Go Along To Get Along

I am reposting this entry from last year. I feel so strongly that this message is important now as never before.

What I want to say is my opinion. Many people gave their lives so that I and other people can freely express ourselves. What I am saying is neither inflammatory rhetoric or untrue. I want us to examine what we are becoming as a nation. History could repeat itself with a new twist. I believe an old and dangerous attitude can bring our country to ruin.

In Nazi Germany, when some people became aware of what was happening around them, they chose to ignore it. Their thinking was: “Go along to get along” with those around them. As we now know, horrible atrocities were perpetrated upon innocent people at that time in Hitler’s Germany and elsewhere. Sadly, many people just went along with it. It is interesting to consider that had enough of them spoken out, the results might have been different. There would have been certain risk for sure, but if large numbers of people at all levels of society had loudly and persistently objected, who knows what might have happened? I do not presume to sit in judgment upon anyone. I was not there, and I realize that self-preservation is a very strong motivator.

I bring this history to our attention so we can consider if today the same mentality exists as an undercurrent of cultural thinking in our country. Although many people do know what the scriptures say about sin, they choose to go along with it. They sit on their discernment, afraid to use their brains and express their opinions freely. Cohabitation, sex outside of marriage, fornication ( by both hetero and homosexuals), adultery, drunkenness, gluttony, selfishness, greed, all of these behaviors are scarcely ever mentioned or objected to by preachers or anyone. Why? It is because we have to “ Go along to get along” or we will be called bigots, narrow minded freaks ,politically incorrect, homophobes, and other nasty labels. It’s easier to go along . . .It’s necessary to get along. Or is it?

Even academia does the “Get along” thing. They believe everyone has to “be a winner” so they dumb down school text books and courses and alter grading so everyone can succeed. This creates an artificial sense of acheivement for students who are, in reality, just mediocre at best. Of course, everyone’s self esteem is a top priority. In reality, everyone cannot win and some days are just hard on our esteem. People learn from failure and rise above esteem issues when they have real goals, clear values, self discipline and motivation. In other words, when they know who they are in relation to the great God of the universe who loves them and gave His son for them.

When will this trend of being out of touch with God’s truth, and out of sync with God and His commands ever stop? Who will speak out against it? The church? Christians? Peter spoke to an endangered early church when he said, “We ought to obey God and not men,”(Acts 5:29). When we ignore what God says in the Bible, we are putting ourselves, our families, and our country at risk of great destruction like ancient Rome. Will violence and wanton sexual debauchery continue to feed our minds via the Internet, movies, TV and video games? Will we be over run by barbarians who respect no one and have no rules like Rome was? There can be no other result. Are you willing to “Go along to get along”, or will you stand up for what you believe before it is too late? Doma

Once again - Asking the wrong question

Why? Why did God . . . ? Why didn't He . . .?

Well, I don't know why God does many things. I have gotten to the place where, as I have stated before in a previous post, I just ask "Where do we go from here?" I rarely ask "Why?" questions of God anymore.

I think I know the reason I don't ask those kinds of questions: God does not have to answer to me, He is the all-knowing one, wise beyond comprehension! Scripture tells us, "Our ways are not Your ways...". God has the big picture. He is into long range planning as Ephesians 1:4 and 5 tells us.

So, if you are tempted to call our almighty God into account for something you don't understand, I would say to ask yourself if this line of questioning is showing proper awe and reverence? Is getting a rational. humanly acceptable answer more important than trusting the LORD? By asking the alternate question, "Where do we go from here", you are asking for guidance in handling the "Why?" aspect of your circumstance and you can expect an answer to be forthcoming. Doma

Confessions of a Hypocrite

Admit it, aren't we all less than we hope to be? Don't we all fail at times to do the very things we want to do and find ourselves mired in the muck of what we earnestly wanted to avoid? I have often wondered where we would be if the apostle Paul had been a hypocrite and not admitted to the struggles he had. As he continued to try to reach the prize of knowing and serving Christ Jesus faithfully, he said he did not do what he should and did the very thing he did not want to do. He knew he needed a divine rescue. It was this humble admission and his obvious need for Jesus, for the grace offered at the cross, that kept Paul going. That is what keeps us going too.

If someone makes the accusation of hypocrisy against you, you can humbly admit you have missed the mark, then tell them this is the exact reason you need a Savior. Perhaps such an accuser may understand and admit that they too need a rescue from God! Doma

Musing On Yesterday

Never thought I’d long for your dandelion bouquets,
Or the sound of your loud rock music.
Never knew I’d wish for a redo of all the time with you;
Of the struggles we went through,

Never figured I’d miss the messes,
Or the sloppy runny-nose kisses,
The enforcing your curfew on late nights,
Enduring “It’s not my turn for chores” fights,
But . . . I do!

Didn’t figure on seeing you in my mind’s eye
Flying around the three-wheeler track,
Around the barn that’s all gone now.
Sometimes I reminisce and go back.

I miss my little boys, even though they are men.
Sometimes, just for a moment,
I want them all back and little again.
Yes . . . I do!

So I watch their little boys
Who are now men and their daughters too
I guess my job is still not through
There are more bouquets to come my way
And more loving to do. DMB 01/05/11

Life Observations

I am going to stray from my usual writing style and content to share a few personal insights, so bear with me and give me some feedback, please.

One does not live as long as I have (68+years) without the temptation of thinking maybe some knowledge has been gained from life's experiences. I thought that perhaps some of this wisdom is worth sharing.Here are three things that I believe are essential to know in order to live a life that is worthwhile:

First and foremost, you cannot live your life without a relationship with God. Well, actually, you can do it 'your way', if you want to do it all alone and do it the hard way. Scripture tells us "There is a way that seemeth right to a man/woman, but the end thereof is death."Guidance from God and reliance on Him takes so much pressure off your mind and brings peace. Since the LORD never changes, all His promises are yes and amen for you. He still says "Ask, seek and knock". His Son, Jesus Christ, "Ever lives to make intercession for us." That means God is there 24/7 to help us and Jesus is praying on our behalf to His Father. The Holy Spirit is our Helper to give us discernment and speak to our conscience. Now I do not want you to think that God is at your beck and call. That is not what I am saying at all. When you are seeking help and guidance, His Spirit is the very one who leads you to God's merciful throne. When your relationship is right with God, you are at His service and a very fine place that is to be! (But those adventures in His service are for another blog entry.)

The second piece of advice I believe to be useful and true is that you have to live with a view to tomorrow. You cannot be narrow in your thinking. Decisions today have consequences for the future, so you need to be careful about details like how you spend your time, money and energy. Even your words can come back to haunt you so they need to be deliberately chosen also.

This leads me to the third important thing I want to share and that is to be intentional in how you live your life. There is even a web site, Intentional Living with Dr. Randy Carlson, and radio program by the same name, that covers just that. It is just so basic. You cannot live your life being a victim; blindsided by the events and circumstances that come your way. Everyday, you can choose to do one intentional thing that will make your life and others lives better. You can plan ahead, you can organize, you can make lists or set goals. Whatever you choose to do, change one thing for the better today, and this year. As I have heard so often and told others, "It is insane to believe that doing the same old thing will give different results." You can change outcomes by changing one simple thing. Maybe it is an attitude about someone or something that needs an update. Quit downloading negative thoughts and change to positive ones about your problems or problem people.

What I do know and am certain of, I have learned thoroughly from experience and from scripture. These last four tidbits are for you to take to heart: God is good all the time. Life is hard for a reason. You can never hope to earn your way to heaven, but "We are saved by grace through faith...it is the gift of God lest anyone boast." There is a heaven and a hell and it sure isn't here on earth.

I will conclude with this thought: Life is too precious to be lived by trusting in luck or chance. I pray you will choose life lived in the love of Christ Jesus! Doma