By now everyone should know about the Chik fil a gay controversy. In a nutshell, the owner came out and stated that he believes in the Biblical definition of marriage: one man and one woman. He faced a tremendous backlash from liberals with some mayors going so far as to say they would make sure a franchise would never open in their city, something the ACLU said they could not do (surprising from that evil organization). A day was set to support Chik fil a, and record numbers were out on that day.
This was not about people being against gay marriage - though many who showed up in support are against it. It was about free speech. I heard one man who went is a guy that regularly supports gay causes financially and is for same-sex marriage. But, he is also a business owner and he was disgusted by the attempts to hurt a restaurant chain because some people didn't agree with the owner.
I think the outpouring of support was great, but it got me to thinking. Why don't we regularly support Christian businesses. This stand by the owner of Chik fil a shouldn't surprise anyone. They are known as being Christian-owned. They are even closed on Sundays, which may not impress the countless Christians who have shop and eat out on Sundays........ but it impresses me. They honor the Sabbath and don't force their employees to work on Sundays. They support great Christian causes and organizations. We shouldn't just turn out on one day in support, we should regularly support them.
And there are others. There used to be a publication in my area called The Shepherd's Guide. It listed Christian businesses and Christian-owned businesses in the area. A great idea. Not sure if it still exists, but it should. We need to support other Christians. We can't stop shopping at every store whose policies we disagree with, though sometimes we should when they get too outrageous (i.e. JC Penny and their gay father's day and mother's day ads). If we didn't shop anywhere that we disagreed with the policies and who they support, we wouldn't have anywhere to shop. However, we can and should support businesses that we know are Christian-owned. So what if it costs a little more or takes a little more effort. It would be a good thing.
I didn't make it to Chik fil a on the day of support. I was on vacation and the one we drove by had cars waiting to get into the parking lot, and people lined up around the building waiting to get in, and we were on a time constraint. But I plan on eating there soon on my own support Chik fil a day.
Yes, it is great to rally around a person or business like that when they are attacked for doing right, but it is also great to regularly support them. We should. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Forgiveness
This is a sad statement to make, but I really have a hard time with forgiveness. And not just when it involves me doing it, but when it involves me receiving it.
There have been things done and said to me, that I have a really hard time forgiving. I think I have forgiven the person, and then up it pops days, months, even years later. It is so easy to hold a grudge. Why is that?
And on the flip side, it isn't any different. When I hurt someone, I have a hard time believing I am forgiven. I feel like I need to atone over and over.
Even with God.
It could be partly due to the way I was raised, having preachers who seemingly loved to scare people into going to the altar at camps and revivals, and even in their home church. For someone like me, it just helped reinforce the idea that I could never be good enough.
And it hasn't helped that I have to deal with a "besetting sin." I always feel like I need to do more, that even though I asked God to forgive me, He hasn't quite totally done so.
But the thing is, when God forgives us, He remembers it against us no more. It has been said that it is just as if I'd never sinned. Sounds simple, yet profound. So why is it so hard to grasp?
I have been doing better with the forgiving issue lately. Maybe it is part of growing older. I have come to learn that just because someone disagrees with me, does not mean they are personally attacking me, though some can do so.
I have learned that holding a grudge does me no good, only harm. While I am stewing and dredging it over and over, the guilty party isn't even thinking about it, and is going on their merry way. Meanwhile I am miserable. Forgiving someone isn't just for their sake - it is for ours also. Maybe more so. Most of the time, the person will never know you made the choice to actively forgive them, and it will make no difference in their life. However, it makes a big difference in ours. And besides, God commands us to do so.
Back in October, I was privlegded to go hear the Gaither Vocal Band in concert, along with a few guest groups. One of those groups was the Issacs, who does mostly bluegrass music, not a favorite of mine. They sang a song new to me that was from a CD that had just come out. I loved it. Not only was it pleasing to the ears, but it has a great message. As soon as intermission came, I went and bought the CD. The song is "Why Can't We?" Lyrics and video below. Check it out.
Why Can’t We?
By Rebecca Bowman Isaacs, Sonya Isaacs Yeary, and Jimmy Yeary
Verse 1:
He lies awake there all alone every night
Lookin’ back on all of his mistakes
Wishin’ through the tears that he could just go back
Cause there’s a lot of things he’d like to change
He just can’t forgive himself and forget
Even though God already did
Chorus:
If He can love someone
And find the good within
In spite of what they’ve done
No matter where they’ve been
If He can let it go
And set the debtor free
If He can keep forgiving you and me
Why can’t we
Verse 2:
There’ve been times I’ve been so hurt by someone else
I didn’t wanna give a second chance
I let all the bitterness take control
And took grace into my own hands
But even Jesus said whoever’s done no wrong
Let him throw the first stone
Chorus:
If He can love someone
And find the good within
In spite of what they’ve done
No matter where they’ve been
If He can let it go
And set the debtor free
If He can keep forgiving you and me
Why can’t we
Bridge:
He was hated and rejected
Betrayed by those He trusted
Even hanging on the cross
He said Father please forgive them
There have been things done and said to me, that I have a really hard time forgiving. I think I have forgiven the person, and then up it pops days, months, even years later. It is so easy to hold a grudge. Why is that?
And on the flip side, it isn't any different. When I hurt someone, I have a hard time believing I am forgiven. I feel like I need to atone over and over.
Even with God.
It could be partly due to the way I was raised, having preachers who seemingly loved to scare people into going to the altar at camps and revivals, and even in their home church. For someone like me, it just helped reinforce the idea that I could never be good enough.
And it hasn't helped that I have to deal with a "besetting sin." I always feel like I need to do more, that even though I asked God to forgive me, He hasn't quite totally done so.
But the thing is, when God forgives us, He remembers it against us no more. It has been said that it is just as if I'd never sinned. Sounds simple, yet profound. So why is it so hard to grasp?
I have been doing better with the forgiving issue lately. Maybe it is part of growing older. I have come to learn that just because someone disagrees with me, does not mean they are personally attacking me, though some can do so.
I have learned that holding a grudge does me no good, only harm. While I am stewing and dredging it over and over, the guilty party isn't even thinking about it, and is going on their merry way. Meanwhile I am miserable. Forgiving someone isn't just for their sake - it is for ours also. Maybe more so. Most of the time, the person will never know you made the choice to actively forgive them, and it will make no difference in their life. However, it makes a big difference in ours. And besides, God commands us to do so.
Back in October, I was privlegded to go hear the Gaither Vocal Band in concert, along with a few guest groups. One of those groups was the Issacs, who does mostly bluegrass music, not a favorite of mine. They sang a song new to me that was from a CD that had just come out. I loved it. Not only was it pleasing to the ears, but it has a great message. As soon as intermission came, I went and bought the CD. The song is "Why Can't We?" Lyrics and video below. Check it out.
Why Can’t We?
By Rebecca Bowman Isaacs, Sonya Isaacs Yeary, and Jimmy Yeary
Verse 1:
He lies awake there all alone every night
Lookin’ back on all of his mistakes
Wishin’ through the tears that he could just go back
Cause there’s a lot of things he’d like to change
He just can’t forgive himself and forget
Even though God already did
Chorus:
If He can love someone
And find the good within
In spite of what they’ve done
No matter where they’ve been
If He can let it go
And set the debtor free
If He can keep forgiving you and me
Why can’t we
Verse 2:
There’ve been times I’ve been so hurt by someone else
I didn’t wanna give a second chance
I let all the bitterness take control
And took grace into my own hands
But even Jesus said whoever’s done no wrong
Let him throw the first stone
Chorus:
If He can love someone
And find the good within
In spite of what they’ve done
No matter where they’ve been
If He can let it go
And set the debtor free
If He can keep forgiving you and me
Why can’t we
Bridge:
He was hated and rejected
Betrayed by those He trusted
Even hanging on the cross
He said Father please forgive them
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Accepting a compliment
Too many people are like me. We have a hard time accepting a compliment. Example:
Person: "I really enjoyed your piano special this morning."
Me: "thanks, but my sister plays much better than me".
That IS true, she can play better, and I am pretty sure I replied with that more than once in my life.
Why do we have a hard time just accepting a compliment with a simple "thank-you"?
One reason could be that we are raised to fight against pride, and we fear by just accepting the compliment, we will appear, or actually be, proud. For me, I have fought low self esteem and image all my life, it is actually hard for me to believe I am any good at something, and the people are just trying to be nice.
I was talking about this with someone recently, and they made a good point. They said something like this: "you not accepting compliments is a slap in the other persons face.. your making THEM feel bad for being kind to you. accept the gift they are giving... you would never just say no thanks at Christmas and birthday right? So often you don't want to be prideful but its not about YOU, think of how THEY feel, and get over yourself..." (Pretty much verbatim there)
They had a good point. We may as well tell them they are wrong, and don't know what they are talking about. Sound rude? We may not intend to be so, but we are being so. And maybe not all people giving the compliment will be bothered by that kind of response, but some will.
It had made me think and decide to turn over a new leaf. From now on, when I receive a compliment, I shall just politely say "thank-you." It is NOT pride to do so, and it will make the other person feel better than if you shrug the compliment off. So someone else is better at it than you, or you made one mistake while playing or singing? So what. Get over yourself and accept the compliment. It is what you'd want done if you were complimenting.
Person: "I really enjoyed your piano special this morning."
Me: "thanks, but my sister plays much better than me".
That IS true, she can play better, and I am pretty sure I replied with that more than once in my life.
Why do we have a hard time just accepting a compliment with a simple "thank-you"?
One reason could be that we are raised to fight against pride, and we fear by just accepting the compliment, we will appear, or actually be, proud. For me, I have fought low self esteem and image all my life, it is actually hard for me to believe I am any good at something, and the people are just trying to be nice.
I was talking about this with someone recently, and they made a good point. They said something like this: "you not accepting compliments is a slap in the other persons face.. your making THEM feel bad for being kind to you. accept the gift they are giving... you would never just say no thanks at Christmas and birthday right? So often you don't want to be prideful but its not about YOU, think of how THEY feel, and get over yourself..." (Pretty much verbatim there)
They had a good point. We may as well tell them they are wrong, and don't know what they are talking about. Sound rude? We may not intend to be so, but we are being so. And maybe not all people giving the compliment will be bothered by that kind of response, but some will.
It had made me think and decide to turn over a new leaf. From now on, when I receive a compliment, I shall just politely say "thank-you." It is NOT pride to do so, and it will make the other person feel better than if you shrug the compliment off. So someone else is better at it than you, or you made one mistake while playing or singing? So what. Get over yourself and accept the compliment. It is what you'd want done if you were complimenting.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Loving the bad man, and everyone else
It's sometimes dangerous when I think, and I've been thinking. A couple of things have made me think.The First is a series of books I just read by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer, The Last Disciple Series. The other is a movie I watched, Loving The Bad Man.
The books are historical fiction set in the days when Nero was emperor of Rome. As with all historical fiction, there is real and fictional parts. There was a lot in the books about the persecution of Christians, and how Nero treated them. Pretty bad stuff. I wouldn't have wanted to be a Christian living in Rome in those days.
Loving The Bad Man is a Christian movie that deals with forgiveness. A young woman is raped, and the rapist is caught and goes to prison. The rape results in a pregnancy, and after the baby is born, the young lady feels she must start visiting her rapist in prison, and forgive him and love him.
I include myself in this when I say it, but we Christians have lost loving. Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as our self, that he who loves not does not love God, for God is love. And other similar statements.
Maybe we are too busy, too wrapped up in ourselves, but the church has lost loving. We are good at judging, condemning, and shooting our wounded, but loving: not so much.
Oh it is easy to love our kids, our pastor, the people who treat us well. That is a piece of cake. But what about the others? The drunk, the drug addict, the homosexual? What if the person treats us wrong? Could we forgive and love someone who raped us or someone we love? Someone who killed a loved one in a drunken accident?
We get angry over the smallest things. In the past I have given my opinion on a certain type of schooling and the issues I see with it. Wow. I think I would have gotten less angry response if I had criticized God. I have inferred a certain singer that people hold in too high of regard might not be in Heaven....again, angry response. And sure, I have a habit of saying what I think, but get real people. That is small stuff. We could face real persecution and bad things some day, and if we react like that when someone criticizes something we hold dear, then how on earth will we stand up to real tribulation?
We are all guilty. Very few have the loving thing down pat, and then we wonder why sinners hate the church and view us a judgmental and hateful. Maybe its because all too often we are.
What would happen if an openly gay person started to your church? Would everyone gasp "child molester!, back off, and isolate that person, or would people befriend him, welcome him, love him?
What if an ex-con started to your church?What kind of reaction would he get? Rude looks, a cold reception?
Some years back, I was sitting in church, and the speaker mentioned homosexuality. A friend of mine behind me, leaned up and said "they ought to hang all of them queers." Wow. Fast forward a few years and we had the topic of homosexuality in Sunday School. A couple of people were very vocal about it. One man said he'd rather have a murderer around his kids than a gay person. Another man said he's never want one of those guys around his kids.
That is just a couple of examples about one sin. If we have those kind of attitudes, is it any wonder there are people avoiding church, and that there are people sitting in our pews that are afraid to be honest about what they are dealing with? Can you imagine if someone went to one of those guys I mentioned above that was silently struggling with same-sex desires?
I did a couple of blog posts about Christians wearing masks. (http://thoughtsofasojourner.blogspot.com/2010/02/masquerade-party.html and http://thoughtsofasojourner.blogspot.com/2010/02/more-on-wearing-masks.html). I talked about how so many people in the church hide their struggles. If we loved more, is it possible that people would be more open, more willing to seek help? Who knows how many men - and women - are in our churches addicted to pornography, struggling with same-sex attractions, are having an affair, or other things that aren't "nice sins." If we loved more, and judged less, how many of those might come forward? That isn't to say we must approve of sin.
WWJD. That was popular a while back, and became pretty much a fad, but it is a good rule to live by. Jesus would love, for He IS love.
I don't believe God is impressed with perfect church attendance, or how much we put in the offering. I think what pleases Him, outside of someone living for Him and obeying Him, is when they love others. The ones who aren't easy to love. The ones whose actions and lifestyle aren't what we approve of, and what God doesn't approve of.
There was a song written several years ago titled "To be like Jesus." I could be wrong, but I think when we are most like Jesus, is when we love.
The books are historical fiction set in the days when Nero was emperor of Rome. As with all historical fiction, there is real and fictional parts. There was a lot in the books about the persecution of Christians, and how Nero treated them. Pretty bad stuff. I wouldn't have wanted to be a Christian living in Rome in those days.
Loving The Bad Man is a Christian movie that deals with forgiveness. A young woman is raped, and the rapist is caught and goes to prison. The rape results in a pregnancy, and after the baby is born, the young lady feels she must start visiting her rapist in prison, and forgive him and love him.
I include myself in this when I say it, but we Christians have lost loving. Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as our self, that he who loves not does not love God, for God is love. And other similar statements.
Maybe we are too busy, too wrapped up in ourselves, but the church has lost loving. We are good at judging, condemning, and shooting our wounded, but loving: not so much.
Oh it is easy to love our kids, our pastor, the people who treat us well. That is a piece of cake. But what about the others? The drunk, the drug addict, the homosexual? What if the person treats us wrong? Could we forgive and love someone who raped us or someone we love? Someone who killed a loved one in a drunken accident?
We get angry over the smallest things. In the past I have given my opinion on a certain type of schooling and the issues I see with it. Wow. I think I would have gotten less angry response if I had criticized God. I have inferred a certain singer that people hold in too high of regard might not be in Heaven....again, angry response. And sure, I have a habit of saying what I think, but get real people. That is small stuff. We could face real persecution and bad things some day, and if we react like that when someone criticizes something we hold dear, then how on earth will we stand up to real tribulation?
We are all guilty. Very few have the loving thing down pat, and then we wonder why sinners hate the church and view us a judgmental and hateful. Maybe its because all too often we are.
What would happen if an openly gay person started to your church? Would everyone gasp "child molester!, back off, and isolate that person, or would people befriend him, welcome him, love him?
What if an ex-con started to your church?What kind of reaction would he get? Rude looks, a cold reception?
Some years back, I was sitting in church, and the speaker mentioned homosexuality. A friend of mine behind me, leaned up and said "they ought to hang all of them queers." Wow. Fast forward a few years and we had the topic of homosexuality in Sunday School. A couple of people were very vocal about it. One man said he'd rather have a murderer around his kids than a gay person. Another man said he's never want one of those guys around his kids.
That is just a couple of examples about one sin. If we have those kind of attitudes, is it any wonder there are people avoiding church, and that there are people sitting in our pews that are afraid to be honest about what they are dealing with? Can you imagine if someone went to one of those guys I mentioned above that was silently struggling with same-sex desires?
I did a couple of blog posts about Christians wearing masks. (http://thoughtsofasojourner.blogspot.com/2010/02/masquerade-party.html and http://thoughtsofasojourner.blogspot.com/2010/02/more-on-wearing-masks.html). I talked about how so many people in the church hide their struggles. If we loved more, is it possible that people would be more open, more willing to seek help? Who knows how many men - and women - are in our churches addicted to pornography, struggling with same-sex attractions, are having an affair, or other things that aren't "nice sins." If we loved more, and judged less, how many of those might come forward? That isn't to say we must approve of sin.
WWJD. That was popular a while back, and became pretty much a fad, but it is a good rule to live by. Jesus would love, for He IS love.
I don't believe God is impressed with perfect church attendance, or how much we put in the offering. I think what pleases Him, outside of someone living for Him and obeying Him, is when they love others. The ones who aren't easy to love. The ones whose actions and lifestyle aren't what we approve of, and what God doesn't approve of.
There was a song written several years ago titled "To be like Jesus." I could be wrong, but I think when we are most like Jesus, is when we love.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Why I am voting for Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney is not my ideal choice for president. I didn't vote for him in the primaries, and if I had it to over again, I still wouldn't vote for him in the primaries. I don't think he is strong enough on the issues that are important to me. I also don't like the fact that he had his own version of Obamacare, and I am not crazy about his religion.
That said, we desperately need a change. Barak Obama's policies are destroying this country and putting us further in debt. He can blame Bush all he wants, but the numbers don't lie. Unemployment, gas prices, food stamp usage, and other things were down when Bush left office. Those are all up now.
Here is what I believe about Barak Obama. Some may call me crazy, uninformed, and similar things, but in watching this man, his actions and his words, I conclude the following:
1) He hates America. He doesn't believe we are exceptional or great, and wants to take us down to the level where we are not.
2) He hates and resents white people. His administration ignores black-on-white crimes and offenses, and jumps on any white-on-black, or even Hispanic-on-black crime.
3) He hates Israel, and is not their friend, but their enemy
4) He has offended our allies, and befriends our enemies
5) He is a Muslim. Yes, I believe that. He has done more to help Muslims than Christians
6) I still doubt his American citizenship
7) His healthcare law will bankrupt this country, hurt small businesses and maybe large ones, and will most likely end up rationing healthcare and forcing all hospitals and doctors to do abortions.
8) He is a socialist and communist
9) His intent is to destroy this country
10) He hates the military
11) He is the most pro-abortion president to we have ever had, or to even run for the office. (He voted "no" on a bill that would require hospital personnel to treat an aborted baby that survives an abortion. He is all for the baby laying there til it dies - yeah, we elected a cold-hearted jerk).
12) He will do anything to remain in office, even start a war, and embrace things he despises. i.e. gay marriage
13) He acts like a dictator, going around Congress and doing what courts order him not to do. He has no respect for law or the constitution, and is arrogant to do what he wants
And the list of Obama's past issus is too long to mention here. His anti-American buddies he hung out with - a man with his past should never have been a Senator, much less president of the USA.
Romney may not be as conservative as we wish, but he - anyone - is better than Obama. I believe Romney loves this country and will not act like a wanna-be dictator. He will abide by and respect the constitution, and will not try to tear down what is good.
As a talk show host said recently, we may not like everything about Romney, but we have been looking for someone with character, and it appears Romney has it. They can dig nothing up on him, and have to make stuff up. He isn't perfect, but we need him, and anyone who stays home and doesn't vote for him - or worse, votes for Obama, needs to quit calling themself a Christian. We need to wake up and do our duty as an American and as Christians, and vote. Vote the evil out of the White House!
That said, we desperately need a change. Barak Obama's policies are destroying this country and putting us further in debt. He can blame Bush all he wants, but the numbers don't lie. Unemployment, gas prices, food stamp usage, and other things were down when Bush left office. Those are all up now.
Here is what I believe about Barak Obama. Some may call me crazy, uninformed, and similar things, but in watching this man, his actions and his words, I conclude the following:
1) He hates America. He doesn't believe we are exceptional or great, and wants to take us down to the level where we are not.
2) He hates and resents white people. His administration ignores black-on-white crimes and offenses, and jumps on any white-on-black, or even Hispanic-on-black crime.
3) He hates Israel, and is not their friend, but their enemy
4) He has offended our allies, and befriends our enemies
5) He is a Muslim. Yes, I believe that. He has done more to help Muslims than Christians
6) I still doubt his American citizenship
7) His healthcare law will bankrupt this country, hurt small businesses and maybe large ones, and will most likely end up rationing healthcare and forcing all hospitals and doctors to do abortions.
8) He is a socialist and communist
9) His intent is to destroy this country
10) He hates the military
11) He is the most pro-abortion president to we have ever had, or to even run for the office. (He voted "no" on a bill that would require hospital personnel to treat an aborted baby that survives an abortion. He is all for the baby laying there til it dies - yeah, we elected a cold-hearted jerk).
12) He will do anything to remain in office, even start a war, and embrace things he despises. i.e. gay marriage
13) He acts like a dictator, going around Congress and doing what courts order him not to do. He has no respect for law or the constitution, and is arrogant to do what he wants
And the list of Obama's past issus is too long to mention here. His anti-American buddies he hung out with - a man with his past should never have been a Senator, much less president of the USA.
Romney may not be as conservative as we wish, but he - anyone - is better than Obama. I believe Romney loves this country and will not act like a wanna-be dictator. He will abide by and respect the constitution, and will not try to tear down what is good.
As a talk show host said recently, we may not like everything about Romney, but we have been looking for someone with character, and it appears Romney has it. They can dig nothing up on him, and have to make stuff up. He isn't perfect, but we need him, and anyone who stays home and doesn't vote for him - or worse, votes for Obama, needs to quit calling themself a Christian. We need to wake up and do our duty as an American and as Christians, and vote. Vote the evil out of the White House!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Sorry, Jesus isn't that important to me........
Bethany House Publishers had lit a fire storm. They published a Christian fiction book recently that has some vulgar language and has some other elements that people don't like. There was a blog post I was reading about it (here if anyone wants to read it). The post came as a result of another by a Christian author cheering Bethany House on his blog (that is here) for doing so. So he is cheering them for daring to be vulgar and more like the world? Nice.
I have a pet peeve with cursing and vulgar language being put in Christian books, and that is another entire issue completely and have blogged about that on my other blog.
Something stuck out to me on a comment in the comments section by the blog post writer: "I don't think the gospel needs to be preached in every book. I don't think we need to mention God in ever book." Really? Why not? Is Jesus not important enough? Is the Gospel not important enough to preach every where, even in "gasp!" a Christian novel?! God forbid!
This is something that I've thought about for years actually. I don't think anyone would disagree with me on a couple of statements:
1) God is, and should be, most important in our lives
2) Everything we do should please Him
3) Other than making it to Heaven, our next priority should be reaching people for God
Similar things could be added, but those three sum up the point I am aiming to make. If those are true, and I believe that they are, then if we sing, shouldn't we sing about God? If we write, shouldn't we write about Him?
Authors and singers who are Christians bother me when they pursue secular venues for what they do. John Grisham is supposedly a Christian, though I'd question his depth by his politics and language in his books, but if God is important to Him, then why does He never write about Him (except in one shallow effort he made a few years back).
Josh Turner claims to be a Christian (country singer). He had a couple of songs he did that could be called Christian (Long Black Train was one), but for the most part he sings country. There are a lot of country songs that I believe are wrong, but there are also a lot that are clean and positive, so I am not just throwing a blanket statement over all country music, but if Josh is truly a Christian, then why doesn't he sing about him?
If it could be done, imagine having every secular singer and author stand and have every person influenced toward Christ by their music or writing line up behind them. Most of them wouldn't have any one, maybe none of them.
Now take people like Karen Kingsbury, Mike Dellosso, Bill Gaither, the Booth Brothers, etc. Have people line up that they have influenced for Christ. The line could get very long.
There is an old adage that is true: Only one life, will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.
No matter what we do in life, if we are a Christian, God should be at the center. It really boggles my mind how someone can have a secular writing, singing, and even acting career and you'd never know that they are a Christian by what they write, sing, or act, and in too many cases, by their lives.
Is Jesus not important enough? I go back to Sally's comment that we don't need to mention God or preach the Gospel in every book. Why not? Someone could be encouraged and influenced toward Christ.
Karen Kingsbury has been a favorite author of mine since she started writing, and I myself have been extremely encouraged by some of her books. She has a place for comments on her webpage for people to comment about things like that. Here are a few:
1) Like Dandelion Dust helped show me that God still loves me
2) Hi, my name is Chris and I am a 16 year old boy with a second chance. For years now I've been struggling with pornography addiction. Looking for the answers, but only getting frustrated. Then I read Ocean's Apart and the part where Connor realizes what the preacher said about "it will start with you" and how he was to blame. For years I blamed God for allowing it to cross my path, then I blamed the devil, then I blamed my brother (it started on his computer), then the world. But Connor (the character in your book) helped me to realize that it was all my fault.
3) The Redemption Series made my faith stronger
And there are many more on the site. The link for those to write how John Grisham's books changed their lives is..... oh wait, that doesn't happen.......
I know the Bible should be the most important book we read and Christian fiction should not replace it, but there are people who will read a Christian novel that don't read the Bible. There have been times in my own life when my spiritual life was in shambles but something I read in a Christian fiction novel convicted and/or encouraged me to try harder.
Singers, writers, and actors are not the only ones. No matter what job we do, God should be at the center of it. I am not trying to say that, but what better to sing about than God? What better to write about, than God?
I have a pet peeve with cursing and vulgar language being put in Christian books, and that is another entire issue completely and have blogged about that on my other blog.
Something stuck out to me on a comment in the comments section by the blog post writer: "I don't think the gospel needs to be preached in every book. I don't think we need to mention God in ever book." Really? Why not? Is Jesus not important enough? Is the Gospel not important enough to preach every where, even in "gasp!" a Christian novel?! God forbid!
This is something that I've thought about for years actually. I don't think anyone would disagree with me on a couple of statements:
1) God is, and should be, most important in our lives
2) Everything we do should please Him
3) Other than making it to Heaven, our next priority should be reaching people for God
Similar things could be added, but those three sum up the point I am aiming to make. If those are true, and I believe that they are, then if we sing, shouldn't we sing about God? If we write, shouldn't we write about Him?
Authors and singers who are Christians bother me when they pursue secular venues for what they do. John Grisham is supposedly a Christian, though I'd question his depth by his politics and language in his books, but if God is important to Him, then why does He never write about Him (except in one shallow effort he made a few years back).
Josh Turner claims to be a Christian (country singer). He had a couple of songs he did that could be called Christian (Long Black Train was one), but for the most part he sings country. There are a lot of country songs that I believe are wrong, but there are also a lot that are clean and positive, so I am not just throwing a blanket statement over all country music, but if Josh is truly a Christian, then why doesn't he sing about him?
If it could be done, imagine having every secular singer and author stand and have every person influenced toward Christ by their music or writing line up behind them. Most of them wouldn't have any one, maybe none of them.
Now take people like Karen Kingsbury, Mike Dellosso, Bill Gaither, the Booth Brothers, etc. Have people line up that they have influenced for Christ. The line could get very long.
There is an old adage that is true: Only one life, will soon be past. Only what is done for Christ will last.
No matter what we do in life, if we are a Christian, God should be at the center. It really boggles my mind how someone can have a secular writing, singing, and even acting career and you'd never know that they are a Christian by what they write, sing, or act, and in too many cases, by their lives.
Is Jesus not important enough? I go back to Sally's comment that we don't need to mention God or preach the Gospel in every book. Why not? Someone could be encouraged and influenced toward Christ.
Karen Kingsbury has been a favorite author of mine since she started writing, and I myself have been extremely encouraged by some of her books. She has a place for comments on her webpage for people to comment about things like that. Here are a few:
1) Like Dandelion Dust helped show me that God still loves me
2) Hi, my name is Chris and I am a 16 year old boy with a second chance. For years now I've been struggling with pornography addiction. Looking for the answers, but only getting frustrated. Then I read Ocean's Apart and the part where Connor realizes what the preacher said about "it will start with you" and how he was to blame. For years I blamed God for allowing it to cross my path, then I blamed the devil, then I blamed my brother (it started on his computer), then the world. But Connor (the character in your book) helped me to realize that it was all my fault.
3) The Redemption Series made my faith stronger
And there are many more on the site. The link for those to write how John Grisham's books changed their lives is..... oh wait, that doesn't happen.......
I know the Bible should be the most important book we read and Christian fiction should not replace it, but there are people who will read a Christian novel that don't read the Bible. There have been times in my own life when my spiritual life was in shambles but something I read in a Christian fiction novel convicted and/or encouraged me to try harder.
Singers, writers, and actors are not the only ones. No matter what job we do, God should be at the center of it. I am not trying to say that, but what better to sing about than God? What better to write about, than God?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Where do I sign up for dance lessons?
I'm not a big country music fan. I like some of it, but too much of it seems to be the kind that talks about running around on your wife, drinking, etc. There are exceptions to the rule, and one that is, and is one of my favorites is "I Hope You Dance." Originally done by LeeAnn Womack. Anyone who pays attention to the song at all, knows that it isn't talking about a literal dance:
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)
I'm about to turn another year older in 3 days. Forty-three. Turning forty was rough, and I get depressed about each birthday since, although not quite as bad. As the one line of the song says, "who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone?" That's me. I look back over the 43 years I have lived, and wonder where on earth did they go? What have I done, accomplished? And I don't like what I see.
If life is a dance, I have spent most of it sitting on the chairs along the wall, watching everyone else dance.
In school: I never put myself into my schoolwork, always doing just enough to pass, and barely that. I hated sports and was forced to play them for gym class, so I just occupied a space. That may have led to some of the bullying I received.
College: I had no idea what to do with my life. Even back then, I had no confidence in my abilities to much of anything. My self esteem had been shattered in school. I stayed in college mostly because I didn't know what else to do. And again, I did just enough to pass.
Since then, I have held steady jobs, but for the most part they were nothing I enjoyed much, much less loved. I never got any more self confidence and aimed at jobs I knew I could do without failing. Minimum wage jobs.
I ventured off of the chairs along the wall a few times. I got pretty involved in my church. Played the piano fairly often, became a frequent speaker. But then the "powers that be" became unhappy with some things I said, even though they lined up with the church's beliefs and practices, and I got thrown off the dance floor. I was hurt, angry, felt let down, but resigned myself to watching the other dancers.
I've never been very good at making friends. Part of it, is I always felt so inferior. I didn't like myself, and figured no one else could. I have always been a very lonely person. As I have gotten older, it has gotten worse. Marriage is out of the question, and there just aren't many single guys around my age. However, I found one and we became very good friends. Same church background and a lot of other things in common. There was a problem...... he was 400 miles away.
In 2006, I did something I rarely do. I took a risk, made a big decision on my own, and moved those 400 miles. It went over like a lead balloon with my family. I lived there for two years, and for two years, I danced. If you have gone long periods of time with no real companionship, with no one to call up and go out for a meal or shopping with, then you cannot imagine what it was like for me to have a friend to do that stuff with all the time. It was like water to a guy in the desert. During that time, my normal struggles were at a low ebb, lower than in years. I love my family, but I was totally independent for the first time in my life, and I thrived. I went to a church where no one knew me and I didn't feel like everyone was watching me to make sure I kept all of the rules. Oh, I didn't change my behavior, but I didn't feel so "watched."
However, in June of 2008, I moved back to Ohio. I was tired of living with the cold disapproval of my family for moving away, and there was a couple of other issues. With my move, it seemed once again I moved from the dance floor to the chairs along the wall. Again, I moved back under the thumb of my family and my church. And I sat.
And now, as I eye my 43th birthday approaching, I also eye the dance floor and wish I could dance. I wish I could live life to the fullest. Live how I want to live - according to what God wants, not according to how my family and church want me to live. I wish I could truly believe God loves me and that I could serve Him because I love Him, not because I fear His wrath and Hell.
I wish I could find a job I really like and that paid enough that I could live without worrying if I was going to make it to the next paycheck. I wish I could live near my best friend, yet see my family on a fairly regular basis. I wish I could look at the person in the mirror and like him, instead of hating everything about him.
I wish I didn't dread tomorrow. That I didn't cry when I think about growing old. Alone.
I wish I could make a difference.
I wish that I could quit my current job.
I wish I that I could dance.
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along)
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder, where those years have gone?)
I'm about to turn another year older in 3 days. Forty-three. Turning forty was rough, and I get depressed about each birthday since, although not quite as bad. As the one line of the song says, "who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone?" That's me. I look back over the 43 years I have lived, and wonder where on earth did they go? What have I done, accomplished? And I don't like what I see.
If life is a dance, I have spent most of it sitting on the chairs along the wall, watching everyone else dance.
In school: I never put myself into my schoolwork, always doing just enough to pass, and barely that. I hated sports and was forced to play them for gym class, so I just occupied a space. That may have led to some of the bullying I received.
College: I had no idea what to do with my life. Even back then, I had no confidence in my abilities to much of anything. My self esteem had been shattered in school. I stayed in college mostly because I didn't know what else to do. And again, I did just enough to pass.
Since then, I have held steady jobs, but for the most part they were nothing I enjoyed much, much less loved. I never got any more self confidence and aimed at jobs I knew I could do without failing. Minimum wage jobs.
I ventured off of the chairs along the wall a few times. I got pretty involved in my church. Played the piano fairly often, became a frequent speaker. But then the "powers that be" became unhappy with some things I said, even though they lined up with the church's beliefs and practices, and I got thrown off the dance floor. I was hurt, angry, felt let down, but resigned myself to watching the other dancers.
I've never been very good at making friends. Part of it, is I always felt so inferior. I didn't like myself, and figured no one else could. I have always been a very lonely person. As I have gotten older, it has gotten worse. Marriage is out of the question, and there just aren't many single guys around my age. However, I found one and we became very good friends. Same church background and a lot of other things in common. There was a problem...... he was 400 miles away.
In 2006, I did something I rarely do. I took a risk, made a big decision on my own, and moved those 400 miles. It went over like a lead balloon with my family. I lived there for two years, and for two years, I danced. If you have gone long periods of time with no real companionship, with no one to call up and go out for a meal or shopping with, then you cannot imagine what it was like for me to have a friend to do that stuff with all the time. It was like water to a guy in the desert. During that time, my normal struggles were at a low ebb, lower than in years. I love my family, but I was totally independent for the first time in my life, and I thrived. I went to a church where no one knew me and I didn't feel like everyone was watching me to make sure I kept all of the rules. Oh, I didn't change my behavior, but I didn't feel so "watched."
However, in June of 2008, I moved back to Ohio. I was tired of living with the cold disapproval of my family for moving away, and there was a couple of other issues. With my move, it seemed once again I moved from the dance floor to the chairs along the wall. Again, I moved back under the thumb of my family and my church. And I sat.
And now, as I eye my 43th birthday approaching, I also eye the dance floor and wish I could dance. I wish I could live life to the fullest. Live how I want to live - according to what God wants, not according to how my family and church want me to live. I wish I could truly believe God loves me and that I could serve Him because I love Him, not because I fear His wrath and Hell.
I wish I could find a job I really like and that paid enough that I could live without worrying if I was going to make it to the next paycheck. I wish I could live near my best friend, yet see my family on a fairly regular basis. I wish I could look at the person in the mirror and like him, instead of hating everything about him.
I wish I didn't dread tomorrow. That I didn't cry when I think about growing old. Alone.
I wish I could make a difference.
I wish that I could quit my current job.
I wish I that I could dance.
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