pastorpoet

There are some people who refuse reason.  There are some who will not endure the truth.  There are some who choose convenient lies rather than the challenge of wrestling with an uncomfortable reality.  

Unfortunately, these choices come with consequences. Ignorance whether willful or otherwise is never bliss.  It is dangerous and expensive.  Keep a distance!  Do not waste time or energy trying to drag someone where they don’t wanna go! 

The effort will cost you too much, and keep you too long!  These people rob us of more than our resources – they disrupt peace and steal joy!

Hear me, I am not suggesting retreat from the first sign of disagreement or tension. And I am certainly not saying that we refuse mercy or generosity to those in need. 

But, I am saying avoid those who ask questions but only want arguments.  Avoid those who abuse compassion and use their pain as an excuse to abuse others.  Don’t waste your energy on grown greedy folks who abuse generosity and take kindness for granted! 

We all have limits on our time and resources, and sometimes it’s okay to say, ‘No.’ 

Pray for discernment.

Jesus said it like this:

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Matthew 7:6

Jesus had a way with words!

Good Morning. I love you all!

ihs, 

just adam

I used to think that when people were well informed, they would eventually be able to make better decisions.  My assumption is proving to be flawed.

Human judgement is skewed by selfishness and short-sightedness.  Add to this the fact that we are being flooded with disinformation, we are being manipulated by those who benefit from our ignorance. We are striving against those whom we once shared common ground. We are digging in and drawing battle lines that are driving us toward mutual destruction.

And on top of it all, many of us feel right and justified in clinging to positions that are doing harm to our neighbors with the misguided notion that peril is not also stalking us. 

We are content to destroy the vessel that is carrying us all while failing to realize that our arrogance will precipitate our own ruin.  We are inextricably bound to one another.  The evil that besets one of us will eventually consume us all. Listen!

We go down looking up with the glib presumption of our own rightness.  Our arrogance and ignorance form the unholiest alliance that assures our demise.  We may all do well to humble ourselves, to seek a higher wisdom, and to pursue not just more information but greater inspiration – that is revelation that may spare us even greater suffering…

God help us all!

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Proverbs 16:25

Pray with me today.  There has to be a better way!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

The US government shutdown at midnight, and  times are likely to get tough for many of our neighbors, there will be inconveniences and gaps that will occur. 

The sun rose this morning and we will go on.  Because that’s what we, as resurrection people, do!

In crises, we will not panic.  We will yield to the calmness and compassion of the Spirit.  We will care for one another. We will call on those granted the mantle of leadership to consider their ways.  We will carry on.  Because we are resurrection people, and that’s what we do!

We will not become callous.  We will not concede our hope to the caustic fears that corrode our joy and create hatred and bitterness.  We will not close our hearts to those who we’ve been called to care for.  

The US government shut down last night. The sun rose this morning.  God is still on the throne.  We will get up and go on!  Because we are resurrection people, and that’s what we do!  While others collapse and fall, we will rise!

⁷  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

⁸  They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.  

Psalm 20:7-8

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

When we are surrounded by trouble, it’s easy to forget what’s really important. Right now, as we are being inundated with bad news, we should certainly be grieved, but we mustn’t give in to despair. 

You see, part of pushing back against all the bad news is to become even more deliberate about celebrating the good.  We cannot survive in a constant state of emergency- it is exhausting!

Part of our resistance should include our intentional efforts to celebrate life – that is to make the commitment to cultivate joy even amid life’s struggles!  Get it?

Now, more than ever we need to be lifting one another up, cherishing the little things that make life meaningful, the simple gestures that remind others that they are seen and valued, and refusing to surrender to reacting to everything that happens with anxiety!  

Hug someone, hold someone’s hand, write someone a note, make a phone call to someone who you’ve been thinking about. Smile at a stranger.  Hold a door.  Let someone go in front of you…

In a world being pushed relentlessly toward frustration, fear, and futility – be kind, be patient, and be generous – just because! You may be surprised at the response you receive!

I dare you to try it.  You may change someone’s entire day.  And if not, at least you will change yours!

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…

Colossians 3:12

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

When Jesus came, the most religious people in the community – the Pharisees – were the least likely to believe, embrace, or accept Him. 

Jesus challenged their wisdom and holiness, and they hated him for it.  

It’s interesting how Jesus had his harshest words for those who thought they already knew everything – those enamored by their own understanding, expectations, and egos – those religious folks who rejected the very One they claimed to be waiting on!

These religious folks had a problem with how Jesus looked and where he came from.  They took issue with who Jesus healed and helped, they were annoyed by His grace and generosity, they rejected those with whom Jesus kept company, and they were annoyed by Jesus’ audacity to reinterpret scriptures that they claimed to be experts in. 

Their arrogance made them ignorant.  Their arrogance made them self-righteous and judgmental. Their arrogance and ignorance made them blind guides – that is willfully blind – and worse off than any blind man that Jesus healed!  

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.  

John 9:41

If our faith is not tempered by humility, our blindness will become a judgment against us!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

When we are tired or struggling, the days can get really long. When we are worried, in pain, or waiting on a change to come, time can feel like it’s creeping by.

When we are confronted with a chronic condition or dealing with a problem that cannot be solved instantaneously, it can feel like nighttime all the time!

Funny how ‘time flies when we’re having fun,’ but how time crawls by when grief shows up like an inconsiderate houseguest, who doesn’t know when to leave…

But a minute is still sixty seconds, an hour is still sixty minutes, and a day is still twenty-four hours. Time is not standing still. Whatever we’re going through is only temporary. Troubles don’t last, and this current crisis is momentary.

But the love, goodness, power, and wisdom of God are eternal. God’s character is unfailing. God’s grace endures.

Grace endures… and this too shall pass!

¹⁷ For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, ¹⁸ because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NRSV)

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam