A rant and a request

[stmpthmpr]

With the presidential elections coming, there is much talk about a Liberal Democrat winning the office. Conservatives are concerned because that means more giveaways. It means more distribution of wealth by the government. I happen to be a conservative but I blame conservatives as much as liberals. There are a great many good people and good churches out there who are doing great things. But I believe Christianity as a whole today is failing and failing miserably. We have the greatest wealth in the world and we sit in a pew on Sundays, put a pittance in the offering plate, and then complain about all the suffering and hunger and all going on around us. We build Crystal Cathedrals and sponsor a few missionaries and do just enough to feel we are doing good. BUT... it isnt enough. We ignore the example of Jesus and we sit back and allow people to fall through the cracks. If we sit back and allow the government control over our lives we loose the opportunity to give the Lord the praise for what we should be doing in His name.

People in need should be able to reach out to the local church for support. There should be employers in the church willing to help people needing jobs. We should be taking care of our own, in our own communities with the government acting only as a safety net. We should be doing this because we want to and because we need to and because it is the right thing to do. Not because the government chooses to take the control in order to purchase our votes with our own money. And we certainly shouldnt be giving just because we read and are told that we should give ten percent. Avoiding guilt or just following the Law is NOT what the Golden Rule is about.

It might be that the best we can do is every time we hear of people hurting somewhere, a natural disaster, and drowning, anything, we go out and purpose to help one more person in our community. To do so we may need to approach our church and ask if they know who in the community is in need. If they dont, there's a problem needing attention. If they do, in helping that one person, we potentially lift them up to a point that they will give back as well. Dont give handouts. Tell people that when you help them help themselves there is one stipulation or requirement. That they in turn help someone else as soon as they are able to (and it doesnt have to be financial if money is not the gift thats available).

I would liken this to the wolves in Idaho. As they increase, they spread out and form new packs. The stronger our people the stronger our communities... communities/states... states/country... country/world.

Unfortunately, if what we are doing is limited to supporting our local church, and the church isnt actively impacting the community for good, it is the same thing as paying taxes into a government that isnt getting the money directly where it is needed.

When we as people and churches work with individuals, we can determine how best we can help them to help themselves. Its teaching them to fish rather than giving them a fish dinner. Then our time effort and resources can multiply. Feed the bureaucracies and a tenth of what we give actually makes it down the pipeline and a percentage of THAT goes to abusers and frauds and those who choose just to get by.

It all goes back to what am *I* doing? And what are we as Americans allowing to happen? We need to stand up and allow God's gift of compassion to grow legs and in the process impact people lives for the good and take back our country from the greed and corruption that is our government.

My prayer request is that we all pray for an awakening by Christ’s church. That’s us. We must lead by example. When Americans come together amazing things happen. Just think what could happen if Christians would come together to reduce or eliminate the burdens in our communities. And it seems that we put conditions on our giving. Too many Christians only help other Christians. People resent us and for good reason. We go around telling people how they should live and what they should and shouldn’t be doing. If they will see things our way, THEN we will welcome them in and give them a helping hand. Seems to me Jesus was about ministering to the sick and the poor. Upon seeing His compassion and good works, they believed. Not the other way around.

More specifically, I ask for your prayers in my own life at this time. I injured my back two years ago and can no longer do the work I’ve been doing for over twenty five years. Im surviving so I dont need anything material. What I need is to understand what Gods purpose for my life is. I have many gifts that still work! LOL Im struggling though to keep from retreating into my comfort zone. Im frustrated because I have ALWAYS felt the need to use what I have to be of service to others, but it seems my natural inclination is to be a loner. This is a huge turning point in my life. I have to start over. I need patience Lord, and I want it RIGHT NOW!!! LOL. Please just pray that doors open or people cross my path that will lead me into God’s will.

Ill be praying for Christians everywhere to do the same… step out of their own comfort zone and make a real difference in others lives… and give God the glory!!  Thanks

[Doc Nock]

Wow....You've said a considerable mouth full there, my friend!

Nothing here that I don't hear echoing honestly in my heart, but just so much.    Wow!

While each and everything you've shared I see as being an honest call to live as He called us to do, and I fall way short, I also think that we've created a feeding frenzy in government that even if we as Christians picked up the ball as we should and you've so aptly pointed out, it's not going to be so easy to styme the gluttony of government.

Working in various sectors for a good number of years, I've seen how we've created an entire "entitlement mentality" within a growing cross section of our society that thinks that they have a "RIGHT" to a guaranteed quality of life and it is someone ELSE's responsibility to provide it for them---FREE.

I'm not suggesting we should do less than what you've called us to do in your note, but I do wonder how we separate the legitimate from those who would sit with their hand out and do nothing for themselves? Is that God's will for us to enable others dependency?

I've struggled with that throughout my adult life.  We didn't have color TV--or a good car. Couldn't afford it and everyone in my house worked...including me by age 14 in summers. Things have gotten topsy turvey and I think even best intentioned Christians sometimes fear being scammed and missing helping those who truly are in need.

Maybe I'm the only fool in the bunch here, but I've gotten suckered so often, I wait more now for direction and God to speak to my heart than to knee jerk jump in to rescue.

Your good words will take me back to my knees to re-examine all that...and alas, as you had suggested, delve deeper into what my church is doing...

Thanks for a sobering start to a long holiday weekend.

Prayers up for your situation. Mine is not by injury, but circumstance that I also am again seeking an outlet to use God's good skills the way He intended, so I join you and understand your situation.

Keep the Son in your Eyes!  

[BenBow]

stmpthmpr I've been praying for the same thing for quite a while. Thank God I see the change coming. Jesus has been showing me that everything He accomplished here on earth took place in His prayer time. We tend to think it was by His actions that we read about but the reality is He did the battle on His knees and took the plunder on His feet. We tend to want to DO something without praying and end up doing it in our flesh. I guarentee that is why the Church is so dead today. We offer the world stinking, filthy, menstral rags and wonder why it's not accepted. We need to be in God's presence and let Him battle through us. Prayer isn't just begging God it's moving mountains with Him. Remember what Jesus says, "If you believe in Me you WILL do the things I have done and even greater things than these." We need to spend enough time with our Father that we become like Him and like Jesus, not think it wrong to be equal to Him as sons and daughters. Then you will have the faith to do the will of God by His Spirit. So you have a great opportunity to spend time with God in prayer to be part of a great awakening. May God grant you the strength, wisdom, and joy to enter intimately into His presence. Not only you, but me and others as well then our Joy WILL be full.

[BenBow]

I have to emphisize that we can't do anything without our sinful nature messing it up if we don't spend time in God's presence letting Him clean the sin from our lives. And believe it or not it isn't a painful process but genuinely refreshing.

[stmpthmpr]

Thanks BenBow and Doc Nock! Good stuff. Ben Bow's last comment sums it up for me pretty well. The sinful nature is "ME" oriented. Even as we feel we are within Gods will, it is difficult to get beyond the thinking mind and enter that place of peace where we are capable of HEARING the Spirit.

This keeps us from looking past ourselves and at others. We place limits where there are none for God. What we can do and accomplish is only limited by owr own minds.

Im a recovered alcoholic. I understand that more often than not, we must hit bottom before we are willing to turn our will over the God's care. So thats how I see people. I cannot judge the condition of one's heart. I can use my own logic and experience to judge one's actions and even intentions, but I canyt limit what God might do in that persons heart and His ability to use me for that purpose.

We have panhandlers on the corners here in anchorage. Every once in awhile Ill see one witha sign that says, "Not gonna lie, I need a drink", or something to that effect. I cant resist those guys. I give them a little something and thank them for being honest, tell them that God loves them, and that when they are ready to be free, there's help.

I try to keep in mind that those who are ready to humble themselves enough to ask for help, are generally at what for them is the bottom. And this is likely when their hearts are softened enough to reach out for God. We as individuals and churches need to be out there and available when that happens.

The way I see it, when people fall on hard times, and the government bails them out, their situations are often eased just enough to take them out of the immediate desperation where they may be ready for REAL change in their lives. Many are not capable for various reasons, of getting out of the ruts that got them in th situation to begin with, so they just continue to accept the freebies. The bar of their self-respect just got lowered.

We need to help people help themselves. The easy way is not necessarily the best way.

Anyway, I'm truly concerned about the direction this country has been going. It hurts to see the increasingly negative attitude towards Christianity. Many Christians dismiss it as the work of Satan. It may be his work, but there just may be very good reasons why people resent us. Could it be self-righteousness? Could it be the "do as I say, not as I do" thang? Could it be the hypocracy of shouting out the do's and dont's while there is a speck in our own eye? Could it be real people needing other real people instead of bible quotes tossed at them?

We all have a unique life experience and for each of us there are those who could relate with us and find that they want and need what we have found. If we refuse to hunble ourselves and use the gifts God gave us, the good and the bad that are and have been our lives, then we have failed Him. Too many hide behind the word and are simply seen as bible thumping drones.

Who pushed my "ramble" button? LOL  Ill stop but one more thing came to mind. Many a joke has been made of Jehovah Witnesses. BUt, there is a lady who has been visiting my house for over five years, at least once a month. She brings someone different with her every time it seems. She is a delight. You can see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice that she truly loves God and wants to share what she has found with others. I may not believe as she does, but I respect her so much. She has the strength of her conviction and puts herself out there. Same goes for several Mormons I have met.

Many Christians look down on them because they see them as deceived. But if we looked at them through God's eyes, we might just learn something!!