Monday, February 14, 2011
Sad
Just about every girl from the area I live in is either pregnant, getting ready to be pregnant, or already has a baby. TRIFLING!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
A Dose of Reality
Hebrews 10:26-30 ESV
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
Something has really been weighing on my heart lately, and as you can see above, the first line of these passages from Hebrews states this burden I have been carrying. God tells us that no matter what we do we can ask for repentance and be forgiven, over and over again. Does this mean we should abuse God's grace? Or stand idly by and say "God will forgive me no matter what I do" or "I have plenty of time to ask God for forgiveness and be saved". I think this is a huge misconception in todays world and needs to be brought to light. I think there are a lot of people out there who actually believe it is okay for them to continuously sin against God because they are promised unlimited salvation. What people do not seem to understand is that even though we are promised God's endless grace, we will one day have to answer for our actions of the lives we have led on this earth.
Here is a dose of reality:
ROMANS 14:
11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
One day, we will all have to give a personal account in front of the Lord for our actions on this Earth.
John 12:48 ESV
The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day
2 Peter 2:21 ESV
For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
1 Peter 4:5 ESV
But they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead
2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
1 Corinthians 3:13 ESV
Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
As you can see from all of these verses above each one of us will have to give an account for the our deeds (good and bad) that we have done while living in this body. So.....next time you say "well its okay if I do this because God will forgive me" remember...........your right. But when it comes time for you to give an account for you life in front of God, will your account be sufficient enough for God to let you live with him for eternity?
Ill leave you with this:
Luke 13:24-29 (New International Version, ©2010)
24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
Guidance (or lack thereof)
Instead of a required course in ethics or religion, many colleges today require a course in "pluralism," which is really a course in relativism. It undermines any notion of absolute values that might be morally binding on all. Instead, morals are viewed simply as one's personal psychological reactions to outside situations. Guilt is only psychological, as is moral rightness.
People of the nineteenth century were just as sinful as we are today, but they tended to have moral categories to remind them of that fact. Twentieth-century morals have no condemning or justifying power at all; they do not really even qualify as morals. Today we are engulfed in a fog bank of blindness that few nineteenth-century folks (except the intellectual elite) experienced.
Our culture therefore cannot understand the divinely instituted moral bond that undergirds the family, marriage, civic community, and the workplace. These relationships and structures are portrayed as products of our biological and social evolution. They are merely means for achieving individual personal goals, with no intrinsic value or transcendent validity. This blindness is demonstrated in our high rate of divorce and incarceration, increased domestic violence, and the growing confusion about the institution of marriage and the family.
If guidance comes from wisdom and wisdom is the application of values to life, then our culture--despite its great technological knowledge--cannot provide real guidance. Our society can only offer instruction in cleverness, self-interest, self-esteem, and ways to gain power for the self. Self-help motivational books like Think and Grow Rich (Hill 1960) are classics of our age just because they reflect, in rather crass terms, the guiding wisdom of our time.
(James C. Petty)
People of the nineteenth century were just as sinful as we are today, but they tended to have moral categories to remind them of that fact. Twentieth-century morals have no condemning or justifying power at all; they do not really even qualify as morals. Today we are engulfed in a fog bank of blindness that few nineteenth-century folks (except the intellectual elite) experienced.
Our culture therefore cannot understand the divinely instituted moral bond that undergirds the family, marriage, civic community, and the workplace. These relationships and structures are portrayed as products of our biological and social evolution. They are merely means for achieving individual personal goals, with no intrinsic value or transcendent validity. This blindness is demonstrated in our high rate of divorce and incarceration, increased domestic violence, and the growing confusion about the institution of marriage and the family.
If guidance comes from wisdom and wisdom is the application of values to life, then our culture--despite its great technological knowledge--cannot provide real guidance. Our society can only offer instruction in cleverness, self-interest, self-esteem, and ways to gain power for the self. Self-help motivational books like Think and Grow Rich (Hill 1960) are classics of our age just because they reflect, in rather crass terms, the guiding wisdom of our time.
(James C. Petty)
Friday, February 11, 2011
Single
Single is not a status. It's a word that describes a person who's strong enough to live and enjoy life without depending on others @OMGInspireMe
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Our Immortal Society
When foreigners immigrate to this society they are shocked by the immorality here. They are shocked by the sexual freedom and permissiveness of the society, by the total breakdown in morals. Be they Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu or whatever they are shocked and disgusted. They generally react by a strict supervision of their children, keeping them on a short leash, trying to keep them from all the evil influences of the society. And, down deep in their heart, they secretly dream of returning to their homeland (the absence of jobs there being what keeps them from doing so).
The typical American has been corrupted; he is corrupted down in his heart and soul; he is spiritually lost.
Evil dominates in our society, Evil influences are everywhere. We are bombarded continually by evil influences, images and messages from all directions: TV, radio, movies, books, magazines, friends, parents, teachers, preachers, etc.. Wickedness is everywhere. While good men sit in shock, the wicked flaunt their wickedness. Wickedness rules and good men fear to speak up.
Youth is impressionable. It is almost impossible for it to survive the constant bombardment of immoral messages, images, attitudes and temptations without itself becoming infected and corrupted. The young person is constantly hearing all the voices that tend to guide down the wrong path and never voices in favor of Goodness, Virtue, Righteousness and Moral Principle. There is no one speaking up for Righteousness in this society.
Our custom of dating is a big part of the problem. It is an imprudent custom that leads to immorality. Moslems, Buddhists and Hindus don't allow their children to date. They keep them indoors and under tight rein until they are in their twenties and old enough to marry. Then they are expected to meet one person, get to know them under proper, controlled circumstances, and then to marry them. Meetings are controlled and chaperoned.
In American society children grow up neglected and untaught. Then when they reach the age of eighteen the custom is to heartlessly kick them out on their own into a cold, unfriendly world. The children in America today are growing up without moral instruction and without the practical instruction needed to make it on their own. The schools are ineffective. The atmosphere in them is too free and easy; the atmosphere of order, discipline and authority that is so important is missing, and the students are allowed to just pass through without anything being required of them. The children in our society are being short-changed not only by the school system but by their parents. We live in a selfish society. People are too wrapped up in getting things for ourselves, finding pleasure, being good to themselves, to worry about their children. They feel that if they provide their children with food, clothing and shelter that is the extent of their duty. The children are growing up spiritually and morally neglected by their parents. Part of the reason is because the parents are so spiritually and morally vacuous that they have nothing to give.
Has there been a particular cause for this moral breakdown in America? Yes, there in a single thing that has brought it about. What is it? It is a set of attitudes, outlooks and values that go by the name "Liberalism". It is Liberalism that has been the corrupting agent. Liberalism, acting over the years, is what has transformed America into what it is today. Liberalism, the lying voice of Satan himself, is what has accomplished this great feat. And it has not just happened here in America. The same thing has also happened in Western Europe through the same force, the same agent. And because of the great world-wide influence of the West, the same agent is working in the entire world.
(Miller, 1990l)
The typical American has been corrupted; he is corrupted down in his heart and soul; he is spiritually lost.
Evil dominates in our society, Evil influences are everywhere. We are bombarded continually by evil influences, images and messages from all directions: TV, radio, movies, books, magazines, friends, parents, teachers, preachers, etc.. Wickedness is everywhere. While good men sit in shock, the wicked flaunt their wickedness. Wickedness rules and good men fear to speak up.
Youth is impressionable. It is almost impossible for it to survive the constant bombardment of immoral messages, images, attitudes and temptations without itself becoming infected and corrupted. The young person is constantly hearing all the voices that tend to guide down the wrong path and never voices in favor of Goodness, Virtue, Righteousness and Moral Principle. There is no one speaking up for Righteousness in this society.
Our custom of dating is a big part of the problem. It is an imprudent custom that leads to immorality. Moslems, Buddhists and Hindus don't allow their children to date. They keep them indoors and under tight rein until they are in their twenties and old enough to marry. Then they are expected to meet one person, get to know them under proper, controlled circumstances, and then to marry them. Meetings are controlled and chaperoned.
In American society children grow up neglected and untaught. Then when they reach the age of eighteen the custom is to heartlessly kick them out on their own into a cold, unfriendly world. The children in America today are growing up without moral instruction and without the practical instruction needed to make it on their own. The schools are ineffective. The atmosphere in them is too free and easy; the atmosphere of order, discipline and authority that is so important is missing, and the students are allowed to just pass through without anything being required of them. The children in our society are being short-changed not only by the school system but by their parents. We live in a selfish society. People are too wrapped up in getting things for ourselves, finding pleasure, being good to themselves, to worry about their children. They feel that if they provide their children with food, clothing and shelter that is the extent of their duty. The children are growing up spiritually and morally neglected by their parents. Part of the reason is because the parents are so spiritually and morally vacuous that they have nothing to give.
Has there been a particular cause for this moral breakdown in America? Yes, there in a single thing that has brought it about. What is it? It is a set of attitudes, outlooks and values that go by the name "Liberalism". It is Liberalism that has been the corrupting agent. Liberalism, acting over the years, is what has transformed America into what it is today. Liberalism, the lying voice of Satan himself, is what has accomplished this great feat. And it has not just happened here in America. The same thing has also happened in Western Europe through the same force, the same agent. And because of the great world-wide influence of the West, the same agent is working in the entire world.
(Miller, 1990l)
I think the most surprising thing about this article is that it was written in 1990 which means that the problem he discuses within this article has become an even greater problem in today's society- Truth
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Why should we confront someone with the truth?
Why confront someone with the truth?
What constitutes right and wrong? Not right and wrong as in laws that clearly define what absolutely will be and not be accepted in society. Right and wrong as in the moral make-up of every human being. What each one of us believes to be right and wrong within ourselves that defines the way we act and live our lives. Where do we as humans learn these morals, standards and values? The easy answer for this is that, it is how we are raised by our parents and what is instilled in us by the current social belief system we grow up in.
Surely our parents do not hold the same beliefs, values and morals that our generation does. This is because these characteristics, that in the purest form, this country was founded on have changed through the years (mostly for the worse). It is clear to see that this generation is lost to a society who believes in materialism, self gratification and achievement, immoral pleasures, and living a life with no true meaning or substance. We are now a world where society constitutes what is morally right and wrong. Scarier than that, this generation holds the belief that it is the individual who should choose what is morally right or wrong. We are blinded to what this country was founded on and, whether religious or not, we must grasp the truth that our country was founded on Christian biblical doctrine and morals (such as the ten commandments). Yes, these Christian morals are linked to the belief in God as our one sovereign lord (if you are religious), but they can also be used as a great guideline on how to live a morally fulfilling life, and there is simply nothing wrong with that. What is wrong with being a good moral person who holds good standards and values for their life? Absolutely nothing.
"Morals are now considered relative. Relative to culture, relative to circumstance, and relative to the specific needs of the individual. "It seems today in our world that right is wrong and wrong is right. The result is, the very foundation of our society and culture is crumbling beneath our feet. That is because we, as a nation, have lost our way. We are no longer built on a solid foundation of knowing the difference between right and wrong. That moral foundation in our country came from our faith in God and obedience to His Word." (Greg Laurie, Harvest Ministries)
This brings me to the very reason why we should confront people with the truth. We as Americans should be responsible to hold each other morally responsible and accountable for our actions. Moral responsibility usually refers to the idea that a person has moral obligations in certain situations (I use this term more loosely). Disobeying moral obligations, then, becomes grounds for justified punishment. Deciding what justifies punishment, if anything, is a principle concern of Ethics (which I wont touch on because I have already designated verbal confrontation, in my opinion, as appropriate).
So what makes what I feel as morally right and how we should live our lives correct?
A. It is grounded in scripture, and sanctioned by God for how we should live, and thus I base my arguments off that foremost.
B. If your are not religious, then what makes me right is that my morals, values, and standards are simply good. Guidelines for fulfilling, pure, and respectable living.
If we as brothers and sisters in Christ or, for secularists, human beings who have to live in this world together do not start holding each other morally accountable, then the world will be lost. The norm will soon be that the immoral is right and the moral is wrong (this has already begun).
So as for me, I will point out and bring to light the flaws of peoples moral character, question their philosophy of their actions, and attempt to correct their misconceptions of how they should live their broken life.
I leave you with this: John Adams, second president of the United States, wrote in 1789, "Our Constitution was designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."
Disclaimer: I am not perfect, but I strive everyday of my life to
What constitutes right and wrong? Not right and wrong as in laws that clearly define what absolutely will be and not be accepted in society. Right and wrong as in the moral make-up of every human being. What each one of us believes to be right and wrong within ourselves that defines the way we act and live our lives. Where do we as humans learn these morals, standards and values? The easy answer for this is that, it is how we are raised by our parents and what is instilled in us by the current social belief system we grow up in.
Surely our parents do not hold the same beliefs, values and morals that our generation does. This is because these characteristics, that in the purest form, this country was founded on have changed through the years (mostly for the worse). It is clear to see that this generation is lost to a society who believes in materialism, self gratification and achievement, immoral pleasures, and living a life with no true meaning or substance. We are now a world where society constitutes what is morally right and wrong. Scarier than that, this generation holds the belief that it is the individual who should choose what is morally right or wrong. We are blinded to what this country was founded on and, whether religious or not, we must grasp the truth that our country was founded on Christian biblical doctrine and morals (such as the ten commandments). Yes, these Christian morals are linked to the belief in God as our one sovereign lord (if you are religious), but they can also be used as a great guideline on how to live a morally fulfilling life, and there is simply nothing wrong with that. What is wrong with being a good moral person who holds good standards and values for their life? Absolutely nothing.
"Morals are now considered relative. Relative to culture, relative to circumstance, and relative to the specific needs of the individual. "It seems today in our world that right is wrong and wrong is right. The result is, the very foundation of our society and culture is crumbling beneath our feet. That is because we, as a nation, have lost our way. We are no longer built on a solid foundation of knowing the difference between right and wrong. That moral foundation in our country came from our faith in God and obedience to His Word." (Greg Laurie, Harvest Ministries)
This brings me to the very reason why we should confront people with the truth. We as Americans should be responsible to hold each other morally responsible and accountable for our actions. Moral responsibility usually refers to the idea that a person has moral obligations in certain situations (I use this term more loosely). Disobeying moral obligations, then, becomes grounds for justified punishment. Deciding what justifies punishment, if anything, is a principle concern of Ethics (which I wont touch on because I have already designated verbal confrontation, in my opinion, as appropriate).
So what makes what I feel as morally right and how we should live our lives correct?
A. It is grounded in scripture, and sanctioned by God for how we should live, and thus I base my arguments off that foremost.
B. If your are not religious, then what makes me right is that my morals, values, and standards are simply good. Guidelines for fulfilling, pure, and respectable living.
If we as brothers and sisters in Christ or, for secularists, human beings who have to live in this world together do not start holding each other morally accountable, then the world will be lost. The norm will soon be that the immoral is right and the moral is wrong (this has already begun).
So as for me, I will point out and bring to light the flaws of peoples moral character, question their philosophy of their actions, and attempt to correct their misconceptions of how they should live their broken life.
I leave you with this: John Adams, second president of the United States, wrote in 1789, "Our Constitution was designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other."
Disclaimer: I am not perfect, but I strive everyday of my life to
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Why are people offended by the truth?
People are offended by truth because of its very nature— it is exclusive and it is absolute, not relative. The absolute nature of truth means that it does not depend on, nor is it changed by, people’s opinions. For example, if someone says, “There is no God,” that does not affect the existence of God. It only shows that the person is ignorant. -Douglas Barke
My Analysis/Opinion-(this is relative to secularism, the example using God is just that, an example, but does reflect my personal beliefs.) Do you think it is possible to accurately evaluate the flaws of oneself when our instinct is to think the best of ourselves? When we are confronted with truth our first instinct is to defend ourselves against the allegation, whether right or wrong. It is an absolute truth that just because you perceive yourself to be right does not make you right (based upon human perception not factual truth). As humans we rely on the Psychological process of "fight or flight" (I am of course relating this to mental distress rather than physical distress). Think about how many times someone has brought The Hard Truth to you and you either got defensive and confrontational or defensive and dismissive? It is very hard (initially) for a naturally subjective person to think objectively. A big part of being subjective is placing excessive emphasis on one's own moods, attitudes, opinions and thus clouds our judgement of what is truly right or wrong. Compared to objective in which you are not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice. It is based on facts. THINK OF THE SIMPLICITY OF THIS ANALYSIS. If we fight our natural urge to think subjectively and instead stop and think objectively, analyzing the situation based upon the facts, then the Truth will not be AS clouded by our perception as it would be if we acted subjectively. Think of how many fights and arguments can be avoided by applying this to your life.-Hard truth
Conclusion- Objective over Subjective
My Analysis/Opinion-(this is relative to secularism, the example using God is just that, an example, but does reflect my personal beliefs.) Do you think it is possible to accurately evaluate the flaws of oneself when our instinct is to think the best of ourselves? When we are confronted with truth our first instinct is to defend ourselves against the allegation, whether right or wrong. It is an absolute truth that just because you perceive yourself to be right does not make you right (based upon human perception not factual truth). As humans we rely on the Psychological process of "fight or flight" (I am of course relating this to mental distress rather than physical distress). Think about how many times someone has brought The Hard Truth to you and you either got defensive and confrontational or defensive and dismissive? It is very hard (initially) for a naturally subjective person to think objectively. A big part of being subjective is placing excessive emphasis on one's own moods, attitudes, opinions and thus clouds our judgement of what is truly right or wrong. Compared to objective in which you are not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice. It is based on facts. THINK OF THE SIMPLICITY OF THIS ANALYSIS. If we fight our natural urge to think subjectively and instead stop and think objectively, analyzing the situation based upon the facts, then the Truth will not be AS clouded by our perception as it would be if we acted subjectively. Think of how many fights and arguments can be avoided by applying this to your life.-Hard truth
Conclusion- Objective over Subjective
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