We love to sing the song, "I Surrender All," but how many of us really, truly surrender all? I look at the rich man who has a seven figure bank account (that's at least $1,000,000) and a portfolio that's worth 6 figures (that's at least $100,000) and I question if that person has truly surrendered all.
Surrendering all means that you give everything you own, everything you do, everything you are to God. A huge bank account, a stock portfolio, all the trappings that go with having that kind of wealth is an indicator that that person has not surrendered all. And I can tell you that person is not relying on God to supply their need. How can I say that? Because they have a huge bank account. And let me say this, because this is biblical: Jesus said for us to give everything we have to the poor and follow Him. Jesus never told anyone to stockpile wealth and goods. Yes, He wants us to prosper as our souls prosper, but He wasn't talking about the prosperity of having huge bank accounts and stock portfolios.
Believing for God to meet your need is when you have absolutely nothing and you rely on God to give you what you need. Having a huge bank account means you are relying on yourself and what you've put into the bank to provide your need. Surrendering everything to God means you give up everything of value to help those who are in need. Because God uses His children to provide the need of those who are in need. Yes, God could speak whatever it is someone's in need of and it would be there. But He chose to use His children to do it because that shows Him that the ones who have are willing to give it away by surrendering it to Him and He will direct them where to bestow it.
The 'prosperity gospel' is a lie from the deepest pits of hell. That's pure, unmitigated greed. And greed is a sin. If someone handed me $20 billion dollars today, I'd be broke by the end of the week. Why? Because I know when God blesses me with something, He wants me to share that blessing with those who are in need. That's my sowing. Yes, I'm allowed to keep some of it for my needs, but He didn't give it to me for me to put it in the bank, He gave it to me so I could help others. When you hide the money in the bank, it's not helping anyone. To me, it loses it's value when it's just a number on a bank statement or on a portfolio. That's just a number. The true value of it is when it is used to help someone.
Saying you surrender all and actually surrendering all are two completely different things. And your words lose meaning when you say you have surrendered all but you have a 7 figure bank account or a 6 figure portfolio.
Monday, July 28, 2025
Friday, July 25, 2025
Does God Change His Mind
I have heard so many times, over the years, that God does not change His mind. I always want to ask the people who say that if they've ever actually read the Bible. Of course, I know most of them have, but the ludicrousy of them making that statement makes me want to ask. There are multiple scriptures that speak of God changing His mind, but the people I've heard say He doesn't are the ones who love the phrase, "God is the same yesterday, today and forever." While that statement is totally true, that does not mean that God does not change His mind.
In Genesis 18, Abraham is visited the Lord and some angels. God tells Abraham that he and Sarah are going to have a child, and as He is leaving He talks to Himself, as it were, and asks if all the world will be blessed through the children of Abraham, should He speak to Abraham about the destruction of the cities. After His conversation with Himself, He does speak to Abraham about it.
So, God tells Abraham that the stench of the sin of those two cities had reached Him and He was going into the city to determine if their sin was truly as bad as the stench and if so, He would destroy them. Abraham was moved to intercede on behalf of the cities because his nephew, Lot, along with his wife and daughters, lived in Sodom. So he asked God, 'what if there are 50 righteous in the city?' God said for 50 He would not destroy the city. Abraham said, 45? God said, not if there are 45. Abraham spoke again, 40? 30? 20? 10? God said, if there are 10 I will not destroy it, and then He left Abraham's presence so Abraham couldn't get Him down to 5. Had Abraham asked for 5 and God agreed, the cities would still be there, today. So, yes, man can talk God into changing His mind.
There's another example of God changing His mind, though. After the Ascension, Peter was praying and God showed Peter a vision of a large sheet descending from heaven filled with creatures which the Law said were unclean and were not to be touched or eaten. God told Peter, "take, eat." Peter wouldn't do it because nothing unclean had ever touched his lips. God told Peter to not call unclean that which God had called clean. So, wait. In the Law God called them unclean. But in Peter's vision God called them clean. What? God changed His mind.
Here's my point: people want to use certain passages of scripture in order to hold on to their personal predilections, or biases. Anyone can take a single scripture and use it to justify their bias. Or their ideas. And it mainly happens when we want to condemn someone over something we think they should not be doing. I use the example of Peter's vision of the sheet because it's a beautiful example of life before and after Christ. Before Christ was The Law of Moses. All the rules and regulations of the Law were there to try to make the people righteous. Of course, without a sacrifice for sin, sin could not be forgiven, so the best thing to do was to stay away from anything that might cause you sin. After Christ, however, no longer being under the Law, but under grace, we don't have to worry about most of those rules and regulations. And God was telling Peter two things: first whatever was forbidden to touch or eat under the Law was no longer forbidden, but also because before Christ the Gentiles were called unclean but after Christ all people are called to be God's children.
Before Christ, all Jewish people were under the Law. Every single person born a Jew was subject to the Law. After Christ, people get to choose to be under grace. It's an individual's choice to be saved. It's not a mandate of Law. It's a choice to receive the free gift that God has given us. If it's an individual choice then it's an individual relationship. If it's an individual relationship then it's between the person and God. No one else has any input. Yes, there are things that need to be done, but it's between the individual and God. No other person enters into it. What God has called clean, let no one call it unclean.
In Genesis 18, Abraham is visited the Lord and some angels. God tells Abraham that he and Sarah are going to have a child, and as He is leaving He talks to Himself, as it were, and asks if all the world will be blessed through the children of Abraham, should He speak to Abraham about the destruction of the cities. After His conversation with Himself, He does speak to Abraham about it.
So, God tells Abraham that the stench of the sin of those two cities had reached Him and He was going into the city to determine if their sin was truly as bad as the stench and if so, He would destroy them. Abraham was moved to intercede on behalf of the cities because his nephew, Lot, along with his wife and daughters, lived in Sodom. So he asked God, 'what if there are 50 righteous in the city?' God said for 50 He would not destroy the city. Abraham said, 45? God said, not if there are 45. Abraham spoke again, 40? 30? 20? 10? God said, if there are 10 I will not destroy it, and then He left Abraham's presence so Abraham couldn't get Him down to 5. Had Abraham asked for 5 and God agreed, the cities would still be there, today. So, yes, man can talk God into changing His mind.
There's another example of God changing His mind, though. After the Ascension, Peter was praying and God showed Peter a vision of a large sheet descending from heaven filled with creatures which the Law said were unclean and were not to be touched or eaten. God told Peter, "take, eat." Peter wouldn't do it because nothing unclean had ever touched his lips. God told Peter to not call unclean that which God had called clean. So, wait. In the Law God called them unclean. But in Peter's vision God called them clean. What? God changed His mind.
Here's my point: people want to use certain passages of scripture in order to hold on to their personal predilections, or biases. Anyone can take a single scripture and use it to justify their bias. Or their ideas. And it mainly happens when we want to condemn someone over something we think they should not be doing. I use the example of Peter's vision of the sheet because it's a beautiful example of life before and after Christ. Before Christ was The Law of Moses. All the rules and regulations of the Law were there to try to make the people righteous. Of course, without a sacrifice for sin, sin could not be forgiven, so the best thing to do was to stay away from anything that might cause you sin. After Christ, however, no longer being under the Law, but under grace, we don't have to worry about most of those rules and regulations. And God was telling Peter two things: first whatever was forbidden to touch or eat under the Law was no longer forbidden, but also because before Christ the Gentiles were called unclean but after Christ all people are called to be God's children.
Before Christ, all Jewish people were under the Law. Every single person born a Jew was subject to the Law. After Christ, people get to choose to be under grace. It's an individual's choice to be saved. It's not a mandate of Law. It's a choice to receive the free gift that God has given us. If it's an individual choice then it's an individual relationship. If it's an individual relationship then it's between the person and God. No one else has any input. Yes, there are things that need to be done, but it's between the individual and God. No other person enters into it. What God has called clean, let no one call it unclean.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Blessings
Someone I knew once made the statement, to me, that they did not understand why I didn't have more than I had, or wasn't blessed the way they thought I should be considering how much I help others. You see, they were looking at my material belongings and my standing in society to determine if I was blessed the way they thought people should be blessed who follow Jesus' command to help others.
And the philosophy behind the "prosperity gospel" movement is pretty much the same. Those who believe in that type of Christianity look at my socio-economic standing and think that I must not be obeying God's commandment because I don't have material wealth. They fail to see the underlying truth of my living, however. God provides all my need. Miracles happen whenever I'm truly in need. Though I may not know where it's going to come from, the need is always met, in time. On time. Always.
But, blessings don't measure up to earthly possessions, only. And I'll never have a bank account with 5 or 6 figures. I'll never own a portfolio. Those are signs of storing treasures on earth. I have no need for such. Everything God gives me, I use what I need and the rest I pass along to those who are less fortunate. Yes, there are plenty less fortunate than I. All my need is met. Every day. So, if I have excess funding, I give to to those who don't have everything they need. See, God blesses me, and I turn around and answer their prayer for their need with what God has given me. It's another example of God answering their prayer. No, God didn't give it to them 'miraculously.' But, He did provide their need. By blessing me, I bless them and that Blesses Him.
That person who made that statement to me believes only those who have large bank accounts, paid for homes and fancy, brand new cars are truly being blessed by God. I don't need a brand new car. Would it be nice to have one? Sure, but I don't NEED one. I have what I need. My vehicle gets me where I need to go. It's 15 years old but it still gets me there in comfort and without worry. No, I don't get to go on fancy vacations or visit far off locations, but I don't need those things. I get to visit my family when I need to. I even get to visit friends in other locations when I need to. But, it's about my need, not about my want. And God only promised to provide my daily need. And He does. Each and every day.
I truly do have more than I need. I have possessions that there is no common sense way to explain how I have them. But, by being obedient to God's Word, giving to those who are in need when I have the ability to do so, God turns around and grants me things that make my life a little more comfortable. It's not a check in the mail, it's an entertainment center that someone was going to throw away. Or it's finding a slightly damaged light fixture at the county dump that I can repair and put in my home. Those are just as big a blessing to me as a check in the mail. Maybe even more so. For me, cash is only good, and valuable, for what it can do for others. Cash under the mattress or a 6 figure checking account isn't helping anyone. To me, that makes it worthless. It's not doing anyone any good laying under the mattress or showing up as numbers on a spreadsheet.
Yes, God has truly blessed me far and above what I could have ever hoped or imagined. More importantly, He meets my daily need. Without fail. Without fanfare. But, He always gets the Glory!
And the philosophy behind the "prosperity gospel" movement is pretty much the same. Those who believe in that type of Christianity look at my socio-economic standing and think that I must not be obeying God's commandment because I don't have material wealth. They fail to see the underlying truth of my living, however. God provides all my need. Miracles happen whenever I'm truly in need. Though I may not know where it's going to come from, the need is always met, in time. On time. Always.
But, blessings don't measure up to earthly possessions, only. And I'll never have a bank account with 5 or 6 figures. I'll never own a portfolio. Those are signs of storing treasures on earth. I have no need for such. Everything God gives me, I use what I need and the rest I pass along to those who are less fortunate. Yes, there are plenty less fortunate than I. All my need is met. Every day. So, if I have excess funding, I give to to those who don't have everything they need. See, God blesses me, and I turn around and answer their prayer for their need with what God has given me. It's another example of God answering their prayer. No, God didn't give it to them 'miraculously.' But, He did provide their need. By blessing me, I bless them and that Blesses Him.
That person who made that statement to me believes only those who have large bank accounts, paid for homes and fancy, brand new cars are truly being blessed by God. I don't need a brand new car. Would it be nice to have one? Sure, but I don't NEED one. I have what I need. My vehicle gets me where I need to go. It's 15 years old but it still gets me there in comfort and without worry. No, I don't get to go on fancy vacations or visit far off locations, but I don't need those things. I get to visit my family when I need to. I even get to visit friends in other locations when I need to. But, it's about my need, not about my want. And God only promised to provide my daily need. And He does. Each and every day.
I truly do have more than I need. I have possessions that there is no common sense way to explain how I have them. But, by being obedient to God's Word, giving to those who are in need when I have the ability to do so, God turns around and grants me things that make my life a little more comfortable. It's not a check in the mail, it's an entertainment center that someone was going to throw away. Or it's finding a slightly damaged light fixture at the county dump that I can repair and put in my home. Those are just as big a blessing to me as a check in the mail. Maybe even more so. For me, cash is only good, and valuable, for what it can do for others. Cash under the mattress or a 6 figure checking account isn't helping anyone. To me, that makes it worthless. It's not doing anyone any good laying under the mattress or showing up as numbers on a spreadsheet.
Yes, God has truly blessed me far and above what I could have ever hoped or imagined. More importantly, He meets my daily need. Without fail. Without fanfare. But, He always gets the Glory!
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Responding To Lies
I grew up in a house filled with lies. The entire basis of my life was built on a lie from the age of 4 until the day I refused to continue allowing my life to built on lies. I was taught to lie by the parents raising me until the age of 13. Though they tried to teach me to only lie for them to the other parent, that's not the way it works when you teach a child to lie. They will lie to you about things concerning themselves, as well. Don't be surprised when the child you have taught to lie for you turns around and lies to you. After all, you taught them to lie.
As a reformed liar, I don't tolerate lies, any longer. I don't respond to lies. I don't react to lies. I refuse to be a participant in lies in any way, shape or form. If I discover you lie to me, I won't bring it up. I won't ask questions. I will simply not respond. I won't show up. I won't be around. I don't need to point out to you that you lied. You knew you lied the moment you said it. I have no need to confront you about it. I have no need to hear you try to explain it. And I refuse to have you try to convince me that you did not lie. I have no tolerance, anymore. When the lie is delivered, I will walk away.
I will not defend against lies. I have no obligation to anyone to convince them of a lie. The ones who know me will know it's a lie from the beginning. The ones who don't know me well will soon learn that it was a lie. Or they will learn that the one who spoke the lie is an unrepentant liar. Some might call those type of people pathological liars, but the truth is they are just habitual liars. They will lie without even thinking about it. They will lie even when there's no need to. It's just become so natural to them, they just lie. And that's something they will have to answer for. I don't have to confront them, I don't have to defend against them, I will not be around them. Because I know the greatest tool there is when it comes to lies: the truth will always come out. The truth will always win. It may not be immediate, but it will happen.
So, if you don't get a response from me, double check yourself to see if everything you've said to me is true. Because if there's truth, I will respond. If there is an honest attempt to speak with me, then I'll respond. But, if everything you say is true and there's one lie in the midst of it, I'm not going to respond. Ever. And if you can't understand that, and my reasons for doing so, then you really need to examine your heart and take a good, long, honest, detailed look at your soul. Because if you truly believe your own lies, you are too far gone for me to associate with. And eventually, you will wind up all alone.
Even liars can't stand to be lied to. Which is truly a paradox to my mind. But there it is. That's it.
As a reformed liar, I don't tolerate lies, any longer. I don't respond to lies. I don't react to lies. I refuse to be a participant in lies in any way, shape or form. If I discover you lie to me, I won't bring it up. I won't ask questions. I will simply not respond. I won't show up. I won't be around. I don't need to point out to you that you lied. You knew you lied the moment you said it. I have no need to confront you about it. I have no need to hear you try to explain it. And I refuse to have you try to convince me that you did not lie. I have no tolerance, anymore. When the lie is delivered, I will walk away.
I will not defend against lies. I have no obligation to anyone to convince them of a lie. The ones who know me will know it's a lie from the beginning. The ones who don't know me well will soon learn that it was a lie. Or they will learn that the one who spoke the lie is an unrepentant liar. Some might call those type of people pathological liars, but the truth is they are just habitual liars. They will lie without even thinking about it. They will lie even when there's no need to. It's just become so natural to them, they just lie. And that's something they will have to answer for. I don't have to confront them, I don't have to defend against them, I will not be around them. Because I know the greatest tool there is when it comes to lies: the truth will always come out. The truth will always win. It may not be immediate, but it will happen.
So, if you don't get a response from me, double check yourself to see if everything you've said to me is true. Because if there's truth, I will respond. If there is an honest attempt to speak with me, then I'll respond. But, if everything you say is true and there's one lie in the midst of it, I'm not going to respond. Ever. And if you can't understand that, and my reasons for doing so, then you really need to examine your heart and take a good, long, honest, detailed look at your soul. Because if you truly believe your own lies, you are too far gone for me to associate with. And eventually, you will wind up all alone.
Even liars can't stand to be lied to. Which is truly a paradox to my mind. But there it is. That's it.
On Helping Others
I speak a lot about helping others. I want to expound on that topic a little bit. Because helping others is a broad term and sometimes we don't think about the specifics of what that means. Jesus helped others. He met many in their need by going to them. He met many in their need because they were in His path. But, He also met some in their need because they came to Him.
Several of the miracles we read about in the Bible, the people did not ask Jesus to heal them or perform a miracle. The lame man, Jesus asked Him: would you be healed today? Yes, that man was lame, was laying on his bed unable to move. Jesus stopped to talk to him, but he never asked Jesus if He could heal him. Or to heal him. But Jesus could see His need, and asked Him if he wanted to be healed.
The woman with the issue. She didn't go up to Jesus and ask Him to heal her. She just knew if she got close to Him, if she just touched the very edge of His garment, that the Healing Power would flow out of Him and she would be healed. Many times, someone with an issue will come up to us and they don't ask for our help. They might explain a little of their situation, but they don't ask us to help them. Yet, as Believers and followers of Christ, we are obligated to help them, if we can. Yes, I said obligated. That's our calling as Believers. If we have the means to help someone and they are in need of that help, we are obligated to help them.
A believer who is a mechanic may be in the lobby before or after service and someone he doesn't know says hello, and they get into a conversation. If that person should mention, without knowing the Believer is a mechanic, that they are having some type of car trouble, that Believer should say, let me take a look at it. If it can be fixed, I'll fix. And not request payment for the labor. Maybe even not request payment for the parts, depending on the situation and the move of Holy Spirit.
If a Believer is talking to someone and that Believer has a bank account with lots of extra money in it, and that someone is having a rough patch and can't pay their rent, that Believer should pay their rent. No questions asked, no demands made. Just do it.
If a brother or sister comes to us and asks to borrow some money, and we have it extra, we should give it and not expect repayment. Luke 6:34-35. Helping others is our call to duty. It's what shows the world that we are the children of God. Because we care for one another. We take care of one another. In all things. At all times.
Sad to say, but if Jesus were walking the earth today, I don't think He would find a place to lay His head like He did in the first century. Believers don't stop to think that Jesus was homeless. The apostles were homeless. Jesus said what we do to the least is doing it unto Him. Who are the least? We try to pretend He was talking strictly about the children, the babies, but He meant anyone who is worse off than we are. Anyone who is in need of help and assistance. The beggars. The homeless. The orphans. The sick. The widows. Those in jail. The hungry. The thirsty. They are the least among us. Are we helping them? Or are we walking past them pretending we can't see them?
A Believer should not have to ask for help. They should never have to verbalize their need. Because we, as Believers, should be able to see their need, but also hear Holy Spirit when He tells us of their need. And we should help them. Without question, without fanfare, without seeking praise. We shouldn't even seek recognition from the ones we help, if it's possible to do it anonymously. Don't let the right hand know what the left hand is doing.
We need to do better. We need to be better.
Several of the miracles we read about in the Bible, the people did not ask Jesus to heal them or perform a miracle. The lame man, Jesus asked Him: would you be healed today? Yes, that man was lame, was laying on his bed unable to move. Jesus stopped to talk to him, but he never asked Jesus if He could heal him. Or to heal him. But Jesus could see His need, and asked Him if he wanted to be healed.
The woman with the issue. She didn't go up to Jesus and ask Him to heal her. She just knew if she got close to Him, if she just touched the very edge of His garment, that the Healing Power would flow out of Him and she would be healed. Many times, someone with an issue will come up to us and they don't ask for our help. They might explain a little of their situation, but they don't ask us to help them. Yet, as Believers and followers of Christ, we are obligated to help them, if we can. Yes, I said obligated. That's our calling as Believers. If we have the means to help someone and they are in need of that help, we are obligated to help them.
A believer who is a mechanic may be in the lobby before or after service and someone he doesn't know says hello, and they get into a conversation. If that person should mention, without knowing the Believer is a mechanic, that they are having some type of car trouble, that Believer should say, let me take a look at it. If it can be fixed, I'll fix. And not request payment for the labor. Maybe even not request payment for the parts, depending on the situation and the move of Holy Spirit.
If a Believer is talking to someone and that Believer has a bank account with lots of extra money in it, and that someone is having a rough patch and can't pay their rent, that Believer should pay their rent. No questions asked, no demands made. Just do it.
If a brother or sister comes to us and asks to borrow some money, and we have it extra, we should give it and not expect repayment. Luke 6:34-35. Helping others is our call to duty. It's what shows the world that we are the children of God. Because we care for one another. We take care of one another. In all things. At all times.
Sad to say, but if Jesus were walking the earth today, I don't think He would find a place to lay His head like He did in the first century. Believers don't stop to think that Jesus was homeless. The apostles were homeless. Jesus said what we do to the least is doing it unto Him. Who are the least? We try to pretend He was talking strictly about the children, the babies, but He meant anyone who is worse off than we are. Anyone who is in need of help and assistance. The beggars. The homeless. The orphans. The sick. The widows. Those in jail. The hungry. The thirsty. They are the least among us. Are we helping them? Or are we walking past them pretending we can't see them?
A Believer should not have to ask for help. They should never have to verbalize their need. Because we, as Believers, should be able to see their need, but also hear Holy Spirit when He tells us of their need. And we should help them. Without question, without fanfare, without seeking praise. We shouldn't even seek recognition from the ones we help, if it's possible to do it anonymously. Don't let the right hand know what the left hand is doing.
We need to do better. We need to be better.
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Ranting and Raving
Sometimes human beings just feel the need to rant and rave. I don't know why we do, but we do. It could be over some trivial little thing that just set us off, the wrong way. It could be over a huge fuss that's going on in our lives. But, the fact is that sometimes we just rant about the problem and rave about what we should do because of the problem. Some of us yell and scream; some just talk a little faster, a little louder; some just cry and never say a word. But, we all rant and rave, at times.
I do it when someone does something that I feel is utterly immature, selfish or narcissistic. And most of the time I'm talking with a friend or relative when I do it. I rarely say anything I shouldn't say but the whole conversation is really something I shouldn't be having. The person I rant and rave to had nothing to do with the situation that set me off. It's just my way of blowing off the steam from the boiling anger over the perceived injustice of it all. I mean, really? How could they?
But where is the ranting and raving over the utterly insane things going on in our lives? The people tryng to force their religion on us? The people who won't support themselves and pay their taxes like we do? Where's the ranting and raving over the injustice of someone getting free food while I have to pay for mine, myself? Where is the ranting and raving over the high taxes I have to pay to the government so that someone else can choose to sit on their butt and refuse to get a job?
Oh, wait a minute! That's what's going on in our homes, our neighborhoods, our congregations, our cities/towns, our counties/parishes, our states and our country! How could I forget that? I may have missed some of it because I'm busy trying to live on my Social Security Disability income that's not even enough to cover the rent in a run-down mobile home. I'm busy trying to figure out how to make the food allowance I get stretch for 30 or 31 days when the groceries are costing 2 or 3 times as much I have to spend. I'm busy worrying if I'll have a roof over my head next month with power, gas and water. I haven't had time to get involved in all those rantings and ravings because not only am I trying to manage my life, I'm trying to help those who are worse off than I am because they don't have a roof over their heads and they're sweltering in near 100° temperatures in the summer and below freezing temperatures in the winter. I'm worried about the family down the block who can't figure out how to feed their three kids even though they both work.
I'm tired of hearing that I'm a pariah because I'm on disability. No, I'm not lucky to be on disability. If I were lucky I'd be able to go to work 40 hours a week. No, it's not a blessing that I "have nothing to do." I have tons to do but I don't have the physical capability to do it. I'm talking about the basiscs of sweeping, mopping, dusting, vacuuming and washing dishes. That's where my concerns and my concentration is. Not worrying if a lady on food stamps is buying herself a cheap steak because she hasn't had red meat in months.
We have our priorities turned around in this country. We want to focus on me, me, me and what I don't have compared to someone else. We need to stop and look at what we do have, because I've paid attention to some of those people who are the loudest voices in this debate. They have their health. They have enough money to pay their bills and still take nice vacations with their loved ones. They have the ability to walk wherever they want. They have the ability to climb stairs. They eat 3 meals a day, or more. They have nice clothes to wear. They have nice cars to drive. They have more house than their family needs, most of them. So why are they worried that some lady on food stamps bought herself a cheap steak?
We should be better than this in this country! We have children starving as we throw away billions of tons of food every year. We have people and families living on the streets when there are houses vacant in almost every neighborhood in this country. We have more billionaires in this country than the rest of the world combined, yet we have children who can't bathe even once a week because they have no home. And our leadership is more worried about what the have nots do have than they are about helping those who are less fortunate. They aim to take away what little the have nots do have. They want to get rid of the poor because they don't want to have to look at them. They don't want to help them, they just want to hide them away so they can't be seen. They want to stop abortions but they don't want to deal with the unwanted children in this country.
We are a nation in need of help that can only come from Almighty God. If we want this to be a Christian nation then we better, individually and corporately, begin acting like Christians and doing what Jesus told us to do. Otherwise, I'm afraid a whole lot of people are going to be massively surprised when they stand before Jesus and He tells them to depart from Him because He's never known them. And I really do not want to be one of them.
I do it when someone does something that I feel is utterly immature, selfish or narcissistic. And most of the time I'm talking with a friend or relative when I do it. I rarely say anything I shouldn't say but the whole conversation is really something I shouldn't be having. The person I rant and rave to had nothing to do with the situation that set me off. It's just my way of blowing off the steam from the boiling anger over the perceived injustice of it all. I mean, really? How could they?
But where is the ranting and raving over the utterly insane things going on in our lives? The people tryng to force their religion on us? The people who won't support themselves and pay their taxes like we do? Where's the ranting and raving over the injustice of someone getting free food while I have to pay for mine, myself? Where is the ranting and raving over the high taxes I have to pay to the government so that someone else can choose to sit on their butt and refuse to get a job?
Oh, wait a minute! That's what's going on in our homes, our neighborhoods, our congregations, our cities/towns, our counties/parishes, our states and our country! How could I forget that? I may have missed some of it because I'm busy trying to live on my Social Security Disability income that's not even enough to cover the rent in a run-down mobile home. I'm busy trying to figure out how to make the food allowance I get stretch for 30 or 31 days when the groceries are costing 2 or 3 times as much I have to spend. I'm busy worrying if I'll have a roof over my head next month with power, gas and water. I haven't had time to get involved in all those rantings and ravings because not only am I trying to manage my life, I'm trying to help those who are worse off than I am because they don't have a roof over their heads and they're sweltering in near 100° temperatures in the summer and below freezing temperatures in the winter. I'm worried about the family down the block who can't figure out how to feed their three kids even though they both work.
I'm tired of hearing that I'm a pariah because I'm on disability. No, I'm not lucky to be on disability. If I were lucky I'd be able to go to work 40 hours a week. No, it's not a blessing that I "have nothing to do." I have tons to do but I don't have the physical capability to do it. I'm talking about the basiscs of sweeping, mopping, dusting, vacuuming and washing dishes. That's where my concerns and my concentration is. Not worrying if a lady on food stamps is buying herself a cheap steak because she hasn't had red meat in months.
We have our priorities turned around in this country. We want to focus on me, me, me and what I don't have compared to someone else. We need to stop and look at what we do have, because I've paid attention to some of those people who are the loudest voices in this debate. They have their health. They have enough money to pay their bills and still take nice vacations with their loved ones. They have the ability to walk wherever they want. They have the ability to climb stairs. They eat 3 meals a day, or more. They have nice clothes to wear. They have nice cars to drive. They have more house than their family needs, most of them. So why are they worried that some lady on food stamps bought herself a cheap steak?
We should be better than this in this country! We have children starving as we throw away billions of tons of food every year. We have people and families living on the streets when there are houses vacant in almost every neighborhood in this country. We have more billionaires in this country than the rest of the world combined, yet we have children who can't bathe even once a week because they have no home. And our leadership is more worried about what the have nots do have than they are about helping those who are less fortunate. They aim to take away what little the have nots do have. They want to get rid of the poor because they don't want to have to look at them. They don't want to help them, they just want to hide them away so they can't be seen. They want to stop abortions but they don't want to deal with the unwanted children in this country.
We are a nation in need of help that can only come from Almighty God. If we want this to be a Christian nation then we better, individually and corporately, begin acting like Christians and doing what Jesus told us to do. Otherwise, I'm afraid a whole lot of people are going to be massively surprised when they stand before Jesus and He tells them to depart from Him because He's never known them. And I really do not want to be one of them.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
True Friends True Love
I had a relationship with someone for a very long time. In a large part of the early years I would tell people I was his friend but never said he was my friend. It was a complicated relationship but suffice it to say that I gave him a lot more than he gave me. Then things changed and he began to be a better friend after realizing, for himself, what I just described. And the relationship was good for a time.
Maybe it was just his nature, but things began to move back toward him taking advantage and me giving more than he was giving in the relationship. Eventually, he got mad and he cancelled our friendship. Abruptly, and to me, without real reason to end the relationship. But, that was his choice. I did not contact him. He did contact me, but he never asked me how I was doing, if I was okay, if I needed anything. No, he contacted me to tell me how wrong I was to put him in the position that he ended the relationship. He couldn't believe I was willing to throw away a relationship that had lasted that many years.
But, here's the thing: I didn't. He did. He contacted me several times with lies and threats, but I never responded to those messages. If I were to respond to a message from him it would have to be a message that included the questions how I'm doing or if I'm okay. He has yet to ask any question of me about my wellbeing. Just making threats and telling lies. Why would I respond to that?
A true friend who truly loves you is always going to put your wellbeing ahead of anything else. If there are problems within the friendship, a true friend is going to come to you and talk it through, not slam the door in your face. Then come back later and make out that it was your fault they slammed the door in your face. That's narcissism. It's not friendship and it's not love.
I do have true friends who share true love with me. I may not have a large number of friends in my circle, but I do have true friends in my circle. And I don't have time or energy to deal with someone who is only concerned with themself and wants to turn problems that they have caused around and try to put the blame on me. I've dealt with that enough in my life and I'm not going to deal with it any longer.
As far as anything else goes, God's in control, not me. And I lay all my problems at the throne and leave them there. He'll take care of that for me. I won't worry and I won't fret, because God has never failed me yet.
Maybe it was just his nature, but things began to move back toward him taking advantage and me giving more than he was giving in the relationship. Eventually, he got mad and he cancelled our friendship. Abruptly, and to me, without real reason to end the relationship. But, that was his choice. I did not contact him. He did contact me, but he never asked me how I was doing, if I was okay, if I needed anything. No, he contacted me to tell me how wrong I was to put him in the position that he ended the relationship. He couldn't believe I was willing to throw away a relationship that had lasted that many years.
But, here's the thing: I didn't. He did. He contacted me several times with lies and threats, but I never responded to those messages. If I were to respond to a message from him it would have to be a message that included the questions how I'm doing or if I'm okay. He has yet to ask any question of me about my wellbeing. Just making threats and telling lies. Why would I respond to that?
A true friend who truly loves you is always going to put your wellbeing ahead of anything else. If there are problems within the friendship, a true friend is going to come to you and talk it through, not slam the door in your face. Then come back later and make out that it was your fault they slammed the door in your face. That's narcissism. It's not friendship and it's not love.
I do have true friends who share true love with me. I may not have a large number of friends in my circle, but I do have true friends in my circle. And I don't have time or energy to deal with someone who is only concerned with themself and wants to turn problems that they have caused around and try to put the blame on me. I've dealt with that enough in my life and I'm not going to deal with it any longer.
As far as anything else goes, God's in control, not me. And I lay all my problems at the throne and leave them there. He'll take care of that for me. I won't worry and I won't fret, because God has never failed me yet.
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