Voting No Confidence

"A vote of no confidence" is a phrase used to explain when a group decides that a leader is no longer capable of performing their duties and the group casts a vote to remove them from office. It's basically a political coup. This can also be done through the American voting system by voting out the previous leader when you are not satisfied with their performance and electing a new one. 

However, people often unknowingly or sometimes intentionally give a vote of no confidence by refusing to show up. Some voters refuse to show up to the voting places and cast their ballots because they don't like any of the candidates. They have no confidence in any of the choices. People don't show up for their court hearings because they have no confidence in the legal justice system. 

I recently watched a TV show in which a police commissioner was supposed to conduct a news conference with the mayor to show a unified front and the mayor didn't show up. The commissioner was upset and made the remark that it was a "vote of no confidence" in him. 

That statement made me think that it is the same with church attendance. When people lay out of church and church activities, it can relay a message to the pastor as a vote of no confidence. No confidence in his preaching and teaching, and no confidence in his vision, goals and direction of the church. Pastors all across the United States are discouraged and feeling defeated because there are a bunch of no shows week after week. Now maybe you may think that he should look inward to see if there is reason for a vote of no confidence. I don't know very many pastors who are so arrogant that they wouldn't look inward first. They question what they may be doing wrong. What they can do different or how they can better reach, disciple and motivate people. 

I believe the people of the USA have become so nonchalant in their Christianity that they think it's okay not to be faithful to church. They think it's okay to engage in pet sins and that God just winks at it since they have accepted God's gift of salvation. Church attendance is fit in whenever it's convenient and doesn't interfere with any other plans.  In other countries, where maybe the Bible is outlawed or not readily available, or it's illegal to be a Christian or go to church, the people will do whatever necessary to have God's written Word or hear it preached. Many put their lives on the line to do so. 

In some ways the USA is hindered because we have open access to the Bible and to church. It's so readily available that it's taken for granted. God's Word isn't precious to many. Being able to go to church and worship openly isn't precious to people. To many it's an obligation, a duty and even an inconvenience that is put up with. When you go to church like that, not expecting to be blessed and learn then you probably won't be blessed and won't grow. 

I hope if you are reading this post that you will consider it when you are thinking about skipping church. Dig deep and ask yourself why you are willing to skip. Is it because you don't have confidence in your pastor? If the answer is yes, then you should talk to him and see what can be changed or you can find a different church to attend. Either way, you should be in church to grow and learn and share the burdens of others. 

Home - What is it?

So, I want to delve into this "home" topic. Home means different things to different people. For me, it mostly means a refuge, a safe place where there is unconditional love and acceptance. It very much involves being where my husband is. It's a place to shut out the world and feel safe. However, for me home also includes not just where I currently reside here in Oklahoma but also Missouri (God's country!) where I was born and raised. Sometimes it means the house I grew up in or my grandparent's house and their camping lot on the river. See, it's an environment. It's the places where fond memories reside and love and fun are what sweeps through my mind when I think of them or return to them. 

I realize that for some people home means something much different. The thought of home is haunting and causes anxiety. For children who are abused, or left to care for themselves on a daily basis or that go hungry when at home, don't have a safe feeling about "home". For those children who have to move often because the parents keep getting evicted or whatever, home has no real meaning other than possibly a place to live or sleep. My husband and I have worked in the bus ministry at several churches over the years and have seen what some kids must deal with on a daily basis. When a child doesn't want to go home and asks if they can stay on the bus and be let off last or go home with us, it's a good signal that something isn't right at home. Those same kids have come to church with dark circles and hallowed eyes, uncombed hair and often have obviously not bathed in days because they smell. It would break our hearts. It's sad that some kids have no good feelings of home. When they become adults they have no good memories of love and safety associated with what was home. 

I'm very grateful that my meaning of home brings good, warm, loving memories and a remembrance of safety. What does home mean for you? What kind of meaning of home are you helping your children to associate with? 

Just a little thought provoker.

Consideration is Out the Window

We live in an age where it seems consideration of others no longer exists. At least not on a regular basis. I guess it started in the 1980s and 90s with the so called "me generation". That's when I first remember hearing that term. It was all about me... what I want, what I need, what I think. This idea has exploded into what we see today in the "my rights" generation. "I got my rights!" Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news for those folks, but your rights stop where mine begin! And, therein lies the problem. It seems that the only rights that matter are to the ones screaming the loudest and holding the protests. It has become such an "entitled" world that every person walking thinks they have a right to whatever they want, whenever they want, no matter the law or another person's feelings.

People no longer think anymore. They don't stop and consider that their words and actions have consequences to other people. This happens with spouses, parent/children, siblings, friends, boss/employee relationships and even amongst church families. Everyone is too busy with their OWN lives, trials, and desires to consider the others in their lives.

Let me give some examples... 

spouses don't bother to call when they are going to be late, friends don't think to invite and include another friend, children don't check on parents because they are too busy, 

parents make family plans without asking what works for the children,

siblings want help or time spent but don't reciprocate 

bosses don't consider the time away from an employee's family when demanding overtime, 

employees don't care if they show up late for work putting stress on bosses and coworkers, 

church members don't check on one another when someone is sick or struggling. --

People in general are so wrapped up in themselves that they "don't think" about how to be a help or a blessing to someone else. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "Oh, I didn't think about it" when it comes to something about or at the church or about checking on someone who is struggling physically or mentally. I have been guilty at times myself because sometimes I have had my own struggles. But the problem is that usually it's more a matter of just not giving it any consideration rather than having their own struggles. It's a "Me" world! It's an "I want" world. This has lead to all consideration of others going right out the window! 

Kindness comes from being considerate of someone else! 

Just a little thought provoker. How are you doing? Are you considerate of others? 

When Faith Rises

Today I want to talk about what happens when faith is allowed to rise. Last week when I was making the four hour drive home from my daughter's house, I listened to the same song over and over again. --- My God is Big Enough. I took much comfort from the song and sang until my voice was gone. My family and my church family had all been through quite a lot the past few weeks and I just really needed the reminder of this song. 

It inspired the desire for this post. When we are facing dark times or scary times or uncertain times and when those around us are saying something can't be done. I know my God is big enough. It's at those moments that I allow faith to rise up within me by trusting in God's work and plan and timing that He is glorified the most. It's when I feel faith rising up that I gain strength from the Holy Spirit and from the truths of God's Word. It's at these moments when I can have peace in my soul when chaos ensues around me. Sometimes, the Lord doesn't calm the storm. Sometimes He calms me. Then I know and trust it's for my good and for His glory that it is happening. So allow faith to rise up!

The Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn

I was listening the other day to a gospel bluegrass cd and the song came on with the same title as this post. I was singing along with the cd and a notion hit me. This is such a true statement! 

When we are going through a life trial or struggle and we feel overwhelmed and beaten up, it's often the moment right before the dawn of help arriving that seems the absolute darkest. We feel we can't take anymore. We feel if anything else happens we will break. We feel that there is no way out of the current situation and then - BOOM! - suddenly the little ray of light comes and the solution is there. 

It's at these moments that we remember and realize that God's timing is perfect even when we don't understand. The darkness and the overwhelming feelings have been given by Satan. God allows us to go through dark trials sometimes due to our own choices made in haste and without prayer or sometimes just as a way of molding and shaping and training us. Sometimes He is testing us to see what we will do. Sometimes all this is just to make us rely on Him. To make us look for His light and seek His face in prayer. Sometimes we need reminding that we're drifting too far from Him and becoming too self-reliant. Any number of reasons can account for the darkness. Yet, when you're about to give up and feel all hope is lost, suddenly the light breaks through. Once the moment of light comes, suddenly, things no longer seem so dark. Suddenly, you can see clearly the right path and move forward from being stuck in despair. 

Indeed the darkest hour is just before dawn. When the dawn breaks through a whole new outlook and future takes shape! 

Just a little thought that struck me recently.  

Why Jesus Ate With Sinners

This is a topic that is used often in the world to justify living in sin. We are going to take a look at the passage in Luke 15:1-7 of the parable of the lost sheep. 

First of all, I'd like to point out that the publicans and sinners came to Jesus.(verse 1) In the previous chapter Jesus had been teaching any and all followers. In the last verse of chapter 14 Jesus tells them that "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. The publicans and sinners were interested in what He had to say. We often tend to spend most of our time with those who WANT to spend time with us. The parable is told because of the murmuring of the Pharisees. 

The second point I'd like to make is that Jesus never tells the Pharisees that they shouldn't judge the sinners or condemn them for the judgment of calling them sinners. Jesus knew they were sinners. By the way, the judgment condemned in the bible is that of judging as though you are better than the other person. Now, I'm aware that in other places of the bible the Pharisees are condemned for judging and it is in the respect of thinking they are better. Jesus tells the parable to say that He was spending time with them to "save" them. He came to seek and save the lost. 

No where in the passage does Jesus condone or make excuses for the sinners. He just lets the Pharisees know that the sinner is why He came. Saving the lost one that's gone astray is what causes joy in heaven. 

Jesus ate with sinners yes. It doesn't say He went into the places where the people were involved in their sin. It says He receiveth sinners. They came to Him! He received those who came to Him hungering for what He had to offer them...no matter who they were. 

Another purpose of the parable is to show the Pharisees their hypocrisy. He uses the same type of wording in another passage when the Pharisees say that there shouldn't be any work done on the Sabbath (when Jesus heals). He tells them that they would pull the ox out of the ditch. 

Please stop trying to justify your sin by saying that Jesus hung out with sinners. The Bible is very clear that we are to be IN the world but not of the world. It also says not to be worldly. It tells us to come out from among them(those that are worldly or involved in sin)and be separate. It tells us to have a good testimony before men so that they will listen when we tell them of Christ and God's love and so that we will glorify God. If you are doing the same exact things that those around you are doing, you will not have a good testimony before them! 

What Someone Can Live Without

In my last post, I talked about being surprised what you can live through. Today I will go to the opposite spectrum. People are often saying that they can't live without this or that. I'm sure what they mean is that whatever it is they think they can't live without is just very important to them because in actuality, you'd be surprised what people can live without. Often a person makes a choice to live without something that another person lives with. Sometimes a person is forced into living without something. 

At twelve years old I was forced to live without my dad because he passed away at a young age from a massive coronary. Eight years ago I was forced to live without my mom because of lung cancer. I didn't think I'd make it through either of those situations but somehow life has moved me forward, like it or not. Did I learn to accept and cope? Yes! Did it effect my life tremendously? You bet! Were they choices I'd have made if asked? No, not at all!  

Many people live without hearing, seeing, limbs, feeling in legs or arms, certain organs, salt, sugar, dairy products, etc. They may have even thought that they couldn't live without whatever above thing when they were first made to have them gone. Some people may even have dealt with living without one of those right from birth. Yet, they have learned to live without it. It can be done when necessary. 

A year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's autoimmune disease. I had never heard of it and was told it was a thyroid disease. It's not. It's an autoimmune disease that tries to destroy the thyroid first but will eventually move on to other organs and systems of the body. As a matter of fact, if I happened to have my thyroid removed, I would still have Hashimoto's. It would just move on to something else inside me to destroy. I was also told when first diagnosed that it's not really a big deal but in my research I found that it IS A BIG DEAL and can lead to other autoimmune diseases and even certain cancers. There is much false information and "helps" out there for Hashimoto's and sorting through can be difficult and over the past month I have come to realize that it should not be done alone. I believe I have stumbled along the correct help and expert to finally help me. Tomorrow I embark on a new journey to put my Hashimoto's in remission and stop the destruction in my body. I have already removed gluten from my diet because it has been proven that no one goes into remission without removing gluten. I am quite sure that working with the new group will lead to other things being removed from my diet and life. I can make up my mind early that I can't remove anything else or even keep on the no gluten diet because it's too hard or I can decide that whatever I need to do is worth me feeling good again and having energy to enjoy life. I know it won't be easy but most worthwhile things aren't. I know it will cost some money (praying it won't put us in the poor house) but I will get resourceful if necessary. I also know that I am worth it! There was a time in my life when I may not have felt that way but that is no longer. I matter. I have something to offer to those around me and I want to be here to offer it and to feel well enough to offer it. 

I listen to people as they say they can't live without their coffee, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, sugar (tho diabetics do every day!), eggs, milk, or gluten, and I think to myself, you never know what you may have to give up in the future. Frankly, most of those should be eliminated from every person anyway. I was once one of those people who thought I could never go gluten free but I have. It mostly takes thought. What makes it harder is people's reactions to my choice. The teasing and down right snide comments hurts as I fight back tears sometimes and in my mind must tell myself that I'm doing this for my health...for my very life because I don't want to end up with thyroid or liver cancer. I don't want to keep suffering with multiple symptoms that have gone unexplained for many years and that I thought I'd just have to live with. So, as I'm told "don't bring that gluten free crap around me" or "my food tastes better than yours" or "you make meal choices difficult"; I must grow a thick skin and just know that my health is worth it. No one else has to participate with me or encourage me or understand my choices. I have decided to take this journey and I will be posting my progress from time to time. If you are someone who doesn't care to know the progress then you can choose to not read those posts. It's not like I have scores of readers anyway. I just hope I can help a few and make people think. That's why I started blogging in the first place. To touch others and as a therapy for myself also.