Crime Doesn’t Pay

How does anyone get to the point where they are committing crime and hurting friends and family with their behavior? Does it happen all at once or is a slow process? This week, I pondered these questions based on my thoughts about news reports, a book that I am reading and, a television series that I just watched. The book is entitled, "The Rose Man of Sing Sing (A true tale of life, murder, and redemption in the age of yellow journalism)" by James McGrath Morris. It is the perfect book for a Westchester Christian Housewife to read since it tells a story that starts and ends in New York. It starts in upstate New York and ends in a famous prison right here in Westchester County, New York. 

Add to that book, an award-winning television series about a daring escape from the upstate New York prison Dannemora and you can see why I am caught in the philosophical contemplation of criminal activity. Oh, and the woman convicted of aiding and abetting in that prison break just got out of another Westchester prison over in the village of Bedford. Evil men understand not judgement, but they that seek the Lord understand all things.-Proverbs 28:5

Of course, these reflections fit seamlessly into the current lawless environment that we find ourselves in. Did you hear about that college student arrested in New York City for looting and rioting? The one whose father is a professor of psychiatry at Colombia University and whose mother is an architect? Apparently, she is quoting Stalin and talking about throwing rocks off of buildings. She grew up with all the advantages that money could buy. Not so for Charles Chapin, the central character of James McGrath Morris' book. His father was a n'er do well who abandoned his family and forced Charles to enter the work force at a young age. Nor, was it true for the two male inmates or the woman, Joyce Mitchell who were involved in the prison escape re-enacted in the television series.* 

So, we have men and women from all walks of life reaching the same decision and choosing to go against the laws of God and man. In all three cases many things had to happen and come together to explain all of their desperate actions. I believe perpetrating a crime very seldom happens without a number of things going wrong in a persons life. At any moment we must choose to pay attention to what is going on around us and use all opportunities to speak godly truths into peoples lives, before terrible things occur. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned:if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.-Ezekiel 33:6

After any major crime many people seem surprised and even incredulous that they could have known someone who committed a heinous act. "I can't believe he did that, he was such a nice neighbor," or "this is not like her, she must have just snapped." While we are all sinners, nevertheless most people don't kill their wives as Charles Chapin did, or smuggle in chisels and hacksaws to help killers escape from prison as Joyce Mitchell did. I have driven by Dannemora Prison a number of times. It looks scary and impenetrable. What was this prison seamstress thinking? Even those of us who felt passionate about a cause enough to attend a rally or protest would not want to break windows, loot and steal that which is not ours. Let alone decide to drop rocks from buildings to fight off the police and seriously hurt someone. 

In the three stories above we find seemingly ordinary people. Charles Chapin was a city newspaper editor, Joyce Mitchell was a seamstress who worked in factories and then as an instructor at a maximum security prison. Finally, we have a twenty-first century New York City Upper East Side student. These individuals represent a snapshot or a cross-section of society. So, how did they all end up going afoul of the law? For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.-Romans 3:23

You can't read very far in the Bible before you read ripped from the headline stories of crime. As soon as man is created, crime happens. In fact, the Bible never lets up in its' scathing coverage of real crime stories from the beginning of the book until the end. What is the Bible trying to tell us about crime? The Bible definition of crime focuses on transgressions against God, others and ourselves. There are so many words used in the Bible to describe crime. Spoiler alert: it is pretty clear why we need a Savior! 

Here are some of the words used to indicate crime in the Bible: judgment, verdict, heinous crime, guilt, case, cause, fault, charge, iniquity, injury and of course sin. There are many more descriptive terms concerning breaching the law.....I feel another blog post coming on! In my Christian journey, it took me a long time to connect what I was seeing in the world around me, and reconcile that with what I was learning in the Bible. 

I think I was a victim of worldly thinking. I did not originate from a family of centered Christians. Luckily, for us who are lost and orphaned, our Father in Heaven reaches down and connects with His creation. He directs and guides us through His book the Bible. But, for a long-time I struggled to understand how Moses who received the commandments on Mount Sinai could have killed a man. How King David,"a man after God's own heart" could have had an affair, and arranged for that woman’s husband's murder to cover up his deeds. 

What I have learned is that crime is a part of human nature. Moses and King David are no different from Charles Chapin, the prisoners at that upstate jail or that Upper East Side college student. The Bible goes into great details regarding our many crimes and transgressions. Crime is wrong before God and there will be an eternal consequence. We as humans fail when we think that crime is the answer but we are no different from the men and women of old who went down this same road. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.- Genesis 6:5

The Bible prepares us for real life. It tells us that crime will be with us until the end of this age and God’s return. It tells us that we should avoid it and to follow God instead. It tells us the difference between right and wrong and tells us that we should go to God and say we are sorry for the misdeeds that we have done so that we can be washed clean from the wrong. In short, the Bible teaches us that Crime Doesn’t Pay. We should heed that advice. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.-Proverbs 28: 13

* alert: the television series "Escape from Dannemora" showed simulated sex scenes that allegedly took place between the prison seamstress and her inmates. I chose to avert my eyes during those scenes because there was some important messages about our lives and our world. However, approach with caution if these scenes would cause you to struggle with sin. 

FYI: It cost the tax payers of New York State 23 million dollars for the manhunt and recapturing of these escaped prisoners. 

To Proselytize or Not?

The State of Affairs
(Jude 1:18- How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.)
Hi everyone. It's been a tragic couple of weeks. I have struggled with all the depressing news. Starting with Hurricane Laura whose massive destructive force touched down in the southern United States along the gulf coast. At least half a million people had to evacuate their homes. Thank God too, because that decision helped to save their lives. But, how can I begin to discuss the extreme damage that this storm has delivered. Power can not be restored to the area for at least several weeks. Rebuilding the area will be a huge undertaking which will disrupt people's lives and business activities.The aftermath of this storm will surely be felt for a long time to come, financially, spiritually and otherwise.

Then I must note that violent activity is continuing around the United States and many part of the world, seemingly at an unstoppable pace. Mass protests occurred in various European capitals concerning the overreaching and apparently non-debatable governmental policies concerning COVID-19. I saw many videos of peaceable protestors being arrested and fined for simply not wearing a mask. Has life continuing on this planet come down to if we wear masks or not? Study the evidence. It looked more like the Iranian moral police harassing people for not wearing proper Islamic garb.

However, the violent events happeneing in the United States are the worst, and unprecedented in the history of this country. Notably, there was an attempt to disrupt the legitimate political process of the republican national convention when the President of the United States was giving his acceptance speech for the party's nomination. Outside the White House drums and bullhorns tried to drown out the President, or should I say drown out liberty. After the convention, just like I would expect from cowards videos emerged of BLM militants hitting and knocking old men to the ground and doing it from behind (just like someone who fights dirty will do). Check out the videos and you will always see attacks from behind. This is a huge departure from the United States historical code of ethics. It does however resemble the actions at the beginnings of every major totalitarian regime takeover.

I listened to videos with all matter of profanities and threats to kill people uttered. A mob surrounded United States senator Rand Paul and his wife. Had it not been for the bravery of four police officers, Rand Paul and his wife might be hospitalized or even dead. This after a crazed liberal neighbor attacked him and caused him to loose a piece of his lung. I hear totalitarianism calling, will the United States open the door? Ding dong.
(1 Timothy 1:9- We realize that the law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers.)

I see videos of intimidating confrontations occurring in restaurants, supermarkets and on roadways. Not for nothing, as we say in New York, haven't you noticed how many of the victims are senior citizens? We all know the story of the seventy-something year old retired police officer who was murdered as he tried to protect his friends business in Minneapolis. Another elder protecting his pizza parlor was brutalized. This bespeaks depravity of the highest realm. As does hurting children, another vulnerable population that have been victimized during this new civil war. What does this tell you about the spiritual health of the United States? We may or may not feel safe from these occurrences but, I think that we are at a juncture as Christians. What do we think about it and what are we going to do about it?

Then there is the bombshell revelations about Jerry and Becki Falwell Jr's sexual debauchery. Jerry and Becki Falwell let down their family, friends and the entire Christian community. They had the privilege and responsibility of being at the helm of a Christian university. Their political activities even put them into the position of being the face of Christianity to many atheists. What did they do with that? What are we doing with our platform?

I have been asked by many disillusioned friends what I think that the Christian community know about this scandal and when? Did they purposely close their eyes to these goings-on because Jerry Falwell Jr succeeded in making Liberty University a billion dollar baby? Some Christians would resent these questions. I do not. It is important for me as a believer to stand up for what is right and in the midst of doing that there is always opportunity to point people to Jesus and to salvation. Not a phony-baloney faith full of platitudes and enabling protocol. Jesus was not one to enable or cover-up wrong-doing and neither should we. Do you as a Christian believe that being a believer means that if you saw evidence of Jerry Falwell's malfeasance that you should not judge hence let's drop it or, do you think merely talking about this represents gossip? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, than how can we ever determine if a problem exists or nip a problem in the bud? How can we pray effectively? Plus, remember telling the truth doesn't equal judging someone.

Spiritual Answers
(1 John 4:1)- Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.)
One thing that really stung me the past couple of weeks was the awareness that everywhere that I went in Westchester, there were people publically practicing yoga. The lawn of the venerable and historic Lyndhurst Manor is a gathering place. The beach by Rye playland is doing it too. In all the most beautiful waterfront parks in Westchester County they are doing yoga. These are spiritual answers that people are choosing as they face anxiety and depression. Even BLM represents spiritual answers to what people consider uncertainty in their lives. (Matthew 6:33- but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.)

What if we Christians had as large a presence as antifa or BLM in our cities? What would bringing the light of Jesus into those situations mean? What if every Christian wore a face mask or a tee shirt with a bible verse on it? What if instead of seeing yoga disciples at the beaches, and on the great lawns around Westchester County, New York we saw Christians praising, baptizing or teaching the Bible? What about in your community? I started to wonder where did I see a visible presence of Christians engaged in the front lines of the battles that we are now facing?

I don't mean to say there is no presence, because I know that Christians are working in food pantries, and helping to console Hurricane Laura victims right at this very moment and doing countless other acts of service. But, have we largely acquiesced to the belief that we should do many of these acts of service without acknowledging our faith in Jesus Christ, without praying or showing any public demonstration of our faith and Savior?

To Proslytize or Not?
(1 Corinthians 1:17- For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.)
I received a flyer on my front porch asking me to join Black Lives Matters. It had all the earmarkings of a spiritual solution to all the problems of mankind. It's answers suggested that if I did not join them that I am essentially damned to hell. The local ads for meditation suggest similar redemption if I just follow the way of their practice. My question to you is: Has the Christian community been majorly sidelined? Have we forgotten our first love Jesus and our desire to bring others to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you lost your fervor? Are you afraid?

This week I had several discussions with Christians who had either lost their fervor, or were afraid. One such couple were hold up in their mansion and living in fear of catching Covid. Their money afforded them the ability to live completely isolated from society while they pay others to do their errands. What of the risk they might be adding to others lives? No mention of that.

As I caught up with them I found them hunkered down until, as they explained to me, the virus reaches some acceptable level and a vaccine is in place. I am sorry to say this Christian woman is struggling with panic attacks. She can not handle any of this. She is watching church live-streamed into her home even as 80 year old people are sitting in the church pews. She is effectively sidelined as is my friend Harris.* Harris has had a number of health challenges this past year and has grown despondent. He used to teach bible studies from his home and at church. Even as I tried to encourage him, I noticed he has no desire to even open up his bible.

Life gets very real sometimes. Has there ever been a guarantee of things going our way? Yet, we are entreated by our Heavenly Father to run this race that we call life and to live for Him. We have to line up our lives with the message of the gospel and help others to have their own blessed assurance. We need to make sure that everything that we do is in Jesus' name. We have to be very vocal about it before we loose our ability to enjoy our freedom of faith or our relevancy.
(2 Timothy 4:5- But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy Ministry.)

The Judgement?

Many are moving from New York City to places like Westchester County, New York. This is in large part due to COVID-19, and the anarchy descending upon the City of New York. As I take stock and look at the occurrences in the great metropolis of NYC, they are not unlike the descriptions of biblical judgements in the Bible. A lot of Christians and a lot of churches don't want to think about the big pink elephant in the room. That being, do natural events and manmade events put together serve as justice meted out upon wickedness by God?

Some churches won't discuss this because they think this makes God look mean. What kind of a God would allow or provoke an incident like COVID-19? Even without COVID-19 those same churches struggle with many passages in the Bible. Those passages where people are taken into captivity or even die as punishment for their sins. I know people who spend a lot of their energy focused on trying to fix God's image for that. Re-branding God so to speak, like God was some sort of politician they are trying to get elected!

Another thing that is part of the massive pink elephant hindering discussion of judgement is the battle raging by atheists that science now explains all the biblical occurrences, such as the pestilence in Egypt and the subsequent parting of the Red Sea. If you bring up the concept of judgement in the pulpit or a bible study, then those in the group espousing such notions will bring on the debate. Are Christians afraid of this debate or even capable of waging it and standing up for the truth of the Bible? Do we even know the truth of the Bible?

These are the sorts of questions that I ask myself as I deal with the truth of my New York. I say my New York because, I was born and raised here. As a teenager and college student New York City was my playground. I met my husband in Manhattan. We were married there. While New York has experienced ups and downs throughout the years, it has never been this low. It had world famous museums, broadway shows, great restaurants, and talented people from many fields of study. Sadly, all these institutions have been drifting away from all they could be and once were. This is due to the perverted and ungodly philosophies that have taken hold here.

If you take a short drive from Westchester County to NYC these days you will see unhygienic piles of garbage everywhere. Where garbage piles exist, rats can’t be far behind. The situation isn’t likely to change any time soon since the sanitation budget has been cut. Speaking of budget cuts, we all know about the police budget being cut by a billion dollars. When there is not enough police in New York City, the truth of who its' citizens are comes to light.

No doubt a police force is necessary in this sin-ridden world. However, it should not be all that keeps a city in order. It should be the knowledge of how we are to conduct ourselves. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods. Thou shalt not kill. These moral values given so long ago to Moses from God upon Mount Zion should prevail. Further, a community should be prepared to stand up for what is right. But, it has been a long, long time since New York City was a place that God's moral law was cherished. The anarchists, criminals and mentally challenged have now taken over the city.

The culture and spiritual battles that are convulsing our world are front and center in New York City. This city has been in the forefront of many trends both good and bad. Right now, bad is winning. People are screaming obscenities on street corners for seemingly no reason. The political groups that are protesting around the city are foul-mouthed and violent. They left the city filthy, littered and brought financial destruction wherever they have been.

People are openly injecting themselves with drugs in midtown Manhattan. There are people sexually pleasuring themselves as children are getting wheeled by in their carriages. Don't you think this sounds a lot like Sodom and Gomorrah? We know that God destroyed them for their immorality. So, why is it a shock that there might be consequences for how bad things have become? Even the laws of physics tells us that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. God has sent us the prophets, the Bible and a Savior. It is up to us to run with that ball.

A poignant passage which illustrates both our sin problem and Jesus' sorrow for our fallen state is in Matthew 23:37- O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them who are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, amen.

The Pastor's Wife

What is the role of the Pastor's wife in the Ministry of a church? Well, the Catholic clergy does not get married so they don't have to answer that question. Although, that predicament presents a whole other host of questions. "I feel another blog post coming on, or perhaps, a blog post series."

Let's look at some answers to that question and see how they have worked out for some churches here in Westchester County, New York. The first answer that I have seen implemented is that She Has No Role. I think the logic of that seems to go along the lines of, if your husband is a computer programmer does that mean that you have the ability to program code too? No, of course not. So why would a Pastor's wife have a special role other than that of any other congregant in a church? So, if the Pastors wife sang, she would join a choir no different than you or I might do if that is how God equipped us to contribute to our faith community.

The problem that I have seen with this model is that for better or worst, people impart a significance to the wife of a Pastor and often look to her for guidance or leadership. They often, as in Church A, feel that, if the pastors wife suggests a course of action that it has a special gravitas to it. Pastor's wife A, suggested a bible study book for the church youth that a number of the other youth ministers did not like. If it was you or I suggesting that book, it would have been discussed and thrown out with good theological basis sooner rather than later. But, at Church A some in the youth ministry leadership were practically casting lots to see who would tell this to  the Pastor's wife. On the other hand, a few Pastor's wives that I know have suggested that the Church A model has given them maximum flexibility in their professional life.

Now Church B has the opposite approach. This church feels as if a Pastor's family Marries Into The Ministry, especially the Pastor's wife. The Pastor's wife should have her hand in all of the ministries. In this case, Chelsea* was not up to the role that had been prescribed for her. She happened to have a lovely singing voice and sang in the choir. She showed up at many Ministry events to show support. One day, she approached me and told me she would be starting a women's bible study soon and asked me if I would come. What could I say but, yes.

I had the distinct feeling that Chelsea was giving this the hard sell. I felt a little pressured to attend. After all, I didn't want the Pastor's wife to be mad at me. I already attended another bible study at a more convenient time. However, I love to study the Bible so I made the decision to throw myself into the series that she was hosting. A huge problem emerged almost immediately. I can't believed I am going to tell the truth y'all but, it was the worst bible study that I have ever attended in my entire life.

You name it and it was a problem. She was ill prepared for the topic at hand. When questions emerged she was ill-equipped to reply to them. Even the most basic Christian 101 questions were a problem for her. I think that she knew the Bible much better than she indicated that day. She was just not a teacher of it. I was shocked. But what shocked me the most was everyone's reaction to it in the room. Have you ever heard of the children's story entitled, The Emperor's New Clothes? It tells the story of people unwilling to tell the truth concerning what a certain Emperor was wearing.

Every week, less and less women attended this Bible study series. I could see that Chelsea felt humiliated and frustrated. I thought about leaving too but kept hoping things would turn around. But, the straw that broke the camels back for me was when a women reached out for help during a bible study. She was asking for biblical advice and clarity for future decisions she needed to make. These issues were important. They concerned sexuality and even the role of the church in her elderly Christian mother's life.

What came out of Chelsea's mouth was anything but biblical. In fact there was nothing Christian about it at all. Chelsea had shown a certain blind spot in her own Christian walk and she was misleading someone who really needed help. This is something not taken lightly in the Bible when it says, not many should teach. Needless to say that study very quietly got shut down.

I have also been at churches in Westchester County who subscribe to  the First Lady Approach. I will call this approach, Church C. At one of those churches the Pastor's wife literally dressed like Jackie Kennedy every Sunday! She was quite a well-dressed women in the tradition of a United States Presidents wife. For a lot of U.S. History the role of the U.S. Presidents wife was hugely ceremonial. They were meant to enhance the image and standing of the President and the country.

While I have no doubt this woman loved the Lord, I did not see any other huge role besides what the U.S. Presidents wife traditionally did. She did not answer the phone at church. She was not a church greeter, and she did not head any Ministry nor participate in them as a member. She did not wash windows. She supported her husband spiritually and materially. That of course is an important job for any wife. However, in her case, she gave the appearance of supporting a V.I.P. He was either a U.S. President or a very important preacher.

There is a rigidity in certain churches to the question of the Pastor's wife role in their community. This seems to be the result of the traditions that have developed over the years. When we as Christians do things based on our own traditions, and not on the leading of God we can loose that brilliance that comes from being a Holy Spirit-filled church. When we recognize Jesus as the head of our Church, we soon realize that the anointing will go to those best suited for the various ministries of a church. The Bible tells us many stories of God’s approach. It frequently thwarts our goals, such as when Samuel the Prophet attempts to install his sons to replace him. Or, consider God’s anointing of King David over all the more traditional candidates. God’s ways are higher than ours. This frequently is reflected in unexpected choices and roles played out in the life of His Church.

* not her real name.

A Box of Chocolate

Macy* is an amazing woman. She has a huge and loving heart. She puts that heart into everything that she does for her friends, family and those in need. During the COVID-19 lockdown for instance, she worked to set up networks to get food to families in need and get it delivered. All this while her own husband and she were forced into an early retirement because of the widespread business shut-downs that have occurred. Macy sent me the most adorable pictures of the meals which she made and fun table decorations that she concocted in an effort to cheer her husband and children through the darkest COVID-19 moments.

My relationship with Macy went from one of those fun acquaintanceships complete with restaurant lunch dates (a few days before the official closing of all restaurants) to no contact except for texting and calls. The other day she telephoned me and we discussed getting together for a lunch date, now that things have begun to loosen up a bit. All these months later, we were finally planning a get-together. I was looking forward to that very much.

Macy and I exchanged pleasantries and started to catch up on each other's news as we anticipated our get-together. Sort of setting up preliminary guidelines for our next power lunch. It was at this time that she wanted to tell me about something that had been bothering her recently. It seems that Macy called up an old school chum who was now a big wig in the gourmet dessert business. She wanted to do something special for the food pantry that she had helped establish. She wished to explore putting a gourmet snack into the food bags. She naturally turned to Judith* to explore this option.

She got in touch with Judith and explained the project that she envisioned, and even offered to pay her for her time and materials. From what Macy said, it sounded like there was some questions from Judith immediately. Why are you putting dessert into a food pantry? Shouldn't you be making more nutritionally sound contributions to the families that you serve? 

Macy was taken aback by these comments and felt Judith lacked insight into what she was trying to do. This made her feel bad. Of course she wants to put together a nutritionally well-balanced package
for the 40 families which she served, but did that preclude a cookie or chocolate bar now and then? Judith went on to explain in a back-handed way that she didn't need payment because her stuff is super expensive, so she'll just donate it. So, instead of using the finest ingredients she usually used, she told Macy that she was going to use imitation chocolate. Wow, way to give a special gift!

Be that as it may, the project got underway. Judith called Macy to see if she would like some apricots in her chocolate bars. Macy wasn't sure but would call Judith back after she checked with the people involved in distribution at the food pantry. Somehow from what I gathered Macy and Judith had some huge misunderstanding. When Macy called to say that apricots will not go over well at the food pantry apparently Judith already had bought the apricots and blamed Macy for making her buy them. What am I going to do with all these apricots Macy? 

To make matters worse, she told me that Judith had broadcast the matter over Facebook!  Then, in the next round, apparently they got into whether the recipients of the food pantry were legal citizens and then it further digressed into a political disagreement. I felt really sorry to hear that two old friends who should know better were jeopardizing a friendship over the things that transpired?

Macy really wanted me to take her side, even though I knew that I shouldn't. I wanted to be helpful in the situation, not prove that I am loyal by just agreeing with everything that she said. As I tried to make sense of what was eating Macy, I realized just how many times over the years that I have seen relationships sour after events just like this have occurred.

I have especially seen this occur in school, sport and church related situations. There are so many reasons why this happens. One big reason is that people should take a moment to think over a project before they decide to get involved. I know sometimes that we feel pressured to say yes when we really should say no. Sometimes, the church, school, or club is desperate for volunteers and they do try strong arm tactics. Other times, it can be because someone is a so-called people pleaser. Those sorts of folks feel they have to say yes or the person will be mad at them.

Whatever the reason is, it is ultimately our responsibility to complete that task if we have already said yes. I don't think it is virtue either to whine about it afterwards. Even if we wished we had said no, we should try to be mature about the whole thing and complete our task in a gracious way. That means serving with purpose and love.

In the future, maybe there is a lesson to learn. Such as, if it is not something that you can do or it is not a good time in your life to do it, then it is okay to say no. Say it as graciously as possible. Don't say yes if you already have a full plate of activities and do not say yes because you are on some kind of ego trip.

Also, realize anything you do will impinge upon your family. I don't struggle with this problem because I always tell people that I need to pray about it and go to my husband before I say yes to any activity. I believe this is a godly approach but, it also serves to slow me down so that I will more likely act with wisdom. There have been cases where my husband has foreseen a problem that I had not. So, get some advice on the matter.

Working together so closely, Macy and Judith got on each other's nerves apparently. No one works or acts exactly as we do and when we are thrown together on a project this is highlighted. Then, there are political differences which are tearing the fabric of society apart. Yet, three things stand out to me. 1. An old friendship is worth preserving. 2. Keeping the goal of helping the food pantry recipients in mind is important. 3. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people- Ephesians 6:7. 

P.S. Westchester County, New York got hit with tropical storm Isaias. My electrical power was out for six hours. Macy also had no electricity. Besides the widespread power outages, there was damage to some property, downed trees and huge amounts of debris to cleanup in my vicinity and because of all this my lunch plans got canceled with Macy.

Macy reported that the chocolate bars that Judith made for the food pantry were wonderful. Isn't that important?

* the names have been changed but the story is true.

Healing Mother & Me

Lisa* called me for the umpteenth time today crying about her mother Sabine*. Add today to all the times over the years that she has called me in the same predicament and I would say she has a problem.

Lisa had a very rough childhood. From what she told me she had been adopted from an orphanage in China. She told me that she still remembers it. She was not the youngest to be adopted so she was old enough to remember images which haunt her in the night.

She was adopted, by her account, "by a stern and cold woman who used me as a servant throughout my childhood." It was heart-breaking to think this could be true! From what she has told me, she felt different from the other children at the schools that she attended and was pretty much a loner.

It was a dream of hers to go to nursing school with one of her goals being the profession that she felt suited for and the other to gain independence from her mother's control. I have never heard a nurse so compassionate about her patients as Lisa is. She truly cares about them and has not developed the calloused bedside manner that I often see.

When she met Chris* is was love at first sight. He was a warm, extroverted and nurturing man. In him, Lisa saw everything she was not and she felt the connection that she had always craved. Chris was the real deal too, not some phony. Chris was a committed Christian man who had given himself to the Lord at an early age and served at his church whenever he could.

Sabine did not approve of Chris from the beginning and gave Lisa a hard time when they decided to get engaged. She let up a little after the wedding and things seemed to be going okay for a while after their honeymoon. Lisa and Chris found a lovely apartment close to her job and close to the community in which she had grown up in and where her parents still lived in Westchester County, New York.

Lisa was madly in love with Chris. Every day was a joy for her and she couldn't wait to get home and spend time with him. Every day seemed brighter for her. And, as far as I am concerned, no one deserved it more than Lisa. Lisa was a giver, and it was nice to see her receiving in equal measure the love that she gave. She finally had someone on her side and this made her feel a little less weak in the knees with everything having to do with her mother.

In a short time, Lisa became pregnant and they had a baby girl whom they named Elizabeth.* Pretty quickly after that they had their second daughter Margot.*  It was then that the problems arrived. Lisa's father became ill, her eldest daughter Elizabeth showed some signs of a learning disability and her husband's sales commissions started to dry up.

It was decided by her mother that Lisa needed to move home. Chris had to agree and was grateful that Sabine made the offer. Little did he really understand that it wasn't an offer for his approval but an order! I don't know why it creeped me out so much that they had to take up residence in her parents basement. The large, never remodeled, mid-century modern paneled basement was dark and dank to me. It was nothing like the well-lighted and airy upstairs quarters where her parents lived.

I met Lisa at a local church affiliated book club. She was so sweet and sensitive as she executed many a deep dive into our seasonal literary picks. Her insights were interesting and well-thought out. I admired her comments and I wanted to talk more about them so I invited her to coffee. From there we pretty quickly struck up a friendship and arranged weekly get-togethers. Over the years, we enjoyed the time that we had together when our kids were at school and we could relax with some coffee, and talk over life.

As I got closer to Lisa, I realized how strange her relationship with her mother appeared to be. She could be one way with me and then in one second turn to a quivering mess when her mother was there in person, on the phone, or texting. She seemed to have a default setting of child / servant. I didn't see any way that I could easily bring this up to her. She seemed very guarded on this topic until one day when I happened to be visiting and she got some bad news from the doctor about Elizabeth.

She was having allergy and infection issues which seem to point to living conditions in her basement apartment. Suddenly, this mother lion rose up to defend her little cub. I had never seen her so assertive. She realized her living situation needed to change for her daughter's sake. She told me that she doesn't know how she could financially manage it at this point but that she and her family had to move out!

When Chris heard the doctors report he agreed that they had to move too. After dinner and when the children were tucked into bed, Chris stated the news to Sabine. Sabine went berserk. How could you do this to Papa, he is sick and I need help. Chris told Sabine that they were not abandoning Papa and they would be close-by to pitch in. He also told her that they needed to take care of Elizabeths' health needs as well.

This was what Lisa was calling me crying about. She told me that her mother made her feel awful. Her mother asked them to leave her upstairs apartment and has given them the cold shoulder all week. She was at the end of her rope. She told me she never wanted to see her mother again. Furthermore, she didn't feel that her mother deserved any better. Lisa, had bottled a lot up over the years and now she had reached her breaking point.

I have to admit that this is one of the rare times that I had nothing to say. What could I say? Lisa was right about her mother. Indeed, from what I had seen, Sabine didn't deserved this lovely family. In addition, it was the first time that I had ever heard Lisa vent her anger against her mother. I thought that she just needed me to listen and give her a safe format to do that in. The hero of the story ended up to be Chris. Ever patient, and slow to anger in general, he put the breaks on Lisa's plans to cut her mother out of their lives.

He told Lisa he understood why she was so angry. He reminded her that the Bible says to "anger and sin not." He told her that it's okay to vent her anger but don't let her anger stir her to sin. He reminded her that God has told us to "honor our father and mother," and not just when it was convenient. If she chose to reject her mother she would be stepping into sin. He also told her that he was grateful that while not being the best of mothers that her situation was far better than her orphanage had been. He was also personally grateful for all Sabine had done to help them save money while he was experiencing the loss of commissions.

The story ended with Sabine apologizing and asking the family to move upstairs. Most surprising of all, Sabine announced she would try to do better. They chose to accept that offer. From that day on, Sabine and Lisa have taken a small but significant step forward in their relationship. That step I call, Healing Mother and Me. 

* the names have been changed to protect identity.

Forgiving Yourself

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to forgive yourself. Why is it that we have so much trouble understanding our human nature and then reconciling with the truth of its' frailty? If we did we could begin to forge a path toward forgiving ourselves. We are not perfect and we will make mistakes. All of us! "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(Romans 3:23), or "all our righteousness (good deeds) are as filthy rags"(Isaiah 64:6). Ouch! These verses, if reflected upon, can surely help us to gain some insight. Yet, we suffer painfully when we fail to achieve the greatness that we supposed that we were capable of. Was Eve reaching for a little greatness when she ate the fruit? Are we in essence grabbing for that same fruit?

Living in Westchester County, New York has given me a front seat to the world of perfectionism. It's like I am watching a movie. In this movie, all the themes of what happens when you seek perfection are constantly played for me as in a loop. I see people killing themselves to achieve greatness in their careers, with their children, church, house or car only to be disappointed. Shall I go on? You know that I will. Perfectionism in clothing, in weight, home decor, children's summer camps and on vacations!

Here is the truth of life. The promotion sometimes goes to someone else. What if It turns out that you really should have listened to your parents because you can't afford to buy that car. Now it has to be repossessed. I am seeing a lot of foreclosures in New York. I have known several people who made unwise decisions when buying a house. They really didn't have enough money to finance it, but they had to have the perfect home with lots of room and all the amenities. If every thing went perfectly it wouldn't be a problem. No one would lose their job or get sick, right? Guess what happened next?

What about Haruki*and Whitney*? Haruki and Whitney were both at the top of their class at Yale. A major part of their life had been devoted to preparing their children to follow in their footsteps. And it looked like they were on their way to achieving that goal until they had a car wreck which appeared to be their fault. Their son was with them that day and although they had only minor injuries, their son might never be the same. They sank into a cycle of recriminations and depression. They feel responsible and can not forgive themselves.

What about the deep shame that a suicide brings? I should have seen it coming. I should have helped or done more. Often we punish ourselves and unconsciously decide that we will never be happy again. We think that somehow this is some crazy justice for our part in the situation. We think we deserve to be miserable. But, is that what God wants for us?

The list of things that we don't forgive ourselves for is huge. I was a bad wife, daughter or mother. That divorce, that infidelity. I never succeeded in my career. My drugs, my alcohol problems. The pain that I caused. That car crash, that accident. That slip of the scalpel! Oh Jesus, Lord and Savior, please help us with the burdens of life. We can not do this alone.

First, we need to understand that regardless of the Frank Sinatra song which says that "regrets I have a few, but then again to few to mention" we all have regrets in what we have done or what we have failed to do. Usually they are more than a few and they pile up because we fail to deal with them as they happen. We may also do as the song suggests and not mention those past regrets. Unfortunately, if we do not then it may only help that wound of ours to fester. You might guess that I don't always agree with that saying, "time heals all wounds." Alone time usually doesn't heal our unforgiveness.

What can we do about it then? The first step toward forgiving ourself is finding someone to talk over our problems with. It is important to be open to finding a new way to look at the problem. A mature Christian or someone who has been through what you have been through would be a good choice to begin to share your story with. It is not good to be alone with your pain. Left alone with unforgiveness towards ourselves we often turn to obsessing about it. We think about our pain all the time and level the same guilty accusations at ourselves over and over. Then we naturally feel anger at ourselves, this distracts us from things that we should be focusing on in our daily life. We find ourselves unproductive. We can not concentrate, and this eventually leads us to anxiety, depression, or various illnesses.

When we speak to somebody about our guilt, it is important to keep an open mind and heart. It won't be easy to hear what someone else thinks about the way that we have handled our life. It will not be any easier to recount our trauma to others but, it is part of de-sensitizing us to the situation. It has been helpful for me to make a list from time to time recounting things that I need to confess to God and then to forgive myself about.

Some topics of discussion include questions such as: What happened? What was I thinking? Did I or did I not act with malice? Today, would I resolve to do things differently? Is it time to be at peace because accidents are part of the nature of life? Can I help others in the future with my experiences and if so how would I? Think of questions and things you need to explore as you get ready to make peace with God and yourself.

Scripture text to reflect upon: Matthew 26: 69-75
"Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, this fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again, he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly."

Conclusion: Explore this story and what it says about the frailty of human nature. It is my story. It is your story. That Peter who was destined for great spiritual things could deny Jesus like he did is pivotal. This man, who Jesus groomed for leadership, cursed and swore a false oath. How did he forgive himself? What if he  hadn't? Remember that Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times. Peter saved his own life by denying that he even knew Jesus. Yet Jesus already knew that he would do this before it happened. He even called him a "rock" in spite of it. He loved and forgave him on the Cross of Calvary. Jesus says the same to you at this moment or at another moment when you need to forgive yourself. You can forgive yourself, put your life back together and serve God as Peter did. So, to answer an earlier question that I posed in this blog post, no, God does not want you to be miserable! 

* the story is true but I changed the name for privacy sake.

Patriotism & Faith

Is it okay to be patriotic and still call yourself a Christian? There seems to be some controversy surrounding this topic. Historically, there was a loyalty heirarchy. It was God first, country and then family. That God is our first loyalty is biblically referenced in the following passage: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you- Matthew 6:33. The meaning behind this is clear. With God as the center of our life, things begin to fall into place.

But has that ever been good enough for us? It should be, but history tells us the answer is no. Starting in the Bible early on we see how Adam and Eve had a personal relationship with God and sought to overturn that because they wanted more, the knowledge of the tree of good and evil. Then we have the nation of Israel who had God as their king but wanted a man to lead them instead.

Fast forward to today. We could put God in charge of our life and therefore by extension our career, family and communities. Instead, we put our faith in other things. But, back to patriotism, where does that fall in? With God as our center, we have wisdom in marriage and we raise our children in the fear and reverence of God. We naturally want our laws and elected representatives to reflect the eternal truths that we have come to learn.

We are proud of what our communities and nation come to represent. Proud in a healthy way. We have hope for the future and feel safe and secure in our environment. Placing Jesus at the center of our life also means that we understand the sin nature of mankind and we don't look for worldly perfection. The Judeo-Christian ethic gives a realistic view of the sinful nature of our hearts.

That is what lead the founding fathers of the United States to write the constitution and set up the type of government that they did. It was full of amazing checks and balances to ensure that we would have a good chance of thwarting the evil inherent in political structure and in our hearts. Being thoroughly grounded in the Bible guided them as political leaders and they mirrored that ethos in legislation and in judicial matters. That we would want to preserve and protect such a nation is at the heart of a healthy patriotism. This is not at all adversarial to faith.

However, what people erroneously fear, as regards patriotism, and wish to stamp out began in Europe following World War II. Two huge multi-national conflagrations had devastating consequences and it was concluded by people of the so-called upper echelons of society that this was due to national boundaries and allegiances.

The move toward globalism was now In full swing. That left patriotism in the dust and its' reputation sullied. But is patriotism really the enemy? I think not. Look at the United Nations, a global organization. It is one of the most corrupt bodies ever in existence. Even as we tend toward globalism has this made us the one big, happy family that we desire?

No, it has not and it will not. Even reality television shows know that when they put 10 or 12 people together in a house or on a deserted island they will naturally form alliances and mess with one another for selfish gain. The godly mandate to love one another as God has loved us is a virtue. However, the many checks and balances that nations exert upon one another may do more to keep each other on the right track than we think.

Criminals have often taken advantage of weak points in a nations boundaries to slip through and sell drugs, or even worse. Groups will naturally form to take advantage of others based on circumstances, ex, criminal groups in New York during Black Lives Matter protests. Many people have seen first hand what a big happy family that we really are when you start cutting police units and budgets. There starts to be an increase in looting, vandalism, assaults and murders.

It is natural to form nation states with spiritually and culturally aligned peoples. But, what will be the end result of the call for open boarders and the decrying of nationalism? A world gorvernment will have to form. The larger a government entity the larger the corruption and factions. I love the way the founding fathers did it in the United States. They created the federal government and the state system. There is unity but it also allows for difference in the ways that the states can operate. However, It is important to remember that all of this originally worked because the nation declared itself to be one nation under God. That was the spiritual alignment that was the lynchpin holding it all together.

If the world joins together in some sort of new world order, what will the spiritual basis of that be? It will not be a united group. So even if we tried to create a world order based upon a system of nation states and an overriding world body similar to the U.S. model it won't be one world under God. Under God is what it takes to achieve those results that we crave. So, in the meantime, we have got to be more godly and more concerned with the spiritual truths outlined in the Bible than we ever have been before.

And He shall judge among the nations, and rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.- Isaiah 2:4 

More than half a century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia. "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened." Since then I have spent well-nigh 50 years working on the history of our revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and have already contributed 8 volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous Revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened."
-Alexander Solzhenitsyn's 1983 Templeton Address

Everyday Concerns

Even as catacyclismic events shake our world, the ordinary things of life intrude. Such was the case with Melissa* and Jim*. With everything else on their plates these past three miserable months, they have had to deal with marital issues too. The problem is, they haven't. Instead of growing closer during lockdown, they have grown further apart. Instead of facing problems, they ignored them. Lockdown has put them in close proximity and it hasn't been good.

As a result, all the issues that they have managed to ignore when they spent half the day apart have been magnified. What bad habits does Jim have that Melissa managed to ignore when she threw herself into her daily grind? How will Jim cope when he can't use his ringing work phone as an excuse to hang up when they disagree? Yup, Jim and Melissa's marital woes are front and center now.

I want to emphasize that Melissa and Jim are not facing anything new, but the virus situation has forced them to look at things they had been avoiding for a long time. Things that emerged when they first got married and have been swept under the carpet ever since. Jim is a super messy guy. Everywhere he goes you see it: his house, his office, his car. Melissa likes a place for everything and everything in its place. Jim is a casual guy. He would rather wear jeans, flannel shirts and sneakers. Melissa claims he can be unkempt and that he wouldn't even cut his nails if she didn't force him. Jim thinks Melissa is too clingy and emotional. Melissa claims Jim isn't emotionally available to her.

What about Jorge*? Single and under lockdown he has grown depressed. He is drinking alcohol to excess. It seems that family and  people whom he thought were his friends have not been there for him. He understood that everyone kind of went into a cocoon and isolated, but it left him lonely and questioning just who he could count on. On top of all that, Jorge who has been able to work from home, began hearing rumors circulate that there will be some layoffs at his firm this fall. He thinks he might lose his job.

As Jorge grew scruffier and scruffier in his appearance some parents began to look askance at him when he put out his garbage in boxers and an undershirt. I wonder how he showed up to his office Zoom meetings? Heaven only knows this is not the way to gain friends and maintain employment. Jorge is also reading everything about COVID-19 that he can. He has taken to predicting the probability of virus resurgence and obsessing over the business ramifications. Too bad he is not qualified to get a job doing that. He might even make better models than some of the scientists and economists have been making.

As things have started to open up and life has cautiously begun to resume, will Melissa, Jim and Jorge make changes to their lives with some of the things they have learned during lockdown? I hope so. Or, will they just push uncomfortable feelings back beneath the surface like some terrible game of whack-a-mole? The choice is theirs to make.

People are talking about the good things that have come out of lockdown, but can they face some of the difficult truths about themselves and their lives that have emerged too? I think we should all do that. Is there something that may have to change in our lives? In our marriage, friendship, finances or job? Are we facing the specter of financial reversal? I certainly hope not, but we all should prepare for uncertain times.

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about Joseph in the Bible. The Joseph who got sold into slavery by his brothers. He got dragged kicking and screaming down a road he wished he was not on. What lead up to that? We know there was jealousy and hard feelings. Family problems that perhaps were sweep under the carpet and not addressed? Joseph probably had to deal with feelings of depression and anger over the years. He was rejected by those that he thought he could trust in a cruel and terrible way.

It is difficult to think of the horrendous things that surely happened to Joseph under slavery. The bitterness of his situation could have taken Joseph on a completely different path than the one he took. I am hoping that we will start to be the strong men and women of God that we ought to be. We need to take the Joseph route just about now. He faced the truth about his life, then forgave and even prospered in his situation.

How did he do that? How can we do that? The answer is we have to humble ourselves and seek God. More than ever we have to get real and get God. The craziness that I see around me every single day convinces me of that. We all must take a stand for virtue at this moment in history. We have to be very certain that we are doing godly things and not working against those standards. The stakes are quite high for our own lives and in the fate of this world.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land. -2 Chronicles 7:14.
* the names are changed to protect privacy.

Conversations about George Floyd

Sami* called me last week and was looking for some encouragement concerning the looting and anarchy that has exploded since the death of George Floyd. She seemed very sad, and confused concerning the unfolding events. She was concerned for the future of our country. Another friend Renee* had worked very hard to start a business in New York City only to have the double blow of coronavirus and George Floyd riots put her in financial free-fall. She is devastated.

If I were to characterize both women's achievements I would be amiss if I did not mention that each of them had come to the forefront to take financial responsibility for their families after catastrophic events. Sami worked two jobs to take care of her husband and young children when her husband's business failed. The ensuing depression he felt left him unable to resume business as usual. Sami was like super woman during that time.

Renee had taken over her family business and the raising of her teenage brother when her parents had a serious automobile accident. She was barely seventeen years old at the time. Always the responsible one, she has never stopped working ever since. Her beauty salon was a long time dream in the making. She had saved and planned for five years to make it happen. It was awful to see how a mob of people ended all that. They broke in and stole hair products, dryers, paintings on the wall and then took a hammer to the place. James 3:18- Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Each friend asked me for spiritual guidance. The frank conversations that I had with Sami and Renee helped me clarify my own thoughts on this matter. For me, all serious discussions have to begin with an examination of biblical principles. The bible describes itself as useful towards discernment in life matters. So, it is vitality important to seek true wisdom from it during times of moral dilemma. The Bible acts as the sieve in which we can place life issues to see if they shake out. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)- "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."

It also tells us that what we believe is written in our thoughts, words and deeds each day. Jesus made this clear when he told us, that we can know people by their fruit. What is their fruit like? Is the fruit good or is it rotten? Matthew 7:15 (NIV)- "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheeps's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will rocognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushs or figs from thistles?" These are the various guideposts that we use to help us on our way toward moral clarity.

It is from this point of view that we are ready to examine the George Floyd event. We will start by looking at some of the facts of the story. A black man under arrest for passing counterfeit bills was killed by a white police officer. It appears that the man arrested and the arresting officer may have worked with one another in the past. The arrested man, George Floyd, was a career criminal with a lengthy rap sheet who was high on drugs at the time of his arrest. The police officer is under arrest and being investigated to ascertain what occurred. He will be considered innocent until given a trial to ascertain his guilt or innocence as prescribed by the laws of the United States,

Now fast forward past that arrest and subsequent death of George Floyd to what is going on now. What you will see, is robbery, assaults, and anarchy on a massive scale. You also see grandiose political motives being unveiled with poorly thought out reasoning. This is all the fruit that Jesus was talking about.

In the above passage from the book of Matthew it describes false prophets who look like they are sweet little sheep but are very far from that. This passage makes it clear by the word prophet that we are sure to run into those who would like to lead us. The word prophet also connotes the fact that they will try to effect some sort of moral authority as they lead us.

Don't we see all of that happening now? The Lord helps us to understand that we must always look closely at a situation before we take a stand (look at the fruit). It is important to take a close look at individuals, groups and movements before we decide to join them. It may seem like there is only one answer to every problem, especially when people are shoving these ideas down your throat on news and social media 24/7. Not to mention all your favorite sports  and Hollywood legends going along too.

However, just because everyone is doing it, doesn't make something right. Humanity has been down that road one too many times before. I happened to be reading a good historical novel set in the former Soviet Union when these George Floyd protests began. This book reminded me how Joseph Stalin, the communist dictator, used the death of Sergei Kirov as a justification to repress and promote his agenda and to kill or imprison those who he thought were his enemies. Then there is the famous story of Adolf Hitler who created a false political drama to help him win an election that he would not have won otherwise. These, and many other historical stories have flooded my mind lately. The stories seem to bare a striking resemblance to events going on right now. God imbued us with intelligence and an ability to reason, not follow foolish people that go against godly precepts.

Some godly principles are being shoved underneath the carpet. Here is one of them, the concept of factions or divisions among people. While I can write much on this topic, let me give you two bible verses to think about. One comes from 1 Corinthians 3:3- For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? The answer is: yes. The question is: doesn't that bible verse sound just like the accounts of the protests that I see and read about every day? This Bible verse subtlety points out that this is less than the standard that God has laid out for us. Divisions don't represent the fruit of a mature believer in God almighty. In fact just the opposite. However, Paul the Apostle goes out of his way to let us know that we can learn something from it all. 1 Corinthians 11:19- No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval.

Wow, that amazing verse is again a reminder that God wants us to have discernment in life matters. Does the means justify the ends in Christianity? No. The means is the end in Christianity. Jesus said, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart"-Matthew 5:28. What does this mean and how does it relate to George Floyd? When we lust after those foot locker sneakers, what a person has, or that person's spouse, we have already begun the sin process. We have made a way for sin to proceed. We must have a vision of life the way it should be lived in order to be the person that we should be and have a happy community. That vision can only be found in God. Isn't it important to know that we have a Father in heaven who does not see divisions of sex or color? Instead, the only division he sees is between righteous and unrighteousness. It is up to us which of those two that we wish to be. Visualize this: Psalm 133:1- Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity!


* the names have been changed to protect privacy but the story is true.