Everyday Logos

“One may practice one’s religion in private; however, once a religious person comes into the public arena, there are limitations in how the expression of their religion impacts others,” she had said.

Individual residents also now are beginning to realize the potential of the new law, which was approved by the legislature with a declaration that it is needed for “public safety” so it is not subject to any vote of the people.  www.wnd.com

Read more: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=68060

“NEW DELHI: With Democrat senator Barack Obama busy in the run-up to the US presidential polls, a group of well-wishers in the capital have decided to send him a symbol of his lucky charm, Lord Hanuman, to help him emerge victorious.

Obama’s representative Carolyn Sauvage-Mar on Tuesday received a gold-plated two-feet-high idol which she will pass it on to the Obama after it is sanctified. “-www.inthedays.com

Read more: http://www.inthedays.com/doctrines-of-devils/obama-to-get-hanuman-idol/

Is this what we want in the White House?  It just makes me think of what happened to the Kingdom of Israel when they started worship false Gods and Idols from other lands.  God took their blessing away.  -Gina

America remains a nation of believers, but a new survey finds most Americans don’t feel their religion is the only way to eternal life — even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise.

The findings, released Monday in a survey of 35,000 adults, can either be taken as a positive sign of growing religious tolerance, or disturbing evidence that Americans dismiss or don’t know fundamental teachings of their own faiths.

To read the entire article go to : http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25334489

“You learned about the Good News from Epaphras, our beloved co-worker. He is Christ’s faithful servant, and he is helping us on your behalf.  He has told us about the love for others that the Holy Spirit has given you.”  Colossians 1:7,8 (NLT) (emphasis added)

After reading Suzette’s last posting about loving the unlovable, I came across Colossians 1:7,8 recently during a daily devotion.  What struck me was the phrase “that the Holy Spirit has given you” in regards to loving others.  Sometimes I feel so hopeless because I admit there is a part of me that doesn’t always easily love others and doesn’t always want to put forth the effort.  It sounds like an insurmountable task to me, especially when it’s someone that I can’t easily love.  However, when I read this verse it hit me like a ton of bricks.  It was what I call a “duh” moment.  Of course it’s difficult to love others because we are sinful, imperfect people.  But, when we let the Holy Spirit work in us, he gives us the needed and commanded ability to love others, which we cannot do on our own.  Let us start by praying and asking God to work in us, change our hearts, and let the Holy Spirit help us to love others and show God’s love, which is the most perfect and complete love .

-Gina

This week I have been challenged to love the unlovable.  In Luke Jesus said this about loving those who don’t love us: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”  

As Christians we are a reflection of Christ.  The things we do and say put God on display to the rest of the world.  Think about what a huge responsibility this is.  I have to ask myself all the time if my actions and my words are turning people towards or away from Christ. 

This week I have been doing and saying things that could not possibly turn anyone towards Christ.  In the area of loving someone who is not so lovable I have fallen short.  I have not reacted to this person as Jesus would.  So I challenged myself this morning by asking myself, “What can I do to show love to this person?”

 First things first, I had to swallow my pride.  Next, I had to see this person as God sees them—beautifully and wonderfully made.  Another thing I had to do was to pray that God would change my heart (it was pretty hard) and that He would bless this other person as well.  Finally, I had to take an action step by writing this person a letter of apology for my actions and my words. 

Let us remember that love is an action word.  1 John 3:18 says, “Little children let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.”  Love is not just all about feelings; sometimes the feelings are there and sometimes they are not.  However, as Christians we are called to a higher standard of showing love to those who don’t love us.  I’m not at all suggesting that we should be phony about it; but that our actions of love to others is done out of our love for Jesus and out of His example that while we were still sinners and enemies of God, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

–Suzette

“A new Colorado law is helping homosexual activists achieve their goal of forcing Christians to teach biblical condemnation of homosexuality only behind the closed doors of their sanctuaries.”

Read more:  http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=66829

“Quoting from the Bible has been banned in a community room at the public library in Clermont County, Ohio, and now a couple who sought to use the facility for a financial planning seminar have brought a court case.”  www.wnd.com

Read more:  http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=66727

“A Canadian human rights tribunal ordered a Christian pastor to renounce his faith and never again express moral opposition to homosexuality, according to a new report.” www.wnd.com

Read More: http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=66704

“He said ‘the time has come” for Arab countries “to forge strong ties with Iraq.’ “

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24990744/

For those of you who follow bible prophecy closely, this is a very interesting article, possibly signaling the fulfillment of the prophecy of babylon (Iraq) rising and becoming the world’s finanacial center.  -Gina       for more information about that visit http://bible-prophecy-today.blogspot.com/2008/06/significance-of-iraq-in-bible.html

A news article was posted on MSNBC this morning about a Canadian evangelist who has been holding a revival down in Florida where thousands of people have been experiencing miraculous healing.  Not only have people attending the revival been experiencing healing but also those who watch the program on TV as well as the Internet.

In the article a couple of professors from Talbot School of Theology weigh in with their opinions.  However, one of them is sharply criticized in the comments posted by some of the readers.  When I first read the article I was very skeptical.  However, in the comments many people claim that they have either watched on TV or been to this revival and it is real.  Many of the “commentors” have compelling biblical arguments that support these miraculous healings. 

Read the article at the link below and then come back to our page to give us your thoughts about the article, or just about healing in general.

http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/05/29/1075189.aspx

–Suzette

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” -James 1:2-4

This is a very familiar passage that many Christians turn to when facing suffering and trials.  I can say that I have read over this passage so many times.  It’s the passage I turn to when I need a little boost of confidence, patience, and perseverance.  I’m betting that you have done the same.

I seem to always think of this verse as a formula.  Here is how I see it:

Testing of my faith à [arrow represents "produces"] Endurance (ability to withstand hardship)

Endurance à maturity, perfection, completion

However, this time when I read the passage I realized there is another factor in the equation, the word “Let“.  The dictionary defines “let” as “to give opportunity to or fail to prevent”.  This struck me because it implies that we have the choice to submit ourselves and give endurance the opportunity to complete its task towards maturity, or to fail and stop the process.  Therefore, the equation really looks like this,

Endurance + our choice to see the process thru à maturity, perfection, and completion

Obviously James thought it was important to add the word “let” in this verse.  Why is that?  It think that a lot of times we cut ourselves short from becoming the mature, complete Christian that God wants us to be because we are impatient and want instant gratification.  We are not willing to yield our lives to God so that he can give us the abundant life that he has promised us and also because we might not truly believe God.  Verse 5 says that God will give wisdom generously to anyone that asks.  Ask God today if there is anything that might be hindering your growth and completion in Christ. 

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” V. 5

-Gina