Fighting the Wrong War

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  

(Ephesians 6:12)

It has just occurred to me that we are fighting the wrong war.  We are spinning our wheels, fighting the symptoms rather than the disease.  What happens when you have an infection, but only treat the fever?  The infection gets stronger, because the fever was not the problem, only a symptom.  In fact, fevers are part of your body's defense against infections.  In defeating the symptom, you gave more power to the disease.

We have a war on drugs, a war on cancer, a war on aids, and a war on terrorism.  I am sure there are more wars going on, but these are the ones that come to mind immediately.  But what if all of these wars are not fighting the disease, but only the outward symptoms?  Or in the case of drugs and terrorism, the misapplied cures? 

As Paul said to the church in Ephesus, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood."  Terrorists are flesh and blood, as are drug dealers.  Cancer and aids are part of our flesh and blood.  But they are not the enemy.  Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8  NASB).

We would do better to fight the real enemy here.  Not the symptoms.  

We are fighting against "spiritual wickedness in high places."  And we can't fight spirit with flesh.  The battle is in the spiritual realm.  We have to fight spiritual battles. 

But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.  These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.  But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

(Jude 1:17-25)

 Our job is first of all to pray.  And then to have compassion and relieve what suffering we can.  To save those we can, and to keep ourselves in the love of God.   If we do this, we may just win the right war.

 

  

Divided We Fall

 

 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand  (Matthew 12:25).

I am sad.  I look around, and all I see is division.  Black divided from white.  Democrat divided from Republican.  Christian divided from Muslim.  Man divided from woman.  This is not right.  It is not healthy.  It is not helpful.  And it is not Christ-like.

There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:  even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  

(Colossians 3:11-15)

Brothers and sisters, we are in difficult times.  But so was Paul when he wrote Colossians.  It was during the persecution of the new Christian church by the Jewish authorities.  The verse in Matthew is a quote by Jesus.  He was speaking to the Pharisees, who were accusing him of casting out demons by the power of the devil.  In the same chapter, it states that the pharisees were holding a council to determine how to destroy him.

My family and I attend a very small church in a very small town.  But it is one of the most diverse churches, culturally, that I have ever had the pleasure to be a part of.  We are a family made up of blacks, whites, Hispanics; immigrants and people who have lived here for generations; rich and poor; law enforcement officers and former offenders; democrats, republicans, and independents; old people and little children.  And when we meet together, we are one.  We are family.  It doesn't matter what color you are, or how old, or your job or your political persuasion.  We are all brothers and sisters In Christ Jesus.  

Now I realize that this country is not made up only of Christians.  But that is part of the beauty of it.  There is a poem inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty.  It is a poem called "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus:

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" 

 This is the America that I love.  Not the one where everyone is trying to get their own way and to make everyone else agree with them.  The one that "Glows world-wide welcome."  The America that was built on freedom.  Not Tyranny.  Not Selfishness.  The America that worked together through tough times to come out stronger.  Not the one that fell apart when the going got tough.

We have to get back to that.   We can't let ourselves be divided and conquered.  We have to band together as ONE nation.  White AND Black.  Republican AND Democrat.  Christian AND Muslim.  Men AND women.  And ALL Americans.  That is our heritage.  And it is the only way we will survive.

 

On Immigration...

Do you recognize this poem?  A portion of it is printed on the base of the Statue of Liberty.  The statue was given to the United States of America in 1886 as a gift of friendship from the people of France.  

The New Colossus

BY EMMA LAZARUS

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

How have we gone from this ideal to the suspicious, unwelcoming country we have become?  How can we, a country of immigrants, the great melting pot, refuse to let the "tired, poor, huddled masses, the homeless, tempest-tost" try to make a life for themselves in "our" America?  

I am a third-generation American.  My great-grandparents came from Poland in the early 1900s.  I never met my great-grandfather, because he died before I was born.  But I remember my great-grandmother.  As far as we can tell, she came here around 1908, and she died in 1982.  Do you know that she never really learned to speak English?  My grandfather, the oldest son, was born here, but didn't learn English until he went to school.  

I really don't know why my ancestors chose to come here.  I do know that at that time Poland was not its own nation, but was split up between Prussia (Germany), Russia, and Austria.  My great-grandfather came on a boat from Russia, so I assume that he, at least, lived in that part of Poland.  It seems that he came directly after the Revolution of 1905, so that could have had something to do with his decision.  

What I do know is that the Polish Americans of that day were similar to the Hispanic Americans now.  They tended to live in communities, and to have their own churches and schools whenever possible, where Polish was spoken.  They were also looked down upon, thought to be less intelligent than other people, and were paid less for the same factory jobs.  

I was talking to a couple of friends the other day, one of whom is on vacation in France.  It was mentioned that the shopkeepers in France don't like to deal with you if you don't speak French.  Is that any different from here?  How many times have I heard people say that if you live in America, you should speak English?  As I said before, my great-grandmother never learned to speak English, though she lived here for over  70 years.  (We got along well, because we both knew the word "cookie!")  She was a housewife, and lived in a community with other Polish people, so she got along without.  It would have been hard for her to find time to take care of the farm and her children and take English lessons on the side!

I live in a town which has a pretty large Hispanic population, many of them immigrants.  There are also quite a few Chinese people.  While the children learn English in school, similar to my grandfather, and the men learn English at work, similar to my great-grandfather, it must be hard for the women to learn.  I see mothers with small children walking down the street.  I'm a mother with small children, and I have very little time to do anything outside the home without them.  Of course there are ESL (English as a Second Language) classes available for free, but how difficult must it be for these women to find the time to go!  

We need to think about this immigration deal.  Of course we don't want to invite terrorists and drug dealers into our land, but seriously, how many of the people trying to come from Mexico and Central America are really in this category?  Most of them are trying to make a better life for themselves, just like my great-grandparents did.

It is hard to spot Polish Americans at this point, unless they've retained a name with a "ski" on the end.  Some of those undesirables may be your next door neighbor, your kids' school teacher, your doctor or your lawyer.  We have become a part of the melting pot.  Let's think about what our immigration policies will look like to the America that is coming in the next few generations.  

America has always been the "Mother of Exiles."  Where is her "World-wide welcome?"

Who Stole the United States?

I'm not sure where this came from - a friend (okay, my Mom) posted the video to my facebook wall. I like it.  This band seems to really mean what they are singing about.

Post by Willis McCoy.

I know there are other people out there who are wondering who stole our country, and where have they taken it?  The United States of America that I grew up pledging allegiance to has morphed into something else, it seems.

I am not sure what to do about it, though I have a few ideas.  And I don't know what else to say, so I'm going to copy here the beginning of the Declaration of Independence.  This is the document that was sent to England, all those many years ago, by a group of people who wanted to live in a free country.  They wanted the freedom to make their own laws and to live in the way they chose.

The Declaration of Independence

July 4, 1776

...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness...

I wonder if we are not in the same position these brave men were in? But instead of leaving a country, we need to take one back.

Years later (four score and seven, actually), the country was embroiled in a war against itself.  People on both sides of the argument fought for the country they wanted.  And a great president stood on the sight of a bloody battle to dedicate it.  And in the Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln hearkened back to those men who made America what it was, encouraging the people that the United States would always be the free land it was meant to be.

The Gettysburg Address

November 19, 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure...

...we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth.

Can we still say this?  Are we really a government of the people, by the people, and for the people?  And are we a nation under God?  I wonder.  How far have we gone from the high ideals of this nation's beginning?  And how are we to get back?

Educating our Children: My Thoughts on School, Homeschool, and the Common Core

Before I get into this, I want to make something clear.  I am not an expert on the Common Core, I am not an expert on homeschooling, and I am not an expert on public school.  I am a parent who is concerned about my children getting the education that is right for them.  And I am an American concerned about the future of all of the children in our country.

There has been a lot of buzz about the implementation of the Common Core standards in New York State.  There are a lot of people who are unhappy with it.  There is a lot of propaganda out there on both sides of the issue, and it is very hard to sort it all out without specific information.

Here is my take:

I believe that parents are ultimately responsible for their own children's education.  

We began homeschooling because our son was having a very difficult time in kindergarten.  It was not the work that was difficult - he was actually a little bored, because most of it had already been covered in his preschool.  His difficulty was in concentrating within a group of 20-something other five-year-olds.  He was constantly in trouble for being too "bouncy and noisy," and had begun to believe that "There is only one good boy in my class, and only one bad girl."  This was not the way any of us had pictured his first year of "real" school to be.  We found out that kindergarten was not actually required in our state, so we pulled him out of school for the rest of that year.  He did so much better at home, that we have continued homeschooling.  He is now in 5th grade, and our daughter is home learning kindergarten material at her own pace. 

I have many friends whose children are in the public schools.  I do not believe that every child should be homeschooled.  All parents have to make decisions about what is right for their own children.  For some, this is homeschool.  For others, it is public school or private school or another kind of education.  For some, the right thing changes from year to year or from child to child.  But the ultimate responsibility for making sure their children are learning falls on the parents.  And for parents to carry out this responsibility, they have to be informed about what their children are learning.  This is easy in homeschooling - we pick out the materials to use, and spend time with our kids helping them to use them.  This becomes more difficult when the child is in school most of the day, but it still needs to be done.  The children bring home homework, and the parents need to be able to support them in finishing it.  The parents need to know if there is something being taught which is different from their own beliefs, so that they can help their children to understand the different points of view.  It is sad when professional people are unable to help their fourth graders with math simply because they learned a different way of coming to the same answer, but that perfectly valid way is not acceptable for the new "standards."

The Common Core takes power away from the parents by keeping them uninformed about what their children are learning.  They are unable to help their children with their homework, because there is no explanation of how things need to be done.  This undermines respect, as children can determine that their parents are not "as smart as a 5th grader."

I believe that teachers want children to learn, and have the training and the creativity necessary to make that happen.  

One of my many "lives" has included being a classroom teacher.  I am also the daughter of a public school math teacher and the sister of a college professor.  Children do not all learn the same way.  That makes teaching large classes in school difficult, because you have to constantly evaluate the group and try to meet each of the kids where they are.  This means that some kids need more help, and some kids need more challenge.  

I am a part-time substitute in my local school district, and have been required to teach lessons from the common core-aligned math curriculum to several different elementary grades.  The system is scripted, which means the teacher's manual tells you exactly what to say and how to teach.  There is a large amount of written work each day, some of which requires writing skills rather than math skills.  I have taught in the regular classrooms and the special education classrooms, and they are all required to use the same format.  This means that the child in the kindergarten special ed class who cannot yet count is responsible for the same material as the child in another kindergarten class who is already capable of first grade work.  They are using the same books, in the same manner.  It is very difficult for the teacher of either classroom to give extra help to the child who needs it, or challenge the child who craves it.  

When I was in middle school, many many years ago, I had my mother for my math teacher.  She taught a unique math class.  Her class included, any given period, an eclectic group of students made up of 5th through 8th graders who were either above or below the general level for their grade.  She used the very basic Spectrum math books for all, giving each student a book based on his current level.  She then worked with each of us individually to help us learn at our own pace, explaining things as necessary.  We also did extra projects, like finding the volume of different containers by pouring water into them, creating geometric designs, and experimenting with a very rudimentary computer - we were actually connecting wires to see what would happen...who knew I would be typing on one today so that people around could read my words the minute they are published?  

When I was in 8th grade, the school district discontinued the program, and my mother was transferred to the high school to teach.  She has since retired, but continues to help students (including her math-phobic grandson) to learn in their own way.  She still has former students thanking her for explaining things so that they could understand, as she was still able to help them individually while teaching large classes algebra and geometry.

The common core takes power away from the teachers by making it impossible for them to have a personal impact on their students.  They are unable to meet their students' needs, because they have to spend all their time making sure the students can pass the tests instead of making sure they understand the material.  This undermines respect, especially because students now have the ability to get teachers fired simply by not doing well.

I believe that children are individuals, and have individual educational needs.

I had a conversation with my stepmother yesterday.  We are both having trouble with our computers, and need to get new ones.  We were discussing the merits of laptops, desktops, and all-in-one's for the different things we use computers for these days.  We also had a brief discussion about the telephone party lines we had grown up with.  Talk about change!   She had been on a line with six houses, but when I was young our line only had two.  Now, many families have a different phone number for each family member!  My generation has had to teach ourselves to use computers, VCR's, DVD's, video cameras, MP3 players, microwave ovens, and programmable coffee pots.  There are countless job opportunities that didn't exist when we were in school.  There was no way for our teachers to teach us everything we would need to know for the world we live in now.  We had to know how to learn things on our own.

What will our children need to know by the time they are adults?  We don't know.  Teachers don't know.  And politicians don't know.  There is all this talk about "skill sets."  Supposedly every child needs the same one.  Do they really?  Do a chemist, a rock star, and a cashier need the same skill set?  What about a nurse, a computer programmer and an archaeologist?  I'm thinking probably not. What they all need is the ability to learn how to do their job.  That learning will look different for each of them.  The common core prides itself on getting children "college and career-ready."  How can you do that if there is so much emphasis on everyone knowing the same thing?  Colleges and careers require countless variations of skills.  What happens when there is so much time spent on testing a narrow set of skills, from the time spent teaching what will be on the test, to practicing taking the test, to actually taking the test?  There is little time left for anything else.  When can a musician practice, or a scientist experiment, or a carpenter build?  Children need to have time to try all of these things, so that they can make choices for their own futures.

The common core takes power away from children, by fitting them all into a common mold.  They are unable to develop their own interests.  The bright ones are pushed down, and the struggling ones are pushed off.  This undermines self-respect, because they are all expected to be good at the same things, and have no way to let their true abilities shine.

In temporary conclusion...

As I said, I am not an expert.  I believe my experience has given me a little insight, but I am sure I do not know the impact the Common Core will have on this generation of students or those who will come after them.  I think it will weaken our country, in the long run.  I don't really have a problem with a standardized list of things that should be taught to children in our country.  There are things everyone should know, such as history so that we don't repeat it, and respect for others.  I do have a problem with people who are not educators themselves dictating how things need to be taught.  I have a problem with holding teachers responsible for the test results without consideration of the real needs of the children.  I have a problem with children being so stressed out from testing that they hate school, and learn that learning new things is painful.  I have a problem with families having their personal lives monitored in the name of education.  And I have a problem with a government that thinks throwing more money at a problem is the only way to fix things.

I realize that I have only mined the surface of what is happening in our schools, and that there is more that can be said on every side.  I also realize that I am speaking from small amounts of information and large amounts of emotion, here.  But hey, it's my blog so I can say what I like, right?  I would love more conversation about this topic, but please be respectful of everyone!  What do you see, from wherever you are?

The Election Post

So, the Presidential election is over.  And I am relieved.  Not because of who won, but because it is OVER!!

Does it seem to anyone else that every four years our country collectively loses its mind?  People who usually get along get into disagreements, either face to face, by e-mail, or on some sort of social media.  Others lurk around clandestinely, guarding their words lest anyone realize they are not voting for the person they "should."  The landscape begins to look like a huge can of alphabet soup exploded onto a ream of paper and then got caught in a purposeful tornado.  At least I get more than just bills in my mailbox, though.

But it's finally over.  The news people can only milk it for a little while longer, trying to figure out what happened and why.  The political parties can spend a little more time rejoicing over their intelligence or lamenting over the terrible hand they've been dealt, and then they will fade back into their caves to start hatching their next diabolical plan for the "most important election in history" (to take place in four more years, of course).

Now, the country can get back to trying to make a go of it.  To cleaning up the mess that is the latest natural disaster, to figuring out how to buy the things they want with the money they can get, to disagreeing over normal things like whose morals are wrong and why, and to worrying about how to get everyone to agree with their own way of thinking, or at least to act like they do.

In the end, it's not up to us, anyway.  Believe it or not, the world does not revolve around the United States, or its president.  As I write this, there are supposedly 7,050,810,911 people in the world, 314,727,929 of which are in the United States.  This, according to my trusty calculator, comes to 4.5 percent of the world population.  Four and one half percent!  That's it!  And can we really believe that God is more concerned about us than the other 95.5%?  Can we be so arrogant to believe that we are special, just because we live in the United States?  I don't believe it.

I believe that God loves all of his people, no matter where they live.  He is called our "Father in Heaven."  As a mother, I don't love one of my children more than the other, just because their room is on the other end of the house.  It matters not that one is taller, or younger, or blonder, or bolder, or a different gender.  They are my children, and I love one just as much as the other.  They don't have the exact same things.  One probably has more toys than the other (especially if you count Lego's individually).  They are five years apart in age, so they don't even have all the same rules and responsibilities.  But I love them the same.

I am afraid that here in the United States we spend a lot of time quibbling about unimportant things.  We all feel that we are entitled to have what we want.  We forget about the six billion, seven hundred thirty-six million, eighty-two thousand, nine hundred eighty-two other people in the world, most of whom live with a fraction of the possessions and advantages that we already own.  No, I am not a socialist, because I don't believe that it is the government's job to remedy this situation.  However, I am a Christian, and as such I do believe that it's MY job.  Now, before you start pointing fingers, I will be the first to admit that I am failing at my job, and deserve to be fired.  This is something that gives me pain.  But I can't believe that electing the right president or making the right laws is somehow going to fix this.

Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  John 14:6.  All of the social programs, all of the morally right laws, all of the prohibitions in the world will not save a single person.  It won't save them from poverty, and it won't save them from Hell.  Only Jesus Christ can do that.  It's not a moral issue.

I have Strong's Concise Concordance, and tried to look up "moral."  It's not in there.  Nor is it in Vine's Concise Dictionary of the Bible.  Do you know what is in there?  The word "Pharisee."  Do you know what Jesus said to them?  "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men...Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?  But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.  Let them alone:  they be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."  Matthew 15:7-9,12-14

Why are we Christians spending so much of our time, money, and energy trying to make non-Christians behave the way we want them to?  Paul said "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall be no flesh justified in his sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin."  Romans 3:20.  We cannot make this a "Godly nation", which "God will bless", by law.  "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."  Romans 3:28.  Should we not instead be spending our resources, our time, our energy, our money, on bringing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ?  Not condemning, or judging.  That is not our job, but God's.  And if people have faith in Jesus, didn't he promise to send a counselor, the Holy Spirit, who would teach them?  So aren't we doing things a bit backwards?

I've gone through some things in life.  I've done things I should be condemned for.  And I have to tell you that I have not changed because of the law.  I did things despite the law, and against the law.  The rules did not stop me.  Rules don't stop anyone.  I wouldn't do those same things now, legal or not.  Why?  Because I was changed into a new person.  Because I heard the gospel, and believed it.  Because I've come to realize my sin, and asked for forgiveness.  So now, I am under the influence of my Lord Jesus Christ, not under the law.  I want to please my Savior.

The only way to make this nation a Christian one is to fill it with Christians, not with a bunch of people who are forced to look or act like Christians, but have no knowledge of Christ!  Jesus told his followers to "make disciples," not to "make rules."  If only we could be about our Father's business, and not our own!

A Happy Heart

That was the title of the Sunday School lesson I taught today.  I have been using a series of lessons from Danielle's Place which teach "God Made Me."  We've been covering a different body part each week, from eyes to ears, to mouth, feet, and hands.  Well, today was the heart.  One of the challenging activities was for the kids to find something to be happy about in some sad situations.  For the kids, these were things like "you lost your favorite toy" or "your friend was mean to you."  Each of the kids had a different scenario, and they were supposed to tell a way they could be happy.  It was wonderful to see the way they helped each other to think through these problems, and find ways to deal with them.

I wonder how easy this is for adults.

We live in the Northeastern part of the United States, not far from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy.  The storm, while not hitting us directly, caused quite a bit of damage in our area, and there are still quite a few places without electricity.  We are also dealing with a gas shortage in our area, a result of people travelling hundreds of miles to get gas, along with people needing to fuel electric generators.

Add to this the "most important election in history," which has the potential to divide friends, churches, and families, and there seems to be quite a bit to worry about, and very little happiness.

The verse for our lesson was Psalm 144:15b - "Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD."  

Can that be it?  Can that make all the difference?  Can happiness be beyond circumstance, beyond the trials of this life, beyond the politics of the day?  Can happiness co-exist with devastation, hardship, shortage, fear, and division?

Can we take a lesson from children, who can find happiness in difficulties?

I hope we can.

I am happy that we were only without electricity for two days, but my heart aches for those who are still without, or worse, are without homes at all, or even worse, have lost loved ones.

I am happy that we had enough gas to get to church today, so that I could teach this lesson, but my heart breaks for my friends and family who don't know Jesus.

I am happy that we live in a democratic republic, where we are able to vote for our leaders, but my heart bleeds for those who live in war-torn, devastated countries which are led by force and fear.

The truth is that no matter how devastating a storm or important an election, these circumstances are only temporary.  This world, this time, is not all.  There is another world, and another time, and it is open to all who will believe in Jesus Christ.  And not just believe he existed, but to believe that he came to set you free, that he came to save you from your sins, that he came to show you the way to the Father.  To believe that He is the Messiah, the Son of the Almighty God.

To follow him, is to be able to rise above the difficulties that we face every day, and to do what needs to be done, and at the same time to be happy.  To have joy.  To be content.  To be at peace.  To be unafraid.

No one knows when the next big storm will hit.  No one knows who the next president will be, and what he will do when he's elected.  No one knows what will happen to the economy.  But we can know that our future is in God's hands.  "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38-39.  And that's all that really matters.

Am I American or Christian?

Does it seem hard to be both?

I think it is.

As an American, I am ruled by the United States Government, in addition to my state, county, and town governments.  All of these governments have rules that I, as a resident and citizen, must follow.

As a Christian, I am ruled by Almighty God.  He also has rules that I, as a citizen of His Kingdom, must follow.

Sometimes the rules overlap.

Sometimes not so much.

Then, there's that sticky wicket of whether or not to be involved in politics, and if so, how much?

As a citizen of the United States, it is my constitutional right to vote.  As a woman, I know that wasn't always the case.  I am privileged to live in this time, where my vote matters.  But what if the candidates I have to choose from are all advocating things that I don't agree with?

As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, it is my right to live according to God's laws, to worship Him in every area of my life.   But what if the laws of my country limit my ability to do this?

The Bible clearly states that we are to be subject to our government (1 Peter 2:13-17).  It doesn't recommend that we get involved in it.  But I don't know of anywhere it says that we can't be involved.

I read a post by Anne Elliott recently called "Building My Father's Kingdom."  I recommend that you read the whole thing, but I wanted to talk about part of it.  She brought out the passage in Jeremiah 29, starting in verse 4:

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take he wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.  And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it:  for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace."  Jeremiah 29: 4-7.

So what does it mean, to seek the peace of the city?

Even if we consider ourselves to be God's subjects first, this passage seems to say that we also have a responsibility to the earthly place we call home.  Israel was even instructed to help the city of Babylon, where they were taken as captives!  Why?  Because if the city was at peace, the Israelites who lived in the city would share in that peace.

Israel was taken to Babylon because God ordained it.

I live in the United States because I was born here.  Basically, God placed me here, in this country, at this time.  So maybe he had a reason for that.

Maybe I am supposed to be a citizen of this country for a reason.

And maybe it is my duty as an American, and as a Christian, to do whatever I can to seek the peace of this city.

And maybe that includes politics.

For God and Country?

I've been enjoying a Ladies' Bible Study at my church for the past few months.  The main study has been on prayer, but we sometimes end up with side conversations that are just as involved as the lesson.  A while ago, the question was brought up whether God deals with countries as a whole, depending on their collective actions. The consensus at the time was that we really didn't know.  I know that different people have suggested that the woes of the United States are a result of God's judgement, from the attack on the World Trade Center to the various natural disasters that have taken place inside out borders.  But is this true?

A search into the Bible reveals that God did indeed judge nations in the past.  If you remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, where the only people who escaped total destruction were Lot and his two virgin daughters, you could believe that the cities were judged as a whole.  However, it is clear from the conversation Abraham had with the LORD in Genesis 18 that those cities were totally corrupt.  Abraham had bargained the LORD down to saving the cities if there were only ten souls who were righteous, and apparently that was not the case.  Both cities were burned.

It is generally thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their perversions, but Ezekiel 16 actually reveals a deeper problem.  Verses 49 and 50 read:  "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me;  therefore I took them away as I saw good."   Notice that the main complaints seem to be pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness.  In the NASB version, this reads "arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy."  The abominations seem to be a result of these, rather than the cause.

I think I've found a pretty good passage to answer my question.  It is from Ezekiel 14:12-23.  It's rather long, so I'll paraphrase:  God is telling Ezekiel that He is going to send four judgments upon Jerusalem:  the sword, the famine, the wild beast and the pestilence.  These are a result of their collective sin.  He says several times that though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, they would only be able to save themselves with their own righteousness, not even saving their son or daughter.

So, here is my tentative answer to this question, though I don't pretend to know if specific troubles are from God or not.  I believe that He does deal with countries as a whole.  However, He also deals with individuals.  If you are in a country that is committing sins against God, especially those decreed by the government, you may expect to have trouble as a whole.  However, if you are not following the corrupt laws of the government, and are instead following God's laws, you can be saved yourself.

In the Old Testament, everything was dealt with on a very physical level.  Death meant bodily death.  In the New Testament, though, I believe this changed.  Jesus changed the rules with His own death.  Physical, bodily death is no longer the punishment it used to be.  Jesus said in Luke 18:29-30 "Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."  And of course, there is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  


This life we are promised is beyond the grave life.  Not just full life now, but perfect life forever.  Our human minds can't even comprehend that much time.  But we can have a glimpse of that kind of life.  I know I try very hard not to lose anything.  I am afraid that if I lose it, I won't get it back. But Jesus asks us to lose our very selves.  Matthew 16:24-26 reads:  "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"   


This is the deliverance we are promised.  Not deliverance from difficulties in this life, or even from physical death, but deliverance from eternal punishment.  And we are not saved because of our connection to our country, or our family, or even our church.  We are saved because of our connection to Jesus Christ.  He is our King, and our government is the Kingdom of Heaven.  This is where our allegiance must lie.  Not to any of the fallen governments of this world.

This is an election year in the United States, meaning that the country will be voting on a new president and congress this November.  It is very easy to get caught up in the frenzy of trying to pick the best men and women to lead us.  Christians have differing opinions about our duty to vote, and our involvement in politics.  Some feel that we have to try to make a difference, and bring our country back to God through our votes and our activism.  If God does in fact judge countries, I can see this point. However, the stakes are even higher than that.  God judges each of us.  No matter what our country chooses to do, we have to answer for our own actions, and our own hearts.  We cannot follow laws that are against our Kingdom.  We cannot follow leaders who are leading us to destruction.  We cannot compromise by picking the best person for the country.  We cannot vote based on the economy or health care or political party.  And we cannot continue to have "arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but... not help the poor and needy."  Our activism has to be to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus.

"Stuff"

 ¹⁹Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

 ²⁰But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 ²¹For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

 Matthew 6:19-21

These verses have been floating through my mind this week.  We were very fortunate that Hurricane Irene fizzled out before it got to us.  We had a lot of rain, and the electricity was out for a few hours, but that was about it.  We had spent time on Saturday making sure everything was up off the floor in the basement, and thought we had done a pretty good job, but the huge amount of rain combined with the lack of electricity to run the sump pump resulted in about a foot of water down there.  It was mostly gone by Monday, and the floor is relatively dry, now, though the pump is still pumping water out of the pipes around our house four days later.  


When we went downstairs on Monday, we realized that some of the things which got damaged included old school papers, Mikes baseball cards, and photos.  After Mike and I filled up a garbage can and started a burning pile, I spent about eight hours drying out photos, and at times I really wondered what the point of it all was.  I almost gave up and threw them all out a few times, but I was kind of on autopilot by then and couldn't stop.  Besides, there were photos of cute little Rory (from about 2 months to 3 years old), and pictures of people who are no longer with us, like Mike's grandmother.


But all of this got me thinking.  There are so many things we store up.  Especially us - we seem to have an attic, a basement, and a garage full of stuff.  Many of them are "treasures" or memories, some are things we "might need someday."  But what use are they, really?


Another thing I spent quite a bit of time on this week was changing our internet security program.  The one we had was expiring, and I wanted something that was cheaper (i.e. free!), because I wasn't all that pleased with the first one, anyway.  So, I switched to one we had years ago and which got good reviews.  The problem was, I didn't think to uninstall the other one first.  This made the new one rather useless.  I ended up having to uninstall both, and then re-install the one I wanted.  Yes, rather time-consuming.  Then, I spent time looking into generators and back-up sump pumps.  We have a battery-operated back-up, but it is too weak to do much good. 


So, I'm wondering.  Is all the "stuff" we have worth the time it takes to deal with it?  I guess that has to be answered on a thing-by-thing basis, but it gives me a criteria to work with.  Of course, we're dealing with the "stuff" of four people, not just me, so the answer may be different for everyone.  The other thing I'm wondering is how much these earthly treasures are keeping me from storing up treasures in Heaven?  It seems that anything that uses time, money, attention, or space that should be devoted to God's plan is stealing from my heavenly treasure chest, and keeping my heart bound to the earth.  


To all those affected by Hurricane Irene, our hearts and prayers are with you!

Are You Prepared?

This is turning out to be quite the week in this part of the woods. We live in "upstate" New York, and are experiencing some pretty strange things. Earlier this week, we had an earthquake. Okay, it wasn't big, but I have lived here almost 20 years, and have never experienced one before. Apparently it was a shock from the one in Virginia. Now, we are bracing for Hurricane Irene. Can you believe it? A Hurricane in New York?

Well, having never experienced a hurricane before, I checked out the preparedness list on the Weather Channel. And I've determined that we are unlikely to be as prepared as they recommend. I can make sure we have batteries for the flashlights and water in the bathtub. I can get some non-perishable food. I doubt we will get the windows all boarded up, seeing as I don't think we have that much wood laying around. We don't have a generator, so we will expect to have water in our basement without the sump pump being able to pump it out. Some things may just have to be dealt with. Then, I remember seeing pictures of houses completely destroyed by hurricanes, so I wonder if we'll have anything left.

It's really easy to get into a panic when facing the unknown. I can worry about all of my stuff getting damaged. I can worry about someone getting hurt. In my mind's eye I can see us crouching down in the middle of the house, waiting for days until someone gets us out, or trying to cut a hole to the roof like people did during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. But all of this worry is not going to change what will happen.

The truth is, no one knows what will happen. Our area is not used to hurricanes, and most people are being taken by surprise. Most of us will be under-prepared if it hits hard here. But are we ever really prepared? Do we ever really know what will happen tomorrow, or even today? Not really. There is always a possibility that something could happen to our stuff or our house, or even ourselves. We need to be prepared every day of our lives.

As a Christian, being prepared is not so much about boarding up your windows and putting water in your bathtub as it is about opening your heart and putting your life in God's hands. Remember that God is truly in control, and He has numbered your days. We don't really "own" anything here on Earth, but are storing up treasures in Heaven, and those treasures are based on the good that we do, not the goods that we have. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, but I believe that God will make sure we are taken care of, as He always has. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13.

Marriage

Today is my husband's and my wedding anniversary.  Ironically, it is falling the day after New York State passed the same-sex marriage bill.  Marriage vows usually have a phrase something like "What God has joined together, let no man break asunder."  This is a comforting thought in a Christian marriage.  We have been married 17 years today, and have had our share of ups and downs.  Some of the trials we have been through should have destroyed our marriage.  I don't believe we would have survived if God had not joined us together and then held us together almost against our own wills.  But, because He was in it from the beginning, we have weathered the storms, and have prevailed against everything that life has thrown at us.  We are much closer, now, than we were on our wedding day.

I do not believe that God will be involved in the same-sex marriages that will be soon taking place in this state.  I am afraid that when the storms of life come to those couples, they will not have God holding them together.  He ordained marriage to be between a man and a woman, not two men or two women.  I hope, for the sake of those couples, that New York State is prepared to keep playing god, and will hold them together when the going gets tough.  Otherwise, this broken state is going to become more broken and fractured, as the courts have to deal with same-sex divorces.  God help us all.

And Then Shall the End Come

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.  All these are the beginning of sorrows."  Matthew 24:7-8 KJV

Today there was an 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan, followed by a tsunami which is speeding across the Pacific.  As I write this, it has already hit Hawaii and is heading toward the West Coast of North America.  Please send your prayers up for all of the people affected by this disaster.  

My church is currently studying the books of Daniel and Revelation in both our Wednesday evening Bible study, and during Sunday morning Sunday School.  We were just reading this passage in Matthew this past Wednesday, which is why I was able to locate it so quickly.  I suppose this is why I have had the end of the world on my mind.  As this world winds down into chaos (yes, I believe it's going toward chaos, rather than away as the evolutionists claim), we seem to be seeing more and more reports of disasters, both natural and man-made.  Everything from floods to earthquakes, from government overthrows to economic crashes, from sickness to death is broadcast world-wide to add to the sense of doom.  It is easy to become stressed out and depressed as you realize that you have little or no control over the things that are happening.  

There is something, however, that we can do.  God is still in control.  Everything that is happening now was foretold thousands of years ago, and there are clear directions for us to follow.  Jesus gave us guidance in the same chapter of Matthew that foretold the disturbing events that would happen.  Beginning in verse 42, he tells of a faithful and wise servant:  "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.  But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.  Therefore be ye also ready:  for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh.  Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."  Matthew 24:42-46.  

Does this mean that our job is to stand around and wait for Jesus to ride in on the clouds?  Yes, we are to wait.  No, we are not to stand around.  Jesus' last words in Matthew 28 tell us exactly what we are to be doing while we wait.  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."  Matthew 28:19-20.  Our job is to tell others.  At this time, we don't have the luxury of the "gospel of wealth" that is preached in so many places.  Our mission is more urgent and more important than convincing people that they can have the easy life.  Jesus basically said that it's going to get worse before it gets better.  People need something more to hang on to than the promise of the easy life, because that is getting harder and harder to find.  People need to know Jesus, and they need to understand what it is to follow him.  Not as a "life insurance" policy so that they will go to heaven when they die, but as the promise of a new life now.  Following Jesus comes with a cost.  You will likely not become independently wealthy.  Things in this life may even get worse, but we know that this world is not the end of our journey.  Jesus said in John 16:33 "In the world ye shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  I pray that he will come back to find us being faithful and wise servants.  Come, Lord Jesus!