A Short Blog...

Just a short blog today...

Tomorrow is my 26th birthday. I haven't really told anyone other than the people that already know. I bought myself a piece of birthday cake so that Jonathan and I can share it and make it seem like it is my birthday. We will celebrate it when we go down to Calgary.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone, if I don't blog tomorrow. I don't know how much we will blog when in Calgary since Jonathan will be glued to his new game....Anyway, have a great Christmas and God bless.

Love,
Manders

Thank Goodness for Cow and an Unfailing God!

Well, Aidan is now sleeping with his stuffed cow (thanks, Granny and Grandpa & Auntie Jen!), which seemed to work. I figured that he might have been suffering from separation anxiety because he only cried when I or Jonathan left. So, our baby bible ("What to Expect the First Year") said to use an animal or special blanket to help him at night. He woke up once at 12:30 and started crying. He couldn't breathe (reaction to the flu shot - he has a bit of a cold) so I gave him a little medicine and cow. I am sure the medicine helped at the beginning, but I haven't so much as heard a peep out of him all night since then. Will keep you updated on the sleeping situation. Hopefully this solves the problem. (This whole situation brings me to conclude that parenting is a lot of detective work. Perhaps I should have gone to school for that instead of teaching....)

Through all of this, God has really been trying to teach me to lean on Him more. There is nothing more difficult than remembering to do this when it is 3am in the morning. Of course this is the most important time for leaning/trusting. I hope and pray that I will get better at doing this. I must have had some progress because instead of becoming increasingly angry and frustrated 2 nights ago, I just went downstairs and prayed. Prayer always helps. Last night during my devotions, God reminded me how important it is to trust Him when things are going rough. He will never fail me. I hope that you all remember that this weekend, especially as we continue to speed head-long into Christmas. God keeps His promises. He never fails. Thank goodness for that, especially when so many people fail us and disappoint us!

May you all have a wonderful weekend. May God pour out His love into your lives and show you how much He cares about you.

Love,
Manders

So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.

(1 Peter 4:19)

Eyes Wide Open - But It's Only 3am!

Okay...imagine it is 3:15am and you are awakened by a crying baby. You are used to this, so you walk down the hall, give him his soother, and walk back to bed. Usually this stops him from crying. Not this time. He continues to cry for 15 minutes. He finally stops, and you think 'he must have fallen back to sleep.' 15 minutes later he begins crying again. He continues to cry until 4:15 at which point you decide to go and rock him again...Because no one is sleeping. You rock him, he begins snoring, so you lie him down in his crib. Finally, you think, I can get some sleep. You make it all the way back to your room, crawl into bed, and suddenly you hear crying again. You know it is not you. You listen to it for a bit, then decide to try and give him back his soother to see if this will help. You stand by his crib so he can see you. Eventually he stops lifting his head up to see if you are still there and you think, 'perhaps he is going to sleep'. Then 5 mins. later he starts crying again. You have lost all your patience. You decide to let him cry it out. You grab your pillow and head for the basement. You sit on a broken chair amidst boxes and furniture, trying to at least rest your eyes and not listen to your son. An hour passes. At last you think that he might be asleep, since you haven't heard him cry in a long time. You quietly walk upstairs and ask your husband, who has closed the door to our bedroom, if he has heard your son in a while. He says no. You wait for a few minutes. Nothing. You turn on the monitor and listen. Nothing. Finally you admit to yourself that he is asleep. You hear him snoring. You fall back into a deep sleep. It is now 5:45am....

Yes. Tired is an understatement. Parenting is hard. ('Leaning on the everlasting arms') Time for my son to have a nap and me to join him. Have a great Thursday everyone. Pray for Aidan to sleep well tonight because I really need to sleep well.

Love,
Manders

J's 30th B: Short not sweet

Ok, gotta run - co-worker has doctors appointment, three applicants coming in for interviews, lotta work has to get done. Worship band practice tonight, early bus ride tomorrow, two containers of fans coming from China along with two other misc shipments tomorrow. Type faster! Can't wait for week off! Gamecube here I come...

JG

Blessings from the Voice of Truth

Sometimes it hits me that Aidan is growing up. It happened again this weekend. He started to stay awake during his last bottle, which means that we just need to let him cry it out. Eventually he stops and goes to sleep. (It is so traumatizing for me!) Anyway, I just realized that he doesn't want us to rock him to sleep. He wants to be independent and grown up. (There may be other reasons, too!) It was a startling revelation. I told Jonathan and he sighed and said just wait till he starts school. I know he's right, but I can't help lamenting the fact that my baby is turning into a toddler, with every passing day...

This weekend they had a Christmas play, called 'A Christmas Tale'. It was pretty good. At the end, Pastor Bob told everyone to turn to the person next to them and tell them how happy you are to be spending Christmas together. Jonathan was out of the sanctuary at the time because Aidan was totally done with the whole 'quiet in church' thing. Needless to say, I felt pretty stupid just standing there while everyone was expressing their feelings to other people...Anyway, Jonathan, I am very happy and blessed to be spending Christmas with you and Aidan. There is no one else I would rather share this season with. (Or this life!) I love you.

What else?...Oh yeah. I never did blog about that blessing that Jonathan and I received through his work. Martech (Jonathan's company) usually doesn't do a Christmas thing before Christmas. Usually it happens afterwards. We've gone to dinner at Fort Edmonton, to the gun range/mini golf at WEM (guess which one I did? When I was pregnant!) and then out for supper, Marv took us to Banff a couple of years ago and we stayed in the Banff Springs Hotel. It is always a nice surprise when we find out what we are doing. This year it really is a blessing to us. Jonathan called me from work and said, 'I have some good news and I have some bad news'. Of course I wanted the good news first, but Jonathan told me the bad news...'We can't go away for a weekend in January.' To which I wanted to know why. 'We are going to Lake Louise instead!' Marv is treating everyone to a weekend at Lake Louise in January. I mean Jonathan has to meet on Saturday morning for a meeting, but that's it. Everything is paid for. We get to go out for a nice dinner on Saturday night. There is skiing, a spa, etc. Or there is time just to be husband and wife, alone, together. I can't wait. And Jonathan and I are still going to go away in February or March! God is good to His children.

Our church is doing a live simulcast with David Nasser and Casting Crowns on Jan. 1. It should be really good. If you have not heard of either of them, you should definetly check them out. David Nasser did a Breakforth conference here which I went to and was totally challenged. We do a song by Casting Crowns at church, which I have shared with you before. I would like to share another one with you.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. May God show you how much He loves you and wants to be with you.

Love,
Manders

Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

Oh what I would do to have

The kind of faith it takes

To climb out of this boat I'm in

Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone

Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is

And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name

And they laugh at me

Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed

The waves they keep on telling me

Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"

"You'll never win!"

Chorus: But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story

The Voice of Truth says, "Do not be afraid!"

And the Voice of Truth says, "This is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me

I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

Oh what I would do to have

The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant

With just a sling and a stone

Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors

Shaking in their armor

Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name

And he laughs at me

Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed

The giant keeps on telling me

Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"

"You'll never win!"

Chorus

But the stone was just the right size

To put the giant on the ground

And the waves they don't seem so high

From on top of them lookin' down

I will soar with the wings of eagles

When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus

Singing over me

Chorus

Prayer for the World

It is almost my birthday...in 11 days. (Dec. 21st) I will be...26. Sometimes I forget and then I have to ask Jonathan how old I am. Who doesn't remember how old they are? It seems like after I got married, everything turned into a blur. Like, how old was I when we got married? Oh yeah. I was 20, wasn't I? See now I am even second guessing myself.

Anyway, I bring all of this up because Jonathan is going to buy my birthday present tomorrow, if he can afford it. So, it might be expensive, and he is going to Walmart to get it....That's all I know. I cannot fathom what it might be. I know I will like it, but I still don't have any idea what it is. I have racked my brain trying to go through every department in Walmart to see if there is anything there I want...I come up with nothing. Yet, there must be something....I love surprises, so not knowing is good. (Even though when I was a kid, my sister and I used to go through my mom's closet to find out what we were getting for Christmas. My mom always hides the presents there! I think this is a win-lose thing to do. You find out, but you can't have it till Christmas...)

I have been listening to the radio stations that play Christmas music all day long. I love Christmas music and I like the variety that you get from listening to the radio. Unfortunately I have been really disappointed this year. Yesterday I heard a song talking about what Christmas means. It mentioned gifts, family, friends, lights, peace...but nothing about Jesus. ( was listening to the non-Christian station.) I felt so empty. Christmas without celebrating the birth of Jesus is just empty, meaningless...at least to me. I switched it over to the Christian station and was bombarded with another person singing, "Mary did you know?" which goes on to ask really stupid things: 'Mary did you know that you baby boy was the creator of the world?'; 'Mary did you know that you baby boy was God here on earth?'; etc. I am annoyed with this song because even though Mary may not have known the specifics, she knew that it was God's son. (Kalan Porter and Clay Aiken have both done versions on Christmas CDs..)

Then I heard a song about wanting people to know Jesus this Christmas. Sigh. Finally a song I can use as a prayer for the world. That is my prayer this Christmas, that perhaps people who don't know Christ would suddenly find themselves faced with the Son of God and the Truth of this season. That their hearts would suddenly understand their need for God. That they would turn from sin and ask Jesus into their heart. That's my prayer. That's all I want for Christmas.

Have a great weekend.

Love,
Manders

9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world.
10But although the world was made through him, the world didn't recognize him when he came. 11Even in his own land and among his own people, he was not accepted. 12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan--this rebirth comes from God.
14So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.
15John pointed him out to the people. He shouted to the crowds, "This is the one I was talking about when I said, `Someone is coming who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before I did.' "
16We have all benefited from the rich blessings he brought to us--one gracious blessing after another. 17For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him.

(Jn. 1:9-18)

J's 29th B: Oly, Oly, Oxen Free

Come out come out wherever you are. I hope that my dabbling into defending the Word of God has not scared everyone off forever. God is doing some amazing things in my life right now and through His word and the testimony and prayer of other Christians. God has wired me up in a unique way, I hope to bring honour and glory to His name in all that He brings me to do. There is a fire in my heart and I hope that God continues to let it burn brightly to refine me and make me more like Jesus.

As for the guestbook excitement, if you have a word from the Lord or something exciting that God is doing in your life please share it. Just put your name on it, or else we will delete it. Paul always signed his letters in the epistles, he knew God was speaking through him and was not fearful of what men would think of him.

Presently I’m on a break. I feel like the rookie quarterback who gets put into the game and tries his best but then the coach pulls him cause he keeps getting sacked. I feel like the Coach is telling we to hit the weight room and bulk up a bit. God’s plans for me will most likely require an excellent knowledge of His word. Jesus warns that in the end times many false teachers and false teachings will spring up in His church. I want to make sure that I’m in line with Scripture, so that when I do take a stand, I’m relying on only the bible and the Holy Spirit bearing witness to my spirit. Even if that means everyone hates me and says bad things about me.

My prayer is that you would pray for me, that God would reveal His plan and that I would have the discipline and perseverance to see it through.

JG

Pictures of Aidan

Check out these great pictures of Aidan.

http://community.webshots.com/album/131580093JSoaLu

Love,
Manders

For My Love

For you, my love.

Love Profound - by Susan Ashton

Our love knows no limits
And our love knows no bounds
Hear it ring through the hills and canyons
Isn't love profound

It shows us the life that we know we can live
It teaches us how to forget and forgive
It gives us the harvest from sweet mercy fields
It rescues, it nurtures, it calms and it heals

'Cause our love knows no limits
And our love knows no bounds
Hear it ring through the hills and canyons
Isn't love profound

Oh, it sings when we're weary from so many tears
And rocking us gently it cradles our fears
In those times when we feel like we've come to our end
It gives us the strength to start over again

'Cause our love knows no limits
And our love knows no bounds
Hear it ring through the hills and canyons
Isn't love profound
(repeat)


I Will Follow - Susan Ashton

I'd cross the plains to California
Be back in Boston by the break of day
Do anything to show I care for you
Do anything for a love so true
And if your heart was under lock and key
I'd scale the castle walls to set it free
If you were born in another age
I'd turn the hands of time, I'd find a way

Heaven knows I will go, I will follow (repeat)

And if fate had carved a canyon wide
And you were caught on the other side
I'd cry some tears deep as the ocean blue
And swim the great divide to get to you

What is logic compared to love
From the depths of the sea to the stars above
I will follow


I love you, always and forever, no matter what.

Love,
Amanda
xxxoooxxxooo

J's 27th B - The Calm After the Storm

So, you might ask, how does it feel to be the most disliked person in blog-ville? It’s alright. Our blog has been demoted to ‘least favourite blog’ status. Mel has omitted us from her links and deleted all discussions from the guestbook. Ah, nothing like a white elephant in the room to not talk about. Everyone should surround themselves with people who only say nice thing and refuse to point out sin because, well, the bible says not to judge, lest ye be judged. Wake up people! Anyone who thinks that if we just think good thoughts enough and pray for peace lots, then eventually God will stop all the wars on earth and everyone will get along is delusional and not reading the bible. The only peace that God guarantees is either the peace that the Holy Spirit puts in our hearts when we accept Jesus, or the peace that will happen in heaven.
I hope that in my life, I have surrounded myself with people and friends that will call a spade a spade and if there’s something in my life that isn’t right, they would suck it up and rebuke me, even risking our friendship to spur me on to living a godly life. Those are real friends, not the ones that sweep stuff under the carpet and tell me that well, I tried hard and God will see past my sin because He loves me and that’s all that matters. There is so much more to the Christian life than ‘God loves me and I love God’.
God has been leading me to the book of Jeremiah lately, to read about the ‘weeping prophet’. Where as other prophets of the Old Testament spoke the words of God and people repented, Jeremiah has the unenviable task of telling the people of God that God was going to destroy everything that He had promised to them when they came out of Egypt. How’s that for a kick to the nuts? Disobedience led to their destruction. And the people didn’t exactly fall on their knees and repent either. I’m only a couple of chapters into the largest book in the bible, but some of the language God uses to describe Judah’s sin and disobedience is quite strong. “19 Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. He then compares them to a prostitute, which is interesting to me cause the church is supposed to be the bride of Christ, but our backsliding and wickedness could lead to disgrace.

Out of time, I’ll get Amanda to tell you about the Martech Christmas party and what a blessing that’s going to be.

JG

My son...The Son???

Thank goodness the weekend is over so I can rest!

Late Friday afternoon we got a call from the church about letting Aidan play baby Jesus for the live nativity on Saturday night. We said, "Sure!" because what parent wouldn't want that memory for their child and scrapbook. So, I missed Saturday service and stayed with Aidan at the manger. They actually bring in live animals - a cow, chickens, a donkey, some sheep, a lama. Aidan loved all the animals until one of the chikens flew right by his head. Then the lama (aka Freddy) came up really close to Aidan and almost hit him in the head. From that point on Aidan was a little bit leary of the animals. (Was Jesus leary of the animals, too?) The cow kept scratching himself on the actual wooden manger, so Joseph (aka Dennis) kept having to hold down the manger. Then poor Freddy (the lama) was being beaten up by the donkey. It was the first time he had been away from his mother, so the other animals thought they could pick on him...Poor Freddy - being bullied by animals smaller than him! The children were allowed to go in and pet the animals. All they really wanted to do was pick up the shavings from the ground and pile them onto the hay bale. (shavings - read litter for the animals!) Aidan did really good until about 8:15pm. Then he started to get grumpy and tired. I don't blame him. I was exhausted. (Yes, I took about 10 pictures, Grandparents and aunts!)

Anyway, this whole thing made me think again about what it was really like in the stable long ago. We set up these nativity scenes in our houses, churches, etc. and they all look so perfect. Nothing is out of place. Each person is in the right spot. No animal is out of place. It doesn't stink. The baby is sleeping and not crying. Mary and Joseph look like they have gotten lots of sleep. Not realistic at all.

I guess I was just hit with the idea that it was not perfect 2000+ years ago. I hope to keep this in mind as the Christmas season continues. Jesus wrapped in swadling clothes and lying in a manger - cold, dark, smelly, noisy....Not perfect. Welcome to our world.

Love,
Manders

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.

Luke 2:6-7 (NLT)

Perhaps he'll crawl afterall!

Okay. Time for something else...

Aidan is trying to learn how to crawl! Since last weekend (when I moved the blankets off the floor), he has been trying to go from a sitting position to a crawling position, which is the hard way. It is easier to go from crawling to sitting. But, Aidan likes to do things the hard way. (i.e. rolling from back to front first.) He goes into a crawling position and just rocks back and forth. (Pre-crawling movement) I think we shall see some crawling soon. He has also started to pull and push himself around on the ground using a combo of arms and legs. Needless to say, he is getting into everything, which sucks! Our house is not baby proof.....Better work on that!

I have been stuck in the house for three days now. I am going a little stir crazy. Today I am really tired because I didn't sleep well (Jonathan getting up for a snack at 12:30...Jonathan getting up early to go to work...Aidan waking up...) and I am tired of Aidan. I love my son, but I really need a break. Not even a break from him, but a break from being cooped up in this house alone with him. I am so tired and worn out and there is no rest in sight. Jonathan plays drums tomorrow night and Sunday morning. Then it is back to work! And it is supposed to get really cold here this weekend and be cold until Tuesday/Wednesday....*sigh*(Okay, enough pity party!)

I will say this about all this debating: I have been praying for Jonathan to go deeper with God and get into the word. It seems that this whole debate has really answered my prayers. I must admit that I sometimes think that God doesn't really answer my prayers - doesn't hear them....Then this happens and He goes and proves me wrong. I suppose I should never really doubt that my prayers are not powerful.

Anyway, I hope that you all have a great weekend. God loves you all so very much. You are His precious child. He would do anything for you.

Love,
Manders

Submission to Authority, Persecution, Slaves

I hope you will see this as another example of how much God loves you and how He wants to continue molding and making you into His image. He loves you so much!

Romans 13

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Titus 3
1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

1 Peter 2
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

The bible is talking about non-religious civil rulers, not the Pharisees or leaders in the church. At the time of writing, the evil, pagan, Christian-persecuting emperor Nero was in power. But he was appointed by God.
The bible is also specific about when to disobey the civil authorities:

Acts 4
18 Then they [the rulers, elders and teachers of the law] called [Peter and John] in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

Acts 5
27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

Unless George Bush, Paul Martin or Tony Blair tells you to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, you are to obey and submit to them because they are God's appointed agent.

Isaiah 5
8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD . 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God is in control. Even when our humanness prevents us from seeing God's full plan, He has provided not only the bible, which is God's Word, but also the Holy Spirit, who is a Counselor.
Pray that God will help you understand these things. Ask, seek, knock. God is not afraid of your questions.

Persecution is the will of God. Paul tells us that, "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2Tim3:12) Even Jesus predicted that it would happen. "All men will hate you because of Me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Mt10:22) "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." (Jn15:18,20)

There are dozens of passages that talk about suffering and persevering in positive terms.

George Bush is a professing Christian. James 4 has this to say on how we should treat him: "11 Do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?"

As for slavery, 1 Peter 2 says: "18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps."
Also in the book of Philemon, Paul instructs a slave who escaped from his master and then became a Christian to return to that master, even though it might result in the slave's death.

It's so important that we rely on the Word of God and not our own opinions. God doesn't want us stumbling around in the darkness thinking we can never know the way to live a godly life. He's given us the answers in the bible and the council of the Holy Spirit.

JG

Jonathan's TwentySeventh Blog: Firestorm

So many things going through my head. If you haven’t visited the “BeautifulStone” blog in a while, you can get there by the link to the right. Rather than waste Karen’s guestbook space, I thought I’d add my two pence on my own blog. I’ll try to keep from ranting, though I’m just as imperfect as everyone else, so extra grace may be required.

First of all, she mentions Mgabe in Zimbabwe, Saddam Hussein and the leaders of South Africa during the Apartheid. Are they God’s servants? Well yes and no. Of course they don’t have God’s heart for people, but God still uses them to further His plans. The Bible has many references to God using evil people for His purposes. Whether to punish, or to gather His people closer to Him. Persecution is NOT a bad thing. Look at the early church; if there hadn’t been persecution of the first disciples, the Gospel wouldn’t have reached the ‘ends of the earth’.

Next, how submitting to authorities would mean we would still have apartheid, we would still not have the vote for women, there would still be segregation in America, the issue of dropping Third world debt would not have occurred. I think we need to look ‘big picture’ here. When the Israelites were in captivity in Eygpt, I’m sure a bunch of them were thinking: ‘Hey, we should rebel and kick some Eygptian butt.” But that wasn’t God’s plan. God didn’t raise up a army of big strong men, He told a guy with a speech impediment to simply tell Pharoh: “Let God’s people go!”. Which I’m sure was met with hearty laughter. Then, as we all know, God showed his power and might and the Israelites were released without any of them ever raising a sword, or picketing around the paramids. What I’m saying is this, submitting to authorities has nothing to do with condoning evil behaviour. Prayer does more than protesting EVER will.

(side note: This is just my opinion, no biblical backing AT ALL – women getting the vote turned into equality for women taken to the extreme by feminists who then protested to make abortion on demand (the right to choose) legal. The slaughter of millions of unborn children could be seen as a result of something so “good” as allowing women to vote. I’m just trying to point out that what the world sees as ‘just and good’ usually ends up being something that spits in the face of God. (gay marriage and rights anyone?))

Moving on...

Are we saying that apartheid was God instituted? Maybe. Are we saying that the decision to make praying in American schools illegal is God's plan? Sure. If something costs you nothing, the value you place on it is sometimes nothing. But when you have to fight and struggle to follow God’s word and do His work, then the reward is great. If praying in school gets you thrown in jail, then you are blessed. If you lose your job because you refuse to remove the ten commandments from your place of employment, then you win. It’s only because of the darkness that the light can shine brightly. Leaving your lights on during a sunny day does nothing. But when the night comes and the darkness surrounds that’s when the light is most noticible, and can keep many from stumbling.

A couple of other notes. People who we feed, clothe, forgive their debt, and bring to a ‘better place’ are still going to hell. The point is not to make their life here on earth better, the point is to make their life after they leave this earth better. I’m not saying that social programs are bad, but social programs that leave out the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ are just fattening the calves for slaughter.

I thought it was interesting hearing about the day of prayer for the persecuted church. (as if one day of prayer was enough) Don’t feel sorry for them, great is their reward in heaven – where it actually matters! I wonder if those people have a day where they pray for the ‘Bloated, commercialized, rich, happy-go-lucky, peace at all costs’ church. Us with our million dollar facilities and good looking pastors wives. They probably feel sorry for us, with our earthly riches and lack of spiritual riches.
Ok, so it did turn into a rant….

Please don’t think that I think I’m better than anyone else. I still want my GameCube for Christmas and I will not be sharing the Gospel with homeless people on my days off. God’s working on me and my selfishness and my ‘don’t care about anyone else but me’ outlook on life.

Turn your eyes apon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

JG

Jonathan's TwentySixth Blog: Christian Bush Bashing

I figured that everyone else was talking about the Bush visit to Canada and giving their opinions on the subject, I might as well throw some fuel on the fire. (pun unintended) Here’s God’s answer to the “what to do with Bush” question. (Romans 13)

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.

I think it's interesting the end of that talking about respect and honour. God isn't looking for us to pay taxes and lipservice to the government, its more than that. I love the parts of the Bible that are hard to swallow. The stories that you never heard in Sunday School. The possibility that Jeffrey Dahmer might actually go to heaven. Predestination versus free will. The fact that every time I think I've put God in a box and labelled it correctly, He blows my mind with something else that I thought I knew, but didn't.

Enjoy,

JG