OK...I have an issue with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I can take issue with us because "IRON SHARPENS IRON" and we are to help one another on this journey in being the voice, hands, and feet of God to witness of the only way to everlasting life...right? Good. Glad we are on the same page.
I have discovered recently, more in the last 5-10 years of the 24 years I have been a born again believer, that there is a disturbing trend among us. I work and minister in an environment that is not a "Christian" one to say the least. I work alongside Law Enforcement, and I live with the effects of it 24-7 365 since my husband is still a street Cop. In this world we have a "twisted" sense of humor I guess you could say. A self preservation defense mechanism that helps us cope with the onslaught of the worst of humanity we deal with. So, we try and find humor usually at the most odd moments and situations. There is that sarcastic lexicon that bonds Officers together and keeps their thankless, life threatening job palatable.
I say that to say this: When I go to the house of God I am running to my hospital of sorts to get replenished, and in a way renewed by being taught by an anointed Pastor, to worship with like minded and the rest of "the part of the body" I am in. I go to get around Disciples of Christ who are working out their Salvation with fear and trembling as I do....learning and leaning on one another as my earthly support and training system. What I am finding recently is an increasing use of "humor" or sarcasm at one an other's expense that hurts my heart, and my spirit. No don't misunderstand...I know the dynamics of speaking i.e.; keeping an audience's attention, keeping people comfortable and engaged. But, when did it become acceptable and even encouraged and supported to use sarcastic humor that demeans others a way to teach? I have heard many, many speakers, Pastors, Professors. and other leaders in the church insult people, nationalities, countries, states, other churches, their staff, even church members! All at the attempt of "humor". I have even been asked by these said leaders to "lean to my neighbor" and repeat what they just said!! NO, NO, NO my beloved! Why has this worldly trend seeped into our pulpits and our pews?!
Are we not called to LOVE one another so that the world will see who Jesus is? That they will know us and HIM by our love for one another!! How does putting down anyone or anything just to make a joke display the love of God?! Me? I love humor, and I can be guilty of dry wit and a quick reply myself. I am known to have a great sense of humor and I do appreciate it. I consider it a character asset. However, having a good sense of humor and making people laugh and be comfortable with you, and enjoy your company does not require a derogatory repertoire of "Momma Jokes" or at the expense of a brother or sister. We are not to be like the world! Now I know I sound a little self righteous...but I make every attempt in my humor to keep it clean and above the belt. I know many friends and colleagues that are hilarious, but never at the expense of someone else.
You know, I might like this blogging thing after all, feels good to write it down. If you are reading this and I have offended you...I hope you will take some time to consider what I have said. Your feelings of offense may be the same conviction of the Holy Spirit that I had years ago when I thought I should join this trend in my humor, even though it made my heart grieve. After all, my Pastor was doing it, my elders were doing it...so I guess that makes it OK. Does it? My blog is not meant to offend but only to voice a sly deceptive and very effective tool the enemy is using to destroy the church from the inside out. I pray you consider it. What does scripture say?
1 Peter 3:8-12 (Message)
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things.
I love ya, more importantly Jesus loves you! Stay vigilant my friends...the enemy is at the door.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Cold afternoon ramblings
Today I must confess my blogging is not as often as I would like! I must discipline my self to journal more, it really does make a difference when you can vent for sure! I found that out on my last blog when I was threateneing to bust a cap. Make that a box of caps!! LOL, anyhoo
.
I found that my laptop is done, the motherboard is fried...so I have to probably borrow some funds from my daughter's savings which makes me feel like scat...but I will have the money from income tax returns I pray to pay her back. I hate having to do that...what can't we be better stewards of our money to have a stash for emergencies like this?! Yes, Dave Ramsey... I hear your dripping sarcasm at this moment even though I know you are very gifted with your knowledge of finances...you can be right but very wrong in your tone!
So many things I need to get better at, on a freezing cold day like today, I just wanna stay in the warm covers and zone out. Sure makes my back feel better when I am warm and still but I feel guilty when I just lay there and am not productive with something. I am only two weeks post surgery I know, and when I write that it seems legit...I should be able to chill. Why won't I allow myself to do that in peace?!!
OK, I can't blog anymore nonsense. I need to feed on the word and get some good food to think about instead of my ramblings and my own understanding which is usually NOT what God is thinking for me. So tata for now homeys or whoever may read this besides me. I'm out
.
I found that my laptop is done, the motherboard is fried...so I have to probably borrow some funds from my daughter's savings which makes me feel like scat...but I will have the money from income tax returns I pray to pay her back. I hate having to do that...what can't we be better stewards of our money to have a stash for emergencies like this?! Yes, Dave Ramsey... I hear your dripping sarcasm at this moment even though I know you are very gifted with your knowledge of finances...you can be right but very wrong in your tone!
So many things I need to get better at, on a freezing cold day like today, I just wanna stay in the warm covers and zone out. Sure makes my back feel better when I am warm and still but I feel guilty when I just lay there and am not productive with something. I am only two weeks post surgery I know, and when I write that it seems legit...I should be able to chill. Why won't I allow myself to do that in peace?!!
OK, I can't blog anymore nonsense. I need to feed on the word and get some good food to think about instead of my ramblings and my own understanding which is usually NOT what God is thinking for me. So tata for now homeys or whoever may read this besides me. I'm out
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Attack!
Ever had one of those days when you just want to spend a few hours in a batting cage, or maybe go to the shooting range and empty a box of ammo? Well, today is that day.
Maybe it's because I have been worn down with my chronic back pain and recent surgery that has kept me down more than usual...which isn't much to begin with! Maybe it's the change of the seasons and the temperamental Texas weather. It could be an attack of the ruthless enemy trying to defeat and destroy me (now if you believe in God, then the devil is real too. Just a created being, but still a real threat if ignored).
So now that both printers are down, no explanation or repair- just will not print. Now my laptop with all my info and needed article and documents on it has decided not to turn on at all, I sit here on my iPad (Thank you God & Chuck) and try and figure out what I can get done if anything. I have decided to pray against this thing and ask God to intervene. If He does not, then I must need some face to face time with Him without distractions. I am calmer now, thank you for reading and being there to prevent me from causing more injury to myself by going to a batting cage, or showing up at a shooting range, enraged and screaming insults at the enemy as I bust a few caps! That would feel really good, I believe the endorphins would be countless but I know it wouldn't go over well. Me... A Police Chaplain in the screaming like a wild woman at printers and computers, princes of the power of the air, breaking strongholds of the enemy over my life, work, and home..... You know way out there stuff. But it. Does make for a decent blog....
This is much better.... :D all is well.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Passions and Peaves 2
OK... The continuation of my Passion and Peaves that I started last time ended with me revealing my second passion. This is a deeply rooted passion for the men and women of Law Enforcement. My family that is The Thin Blue Line. We are a dysfunctional family, but our functional dysfunction is what makes us family and distinguishes us from all other walks of life. Being a LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) is an impossible paradox and I admire them immensly. To do the job well and survive it as a career is a calling...
I have been in "the Life" for about 25 years and been alongside my Chuck as he worked the mean streets of a border town for 10 years, a silly public college as a Lt., at a county hospital, and then back to the mean po dunk streets with a front seat to the greatest show on earth. Yea, we livin high on the hog now boys!
I have noticed some things throughout this university of blood and blue. With all of the enormous risks taken every day. they go to work encumbered by the weight of :
If you aren't a Cop Family, and don't have the privilege of having one in your family I challenge you...
Remember next time you see an Officer to think about what his life is like before you stand in judgement. Could you do it? I know I couldn't, my job is difficult and I am not the one in uniform carrying the gun.
Does he seem rude or cold? He doesn't know you, could he think you have a gun hiding in your lap just waiting to shoot him in the face when he approached your window? Happened to several Officers in this country last year..... Does he seem angry? Has he just left a child abuse and molestation call where a father was beating and molesting his 4 yr old child? Would that make you angry, is an Officer less human than you? They stay pretty proffessional despite the horrors and trauma they look at and deal with every day.
So when I hear people disrespect and ridicule these men and women who choose every day to go out there for us....it makes me sick. My pet peeve? When Christians get upset at Officers for enforcing the law they just chose to break. Don't even get me started....I may have to open up a can...
I have been in "the Life" for about 25 years and been alongside my Chuck as he worked the mean streets of a border town for 10 years, a silly public college as a Lt., at a county hospital, and then back to the mean po dunk streets with a front seat to the greatest show on earth. Yea, we livin high on the hog now boys!
I have noticed some things throughout this university of blood and blue. With all of the enormous risks taken every day. they go to work encumbered by the weight of :
- citites that don't respect them enough to pay them properly and see that they have proper medical insurance they can afford;
- watching all the stress, threats and paperwork done last night on hours of overtime is walking the streets like free men;
- knowing those hours aren't paid as overtime because they probably had to go to court on their day off and that time now prevents OT
- repeatedly putting thier life at risk for someone who hates them, and ones who call for help expecting them to just arrest the drunk, not the caller with their 50 traffic warrants
- standing in pouring rain for hours at an accident, and watch drivers continually honk their horns and get frustrated because they can't turn right. nevermind that they just pulled out a mother who died and her baby on her lap was decapitated...but these drivers just shout "why is the street blocked! and Why don't you just do your job!!"
- carrying around the memories of their fallen brothers. The ones who died as heroes on duty, and the ones who could no longer live with the nightmares in their head this job brings, and chose to die without honor....or media....or even the care and concern of the city they died for.
- the hyperviligance to consistently be at watch, to always be ready at a moments notice no matter what situation they are in...to take the life of another if necessary, or to sacrifice their own.
If you aren't a Cop Family, and don't have the privilege of having one in your family I challenge you...
Remember next time you see an Officer to think about what his life is like before you stand in judgement. Could you do it? I know I couldn't, my job is difficult and I am not the one in uniform carrying the gun.
Does he seem rude or cold? He doesn't know you, could he think you have a gun hiding in your lap just waiting to shoot him in the face when he approached your window? Happened to several Officers in this country last year..... Does he seem angry? Has he just left a child abuse and molestation call where a father was beating and molesting his 4 yr old child? Would that make you angry, is an Officer less human than you? They stay pretty proffessional despite the horrors and trauma they look at and deal with every day.
So when I hear people disrespect and ridicule these men and women who choose every day to go out there for us....it makes me sick. My pet peeve? When Christians get upset at Officers for enforcing the law they just chose to break. Don't even get me started....I may have to open up a can...
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Passions and Peaves
My 2 Passions are confoundly simple...
One is to educate people on the truth of abortion. Being active in prayer and deed to do whatever I can to bring an end to the murder of our next generations. The fact that we as a nation are the second largest abortion providers next to China is staggering. Here in my little county in Texas we had 8000 abortions in a year!! Now if we had that number of children die of disease, or were blown up in a bombing we would have 100 committees and activists marching, new laws being written, an entire new security division at the cost of billions of dollars being created....... look at what happened when 3000 innocent people were killed on 9-11. I can't understand why the death of a human being only holds value if we can touch them.
I once believed the lie we all are told. When I was very young I became pregnant and I was told (by my doctor) that since I was less than 3 months along that "it was not a child only tissue...like an appendix". Once I made the decision to have an abortion, I discovered that was not true. I have had surgery on my body to fix something or remove something and it did not leave me emotionally scarred like killing my child did. That decision affected many aspects of my life and every relationship I had for many years.
I am very aware that we need to step up our support and provide alternative solutions for these ladies that cannot afford to have a child, or simply do not want one. But choosing to take the child's life should never be a solution. Matter of fact if you kill a pregnant woman intentionally or by accident you will be charged with the death of her unborn child the same as you would for the mother's death. So how can that be law, but when the mother decides to kill her child, that's OK??!! The argument on having an abortion due to medical conditions and rape only account for 2% at the most of the abortions performed in the US. I do not stand in judgement of women who have made that choice, like I mentioned - I made that choice once myself. I believe there needs to be education for all of us including the fathers in these situations on what abortion really is. I honestly think women would choose another option if they knew the truth.
January is the Sanctity Of Life month. I have not heard much about it or viewed many posts about it, maybe we are asleep at the wheel again. There are lots of organizations that work tirelessly for the innocent, I am very grateful for eveything they do. What will change this horrific practice here is when we VOTE! My biggest peave in this passion is that I hear all kinds of people talk about the issue, even get involved on some level to do something about it...but when it comes to doing the most important thing of all they don't even bother to show up!! In most elections only 10-20% of the population shows up to vote!! Find out what the candidates stand for...then vote based upon those facts! I don't care what political party it is...all of them have their good and bad points but when it comes to a matter of life and death...your vote counts!! Especially as women! You should read the history on when women began to ask for the right to vote! Many were beaten and tortured, some even killed...just so we as women in this country would have the right to vote. Use your right!!
I encourage you, please find a local organization you can help with. I volunteer at our local pregnancy center and I help with our local chapter of Bound4Life which is really an awesome group. If you want more info shoot me an email. Most of all educate yourself on the facts and the truth on abortion. There is lots of info and even video footage if you can take it on how abortions are performed. Once you have looked at all the facts and you still think we should have the right to kill our children if we want to...I would really love the opportunity to sit down over coffee with you and discuss it further. Because after all, it is a matter of life.. and death.
Well, I think I'll write about my second passion and it's peaves next time.....or my blog may turn into a book! LOL
One is to educate people on the truth of abortion. Being active in prayer and deed to do whatever I can to bring an end to the murder of our next generations. The fact that we as a nation are the second largest abortion providers next to China is staggering. Here in my little county in Texas we had 8000 abortions in a year!! Now if we had that number of children die of disease, or were blown up in a bombing we would have 100 committees and activists marching, new laws being written, an entire new security division at the cost of billions of dollars being created....... look at what happened when 3000 innocent people were killed on 9-11. I can't understand why the death of a human being only holds value if we can touch them.
I once believed the lie we all are told. When I was very young I became pregnant and I was told (by my doctor) that since I was less than 3 months along that "it was not a child only tissue...like an appendix". Once I made the decision to have an abortion, I discovered that was not true. I have had surgery on my body to fix something or remove something and it did not leave me emotionally scarred like killing my child did. That decision affected many aspects of my life and every relationship I had for many years.
I am very aware that we need to step up our support and provide alternative solutions for these ladies that cannot afford to have a child, or simply do not want one. But choosing to take the child's life should never be a solution. Matter of fact if you kill a pregnant woman intentionally or by accident you will be charged with the death of her unborn child the same as you would for the mother's death. So how can that be law, but when the mother decides to kill her child, that's OK??!! The argument on having an abortion due to medical conditions and rape only account for 2% at the most of the abortions performed in the US. I do not stand in judgement of women who have made that choice, like I mentioned - I made that choice once myself. I believe there needs to be education for all of us including the fathers in these situations on what abortion really is. I honestly think women would choose another option if they knew the truth.
January is the Sanctity Of Life month. I have not heard much about it or viewed many posts about it, maybe we are asleep at the wheel again. There are lots of organizations that work tirelessly for the innocent, I am very grateful for eveything they do. What will change this horrific practice here is when we VOTE! My biggest peave in this passion is that I hear all kinds of people talk about the issue, even get involved on some level to do something about it...but when it comes to doing the most important thing of all they don't even bother to show up!! In most elections only 10-20% of the population shows up to vote!! Find out what the candidates stand for...then vote based upon those facts! I don't care what political party it is...all of them have their good and bad points but when it comes to a matter of life and death...your vote counts!! Especially as women! You should read the history on when women began to ask for the right to vote! Many were beaten and tortured, some even killed...just so we as women in this country would have the right to vote. Use your right!!
I encourage you, please find a local organization you can help with. I volunteer at our local pregnancy center and I help with our local chapter of Bound4Life which is really an awesome group. If you want more info shoot me an email. Most of all educate yourself on the facts and the truth on abortion. There is lots of info and even video footage if you can take it on how abortions are performed. Once you have looked at all the facts and you still think we should have the right to kill our children if we want to...I would really love the opportunity to sit down over coffee with you and discuss it further. Because after all, it is a matter of life.. and death.
Well, I think I'll write about my second passion and it's peaves next time.....or my blog may turn into a book! LOL
Saturday, January 14, 2012
A matter of Lerning
I know what you're thinkin...this girl cannot spell, bless her lil heart. Actually I can spell fairly well. and as I mused about what to title my blogs I decided to use a play on what I consider my two favorite things. Being a Lerner and a Learner. Bit confused? My married last name is "Lerner" and I consider myself a Learner. Yep, that should splain it all perfectly.
I am a writer in my mind, it's just taking the time to put words on paper or on "e paper" as I am doing now. I have books and videos all written in my head and now I want to start laying some outline down on here to keep the process flowing before I begin to completely lose my focus! I struggle with journaling too so I hope to use this cool little tool to help me that as well. I read a few blogs and it seems that is what they are mostly, a journal of sorts. I have some high goals this year under the generic heading of self improvement, and I want to start with what has eternal purposes more than the temporary ones.
Thus the beginning of Lerning...working on the rebuilding of being a Learned Lerner that disciplines herself to write it down!
Yep, since it is now 2 am I think this is a good start. I am going to date these to and keep myself accountable. If you are reading this, I can always use another reminderer...lol
I am a writer in my mind, it's just taking the time to put words on paper or on "e paper" as I am doing now. I have books and videos all written in my head and now I want to start laying some outline down on here to keep the process flowing before I begin to completely lose my focus! I struggle with journaling too so I hope to use this cool little tool to help me that as well. I read a few blogs and it seems that is what they are mostly, a journal of sorts. I have some high goals this year under the generic heading of self improvement, and I want to start with what has eternal purposes more than the temporary ones.
Thus the beginning of Lerning...working on the rebuilding of being a Learned Lerner that disciplines herself to write it down!
Yep, since it is now 2 am I think this is a good start. I am going to date these to and keep myself accountable. If you are reading this, I can always use another reminderer...lol
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