Friday Flashbacks

Since I'm taking a blogging break, I thought I'd share some of my favorite entries, perhaps each week on Friday...


Things I've Heard Around Town Lately
I should do another entry like this...I hear lots of crazy things!

The Hope in a Tree
One of my favorite poems I've written 

Morality or Bigotry  
On whether Kathy Griffin is funny or morally bankrupt...

Where am I?

For now,

I'm taking a break from blogging,

As I learn more about me...

...and more about my Savior, 

His Grace, His Justice, His Will;

Him.

I'll be back in October!

If the good Lord wills it.

Monday Musings: The Positive Edition

I’ve been listening to Joyce Meyer…

• Think on Purpose (even if it’s not true, if you believe it, it’s true for you.) 

• Replace All Negative Thoughts (you really can control what you think, so choose positive thoughts!) 

• Like Yourself (you’ll never get beyond what you think about yourself.) 

• Accept the Fact that God Loves You (and you can’t change that, no matter what you did or what you do.) 

• Miracles Come in Cans (not can’ts…I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who gives me Strength.)

One final thought from me:

• Freedom Tastes Sweet (much better than any cookie or candy bar.)

Two Cent Tuesday...and the two sides of the coin

In a controversial debate, both sides feel abused, maligned, picked on…if you listen to the comments and complaints, they are each saying much the same thing.

Both sides are fellow humans with passions and feelings, and should be treated as such.

Both sides feel they are as right as right can be, and that the other side couldn’t be more wrong.

Sometimes you have to accept that certain people are not going to like you for their own reasons, and you won’t be able to change that.

There are those, on both sides of the coin, who recognize that you don’t have to agree with someone to still like and respect them.   Those people are few and far in-between.

Folks on both sides of the coin can get self-righteous and downright mean when faced with opposition.  

Most of the time, both sides have some very heart-felt reasons for their stance. 

Arguing, name-calling, back-biting, anger:   None of these things help either side, ever.

If you can’t talk to the other side of the coin without the above, walking away is the best thing you can do.

No one can live a perfect life…don’t take it too personally when you’re called a hypocrite by the other side of the coin.  They are making mistakes and bad choices, too.   Everyone does, and theirs will show up eventually.

If, at some point, you realize you’re wrong, say you’re wrong.

Don’t compromise your convictions to end harassment for your beliefs.  Walking away is the better option.    If you know you’re right, you don’t have to defend yourself against those who would belittle you for your principles.   You won’t change them, anyway.

And lastly:  No matter how right you are, or even how much you try to stay neutral, there are those who will find fault with you, who will talk about you, and who won’t treat you the way they’d like to be treated.   It happens to everyone…

It was a Chick-fil-A Kind of Day

A lot of people ate at Chick-fil-A today.  There were lines all the way out to Cox Creek Parkway trying to get in the parking lot.
Once they got in the parking lot, there was still a wait.
 
When I stopped at 7 a.m., there were already several cars in line, but nothing like this.
Not only were both drive-through windows covered up, but the walk-up  window had a long line, as well.   Inside the mall was no less crowded.   Some people said they waited up to an hour to get their Chick-fil-A.

I've battled in my head all day what to write about this day, and I have decided just to speak from my heart...

I believe that I should stand up for what I believe.  I believe in the God of the Bible, and I agree with Mr. Cathy’s recent comments on the Biblical definition of marriage.   While the media and the “left” would have us believe that we, as Christians, are a minority, I do not necessarily believe that is so.

I ate at Chick-fil-A today to show my support to a Christian brother who stated his beliefs, after being asked, and received a lot of negative backlash about it.  So much of a backlash, in fact, that political figures tried to block the company from opening new stores, and city council members attempted to get others to sever ties with the chain.   That’s just not right.   Neither is wishing cancer on people who ate “chikin” today. 

Having said all that, I have finally decided that today, for me, will not be about arguing who is right, nor about pushing back when you’ve been bullied for your beliefs (which happens to both sides of the nugget, by the way).   I am not undermining in any way the importance of freedom of speech, and I do believe Christians have been bullied by the liberal media.  Even though we took a stand against those who would demand tolerance but show us none, I think precious few of us understand just how important today was.   And if we didn't do it in love, prayerfully and with respect, we may have missed the most important thing of all.

As a Christian, it is my duty to spread the good news of Jesus.  Now days, in a world that has allowed the Bible to lose its authority, just about the only way for me to spread the good news is to live my life as Christ-like as possible.   It’s my responsibility to be prayed up, studied up, and looking up, so that if I’m questioned, I will have a good Biblical response for what I believe. 

It is not now, nor has it ever been, my responsibility to save another person from their sins.  That’s the Holy Spirit’s job.   If I do my job by planting seeds and living my life as the best example that I can, the Holy Spirit can do His job, and He knows best the way to reach each and every person who is willing to let Him in their hearts with His saving grace.

Sometimes in the face of opposition,

I can say it best when I say nothing at all.