Another parent tries to kill their child and then says God told them to do it.

It has happened again. A man tried to kill his son and then told people that God told him to do it.  I am glad that in this case the man failed, but the boy will probably still be scarred for life.  There have been a number of these types of things happening  these past few years.

I believe that when this happens, then one of 3 things is happening.  The first possibility could be that the person has mental problems and needs help.  The 2nd possibility is that the person is just a cold blooded killer and needs to have a fair trial followed by the appropriate punishment.  The 3rd possibility is that the person was led by some Spiritual Force to do such things.

The 3rd possibility leads us to another question.  What Spiritual Force could be doing this?  Could God really be doing this?

 I believe that there are demonic spiritual beings that masquerade as messengers of God that will try to influence us to do evil things.  If this is true, then how do we know if it is of God or from these demons.  For me the answer to this gets complicated to explain, but here goes.

As someone who grew as a Baptist and was a Deacon and small group teacher in the congregation, I know of a lot of Bible verses that command us not do such things.  The problem that I have with just quoting a number of these verses is that there are also 2 exceptions.  The first exception, is Abraham and the second is Jephthah.  A lot of us are familiar with the story of Abraham and Isaac.  Pastors and teachers love to teach that story because it fits nicely with our views of God.  Very few people know the story of Jephthah, because it is a hard story that challenges our view of God.

This story is found in the book of Judges chapters 10 & 11.  Jephthah is the illegitimate son of a man named Gilead and a prostitute.  Gilead was a married man and when his other sons grew up they drove Jephthah out of the house and Jephthah became a leader of a group of lawless men.

When the Ammonites were attacking the hometown, the leaders of Jephthah's hometown came and asked him to lead their army.  Jephthah agreed to do this and then asked God for help and promised God to sacrifice the first thing that come out of his house when he got home.  God gave him the victory and when Jephthah got home his only daughter who was a virgin was the first to come out to meet him.  This floored Jephthah, but he told his daughter his vow and she agreed to it but first wanted to spend a couple of months out with her friends.  She did this and come back as a virgin to be sacrificed.

So how can we know whether or not the same thing is happening today?  I believe that there are 2 differences between these Biblical exceptions and to what is going on today.  The first thing that in both exceptions, everyone walked away praising God and that is not happening here.


The 2nd thing has to do with relationship.  This is not much different from the relationships that we have here.  Most of us have gotten messages that want us to click on a certain link & those messages claim to be from our friends, but our relationship with those friends tells us that they would not send that link to us.  The same is true with someone who has a relationship with God and is living within the mindful presence of God.  We know that this is not coming from Him.

Personally, the only one of these possible reasons that I think might excuse the person is if they have  physical or mental problems and need treatment for these conditions.

What is sinful to you may not be for me and vice versa.

It is commonly taught that there is one chart of what is sin and that covers everyone.  Now sin is a "spiritual" word that just means wrong, and I believe that there are certain behaviors that are wrong for anyone to commit.  But, what if there are certain things that are wrong for some people but not for others.  As I have gotten older, I have come to believe that this is the case.

Two of the many examples that I believe that fall into this category are drinking and dancing.  I have grown up hearing that it is wrong to drink; however by the time that I was in High School, I knew that Jesus drank alcoholic beverages.  Since Jesus committed no sin (that is wrongs), then his drinking must not have been wrong.  If drinking was not wrong for Jesus, then it must not be wrong for us either.  Also, Jesus made mention that He will be drinking wine with his believers in the coming Kingdom with this statement,"NLT©  Matthew 26:29 Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”


So if it is ok to drink then why would it ever be wrong and why have so many preachers given sermons against it?  I think that the answer to this question to this question is obvious when you think about people with drinking problems such as alcoholics and abusive drinkers.  I think that everyone can agree that it would be wrong for people with conditions like these to drink.  Also, if  our drinking  would cause them to drink then it would be wrong for us to drink around them.  Also, it seems to me that a lot of people who have grown up around people who had  drinking problems, think that everyone who drinks will react the same way that the abusive drinker did.  So, if we really love these people we will not drink around them, because of the way they would perceive our actions.  Now there are certain people such as myself that have made a conscience decision not to drink and that would be different.  As I have stated before, my decision to not drink at this time has more to do with knowledge that alcoholism runs in my family and that may put me at risk.  The fact that other people drink does not bother me so it is ok to drink around me.  Heck, I could be the designated driver if needed.  


Dancing also can affect people in a similar way.  If you think that you should go to bed with everyone that you might dance with, then you really should not dance.  However, I believe that is ok and even good to dance.  The Bible evens says that there is a time to dance and to praise God with dancing.  


So, I think that the right or wrong of a lot of our actions comes down to this:  How does it affect us and how will it affect others.  No matter what, if we are letting God love us and we are also loving others then, we will make the right choice in these so called "gray areas" of life.

The Good and The Bad, Pedestals & Grace

As usual, this post does not come from a "think tank" of philosophical debate that occurs within the ivory towers of Seminarian Castles, but are my observations of lives lived out (that is what I also call sidewalk theology).

As I think about seeing the whole person, I come to the place of how that relates to a couple of other issues,  the first being pedestals.  I have noticed that when someone only sees the good in another person, then that other person is already placed on a pedestal and is worshiped without either one realizing it.  It seems to me that the same thing also happens when someone only sees the bad in themselves.  In that case, it seems that others are then placed on a pedestal and worshiped without either party realizing it.

Also, it appears to me that when someone only sees the bad in another person, then they have placed themselves on a pedestal above that other person and without realizing it, seek worship.  The same effect seems to happen when someone only sees and promotes the good about themselves.  I mean that when someone only acknowledges the good about themselves, then they are putting themselves on a pedestal above others to be worshiped.

I have seen a real danger of people coming out of Seminaries and exploiting the bad of people to the point where those same people only see the bad of themselves and at the same time, the Seminary graduate is promoting the good about themselves.   I have seen this played out to where the Seminary graduate becomes a "Jim Jones" type figure among these people.

From what I have seen, people who sees and acknowledges that everyone including themselves are both good and bad, then they are able to see everyone on an equal plane and not on pedestals.  I am not saying that everyone is 50/50 on being good and bad, but that everyone has done some good things and everyone has done bad things to some degree.

I think that this is also vital in how we extend grace to others.  It seems to me that when believers in God see life this way and that it is God who is changing us from within, when those believers are free to extend grace to other believers and to realize that God is also changing those other believers from the inside also.

WWII vet and a molester.

In a way it is funny how we can only look at one side of a person.  We can only see a person as all good or all bad.  I think that is the reason that we see so many smear campaigns going on today.  If we can be made to believe something bad about an individual, then we cannot recognize anything good in their life.

I know a man who now resides in a nursing home here in Mesquite, who is not of sound mind at this time and who is an extreme case of this phenomenon.  In WWII, he was the photographer in an advance plane that was sent out ahead of bombing runs to take pictures of bombing targets and bring them back so the bombers would know what to take out.  A Vet. that defended our country and so to many a hero.  These people cannot admit that he has done any wrong.  

Later in his life he became known as an alleged molester who molested an unknown number of young ladies (teenagers and older).  He did this while being a Deacon and a Sunday School teacher of kids.  So to others he is an evil person, and these people cannot admit that he has done any good.

So while I believe that he should have been arrested, trialed,  and executed for these crimes, I also think that he should be recognized like all WWII vets as a hero.  To only see one side of this person or any other,  makes a two dimensional caricature of them.  So I think that we need to see both the good and the bad and know that both exists to some degree in all of us.

I have not even gotten into the belief that as a Christian, the wrong doings have been paid for and that person will be rewarded in their future life for the good that was done here.  So, for this man as well as many others:  Thank you and have a great Memorial Day. 

Some thoughts on the end of the world and rapture.

One of the top stories, if not the top story of this week has been the prediction of the rapture that was supposed to happen today.  The thing that has amazed me most about this story is that I do not know of anyone asking "what is the rapture".  I also have taken notice the answers that people have given refuting this man's claim and have been very impressed.

If you do not know, the word rapture comes from the Latin Vulgate translation of 1 Thessalonians 4:17.  The Latin word "rapiemur" is translated into the English word rapture.  Most English translations translate from the Greek ἁρπάζω into the English phrase, "snatched up or gather up".  There are different ways of interpreting  this into an end time belief system and I will not get into that here.

One thing that concerns me about these types of statements is that people tend to submerge themselves into this line of theological philosophies in place of loving others.  These arguments are used to try to manipulate and scare people into Heaven.  Not only does the Bible say that the main thing is to love others, common sense also teaches us that same thing.  

Suppose you are single and that I know the perfect match for you.  Should I try to manipulate and scare you into meeting the other person; or should I approach you out of love, telling you how the other person is the perfect match for you.  You see there is a difference between forming a relationship and manipulating someone into saying an incantation that we call the "sinner's prayer".  People who promote events like the one that was supposed to happen today are caught up in manipulation and there is not any love coming through.

I remember a Bible verse saying that "these three remain, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love".  

The Alumni Luncheons as a picture of Heaven

NET© 8:11 I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet  with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob  in the kingdom of heaven




What will Heaven be like?  That is a question that is asked often.  Jesus would often compare Heaven to a big banquet or meal that is similar to the bi-monthly luncheons that our High School Alumni have.  


Just think of that luncheon that we had today.  When we got there, we met each other with hugs and handshakes.  We said Hi and started sharing and listening to each other about things that were going on in our lives.  We were happy to see each and every person there.   Some, who were there are going through some tough times in their lives and the rest wanted to share that burden with them and to let them know that they are loved.  There were some there that are going through some good times and the rest wanted to rejoice with them and to let them know that they were also loved.  We all left looking forward to being with our friends again.


Jesus said that is what Heave is like.  While some picture Heaven as a place were we listen to sermons that not only seemed like they went on forever, but actually do.  That is not what Jesus said.  Others picture Heaven as a place where we all sit on clouds and play harps, but again that is not what Jesus said.  Jesus compared it to celebratory meals and parties. Can you picture God being there hanging out with the alumni today?   Can you imagine God wanting to party with us?  I can and do.

Is it wrong for believers to celebrate Mother's Day?

I know that Mother's Day can be a painful time for women who want to have kids, but are not able to do so.  It also can be painful for mothers who have kids that have basically disowned them, as well as people whose mother was abusive and/or abandoned them.  So if we really love these people, should we set aside a special day to honor mothers and cause hurt among these people.  That is a question that church leadership either wrestles with every year or totally ignores.

I first started thinking about this during my last few years at Wildwood when a certain Seminary graduate basically said that since she couldn't have kids to honor her, then it was wrong for church to have Mother's Day services because this offended her.  Even though I still believe that her claims were self serving, I saw that she was saying something that others also felt but did not speak up out of love for the congregation.  So, I see two sides to this with neither side being wrong.  So, my problem was, what do you do.
We know that is not wrong to celebrate mothers after reading Proverbs 31:28 which says this:   "Her children rise up   and call her blessed, her husband   also praises her".


I think that we should use both Mother's day as well as Father's Day to honor those people who have been there loving us and guiding us regardless if they are our biological parents or not.  If our own kids have turned against us or if we cannot have kids, we can still be there for others and love them just as we would our own.  We also need to make the celebration of those who have shown the parental love for us (C. S. Lewis calls this type of love "storge" and can be shown to us by anyone)  personable and try not to make those who are weak to hurt and to push them away from God.