We have it made.

I mean, sure economic times are not that great but we have a Sovereign God that not only has everything under control, He is using all this to increase and add to His own Glory.  Nothing happens outside of His will, so rejoice and praise Him that He caused all of this to happen.

There is a lot of evil being perpetuated in this world also.  That should really give us reason to praise Him.  It might seem weird to us that He would use something as vile as a mother murdering her own child to increase our awareness of His control, but who are we to question His mysterious ways.  Since He fore-saw and fore-ordained all that is or is to come, we just have to trust that He knows something we don’t.

Our president is already making great strides towards taking us down a path as a nation that we will not even recognize but it is for the best.  God placed Obama in that position so again, why question it.  Or Him.  He knows what He is doing.  Hallelujah.

We have it made.

Sure, our kids may not be doing what we perceive to be right or good for them or society, but remember, none of this can happen outside of His great will.  God is in control.  He is on the throne.  And for all of those that don’t believe it, then tough.  They don’t believe it because He does not want them to believe it.

We may not be seeing much growth in the churches we attend but really, does that matter.  At least we are there.  The seats are comfortable, we all like a few people and maybe even love one or two, the temperatures are comfortable, the messages are generic and not convicting or challenging like they used to be, and the worship is just the way we like it or we can fire somebody and get it that way.  Even if the growth is stalled, we can at least be sure that we are right with God because we are there.

Again, we have it made and we don’t have much left to do.

We have it made because God has it all the way He wants it.  Our seeming self-centeredness is actually God-centeredness.  What else could it be because we can be assured that His purposes, His plans, His will can never be thwarted.  And since everyone, either in or out of church, is just doing as He foreordained, how much can we really have left to do.

RIGHT?

Love you all

In case you haven’t heard, another useless church slaying occurred Sunday.  A pastor was shot and killed during service and a couple of others were wounded.  The story can be found here and other places.

This was just another senseless attack in a ever increasing string that has occurred lately.  No one so far even knows what the motive for this one was.  This murderous interruption to a worship service has many in the church discussing the issues of church safety and the carrying of weapons in church services.  There are also larger issues to discuss.  So if you would, I would like to read your feedback and answers to these questions.

Do you think Jesus is okay with any of his followers shooting someone in self defense?

Do you think it would be wise for just anyone to carry a gun in church?  Would you?

If you would carry a gun, under what circumstances would you use it?

If you are against all of this, carrying weapons and using them, then what do you think is our role in protection of ourselves and others?

Finally, what caliber would Jesus recommend?

That last one is just a light hearted one meant to keep us from getting too angry in case we disagree.  But this is a very serious topic and I have read a lot of opinions already.

Care to share yours?

Love you all

“Okay, I’ll do it,” Susie said determinedly.

“Cool,” her boyfriend Jack exclaimed.  “This may be the last vacation we get to go on for a while or you know that I wouldn’t even ask.”

“I know.  I just wish I had not gone through more than seven months of this.  When we decided to try it you did not even bring this surfing trip up.”

“I’m sorry, baby.  I didn’t think we would have the money.  But that bonus was enough for this and what we will need now too.”

Susie asked, “How long until we get there?”

The couple had been driving for six hours.  They were heading for the beach.  Jack had thought he would have to surf without her.  He hated the idea.  They both loved surfing and had not been able to go for more than two years because of new jobs which had caused them to have to move.  He loved it so much though, and she was the one that wouldn’t give in.

“We can get off the next exit and see but I would bet there is probably one of those new chop shops somewhere close”

He was right.  They found the shop within an hour and pulled in the parking lot.  It was pretty full and he just hoped they could get serviced quickly.  They still had about twelve hours of driving ahead of them.  They would probably have to spend the night somewhere.  He had hoped to make it by morning but if Susie could surf with him it was worth it.

They went in and signed in at the counter and picked up a brochure and sat to discuss its contents.  After about twenty minutes their names were called.  They were directed to a small but comfortable room with a bed and a couple of chairs.  Then a tall man in white joined them.

“I am Dr Walters.  What can we do for you today?”

“We want the Drop and Hop procedure.  It is a little expensive but we don’t really want to waste any time.  We’re going to the beach on vacation,” Jack answered.

The doctor smiled and said, “That’s great.  How far along are you?” he asked as he looked at Susie’s belly.

“Seven months and ten days.  It was due on May 4th and we had arranged already to sell it to one of those sterile families but,” she stopped and just smiled sheepishly.

“That’s okay,” the doctor said, smiling back at her.  “A lot of young couples are doing it also.  But there is no sense in letting it ruin a vacation.  We might even be able to bring it out alive still if you chose a different method.”

Jack jumped in, “No, we don’t need the money like we did.  We’ll still go with the Drop and Hop.”  Susie nodded.

Dr Walters smiled at the eager couple and nodded.  “No problem.  We’ll have that fetus out in 30 minutes or less or you get your money back.”  He laughed at his own joke while they joined him even though they were too young to remember the old commercial the doctor referenced.  “All joking aside, this new procedure will allow you to be rid of this minor inconvenience within two hours and you’ll be on your way.”

“Awesome,” Jack said as Susie nodded and smiled.  “Surfs up,” she thought.

**************************************************************************

This is my sorry attempt at horror fiction.  It is horror because it is probably not that farfetched or too far in the future.  The life of the unborn is already seen as cheap and in many cases an inconvenience.  If we keep on the way we are now on the issue of abortion, don’t be surprised if this little sorry piece of fiction becomes prophetic.

Jason has a post on his blog here where he asks for some practical solutions to this issue.  It is time we took this on as the main issue in our culture and society that we need to address.  No, not address, we need to do something real.  We need to go a lot farther than we are in our attempts to change people’s minds about abortion.  And since I believe Jesus is the only one that can change minds, it has to start with the gospel.  We should be more than barbarians.

Go to Jason’s blog and share your thoughts there as well as here.

Love you all

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! Luke17:1 NKJV

The He in the scripture used above is Jesus. He was warning us that we will be offended. And we all know that if we have spent any time at all being a live human. But this post is not about offense, or even forgiveness. Instead I submit another statement as one that Jesus could just as readily have said and it is:

“It is impossible that no criticism should come, but you also will criticize.”

Ever since the fall, things have not been right. Creation is not “very good” anymore. With that fact of reality, there is going to be many opportunities for criticism. Julie said the following in a comment on Tuesdays post.

“Criticism is definitely necessary in order to provoke change in human beings as well as methods and procedures.”

This is what criticism is all about and why it has to occur. We must do our best to align ourselves and all the things we say, do, think, or desire with the original “very good” state of God’s creation. We are to strive to be like God, to become more Christlike every day. To achieve even a modicum of success at this, we must be criticized and learn to accept criticism for what it is. It is those words that provoke change in us, or they should. Change in the way we are, or the way we think, or what we are doing with our life.

Shannon, over at Hope Aflame, was telling me about an upcoming meeting with his professor concerning his submitted thesis for seminary. It didn’t sound like he was altogether thrilled at the notion but as we talked the necessity of the meeting was clear. He needs it. He needs to have his work critiqued not only to find out if he is right but to prove to himself and his professor that he knows what and why he believes. Criticism helps us grow if we are open to that growth. And that growth brings us in line with our goals of becoming like our Savior.

We are all wrong sometimes. We are fallen human beings living in a war torn creation. How could we not be? But any person hungry to be like Jesus has to be not only open to criticism but to actively pursue it. Criticism can sharpen us, quicken us, and stimulate us. Have you ever lost a debate but knew you were right. A good critique can make you better the next time. John Sanders needs a little criticism about his debate with James White on Open Theism. He had the better argument, in my opinion, but failed miserably in his delivery.

Is criticism always good? I would have to say no.

Wayne asked in a comment, also on Tuesday, “Is there a difference in being critical vs. being negative?”

I believe there is but I also know that some of our critical attitudes are nothing more than negative attitudes. As some of the others commented, we are sometimes quick to say how bad the sermon was, or how pitiful the music is. We let others know how messed up their lives are when we hide so much of our own. We look at a fallen minister and say things like “How could he” or “He should have known better”. We should never hesitate to speak out against sin, but should we even wonder how it could happen in someone else’s life when we ourselves are so messed up. And if you aren’t, then praise God. I know I need His grace and mercy daily, not just once or twice a year.

Some of us are just negative by nature or nurture. Some of us are jealous and envious of others successes, gifts or abilities. Then we become bitter and negative after a period of letting these emotions reign in our lives. The criticism we then offer has nothing more behind it than the need to hurt someone else, because we hurt.

Before we criticize I believe we should ask ourselves some questions. Could I have done any better? Do I have a solution to offer? Does this really matter? Why do I feel the need to offer up any particular criticism? Is it my place?

We all need criticism and should offer criticism. We all need to accept it in the way we want the other to accept ours. We must not hesitate to offer it up when necessary and we need not always be gentle about it. Jesus softly criticized the disciples when they wrongly criticized the woman with the alabaster box in Matthew 26. He also offered up harsh criticism to the Pharisees, in the form of woes or warnings of severe punishment, even calling them names, in Matthew 23.

The first example only dealt with a style of worship but the second had eternal ramifications. For the Pharisees and those they were leading. Evaluate what type or level of criticism is needed in all situations. It may be that none is needed because it just doesn’t matter.

Or you may need to pound it into them because of the eternal stakes.

Whatever the case, remember this. It is impossible that no criticism is ever going to be needed. At least not until we all get to go home. Can you handle it? You need to because it is for your own good, however it is delivered.

Love you all