Luke 18
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none [is] good, save one, [that is], God.
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they that heard [it] said, Who then can be saved?
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
The man had learned the instructions and kept them, but that wasn't going to save him. Would selling all of his riches have saved him? Nope. Living a life that was very self-sufficient was a life that could easily be lived without God, if his focus and relationship with his God was based on checking off a list and labeling himself good. Jesus asked him not to do something that was difficult for him to do, but impossible. Why did Jesus ask such a task? So that this man would realize his need for God, realize that he hadn't had God, but a checklist. Why does God want us to know his instructions? So that we know they're impossible to achieve, and so that we continually know how big He is, how gracious He is, and how much He loves us.
Any trial in your life, count it as joy!! For it is in the difficult things that you reach out to God. He doesn't make you self-sufficient, but becomes your sufficiency.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Risk the Outlook
In light of the recent death of Osama Bin Laden one comes to realize that although a mastermind of evil has fallen, many, many others continue to be at large...Not only do their hearts feast on acts of evil, but they look to perpetrate that evil on all of the free world. What strategic plan could possibly be in place that would seek out the minds and hearts of the wicked and detain them before catastrophe strikes... There is no offensive play without a defensive initiative - evil must initiate first strike before repercussion for one's actions can be determined - - but what if that deep-seated hate could be uprooted in many hearts before that terror is enacted upon our individual liberties -
I know it's ignorant to think that there could possibly be a diplomatic 'solution', but I can't help but hope that a diplomatic 'outreach' would do some good. (Maybe one already exists, and I just haven't heard about it) I'm not talking about giving them crayons and telling them to express themselves, but what if the case was pleaded to the most vulnerable(the youth) in the region, stating that by following extremists they are being set up... they're taking on insane men's battle.
They're being brainwashed and we can't judge them for that, but we could present some truth and let truth do what truth only can do, and that is set them free. It's doubtful to think bellowing out that they are 'sinners in the hands of an angry God' would do much good, but maybe with a little divine inspiration we could infiltrate some of the hate with a lot of love(a 1965 song just entered your head, didn't it :/ ). As silly or ignorant as it may sound, to me it is equally ignorant to think we can catch EVERY bad guy before something happens...
What if through a mass release of the Bible in Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc. we could allow for a comprehensive deliberation of all the available facts. If the Bible is not already at their disposal they cannot be expected to make a legitimate unbiased decision based on a one-sided argument. Give them the necessary resources and let them decide if we are all infidels saved by grace or if we are infidels predestined for death... If it doesn't change one individual's mindset, if it doesn't change the outlook of one deceived person than we've waisted some paper. But if by divine liberation one plot to annihilate the lives of others is suppressed - lives will be saved. Wouldn't it be worth the try?
I know it's ignorant to think that there could possibly be a diplomatic 'solution', but I can't help but hope that a diplomatic 'outreach' would do some good. (Maybe one already exists, and I just haven't heard about it) I'm not talking about giving them crayons and telling them to express themselves, but what if the case was pleaded to the most vulnerable(the youth) in the region, stating that by following extremists they are being set up... they're taking on insane men's battle.
They're being brainwashed and we can't judge them for that, but we could present some truth and let truth do what truth only can do, and that is set them free. It's doubtful to think bellowing out that they are 'sinners in the hands of an angry God' would do much good, but maybe with a little divine inspiration we could infiltrate some of the hate with a lot of love(a 1965 song just entered your head, didn't it :/ ). As silly or ignorant as it may sound, to me it is equally ignorant to think we can catch EVERY bad guy before something happens...
What if through a mass release of the Bible in Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc. we could allow for a comprehensive deliberation of all the available facts. If the Bible is not already at their disposal they cannot be expected to make a legitimate unbiased decision based on a one-sided argument. Give them the necessary resources and let them decide if we are all infidels saved by grace or if we are infidels predestined for death... If it doesn't change one individual's mindset, if it doesn't change the outlook of one deceived person than we've waisted some paper. But if by divine liberation one plot to annihilate the lives of others is suppressed - lives will be saved. Wouldn't it be worth the try?
Looking Forward to Opportunities
I learned something about myself recently, and I thought in the cataclysmic event that somebody else may have a similar personality trait I'd pass along what I've learned.;)
I've learned that whenever I'm dreading a connection with other people whether it be through a get-together or a phone call or whatever the instance, I'm dreading it because I'm looking to be blessed by that person or persons and the possibility of not receiving affirmation or blessing...the probability that I just might not get anything out of it is there - therefore I dread that connection. BUT if I can look at every conjunction with another humanbeing as being an opportunity to bless them, to esteem them through maybe a kind word or a smile or a compliment...then I find that I actually look forward to that opportunity.
I've learned that whenever I'm dreading a connection with other people whether it be through a get-together or a phone call or whatever the instance, I'm dreading it because I'm looking to be blessed by that person or persons and the possibility of not receiving affirmation or blessing...the probability that I just might not get anything out of it is there - therefore I dread that connection. BUT if I can look at every conjunction with another humanbeing as being an opportunity to bless them, to esteem them through maybe a kind word or a smile or a compliment...then I find that I actually look forward to that opportunity.
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