Compassion vs. Communism

"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price...and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God. (Acts 5:1-4 ASV)

This is a lesson of a man and wife who sold property and wanted to look like they had given all of the money to the Apostles.  The husband first brought the money and pretended he gave the whole amount, Peter called chastised him on his lie and Ananias falls down dead; next the wife comes in and is asked if this was the amount paid them. Yes, she said, and the same thing happens to her, because of their lie to God. Their sin was not for keeping part of the money, but for LYING to God about it. As Peter said, "While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power?" Here's a secondary lesson in here.You can fool people sometimes, but you can never fool God. 

There is a rise in our country today lifting up 'socialism' as a shining example, and over the years some have used the early church, after Pentecost, and said it was socialistic.

Acts 2:43  "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44)  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45)  and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need. 46)  And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,"

This was a period of learning and growing in the fledgling church, but it wasn't a forever situation. The growing of the church in Jerusalem lasted until the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Act 8:2  "And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. 3)  But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison. 4)  They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word."

God doesn't condone socialism. Socialism is anti-God. Government replaces God, and becomes a god.

This passage in 2 Corinthians tells how we ought to give to God. Not as of necessity, but of willingness, because God loveth a cheerful giver. We ought  to care for those less fortunate as well, but not with a gun held to our head as happens under socialism.

2Corinthians 9:5  I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion. 6)  But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7)  Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

God does expect us to be compassionate on others who can't help themselves. It isn't compassion to encourage those who can work and take care of themselves and their own families to become idle and worthless.

1Timothy 5:8 "But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever."

The Apostle Paul informs the Thessalonians:

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat. For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ASV)

Socialism tries to make everyone equal, but the equality only extends as far as misery; everyone is equally miserable.  

Left Behind?

As I sit in my pew on a Sunday afternoon I am thankful. There are many things I'm thankful for, of course, but this particular moment I'm thankful we're a small 'country' congregation. We're family and friends here at our particular group. If we're family, we're friendly family, and if we're friends, we're friendly friends.

I digress, however, because where I am thankful for our relationships here, it is brought on as I see on the floor toward the front of the building something, perhaps a coat or a sweater that some little person has left behind in their dash to their pew (or was it to the rest room?).

As apparently is true for most women one thought leads to another. I began to muse on the idea of age, time, life, and how many things we as human beings 'leave behind'. Step by step as we grow older we leave our younger self behind. Some of those things are better left behind.  In growing older  we learn to walk, run, dress ourselves, social behaviors, and so on until eventually we learn to be an adult. As adults we leave things behind, and not all of it is childish behavior and not all should be left behind. The scripture tells us two aspects of these things. This first one is becoming a responsible adult:

• "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things." (1 Corinthians 13:11 ASV)

Childish behaviors are things we ought to put away. On the flip side, there are several aspects of little children we should retain. 

• Matthew 18:2 "And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, 3)  and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4)  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." 

• Mark 10:14  "But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. 15)  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." 

• Luke 18:17  "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein." 

The aspect here is that children are teachable, receptive, and humble. As we become adults we often leave behind humility. Some other things we leave behind are: faith, trust, love and kindness. We lose our sense of wonder at the creations of God—the world in which we live, and the creatures that God formed and placed here. We lose the ability to ask how and why things work. Life settles in and we get set in our ways, but the saddest is when we lose our ability to dream. The ability to enjoy the small pleasures in our lives. We can't fully enjoy the larger things in our lives until we learn the lesson of enjoying the smaller things. The phrase 'carpe diem' means to seize the moment—Not to diminish the future, but to savor what we are blessed with at the moment.

It is easy to become sarcastic, to see life through cynical eyes—Eyes of doubt, distrust, and disbelief. We need to put that away. Leave that behind.

The story is told of a father checking on his young son one morning. He reached the hall just outside his son's bedroom as his son opened his eyes and sat up. The first word out of his mouth that morning was, "WOW" as he stared at the world around him. This struck a chord in the father's heart. When he retold the story he encouraged his audience to have a child's heart and a child's eyes. 

Hallelujah! What a Savior! 

Who Am I?

In Bible class we used to play the 'Who Am I' game. I had little Gingerbread men figures with questions on the back. I'd hold them up and the first question was usually the 'hard' question then there were at least two more questions. It might have started out with: "My father's name was Terah." #2 could have been, "I had two brothers, Nahor and Haran." If they still hadn't gotten it #3 could have been "God called me out of Ur of Chaldees." The beginning question was always, 'Who Am I?"

"Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is? And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." (Matthew 16:13-14 ASV)

Sometimes we hear people today talking about Jesus. They are still giving different answers. Some may say, "He was a good man." Others have said, "He was crazy, or he was a deceiver." However, there are several factors that should be examined before a conclusion is made.

Matthew 16:15: "He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?" 

16) "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

 17) "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. 

18) And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it."  

So, those closest to Jesus confessed that he was the Christ the Son of the living God. Not only did they confess,but they lived and died for that confession. 

Jesus says in verse 18 that 'upon the rock of Peter's confession (that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God) that Jesus' church would be built (upon that confession), and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. And they haven't prevailed against the fact that he is who he said he was. 

I love how the gospel of John tells us: 

John 20:26  "And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 

27)  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 

28)  Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God." 

Thomas had been a doubter, but his last statement speaks volumes.

Yet, there will be doubters until the trump of God shall sound on the last day. Life will be going on as usual. 

Ecclesiastes 8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12)  Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him: 13)  but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. 

To the doubters amongst us, remember the Apostles that walked with Jesus were convinced that Jesus was the Christ so much so they lived, preached, and died for their confession. Remember also Thomas' reaction to Jesus resurrection. My Lord and my God.

There are several things Jesus was not. 

• He was not a liar, nor deceiver.
• He was not wicked, nor a homosexual.
• He was not homeless, but a wanderer
• He was not a socialist, nor a Robin Hood

As it says in Ecclesiastes, because God doesn't strike people dead, or evil isn't punished immediately people are emboldened to mock God and Jesus. Their hearts are set to do evil, but those that believe in and fear God know there is a judgement coming. God is not wishing any to perish so he gives sinners another chance. We hear too often when people die, 'they've gone on to a better place'. They have not gone on to a better place if they are unrepentant sinners. They have not gone on to a better place if they aren't following Jesus.

Jesus is the spotless lamb of God. He was our perfect sacrifice, but without laying claim to that inheritance we won't get it. Our radio station has games with prizes, but since I don't play I'm not expecting to 'get their prize'. If you don't allow Jesus to put your name on the list you won't win the prize.    

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Shattered Dreams

"But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them." (2 Timothy 3:10-14 ASV)

We've endured the last few days snow, fog, and ice, but today the sunshine is powerful. It is shining and warming the earthly inhabitants. The trees had at dawn a coat of crystal, like shimmering glass. The sun is warming this layer that is so beautiful, and it is falling to the ground off the stems and twigs. Falling to lie on the ground beneath the trees, shimmering for the moment, but soon to melt into a distant memory. 

Dreams can be like that as well. We don't know what dreams the Apostle Paul held for his life work. He was a Roman born, and a Jew. Something of an oddity. He had learned at the feet of a highly respected and learned man of the Law, Gamaliel. Saul, also known as Paul, was a respected part of the Jewish system in his early life.

• (Philippians 3:4)  "though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:"

• (Philippians 3:5)  "circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;"

• (Philippians 3:6)  "as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless."

• (Philippians 3:7)  "Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ."

He left it all when he found that Jesus was the Way (the Truth and the Life). He gave up a good life to be  hounded by 'Judaizing teachers' in his latter years. He journeyed much, teaching all, both Jews and Gentiles. He withstood hunger, cold, betrayal disappointment...in a word he suffered persecution from Satan and human sources.   

(2 Timothy 4:16 ASV)  "At my first defense no one took my part, but all forsook me: may it not be laid to their account. (2 Timothy 4:17)  But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might me fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."

"All forsook me, But the Lord stood by me..."

Sometimes the good life isn't the one we hoped for. Like ice crystals melting on the ground, the life we want may be transient, fragile and  worthless. 

(Matthew 6:33 ) " But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(Matthew 6:34 ASV)  Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Conflict: Finding

Conflict is what makes a great fiction novel. At least, a fiction novel without conflict will be rather blase'.  

"And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him (Jesus) asked him to show them a sign from heaven." (Matthew 16:1 ASV)

There are times when I think I really wish God would just  say to me in His God Voice, "you've gotten side-tracked again. You're going the wrong way, back up/turn around, and..."Somewhat like an accurate Alexa, or /Siri. 

In my life it is often days, months or even sometimes years before I can tell if what I've done is the right thing. I do trial and error, or the turn around and look method. On small inconsequential things-- if you learn from the experience it can be good. However, the important things in life don't work well that way. Like having a 2,000 pound polar bear charging at you, most of the important things only give you one shot.

"But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2) For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy," 

(2 Timothy 3:1-2 ASV)

People have been pointing to what goes on in society for close to two thousand years, saying, 'these are the last days'. We are witnessing a society in turmoil and conflict. Like a kaleidoscope of ever changing patterns the colors and shapes are—ever changing. We have angry young people, and why wouldn't we have them? We have angry unchanneled adults. If adults fall for the lies of Satan, do we expect their younger counter-parts to be any less duped? 

There are many people in denial. I saw it today on a meme: "I'm not religious, I'm spiritual". What?! What does that mean? I thought the definition might give me a clue, so I went to the dictionary to find out what 'religious' is: 1) a member of a religious order bound by vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience 2) religious; spiritual (adj)  3)having or showing belief in and reverence for deity 4)of or relating to clergy bound by monastic vows. 5) extremely scrupulous, conscientious

So, why are they in denial? Being religious is apparently out of favor. If one is 'spiritual' they can approach their own image of their own god in whatsoever manner they choose.Being spiritual is fashionable like the difference between 'meditation' and 'prayer'. 

• Prayer is the act of communicating with deity, (especially as a petition, an expression of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving. (A petition/ communication that goes toward God.)

• Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health issues, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. It may be done sitting, or in an active way - for instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of or remind the practitioner about some aspect of the training.(A training of one's own mind, self-talking.)

• One is a petition to deity, the other is putting self in the place of deity, and talking to self .

Calling it spiritual as opposed to religious is as one writer put it, "putting it according to their own terms; God has zero input in the equation. It's atheism for someone who's scared to go all in."

The following is a list which being religious answers to. 

• God wants more from His followers than just their thoughts "Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."(James 1:27 ASV)

• God wants us to 'know' Him. To crave His companionship—as if we were friends, or (gasp) his dear children, and He our Father
• He wants us to not just know his will for us, but to follow His will
• God wants us to love His Son, Jesus; to honor and worship the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• God wants us to love, and show love. Not just the warm and fuzzy, feel good love, but the kind that Jesus had and showed in His life and death

You see, religion is the foundation for that kind of life. Just as Jesus was religious—Yes, he was—He kept the Law perfectly, and without that he wouldn't have been the perfect sacrifice. As the song says: Law and Love combining. 

Nowhere does God say, "Find your own path to me, follow your own feelings..." "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." 

(John 14:6 ASV)

"But he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the heaven is red. 3)And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot discern the signs of the times. 4)An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed." (Matthew 16:2-4 ASV)

Halelujah! What a Savior!

Where Is Conflict? Seeking

What is conflict? Why do our lives all contain conflict? How do we find the correct balance? Health gurus tell us too much conflict makes us sick, experience shows us too little conflict makes us complacent. 

• If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men. Thought: This one is difficult. There are some people you can never please. At times we will have to acknowledge this. Like the old saying—fix what you can. Look for peaceful answers. Perhaps that grumpy old fart needs attention. We know children can develop the 'naughtiness' habit in order to get attention. They aren't the only ones. Same for children. Maybe that young person needs good attention. Look for peaceable solutions, pray for peaceable solutions. 
• Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. Thought: never have a vengeful attitude. That doesn't mean you allow someone to run over you, or become a push- over. You don't have to have a chip on your shoulder, but everyone has a right to personal integrity. As with the Quaker one cold winter's eve, when after having the wood pile he had supplied for his fireplaces and stoves pilfered more than once, he stuck his head out the back door to confront the thief. Quakers being non-violent and pacifists--he opens the door and calls out to the thief: "Friend, I mean thee no harm, but thou art standing where I am about to shoot."    
• But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Thought: Looking for a peaceful solution is the first step. I know people whom at first meeting they come across as bold or combative in some way. Sometimes, however, once you scratch the surface that isn't who they are. Take time to listen to people. They don't always speak with their mouth, and we can sometimes listen with out heart and eyes. 
• Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 

                                             (Romans 12:18-21 ASV)

The last one says it all. It sums it up well. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

GMO #2

We used to watch a science-fiction show, 'Doctor. Who' when our children were growing up. In at least one show the good Doctor was fighting against another being that among some of the atrocities he had done, he had crossed different species and came up with some odd creatures. It was one of those moments to shudder over. Another sci-fi show not related to Doctor Who, a scientist, in stages, turned a young man (who had been interested in the scientist's daughter) into a snake with human characteristics. That wasn't a happy show either.

I bring those shows up to highlight how things and times change.Back in 1980 scientists produced the first GE (genetically engineered/ GMO?) rabbit. Today we are looking at GE goats. A cross between a goat and a golden orb-weaver spider (a cannibalistic spider that produces: "silk, tougher than Kevlar, is a hundred times stronger than human ligaments.)"

While as a scientist this may be intriguing, as a regular human being I kind of put this up there with the Doctor Who and that other sci-fi show. Of course, one might ask, what's the big deal? The goat is still a goat. A cute lovable animal...right? At this point I'm thinking about Asian Beetles.

You know those stinking things that look a lot like Lady beetles, but aren't? That someone from the department of agriculture brought over from Asia to help (as an experiment?) control soybean aphid pests. That's a freebie, just in case you ever wondered where they came from and why. No, that doesn't answer why they swarm into our houses, bite, and stink, and etc.  But that's what I'm thinking about when people, say like scientists, and unsuspecting citizens ask 'so what', and 'what could go wrong?. 

I don't know how far these folks want to go with this. You can't tell by looking at the goats if they have the added traits, by the way. Not all do, but they do pass it on in their genetic code. And of course we need another government agency to regulate all of this...and this is part of the questions being asked. What if down the road some or all of these things come back with unintended consequences? Consequences that can't be controlled.

  There are many on both sides of the GMO issue. To the grain/crop farmer, as far as I can see it is a wash. Good and bad. In some ways it may be contributing to super weeds and pests. That's the bad side. Europe and foreign markets aren't real keen on GMO crops, but so far the U.S. has come out on the upper hand of (it looks like forcing) selling them our products GMO and all. Many of our own consumers want and in many cases are willing to pay extra for non-GMO (and organic).

I don't trust the research in either direction. I've been told anonymously by researchers, I can prove what ever you want—all it takes is money. However, some people do notice a difference when they and their families go organic and non-GMO. I've raised our garden, and we raised our truck farm organic and non-GMO for forty-five years. It isn't easy, sometimes it's gotten ugly, but I wouldn't change it. And I've gone back to using 95% heirloom varieties.

We've been business owners. We've worked for business owners, and one of the fundamentals is that the market and the customer determines what you sell. If there isn't a market for a product, or the customer doesn't want what you've got what can you do? I would think you would give them what they want.

There are fads that will pass, but the consumer keeps getting more vociferous, insisting on what products they want. I haven't waded into the grass-fed arena. I'm waiting a couple of years to decide if chicken eggs really know their mammy ate grass. I do like the home-grown brown eggs with their dark orange color. Brown eggs are reported as having a bit of a higher protein than white eggs.

I haven't even gotten into the ethics of some of these things, other than alluding to Doctor Who, and the sci-fi show. These things do bother me for several reasons. Scientists are acting like little kids with a new toy. They've found this wonderful information, and they want to manipulate it. To play God as it were. There are a number of things that are wrong with that.

• Only God is all-knowing. Only He can see all of the nuances and end results. 
• They/we aren't God and they/we are playing with a loaded gun. Like Pandora, something we may not be able to get back in the box.

In the Old Testament God had some laws for His people after they entered the Promised land. We today don't need to follow those commandments and statutes, but as I said last article they still make me wonder as to why they were there, and if we should be more careful with what we are doing.

"Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with two kinds of seed: neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together." (Leviticus 19:19 ASV)

"Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole fruit be forfeited, the seed which thou hast sown, and the increase of the vineyard." (Deuteronomy 22:9 ASV)

Hallelujah! What a Savior!