Faith or Fear

Back between 2000 and 2002 my life changed.  I was placed into unforeseen financial limitations where my income was drastically reduced almost over night.  During this period of time I was forced to use up my meager savings to try and survive.  My home went into foreclosure and most of my bills fell behind.  “I” was in financial fear and what was “I” to do?

 

Now, today, in 2009 people all over are faced with the same situation I was faced with back at the turn of the century.  Fear is growing everywhere:  State governments are in financial fear.  County governments are in financial fear.  City and town governments are in financial fear.  School district’s are in financial fear.  Police and fire district’s are in financial fear.  Non-profit organizations are in financial fear.  Churches are in financial fear.  Christians are in financial fear.  What is society to do?

 

The book, Alcoholics Anonymous, written in 1939, on page 53, has a key to the answer to this question.  “When we became alcoholics, (insert financial fear here) crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that God is everything or else He is nothing.  God either is, or He isn’t.  What was our choice to be?”  What will our choice in this financial fear be?

 

The Bible say’s to trust God!

 

Ps 56:4 “In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”

 

2 Cor. 1:9 “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,”

 

1 Tim. 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

 

Back in 2000 to 2002 “I” was trusting in “uncertain riches” and not in God.  Today, in this country most people are trusting in “uncertain riches” and not in God.  In 2002, after talking to a sober friend of mine for a long time, “I” came to the understanding that I needed to put my trust in God and not uncertain riches which were causing financial insecurity within my heart.  “I” went home that night and gave my worries to God and trusted that He would take care of me.  The next day money which was need to cover my past due bills was deposited into my bank account and my home was refinanced by the Veterans Administration:  All because “I” finally trusted God and not uncertain riches.

 

I have learned my lesson and do not fear this so called uncertain time in America. 

 

Is it time for you to learn this lesson?  What will your choice be?

 

Cooties: Get Tested!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6ylxWcwkUM

What Does The Bible Really Say: Tipping

In another discussion I was having with friends of mine; Craig, Lois and Monica, the issue of “causing another to stumble” or turn from Christ came up.  This is a good issue for Christian’s to consider.  The reason I say this it was also brought out in another friend’s (Edwin’s blog) recently that Jesus said one of His Wow’s to the people to whom temptations to do wrong come through.  This brings to mind a pet peeve of mine:  Christian’s Attitude and Tipping at Restaurants!

 

1.                  When a group of Christians go out to eat at a local restaurant the chances are very high that the people working at said restaurant know that they are Christians.

2.                  When a group of Christians go out to eat that the staff at the local restaurant probable know what church their guest attend.

3.                  Chances are good that someone working at a local restaurant is left with an impression of the local “Christian” at said church when the Christians leave following the meal.

4.                  Chances are good that the person who is most likely impressed will be the waitress or waiter of the group of “Christians” from said church when they leave following the meal.

5.                  Chances are that the impression left by the “Christians” who just left the restaurant on the employee or employees of the restaurant will be a positive example of Jesus or a negative example of Jesus.

6.                  When we are cheep they notice that “Christians” are cheep.

7.                  When we complain they notice that “Christians” are rude.

8.                  When we have bad attitudes in public they tell their friends about their experience with us.

 

Jas 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

(NKJV)

 

When a group of Christians attend a restaurant, with a big order, leaves small tips, complains unreasonable, etc… what good is being done?  Waitresses work hard for tips.  They do not get paid big bucks like a normal job.  They work for tips. 

 

We are the messengers of Jesus 24/7 and our actions and examples to others must over shadow all things in the world.  We are the ambassador’s of Christ.  When we treat someone bad it reflects not on us as much as it turns someone away from Christ. 

 

Do you really want that sin on your record come judgment day?

 

What Does The Bible Really Say: Alcohol

Simple Fact’s:

 

1.                  Would Jesus have turned water to wine at Cana if one drink were a sin? No

2.                  Paul would not have told Timothy to drink wine for his health’s sake if one drink were a sin.

3.                  Deacons would not be told to not be taken too much wine if one drink were a sin.

4.                  Is social drinking an area that may cause a weaker Christian to stumble?  Yes.

5.                  Is one drink unwise in today’s society?  Maybe

6.                  Does the Bible call one drink or social drinking a sin?  No

7.                  Can we judge and call social drinking or having one drink a sin?  No

8.                  Can we call being drunk a sin?  Yes

9.                  Does the Bible call being drunk a sin?  Yes

10.              Should we as Christians interpret scripture based on our filter of emotion? No but we do.

11.              Did the Holy Spirit inspire scripture based on filtered emotions? No

12.              Is it a sin to condemn others for something the Bible does not condemn?  Yes

 

 

Question to inspire thought

So what did Thelma Lou really see in Barney?

 

Hello world!

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