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God,

I pray that you would bless this blog.

Help me to use it for good.

Cause it to be effective at making people enjoy their time spent here.

Allow visitors to laugh at my stupid stuff,
cry with me about my heart aches,
use what is good from it to be better,
overlook it’s failings,
and find pleasure in the experience.

May you be pleased with it, and bless it financially.

Make the search engines and links smile on it.

Help me write well and fun.

Amen.

P.S.
Help me win the lottery so I can do this full time. Amen again.

The other day I heard a couple of Christians discussing which was right about the kind of music they used in their churches.

It was a fairly interesting discussion they were having. It left me thinking how stupid Christians are.

One of them went on and on about how it was wrong to use musical instruments in church. He said it was wrong to add anything to the bible, and used that as the entire basis for his argument. He said that the only instances of worship that were cited in the New Testament didn’t use any instruments. So, since they didn’t use instruments, it was wrong to use instruments.

The second guy kept bringing up the Old Testament. He said the Psalms were full of using instruments. But, this didn’t carry any weight with the first guy. He continued saying the Old Testament didn’t count any more. He said only the New Testament counted for Christians.

So, the whole time, these two guys went back and forth trying to convince each other which was right.

Well, the whole thing was completely silly to me. “Aren’t they both Christians,” I thought? Wasn’t the whole point of what they were supposed to be doing being completely destroyed by how they were acting?

I was left thinking how much they were hypocrites. They supposedly have this great news to share, and they weren’t sharing anything except how stupid Christians are.

I didn’t say anything at the time, but I kept thinking about it.

They were both absolutely wrong in my opinion.

The first guy said it was wrong to use instruments because that was outside the example in the New Testament. Well, if that’s what makes it wrong, then they better not be using any electronics to amplify their voices in his church. That would certainly be outside the example. I bet there weren’t any microphones in the bible. They better not be using any projectors or TV’s in his services. I’m sure those weren’t around either. Can he think one enhancement to the voice is different to another enhancement to the voice? Anyways, the whole point of his argument becomes rather ridiculous in about half a second of thought.

Also, I seem to remember where Jesus said the Word of God would never pass away. Yes, he said that as recorded in the New Testament, but, at the time he said it, the New Testament didn’t even exist. We didn’t have the New Testament. It wasn’t written yet. And it wasn’t put together as a unit until the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325. So, Jesus was surely talking about what we call the Old Testament. That was all that existed. So, if he said the Word wouldn’t pass away for him, these stupid Christians should follow their leader.

Ok, the second guy was being absolutely judgmental and over-bearing about the whole thing. So, it wouldn’t matter if he were right or wrong. He was still dead wrong.

After giving it more thought, I’ve realized how I don’t have an argument to stand on either. Wasn’t I doing the exact same thing those stupid Christians were doing by judging them and calling them hypocrites?

My whole point is one of tolerance. Yes, there are right things and there are wrong things. Whether we all believe them or not doesn’t make them any more right or wrong. Anyone that is honest with himself, and chooses with integrity to what he believes is right will have to stand before God on that basis. No one stands or falls on the basis of your or my judgment.

We can share beliefs and go on. Each person’s honesty with the facts they have will be their guide and their judge.

Should we argue, or discuss our differences? I think only where it is profitable. If it is a vain discussion, it does nothing but separate people further. This is true in every arena of life.

So, show a little charity when it comes to other people. Be honest with things you encounter.

If you are wrong, then get right. It’s really pretty simple.

Regards.

What are the components of our relationships with others?

Consider the following two examples:

Example One:

Have you ever heard the statistic that 90% of the non-work related accidents people have happen within a couple of miles of their home–further, that this paints the picture of how we become less careful when things are familiar?

You are about to experience my disdain for such statistical analysis. What if I told you this could just as well mean, and rightly in my opinion, that we spend 90% of our time within a couple of miles of home when we aren’t working. And, that it really means that we always have accidents where we are at the time?

Example Two:

Do you remember the comedy film that Steve Martin starred in where he got rich from inventing this little bracket that kept a pair of glasses from sliding down your nose? Do you remember the crazy beginning to that movie where Steve, as white as any white person ever, was “raised as a poor black child?”

If you do, then take that utter maniacal approach to the statement, “I was raised a narrow, conservative christian.”

Believe me. They exist. I was one.

After life and reading the Bible for myself had vanquished that sort of rigid judgementalism from me, I set about enlightening my father.

We had been raised to believe that christians who didn’t believe exactly as we did were believing a lie–and that they were teaching false doctrine. This would take them to hell. So, one day I set my father up with a trap.

I asked him, “Dad, do you believe today exactly like you believed five or even ten years ago?”
He responded with all his wisdom that people should never grow stagnant, that we are on a journey, and that we were constantly developing and refining our belief as we come to understand the truth.

“So, you believe differently now from five years ago?” I reinforced.

“Certainly son.” He confirmed.

“So, were you believing false doctrine five years ago, or are you believing false doctrine now?” My trap was fully sprung. “Since your belief differed at those two points, it’s the same as seeing someone else believing differently and claiming that they believe false doctrine. How do you know they aren’t just at a different point in their growth from where you are in yours?”

Well, I’m happy to say it worked. My folks escaped the rigidity of narrow mindedness they had grown up with.

Ok, what’s my point with these two examples?

First, to point out that pure facts have different possibilities.
Second, to point out that truth and belief have different possibilities.

Why point this out?

Because one of the two of these is going to be the basis for our thoughts about others. In essence, these are the core ingredients by which we form our opinion of others. That means these are the components of our relationship with others.

What I’m saying is that we can all too easily misunderstand one another. We will think we know. But, we don’t.

So, live a life that always extends grace and mercy.

Have you ever had an officer issue you a warning when you thought you were getting a ticket?

I have. And, believe me, it was wonderful to receive the warning instead of the ticket.

Well, you can grant that kind of wonderful to those you have in your life.

The facts can say they are wrong. You can believe in your heart they are wrong. But, you can choose to show grace and mercy.

Yes, we all have to measure up to something somewhere. Just don’t needlessly tromp out someone’s life. It’s the only one they have.

Regards.

According to a Gallop’s poll, money is the number one problem in a marriage.

Money is the leading cause of divorce.

Sixtyfive percent of all couples argue about money.

Since money is so central to problems in your life and relationships, you need to practice handling money properly.

First of all, you should keep good records.

You need to know what you own.
You need to know what you owe.
You need to know what you earn.
You need to know where you spend–where it goes.

How many times have you said it, or heard it said: “I don’t know where my money goes?”

Have you ever thought or felt you don’t have time for complete records–especially if you don’t itemize on your taxes?

Let me ask this. Do you have time to worry?

You simply must plan your spending. This is the major principle of budgeting. You have to know what you are going to spend.

Financial freedom doesn’t come from what you earn. It comes from what you spend. No matter how much you earn, if you spend too much you can not have financial freedom. If you plan carefully, you will have plenty.

Some of the most common reasons for financial collapse are the results of abusing your money.

You see it. You want it. You have to have it. It’s on sale. This approach to spending will ruin you.

You need to decide today to save for your future.

Stupid people spend as fast as they earn it. Statistics show that a high percentage of Baby Boomers will retire broke.

Look at this:

The average person in Japan saves 25% of their income.
The average person in Europe saves 18% of their income.
The average person in the United States saves a mere 5% of their income.

This isn’t a lack of income. This is a lack of responsibility. You see it. You want it. You have to have it. It’s on sale.

I guess those in the United States have decided they don’t have to worry about what they don’t have! Well believe me. They don’t have, and that makes them worry more. It’s a vicious cycle that has to be stopped.

John D. Rockefeller was one of the wealthiest people on the planet. He said: “Save 10%; Tithe 10%; Live on the rest.”

Most of you would freak out if you had to try to live with 20% less income.

Do you believe in God? Don’t read the rest of this if you don’t.

Did you know God says the first 10% is his?

Do you think God needs your money? Of course not. So, what’s the reason for the tithe?

Hang on to your hat, I’m going to say something that may shake your world.

–If you say you are serious about God, and you don’t tithe, you are just kidding yourself!

Why do I say this?

What is money in your life, and what does having it mean?

That’s right, everything–security, shelter, food, clothing–just about everything that means anything to you circles around money.

The more you cling to money, the more you are claiming your own control over all the things in your life. Doesn’t that describe the place God should have in your life?

That’s right. You place yourself as God in your life. That’s the ultimate idolatry. In fact, Jesus told us to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. He said that seeking money was the same thing the pagans were seeking. Furthermore, He said God would supply all the things for which we were seeking money in the first place if we did seek Him first.

Tithing isn’t because God needs money.

1) It’s an act of gratitude since everything you have comes from God or an ability God gave you in the first place.
2) It’s an act of priorty placing God as number one in your life.
3) It’s an act of faith. God said to test him and see if he wouldn’t bless us in our giving. This is the only time he said to test him.

You simply have to practice being happy with what you have. It is far better to be satisfied than always wanting. What you have is a gift from God anyway. You were never owed anything in the first place.

Did you know, if you live in the United States, you have more than 90% of the rest of the world?

If you learn to be content, you can enjoy what you have. Why do you think so many commit suicide when they get what they thought they had to have to be happy? They found it empty of happiness.

Make it your motto to Use it up. Wear it out. Make do, or do without.

Or, better yet, make it your motto to keep God as God and you as you, and to know that you ain’t God.