Self Righteous Assumptions

A Holier Than Thou Attitude

Assumptions are “just the way things are.”
Assumptions are “how its always been done.”
Assumptions are “the way the world works.”

     We Assume anyone that is different is wrong. We assume that sense most people aren't gay, then those who are, are wrong. There is great conflict about whether the bible is literal, or to be taken in contrast, or maybe its all figurative. Because of this ambiguous line, we assume that we have the power and authority to interpret the bible in a specific way that we choose. When this phenomenal translation occurs, we assume anyone who translates it any different, is wrong. We assume the homeless man on the street is a drug addict who could have done better. We assume those who are divorced and re-married are all adulterers. We assume those who are 'saved' will always be saved. 
     Why do we assume so much? We were raised believing a certain way, and maybe we still follow those same guidelines, or maybe we have ventured to find a new way to believe, either way, we think we are right. I can't help imagining that the Muslim believes with all his heart that he is correct in what his religious beliefs are and will one day be rewarded. He believes the same way we do. We all assume we are right. But again I can never completely push away the question, What if I'm wrong? What if everything I have ever done in my faith is insignificant?

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed only one.

Stop whining about how hard your life is, how tired you are, how hungry you are. Start caring about those who would take your 'bad day' over their good day. Reason guides our attempt to understand the world about us. Both reason and compassion guide our efforts to apply that knowledge ethically, to understand other people, and have ethical relationships with other people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBlXD27ZJr8&feature=related

Galatians 5:13

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

1 Peter 4:10 
 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

Mark 10:45 
 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Searching for Enthusiasm

"At Oxford - to my surprise - I discovered Christianity. It was the intellectually most exhilarating and spiritually stimulating thing I could ever hope to describe - better than chemistry, a wonderful subject that I had thought to be the love of my life and my future career. I went on to gain a doctorate for research in molecular biophysics from Oxford, and found that immensely exciting and satisfying. But I knew I had found something better - like the pearl of great price that Jesus talks about in the Gospel, which is so beautiful and precious that it overshadows everything. It was intellectually satisfying, imaginatively engaging, and aesthetically exciting."

- Alister McGrath  


     Enthusiasm is the inspriration of everything great. Abraham Lincoln once said that success is going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm. Christians cannot be unenthusiastic about our faith. When we stop searching for answers, that is when we are truly lost. The moment we stop treasuring our search for the truth is the moment we lose sight of the journey that God has placed before us. Becoming stagnant is unacceptable. Being content is hazardous.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6

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Day of Trouble

It takes a second to say I love you, and a lifetime to show it

Love me when I least deserve it

Because that’s when I really need it.

I Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

God's Knot

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should seek Him first to find her."

   Marriage is a divine institution with a purpose.. What God has brought together, let no man destroy. It is mutual love, respect, and devotion between two people. As Christians, we are meant to be attracted to one another and one of the most amazing attainments in our journey is find another christian soul that we can completely bestow ourselves to and raise a family. I was asked recently to lay out my three most important goals as a christian. I answered:


 1. Love as many people as I can, as much as I can and try to put them before myself. I want to be able to love as Jesus loved.
2. I want to help anyone who is less fortunate than me, or anyone who may just need my help. I want to live a life in service of others, not myself.
3. Raise a christian family.


   Anyone who knows me well, knows that I want children more than anything, however, I was told by a doctor that it will be difficult for me to have my own children. I was absolutely devastated when this news was broken to me. I prayed persistently and finally made an agreement with God. I prayed that if He gave me my own children, I would do everything in my power to show them His love, power, and compassion. I would make sure that I lived in such a way that I could raise my kids to know Him. I will also make sure that when I'm ready to "tie the knot" that the man I choose will be just as determined to establish a christian home.
   All of this initiated my thoughts on what a christian wife's responsibilities should be.
God explains His relationship to us is through the metaphor of marriage and so we are, spiritually speaking, God's wives. It is therefore important for us to know what a husband should expect of a wife as well as what a wife should expect of a husband. This knowledge will not only improve our relationship with the Lord but it will clarify what is expected of us in our own marriages. Sometimes I'm afraid that in the name of equality, we have blurred the lines and removed the wonderful distinction between man and woman. We have offered substitutes for the family. After the fall of Adam and Eve, God gave Eve a new role; she was told that her desire shall be for her husband and that her husband would rule over her. I had, at one point in my life, considered not getting married. What would I do then? Must women marry in order to have direction?
   I believe that a man should be the head of his household; a provider and protector. Likewise, I believe a wife should be the care giver both to children and caring for the home. I think both man and woman can also learn from one another as far as spirituality. I also believe both should submit to the other's loving relationship and should work together to maintain the family.
With the fall and its curse came the distortion of woman's proper submissiveness and man's proper authority. As a result, women have a sinful inclination to usurp man's authority, and men have a sinful inclination put women under his feet. This was not part of God's original design for man and woman. So where is the balance? Does a man's authority end in the household, or simply with religion? How much should a wife submit to her husband?

Life or Death .. Our Choice ?

How Do We As Christians Approach Abortion?

The Bible never specifically addresses the issue of abortion. However, Jeremiah 1:5 implies that God knows us before He forms us in the womb. The foretelling of the birth of John the Baptist in Luke 1 also implies this point. Psalm 139:13-16 speaks of God’s active role in our creation and formation in the womb. Consequently, does Exodus 21 accurately prescribe the same penalty for someone who causes the death of a baby in the womb as for someone who commits murder? For the Christian, is abortion a matter of a woman’s right to choose, or is it a matter of the life or death of a human being made in God’s image.

The first argument that always arises against the Christian stance on abortion is “What about cases of rape and/or incest?” As horrible as it would be to become pregnant as a result of rape and/or incest, is the murder of a baby the answer? Two wrongs do not make a right. The child who is a result of rape/incest could be given in adoption to a loving family unable to have children on their own, or the child could be raised by its mother. Again, the baby is completely innocent; should it be punished for the evil acts of its father?

The second argument that usually arises against the Christian stance on abortion is “What about when the life of the mother is at risk?” Honestly, this is the most difficult question to answer on the issue of abortion. First, let’s remember that this situation is the reason behind less than one-tenth of one percent of the abortions done in the world today. Second, let’s remember that our God is a God of miracles. He can preserve the life of a mother and a child despite all the medical odds being against it, but the best option in this situation is to pray for wisdom. (I'm really open to feedback on this point.)

Over 95 percent of the abortions performed today involve women who simply do not want to have a baby. Less than 5 percent of abortions are for the reasons of rape, incest, or the mother's health at risk. I believe the life of a human being in the womb is worth every effort to allow the child to be born.

I don’t want this article to insult or offend; I guess I am simply stating my opinion and my interpretation of the bible on this matter and asking for feedback.  I also do not intend to proof text. This is a subject I have formed a very bias opinion about. I know that angels or prophets no longer foretell the births of man, but does that give us as humans the right to decide who lives and dies? When does a fetus become a baby, or a human? When is a baby considered a soul, and when is it just a fetus? I understand that there are extenuating circumstances, and I cannot not properly argue them because I have fortunately never been placed in those situations, but what if Mary had decided she was “not ready” to be a mother and had aborted our savior?

Psalm 40:2

"He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, he set my feet upon a rock and made my steps secure."

Psalm 40:2

Sinful Tendencies

A personality is an organized pattern of behavioral characteristics and it is the total physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics of an individual. These characteristics influence peoples’ cognitions, motivations, and behaviors in various situations. It is these characteristics that define us as people, but how do they define us as Christians?

God placed within each of us different personality traits and gifts. To some, he gave the ability to speak and teach, but to some, he gave the gift of writing or singing. Most people believe that God blessed everyone with at least one spiritual gift that we could use to glorify him.

         So my question is, if God places spiritual gifts within us, does he also place sinful tendencies? As far as personality, some people are passive and some are aggressive. Some people are intellectual and some are engineered for sports. Likewise, some people are born with certain traits that are reared toward anger or alcoholism. I am, unfortunately, one of those people who is quick to anger, which causes me to sin (especially if I’m watching sports).  Alcoholism has been proven to be genetic, which can cause an individual to stumble simply because of genetic make up.

What is my point in all of this? I am simply implying that God places within us sinful tendencies like anger and lust, however, it is our choice whether or not to act on these impulses. I have a short temper, but if I strive to stay calm in certain situations, then I can control my anger.

         We must overcome obstacles every single day, and luckily there are people who are willing to help others. I watch the show Intervention, and every time I do I think to myself:

“Wow, those people are sick and need help.” They chose to act on their sinful tendencies and are leading lives that they need help out of. We as christians are obligated to do just that.

I have just one last question. Why is it that we as Christians are so willing to help the alcoholic, the prostitute, and the drug addict, but we look down so shamefully on Homosexuals? They might live a sinful lifestyle, but so do gamblers. If someone is gay, and they are born with this sinful tendency, why don’t we try to help them overcome their struggle? I can’t even control a small anger problem to prove to my God that I can conquer the trials placed before me; imagine if I could conquer homosexuality; think how strong of a Christian I would be.