Yesterday was the annual Corinthian Hill Property Owners Association meeting. Most of it went smoothly as usual. One topic is a commentary on the the state of our nation.
Owners in one of the 4-plexes in the development have encountered an issue that will plague us for some time. Two owners wanted to make changes to their units. The other two did not want to make the changes. A third owner agreed to allow the two to make the changes. The fourth fought it through the CHPOA. The CHPOA said no! The two owners made the changes anyway. The only recourse is for the single owner to sue the two who made the changes. Got the picture?
Self above neighbor, above nation and above God. We are all guilty. Had these rules been reversed the problem would have been worked out amicably Now the solution is more and stricter rules. Legal battles. This is a grass roots issue. This is not a national political issue. Christ said, “Love God, love your neighbor” Do You?
Sunday, May 29, 2011
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Just returned from "Trail West"work week. It was amazing. There were over a hundred college age young men and women there from various parts of Texas. They paid their own way. Many are just days away from finishing a semester of school. They worked hard for five days preparing TW for is summer mission of entertaining and loving on families who come because they want to learn more about “Young life”. They actually experience the love of Christ through the work of the camp staff and volunteers. Little do they know about the behind the scenes loving preparation of the work week volunteers.
During the week Grace and I experienced the love of Jesus from all the other workers. The historic Jesus who ministered on earth about 2000 years ago is still alive and well. There are three aspects of the one God of Heaven. The Father over us. The Son with us. And, the Spirit in us. We have been chosen and granted Grace and mercy.
The Son gave us two commands. They are present in several place in the scriptures. The first is "Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind. And, the second is like the first, Love your neighbor as yourself." I think long and hard about how to love the Lord. Love is describe in many place in the scriptures. It is a noun and it is a verb. It is not a feeling. I have concluded the second command is a how to. It is in part, how to love the Lord.
During the past week, I experienced the commanded love from all the workers at Trail West. I have been truly loved and the command has been met. I pray that all God's children are able to experience this same love from their neighbors. Look for it. Expect it. Anticipate it. Seek out those who are working on obeying the command. The reward is enormous. Read about it in John 15 and 1Corinthians 13. Read the commands in Matthew 22:34+.
During the week Grace and I experienced the love of Jesus from all the other workers. The historic Jesus who ministered on earth about 2000 years ago is still alive and well. There are three aspects of the one God of Heaven. The Father over us. The Son with us. And, the Spirit in us. We have been chosen and granted Grace and mercy.
The Son gave us two commands. They are present in several place in the scriptures. The first is "Love the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind. And, the second is like the first, Love your neighbor as yourself." I think long and hard about how to love the Lord. Love is describe in many place in the scriptures. It is a noun and it is a verb. It is not a feeling. I have concluded the second command is a how to. It is in part, how to love the Lord.
During the past week, I experienced the commanded love from all the workers at Trail West. I have been truly loved and the command has been met. I pray that all God's children are able to experience this same love from their neighbors. Look for it. Expect it. Anticipate it. Seek out those who are working on obeying the command. The reward is enormous. Read about it in John 15 and 1Corinthians 13. Read the commands in Matthew 22:34+.
Monday, May 2, 2011
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!
May 2, 2011
So Osama Bin Laden is dead. Some say that brings him to justice. What will bring us to justice? Our deaths? Some will say we are just. But, I repeat a now famous saying, "Let him who without fault (sin) cast the first stone."
How can we who are sinful bring anyone to justice?
So, what are we to do. Turn to the one who can help. If you believe as I do please speak out. We are not righteous. We are guilty of disobeying the one who created us and loves us. Seek righteousness by seeking the righteous one. Hunger and thirst for righteousness inside ourselves. No one can be made righteous by force. The death of Bin Laden has not made him righteous and it will not lead his followers to righteousness.
Turn the other cheek, trust the one who saves. The advice itself if given or taken poorly is likely to create more conflict. There will be many who proclaim these words to be wrong and stupid. If I respond harshly with angry tones, nothing will be accomplished. Words alone will not turn the tide. Witnessing actions sent from a sovereign/loving God will show the way for many. Many more will still not believe. Are we to turn away from them? No, we are to continue to love them, demonstrate compassion, listen and accept them. But, we must not accept their unrighteous ideas.
The pain of 911 will not diminish or go away until we learn to forgive. No amount of human justice will take away the pain. We will not recover from the pain of the devastation at ground zero until we understand the nature and identity of the villains. We are the guilty. Sure it was taken down by terrorist but, God allowed it because we have turned away from Him.
In OT times God told the Israelites to destroy their enemies. They tried and failed. Instead they became prideful and confident in their own capabilities and stopped paying attention to their God. They became weak and very much the same as their enemies. God was not opposed to their fighting. He was angered when they did it on their own and refused to obey Him.
I just know, that I was repulsed when I saw the celebrations over Bin laden's death. It is wrong to celebrate over an enemies death. I was feeling sad for the revelers. It is biblically wrong! The man who said he was happy that his Son's death was revenged did not look very happy. Evil is awful but, we must not try to conquer evil with evil. We must stand above it. We cannot do that alone.
So Osama Bin Laden is dead. Some say that brings him to justice. What will bring us to justice? Our deaths? Some will say we are just. But, I repeat a now famous saying, "Let him who without fault (sin) cast the first stone."
How can we who are sinful bring anyone to justice?
So, what are we to do. Turn to the one who can help. If you believe as I do please speak out. We are not righteous. We are guilty of disobeying the one who created us and loves us. Seek righteousness by seeking the righteous one. Hunger and thirst for righteousness inside ourselves. No one can be made righteous by force. The death of Bin Laden has not made him righteous and it will not lead his followers to righteousness.
Turn the other cheek, trust the one who saves. The advice itself if given or taken poorly is likely to create more conflict. There will be many who proclaim these words to be wrong and stupid. If I respond harshly with angry tones, nothing will be accomplished. Words alone will not turn the tide. Witnessing actions sent from a sovereign/loving God will show the way for many. Many more will still not believe. Are we to turn away from them? No, we are to continue to love them, demonstrate compassion, listen and accept them. But, we must not accept their unrighteous ideas.
The pain of 911 will not diminish or go away until we learn to forgive. No amount of human justice will take away the pain. We will not recover from the pain of the devastation at ground zero until we understand the nature and identity of the villains. We are the guilty. Sure it was taken down by terrorist but, God allowed it because we have turned away from Him.
In OT times God told the Israelites to destroy their enemies. They tried and failed. Instead they became prideful and confident in their own capabilities and stopped paying attention to their God. They became weak and very much the same as their enemies. God was not opposed to their fighting. He was angered when they did it on their own and refused to obey Him.
I just know, that I was repulsed when I saw the celebrations over Bin laden's death. It is wrong to celebrate over an enemies death. I was feeling sad for the revelers. It is biblically wrong! The man who said he was happy that his Son's death was revenged did not look very happy. Evil is awful but, we must not try to conquer evil with evil. We must stand above it. We cannot do that alone.
LIVE LIKE THERE IS A GREAT TOMORROW!
Did you know that everyone alive today will die? Of course you do. There is no way out of here in you current body. We all are going to get out of here but, not with our current body. It is going to die and be destroyed.
This is considered by most to be a forbidden topic. And, I shouldn't speak for anyone but myself. But, God has moved me to write this down. If you are reading this you will know I was convinced to publish it.
There are for me two goals in life. The one I think about most is living this life to the fullest. I believe God desires that for me. Yes, He even encourages me in this endeavor. In fact, I believe He loves me enough to provide just the help needed to achieve this goal.
The second goal, the more important one, is to arrive home at the end of this journey. This life on Earth is finite and temporary. Maybe it is a kind of school or proving ground. And, it will end. Someday all of it will end. It won't just be my part in it that ends. Everyone's part will end.
God has promised me an even greater and more abundant life. I don't want to miss it. I want to be there when the bell rings. I want to cross the final river on dry land and enter His Kingdom.
I am trying my best to get there and capture His promise. How? Trust and obey! Why? There is no other way!
Anybody want to hear more. I hope so. Seek out and know Jesus personally. Then get to know him better. Hunger and thirst after Him. You can capture the promise!
So, I want to do the best I can while I'm here and I want to arrive at Home with my Lord when He is ready for me.
This is considered by most to be a forbidden topic. And, I shouldn't speak for anyone but myself. But, God has moved me to write this down. If you are reading this you will know I was convinced to publish it.
There are for me two goals in life. The one I think about most is living this life to the fullest. I believe God desires that for me. Yes, He even encourages me in this endeavor. In fact, I believe He loves me enough to provide just the help needed to achieve this goal.
The second goal, the more important one, is to arrive home at the end of this journey. This life on Earth is finite and temporary. Maybe it is a kind of school or proving ground. And, it will end. Someday all of it will end. It won't just be my part in it that ends. Everyone's part will end.
God has promised me an even greater and more abundant life. I don't want to miss it. I want to be there when the bell rings. I want to cross the final river on dry land and enter His Kingdom.
I am trying my best to get there and capture His promise. How? Trust and obey! Why? There is no other way!
Anybody want to hear more. I hope so. Seek out and know Jesus personally. Then get to know him better. Hunger and thirst after Him. You can capture the promise!
So, I want to do the best I can while I'm here and I want to arrive at Home with my Lord when He is ready for me.
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