Recently Barack Obama came out with his official support of gay marriage. Which of course brought up a whole lot of discussion from a lot of different people about whether or not there should be gay marriage, what kind of restrictions there should be, and that sort of thing.
One of the boys at my church was listening to a talk-back radio program where the host was in favour of homosexual marriage. Lots of people phoned in over the course of the program with their opinions, and apparently, most were against. (I did not hear the program, I'm only repeating what my friend said).
The host then asked them if they had anything against gays living in de facto relationships. Most people then said no. The host then said that if they didn't have a problem with de factos they shouldn't have a problem with them getting married.
My friend agrees with this statement, and thinks that we should have higher standards than just being against gay marriage.
The thing is, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. If there wasn't a difference, then gays would not be fighting for them to have this "right". There is a difference in the way that you view your relationship, in the way that others view the relationship, in the way that the government taxes you, in the way that banks treat you.
There is a difference between marriage and de facto. Regardless of the genders of the people involved in it.
Showing posts with label issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label issues. Show all posts
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Monday, 6 February 2012
International Voice of the Orphan
Linny from A Place Called Simplicity is starting a ministry that will pray for, feed and support orphans in Africa! There are HEAPS of ways of getting involved - youc an donate craft items to sell, praying for a child, donating, or going as part of a mission team.
http://www.internationalvoiceoftheorphan.com/
Do check it out!
http://www.internationalvoiceoftheorphan.com/
Do check it out!
Saturday, 4 February 2012
By His Stripes We Are Healed
I attend a Pentecostal church. So everyone believes that miracles are still available for God’s people, most people speak in tongues (as in more than 95% of the congregation), and they all believe in diving healing.
Which makes me a little awkward. You see, I’m sick.
I’ve been sick all my life. Seriously, I sometimes joke that I had 7 near death experiences – and then I got born. Since being born, I’ve been hospitalised for asthma, had cancer, had chronic fatigue, every contagious childhood disease except mumps in spite of immunisation (whooping cough sucked), and a breast cancer scare. I’ve cut an artery. I apparently had 2 blood transfusions during my operation for cancer. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I had 3 allergic reactions, lost 10.5kg (going from 49kg to 38.5) in 3 days, and was hospitalised “dangerously dehydrated and malnourished”. (Joke: I’m never getting my wisdom teeth out again!)
Then I became a Christian.
Less than a year later I was hospitalised, initially with the doctors thinking that I had advanced meningitis, and that I was most likely going to die. Turns out it was “just” pneumonia. As can happen with pretty much anyone, and is more likely to happen with people who already have lung issues, I didn’t get properly better – my x-ray showed that I had lung damage, and that it was most likely to be permanent. So when I had asthma attacks all night I just chalked it up to pneumonia.
Eventually they got worse. They go so bad I was getting 3 hours of interrupted sleep a night – while working full time – for about 2 years. My iron levels plummeted, and I started having chest pains. After a barrage of medical tests I found out that dairy makes me stop breathing. I’ve probably always been mildly allergic to dairy, but having pneumonia really brought it out. Also turns out I’m coeliac, which is why my iron levels plummeted. I had to have an iron infusion after I collapsed and couldn’t walk for 3 hours. Try getting home by yourself when you can’t walk. Especially when there is a dead rat on the footpath. Not fun.
When I avoid all allergens, I am relatively healthy. But boy, does this cause issues.
Now, you see, I get the “Jesus died for our healing” every second week. He died so we could be fully healed of all of our diseases and live the victorious Christian life, without a day of sickness, etc, etc, etc.
Now, aside from the fact that I think that’s historically bogus, (St Paul appears to have had health issues, most likely with his eyes, and Timothy had stomach problems, and other great saints of the past have had a variety of health issues), quite frankly it annoys me.
Firstly, I AM HEALED. Jesus does not just heal people via miracles. Sometimes (often, these days) He uses doctors. It took several doctors to figure out what was wrong with me, and initially, I didn’t spend much time praying about it, because I just assumed that what I had would be easily figured out and fixed. As I said, it took about 2 years of doctors visits. But by the time of this specialist, I was spending a lot of time in prayer about this issue. Jesus healed me alright. He just used a doctor.
Secondly, my allergies do not bother me. They bother other people. I know them, I can cope with them just fine. But just because they bother you does not give you the right to tell me that I need to rely on the blood of Jesus to heal me of my diseases. And you definitely do not have to right to pray for me and then suggest that I go and drink a milkshake. Should you do so, I reserve the right to punch you repeatedly on the nose and then pray for your healing.
Thirdly, if you follow this argument theologically, you are going to run into trouble. What if I never get “healed” of my allergies? Does this mean I’m a bad Christian? Or a non-Christian? What about the people who prayed for me? Are they bad Christians, or non-Christians? What if they are leaders in our church?
And what happens when you get sick – really sick, not like a cold sick? What if you don’t get better in a few days, or weeks, or years, or ever? What if you are sick for the rest of your life? Will you still tell me that by His stripes we are healed, and that means that you aren’t really sick?
We are healed by Jesus. Sometimes that healing takes place physically in this life – sometimes even by miracle (and I have at least 2 miracle stories of my own, but I’m not sharing). But Jesus heals all who will come to Him of their greatest illness – the disease of sin, and that is the greatest miracle of all!
Which makes me a little awkward. You see, I’m sick.
I’ve been sick all my life. Seriously, I sometimes joke that I had 7 near death experiences – and then I got born. Since being born, I’ve been hospitalised for asthma, had cancer, had chronic fatigue, every contagious childhood disease except mumps in spite of immunisation (whooping cough sucked), and a breast cancer scare. I’ve cut an artery. I apparently had 2 blood transfusions during my operation for cancer. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I had 3 allergic reactions, lost 10.5kg (going from 49kg to 38.5) in 3 days, and was hospitalised “dangerously dehydrated and malnourished”. (Joke: I’m never getting my wisdom teeth out again!)
Then I became a Christian.
Less than a year later I was hospitalised, initially with the doctors thinking that I had advanced meningitis, and that I was most likely going to die. Turns out it was “just” pneumonia. As can happen with pretty much anyone, and is more likely to happen with people who already have lung issues, I didn’t get properly better – my x-ray showed that I had lung damage, and that it was most likely to be permanent. So when I had asthma attacks all night I just chalked it up to pneumonia.
Eventually they got worse. They go so bad I was getting 3 hours of interrupted sleep a night – while working full time – for about 2 years. My iron levels plummeted, and I started having chest pains. After a barrage of medical tests I found out that dairy makes me stop breathing. I’ve probably always been mildly allergic to dairy, but having pneumonia really brought it out. Also turns out I’m coeliac, which is why my iron levels plummeted. I had to have an iron infusion after I collapsed and couldn’t walk for 3 hours. Try getting home by yourself when you can’t walk. Especially when there is a dead rat on the footpath. Not fun.
When I avoid all allergens, I am relatively healthy. But boy, does this cause issues.
Now, you see, I get the “Jesus died for our healing” every second week. He died so we could be fully healed of all of our diseases and live the victorious Christian life, without a day of sickness, etc, etc, etc.
Now, aside from the fact that I think that’s historically bogus, (St Paul appears to have had health issues, most likely with his eyes, and Timothy had stomach problems, and other great saints of the past have had a variety of health issues), quite frankly it annoys me.
Firstly, I AM HEALED. Jesus does not just heal people via miracles. Sometimes (often, these days) He uses doctors. It took several doctors to figure out what was wrong with me, and initially, I didn’t spend much time praying about it, because I just assumed that what I had would be easily figured out and fixed. As I said, it took about 2 years of doctors visits. But by the time of this specialist, I was spending a lot of time in prayer about this issue. Jesus healed me alright. He just used a doctor.
Secondly, my allergies do not bother me. They bother other people. I know them, I can cope with them just fine. But just because they bother you does not give you the right to tell me that I need to rely on the blood of Jesus to heal me of my diseases. And you definitely do not have to right to pray for me and then suggest that I go and drink a milkshake. Should you do so, I reserve the right to punch you repeatedly on the nose and then pray for your healing.
Thirdly, if you follow this argument theologically, you are going to run into trouble. What if I never get “healed” of my allergies? Does this mean I’m a bad Christian? Or a non-Christian? What about the people who prayed for me? Are they bad Christians, or non-Christians? What if they are leaders in our church?
And what happens when you get sick – really sick, not like a cold sick? What if you don’t get better in a few days, or weeks, or years, or ever? What if you are sick for the rest of your life? Will you still tell me that by His stripes we are healed, and that means that you aren’t really sick?
We are healed by Jesus. Sometimes that healing takes place physically in this life – sometimes even by miracle (and I have at least 2 miracle stories of my own, but I’m not sharing). But Jesus heals all who will come to Him of their greatest illness – the disease of sin, and that is the greatest miracle of all!
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Pursue Righteousness
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11)
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
One of the things that strikes me about modern Christianity, is how known we are as avoiders. Christians are known as those who don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t do drugs, don’t have pre-marital sex, don’t swear, etc. And while statistically, “Christians” are no different from the world in many of these areas, that is what we are known for. As people who “don’t” do things.
We are ready to flee impurity (or at least be known for fleeing impurity). But we are so rarely ready to pursue, to chase after, righteousness, or faith, or love. We’d rather just avoid the bad stuff.
What a terrible witness this is! We become known as those who “don’t” do things – those who don’t have fun. When that should be the opposite. We are the ones who “do” things – those who seek to follow after God with our whole hearts, our whole souls, our whole strength!
Are you pursuing righteousness? Are you truly chasing after it, seeking after it, doing all that is in your power for it? Are you truly looking at submitting your whole being to the Lordship of Christ? Are you? Am I?
Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
One of the things that strikes me about modern Christianity, is how known we are as avoiders. Christians are known as those who don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t do drugs, don’t have pre-marital sex, don’t swear, etc. And while statistically, “Christians” are no different from the world in many of these areas, that is what we are known for. As people who “don’t” do things.
We are ready to flee impurity (or at least be known for fleeing impurity). But we are so rarely ready to pursue, to chase after, righteousness, or faith, or love. We’d rather just avoid the bad stuff.
What a terrible witness this is! We become known as those who “don’t” do things – those who don’t have fun. When that should be the opposite. We are the ones who “do” things – those who seek to follow after God with our whole hearts, our whole souls, our whole strength!
Are you pursuing righteousness? Are you truly chasing after it, seeking after it, doing all that is in your power for it? Are you truly looking at submitting your whole being to the Lordship of Christ? Are you? Am I?
Friday, 18 November 2011
What Does the Romance Novel Say About the Failure of Feminism?
Disclaimer: Please don’t take this as a statement that you should read romance novels. It’s not. They’re badly written, and can stir up desires that aren’t positive or godly. But it is interesting to see what the continued success of the romance novel says about the ultimate failure of feminism.
Apparently, in the early days of feminism, feminists claimed that the romance novel would die out, as women had their horizons broadened, and no longer had their lives “constrained” to that of finding a husband and raising children.
It hasn’t happened. Romance novels sell just as well as ever, making large sums of money for their writers. Yet to a large degree, the world the feminists wanted has come about, in the sense that no women (in the west at least) are forced into marriage as their only career option in life. We’re all told we can be lawyers, doctors, anything we want. Yet women keep buying and reading romance novels.
What does this say about women? I mean, men don’t read romance novels. So what do they say about being a woman that feminism just didn’t take into account? How does the romance novel demonstrate the failure of feminism?
1. Sex is better with someone you love. Feminists, especially in the 60’s, wanted women to be as “free” with their body as they perceived males had been in the past. To a large degree, this has worked. The number of sexual partners most people have had is larger than the past. Yet romance novels hold this notion up to the ridicule it deserves. Even in novels where the female has had previous partners, none of them compare to the one she is in love with. Sex is best (especially for females, but for males too) when within a committed relationship (such as marriage). This is one of the ideals the romance novel holds to.
2. Women want a husband and children. Even without the first or third point, this alone demonstrates the failure of feminism to truly capture the heart of women. Women, as a general rule, WANT to be married. They WANT children. I’ve never seen a boy cry because he wants a baby, and it “just isn’t the right time” – but I’ve seen lots of girls in that position. I’m not saying males don’t want children, but for women, children are an urge that God has placed within us, and it is an urge that feminism has not been able to truly squash out of us. The romance novel demonstrates this
3. Women want the man to be the provider. I’ve never read, seen adapted, or heard of a romance novel where the male had less money than the female. I suppose there would be a few “struggling artist” ones out there, but I rather expect by the end of the novel, he has become famous and is making the millions he always should have. We all know in real life that most men are not as “successful” as these men – there is a limit to the billionaire and millionaire class. But the dream – an articulated in most women – is to have a man who will provide for her, allowing her to be able to care for him and to raise their children as well as she can.
The romance novel demonstrates to me that even in the secular world, feminism hasn’t won. It may have the bodies of women going off to work every day, providing for themselves and living lives that are far from God’s ideal for them. But they know this. They know they have been cheated of something, and they turn to the place they think they can find it – the pages of a novel.
Thankfully we know where we can truly turn – to the arms of the living God. But pray for those who do not know Him; that they may see the darkness they are seeking in a small way to escape, and turn to Jesus in all His glorious light.
Apparently, in the early days of feminism, feminists claimed that the romance novel would die out, as women had their horizons broadened, and no longer had their lives “constrained” to that of finding a husband and raising children.
It hasn’t happened. Romance novels sell just as well as ever, making large sums of money for their writers. Yet to a large degree, the world the feminists wanted has come about, in the sense that no women (in the west at least) are forced into marriage as their only career option in life. We’re all told we can be lawyers, doctors, anything we want. Yet women keep buying and reading romance novels.
What does this say about women? I mean, men don’t read romance novels. So what do they say about being a woman that feminism just didn’t take into account? How does the romance novel demonstrate the failure of feminism?
1. Sex is better with someone you love. Feminists, especially in the 60’s, wanted women to be as “free” with their body as they perceived males had been in the past. To a large degree, this has worked. The number of sexual partners most people have had is larger than the past. Yet romance novels hold this notion up to the ridicule it deserves. Even in novels where the female has had previous partners, none of them compare to the one she is in love with. Sex is best (especially for females, but for males too) when within a committed relationship (such as marriage). This is one of the ideals the romance novel holds to.
2. Women want a husband and children. Even without the first or third point, this alone demonstrates the failure of feminism to truly capture the heart of women. Women, as a general rule, WANT to be married. They WANT children. I’ve never seen a boy cry because he wants a baby, and it “just isn’t the right time” – but I’ve seen lots of girls in that position. I’m not saying males don’t want children, but for women, children are an urge that God has placed within us, and it is an urge that feminism has not been able to truly squash out of us. The romance novel demonstrates this
3. Women want the man to be the provider. I’ve never read, seen adapted, or heard of a romance novel where the male had less money than the female. I suppose there would be a few “struggling artist” ones out there, but I rather expect by the end of the novel, he has become famous and is making the millions he always should have. We all know in real life that most men are not as “successful” as these men – there is a limit to the billionaire and millionaire class. But the dream – an articulated in most women – is to have a man who will provide for her, allowing her to be able to care for him and to raise their children as well as she can.
The romance novel demonstrates to me that even in the secular world, feminism hasn’t won. It may have the bodies of women going off to work every day, providing for themselves and living lives that are far from God’s ideal for them. But they know this. They know they have been cheated of something, and they turn to the place they think they can find it – the pages of a novel.
Thankfully we know where we can truly turn – to the arms of the living God. But pray for those who do not know Him; that they may see the darkness they are seeking in a small way to escape, and turn to Jesus in all His glorious light.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Candles in Worship
It often amazes me when I read about the saints of the past – how willing they were to give their all for Christ and His kingdom. How Christians of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd centuries were willing to be tortured and put to death, often in a public and humiliating manner. How the Reformers were willing to be burnt at the stake for the sake of justification by faith. How missionaries were willing to go to places with then-fatal diseases, knowing that they were extremely unlikely to see their family and friends this side of heaven. And when I compare these saints to the modern church (including myself) it appals me. It makes me feel sick.
Seriously, the Reformers and those who followed them! They died, DIED, for the sake of not having candles in the worship service. Candles! I would never die for that. I would think, it’s such a little thing, it doesn’t really matter, and it isn’t as though God ever said that we can’t have candles in church. God knows my heart, He knows I want to serve Him. The details aren’t important.
Except they are important. People got lead astray by these candles. What’s more, God didn’t say that we are to have candles – and given that He’s fairly descriptive of what He wants during worship services, then it becomes harder and harder to justify them.
We lack the passion of the saints of the past. I lack the passion of the saints of the past. Oh Lord, give us just a small portion of that passion, that we might give up our all to serve You!
Seriously, the Reformers and those who followed them! They died, DIED, for the sake of not having candles in the worship service. Candles! I would never die for that. I would think, it’s such a little thing, it doesn’t really matter, and it isn’t as though God ever said that we can’t have candles in church. God knows my heart, He knows I want to serve Him. The details aren’t important.
Except they are important. People got lead astray by these candles. What’s more, God didn’t say that we are to have candles – and given that He’s fairly descriptive of what He wants during worship services, then it becomes harder and harder to justify them.
We lack the passion of the saints of the past. I lack the passion of the saints of the past. Oh Lord, give us just a small portion of that passion, that we might give up our all to serve You!
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Email and Response
I occasionally read over at Freejinger - and recently posted there as a lurker. If you've come from over there - welcome! I'm sure I'll have lots to say that you'll disagree with. Feel free to comment, including disagreements, as long as you are civil.
Anyway, one reader at Freejinger emailed me, asking for my opinion in regard to her personal situation. She's given me permission to post her letter and my response to it:
I don't call myself a Christian or an Agnostic or anything else; I am just a seeker of the Lord. This is very dear to me, even though I don't fit into any particular religious label myself (I know some find that hard to believe, but, well, it's true. You can love the Lord with all your heart and still not be able to label yourself).
I have been looking over your blog "Not Smoke and Bones" and, well... since I'm a "seeker" and I try my very best to be respectful and open to all spiritual outlooks (and when I'm not being as respectful and open and I should, I pray to the Lord to open me up and He always does!)
So, I read a lot of blogs and have tried to engage in conversation with many women who describe themselves as "born-again" and "Quiverfull" and "Christian". Most of them turn me away the moment they realize I don't call myself a Christian (that's not to say I'm *not* a Christian in some sense -- it just depends on what exactly is meant by "Christian"). I think that's unfortunate, but I also understand to some degree because they probably also get a lot of disrespectful "honest questions" and such from the folks at FreeJinger, and maybe you won't have time to discuss with me if you're being flooded with comments since you've posted there. But reading your blog, I get the impression that you might be more open to discussion than some of the other women I've tried to speak with. So if you can, I'd really like some of your input.
As you said, you are Quiverfull because you "believe that children are a blessing from God - and why would you want to limit blessings?" I, too, believe that children are a blessing from God. It is only by the grace of God that I have my precious daughter, whom I prayed and prayed and prayed and cried for. I wouldn't have survived my infertility without God. So why would I want to limit my blessings? Well, for one, pregnancy makes me very, very ill. I have never in my life been so sick and all the prayer in the world didn't cure me completely, it only comforted me in my pain (and perhaps kept me out of the hospital!). To be more explicit, when I was pregnant I did not leave the house except for midwife appointments because I was vomiting too much. Sometimes I could hardly lift my head. This was among other problems I had, and it went on my entire pregnancy, throughout labor, and only ended once baby was outside of my body. If I became pregnant right now and this happened again, how would I care for my baby daughter? She needs me. She needs my milk. And I would not be capable of giving her what she needed if I was going through that again right now. Furthermore, I also think God open and closes the womb anyway in his own time, regardless of any human intervention. He is a heck of a lot more powerful than contraception! If He wants to bless you, he will! regardless of any human steps you may take to avoid that. Why I think somebody we know in the Bible was blessed with child, no man needed at all ;-) And if a child isn't in His plan for you, you won't get one no matter how hard you try by human means to do so. No physical cause was ever found for my infertility -- I just believe that God gave me a child when it actually best for me, regardless of my ideas of when it should happen. I have since even thanked God for that, the most awful experience and deepest despair of my life, because I now see how it was necessary to fulfill other plans that were so important for my family.
So I wonder how you take all of this. I assume you believe that everyone should be Christian (although, again, I have trouble understanding what the definition of "Christian" actually is -- I know that's hard to understand. I would also be interested on your opinion on that by the way, but it's another story as to why I avoid the label/people tell I'm not Christian), but do you believe all Christian families should be Quiverful? Or do you believe that it is a "calling" that the Lord has in store for some people, but not everyone? How would you handle my situation if it happened to you?
These are honest questions I really have with no ill intent, but I find it so hard to ever get any straight answers because everyone seems so suspicious on both sides. I am not coming into this thinking "Christianity is wrong" or "Quiverfull is wrong". I know those things are not true because the Lord has made it clear to me that they aren't. I just want honest answers and respectful dialog. If you can, I hope you will engage me and give me something to think about. :)
My response:
Regarding the Christianity - yes, I do think everyone should be a Christian! But I know that not everyone currently is, and that some will move into God's kingdom, and some won't. Many of my friends (including some who read notsmokeandbones) are non-Christian. So I don't have a massive problem per se with non-Christians, of any ilk, let alone those who are seaching for God. I just point out that we all face the consequences for our actions and beliefs, and these consequences are both here and in the eternal. The decisions are yours to make, not mine, and are between you and God.
I suppose the best way of answering your question about my quiverful beliefs is to tell you a little about me. I was seriously ill most of my childhood, and we could never work out why. At first it seemed to be a result of being born premature, but most prem babies catch up, and I never did. My sister was the same size as me from when she was two years old. I was 4. I entered school and was the smallest person in the class - even though I was the oldest. I was the smallest person in the school the next year. The year after I was the second smallest - my sister had over taken me in terms of both height and weight.
When I was 8 I became seriously ill, and in a lot of pain. I went to hospital several times, but they didn't know what was wrong. I spent two years very sick and in constant pain. Eventually my mum took me to a different hospital, the best children's hospital in Australia. They didn't know what was wrong, but they decided to operate on my in an attempt to find out what was wrong. Turned out I had cancer - ovarian - which had developed unusually, twisting one of my ovaries (hence the pain and sickness, which otherwise would not have shown at all) and making it gangrenous inside me. I had to have that ovary and about a third of my womb removed. I didn't have to have chemo, etc.
The result is that I run risks of extremely difficult pregnancies, of miscarrying and possibily dying. These are real risks, and unfortunately, there are no other test subjects. (Edited to state - I'm glad there aren't other people who have gone through what I have - but it does mean that I really don't have any ideas as to the exact extent of what could happen.)
So I understand illness, being so sick you'd want more than anything just not to be sick. When you even have something small wrong with you, it takes up all your energy, all your attention. You really don't have anything left to give when you are really sick. So I understand that you would not want to become pregnant again, especially when you feel that you would therefor not be able to give as much to your daughter.
Now, I agree absolutely when you say that God is more powerful than any form of contraception - my mother was on contraception for when I was conceived! But that kind of brings up the "narrative not normative" approach to life. It worked out ok for so-and-so (even so-and-so in the Bible), so it should be ok for me. And God can always override it if He wants. By that logic, it's ok to become a prostitute (because Rahab was one, and she's an ancestor of Jesus) or adultery (King David did that) or steal (Rachel stole her father's "gods", which at the time also amounted to property deeds), or any of a whole number of other things of varying degrees of severity. You should not be basing your life on what God can over-rule. You should be basing your life on the Bible. Especially if you (not you specifically, but the general you) are a Christian, that needs to be your rule of life. What has God commanded, and how can I do that to the best of my ability?
For me, that includes trusting God in regards to pregnancies. (I plan to adopt too, btw.) It means accepting that God's way is better than mine, even when I think it completely sucks right now. And that His way is better, not only for me, but for my (as yet not present) husband and children in the long run. Even if in the immediate future it's not the nicest for them. God doesn't work to my timetable - He works to his own. His views are longer than mine - what happens now can impact the future in ways that I never imagined, further in the future than I ever imagined. That works for me, for you, for your daughter. It's kind of similar to how you mentioned that your morning sickness was necessary to fulfill other plans that were so important for your family. It's the same kind of thing, only that God's plans are better than ours, and go much further into the future.
Regarding whether or not I believe that all Christian failies should be Quiverful... yes and no. I do, because that's how I see the Bible. But I think the most important thing for all Christians is that they inspect all of their practises in light of Scripture, and they seek to obey God, and not just their own wants. To give you an idea on how this pans out in my day-to-day, I attend a non-Quiverful church, where most of the married couples have 1 or 2 children. I occasionally bring it up, because everyone (including me) needs to be examining their beliefs in the light of Scripture. But if they don't see Scripture the same way I do, then that's up to them and God.
Personally, if I was in your shoes, I would not be using contraception. On a practical note, breastfeeding will limit the chances of becoming pregnant, at least for a time. But even if I knew I was extremely likely to become pregnant, face exactly the same thing again, I still would not be using contraception.
Anyway, one reader at Freejinger emailed me, asking for my opinion in regard to her personal situation. She's given me permission to post her letter and my response to it:
I don't call myself a Christian or an Agnostic or anything else; I am just a seeker of the Lord. This is very dear to me, even though I don't fit into any particular religious label myself (I know some find that hard to believe, but, well, it's true. You can love the Lord with all your heart and still not be able to label yourself).
I have been looking over your blog "Not Smoke and Bones" and, well... since I'm a "seeker" and I try my very best to be respectful and open to all spiritual outlooks (and when I'm not being as respectful and open and I should, I pray to the Lord to open me up and He always does!)
So, I read a lot of blogs and have tried to engage in conversation with many women who describe themselves as "born-again" and "Quiverfull" and "Christian". Most of them turn me away the moment they realize I don't call myself a Christian (that's not to say I'm *not* a Christian in some sense -- it just depends on what exactly is meant by "Christian"). I think that's unfortunate, but I also understand to some degree because they probably also get a lot of disrespectful "honest questions" and such from the folks at FreeJinger, and maybe you won't have time to discuss with me if you're being flooded with comments since you've posted there. But reading your blog, I get the impression that you might be more open to discussion than some of the other women I've tried to speak with. So if you can, I'd really like some of your input.
As you said, you are Quiverfull because you "believe that children are a blessing from God - and why would you want to limit blessings?" I, too, believe that children are a blessing from God. It is only by the grace of God that I have my precious daughter, whom I prayed and prayed and prayed and cried for. I wouldn't have survived my infertility without God. So why would I want to limit my blessings? Well, for one, pregnancy makes me very, very ill. I have never in my life been so sick and all the prayer in the world didn't cure me completely, it only comforted me in my pain (and perhaps kept me out of the hospital!). To be more explicit, when I was pregnant I did not leave the house except for midwife appointments because I was vomiting too much. Sometimes I could hardly lift my head. This was among other problems I had, and it went on my entire pregnancy, throughout labor, and only ended once baby was outside of my body. If I became pregnant right now and this happened again, how would I care for my baby daughter? She needs me. She needs my milk. And I would not be capable of giving her what she needed if I was going through that again right now. Furthermore, I also think God open and closes the womb anyway in his own time, regardless of any human intervention. He is a heck of a lot more powerful than contraception! If He wants to bless you, he will! regardless of any human steps you may take to avoid that. Why I think somebody we know in the Bible was blessed with child, no man needed at all ;-) And if a child isn't in His plan for you, you won't get one no matter how hard you try by human means to do so. No physical cause was ever found for my infertility -- I just believe that God gave me a child when it actually best for me, regardless of my ideas of when it should happen. I have since even thanked God for that, the most awful experience and deepest despair of my life, because I now see how it was necessary to fulfill other plans that were so important for my family.
So I wonder how you take all of this. I assume you believe that everyone should be Christian (although, again, I have trouble understanding what the definition of "Christian" actually is -- I know that's hard to understand. I would also be interested on your opinion on that by the way, but it's another story as to why I avoid the label/people tell I'm not Christian), but do you believe all Christian families should be Quiverful? Or do you believe that it is a "calling" that the Lord has in store for some people, but not everyone? How would you handle my situation if it happened to you?
These are honest questions I really have with no ill intent, but I find it so hard to ever get any straight answers because everyone seems so suspicious on both sides. I am not coming into this thinking "Christianity is wrong" or "Quiverfull is wrong". I know those things are not true because the Lord has made it clear to me that they aren't. I just want honest answers and respectful dialog. If you can, I hope you will engage me and give me something to think about. :)
My response:
Regarding the Christianity - yes, I do think everyone should be a Christian! But I know that not everyone currently is, and that some will move into God's kingdom, and some won't. Many of my friends (including some who read notsmokeandbones) are non-Christian. So I don't have a massive problem per se with non-Christians, of any ilk, let alone those who are seaching for God. I just point out that we all face the consequences for our actions and beliefs, and these consequences are both here and in the eternal. The decisions are yours to make, not mine, and are between you and God.
I suppose the best way of answering your question about my quiverful beliefs is to tell you a little about me. I was seriously ill most of my childhood, and we could never work out why. At first it seemed to be a result of being born premature, but most prem babies catch up, and I never did. My sister was the same size as me from when she was two years old. I was 4. I entered school and was the smallest person in the class - even though I was the oldest. I was the smallest person in the school the next year. The year after I was the second smallest - my sister had over taken me in terms of both height and weight.
When I was 8 I became seriously ill, and in a lot of pain. I went to hospital several times, but they didn't know what was wrong. I spent two years very sick and in constant pain. Eventually my mum took me to a different hospital, the best children's hospital in Australia. They didn't know what was wrong, but they decided to operate on my in an attempt to find out what was wrong. Turned out I had cancer - ovarian - which had developed unusually, twisting one of my ovaries (hence the pain and sickness, which otherwise would not have shown at all) and making it gangrenous inside me. I had to have that ovary and about a third of my womb removed. I didn't have to have chemo, etc.
The result is that I run risks of extremely difficult pregnancies, of miscarrying and possibily dying. These are real risks, and unfortunately, there are no other test subjects. (Edited to state - I'm glad there aren't other people who have gone through what I have - but it does mean that I really don't have any ideas as to the exact extent of what could happen.)
So I understand illness, being so sick you'd want more than anything just not to be sick. When you even have something small wrong with you, it takes up all your energy, all your attention. You really don't have anything left to give when you are really sick. So I understand that you would not want to become pregnant again, especially when you feel that you would therefor not be able to give as much to your daughter.
Now, I agree absolutely when you say that God is more powerful than any form of contraception - my mother was on contraception for when I was conceived! But that kind of brings up the "narrative not normative" approach to life. It worked out ok for so-and-so (even so-and-so in the Bible), so it should be ok for me. And God can always override it if He wants. By that logic, it's ok to become a prostitute (because Rahab was one, and she's an ancestor of Jesus) or adultery (King David did that) or steal (Rachel stole her father's "gods", which at the time also amounted to property deeds), or any of a whole number of other things of varying degrees of severity. You should not be basing your life on what God can over-rule. You should be basing your life on the Bible. Especially if you (not you specifically, but the general you) are a Christian, that needs to be your rule of life. What has God commanded, and how can I do that to the best of my ability?
For me, that includes trusting God in regards to pregnancies. (I plan to adopt too, btw.) It means accepting that God's way is better than mine, even when I think it completely sucks right now. And that His way is better, not only for me, but for my (as yet not present) husband and children in the long run. Even if in the immediate future it's not the nicest for them. God doesn't work to my timetable - He works to his own. His views are longer than mine - what happens now can impact the future in ways that I never imagined, further in the future than I ever imagined. That works for me, for you, for your daughter. It's kind of similar to how you mentioned that your morning sickness was necessary to fulfill other plans that were so important for your family. It's the same kind of thing, only that God's plans are better than ours, and go much further into the future.
Regarding whether or not I believe that all Christian failies should be Quiverful... yes and no. I do, because that's how I see the Bible. But I think the most important thing for all Christians is that they inspect all of their practises in light of Scripture, and they seek to obey God, and not just their own wants. To give you an idea on how this pans out in my day-to-day, I attend a non-Quiverful church, where most of the married couples have 1 or 2 children. I occasionally bring it up, because everyone (including me) needs to be examining their beliefs in the light of Scripture. But if they don't see Scripture the same way I do, then that's up to them and God.
Personally, if I was in your shoes, I would not be using contraception. On a practical note, breastfeeding will limit the chances of becoming pregnant, at least for a time. But even if I knew I was extremely likely to become pregnant, face exactly the same thing again, I still would not be using contraception.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Sunday, 9 October 2011
March For Babies
Yesterday was the 3rd March for Babies, to protest the change in abortion law in Victoria. I went, and took a friend (Stephen, from Frankston centre, my housemate’s boyfriend).
For those who aren’t aware, the current laws in Victoria not only allow what most people think of when they think of abortions (i.e. early term abortions) but have a great deal of more horrifying implications. Whilst ANY abortion is murder, the fact is, it is so much more obvious when the baby is older what you are doing.
The current laws (passed in 2008) include these particularly horrifying implications:
• Abortion is legal for any reason when the baby is up to 24 weeks (this is particularly horrifying to me – this is nearly 6 months along. I was born when my mother was 6 ½ months along, and that was 27 years ago, when the technology to keep premmie babies alive was much less)
• Abortion up to BIRTH is legal as long as two doctors (the abortionist and the abortionist in the next room) approve
• No pain relief is required for the unborn child
• No requirement to offer medical assistance to babies born ALIVE after “failed” abortions
• No counselling of health risks for mother prior to an abortion
• No ability for doctors, nurses or other health workers to not refer, assist, and perform abortions for reasons of conscience
• No reporting of minors to their parents should a minor request an abortion
• No mandatory reporting of minors who come in with a suspected abuser for an abortion
These are truly horrifying laws. I am completely opposed to all abortion, but this is something different. Not giving medical assistance to a live baby? How much more obvious can you get that abortion is murder?
The march was both incredibly encouraging and discouraging at the same time. It was wonderful to see the thousands of people who turned out in support of unborn life. It was especially encouraging to see that the “opposition” (which included the Sex Party, an Australian political party) numbered a maximum of 40 people. The difference in behaviour between the two groups could not have been more extreme. One had families, older people, people dressed modestly, speakers who were polite. Seriously, the most far-out behaviour I saw from the pro-life side were some Catholics behind us chanting out the “Hail Mary” prayer and another Catholic carrying a statue of Mary for the whole march. We were calm and polite.
The opposition were… not exactly the same. All were around my age, mostly the usual protest types, and dressed… not exactly modestly. At the front of their group they had three or four young women wearing midriff-exposing tops and short shorts, shouting obscenities and holding signs such as “I choose abortion because I choose to have a life” and “MINE” written over their midriffs with lipstick.A bit of a contrast. These women, and many others, need our prayers.
The discouraging thing was that there weren’t that many people my age range there. Aside from me and Stephen, I didn’t see anyone from our church, and I only saw one other person I know (the person who came to our church earlier in the year to give two classes on how we should be responding to abortion). I know many people who are pro-life, but they were not really pro-life enough to give up a few hours on their Saturday to protest these truly hideous laws.
If you are Australian, reading this, then I encourage you to write to your politicians, to see these laws change. They can be changed, but they won’t be if we don’t do something about it!
Here is the link to find the email addresses of your members of parliament
Here is a link to find out how your current member votes on pro-life issues
Finally, be in much prayer – for the babies, their mothers, those who have had abortions, and those who have performed abortions. God can heal them; He alone can heal them with the blood of Christ.
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Romans 1:32
Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practise them.
This passage really struck me. The thing is, most Christians don’t do most of the “big” sins. Infamous cases aside, most Christians aren’t involved in homosexual activity, outright murder, or adultery. But it isn’t enough. Because a whole lot of us turn a complete blind eye to those who do.
For example, many of my friends and work colleges are non-Christian. Lots of them are having pre-marital relationships. I don’t blink an eye, let alone say anything to them. Some of my friends are gay or have family members who are. Again, I don’t typically say anything, because they are my friends and I don’t want to upset any of them. A work colleague is planning to get pregnant out of wedlock, and preferably out of relationship because that way she can raise the baby any way she wants. All I did was point out that being in a married relationship provides a lot more stability for the child, and demonstrates a higher degree of commitment from the male, which isn’t really what she’s interested in anyway.
Basically, I’m approving of all of these behaviours. I may not be the one doing them, but I’m passively encouraging others in them. These are things that they will one day regret, either after they come to Christ or in hell for all eternity. And I’m encouraging them to keep on, just from keeping my mouth shut and not bothering to let them know that the standard they are following is less than God’s best.
As Christians, we need to approve of things that bring ourselves and others closer to Him, and not anything that pulls us or others away.
This passage really struck me. The thing is, most Christians don’t do most of the “big” sins. Infamous cases aside, most Christians aren’t involved in homosexual activity, outright murder, or adultery. But it isn’t enough. Because a whole lot of us turn a complete blind eye to those who do.
For example, many of my friends and work colleges are non-Christian. Lots of them are having pre-marital relationships. I don’t blink an eye, let alone say anything to them. Some of my friends are gay or have family members who are. Again, I don’t typically say anything, because they are my friends and I don’t want to upset any of them. A work colleague is planning to get pregnant out of wedlock, and preferably out of relationship because that way she can raise the baby any way she wants. All I did was point out that being in a married relationship provides a lot more stability for the child, and demonstrates a higher degree of commitment from the male, which isn’t really what she’s interested in anyway.
Basically, I’m approving of all of these behaviours. I may not be the one doing them, but I’m passively encouraging others in them. These are things that they will one day regret, either after they come to Christ or in hell for all eternity. And I’m encouraging them to keep on, just from keeping my mouth shut and not bothering to let them know that the standard they are following is less than God’s best.
As Christians, we need to approve of things that bring ourselves and others closer to Him, and not anything that pulls us or others away.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Monday, 27 June 2011
The Distant Poor vs the Present Poor
I care a lot about the poor, especially those in other, less fortunate countries. It breaks my heart to think about children dying because they don't have enough food or clean water, or of diseases that we have completely eradicated in the Western world.
But I tend to ignore the plight of those who are a little closer to home.
Like the homeless people in the city, begging so they can buy food and shelter.
These people I am less likely to have compassion for. After all, we live in a fortunate country. One where there is plenty of food, usually jobs available, clean water comes from every tap. Medical assistance is available, and often for free. Sure, it may not be easy for them, but still.
Yet they too are made in God’s image. And perhaps it’s harder to love those who are around us (actually, often it is). We don’t have to see (or smell) those cute children from far-off lands on their days where they are decidedly less than cute. But the homeless here... well, they’re right here.
Compassion is needed no less for those here, in spite of the fact that we live in a country that is fortunate. They need our love and the actions that spring from that love just as much as those who are far away from us.
But I tend to ignore the plight of those who are a little closer to home.
Like the homeless people in the city, begging so they can buy food and shelter.
These people I am less likely to have compassion for. After all, we live in a fortunate country. One where there is plenty of food, usually jobs available, clean water comes from every tap. Medical assistance is available, and often for free. Sure, it may not be easy for them, but still.
Yet they too are made in God’s image. And perhaps it’s harder to love those who are around us (actually, often it is). We don’t have to see (or smell) those cute children from far-off lands on their days where they are decidedly less than cute. But the homeless here... well, they’re right here.
Compassion is needed no less for those here, in spite of the fact that we live in a country that is fortunate. They need our love and the actions that spring from that love just as much as those who are far away from us.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Mosques and Churches
One of my work colleagues is Egyptian, a Coptic Christian. She spoke to me on Thursday about some things that she heard on the (Arabic) news.
“They are complaining that Australia is terrible and won’t let them build mosques. Huh! They should talk! How many churches have they bombed in Egypt? They want equality, they say. But their equality works only one way.”
(If you don’t know much about the bombing of churches and persecution of Christians in the Middle East, Voice of the Martyrs is a good place to start.)
Why this inequality? Why are Muslims so happy to claim that they should have mosques here while so determined to destroy churches in their own countries?
It’s because for a Muslim, a mosque represents the fact that you now “own” that country or territory, spiritually speaking. The more mosques, the stronger your ownership is, and the stronger it is felt. As my colleague pointed out, in Egypt there are three mosques to one side of a city block. Their ownership is high there. In Australia, not so much.
But that is also the reason for the churches. A church is a sign of Christ’s ownership of the land. (Which of course He does anyway, even without the church there.) And they hate it. Because Muslims hate the Biblical Christ.
Remember to pray for the Coptic Christians in Egypt, and other Christians in Muslim dominated lands. And likewise, pray that those who are lost in Islam will find the true way to God, Christ crucified and risen for His children.
“They are complaining that Australia is terrible and won’t let them build mosques. Huh! They should talk! How many churches have they bombed in Egypt? They want equality, they say. But their equality works only one way.”
(If you don’t know much about the bombing of churches and persecution of Christians in the Middle East, Voice of the Martyrs is a good place to start.)
Why this inequality? Why are Muslims so happy to claim that they should have mosques here while so determined to destroy churches in their own countries?
It’s because for a Muslim, a mosque represents the fact that you now “own” that country or territory, spiritually speaking. The more mosques, the stronger your ownership is, and the stronger it is felt. As my colleague pointed out, in Egypt there are three mosques to one side of a city block. Their ownership is high there. In Australia, not so much.
But that is also the reason for the churches. A church is a sign of Christ’s ownership of the land. (Which of course He does anyway, even without the church there.) And they hate it. Because Muslims hate the Biblical Christ.
Remember to pray for the Coptic Christians in Egypt, and other Christians in Muslim dominated lands. And likewise, pray that those who are lost in Islam will find the true way to God, Christ crucified and risen for His children.
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Luke 3:11
And he (John the Baptist) answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
Being part of the kingdom of God is a practical thing, with practical implications. We who have more than we need (and indeed, more than we need right now) are to share with those who don’t have enough.
Yet how few of us really do so! I am considered by most people to be “overly generous” because I sponsor “so many” children. But I look around my house and see only plenty. I have so much – far more clothes than two tunics! Far more food than I need for the day! I have mountains of books, of CDs, of tons of little things to make my life “easier”. And all the while a child dies of hunger (often without hearing the gospel) every three seconds. Lord, forgive my shallowness!
When Christ’s body truly rises up and acts as His hand and His feet, then we will change the world. We don’t want to, which is why we don’t. But we must, in order that his name is glorified throughout all the earth.
Lord, have mercy on our superficial, worldly-stuffed souls.
Being part of the kingdom of God is a practical thing, with practical implications. We who have more than we need (and indeed, more than we need right now) are to share with those who don’t have enough.
Yet how few of us really do so! I am considered by most people to be “overly generous” because I sponsor “so many” children. But I look around my house and see only plenty. I have so much – far more clothes than two tunics! Far more food than I need for the day! I have mountains of books, of CDs, of tons of little things to make my life “easier”. And all the while a child dies of hunger (often without hearing the gospel) every three seconds. Lord, forgive my shallowness!
When Christ’s body truly rises up and acts as His hand and His feet, then we will change the world. We don’t want to, which is why we don’t. But we must, in order that his name is glorified throughout all the earth.
Lord, have mercy on our superficial, worldly-stuffed souls.
Friday, 10 June 2011
What Are You Preparing For?
I often surprise people. One of the ways is that I don't have my wedding planned out. I don't really have a dress planned. I don't know whether I want a church wedding or a garden wedding. All I know is that I don't want lots of people and I do want to be able to eat the food.
This surprises people because there are few things I want more than to get married (and have kids). Yet I don't have any wedding dreams.
You see, I don't want to have a wedding. I want to be married.
So many people prepare for their wedding. They plan out every extravagant detail - the dress, the food, the guest list, the flowers, the bridesmaid's dresses... there are so many details that they have planned. And then the honeymoon! Where to go? How long?
But they haven't worked out who will take out the trash.
The thing is, so many marriages run into issues because they haven't prepared for their marriage. They have no idea of their roles, what they other person wants and expects, or even where their marriage is headed. And so, too often, it's headed for the rocks.
I don't care about a day. It's one day. Sure, it'll be nice if it's beautiful and memorable and I can tell the children about it (in a good way) for years to come. But the important thing is the years after it.
That's what I'm preparing for.
(And I'm still unattatched, in case you all are thinking otherwise! Just pondering.)
This surprises people because there are few things I want more than to get married (and have kids). Yet I don't have any wedding dreams.
You see, I don't want to have a wedding. I want to be married.
So many people prepare for their wedding. They plan out every extravagant detail - the dress, the food, the guest list, the flowers, the bridesmaid's dresses... there are so many details that they have planned. And then the honeymoon! Where to go? How long?
But they haven't worked out who will take out the trash.
The thing is, so many marriages run into issues because they haven't prepared for their marriage. They have no idea of their roles, what they other person wants and expects, or even where their marriage is headed. And so, too often, it's headed for the rocks.
I don't care about a day. It's one day. Sure, it'll be nice if it's beautiful and memorable and I can tell the children about it (in a good way) for years to come. But the important thing is the years after it.
That's what I'm preparing for.
(And I'm still unattatched, in case you all are thinking otherwise! Just pondering.)
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Born A B***h
At my work, I get to meet a fair few gay people. They've all settled down and had families (duh, otherwise I wouldn't be looking after their kids). As a result I sometimes get asked why the "typical" Christian position is that homos*xuality is not acceptable to God, and why if God created everyone (another frequent phrase is "born that way") that it is still not okay.
My repsonse is that I was born a b***h, that doesn't make it ok in God's sight. And it doesn't mean that I can't change through the power of His spirit.
I was indeed born a b***h. People actually don't realise how nice I am to them when I could so easily rip them to shreds. But that isn't what God wants from me. And so, by His grace, I strive to do better.
We are all born sinful. Each and every one of us. That is why we need a saviour - and what a mighty one we have in Jesus!
My repsonse is that I was born a b***h, that doesn't make it ok in God's sight. And it doesn't mean that I can't change through the power of His spirit.
I was indeed born a b***h. People actually don't realise how nice I am to them when I could so easily rip them to shreds. But that isn't what God wants from me. And so, by His grace, I strive to do better.
We are all born sinful. Each and every one of us. That is why we need a saviour - and what a mighty one we have in Jesus!
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
The Healing Prosperity Gospel
I've spent most of my life being sick, getting sick, or recovering from being sick. I sometimes say that I have had seven near death experiences... and then I made it out of the birth canal. (That's true. And I have had more than a few more since.) I am one of those people who never has any sick leave, who rocks up to work looking like they need a month or two off, and who generally is not well.
I no longer go up the front when people ask for people to be prayed for for healing.
It's not that I don't believe God can heal me. It's that I don't want to hear the comments. I've heard some good ones.
From being told the story of everyone anyone's ever met who had "allergies" who was prayed for and was healed ("so I'll pray for you and then you can eat meat"... except I'm a vegetarian by choice), to being told that "God will heal the hole in your lungs when you have enough faith", to "You should be praying for your pwn healing and not getting us to do it for you", to "I read this book and we should be able to heal everybody because Jesus healed everybody," I really have heard them all.
The thing is, God does not always choose to heal. He wants what is best for us. And sometimes, what is best is not physical health. We have taken what the world has deemed to be good and just Christianised it.
Health is a blessing. No one who's been sick would deny that. But God's ways are not our ways. His ways are higher.
Anything less than that is nothing short of a prosperity gospel, which insists that because God loves us we need to be healthy, wealthy and wise, and that anything less proves we are not Christians / in sin / in the wrong church / etc. It's just not true. God's ways are different. They are higher.
And we follow Him in sickness and trial just as much as in health and prosperity. Because we love the Giver and not the gifts. Because He is our God, and nothing else matters.
I no longer go up the front when people ask for people to be prayed for for healing.
It's not that I don't believe God can heal me. It's that I don't want to hear the comments. I've heard some good ones.
From being told the story of everyone anyone's ever met who had "allergies" who was prayed for and was healed ("so I'll pray for you and then you can eat meat"... except I'm a vegetarian by choice), to being told that "God will heal the hole in your lungs when you have enough faith", to "You should be praying for your pwn healing and not getting us to do it for you", to "I read this book and we should be able to heal everybody because Jesus healed everybody," I really have heard them all.
The thing is, God does not always choose to heal. He wants what is best for us. And sometimes, what is best is not physical health. We have taken what the world has deemed to be good and just Christianised it.
Health is a blessing. No one who's been sick would deny that. But God's ways are not our ways. His ways are higher.
Anything less than that is nothing short of a prosperity gospel, which insists that because God loves us we need to be healthy, wealthy and wise, and that anything less proves we are not Christians / in sin / in the wrong church / etc. It's just not true. God's ways are different. They are higher.
And we follow Him in sickness and trial just as much as in health and prosperity. Because we love the Giver and not the gifts. Because He is our God, and nothing else matters.
Saturday, 28 May 2011
From Persecution Project
I love the Gospel message and the Gospel witness. It runs completely counter to everything our “old nature” tells us to do. The world says, “Live for yourself.” The Gospel says, “Die to yourself.” The world says, “Feed your self-esteem.” The Gosepl says, “Feed your soul by esteeming others.” The world says, “Make time for yourself.” The Gospel says, “Spend your time helping others.” The world says, “Look out for no. 1.” The Gospel identifies “No. 1″ as “not us.”
When people live according to Gospel precepts, the world changes. The world changes, because it doesn’t know what to do with such a crazy way of life.
By Brad Phillips, PPF President. Read the whole thing here.
When people live according to Gospel precepts, the world changes. The world changes, because it doesn’t know what to do with such a crazy way of life.
By Brad Phillips, PPF President. Read the whole thing here.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
God's Ways
Christians need to be praying for those who are as yet unsaved, including those who are our personal enemies and the enemies of Christ. After all, we were all once enemies of Christ. People were no doubt praying for our conversion, and so we need to pray for all those who are not yet part of His kingdom.
And while I mainly pray for those who are close to me, I have prayed for some of the more contensious of the enemies of the kingdom. Usually I pray that they be saved in some kind of dramatic way that completely undermines their previous atheist / Muslim / etc position.
One of the people I prayed for was Osama bin Laden. Obviously, he wasn't saved.
At first when I found out I was put out. It would have been a massive "scoop" for God if, in His povidence, He had saved bin Laden. What a wasted opportunity.
Obviously, God feels differently about wasted opportunity. And recently, reading the newspaper, I found out a small portion of the reason why.
Bin Laden had illict materials on his computer.
That's right. Bin Laden, who accused the West of being decedant etc, etc, had the same sort of materials on his computer.
God's ways are indeed better than our ways. There will no doubt be many in the Islamic world who will question the ways of Islam as a result of this. And many, no doubt, will come to God because of it.
And while I mainly pray for those who are close to me, I have prayed for some of the more contensious of the enemies of the kingdom. Usually I pray that they be saved in some kind of dramatic way that completely undermines their previous atheist / Muslim / etc position.
One of the people I prayed for was Osama bin Laden. Obviously, he wasn't saved.
At first when I found out I was put out. It would have been a massive "scoop" for God if, in His povidence, He had saved bin Laden. What a wasted opportunity.
Obviously, God feels differently about wasted opportunity. And recently, reading the newspaper, I found out a small portion of the reason why.
Bin Laden had illict materials on his computer.
That's right. Bin Laden, who accused the West of being decedant etc, etc, had the same sort of materials on his computer.
God's ways are indeed better than our ways. There will no doubt be many in the Islamic world who will question the ways of Islam as a result of this. And many, no doubt, will come to God because of it.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Trusting For Food
If there's one thing about me that everyone knows, it's that I want 20 children. Once I introduced myself to someone at my church with the statement "I'm the crazy white girl who wants 20 kids," and they told me that they had heard of me.
What interests me is that everyone has the same response when they hear I want 20 kids. Whether the hearer is Christian or secular, they all respond with the question, "How will you afford it?" (or they tell me I need to marry a very rich man.)
I usually point out that I lived for a year on $5 a week for all of my groceries. $5 times by 22 (my and the husband'd have to eat too) only equals $110.
They usually want to know how I managed this. I point out how you can get plenty of free bread, fruit, vegetables, eggs, and honey if you know how to. Really, I spent most of the $5 on things like toilet paper.
The thing is, BOTH of these attitudes are the wrong attitudes to have.
Most people think that children are a burden. That they cost a lot of money, so you'd better not have too many.
And while I wasn't falling into that trap, I was thinking that I can provide for any amount of children. The key word there is the I could provide.
I cannot provide for 20 children. Heck, in my own strength, I cannot provide for 1! But God CAN provide for all the children He gives me, and it is no harder for Him to provide for 20 than for one.
God is sovereign, and He gives all that He needs for all of His people.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
Psalm 37:25
What interests me is that everyone has the same response when they hear I want 20 kids. Whether the hearer is Christian or secular, they all respond with the question, "How will you afford it?" (or they tell me I need to marry a very rich man.)
I usually point out that I lived for a year on $5 a week for all of my groceries. $5 times by 22 (my and the husband'd have to eat too) only equals $110.
They usually want to know how I managed this. I point out how you can get plenty of free bread, fruit, vegetables, eggs, and honey if you know how to. Really, I spent most of the $5 on things like toilet paper.
The thing is, BOTH of these attitudes are the wrong attitudes to have.
Most people think that children are a burden. That they cost a lot of money, so you'd better not have too many.
And while I wasn't falling into that trap, I was thinking that I can provide for any amount of children. The key word there is the I could provide.
I cannot provide for 20 children. Heck, in my own strength, I cannot provide for 1! But God CAN provide for all the children He gives me, and it is no harder for Him to provide for 20 than for one.
God is sovereign, and He gives all that He needs for all of His people.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
Psalm 37:25
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