Boy, Am I Angry

Gospel Lk 9:51-56

"When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?"
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village."

Yesterday I saw an awful post in my personal Facebook feed about the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. It made me so incredibly angry to read it that I didn't comment on it nor use an emoji to share my feelings about it and I just shut down my computer and walked away from it for the remainder of the day. It still makes me angry to think of it today and how close-minded and just awful people can be. Simply stated, the person wrote that the victims were probably all in hell if they hadn't turned their lives to Jesus and accepted Him as their Lord and Savior prior to their deaths. (The person wrote a similar thing after the Orlando shootings.)  What's ironic about that statement is that to assume that you are going to heaven and someone else is going to hell is a sin against the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself said that ALL sins were forgiveable, except those against the Holy Spirit.  There are two sins against the Holy Spirit ~ Despair and Presumption. The post spoke very loud and clear about presumption. Remember the Pharisees? Yeah, that group. They thought they were above everyone else and it was their way or the highway too. Read your Bible. Jesus wasn't a fan of theirs either. (Despair is when you condemn yourself and feel that you, and your sins, are too wretched to merit the saving grace of God btw.)

How timely that the Gospel reading of today deals with a similar event. Jesus rebukes James and John for not only calling out a judgment but also a punishment on the Samaritans that did not welcome Him. Why? Because Jesus is the ONLY just judge who knows the hearts and souls of us all. Who are we to pass judgment on anyone anyway? God help me, even I'm judging the woman that wrote it. Judging and assumption is a slippery slide and one that doesn't necessarily have a very good ending as Jesus said, "Judge, lest you be judged."

Let's stop labeling people and the bullying and the hate. I feel like I'm being bombarded on a daily basis with so much vile and hatred coming from everywhere from the news, entertainment and social media that I've taken to only watching Hallmark movies or nothing at all. I'm sure many of you feel the same way as I do. Worry about your own soul and how you are living your own life and I will do the same. Read your Bible, say your prayers, and leave the judgment up to God of whom, I can assure you, is much more knowledgeable about someone's soul then we are.

God bless and have a PEACEFUL week. Remember to pray for all those that are suffering in the world, particularly in Las Vegas, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Mexico and Montana and for the souls of the dearly departed. May they all rest in peace.

Mare

Rough Days Ahead....

and rough days behind.

I have had a miserable week. I feel like I swatted at a hornet's nest and they unleashed their fury on me because I upset them. Writing and thinking about it now is just like picking a scab on a wound that has started to heal and is bleeding again. But, I am going to rip off the bandaid and forge ahead anyway.

This week I have met people that are the most vile and contemptible ones I have ever met, in my entire life. That is a rather huge statement coming from someone that has visited people in prison multiple times and has been on the planet for close to 60 years.  I was berated, mocked, given heinous names and verbally pounded on by (surprisingly) not members of ISIS, but by people that claim to be Christians. I'm sorry, but any person that makes another feel anything other than love is not a Christian. I feel like I need to call an exorcist.

I thought I was a smart cookie until I fell for a bait post, hook, line and sinker. She led me into the lion's den and unleashed the beasts to ravage me.

Where did I meet these individuals, you ask? On Facebook. I had met my "friend" on LinkedIn as a businesswoman. She and I shared a professional women's group and we became connected on that site. She then initiated the connection on Facebook as well. I don't think that you have to be a rocket scientist to figure out my beliefs; look at what I do for a living and visit our Facebook or Pinterest page where it is blatantly obvious. I believe in unconditionally loving everyone, including my enemies, because that is what God expects of me. I believe in treating everyone with respect, but I will acknowledge that it is difficult to be Christ-like when you encounter the thought process of people like those in militant religious groups or even those in the Westboro Church. I did learn some things from these people, though not about Christ or Christianity but about false prophets and religious sects. It occurred to me that -

Calling anyone a heretic or a blasphemer is a heinous sin. It demoralizes someone completely and to cause damage like that to someone's spirit is a sin against the Holy Spirit. It is an unforgivable sin.

If you are trying to convert someone to Christianity well then act like a Christian. God is light and love. If you have God in you this shouldn't be a problem. If you verbally assault someone you are not a person of light, but one of darkness.

If you are reading a Bible that your preacher (or his father)  has included his own interpretations into, throw it out. This is especially true if their interpretations are right into the verses of the Bible. Get yourself a good Bible. Pray to the Holy Spirit to open your eyes before you read your new Bible. The spirit will hear you and open your hearts to receive the word of God.

Know where your money is going. My church publishes their financials a few times a year so I know where my hard-earned money is being spent. Jesus said give away all of your earthly possessions and follow me; not give me your money so that I can buy a lear jet and live in a mansion, with my six figure salary. Which leads me to the, so-called, prosperity Gospels. It has to do with acts of mercy and love and NOT with money. Many false prophets are using that to line their own pockets.

Seed money will not cure you. Giving money to your church and/or pastor will not cure you or answer your prayer. God answers prayers in so many ways and through so many people (doctors, nurses, therapists, and even financial advisors. Sure, support your church, but don't be naive about it. Pray to God with a sincere heart and for your own sake seek medical help when it is needed.

No true apostle of God should have to slander other Christian faiths to prop up his ministry. If they are speaking the truth, and live a humble existence, God will bring the people to them. Slander is a nasty business. If you have been taught to slander and demoralize those not of your ministry's, that is not being Christ-like, at all.

Most importantly if your preacher says that he is the reincarnation of someone like Elijah, or Enoch. RUN. Christians don't believe in reincarnation. If they claim to be Jesus, really, really RUN. I think we will all know him when He returns. He will be the dude on the cloud with the saints of heaven in tow.

I forgive these people. They are like lost sheep. The evil in them was palpable and even though I severed my relationship with this woman yesterday I still feel the sting today and will probably for a few more days. She, and the others, are in my prayers. May God have mercy on their souls.

Have a peaceful week,
Mare