I think my greatest fear is accidentally pushing someone away from Christianity. Our actions are seen and felt by others, and sometimes we inadvertently make other people feel unloved or ashamed or any number of things we didn't intend. These words and/or actions have a profound effect on those around us and especially on those closest to us.
Lately, I have heard of and witnessed Christians losing their faith. It is the one thing I can not allow. When I talk to them about it, they don't really understand what happened, but they do feel unloved or outcast by the Christians that were suppose to help them and care for them.
It is difficult to know what you are doing wrong when you aren't intending to do harm to anyone. I don't think we are bad Christians for accidentally hurting someone, but we do need to be better Christians by loving others every chance we get. Fighting to KEEP someone close to God is just as important as fighting to BRING someone close to God.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
When We Suffer
Here are six questions to ask ourselves when we suffer, and what to do if the answer is yes.
Q. Am I being punished by God for sin?
A. Confess known sin.
Q. Is Satan attacking me as I try to survive as a Christian?
A. Call on God for strength.
Q. Am I being prepared for a special service, learning to be compassionate to those who suffer?
A. Resist self-pity. Ask God to open up doors of opportunity and help you discover other who suffer as you do.
Q. Am I selected for testing, like Job?
A. Accept help from the body of believers. Trust God to work his purpose through you.
Q. Is my suffering a result of natural consequences for which I am not directly responsible?
A. Recognize that in a sinful world, both good and evil people will suffer. But the good person has a promise from God that his or her suffering will one day come to an end.
Q. Is my suffering due to some unkown reason?
A. Don't draw inward from the pain. Proclaim your faith in God, know that he cares, and wait patiently for his aid.
* Information quoted from the Life Application Study Bible, New International Version.
Q. Am I being punished by God for sin?
A. Confess known sin.
Q. Is Satan attacking me as I try to survive as a Christian?
A. Call on God for strength.
Q. Am I being prepared for a special service, learning to be compassionate to those who suffer?
A. Resist self-pity. Ask God to open up doors of opportunity and help you discover other who suffer as you do.
Q. Am I selected for testing, like Job?
A. Accept help from the body of believers. Trust God to work his purpose through you.
Q. Is my suffering a result of natural consequences for which I am not directly responsible?
A. Recognize that in a sinful world, both good and evil people will suffer. But the good person has a promise from God that his or her suffering will one day come to an end.
Q. Is my suffering due to some unkown reason?
A. Don't draw inward from the pain. Proclaim your faith in God, know that he cares, and wait patiently for his aid.
* Information quoted from the Life Application Study Bible, New International Version.
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Helping Hand
You can help stop Perkiomen Township supervisors from unethically taking away alderly residents property!
Perkiomen Township supervisors are bringing to a vote whether or not they will force two of our beloved neighbors to sell their homes against their will under “eminent domain.”
Lifelong Perkiomen residents Jim and Sue Umstead (14 Wartman, Collegeville) are being forced to sell their family’s farmhouse on 9.8 acres. Another 1.1 acre property near it sold for $130,000! Conservative estimates place their home and property value over $700,000! They are being unethically FORCED to accept a tiny fraction of that! Residents are up in arms and trying to call the community to action.
To make matters worse in this David vs. Goliath story, Mr. Umstead is fighting brain cancer. After the last township meeting he was so distraught he had a seizure and had to postpone his chemo treatment the following day.
When asked what they want to see happen in this situation, Mr. Umstead replied, “The Township has been badgering us for years to sell this property, and now it looks like they finally found their loophole. All I want to do is keep this property natural open space for my children and grandchildren to enjoy, along with our horses. I just wish there was some way this could all go away.”
Read More
Word of the Day
edification (ed·i·fi·ca·tion): The act of edifying, or the state of being edified; a building up, especially in a moral or spiritual sense; moral, intellectual, or spiritual improvement; instruction. The assured edification of his church.
Perkiomen Township supervisors are bringing to a vote whether or not they will force two of our beloved neighbors to sell their homes against their will under “eminent domain.”
Lifelong Perkiomen residents Jim and Sue Umstead (14 Wartman, Collegeville) are being forced to sell their family’s farmhouse on 9.8 acres. Another 1.1 acre property near it sold for $130,000! Conservative estimates place their home and property value over $700,000! They are being unethically FORCED to accept a tiny fraction of that! Residents are up in arms and trying to call the community to action.
To make matters worse in this David vs. Goliath story, Mr. Umstead is fighting brain cancer. After the last township meeting he was so distraught he had a seizure and had to postpone his chemo treatment the following day.
When asked what they want to see happen in this situation, Mr. Umstead replied, “The Township has been badgering us for years to sell this property, and now it looks like they finally found their loophole. All I want to do is keep this property natural open space for my children and grandchildren to enjoy, along with our horses. I just wish there was some way this could all go away.”
Read More
Word of the Day
edification (ed·i·fi·ca·tion): The act of edifying, or the state of being edified; a building up, especially in a moral or spiritual sense; moral, intellectual, or spiritual improvement; instruction. The assured edification of his church.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Do You Smile?
Smiling seems like such a simple thing, but we don't smile at everyone we see. Why not? If someone smiles at me, it makes me feel better and I smile back without thinking about it. Smiling is contagious. When you see someone you care about, you almost always smile at them. That is because smiling is an outward projection of how we feel about that person.
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
If we truely love our neighbor, shouldn't we smile at them? :-)
Word of the Day
loquacious (lo·qua·cious): talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest.
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
- Matthew 22:37-40
If we truely love our neighbor, shouldn't we smile at them? :-)
Word of the Day
loquacious (lo·qua·cious): talking or tending to talk much or freely; talkative; chattering; babbling; garrulous: a loquacious dinner guest.
Monday, July 21, 2008
What Would Jesus Say To J.K. Rowling?
As most of you know, J.K. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter series. Some Christians are very against the whole idea of magic, witchcraft, and therefore, are very against Harry Potter. I have a different view. In fact, the Harry Potter books are my favorite books, and I have read them many times.
Like most fictional stories, I doubt that the author intended for anyone to take these books seriously or be influenced to study witchcraft. These stories are meant to entertain us and they do that very well.
What would Jesus say to J.K. Rowling?
I am guessing, since Jesus and I haven't had tea in several months, but I think Jesus would start by saying, "Thank you for using the gifts I gave you." God has given all of us talents and J.K. Rowling has certainly used her talents to bring joy and happiness to others.
Second, I think Jesus would appreciate the way J.K. has used her talents to spread the message of love throughout the world. Anyone who has read through the Harry Potter series can tell you that love is the main theme of the entire series. Love is more powerful and will overcome anything else.
My guess is that most of the people judging the Harry Potter books as 'evil' have not really read them. Also, we aren't really following Jesus's teachings if we judge others and throw stones at them.
Like most fictional stories, I doubt that the author intended for anyone to take these books seriously or be influenced to study witchcraft. These stories are meant to entertain us and they do that very well.
What would Jesus say to J.K. Rowling?
I am guessing, since Jesus and I haven't had tea in several months, but I think Jesus would start by saying, "Thank you for using the gifts I gave you." God has given all of us talents and J.K. Rowling has certainly used her talents to bring joy and happiness to others.
Second, I think Jesus would appreciate the way J.K. has used her talents to spread the message of love throughout the world. Anyone who has read through the Harry Potter series can tell you that love is the main theme of the entire series. Love is more powerful and will overcome anything else.
My guess is that most of the people judging the Harry Potter books as 'evil' have not really read them. Also, we aren't really following Jesus's teachings if we judge others and throw stones at them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)