Well, Christmas is almost here! I just wanted to take a minute and tell you what Christmas means to me. First and foremost, it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of the world. The name given to Him was Emmanuel, which means "God With Us". How humbling to know that God loved me enough to come to this wretched world in the form of a man, just to suffer and die for my sins. Christmas also means the return of wonderful family memories of Christmas past. This will be the first Christmas in my life without showing up at my mom's at 10:00a.m. sharp for Christmas breakfast, so, I'm making it for my family this year. It also means reading the Christmas story from Luke, Chapter 2, praying and giving thanks to God for the gift of Jesus before ANY gifts are opened. Christmas means spending time with, and being thankful for, my family.
Now, I know there are a lot of folks who will say that Jesus couldn't have been born in December. It was probably more likely He was born in June, because that is usually when the shepherds would be out in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night, and they're probably right. Well, here's what I say....WHO CARES!!! Does it really mattter when we choose to celebrate His birth? Does it really matter that some of our secular Christmas traditions were derived from pagan rituals? I don't think so, and I'll tell you why. Christians chose December 25th to coincide with the Pagan ritual of the Winter Solstice. We decided that maybe we could convert the pagans by celebrating alongside them. I'm not sure, but it probably had some effect, even if just one Pagan out of a million chose Christ. So, now, we have the Christmas Tree. Someone tell me, what is wrong with decorating a pretty tree? Do we bow down and worship the tree? No. What's wrong with giving presents? Nothing is EVER wrong when we give of ourselves freely. What is wrong with Santa? Nothing is wrong with a child believing in Santa, who is after all, modeled after a real saint, St. Nick!
So, all that said, what is wrong with Christmas? Just one thing. Christmas has become a commercial, political mess. Should we say Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza.....AHHHHHH!! Here's my answer, it's pretty simple really. SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT!! IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT, THEY CAN TURN AND WALK AWAY!! Why can't everyone just say it how they want? Just me, but I would walk out of ANY job that told me I couldn't say MERRY CHRISTMAS! "Do you think So and So will like their gifts? Ohhh, I hope so!!" If they don't, they need a lesson on what Christmas is all about, and if you worry yourself silly about getting everyone the perfect gift, so do you! The perfect gift has already been given. THAT'S WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT! GOD'S PERFECT GIFT! THIS is what is wrong with Christmas. Too much focus on not offending, making sure everyone has the perfect gift, and not enough focus on Christ! Remember, Christ said that if the world hates you, we are to remember that it hated Him first. Say Merry Christmas with a smile, and if somebody hates on you, remember they hated Christ first. That's the way I see it!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Living Without Hope
What is hope? Here is the definition according to Merriam-Webster:
Definition of HOPE
intransitive verb
1
: to cherish a desire with anticipation <hopes for a promotion>
2
archaic : trust
transitive verb
1
: to desire with expectation of obtainment
2
: to expect with confidence : trust
Now that we know what hope is, can you imagine living without it? The frightening truth is, so many people do. I'm not talking about hoping for a raise, new car, or a new home...I'm talking about REAL hope. There are so many today who have no hope after this feeble life. They may experience all this life has to offer, be successful in their careers, make more money than they'll ever be able to spend, but what do they hope for when their life on earth is over? In the book of Job, he put it this way:
Job 27:8-9 (King James Version)
8For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
9Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
Wow, pretty powerful words if you ask me. Though a person gain all they can in this world, it means nothing when they are dead, and if they've placed their hope in worldy things like money, fame or power, and not in the Lord, He will not hear their cries when they are in trouble.
John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. (KJV)
The bad thing is, this is also another of many teachings that have gone the way of the Dodo. Many people think that they can lead whatever life they want to lead, no matter how ungodly, and then call on Him when things aren't going their way. People need to understand that the only prayer of a sinner that God hears is a prayer of forgiveness and the acceptance of Salvation.
I lost my mom recently, and there was also a terrible tragedy back home where a young lady was senselessly murdered. Without the hope I know my mom had in the Lord, and the hope I have in Him also, her death would hurt so much more. But, I have faith in the promises of God, that we will be reunited in Heaven when our time here is done. I know the family of the young lady that was murdered are a Christian family with the same hope, and believe they will see her again. Can you even imagine living without that hope? Death of a loved one is hard, so much more when they are taken so young and violently. We may think that we couldn't feel worse, but can you comprehend dealing with a death like this without hope?
Now, let's look at faith and hope. Can you have one without the other? I don't think it's possible. Look again at the transitive verb #2 in the definition above. It says hope is to expect with confidence: trust. Isn't that what faith is? The bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for when the evidence of those things cannot be seen. Well, there you go. Hope is right in he middle of the Bible's definition of faith.
How does one attain this hope? It's pretty simple really. Acknowledge you are a sinner, ask God for forgiveness, REPENT, (turn away from your old lifestyle) and follow Christ. Then, and only then, will you have true hope. I will finish by quoting a song: "My hope is in the Lord, I will trust in Him, and Him alone. Though death knocks at my door, my hope is in the Lord!"
9Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
Wow, pretty powerful words if you ask me. Though a person gain all they can in this world, it means nothing when they are dead, and if they've placed their hope in worldy things like money, fame or power, and not in the Lord, He will not hear their cries when they are in trouble.
John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. (KJV)
The bad thing is, this is also another of many teachings that have gone the way of the Dodo. Many people think that they can lead whatever life they want to lead, no matter how ungodly, and then call on Him when things aren't going their way. People need to understand that the only prayer of a sinner that God hears is a prayer of forgiveness and the acceptance of Salvation.
I lost my mom recently, and there was also a terrible tragedy back home where a young lady was senselessly murdered. Without the hope I know my mom had in the Lord, and the hope I have in Him also, her death would hurt so much more. But, I have faith in the promises of God, that we will be reunited in Heaven when our time here is done. I know the family of the young lady that was murdered are a Christian family with the same hope, and believe they will see her again. Can you even imagine living without that hope? Death of a loved one is hard, so much more when they are taken so young and violently. We may think that we couldn't feel worse, but can you comprehend dealing with a death like this without hope?
Now, let's look at faith and hope. Can you have one without the other? I don't think it's possible. Look again at the transitive verb #2 in the definition above. It says hope is to expect with confidence: trust. Isn't that what faith is? The bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for when the evidence of those things cannot be seen. Well, there you go. Hope is right in he middle of the Bible's definition of faith.
How does one attain this hope? It's pretty simple really. Acknowledge you are a sinner, ask God for forgiveness, REPENT, (turn away from your old lifestyle) and follow Christ. Then, and only then, will you have true hope. I will finish by quoting a song: "My hope is in the Lord, I will trust in Him, and Him alone. Though death knocks at my door, my hope is in the Lord!"
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
"What's wrong? Are you a homophobe or somethin'?"
I have been asked a few times in the past, "Are you a homophobe?" Well, although the thought of homosexuality makes me physically ill and involuntarily puts my face in the squenched nose, curled lip position, like I've just taken a double dose of green NyQuil, I have to say no. What does scare me is the homosexual agenda, and even worse than that, the increasing number of preachers who refuse to preach repentance.
I have come to realize recently, that an astonishing amount of kids (some as young as 12) are "coming out of the closet" earlier now than ever. What really scares me is, because of "political correctness" and the "we were born this way" myth, this disturbing trend is becoming increasingly acceptable. Yes, I am a Christian, and believe that homosexuality is a sin, as are countless other things. But, let's put MY beliefs aside for a moment. Is it only Christians who believe homosexuality is wrong or immoral? I think not. Homosexuality has been a "secret" way of life for thousands of years. Some hid for fear of harm, but most out of shame. If this is not the case, then why was there ever a "closet" to begin with? Because even homosexuals know that the lifestyle they have chosen is not socially acceptable. It is an alternative lifestyle. Alternative to what? The norm. What also scares me is the fact that we have become so "wussified" in this country, we are letting homosexuals push their agenda onto not only the adult population, but on our children. They are doing this by saying, "Hey, you were born this way, you can't help how you feel." WRONG! The American Psychological Association, in March of 2009, had to revise their theory on the "gay gene" to admit that there isn't one. That's right...NO GAY GENE. The Human Genome Project, completed in April of 2003, proved the "gay gene" theory a bust. There are even cases where out of a pair of twins, only one was gay, not both. This was not a suprise to me. I've always believed that homosexual tendencies are driven by parenting, environment, child sexual abuse, or a number of other tangible issues. Sigmund Freud was the first to say that parental relationships with a child ultimately determine a child's sexual orientation.
So, getting back to my Christian beliefs, what is the answer? Should we fight against the homosexual agenda, or turn the other cheek? Are we supposed to love one another as Christ loved us? I believe both answers are correct. For the most part, I think Christians say "live and let live". As long as you keep your activities to yourself, it has no bearing on my life whatsoever. But, when the agenda becomes the systematic brainwashing of our children, that's where I believe Christians have to draw a line in the sand. We can't pray openly in schools, so why should we let homosexuals put books in our children's elementary library called "Heather Has Two Mommy's"? Now, all this is not said in hate. I don't hate homosexuals at all. I just don't agree with the lifestyle they lead, and the brainwashing agenda they are pushing on young children all over the country. God loves them as much as everyone else, but He doesn't love their sinful lifestyle. And, for the record, God doesn't like the lifestyle of an alcoholic, murderer, or an adulterer anymore than a homosexual. So the real problem here is that the increase of "bubble-gum" preaching has fueled the belief that, since God loves us all equally, we automatically fall under His grace. This is not the case. We need to get back to telling people that, indeed, God loves us all, His salvation is free to all, but to receive this gift we must ask forgiveness for our sins and REPENT! To repent means to "turn away" from our old sinful life to walk with Christ. This is the most important part of salvation that is being left out in new churches everywhere! After accepting Christ, everytime we sin (and we will, it's our nature), we crucify Christ all over again. This is where we as Christians are going wrong, and I'm afraid it may be too late to reverse the trend. We need to get back to telling people that repentance is necessary in a walk with Christ, not just belief and forgiveness. Anyway, that's the way I see it.
I have come to realize recently, that an astonishing amount of kids (some as young as 12) are "coming out of the closet" earlier now than ever. What really scares me is, because of "political correctness" and the "we were born this way" myth, this disturbing trend is becoming increasingly acceptable. Yes, I am a Christian, and believe that homosexuality is a sin, as are countless other things. But, let's put MY beliefs aside for a moment. Is it only Christians who believe homosexuality is wrong or immoral? I think not. Homosexuality has been a "secret" way of life for thousands of years. Some hid for fear of harm, but most out of shame. If this is not the case, then why was there ever a "closet" to begin with? Because even homosexuals know that the lifestyle they have chosen is not socially acceptable. It is an alternative lifestyle. Alternative to what? The norm. What also scares me is the fact that we have become so "wussified" in this country, we are letting homosexuals push their agenda onto not only the adult population, but on our children. They are doing this by saying, "Hey, you were born this way, you can't help how you feel." WRONG! The American Psychological Association, in March of 2009, had to revise their theory on the "gay gene" to admit that there isn't one. That's right...NO GAY GENE. The Human Genome Project, completed in April of 2003, proved the "gay gene" theory a bust. There are even cases where out of a pair of twins, only one was gay, not both. This was not a suprise to me. I've always believed that homosexual tendencies are driven by parenting, environment, child sexual abuse, or a number of other tangible issues. Sigmund Freud was the first to say that parental relationships with a child ultimately determine a child's sexual orientation.
So, getting back to my Christian beliefs, what is the answer? Should we fight against the homosexual agenda, or turn the other cheek? Are we supposed to love one another as Christ loved us? I believe both answers are correct. For the most part, I think Christians say "live and let live". As long as you keep your activities to yourself, it has no bearing on my life whatsoever. But, when the agenda becomes the systematic brainwashing of our children, that's where I believe Christians have to draw a line in the sand. We can't pray openly in schools, so why should we let homosexuals put books in our children's elementary library called "Heather Has Two Mommy's"? Now, all this is not said in hate. I don't hate homosexuals at all. I just don't agree with the lifestyle they lead, and the brainwashing agenda they are pushing on young children all over the country. God loves them as much as everyone else, but He doesn't love their sinful lifestyle. And, for the record, God doesn't like the lifestyle of an alcoholic, murderer, or an adulterer anymore than a homosexual. So the real problem here is that the increase of "bubble-gum" preaching has fueled the belief that, since God loves us all equally, we automatically fall under His grace. This is not the case. We need to get back to telling people that, indeed, God loves us all, His salvation is free to all, but to receive this gift we must ask forgiveness for our sins and REPENT! To repent means to "turn away" from our old sinful life to walk with Christ. This is the most important part of salvation that is being left out in new churches everywhere! After accepting Christ, everytime we sin (and we will, it's our nature), we crucify Christ all over again. This is where we as Christians are going wrong, and I'm afraid it may be too late to reverse the trend. We need to get back to telling people that repentance is necessary in a walk with Christ, not just belief and forgiveness. Anyway, that's the way I see it.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Day 1
Well, here we are! Day one! I'm not sure where this blog will go from day to day, but I seem to have so much to say, and needed a place to say it. I know that everyone is not going to agree with what I have to say, and I'm okay with that. I welcome debate. Unlike some, I don't feel there is such a thing as an unhealthy debate. I have been known to change my mind on things from time to time. This blog will probably deal with current events, religion, politics, Christianity, and the everyday life of an average joe like me. I hope I can inspire thoughts and emotions that we all need to express. I look forward to discussing whatever topic inspires me on any given day...and the way I see it.
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