Church

TODAY’S BREADCRUMB

“Cancel Culture” has been here for centuries and likely originated with the Christian Church as no other institution on earth is more dissented, discordant, and denominated.

TODAY’S BREADCRUMB

We can’t stop living because some of us are dying.

100% of human beings die. The hairs on our heads, as well as the length of our days are numbered.

You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. Job 14:5 (NLT) 

We can do nothing to change the quantity of our days, only the quality of them. We do what we can to preserve life, exercise prudence, and not live recklessly or arrogantly, but still we watch some die who “shouldn’t”, and others who “should” die, yet don’t. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is going to kill the exact number of us it is destined to kill – not one more, not one less. Tens of thousands of us die each and every day from a variety of causes – people of every age, size, shape, and color – but we have never “shut down” the world because of this.

We haven’t stopped driving though some of us die in traffic wrecks. We haven’t stopped eating though some of us die from choking on food. We haven’t stopped swimming though some of us drown. We haven’t stopped having sex though some of us die from it by heart attack, aids, std’s, and unwanted pregnancies (tens of millions of babies are aborted each year after people have had sex). We haven’t stopped going outside though there are hungry wild animals out there who kill some of us. And what about the millions of us who develop and/or die from cancer each year? We live on, knowing that some of us will get it and some of us won’t, some of it can be treated, some of it can’t.

We know for certain that cigarette smoking leads to lung disease which kills tens of thousands of us every year; We know for certain that pornography is connected to and associated with tens of thousands of crimes, abuses, addictions, and disorders; We know for certain that alcohol destroys and kills tens of thousands of us each year; We know for certain that soda, cheesecake, and donuts contribute to obesity and diabetes which kills tens of thousands of us each year – yet we haven’t banned cigarettes, pornography, alcohol, or sweets. So, what is this sudden concern right now for the safety and well-being of human life and “shutting down” the world in which we live? (According to the Associated Press, 80,000 Americans died from the flu during the 2017 – 2018 season; as of this writing there are roughly 40,000 worldwide and 4,000 U.S. deaths due to coronavirus COVID-19).

We can’t stop living because some of us our dying.

People live; People die. We call this life. Death has always been here with us. No one dies too soon, no one dies too late – we all die right on time – our time.

This is not a time to live in panic and fear, but to stand together, under GOD, in faith. We must carry on and continue to live in common unity – to work, play, attend school, shop, celebrate, mourn, and worship GOD – and everything else human life entails. We should take advantage of this unique opportunity to re-examine our lives, reset our values, and reform our systems of government, healthcare, business, education, entertainment, religion, etc…

But we shouldn’t return to “business as usual” either. We have just learned that we can live without a lot of things – things that just a few weeks ago we would have never dreamed we could forego. Things that were a part of our every day, every week rhythms and routines. Yet in such a short period of time we have adjusted, adapted, and changed. We have also learned that the Church is not a building, that being able to go to work and school is a blessing, and that we miss each other – even those frustrating, annoying, irritating people we used to interact with every day.

We need to live better and smarter. We need to live more simple, humble, selfless lives. Yes, we should be vigilant to wash our hands, fold them in prayer, and use them to help and serve those around us. While we’re at it, how about incorporating a little common sense into the way we live, since it has been replaced by too much non-sense. A great deal of life is a matter of being disciplined and responsible on a daily basis – doing the right thing, the right way, for the right reason, each and every time (we find what is right by reading the right book, The BIBLE).

We can’t stop living because some of us our dying.

Physical life ends in physical death – this is a certain, given fact. But we are both physical and spiritual beings. Spiritual life is eternal – it is spent in perfect relationship with GOD and His people, or in absolute isolation alone forever. Yes, death is certain, but so is life.

He who has the Son [by accepting Him as Lord and Savior] has the life [that is eternal]; he who does not have the Son of God [by personal faith] does not have the life. 1 John 5:12 (AMP)

I am certain, as I hope we all are, of this…“All my days GOD has been faithful; All my days GOD has been so, so good; With every breath that I am able, I will speak of the goodness of GOD.” (Goodness of GOD, Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson, with a few grammatical liberties taken)

 

ALL TANGLED UP: THE CASUALITES OF CAPITALISM

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV)

The craving for physical gratification of whatever the body feels, the greedy desires for everything the eyes see, and the arrogant pride in our achievements and possessions…these are the causalities of Capitalism. The main problem with Capitalism is that it is overly interested in “capital” – money, wealth, principal, investment, assets, resources, funds – and thus, it turns every institution into a state where the “profession” becomes more important than the product/service being offered, and where the “livelihoods” and “lifestyles” of the professionals start to matter more than the lives of those who receive the products/services.

I also saw this here on earth: Where there should have been justice, there was evil.
Where there should have been fairness, there was wickedness.                                     Ecclesiastes 3:16 (ICB)

Our systems and institutions are not working anymore – they have all become corrupt. More energy and effort are spent promoting and protecting individual positions than in making a positive impact upon society. Of course, there are exceptions – there are people doing outstanding things, and for all the right reasons – but far too many operate out of the mindset of “What’s in this for me?” Fewer and fewer people will “spend” themselves and give their all into anything, unless their “return on investment” is financially lucrative.

In the Church – the “profession” of ministry has taken priority over the people who need to be ministered to.

In Healthcare – the “profession” of doctoring and sustaining every facet of it, has become more important than providing proper care to patients who are sick, injured, and diseased.

In Education – the “profession” of instructing and maintaining the institutions, instructors, and sports teams overshadows the students who need instruction.

In Government – the “profession” of politics and the power, prestige, and pomp it offers has taken precedence over the duty to serve the citizens of the nation.

In Business – the “profession” of management and money markets, and over-paying executives and stockholders, appears to matter much more than producing quality goods and services, and providing good wages and benefits to employees.

These “professions” used to be driven by passion, by a calling to serve, by a desire to influence, by a hope to make a positive difference – not by the paycheck. But, this seems to have flip-flopped as time goes on. Now the questions are: “What kind of lifestyle will this profession allow me to live?” “What can I get out of this profession?” It has become more and more about power, prestige, and privilege, instead of serving, sacrificing, and sharing expertise. We are “stuck” within ourselves and our appetites to entertain, indulge, pacify, and create ourselves. Everything is all about “ME” the prince/princess, with no regard for “we the people.”

This is NOT a cry for socialism – there will always be rich and poor, for some people are very adept at making money, while others are very adept in losing money. We shouldn’t reward irresponsibility. We shouldn’t take care of the lazy, deceitful, manipulative, and excuse makers. We shouldn’t allow anyone to “play the system” and if the “system” can be played it is a faulty system and needs to be overhauled. We shouldn’t pay “public” servants after their terms are up and they stop “serving” – no special lifetime salaries, no special pensions, no special benefits, no special anything – they are on their own just like the rest of us.

But how rich and how poor is a better question? When will common good override clear greed? When will our eagerness to be entertained be overcome by a hunger to invest in humanity? When will loving our neighbor mean more than living a frivolous lifestyle? When will compassion become more important than capital?

We have put the proverbial “cart before the horse.” We have become more interested in consuming than contributing – in being well-cared for than caring for the well-being of our fellow human beings. We should first be asking: “How can I impact lives for good?”Before asking: “How can I make a good living?”

Capitalism has caused our hearts have become cold, calloused, and uncaring. Capitalism isn’t the problem, people are. Serving and caring for people must always be our first and foremost priority – far before capital. For this to occur, our hearts need to be cured and there is only one remedy for this kind of heart disease – the LORD Jesus Christ.

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart, so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.  Ezekiel 11:19-20 (NLT)

 

TODAY’S BREADCRUMB

How will this dying world be delivered from its forever death with such a divided, divisive, and denominated Church?

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. John 17:21

TODAY’S BREADCRUMB

Christianity is far more than forgiveness for past failures (sins) and the confident hope of a pleasant future in heaven, it is the power of Christ and the presence of Christ with us and in us right now, in the present moment, to mesh into every part and parcel of life.

TODAY’S BREADCRUMB

Yes, there literally is “hell to pay” – the question is, “Who is picking up your tab?”

And so Jesus is able, now and forever, to save from the punishment of sin all who come to God through Him because He lives forever to pray for them.  Hebrews 7:25 (NLV)

TODAY’S BREADCRUMB

SATISFACTION

“All you people who are thirsty, come! Here is water for you to drink. Don’t worry if you have no money. Come, eat and drink until you are full! You don’t need money. The milk and wine are free. Why waste your money on something that is not real food? Why should you work for something that does not really satisfy you? Listen closely to me and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the food that satisfies your soul.           Isaiah 55:1-2

 

The Rolling Stones sang “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” – I beg to differ with them, as they were just looking in the wrong places to find it. Trying to find satisfaction in this life from people and things incapable of providing it just leaves us wanting – wanting the next, the new, the novel – none of which ever satisfies.

Satisfaction isn’t hard to find, it has already come once, and will come back again. Best of all it’s absolutely free.

John 6: 

26a, 27 Jesus answered them…“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”

 32a, 33 Then Jesus said…”For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

 35, 40 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me shall never hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst… This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

 

Full, over-flowing satisfaction has come to us, the question is this: Will you choose to be satisfied in Him who has everything you need?

TODAY’S BREADCRUMB

This world is full of exceptional people. There are great numbers around us who have heard the GOOD NEWS of the Savior JESUS and have even read the Holy Scriptures for themselves, yet they remain unconvinced of its promises, uncertain of its purpose, and unchanged by its power. Yes, these are exceptional individuals – women and men with exceptionally closed minds and exceptionally calloused hearts – who refuse to believe there is any need outside of which human ingenuity and intellect has the wherewithal to meet.