SelahV Today by hariette petersen

WERE YOU AMUSED On April Fool's Day? I wonder...

This past Sunday, April 1st, 2012 marked a variety of things for me in my life.  One, it was a blessed day because we celebrated my husband's birthday. We gave him a Kindle and made a crown from the wrapper.

This year he is in the last year of his sixties.  I cannot believe he is going to turn 70 next year. It marks a milestone of sorts because it's within one month of the major heart attack he had on May 8th, 2007.  The doctors told him that most men who have the damage he had to his heart are not around to talk about it 5 years later.  I suppose that is because most men don't have a wife like me who makes him mind his "P's and Q's", eat properly, take medications faithfully, and exercise regularly.  I was so grateful to be celebrating his special day. 

The day is bittersweet for our family.  My son who was killed on Mother's Day of 2005 was not here to give my husband his annual Boston Red Sox cap.  The fact that April 1st comes and goes without Chad's presence leaves a void, only God can fill.  And He does. With family surrounding us and sharing one another's love.

Another thing about April 1st in our family is my sister-in-law, Valerie, married her husband that day in honor of her dear brother.  But Val's husband died last year of mouth cancer that he battled for several years.  So, she was meeting her anniversary without him.  It was a hard day. I spent some time trying to encourage and comfort her with empathy I learned through the loss of my son.  She emailed and told me she was too messed up to even call her brother and wish him Happy Birthday.  We understood.  Completely.  Sometimes the pain is too fresh, too deep and too difficult to even pick up the phone, nevermind, call someone to wish them happiness when we should have been able to return the greeting with a Happy Anniversary.  She sent me a sweet email the next day about the grace of God.  I sent her an email back with a link to a super uplifting song about how Mom's look the other way when their sons are not all they want them to be.  She has two sons.  Val said she cried again, but that time it was a good kinda cry.  Emotions ran from one spectrum to the other on Sunday.

Of all things, one of my best email buddies, whom I've known since I started blogging in 2006, emailed to tell me her first grandchild arrived on...drum-roll please. April 1st.  I'm so excited for her.  What a joy to hear!

Couple that with the wonderful fact that we were able to have our son's two girls with us to celebrate my husband's birthday dinner, and that both my shift-working grandsons had schedules that allowed them to be with us to celebrate the big 69, it turned out to be a wonderful day.  My daughter's girls and my son's girls and I went for a meadow-walk in the back 40 acres.

It was so much fun to watch them gather wildflowers and ooh and aah at the horses and new foal, which the horses would not let us near. (click on photos to enlarge)

To top it off, it was Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter.  We celebrated how Christ entered Jerusalem to the praises of the multitudes and the shouts of Hosanna!  What a perfect way for us to fuse our celebration remembrances of earthly things to the eternal remembrance of our King. Celebrations. Praises. 

Some folks may be amused to take April 1st and concoct ridiculous hoaxes, and treat folks as FOOLS. Some folks find sport in spending the day thinking up ways to trick others into believing a lie for their own pleasure and amusement. You wouldn't believe the jokes my husband has had played on him at times. This year we got a flat tire on our way back from Texas from picking up our granddaughters. Nail in the tire. Not funny.

However, something unique and significant occurred this year-- much different than most years.  And some folks paid no mind to it.  They had no regard to what might be objectionable...or dishonorable for remembering Christ's entrance to Jerusalem, or His weeklong preparation to shed His blood on the cross for us.  I do wonder sometimes what in the world we find amusing about some things made for secular godless thought.  As I considered sharing this post, I happened to open an email I received.

And I opened up a devotional from Dr. Adrian Rogers delivered to my email several hours ago from his daily devotional site.  In light of all the events and circumstances which surrounded my life the last few days, and the life of Christ so many years ago on Palm Sunday, I found it rather ironic that Dr. Rogers shared the origin of the word "AMUSE":

"It's a combination of two words. Muse means to think, and the alpha prefix in front of it means "not to."

Perhaps that is the major problem with us in the world today.  We want to amuse ourselves with basketball, Nascar, hoaxes, and pranks at another's loss or expense.  We want to amuse ourselves, please ourselves, and don't think what it may cost another for our amusement and pleasure.  We fail to take time to consider the marvels of our Creator as we rush about our day to amuse ourselves.  We muse amiss.  And when our muse gets away from us, our thinking is out of control.  Simply put, we don't think. We don't think about feelings.  We don't think about consequence. We don't think about another's perception.  Nor do we think about God's.  And that may be the least amusing thing about "April Fools Day" to date.  If so, the joke is on us, don't you think?  selahV

Protesting, The American Way and The Irony of It All

Wall Street Occupiers are protesting rich people.  They want the Billionaires and Millionaires ("Fat Cats" as President Obama calls them), to give them their money.  That's in part because Warren Buffet (billionaire), says the rich need to pay more taxes.  "Spread the wealth around."

So,WHAT IF...

the Billionaires and Wall Street CEO's all move to the Cayman Islands and take their money with them?  Then what are the "Occupiers" gonna have to protest?  Oh...they can protest more unemployment. Momma use to say, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."  Drum-roll please..."dum de dum de DUMB..."

Congressman, Jesse Jackson Jr. to the rescue!!

JJ-Jr. wants President Obama to use his executive powers to declare a national emergency (do an end-run around Congress), and hire all 15 million unemployed at 40-thousand a year.*  It will only cost 800 billion of tax-payer money the first year. And somehow these unemployed workers are going to return a profit?  What are the jobs these occupiers going to do?  well, I imagine they will:

help stand guard at the voting polls next November so the AFL-CIO can intimidate voters.

or maybe they will stand around hugging trees so loggers can't cut down trees.

or they could stand on Texas borders and greet the illegal aliens as they come into the country.

or maybe they could just hand out more AK-47s to the drug-cartels in Mexico.

or they could help send out more checks to Obama's cronies to fund his re-election.

or perhaps they could drive the President's golf cart.

orthey could take turns washing Obama's mult-million dollar campaign bus.

or maybe they could form a human chain around more companies that are hiring illegal foreigners from taking away our poor-people's jobs.

or maybe they could pick up cigarette butts and trash they've left on Wall Street.

or maybe they could make some more solar-panels that won't sell in America.

or maybe they could infiltrate school cafeterias and investigate how much of that nutritional food is being dumped in the trash-cans.

or they could go door to door with bathroom scales and make obese people weigh-in, and then issue citations to anyone 25 pounds over-weight.

Wall Street want 500 Billion dollars (that is one half of one TRILLION dollars, folks) to pay off their student loans.  What ever happened to WORKING YOUR WAY through college?  OH...YEAH...I forgot, protesters are working.   In Los Angeles someone is paying $11.40 an hour to protest.

And they're probably getting unemployment checks ta-boot.  Ah, the benefits of being an American.  Sometimes you just gotta laugh.

*hubby is thinking about quitting his full-time courier job with a local realtor and applying for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s 40-thousand a year job. HOT DOG!!!

I Don't Believe Obama

waited this long to insist upon his birth certificate be made available.  Not only has he been the focus of "birthers", he's been the butt of thousands of jokes, innuendo and suspicion for over two and a half years.

I was reading several comments on the news media announcements and low and behold you would never believe what I read.  Now the liberals are saying the "birthers" will never let this rest because they will say the newest released certificate is counterfeit.  You know...like other documents are counterfeited.  Like other signatures are forged....like, well....like other government documents...like passports, Social Security cards, and driver's licenses, and currency.  So, do you think this is over?

Before you answer....

Take a peek at the following documents which just came to my attention via email.

 

   to ENLARGE for greater viewing, just click on the photo.

This my friends, tells me that we can trust the speculations to continue.  ANND...as all of us know, that is what TRUE journalists report anyway.  Speculation, innuendo, opinion, angles, slants, political persuasions, and consipiracy theories, wiki leaks, with a few facts sprinkled in between, and interviews with someone who has similar views, to reinforce all of the above.  Such fun is life.

Now...who moved the stone?  Who took time to leave the grave clothes neatly folded as if the person within simply evaporated through them?  Who stole Jesus' body?  Why didn't they bring him out to dispute those wild accounts of lying disciples that they'd seen Him alive again after the crucifixtion?  If those 500 plus new believers didn't really see Jesus, and all those witnesses didn't see Him ascend into heaven, why didn't the ones who stole his body prove it and parade His body for all to see.

Hmmmn, can I get a witness to the living Jesus in your life today?  What exactly has He done to make you KNOW He is real?  That He is no counterfeit?  That He passes the "smell" test of decayed reasoning and logic?  Anyone?  I need facts.  I need interviews.  Someone help me...I wanna be a journalist.

Awh....never mind...I just wanna tell the old, old story and let you believe what you decide to believe.  O'Reilly or Jesus.  Heaven or hell--it's your choice.  selahV

JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS

Ever felt the urge to confront someone?  Perhaps you've been wronged.  Perhaps you see another being wronged.  Ever follow through and confront someone, only to discover you totally mis-judged a situation, and or, the party involved?  If you're anything like me, you feel like dirt. It's kinda like jumping into a mudpuddle and splashing everyone around you.  All you can do is say I'm sorry.  But often, fall-out follows you.  The person you confront tells someone else, and pretty soon the "how-dare-they" emotions erupt within a second, or third or more parties.  Within a few hours, you not only feel like dirt--you are dirt among the conversations of man.

By nature I like to give folks the benefit of the doubt.  Yet, sometimes, I allow myself the luxury of taking someone at their word and been sorely disappointed.  When that occurs, it breeds a kind of skepticism; if I indulge that skepticism, it soon evolves into complete distrust of any party.  I hate to hear folks share a bunch of negatives about others, especially when you are not acquainted with others.  But anytime one is fed negative stuff about another, it tends to take on a life of its own.  It can sit in the back corner of one's mind till another does something similar--then it pounces upon the scene and destroys any chance of building a relationship--or reconciling one.

I'm beginning to believe that jumping to conclusions without all the facts, is a lot like jumping off a cliff without knowing the depth of the water below.  Sooner or later, you are bound to get hurt.  The only way to avoid becoming one big grease-splat in the scheme of life, is to avoid jumping in the first place.  You might disagree and say, the best thing to do is not to listen to someone dump negatives in the first place.  I like that, but it is not the norm.  Many times you cannot stop a person from unloading their garbage on your front lawn.  It just happens.  So my advice is not to go picking through another's trash.  And if you happen to get slapped with some unwanted garbage, go wash yourself off before trying to make it to the curb. 

^7"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 ⁸Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

 ⁹Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

 ¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:7-10

[NEXT post:  BEFORE YOU CONFRONT SOMEONE....] selahV

TODAY IT RAINS, Guest Post by Casey Curtis

Today, a young couple struggles to make ends meet. Today there is rejoicing for a child born; the parents grateful for this life because their second died hours after delivery. Today, a couple wonders if their marriage will make it. Today, a young woman weeps because her family does not understand her faith and rejects her. Today, a student is wondering where he should go to college. Today, a parent is wondering how to pay for college. Today, a woman saved from sin’s snare wonders how she will tell the next man she is no longer available to meet his sexual needs. Today, a once hopeful relationship is over. Today, a married woman considers abortion because she is pregnant from a one-night stand.

Today, the man who has been far from God longs to get back home to where he is loved and encouraged. Today, a marriage is hopeful despite the infidelity of the marriage bed. Today, friends are starting a new chapter of ministry in a large city. Today, a young couple is touring the countryside on their honeymoon. Today, a teenage girl wants accountability for her dating relationships. Today, a teenager would rather not be accountable. Today, a friend who majored in Bible in college has walked away from God and is searching for peace in the pursuit of knowledge apart from Scripture. Today, a 90 year old man prayed to receive Christ after many years of rejecting Him. Today, a pastor preached the funeral of a woman who took her own life. Today, a pastor lost his job because the budget can’t handle his salary.

Today, a family member is caring for a child with the H1N1 flu. Today, I get to spend time with seven high school senior girls and communicate God’s Truth; praying they will listen and obey. Today, a husband whose wife is expecting their first child awaits a call back from a job interview as bus driver; having been fired from his church because the pastor didn’t like him. Today, a single mom is looking for a job; the divorce is final. Today, a friend is beating cancer by a miraculous work of God through medicine and harvesting his own stem cells. Today, he found out his friend with three small children lost his battle with cancer. Today, a father is not sure whether his cancer treatments are working at all. Today, friends are serving Jesus all across our nation and throughout the world. Today, friends who once called on the name of Jesus are walking away from His Truth and living apart from Him.

Today, it rains.

It rains, at least on this side of the clouds. For far above them, there is sunshine, as I noticed recently on a flight to California. While this trip was intended for work, and work was accomplished, the Lord had greater things in mind; at least for me. You see, the stories above are of lives with whom I have some friendship or mutual relationship, and their stories made aware to me within the last three weeks. And as a result, this pensive heart has begun to question, “What must we do when it rains?” These stories represent tragedy and triumph. And still, today, it rains.

As I write this, the rain has been steadily coming down outside of my home since early this morning. I love the rain on most days. Figuratively speaking, however, I dread the “rain” of suffering, persecution, rejection, pain, and a life marked by adversity. I, for one, hate rejection and fear that some people won’t like me. This is rain to me, but I can get over it. However, I struggle most with watching the rain in others’ lives. You see, I want to fix the problem and make it go away. But, even the counselor in me knows that mitigation of pain is not always the best option; for pain is often placed in our lives so that we may depend on the One that allows it. Isn’t it Paul who declared,

". . .There was given me a thorn in my flesh, to torment me. . .I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. For when I am weak, then I am strong. . ." 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

It’s in suffering where we realize our inadequacy; our weakness. And yet our culture tells us to “think positively” or to “pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.” Sadly enough, we’ve opted out of relying on Christ. More so, it seems, we have reasoned our way into believing that somehow He is not enough. Don’t get me wrong, there is a balance here. We must be active in our faith, but faith is acting on His Word. Yet, it appears in our conversations that we don’t know His Word. Oh, maybe we can quote it, but when the rain comes, do we live like we believe it? When the sun abounds, do we live like we believe it?

That’s the question I’m asking myself these days. It’s not enough to know His Word if it doesn’t flesh itself out in our daily actions and words. I hear people say, “I want more of Jesus.” I do too. But, the reality of wanting Him more, at least in my life, is not so much knowing more about Him, but rather, believing and acting on what I do know. Part of that is spending time with Him, in His Word, letting it transform what we think and believe; rather than trying to make it fit our idea of what we want it to be. It’s a battle. It doesn’t always fit with what our culture says. 1 Corinthians 10: 3-6, says it clearly. We must let His Truth break the strongholds that keep us in self-defeating patterns. For when we really believe Him, we will live it. It is faith living!

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. “ Hebrews 11:1

He made the rain. He brings the rain. He is Sovereign. Do you believe this? Will you live it? Will you rejoice when it rains? You see, “it’s not about you, and it’s not about now. It’s about God’s glory and forever.” And while Max Lucado is the one who coined that phrase, it’s the Word of God that declares that message. What must we do, then, when it rains?

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls." 1 Peter 1:6-9

In this journey called life, when the rain comes, remember God's promises never fail!

Bring on the Rain!
Casey Curtis

[Casey is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth, TX and lives in Dallas area where she works as the Dallas/Ft. Worth recruiter for Oklahoma Baptist University of Shawnee, OK.  She has a BA in Marketing, a Master of Arts in Christian Education, and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family.]   

TESTING IT ALL...by SelahV

Some things just don't pass the smell test.  You know the minute a suggestion is made...within seconds of hearing someone's opinion or commentary.  You quickly know what is good and what isn't.

Many things don't have to be tested.  The Word of God is clear on many issues.  And what is not directly written in black and white can be determined by the principles of God's word.  My husband once told the youth in our church that "what they never do, they never have to ask forgiveness for."  A friend of mine once told me, "When in doubt leave it out."

There are so many folks condoning so many things these days.  Ministers disagree with ministers.  Fewer and fewer people preach purity and holiness.  Fewer teach to present ourselves as living sacrifices or consecrate ourselves to live lives "without wax" [in sincerity and truth].    

What about you?  Do you test the words you hear from others?  Do you take what a person says as truth simply because you know them or you think you know them?  Or do you search the scriptures and pray, study and test "all things"? Do you seek godly counselors?   selahV

GOTTA HAND IT TO OBAMA

He sure can talk.

He says he wants to set up a team of health "experts" and "doctors" who can eliminate "the waste" in healthcare.  Uh...folks...I think I am his "waste".  Me.  A senior citizen who can drain the system because I am bound to need more and more healthcare as I age.  Of course, part of the way he can control my "waste" is to eliminate the unnecessary tests because his "experts" will tell me what I need and don't need.  Folks, I hate to be a wet blanket, but those "experts" can't determine anything from Washington about ME in Lawton, Oklahoma.

When I go to the doctor and tell them what is wrong with me, the best thing they can do is "guess" what test I need..."guess" what my problem is...and "guess" what medication to give me.  Why?  Because I am an individual who has individual needs based on MY problems...my history...my allergies, etc.  For the most part, it is always a guessing game.  My cardiologist with all his fancy machines and tests, echo-cardiogram, chemically induced stress test, and BP checks...determined that I "most likely" (an 85% probability), had a blockage in the front part of my heart.  It took a test to rule it out.  The test was the heart-catherization.  Yeah, it's expensive.  But the only other option was to forget about it and take the chance I'd drop dead of a heart attack.

My husband's cardiologist (one of the best in Oklahoma), determined by a few tests and his best "guess" that his symptoms was most likely a pinched nerve.  Several tests later, and an open-heart surgery to repair 5 blockages, proved to this notable expert that his best "guess" was wrong.  Dead wrong.

So with Obama's bill, all my health records will now go to Washington to get a protocol of care determined by Washington's federal board.  Based on a model of many folks.  Ain't that just ducky?     

According to Obama, healthcare is all about "waste".  Could some of the "waste" be those babies, children, and adults who will put an added drain on the healthcare system because of their chronic-diseases, disabilities, and castastrophic illnesses?  I wonder.  Based on data accumulated, the probability of a person with a specific cancer has only X-amount of chance to survive even with the best of treatments.  So, what do you think this federal board will decide is the most appropriate care for them? 

He says we need "affordable" healthcare.  Whose definition of "affordable" are we using, anyway?

Obama's bill is gonna take care of all of us out here.  "I wanna cover everybody," he says.

Let's get real.  He doesn't want to cover anyone.  He wants all of "us" to cover everybody.  He wants YOU to cover ME.  He will ensure that happens, too.  He proposes with his bill to mandate that we get healthcare.  Kinda like car insurance.  If you don't get insurance you don't get to drive your car.  I wonder, does that mean if I don't purchase insurance, he will take it from my husband's social security check, or, that I don't get to live? 

He says Americans need to "give up things that don't make them healthier."  Uh..let's see.  What are things that aren't making us healthier?  According to President Obama, it is "Testing".  Hmmmmn.  So what makes us healthier?  Our diet.  Obama says one of the things that panel of experts will be in charge of doing is, "making sure our diet is what it ought to be."  Now that's a grand mandate.  Has that man been to the grocery lately?  Does he have any idea how much it costs to eat the "diet" we need to eat?  The highest priced things on the grocery shelves are fresh vegetables, chicken and fish.  I know.  I went shopping tonight to get my hubby some fruit to take in his lunch sack.

Obama pooh-poohs those folks, like me, who don't like his healthcare plan.  Folks say "Even though I don't like this devil, I like this devil better than the devil I don't know."

He said a mouthful, there.  Thing is...I don't like any devils.  They say, "the devil is in the details".  How true it is of this healthcare bill.  How very true.  selahV   

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   

SECOND CHANCES, APOLOGIES AND LINGERING QUESTIONS

My lights went out yesterday.  Not for long.  Just long enough to cut the power to all the clocks in the house, shut down the television and reboot the computers.  A squirrel could have lost his life in a transformer.  Or a lever may have been pushed accidently in the main station.  It doesn't matter.  It happens.  We reset the clocks and push all the breakers, and start all over again. 

Many of life's intrusions are mistakes, mishaps, or misunderstandings.

Sometimes we make mistakes.  We see something someone does and we presuppose we know why they do it.  We hear something someone says, or read something someone has written, and we presume to believe the motive behind their words, the intent of their words and rationale for their words.  We, being the analytical creatures we are, then make a judgment of that person based upon our own assumptions and suspicions.  Some times we know the person intimately and because we do, we feel we have license to confront them and take issue with them regarding their actions.  Sometimes we don't know the person, and rather than approach the offending person with an inquiry to determine if we are correct in our assumptions, we simply conclude we are right and go right for the jugular and tell the offending person where they are wrong, and even why they are wrong, and what they should have done or said differently.

So.  It happens.  People accuse.  People are accused.  People issue apologies.  People accept apologies.  But then there are the lingering questions.  There are inflamed bystanders...people who carry their own sack of justice, presumptions, and ill-will.  Some do not need answers.  They just want to throw stones from glass houses and opine their own demons and transfer them to others.  Some do want answers.  They want to know why it happened.  And the communication begins in earnest.  It's then, many find purpose for life's unfair intrusion upon life in motion.

What can be learned?  What could have been said or done differently?  What can be said or done if it happens again?  Instead of wallowing in self-pity or crying foul, one simply pushes delete, accepts what is from what was and moves on into a brighter day.  Life is a series of circumstances, choices and decisions.  We don't always pick the best course of action.  Sometimes we are treated unfairly.  Sometimes we treat others unfairly.  But we grow, we change, we get better--not bitter.  And the light that goes out for a moment in time, is really nothing more than a flickering loss of power.  And once the power is restored...the light shines brighter than before in a world of darkness and gloom.  selahV

[copyrighted, 2009, SelahVToday, hariette petersen]

PROBLEMS WITH COMMENTS ON PREVIOUS POST on SOVEREIGNTY

For some unknown reason, I am unable to post comments on my own site.  And since I'm having a problem, I'm wondering if others are having a similar problem.  I assure you I have not banned your IP, nor have I banned my own IP.  I've contacted Typepad and haven't heard back from them.  So if you are experiencing difficulty, know that I am working on it from this end.

That said, I'll simply write it here my response to Luke and to Byroniac.  If you want to know what they said that generated my response, you'll just have to go read the previous post.  :)

LUKE:   Now, that all depends upon how you define "determinism" in any given situation, doesn't it? I will definitely allow you the fact that God allows stuff.  After all, He allowed Jesus to be beaten, scorned, mocked, spat upon, humiliated, and betrayed, all with His pre-determined will to pay the price for our (as in all of the "ours") sin.  He allowed that horrendous display of human rebuke of sinlessness and illustration of sinfulness of man "to carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur." Acts 4:28.  THAT, to me, is one amazing Sovereign God.  He did that to Himself if we are to believe that Jesus and He are One.

What an illustration of God's love for man!  The horrid unholiness of man was hanging on that cross--not in Jesus, but upon Him.  And it exemplifies the power of God, the forgiveness of God, the conclusions of God, the holiness of God, the attonement of God, the sovereignty of God and the love of God. And much much more.

 

I so agree that "it is really difficult to determine,humanly speaking, exactly what God is decreeing versus what God is allowing all the while considering that God is working His will in the midst of both." That's where we, as humans, must trust His Sovereignty as we live out His Word even when things seem very very wrong to us.  Christianity seems to grow in leaps and bounds when under persectution and attack.  Satan doesn't care whether sinners sin, he wants to see Christians sin and give in to their fleshly desires. That way he can use our faithlessness and our unrighteous behavior to condemn Christianity--not us.

 

Sometimes I think some well-meaning Christians are afraid to teach the whole Word of God because they think it's all ultimately upon God what we do or don't do.  I don't see that kind of relaxation of His teachings as rational. selahV

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BYRON:..I gave some thought to those verses last night and this a.m.  In fact, I went so far as to read the entire 4th and 5th chapters of Acts.  And as I've answered Luke above, I find no problem with how God's sovereign will is carried out.  I find it more of a problem that folks blame Him for whatever ill befalls us when He has given us direct laws to follow and then we blame Him for His pre-determined consequences of disobedience and self-seeking desires.  selahV

 

[NOW....LET'S SEE IF we can post comments in this post's stream.  selahV]

 

 

 

SOME QUESTIONS WORTH REHASHING...I THINK.

Way back in 2007, I posed some questions on Sovereignty on "SelahV's Questions".  I got some great feedback on them.  One of those questions came directly from a reader who emailed me with: 

SelahV: "I've been keeping up with your Sovereignty question...not sure if this has been covered....but, if God ordains everything...can we ever be out of God's will?"

If I understand this reader's question, I suppose, she wants to know if our will can ever really be on collision with God's if God is the One decreeing what we ultimately do anyway?  Thought provoking, don't you think?  I've toyed with some things lately that may be more easily understood if we knew the answer to my previous reader's question.  For instance:

1~ If Sovereignty determines all that we do, can the folks who voted for Obama be held accountable for the horrific decisions he is making regarding abortion?  We may deserve what we get, remember Israel's captivity?

2~ If Sovereignty determines every outcome, does it really matter if the Southern Baptist Convention is called Southern and Baptist in states above the Mason-Dixon line and on the western side of the country?  Everything is relative, anyway, isn't it?

3~ If Sovereignty determines what we ultimately achieve in life and undergirds every failure, what difference does it make that we manipulate, climb ladders and push folks out of the way to get ahead?   We're gonna get there anyway, aren't we?   

4~ If Sovereignty can be trusted as perfect, why do we get frustrated with the direction of the SBC, the stock market, the government, and everyday stuff?  Wouldn't this be a place to "consider the lilies of the fields and the birds in the air"? 

GOT ANY THOUGHTS?  selahV

A MINORITY VIEW WORTH PRAISING

In a democratic society we often find ourselves at the mercy of majority rule.  As I type this post, Democrat leaders in Congress are holding their breath to have a filibuster-proof majority so they will have complete control and authority to push through any agenda they deem right in their own eyes.  Regardless of nearly 47% of the rest of Americans, they will legislate, regulate, nominate, and postulate.  That's what folks do when they are in the majority.

But ya know something?  God has never been all that concerned about the majority view.  He holds a very different view to that which is the best course of action to take in life.  Recorded throughout our Biblical history are many instances in which the minority view took front stage in shaping our world.

A minority view worth praising: 

Noah stood alone in the greatest test of faith while building an ark in a land which had seen no rain.  The majority thought he was crazy.

An Egyptian princess refused to follow the Pharoah's order to kill "all" the Hebrew babies.  The majority obeyed the Pharoah. 

Caleb and Joshua wanted to forge ahead into the promised land--a minority in the group of spies.  The majority were afraid to follow God--they had no faith.

David refused to go along with the crowd and believe the Philistine giant was invincible.  The majority cowered and hid.

Joshua stood strong and said, "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord."  The majority rebelled against God and followed after gods. 

One leper thanked Jesus for cleansing and healing him.   The majority of nine others went on their way without a word of gratitude.

What about you?  Are you in the minority?  That may just be a good place in the final analysis of things.  selahV 

IF YOU COULD ASK ANY QUESTION OF...

John McCain, Cindy McCain, Barak Obama or Michelle Obama, what would it be?   To see my questions and leave yours in the comment sections, follow the links to each post below:

MASCULINE MATTERS:  John McCain, Barak Obama.

FEMININE MATTERS: Cindy McCain, Michelle Obama.

WORD OF CAUTION:  BE NICE. [GREAT DIALOGS GOING ON IN EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE BLOGS ON THE INDIVIDUALS LISTED ABOVE.  FEEL FREE TO JOIN IN.]

GLOOM, DOOM AND OTHER THINGS WORTH DWELLING UPON

Just the other day I heard it.  A couple in our church was celebrating 45 years of marriage...another, 50, still another, 20, and another, 15.  What are they trying to do?  Discourage others from divorce?

Another thing I heard:  Two teenage boys discussing how important visitation was and how they had to get all their chores done at home so they could get to church to go visit other youth who'd visited their church on Sunday.  What are they trying to do?  Debunk the myth that youth actually care about the lost?

Then I heard that there are several Christian legislators (one of whom is in my Sunday School class) who helped override the Oklahoma Governor's veto on a piece of Pro-life legislation last week.  Now all pregnant women will be able to receive a sonogram and view it before making the final decision on an abortion.  What are these legislators doing?  Trying to save innocent lives?  Are they living out the faith being taught in the Sunday School classes or something? 

A young lady was baptized just this past Sunday in our church.  Don't count her, though.  It might take something away from the newly compiled data on the health of the SBC's declining baptisms.  I read a blog with results of research of my denomination that reinforces the negativity within our convention that we are losing ground in reaching the lost.  Glad someone took our temperature.

Okay...let's roll up our pant-legs and kneel at that altar on Sunday.  Let's waken every morning with a prayer on our lips which was interrupted when we fell asleep the night before.  Let's pray for God to break our hearts for the lost and bring more and more into our presence.  May He give us boldness to share the Gospel like Dr. Bart Barber plans to do in May.  (It amazes me how folks can get all wrapped up in statistics and research that points out falling numbers, but can't get wrapped up in setting numerical goals to correct the numbers.)  Let's begin to encourage one another as Colin McGahey did when he was encouraged by Bart's post.

And maybe we could all pray for one another and praise one another's motivations and successes.  Or will dwelling on that which is pure and worthy of praise be considered futile blatherings of an old woman in the pew?  selahV 

PRAYER OF A CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN

"Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and distressed, needy and desiring.

Preserve my life, for I am godly and dedicated;

O my God, save Your servant, for I trust in You.

Make me, Your servant, to rejoice, O Lord, for to You do I lift myself up."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ever seen a reflection of yourself in another's prayer?   Can you relate to this prayer?  I entreat you to consider it as your own.  selahV

QUOTABLE WORDS, QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Why is it when a person asks a question they are automatically analyzed for asking the question?  Why must a person have an ulterior motive for voicing a question?

Just a few minutes ago I was told that "questions are not always just questions".  To be quite honest, I think this person is correct.  Sometimes questions are simply their answers.  When I ask a question I do like to have answers.  Not more questions.  My husband is notorious for answering all questions I have with a question.   It's almost like he is thinking I have some well-thought-out plan behind each question to entrap him.  We've had a bunch of laughs over it in our 42-plus years of marriage.

However when I want to know about a person, I usually begin with questions rather than analyzing them and their questions.  Call me naive and foolish.  Call me a bit intrusive.  It's just the way I am.  My brain has enough trouble dealing with straight-shootin', clear-speaking folk, without trying to analyze each and every word they say.  I just like to cut to the chase with most folks and ask them how they feel, think or believe about something.  I like to know how they came to the conclusions they've come to in life.   

Just today, I was reading the Quotable that Geoff Baggett posted for Sunday's sbcIMPACT blog.  It was simply a quote by Dr. Malcolm Yarnell who'd stated we needed to teach sinners how to pray:

“As far as a ’sinner’s prayer’ … There is no way a sinner is going to be saved apart from a prayer, so sinners need to pray, and we need to teach them how.”

According to Geoff, Dr. Yarnell's quote was "in response to a question on the “sinner’ prayer” and “altar calls,” during a panel discussion at the recent Building Bridges Conference on Southern Baptists and Calvinism."

Quite a discussion ensued on the "Quotable" at IMPACT.   To be honest, I was tired and truly wasn't all that lucid to go read all the stuff Dr. Yarnell said.  But I did enjoy reading through the comments on sbcIMPACT's stream regarding the quote Geoff posted for dialogue.  One new blogger (I'd never seen, or noticed at IMPACT or any other blog I'd frequented) posed some rather interesting thoughts on the topic and the comments in the stream, therefore I was curious as to what he might add to the discussion regarding his own salvation experience.  So I asked him a few questions--completely out of curiosity, mind you.   After all, folks have come to Jesus with as varied a testimony as there are individuals.  And while most all Believers who claim to be born-again will attest to being saved by grace through faith, we each have had our own personal steps to the Door being opened to us.

I ask you, my reading friends, is it wrong to ask someone how they came to their saving grace conclusion?  If I were to ask the following questions of you, would you be upset with me?:

1. could you tell me how you were saved?
2. when did you know?
3. how did you know?  just wondering.

If I were a lost person in search of answers, How would you answer me?  Look forward to hearing your answers.  selahV

STONED AND LUCKY TO BE SO

This a.m. I couldn't go to church.

I leaned toward the mirror to apply my eyeliner and "pop!"  Something in my back went wacko.  I couldn't move afterwards.  I couldn't bend to get dressed.  And now I'm at the mercy of my husband's care.  It's not a good thing.  Next week I must babysit my daughter's little girls.  I couldn't pick up a coffee mug, let alone my 25-pound granddaughters.

I'm not complaining.  God is going to take care of me.  He is going to heal me.  Fix the situation, etc.  My reason for sharing this little trial in my life is to ask you to pray for me.  Two percocets have me a bit stoned (well, more than a bit).   And the pain is only marginally less.  I still can't bend, and just typing creates more pain than I particularly like to rejoice over.  However, I am grateful for the percocets at this moment.

Thanks for praying.  selahV

THE EYES OF THE LORD

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch upon the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:3

In our going out and our coming in, He is watching.  The evil and the good, God sees.  Whether we act with pure hearts or with evil.  Whether we are treated with grace or with disdain.  Our Lord sees.  No matter what we face, we do not face it alone.

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him." II Chron. 16:9

"The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and him who has it, but He overthrows the words of the treacherous." Proverbs 22:12

Our actions are watched.  The treatment we render and the treatment we are rendered, it is seen.  There is no escaping the eyes of the Lord.

God be praised!  We who believe have nothing to fear or to dread.  The world's calamity does not go unnoticed.  The Lord sees and is working out all things to His glory and for His divine purpose.

He is rewarding the humble.  He is blessing the generous of heart.  He is giving peace to those in need of comfort.  He is showing Himself sufficient for those resting in His grace.  He is steadfast and tolerant to those whose hearts seek after His righteousness.  His mercy covers the penitent.  His truth lights the way of those who follow His commandments and love His precepts.  No one deceives God.

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rocks.  And He covers me there with His love.  Such hope there is in this truth.  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]   

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth..."

He's searching.

He's watching, observing.  Why?   

"...to show Himself strong..."

He's seeking an opportunity to intercede.  He longs to shelter, to provide.  He desires to make a way.  He's working things out.  He's fulfilling a purpose, a plan.  For whom?

"...in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless toward Him." II Chron. 16:9a Amplified

Oh that I'd be found blameless and loyal to my Lord when His eyes fall upon me.  When they look into my heart and search my faith, my obedience, I pray He finds something in me worthy of His mercy and grace.  May my motives be pure.

The Lord wants to show Himself strong in my life.  He doesn't want to show me strong in my life.  He wants my weakness, my dependence, my faith to rest in Him--not in the world.  To boast of myself, my wit, wisdom, ideas, creativity or ability steals from the glory that belongs only to Him.

God had helped King Asa defeat an army.  Yet when confronted with threatening from a much weaker foe, Asa crumbled and sought the aid--not of God--but another king.  And the army of the king of Syria escaped Asa.  God was not happy, so the latter part of II Chronicles 16:9 explains: "You have done foolishly in this; therefore, from now on you shall have wars."

Sad.  Asa didn't trust God to deliver him.  His fear swallowed his faith, his memory, his knowledge of God's power and strength.  I wonder.

What wars do I have as a result of my faltering faith?

The past few months the Lord has provided again and again and again for my husband and I.  I've had tremendous peace in the midst of our trials.  Every day presents us with another problem, obstacle or difficulty.  But I know Who holds those things in the palm of His hand.  Indeed!

"I know Whom I am believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day."  II Tim. 1:12

When my strength is gone, I rest.  When my brain won't work, I rest.  When my efforts prove worthless, I rest.  When I hit the proverbial brick wall, I rest.  And I praise the Lord that it is not up to me to fix anything. 

There is no shadow of turning allowed in a believer's heart when it comes to trusting God's sovereign grace and mercy.  God is good.  Completely good.  He loves me so much that He doesn't want anything but good for me.  And every good and perfect gift comes from Him.

Did God curse Asa?  Or did God know what Asa would do from that day forward and therefore told him his future fate?  I believe it is the latter.  God knew Asa's heart.  He knew he'd be angry and bitter forever.  He knew Asa would never turn to him again--he would remain as foolish in years to come as he was with his actions against the king of Syria.  What do you think?  selahV

[copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]

DO YOU KNOW A KNOW-IT-ALL?

I THINK I DO.

I've met several in my lifetime.  And they are never wrong.  It's funny now that I think about it.  I'd love to get all those know-it-alls in the same room and listen to them converse with each other, then have them all vote on the person whom they thought really knew it all!

One time I knew this person who not only knew everything, but could top any experience--good or bad--that I ever had with one worse or better.  I got so I just couldn't stand being around that person.  I couldn't carry on any normal kind of conversation with them at all.  Looking back I can see just how lonely they were--always exaggerating.  Needing attention for who they were (or rather what they really thought they weren't.)

Then there are those folks who know everything there is to know about health matters. They can tell you how to prevent everything from cancer to the common cold.  Yet, no one will listen to them.  If they would, then we wouldn't need chemo, radiation, aspirins or antihistamines.  Pity us.

Then there's that political party that knows exactly what's wrong with this country and how to fix everything.  And just as soon as they get voted in to do the fixin' they discover things are so messed up by their predecessor that there is no fixin' stuff.  Or there's just too many folks in Congress that don't wanna work with them so they can fix stuff like they got voted in to do.  It's one of those which came first the elephant or donkey.

Then there are some theologians who have all things all worked out and can tell you exactly how God designed the world to be yesterday, today and tomorrow.  But when you begin to question them, they seem to have more questions than answers.  Or they turn everything around and answer questions with sentence censoring and paragraph twisting.  They take each and every word and dissect it, interpret it and translate it to mean something entirely different than you said you meant it.  And they assume they know for a fact what your motive and intent is by the mere question itself.  And they conclude you are too ignorant to understand, too lazy to study, or too obtuse and stubborn to hear.

Know what I like about simple people?  Real bonafide sincerely simple people?  They are humble.  They know they don't know.  They do not have one pretentious bone in their body.  They have zero guile.  NONE.  They are full of questions.  And most of their questions are the most thought-provoking simple questions you'd ever want to consider. That is, if one is not given to being right about every single solidarity thing that has occurred, is occurring or will occur in the future.  But if one already has all the answers to all the questions, they find no pleasure in people with ignorant questions.

I think simple people are simply childlike.  And such is the kingdom of heaven.  Heaven's gonna be made up of childlike folks.  I'm glad.  Because I think that's where I will be.  In the meadows, stringing dandelions and clover necklaces.  Watching twelve bees work for a year gathering nectar to make my teaspoon of honey.  Dancing in fields of daisies and picking roses without thorns.  And all the know-it-alls will be sitting aloft on their pedastals of knowledge and wisdom watching all us simple folk basking in the morning dew and all-day sunshine.

Won't it be bliss?  I think so.  We will get to drink at the cool bubbling Fountain of Life where we will be filled with satisfaction forever.  Totally content.   For "blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Mt. 5:6.  That's a whole bunch different than hungering and thirsting after right-ness, don't you think?  I do, but then again, I don't know it all.  selahV [copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]

 

   

HOW DOES DEATH FEEL?

What would you say to a nine-year-old?  Especially one who'd lost her daddy not quite two years ago.  My granddaughter asked me that.  Only she inquired, "Grama, what does it feel like to die?"

I had a response, and it seemed to satisfy her.  But I wish I had asked her what made her wonder.  It would have done much more for the dialog.  I'm fortunate she expanded on her question a little.  I'm equally blessed that she finds my home a place where she is free to ask whatever, whenever.  Nothing is taboo.  But I wonder, how would you have answered her question, knowing the little I've told you?  selahV