Suburban Syndrome
I have had the bones for this post rattling around in my head for months, maybe even longer. There are many ideas for writing that I consider, most of them counter-cultural and potentially controversial. Like most, I don't particularly LIKE to be controversial, but just believing everything the Bible says (which I do) is controversial these days, so I tend to ponder and pray and make sure it is something the Lord wants me to cover before I plunge in. I pray this message will be received in the manner of love that it was written in.
In Titus 2, the Lord commands older women (like me) to teach younger women, or even older women who have never learned this model from the Bible, to be sober (sound mind, disciplined), to love their husbands and children, to be discreet (self-controlled, temperate), chaste (innocent, modest, pure), keepers at HOME, obedient to their husbands, so that God's word is not blasphemed. Those verses bring a whole world of controversy and are things most women absolutely do not want to hear, and in a lot of instances refuse to hear, or obey, because culture will gladly defend their disobedience and rebellion; even the church will teach contrary to scripture regarding these issues. (which is why you follow the Bible - not a teacher, not a book's teaching, not a pastor - all are fallible.)
I decided a long time ago that because I have to stand before God someday and answer for my actions, it is a lot safer to just believe what God's word says without trying to trivialize or negate it by whatever means, including saying it is not relevant today because our culture is different, women had different roles back then, blah blah blah infinitum. That sounds scary to me, because God told us in His Word that He never changes, and neither does His word. I didn't invent these truths; I just follow them. And every Christian woman should as well; there is no legitimate, scripturally defendable reason not to.
Which leads me to this post. Suburban syndrome. A phrase I made up to describe what can be viewed as somewhat of a lemming effect in the lives of many modern Christians. For those not familiar with the term lemming, it is a mouse-like rodent who is known to blindly follow other lemmings without thinking for himself, resulting in tragedy like mass drowning.
We don't have to live in a suburb to have Suburban Syndrome, although it makes it easier to be infected with it if we do. What are the symptoms of Suburban Syndrome? In the suburbs, houses more or less all look alike. They don't care if they aren't different, nor do they want to be different. Similarly, to have this syndrome is to have such a desire to fit in that one is willing to ignore scripture, willfully disobey scripture, or act in ways that could be considered foolish or unwise, if not outright sinful. It is a life of always choosing the popular path, thought, opinion, or fad.
I have witnessed so many "Christians" lately defending things that are blatantly and irrefutably forbidden in scripture, or refusing to do things expressly commanded in scripture. It seems we have adopted an "if it doesn't work for me, I can ignore it" view of all of the Bible. Unfortunately for those people, the Lord hasn't changed; his Word IS indeed still valid, and he did mean for us to obey it, even in this enlightened (sarcasm) day and age. When we don't follow His plan, our lives are a mess and our families fall apart, including our marriages; we are stressed, depressed, and wondering what the heck is wrong. Not that doing things the Lord's way is the key to a problem-free life, but at least it brings resident peace that lasts throughout the storms, and confidence that disobedience is not the root of the problems. A clear conscience before the Lord is invaluable. The apostle Paul, Luke, and Peter all spoke of living with clear consciences. We can do it. We should do it.
Things that seem to be negotiable/optional when Christians have Suburban Syndrome:
1. Not only can women (wives) with children work and NOT be keepers of their home AT home, but they can be the undisputed bosses and heads of their households. (Refer back to Titus 2:3-5 for what God thinks about this)
2. Modesty. Not talking about being covered from head to toe. Just a minimum standard because when God says we are to be modest, He MEANT something. It literally means that there are things that should not be seen while wearing clothing. And that there are certain items that shouldn't be worn in public. He isn't referring to not walking around naked. He is referring to the clothing we wear.
And while on the subject, in regards to clothing, you cannot get any skimpier than a bikini, aka bra and underwear. There is nothing that you can wear smaller or more revealing than a bikini. So if God MEANS something when He instructs us to be modest, HOW can we defend wearing something that can't get any less modest? Seriously, has anyone ever considered that? Yet Christians will defend this to their deaths because culture accepts it. That's always a red flag for me, as it should be for anyone trying to follow Christ's way, because culture didn't like Him and it shouldn't like us, and vice-versa. I would wear a bikini for my husband IN PRIVATE where there was no one else around.
3. Women pastors and teachers exercising authority over men. In God's hierarchy, women are not the spiritual heads - not in the home, and not in the church (1 Cor 13:34-35). All of Jesus' disciples were men, and the women in scripture that people use to defend women having authority over men in the church never actually taught doctrine or exercised that kind of authority over men. We can spread the gospel and fill support roles. We are not supposed to be preaching to or teaching men.
4. Sexual Immorality - Shacking up with premarital sex, affairs, porn, and homosexuality seem to be acceptable as long as we don't have an objection personally. There isn't just one scripture against these things. Read the New Testament without skipping the stuff you don't like. It's all there.
That was the big things God has laid on my heart. Believe me, I know that a lot of people absolutely abhor this message. At one time I did too. I still don't like it when people say things I know deep down are true but I'm not listening or obeying. But I pray that God will show us all the truths in his Word and that we will have ears to hear. That we will read the Bible and believe what it says without listening to fallible man's interpretation of it. I love you all.
Debbie
Life as the mother of four children and four grandchildren. Homeschooling the two still at home. Things that interest me - reading, herbs and essential oils, gardening, natural chemical-free living, and continually learning how to be a better wife.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Messianic Christianity - false teaching?
This will be my second attempt to write this post, having accidentally deleted my first draft. But that's okay, because the second draft is usually better anyway. The Bible warns us that false teachers and heretical teaching will abound. I have found this to be true, because even in mainstream Christianity inaccurate and often detrimental teachings are common.
Just for the record, I believe every single word of the Bible was inspired by God, both Old and New Testaments. I don't try to dismiss certain scriptures as outdated and not applicable today. I just believe what is written and that's what makes me less afraid to stand before God on Judgment Day, knowing I haven't twisted His Word to justify some sin of mine.
Because I believe the entire Word of God, both Old and New Testaments, I have concluded that a somewhat popular movement is very cultish and even possibly heretical. It is called various things by its followers, namely "Hebrew Roots Movement", "Torah-observant", and "Messianic Christianity."
The following is an informational excerpt from tabletmag.com:
'These are non-Jews who have no intention of converting to Judaism yet follow laws, customs, beliefs, and practices commonly associated with Judaism. And while they do believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the messiah - though in these circle he goes exclusively by his Hebrew name, Yeshua, they are EMPHATICALLY not Christian.
They do not celebrate Christmas or Easter. They do celebrate Passover and Sukkot. They do not display crosses or other traditional Christian symbols, but will wear the Star of David and post mezuzahs on their doors.
The movement's central belief is that the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible) is still binding - that God, or Yahweh as they call him, did not intend for Yeshua's appearance to render irrelevant the lessons of the Old Testament, whose rules and instructions remain valid. Specific theology varies from ministry to ministry and person to person. Most strictly observe the Jewish Sabbath, and do not eat pork, shellfish, or other foods prohibited in the Torah, and the vast majority believe that women should keep their hair covered and not wear pants. Some fulfill mitzvoth (the collection of 613 commandments or precepts in the Old Testament Law and additional ones of rabbinic origin) that aren't explicitly stated or detailed in the Torah, such as praying the rabbinic liturgy and observing Hanukkah.' (end of quote)
This is not meant to be a comprehensive study on Messianic Christianity, but an introduction to a decidedly false teaching that you can explore more on your own if interested. There are scriptures that address these beliefs to some extent, as many of the first believers after Christ's Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost were Jewish. But to accept this movement as heretical, you first have to believe that the ENTIRE Bible is God's inspired word, both Old and New Testaments (which it doesn't seem they do). Therefore, Paul's teachings and admonitions are not only relevant and God-inspired, but of utmost importance when deciding if Messianic Christianity is a false, if not heretical, teaching.
Two of the things that disturb me the most is the dangerous sense of superiority exuded that they are the only true believers on Earth, and also the fact that they don't feel a need to spread the Gospel. The first has its roots in Pride, which the Bible makes clear is abhorred by God. It also ignores the entire teachings of Grace and Salvation by Faith in the New Testament. The second disobeys a direct command by Jesus as he ascends into heaven to spread the gospel.
However, Messianic Christians do feel called to minister in the land of the Jews, Israel. But since you can't proselytize (attempt to convert) in Israel, this is not fulfilling the mandate to spread the gospel. All they can do is labor in the vineyards, which is a sure help to the owners, but not so much to their souls.
Christ made it clear that a new thing was coming, a better thing. This better thing is known as the New Covenant or New Testament. It's "new" because it replaced something "old". Messianic believers do not recognize the New Covenant, so I can only assume they do not fall under the dispensation of grace, which means they are probably not truly saved or born again. I hope for their sakes this is not the case.
God made it clear through Paul's New Testament writings that anyone under the law will be judged according to the law, and therefore will be condemned because no one can keep it perfectly. It only takes one slip to be guilty of failing to keep all of the law (James 2:10). While Christ was on earth, he taught the Law and kept the feasts. This is because the New Covenant didn't take effect until after his resurrection, so he was being obedient to His Father while the earth still labored under the Old Covenant.
Then the Lord chose the apostle Paul to be the bearer of the vast majority of New Testament teachings. "Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead." Galatians 1:1 Paul, chosen by God to teach us about the Law and Grace, makes it ABUNDANTLY clear that the law was a schoolmaster to teach us and show us how sinful we are. It awakens our conscience. "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith came, we are NO LONGER under a schoolmaster."
That is all the Law can do. It didn't save the Old Testament people, and it can't save us. If it could, Christ would have come for nothing, because we would have already had a means to salvation and eternal life. In fact, for those who place themselves willingly under the Law, they are actually cursed by God. "Cursed is every one who doesn't continue in ALL things which are written in the book of the Law. Gal 3:10"
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (being Jewish) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (being Gentile), but (he made) a new creation (neither Jew nor Gentile) Gal 6:15." Also, "no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, because the just shall live by faith." We are actually heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant, which is a covenant of faith because Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (Gal 3:7).
Nowhere in the New Testament (New Covenant) are we taught that we inherited the Mosaic Law. "For these are two covenants; one from the mount Sinai (Mosaic Law) which gives birth to bondage, but we are the children of promise Gal 4:24, 28." "For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no more by promise; but God gave it (the inheritance) to Abraham by promise."
In fact, Paul was so concerned about the Jewish Christian's clinging to the Law that he questioned their salvation (Gal 4:11). Paul never spoke of the Law except to link it to bondage, to ineffectual living, to war with the Spirit, and to past times before the better thing came (Christ and the Holy Spirit).
This movement also believes in observing all the Old Testament feasts. Regarding that is the scripture Romans 14:5-6, which also addresses not eating certain foods - "One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God."
Followers of Messianic Christianity have obviously chosen to ignore or discount most of the New Testament, which can only be because they don't believe the apostles were chosen and called by Christ himself. But I do. And I think it is dangerous to not believe the New Testament is as valid and as inspired as the Old Testament.
I wouldn't want the apostle Paul questioning my salvation because it appeared I wanted to live under the Law. I want to live according to the freedom Christ brought, under the power of the Holy Spirit he sent to help us live obediently. Freedom in Christ does not mean freedom to sin. I do not desire to live a life of sin. But I do desire Christ's freedom.
And that's why I would never, not ever, choose to follow the false teachings of Messianic Christianity.
Just for the record, I believe every single word of the Bible was inspired by God, both Old and New Testaments. I don't try to dismiss certain scriptures as outdated and not applicable today. I just believe what is written and that's what makes me less afraid to stand before God on Judgment Day, knowing I haven't twisted His Word to justify some sin of mine.
Because I believe the entire Word of God, both Old and New Testaments, I have concluded that a somewhat popular movement is very cultish and even possibly heretical. It is called various things by its followers, namely "Hebrew Roots Movement", "Torah-observant", and "Messianic Christianity."
The following is an informational excerpt from tabletmag.com:
'These are non-Jews who have no intention of converting to Judaism yet follow laws, customs, beliefs, and practices commonly associated with Judaism. And while they do believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the messiah - though in these circle he goes exclusively by his Hebrew name, Yeshua, they are EMPHATICALLY not Christian.
They do not celebrate Christmas or Easter. They do celebrate Passover and Sukkot. They do not display crosses or other traditional Christian symbols, but will wear the Star of David and post mezuzahs on their doors.
The movement's central belief is that the Torah (the first 5 books of the Bible) is still binding - that God, or Yahweh as they call him, did not intend for Yeshua's appearance to render irrelevant the lessons of the Old Testament, whose rules and instructions remain valid. Specific theology varies from ministry to ministry and person to person. Most strictly observe the Jewish Sabbath, and do not eat pork, shellfish, or other foods prohibited in the Torah, and the vast majority believe that women should keep their hair covered and not wear pants. Some fulfill mitzvoth (the collection of 613 commandments or precepts in the Old Testament Law and additional ones of rabbinic origin) that aren't explicitly stated or detailed in the Torah, such as praying the rabbinic liturgy and observing Hanukkah.' (end of quote)
This is not meant to be a comprehensive study on Messianic Christianity, but an introduction to a decidedly false teaching that you can explore more on your own if interested. There are scriptures that address these beliefs to some extent, as many of the first believers after Christ's Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost were Jewish. But to accept this movement as heretical, you first have to believe that the ENTIRE Bible is God's inspired word, both Old and New Testaments (which it doesn't seem they do). Therefore, Paul's teachings and admonitions are not only relevant and God-inspired, but of utmost importance when deciding if Messianic Christianity is a false, if not heretical, teaching.
Two of the things that disturb me the most is the dangerous sense of superiority exuded that they are the only true believers on Earth, and also the fact that they don't feel a need to spread the Gospel. The first has its roots in Pride, which the Bible makes clear is abhorred by God. It also ignores the entire teachings of Grace and Salvation by Faith in the New Testament. The second disobeys a direct command by Jesus as he ascends into heaven to spread the gospel.
However, Messianic Christians do feel called to minister in the land of the Jews, Israel. But since you can't proselytize (attempt to convert) in Israel, this is not fulfilling the mandate to spread the gospel. All they can do is labor in the vineyards, which is a sure help to the owners, but not so much to their souls.
Christ made it clear that a new thing was coming, a better thing. This better thing is known as the New Covenant or New Testament. It's "new" because it replaced something "old". Messianic believers do not recognize the New Covenant, so I can only assume they do not fall under the dispensation of grace, which means they are probably not truly saved or born again. I hope for their sakes this is not the case.
God made it clear through Paul's New Testament writings that anyone under the law will be judged according to the law, and therefore will be condemned because no one can keep it perfectly. It only takes one slip to be guilty of failing to keep all of the law (James 2:10). While Christ was on earth, he taught the Law and kept the feasts. This is because the New Covenant didn't take effect until after his resurrection, so he was being obedient to His Father while the earth still labored under the Old Covenant.
Then the Lord chose the apostle Paul to be the bearer of the vast majority of New Testament teachings. "Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead." Galatians 1:1 Paul, chosen by God to teach us about the Law and Grace, makes it ABUNDANTLY clear that the law was a schoolmaster to teach us and show us how sinful we are. It awakens our conscience. "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith came, we are NO LONGER under a schoolmaster."
That is all the Law can do. It didn't save the Old Testament people, and it can't save us. If it could, Christ would have come for nothing, because we would have already had a means to salvation and eternal life. In fact, for those who place themselves willingly under the Law, they are actually cursed by God. "Cursed is every one who doesn't continue in ALL things which are written in the book of the Law. Gal 3:10"
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision (being Jewish) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (being Gentile), but (he made) a new creation (neither Jew nor Gentile) Gal 6:15." Also, "no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, because the just shall live by faith." We are actually heirs of the Abrahamic Covenant, which is a covenant of faith because Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (Gal 3:7).
Nowhere in the New Testament (New Covenant) are we taught that we inherited the Mosaic Law. "For these are two covenants; one from the mount Sinai (Mosaic Law) which gives birth to bondage, but we are the children of promise Gal 4:24, 28." "For if the inheritance is by the law, it is no more by promise; but God gave it (the inheritance) to Abraham by promise."
In fact, Paul was so concerned about the Jewish Christian's clinging to the Law that he questioned their salvation (Gal 4:11). Paul never spoke of the Law except to link it to bondage, to ineffectual living, to war with the Spirit, and to past times before the better thing came (Christ and the Holy Spirit).
This movement also believes in observing all the Old Testament feasts. Regarding that is the scripture Romans 14:5-6, which also addresses not eating certain foods - "One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God."
Followers of Messianic Christianity have obviously chosen to ignore or discount most of the New Testament, which can only be because they don't believe the apostles were chosen and called by Christ himself. But I do. And I think it is dangerous to not believe the New Testament is as valid and as inspired as the Old Testament.
I wouldn't want the apostle Paul questioning my salvation because it appeared I wanted to live under the Law. I want to live according to the freedom Christ brought, under the power of the Holy Spirit he sent to help us live obediently. Freedom in Christ does not mean freedom to sin. I do not desire to live a life of sin. But I do desire Christ's freedom.
And that's why I would never, not ever, choose to follow the false teachings of Messianic Christianity.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Update - Moving is......a process
I thought I would stop working for a bit and write a little update on our progress with the house and moving. The last two weeks have been a bit crazy, even for me. Actually, the last two or so years of my life have been either stressful, strenuous, trying, or crazy. That is definitely another story for another day. Thankfully, I have a faithful God who has proven that His peace is never far, if I am only willing to tap into it. I must admit, however, that I have fallen apart more in the last few weeks than I have in my entire life, no kidding. I have just about reached my limit of trials, tests, setbacks, issues, and drama. I am normally one of the calmest, un-angry (my word) people I know. Not lately. I mostly fall apart either by myself or around Jeff. I have been trying to hold it together around everyone else, although Amber and Josh seem to be fine-tuned to my moods and always know when I am having a bad day. They get HUGE credit because they have been my faithful assistants through it all.
At any rate, most of the projects we were in the middle of during the last update are either somewhat or mostly completed, but none of them are completely completed. We are very, very close to being done with the flooring, but last night we ran out of flooring for the living room, so off to town we go later today. I estimated the flooring based on the floor plans for the house, so something was obviously off. That's okay, because Amber blessed us with money to go on a much-needed date while we are in town. We have been neglecting that area more than we normally do, and are thankful and excited to get to spend non-working time together.
We got the tile laid in the small corner of our living room where our wood stove will go. Jeff did a really good job. I always have the job of grouting and sealing, but I haven't gotten to it yet. We will probably end up tiling the wall as well where the pipe will be, but he hasn't decided that for sure yet.
The only truck we currently have running is Jeff's small Nissan Frontier, short bed. This is the only thing we have been using to move our furniture to the new house. Slowly. One piece of large furniture at a time, with a couple boxes thrown in to complete the load. It seems that we aren't destined to be able to do anything easily, but that's life as I know it, so I am used to it. I try to just roll with the punches, but I must admit it is a part of the stress. We have our bed frame at the new house, the kitchen table of my mom's we were storing in our attic, our new-to-us sofa sleeper, a couple of wardrobes, a couple of desks, a couple of chests, and one kitchen cabinet from our other house. We have a LOT more left, and right now we have nowhere to store anything that goes outside.
Amber, Josh, and I have been ramping it up this past week, taking at least one load just about every day. Fortunately for us, our new house is only about 8 miles from our old house. Then, Jeff and I come back every evening after work for at least 2 hours to see what we can get done. I installed some new stainless steel shelves in our kitchen, hollow wall anchors and all. I was truly proud of myself because Jeff is normally the one to do all that.
I should say that he has been the one to do all that in the last five years, because at our other old house we lived in for 20+ years, I did just about every project alongside Jeff when we built the addition of a master bedroom/bath and extra bedroom. I bought and transported block 9 months pregnant, screwed and nailed walls, flooring, decking, crawled under and put up insulation with hangers, the whole caboodle. So I can do stuff, I just normally prefer to stick with my wifely/motherly duties.
So today, I am putting stuff away that we brought from the house, and Jeff is building a set of steps for our back deck. I have bruises on my legs from crawling up onto the deck (it's 5 feet off the ground), and I have almost twisted my ankle a couple of times jumping down at night when we are leaving, so I am glad for the addition of steps. I may have said several times that I was too old for this. Joshua is busy cutting firewood for back at the house, and Amber is back there cleaning and keeping the home fires burning. Jessie and Dylan are working on their camper, getting it ready for when they get married in January.
I hope everyone has a good day, and I am going back to listen to football on my Sirius and put stuff away. If you pray, Jeff and I would both appreciate prayers for peace and sanity.
Love you all,
Debbie
At any rate, most of the projects we were in the middle of during the last update are either somewhat or mostly completed, but none of them are completely completed. We are very, very close to being done with the flooring, but last night we ran out of flooring for the living room, so off to town we go later today. I estimated the flooring based on the floor plans for the house, so something was obviously off. That's okay, because Amber blessed us with money to go on a much-needed date while we are in town. We have been neglecting that area more than we normally do, and are thankful and excited to get to spend non-working time together.
We got the tile laid in the small corner of our living room where our wood stove will go. Jeff did a really good job. I always have the job of grouting and sealing, but I haven't gotten to it yet. We will probably end up tiling the wall as well where the pipe will be, but he hasn't decided that for sure yet.
The only truck we currently have running is Jeff's small Nissan Frontier, short bed. This is the only thing we have been using to move our furniture to the new house. Slowly. One piece of large furniture at a time, with a couple boxes thrown in to complete the load. It seems that we aren't destined to be able to do anything easily, but that's life as I know it, so I am used to it. I try to just roll with the punches, but I must admit it is a part of the stress. We have our bed frame at the new house, the kitchen table of my mom's we were storing in our attic, our new-to-us sofa sleeper, a couple of wardrobes, a couple of desks, a couple of chests, and one kitchen cabinet from our other house. We have a LOT more left, and right now we have nowhere to store anything that goes outside.
Amber, Josh, and I have been ramping it up this past week, taking at least one load just about every day. Fortunately for us, our new house is only about 8 miles from our old house. Then, Jeff and I come back every evening after work for at least 2 hours to see what we can get done. I installed some new stainless steel shelves in our kitchen, hollow wall anchors and all. I was truly proud of myself because Jeff is normally the one to do all that.
I should say that he has been the one to do all that in the last five years, because at our other old house we lived in for 20+ years, I did just about every project alongside Jeff when we built the addition of a master bedroom/bath and extra bedroom. I bought and transported block 9 months pregnant, screwed and nailed walls, flooring, decking, crawled under and put up insulation with hangers, the whole caboodle. So I can do stuff, I just normally prefer to stick with my wifely/motherly duties.
So today, I am putting stuff away that we brought from the house, and Jeff is building a set of steps for our back deck. I have bruises on my legs from crawling up onto the deck (it's 5 feet off the ground), and I have almost twisted my ankle a couple of times jumping down at night when we are leaving, so I am glad for the addition of steps. I may have said several times that I was too old for this. Joshua is busy cutting firewood for back at the house, and Amber is back there cleaning and keeping the home fires burning. Jessie and Dylan are working on their camper, getting it ready for when they get married in January.
I hope everyone has a good day, and I am going back to listen to football on my Sirius and put stuff away. If you pray, Jeff and I would both appreciate prayers for peace and sanity.
Love you all,
Debbie
Monday, December 5, 2016
Why it shouldn't anger you when Christians have biblical beliefs
If the atmosphere of today's society could get any more politically correct, I couldn't imagine it. I am thankful for the right we have to stand for what we believe, for what it's actually worth these days, even when those beliefs don't line up with mine. I'm glad that everyone can figure out what he thinks for himself and aren't made to adhere to any certain creed.
What I am addressing today is the scorn, anger, and even hate that is directed at Christians when we uphold traditional biblical beliefs that contradict popular socio-political thinking. I can understand in a way that us thinking certain things are wrong, even sinful, could offend those who don't agree with the Bible or its teachings.
However, when we are true, born-again Christians, we are SUPPOSED to hold every single word of the Bible as truth. If we fall prey to popular thinking and start to embrace certain things that the Bible makes clear are sin, then we are failing as Christians, or else we were never Christians to begin with. The Bible is our truth, and it is very, exceedingly, and abundantly clear on a lot of things.
Among those things are abortion, which God considers murder and equivalent to the sacrifices to Molech of old. Sexual perversion from God's clearly, unarguably established way (one man, one woman in covenant bond of marriage) is wrong. That means pre-marital sex and shacking up, post-marital affairs, pornography, lustful thoughts and daydreams and yes, homosexuality, is sinful. Not because I say so, or the preacher says so, but because the one true God, the creator of everything, says so, and He says so quite clearly (regardless of what some people try to argue) in His word (the Bible). And as a believer, I am supposed to agree with Him, even when and if I don't really agree with Him.
And that is why, if you don't believe in God, you shouldn't get mad at those of us who do when we believe what the Bible says. It's part of our job description. It is really kind of non-negotiable, even though a lot of "Christians" don't think so. When you read the Bible all the way through, study it, and take God at His word, there is no room left for argument, at least about the above-mentioned things.
Who you really don't agree with is God himself. And that's okay, because He gives us all a choice to accept Him and His truths or not. He wants willing followers. Just know that He has also established an end for those who ultimately reject Him, and refusal to believe in Him or that end (Hell) doesn't make them any less real, just like not believing in gravity will not save you from splattering on the pavement when you jump off the roof.
So, coming to terms with who you really have a beef with (God) will release you from the anger you feel towards us Christians when we just do what we are supposed to do- believe God and everything He has said. That way, we can just agree to disagree and still be friends. :)
Blessings,
Debbie
What I am addressing today is the scorn, anger, and even hate that is directed at Christians when we uphold traditional biblical beliefs that contradict popular socio-political thinking. I can understand in a way that us thinking certain things are wrong, even sinful, could offend those who don't agree with the Bible or its teachings.
However, when we are true, born-again Christians, we are SUPPOSED to hold every single word of the Bible as truth. If we fall prey to popular thinking and start to embrace certain things that the Bible makes clear are sin, then we are failing as Christians, or else we were never Christians to begin with. The Bible is our truth, and it is very, exceedingly, and abundantly clear on a lot of things.
Among those things are abortion, which God considers murder and equivalent to the sacrifices to Molech of old. Sexual perversion from God's clearly, unarguably established way (one man, one woman in covenant bond of marriage) is wrong. That means pre-marital sex and shacking up, post-marital affairs, pornography, lustful thoughts and daydreams and yes, homosexuality, is sinful. Not because I say so, or the preacher says so, but because the one true God, the creator of everything, says so, and He says so quite clearly (regardless of what some people try to argue) in His word (the Bible). And as a believer, I am supposed to agree with Him, even when and if I don't really agree with Him.
And that is why, if you don't believe in God, you shouldn't get mad at those of us who do when we believe what the Bible says. It's part of our job description. It is really kind of non-negotiable, even though a lot of "Christians" don't think so. When you read the Bible all the way through, study it, and take God at His word, there is no room left for argument, at least about the above-mentioned things.
Who you really don't agree with is God himself. And that's okay, because He gives us all a choice to accept Him and His truths or not. He wants willing followers. Just know that He has also established an end for those who ultimately reject Him, and refusal to believe in Him or that end (Hell) doesn't make them any less real, just like not believing in gravity will not save you from splattering on the pavement when you jump off the roof.
So, coming to terms with who you really have a beef with (God) will release you from the anger you feel towards us Christians when we just do what we are supposed to do- believe God and everything He has said. That way, we can just agree to disagree and still be friends. :)
Blessings,
Debbie
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Update: a liiiitle progress
Well, I can honestly say we have a whole lot going on in several different directions . My daughter just had her 4th baby, another daughter has a bridal shower this month and a wedding in January , and also everything related to our new house, which has me running and figuring just about every day . Some days my brain misfires a few times with the overwhelming -ness of it all .
We still haven't finished the floor in Joshua's bedroom , but we have all of the posts set for our first deck/porch. We have so much to do, we have to have multiple projects going at once. This is the deck off the laundry room door, and will go down into the yard opposite side of the forest. This side will be fenced for dogs and ducks.
We only have one day this weekend to work on it because we have an appointment Sunday. Something will get done , though .
The contractors didn't do something quite correctly , so we didn't pass our first final electrical inspection . Blah. I was hoping to have electricity while we worked Saturday .
Hopefully , they will rectify that quickly .
Right now, I'm sitting in our lower meadow waiting for the water dept guys to show up and turn our water on.
2 hours later......
We have water! Thank you , Jesus ! ! "Whole house water filter" ordered and on the way .
Here's our future back deck....
We still haven't finished the floor in Joshua's bedroom , but we have all of the posts set for our first deck/porch. We have so much to do, we have to have multiple projects going at once. This is the deck off the laundry room door, and will go down into the yard opposite side of the forest. This side will be fenced for dogs and ducks.
We only have one day this weekend to work on it because we have an appointment Sunday. Something will get done , though .
The contractors didn't do something quite correctly , so we didn't pass our first final electrical inspection . Blah. I was hoping to have electricity while we worked Saturday .
Hopefully , they will rectify that quickly .
Right now, I'm sitting in our lower meadow waiting for the water dept guys to show up and turn our water on.
2 hours later......
We have water! Thank you , Jesus ! ! "Whole house water filter" ordered and on the way .
Here's our future back deck....
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Update: Progress
We have been preparing for delivery of our new home. We had a tree near the driveway to cut, and some bobcat work to do to make sure the home could fit up our (very steep) driveway. Come to find out, it's so steep, they need a dozier to get our home up it, which, of course, costs extra.
But, hopefully, delivery will happen in the next week or so.
Here's a picture of the site, with the piers the contractors just poured to set our home on.
Will keep you updated!
Love,
Debbie
But, hopefully, delivery will happen in the next week or so.
Here's a picture of the site, with the piers the contractors just poured to set our home on.
Love,
Debbie
Saturday, October 1, 2016
For those who keep up with us - an update on our plans
I wanted to update our plans for those who keep up with what is going on in our lives. I appreciate those who do and thank you for caring about our family. I don't care what anyone says; I love my online friends, some whom I have never met. It might be a different kind of relationship, but it is real nonetheless.
So, as a quick overview - about 5 years ago, we moved from the house we had owned for over 20 years in town to my mother-in-law's house in the country which no one was living in. We did a LOT of work and spent quite a bit of our funds making it livable.
In the past year, we learned that we aren't going to be able to stay here long term, which was our original plan. We had to start looking into alternatives, and ended up buying 18.5 mostly wooded acres not far from where we are, which we closed on last December 30. We spent that winter and spring clearing and cutting about an acre, and also tearing down an old single wide trailer that was there.
After we got close to finishing that up, we started trying to figure out what we wanted to live in and how we wanted to go about it. Neither one of us wanted to go back into debt with a mortgage. We figured we were too old to start all over with that again. So we drew up some plans to build a small 650+ square foot tiny home using the trailer frame on the property and pay for it as we built it.
It was going to be small, but I was excited to downsize and make it work. However, this spring, my mother-in-law moved in with us and it has become a permanent living arrangement. Therefore, our tiny home plans will no longer work.
Back to the drawing board. There was no way I ever wanted to build an actual mortar and brick home again. On our first house that we lived in for over 20 years, we had built a 700 square foot addition, mostly by ourselves. I hauled supplies and block at 8 and 9 months pregnant. I hammered floor boards and screwed walls with a newborn (Jessie) hanging from the rafters. So I was completely unenthusiastic about including that in our list of choices. Too much work. And contractors are too expensive and too unreliable.
We started looking at manufactured homes. It is easy to get sucked into the upgraded, fancier models, but we don't need all that. We settled on a moderately sized base model and set about finalizing things. Our retirement fund took a big hit to come up with the down payment, but one must do what they must. We are currently awaiting a delivery date, which should be in the next few weeks. It will be interesting watching them maneuver it up our STEEP driveway.
It will be awhile after they deliver it before we can actually move in because we ordered it without carpet. After years of no carpet, there was NO way I was going back to that willingly. However, they don't allow substitutions, so the areas that would have been carpeted (living room, hall, and all the bedrooms) are going to come with only the sub-floor. We will be installing our own flooring, probably hardwood. After that, we have to have the fence around the yard completed to keep our dogs safe. We don't do projects quickly, so it will undoubtedly be awhile before we are done with everything.
So, sometimes the best laid plans have to be let go. We will have a mortgage again, but not a very big one. We also will have it paid within 15 years or less. I am certain that the Lord will provide and that all will be fine. I don't begrudge having my mother-in-law here, although anyone who has experienced a parent of any kind living with them will attest to the challenges. That's a whole other subject in itself. Learning to live well with others is good for our walk with God and personal growth. I miss my own mother, who has been dead for awhile now.
At some point, I will compose my post with the before and after pictures of our property. I am excited to share our new journey with you.
As always,
Debbie
So, as a quick overview - about 5 years ago, we moved from the house we had owned for over 20 years in town to my mother-in-law's house in the country which no one was living in. We did a LOT of work and spent quite a bit of our funds making it livable.
In the past year, we learned that we aren't going to be able to stay here long term, which was our original plan. We had to start looking into alternatives, and ended up buying 18.5 mostly wooded acres not far from where we are, which we closed on last December 30. We spent that winter and spring clearing and cutting about an acre, and also tearing down an old single wide trailer that was there.
After we got close to finishing that up, we started trying to figure out what we wanted to live in and how we wanted to go about it. Neither one of us wanted to go back into debt with a mortgage. We figured we were too old to start all over with that again. So we drew up some plans to build a small 650+ square foot tiny home using the trailer frame on the property and pay for it as we built it.
It was going to be small, but I was excited to downsize and make it work. However, this spring, my mother-in-law moved in with us and it has become a permanent living arrangement. Therefore, our tiny home plans will no longer work.
Back to the drawing board. There was no way I ever wanted to build an actual mortar and brick home again. On our first house that we lived in for over 20 years, we had built a 700 square foot addition, mostly by ourselves. I hauled supplies and block at 8 and 9 months pregnant. I hammered floor boards and screwed walls with a newborn (Jessie) hanging from the rafters. So I was completely unenthusiastic about including that in our list of choices. Too much work. And contractors are too expensive and too unreliable.
We started looking at manufactured homes. It is easy to get sucked into the upgraded, fancier models, but we don't need all that. We settled on a moderately sized base model and set about finalizing things. Our retirement fund took a big hit to come up with the down payment, but one must do what they must. We are currently awaiting a delivery date, which should be in the next few weeks. It will be interesting watching them maneuver it up our STEEP driveway.
It will be awhile after they deliver it before we can actually move in because we ordered it without carpet. After years of no carpet, there was NO way I was going back to that willingly. However, they don't allow substitutions, so the areas that would have been carpeted (living room, hall, and all the bedrooms) are going to come with only the sub-floor. We will be installing our own flooring, probably hardwood. After that, we have to have the fence around the yard completed to keep our dogs safe. We don't do projects quickly, so it will undoubtedly be awhile before we are done with everything.
So, sometimes the best laid plans have to be let go. We will have a mortgage again, but not a very big one. We also will have it paid within 15 years or less. I am certain that the Lord will provide and that all will be fine. I don't begrudge having my mother-in-law here, although anyone who has experienced a parent of any kind living with them will attest to the challenges. That's a whole other subject in itself. Learning to live well with others is good for our walk with God and personal growth. I miss my own mother, who has been dead for awhile now.
At some point, I will compose my post with the before and after pictures of our property. I am excited to share our new journey with you.
As always,
Debbie
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