Things I Think…
1. The air quality advisory here says it’s hazardous to go outside and breathe…which is quickly becoming a metaphor for life in general. Over the weekend you could see people on social media ramping up for the Covid and election seasons and I think I’ll just stay inside and talk to the cat…
2. The people throttling Romans 13 to fit their despite for the government are the same people that would burn you at the stake for heresy if you did the same thing to verses they agree with…
3. Most of the New Testament ethos runs counter to what comes naturally to us…if I can get past that “love your enemies” part, I’ll feel better about tackling the rest…
4. According to some Facebook faithful , the fires on Maui were from a government death ray and you lack discernment if you don’t understand that…another Christian brother informed me that those filled with the Holy Spirit know that Obama is gay, his wife is a man, rich politicians drink the blood of babies, and an assortment of other things…other brethren are ashamed that I don’t own a firearm to face the invading army crossing the southern border…Liam is going to become an indoor cat because these folks are outside the door…
5. Back to Romans 13…no, never mind…do whatever you want to do…theological arguments have no place anymore.
6. When it comes to the government, I can’t discern between malice and incompetence…but for the sake of sanity, I’m going to believe my doctors do not mean me harm…
7. If I’m reading the Bible correctly, the governments of all countries inexorably move toward being anti-christ beasts…thus, God’s people are to live as exiles in whatever country they dwell in…believing your country is the exception to the rule is folly…
8. I need to walk to build up strength in my back and legs while I can, but the air quality is such that I have to wear a mask to do so…and now I risk the wrath of the “do not comply” crowd for not wanting to breathe in the remains of California’s forests…even though there isn’t a mandate that I know of…my mandate is “do not suffocate’…
9. When will I refuse to comply? When I’m asked to violate a clear teaching of Scripture. The state demanding I wear a mask in public spaces is not in violation of Scripture (Daniel would giggle at the thought)…if I do choose not to comply with a a government mandate , I will fully expect the government to attempt to enforce my compliance and I will be willing to pay the price to obey God. Because the world is watching, I’ll make sure the Scripture is clear and not simply a reflection of my political or cultural preferences…
10. In anticipation of more ongoing madness, I hear retirement from the public square calling my name. The reality is that it’s no longer safe to speak unless you are yodeling the same songs as the extremes of church and country and it will grow more unsafe in the coming months. I never could yodel and my tastes have never been popular…I’m thinking of a newsletter for those of us just trying to follow Jesus…we’ll see…
I couldn’t read past #4 before having to post this…the idiotic turn that many Christian’s have taken reminders me of the scene in Batman Begins where all the nuts in Gotham City were unleashed upon society.
Death Ray? Only those with the Holy Spirit can discern that Obama is gay? This used to be the thing that got you a one-way ticket to a place where some really nice people will take care of you.
A certain Charismatic News website has gone full tilt over Greg Locke and has become totally blind to his grifting. Christians complain to their pastors that Jesus is to woke for them because He talked about turning the other cheeks.
Beyond sad that we believers have gone so far down the rabbit hole chasing after a savior that is just a man.
Dan,
We’re in a world of hurt…and I am without any idea of how to go forward…
The Holy Spirit does give discernment. I’m pretty sure said discernment has zilch to do with the Obamas. Sheesh!
#10 – I absolutely could not blame you for getting out of the public square. A newsletter would be a welcome alternative. Yodeling sucks anyway.
Trump may miss campaigning before the election due to the fact he may be in court.
I’ve said this before but we need to elect a statesman instead of a con man. Both Trump and Biden are corrupt.
Why in the H.E. Double hockey sticks a Christian can justify supporting either is beyon me
Christians need to get their heads out of their KJV donkeys and demand more from our legislatures
CK,
If I decide to go that direction, I’ll have an email sign up list…I’m tired of trying, but we may be able to encourage a few…
Officerhoppy,
Lack of leadership is judgment from God….and I think our number is up…
Hoppy, the way you speak, it’s hard to believe you were ever a CC pastor. 🤣 Just messin’ with ya.
CK
Hahaha!
If it helps, I was kinda on the fringe of CC. I didn’t follow their governance (Moses model), I didn’t do prophecy updates, and I didn’t tow the party line.
I was CC to let people know they would hear contemporary music and receive exegetical teaching.
I didn’t do exclusively vs by vs teaching. That is misleading and, IMO, didn’t do preaching the scriptures a whole lot of good. A vs must be taken in context, and consider the audience as well as authorial intent.
I wasn’t very good at it (preaching). But I at least made an attempt, as best I could, to be true to my calling to preach the word
CK
Btw thinking I don’t fit the mold as a CC pastor is kind of a compliment in my way of thinking
I’m simply thrilled that people will know we are Christ’s disciples by the love we have for each other–and mortified by that at the same time.
Hoppy, I was aware of all that. Still fun to bust yer chops! You may not think you were very good at preaching, but I think your approach to it is much more preferable to the CC institution’s way.
fil, I hear that.
Thank Captain!
Btw—bust away!
I need it
I wonder sometimes, if we worship the Jesus of history or our own imagination or ideal. I wonder to if we do that to manufacture hope.
In the Bible, hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness.
Losing Hope Can Lead to Depression
And then a downward spiral begins, as depression often creates feelings of abandonment and hopelessness. In both hopelessness and depression, the depressed and hopeless individual comes to feel extraordinarily different from others and remarkably alone.
So, we read scripture and live our lives in the assurance God is loving and good and will work everything to his glory and ultimate good
But is that your experience with God?
I believe in him but after 53 years of following and serving Christ that’s not my experience. I’ve put my faith, trust and hope in him only to be disappointed.
I still follow him, but I don’t have much of a personal relationship with him
I’d be a fool not to believe in God. But I think he’s been poorly represented by pastors and well meaning people. I am unsure if, as evangelicals say, he wants a relationship, or that he is as involved with humanity as many would have us believe
Again, I believe in God and my world outlook is shaped by my limited understanding of scripture. But I think a lot of what is said about him and his relationship with him is our need for hope because as some say “ a person can live forty days without food, four days without water, four minutes without air, but only four seconds without hope.”
So hope or the assurance of coming good is the lens thru which many base their relation to Christ
I dunno. Just sayin’
For many, they worship a Jesus who never was..or at least a Jesus I’m not familiar with
7. Yes that’s how I’ve read it for years. All governments crave more expansive power and deity. Add to that the antichrist beastliness of religious institutions.
Alan,
Exactly.
Both will grow worse and more brazen as the latter years arrive…
#4 I have several FB friends on mute because their posts are so weird. I can still wish them a happy birthday and check in with them from time to time.
#8 We have COVID at school. I am masking up tomorrow. Schools were warned by both the local and state health departments, and there will be more cases. At this point, I don’t really care what others think.
Linn,
Be careful, my friend…if anyone gives you trouble, tell them to call me… 🙂
Linn, our district is having cases of Covid pop up throughout the district. I got a notice that one of my kids was infected. The notice came 8 days after the infection. The school nurse said I should be tested within five days of the infection. Gotta love government work.