Video of the kids' play from this Christmas! :D

Adventures in Christmas Photo Taking!

Took over two hours to finally get a decent one. So here's some of the rejects! :P

These first two were a trial run to make sure I could get everyone in the frame with room for cropping.

Christians, Facebook, and Matthew 18

I have been losing a lot of facebook friends lately. Most of them just disappearing from my friend list inexplicably. I could just assume that they are all weeding, as I have done on occasion. But six in one week?! And about 10 in the last month? Two that I know of for sure were upset with me about something I said or posted. I know because they sent me messages before they unfriended me. And most of the lost friends are Christians, which isn't surprising since at least 90% of my friends are!

Anyway, on to the point of this blog. Why don't Christians follow the instructions in Matthew 18 for handling conflicts? They don't in life and most especially don't on facebook or other social networking sites. For those who may be unfamiliar with the instructions in Matthew 18, here they are:

1. If you are having a controversy with a brother then you take it to that person privately. Verse 15
2. If he (or she) won't listen then get one or two other people to go with you to approach the person. Verse 16
3. If he won't hear that then you take it to the church at large. Verse 17
4. If that does no good he is to be treated as a heathen.

I dare say that step one would be sufficient in most cases to bring a resolution. But no one ever does that. Instead they backbite and gossip and ignore the problem and the person. Does that please God? Certainly not.

As for the other steps, if they are ever needed it would have to be over something pretty serious, not just a disagreement about political issues or other life choices (i.e. vaccination, home birthing, smoking, etc). Those other steps should be reserved for a serious doctrinal thing, if the person was slandering someone, stealing, lying, or something overtly sinful.

Another question I have is, why is it that people think that we must all believe certain things? One of the things I was unfriended over was because my husband (using my account) commented on a post by a lady. She had posted something about the Ft. Hood shooter and Muslims in general. My husband replied that even Muslims need Jesus (or something to that effect). The other person unfriended me because I don't care about whether a business says "Merry Christmas" or not, it really makes absolutely no difference to me whatsoever! Are either of those issues worth losing a friendship over? I don't think so, but those ladies obviously do!

What silly frivolous things to end a friendship over! How is that going to play out at the judgement seat of Christ I wonder?!

What really gets me though is the lack of reason. The lack of circumspection. There was no discussion or debate, just an ugly message and a severing of a connection!

And the most recent friend loses I am unable to explain. I've not posted anything lately that I think is especially controversial. But then maybe my political fervor and apparent lack of spirituality are that disturbing!

I am thankful for the real friends I have. The ones who take the time to discuss things and love me even though they think I am completely off my rocker on certain issues.

So I suppose I should not regret those friends who don't want to be my facebook friend anymore, but part of me does. I really like some of those people.

The End! :P

Opposing the 'War', but thankful for the troops

Whenever I voice my opinion about the War in Iraq or Afghanistan I usually hear a comment that sounds something like, "But so many our our soldiers have died over there. We have to keep fighting." or, "I'd rather it be over there than over here!"

By the logic of the first reply, we will keep fighting forever! or until...until what? Our president sent our troops over there for nothing! He was at the least acting on very poor intelligence or at worst just looking for a fight. There were no WMDs. War does not spread 'democracy' or Christianity.

And what if there had been WMDs? Should it matter to us? If they were not being used on us why should we care? Iraq was a sovereign nation. No matter what we thought of their leader, he was THEIR leader. We have no business messing in the personal affairs of other nations. The idea of 'rogue nations' is preposterous! Sovereign nations should be left alone as long as they leave us alone. I don't mean to say that we should not be ready to defend our nation, but preemptive war (a war about what might happen) is wrong.

The 'War on Terror' is as big a joke as the 'War on Drugs'!! You cannot fight a mindset, an ideology, a tactic, with guns.

The wars we are currently fighting (as is every military action the US has engaged in since WWII) is unconstitutional. There was no declaration of war. Only Congress can declare war. So the POTUS used a loophole.

As for the second response. How long do you expect it to stay 'over there'? If we continue to invade countries and kill their people? how long will they put up with it before they decide to 'turn it all into glass'? How much do you think they will take?

That is really off topic though...

I oppose the wars we are fighting at present. BUT I am thankful for the men and women who volunteer to fight in them. I honor their sacrifice and devotion to duty. I only wish our leader had enough guts to NOT send them to fight a senseless battle and die or be maimed, for nothing but imperialism! I wish our current POTUS would do the right thing and bring our troops home...not just send them somewhere else.

My step-dad served 23 years in the Marine Corps. My mother served 8. One of my stepmothers served 20+ years in the Air Force. My grandfather served some time (not sure how long) in the Navy. My father-in-law served over 20 years in the Navy.

I have friends who have been or are in the Armed Forces.

I am thankful that they are and were willing to serve their country. I support our troops...but I DO NOT support the wars that they are currently fighting.

Love Thy Neighbor

So who is my neighbor?

According to Jesus it is anyone in need. Remember the good Samaritan?

It disturbs me to see Christians use Patriotism and 'godliness' as a cloak for hatred.

So the shooter at Ft. Hood was a Muslim...so what? Are we to conclude that every Muslim in America is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to kill as many Americans as he or she possibly can? In the same way that we assume that every whack job 'Christian' who kills an abortion doctor is a good representation of Christianity? Or the 'Christians' who wish to exterminate all of African or Jewish descent?

Oh! But I remember now! Islam commands these Muslim haters to kill Christians!! That's right...

So what about the 'Christians' who have used the word of God to justify killing? Are there not passages in the Bible that seem to teach violence to unbelievers, like Deut. 13:15? Oh yeah, I forgot! Those are all taken out of context!! Silly me!

Okay, I think I'm done with the sarcasm...I think...

I was unfriended by someone on facebook who didn't like that my husband (using my account) called attention to the fact that even Muslims need Jesus. Big deal, no skin off my back...friends who can't take a little honest questioning of their position are not worth my regret.

It does worry me though that this seems to be the prevailing thought of most fundamental Christians. They don't want Muslims in America, but why? Could it be that they are afraid that God is not big enough to convert them? Or is it that they are being derelict in their duty to try and win these lost souls to Jesus Christ, because it is easier to spout hate and misinformation?

I am not a liberal who thinks there are many ways to heaven. There is one way, through the blood of Jesus Christ. If you reject God's provision then you go to hell. But does that mean that I should not have compassion on those who do not believe as I do? I think not!!! Does that mean that I should try to deny them the benefits and opportunities that should be available to every citizen of the United States of America? Seriously, I saw comments on a story about the Ft. Hood shooting that said that anyone who is a Muslim should not be allowed to be in the Armed Forces! Are you kidding me?! They are Americans!!!

I direct your attention to the Constitution...Article 6 section 3 "The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States."

A person being elected for government office cannot be given a religious test and neither should someone entering the military. To do so would blatantly violate a Constitutional principle!

So Christian, when was the last time you passed out a gospel tract or witnessed to someone about the saving power of Jesus Christ? When was the last time you showed compassion to the unsaved so that they could see Jesus in you? Until you are diligent about the Father's business, you have no business complaining about the Muslims 'taking over'!!