Bringing Christ into Everyday Life

Too many of us only think about the Lord on Sunday morning. We wake up Sunday morning, shower, fix breakfast, relax a little, and then get ready for Church. We attend the service, visit with friends, sing, pray, put money in the collection plate, listen to the sermon, and then we get out of church, and go on with our lives. By Monday morning our minds are on bills, car repairs, miscellaneous expenses, work, and what we are going to have for supper that night. The rest of the work week is pretty much the same. On Saturday, we relax, maybe play golf, go to the movies, go to the club, spend time outdoors eat out, go to a special event like a fair or concert, or just stay home and watch TV. By Sunday morning, our minds are finally back to God again.

This is how it is for millions of Americans. We make hundreds of things more important than Christ. Worshipping the Lord is something we just do once a week. The rest of the time we are preoccupied with other things. It doesn't have to be that way. We can bring God into our everyday life. The obvious is attending Church activities throughout the week such as Wednesday night Bible study, men's and women's groups, volunteering for a Church charity. Then there are also daily Bible readings and such publications as The Upper Room and Our Daily Bread,  not to mention various Christian programs on TV. But to be real Christians we have to move beyond such things. These are only the trappings of Christianity, things to keep our mind to be focus on God. To be truly Christian one must practice the teachings of Jesus Christ every - single - day.

It's all right there in the Bible, Jesus tells us how to live. I probably do not need to tell people these Bible verses. Any Christian worth his or her mettle knows them, but here are a few anyway.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Matthew 22:37-39)

 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you: do ye even so to them: for this

is the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12).

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 6:1)

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you (Matthew 7:1-3)

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away (Matthew 5:42)

He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise (Luke 3:11).

Christians are to treat others as they wish to be treated, love God and love others, not judge, and give to the less fortunate. There are many other verses on how to behave oneself, but to me these are the core of being Christian. Too often we get caught up in trying to get ahead, of thinking about ourselves and the ones we care for that we are mean or disrespectful of others, treat the less fortunate poorly, and otherwise focus on ourselves. We are, to quote a George Harrison song all about, "I, Me, Mine." We forget what Jesus has told us to do.

I am as guilty of it as anyone. I become focused on work. I do things to make my own life more enjoyable and comfortable without a thought of others. I am overly proud of my accomplishments, I step on other people to further my own ambitions. Then I have to remind myself, that is not what Jesus has told me to do. Please make sure not to do the same.

Sin

Here I am, sitting in my living room, waiting to go to work. I woke up early, and since I didn't write a blog post over the weekend, I decided to write one this morning. Trying to think of a topic, I decided on sin. Specifically, I cannot stop sinning. Oh, I do not do drugs, nor do I drink to access anymore. I have no sexual perversions. Those are not issues. My problem is being kind to people. Now most people will tell you I am kind to everyone, but I know that is not true. I have this problem of wanting to treat people as they have treated me, and not as I want them to treat me. And in the past year, some people have not treated me very nice. And so my reaction is perhaps that of most people, I want to get even, to hurt them as they have hurt me. I have tried to control it, tried to forgive, but it is so very hard to.

So I turn to the Bible, and use it as my strength to get me past these hateful thoughts. The Bible has much to say on hate. Here are a few passages:

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice

(Ephesians 4:31)

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12).

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (Luke 6:27-28)

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15)

In addition to turning to the Bible, I turn to the Lord in prayer. By praying for those that have hurt me I am able to work through my hatred of them. I try to do this everyday. I really need to get into a routine of it, and with time I can get past my hatred of those that have wronged me.

Hatred is no doubt, my greatest sin, but I hope with time, clinging to the Bible and praying through to the Lord I can work my way through it.

When It is Hard to Forgive

Having been pagan for a couple of decades, forgiveness is something I struggle with. In Asatru, you did not have to forgive. Indeed, many saw forgiveness as a weakness.You were supposed to hold people accountable to their actions. That might sound all noble in that it made people responsible for what they do, but what it really came down to is getting even for every little slight, hurtful word, or even nasty look someone gave you. In the long run, I realized it was no way to live. Forgiveness is necessary to survive in the world, even when it is difficult to forgive. and yet I struggle with it.

Years of emotional abuse from a religious community that did not believe in forgiveness and lacked

compassion left me not just weary of forgiving those that wronged me, but also with thoughts of, "I must get even." Even now, years after returning to the fold, I find myself wanting to right some wrong done me. I had a recent situation in which an acquaintance was trying to take advantage of a young mother I care for. At the same time he was running me down, making jokes of me, and how I felt and thought. He somehow thought the very qualities that make me Christian, being kind, considerate, thoughtful, compassionate were weaknesses to be made fun of. The thing is he really doesn't know me, having not seen me in decades. In the end, I was a far stronger person that he ever will be. The situation is resolved now, not to my satisfaction, but the young mother is safe. Still, a part of me wants to hurt this guy in ways that are unimaginable, and put him through the same pain he did me. I had to force myself to forgive him, and to much lesser degree to forgive her for believing him.

There are many other situations like that one in the past in which I found it hard to forgive the people involved. Somehow though, I found the strength to forgive, and it does take strength to forgive someone.  It is far easier to brood over some wrong done you, to plot revenge, sometimes even act on it. If someone is saying bad things about you, then it is so much easier to say bad things about them, than to just forgive them and move on. Forgiveness means controlling one's feelings, thoughts, and actions. And that is why it takes strength to forgive. It is not easy to forgive. It goes against human instinct which is to fight back.

Jesus was very clear on forgiving others. Indeed, we can not expect to be forgiven by him without forgiving others. This from the Lord's Prayer:

"And forgive us our tresspasses, as we also have forgiven our trespassers (Matthew 6:12)"

He had much else to say about forgiveness:

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins (Matthew 6:14-15)."

"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times (Mathew 18: 21-22)"

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37)"

These are only three of the many, many passages on forgiveness in the Bible. If we are to expect to go to Heaven, we must forgive. But forgiving has its benefits in this world too. Forgiving others actually makes us experience less anxiety, hostility, and depression as well as lowers our blood pressure, and improves our immune system according to some studies. As for myself, I will probably have to struggle with forgiveness the rest of my life. Luckily, it is not in my nature to be a vindictive person anyway. Whatever, bad habits of not forgiving I picked up were while I was pagan. But I will forever have to guard against not forgiving others. As a Christian I must forgive! The Bible tells me so.

My (Second) Baptism

Yesterday, Sunday, July 29, 2018 I was baptized for the second time, this time as an adult knowing what I was in for. A little story here, I was baptized by sprinkling at age nine into the New Hope United Methodist Church. It was a little country church in a community known as Fort Henry about five miles west of Huntsville, MO. I went through confirmation classes, and for the next 15 years I was a Christian. I taught Sunday School, and at one point as a teen I thought about being a minister. But after high school I drifted away, but remained a Believer. But then amongst the worst things that can happen to a young man that is just starting out happened, my father died after a four year bought of cancer. I turned on God and the Church. In three years I was pagan, and years later I became a writer of pagan books. But God had a plan, slowly he showed me the flaws of what I believed, and guided me back to Christ. The turning point came while I was writing on ethics, and it occured to me that the Great Commandment and the Golden Rule were the answer to all my problems.

I started attending Church again. My own Church had closed years before so I attended Huntsville United Methodist Church. I knew most everyone there as I had grown up around them and was warmly welcomed. I never spoke a word of my pagan past. Then at my first Communion after returning to the Church, I accepted in my mind Jesus Christ as my Savior. I continued attending Church and slowly opened up about my life of idolatry. No one batted an eye, I was accepted with love and kindness. I was asked to be on the Admin Council. I hardly missed a Sunday. When Reverend Mike White became our pastor he preached often about the importance of baptism. One Sunday after Church I mentioned being baptized again. Rev. Mike is well awake of my pagan past, and was at the time, and said he thought given my past it would be a good idea.

And that brings us to yesterday. It started out as any Sunday, save I slept later than usual. I got up and prepared for Church. I came early as I had promised Matt, who usually runs the video screens I would do it to give him a break. That way he could for once sit and enjoy the service and not fret about getting the right hymn on the screens, It was Communion Sunday, my favorite service of the Ordinary Days ( a time when there are no major Church holidays). I went through the service doing my "job" and took Communion. After Church I ran to Dollar General after relaxing at home a bit, and then to Walmart to pick up some things, and finally to Taco Bell to grab something to eat. Once home, I composed a letter to a friend which I still have not decided whether to send as it is a touchy issue. And then fearing I would be late, I left for Rev, Mike and his wife Linda's beautiful home on Lake Nehai northwest of Salisbury, Mo. I made it there with time to spare, and slowly members of my Church family showed up.

Then the time arrived for the rites to begin. Another church member, Diane was also getting baptized, so it was quite an event for the church, Rev. Mike gave a short sermon on baptism, we sang hymns, and then Diane and I went out in the lake with Rev. Mike to be baptized. The water was at first cold, and I am no fan of water not being a good swimmer. Rev. Mike baptized me first. He had me cross my arms, inhale, and hold my noise. And then he plunged me underwater. Usually I close my eyes under water, but I left them open, and the feeling was exhilarating. I came up and had the most amazing feeling. It was not just the rush of the water, but the feeling I had been cleansed of my sins. It was am amazing feeling after a year of dealing with a whole host of problems ranging from rumors about my pagan past among other things, a prostate infection, a brief return to drinking, and trying to withdraw from an addictive prescription medication. All that along with issues among my circle of friends had brought bitterness, and some hatred or those that had wronged me. Now, though I was able to let that go. It was God that helped me make it through all of that, and now God had brought it full circle, and brought me back at last to Christ.

I feel like a new man. It has been a long process. I went from being a struggling writer to having a descent job since I returned to the Church. My family is healthy and doing better than they have. My circle of friends is smaller, but a much happier circle. All this I owe to God, and my choice to return to Christ. If you are a Believer, and have never been baptized, I strongly encourage you to do so. It is a life changer.

Addiction and God

Some of my friends have been addicts, some still are. Personally, I was addicted to alcohol at one point in my life. Many people do not understand addictions, and say silly things like, "Why don't they just stop?" Well, it is not as simple as that. Addiction usually starts out as a way of self medicating to control depression or forget some trauma in one's life. With truly addictive drugs like meth, heroin, cocaine this is truly dangerous as they are physically as well as psychologically addictive. Essentially, the mind and body will not function properly without them once addicted. So long after one is past their depression or trauma that started them using to begin with the need for the drug continues. People that have never done drugs may never understand, and therefore really have no reason to comment. And addicts are great at denial, no they are not addicted to the drug they can quit at anytime, they just do the drug to get things done, or all my friends do drugs are some of the common

excuses. The sad thing is they will put drugs ahead of everything else, friends, children, jobs, homes, and even God. They will compromise their morals while still clinging to some image of being Christian. I have seen kind and caring individuals turn into monsters that mock the non-user and even turn on those that truly care for them in favor of druggie friends whose only drive is to do more drugs. They will turn to bad people in order to get more drugs that will simply use them for sex, money, or anything else they can get off them. Any attempt to try to convince the addict they are an addict in need of help is likely to be met with hostility. It doesn't need to be that way. God can do anything even help an addict during recovery. By praying for addicts, and once they see they have a problem getting them to pray for their own recovery we can help them get back to a life of clean living.  Once sweet, loving, and kind individuals can return to being that again. Many addicts that are truly kind wage a war within themselves trying to remain kind and caring while fighting the selfishness and cruelty that comes with drug addiction. They do cruel things which they regret, and then try to make up for them with acts of kindness. Somehow the two never balance out with the bad outweighing the good. What does the Bible have to say about addiction?

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7)

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:4)

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

As you see, the Bible over and over and over tells us that God can help us overcome temptations of

the flesh. It also tells us giving into such temptations take us away from Christ. If we are to be Godly, caring individuals we must step away from such temptations as meth, cocaine, heroin, alcohol, and turn back to God. No one should place drugs above their sons and daughters, their jobs, their homes, their lives, their God. People are meant to love God, their friends, their family, and especially their children. Drugs take them away from all these people. I do not judge the addict. It is hard to stop, even harder to recognize one has a problem. Usually one has to hit rock bottom, and that is painful for anyone that truly loves them to see. Most addicts will see me as being self righteous with this post. That is the addiction talking for what I say is true, and I would hope that on some level they see a need to return to a life of sanity, to a life of caring for their children, their friends, their family, and turn back to God.  But until the time that my addict friends realize they have a problem and seek recovery, I will pray to God that they see their way to the other side of addiction, and that God lets them know I will be waiting for them on the other side.

The Importance of Fellowship

I try to make it a point to attend both Sunday Services at Huntsville United Methodist Church in Huntsville, Missouri as well as Wednesday night Bible Study. I feel worship and studying with others helps reinforce my faith. Many times I forget how Christians are to behave. I fail to forgive people or to love them as Jesus told us to do. I find it all too easy to hate those that have wronged the ones I love. Attending services reminds me of what I should be doing.  But in this day and age, many have made the church second to family outings, vacations, school activities, or sports. Guaranteed on the day after high school prom or a day when some sports tournament is going on church attendance will be lower. For many people Church is something they attend when nothing else is going on. This is not how it should be. Only once have I not attended Church in the past year because something else was happening, and that was to help a friend move. All other times I have missed I was too ill to attend.

So why has Church become secondary to other things? That is anyone's guess. Personally, I always try to make time for Church. I have turned down invitations to do other things so I could attend. It therefore mystifies me why someone would not attend church.  I have had late Saturday nights when I did not get in until the wee hours and still got up and attended Church. And I have turned down invitations to do other things as they were happening when I should be in Church. To me, the most important activity of the week is fellowship with my Church family. This is what the Bible has to say on fellowship:

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day

drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24–25)

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ( Colossians 3:16)

Whether one chooses to attend Church or not is his or her own choice, but the Bible is clear on the importance of fellowship. Being with our Church family makes us stronger in our faith in my opinion. It lifts us up when we are down. It inspires us. It gives us food for thought. And I think it makes us better Christians

Anger is not Righteous

I can, at times be an angry man. When I was younger, I was prone to angry outbursts, sometimes outright temper tantrums. Since I have grown older I have learned self control but that does not mean I am not still angry at times. I have merely learned to control it. If you notice I am being stoic it means I am brooding, and you best steer clear. It is a demon I have to learn to fight because being angry is very Unchristian. The Bible is very clear on anger:

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (James 1:19-20)

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. (Matthew 5:22)

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. (Psalm 37:8)

The key to controlling anger is to be quick to forgive. Most of time when we are angry it is because

someone has done something we feel it is wrong. Whether the wrong was done ourselves, or done to someone else it is best to forgive. It does not matter if someone has hurt us or someone we care about,  or the sheer magnitude of the sin we must forgive. The Bible tells us to forgive others, and how often we should.

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21-22)

Sometimes it is hard to forgive. But it is something we must learn to do if we are to control anger.