Weblog
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
-
More on Christmas and other stuff...
I sent my first post (on Christmas) to the people at Citizen-link who are running the "Stand for Christmas" Campaign. Their response was very nice but they obviously didn't get (or maybe agree with?) what I was trying to say. Here's my thinking in as small a nutshell as I can put it. . .2 Cor 5:17-20, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”I think a fundamental problem of Christians today is that we try to do one of those two things. We either want to fit in or we want the secular world to fit us. We put the external things above the internal things. In this particular case, seeing a sign that reads "Christmas Sale" would make me feel good, because if we could get this country to be respectful of Christianity maybe things would be better.So, we are ambassadors. "We can be reconciled to God through Christ." That’s our message. We have NOT been given a message of conformity. We are not to conform to the world and we are not to take the secular world and try to conform it to the kingdom. (Notice that you have to be in Christ before you can be new.)
The real problem with the world is that its people have been disconnected from their source of life. And, that is why our ministry is “reconciliation”. We have a few brief years on this planet. That’s it. And, in eternity it will not matter whether our currency here said "In God We Trust" or not. What matters, is whether people were reconciled to God while they were here so they could spend eternity with Him.
We spend so much time going after industry and government. When we win battles in these areas we sit back and congratulate ourselves for a "job well done". Though, it is nice to have the 10 commandments remain on wall of the Supreme Court building, I am not sure that people are coming to Christ because of it. We want so badly for people to, as some put it, "return to the principles on which this Government was founded" because there was some bible doctrine in there. But, though there was some truth, it was not perfect. It was deeply flawed. One of the first amendments to the constitution was about how many black people equaled a whole person for the population count... Biblical Principles in the hands of people who have not been personally reconciled to God = people who distort truth. How many times in history have we seen people do things in the name of God and Christianity that were absolutely horrific? This is what happens when we go after ideals instead of hearts. I'm not saying we shouldn't vote or stand for truth and families and standards. If they want my vote I’ll give it. But, look at the early church in Acts. They didn’t campaign for Roman respect of their Way. They met together and had everything in common, they met practical needs and devoted themselves to prayer and the teaching of the word... They prayed that God would enable them to speak the truth boldly. The result was a movement that took the whole world by storm. They were ambassadors who recognized that the world they belonged to was supremely different from the one they were living in and they sought to reconcile people to God. That’s all.
If we live the truth of the Gospel and love people by the definition in 1 Cor 13, if we are full of mercy and grace that flows out of our understanding of how Christ had mercy on us, if we love our neighbor and unashamedly say it is because of Christ, if we stand for truth and don't compromise integrity and honor, if we are generous, if we are honest and not hypocritical... People will notice. People will wonder. People will come to God like they did in the beginning. And, after their hearts are healed, maybe this nation and the rest of the world will be able to honor God in their signs and buildings and currency. Maybe it wont be just because we complained loud enough but because we did what Christ asked us to do before He left. We were ambassadors to the world. We had the ministry of reconciliation. We gave them a reason to love the truth and honor it.
Friday, 13 November 2009
-
Stand For Christmas Cont...
Okay, realize this is coming from an imperfect human first off. I don't always say things the perfect, right way. I get frustrated when I shouldn't and impatient... But, here is what I plan to do this Christmas. God Help me to stick to it.
1. I will be purposeful about talking about Jesus with my babies. I will tell them why He came and what He did for us.
2. I will address issues of selfishness that crop up this time of year. The endless onslaught of "I want..." and the "She has more than me!". These are opportunities to talk about the most self-less person who ever lived.
3. I will slow down and spend time. I am so busy so often and I admit that I sometimes put off reading a book to my girls or taking them out to play in the snow, because I am getting ready for this or that. I don't stop working to hug my husband when he comes in the door... This Christmas I will not put plans before people.
4. Remembering what it is like to be treated as a non-human in the retail business around this time of year, I will try to remember God's charge for us to be lights in a dark world and to love our neighbor. Sticking to a Biblical definition of love, I will be PATIENT and KIND not rude and selfish. I will smile at the human being who is checking me out and thank them for working at such a stressful time of year. (We are all too often busy watching our items pass the scanner like a hawk to make sure we get our "deal". ) I will remember what it is like to collapse into tears on a break after being treated like poo by customers for 5 hours straight. I will ask how people are doing and be sweet EVEN IF THEY ARE RUDE. Maybe then my "Merry Christmas!" will mean something.
5. In general, less complaining and criticism, more thankfulness.Feel free to spread this around and join me.
We will call it a campaign for "Christ-like Christians at Christmas"
Thursday, 12 November 2009
-
Stand for Christmas.
I keep hearing about this on the radio and I wonder what it would look like if Christians decided to take a "stand for Christmas" in their own homes. Most of us worry about presents we need to get and our kids spend the holiday season counting up how many presents for them are accumulating under the tree. We worry about the dress we need for caroling and about getting through the line at the post office. We get frazzled and frustrated and annoyed. Yea. We do the church services and maybe we read the Bible account of Jesus coming into the world but we don't really let that be what it is all about.
It is interesting that, in spite of how hard it is for us believers to keep Christ in Christmas, there is a move among many to boycott the secular companies who leave Him out. That seems a bit odd doesn't it? It's hard for us but they should do it? People, I know this is a bit hard to swallow, but there is no such thing as a "Christian Nation" or a "Christian Business" and there never will be. There are only Christian individuals. And, those of us who belong to God make up a body connected by Spirit. Why do we fight so hard to be otherwise? We are grasping after our government and our industries and we are forgetting to look inward. Why do we strive to make sure the world properly honors what they don't believe in? Isn't that our job? My last post was about Christians acting like the world and expecting other Christians to be okay with it. If that is how we are, can we expect the world, who doesn't know Him, to honor Him? Yes, I am going to strive this year to Stand for Christmas but not through any boycott. I want to get my heart in the right place so I can be a light in my family and in my Church and to the cashiers when I am out shopping, etc. I won't be angered by any secular business when they say, "Happy Holidays!" Because, if I were them and I saw us acting like that, it would do nothing but turn me off to the whole Jesus thing. Here's an idea...instead of asking the world to do what is impossible to do without the truth in their hearts, why don't we try being what we are supposed to be and see if that changes some things.
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
-
Okay, this is a post for my fellow Christians - fair warning. . .
It really bothers me when famous Christian people use bad language to make a point. I guess "bad language" is a relative term. I'm pretty sure you know what I am talking about though. (And, just the fact that you all immediately knew which words I was referring too proves that they are not in the category of "normal/whatever" type language.) It's just unnecessary in my opinion. God has put you in a place of influence and given you a platform from which to speak. The Bible says not to worry about what to say because the Spirit will help. Do you really think you have to use the shock value of saying cuss words to a bunch of people who don't typically hear speakers cuss to make your point? If God is really behind what you have to say He probably doesn't need that kind of "help".
It just seems immature to me. I see a group of High School kids standing outside of Safeway, loudly using every four letter word in the book and I think to myself, "now there is a group of people proving their immaturity by trying too hard to look mature." Yea, you can talk like that but do you really need to? I think a mature person can articulate even what they feel passionately about without using words that will inevitably cause half the audience to shut them out right there. I know what you are thinking... Maybe those people aren't mature enough to take it. That's their problem isn't it? No. According to the Bible it is yours. Romans 14:13 says, "Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brothers way." In other words, get off the other persons "immaturity"! Step up and be mature yourself (maybe by thinking about the people you are talking to). Verses 19 & 22 "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification...So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves." We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, but our "freedom in Christ" doesn't look the same. Don't use what you think you are free to do to tromp on other people who aren't "mature enough" to have the freedom you have.
Tuesday, 03 November 2009
-
I steamed a whole artichoke for the first time yesterday! It was a bit intimidating. I have not a clue as to how to pick a good one and I had to do some internet research on what to do with it, but it turned out pretty good. I am officially breaking out of the box. We had it as a kind of side dish with dinner, dipped in a creamy garlic parmesan sauce. (I made a mustard sauce too because that's what everyone said to do but it was kind of gross. I don't recommend it.)
Tonight was halibut taco's because I needed something easy. But, I have been dreaming of bruschetta...
Italian Bread toasted in olive oil with tomatoes and basil and garlic... I know it's not meat and neither was the artichoke but at least I am trying new things. I'll get to the meat eventually. For now though...maybe we will do Italian on Friday.
On another note, I drove through some snow flurries on my way to the church this morning but alas it was nothing much and by the time I left again it was all gone. The snow angels will have to wait a bit longer.
Pamcake318
-
- Name: Pamela
- Birthday: 3/18/1981
- Gender: Female
- Member Since: 2/21/2007
About Me
-
Living with my husband and our three babies in Alaska. Trying to be a good wife, mommy, artist, writer....
What's Cooking
-
Tortellini Gorgonzola with chicken and shrimp and...chocolate chip cookies. Mmmm good!
-
I promise I'm not mean but the only friends I add are people I know outside xanga. Collecting 379 + friends seems insincere somehow.
-
Key lime thumb print cookies. Trust me they are to die for. I needed them - notice the glazed over look starting to take me over.
