It’s Only Words

The Bee Gee’s did a little known song in the 1960’s entitled, “It’s Only Words.” In that song, one of the brothers Gibb croons,”you think that I don’t mean a single word that I say.” Of course the implication in the song is that his words and his love are true. As a Christian, we have to place a value on the truth and speaking the truth is at the center of that.

Naturally, none of us ever succeeds in never telling a lie. We can have a long stretch of being godly in this respect and then something threatens us in some way and we place truth in second place to that reality. God’s directives are shoved aside. The justifications for our lies can be very elaborate. Is it any wonder that the early nineteenth century Scottish author Sir Walter Scott once said, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”

The elaborate, intricate and delicate nature of a web is probably the perfect analogy for the anatomy of a lie. When I was a child, I would spend copious hours of the day observing nature. Those were the days! I marveled at the amazing shape and beautiful form of each and every spider’s web. Some could be quite large and clearly the spider expended much energy and time creating it. 

Do lies take on such an elaborate nature? We seem to be living in an age where all the things that have been called truth are being questioned or thrown out. People are living by whatever truth that they want to. This is even if that truth makes no logical sense or is even criminal. I see churches, nations and our world, building a web of deceit that is very much like a spider’s web. At times citizens feel as if they are caught as prey in these webs of lies. 

Is It Only Words when we surrender to the political correct environments in our corporate workplace? Just when we are in the middle of a busy project, or under a firm deadline, an email informs us that we need to take the latest re-education course and make sure to answer each and every question correctly. If we do not, we may not be in good standing and have to go down to the principle’s office otherwise known as Human Resources. 

Is It Only Words when we go along with someone asking us to call them “they” or “them” ? What if you will be fired from the hospital or school that you work at if you don’t say what they want you to say? Is it okay then? Here’s a few questions requiring each and every one of us to explore the truth. Is there freedom of speech anymore? Freedom of religion? Is it okay with God to lie if we are in danger? What if someone asks you to get the mark of the beast or else? Do you see the terrible trajectory that we are on?

Romans 8:5-6 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

What of the everyday family dilemmas when we think it okay to tell a tiny lie to our partner? How about bigger lies that we use to cover up drinking, cheating, thefts or worse? In the sphere of parenting there are many lies that a parent justifies telling on behalf of a child. They will lie to a school, coach, pastor or even their spouse for a variety of reasons. Does the truth matter? It’s Only Words to many people.

What are the legal ramifications of our words these days? So many people escape criminal convictions by using the law or lies to shield them from the consequences or their actions and the just punishment that should result. I really believe that many people even believe the lies they tell the court. They are so deeply ensconced in their web of lies that they begin to live in this alternative reality. 

The words of that song continue, This world has lost its’ glory, let’s start a brand new story. As this world gets crazier and crazier, it has indeed lost its’ glory,  I have begun to see some brave souls rebel against this altered truth. I am surprised to hear some politicians saying the right thing here and there. Some tech giants.Some parents coming down correctly at a school board meeting. And, a friend of mine who was dealing with fearfulness because of all that has been happening is starting bible studies and prayer time at her apartment. 

She is discovering that stepping out in faith is the anecdote to fear. The solid ground of God and the Bible are the story and we must build our lives around that no matter how bad things get. We will be persecuted for it. It has happened in my life, has it happened in yours? Yet, as Martin Luther said, Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen.” Martin Luther based his truth on a thorough reading of the Bible. He saw how the world around him had digressed and ignored the words of the Bible. In putting the Bible into the average person’s hands he was able to give individuals the power to live their faith. 

It’s Just A Subsciption!

Recently, several Christians that I know, announced they were canceling subscriptions to their streaming services. One such man Yves,* shared his reasons with me. He and his wife live a very busy and active life. Their viewership of programming coincides with their desire to follow God. Therefore, the shows are few and far between. Of course there are Christian movies to be had on most streaming services but when Yves and his wife added up the number of programs that they found palatable it just did not make financial sense to continue paying good money for bad programming. 

Pastor Bradley* made the same decision. When Pastor Bradley watches most programming, it makes him long for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. The notions of love and marriage so askew. The lack of respect for parents, the elderly or even the police force seem front and center. Although it gives Pastor Bradley many ideas for his sermons, it just makes him sad to see how Hollywood and its’ ilk are reflecting God-rejecting values. It was an act of obedience to God to let his subscription go.

Then there is dear Vera* a woman well into her 80’s who can barely operate a computer or her mobile phone. All she wants to watch on television is the weather, old movies and to hear some of her favorite Christian pastors on their Sunday programs. Despite her inability to operate modern devices, she has great moral clarity on the current state of the news and entertainment industry. Even as she has begun a cognitive decline she can reason that paying for services that promote mostly ungodly values puts more and more money into the hands of people promoting such things. She shows a moral bravery in her desire to defund the immorality. 

All of these recent discussions made me kind of quesy. Why, because I have struggled with these issues my entire life. Trying to be in the world and not of it, takes a certain toll. You will not be popular at school, your job or in social circles when you explain that you are not watching that most bingeable of television series, or that summer blockbuster movie currently streaming. Try explaining the biblical principles to people ensconced in all that and you see downright persecution.

I experienced all of that as you have or will if you decide to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Following God imparts grace but it also requires actions. Faith without works is a dead thing. Everyday we have to actively make choices that support our status as spirit-filled, born again believers. Jesus bought us with a heavy price, his death and resurrection. Oughtn’t we honor that by living the truth? What is this particular truth that I am referring to?

The truth is we are in a vast, global spiritual war. The forces are good and evil. One of the weapons of choice in this war, are the news and entertainment. We can not join ourselves to evil. Yet, in the case of a streaming service, you are joining yourself to God’s opposition. Your monthly fee to these services gives you the disgrace of having every abomination before God touted and dignified. Even if you are only watching the Christian channels you are still paying the salaries of every abomination to God on the other channels. 

From the moment the first drop of grace fell upon my head, it broke my heart to see what could be a good television, movie or live theater production go bad by the addition of, and pivot towards anti-Christian promotion. It still does, but I know that where we are spiritually will naturally finds its’ place in our books, plays and scripts. Today, the entertainment industry is an all out war for the hearts and minds of everyone from birth to death trying to pull them away from the things of God. 

The factories of spiritual death put out record volumes of material which have ensnared even the most well-meaning christian believer who are not prepared for the power of this propaganda. Many of us let our spiritual weapons down at the end of a long day at work or with the kids. Sometimes, we just want some mindless entertainment to help us relax on the weekend. But, get this, there is no such thing as mindless entertainment.

The arrows hit their mark when our spiritual shields are down. As I write this post, I am closer than ever to stepping away from the remote for good. There are literally only 3 or 4 shows that I like and for that I am  bankrolling the enemy. As I share my spiritual struggle on this front I am inspired by Yves, Pastor Bradley, and Vera to finally do what I know is right and with that try to redirect my money and attentions to other more worthy pursuits trying to be all I can for the Lord. 

* The names have been changed but the stories are not.

Strange Fire

This past month or so, I have seen a lot of parent/child relationships hit the fan. It was inevitable that I would write about it. The state of the family is just not in a good state in Westchester County, New York or elsewhere. Take my friend Amy* from Chappaqua. She is truly a blessing of a friend. She is a godly, loving woman who often serves others. 

Amy has been a strong Christian presence in my life and when I need her help in any way, she is always there. It has always amazed me to think that it was Amy’s daughter who brought her mother to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Emily* started to study the Bible with a church group in college. She chose to get baptized and shared the Good News of Jesus when she was home between semesters. It is hard to believe that it is the same Emily when I see the way she treats her mother now. 

Does Emily think that her mother will be around forever, or does she just hate her that much? I have asked myself that question a lot. Don’t get me wrong, Amy isn’t perfect but Emily is also far from perfect.The stuff that Emily may be holding against her mom is mostly petty. Except that there is a divide as regards Amy’s born again beliefs. Emily has veered away from the faith and now attends a church that allows gay marriage and transgender naming days. She stopped reading the children’s Bible that Amy sent to her grandsons a few Christmas’s ago because she thought it was too violent. All of a sudden she is triggered by her mother’s biblical statements on life, love and war. Strange fire, strange fire!

Then there is Lawrence*. Lawrence has spent a lifetime working in the Youth Ministry of a well-known church in Westchester County. He has been passionate about teaching and equipping the next generation of young people to know Jesus and to content for their faith. He has had many challenges along the way, including financial and health issues. Yet, he has truly been gifted by God for this ministry and has earnestly sought to follow the Lord.

So, that is why it broke my heart to hear the news that his beloved daughter has decided to become a cloistered Catholic nun whose order makes chocolate fudge. It is not common knowledge at the church yet, but a family member needed to confide in me during this crisis. As you can imagine, Lawrence is feeling like a complete failure within his own house because his own daughter has turned her back on her  former bible centered, spirit filled relationship with Jesus Christ. Strange fire, strange fire!

Dee’s* problem with her daughter Chloe* feels almost like her daughter has joined a woke cult. She thinks she is a Conservative Christian but, she could only pass for one in her new state of California. In the rest of America except for the bi-coastal regions of the United States, she would be called a triggered, flaky, woke, neurotic, woman. Typical of that group is that she treats her pets far better than her parents. In her Gaia faith, it is all the same. Yet, in the Holy Bible there is a difference. Strange fire, strange fire!

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. 

And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified, and Aaron held his peace.”-Leviticus 10:1-3

Within each of the above stories, I see the theme of strange fire played out. There is arrogance and a state of righteousness that all of these women feel as they go before the Lord. They feel certain that,”they have this” or that,”it is all good.” But, God knows the difference between the truth and a lie. He has imparted certain standards within a family setting, including the way we are to treat our parents. 

There seems to be an entitlement among these young girls that is mirrored in the story of Nadab and Anihu. Each of these girls claims they are a Christians or a follower of Jesus Christ. They are sure of it, so sure that just like Nadab and Abihu, they boldly go before the throne with their unorthodox offerings. Their social activist constituents obedience to God as far as they are concerned.

We seemed to be living in a kind of Nadab and Abihu world these days. Orthodoxy seems to have gone by the wayside and with it the clarity of the truth. The truth has been compromised and with that, some strange fire is being offered up to the Lord. 

* The names and some events have been changed to ensure privacy.

Death of First Love

I had a disagreement with my husband. A discussion that we had, got heated and nasty real fast the other day. Was it a pile up of emotions that overflowed or, was it a clearing of the air that has to happen from time to time in married life? We were just finishing our dinner that night and I had that relaxed, satiated feeling you get at such times, I was not ready for this. Neither of us were acting very godly in the situation that night.

When we are at our worst, sometimes we all take a cheap shot in the course of an argument. In boxing terms it is called hitting below the belt which is against the rules. In this case, my husband used the opportunity to try to win a battle by bringing up an ex-boyfriend, if you could call Mick* that. In my anger and foolishness, I stormed up to the bedroom and decided to check him out on social media to see what he was up to. There was news alright. I found Mick’s obituary!

It looked like Mick died suddenly in autumn of last year, in his home in upstate New York. He did not die of old-age but, he passed away the way I always imagined that he might,i.e. quickly and mysteriously. After all, that was how he appeared to me to run his life.

I met Mick the summer before I entered high school. I was thirteen and he was fifteen years of age when he walked into my life. He was destined to challenge me for the next several years and beyond. My sister was dating a guy who looked like one of the Hemsworth brothers. River* was a golden boy in every way. Good as gold, smart as could be, and talented in many ways. He sang for us, organized sporting games for the neighborhood kids and was respectful towards my sister. 

And, just like a Hemsworth there were more at home just like him. River’s mother passed away of cancer several years before we all met, leaving his father to care for four children. River. the eldest of the bunch, seemed to take a natural leadership role in caring for his younger siblings. He might have even been better at it then his own father was. 

River was very responsible, he cooked, made sure everyone’s homework was done, and tried to keep order when his father was at work. During summer vacation, he got a job as a lifeguard and made sure all his siblings learned to swim that summer. He drove them to responsible adults homes rather than leave the family home without supervision when they did not go to the pool with him. 

That is more or less how I met Nevin* his younger brother when River brought them over for an afternoon visit. Nevin was a 6 feet tall, member of the track team, blond, and beautiful with rock star quality hair. He was the opposite of me. I had yet to attain any stature of note at 13 yrs old and while I always enjoyed having fun with a softball, football, biking and swimming, I was not interested or equipped to do anything more. As for my hair, let’s just say that Nevin’s hair was better than mine.

So, why was Nevin flirting with me? Why was he putting the moves on me? I was frightened but intrigued at the same time. I was not sure if I wanted to run away and play with my dolls or maybe consider that growing up wasn’t that bad after all. We dated that summer and he visited my home frequently, always with his friend Mick. Whenever I was wishing for some alone time with Nevin, there was Mick tagging along.

I can say that while Nevin and I did not have much of a connection, he helped me prepare for starting high school and maybe he helped me shed some of my geeky reputation in the neighborhood by just being seen with me. Mick was always there, however, I soon began to appreciate the fact that trying to follow my faith on a date was much easier with other people present, even Mick. 

One day, close to summer’s end, Nevin and I inevitably broke up. My first relationship was no more. I felt a grief and an array of emotions that I had never experienced before. It was the morning of my breakup and I had been crying when the door bell rang. My mother hollered, “answer that please, I am cooking.” As usual Mick was at the door to hang out with Nevin and I. He must not have heard that we broke up. “Hi Mick, Nevin isn’t here, we just broke up.” “Yes, I know,” was his reply, “can I come in?” 

I was shocked, there was a flirt somewhere in there. For one thing, it was flattering for a girl just dealing with her first breakup, for another thing, I did not see this coming. “Come in Mick.” That day, Mick confessed that he liked me as soon as we met but, he was shy and Nevin beat him to asking me out. He then invited me to go get an ice cream cone over at the local Carvel’s ice cream shop. 

I soon learned that Mick was an enigma within an enigma. On one hand, whenever he was with me, he always brought his “A”game. On the other hand, when he wan’t with me there was a void. I might not hear from him for a while. This is a young guy who seemed to be interested in me and keep me interested in him but, there was no consistency in when I would see him next. While he seemed to want to be with me, there was no official boyfriend/ girlfriend thing that ever happened. 

Mick also seemed to have many gifts that were going to waste. It appears certain he had a very high I.Q.but never realized his full potential. He would cut class to go bowling or to the beach. I know there were a few teachers who saw his potential but could somehow not reach him, nor could his father who tried his best to inspire Mick to apply himself.

I wondered if Mick was just interested in a physical relationship? I had already pronounced my love of Jesus Christ and my commitment to having sex reserved for marriage. Yet, he continued to come and visit me, take me to the movies, out for dinner, drive-ins, and the beach. I saw he was a traditional gentleman in many ways. His manners towards me were impeccable. I sensed that he had respect for me but, I could not allow myself to give my heart to anyone who was not a Christian. I also wanted a reliable and trustworthy boyfriend who was more consistent. 

So, since I quickly found out that I could not develop the sort of relationship that I thought was appropriate with Mick, I made the decision to dive into the dating pool at high school once the semester began. As the school year began, I was open to the possibility of dating again. That worked out well and looking back I can earnestly say that I dated several nice Christian teenagers in high school.

Except there was one problem. Whenever, I had a steady boyfriend somehow Mick would stop by for a visit and either taunt my boyfriends or plant seeds of doubt in my mind about them. Was Mick the most manipulative guy ever? A sociopath perhaps? The years might prove the answer to that as, yes. However, back then, while I actively defended my boyfriends Mick kept on making me think about him more than them. 

This was not a position that I wanted to be in as a Christian girl. So, I told myself and I told him that he was no good for me and kept on trying to move forward in good and healthy relationships. How manipulative and nervy was he? Well, he knew I was dating Nico* and that we had a dinner planned for Valentine’s Day❤️. Mick decides to show up a few hours earlier and surprises me with a single  🌹 red rose. It was my first rose ever. I was surprised when I looked at the beauty of this long-stemmed lovely and thought of the meaning that perhaps was behind this gift. It certainly undermined what Nico was able to accomplish that night with his supermarket carnation bouquet. I thanked Nico for the lovely bouquet of flowers but in my heart I thought Mick’s gift was more “cool.” 

When you know Jesus and are called to follow his purposes in your life, situations like this bring spiritual battles that you wish did not happen. But, they do. Why are we drawn to people who are inconsistent, irresponsible or treat us less that we think is respectful? Is it their looks, do we see something in them that we think ameliorates all the other problems? Do we think that we can save them, because only Jesus can save. Or, perhaps, they act in a familiar family pattern or should I say family curse.

I prayed, I worked hard at school and I tried to use all my intellect to ferret out the meaning of my feelings for Mick. I kept busy and dated all the right boys, I kept to godly activities and it all worked until I saw Mick again and it challenged me greatly. When I entered University, I vowed to God to move passed this chapter in my life in a mature fashion and I did. 

Many years went by and as Satan would have it, Mick and I saw each other again. He played a game with me. It was called guess what we have been up to. He went first, he wanted to take a stab at guessing what I had been up to since high school. He guessed that I had money in the bank, went to church and did volunteer work. Then it was my turn. Feeling nervous and very uncomfortable with this personal reveal, I blurted out,” well, in high school you were voted most likely to drink anyone under the table, so I guess you drink. You are a divorcée once, maybe twice.” Horrified at what I just said, I quickly apologized. 

Mick told me that’s alright and that “I had hit the nail on the head.” We talked about our lives and it was clear that I had made the right decision to pull away from Mick as best as I could. How crazy to see that everything that I thought about him was true. Trust your instincts readers and pray for those people that you know are just no good for you.

Mick shared the terrible path that his life had taken. Alcohol and cocaine dependence had taken hold of his life for many years. A terrible divorce and estrangement from his son ensued. Although he made a good living and owned a business for ten years, he spent all his money on drugs. He had lived in the west village of NYC during that awful time. When he wanted to get clean he decided to make a new life for himself in the Catskills region of New York State. He bought a piece of land and started a journey back to the land.

He put up a pre-fabricated house and embellished it with carpentry work he expertly did. He wanted his new life to include a new wife but his relationship skills had not improved at all. So, in this desire he was continually frustrated. That day, I spoke to Mick about how my faith in Jesus Christ had made me everything that I am. I told him to seek first the kingdom of heaven and all of its righteousness and that everything that he was looking for would make a lot more sense. 

He seemed to drink this message in like a sponge to water. He told me of a Christian Pastor that he had met some time ago who had invited him to breakfast. He had not taken him up on that offer but, now Mick assured me that he wanted to phone him and arrange a meeting. Mick indeed followed up and had breakfast a few times with a bible-believing Pastor. He started to attend church and read his bible.

It appeared that he was just holding on by a thread. I asked myself where was God in his travails. Mick seemed to think it was all up to him and he was trying as hard as he could but somehow he never seemed to tap into that precious freedom that you get when you “let go, and let God.” I believe he learned that saying at his frequent Alcoholics Anonymous meetings but somehow he couldn’t let go of the control. A few years after our meeting, there was a lapse back into drugs, and some casual sexual encounters. 

What am I feeling now?  I feel that Mick lived less than the life that God had for him because he did not choose what was right. A mixture of thoughts and images of the innocence in our relationship have crossed my mind. I believe that he was a sex addict yet, he accepted that within my Christian walk we could not have this union without marriage. I knew from day one that I could not allow myself to follow him into certain spiritual death as Adam did follow Eve when he chose to take a bite of that apple. 

Mick left a string of broken hearts behind him, including mine. Now looking back, I can see that God’s way was the right way. You  can not go by every feeling that you may have but, instead must choose godly actions. It is a constant battle. God bless you!

* the names are changed but the facts are true.

Post Roe v. Wade

Many of us are celebrating the news that the Supreme Court of the United States has overturned Roe v. Wade. From the moment that the news was leaked that the Supreme Court was considering the idea that the Roe v. Wade decision was unconstitutional, death threats and violence erupted targeting the Supreme Court justices and pro-life centers. The intimidation factor was huge even targeting one of the justices young children. 

Violence and mayhem have continued unabated since the leak proved to be true and the Supreme Court did indeed strike down this unconstitutional stance against unborn babies. Anarchy, non-stop cursing and screaming surrounds every protest march. Firebombs and threats abound. The truth is out. The democrats and their supporters are every bit the storm-troopers that they accuse the conservatives of being. There is something more however, if you have the moral courage to look at what has just unfolded and will continue to unfold in the aftermath of this decision, you will get a glimpse of pure evil.

I don’t suggest that you examine this topic without first praying. When hell is breaking loose, you can not stand against it without the God of angel armies, and your banner in war standing before you. Only the lamb is worthy and can face, has faced, and will face pure evil. It is through Jesus that we are delivered from evil. 

I hardly thought my first blog post reflecting upon Roe v. Wade would be going in the direction that it is now leaning toward. I actually thought that I would be discussing the actual victory for our most precious gifts which are our children. I thought that I would discuss how all our lives began at our conception. I even thought that I might be discussing state versus federal laws and the United States constitution.

But, all that is too logical. Why should I bring in the question of right and wrong for our lives and the legal foundation that has served this country so well? Today, those questions do not seem germane to most people’s lives. Rather, it is what pithy saying they can put on a piece of wood to display at home or what they can display on their social media page to seem relevant. It Is all about what serves people at the moment (in a situational ethics sort of way). “He is not Mr. Right, he is just Mr. Right Now.” For a society that believes that, it is not a huge stretch to think that a dear wee baby is either situationally good or bad, rather than focus on the childs’ personhood.

The political movement for so-called abortion rights is dehumanizing and morally baseless. Logical debates, or allowing people to vote their beliefs are out of the question for this gang of thugs. Instead, a reign of terror has ensued and continues to this day. The choice of tactics that abortionists choose are important to contemplate because, it tells us almost everything that we need to know about this movement. 

The means by which you run your life, family and community matter. The way that you conduct your politics is a reflection of what you believe. It is okay to curse out your political opponent, put them out of business, or threaten them if you first begin with believing you should kill unborn babies. It is small potatoes to do that in fact. 

As a Christian, we have to know that God does not call us to such tactics. No, far from it! At times, there is a part of me that wishes I could fight back and give them a little bit of what they are dishing out. But, then, I remember that Peter was moved to fight to protect Jesus when the soldiers were coming to unjustly arrest him. Peter succeeded in cutting the ear off a Roman soldier. 

Yet, Jesus healed the man and Peter went on, with our Lord’s guidance, to do greater things than fight with weapons. Much greater things in the spiritual realm. We must fight for what is right but the means by which we do that shows who and what we believe. The other thing that we must watch for is lying to move our political agenda forward or to achieve our goals. Not okay. 

The opponents of the “right to life” movement are trying to work their constituents into a frenzy. Upping the rhetoric and even telling lies to do that. Each state will have a chance to decide their own fate as regards this issue. The people will have a chance to voice their opinions and vote for the kind of place they want their state to be. Freedom does mean we have the freedom to follow God or reject his holy and good teachings. 

Can we get a fair vote in the next United States elections in the fall? I am not so sure. If we can then, voters will have an opportunity to vote on this issue and many other life and death issues facing the United States and the world in the fall. 

Politics and the Pulpit-Part 2 (The Problem of Sin)

Politics and the Pulpit continues with the contemplation of the problem of sin. It was sin and vanquishing sin that drove Kostas* from the pew of my new, little, country church. It might have been his sin, the sin that he saw on the evening news or a combination of both. I guess at this juncture, I should include the sin of the lying news outlets of our day. I am talking about sin after all so I might as well be thorough.

Let us start out with a definition of the word sin. Sin is a term used in marksmanship. I learned that in a real way when my youngest daughter excelled in the summer bow and arrow competition that occurred at her summer camp. There was the target, that is the mark that you wish to hit in the center of the field, and then there was missing your mark which was sin.

When we miss our goal in any moral way and we do not follow God, then, we are said to sin. I had an interesting conversation with a friend from Westchester County, New York today. Crystal* told me that it is possible through observation to ascertain what is good and what is evil. She explained that a good deed is not self-seeking. She further went on to tell me that she believes that others, beside those who are Christian, go to heaven because of their good actions.

I told her that everything she told me goes against what God explicitly stated in the Bible. I began with the possibility that any of us are good. We may look good, we may desperately think we are good, and we may even manage to have done quite a few good things, but that does not make us good. Why? Because, we are all sinners and sooner or later we lie, steal, cheat, rape or even kill. 

Did you ever notice that when a crime is committed how often people don’t believe their friend or family member could be capable of the crime?  Some of the things people exclaim are : “My husband is suspected of murder, he must be innocent!” “I did not raise my child to do that.” “She would never hurt a fly.” People often see superficial attributes and do not understand the deep struggle that people are having with sin. 

How many of us have followed the story of a serial killer in the news and come to find out that person was charming and volunteered at church, school, the local library or an animal shelter? The Bible says that “Man judges by appearances but God judges by the heart.” We are often hoodwinked by a physically attractive person. An example that comes to mind is the story of “dirty John” who conned a whole lot of love-lorn women out of money, and worse. The documentary about his case was one of the top most viewed shows of its’ kind in 2017.

Why? Because people are struggling with the question of sin. How can we recognize it and avoid being a victim of it? How can we protect our love ones and society from it? Kostas was thinking that our society can vanquish the evil of school shootings, and he might have thought that his Pastor should be doing more to make that happen. 

After God created the world, He pronounced it to be a good thing. It was a good thing, but, it was not very long before the choice to follow God or miss the mark and follow something else occurred. In fact, it was after the creation of the very first man and woman that the choice to sin, or missing the mark of following God occurred. In other words, mankind could not go very long before the temptation of doing whatever was right in their own eyes happened.

The second generation of Adam’s family was no better. Adam and Eve’s son Cain killed his brother Abel and then we hear God tell us that sin is crouching at our door waiting for us to choice it. Even though this lesson resonates for me in my observation of real life (mine and other people’s), there still are those who have proposed alternative theories of existence in opposition to what the Bible teaches. They are just wrong.

The utopian philosophy of communism espouses overcoming sin thru the collective labor of the good and noble proletariat. But since it is based upon a false premise, namely that the proletariat is good, it is doomed to fail, and it has and continues to fail every day. The problem of sin is thorny isn’t it? Is it any wonder that many preachers, if not whole denominations of Christianity have decided to not talk about it? 

But, if you do not talk about the origin and the existence of sin and what the Bible says about it, you can not develop reasonable checks and balances in law enforcement and the judiciary to deal with it effectively. The founding fathers of the United States, were either men of faith or close to it. They wove in the cosmology of the christian faith into their founding documents showing a deep understanding of the doctrine of sin in everything they did. That is what kept the United States moving forward in a positive direction for so long. 

All of that is currently being thrown out the window. The constitution of the United States with its’ discussion of God-given rights and the need and means to control run away government sin is being challenged. In its’s place stands nepotism in the form of race politics, soft on crime ungodly policies and totalitarian control seeping in for those who would debate the facts. When a people discard biblical facts, it will not go well for them. 

How could a true pastor of a church not talk politics when their country is acting in a public way and promoting principles in opposition to God? Politics emerge from the mindset of a people and at any given time they either represent the will of that general public, or the will of some fringe group of people. When a dictator takes over, the people must fight for their freedoms or they are slaves to that new regime. 

Pastors of necessity are always on the front lines of a spiritual war which determine everything in our society and our world. If our pastors do not tell us right from wrong, as outlined in our bible, they are delinquent in their godly duty. The battle for good and against evil is played out on the political field every day. There is no separation of church and state, how could there be? The state should represent the people it governs but often it doesn’t 

Kostas and his wife Sandra,* by stepping away from a church that teaches the real bible, are stepping away from the possibility of real solutions. 

* the names are changed for privacy.

Politics and the Pulpit

When I moved into a new home, in a new state, where I knew no one, one of the first people to reach our to me was a Greek lawyer originally from Long Island. I met him at church. We shared a New York accent, adjustment issues and a love of the new church that we had both chosen to attend. At the center of that church is a man devoted to God. His name is Pastor Nathan.*

Pastor Nathan is a scholar of a man. He shines for the Lord very brilliantly every day. This Pastor could have been a big deal college professor. His parents certainly thought so but, that is not what he was called to do. He was called to be a Pastor. And he is the best little Pastor I ever did meet. 

He teaches the unadulterated truth of the Bible, and compassionately visits the sick. Pastor Nathan visited me frequently in my new home and offered prayers and advise as contractors and workmen hammered and painted away. What a great and godly welcome I felt as I began my new life! He also seems to have a knack for keeping his little sheep in the sheep fold, like a good shepherd ought to. All except for one that is, my new Greek friend from Long Island. 

I spent all last summer cleaning my new house, and unpacking boxes.The warm, and godly email exchanges with my new Greek friend Kostas* were a helpful distraction as I settled in. In those emails I learned that Kostas was a new Christian and that he was currently reading through the entire Bible for the first time. In our email exchanges we contemplated various bible verses as would be mentioned. How uplifting this was as I was in the last stressful stages of selling my old house in Westchester County, New York. Kostas had a fiancée who was finalizing the sale of her house in Florida. We commiserated on all of the horrible bureaucratic details of our sales and how much we missed our loved ones. What a comfort for both of us. There were just so many parallels in our lives.

Kostas was keenly interested in delving deeply into the Bible and recognized the unique ability of Pastor Nathan to teach and preach the truth of that text. All seemed to be going smoothly for Kostas as he made a transition to his new life as a Christian. He grew up in a home that espoused the Greek Orthodox tradition of Christianity but, it never did seem to click with him. 

As most new believers, he was passionate about the precious gift of salvation that he had received from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He wondered about sharing that faith and spoke of handing out literature at a local farmer’s market. He even spoke about starting a legal service in our area to help people who could not afford legal representation. He was busting at the seams looking for ways to know Jesus and to make Him known. It was inspirational for a long-time believer, such as me, to see this love of a new believer unfolding.

Just as Kostas was settling into his new home, he was blessed to meet a woman, Sandra* at a church service. Sandra was a woman who had known the Lord since an early age. She was visiting a sister who lives in the area. She seemed like a perfect helpmate for Kostas and he seemed perfect for her. They fell in love and wanted to get married. I was invited to attend their wedding late last summer. They did not know many people in the community but the church community came out in full-force to cheer them on. 

It was one of my first social events in a new community. I felt blessed to be part of their wedding celebration. Kostas thanked me for being a part of their happy event. Our friendship was growing. We even began to plan a lunch at his favorite restaurant. My new godly friendships with Pastor Nathan, his wife Aby*, Kostas and Sandra were an answered prayer and I was thanking God for them daily. What could possibility go wrong? 

Well, here are a few possibilities of things that could go wrong. Bringing New York idols to your new home for one. There is an old saying, you can take a man out of New York, but can you take the New York out of the man? Then there is the new believer syndrome. This is a cluster of symptoms including perfectionism, biblical illiteracy and spiritual immaturity. 

Kostas did indeed treat us to a lovely Greek meal and I invited him and his new wife to join my husband and I at a local greenhouse for a flower arranging class. I felt he was grouchy at the greenhouse. Perhaps, in retrospect, it would have been more fun if Sandra and I did the class together and let the guys do something else. I thought the event would offer us all an opportunity to get better acquainted. If he did not wish to participate, he could have declined the invitation.

But, a strange fact was emerging in my relationship with Kostas. I believe that Kostas was more comfortable talking to me online rather than in person. There is a lot of that going around these days. People enjoy talking online but in-person the relationship fails. However, when we did share time in person, I felt that he was looking for a more dynamic church. He asked me a number of times what was my opinion on church revival. Was he looking for a more outward looking church? Was evangelization central to what he thought the mission of a church should be? 

Interestingly enough, it might have been God equipping him to live the life of a lawyer that was now touching his heart with a mission to use his gifts to reach others for Jesus. But, what of Pastor Nathan? I wondered if he was beginning to think differently of him as time went on. Like a romance, the thing that we fall in love with in another person over time no longer compels us the way it did before. Kostas loved the amazing exegesis that Pastor Nathan brings to any bible study, but perhaps he though that our little church in the country needed more.

I sensed he was pulling away from my husband and I as time went by too. Sad to think that one of the first friends that I made could just cut us off so quickly. He talked of inviting my husband for coffee but never followed through. I gave him space since he was a newlywed but, I sensed a growing discontent growing within him. In conversation with my husband, he brought up a number of hot-button political issues. My husband felt there was no context that could explain why Kostas brought these topics up except perhaps that they were on his mind and bothering him.

In the meantime, as all that drama was building up to an eventual crescendo, I was getting to know Sandra in a special way. She was part of the church craft club that I have been developing since late winter. A group of us craft loving Christian ladies have been getting together once a month to sing hymns, pray and craft. Sandra came forward to offer me support, “in any way that you need it.” This worked out perfectly when I fractured my shoulder and she came forward to do a craft and share her Christian testimony in an upcoming class. 

I can’t tell you how blessed and fortunate that I felt knowing that while I was recuperating from an injury, there is someone to take over the reins of the operation. This is truly what a body of Christ is supposed to look like. So, I relaxed and enjoyed all the leisure time that I had since I would not have to prepare a craft class for the May meeting. I relaxed until that fateful Sunday when everything went haywire!

It started out like any other Sunday morning. Our church greeters for the day were the very cheerful and chipper Kostas and Sandra. Nothing seemed wrong as Sandra handed me my weekly bulletin and bible study notes. Since it was five days until the craft class I wanted to affirm with Sandra that she would indeed be playing a hymn on the piano for the event. She warmly said, “oh you don’t have to worry about that, I have it covered.” I grabbed my bulletin and scurried to my pew as the service was about to begin. 

The Pastor had already begun announcements when I sat down. In a moment he would be reminding people about the church craft class and asking people to raise their hand if they thought they would be attending. No problem here, Sandra was one of the sea of hands I saw raised when the Pastor made his inquiry. At this point, I was just taking note of the numbers as I would be preparing a small luncheon for the day. 

Before long, it would be prayertime and I believe that Pastor Nathan would commit an unpardonable sin in Kostas’ mind. Pastor Nathan did not pray the way Kostas thought he should and he even preached a sermon from the letter of first John about love that was biblical but not au courant.

In other words, Pastor Nathan following his calling to preach the Bible as it is without interpreting it away and Kostas found out in his young Christian walk that he did not believe that. It is one thing to go running to a message of redemption and eternal life, it is quite another to understand this world in terms of God’s thoughts, which are higher than ours, and God’s plans. 

It seems that Politics and the Pulpit clarifies what it is that you and I believe. The choices are clear. God has a design and purpose for our lives, our families and the world and that is outlined in the Bible. We must act in accordance with God’s purposes including how we vote and what policies that we support. 

The whole reason Kostas walked out of our church is because of what he believed about the shootings that recently occurred in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas. Pastor Nathan prayed and offered an explanation of the events in the context of a biblical discussion of sin. After that, the Pastor continued in his sermon series on the first letter of John. Kostas went ballistic and ran out of the church as soon as the service concluded. 

Why did he do that? Because, the issues of life divide us. They do not and will not bring us together. They may even bring us to the brink of war. Kostas is looking for the answers that would solve the issues of sin, such as shootings. Kostas beliefs seem to indicate that he thinks if we Christian’s all got together we could stop school shootings. Kostas doesn’t understand that our nature is to sin and that Jesus is the only solution. Even as regards war, the book of Isaiah, chapter 2, verse 4 tells us that God is the only force that will stop war when he, beats their swords into plowshares. 

Kostas brought a whole lot of New York attitude to his new church and since Pastor Nathan failed to genuflect at the altar of political correctness and instead illuminated the deeper meaning of the situation, a division had occurred. Kostas informed the Pastor that he would no longer be attending the church. That day, I also found an email from Kostas telling me that it was “nice knowing us” and oops, “he is sorry that Sandra would not be coming to the craft class” that she was supposed to run in five days.

He was barely civil to me. How is this godly behavior? I was left putting together a class on very short notice. And, what of the judgement upon the Pastor, who is given authority by God to fulfill a mission. Where is the respect for someone anointed by God to guide and direct his congregation? Didn’t even the anointed King David leave room for the proper de-throning of King Saul before he began his reign?

Kostas never gave the Pastor nor I any explanation about why he was leaving or why he was so cold to us. I believe the reason that Kostas left the church is that he was grappling with the “sin question.” I don’t think he understands how sin permeates our earthly lives. He thought he was grappling with a bad Pastor or ineffective prayer. He might have even thought that he was fighting for what was right.

In reality, he was simply an immature Christian who did not understand the underlying spiritual issue behind the recent shootings. When we see the shedding of innocent blood so callously and cruelly, we have come face to face with the outcome of sin. The Bible teaches us that “all sin is lawlessness.” 

It is important to understand, when we see lawlessness such as looting of department stores, rape, or school shootings, we are looking sin square in the face. In order to deal with sin, we must start with an understanding of what it is. If you don’t understand the sin problem, you can not fashion an effective solution. The premise helps to form the conclusion. Kostas, was not on the right page. He thought that gun control, or efforts to eleviate mental illness or poverty were the answers. Did guns or poverty kill 19 children in Texas or did sin do it? If this young man did not have a gun, would he be a good neighbor, and fine upstanding citizen. Would he use his power for good suddenly or would he still use his strength and prowess to fashion evil actions? 

Of course, he would not be a fine upstanding citizen. His mother had addiction problems in her life, his father has not been mentioned and his grandfather did not hold him accountable for what he did behind the closed doors of his teenage angst-ridden bedroom. He seems to have had a lot of sin around him and he seemed to have learned the business of sin well.

Did poverty cause sin or did sin cause poverty? Are we sometimes poverty stricken because our sinful father has abandoned his responsibilities as a father? The answer is sin-1, virtue-0. What about having a mother who spends money on drugs when we need material support? The answer is sin-2, virtue-0. What about training your child in the way that it should go and in the end it will not depart from what you teach them? I am paraphrasing from the book of Proverbs. That is another point for sin. Sin is up 3 points. 

So, we start with sin and we move to solutions from there. God did that, after all, in the book of Genesis. We see that when sin came into the world, God fashioned a solution. He told us the heel of the savior, that God would send, would be bruised by Satan. But, that Satan would ultimately be crushed by the Savior. In Kostas’ way he was bruised and was suffering from the sight of sin. We all are. 

Angry and frustrated, he believed that he could fashion a solution through political means. The people of Israel instead of being lead by God, chose a political solution when they wanted to have a King. They got King Saul. They could have had God leading them but, they wanted a King. I think Kostas has a lot in common with those ancient peoples.

Next week: Politics and the Pulpit (the problem of sin)-Part 2

* The names are changed.

Post Easter Talk

How was your Easter? Was there evidence that it was a commemoration of Jesus’ death and resurrection or, was it mostly a throw back pagan holiday? What was the meaning of Easter in your home? Easter bread, ham, lamb, eggs, or chocolate bunnies about the extent of it? Easter egg hunts and Easter egg rolls the height?  Perhaps, seeing the children in Easter clothes and an Easter basket is the only thrill of the celebration? It’s all about the kids? What does any of this have to do with Jesus Christ revealing himself as the messiah, and the pivotal event of his resurrection?

(Just in case you are wondering, I love bread, ham, lamb and chocolate.)

Exodus 20:3- Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Max*and Jewel* did nothing but fight during their entire Easter vacation. Easter is one of the two times every year that they are able to get away for a week with their entire family. Easter has come to mean holiday to this family, not Jesus’ death and resurrection. 

But this year, the family vacation did not go so well. The kids had some grueling homework assignments for one thing. And what should have been a happy occasion, that is the first joint vacation with Jewel’s parents since covid, ended up being full of disagreements and arguements. When I ended up hearing the whole post-Easter analysis I came to believe that stress buildup and expectations got too high. Those expectations and those stress levels exceeded their coping skills.

The whole family acted like a bunch of entitled and bratty children. Grandma and grandpa wanted to see certain sights, the grandkids wanted to see other things. Nobody was willing to compromise. Max and Jewel just wanted to sleep or rest by the pool. This was their Easter.

Galatians 4:8-11- Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did serve unto them which by nature are no god. But now, after ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, where unto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain.

Then there was my friend Michelle*. Michelle usually church shops for Easter to see where she can get the best Easter spiritual experience! She goes to the websites to see a preview of sermons and the music ministry offering. She is having an emotional experience every Easter, tripping out on Jesus’ death and Resurrection. It is not that she is shallow. No, far from that. But, she doesn’t quite know how she should react to all that Jesus did for her. She thinks she should cry, scream and philosophize about it for a week or two and that is honoring Jesus.

What is the meaning of Easter and how did it evolve to what we are doing today? Early Christians spread the truth about Jesus Christ and thought they could soften the blow of giving up cultural celebrations by merely grafting on the commemoration of the resurrection unto people’s previous pagan holidays. In the lead up to Resurrection Day, I saw a few Christian movies and television shows. Next blog I might review some of them. One movie was called, “Church People.” It aptly describes how many churches approach the commemoration of Easter today.

The fictional Pastor wonders what he can do to make this Easter Service memorable. It had to be big, or so he thought. On one hand, I can see the pressure upon Pastors at Christmas and Easter to wow the crowds, after all, there is an opportunity to reach many people with the message of salvation. But, is that the genuine message of Jesus’ resurrection that we are preaching or just some broadway show version of the gospel? Is all that Jesus said and accomplished worthily put forth by being cast as an entertainment venue? 

2 Corinthians 6:17- Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you.

The conclusion in the movie “Church People” is that what Jesus did is enough. Focusing in on that is the purpose of Easter. Everything else is paganism or entertainment. 

* the names are changed or else they might be a little mad at me after this post. Truth can be a little ugly sometimes.

Easter/All At Once

Jax* feels like he is the victim of bad luck. He even wonders if he is cursed or something. It has been just one thing after the other for him since last summer. It has been almost one year since his beloved brother Dylan* unexpectedly passed away. Jax thought that he had years and years left to enjoy with his brother and he did not expect him to die so young.

He and his brother’s lack of planning for just such an eventuality lead to the dreaded situation of dying without leaving a will. Jax and Dylan shared ownership of a Manhattan property and other assets. Now, greedy estranged relatives and unscrupulous lawyers have descended upon my friend Jax like flies on excrement.

Un top of that, a mentally unstable tenant in a building that Jax owns decided to call the building department as a way of paying Jax back for not giving him preferential treatment in the building. Although my friend was innocent of any violations, the treatment and expense of proving the city wrong was difficult to handle. 

In addition, he has had some problems in his apartment building as of late. He has an adjacent apartment building owner challenging his property line. Did you ever wonder why the surveyor never tells a client that he owes the other guy a few feet of property? I do. I have literally never heard of any one saying that a neighbor came by to say that they owe you a couple of feet of property. It is always the other way around, hmm.

He has also had to have plumbers three times in the past six months come by to clear drains. There are indications that an expensive repair job might be looming. Normally Manhattan tough, I think Jax is overwhelmed with everything that has happened to him in the past year. 

We all have tough things happen to us ALL AT ONCE and we question the meaning behind it. Jax was starting to question if he was some sort of victim of bad luck even to the point of being cursed. It was time for Christian Housewife to step in.

He was wallowing in this notion of being cursed and it occurred to me that many people in that state of mind are vulnerable to unscrupulous advisors promising to clear that situation up. We all have read stories of people paying so-called psychics large amounts of money to rectify and remove curses. In the vulnerable state of confusion that can result from being overwhelmed, we are all at risk of poor judgment.

Jax already chose a bad lawyer to represent him in the probate case that will shortly be starting. As a result he has been bilked out of almost $10,000 before the case even begins. I stepped in and talked to Jax about basic principles of hiring and managing a legal professional from the beginning. 

Most people don’t have to use a lawyer often enough to understand the process very well. But, living in Westchester County, New York as long as I did taught me a thing or two on that front. There are many lawyers, psychiatrists and artists living in that county. If I could help Jax understand the legal process a little better as a result of my associations, then I am glad to help. He has now fired that lawyer and is looking for new representation.

I was thinking a lot about this curse thing though. The other day I finally had an opportunity to discuss it further with him. I also was thinking about the upcoming remembrance of Jesus’ Resurrection that we call Easter. What I realized is that Jesus’ Resurrection took away the curse, and the stain or anything else that is evil.

There are lots of examples in the Bible of people or whole nations suffering and feeling just as Jax feels, cursed. Job, had things happen to him All At Once too, I mentioned to Jax. The avalanche of things that befell Job are reminiscent of all that is happening to Jax. 

Ruth comes to mind as well when she says, call me Mara for I am bitter. She was expressing to people in her life and crying out to God about her situation. She felt emotional just as Jax does after all his loss. I am glad that Jax can share his feelings with me and that he has given me the opportunity to discuss his situation and explain God’s plan and purpose for his life.

Curses do exist. The Bible says that curses are the opposite of blessings and they are real. Are there evil oppressions that could explain what Jax is facing? The answer is yes.

But, it is up to us to contemplate just what Jesus has done to conquer adversity during this Easter season or whenever we are faced with everything happening All At Once. When we are overwhelmed we have to think back to what Jesus did on the cross. It was a willing exchange for our failings, for our just punishment and that means that ultimately because he has overcome, that we will overcome too, if not in this life then in the next.

Jesus did tell us that in this life there will be troubles. The Bible never soft peddles anything, just tells us the truth about life and death. So, we need to know that we are not alone in our fate because truly everyone suffers through trials and tribulations. However, we need to understand that with God’s help we will get through this life and have peace in this life and in the next because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Right now, a lot of people are suffering all over the world for a variety of reasons. The Lord cares and if we rely on him and the Easter message we will be resurrected. We must take this message to the people in our lives such as Jax and tell them the story of the resurrection. This resurrection is our resurrection if we decide to follow Jesus.  Let us as one caring Body of Christ love and assist our family and one another through these difficult times. The Lord has risen and because of that we must, I repeat, we must have hope and live that hope out every day now more than ever.

Oh death where is thy sting? A Joyous Resurrection Day/ Happy Easter! 

*The names are changed.

The Fall

When Confessions of a Westchester Christian Housewife talks about THE FALL, you are probably expecting a biblical account such as, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth-Genesis 1:1 or perhaps a poetic flurry such as Of man’s first disobedience and THE FALL by John Milton the English poet. Probably not expecting me to talk about my recent fall on a rug where I had neglected to put a rug pad. There were a couple of throw rugs in the attic of my recently purchased house that cleaned up pretty well. So, I thought that I would see how they would look in various locations before I bought a rug pad. I knew they were a little slippery but I seemed to forget that when I had an occasion to run across one of those rugs.

I am typing this blog post with my left hand, dealing with a technical fracture, rotator cuff and soft tissue injury. That fall, is the inglorious and humbling moment which is changing the trajectory of the spring season that I had planned for myself. How easy it is to get injured and sidetracked. How fragile is our human condition, that in just the twinkle of an eye, everything can change! It sounds like I am talking about that first fall again doesn’t it? Or, any fall? As my fall and its’ aftermath unfolded, I also became aware of someone from my past who was also dealing with a fall, he had again run afoul of the law. 

Those long term readers of this blog may recall a few blog posts that I did years ago highlighting a person from my past who got arrested. Another change that occurs in the twinkle of an eye is the disappointment and grief that we feel when someone that we care about falls in an unexpected and terrible way. I made a decision to try and stand beside this man in a godly way as he negotiated the prison system and his relationship with Jesus Christ.

Sin and its’ aftermath are always with us no matter how we try to spin it. Knowing God, has given me the courage to face this and to have some peace within that reality. That includes the news that *****, who spent five years in the slammer for selling some prescription drugs, has fallen down in doing right yet again. This was a sad turn of events for a man who had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. 

I recently discovered that he had re-offended maybe by accident, maybe by grace or maybe I was wary of *****. My relationship with ***** fell apart pretty quickly after he was released from prison. After his incarceration, my husband and I took him on a sort of Christian retreat. It was apparent almost immediately that he was not able to accept responsibility for his actions. He went to bible study with us but seemed to have a chip on his shoulder that never came down. The accountability partners that my husband and I were hoping to be for him never materialized. 

I feared almost immediately that he was on the wrong track. He seemed to lose complete interest in us after he met a mysterious Cuban woman that he had an online relationship with. She was beautiful, and seemingly out of his league. The whole situation had catfish written all over it. I didn’t even bother to tell him that. I didn’t have to, he knew what I was thinking. 

More and more, ***** seemed to drift away from the Lord too. He had been asked to work in a bible study ministry and somehow, I heard nothing more about it pretty quickly. At a certain point, I assumed that he was falling away from his church’s fellowship. So, I was not surprised when, while searching for his address online, that a headline popped up from his local newspaper that says he was arrested last year for petit theft on Christmas Eve.

What a sad place to be on the Christmas Eve of your life, alone and stealing. What was he thinking, and feeling that would allow him to do that on one of the holiest days of the christian calendar? Alone, angry, or had his impulsive nature gotten the best of him? I am resolved to send him an Easter card and address this issue. Then it will be up to him if he wishes to call me up.

Ironically, it was my decision to send him an Easter card that lead me to search his address online. I had not spoken to him for a few years and thought that the remembrance of Jesus’ resurrection would perhaps recall our past Christ centered bond. Samson had a fall too. But, it is what we do after the fall that can either reconcile us with God or further sever that relationship entirely. Samson chose repentance. What will ***** choose? That is between him and God.

We are living in a time of huge failures, all of these failures reflect our sinful natures back to us everyday in huge ways. What about Russia and the Ukraine? What about our marriages, our friendships. What if there is no difference in sin and it is all wrong? You know what I am talking about, venial and mortal sin. The concept of a little white lie comes to mind. That some sin is okay, like looting from rich people or their stores. If sin is not so bad, then I would have to conclude, that it is all good as I hear cashiers and salespeople tell me all day long. But, observations keep telling me that the Bible is right and that we are sinners in need of a savior. 

I have noticed as of late, that society says that some sins are okay while others are not. The wrong sin and you are canceled. The right sin and no one will hold you accountable. Every day, we witness some one being canceled financially or professionally. But, didn’t Jesus say, Let he who is without sin cast the first stone-John 8:7? We are not to be part of the cancel culture, unless of course that we are as blameless as Jesus.

What if the Bible were true and what we see around us is the result of the epic fall that lead Adam and Eve to be escorted out of the Garden of Eden? What if all the evil around us reflects our epic falls and that it is not all good? If not for that first sin would my fall have not resulted in bodily injury? Perhaps not, but because of that fall that Adam and Eve had, a departure came from God’s plan causing consequences of The Fall, including the present state of my shoulder. I imagine in the garden that the consequences of my fall might have been a giggle or good-natured ribbing.

There are things that seem right to us, such as taking money that doesn’t belong to us, or cheating with a friends’ girlfriend. It even seems okay to us when we are bombing schools and humanitarian corridors where innocent non-combatives are trying desperately to escape a brutal war. That is our sin nature. We can make excuses for it, but that all amounts to a hill of beans. We could say my commander told me to do it, or that I am a good person. How about, that woman drove me mad. Really! All the excuses in the world don’t make it the truth.

All The Falls around need to remind us that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Apart from him we can do nothing righteous. Science won’t overcome the sin of the world. The Marxist utopia being re-packaged for consumption will not bring peace nor security, let alone happiness. Stop looking to all the wrong things to base your life on and again choose Jesus. It won’t stop the consequences of my physical or spiritual fall, just mitigate for it. As the frustrations of my all too human injury have taught me, Jesus comforts and heals. 

*****- refers to the man in my story.