In this hotly contested political race, it really seems to be any man's-- or woman's-- game. Hillary and Obama are pulling out all the stops to win the hearts of women-- conservative women in Iowa and African-American women in South Carolina. Mitt Romney and the meteorically rising Huckabee are making it clear that they are the "candidate of choice" for Christians. Mother Rodham and daughter Chelsea are making nice little "3 generations of women" appearances for Hillary. Oprah is preaching like a wannaba prophet with a scary Darth Vader-like quality that "Obaaaaama is 'the ooooone.'" Romney confesses that Jesus is the Savior. Huckabee can only attribute his success to the One who fed 5000 with 3 fish and 5 loaves.
Whoa, a revelation. I recently realized that they are all aiming their comments at me. A black woman. A Christian. A voter who listens and pays attention. They like me! They really like me! Okay, maybe not, but they need me! The second realization I had was this: We don't have to fit their mold. They need to fit ours. We don't have to sacrifice character for policy. We don't have to go along with foolishness that goes against beliefs we hold dear. Black people aren't limited to voting for Democrats. Christians aren't limited to voting for whatever Republican they think will beat Clinton. No more. Now, we just have to figure out what to do with our new freedom. We have to get the news out to "them." Let them know what WE want-- not what we will agree to. Hmm. I'm working on that. I can't get caught up in the attention... but it sure is nice...
Monday, December 10, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Be careful... Don't you fall!
What in the world is going on?
As a young(er) Christian, I used to look at people who blatently made decisions to walk contrary to what God said and think, "I will never do that. How can you just disobey like that? How can you just choose to behave so poorly? Nope. Not me. Not that." I could understand making a mistake. I could understand a slip-up. I could NOT understand the audacity one must possess to hear and comprehend the word of the Lord and knowingly refuse to follow. As a single woman looking forward to marriage, I would look at married couples who reflected less than the "Church and Christ" model and think, I'm never going to have that kind of marriage. Things may not always be rosy, but I will honor my vows. I did not feel that I was better than these people, but I was sure that I would make better decisions. Now, years later, I have seen people that I have known and loved fall into various sins. I've seen couples that I thought were solid in their faith and in their devotion to one another call it quits. Now what? I began to realize that these weren't hedonistic, uncaring people. These were real Christians with a heart after God. What was the difference between them and me? There was none. That gave me pause. I realized that people don't plan to fall into sin. They don't plan to get divorced. Then, I became concerned. If it could happen to them, it could happen to me. That's when my response changed from "how could they" to "help me NOT do that." I have since realized that sin doesn't just happen. My former pastor put it best. "People often quote the Word and fake helplessness saying, 'sin lieth at the door.' Yes, but you've got to realize that it has to come down your street, into your yard and up onto your porch before it gets to your door." This means that there are several steps that are taken before one enters into sin-- and the Holy Spirit is there at every step telling you stop. Boiling that proverbial frog. The water heats up slowly and before he realizes that he's in trouble, it's too late. The earlier that you-- that WE listen and obey, the easier it is to turn away and the less damage we incur. That still, small voice that tells us, "Don't give that person your number." We say, it's okay, that's not a big deal-- one step. The Spirit says, "Don't share such intimate information." We say, "we're both adults, and we're friends--" another step. Spirit: "Meet at a restaurant or a library. Don't go to that house alone." We say, "we're just meeting about business. Nothing will happen--" step-step. Spirit: "Leave NOW." We say, "That would be awkward. I don't want to offend. I'm sure that comment wasn't meant to be suggestive--" step-step-step. Spirit: "When there's nothing left to say, say 'GOODBYE.'" We say, "I didn't realize how attractive my friend is. Hmmm--" GIANT steps. Now, even if it ends here (which it probably wouldn't), lines have been crossed that are impossible to take back and there are difficulties that will have to be dealt with in future dealings with the person. If we stop heeding the voice of the Spirit, we are headed for destruction. We can try to justify our actions, but we aren't going to convince God that He is overreacting and WE know best. How ridiculous! He knows our frame. That's why we have to practice obedience in small things. Disobedience is not only in what we do, but what we don't do. It's the same small voice you ignore when it tells you to read the Word, to confess your weaknesses, to clean your room, etc. Be faithful over little, He'll make you ruler over much.
As a young(er) Christian, I used to look at people who blatently made decisions to walk contrary to what God said and think, "I will never do that. How can you just disobey like that? How can you just choose to behave so poorly? Nope. Not me. Not that." I could understand making a mistake. I could understand a slip-up. I could NOT understand the audacity one must possess to hear and comprehend the word of the Lord and knowingly refuse to follow. As a single woman looking forward to marriage, I would look at married couples who reflected less than the "Church and Christ" model and think, I'm never going to have that kind of marriage. Things may not always be rosy, but I will honor my vows. I did not feel that I was better than these people, but I was sure that I would make better decisions. Now, years later, I have seen people that I have known and loved fall into various sins. I've seen couples that I thought were solid in their faith and in their devotion to one another call it quits. Now what? I began to realize that these weren't hedonistic, uncaring people. These were real Christians with a heart after God. What was the difference between them and me? There was none. That gave me pause. I realized that people don't plan to fall into sin. They don't plan to get divorced. Then, I became concerned. If it could happen to them, it could happen to me. That's when my response changed from "how could they" to "help me NOT do that." I have since realized that sin doesn't just happen. My former pastor put it best. "People often quote the Word and fake helplessness saying, 'sin lieth at the door.' Yes, but you've got to realize that it has to come down your street, into your yard and up onto your porch before it gets to your door." This means that there are several steps that are taken before one enters into sin-- and the Holy Spirit is there at every step telling you stop. Boiling that proverbial frog. The water heats up slowly and before he realizes that he's in trouble, it's too late. The earlier that you-- that WE listen and obey, the easier it is to turn away and the less damage we incur. That still, small voice that tells us, "Don't give that person your number." We say, it's okay, that's not a big deal-- one step. The Spirit says, "Don't share such intimate information." We say, "we're both adults, and we're friends--" another step. Spirit: "Meet at a restaurant or a library. Don't go to that house alone." We say, "we're just meeting about business. Nothing will happen--" step-step. Spirit: "Leave NOW." We say, "That would be awkward. I don't want to offend. I'm sure that comment wasn't meant to be suggestive--" step-step-step. Spirit: "When there's nothing left to say, say 'GOODBYE.'" We say, "I didn't realize how attractive my friend is. Hmmm--" GIANT steps. Now, even if it ends here (which it probably wouldn't), lines have been crossed that are impossible to take back and there are difficulties that will have to be dealt with in future dealings with the person. If we stop heeding the voice of the Spirit, we are headed for destruction. We can try to justify our actions, but we aren't going to convince God that He is overreacting and WE know best. How ridiculous! He knows our frame. That's why we have to practice obedience in small things. Disobedience is not only in what we do, but what we don't do. It's the same small voice you ignore when it tells you to read the Word, to confess your weaknesses, to clean your room, etc. Be faithful over little, He'll make you ruler over much.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
The Beauty of Holiness
A man looks at a woman, shakes his head, looks her up and down and grunts as he bites his lip and says, "Ooh girl, you are SO sexy!" (In case you didn't know, that is supposed to pass as a compliment.) Sexy, huh? A woman should be flattered? Why? There is a sexual desire in his heart that is in him that is being met by something he sees. Don't be fooled. Don't be flattered. It's not hard to be sexy to someone who is swimming in lust. One in lust, be it male or female, is like a dog. He or she will indiscriminately lie down with whatever comes by.
I received a phone message one day. There was a deep baritone voice that said very sincerely, "Thank you so much for last night..." I thought, "what in the world? This must be a prank from one of my silly friends." Then, he continued seriously, "I really appreciate your praying for me." Then I remembered. He had called the night before and God led me to pray for him. I'm sure he didn't realize how he sounded. He was just being appreciative. It's an awesome thing for a great time "last night" to have been about prayer. Mmmm, pure. If you don't understand or are unfamiliar with jazz music, you may not appreciate the genius of a prolific jazz artist. If you don't know anything about modern art, you can at best, only look at a piece and say, "ooh, pretty." You can not appreciate it. If you don't have holiness at work in you, you can't appreciate the holiness that God has worked inside of someone else. Now, some may think that's corny, but when a man can rave about your integrity, when he just can't stop thinking about your graciousness, when he is taken by your steadfast commitment to the things of God, it doesn't just speak of you. An ability to articulate an appreciation of the beauty of holiness speaks of a DESIRE for holiness in the heart of the beholder. Now THAT will get a sister's attention.
I received a phone message one day. There was a deep baritone voice that said very sincerely, "Thank you so much for last night..." I thought, "what in the world? This must be a prank from one of my silly friends." Then, he continued seriously, "I really appreciate your praying for me." Then I remembered. He had called the night before and God led me to pray for him. I'm sure he didn't realize how he sounded. He was just being appreciative. It's an awesome thing for a great time "last night" to have been about prayer. Mmmm, pure. If you don't understand or are unfamiliar with jazz music, you may not appreciate the genius of a prolific jazz artist. If you don't know anything about modern art, you can at best, only look at a piece and say, "ooh, pretty." You can not appreciate it. If you don't have holiness at work in you, you can't appreciate the holiness that God has worked inside of someone else. Now, some may think that's corny, but when a man can rave about your integrity, when he just can't stop thinking about your graciousness, when he is taken by your steadfast commitment to the things of God, it doesn't just speak of you. An ability to articulate an appreciation of the beauty of holiness speaks of a DESIRE for holiness in the heart of the beholder. Now THAT will get a sister's attention.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Don't Go Changin'
"Just the Way You Are" by Billy Joel
Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are
Don't go trying some new fashion
Don't change the color of your hair
You always have my unspoken passion
Although I might not seem to care
I don't want clever conversation
I never want to work that hard
I just want someone that I can talk to
I want you just the way you are.
I need to know that you will always be
The same old someone that I knew
What will it take 'till you believe in me
The way that I believe in you.
I said I love you, and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
Only in Christ can one know true love. However, that sweet, sweet song provides an example of how our love of others should look.
In the way of encouragement: There ARE people who will love you for who you are, the way that you are. I'm not just talking about Mr. or Ms. Right. I mean friends, family, etc. What you see as a liability, may be an asset. You know, one man's trash is another man's treasure. I was told for years that I would have to learn to be quiet when I got married, because "no man would want to hear all of that talking." Recently, I met a brother who commented that he really ENJOYS hearing me talk. He wasn't mackin'. He wasn't trying to impress me. I'm sure he had no idea about what a blessing his comment was. Just ask Sally Field. It's an incredible feeling to realize that "They like me. They really like me!!" We all know women who detest certain aspects of their physique. I have several male friends who think that those despised figure "flaws" are actually their wife's BEST asset. The same is true of most of our areas of insecurity. Of course, there is a balance. Some of our less-loved issues that we excuse by saying, "That's just me" are actually rooted in sin-- physically in overeating or spiritually in pride. However, I'm learning that although sin issues must be dealt with, personality traits that are not sin-linked need only be tempered. Who knows, someone may love you more for it.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Maiden voyage!
Captain's log-- or should I say, BLOG 7/16/2006.
Wow. My first blog. Wow. This is my forum. No profanity. No vulgarity. Come on, why mess up a nice place like this with trash like that? I just want to share my thoughts with you on world issues, my life, spiritual issues, stuff... I believe that I have a great deal of insight from which you could benefit. No, I'm not overestimating my importance. I just believe that there is a lot of information in my head and potential in my spirit that should be shared with the world. Hey, at least you are listening. Some things may be funny. Some deeply spiritual. Some may even be personal-- we'll see. All of it is coming from my heart.
Wow. My first blog. Wow. This is my forum. No profanity. No vulgarity. Come on, why mess up a nice place like this with trash like that? I just want to share my thoughts with you on world issues, my life, spiritual issues, stuff... I believe that I have a great deal of insight from which you could benefit. No, I'm not overestimating my importance. I just believe that there is a lot of information in my head and potential in my spirit that should be shared with the world. Hey, at least you are listening. Some things may be funny. Some deeply spiritual. Some may even be personal-- we'll see. All of it is coming from my heart.
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