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160110 NO Condemnation

Romans 8:1-4 (1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spir...

Friday, January 24, 2014

140124 Is it Fair?

Wage and price controls cause shortages. It is a simple and basic economic principle. High prices deter purchase, and high wages deter jobs. Low prices encourage purchase, and low wages increase jobs. We have been so blinded by politicians, that this has become controversial. Raising prices in a shortage is called 'gouging' and made illegal. Paying for actual value of work done is a union violation, and thus illegal. This parable seems heartlessly contrary to modern thought.


Matthew 20:1-16 

"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
"And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
"And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
"And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
"Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
"And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
"They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
"So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
"And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
"But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
"And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
"Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
"But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
"Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
"Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen"


Where do we get our notion of 'fairness'? Why do things have to be 'fair'? This parable clearly demonstrates an "unfair" situation! This is God's Word! Is God unfair? God's alleged unfairness whips up the atheists. God will not conform to man's will, to human ideas of what is fair and what must be unfair. The fact is that if God were fair, we would not exist. God set down one very simple rule that was broken. Why did He allow Adam and Eve to continue living after they sinned?

God is love, so Adam and Eve were fruitful, and multiplied until their descendents reached a point at which they needed more rules and guidelines. Some of those precepts required death for certain infractions. There were a few of them. Today, Man has decided that a wide variety of those infractions should be called 'lifestyle choices'.

Romans 1:21  "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."

Collectively, humans have decided that God cannot be serious about justice and judgement and what is best for happy, healthy lives. Why did they do this? The book of Job and later, Jesus Christ exposed the one who hides: the devil, the god of this world, the lord of the flies, Satan, and every pagan impersonator who steals from man and God.

2 Corinthians 4:4  
"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

Turn away from the world with its greed and lust for power. God supplies all our need. In the Bible, 'need' is singular, because He handles them one by one. If God sees to our need, does it really matter how much someone else has? We look on the things of others, not because they might have more than we do, but to help them have enough.

Friday, January 10, 2014

140110 Not Writing.

It seems harder to write than it used to. I didn’t write in November. There is too much to do, but I don’t do it, or can’t do it all. I feel like a broken record, sometimes. Everything I say is either political or comes from the Word, or both. I guess I quit writing because of the name-calling. My political stance is based on the Word of God. Bashers like to make personal attacks rather than point by point comparisons. Facts generally initiate either a thoughtful change or an emotional response - normally the latter, because the former is just plain work. Yelling louder seems to mean that one has won the point. Facts lose value. Truth becomes pliable. Only feel-good rhetoric and high-minded lies matter.

Personally, I have made great strides in personal growth in the last five or six years. I gained a little knowledge and a great deal of wisdom, which somehow makes me want to speak and write less. Why throw pearls before swine? (Matthew 7:6). “Stupid is as stupid does,” (1 Corinthians 14:38) and as much as I want the entire world to understand wisdom and discretion, (Proverbs 3:21,22), the entire world has been given over to idolatry, (Romans 1:21-23).

This site was meant to start a business, but instead of selling oils, I seem to be stagnating. “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” I care, but I don’t convey that well. Sometimes, I care too much, so I have to stop caring in order to function. Disentangling is the only part that some people see. I cry that my books and my poetry protect me. I want, however, to see people healed.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

140109 New Year's Survey

My friend stole this, adapted it for 2014, and now I am copying it.

1. Was 2013 a good year for you?
I live, so yeah.
2. What was your favorite moment of the year?
The girls and I took a road trip to see the town where I was born. As we walked along the river, they were excited by the most mundane stories of my childhood. Surprising things have relevance to someone else.
3. What was your least favorite moment of the year?
When my friend died.
4. What was the best book you read?
Ephesians! No one counts that, so Miracles and Massacres by Glenn Beck.
5. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
Improving...
6. Are you thinner or fatter?
About the same.
7. Richer or poorer?
About the same, which is below the poverty level.
8. Did you keep your new years resolution of 2013?
I didn't make any.
9. Do you have a new years resolution for 2013?
I am going to walk daily.
10. Did you make any new friends in 2013?
Yes.
11. What was your favorite month of 2013?
March
12. Did you travel outside of the US abroad in 2013?
Nope.
13. How many different states  countries did you travel to in 2013?
Yes, I went to New Mexico in March.
14. Did you lose anybody close to you in 2013?
Yes...
15. What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2013? Thor 2
16. What was your favorite song from 2013?
I quit listening to the radio, because it is always the same 100 songs. I did by an album called "Let Your Light Shine". Some of the songs were new.

17. How much money did you spend in 2013?
More than I should have.
18. What was your proudest moment of 2013?
Lots of little stuff involving signs of maturity in my children.

19. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2013 and change something, what would it be?
I would have exercised more.
20. What are your plans for 2014?
To exercise, lose weight, and generate income.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

131219 What Does Prosperity Have to do with Politics?

On Facebook, I post a verse a day, but today's verse inspired a long message.

2 Corinthians 8:14
  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

I have heard people argue that this proves that God is for communism. Saying so demonstrates that they know neither the heart nor the scope of what God has written. There are differences between sharing,  coercion, and actively stealing. Communism steals. There is nothing voluntary about it.

The previous two verses clarify:

2 Corinthians 8:12-14
  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

An unwilling mind may be undesirable, but it is a choice that God allows. Also, we must choose not to give until it hurts! Communism and socialism give only superficial equality, and they hurt. They hurt individuals who are different from the established norms, they hurt creativity, they hurt innovation, and they hurt the collective hearts of the people. The theory may look good on paper, but it ignores reality and practice. The omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God and Father of our lord Jesus Christ understands practical reality.
God wants us to give out of our abundance, which includes the abundance of the heart. Give to whom? Not the government. The government is not God. Give to God. If God is Spirit, how do we give to Him? Seek those who have dedicated their lives to speaking, teaching, and living God's Word. For most of us, this means finding an organization that puts God first.

Use a concordance and check out how many times the words 'give', and 'heart' lead to 'abundance' and 'prosperity' in the Bible. Even to simply list the verses takes more room than I have here!

3 John 2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Luke_6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.


God's Word is truth. There is a reason that the wisdom of the ages got to be so old. It works. Don't press it into a false mold by trying to make it fit a modern philosophy. Stick with the original. Use what works. Believe God.