Don't worry, be happy!

“This storm will slow and when it hits it will be no more than a category 1 hurricane, but probably just a tropical storm.”  This is what the news was telling the people in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Boca Raton area about Hurricane Wilma as it was traveling across the peninsula toward them.  The area was hit with 110 mph winds by the right or ‘dirty’ side of the hurricane and is said to be the most powerful hurricane to hit Ft. Lauderdale in 50 years.  When I ponder this I think to myself that this is a lot like our world and many churches as they preach the Word of God.  “Don’t worry about the dangers of sin or bringing any change in your life, but God wants to save ‘everyone’ and that is the purpose of Jesus Christ.  Let us welcome everyone with open arms and never speak a message that may offend or confront them in their sin!”  It troubles me because we are not preaching the truth, but only half truths.  What must be has been done for us in Jesus Christ and that is the main truth that in our faith in Jesus Christ we are redeemed, but the question is this ‘Do you truly believe?’  Do you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord in your life?  When you believe this profound changes occur in your life it is inevitable.  It may not be all at once, but things will be different.  The message of love needs to be given, but within the Gospel the Law is always present.  Why would we need Christ unless we were sinful and falling short of the glory of God?  That is the Law within the Gospel.  We are saved in Jesus Christ, but our hearts must belong to Him and not to the other idols we build up!  So may the Lord strengthen all in their faith and may they turn to Christ for all salvation!

Lord light a fire

A generation full of fire for the Lord is something that I dream of!  We are living in an age constantly confronted with the question of truth.  The most common secular response is, “Truth is relative.”  We live in a time full of two extremes in the Christian world, either we have the “in your face” Christians screaming out and damning everyone that may have a differing view to Hell or you have the Christian that goes to church, but in their day to day life they don’t really show much in the matter of faith.  I know that this is largely a generalization, but I don’t believe that it is that far fetched.  I remember living in Oklahoma.  Living in the Tulsa area which is home to Oral Roberts University and the Oral Roberts Ministry beginnings and Rhema Bible School and Kenneth Haggin Ministries so when I moved there and wasn’t Christian I was confronted by that everyday.  What I found was a witness that continually condemning and a “haves” and “have nots” theology – I have been saved, you have not!  This is not the servant mindedness to which Christ calls us to.  The greatest witness that I had was given to me in the love of my future wife and her mother.  We are not called by God to point our fingers, but to use our fingers in the service of others!  To give the Truth and show that it is not relative, but living it in our lives and showing the difference of Christ over and above all others because no other faith has such a Gospel of hope!  All other faiths are contingent upon what you do to please God, but Christianity is a faith of what has been done for us by God because of the love that He holds for us, a love that burns so deep that He gave His one and only Son and entered into creation, imagine the creator becoming one with His creation.  What an awesome miracle!  We need to reflect that in our lives with a sense of happiness, love, and courtesy.  We live in a society that centers on self, but as Christians we are to center ourselves on Jesus and in that we find our focus is placed on helping the other to the glory of Jesus.  Lord light a fire in our hearts!

Lord, I am Yours

Lord set the world on fire in a passionate love for you.  Let those hungry souls come to you knowing that they will be fed!  The church is being bombarded with great difficulties.  We are being sidetracked by issues that continually distract us from focusing on you.  Lord strengthen us in our service to you that we may spread your glorious name around the world – Lord Jesus Christ our Savior, our Redeemer.  Your love is so great that it spreads across all of us even though we are flawed and filled with sin!  We need to prayer and fill this world with prayer that all the corners of the earth can do nothing less than cry out to you Lord.  Let the cries of your name fill the voids within all hearts.  For those that are looking for something greater, let them find you, in the midst of their emptiness let them see you.  The conversation continues on within your saints.  You are the savior, the great I AM that was spoken of in scripture.  You are the Alpha and the Omega, you transcend all knowing!

When it comes to the things of this world nothing else matters, but you!  The world is so hungry and we see suffering and destruction in all corners of your creation.  Children suffer and are forgotten by those that you left to care for them.  The selfish desires of our world are the ultimate sign of the great sickness of sin that encompasses our world.  Renew us Lord in our spirits and our minds that we no longer look to our own selfish desires, but desire to fulfill your will!  Save us all Lord from ourselves.  Help me to be an instrument of your will in the world, use me Lord as you see fit.  I know that I am imperfect and flawed, but I also know that you love me and that in you I may be perfected.  Lord, Yahweh, my savior Jesus Christ, fill me with your spirit.  Utilize me and this prayer I will continue to lift up to you, use me Lord!  Use me Lord!  Use me Lord!  You are Holy!  You are Holy!

I will not stop until I hear the great AMEN ring from your lips and I look forward to the day that I may hear the words, “Well done!” flow from your lips!

Refocus

I’m in a thought and feeling that I should return to the intent that I had when I started this blog to discuss my own theological journey in faith.  The reality is that all these rants and feelings of political issues just anger me and distract me from the true reality that is the greatness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I guess that is just the major issue within the world today is we are so easily sidetracked; the Devil is a tricky one.  Thinking on this it is no wonder that those that are outside of Christ look at Christians and think that it’s just another crazy religion.   We become sidetracked on issues and lose focus on the one true thing.  We lose sight of the one thing that should be driving us and that is Jesus Christ!

I have three other blogs that I am involved with – my devotional blog, the discussion with my atheist acquaintance the 502 which has been fun thusfar, and another that is more geared for the church I am serving at currently – ucbones icanarmy blog.  I have been distracted in my true intent of Northern Born Southerner.  The reality is that I have been on a protracted journey in Christ.  I have lived fully in the brokenness that is outside of Christ and did not want anything to do with this Jesus Christ.  I’ve lived in the reality of a broken home, associated with the dregs the spat upon and looked down upon and loved them for their honest loyalty to friends.

I recall when I was 18 and 19 a friend of mine in Grand Forks.  She was called ‘little Sis’, but she was not little, but she was like everyone’s sister in the group that I hung with.  I loved her because she was real and she was real loyal.  She was my friend and I was hers.  She didn’t like herself all that much and thought of herself as a bitch and even tattooed that on her hand.  Now she was tough and I would admit she wasn’t someone that any would want to be on her wrong side, but to me she was a wonderful young woman.  I remember the last time I saw her we wept together because her cousin had just been killed in a wreck or something.  Honestly it’s been over ten years since I thought of her, but recently she’s been on my mind.  I don’t know that I will ever be able to find her now; I don’t even know her real name because that wasn’t important at the time for me.  I only pray that God is working in her heart and she knows Jesus Christ in her life.  As I look at my journey my heart is lead to look at those that are the unwanted in most segments of society and truly show them that the have value to me, but most importantly to Jesus Christ.  It’s sad to think that many of the friends that I once associated with may no longer be with us.  The fragility of life, hmm…

Sojourners Magazine - Liberal Bias

I receive regular emails from Sojourners and even considered getting a subscription to try and gain perspective of what some others may be saying in the evangelical Christian faith.  You see I’m a member and studying to become a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and though conservative to many at seminary in the whole spectrum of things I see myself as quite a moderate.  I am not a fundamentalist, although I don’t thing that fundamentalists are all that bad, I just don’t agree with everything that they believe.  I guess, for the most part, I find that my theology is pretty Lutheran, but I am first and foremost a Christian.

Well, what prompted me is the article in the most recent emailing by David Batstone entitled “Frist, Rove, DeLay: Who's looking the other way?”  The article is so politically laced to show the true agenda of this group is to be another political voice that aligns itself with the liberal left and is not truly unbiased as it would appear when it compares a man in the midst of an adulterous affair with men such as Frist, Rove, and Delay who could arguably be victims of a witch hunt by the same people who lauded an agenda of “Anybody But Bush” instead of trying to raise up a viable candidate.  Our country is so divided with one side vehemently against anything conservative that when they speak of conservative ideals they make it equivalent to evil.  It saddens me how our country is so divided.  I get angry at some of the things pushed by the left also and am guilty of making broad judgments, but I have never and will never call someone evil for espousing an opinion I don’t agree with and most certainly don’t believe in a policy of “Anyone, but So and So”.

I still recall the last presidential election being given the bird by anti-Bush people because I was supporting President Bush.  I still support our president.  I didn’t agree with President Clinton, but still held respect for the office in which he held.  Jim Wallis and the Sojourners Magazine continues to prove to me how completely unaware they are of their bias.

UND FIGHTING SIOUX

To heck with the NCAA and there idiotic sense of being politically correct!  The big issue with team names that are Native American is nonsense.  I am a UND FIGHTING SIOUX fan and I don’t care!  I’m proud of it.  The logo was drawn by a Sioux and the proceeds from the products go to support the Indian (Native American) Programs on the campus.  UND has one of the largest Native American Studies programs in the US.  Do these people not understand that this is partially why they do?  UND doesn’t do like the Florida State Seminoles do and have a student representing Osceola ride out on a horse and throw a spear in the field, in fact at every event a special message is given to show respect for the Sioux tribes.  If schools like UND lose the Sioux name the school would suffer greater than just the name, they would lose a beautiful facility built by Ralph Engelstad that he gave access to as long as the Sioux name was kept otherwise all rights of use are lost (he knew what was going on and didn’t want some whining white liberal panty waste to decide to change the name out of fear).  So, all I say is if this gets pushed further I would say bye-bye to all the specially funded Native American studies programs and then we should go after changing every name of every school that has some connotation of any people…i.e. Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Syracuse Orangemen, and the like.  That is my rant…whew…I feel better.

Why not God?

Why not God?

What is the threat?

What is the danger?

We live in a world that is hungry, hungry for meaning, hungry for purpose, but society wants to take away the idea of God as something plausible to look at for answers to the questions of life and existence.  Any expression in the public forum is trying to be removed – the Ten Commandments, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the like.  Prayer or any Christian faith expression is being prevented from schools and it seems to me that the goal is to remove these expressions from all public forums.  Imagine a place that it is dangerous to pray openly to God, where it could mean your life.  Oh, well, 3 billion Chinese know this everyday.  The dangers of secularism is that, though it doesn’t expressly state that religion needs to be removed from society, but when the push is to limit the freedom of expression and define acceptable and unacceptable where does it stop?  God and Jesus Christ are becoming an offense and if we are not careful they may become equivalent to hate speech because they confront each and everyone with this horrible word, sin!

Wisdom from the side of a coffee cup

Everywhere, unthinking mobs of
“independent thinkers” wield
tired clichés like cudgels,
pummeling those who dare
question “enlightened” dogma.
If “violence never solved anything,”
Cops wouldn’t have guns and
Slaves may never have been freed.
If it’s better that “10 guilty men
go free to spare one innocent,”
why not free 100 or 1,000,000?
Clichés begin arguments,
they don’t settle them.

-- Jonah Goldberg
-- Editor at large of National Review online

Important Recall Notice

IMPORTANT RECALL NOTICE!!

The Maker of all human beings, is recalling all units manufactured,
regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary
and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in
the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in
the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.

This defect has been technically termed, "Subsequential Internal Non-morality", or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed. Some other symptoms:

1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish, or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion

The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this SIN defect. The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required.


The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.


Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, JESUS will replace it with:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control

Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers Instructions Before Leaving Earth), for further details on the use of these fixes.


WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on JESUS.


DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility.


Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice!!!


Thank you for your immediate attention.

ALL MY LOVE ~ GOD

Is Christ in You?

Is Christ in You?

     An issue that always bothers me in our world is the misuse of Christ in context to the world.  For some the idea of a Christian is an annoying person who feels superior to everyone else, someone who is judgmental and narrow minded.  I know this because of some of the experiences that I have had before coming to Christ and from some of the reactions that have been given to me by others.  The fact that I and many others like me are conservative tends to be icing on the cake for many because then they just lump me in with the likes of Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggert, and Pat Buchanan.  These are all roadblocks to evangelization because these don’t represent the majority like me.
     My heart is in trying to introduce many to the great salvation that can be found in Jesus Christ, the great relief and rest that one can find is astounding.  I can remember when I was pretty much anti-Christian, I was still a conservative, but I looked at most of these Christians as being people that felt they were superior and they more often than not justified my feelings by their actions.  If you have long hair, a goatee, and are a partier and a smoker, well, you just can’t fit – at least as I knew them in college.  I was rejected because I didn’t wear the uniform and didn’t act the ‘right’ way.  Well, here I am now an ex-smoker with short hair and no goatee a Christian in seminary to become a pastor, but still remembering the way that I was treated and wanting to insure that others will not go through the same things that I did and having convictions that have been burned into me since coming to Christ and I am having to break through and hurdle over the mistreatment given by others before me.
     The idea of faith is being looked at as illogical and to some extent I would agree because it isn’t something completely tangible, but then knowing that the alternative is just as illogical because it places a ‘faith’ in man made constructions and when illogical things occur those who adhere to a concept of science and reason write it off as an anomaly.  Then there are those who I understand their beliefs such as Wicca and other pagan movements who are so hardened by the judgment of others that it becomes almost impossible to even begin a dialogue.
     So, here we are with two choices to do nothing or to reach out to a broken world.  God is calling up an army to change the world, the question is:  “Are you hearing it?”  The choice of doing nothing is one that has been the choice of many for a long time and is why we find a world that is trying to marginalize Christianity as just another idea and eventually, if allowed, these churches will cease to exist.  This leaves truly only one long-term option – to heed the call – to join God’s army – an army not of guns, swords, or any other weapons, but an army that is on its knees in prayer and serving the world fully dependent on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  The question isn’t whether it will succeed, the question is will you be a part of it and is Christ in you?
     

Katrina National Day of Prayer

Katrina – National Day of Prayer

Let us remember to pray for those victims of Hurricane Katrina today and the rebuilding of that devastated area along the Gulf Coast.

Atheism

“Technically speaking Atheism is NOT a belief system. It is by definition a lack of belief. Much like I don't believe in the tooth fairy, I just simply don't believe in a supreme being. There is nothing to adhere to. We don't have a code or a handbook. We don't need weekly meetings to assure each other that we are right. We are not 'Darwinists'.I think faith is silly. I believe in that which I can see or have proven to me in some way. Gravity for example. I may not understand all the physics & science behind, but I have yet to wake up not firmly attached to the ground. I drop s**t, it falls to the ground.Religion doesn't afford me the same level of confidence. I was prolly 8 or 9 when it occured to me that prayer was really no different than talking to yourself. I can prove my own existence. What is the point of a middle man? The more I read, the less I found religion to have a point outside of some sort of f***ed up mental masturbation. It is a comfort to those who need it. I don't need it. “
“XXXXXXXX summed it up well. Atheists are such a diverse group that they can't be labeled. The only thing they have in common is that God is not a part of their life. When speaking to any one of us, you should know that our opinions only represent our individuality. They may not be shared by others.With that said, I accept the Big Bang Theory as well as Darwin's Theory of Evolution. They are the most viable explanations I have seen to date. The Scientific Method is an excellent system that has been developed to understand the world we live in. I apply a similar system to my own base of knowledge. I verify facts, build opinions, and am open to admitting when I'm wrong. Proof, theory, and falsifiability.In Reason,XXXXX”
I have entered into a discussion with some atheists on another blog (names have been removed to respect them and if they want to continue the discussion or not), but I thought instead of filling the comments up on that site, I would bring it to my own.  What you have to understand is that I find it fascinating to understand, partially because I am unable to understand atheism and the other reason is that I have a heart for evangelism.  Logic seems to be the center of many that say that they adhere to atheism.  I understand it is not a religion, but a lack thereof, but if one were to truly look through history religion is not natural.
Atheism really didn’t exist until the age of reason also known as the enlightenment.  Now to be fair most people were automatically a part of the church from the fourth century A.D. until the sixteenth century A.D. and it is arguable that many of these people did not have faith or truly understand what they believed.  Before that and in countries that were not introduced to Christianity a faith of some sort was very prevalent.
I understand that atheism is different because it is not a religious faith, but it is a faith nonetheless.  However, in my opinion, Atheism is a faith in self, placing reason at the top.  Humanism, secularism, Darwinism, and the like are in essence a faith placing self at the top and placing the human mind and reason as the only tools to understanding.  It is said that the scientific method has proven Darwinism which is not entirely true because there are many things that Darwinism can’t prove or explain, but it exists.  Basically the faith of Darwinism and the Big Bang Theory is a belief that everything began simply by chance and evolved to some extent out of chance and to some extent out of necessity which is evolution.
I believe and have always held a belief in God or a god because I can not simply explain away the idea of a creator.  Everything, in my opinion, must have a creator of some sort.  I want everyone to understand that I have not always been a Christian, but have always believed in a creator or god.  That is why atheism is so difficult for me to grasp.  Reason would tell me that there is something greater that is creator of everything, be that called the source, the creator, god, goddess, etc.  The Greeks who were at the epitome of the ancient concept of reason even held some belief and reverence to gods and goddesses.  They may not have been certain, but they weren’t so bold as to completely deny the possibility either.  It seems to me that it is quite bold to truly completely deny the possibility considering that most great scientists had a faith of some sort and the prevalence of atheism with scientists has been increasing in the last century.
So, as Pascal stated in what is called Pascal’s Gamble:
“What is the greater risk to believe in God and Jesus Christ and find that they don’t exist or to not believe and find that they do and so does Heaven and Hell?”

Why I am a Conservative

     As a child I remember hearing all the political stories of my grandmother who was highly active within the Republican Party.  I knew where my grandmother stood on every issue and why and my grandmother taught me how to discuss politics in a positive way with others and not analyze others ideas and ideals.  Because of her I am and have been truly grounded to understand what it is I believe.  She was a conservative through and through.  She didn’t always agree with the Republican Party and how it was going especially when the Christian Right took over.  The reasoning was that the vision and views of the Christian Right are not in line with true conservatism.  The reasoning is this.  The Christian Right’s views tend to try and drive the agenda to federalize certain things such as the abortion rights issue and the like.  She didn’t like the desire of some to go and make a constitutional amendment.  My grandmother wasn’t one that took changes to the constitution lightly and she knew that when amendments were made the ramifications could be greater than planned.
     I would have to say that for the most part that I agreed with her and still do, but we do have our differences.  I am a Reagan Republican, having grown up in the Reagan era I truly liked his politics and where he led the party and my grandmother, though she also like Reagan felt that he was not conservative enough, which I can understand to some extent.  Ronald Reagan was a great leader for our country and knew how to communicate his vision well.  The media didn’t play well for him and often ridiculed him and mocked him.  He was called evil and a war-monger because he was direct in his words against communism and was uncompromising with terrorists – i.e. Mohammar Qadaffi and the Libyan standoff.  The media criticized, but he did not back down on things he felt were uncompromising positions.   Today we live in a divided country with one side so filled with hate and venom against our president that it colors all other issues.
     I, at one time with my grandmother, held a pro-choice stance for many years because I believe that issues such as abortion are meant to be handled at the local level, but my view has since changed because of the uncompromising spirit on the pro-abortion side.  There are two sides now where there were once many it has went from a pro-choice view that I believed which was education, to a pro-abortion side that wants to just have it be an issue that wants little to impede or educate on the options.  When states impose waiting periods to allow for thoughtful discussion on the topic the pro-abortion side steps in and tries to stop it and have it overturned in the Supreme Court.
     Many may look at my site and because I am a Christian assume that I am part of the Christian Right.  I would argue that you are mistaken.  I have been conservative longer than I have been Christian and, though some my views have been honed by my faith, I am not conservative because of my faith.  I believe in conservatism because I believe that it focuses on communities coming together to improve themselves.  True conservatism drives people to hold up their neighbors and to build up the communities in which they live.  As a conservative I believe that local cities and townships know better how to fulfill their needs and that power should be less the higher the level of government.  States take care of their constituencies and the Federal government is meant to protect interstate commerce, international commerce, and provide for the civil defense of the country.
     Now as a country I pray that we can come together first as American’s once again and begin to embrace our differences and instead of hate begin to converse as equals.  The Democratic Party has lost itself, it has lost its center, and I look forward to the days where political debate can be more civil and open.  I learn the most from those I disagree with because they make me better understand what it is that I truly believe.

Mon., 9/12

from the Presidential Prayer Team website:

Throughout our history in times of testing, Americans have come together in prayer to heal and ask for strength for the tasks ahead. So I've declared Friday, September the 16th, as a National Day of Prayer and Remembrance. I ask that we pray -- as Americans have always prayed in times of trial -- with confidence in His purpose, with hope for a brighter future, and with the humility to ask God to keep us strong so that we can better serve our brothers and sisters in need. -- President George W. Bush

In the face of unprecedented devastation by Hurricane Katrina, President Bush has called for our nation to go to its knees in prayer.

In response The Presidential Prayer Team (PPT) is providing a unique opportunity to pray...The PPT Virtual Prayer Rally. You are invited to be a part of this exciting initiative at this time of great national testing--join with multitudes of PPT participants around the world strengthening our nation with your prayers.

Hi Everyone,

I am sending you the link to the Presidential Prayer Team's sign-up for the "Virtual Prayer Rally" on Friday, 9/16. At this site, you will be able to sign up for a specific time during the 24 hour period to join in prayer for our Nation. Go to: http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/vpr/signup.php

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

What kind of cross would best represent you?

You are St Brigid's Cross: St. Brigid is an Irish
saint who hand-wove a cross,out of rushes she
found by the river. She made the cross while
explaining the passion of our Lord to a pagan
man.


What Kind of Cross are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Devotional Site

Three days ago I launched a secondary blog which I am utilizing to write devotions. This is a two-fold benefit, it allows me to honor God by pondering on His Word and it allows me to possibly inspire and help others in their faith. I have already received a couple positive comments and I hope that more and more people will grow closer to Christ in their faith.

Devotions

Well, I have decided to have a devotional section that you can check out on the devotional link to the side. Check it out and tell me what you think!

Dawn and I at Jon Strauss' wedding

Dawn and I at Jon Strauss' wedding
Originally uploaded by cbyars_luthersem.

Gomer Daughter of Diblaim

Gomer, Daughter of Diblaim
Based on the book of Hosea
     
Lord, you bless me, a woman born of low means,
You bring to me a husband, a man that you have entrusted with your Word,
A man to speak your will to your promised children,
We are prosperous under you,
Ba’al provides.
We have wealth and food,
We need not hunger.
Bless us Lord,
hwhy is our Lord God,
With Ba’al you provide for us all we need,
Your children of Ephraim.
My heart is with your man of faith,
I will be a wife to Hosea
And bring him children.
Out of a life of distrust,
I have arisen,
He loved me though he was not my first,
In the temples I submitted myself to others,
He came to me and married me,
Oh, I hope to be true to him.

His words become harsh and he drives me away,
The judgment that he passes,
How are these words yours Lord,
We are your people.
He drives me out to other men,
And I take them into my bed
For without them it would be empty,
I am with child
He cries that it is not his
Condemning me for being unfaithful,
Yet he drives me away from him,
He derides me for my trust in Ba’al,
And accuses us of being an unfaithful people,

We are your children Lord, hwhy,
Will you turn your back upon us,
As Hosea says.
To us a son was born,
He named him Jezreel,
As Hosea, your prophet, states you told him.
Why condemn our King Jeroboam II for something of the past?
Must we live in the past?
The massacre is forgone,
Are you so unjust as to punish us for the acts of our fathers?
Hosea, you bring such shame to one of your own,
You deny that he is fully yours.

A daughter is born to us and you shame her with the name Lo-Ruhamah,
“Not loved”,
What shame you put on her head,
All will believe that she is forsaken,
What man will want to take her hand,
You bring dishonor onto us all,
And you say it is a sign of what will become of Israel,
Again you deny that she is your own,
How can I love such a man?
Yet I still do.
You drive me from your arms and pain me with your words,
I fear the name that you will give the next child in my womb.

I have born you another son,
And you shame him with a name of shame,
Lo-Ammi,
“Not my people,”
Why punish our children with such names.
God, hwhy, why do you bring such shame to our household,
The man I love,
The man you blessed me with,
My beloved Hosea,
Pushes me away,
Another’s arms are bringing me comfort,
And offers me the love that is not offered to me,
The man I love tears me apart,
His words,
Spoken,
As though they are your own,
Destroy me,
My Lord,
My God,
hwhy,
Your word makes me look to the promises of Ba’al,
The security offered through the bringing of fresh foods,
The raisin cakes are sweet in my mouth,
And bring me great nourishment.
The arms of one who loves me greatly.
The words that Hosea speaks,
The punishment that he professes will come,
While we stand strong.
Will you let our strength fail?

My man, Hosea, my love,
He comes to me and buys me away
From my lover,
He has reclaimed me as his own.
Joy this day for he has welcomed back to his bed,
I pray that our love will be better,
I will not fall away from him again.
His love is pure,
He has shown me that he desires me in his life,
I will not forsake you again Lord.
You are my protector.
Do not forsake your children,
Israel.
The Assyrians threaten our borders,
The words of my love,
Seem to be coming true,
They encroach upon our borders.
Save us,
We have been unfaithful,
My love, Hosea,
Spoke truth,
I was an unfaithful wife,
But he has redeemed me,
Just as you will redeem Israel.
He redeemed me and brought honor to our family,
Praises to you, Lord,
Protector,
Do not forget your children,
Israel,
They are in turmoil,
Because of greed,
And distrust,
They have fallen away from you.
Do not let us fall once again into slavery,
Restore your people.

Israel has fallen,
We have been scattered,
There is no king for Israel,
Other than you Lord,
Let us not forsake you again,
Restore us and let us remember the promise,
That you gave Jacob,
You are our Lord,
And we are your people.
Redeem us,
Return us to the land that you,
Lord God,
Have given us,
No more will we worship at temples,
No longer will we conduct ourselves as we once did,
Ba’al is not our god,
But you Lord,
hwhy,
You are the only one that can provide,
You are our protector,
All that we have we have received,
We have received from you Lord.
Redeem us Lord,
As Hosea redeemed me and brought me out of my disdainful ways,
Redeem your people,
Israel.

I'm going to scream

I’m going to have to say that the news has been really affecting me negatively.  Hearing the constant finger pointing and all the media’s attack against our president and our country has fatigued me.  Being a right of center American makes it difficult to hear some of the garbage that is being released by the media.  It highlights for me how divided we are as a country.  I grew up in Grand Forks, ND and in 1997 was living in Moorhead, MN studying at Concordia College when my parents were evacuated because of the flood.  I saw my hometown inundated and fires burning downtown with six feet of water in the streets.  I remember how our little city pulled together and the community was working to help one another.  People were displaced for a month.  I remember hearing the stories and one from my aunt who was busy with the sandbagging crew working at the time seeing the water almost to the edge and then hearing someone cry out a warning that it was failing and having to get away.
I think back and wonder how far we are from that day as a country.  There was no finger pointing, though many fingers could’ve been pointed.  The community came together and helped one another.  I pray for the people of New Orleans and those affected in other parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.  I long to hear the stories of how some affected communities pulled together and see how they rebuild.  I am sad for the people of New Orleans and tire of the comments trying to turn this to a racial thing.  This is a human problem.  It is true that the greatest amount of the displaced were those that lived in impoverished communities and they have lost everything and were unable to leave on their own, but that isn’t a black or white issue.  I would argue that it was an issue of complacency on the part of those that were to establish a disaster plan for New Orleans.
The saddest testament of what has occurred in New Orleans is the fact of the “fend for yourself” mentality that has been the norm since the disaster started.  I heard the saddest report today that patients in a nursing home were left to fend for themselves because the staff did not come to help them.  The nursing staff left their posts and forsook their duty to make sure that those that they were entrusted to care for were safe.  What a sad testament.  I look forward to the tales of those neighbors that stuck together and helped one another.  I am gladdened by the stories across our wonderful nation of families opening their homes to those evacuees/refugees (whichever term fits).  I wish the media and those in their ivory towers would stop with the negative and become a part of the solution.

Hollywood – don’t criticize, do something, get planes to help, get involved with the rebuilding effort {not just money, but hands and feet}

Politicians – quit posturing, get helping

Musicians – shut-up and sing – read above for Hollywood

Thank you, Lord, for all the churches that are doing the right thing, rolling up their sleeves and getting dirty.  God’s people are doing what God’s people do – being Jesus’ hands and feet to the world.  This isn’t left-wing or right-wing, it’s a human thing and it is time for us to get together and help our fellow human beings.