SelahV Today by hariette petersen

PREACHERS Ought To Preach This:
"we have been lulled to sleep by the slow monotonous drone of our culture enchanting us with its haunting call to conformity. We have traded the life of separation and distinction that should mark us as Christ-followers and have embraced the materialistic mantra and self-centered pursuits of our contemporaries." Jim Duggan (see Jim's Gems)

ARROGANCE Is A Two-way Street

Recently I read an ironic argument between several bloggers on arrogance. Accusations of arrogance abounded on every side of the issue. Each had his or her own opinion of what defined arrogance and what did not--who was arrogant and who wasn't. Each opined their opinion as more relevant and entitled to the correct understanding of arrogance than the other. The more I read, the greater offense was taken by various individuals in the conversation. It seemed silly.  I saw no humility. I was tempted to join the conversation and say so. Thankfully, the LORD checked my spirit.

Folks are offended when they perceive they have been wronged--incorrectly described or caricatured. That offense finds its seed in pride. We become so sensitive about what others say that we cannot reason beyond how it affects us personally. Surely we all are tempted to think our thoughts closer to the truth than another at times. That may appear arrogant on our part to others. However, arrogance comes when we challenge anothers opinion as lesser than our own, their worth lesser than our own, their understanding lesser than our own, their knowledge lesser than our own--indeed, their "arrogance" more than our own. In other words, we claim a hold on a truth superior to another.

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12

"They are not wise."

God gives us life, breath, spirit, body, mind, and soul. Our thoughts are not His thoughts. Our thoughts are mere garble compared to His. Sometimes we get ourselves in the way of sharing Christ. We can be so certain of our own understanding, our own enlightenment, our own beliefs, that we press those views upon others without giving the Holy Spirit an inch of space to interpret His Word for anothers heart in His way, in His time. We can, at times, be so passionate to present a message that it becomes ours rather than God's. People can see this, and feel this. We "know" and they don't. We "have" and they don't. No wonder they reject our attempts at sharing Jesus.

Where is the fruit of the Spirit--the love, the humility, the peace, the gentleness, the kindness, the self-control in our expediency to share the gospel? Is our faith in God or ourselves? Is not Jesus more powerful than our words? our doctrine? our clarity?

He is the Vine rooted in the Father. Any fruit that comes from our branches are His and His alone. We get no credit until we meet the LORD in glory. Then all glory is His--not ours to claim. In the final analysis of life...it's not up to us to be correct, to be validated or affirmed by man. It's not up to us to point out to others how right we are.

Humility leaves room for revelation; it bows its head more than it lifts its chin.

"For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." 2 Corinthians 10:18

Wednesday CONTENTIONS

Contention is a work of the flesh. It is bred from a superior mindset. I-know-better-than-they-do. So isn't it something we should avoid at all costs? (Galatians 5:19-21)

How do we do that when there are so many different viewpoints? personalities? emotions? mindsets?

I've always had an aversion to contention and conflict. It stems from all the conflict I witnessed while growing up. I often find myself swallowing my words and praying away my thoughts...sometimes not nearly as quickly as I would like to avoid an argument.

Lately, I have less and less desire to read posts or news reports filled with contention. You see, I think contention breeds contention, begets contention. In time, contention flows into a cesspool of stagnation. The pool fills with anger, bitterness, animosity, division, strife, and pride.

It's becoming a deep conviction for me that as long as there is contention in my heart or mind, then it will travel out my fingertips and onto the monitor of potentially millions of people. I don't want that. I don't believe God wants that.

It seems that all contentious elements about a particular topic need to be addressed with the utmost care and concern for those who observe us--for those who read us. I do not want to add to another's ire with ire of my own. Do you?

I have less and less desire to write about things I disagree with. Brothers and sisters in Christ must tread far more carefully than the world when discussing differences. Since 2006 when I first began blogging, I have seen more contention between Christians than I did in my entire 23 years in ministry. It seems that the internet has provided a venue for venting that exploded into a venue for polarizing brothers and sisters.

Does this bother you?

This is cannot be the fruit of the Spirit. We can rationalize it four-thousand ways to Sunday, but in the final analysis, contention is contention. It is fingerpointing from any direction the hand is extended.

Is it quarrelsome when one knows in his/her heart that they do not "like" another individual they intentionally engage on a subject? Is it quarrelsome if a person thinks for one second that their comment one-ups another in a discussion. Competition in the mind of man on wholesome, spiritual and biblical topics is just as vulnerable to the expression and birth of jealousy, envy and pride as arguing over who is the worst sinner at the altar of God. Do we even recognize our desire to contend is perilous in the family of God? To our own growth as a Christian?

I wonder if the race for more page views, greater readership, or more commenters illustrates a seed of idolotry growing in one's heart. Do those thoughts breed the germ of lust--lust for recognition--the approval of man, the validation from man?

No matter how we wrap it up in ribbons, contention is sin. It's a sin born in pride. It is ego on steroids, running a race to the next "Amen" and "hoo wah". The fist-bumps, the chest-thumps, the thumbs-up can be all the reward we need in life--and all the reward we receive in eternity. It's up to us. For me? Well...

"It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife." Proverbs 21:9

So I think I'm going to crawl into the corner of my housetop and pray a bit more about the direction of my reading habits and writing. Meanwhile, let me recommend a few excellent articles:

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, (part 1) Counterfeits

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, (part 2) Love

Monday Contention

For what will we contend this week?

There's always something.  A sun never rises but what we struggle against something to gain advantage, reveal some truth, battle an adversary.

In Oklahoma, we contend with exceptional drought and three-digit temperatures that have broken records for the longest running heat above 100 in decades upon decades.  Odd that to contend with heat, we seek those things which cool us down.  Air-conditioned buildings, and transportation.  I saw on the news this weekend, how some folks had to travel in a hot bus without air for several hours and it caused all kinds of heat exhaustion.

CONTEND: 1. To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle: armies contending for control of strategic territory; had to contend with long lines at the airport. 2. To compete, as in a race; vie. 3. To strive in controversy or debate; dispute.

It's one thing to contend for a worthy goal, and quite another to contend for contention's sake.

Christians contend every day.  Our adversary is the flesh.  Our adversary is Satan.  Our adversary is lies.  We contend for truth.  Sadly, at times, Christians contend against one another.  We compete for louder microphones, higher pedestals, wider platforms to debate.  These debates and controversy quickly and smoothly turn to contentions...a contentious spirit...an argumentative attitude.

Contentions are works of the flesh, born of pride, nurtured in ego, carried in self-satisfaction and self-aggrandizing...and giving birth to full-fledge sin.

May we seek to remember the warnings of God's Word this week.  Practice love.  Be filled with the Spirit.  Let our light shine.  Be the salt of the earth.  Be vigilant.  Put on the whole armor of God.  Pray unceasingly.  Be quick to hear--really hear--a brother or sister, be slow to anger--and when angry--sin not.  Examine me, Oh Lord, see if there be any wicked way in me--an unholy thought, a snipey attitude, a sarcastic phrase, an egocentric motive.  Fill me with wisdom, discernment, kindness and love.  Let me be bold to contend for that which You have led me to contend.

Let me be as wise as Oklahomans this week and seek to "cool off" as I contend in heated environments.  Let me find ways to extinguish the flames of discontent.  To quench the fiery arrows of evil.  May I rest in Thee.  Let me drink of Your Spirit and the refreshing Living Water of Christ.  And let my words be ones that bring glory to your name.  Let my thoughts be those born of the Spirit and not of the flesh.  Let my words be a balm of healing, encouragement and understanding.  selahV for Today by hariette petersen

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel." Philippians 1:27

 

 

It Occurred To Me That Bloggers

do a lot of writing.

We do a lot of critiques, reviews, and analyzations.  We apologize, debate, posit, bloviate, challenge, argue and opine.  Others complain, condemn and whine.

A few folks confess, bear their burdens, and share the ways God is working in their lives as they struggle with daily circumstances.  Some are devotional writers who seek to bring encouragement to others, to offer words of comfort.

Others nit-pick and incite. They stir the pot, sharpen iron, challenge and oppose.

In the peculiar world of faith, of Christianity, we often fail one another greatly.  It occurred to me that we bloggers would do a great deal more in the kingdom of God if we spent at least half the time we do writing, reading and commenting on blogs, for reading our Bibles, and praying for one another.

So, just so you know.  I was reading in Ephesians tonite and I came across this prayer that Paul offered those he was writing to at the church in Ephesus.  I decided to pray this prayer for you...whoever is reading this today.  Please know it does not matter to me what you think of me as a writer or a Christian, or a person.  I just want to pray this for you and pray God uses it to work miracles in your life:

  "¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19

I know that some of you who read me are going through some very very difficult circumstances right now.  Some of you have loved ones who are under tremendous stress.  Others have health issues that are beyond fixing with modern medicine.  I wish I could do more than pray.  But I have to believe that the Lord is working out His perfect will in your life in ways I cannot fathom.  I sincerely pray you have a peace that passes all understanding flood your heart, soul, mind, and spirit this very moment.

I know some of you will stumble upon this post long after it is written (it happens in the world of internet googling and cached archives).  You may wonder if it was written just for you.  I do believe God uses things long after we write them to touch another's life in a way only He can provide.  But let me encourage you to read the Psalms.  God has such wonderful blessings for you in them.

For whatever reason you were drawn here today--the title of my post, the fact that you saw my name in a list, on Twitter, or Facebook or some aggregator--I do pray you re-read the prayer of Paul's very very carefully.  May God grant these things for you in your life.  selahV for Today

Life is a Bubble

Life is a bubble in time.

Its first breath draws in the air created by God.

It forms a sphere of beauty which reflects all the world around it.

A rainbow of color, an orb of grey.

So fragile is this bubble.

Swiftly it moves upon the slightest breeze.

All too quickly it meets its destination and explodes...

expelling its final breath,

then bursts forth into another dimension, leaving behind this world,

and all who loved its presence.

Life is a bubble...enjoy it while it lingers.  Treat it tenderly, kindly, generously...

with love.

Cherish the brilliance, the joy; ignore the collection of dust it gathers in its trek.

All too soon it comes to an end;

then we wonder why it could not stay forever in our midst.

"You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah" Psalm 39:5 

Another's Loss

My husband's sister lost her husband today.  He died this morning after a long battle with cancer which eventually went to his brain.  I covet your prayers for Valerie and her family.  Thanks.  selahV for Today

Still Not Myself

It's been over 7 months since a car barrelled through a stop sign and slammed into my Chevy Malibu and caused my air bag to deploy and smack me in the neck and shoulder.  I wish I could say I am topnotch and all better.  I really do.  But I can't.

It is an aggravating thing to look back on the little things I took for granted, crafting and puzzles with my grandchildren...painting lessons...and normal everyday activities--and know I must be very careful and measure every movement or end up in excruciating pain again.  Really aggravating.

I had the Allstate folks contact me last week to settle the accident.  They offered me a settlement which barely covers the bills, gas, and interest for the money I laid out to pay the hospital bills and have not been reimbursed yet.  It's funny.  They tell me that my time, my health, my well-being, my pain is not worth anymore than they are offering.  "Offering".  That's a silly word.  They offer, I reject or accept.  But the offer is theirs alone.  It is based on other folks in my area with a similar injury, etc.  Stats. I wonder how many other people did what I did, and feel like I do since their accident.  I wonder how many people are going along in life, doing some ministry they feel will bring joy to another and have their life change in a nano-second at a stop-sign.  I noticed just this week that whenever I look up at the megatrons in worship that I get headaches.  A simple thing.  But, to me, an important thing.

Perhaps not to others. I just know what I could do, what I can't and don't do today because of how I feel.  I sometimes wonder if I ever will be again. But that probably isn't covered in the insurance world's list of compensations, is it?

I'm grateful I don't work outside the home.  I am grateful I am not like others who must do the things I no longer do.  I suppose that should be enough, huh?  Especially in light of a dear husband who takes up the slack for my uselessness because I am still not myself.  It's annoying though.  It really is.  I just hold onto "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me." selahV for Today 

We Have It All

Is it not enough?  It belongs to each of us who know the Lord Jesus.  Why, with all we are given, do we whine and cry out for more, for better?  Ungrateful. Dissatisfied.

We have it all. 

"³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸ that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹ he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

¹¹ In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, ¹² in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." Ephesians 1:3-14

We have it all in Christ.  Every spiritual blessing. Grace. Holiness. Hope. Forgiveness.  Salvation. Redemption. Adoption. Righteousness. Holiness. Surety--a promise.  We are heirs to the Kingdom of God.  We need nothing else.

Nothing on this earth--this temporal living space compares with all we have and will have in eternity.  We suffer for a just little while.  Just a vapor in the wind.  And then we have much more than we can begin to comprehend.  It's so amazing...we don't deserve any of it.  We have no right to anything.  But God in His mercy ordains that we are heirs.

Can you even imagine being in the constant presence of God without sorrow, pain, heartache, struggle, night or shadow?  No more tears.  In our best day we cannot feel the joy we will have when we sit at Christ's feet and go home.  Home.  I feel wonderful just typing this post.  selahV for Today

A Blogger's Comfort Zone

We each have them.  Comfort zones.  We have a space in which we find it comfortable to talk, to chat, to give our opinions.  We have topics we choose to avoid.  We have bloggers we avoid or ignore.  We are not comfortable with ourselves when we try to converse with others.  We don't trust ourselves.  We don't trust the other blogger.

Comfort comes when we trust our situation, our circumstance, our fellow bloggers.  When we feel we will be attacked for absolutely no reason, we do not comment.  When we feel a mere question can cause an avalanche of speculation and assumptions and motive interpretations, we don't ask.  We simply do not trust people.

It's sad that we cannot trust other Christians, isn't it?  I have no problem with secular blogs and I recognize that should I decide to comment and give an opinion (which I rarely do), that there will be explosive attitudes, snarky statements, and snide remarks.  It comes with being a follower of Christ.  However, when I visit sites and see this kind of comment stream between Christians, I avoid it like the plague.  It gives no honor or glory to God to demean another with tit-for-tat comebacks.  Rudeness is not love, because love is not rude.  Love is patient.  Love is kind.  Christian love is considerate.  It does not keep an account of wrongs...nor does it nit-pick others to pieces.

The more uncomfortable I find myself with a group of blogging voices, the more I avoid that community of bloggers.  I dare say, there are many bloggers just like me.  They have no desire to voice their thoughts when derogatory attacks are commonplace in a particular blog or collaborative blog.

I notice the more I read disturbing prattle, the more comfort food I eat.  That only adds more weight to an even weightier matter--my waist.  Why would I want to waste time fueling my desire to sabotage the temple of the Holy Spirit? Why would I want to violate my mind in such a way?  It is beyond my comfort zone.  Why would I want to try and add reason to the unreasonable?

It leaves a vacumn of reality in the blogging world when a group focuses on the "atta boy" and pat-on-the-back, and fist-bumps they give and receive from one another on a particular topic.  There are some, and I dare say many, who would totally disagree with a particular topic but bloggers like me stay clear of the streams because the tone is totally untrustworthy.  Therefore bloggers settle into a false comfort zone of ego-boosting.  They think they've found a safe-zone of wisdom and introspection.  When other bloggers refuse to enter those self-made zones to challenge their thoughts, they live in oblivious belief that they are right and everyone believes like they do.

Scary.  For it is written:  "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!" Isaiah 5:21

"Woe" means a consequence is coming.  "Woe" is a warning of condemnation to come.  "Woe" is not a good thing to look forward to--no matter how educated we get, or how many people agree with us.  In the end...the majority has no voice--only God's voice counts.  selahV for Today

 

BLOGGING JEALOUSY

Sometimes when bloggers are jealous of other bloggers they take swipes at them any chance they get.  The snarkiness and snotty remarks made by one who considers himself/herself a mature adult, quickly reveals an immature heart with utmost clarity.

It is one thing to offer literary critique of a particular subject matter, or another's writing, or publicly spoken words to hold them accountable for their words.  It's another to have someone denegrate another and snipe for absolutely no other conceivable reason than adolescent jealousy.  Childish stone throwing and baseless rhetoric has no place in Christian community of bloggers.

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." Matthew 12:35

The more I see the snitty little ditties come forth from bloggers, the more I wonder what the Christian community of voices has to offer a dark and dying world.  May God have mercy upon us if this is the best we can produce.  selahV for Today

Busy-body

"Keep your nose to yourself."  That's what my stepmother said to me when I asked too many questions about something that did not concern me.  "Mind your own business."

We kids would say to one another, "It's none of your bees-wax."  I have absolutely no clue why we said that.  But it meant the same thing.  As a sister to four brothers, I learned the hard way that talking about stuff that does not concern me can get me in all kinds of trouble--not to mention the damage it can do to others.

I've had times in my life when I talk to someone about something of concern to them and, out of the clear blue sky, they begin telling me all kinds of unrelated things that have nothing at all to do with me or them.  Not long ago someone did that to a friend of mine.  They insisted that my friend needed to know this "stuff".  "To be aware."

If you ask me, my friend should beware of those quick to carry a tale and share tidbits of knowledge that are really unnecessary to share.

"A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly." Proverbs 12:23

My husband is one of those "prudent men".  He keeps so much to himself that he forgets to tell me stuff my daughter intends for him to tell me.  That's okay; at least he doesn't have the heart of fools.

I don't know.  What do you think?  Seems to me that it is inappropriate to even listen to another's speculations and off-the-record news-reports of individuals you hardly know.  I see that happening a lot on the social-media connections we have today. Some "friends" are really not friends at all.  And too many public conversations should probably remain private.  So much can get lost in translation.

Do you ever wonder if folks want to befriend you just to gather what they suppose is inside info on a particular situation or person?

Do you think most trouble comes from joining conversations which do not concern us?  It kinda reminds me of blowing dandelion seeds in the wind.  No telling where a seed will come down and take root.

I'm just guessing, but I believe if I did a bit more research, I'd find some scripture that warns me of such conversations.  Maybe my husband is right.  Maybe we need to go back to the days of walking the neighborhoods and getting to know one another by stopping to chat on the front porch.  If only houses had more porches.  selahV for Today

Heavy Heart

Ever have a heavy heart?  A burden for someone you cannot get off your mind?  Every verse you read whispers their name.  Words that come to my mind are mercy, grace, peace, consolation, strength, joy, comfort, encouragement, rest, hope.

Yet all these words are so empty to someone who is at their wit's end.  Their physical condition has taken its toll.  Depression has wrapped around them like a warm blanket on a cold dark night.  They cannot take it off for fear of freezing.  They know God.  They know He loves but they feel none because their heart is in the throes of earthly battles beyond their control. The thorns have not been removed.  The pain is persistent. The turmoil returns with the morning sun.  The weight of emptiness is crushing.  Faith is an ember.

I can only pray.  And continue to pray.  May God's mercy be upon my "someone".  In fact, I have a couple of "someones".  My heart may be heavy, but not nearly as heavy as my "someone" so far away.  May light be upon them.  Lift their spirit, oh, LORD.  Return hope from where hope has hidden.

SELF-CONTROL, A Choice Fruit, An Evidence of Faith

It is one of those slices of the proverbial "fruit" that gives evidence of faith and the Holy Spirit in our lives. It seems to be a never-ending battle to attain it.  It takes restraint. It's an exercise of will over desire...of thought over impulse. Self-control is one of those words we either love or hate. We envy it in others and long for it ourselves.

The Lord gives the Holy Spirit to His adopted ones--we are exhorted "to be filled with the Spirit". The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of a healthy relationship with our LORD.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

Paul tells us to practice love. It takes a concerted effort on our part to surrender our weakness, to remove things in our lives which cause us to fail to exhibit love--bitterness, anger, hatred, evil thoughts, grudges, unforgiveness. As we relinquish those things, put aside those things, then love is visible--as is the Spirit of God in our lives.

Self-control is no more automatic than love.

The more disciplined we are in our lives, the more challenges we may face to disrupt that discipline. The less love we have, the more chances we are given to exhibit love. The more love we have, the more joy we receive, the more joy we receive, the greater peace we know. The more we develop these attributes in our lives, the more forbearance we show, the more kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control we have. To be filled, we need to be emptied. Paul writes:

^"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips." Colossians 3:5-8

I posted a list of verses and passages about self-control at Devotional Christian(/link). As I researched verses I found one thing true in all of them; self-control is a virtue. It is a discipline of one's entire person. It is preventive medicine for many of man's emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual woes. It is a process of yielding to God all that we are.

It is a choice...to exhibit that which we have, to build upon it, to exercise it. Or we can ignore it's call on our lives and live in total abandon to our own desires--regardless of what others think or say. Regardless of consequences.

Self-control is not forced upon us, but instead a relinquishing of our will to God's in obedience to His Word and the principles taught through His Word. Self-control listens to the Holy Spirit's directions and convictions.

It is most interesting in our quest to control ourselves, that the Lord adds an element of choice. We have the choice to control our tongue, our words, our actions, indeed our feelings and thoughts. It's up to us to live out a life of control, abstinence, temperance, and sober-mindedness. When we choose disobedience, we lack self-control and our indulgence comes with consequences.

Of course our greatest example of self-control is our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Indeed, how better to visualize this attribute, this concerted effort, this predetermined disposition, than to look at Jesus?

Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, hammered by the Jewish leaders on the legitimacy of His authority to preach, to heal, to forgive and minister to the multitudes of people. There are no temptations given to man in which Jesus was not tempted to indulge. Yet, Jesus exhibited complete self-control.  And we, as Christians, have the mind of Christ.  We just need to use His mind instead of ours more often than not. (But that's another post.) selahV

BEWARE OF WOLVES

It's odd how often I hear this phrase.

How often have you been told to beware of wolves?

I've heard preachers warn of wolves when someone dares to oppose another's biblical or doctrinal position.  I've even heard it used in political circles.

Wolves are dangerous beasts.  A pack of wolves can tear apart a human in a few minutes.  They can rip open a buffalo's neck and feast upon its blood before it has time to kick its heels in defense.  How do we detect wolves?  By their howl, their bark, or their sneakiness and stealth?

Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves." Matthew 7:15  In other words they appear to be something they are not.  Obviously, as Christians, we can each be taken in by wolves, we may never realize they are in our midst till we are caught by our heartstrings and pulled away into their lair.

Paul said, "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them."  Romans 16:17  Seems wolves can bring us into their way of thinking even though we have previously believed and trusted and found truth "contrary" to their evidences, prooftexts, and psychological rationale.  We can each be deceived by a single wolf.  They are so very dangerous, we are to "keep away from them".

Later Paul cautioned Timothy that he'd run into people who would have "a form of godliness but denying its power.  Have nothing to do with them."  2 Timothy 3:5

Seems wolves are those who come in with sneaky intentions, with cloaked intentions, with covered agendas.  They aren't out in the open with what they think or believe.  They tend to speak one way and act another.  They try to confuse and confound us.  They say one thing to one person and something else to another.  That is what causes the divisions which Paul warns about.  They "put obstacles" in our "way that are contrary to the teaching" we "have learned", and preached and taught since we began preaching and teaching.

I see this as warning us to stay true to what God has spoken to us...to what God's Word clearly reveals...not what man waters it down to mean, or society condones it to mean, or culture redefines it to mean, or politicians and judges legislate it to mean.  God does not change.  Nor does His Word.

Scripture warns us to stay away from those who declare right what God says is wrong. "Have nothing to do with them."  It's not always easy because they project "a form of godliness".  However, with that "form of godliness", they deny "its power".  God has the power to change the nature of man, to reconcile man to Himself, to give man a new nature.  For once a person comes to Jesus, all things are made new.  He is a new creature who no longer follows after the world and its ways, but sets himself apart from the world even as he must walk amid the world.  There is a difference in him.  He seeks after God, not Satan.  His faith is evident.  He doesn't flaunt himself as worthy, but humbles himself as unworthy of the grace he has been given through Christ.  He does not expect man to accept his sin as something to condone, but to hold him accountable.  He admits his sin and perseveres.  He does not hold a brother in contempt for not accepting and celebrating his transgressions with him.  He seeks the hand of brothers to keep himself on the straight and narrow path, which show him the lighted path and understand the truth, the way and the life as he goes.

Beware of wolves.  And also beware of sheep who act like wolves and use their wool to tickle our ears and pull it over our eyes as they sacrifice one of our own to the genuine wolves in our midst--all in hopes of silencing the lambs who hear the Shepherd's voice.  selahV

BOYS WILL BE BOYS and FACEBOOK will...

...be my undoing someday.

My grandson loves to post his adventures in death quests.  Some are not nearly as bad as others.  Last night he posted one of he and a buddy jumping off (what I thought was) a country bridge.  I admonished him and asked if he was crazy.  I gasped and showed the photo to my husband...he didn't even flinch.

Men!!!  They are as bad as boys.  When a man sees a boy do a silly, foolish act, they think back on their childhood and wish they'd thought of that when they were boys.  That's because they've never been a mom.  We're the ones who carried that squirming, kicking, bundle of energy within our wombs and suffered pain no man could endure to bring them into this world.  Women.  We did it.  And then they show us their appreciation for our pain, discomfort, and sacrifice by challenging life with every breath.  It's like they are just as eager to leave this world as they were impatient to enter it.

Jordy does backflips off everything.  Stacks of mattresses, tires, boats.  To my knowledge, he still has not flipped his bike.  He has crashed his motorcycle and broken both ankles and had multiple concussions.  But he just keeps on flipping.  Scares me speechless.

His latest escapade has me wondering if perhaps those concussions knocked something loose that destroyed his ability to make rational decisions.  When I saw tonite's photo on Facebook...my brain cramped.  You make the call.  He and his friend were jumping off a railroad trestle into the water.  Jordy is jumping as his buddy stands on the edge of the trestle.  The headlights of the oncoming train...well, you can see.  (Sorry I can't enlarge it for you. It loses focus any bigger than this.)  It looks like there's a crowd of kids gathered getting ready to walk the trestle and follow the leaders.  Along with the picture, Jordy wrote on his status: "Me and Dustin H...getting away from the train; well I did.  R.I.P Dustin lol"  To which Dustin commented: "I'm in heaven now."

Boys will be boys?  Or boys will be insane?

Folks, when I saw tonite's photo, my heart stopped beating. My stomach dropped to my toes. And I still feel like upchucking the watermelon I ate for an evening snack. Last night's photo was jaw-dropping. I sighed deeply as I shared it with my husband and shook my head and commented.  Tonite, I'm thinking about having the boy committed.

 <= Here he's about to jump this jump and land 30 to 40 feet away (I may be underestimating here).  However, I have one thing to say about it:

I'm glad he's sold his bike today.

"Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?" Ecclesiastes 7:17

Seriously....Jordy and friends are not wicked-- just fun-loving daredevils.  But foolishness can bring about an early demise.  And that scares me about as much as going to my Facebook account these days.  I once asked Jordy why he does such stunts..."It's fun."

"But don't you ever think about dying?"

"I figure I'll be in heaven and what could be better than that?"

Boys!  Incorrigible!  What's a grama to do?  selahV