When "What's Best" is Bad

WOLBI Students are going to be able to tell where I am in my OT reading by this (and you should be much farther!) but Isaiah 30 impacted my life today.

Isa. 30:1-2 paints a picture of God's people, Israel, as absolutely rebellious and in an out-of-control, downward moral spiral multiplying sin upon sin. Pretty ugly, huh?! What was so bad to call for such a scathing accusation? They took counsel (mentioned again in vv. 9-11) and sought help from others (Egypt in this case), not God.

Throughout Scripture we are giving many examples of this same accusation. Abraham despite God's powerful promise (Gen. 12, 17, 22) tried repeatedly to intervene and 'help' God (offering Eleazer and Ishmael as his heir and fulfillment of God's promise!). Moses struck a rock the second time and it cost him the promised land, Uzziah lost his life as the wrong man carrying God's Ark in the wrong way, and Elimelech pays with his life for trusting Moab rather than God's 'house of bread'-Bethlehem in time of famine.

Jeremiah 17:5 says, "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord."

How common is it for us to do the same? We say, "I know God's Word says...but I  really 'feel' that this is what God wants me to do." Or, "But everyone I talked to has told me that I should do this." How often do we run to others to bail us out of physical, emotional, financial, or social trouble instead of the God of the universe?

The alternative is given to us in verse 15 of Isaiah chapter 30 - returning to and resting in God. Doesn't John 15:5 say the same, "...without me (Jesus) ye can do nothing."

What are you trusting in today? On what are you basing life decisions? Only God and His Word provides the reliable, secure, and blessed resources for life on Earth.

Let's run to God to do things His way, in His time, by His counsel as we seek His counsel in His Word.
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." Jer. 17:7

Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays Rant part 2

I know the whole Nick & Jessica thing is so "2000's" but Ben Stein makes a good point about the "Merry Christmas" debate.

Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart:

I have no ...clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important? I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is, either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife.

Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are. Is this what it means to be no longer young. It's not so bad.

Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

 I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

posted from http://www.benstein.com/121805xmas.html

Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays Rant

The views expressed herein are the author's own. Please do not hold said content against his employer, wife, kids, extended family, friends, or past acquaintances.

Merry Christmas, Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays...people are offended by the well-wishing of this time of year. Is anyone else sick of the debate?
Should we really care about how people greet us in December?

People are offended by "Merry Christmas" because they are not Christian. Christians are up in arms when they hear "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings," believing that others are trying to take a Christ (that they don't believe in) out of Christmas! Really?!
As Christians, why should we expect people who do not share our faith to greet us in the way we desire?
As non-Christians, why should we expect people to not greet others according to their beliefs?

What annoys me about this whole offensive debate (because I am offended by everyone being offended!) are Christians going overboard and being un-Christian over the whole issue. Christ has called us to love, respect, speak the truth in love, and give an answer for the hope in us. Christians are called to share Christ, not force our culture to call itself Christian by demanding the world say "Merry Christmas." I am offended by Christians demanding to be greeted in their way of worship. Come on! Let's extend a little grace and not be offended by something so inconsequential. I am sure that God is not nearly as offended by people not saying "Merry Christmas" as by Christians who unlovingly demand others to conform to their desires for particular personal greetings. Are we so naive as to believe that the world is really going to be a better place if everyone just says, "Merry Christmas?" Wouldn't it be better for more believers in Christ to live like Christ and seek to share His message of love and hope? Does forcing the "Merry Christmas" issue really show people who Christ is and what He has done to save or does it drive unbelievers away from a fanatical, ungracious expression of Christianity?

On the other side of the issue, why are non-Christians so offended by someone saying "Merry Christmas?" I am totally open to some responses here but I've got to say that I have never felt intimidated, offended, or overly perturbed by others insisting on saying "Happy Holidays," "Season's Greetings," or even "Happy Hanuka" to me. Is it really a big deal? Can't we all just get along in the way we salute each other?

I'd say the bottom line of the issue is the very 'intolerance' that we are not supposed to tolerate in our mosaic Canadian and North American culture.
Seriously Christians, we need to relax and just live in obedience to God's commands and not make a commandment out of 'Thou shalt say, "Merry Christmas."'
Non-Christians, please be patient with me if I greet you with a "Merry Christmas." I'd be happy for you to let me know that you do not worship Christ and hear about what this season means to you.

May the best of the season be to each of you! 

Ward Ministry Update

Very excited to share this update! Students very graciously shared their hearts and appreciation for our ministry with us and we would like to pass on the blessing to all of you who pray and give financially to help us do what we do.

There will be more student comments posted over the next few weeks in regards to WOLBI staff, Discipleship, Chapels, and Life-Change at www.wolbilife.blogspot.com

Gratefully,

Christmas 2010 for Web