SelahV Today by hariette petersen

Is the Wrath of God Relevant Anymore?

Is the day of reckoning approaching?  Are you ready?

 

Is the Bride of Christ?  Or is she playing church--pressured by every wind of doctrine and withering from the breath of wolves in her midst?

 

I believe America is going down the path of destruction because Christians have ignored the "wrath" of God. Preachers rarely speak of it or warn of it. From what do we need saving if all sin is tolerated? It seems our tolerance now supersedes God's holiness. 

 

We've whispered the word sin and substituted it with anything and everything to appease the world so it will "like" us better. We're like frightened sheep among the wolves. Have we forgotten we have a Shepherd?

 

Few of us endure like Joseph, dance before the Lord as David, obey like Daniel, or preach like Jeremiah, or fast like Jesus, or sacrifice like the disciples, or pray all night like Peter, or write like Paul or humble ourselves like the tax collector.

 

Politicians tell us our country is in turmoil because we didn't make the right "deals" with the world leaders. Because we don't cater to women and support their choice to slaughter babies in a mother's womb. They say we have violence on city streets because we won't hand over guns. They say we're attacked because we don't bow to other gods (or because we offend others who do), when we dare to speak of our allegiance to Jesus and our desire to follow God's Word.

 

We travel the world over to win the "lost" to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Joseph, but fail to bring the message of "lostness" to the neighbor next door. We're afraid to stand for God and therefore are falling for everything.

 

We go to our denominational meetings and make decisions based on economics rather than faith. We pat ourselves on the back for making resolutions that water down the Biblical commands and weaken the warnings of God.  Is our righteous indignation any better than the filthy rags we once wore before Christ's blood wrapped us in his robe of righteousness if we do not speak out for the unborn, or our own faith?

 

Unless God's people who are called by His name, humble themselves, seek God's face and confess their own prideful wickedness, the Creator of this planet and universe will not heal our lands.  It won't happen.  We can assemble and sing praise choruses till the moon turns to blood and the sun falls from the sky.  It won't happen.  God is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. 

 

Until people change, the church won't change; until churches change the family unit won't change; until the family unit changes, the community won't change. Until the community changes, the country won't change. Until the country changes, the world will remain a cesspool of hate, of evil, of godlessness and immorality. Why would the Lord need to exact His wrath upon us?  He merely has to give us up to our own desires.

 

Americans have given their wealth to worship American Idols.  We've flocked to movie theaters to amuse ourselves and filled the boots of wickedness to press against our own throats and crush our power to make a real difference in society.  We've financed our own adversaries. We've nodded sheepishly at the sin and waved away what some call "prudish" and judgmental opposition to attain the goodies they offer in faux humor.  As we dip our self-indulgent straws into their porridge of entertainment, we've turned ourselves into the slaves of a new Babylon:  Political Correctness. New Age Tolerance. Progressive Acceptance. Liberal Compliance.

 

Soon we'll bow to the New World Order of silence. Speak now, or forever hold your peace.  The Censors are watching, legislating, judging and will soon be imprisoning all who dare stand like the Cathys, the Greens, the bakers in Oregon, the Paul Churches of Boston, or the Sisters of the Poor. The child who writes about Jesus, the Chaplain who preaches Jesus, the officer who writes a Bible verse on his white-board, the churches who display crosses, the communities who seek to keep crosses and nativity scenes in the public square...

 

How long will it be before we are no longer allowed the freedom of expression and religion?  While there is still time...

"Shout aloud!

Don’t hold back!

Lift up your voice like a trumpet!

Declare to my people their rebellions,

and to the house of Jacob their sins.

They seek me day after day,

and are eager to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that practices righteousness

and has not forsaken the justice of their God." Isaiah 58: 1-2 

OH BUT THERE'S MORE:

"You seek pleasure on your fast days. Is this not the fast I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice? Then your ruins will be rebuilt."

 

GOD help us. God forgive us. God give us courage to speak boldly as You would have us speak. Spare us your wrath, Oh, Lord; have mercy upon us-- not for our sake, but for the glorification of your Son.  There is but one Answer for the World today. 

 

"Jesus is the Answer for the world today, above Him is no other; Jesus is the Way."

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Beyond Comprehension: Persecution of Christians

I know Jesus told us it would happen.  But when I see the photos of a little 5 year-old girl in a sweet little ruffled dress, being held up without a head because ISIS barbarians severed it from her little body... well, it's more than my brain can grasp.  When I see a photo of a 7-year-old boy dangling from a noose with his pants pulled down, my brain explodes with horror.  My heart screams for God's intervention. When a priest gives the account of a child being cut in half by these sadistic monsters, my mind cries out in anger.

"Stop the madness."

But it continues.

It's reported that countless Iraqi women are being raped, little 7 year-old girls being married off to madmen.  Reports that ISIS buried alive over 500 women and children.  Thousands upon thousands have already been slaughtered, maimed and mutilated.  It's horrendous.  It's a nightmare.

Meanwhile, we take selfies, and watch the exhibition football games.  We swim. We eat bountiful meals. We waste water with squirt guns and water balloons as babies and women and children dehydrate on a mountaintop and die of thirst after fleeing death sentences from ISIS.

Then, in Gaza, their Hamas brethren lob over 3,400 rockets at Israel from hospitals and schools, all the while using children and Palestinians as human shields. There is no condemnation for their actions.  But Israel is lambasted by the press, the President, and protestors because Israel defends herself and tries to take out the rocket launchers.  And many Muslims in America support these people who claim to want all Jews, Christians, and non-Muslims dead.

Evil. Hatred. Atrocities. When ISIS comes here (and many say they're already here), will the U.N. condemn us for protecting our own, like they condemn us for wanting to protect our borders from invaders?

A seven-year-old boy holds up a severed head like it's a trophy and we ask "what do we do about it?"

We ban Bibles in Navy hospitality hotels. We ban prayer in malls and public places. We ban the name of God and His Son Jesus from speeches, and restrict faith conversations in every arena.  We condone more and more sin and accept it as norm. We let our own government tell us we cannot put up crosses or place nativity scenes on public spaces because it may offend a tiny percentage of people.

And we wonder why evil thrives?

Evil exists.  ISIS didn't invent it, nor did Hamas.  It began when Satan tried to elevate himself above God.  It entered this world when man chose to listen to Satan and disobey God-- to value his own desires more than the Lord's commands. It multiplied when the world followed after its own way and rejected God, forgot God, eliminated God from life.

So, I am crying on the inside...mourning the atrocities of man...the slaughter and the plight of the Iraqi Christians, as well as the perpetual war upon Israel. Evil abounds and my heart is twisted in knots. But, I read God's Word and am reminded:

"Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act,

making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.

Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.

Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land." Psalm 37:5-9

Jesus is my hope and refuge. His blood was shed for my sin, and replaced it with His righteousness. I'm grateful the LORD holds these blessed persecuted Christians in His arms of love.  I'm smiling on the outside...grateful for the blessings of God, but still, I can't help crying on the inside. In life, spiritual battles rage on, but the war has been won.  For Jesus said, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." John 16:33

May God calm the storm within the hearts of those being persecuted around the world.  May He calm the storms within our hearts as we sit so far away praying and feeling so helpless. May He draw more unto Himself. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Fill us with Your peace.

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What Americans Need to Know About Murietta California Protests And Obama Plans for Illegals

We've all seen the courageous efforts of citizens in Murietta, California as they stood in the streets and turned away busload after busload of illegals that the president sent to their town.  It's reported that the government is very angry with Murietta citizens and have called in the riot squad to force these citizens in a small California town to accept these illegal aliens (see story, here).  I wrote my friend of my concern for her welfare and she wrote this back to me:

"These protesters are NOT wild fanatics! We are all American who strongly believe that this not only wrong for our small town...but incredibly cruel and dangerous to these illegal men, women and children. The place they are taking them is NOT as they say, "public housing"! It was built as a jail for illegal. It has only steel benches and something referred to as "cages". There is one toilet with only a 3ft. privacy wall and no way to wash hands or shower. With SO many of them ill and diseased it will only intensify that issue. Obama wants to FLOOD our community with 142 immigrants every 72 hours!! And then..release them into our town."

Friends, we need to pray for these citizens in Murietta, California.  This is an undue burden on them and this president does not care.  If he has a handy dandy pen, then why doesn't he write another executive order that says he will send back all illegals to whatever country they come from?

And then why doesn't he pick up his handy dandy phone (that he's so proud of) and call the leaders of those countries who are sending thousands of their sick and diseased citizens to us by way of cartels and gangs and tell those leaders that he's putting them on Army transport planes and sending them back to their countries? 

Why can't this president protect our citizens and defend our borders?  Why is he assisting illegal foreigners to break the law and enter our country with diseases when he knows darn well they will not appear for court dates and will not return to their countries? 

We can only speculate. Is he is doing it to overload and collapse our healthcare, welfare, educational and economic systems in all these towns?  He obviously doesn't care what lawlessness he sends to towns such as Murietta or any other town-- these are undocumented aliens.  He has no idea what crimes some of them have committed.  It's time for our congress to act and defund him on every single issue until he sends these illegals back and begins to protect our borders.  Not one single dime should be allocated for their care and any money that Congress allocates should go to Texas and border states to hire more border patrol. 

As it is, these people are vulnerable to the diseases these illegals are bringing into our country that doctors and nurses and caretakers are being told they cannot talk about to public or news.  Dr. Lee Vliet speaks out about this.  TB, MRSA, Swine Flu, Measles, Chicken Pox, Scabies and Lord knows what all else is coming in with every wave of this illegal invasion. The absolute least this president could do is quarantine all these people, in tent cities if necessary, right where they come in.  NOT send them all over the country to places that are not sufficient to care for them or to protect American citizens and could potentially spread these contagious diseases to the unsuspecting public.  It's time to speak out. Politics has no place in a situation that causes us rampant chaos.

President Obama's former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel once said that "we can't let a good crisis go to waste."  Exactly how does the president plan to use this crisis to his advantage?

Michael Bloomberg Says, "I Have Earned My Place in Heaven"

Michael Bloomberg said in an interview with the New York Times as he contemplated his own mortality: "I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close". New York Times for more

Oh Michael, Michael, Michael... you cannot bypass the Way, the Truth and the LIFE...no one comes to the Father but by Jesus... FACT.  It has nothing to do with how motivated you were on gun control, smoking and obesity-- nor how many people called you a "rock star" on earth. 

Oh, Michael, if only you knew the Savior, you wouldn't feel it is your responsibility to save the world from evil that you've conjured up in your mind. You'd be able to rest in Him and follow HIS lead in your life and see that which is really evil... it's not guns-- it's sin in people who do not know Jesus and seek to destroy their fellow man because they have no values, no standards, no hope beyond their fingertips.  It's the sin in people who seek to destroy babies in the womb to accommodate their selfish ambitions or goals and convenience.  It's the sin in people who seek to destroy any utterance of faith in the LIVING GOD who will not be mocked by people who disregard His teachings and ignore His only begotten Son.

Michael, turn to Jesus. He died to remove your sin-- He paid the price for your wickedness and the wickedness of man. Let Jesus show you what is right and what is wrong.  Then you can be a true light in the darkness of this world.

Lord open this man's eyes and be glorified because of Your goodness and mercy.  Pity his state of mind.  Pity his arrogance and pride.  You, Oh God, will exalt the humble and humble the proud.

Today is the day of salvation.  May Michael, and all like him, come to know You, Oh Lord in all your righteousness and glory.

Twitter's 140 Character Mindset Won't Fix This Mess in America

But there is a message that can.

Millions upon millions tweet everything from surly snarks to amiable epithets, all in hopes of gaining something in life.  Not sure what folks are truly seeking. Following? Notoriety?  Status? It may be as simple as an audience to support their own thoughts.

It may reach farther into the human psyche than this simple blogger can discern, but...

I think it illustrates the depth of our loneliness-- the desperate abyss of our souls.  Such need there is to connect to life beyond ourselves, don't you think? 

Truly touching are some tweets that parade across the Twitter feeds each day.

The tweet encourages soldiers in foreign countries and lets them know they aren't forgotten by their countrymen. To worn spirits, a well-chosen phrase is like apples of gold for their hearts.  To embattled citizens who seek strength when the world seems against them like the Romeike family, the Seattle bakers, the mother who lost a son in Benghazi and receives no answers.  Tweeters take up the cause.

Twitter's fascinating.  It's an explosion of genius to say something brilliant in 140 characters and have dozens or more people retweet the profundity of our hearts, minds, and yes-- egos. 

Opinions abound.  Check in on anyone's Twitter feed and you'll soon see how to solve the situation with Putin in the Ukraine, fix the American Educational System, defund Obamacare and get rid or Piers Morgan.  You'll meet Patriots and Traitors, Trolls and Moles-- you'll find hatred, camaraderie, enemies and alliances. 

This, my friends, is our world.  Follow me!

Twitter is a snapshot of all that's good and evil in our world.  There are encouragers and discouragers, slayers and naysayers, critics and judges.  There are wits and whiners and powerful designers.  There are framers and founders and wisdom expounders.  And it's absolutely scary to think so much influence can be given in reading the tweet which is not even considered a coherent sentence.

But there it is.

Communication in nano-seconds.  From Bejing to Podunk Hollow, Tennessee. From D.C. to Vegas.  From Wasillah, Alaska to Moscow.  Links upon links, connections and reflections.  Extractions and retractions.  Diversions and perversions. The stream is boundless-- the ripples ever-changing, as the simple confound the wise.

Can we ever rise above such miniscule thinking--away from the sound-bite evaluations? Can we find our way back to a world of contemplation, understanding, and personal introspection?  Or are we beyond grasping the art of comprehension and communication?  Are we ruined?  Spoiled?  Can we not see ourselves?

Sometimes I wonder what a world like this will be ten years down the road.  Will we cease to speak at all?  Will we be one long continuum of letters, numbers dots and symbols?

Will we lump ourselves inside a #hashtag and forever brand ourselves by labels?  It's collected, you know?  Our words and conversations-- if you can call them that-- are stored forevermore in posterity. 

It reminds me of a Scripture verse wherein the Lord warns of judgment day-- a day of accounting.  In that day we will answer for every idle word we've uttered and every mindless thing we've done.  What will my portion be at that moment? 

I have but one thing worth saying at all.  God came to earth one day; He lived among man to show mankind how the Father loved us and how the Father wanted us to love one another.  Then He died on a cross to pay the penalty for all our devious, deceitful, prideful, debaucherous, licentious, perverse, hateful and rebellious schemes against His holiness.  He knew we couldn't live up to His holiness. He knew.  So He gave the sacrifice of His only begotten Son to pay the fine for our sin. Our get-out-of-jail-free card. Jesus died, then rose again to life and conquered the grave.  He did that for you. 

Eternity will be spent with Him or without Him.  Surely we'd rather spend eternity in peace than in everlasting hell, wouldn't we?

Won't you trust in Him today?  Before it's too late to believe?  He promises that all who come to Him in faith believing, He is faithful and just to forgive you of all unrighteousness.  All.  As in every single thing you've ever done against the Holy Creator.  Now that's worth tweeting, any day of the week.

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Bye Bye Girl Scout Cookies

Didn't need all those calories anyway.  If it wasn't for my penchant for devouring an entire box of their chocolate-covered coconut concoctions, I'd buy two dozen boxes every year-- just to support those innocent little Girls Scouts. No more, though.  I won't even buy one box.  And it has nothing to do with how many calories one cookie contains or how high its consumption pushes my triglycerides on my blood tests.  It has nothing to do with how I feel about those darling little girls dressed in green uniforms with bright yellow scarves, either.

It's all about abortion. It's about Planned Parenthood.  Yes, even good things can fall prey to bad influences.  By all accounts Girl Scouts USA has fallen. Who would have imagined?  Who would believe it?  But it's true. According to the stunning article linked below, "Many Girl Scout councils are... teaming up with their local Planned Parenthood in various ways."

"There are a lot of accusations in the blogosphere about the Girl Scouts. Some are fact, like the Girl Scout organization works alongside abortion providers and funds/promotes abortion rights advocacy groups. And some are sensationalized, like Girl Scout cookie money pays for abortions (although cookies do fund Girl Scouts’ concerning agenda).  So what is the real truth about Girl Scouts?" (for a breakdown read more of this article.)

Any group that stands side by side the abortion-pushing Planned Parenthood loses all support from me.  And Girl Scouts USA is shoulder to shoulder with the group that has promoted and helped the slaughter of nearly 57 Million babies since Roe v. Wade was passed under false pretences. 

Girl Scouts of USA is so linked to Planned Parenthood it uses pathetic examples of women for girls to emulate and look to for inspiration:

GSUSA provides girls, as young as 11 years old, a list of speeches by “Eloquent Women” to assist them with their public speaking badge. Recommendations include Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger’s speech advocating for a women’s right to birth control. Other eloquent women speeches promoted by GSUSA include Lady Gaga and Sally Field both advocating for same sex marriage, a curious recommendation given that GSUSA claims it doesn’t allow advocacy for a particular lifestyle or sexual orientation.

The fact that Girl Scouts USA promote a totally racist woman like Sanger from whom to model their speeches is disgusting. Her ideology (and that of other groups the GSUSA are associated with), are light-years away from what the Girl Scouts were origninally founded upon and have enjoyed for so many years.

"...GSUSA fails to tell us that the international level of the Girl Scout organization, the  World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), which counts every Girl Scout in the world in its membership of 10 million girls, frequently works alongside International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) to advocate for abortion on demand for youth."

We all might want to be prepared to teach our girls a different way to influence America.  We may want to bake another batch of cookies and let the Girl Scouts crumble under the weight of Planned Parenthood. Again, I recommend Prolifers  read this article before they purchase a box of Girl Scout Cookies this year.  It killed my appetite for the once-tempting treat.  It's clear to me that any dime that goes to this organization, helps fund activities wherein girls are fed the Planned Parenthood ideology and views on a child's reproductive system and the abortion of babies. selahV

Todd Starnes not buying Girl Scout Cookies Either./LINK

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Our Government Could Learn From This

"Professionals may have built the Titanic, and an amateur the Ark. This proves the Architect is really important."~~Netminister

I believe our country needs a founders' refresher course on building a successful government which cares for the people rather than their positions within the system of government. Unfortunately, this country has allowed too many ungodly people to dictate what the citizens must believe and then proceed to make laws to circumvent the Constitution.  They're building, but without consulting the original plans.  They rejected the architects' design for America--architects who trusted God, believed in Jesus and never sought to eliminate Him from life-- but to protect citizens from tyrannical government which would limit the ability of citizens to follow their faith.

America has strayed so far from the original intent of our founding fathers, it's no wonder we now fall far, far short of the blessings our country orignally enjoyed.

"...Unless the LORD builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the LORD guards the city,

The watchman keeps awake in vain.;..." Ps.127:1

We've forgotten how to teach children and bring them up in the admonition of the LORD via the Ten Commandments and instruction in the Word of God. Thus, our country is floundering. As a child, those commandments were constant reminders to me and other children to obey our parents, show respect to others, and live with a moral compass.  Our colleges and universities were founded on the Word of God and the Savior Jesus Christ. Today those same institutions cover symbols of faith and tear them down altogether. They ignore their founders' words and reject the mention of God in any positive light. The same advocates who speak out against bullying and discrimination, bully Christians to be silent and discriminate against them when they use the word of God in a speech or the name of Jesus in a prayer.

I'm not blowing smoke here, friends. This isn't some conservative Christian right-wing blathering.  Check out what Noah Webster, Schoolmaster of the Republic said:

"Education is useless without the Bible. The Bible was the textbook in all fields. God's Word, contained in the Bible, has furnished all necessary rules to direct our conduct."~ Noah Webster/ref.link

Webster was certain of the need for children to be educated with Bible in hand. Yes, that's right. In early times, the Bible was actually the textbook used to teach reading.  Webster believed "the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed...".  Can you imagine if a leader in our government were to challenge our Department of Education with that view? Webster further believed, "No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people."
  ~~Noah Webster, Preface Noah Webster Dictionary, 1828

Thus, when today, we do all the building of our country (producing legislations and regulations), and remove all reference to God, we are rejecting the builder-- the "Architect". 

We can labor all we want; we labor in vain.

We can push God out of everything from school, to government, to symbols of our faith in the Creator, and every traditional oath ever sworn to if we want.  However, when we do, we must also realize we will suffer the consequences of letting our guard down with the evil in this world.  We cannot protect ourselves from evil without God.  Reject Him and He will turn us over to our own devices and choices.

Heroes don't plan to be heroes

Yet again and again we see people lay down their lives for others.  Do they want to die?  No.  Yet, they do.  We call them heroes.  We hear a story about bravery or sacrifice and we move on.

Today I read a story about a 14 year-old boy in Pakistan.

Aitazaz Hassan Bangash saw something that didn't make sense to him.  He acted upon his gut feeling.  He was killed by another person with a suicide vest.  In a schoolyard of 2,000, how many did this young man save? we do not know, but Pakistan can be proud today of this young teenager.  I'm sure when Aitazaz got up to go to school on Monday, the last thing on his mind was being blown up and saving lives in the process.  I'm sure he didn't plan to be a hero either.  Heroes don't plan to be heroes.  It's sad he had to be one on Monday.

May his family be comforted by his heroism and may they find solace in his courage.

See whole story, here.

How to Be Victors in Life

is only as possible as we define victor.

To some, "to the victor goes the spoils".  It's a war in which we become victorious over another person--an enemy who seeks to destroy us.  However, that's not exactly the kind of victor I am interested in being.  To do whatever it takes to win?  To ignore that which is pure and holy and godly to end up with all the goodies via whatever means it takes to obtain them?  No. That doesn't mean you are a victor.  That just means you are the most deceptive manipulative bully. In that sense, a victor gains the "spoils"-- the enemy's treasures and belongings.  The victor assumes possession of the enemy's material gains. I don't want my enemy's spoils.

My enemy is Satan. Anything he has is not worth owning.  Satan is everything that is ungodly--he is the opposite of God. Why would I want to have anything he has?  In fact, the Lord instructs me to resist him so that he flees. To put on the whole armor of God so that I may "stand"-- to plant my feet in the solidity of God's grace and salvation-- and not waver wherein Satan and his minions seek to devour me.

"The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him [Jesus] to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:24-26

It's important to realize as I tweet on Twitter and toss my sarcastic barbs that what I say must align with God's instruction. All too often I allow my flesh to control my fingertips as I respond to various folks and agree with some who see things the way I see things. I cannot be a victor if I walk outside of God's pleasure and instructions and mingle with those who seek to live for position and power outside of God's divine plan and purpose. 

I wholeheartedly believe I am living in the last days as prophesied in God's Word:

"But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days.  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,  traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!" 2 Timothy 3:1-5

How does one avoid these people?  How can we avoid them when they are at every turn in our lives?  When every program we watch on television has their influence in every commercial, every news report, every sitcom and every reality show?  when every social media we join has their "voice" and intrusion? When every magazine screams at us with headlines as we check out at the grocers?

Well, for me, I think it is to avoid entering the fray of their conversations. To avoid walking where they walk.  To avoid listening to their music, their entertainment, the diatribes on their networks with their analysts and slanted reporting. To refuse to attend ther movies and support their lifestyles and ability to spread their poison in my life. I've come to see that playing on their playground can lead to throwing dirt and kicking sand.  To be a victor in this time of history, I must climb to higher ground.  I must stand on the Rock where my refuge is above the world.

And yes.  I will run into many of those Timothy warns me to avoid on my journey. You will, too.  The key in being a victor among them is to avoid their "kind" of conversations and speak up when necessary. If they do not hear my voice and become hostile, I kick the dust from my feet and move on. When necessary, I delete, unfriend, and block.  I pray for the scales to be removed from their eyes. Then I share the "good news".  Speak goodness with kindness and love.  I must refuse to tolerate the intolerable.  I cannot accept their arguments as instructions to preserve some politically correct position.  I will refuse to fall for their accusations of hatred in the face of truth.

Above all, I cannot let them define or redefine God's Word from society's flawed understanding or culturally acceptable opinion. A victor is only victorious who rests solely upon God and His unchanging Word--regardless of world opinion and attack. He alone is our resource and refuge.~~ selahVtoday by hariette petersen

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The Duck Dynasty Debacle and Me

I'm no better than anyone else in this world.  I learned that a long long time ago/link. 

The past few days, I've been caught up in the whirlwind of opinions regarding Duck Dynasty and A&E. I tweeted and retweeted.  I copied and pasted articles and posts (just like millions of other people).  I got followed by several on Twitter and stopped following a few on Twitter. 

However, I do not watch Duck Dynasty on a regular basis. What I have watched, I really think is funny and fun. They exemplify what families should be about-- though they squabble and quibble, they make up and poke fun at one another and reconcile. They love work, one another and God. Though I don't see every episode, I'm tickled pink they've worked hard and built a dynasty from duck calls and ingenuity.

I don't watch anything on television religiously, or faithfully. Life is far more than what goes on inside a 60-in box.  Yet, I disagree with folks who try to decide for me what I should say, read, think, or watch.  My interests vary from babies being aborted to Pastor Saeed's imprisonment, from healthcare to the stripping of COLA pensions for Vets. I tweet about James Rosen's interviews and Megyn Kelly's Santa controversy. I'm not a fanatic follower of everything Ducks--nor a Bill O'Reilly groupie. But I do like to know what people think.

Folks have very interesting takes on the world and I like to hear their take.  Even with those I disagree.  Why do they think the way they think?  Do they disagree with me because I'm just like all those other "thems" in the world they disagree with?  Not sure.  I am me-- I'm not completely like anyone else.  I may have similarities, hold some same opinions, some similar beliefs-- but I do not consist of all of anyone else. I can't see that ever changing--not for me--nor anyone else.

This deal over Phil Robertson has never once angered me. I've simply shared what I thought when I read something someone said. I've held the beliefs I have for a very long time.  And while I totally agree with Phil on the depravity of man, I would never have chosen to express myself as he did about sin. I would have defined it differently. Why?

Because I am me. I express myself differently. That's probably why Phil is on a reality show and I'm just boring little me. Phil is Phil and he bluntly expresses himself as he chooses-- just as you choose to express yourself.  Knowing what little I know about Phil, I can call him a brother in Christ because he seems to believe what I do about Jesus.

Some folks look at the world through a clouded lens-- without the knowledge or understanding of the presence of God in their lives. Some judge every syllable and phrase Christians say through the lens of what they have determined a Christian is, and what all Christians should say or do.  It may or may not be valid, but it is their interpretation; they are entitled to think whatever way they choose, just as I am. The reason Christians can make particular statements about sinners is because we know we are all sinners.  Each of us. We know sin well. We battle it ourselves. But we know we have a Savior who has paid the ultimate price for our sin and became the substitute for our punishment so we could live forever with Him.

Many articles and posts I've read recently have addressed why we think what we think and how we should assign motive and intent to the reasoning behind actions of A&ETV and those defending A&E and those defending Phil Robertson. Those are think pieces-- opinion articles to provoke more thought. Many are written to inflame, to incite, to encourage further debate. Few are written to bring peace or understanding or reconciliation.

I'm not all that interested in "thinking" anymore about the why or how in this debacle.

Of greatest interest to me is the heart of the matter-- as in the heart of the Believer and follower of Jesus Christ.  As in me--my imperfect fleshly self and my part in it all.  In fact, I thought about deleting every single post I had written on facebook and every tweet I'd tweeted on Twitter regarding Duck Dynasty.  I even considered deactivating my Twitter account altogether.

You see, as a Christian, when we allow our minds to supercede our hearts, the Spirit of God begins to check our spirit and poke us in places so we become painfully aware of portions we need to address. In Romans 12:2, it is written:

"be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

God wants to purify and sanctify us in order that we might be a "light" to Him, not away from Him.  My mind wanted to fluff off what I'd been thinking; my heart wouldn't let me. Words matter. It's important that we're careful choosing our words and being responsible for what we say.

I've been pondering the "us" and "them" in this war of words between A&ETV, Phil Robertson, GLAAD voices, the fans, and Christians who have spoken out about "them" and "us".  Mostly, I'm thinking about the ones in between "us" and "them".  They are the ones who are neither in the whole conversation--they are onlookers.  I wonder, how do they see "us" as we react to "them"?  as we one-up the other in tit-for-tat tweets?

I think about me.

For me, that is worth considering in depth, considering all I've tweeted in the last few days. Mercy is my favorite word next to Jesus-- though how can one say Jesus without simultaneously thinking of the word mercy is beyond me.  He is mercy. I'm glad He has mercy on me and His mercies are new every morning. I need that clean slate. And while He allows sin because we live in a fallen world, He doesn't condone it, nor will He tolerate it (especially in His children)-- even if it is the simple sin of thinking we know more than someone else and must let them know it as well. 

Tear Down That Cross

saith the federal judge in California.  Yeah, sad.  But true.  It's gotta come down.  "It's unconstitutional."  It must be removed within 90 days.

"The cross atop Mt. Soledad — part of a veterans memorial — violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, a federal judge in San Diego ruled." ~~Oliver Darcy, read more/link

For one hundred years a cross has stood upon Mount Soledad overlooking the bay in La Jolla, California.  Some are offended by its presence. They believe our Founding fathers meant we should have freedom from religion rather than freedom of religion. Some fight long and hard against anything religious in this country which was founded upon religious principles.  What can we say?

Perhaps they're fearful of its symbolism--the Freedom and sacrifice for which it stands?  Or, perhaps it's because we Christians see it as freedom from sin and enslavement to sin. Salvation bought and paid for by the only begotten Son of God. No discrimination as we understand the Gospel. Good News for you, for me, for all.  Because whosoever will confess He is Lord, Jesus will claim as His before the Father in Heaven. 

Such peace in knowing that.  I'm not worthy of that grace and mercy.  But because Christ was worthy and righteous and sinless, He willingly paid the price for my sin and the debt I owe for my sin because the "wages of sin is death". 

Sad that a cross which could give pause and peace for many who look upon it, might be so threatening to a few that they'd war against its presence and demand its removal.

I can understand their ire.  I once was without knowledge of the purpose and power and glory of the cross, myself. I recall times I mocked Christians and their goody-two-shoe ways.  Yeah.  But no more.

Today I know the Savior who died upon one cross outside the walls of Jerusalem, in the dung-heaps of the city.  He hung there and looked down upon those who spat upon him, mocked him, ridiculed, tortured and nailed Him there.  But he did not complain. He looked upon them and said, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."

It's okay if those same kind of people who once hung Christ upon the cross at Calvary, are laughing and demanding the cross which stood for sacrifice and freedom is removed.  It won't change what Jesus did over 2,000 years ago.  It won't change the salvation of those who believe.  And the entire United States Government can try to silence Believers, but if they do, the very stones of this earth will cry out that Jesus Christ is Lord.  That Jesus Christ is King.  That Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but by Him. 

"They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." Isaiah 11:9

So my friends who may be growing weary from all the persecution and efforts to eradicate Christianity in every form, remember... "Fear not", Christ has "overcome the world".

[FOR BACKSTORY ON CROSS go here]

Things I Miss- Integrity, Honor and Hope

I miss the days when integrity flourished.  When your word was a bond.  When a handshake sealed the deal.  When promises were kept and people meant what they said.  When innocent pinky swears were do-or-die and stick-a-needle in your eye unbreakable.  When someone said they were your friend, they remained a friend for life.  When marriage was between one man and one woman and no one ever thought otherwise. 

I miss days when honor was an unseen knowledge that you could trust and believe and rely upon.  When hearts beat harder at the sight of an flag unfurled or draped over caskets of heroism.  When a president stood at a microphone and carried our fears with dignity, treated our thoughts as worthy and protected our freedoms rather than diluting them one by one.  When our military would never dare be punished for believing and exercising their faith.  Where churches were esteemed and not dismissed as unworthy to even participate in donating money to help the wounded soldiers who protected their freedom of religion.  I miss those days.

I miss the hope I once had that my child and her children and theirs would grow up in the same kind of country I did.  Where pledging allegiance to the flag was customary but never taken for granted. Where the nativity was taken for granted to always grace the public square.  And Ten Commandments hung on every school room wall.

Where a cross never held disdain, ridicule or hatred but symbolized goodness, purity and hope.  Where hope was built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and the righteousness He brings to each heart who trusts in Him.  Where I was free to share my faith and not held prisoner to my thoughts or words of expression.  Where I was never bullied for belieiving that "in God we trust" or found myself wondering why our government would choose to rob us of the freedom to worship as we please and express our faith in ways we've done all our lives. I miss those days.

However... I do look forward to the day when Christ shall come with shout of acclamation, the eastern sky will part, the trump will sound and we will see everyone bow and confess that Jesus is Lord.  I do.  I really do.  selahV

 

Yet Another Reason to WEAR CLEAN UNDERWEAR and NOT BURY BLOGPOSTS of VITAL IMPORTANCE in a Sea of Mundane Blatherings by hariette petersen

No.  Unfortunately, this post is not really about mama's sage advice for you to don clean boxers or undergarments, in case you are in an accident and wind up in the emergency room of life.  It is about a court system that makes us wonder about the brain cells of aging Supreme Court Justices and ANY Justice appointed by any president--be they conservative or liberal, with liberal or conservative majorities in the House and Senate of the United States.

Thanks to Marty Duren for calling attention to this obscene ruling and unreasonable logic of the highest court in the land of free-thinking, law-abiding, countrymen who just happen to believe in the 4th Amendment and have read the Bill of Rights when they were school-children.

In what is certainly one of the most grotesque disemboweling of civil liberties since Congress last took a vote, the Supreme Court of the United States has granted unfettered authority to police or jail officials to conduct strip searches on any person arrested for any crime. So, dear reader, the next time you are stopped for a traffic violation by an officer who decides to make you an example, you could find yourself standing naked, exposed and exposing while a police officer or jailer looks you over in a way that would make a nearsighted urologist blush.

Duren writes:

"In what is certainly one of the most grotesque disemboweling of civil liberties since Congress last took a vote, the Supreme Court of the United States has granted unfettered authority to police or jail officials to conduct strip searches on any person arrested for any crime. So, dear reader, the next time you are stopped for a traffic violation by an officer who decides to make you an example, you could find yourself standing naked, exposed and exposing while a police officer or jailer looks you over in a way that would make a nearsighted urologist blush.

This kind of corrupt, Third World, dictatorial ruling opens the door for unreportable, unprovable molestation and rape."

I have not read all the briefs and opinions of the Supremes (Justices on the United States Supreme Court).  However, if what Marty Duren, respected pastor, author, and voice among Christians, is right in his understanding of this ruling, my stomach turns, my mind goes beserk, and my spirit groans.  How could this be?

How can a panel of robed elitist, and highly respected wise men and women come to such disgusting ruling?  Do they not see how their decision ushers in sanctioned abuse of power?  That's right...sanctioned and approved abuse of power.  Do they think that this ruling exempts themselves and their children and grandchildren--their moms and sisters and little cousins?  Are there any...I say, ANY, exceptions to their ruling?  I do not know--according to Marty's well-researched article, it does not appear so.  Surely the advocates of all-things-legal and right are looking into it with precedent-set microscopes and scapel-driven precision.  To think that "anyone arrested" of the least infraction of the law, shackled in handcuffs--be they guilty of any alledged violations or not--could find themselves stripped down to bare skin, is absolutely dehumanizing.  It begs for better definitions of the words absurb, deplorable, irrational, and insane.

It's sick!  Demented.  Beyond the pale of reasonable thinking.

Given the unreasonable violations of human dignity imposed (upon little old ladies wearing Depends and Poise pads, and toddlers wearing Huggies and Pampers when boarding jets to fly from Podunk, Kansas to Disney World), by TSA agents who show no respect for humanity, nor the common sense of a snail, we can only foresee the most horrendous of violations and constitutionally guaranteed rights of the electorate.

Folks, we do well to get to the bottom of this ruling.  We need to strip-search the entire wording of every brief and if need be, expose it to the world in its unflattering naked truth.  [All puns intended.]

If this is a ruling that negates and shackles law-enforcement officers from doing the unthinkable, and the most demeaning of actions when a preacher is arrested for reading the Bible in front of a DMV office, or a young woman is arrested for a sit-in protest at the Occupy Wall Street gatherings, or a teenage girl who stands too close to an Abortion Clinic...then we need to know.

We need to know when we parents and grandparents, send our unsuspecting (and sometimes foolish), children out into the highways and byways with their brand new shiny driver's licenses to pick up a gallon of milk, that if they weave, or roll to a stop, or heaven forbid, forget to buckle their seatbelt, then they will be arrested and strip-searched without the presence of an attorney or parental permission.

We need to know, to walk the line of law, set our cruise controls, air up our tires, and obey the rules of all cities, counties, and states before we dare hop in our cars and drive to grandpa's house to hunt ducks, or deer and not check the laws of the land for transporting weapons across state lines.

We need to know.   We need clarification.  We need details.  We need more folks to find out what in the world we are doing talking about Obama's ire regarding the decision of the Supremes concerning his unconstitutional Health Care Bill, when stripping that bill of a forced compliance to purchase insurance, is nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to strip-searching of Americans and foreigners alike. But when you consider the fact that uninsured Americans could be strip-searched if Obamacare as it is written, is ruled legitimate, and we fail to purchase health- insurance, we have got to rethink EVERYTHING we think.

Tell me you are mistaken, Marty.  Tell me I'm over-reacting to an over-zealous blogger's opinion and interpretation of the Supreme's recent ruling.  Tell me I'm a reader gone wild.  Please. Otherwise, I'm gonna move to Canada, sit inside my cabin in the woods, shut down all communication with the outside world, and never come out. God have mercy.  selahV

In what is certainly one of the most grotesque disemboweling of civil liberties since Congress last took a vote, the Supreme Court of the United States has granted unfettered authority to police or jail officials to conduct strip searches on any person arrested for any crime. So, dear reader, the next time you are stopped for a traffic violation by an officer who decides to make you an example, you could find yourself standing naked, exposed and exposing while a police officer or jailer looks you over in a way that would make a nearsighted urologist blush.

This kind of corrupt, Third World, dictatorial ruling opens the door for unreportable, unprovable molestation and rape.

In what is certainly one of the most grotesque disemboweling of civil liberties since Congress last took a vote, the Supreme Court of the United States has granted unfettered authority to police or jail officials to conduct strip searches on any person arrested for any crime. So, dear reader, the next time you are stopped for a traffic violation by an officer who decides to make you an example, you could find yourself standing naked, exposed and exposing while a police officer or jailer looks you over in a way that would make a nearsighted urologist blush.

In what is certainly one of the most grotesque disemboweling of civil liberties since Congress last took a vote, the Supreme Court of the United States has granted unfettered authority to police or jail officials to conduct strip searches on any person arrested for any crime. So, dear reader, the next time you are stopped for a traffic violation by an officer who decides to make you an example, you could find yourself standing naked, exposed and exposing while a police officer or jailer looks you over in a way that would make a nearsighted urologist blush.

In what is certainly one of the most grotesque disemboweling of civil liberties since Congress last took a vote, the Supreme Court of the United States has granted unfettered authority to police or jail officials to conduct strip searches on any person arrested for any crime. So, dear reader, the next time you are stopped for a traffic violation by an officer who decides to make you an example, you could find yourself standing naked, exposed and exposing while a police officer or jailer looks you over in a way that would make a nearsighted urologist blush.

In what is certainly one of the most grotesque disemboweling of civil liberties since Congress last took a vote, the Supreme Court of the United States has granted unfettered authority to police or jail officials to conduct strip searches on any person arrested for any crime. So, dear reader, the next time you are stopped for a traffic violation by an officer who decides to make you an example, you could find yourself standing naked, exposed and exposing while a police officer or jailer looks you over in a way that would make a nearsighted urologist blush.

America Is A Cauldron Of Frogs

In that cauldron is brewing a bunch of unsuspecting, uninformed, uninterested, apathetic citizens which are simmering in a stew of totalitarianism.  From health-care purchase being forced upon people and businesses, to food police seizing a 4-year-old child's lunch in North Carolina and reprimanding a mother for neglecting to add a bag of carrots to her turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, chips and apple juice.

Economic liberty is under assault.  We must purchase what the government says or we face fines and imprisonment.

Personal liberty is under assault.  We must eat what the government says to eat and force-feed our children what the government says or the government will seize our choices and force-feed our children warmed-over, frozen chicken nuggets.

Religious liberty is under assault.  Religious institutions must provide medicinal methods which violates the conscience and moral convictions of pro-life, Christians. Chaplains in the military prohibited from reading a letter from their Bishop informing members of their faith that the government is requiring religious institutions pay for abortive procedures that violate their faith. 

If I sit in this cauldron long enough, I'm sure the new rules of government that prohibits deodorant for government employed folks (whew, we're gonna have some stinky soldiers), will trickle down and prohibit me from boarding any public transportation if I dare use my stick of baby-soft Secret beneath my arms.  Taxpayers will probably have to pay for professionally trained dogs to sniff our underarms before entering the TSA body-scan machines and undergoing intrusive pat-downs.

Lord have mercy on us all.

I am quite concerned that the President of the United States at this moment is turning up the heat on the fire beneath the cauldron of totalitarianism in America.  I hate to be an alarmist; I'm not prone to believe conspiracies. But evidence is evidence, and facts are facts.

If the "Twitter", "Facebook", "Linkedin", "Google", "IPAD" Apple generation doesn't wake up soon, their liberties will be cooked as well as their ability to countback change from a twenty-dollar bill. 

It's really not my optimistic bent to get my hair-ribbons in a twist over the temporal properties of this earth.  But as a Christian, I cannot sit idly by and not take issue with the fact that the person in the White House, who is an elected official bound by the Constitution, and his advisors, are dictating what we free-born, naturalized and sworn-in citizens must do.  I do not want to "fundamentally transform America" as per Barack Hussein Obama's progressive and socialistic ideology.  It's wrong.  Flat out, shut-the-front-door wrong.

[AND AS LONG AS I'M POSTING ABOUT LIBERTIES AND ASSAULTS, I may as well add another link on Religious Discrimination in Vanderbilt University.]

WHEN FIRES RAGE

It saddens me.  Even though fires are what give my grandson his vocation, and the possibility of fires demand more firemen be trained and employed, it still breaks my heart to see the destruction a raging fire causes.

I've shared photos with you two days ago of a place here in Southeast Oklahoma that takes my breath away each time I see it.  It's so serene...so pure and clean.  The photo on the left is one I plan to make into a greeting card.  However...

...yesterday afternoon a fire which had burned over 4,000 acres near Medicine Park, jumped a road and headed straight for this little community.  The photo of the tarantula (right) I took that was crossing the road with a couple of partners just outside of my lens. Over and over I heard of more engines and water being needed on the scanner-radio.  I also heard of trailers burned to the ground.  The entire community of businesses and homes were evacuated.  With 35-mph winds prevailing, and drought in our area, it will be a miracle if the fireman from over 20 stations are able to hold the fire at bay.

My grandsons, Ryan and Jordy, were two of the many firefighters battling the blaze.  I've prayed for them alot through the night.  My daughter has prayed....and listened anxiously to the online scanner.  It's not easy to fight fires anytime, let alone in temperatures topping 104.  Even the evening held temps of 96.  Tomorrow there's no relief in sight, either.  Firefighters will deal with heat exhaustion.  Many of these men are volunteers.  They don't get paid to protect our lands and homes from fire.  They do it because they care.  They care about their community, and their neighboring communities.

It's rather surreal.

One week a place is at peace and blossoming with the serenity of heaven on earth.  The next week it is a charred and ruined land...tarantulas gone, the roadrunner I saw chasing something (most likely a snake), into the brush, is probably gone, too.  Houses, trailers, homes...gone...structure fires is what they are called.  Homes are what residents call them.  I do feel sad.  My husband preached in a little church in Medicine Park when we first came to Oklahoma.  They are sweet, dear people.  I know some are now homeless.  Just as they were homeless years ago, when a tornado ripped through the town.  Some residents packed up and moved on.  Others stayed and rebuilt--much like these Okies will do when the fire has taken all it can take. 

All across America, people are homeless.  Floods throughout the heartland.  Tornadoes dotting the nation.  And soon it will be hurricane season.  I've watched as families cried at the loss of their loved ones...of property...and livelihoods.  It makes me see how blessed I am to have what I have.  I am so grateful for my grandsons who brave the elements and fire which threaten to destroy the peace of my neighbors.  I am so grateful for the volunteers who fight tirelessly all night then go to their jobs each day.

How much we take for granted in life.

I listened to the dispatch report a domestic disturbance.  A husband and wife arguing.  I wonder if the officers will be okay as they approach these two discontented people and enter their dysfunctional lives.  I pray so.  I pray they'll all be fine.  I pray for the families around our country who are hurting and unemployed.  I know their pain, their fear, their anxious thoughts.  It is not fun.  May God grant to all the peace that passes all understanding as they stand the trials upon their faith.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7. 

To get a BETTER idea of how gorgeous this place is, take a virtual tour of  Medicine Park, Oklahoma (/link)..  It's beautiful...or it was.  Today's light will bring a clearer picture.  May God be with them all, and may we be there for them before the embers cool.  selahV

THIS photo was the bridgeview as my friend, Karen, and I left Medicine Park a couple of weeks ago.  I hope I can still cross this wooden bridge next week and see some green still growing.

[To VIEW an ENLARGEMENT, just click on the photos] 

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA TORNADO FOOTAGE

In the aftermath of horrendous tornado that just hit Tuscaloosa, volunteers walk carefully through piles of rubble to carry out a child on a door.  Unbelieveable.  Pray for these people.  And all those in the last few days who've seen the destruction of nature.  Pray for Georgians as this system churns towards them.

WARNING! THERE MAY BE A KILLER IN YOUR ATTIC

Forget cholesterol, french fries and McDonald's Happy Meals!  That is the least of our worries.  Forget recalls on China's toys.  Let's talk the EPA and how their silence about Zonolite is murdering milliions as I type these words.

Read the horrendous story and pass it on to others.  This is not about old men who work in mines for years.  This is not about insulation lying untouched in the attic.  This is about deadly fibers throughout millions of homes that affect every technician, electrician, and person who has ever climbed into an attic to install a wire, or collect the Christmas ornaments.  Please read this article.  Your baby's life is at stake.  This asbestos ladened, and Zonolite filled insulation has been installed in attics and walls from the 1940's to the 1990's.

Did you read that?  As late as the 1990's.  That's houses we are living in and purchasing today.  That's buildings we frequent.

Most doctors do not even explore what could be causing all the lung problems that affect patients today.  Is it really second-hand smoke?

It makes me wonder.

How many of our schools and churches are filled with this insulation?  How many of our children are at risk?

CLICK HERE AND READ THIS STORY today, then email everyone you know...it may save your grandchildren's lives.  Our government should be ashamed for not emphasizing this to the unsuspecting American public.  It's outrageous.  More so than macaroni and cheese being served in school lunches.  selahV

The link above is only Part One of a FOUR-PART story of this situation. 

BAPTISTS DETAINED IN HAITI CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING

Morris Chapman, SBC Executive Committee President, wrote an article requesting prayer for the Baptist detainees in Haiti.  It breaks my heart that this Christian group who wanted to help these children are being slapped with charges of child kidnapping by the Haitian government.  As I read through Dr. Chapman's article in the Baptist Press, I couldn't help but wonder if this terrible situation could have been avoided if the International Mission Board had been involved in their ministry--if only in an advisory capacity--from the beginning.  The SBC has so many people who know the ins and outs of regulations and laws with our Disaster Relief teams and boards, that surely, they could have helped this ministry group from facing such a situation.  See Chapman's article HERE.

May God intervene and have these volunteers released soon.  May His comforting spirit be with them and their families in the United States.  May the children of Haiti find someone to help them through this experience.  selahV

Devotion for Today, and "IF God is in Control..."

Last week I wrote a devotional for Devotional Christian entitled: When Life Falls Apart, Jesus Holds It Together.  It is published today at their site.  I am compelled to link it here for my readers in light of some of my posts of late.

It is not my intention to create more fear in our lives as I write about combustible gases on tankers, trials of terrorists in New York, and the injustice of health-care reform in America.  It's also not a weakness in my faith that nudges me to write prayer requests for my brother's situation with emphysema or the safety of his daughter as she lives in New York city.  My faith is strengthened by my dependence on the Lord.  My posts are meant to show our complete reliance upon Him as we do what He leads us to do in the scheme of things as we walk in this world.  I was reminded by a dear friend today that nothing and no one can do anything "unless it is given to him of the Lord".  In other words, God is in control.

We might ask, as a reader recently wrote me via email, "If God is in control, does that mean He is controlling us?"  Whew!  That's some  heavy stuff to lift above our finite minds, isn't it?  To believe otherwise would make us seem to question the sovereignty of God.  But to dissect the entirety of this question, one must also remember God's sovereignty is big enough to allow us choices in life.  With every choice comes a consequence.  And the blessing within God's protective grace is that He is, indeed, in control of the consequences, too.  Who are we to challenge His decisions?  Who are we to tell Him when to pour forth rain, withhold it, or grant us sunshine?  Who are we to decide which calamity will bring greater peace? Who are we to tell him that our illness is not the best part of His plan for us? if we trust with all our heart that He rules upon this earth as He sees fit for His glory?

Maybe the question we should ask is, If God is not in control, do I want to be?  Really?

EXPLOSIVE COMPANIONS, COMBUSTIBLE LIQUID, YEMENI AND BOSTON

How can Americans trust ships from Yemeni to enter the ports of Boston?

"How vulnerable are the tankers? It’s safe to assume that the Coast Guard and police throughout the Port of Boston will step up security on tankers originating in Yemen. Also give some credit to the liquefied natural gas industry. Their double-hulled tankers boast an excellent safety record. But how good will security be on the Yemeni end? Could terrorists with explosives gain access to a tanker that requires more than a day at the dock to load?

Distrigas president Frank Katulak says that protection at the French-owned facility in Yemen will meet US standards and remain under the control of European security personnel." Larry Harmon, The Boston Globe, boston.com

"Meet U.S. standards"??????

In light of the Fort Hood Massacre of soldiers by the hand of a fellow soldier who was a terrorist confiding with the Yemeni terrorist guru, and bent on destroying the "infidels"?

Considering the Christmas terrorist who trained in Yemen, and avoided all kinds of security breaches, and came very close to blowing up a plane en route to America?  And instead of whisking this man away to be interrogated by the FBI and military, he is mirandized and given a public defender?

Wouldn't you think it behooves the United States businesses to be a bit wary of the security of any ship coming from Yemen?  Nah. The President of the company purchasing this volatile liquefied gas says they can trust the security of America's system.

Uh...sorry, folks.  I don't trust the system lately.  Congress is holding hearings this very week on the inability of our national security system and delving into the absolute failure of our security system.  And until the system is fixed, I am more than concerned that these ships are going to be floating on waters in Massachusetts.  I don't think the money this company makes is nearly as important as the people who live and work in the Boston area. 

For more information on this explosive companionship, read HERE.  In the meantime...someone call Curt Shilling.

PASSIONS VERSUS PASSION

I read my friend Vicki's post in my reader today.  This lady makes so much sense.  She's a breath of fresh air.

I remember when I had my newspaper that I loved writing positive stories about things people did in the community.  My paper focused on family, faith, community and country (and, occasionally, apple pie).  Over time, several organizations (good ones mind you), all wanted coverage.  I found myself trying to champion their causes and ended up having difficulty writing the kind of stories from which my paper had become "known".   As a one-woman-publisher-editor-writer-in-chief, I couldn't keep up with the advertisement needs, the stories, and the demands from cause-oriented organizations.  My passion submitted to the passions of others.

As Vicki describes in her post, we can do this with our faith.  We can get so bogged down with all the "right" and righteous causes in life that we lose our focus (Oh how guilty I am of that).  We can so easily be caught up in the winds of politics, the breezes of community involvement and world causes, that our passion for Jesus wanes.

We can become so engrossed in counseling couples in troubled marriages, dissecting their problems, that we fail to point them to the Problem Solver--Christ himself.  We can allow the couple, the friend, the family member, to become dependent upon us and our answers rather than Jesus.

We can be so consumed by the injustice, cruelty and sin in the world, that we fight battles with rules and legislation, petitions and marches, then fail to remember the victory has been won.  The real war is within each and every soul.  We can be so enamored with the plight of man, we miss opportunities to share the peace of Christ.  We can be so involved in the battles of others, we forget to put on the whole armor of God ourselves.  We can be so enamored with the sound of our own voice, opinion and belief that we cannot hear His voice, seek His truth, or trust in His precepts.  We listen to the strategies of man.  We follow men, rather than Jesus.  No wonder we get disappointed and discouraged.  No wonder we get weary.  "Apart from God we can do nothing."  Yet we think we must be strong in our own strength, and certain in our own intellect.  We get ideas and do not take time to discern the origin of those ideas.  Are they really from God?

We can debate points.  We can argue.  And we can strive.  But until we rest in Jesus and allow His Spirit to flow through ours, we achieve nothing.  Our work is in vain--and often becomes vainglorious.  And our passion loses its fuel, its power--Jesus Christ.  When we see discord, strife, deceit and confusion--we know Christ is not present.  We know this because God is not the author of confusion.  God does not lie.  And all my busyness should magnify Him--not me.  Not some organization or "cause".  Often we reverse the order which creates disorder.  Christ doesn't magnify the organization, the cause or us.  He magnifies Himself through us and in us as we seek His face and focus our attention upon Him.

May we all seek the fullness of His Spirit and wallow in His glory each new day.  selahV

[Visit my friend Victoria Gaines at WINDOWS TO MY SOUL.  She's a precious woman of God who seeks Him in all she is and all she writes.]

I'D RUN TOO

A young pastor, Jonathan Paul Ayers, was killed this week by drug enforcement agents dressed in plainclothes.  Allegedly the young 28 year-old Baptist pastor from Lavonia, Georgia had just dropped off a lady at the convenience store.  She was allegedly under investigation for cocaine dealing.  Pastor Ayers wasn't under suspicion of anything.  Don't know about the validity of the situation, but do know after I watched the video of the incident, I don't see how I would have done much differently than the pastor if I'd been accosted by two men with guns at a gas station.  I think, had I seen two strange men coming at my car with guns drawn, I'd have gunned my gas pedal and run too.

This is the account by ABPnews.

Please pray for this young pastor's wife, Abby Ayers, please remember her name.  She is 16 weeks into her pregnancy with their first child--a child who will never know his/her daddy.

[UPDATE...by the account and by the video, this is a drug-sting gone horribly wrong.  I'd only seen the video and the AOL account of the story when I posted this.  Then I read the story from Baptist Press.  Pastor Ayers will be sorely missed by his congregation.  The community has lost a man who wanted to love them and share Jesus with them all.  Please pray for Lavonia, Georgia in this terrible time.  May God touch this community with an outpouring of His Spirit].

GOTTA LOVE THAT GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY ~ LOL

If it wasn't so ridiculous, it would be funny!  However...

...as President Obama seeks to sell America on government-run ("public option") insurance, my husband called the special number the Veterans Administration gives to automatedly refill his thyroid medicine.  The good news is, he ordered it a few days ago and the medicine arrived in the mail today, (Thursday).  The bad news is, VA filled the wrong prescription and sent hubby something he didn't need at all.  Isn't that efficient?

We wanted to give VA the benefit of the doubt, so we looked to see if the prescription numbers were similar.  Nope.  They couldn't have been more different if they'd been in a different language.  One was all numbers and the other had a combination of numbers and a letter.  My husband joked, "Hey!  Maybe this is the "red" pill they said we could take instead of the medicine we needed."

Good thing hubby has enough pills to last till the VA possibly refills it correctly when he orders it again tonite.  Otherwise, he may have to go to the Emergency Room to get a prescription.  Who knows about the VA?  They may get it right this time, or they may simply tell us he's already been sent the medicine.  Think I'm kidding?  (One time my husband went for his appointment to have his blood drawn.  A few days later he received a notice in the mail that he had missed his appointment, and so they told him if he missed another, he'd be dropped from the program.  You wouldn't believe the riga-ma-row he had to go through to make them realize that he had to have kept the appointment since they had his bloodwork report.)  Geez!

And Obama wants us to believe the "government-run" "public option" insurance Congress wants to force folks like us to have (and folks like my daughter to pay for with higher taxes), is gonna make life hunky dory?  I wasn't born yesterday, folks.

By the way, in case you think my hubby entered in the wrong prescription number (with all the medicines he's taking for congestive heart disease), that is not the case.  My husband may be sick, but he ain't blind and he ain't stupid!  He carried that little bottle of thyroid medicine into the bedroom--AWAY from the kitchen--to make the automated call.  No mistakes on this end.  And just in case you have the "notion" I am saying that the government is incompetent, "let me be clear".  I am.  selahV

[8-25-09, UPDATE...NO LAUGHING MATTER...Veterans Department sent out over 1200 notices to veterans telling them they had ALS or the fatal Lou Gehrig's Disease .  The letters were sent by mistake.  These shocked and frightened veterans learned the diagnosis was wrong after some went through painful tests to see what stage they were in.  Another example of our government's inefficiency.] 

FROM SPIRITUAL TO MUNDANE "FISHY" STUFF AND "MOB MENTALITY"

Just taking a quick break from my series on Thessalonians to mention a mundane matter.  Fishy stuff, and Mob mentality.

I've been watching the speculations of pundits, spectacles of health-care town hall meetings, and explanations from politicians and meeting attendees for some time now.  Last night I was listening to one news show, and a panel was trying to figure out why the White House and politicians were so adamant about calling vocal citizens "mobs".  Some of the discussion hit upon the distant drumming of these people not being representative of Americans.  The pro-health-care reformers and single-payer proponents are calling their opposition crazies, and dangerously reminiscent of Tim McVeigh anger, and militant enthusiasts.  So, it occurred to me that possibly I have an answer for those pundits who are wondering why The White House wants everyone in America to report their neighbors' casual conversations, forwarded emails, websites, ETC. (my newspaper column, COMMON MATTERS), to [email protected]. *

Now, to be quite clear, I don't have the answer, just an answer.  Who could possibly know the mind of the present administration?  They're never clear.  But in light of the following statement by President-elect Obama, I submit it may be part of the reason:

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set.  We have to have a Civilian National Security Force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded..."?

Could calling the thousands of citizens protesting health-care and government invasion of their lives have rendered these opposing voices as "mobs", "crazies" and "fear mongers" have another goal in mind?  Could it be just the fuel our now, duly elected, President Obama needs to form this National Security Force, he thinks we need?  Could this National Security Force be the force to reckon with these "right-wing fringe groups", "astroturfers", "organized", "orchestrated", "manufactured" people, who are "distorting the facts" and creating fear in the hearts of the real America?  Could we need a "Force" to assist city police departments, to control these "angry, yelling" crowds who may swell all the more, the more the government ignores their voices?  Is this the force we need to enforce the rules of that HATE Bill that's been passed?  I don't know.

It's hard to discern which people will be considered "mobs", "haters", and "fear mongers".

Did you hear about that one man who got bullied by some thugs who didn't like him handing out flags and buttons that said, "don't tread on me"?  Yep.  Happened last week.  He was an African American Republican and some guys (one, another African American), knocked him down to the ground and called him the "N" word.  Is that the kind of "mob" they are talking about?  Or is it just "mobs" of citizens who are tired of being ignored by their government and saying so?  You know..."mobs" of housewives, nurses, doctors, retired salesmen, and white-haired old ladies and veterans (who know what the VA health-care delivers).

This makes me wonder, if all these citizens with "mob mentality" that politicians, today, are citing will someday be silenced with greater force than ever imagined in America?  Surely not.  This administration doesn't seem too worried about people intimidating people.  Our Attorney General's office just quashed the prosecution of the Black Panther dudes who showed up with a billy-club at the voting booths last November, so why would they be disturbed by a four folks who jostled a man who was giving away flags and buttons saying "don't tread on me" at one of those town-hall meetings?

I don't know about you folks, but I've never considered myself part of a "mob".  I've had times when I did not like what I saw my government doing, and even went to a couple of town hall meetings to voice an opinion.  That was years ago, however.  I never did anything that would or could be classified as a "mob".  I listened to each side.  I tape-recorded their words.  I wrote letters, even hand-delivered a couple to some politicians.  When that didn't do much, I started a newspaper.

That was then.  Today, well...I'm gonna just go to a few town hall meetings and see for myself what all the fuss is about.  And I'm gonna write on-line what I think about it while I still can.  selahV

* [UPDATE, Aug. 17, 09...The White House disabled the email address for reporting "fishy" emails and conversations among Americans.  Guess they realized that was rude and an invasion of privacy.  Why else would they remove it, after requesting information?] 

DON'T QUOTE ME...

...BECAUSE I'M PARAPHRASING HOW I UNDERSTOOD WHAT I HEARD.

I was watching Laura Ingraham tonite who was sitting in for Bill O'Reilly (yeah, I watch The Factor sometimes).  Tonite it was particularly interesting because Laura had a guest on and they were talking about the health-care bill and something in it about old folks like me.  If this passes (which in some form or another, it will, eventually), they want a mandatory meeting for old folks with a government representative.  I didn't catch at what point an old person gets their first visit.  But the purpose of the visit was the thing that had warning bells and whistles going off in my brain.

It appears that this government rep will come and discuss with old people (like Social Security recipients, I suppose), the rationale behind their health and the care they are receiving to see if they are making the best choices.  And they may need to evaluate the fact that they don't have much time left, and they'd had a good life and so....   "Ding, ding, ding!"  soooo...they should consider putting themselves under Hospice care rather than spending money on healthcare.  I suppose the government rep will have this handy dandy little list of things that helps determine the quality of life an old person has.

Laura was pretty upset.  She said she didn't want some rep coming in and interviewing her 83 year-old dad and telling him he needed to just accept he'd had a good life.  The gal she was interviewing had a rather condescending expression (in my biased opinion) as she told Laura that it was up to her father and not her what he did.  Ah..."Ding...Ding...Ding".  I see.  So the rep will talk to the old folks and their family members won't have any say-so in the matter.  Ah...the good old national healthcare system.  Won't it be wonderful?  We'll just bump off advise the Social Security recipients.  We'll explain how they'd be better off and so would their families and all the young people in America, if they'd just step aside and go on to Gloryland as the better choice for all concerned.  And I suppose if the old person doesn't agree, the health-care system can just cut off their dialysis treatment and blood pressure medicines and chemo.  I'm just guessing though....don't quote me.

Hey, that would take care of the Social Security going bankrupt, now wouldn't it?  If all of we baby-boomers (especially those of us who are struggling financially), were to step aside for the good of the younger generation? (Surely we can see how much better that would be for our grandchildren's benefit).  Then Social Security could be solvent again.  And no one would have to pay for our healthcare, either.  Hmmmmn. 

I'm getting cynical in my old age, folks.  Downright cynical.  selahV   

A WOMAN WITH MEANING

What is a woman today? Wife? Mother? Lawyer? Doctor? Teacher? Want to venture a guess?  What role are we to play in the Kingdom? How are we to assume our role? For what purpose did God create woman?

I look at my five granddaughters and my one daughter and wonder.  Where is our world leading them?  Where is the church leading them?  I can remember a time when my father thought I should be a teacher.  When I got married at the tender age of seventeen, he was so very disappointed in me.   He never really got over that, either.  Still talks about it today.  I laugh.

I see women becoming people of notoriety which would never have been a thought in most women's minds when I was a child.  As a teen, the subjects in school were geared toward women becoming secretaries or teachers.  Most thought of being wives.  Oh, there is the few liberal-thinking, progressive women of yore that forged the way for we women to do more than tat, quilt, can beans, garden, wash diapers and hang laundry on the line.  But I wonder how progressive we have really become.

We have our fine pot-scrubbing dishwashers, our miracle-one-minute microwaves, our complete dinner in a tray, our babysitting Dish-satellite home entertainment centers, our wrinkle free clothes.  In fact, fashion houses make material with wrinkles so we don't have to even worry whether our dresses are free of crimps at all.

We probably have more time-saving devices in this century than we have time to use them.  In fact, I think that is the problem with being a woman today.  We have no time.  No time to reflect.  No time to meditate upon the Word of God.  No time to play with our children.  No energy left for our husbands because we've spent the whole day pushing those time-saving devices and programing our lives to fit into a culture that demands women be more than women.  Much more.  We are to be men, too.

I have some lady friends who I admire so much.  They are stay-at-home women.  They have educations.  They have skills.  They have gifts.  And they have talents.  But they use them in service to the Lord and others.  Their greatest joy in life is in being women of virtue.  Known for hospitality.  Encouragement.  And servanthood to others.  They are the backbone of society; they are volunteers.  They have the greatest marriages.  Their husbands respect them--sacrifice for them and validate their worth.

What is the place for a woman today? Home with the children? Homeschooling? Volunteering at schools? Driving kids on fieldtrips? Reading books to toddlers instead of plopping in a Veggie-Tale movie? Answering endless whys? Baking homemade bread? Being a helpmate to their spouse?

Or are we subject to society's whims? Is a woman's place no longer in the home but in the world of labor? Are woman to dominate the workforce and make equal pay for equal work? Are they to be the CEO's, the Deans, the Senators, the Speakers of the House, the Secretaries of Defense, the Presidents of the United States? The first woman who? Is that a woman's place?

I've been confused over this issue as long as I've known I was a female.  Being raised with four brothers and a dominating, domineering father in a world of women in search of more than what my stepmother was, has caused multiple conflicts in my mind.  Rising from childhood to womanhood in a time of Women's Liberation added to my confusion.  Media, society and psychologists demanded a better way for women and women who wanted to stay home were shunned as insignificant bon-bon popping slobs.  Not to mention ignorant.  Then finally, women began leaving the workforce and going back to being homemakers.  Homemaking became noble again.  But the confusion is still there.  The finger-pointing is still there.  The guilt is still there.

I am a woman of meaning.  I love being a wife, a mother, a grandmother and friend.  I don't like the competition of trying to be more in the world than what I was created to be.  That's just the way I am.  And anyone is entitled to disagree with me.  It doesn't bother me a bit.  I'm next to certain that you won't lose a wink of sleep over my opinions.  I really don't think it's as important to know what it means to be a woman as being a woman with meaning.  What do you think?  What does being a woman mean to you?  [copyrighted, selahV, 2007] FOR MORE OF WHAT MATTERS TO SelahV, click HERE.