Tag Archives: Christian

What if God needed a friend?

Posted on by under Just Sayin'

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God the Father 05 (Photo credit: Waiting For The Word)

This was posted to my Facebook page from Friendship Fortune Cookie:

You have a great friend who is always there when you are down and is always there to listen to your problems. Make sure you treat your friends the same way.

God is my best friend. What would He tell me if He told me about His problems? Would these subjects be mentioned if God just needed to vent? Homosexuality, immorality, adultery, idolatry, greed, stinginess, abortion, deceit and pride…

Would God just need someone to listen to the things He has to put up with? Not that God has to put up with anything, He just does. God doesn’t zap us dead when we disobey because He has hope that we will change and besides, if He zapped people dead every time they disobey, there would be no one left to talk to by the end of the week.

Another reason God doesn’t kill us the second we disobey is because of this scenario: A person tells a lie, God zaps them dead instantly and everyone else obeys out of tremendous fear. They would worship God out of fear also. This isn’t what God wants. Do you want your children to obey you because they saw what happened to Sally when she lied about her bad grade in math?

God is more like us than we realize. We are created in His image, making us similar to Him. All the things we love about life, God loves also. He loves the brilliant sunsets, the fragrance of lilacs after the rain, a walk along the beach with the warmth of the sun on His back and the scent of lemons in the lemonade.

He doesn’t have a physical body, you say? Sure He does, He lives in the body He gave you and the one He gave me. We are intertwined, God and I. He always lives up to His side of the covenant, but I let Him down quite a lot.

If I could God one thing, I would give Him my ears so He could tell me how disappointed He is in all of us. I would listen as He cried in despair when He talked about abortion and the divorce rate. I would lend Him my shoulder to lend on as He spoke about the sorry state of government and the state of churches that are putting their seal of approval on all manner of sin.

You know, I think I can give Him that. I believe I can hear Him talking about these things now and asking me, “Do you feel the pain of all this sin, as I do?” God is asking us, “Are you as disgusted as I am? Are you ready for the new world order that Christ is bringing with Himself?”

Listen. If you get still and listen, you can hear the sadness in the heart of God. Talk with God and share your day, but listen to Him when you have finished. After all, that is what friends do for each other.

What is a phobia?

Posted on by under Common Sense

According to the free dictionary online, a phobia is “A persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous. ” Many people have irrational fears, such as the fear of cockroaches. These bugs are filthy, disease-carrying insects, but they can be quickly squashed by a human foot.

Fears are not something that people should make fun of. Most everyone has at least one irrational fear. This is why I get angry when liberals slap the label of homophobe on anyone whose religion teaches that homosexuality is sin and something that should not be practiced. People whose beliefs teach them that homosexuality is wrong do not have a fear of homosexuals. They don’t fear the individual nor do they fear becoming one themselves.

Liberals believe they can influence society by teaching that people who are against homosexuality as a lifestyle are people with irrational fears. Therefore, they must be homophobes or irrational people.

Common sense tells the person who is able to reason that homosexuality is unnatural. Liberals can’t find a way around this fact so they label sane, rational people as irrational. Have you ever heard a liberal explain how homosexual activity is natural? I didn’t think so. Even they know that a case can’t be made that homosexual activity is natural. That is why they refer to it as an alternative lifestyle. Alternative to natural, that is.

The argument against homosexuality is easy to make. Whether a person believes in a supernatural being who created everything or they believe people evolved from microbes in the ocean over millions of years, they can’t make a good sound argument for homosexuality.

Because we do not fear becoming a homosexual, nor do we fear a group of homosexuals, we should loudly object to being called homophobes. If they qualify for special rights, surely we qualify for basic human rights. It is past time for conservatives and Christians to take a stand and push back when homosexuals push us around and attempt to manipulate us by calling us a name that is simply untrue.

There have been and even now are homosexuals in my family. I love them. I place no conditions upon that love. I enjoy being around them. They are funny, respectful and intelligent. They would also say that homosexuality is wrong. They don’t try to force others to believe that they have irrational fears of homosexuals. They just enjoy life and keep their private lives private.

If they feel the need to identify themselves by their sexual activity, I suppose heterosexuals should introduce themselves as such. “Hey, my name is Robin and I don’t attempt to have sex or fall in love with a member of my own sex.”

The difference between happiness and joy

Posted on by under Common Sense

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Everyone wants to be happy. That is a given. Ask people what it means to be happy and you will likely get a different answer from each one. Depending upon what we already have, perceived needs and our area of interest, we will give an answer based on who we are at the moment. Since every life is fluid, the definition of ‘happy’ is ever changing.

The feeling or emotion we call ‘being happy’ is a fleeting emotion. No one can be happy all the time. I know this because people die and this makes us very sad. We get hurt or become ill and there is nothing to be happy about in those situations. Even if you love your job, there are days when you just want it to be over so you can go home, kick off your shoes and collaspe on the sofa.

You may love your spouse and your children, live in a comfortable home and lack nothing, but you still will not be happy all day long every day of the year. Happiness is an emotion. Emotions change constantly. Joy is a state of being.

My children and grandchildren bring me joy. I enjoy gardening, making things with my own hands, writing, living in the mountains and going to church with my fellow Christians. I enjoy watching the deer graze in my front yard and knowing that a black bear cub makes his rounds through the edge of my property where he robs the wild honey bees every summer.

There is much joy in my life. I am content most days to do the things I normally do. I don’t live in a fancy house or drive the newest vehicle. I don’t have everything I want or many things that would make my life easier. I do have joy in my life.

Learning that a friend has overcome an illness and is back at work makes me happy. Seeing my children and grandchildren makes me happy. Winning the lottery would probably make me happy. Being happy comes and goes. God never promised us we would always be happy once we became Christians. He did say we would know peace and joy.

No matter what happens in our own lives or what happens in the world, we can live in peace and joy. The kind of peace that comes from knowing there is nothing too big for God to handle is the ultimate peace. It is a lasting peace. We can have a lasting peace and lasting joy in our lives by knowing that God is in control of everything.

We won’t be happy every minute of every day. There is too much life in living for us to always be happy. We have to earn money to pay bills and buy food. We have obligations that come even when we don’t have the energy to deal with them. We will have our hearts broken by people we thought we could trust and believe in. We will experience great sadness when those we love die. No, we just can’t be happy all the time. But, we can know joy every day.

Does the beauty of a sunrise or sunset bring you joy? Do you know joy when a cool breeze touches your face on a hot summer day? Can you feel the joy on a late summer night when the heat begins to wane and the crickets sing? Maybe you feel the joy when it rains at night or when you hear your child say something that proves he does listen to you after all.

Joy can fill your day. Happiness comes and goes. Don’t expect others to make you happy. It is not their job. It is not your job to make others happy. You can make them comfortable. You can feed them good food. You can make their lives easier, but it is not your job to make them happy.

Enjoy the riches of your life. You don’t have to be wealthy or be the prettiest or most handsome to know joy. Accept what you have and be at peace with who you are. If you believe you need to change, change because you want to change. Don’t change who you are to make someone else happy. Happiness comes and goes. People come and go. Sometimes, it is just time for them to go. Let go. You may be sad for a while, but sadness comes and goes also.

A Little Common Courtesy

Posted on by under Uncategorized

The Christmas season can twist you into a pretzel if you aren’t careful. Mothers are harried, tired and rushed as they attempt to keep family life on track, shop for Christmas gifts, bake for Christmas parties at school, work and church, get the gifts wrapped, ready others for shipping, decorate the home and put up the tree and, well, just about everything that needs doing. Fathers are working overtime or a second job just to pay for Christmas and the children are overly excited, fighting with each other and not doing well in school as they dream of the Christmas holidays. 

Whether you are the mother that is shopping for groceries or gifts or the mother that is checking out others at her register, a little common courtesy is needed. Remember, everyone is stressed, tired and preoccupied with life’s difficulties. Try to be respectful and more than a little kind to each other. If not, then what is all the fuss about?

I remember, as a child, when I first heard the phrase, “can’t see the forest for the trees.” I really could not grasp what the teacher was trying to explain. A few years later, I understood. It seems we now live in a nation that can’t see the forest for the trees. Why do we celebrate the birth of our Savior if we are going to act uncivilized in the days leading up to the celebration? People are easily angered when they are tired, rushed or perceive an injustice.  Someone cuts in line at the check-out of Walmart and people behave as if they had their wallet stolen, ready to stone someone. No, it isn’t right to cut in line. That is another inconsideration. But hey, a simple, “excuse me, I believe it was my turn next,” should be enough to express your displeasure. There is no need to start a fight. How is that any way to celebrate the ‘Good News?’ It certainly isn’t any way to represent a Christian.

When the cashier is slow and makes several mistakes, smile and say, “It’s ok, I am not in a big hurry.” Maybe you are in a hurry, but don’t you remember how you felt when you were new on the job and were learning your way around? Besides, making her or him more nervous won’t get you checked out any quicker.

Yes, we have to deal with rude people every day of the year. Sometimes, you just want to throw something hard at them and tell them just how rude you think they are. Here is the thing, though, they know how rude they are and they don’t care. In fact, when you get angry, they are delighted that they caused you to get angry. Don’t give them the pleasure. Just smile and say, “I know your parents would be so proud of you right now.” Do it with sincerity and watch them try to figure out what just happened. They will probably lie awake all night trying to ‘get it.’

No matter how hard we try, we are going to do or say something that is rude to get even, eventually. It happens. Just apologize. You may not realize how quickly an apology can turn a situation around, but it can. And, it makes you feel better about yourself.

A little common courtesy is the least we can offer each other during the season we prepare to celebrate the greatest gift mankind has ever received.  Being the better person has its own rewards. Who knows, maybe your courtesy will cause others to slow down and think about their own actions.

It is really only common sense to stop and realize that we are all in the same boat. If someone is rocking the boat, do you really want to cause a scene and perhaps tip the boat over? At the end of the day, all we really want is to get home, throw those shoes off – ladies, you know what comes off next – get comfortable and relax with our own family. Don’t be one of those people who just can’t let it go; one who has to get in the face of the offending party and let them know just how angry you are. People are crazy these days. What if the person just lost his job, his wife has left him and taken his children and he feels as if he has nothing left to lose? You may be the one he pulls out a gun and shoots. Imagine the headlines in the morning paper.

“Man shoots and kills three, wounds four others because Joe Jones, one of the deceased, wouldn’t stop haggling the man for taking up so much time in the check-out lane.” It is always when we look back that we realize we made too much ado over nothing.

Go ahead and figure that people will tick you off this holiday season. Plan to be the courteous person you are all the rest of the year. You may start a chain of courteous behavior. Wouldn’t it be really nice to have a flash mob of courteous shoppers in the mall? Maybe you could start singing “Oh Holy Night” whenever you see an argument about to break out. Now that would cause people to stop and think about their actions! Especially if I were the one doing the singing. Hey, you never know, they might take up a collection to get me to stop.

It is your world. Don’t allow others to push your buttons or make you dance to their music. Use your gift of salvation to point others in the right direction. Don’t believe in Christ? In that case, do the right thing and put Christians to shame. Sometimes, we should be ashamed of our behavior. Whatever you believe, “A little common courtesy, please.”