it doesn't make much difference.  However, if you believe in the God of forgiveness and love who sent His own Son to die in your place, then it makes ALL the difference.  Jesus endured being beaten nearly to death, having nails driven into His hands, wearing a crown of thorns, and suffocation on the cross because we deserved it.  It was painful and he suffered like we cannot imagine, but I don't think the physical pain was His greatest agony.  He is God the Son.  Sin is against the very nature of God, and God is immortal.  The reason He could die is that He clothed Himself in a human body for our sake and accepted the guilt for all of our sin.  It was sin that killed Him.  It was the sin that you and I and every other human being possess in our nature and have willfully committed.  He gave up His life for each one of those wrongs to save us. 

So, who cares?  God does!  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit care.  Jesus cares enough to bear our sin.  The awesome news is that because He wasn't the one who committed sin, death couldn't contain Him.  He overcame death.  Those who truly believe on Him as their Savior from sin are pardoned.  That pardon comes with a guarantee which is the Holy Spirit coming to live within them.  The Holy Spirit guides and guards a person marking them for eternal life with God in heaven.  Once a person has received the Holy Spirit they cannot turn back, and it will be evident by the way they live.  Too many people are tricked into thinking that believing in God's existence is enough, but they must receive forgiveness through His Son Jesus to be saved.  Remember, even the demons believe in the existence of God.  The first step to receiving forgiveness is coming to terms with your status as a sinner.  The second is believing that Jesus paid the price and admitting that only He can save you. 

If you believe He exists, why not ask for forgiveness from your sin because Jesus acted as your substitute and endured your punishment though He Himself never disobeyed God or rebelled in any way?  If you don't believe in God, you can't believe in His Son, but maybe you are denying His existence because you don't understand how much He loves you.  Maybe you have experienced hurt in your life, and you would rather ignore God because you don't understand how He could have let it happen.  Remember that the hurt was caused by a person's sin. God gave people the freedom to chose His way or their own.  The hurt comes when people choose to do things their own way instead of God's.  He doesn't desire us to chose that course, but He does allow it.  He didn't make us to be puppets with no choice, and since people chose to go their own way they can hurt themselves and others.  Even illness, which is often is NOT a direct result of an individual's specific sin, came into the world due to the presence of sin and we are now susceptible to it. That is the way of things here on earth.  Because God cares, though, He provided a way for us to be forgiven for choices that cause pain, to grow to be more like Jesus, and to be eternally healed. 

Someday those who have received forgiveness through Jesus will live where "He will wipe every tear from their eyes," and "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain."  (Revelation 21:4)  How can those things be absent in heaven?  Sin causes those things.  There is no sin there because only the forgiven may enter, and God promises to make them perfect before they do.  "Listen, I tell you a mystery:  We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."  (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)  "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  Then we will be with the Lord forever."  (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)  God wants us to be with Him forever.  He made a way for us.  He cares!

*Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.

Happy Harmonizing

I love to sing. It's one of my favorite things to do, but it's often more fun when there are others to sing with.  The sound of many voices singing together in unison is very nice, but harmonies are one of my favorite aspects of music.  Blending notes in such a way to create depth and emotion in a song is very powerful.  Not everyone is able to pick out a harmony part and sing it alone.  It is something that is learned through much practice, by following someone else who has more experience, or it's a rare gift.  Whether harmony is created by rote or intuition, whether it is practiced or improvised, it is well worth the effort to produce.

When two people sing in harmony, they are not singing the same note.  Normally there is a more dominate part, the melody, and the harmony is added by producing notes above or below it that intentionally blend well and compliment it.  Sometimes, though, harmonies blend so well that it is difficult to distinguish a melody, you just hear the whole chord.  Occasionally one of my children will be singing a song and another will join in, but the key is not comfortable for the second child.  Instead of singing a harmony, sometimes they will begin to sing the melody in a different key causing discord, confusion and conflict.  If they would be willing to take the trouble of finding a harmony they could sing in a comfortable range while adding a pleasing new dimension to the song.  

Unfortunately many people live like the second child in this example.  If something isn't going their way they try to dominate the situation and do things the way they want them done, regardless of how it conflicts with those around them.  They throw the song that was being sung into chaos in an attempt to have things their way.  They cause conflict and discord, and rather than contributing to the beauty of the song they discourage the rest of the singers.  The better option would be to figure out how they can fit into the song in a way that blends?

What can be done when someone tries to dominate off key literally or metaphorically speaking?  When you are in close proximity to them it becomes tempting to stop singing altogether.  When the people involved are brothers and sisters in Christ, it is important for them to remember that their Father is conducting the symphony.  He has a part for each voice in the choir as well as each instrument in the orchestra, and He is the master composer. Each person will play an integral part in the performance of His work.  Sometimes it will be a lead and at other times it will be supporting. There are even measures of rest which often transition into something new.  Whatever the part is, it is crucial that each member of the ensemble take their directions from the conductor and keep their instrument in tune.  

Sometimes brothers and sisters have a fight for dominance that causes awful discord.  They forget that God is the conductor and also the composer of the song.  He is writing a beautiful piece, and all we need to do is play the part He has chosen for us.  We are not the writers.  We can't take our eyes off of Him.  If we are too concerned with someone else's part we are going to make mistakes with the one He has given us.  We need to listen to what those around us are playing and blend our parts together, all the while following the conductor.  We need to keep our eyes on Him and let Him lead. Sometimes He will have us right up front on the melody, other times He will move us more to the background on a harmony, and there will be times when He gives us measures of rests.  That doesn't mean we have been removed from the song; it's just our time to take a few deep breaths and prepare to come in harmonizing well with those around us in a beautiful song.  

The Shut Down Switch

Have you ever had a disagreement with a child?  They get frustrated because they can't change your mind and make you give them what they want. What is a common go to phrase?  "You hate me!" Why will a child say this, particularly to their parents?  I think it is because they know that it is untrue.  They know that parent loves them and that the accusation will hurt them.  It's one last attempt to manipulate the situation by challenging them, and it means, "I don't want to hear what you have to say."  It's an ultimatum, "agree with me or I won't believe that you love me."  It's a kill switch meant to to shut down the conversation as quickly as possible no matter what damage may occur.  Love protects, however, even when being threatened or resisted.   Love doesn't stand idly by and watch as someone heads for danger.  It doesn't refuse to get involved because someone might reject it.  It springs into action and strives to prevent injury.

Love can be hard work, and loving someone enough to correct, or even just disagree with them can hurt.  Let's look at  another example dealing with children.  Most people would not fault someone for telling a child not to play near a busy road, but if there is something near that road the child wants to play with or on, perhaps the mailbox that looks like a tractor, the child is probably going to protest.  They can't see beyond what they want to the danger it presents.  The child may have several reasons why they think playing near the road is acceptable, but that doesn't make it a good decision.  I have heard it said that hate is not the opposite of love, indifference is.  I don't know if I completely agree with that, but let's see how it plays out for a child in a dangerous situation. Hate and indifference may sometimes have the same result.

Seven year old Suzy is in the backyard and decides to build a village out of sticks.  It's a good creative way to play, the problem is that she chooses to do it on the railroad tracks.  The rails offer extra support for her structures, and she is delighted with her idea.  The next door neighbor sees what she is doing and thinks, "she's gonna get hurt, I can't stand that annoying brat anyway."  That would be hate.  The guy cutting the grass in the neighbors yard sees her and thinks, "that doesn't seem like a good idea, but it's not my problem."  That's indifference.  Her mother has been keeping an eye on her from the kitchen window, giving Suzy freedom to explore within the established boundaries.  Her mother looks up from the kitchen sink where she has been washing the dishes.  She doesn't think; she acts.  As soon as she realizes where Suzy has gone, she drops the plate in her hand and runs to the tracks to remove her daughter from the danger.  She explains the rules about her boundaries once again.  Suzy screams, "you hate me!" as the train comes and crushes her sticks, but she is safe.  Her mom and dad buy supplies that evening to come build a fence around their yard, and Suzy temporarily loses some freedom.  She may not play outside unless her mother can be out with her.  That is love.  

Love cares when a person is headed for destruction.  Love acts to rescue the one who's gone astray. The greatest love that has ever been expressed was when Jesus gave His life to save ours.  "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8.  If we who know the good news, that anyone can be saved by believing in Christ, sit back and refuse to share it, then we are not showing love.  We can't say we love someone but it's not in our place to interfere. Love protects.  We can't let our fear of rejection stop us from sending out the lifeline.  When we point out the dangers of living without Jesus, some will say, "you hate me," but that doesn't make it true.  Act in love anyway.  Those words are meant to hurt because they challenge the love that is known to exist.  They are a tool that the devil will try to use to discourage you from speaking the truth of Jesus' love into someone's life.  "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  Romans 12:21

*Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.

Ahead of the Rest

This year in Released Time Class there was a kindergarten boy who never seemed to want to listen, always wanted to talk, always wanted to be first in line and refused to hold the door for others.  It was my practice to ask the first child in line to hold the door so that I could stay in the front to guide the class and make sure they didn't run ahead and get lost in the crowd.  This boy would always appear at the front of the line, much to the dismay of others who said he had cut in front of them, but when asked to hold the door he would stubbornly decline.  As I caught on to this I felt the Spirit leading me to use it as a teaching opportunity.  

After the boy would reject the request, I would ask the next child in line to hold the door.  When all the children were through I would call the "door holder," who was now at the end of the line, to come to the very front ahead of the initial student.  Of course this didn't seem fair to the boy who wanted to be first.  I tried, as we walked from the school to the church, to convey the message that Jesus taught in Matthew 19:30 and 20:16, that in the kingdom of heaven the last will be first and the first will be last.  Whether he understood the sermonette or not, after several weeks of being sent back in line he finally decided to hold the door and was invited back to the front when he was finished.  Actually, he soon refused to let others have a turn holding the door and we had to begin a new lesson.  

It can be disheartening how many adult Christians, especially in the United States, want to be first in line but don't want to hold the door for others.  Jesus' disciples had the same attitude at one time.  Luke records in chapter 22 verses 24-27 "A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.  Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves."   Jesus explained to them that the way to be great in the kingdom of God is to humble one's self and be a servant.  So, why do so many strive to be in control giving orders, or sit back and watch while others serve them?

The disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit when they had this issue of striving for position, though they did have the first hand example of Jesus, the Living Word of God.  Today born again Christians have the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide them, and they have the example of Christ in the Written Word of God.  If each person would do their part and serve in the ways they are called to, while allowing others the same privilege and freedom, the church would be a wonderful place where everyone wants to be.  Unfortunately, too many people seem to be "supervising:" telling everyone else how to do their job, and complaining about what they perceive as doing it the wrong way.  They should be rolling up their sleeves, focusing on their task and encouraging others along the way.  

I believe the key to a healthy church is to stay focused on Christ and follow His example.  It is not about creating and managing programs.  It is not about evaluating the ways that others are serving and trying to help them do it "right."  It's about letting the Spirit of God flow through us to serve those around us whether they be brothers or strangers.  It's about trusting God to orchestrate the body the way He designed it, and allowing individuals to be individuals not robots forced into a man made mold. It's about loving and accepting one another as Christ loves and accepts each of us.  It's also about accepting our place in the body and functioning contentedly in our role.  "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."...  "If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?"  But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body."...  "But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other."  1 Corinthians 12:7,17-20 and 24-25

What can be done to make the body healthy?  What power do I have to change anything?  We all have the same resources.  As children of God we have the power of the Holy Spirit and the power of prayer.    Enabled by the Spirit, we can chose, as individuals, to be examples of Christlike service, and we can pray for each member of the body to function as it should according to God's design and purpose.  Only God can work in each heart to change our focus and transform us.  He can change our attitudes from entitlement to encouragement, our words from complaint to compliment, and our actions from supervisor to servant.  Only Christ can unify us and make us what He gave His life for us to become.  Only through the Holy Spirit living in us can we put aside our personal preferences and grow together in harmony. Will you pray for the church, the family of God?  Will you strive to live as an example to others of what a true servant of Jesus is?  By the power of Christ in me, I will.  

The Christian life is not a competition between individuals.  We were each created uniquely.  We should strive for our personal best and rejoice with others in their achievements.  This is a team effort where every player has the opportunity to use their specific strengths and gifts for corporate victory, and where each person should be fully committed to Jesus.  Let's cheer each other on and serve one another lest anyone grow weary along the way.  "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:24-25)

*Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.

That Shoe Doesn't Fit

Once again I came across a post on Facebook that I felt compelled to respond to.  I began writing a comment which turned into a paragraph, and soon decided that it was better to blog it than to fill my friends wall with a long comment that would probably not be appreciated in that context.  Maybe she will read my view here and take it into consideration. If I give her the link she can decide whether or not to click it.  I thank you for reading, and ask that you will carefully try to discern what I really mean to say.  It is interesting that the same topic keeps coming up, but I truly feel bombarded with messages like the one below.  I'll be honest with you:  I don't even know who this guy is, but I see his words and they reveal something.

You can click this to enlarge it and read what I am responding to.

Honestly, this quote sounds like the angry rage of intolerance to me. While fear can be the result of a belief, accusing others of fear because of their moral beliefs seems illogical.  While a person may fear the dark because they believe that something they can't see will attack them, they don't necessarily believe that night is wrong. We don't automatically assume that those who are afraid of heights are morally opposed to tall buildings, airplanes or mountains. If someone is opposed buildings of great height, would you conclude without question that it is because they suffer from acrophobia?  If I have a phobia, based on the reasoning of Henry Rollins, it's of immorality and it's consequences, I'm not just a homophobe. My fear is of the price the unrepentant heart will pay without accepting The Savior.  "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and "the payment for sin is death, but the gift that God freely gives is everlasting life found in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 3:23 and 6:23).  We are all as guilty of sin as a thief or a murderer because all sin no matter how big or small is still sin which separates us from God.   

I am making a proclamation of freedom from sin!  I want everyone to know that they have that right.  I don't hide behind the Bible, I do my best to live by it.  I take what it says to heart even when I am convicted for losing my temper, being unkind or grumpy, being lazy, or the many other ways I mess up from day to day.  Don't think that I don't consider those things serious, they are, and I struggle with them.  Sanctification* is a process, but it only begins when we admit that we need God's forgiveness through His Son, Jesus.  If we keep telling ourselves we aren't so bad, we won't be saved because we don't think we need God's mercy.  I know I am a sinner saved by grace. 

More and more I feel like people are randomly pointing their proverbial finger in my face, and the faces of others who share my beliefs and values, but they really don't know what I truly stand for.  They are firing shots into a crowd of strangers.  I try to avoid randomly spewing out judgemental, stereotypical comments, so it stings when I feel like I'm dodging bullets.  Hate and anger aren't going to take us anywhere we want to be.  Positive change begins with love.  You don't have to agree with someone to love them, nor do you have to allow them to force their choices on you.  The choice I wish everyone would make, to accept God's forgiveness through Jesus, is one that can never be forced.  It has to be the real and authentic decision of each individual.

I do understand that there are people on both sides who are very verbal about their opinions on certain issues.  Folks get defensive and the mud flies back and forth.  I don't want to be about an issue, I want to be about Jesus and His offer of forgiveness to anyone who believes.  No one can turn from sin on their own, but if they accept that He died in their place, they will want to let Him help them.  Maybe if I keep telling people there is forgiveness available, they will be able to admit that they've done wrong and receive it.  My message is forgiveness.  Will you believe in Jesus and accept it?

*Sanctification is being made holy.  When we trust in Jesus Christ we are pardoned from all of our sins immediately, and we begin to gradually change as we fight against the sin in our lives.  Someday the transformation will be complete.  1 John 3:2 says, "Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."

Temporary Cohabitation

Have you ever thought about how great it would be to live in a world with no sickness, pain or crime;  a place where each individual was treated with the highest respect, and no one was judged unfairly? Believe it or not, there is such a place.  It's called heaven, and it is where God, The Creator, lives.  In heaven there is no sin, and therefore there is no suffering.  The presence of sin is what causes suffering.  

When God created the earth He made it perfect, and it would still be perfect if sin had not entered.  When the first sin was committed on earth by the free will of man, it grew like a cancer.  It has been passed down to every human being, and even nature was affected.  And so we live in a world where good and evil are both present.  In heaven there is only good because God is there, here on earth good and evil cohabitate, but there is another world where there is only evil. Hell is total separation from God in whom all that is good originates.  Separation from God means separation from all that is good.  

Think of the things in this world that are good.  Mountains, streams and rivers, flowers, trees and vegetables, oceans, beaches and sunshine are just a few examples of things that are good here.  In fact, each day of creation, God looked at what He had made and saw that it was good.  Now think for a minute about all the bad things in the world.  Disease, hunger, disaster, violence, war, murder and hate are all bad.  They are examples of what is left when there is no good.  Can you imagine what it would be like in a place where only what is good and beautiful could exist to bring joy, or living in a world where only what is evil and abhorrent could exist to bring torment? Someday good and evil will be completely divided. While I doubt that there are flowers, trees or rivers in hell, sometimes I wonder if there are mosquitoes and poison ivy there.  That is something I am content to never know the answer to.  Things in heaven will be better than the best things we know here because there will be no pollution, drought or disease.    

This is a beautiful lake, but do you see all of the dead trees?

We live in a world where good and evil are allowed to coexist for a time, but when we leave this world behind we will spend eternity either where there is only good or where there is only evil.  The only way to enter heaven is to be without sin.  If sinful mankind entered heaven it would no longer be perfect.  Anyone who is not completely perfect will spend eternity where there is only evil.  Considering that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," who could ever get to Heaven?

There is only one man who ever lived a perfect life worthy of heaven.  He is God's own Son who left that perfect place and was willingly born into a mortal human body.  He struggled against all the temptation we face, but He overcame it.  He never gave in.  He never did one thing that was wrong.  He is the only man who could enter heaven, but He gave up His own perfect life to bear the sin of every other man and woman who was ever born on earth.  He experienced the guilt and shame that was rightfully ours for each sin we have ever committed.  He traded places with us, shed His blood in a brutal crucifixion, and died for everything we have ever done wrong.

Because Jesus was punished for sin that He had not committed, death had no power to hold Him.  The third day he rose from the dead.  He was seen by many people.  He ate food and allowed people to touch Him proving that he was actually physically there.  He had scars in his hands, feet and side.  The wounds were healed, but the scars remained as a testimony of what He had suffered.  He told his followers to spread the word about what He had accomplished, and then He ascended to Heaven to wait for those who would believe.  That is all you can do to have your sin removed and be made perfect for heaven: believe that God's perfect Son, Jesus, died for you.  

Someday this world will end.  When that happens everyone will be admitted to the world they have chosen to spend eternity in.  Those who trust in Jesus choose the joy of Heaven.  Those who reject the message of His sacrifice choose to be separated from all that is good.  I have made my choice.  Have you made yours?  If you haven't, are you ready to make it today? Though we still experience physical death here, our spirits are offered life unending in a new body that will never know decay or corruption. I urge you to accept the offer today, and thank Jesus for the trade He made for you.

Thread Of Truth Untangled

I saw this post on Facebook today, and found some truth and some error mixed together.  It's true that divorce is wrong, but the consequence of stoning was old testament to show why we needed a Savior.  The Savior came and paid the consequence on the cross.  We deserve to die  for our sins, but Jesus gave His life for ours as a substitute.  

Someone who has been forgiven of their sin by a Merciful Savior should desire a life of purity.  When the woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus, and her accusers walked away instead of stoning her, Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." John 8:10-11.  Love thy neighbor...  Yes.  Accept the person...  Yes.  Embrace the sin...  No.  That goes for all sin, not just this one.  Let's see...  adultery, lust, dishonesty and lack of self control would all qualify as well as the one mentioned in the image below.  Jesus said that a person who hates his brother has committed murder in his heart.

I am not in favor of ruining lives, but that is exactly what sin will do.  Do I sin?  You better believe it!  Am I proud of it? Definitely not!  It's a struggle.  I don't accept my sin.  I repent of it.  I know that I am accepted by God only because of what Christ did for me.  Many find my stand on this offensive, though my purpose is to provide information, not to offend.  There is forgiveness in Christ, but the choice to receive it by trusting Him belongs to each individual.  He left His home in glory, and put on a mortal body that could be brutally beaten and killed, so we could be cleansed from sin.  I love Jesus!  I want to follow Him and help others do the same.  That's all.

This is the Post I am referring to