Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
The Epistle of James: A Blogged Bible Study
July 3 James 4:11 – 5:6 Lose Selfish Desires
So, after an exhortation to check the sources for our desires, James gives some examples of selfish desires; desires that arise when our 'self' or the world system is the source of our desires.
I) Desire to be Morally/Intellectually Superior to Others (4:11 – 12)
Brothers, do not slander one another (v. 11, NIV)
'Slander' - the utterance of a defamatory statement injurious to the reputation or well-being of a person (New American Heritage)
This is non-constructive criticism; using words as weapons against another person with intent to do them harm in some fashion, thus winning a sort of battle and being shown to be superior to the opponent. It's putting others down in an attempt to make oneself seem better.
Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it– The Greek word used is krino, which means judging, divide, separate, made a distinction, come to a decision, to adjudge to punishment, condemn
Now, a word about judgment. Judgment is not something that determines the rightness or wrongness of someone's actions. That's what laws do. If the law says the speed limit is 45 miles per hour, and I drive 60, I have broken the law. That's not a judgment, that's a fact. Now, I may have been driving faster than the speed limit because I had a bleeding child in the back seat and I was trying to get to the ER as quickly as possible. 'You exceeded the speed limit' is a fact. 'You are a selfish impatient person and a bad driver to boot' is a judgment.
Judgment is what happens when we make a determination about the content of someone's heart or their worth to God based on what we can observe about them. This is why we are so strictly instructed not to judge; what is observable is not the whole story. Only God knows true motives; only God can judge rightly.
There may be times when individuals require discipline from those in authority in the local body. Even then, such discipline should be issued in love and without judgment. That's tough and painful for all involved, but in God's grace it is possible.
II) Desire to be Fully in Control of One’s Own Destiny (4:13-17)
Bragging and/or boasting about one's future, one's plans and the expected outcome shows a lack of submissionto God’s leadership. The truth is, none of us know what will happen tomorrow.
We must recognize the Lord’s hand in all things – that His hand IS in all things. Anything else is pride. Specifically, if we know to do something good (like submit every day to God’s leadership) and we don’t do it, it is sin (Origin of the concept of 'sins of omission')
The plain truth is that we do not have final authority over our own lives, and trying to be our own ultimate authority leads only to trouble.
III) Desire to Hoard Wealth and Live in Pleasure (5:1-6)
Treasures rotted; clothes moth-eaten; money rusted – all that happens to goods that are stored, tucked away, unused...hoarded. Things that not only do no good for needy folk, but even do no good for those that posess them.
Two witnesses are recorded against folks who hoard – the wages that had not been paid to their workers, and the workers themselves. This desire for comfort, pleasure and personal wealth keeps folks oblivious to God's ultimate authority, condemning innocent people as unworthy of the 'lifestyle of the rich and famous'...passing judgment.
Wealth is given to us to use for God, not to stow away for our own comfort or pleasure...and should never be obtained at the personal cost of others.
Things to think about:Who have I slandered – to others, to God, or to myself? How have I usurped God’s authority to judge? What plans am I making right now that do not take into account God’s will for my life? What resources has God given to me to use in the kingdom? How am I using them? What am I keeping back for myself?
The study to date:
May 1: Study intro
May 8: James 1:1 Intro to the Epistle of James
May 15: James 1:2 – 18 Make Quality Decisions
May 22: James 1:19-27 Make Real Changes
May 29: James 2:1-13 Live the Law of Freedom
June 5: James 2:14 – 26 Demonstrate Real Faith
June 12: James 3: 1 - 12 Discipline the Tongue
June 26: James 3:13 - 18 Recognize True Wisdom
June 29 James 4:1 – 10 Check Your Sources
Friday, July 3, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Softening the Callouses
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi.
We subscribe to a 'message of the month' from one of the ministries that we support. One of the frequent speakers on these CD's is Steve Thompson, who teaches with a prophetic edge. His messages usually show something from a viewpoint that I hadn't considered before, and consequently I go back and listen to them several times over to get the concepts.
We have a couple of messages on which he has taught on a 'calloused heart.' The application of a calloused, or hardened, heart has mostly been that of a heart hardened by sin and disobedience.
And that does, indeed, cause a hardened heart.
However, Steve's messages have been about a *different* cause for a hardened heart, and it has been pretty apparent to me that I've got to really be on guard against this one.
See, he first uses the example that one gets callouses on one's hands by using those hands to do hard work.
The heart can get calloused in the same way. Not through sin, but by reason of use. Ministry, he points out, is done through the heart...and can therefore cause callouses to form on it, which results in a hardened heart.
The solution to a hardened heart is rest; spending time apart with God; listening to Him speak and allowing Him to renew the heart.
Trouble is, that's easier said than done. And I can recognize in myself the symptoms of a calloused heart.
But I haven't been able to get away and let God soften my heart with Himself. Or maybe I haven't *made* myself get away to let God soften my heart. Because, you know, callouses are kind of protective...numbing...and I'm not sure that I don't find that, um, comfortable.
Just bein' honest. It's easier to be busy and calloused than it is to be tender and responsive.
Y'know, though, if I pay attention I realize I really don't like the way my heart feels when it's calloused. And I've been asking God to soften those callouses.
Wednesdays are Staff Prayer days at church; one of the perks of being on church staff, although these prayer meetings are open for anyone to come. I missed last week's prayer time...just worked straight through it, even though I intended to go. I was caught up in what I was doing and I wasn't watching the time. Y'know, it felt way too normal to skip prayer. Scary.
So this week I made sure I went. And this week, our pastor sat at the keyboard in the sanctuary and sang worship over us as we prayed. I saw him at the keyboard as I was walking down the hall and I suddenly had tears in my eyes -- before I even got into the sanctuary. I didn't realize how long the dry spell had been. I found a spot off by myself and just basically opened my heart to God.
And He was there to hold it and heal it and soften the callouses. How could I ever have thought that lack of communication was 'comfortable'?
Callouses are for hands and feet. Not hearts.
We subscribe to a 'message of the month' from one of the ministries that we support. One of the frequent speakers on these CD's is Steve Thompson, who teaches with a prophetic edge. His messages usually show something from a viewpoint that I hadn't considered before, and consequently I go back and listen to them several times over to get the concepts.
We have a couple of messages on which he has taught on a 'calloused heart.' The application of a calloused, or hardened, heart has mostly been that of a heart hardened by sin and disobedience.
And that does, indeed, cause a hardened heart.
However, Steve's messages have been about a *different* cause for a hardened heart, and it has been pretty apparent to me that I've got to really be on guard against this one.
See, he first uses the example that one gets callouses on one's hands by using those hands to do hard work.
The heart can get calloused in the same way. Not through sin, but by reason of use. Ministry, he points out, is done through the heart...and can therefore cause callouses to form on it, which results in a hardened heart.
The solution to a hardened heart is rest; spending time apart with God; listening to Him speak and allowing Him to renew the heart.
Trouble is, that's easier said than done. And I can recognize in myself the symptoms of a calloused heart.
But I haven't been able to get away and let God soften my heart with Himself. Or maybe I haven't *made* myself get away to let God soften my heart. Because, you know, callouses are kind of protective...numbing...and I'm not sure that I don't find that, um, comfortable.
Just bein' honest. It's easier to be busy and calloused than it is to be tender and responsive.
Y'know, though, if I pay attention I realize I really don't like the way my heart feels when it's calloused. And I've been asking God to soften those callouses.
Wednesdays are Staff Prayer days at church; one of the perks of being on church staff, although these prayer meetings are open for anyone to come. I missed last week's prayer time...just worked straight through it, even though I intended to go. I was caught up in what I was doing and I wasn't watching the time. Y'know, it felt way too normal to skip prayer. Scary.
So this week I made sure I went. And this week, our pastor sat at the keyboard in the sanctuary and sang worship over us as we prayed. I saw him at the keyboard as I was walking down the hall and I suddenly had tears in my eyes -- before I even got into the sanctuary. I didn't realize how long the dry spell had been. I found a spot off by myself and just basically opened my heart to God.
And He was there to hold it and heal it and soften the callouses. How could I ever have thought that lack of communication was 'comfortable'?
Callouses are for hands and feet. Not hearts.
Monday, June 29, 2009
James Lesson 8: Check Your Source (Jubilee Monday # 43)
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Ok, I know this isn't Friday. But, since I skipped a day on the Retreat/Lock-in Weekend, I need to squeeze in an extra post to finish the study before my Regularly Scheduled Blogging Break on the third week of July. And, since tying up loose ends is sort of a Jubilee thing, I decided to make it my Jubilee post for this week, too. ;)
The Epistle of James: A Blogged Bible Study
The study to date:
May 1: Study intro
May 8: James 1:1 Intro to the Epistle of James
May 15: James 1:2 – 18 Make Quality Decisions
May 22: James 1:19-27 Make Real Changes
May 29: James 2:1-13 Live the Law of Freedom
June 5: James 2:14 – 26 Demonstrate Real Faith
June 12: James 3: 1 - 12 Discipline the Tongue
June 26: James 3:13 - 18 Recognize True Wisdom
June 29 James 4:1 – 10 Check Your Sources
I. Desires can come from the wrong source (4:1 – 3)
James segues from his discussion of true wisdom into some very practical teaching about relating to one another. It's interesting that he follows his statement that peacemakers harvest righteousness by observing that there are fights and arguments between the believers. This, he points out, is due to selfish desires that fight to control the body. This can be a double reference...not only do individuals struggle with selfish desires, but when an individual gives into those personal selfish desires, the corporate body suffers as an individual or group of individuals attempts to control the assembly.
Desires that fight within individuals are those desires which are mutually exclusive... trying to please God while satisfying one's selfish agenda... and are symptomatic of double-mindedness (see 1:7-8). Desires of the natural man are those that the individual will do anything to satisfy, considering that the end justifies the means. Someone who is maneuvering and manipulating to satisfy personal agendas does not acknowledge God as the Source; there is no humbling oneself to admit the inability to truly satisfy oneself and asking God to fulfill the desire (by the way, such a reluctance to ask God for something usually indicates that we know deep down that what we desire is not God’s will for us). Or, an individual does acknowledge God, but what is desired is not for God’s service, but for his/her own pleasure or to satisfy personal ambition, still not recognizing God's plan and authority.
II. Satisfaction will never come from the wrong source (4:4 – 6)
James identifies such folks as people who are unfaithful to God (lit. ‘adulterous’, as in a woman who cheats on her husband) by seeking a relationship with ‘The World.’
Here's a definition of 'The World': The system that places value on human achievement, favor, power, and wealth while devaluing godly principles and priorities. Spiritual things are valued only as a means to personal power.
Compare. Ex. 20:5 You shall not bow down to [idols]or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.... with James 4:5 , which literally says that ‘to envy yearns the spirit which dwelt in you.’ It's an awkwardly worded passage, yes, but not a difficult concept. God will not – can not – bless anyone who tries to earn esteem from the system that is opposed to Him. One who is seeking anything from the world has his back turned to God. Yet God longs to bless us. So, if we refuse to humble ourselves, God, in His grace, will humiliate us in order to put us in the place of humility where we are blessable.
III. Blessing comes from looking only to God as Source (4:7 – 10)
As a solution to the 'desires that war within us', James gives us seven practical instructions in order to become the kind of people that God can bless and use:
1) Submit to God - recognize His authority and quit pursuing a personal agenda
2) Resist the Devil -his plan is to prevent you from submitting to God; we must actively work against allowing the enemy's influence in our lives.
3)Come near to God - just as we actively work against listening to the enemy, we need to actively pursue a relationship with God..because the very pursuit of God draws Him to us.
4) Wash your hands: Clean up your lives and get rid of ungodly activities
5) Purify your hearts: eliminate self-centered motives.
6) Grieve (be sad, be sorry, weep, stop laughing, be gloomy) for your sin; don't fool yourself into thinking it's not a big deal. Sin is either forgiven through repentance and faith, or it brings about death. 'Excused' is not an option.
7)Be humble before God. Recognize what He does in and for us and always remember that It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves (Ps. 100:3)
And then - notice the last half of verse 10: He will lift you up. He will see to it that we each walk in our destiny and calling; it is not something for us to manipulate. If we do those seven things, we will be aligned and positioned in heart and life to do what God has called each of us to do.
Things to think about 'bow down' means 'submit to' ; 'worship' means to esteem, honor, serve.
What is in my life, other than God, that I submit myself to, or that I give esteem, honor and service, that I see as a source for meeting my needs? What do I need to do to turn towards God and away from that source?
Ok, I know this isn't Friday. But, since I skipped a day on the Retreat/Lock-in Weekend, I need to squeeze in an extra post to finish the study before my Regularly Scheduled Blogging Break on the third week of July. And, since tying up loose ends is sort of a Jubilee thing, I decided to make it my Jubilee post for this week, too. ;)
The Epistle of James: A Blogged Bible Study
The study to date:
May 1: Study intro
May 8: James 1:1 Intro to the Epistle of James
May 15: James 1:2 – 18 Make Quality Decisions
May 22: James 1:19-27 Make Real Changes
May 29: James 2:1-13 Live the Law of Freedom
June 5: James 2:14 – 26 Demonstrate Real Faith
June 12: James 3: 1 - 12 Discipline the Tongue
June 26: James 3:13 - 18 Recognize True Wisdom
June 29 James 4:1 – 10 Check Your Sources
I. Desires can come from the wrong source (4:1 – 3)
James segues from his discussion of true wisdom into some very practical teaching about relating to one another. It's interesting that he follows his statement that peacemakers harvest righteousness by observing that there are fights and arguments between the believers. This, he points out, is due to selfish desires that fight to control the body. This can be a double reference...not only do individuals struggle with selfish desires, but when an individual gives into those personal selfish desires, the corporate body suffers as an individual or group of individuals attempts to control the assembly.
Desires that fight within individuals are those desires which are mutually exclusive... trying to please God while satisfying one's selfish agenda... and are symptomatic of double-mindedness (see 1:7-8). Desires of the natural man are those that the individual will do anything to satisfy, considering that the end justifies the means. Someone who is maneuvering and manipulating to satisfy personal agendas does not acknowledge God as the Source; there is no humbling oneself to admit the inability to truly satisfy oneself and asking God to fulfill the desire (by the way, such a reluctance to ask God for something usually indicates that we know deep down that what we desire is not God’s will for us). Or, an individual does acknowledge God, but what is desired is not for God’s service, but for his/her own pleasure or to satisfy personal ambition, still not recognizing God's plan and authority.
II. Satisfaction will never come from the wrong source (4:4 – 6)
James identifies such folks as people who are unfaithful to God (lit. ‘adulterous’, as in a woman who cheats on her husband) by seeking a relationship with ‘The World.’
Here's a definition of 'The World': The system that places value on human achievement, favor, power, and wealth while devaluing godly principles and priorities. Spiritual things are valued only as a means to personal power.
Compare. Ex. 20:5 You shall not bow down to [idols]or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.... with James 4:5 , which literally says that ‘to envy yearns the spirit which dwelt in you.’ It's an awkwardly worded passage, yes, but not a difficult concept. God will not – can not – bless anyone who tries to earn esteem from the system that is opposed to Him. One who is seeking anything from the world has his back turned to God. Yet God longs to bless us. So, if we refuse to humble ourselves, God, in His grace, will humiliate us in order to put us in the place of humility where we are blessable.
III. Blessing comes from looking only to God as Source (4:7 – 10)
As a solution to the 'desires that war within us', James gives us seven practical instructions in order to become the kind of people that God can bless and use:
1) Submit to God - recognize His authority and quit pursuing a personal agenda
2) Resist the Devil -his plan is to prevent you from submitting to God; we must actively work against allowing the enemy's influence in our lives.
3)Come near to God - just as we actively work against listening to the enemy, we need to actively pursue a relationship with God..because the very pursuit of God draws Him to us.
4) Wash your hands: Clean up your lives and get rid of ungodly activities
5) Purify your hearts: eliminate self-centered motives.
6) Grieve (be sad, be sorry, weep, stop laughing, be gloomy) for your sin; don't fool yourself into thinking it's not a big deal. Sin is either forgiven through repentance and faith, or it brings about death. 'Excused' is not an option.
7)Be humble before God. Recognize what He does in and for us and always remember that It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves (Ps. 100:3)
And then - notice the last half of verse 10: He will lift you up. He will see to it that we each walk in our destiny and calling; it is not something for us to manipulate. If we do those seven things, we will be aligned and positioned in heart and life to do what God has called each of us to do.
Things to think about 'bow down' means 'submit to' ; 'worship' means to esteem, honor, serve.
What is in my life, other than God, that I submit myself to, or that I give esteem, honor and service, that I see as a source for meeting my needs? What do I need to do to turn towards God and away from that source?
Friday, June 26, 2009
James Lesson 7: Recognize True Wisdom
Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
The Epistle of James: A Blogged Bible Study
The study to date:
May 1: Study intro
May 8: James 1:1 Intro to the Epistle of James
May 15: James 1:2 – 18 Make Quality Decisions
May 22: James 1:19-27 Make Real Changes
May 29: James 2:1-13 Live the Law of Freedom
June 5: James 2:14 – 26 Demonstrate Real Faith
June 12: James 3: 1 - 12 Discipline the Tongue
June 26: James 3:13 - 18 Recognize True Wisdom
I've got to do a bit of a disclaimer for this particular lesson; it's a compare/contrast deal and I always taught it by making two columns on a dry erase board and talking my way through the comparisons. The notes in my file are simply the two columns of contrasted points. So, um, this lesson is going to be different than the way I taught it in the past. But, hey, I could use a good look at what constitutes real wisdom anyway....
I. Call for Wisdom - 3:13
After his discussion of words and the use of them, James issues a challenge for those who are 'wise and understanding': to show that wisdom by conducting themselves rightly, doing all things from the humility that proceeds from true wisdom.
II. Beware Earthly Wisdom - 3:14- 16
The next word is 'But'...so you know there's a contrast coming, a warning to be heeded. Contrasted with the challenge to the wise is a description of what is not a basis for wise action: bitter envy and selfish ambition harbored in the heart.
James actually is instructing folks to check the basis for action, and if they find that there is envy and selfishness at the core of their being, he issues a stern warning: Don't boast about it or deny the truth. Now, there are two ways we can consider that warning:
- don't be proud of your selfish motives. "Looking out for Number One!" implies that God is not trustworthy. Making decisions based on personal happiness without regard to personal responsibility destroys relationships and does not reflect the way God has dealt with His people; it misrepresents the One that gave us the example of how to live.
- don't deny the heart content, covering up the true motives and refusing to deal with the issues. Don't be a manipulator
That self-focus, James says, is the foundation for earthly, natural wisdom. But he doesn't stop there; he actually says the devil himself is the source of such 'wisdom'. Think for a minute about the Garden of Eden and the lies the serpent told Eve. He managed to get her to question that God had her best interests in His heart, which lead her to desire something for herself outside of God's intentions for her, and to act on that desire. That has been the lie of the world ever since: put yourself first. James lays social disorder and evil deeds right at that root cause: envy and selfish ambition.
III. Cultivate Heavenly Wisdom.
Once again the word 'But' introduces the contrast. Now, though, the earthly wisdom that is the cause of strife and evil practices is contrasted with the wisdom that comes from heaven, which is, first of all, pure in the motive for all actions. No taint of selfishness or jealousy in any of its actions. Next, the wisdom from God is peace-loving. Not 'peace at any price' loving, but one that loves the peace of God that passes all understanding and seeks to spread that peace. Heavenly wisdom is considerate, which means it causes folks to think of the needs of others. It is submissive, recognizing and respecting true authority. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It is impartial, not showing favoritism to any one above another. Finally, it is sincere, since it flows from a heart that has been cleansed of selfish motives.
And, just as the false wisdom has the result of disorder and evil, heavenly wisdom is a peacemaking practice, which results in righteousness.
Things to think about: Think about the last time a decision was made to spend a chunk of money, the last time a decision was made to spend uncommitted time, and the last time a relationship issue was dealt with. What was revealed about heart motives in each of those decisions? How did - or didn't - the input you had in those decisions reveal a heart attitude of trust in God and the application of heavenly wisdom?
STUDY NOTE: Since I was pretty much out of pocket last Friday and missed posting, I'm going to post the next study on Monday as part of my 'Jubilee' posts...since part of Jubilee is fulfilling obligations, it sort of works! I want to finish the study before the next Regularly Scheduled Blogging Break, so I'll have to do an extra sometime anyway. Thought I'd pass along a heads up as to when it will be.
The Epistle of James: A Blogged Bible Study
The study to date:
May 1: Study intro
May 8: James 1:1 Intro to the Epistle of James
May 15: James 1:2 – 18 Make Quality Decisions
May 22: James 1:19-27 Make Real Changes
May 29: James 2:1-13 Live the Law of Freedom
June 5: James 2:14 – 26 Demonstrate Real Faith
June 12: James 3: 1 - 12 Discipline the Tongue
June 26: James 3:13 - 18 Recognize True Wisdom
I've got to do a bit of a disclaimer for this particular lesson; it's a compare/contrast deal and I always taught it by making two columns on a dry erase board and talking my way through the comparisons. The notes in my file are simply the two columns of contrasted points. So, um, this lesson is going to be different than the way I taught it in the past. But, hey, I could use a good look at what constitutes real wisdom anyway....
I. Call for Wisdom - 3:13
After his discussion of words and the use of them, James issues a challenge for those who are 'wise and understanding': to show that wisdom by conducting themselves rightly, doing all things from the humility that proceeds from true wisdom.
II. Beware Earthly Wisdom - 3:14- 16
The next word is 'But'...so you know there's a contrast coming, a warning to be heeded. Contrasted with the challenge to the wise is a description of what is not a basis for wise action: bitter envy and selfish ambition harbored in the heart.
James actually is instructing folks to check the basis for action, and if they find that there is envy and selfishness at the core of their being, he issues a stern warning: Don't boast about it or deny the truth. Now, there are two ways we can consider that warning:
- don't be proud of your selfish motives. "Looking out for Number One!" implies that God is not trustworthy. Making decisions based on personal happiness without regard to personal responsibility destroys relationships and does not reflect the way God has dealt with His people; it misrepresents the One that gave us the example of how to live.
- don't deny the heart content, covering up the true motives and refusing to deal with the issues. Don't be a manipulator
That self-focus, James says, is the foundation for earthly, natural wisdom. But he doesn't stop there; he actually says the devil himself is the source of such 'wisdom'. Think for a minute about the Garden of Eden and the lies the serpent told Eve. He managed to get her to question that God had her best interests in His heart, which lead her to desire something for herself outside of God's intentions for her, and to act on that desire. That has been the lie of the world ever since: put yourself first. James lays social disorder and evil deeds right at that root cause: envy and selfish ambition.
III. Cultivate Heavenly Wisdom.
Once again the word 'But' introduces the contrast. Now, though, the earthly wisdom that is the cause of strife and evil practices is contrasted with the wisdom that comes from heaven, which is, first of all, pure in the motive for all actions. No taint of selfishness or jealousy in any of its actions. Next, the wisdom from God is peace-loving. Not 'peace at any price' loving, but one that loves the peace of God that passes all understanding and seeks to spread that peace. Heavenly wisdom is considerate, which means it causes folks to think of the needs of others. It is submissive, recognizing and respecting true authority. It is full of mercy and good fruit. It is impartial, not showing favoritism to any one above another. Finally, it is sincere, since it flows from a heart that has been cleansed of selfish motives.
And, just as the false wisdom has the result of disorder and evil, heavenly wisdom is a peacemaking practice, which results in righteousness.
Things to think about: Think about the last time a decision was made to spend a chunk of money, the last time a decision was made to spend uncommitted time, and the last time a relationship issue was dealt with. What was revealed about heart motives in each of those decisions? How did - or didn't - the input you had in those decisions reveal a heart attitude of trust in God and the application of heavenly wisdom?
STUDY NOTE: Since I was pretty much out of pocket last Friday and missed posting, I'm going to post the next study on Monday as part of my 'Jubilee' posts...since part of Jubilee is fulfilling obligations, it sort of works! I want to finish the study before the next Regularly Scheduled Blogging Break, so I'll have to do an extra sometime anyway. Thought I'd pass along a heads up as to when it will be.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Certainties of Life
(posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi)
...y'know...taxes and...death.
By and large, I don't comment on public figures in the news. I figure there are so many bloggers out there talking about this stuff that there's not really much point in me offering my two cents worth; someone else very likely has already said it better.
And that's an arena in which I really don't care to compete.
But. Y'all. These were icons from my coming of age years. In just a precious few weeks, I'll hit the big 5-0 myself.
Suddenly a whole generation is dealing with its mortality.
What are we who believe going to tell them? More to the point, what are our daily lives telling them about our hope and our assurance?
Cause, you know, they're going to be asking...whether they use words or not.
...y'know...taxes and...death.
By and large, I don't comment on public figures in the news. I figure there are so many bloggers out there talking about this stuff that there's not really much point in me offering my two cents worth; someone else very likely has already said it better.
And that's an arena in which I really don't care to compete.
But. Y'all. These were icons from my coming of age years. In just a precious few weeks, I'll hit the big 5-0 myself.
Suddenly a whole generation is dealing with its mortality.
What are we who believe going to tell them? More to the point, what are our daily lives telling them about our hope and our assurance?
Cause, you know, they're going to be asking...whether they use words or not.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Jubilee Monday #42 :Oh, I'm Thankful!
Because The Princess told me that if I posted this photo on Facebook she would immediately unfriend me, I decided to post it here.
Because, y'know, I'm grateful for such fabulous people sharing my life. God is very good.
Father's Day 2009 - The Princess, The Artist, The Actor, The Flute Player and My Sweet Baboo.
Because, y'know, I'm grateful for such fabulous people sharing my life. God is very good.
Father's Day 2009 - The Princess, The Artist, The Actor, The Flute Player and My Sweet Baboo.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Oops
I just realized I missed the scheduled post for the James Bible study on Friday...
I was at state retreat with my Friends club girls Thursday - Friday, and we had a three hour turn around before going to church for the junior high ministry's girls' lock-in.
So I was home on Friday long enough to take a shower, repack things for the lock in and fix supper. Then I stayed up all night Friday night, came home about 9:45 on Saturday morning and pretty much went straight to bed for the rest of the day.
So...I didn't get the next lesson posted! I'm feeling rather sheepish about that.
Mayhap I will post two lessons this week....
I was at state retreat with my Friends club girls Thursday - Friday, and we had a three hour turn around before going to church for the junior high ministry's girls' lock-in.
So I was home on Friday long enough to take a shower, repack things for the lock in and fix supper. Then I stayed up all night Friday night, came home about 9:45 on Saturday morning and pretty much went straight to bed for the rest of the day.
So...I didn't get the next lesson posted! I'm feeling rather sheepish about that.
Mayhap I will post two lessons this week....
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