It's not about you.

Suppose you are an extra in an upcoming movie. You will probably scrutinize that one scene where hundreds of people are milling around, just waiting for that two-fifths of a second when you can see the back of your head. Maybe your mom and your closest friend get excited about that two-fifths of a second with you....maybe. But no one else will realize it is you. Even if you tell them, they won't care.

Let's take it a step further. What if you rent out the theater on opening night and invite all your friends and family to come see the new movie about you? People will say, "You're an idiot! How could you think this movie is about you?

Many Christians are even more delusional than the person I've been describing. So many of us think and live like the movie of life is all about us. (From "Crazy Love", by Francis Chan)

"I find it interesting that in Acts 11, at the end of verse 26 it says, "The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch". What I find interesting is the simple thought that the Christians didn't name themselves. But rather, they were called (or named) Christians by those watching their lives. I wonder if it would be the same today. Could someone look at your life or look at my life and name me a Christian? A humbling question for sure." From Crazy Love, by Francis Chan

I love this quote. They didn't name themselves, but were named that because of the way they lived. Today, however, we DO name ourselves Christians when we accept Jesus. Then, it becomes our responsibility to live our lives in such a way that we reflect the proper attitude for a Christian. And you know what the world is watching? How we love. Not how many times we go to church, not if we obey all the rules (shoot, most don't even know what the rules are), not even how many committees and "teams" we are on at Church. Just simply, how we love.

I can't wait to read this book. That was just in the Foreword. What nuggets of truth God must have for me in the rest of the book.

Why can't she go to Church?

Anyone in the Waco area has heard all the hoopla about a new burger establishment here called "Fat Ho Burgers". Now, I haven't been there, but I've heard it's a really good burger. The only reason I haven't gone is that it is across town for me, and I hear the line stretches out the door. That's a little much for my one-hour lunch time. But, it has nothing to do with the name.

Now, I don't approve of the name. I think they did it for the shock value, and they have certainly gotten that, but they were in the news today because someone stole their sign, and that's where my anger started bubbling up.

The owner's Mom was on the news talking about the hate mail her daughter has received, and that, even though she, (the Mom) is a pastor, she is not welcome in some churches because of her daughter's busines. WHAT??????

Let me repeat that, just in case you didn't get it. Ms. Ho's Mom is not welcome in some churches because of her daughter's business?

Come on, Christians! What is the second commandment Jesus gave us? LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF! Not love your church more than people. Not love your view of holiness more than people. Not love your reputation more than people. Not love the rules more than people. Not love anything, even yourself, more than people! There is only one other thing that we are to love more than people, and that is GOD! And, God is love, so we are to love. His word even tells us that if we pretend to love others, then we are liars. And forgive me, but if we tell others they are not welcome in church because of something they did, or something their family did, we are not being loving people.

WAKE UP, CHRISTIANS!

Will Fall ever get here?

One of the things that is important to our family is Tradition. Because I grew up in such a fractured family, it was important to me that we develop traditions. One of those is the first "winter" meal. It can be chili, or beef stew, or Chickien and Dumplings, but it's a meal we never have in the summer. The temperature has to be at least 50.

It's the middle of September, and I'm ready for this particular tradition. I bought all the non-perishable ingredients for Beef stew, as well as the meat, which I can store for a couple of months in the freezer. I'm all ready! Now, if only the temperature will drop....

Thoughts on food

Lately I've had to chuckle at the diet industries new use of "miracle" foods. You know, the foods that are supposed to cure cancer, lower your blood pressure, good for diabetics and heart patients, prevent cancer, and oh yeah, help you lose weight.

One of those foods is olive oil. Amazing, since if you are a bible reader, God had His people use olive oil for just about everything. It was cooked with, used as medicine, cosmetics, etc.

Another is certain nuts, especially walnuts and almonds. They are especially good for the heart. Also, certain berries, like blueberries and pomegranites. Hey, have you read the story of Daniel lately? What did Daniel and his friends choose to eat instead of the King's rich food? You got it, nuts and berries. I'm sure that's not all, but that was the big part of their diet.

As a matter of fact, the most healthly diet out there is the Mediterranean diet. It is the healthiest for people with heart problems and diabetes, and an excellent plan to help you lose weight. All you Baptists may have a problem with it, because it recommends drinking red wine, but I think I remember a story from the Bible about Jesus turning water into wine. Hmmm....

Since it has been over 40 years since I've been in a geography class, I had to look up the Mediterranean sea, and the countries that surround it. (As a matter of fact, I had to look up how to spell Mediterranean). It's countries like Spain, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Israel. Israel? Yep, the very places most of the Bible was written from. So, you have to assume that most of the people in the Bible followed a Mediterranean diet.

Just more proof, as if we needed it, that reading the Bible, and following what God said, really is good for our health, and that God does have our best interests at heart.

God did WHAT????

Lately I've been studying about complaining and rebelling. You know, God really pays attention when we complain, and when we rebel against those God has put in authority over us. Now, that could mean the Government officials, the police, etc. But it also means our husbands, our bosses, our Sunday School teachers, and the Ministers in our church. Complaining and downright rebellion.

Want to see what God thinks? Read about Korah and his friends. You can read about them in Numbers 16. Korah and his "homies" thought they should have just as much authority as Moses. But God did not choose them to lead. He chose Moses. So, guess what He did. He was so angry, that he caused the earth to open up and swallow Korah, his 3 friends, and all their families. (If you think your decisions affect only you, think again.)

Man, everytime I think I'm ready to complain about choir, or something else in church, I have to remind myself, "God put Boyd in charge", or "God put Bro Roy in charge", or...you get the picture. And, I immediately confess my sin of complaining and rebellion, and beg God not to open up the earth and swallow me and my family.

Tell God

Last night, Beth Moore said we should tell God everything, and confess everything. Well, we all know that, right? I am conscientious about confessing my sins, and often ask God to reveal anything to me that is a sin, or a shortcoming. I ask Him to "search my heart". But, something she said made a lot of sense to me, and I had never thought about it before.

Often, things happen that, if not dealt with, can cause problems later. They can cause outbursts of anger, resentment, bitterness, etc. And what was so eye-opening to me, was that we were supposed to confess these things BEFORE they became a sin. Ask God to help us deal with them, BEFORE they became a problem.

Someone said something to me the other day that hurt my feelings. I keep thinking about it over and over, wondering what her motive was. Of course, the enemy is right there, whispering in my ear that her motive was not pure. Maybe she didn't even have a motive! But the more I thought about it, the more I was certain she did, and I got mad. Now, this poor woman has absolutely no idea what is going on, and it would not be fruitful to tell her about it. In the old days (ok, yesterday), I would have let this fester, and fester, until I would no longer even be able to be friends with this person. I would never have considered this something to tell God, because it seems so childish and immature. But, guess what! He knows I'm childish and immature about some things, and He wants to talk to me about it, but He can't until I open up the lines of communication with Him. And that's what the confessing is all about.

Tell God. He already knows anyway, and no matter how small it is, let's deal with it before it turns into something huge.