Going to Hell in a Handbasket

"I don't want to hear anymore about it!" my coworker lamented as she shared the latest on the political agenda of bankrupting our state. I could totally sympathize with her. Our governor is reducing the quality of education, medical care, and law enforcement. Added to this, the homeless will be cut off of government help, and the poor will no longer be allowed welfare. On the flip side, the laws that have tighten the health of our ecosystem is also being laxed. Soon, the laws restricting the sewage being dumped into our rivers will be relaxed a bit. Sound wholesome? Sound like the decision of someone with their public's best interest? No, we didn't think so, either. But what to do? Our governor isn't acting alone. All across this nation, we're hearing of totally ludicrous laws being passed, and encouraging things to go from bad to worse.

ZZZZzzzzzz....

.....And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” ⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Eureka!! It makes sense!

On a friends status message, I read the following thought: "Don't try to live for God with all your strength; and don't try "all of God and none of me." The third and right way is our union with Christ. It's all of Him joined to all of me, and we are compatible.".  A response was given that " it's still a terrible plague that, after having received a new self, we still fall into degenerating ourselves, as though that's humility. It's more humble (and accurate) to acknowledge what God has made of us, all by Himself".

Wysteria and Rabbits

This morning, heading out to work, we were met by 3 fluffy bunnies in our front yard, totally oblivious to the fact that my son and I were their natural predators. Surrounded by the fragrant scent of the wysteria bush, this morning could have been a replica of the Garden of Eden. A feeling of peace washed over me and I took a moment to enjoy the frolicking of the rabbits in our yard.

Will the Real Gospel Please Stand Up?

I just heard through the grapevine that someone I know has been "miraculously" healed of cancer. Great. I'm glad they've had the healing--cancer isn't fun for anyone, neither the family  nor the victim.  However, the thanks wasn't given to God for the healing. No.... thankfulness was given to prayer.  C'mon, I know you've heard this before, "That's the power of prayer!"  Never, 'That's the Power of God!!" So... if  our healing lies in the power of prayer, why do we need God?

Okay, What Do I Do, Now?

A kid named Brady emailed the ministry with a sincere plea for direction. He'd accepted Christ a couple of years back, but was now at the, "now what?" stage. He didn't really 'feel' any different. Should he read the Bible more? Go to church more? He went to church, but it wasn't a big deal to him. Where should he start reading in the bible? What should he start 'doing'?

God decides when they'll bloom..

It's been an eye opener for me, learning that, no matter how hard I plant, water, fertilize... things are not going to happen until God says it's time. Inhaling the beautiful, fragrant wisteria outside our front door, I'm reminded of this very truth. All I did was plant the bush. Everything it is, it is because of God. The buzzing of the bumble bees, the intense color and fragrance---all God's doing. Just as He does for His creation, He does for His kids.

So there was this guy, see...

...and he was as mean as a snake, killing Christians for blaspheming the name of Jehovah.

Yeah.. You can guess who I'm speaking about. Saul. Remember him? Later on he became Paul, but for all of his childhood, and half of his adult life, people knew him as Saul. Putting people to death, simply because they didn't believe the same way he did. Giving consent to Stephen's stoning, he wrecked havoc on both churches and homes to those who were members of  "The Way". Saul was a pharisee, and was bent on protecting the good name of Jehovah. Stephen understood that the religious leaders, including Saul, were doing the murders out of ignorance. Christ was crucified through the ignorance of men. Had they known, they surely would not have killed God incarnate.