The end times...
I don't usually do two posts in one day... but tomorrow is going to be a long day, and I have something that is burning a hole in my keyboard... so I'm going to make an exception tonight.
I've been doing a ton of blog surfing lately. Why? People are interesting people. I've noticed that many of the blogs I've been to has been one of extreme ends of the belief spectrum. While having beliefs isn't a bad thing, to say that you have a belief and YOURS is the only correct one is unnerving. Although, not all of them are so violent in their approach.Some are even very literary in their approach in giving their view. But these are few and very far between.
From the belief that Bush is a bad leader, should be hauled out and tried for this and that... to the belief that the end of the world is tomorrow, and send them $5,000 to support their ministry to reach everyone in time. And to be honest... many of these posts are from alleged Christians.
(*Sigh*)
No wonder people think that people are insane. The few that are, are really making it freaky for the rest of us who aren't.
So where does this blogger stand on these extremes? I'm irritated..... mad, even. I'm actually feeling very angry at some of the people who claim Christ, then slander his very name by living completely backward to what he taught. So I'm going to jump in just once. I want to set a few things straight.
First of all, Bush is our leader whether we like him or not. I'll be honest in saying that I didn't like Clinton. But he was the President. I'm certain there were topics we'd disagree on, but God instructs us to support and honor those in authority over us. I voiced my concern over his actions, but the fact is, Clinton was the current President. I had to support him in his day. What about W? I'm quite certain there are many topics we disagree on as well. But to hash, rehash, and slash him doesn't do anyone any good. So this post isn't going to be one of those posts. "W" is the current President. Nothing more, nothing less. That's this blogger's stand.
What about the $5,000? Well... God is my provider. Not you. If God is the God of all Creation, made the heavens and the stars and set the boundaries of the universe at a few billion or so light-ears in diameter (you get the idea), then I think God can take care of himself when it comes to getting a few crudely printed slips of currency paper whenever he needs it. God doesn't need your money. And those that say that he does are liars. It's really that simple.
And the end times?
Oh... here we go... The fact of the matter is, no one knows the day nor hour of Christ's return. Christ, himself, made that very clear. I do know this, though... the end of the world comes every day for thousands of people around the world. From cancer, to war, to murder, to overdoses... People die every second of every day. Their little world ends.
Guy and gals... We have to stop focusing on the extremes. If you want to step into someone's life do you really think that name-calling and hypocrisy is going to really show who God is? NO! It's going to show how ignorant YOU are, despite of which side of extremism we slide off into. Here's a hint... life is not about you and me and what we think. It really isn't. Get over it!
Okay, so I like to wrap these up by asking some pointed questions. This post is no different. Fifty years from now, will President Clinton really be remembered? Will anyone care about who he did or didn't sleep with? How about "W"? Will anyone (outside of academia) be debating whether his presidency was one of his own terrorist agenda? I highly doubt it.
Fifty years from now will anyone remember this post. Not in the slightest. Our thoughts, rants, and opinions are important. I'm not advocating anti-blogging. But what we think isn't the end-all-be-all of the opinions in the world, and over time, we will be forgotten. Again, get over it.
If you aren't a Christian, and are just surfing through, please understand that the next statement isn't for you. I'm not making a "Ya GOTTA get SAAAAAVVVVVEEEDD!!!" speech here. I'm asking this of those who claim to be Christians:
Fifty years from now, (or the end of your life... which ever comes first) will God review your life and be able to truly say "You lived a life reflective of my own steps on the earth"? Will he honestly be able to say that you lived according to what he wanted? Or what YOU wanted? If it's all about you, read Matthew chapter 7.
People! Stop the hypocrisy! If your words and actions don't match, then you aren't living that life. And people see that. If you want to spread lies and hate, just don't. Do us a favor. Get off your soap-box and go home. This world is not about you. And if I've offended you, don't worry.. it's not about me, either. It's about God. But if we are so wrapped up in "self" to tell people that, how will any one know? If you say you have come to know Him, but do not obey his commands you are a liar, and the spirit of God is not in you. (Read 1 Peter. Those are God's words, not mine.)
There.... I feel much better.
I now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.
I've been doing a ton of blog surfing lately. Why? People are interesting people. I've noticed that many of the blogs I've been to has been one of extreme ends of the belief spectrum. While having beliefs isn't a bad thing, to say that you have a belief and YOURS is the only correct one is unnerving. Although, not all of them are so violent in their approach.Some are even very literary in their approach in giving their view. But these are few and very far between.
From the belief that Bush is a bad leader, should be hauled out and tried for this and that... to the belief that the end of the world is tomorrow, and send them $5,000 to support their ministry to reach everyone in time. And to be honest... many of these posts are from alleged Christians.
(*Sigh*)
No wonder people think that people are insane. The few that are, are really making it freaky for the rest of us who aren't.
So where does this blogger stand on these extremes? I'm irritated..... mad, even. I'm actually feeling very angry at some of the people who claim Christ, then slander his very name by living completely backward to what he taught. So I'm going to jump in just once. I want to set a few things straight.
First of all, Bush is our leader whether we like him or not. I'll be honest in saying that I didn't like Clinton. But he was the President. I'm certain there were topics we'd disagree on, but God instructs us to support and honor those in authority over us. I voiced my concern over his actions, but the fact is, Clinton was the current President. I had to support him in his day. What about W? I'm quite certain there are many topics we disagree on as well. But to hash, rehash, and slash him doesn't do anyone any good. So this post isn't going to be one of those posts. "W" is the current President. Nothing more, nothing less. That's this blogger's stand.
What about the $5,000? Well... God is my provider. Not you. If God is the God of all Creation, made the heavens and the stars and set the boundaries of the universe at a few billion or so light-ears in diameter (you get the idea), then I think God can take care of himself when it comes to getting a few crudely printed slips of currency paper whenever he needs it. God doesn't need your money. And those that say that he does are liars. It's really that simple.
And the end times?
Oh... here we go... The fact of the matter is, no one knows the day nor hour of Christ's return. Christ, himself, made that very clear. I do know this, though... the end of the world comes every day for thousands of people around the world. From cancer, to war, to murder, to overdoses... People die every second of every day. Their little world ends.
Guy and gals... We have to stop focusing on the extremes. If you want to step into someone's life do you really think that name-calling and hypocrisy is going to really show who God is? NO! It's going to show how ignorant YOU are, despite of which side of extremism we slide off into. Here's a hint... life is not about you and me and what we think. It really isn't. Get over it!
Okay, so I like to wrap these up by asking some pointed questions. This post is no different. Fifty years from now, will President Clinton really be remembered? Will anyone care about who he did or didn't sleep with? How about "W"? Will anyone (outside of academia) be debating whether his presidency was one of his own terrorist agenda? I highly doubt it.
Fifty years from now will anyone remember this post. Not in the slightest. Our thoughts, rants, and opinions are important. I'm not advocating anti-blogging. But what we think isn't the end-all-be-all of the opinions in the world, and over time, we will be forgotten. Again, get over it.
If you aren't a Christian, and are just surfing through, please understand that the next statement isn't for you. I'm not making a "Ya GOTTA get SAAAAAVVVVVEEEDD!!!" speech here. I'm asking this of those who claim to be Christians:
Fifty years from now, (or the end of your life... which ever comes first) will God review your life and be able to truly say "You lived a life reflective of my own steps on the earth"? Will he honestly be able to say that you lived according to what he wanted? Or what YOU wanted? If it's all about you, read Matthew chapter 7.
People! Stop the hypocrisy! If your words and actions don't match, then you aren't living that life. And people see that. If you want to spread lies and hate, just don't. Do us a favor. Get off your soap-box and go home. This world is not about you. And if I've offended you, don't worry.. it's not about me, either. It's about God. But if we are so wrapped up in "self" to tell people that, how will any one know? If you say you have come to know Him, but do not obey his commands you are a liar, and the spirit of God is not in you. (Read 1 Peter. Those are God's words, not mine.)
There.... I feel much better.
I now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.
posted by Jerry Hanel @ 8/26/2005 11:30:00 PM
1 Comments:
At 8/27/2005 3:51 AM,
Phil Dillon, Prairie Apologist said…
Jerry
Well said. It does seem like the rhetoric is very shrill these days, doesn't it? We need to step back and think about what we're saying and doing, but few want to do that. It's really unfortunate.
Thanks for you kind comments on my posts.
Keep walking the walk!
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