'Christianity' Category
This makes me want to barf
There is just so much wrong with this, I don't even know where to begin.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,385962,00.html
Important words of wisdom
My good friend Carla has shared a couple of thoughts recently that I think should be highlighted. In fact, not even in yellow highlighter but in blue or pink, so that they will stand out more.
First she talked about assuming. This is something I am CONSTANTLY working on with my oldest son. "Did he SAY xyz? No? Then do not ASSUME. You do not know if that is actually the plan. DO NOT ASSUME."
This is something that adults struggle with as much as, or more, than children. We read something that someone has written and assume we know their whole worldview and philosophy, when all we really know is that there is something about the topic we read to move someone enough to write that particular item. We see what they have on their tables and assume we can decipher their entire nutritional philosophy. We hear that they like a book by a certain author and assume they agree with everything that author says.
I think my new credo is going to be, "Assume nothing. Ask." I think that maybe you need to be on the receiving end of hurt that is born of people assuming about you to really understand how damaging this can be. We simply cannot look at snippets of peoples' lives and think we can deduce their thoughts, attitudes, philosophy and views.
As someone who recently has gone through a pretty major bruhaha due to some huge, INCORRECT assumptions, I completely agree with her.
If I were to go to someone's house and see a copy of Babywise on her shelf, I would be wrong to assume that she is a diehard Ezzo fan. She might be...but she might also keep a copy on hand to refer to because she is a lactation consultant who works with moms who struggle with milk supply after following the advice in the book.
If I were to meet someone new, and she asked about doctors who were less persnickity about vaccine schedules, it would be wrong of me to assume that she is anti-vaccine and into hard core holistic medicine. She might be...but then again maybe she just likes to pick and choose which vaccines her children get and when.
If a friend were to tell me that she is questioning xyz that she has always been taught and holding that teaching up to Scripture to see if it truly lines up, it would be wrong of me to assume that she is rejecting that teaching. She might end up doing so...but then again maybe she is just being a good Berean and making sure that each. and. every. teaching she adheres to actually lines up with what the Word of God says.
Carla encourages us to, "Assume nothing. Ask." I could not agree more. And I'd like to add a bit. When you ask, do not do so in an accusatory manner. Do not ask based on an assumption. Do not ask questions as though you know the answer to the first one. Do not say, "How can you like that book????" Do not ask, "So how come y'all have decided to not do any vaccines?" Do not assume that because someone is wondering about xyz teaching, then she is rejecting abc teaching as well. And then do not ask her, "Well, what do you believe about ABC????" meanwhile trying to get her to admit to something that she DOESN'T agree with!
I know that this is something I have been trying to watch in myself lately. It's far too tempting to think, "Oh, she has Radical Jane listed in her blogroll. Wow, she must agree with Radical Jane." When really Radical Jane is her sister, whom she disagrees with sharply, but out of courtesy lists her anyway.
It is wrong for me to assume anything about anyone.
Then Carla wrote about rumors (or, since she is from Canada, rumoUrs
). Again, I couldn't agree more.I think that it behooves us to both make sure we know the facts before we issue a "hey, did you know" type statement and to make sure that to the best of our ability we've checked it out before we pass it on.I think we also need to weigh out whether or not we need to pass things on at all. Are we passing on that "Brisis doesn't use any curriculum for her family" because we are trying to help a budding unschooler connect with a vetern one, or because we want to show that we know something different about someone else. Are we sharing about a controversial teacher/pastor because we really want peoples thoughts/input into a perplexing situation, or are we doing it because we want to create a stir or sully his name further?
A friend of mine is dealing with this sort of thing as I write. Partial truths and flat-out lies are being told about her by someone she has cared about for years. And these things are not being said out of pure motives but out of a desire to play the martyr. Fortunately some people are coming to her and saying, "This doesn't sound right...is it true?" But there are a lot of other people who will just plain ignore my friend. Or they might be friendly to her yet not truly trust her any longer, due to what was said about her. They like her so do not want to cut off all contact, yet they still believe the half-truths and lies, so they no longer invest in a relationship with her.
All because of rumors.
Thank you, Holly.
I needed this post today.
Come join me!
I've joined a great new message board for Christian women. Are you looking for a great place to fellowship with Christian ladies from across the globe? Come join us at Ladies of Grace! (And say that Keer sent ya!
)
A timely Word from the Lord
In school we are learning about King David's life. Today we read 1 Samuel 24:1-21. As I read, I found it highly appropriate to my current situation.
(1) After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the Desert of En Gedi."
(2) So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
(3) He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
(4) The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.' " Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.
(5) Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.
(6) He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."
(7) With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
(8) Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
(9) He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'?
(10) This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.'
(11) See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life.
(12) May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.
(13) As the old saying goes, 'From evildoers come evil deeds,' so my hand will not touch you.
(14) "Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea?
(15) May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand."
(16) When David finished saying this, Saul asked, "Is that your voice, David my son?" And he wept aloud.
(17) "You are more righteous than I," he said. "You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
(18) You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me.
(19) When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today.
(20) I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.
(21) Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father's family."
From the Word
1Pe 4:12-19 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. (13) But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (14) If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (15) If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. (16) However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (17) For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? (18) And,
"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" (19) So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Pray for Elder Merrill and Elder Wyman
They just showed up on my front porch.
I let them know that I will pray for them since they are false teachers, according to the Bible.
So I figured more prayers certainly can't hurt. Please pray for their salvation and that they would learn about the TRUE Jesus Christ, who is GOD.
The world will know we are His disciples
By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if your women wear only dresses, if you go to church every Wednesday and twice on Sunday, if you never set foot in a bar, and if you boycott Disney.
Right? I mean, that's what we hear anyway. We are to be separate. We are to be different. That's how people will know that we are Christians.
Um, wrong. We will be a separate people not because of the stuff we do but because of Who we follow. We won't have to purposefully DO things that are different, we just will automatically BE different because, as followers of Jesus, we will be a peculiar people, aliens in this land.
So just how will people know that we are His disciples?
Joh 13:35 By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].
The Lord is opening my eyes to just how much the conservative Christian community is failing at this. And then we wonder why we aren't having an impact on the world.
We spend so much time bickering amongst ourselves over whether we should have real wine or not at the Lord's Supper, whether it's OK to have youth groups or nurseries, whether it's OK to use the NIV as a pew Bible, etc. And then we wonder why the world wants nothing to do with us. I also notice that Jesus didn't add any conditions to loving each other. We are to show love to one another. Period. Even if I am not dresses only and someone else is. Even if that person accuses me of being immodest. Even if I am an egalitarian and someone else is a complementarian. Even if I only listen to hymns and someone else listens to contemporary Christian music. Even if someone else listens to secular music. WE ARE STILL TO SHOW LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER.
Jesus said that all will know that we are His disciples when we do that. Despite our differences. Despite the particular calls He has placed on our lives. I am learning that I need to take Him at His word.
No words.
Anyone remember me asking for prayer for Melissa Snow?
Now her daughter has a cancerous tumor as well.
Pray.
Questioning Courtship [Part 1]
I first learned about the idea of courtship about 8-9 years ago, I think. I happened to hear Josh Harris on “FamilyLife Today” or “Focus on the Family” one day. His story was so intriguing and compelling. I’m not sure if he used the word “courtship” specifically, but I do remember thinking that his reasoning for “kissing dating goodbye” made sense to me. After all, I had experienced the heartache of break-ups with boyfriends prior to my husband, and I also had SEVERAL regrets of the manner in which I had conducted myself in those relationships. So Josh’s story rang true with me, and this whole idea…
Some questions for Joseph when I get to heaven
What were you thinking in between
Gen 40:13-15 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will again put Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, as when you were his butler. (14) But think of me when it shall be well with you and show kindness, I beg of you, to me, and mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house. (15) For truly I was carried away from the land of the Hebrews by unlawful force, and here too I have done nothing for which they should put me into the dungeon.
and
Absolute must-reads
I mean it. Do not pass go; do not collect $200 until you have read these posts from Molly at Adventures in Mercy:
