The Evidence Of Having A Relationship With Jesus

Matthew 5:11 says 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

When people falsely accuse you it doesn't feel like you're being blessed, however, in every negative situation you can find positive purpose, direction, and learn how to stay above the fray.  

Over the last two years, I have remained very quiet.  Largely, it has been due to losing my parents within eighteen months and going through the grieving process.  I love them both very dearly and miss them both. It has been interesting during this time to watch and listen to the Christians I have served for many years during this period and how some have handled their relationship with me during this time.  During the years I have counseled so many through marriage breakdowns and worked reconciliation.  I have helped drug addicts salvage their lives.  I have given my time, my energy, to the detriment of my own health and family at times to help people through some of the most extreme moments of their lives and I have found:

The majority have been prayerful and supportive.  

Some distancing themselves because they don't know what to say or do for me personally.

But, some have been appalling and disrespectful which makes me wonder if they have truly ever been born-again or have maintained their relationship with Jesus at all?

In the last two years, I have been confronted with some of these very same people who I have helped through the most difficult marriage conflicts, addictions, death, mental breakdowns etc saying all manner of evil to me and about me to others.  

I have facebook pages devoted to attacking me - When I have remained quiet.

I've had letters written against me and sent all over the nation against me - When I did nothing but remain quiet.

I have been shut out of activities and events with people I put together to benefit our nation - and I have remained quiet.

The trouble with most of us is that we would rather 

be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.

- Norman Vincent Peale

We can learn a lot about ourselves when our critics attack us. What I've learned to do to handle

is what Proverbs 26:20 tells us to do... "where no is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth."  Just don't respond.  Just examine yourself - if there is any truth correct it and move on.  

Real Christians don't strike back when they've been wronged.  They go quiet.  Why?  Because everything comes out in the wash.  Truth is truth.  The evidence of true Christians loving and serving Jesus does include "people saying all manner of evil about you" sometimes.  It's during this time you have a unique opportunity to purge "unfruitful" relationships from your life. It also shows you who is faithful and who isn't.  You learn people's real motivations, agendas, and self-ambitions.

I Corinthians 11:19 "For there must also be divisions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you."  

I have nothing to say to those who have "honored" me with their accusations, lies, and dramas except that you need to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."  No one is responsible for the drama in your own life except you... and if there is anything I could further do to help any of you it would be to say II Thessalonians 3:11 tells us "For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies."  Chapter 4:11 gives you the antidote " aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands." If you're busy taking care of your own affairs then you wouldn't be getting into everyone else's business.  James 1:4 says "From whence are wars and contentions among you? They come from within you."  So if this the case you need to get busy, get quiet, and work on what the real issue is within you and stop deflecting your problems onto others.

In the meantime, I'm still going to be quiet and attend to my healing process because no one deserves "the anger stage" when it is not about them - it's about the loss of my loved ones and coping with that loss.  Everyone around me deserves nothing more than my love, prayer and help when I have it to give... They need me to be at my best.  

Hebrews 12:15

"Looking with care to see that no man among you in his behaviour comes short of the grace of God; for fear that some bitter root may come up to be a trouble to you, and that some of you may be made unclean by it."

For me, I'm just going to do what I've been doing "Be quiet and continue attending to my own personal... and I am not going to lower myself to getting offended."  Hope this is the case for you!    Be Bigger!

In every problem there is a new opportunity!

Stop The Violence Now!

     So yesterday, a young 24 year old gunman goes into a movie theatre and guns down over 60 people and leaves 12 dead and 50 wounded.  The movie set to play was the final chapter of "The Dark Night."  Batman. Americans have become so increasingly violent that I am now having difficulty with those who misuse the US constitution's 2nd amendment as an excuse for the continued violence.  The right to bear arms was to give ordinary Americans the right to overthrow the government should they find their government not fulfilling their constitutional duties.  It was not designed for murdering other Americans in a movie theatre.  But, the more disturbing trend to me is the increased violence on TV, video games, movies like "Hunger Games" and the like. Recently, when I took my young teenage daughter to "Hunger Games" I was appalled how easily the crowd cheered at the killings in the movie.  It was as though we were in the Colosseum in Rome where people were thrown to the lions and crowds cheered as the victims were torn apart by the animals.

     As a Christian, reclaiming my spiritual and family heritage as a Quaker, I am becoming more and more convinced to the ideas of the Quaker Peace Testimony.  Friends' peace testimony is largely derived from beliefs arising from the teachings of Jesus to love one's enemies.  To go to war and kill one another for the sake of peace or justice, in a world where we have learned to define successes, amass our fortunes or win our arguments at the expense of others like us (our enemies) is not how Jesus taught us how to resolve conflict nor did he define success in the way Americans define it.    Quakers believe that nonviolent confrontation of evil and peaceful reconciliation are always superior to violent measures. Peace testimony does not mean that Quakers engage only in passive resignation; in fact, they often practice passionate activism.  Another words, they run to conflicts to help bring resolve and reconciliation.  Quakerism focuses on "The Lion laying down with the Lamb."  

     Why is it our gaming industry teaches children violence and war as the way to resolve conflict and war?  Please explain to me why our country needs a "Standing Army" during non-war times?  Did you know that in early American history when a war was over the Army went home. There were no standing armies!  Sure would reduce the pentagon budget. Americans have become increasing violent and militaristic. It's time to STOP THE VIOLENCE in our culture.  It's time for peace-making with our borders.  Where is the courage to stand up against building more weapons, bombs, and increased militarization?  Can you see Jesus holding a gun and killing his enemies? 

       I am concerned - our kids kill people now and laugh when violence happens...  We need a shaking as a nation. We need to come to our senses... especially in the Christian community.  I'm afraid to many "Religionist" in our culture see Jesus, guns, and standing armies as the means of peace-making. The unfortunate thing is there is no evidence of that in our land today... just more violent shooting in a movie theater.