What’s In a Name?

17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.  Romans 16:17-18 (NIV)

Well, friends, it appears we have people in this world trying to make people believe they are true reverends when in fact, what they preach is as far from the word of God as the north is from the south.  I am not denying them the right to call themselves whatever they want.  However, just because they call themselves reverends does not make it so.  I could stand in the garage and call myself a car but would that make it true?   The danger in these people calling themselves men of God is the number of people that is totally taken in by these false claims. This type of deceit is spiritually and morally wrong.  I, for one, would not want to bear the responsibility of the lives and souls of the vulnerable and, dare I say, gullible people that subscribe to that line of thinking.

Three decades ago, a man called Jim Jones in a place he called Jonestown in Guyana, led hundreds of people in a mass suicide.  He convinced his followers that he was God’s prophet and at times he was God.  Years later, a man named David Koresh led many to their deaths in Waco, Texas.  He also convinced his followers he was God.  These are only two examples of the devastation that men have caused when they proclaim to be true men of God.  Many lives were lost and families destroyed by these egomaniacal self proclaimed men of God.

God has warned us to “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15.  In today’s news we see this happening now.  We see blacks being pitted against whites because these ravening wolves are deceiving many.  We see violence being perpetuated against innocent people because of the color of their skin.  This violence is being encouraged by these “so called” reverends.  They teach that only certain people matter.  But friend, God made us all in His image.  He loves each and everyone of us.  What these deceitful people are teaching do not line up with the Bible.  We are taught that we must test the spirits to see if their teachings are in line with what God teaches.  We must be able to discern the true teachings from the false teachers that claim to be of God but will be destroyed by God.  Not everyone that professes to love God and profess to teach in His name will be recognized by Him.

Don’t misunderstand me.  I am not judging anyone. If these people want to call themselves reverends to elevate themselves in their own minds, they must be prepared to answer for the lives and souls they are ruining.  I could call myself a doctor.  It might make me feel important but would you honestly want me to operate on you or a member of your family?  I thought not.

Now my disclaimer:  IF YOU EXPECT AN APOLOGY FROM ME YOU WON’T GET ONE.

Yes, Virginia There Is A Santa Claus

Dear Editor

I am 8 years old.  Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.  Papa says, “If you read it in The Sun it’s so.”  Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

This appeared in the New York Sun, 1897.

The primary model for Santa Claus is thought to be St. Nicholas of Myra, a fourth century bishop in Turkey.  He gained a reputation of be4nevolence by giving gifts to children.  He gave these gifts to poor children whose parents could not afford to give gifts.  He would throw the gifts through the window of homes where the children lived.  One particular legend has been told about his wonderful acts of giving to the less fortunate.  There were three poor girls.  Their parents were so impoverished they could not pay for the girls’ weddings and help them set up their own households.  St Nicholas wanted to help but wanted to remain anonymous.  Each night he would climb to the roof and throw coins in the stockings that were hung by the chimney to dry.  On the third night the father determined to find out the identity of their benefactor.  He caught St. Nicholas as he was throwing the coins down the chimney.  He asked the father to keep his secret but the father was so overcome he could not keep from telling everyone.

Although the original  idea of Santa Claus began with a real man, different cultures have added their own ideas of this gift-giving legend.  Scandinavians brought the idea of gift-giving elves.  Germans brought the idea of decorated trees and Christ Kindlein.*

Throughout history the idea of a gift-giving jolly fat man with elves and reindeer has evolved into what we see today as the likeness of Santa Claus.

My answer to Virginia is –Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus but he does not look like the man we see depicted in commercials today.  The true spirit of Santa Claus is St. Nicholas, a bishop from Turkey who became known for his love of children and benevolent nature.

*From Traditions of Christmas by Linda J. Bean.  Faith point Press.  2008

 

 

 

 

Freedom From What?

Choose you this day whom ye will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:15

 

 

Friends, I am confused.  About as confused as a blonde looking for a “WE” in an “M&M” factory. It appears there is a group going around calling itself the Freedom FROM Religion Foundation.  Fine, if you want to call yourself Freedom From Human Race Foundation go for it.But this group is allowing satanists to put up a display of a Bible verse and an angel falling into hell next to a nativity scene.  What’s with that?  OK we Christians don’t want to offend the satanists.  Only God can do that.  The basis for this “dumb” decision is “we don’t want to offend anyone.”  Ok fine.  But why is this same group of “brainless” people telling Christians we can’t put up nativity scenes because it will offend atheists.  We can’t say Merry Christmas because it offends muslims.   Our kids can’t pray or say the pledge to OUR flag because it might offend someone.  Come on people—WAKE UP.  To paraphrase the Bard of Avon from one his greatest plays—Evil by any other name would smell just as rotten.  Of course Shakespeare was talking about a rose smelling sweet.  But I think you can see the difference. 

This country was founded on Freedom OF Religion not freedom FROM religion.  There can’t possibly be freedom from religion anyway.  Satanism is a religion worshipping satan.  Muslims practice Islam and worship allah.  Atheists worship who knows what-themselves maybe.  If a group wanted to start a religion of the first church of Wal-Mart and worship Wal-Mart they have that right.  But don’t try to force me to stop worshipping God because it offends someone.  It offends me when someone tries to tell me how, who, and when to worship. 

Christianity to me is more than a mere religion.  It’s a way of life and a relationship with my Heavenly Father.  Let me tell you there is no better relationship than that.

Now that I have vented, I am going to eat my bacon and eggs.  Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS in this nation under God and may God bless us each and every one.

DISCLAIMER:  IF YOU EXPECT AN APOLOGY FROM ME YOU WON’T BE GETTING ONE. 

Remember When

Think back if you can to a time when children were allowed to pray in school and even say the pledge to the United States flag every morning.  What! You don’t remember this.  Well let me tell you a story about how life used to be in this country.

Families actually had two parents.  If death had separated the parents, aunts, uncles, grandmothers and even the community came together to help the family. Divorces were seldom heard of.  You knew your neighbors—in fact—everyone in the community was your neighbor and all you had to do was ask for help and everyone that was able came to your aid.  Our neighborhoods were so safe, we kids could play outside until 10 or 11 o’clock at night.  We didn’t have air conditioning so we slept with windows open and sometimes even our doors because there was no such thing as crime.  Of course, we had neighborhood drunks and the occasional teen age boys that drag raced down the highway but nothing as serious as today.

If any of us kids caused any problem at school we could expect the punishment to be resumed when we returned home that afternoon.

We were taught to respect our elders and say “yes ma’am”, “no sir”, “please” and “thank you.” If a neighbor needed help with yard work or running errands, we helped without thoughts of “how much are you going to pay me”?  We had chores to do and if we forgot to do them we knew we could expect to have a “memory lesson” that would do the trick. No, we were not abused.  We were taught that to be a member of a family and the benefits that came with that also brought with it responsibility to help the family.  We brought that lesson with us to adulthood.

We were allowed freedom to have fun but we were always held accountable for where we went and what we did.  Although there were no phones our parents knew what we had been doing even before we got home.  That’s because we had “nosey” neighbors that were looking out for us.

We didn’t have video games or even much t.v but we had fun with our family and friends.

Yes, we said prayers and the pledge in school.  We helped each other.  There was no shouts of hate or police brutality no rioting in the streets or teenagers robbing the neighborhood store or beating up the elderly. The leaders of this country knew how to lead the country and be the leader of everyone in the country and not cater to a small segment of the population.

No friends, back when I was a kid, we were taught responsibility by our parents.  Our parents raised us themselves—not nannies, maids, babysitters or the gangs at the corner.  We were shown respect and we, in turn, gave respect to others.

I think this country would be better off if our society today went back to the days when we treated everyone the way the Bible teaches us: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself”.

My Daily Vent

Well, I have to vent again.  I am so sick of hearing about White Privilege.  In fact I am so mad I could spit enough nails to build a house.  And friends in the south that is pretty darn mad.  I hear about how whites have more inherent rights than minorities because we are white.  Who is spreading this  atrocity?  I will tell you.  It is the white hating race baiters like Sharpton, Jackson, Holder,  and yes, even the president himself.  Well I want to clarify a few things that need to be said.  Not all whites were born in the lap of luxury.  I, for one was born into poverty.  I come from a family of six kids.  We lived in a small house with two parents, an elderly grandmother, and an aunt who was wheelchair bound.

We did not have food stamps or welfare.  Yet we had food to eat and clothes on our backs.  We did not always have what we wanted to eat but we had nourishing food.  We did not have the latest fashions but we had clothes even if they were hand  me downs.  We felt rich at Christmas and when school started each year because we could get  some new items and new shoes.  What we got came from the hard work of our parents not from government handouts.

On second thought I guess you could say I am privileged.  I am privileged to have parents that loved all their kids and taught us to love and fear God.

I am privileged to be adopted into God’s family.  I am proud to say my Heavenly Father is the only king I will bow to.

I am privileged to say I got a college education.  I not only graduated one time but I went back to college after my kids were grown and I was raising grandkids and working full time and graduated with honors and a second degree.  I got no free ride either time.  The first time I worked my way through.  I admit I had to take out student loans but they are paid in full.  The second time I worked and paid my way through.

I  am privileged to have the support of my family.

I am privileged to have five sisters who are close and love each other.

I am privileged to raise two kids and four grandkids and teach them about God’s love and grace.

I lost my only son two years ago but I am privileged to know that I will see him again one day in Heaven.

I am privileged to have a husband who has provided for his family the best way he could.  It has been tough at times, I will admit and it took both of us working to make ends meet.  I am privileged to stay home now so I can take kids to their activities and school functions.  It will not be easy since social security will be our income now but I have faith that God will provide our needs.

Yes, I guess you could say I am a privileged white but not in the politically correct sense.  There can be privilege for everyone in America if they are willing to dare to dream and work hard everyday to make those dreams come true.  Don’t expect to get anything for free.  Use your heart and mind and don’t be afraid of that four letter word-WORK.

Now here is my disclaimer:  IF I OFFEND ANYONE DON’T EXPECT AN APOLOGY FROM ME BECAUSE YOU WON’T GET IT!

Blessings In Disguise

I posted this last year but Thanksgiving reminded me of all the blessings we have that we don’t always think of as blessings.  I hope you realize all the blessings you have that do not always seem like blessings.  You might be surprised.

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?

Count your blessings

Name them one by one.

Count your many blessings

See what God hath done.

Have you counted your blessings today?  I admit I do not always thank God for all He has blessed me with.  In fact, I have been known to grumble about my blessings.  Why would I do such a thing?  Well sometimes His blessing come to us in disguise.  That’s right.  Sometimes His blessings can be found in our day to day chaos of day to day living such as dirty dishes, laundry, bills, and even our dirty houses.  I can see you scratching your head and saying “this woman is crazy!  How can dirty dishes, laundry, and bills be blessings?”

Well, dirty dishes tell us we have food to eat.  So many people do not have enough food.  Dirty laundry lets us know we have clothes to put on our backs.  When we pay our bills, we know God has provided us with the means to pay them.  A dirty house is a sign we have a roof over our heads and a family that loves us and children God has entrusted to our care.

Sometimes blessings can be hidden in trials.  James 1:2 tells us:  “Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Remember, God is on the throne, in control and blessing us each and every day.  We may not recognize them at first but when we look through our eyes of faith, they are clear to see.  So beginning today, let’s all count our blessings, name them one by one.  Count our many blessings  see what God hath done.

Prayer:

Father, I thank you for your blessings you have given me and the ones you are giving me.  Help me to see your love and care in my day to day life.  Everything I have and everything I am I give my thanks and praise your wonderful name.  Thank you for loving me so much.

Amen