Times Are Changing

Times are a changin'... "My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise..." Proverbs 24:21.  We are reminded to let those who oppose the truth, the principles and standards of our God; go their own way.  They are mislead by secular teachings or the like. We, who believe and serve the truth, are called first to fear and respect the living God - who is unchangeable.

Recently, I heard many voices clamoring loudly about the church needing to change and get with changing  times.  The catholic church just appointed another Pope [Benedict the first] who, not being instep with changing trends [of social decadence], is judged harshly by his secular counterparts.  Christians are called intolerant, haters and bigots because they won't change on moral issues of our day.  Whether it's abortion or gay marital status; we are accused of being narrow minded and backward in our traditional stances.  Get ready my brethren.  The persecution is just beginning to get revved up.

Here's the thing: the living God is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8 & 9) 'and do not be led away by strange teachings...'  There's no changing here, folks; not even a smidgen.  The truth can't be changed to accommodate those created.  It's an absolute to which the secular world will never adhere.  And there's the hitch in their get along.  The secular world has no absolutes; they're constantly changing.  Thank God, He doesn't.  What was true about the nature of things created is and will always be true.  Frankly, I'm glad of it.

The body of Christ is a lamp stand for truth.  This "changing of the times" and the church's opposition is nothing new under the sun - nor is the persecution.  The bride of Christ has been, for centuries, sanctified in the blood of martyred saints - because of their witness to a heathen world.  It is, however, a new trend for citizens of a 'nation under God'.  I wonder if the American church is ready and 'trained' to withstand a persecution coming.  I imagine not.  But it will affect a purging, to be sure.

What's astounding to me is the voice of the youth [under 30] who seem in a majority of debate and are quite zealous in their press for change.  And we have no wise rebuttal?  These have not lived life yet.  They're immature, experienced nothing of life, having no humility in their indoctrination.  Fools would know better.  I listened stunned by the absurdity, as one such voice demanded that the church needs to change and get with it.  From my vantage point; I remember the strength and zeal of youthful ideologues.  I once was such.  But life has a way of humbling us as we experience a constant barrage of adversity.  Narrow minded - nope!  After trying everything else when I was young, immature and frankly foolish; I came into the knowledge of the truth, which doesn't change (thank God).

The way of the world leads to death.  It's a slippery slope like when one is at the top of a slide and then cannot stop after moving past its precipice.  Have faith in God, people.  He doesn't change.  He is our maker and has risen from the grave and hence is living, powerful.  We dare not change with the times.  Our King is not of this world.  His principles are like a stop light at an intersection, allowing traffic to flow freely.  Without the boundary of its red light to stop; a crash strikes disaster.

So, my brethren, stand strong and be courageous.  Fear and respect Him who is, forevermore, unchangeable, faithful and true.  We are not His subjects but the 'apple of His eye'.  Oh, how He loves us...  yes, He loves us much more than we know.  Be not muzzled by those who are politically correct.  Speak that those who are being saved can hear what the Spirit is saying.

Suffering Fools & Falsehood

King Solomon noticed a suffering of speech on two different spectrums of community.  He addressed his insight in the Proverbs: 17:7 'Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince'.  Let's remember that a fool is defined best as someone who has opportunity to learn wisdom but does not heed it and a prince is one of noble character that has discernment, understanding and heeds wisdom.  Having thought about this of late, only because we are fast approaching a crucial election that could change the future course of our nation forever; I find myself irritated with suffering a lot of fools out there.  And since I consider myself humble enough so as to seek all the wisdom I can find; I have a nose to sniff out a liar or two.

I am stunned at the blatant lies perpetuated by the American press these days. I understand it's a campaign year and there are those working hard to stretch, twist and bend facts to spin a supportive 'truth' for their candidate.  But this is astounding journalism, folks.  Frankly, it's not noble; it's deception.  Hopefully, there are noble princes who will recognize the lies because fools don't care about what's noble or right.  A new introduction of bloggers & pundits don't do accurate research belying a source of the problem.  Support found in networking on the internet with associated press complicates and compounds misreported facts, which aggravates and confuses.  But I'm very troubled by what seems to be the most ill informed electorate ever.

Another deception is the polling going on and it certainly doesn't help the electorate in their choice.  The polls have shaped elections to take on something of a beauty contest.  No one likes to vote for a loser, right?  Are we so bold to think we can predict an outcome, like some seer or something?  No.  The only poll that counts is the one taken at the ballot box.  And what of this electorate?  Apparently, they have become disinterested, apathetic, shallow and desperate to be bought off pawns, manipulated for their vote.  If these have opportunity to cast a vote, then it should be an informed one that supports their best choice for leadership, consistent with their values.  Where are the discerning, the princes of noble seeking?  Are there those that seek wisdom and knowledge, supporting truth; or is this electorate mostly fools, ignoring the truth?  Have we become so distant from what's genuine; it's hard to recognize it?  If so, we'll get what we have become - fools leading fools into a temple of doom.

A Woman of Worth

Like many, I was stunned by a comment made by CNN commentary analyst, Hilary Rosen, about Ann Romney yesterday.  Her attitude revealed a bias that women who chose to manage a home and raise children are dumbed down, "...hasn't worked a day in her life." Ann's choice to remain in the home and raise her five sons is neither and Ms. Rosen's attitude is nothing new.  In fact, Ms. Rosen assumed wrongly that most out there share in her attitude (I think her slip is showing - or telling).  It was a pervasive idea in the 1960's when the 'June Cleavers' of the '50s were boring roll models for baby boomer moms.  Then the '70's had those boomer women burning their bras in demonstration for women's rights - all a good thing because on the totem pole of prejudice, women were at the bottom.  There were commercials back then that inspired us to think we women could have it all.  Go to work in that man-suit pantsuit, bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan, finishing the day as a sex kitten, making the husband feel like a man.  And many believed that, setting in motion women's working impact on corporate America - leaving the home.  It was revolutionary.  Women and those who obliged becoming successful were considered heroic - trail blazing for a righteous cause, women's rights.  Those heros inspired us. They were independent, captivating vamps that had it all.  But did they?


Looking back we can see history earmarking that period as a beginning of an end, the declining American family.  Divorce even became a 'get out of jail card' once a woman had financial independence.  Okay, I'm speaking generally here, but seriously; a shift of commitment happened from the home to a career.  What I'm suggesting is that we can't have it all.  There are choices we make that solidify our commitment to what's most important. In those years, it wasn't home and family.  Presidential candidate, Rick Santorum and others have attributed ills in America today as having roots in a break up of the American family unit. I'm inclined to agree and believe it began with dual working parents.  


I think there's pressure for mothers to leave the home environment and it is what's terribly wrong in our society. After all, the 'career' choice to manage a home and raise children is not only laborious work but rewarding and viable to the societal fabric of a productive future generation.  But back in the 70's when I was making a choice to stay in the home and raise my own children; I was seen as a waste of my talents and working skills.  A mindful decision on my part was frowned upon, being that I was choosing to be a simpleton. I don't regret it and I commend those like Ann Romney who chose similarly.  We couldn't afford it financially; we sacrificed. But we were inspired for a higher costly standard in which we believed.  And it's a mystery - we got by and my children I know, are better for it.  


An excellent wife who can find? She is more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her...Proverbs 31: 10 &11. Chapter 31 goes on speaking about all her praiseworthy deeds that are enterprising, serving with dignity, profitable, charitable, upstanding and she laughs at the future because she is wise and prepared.  She teaches kindness and is not idle - EVER! Her husband praises her as she has done excellently, far and above what is expected.  Verse 30-31: Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.  


Am I suggesting that only women remain in the home to nurture children? No, every family is custom fit to an end objective of raising healthy children. But I do think we need to reinvent a return to nurturing our own children. It works best that way. Are there exceptions? Of course. We're all very unique, designed to contribute as called in occupation.  And in this present economy where it demands two incomes just to get by for most folks; it directs difficult choices and acceptance.  However, let's not be deceived.  By the time we figure in gas, wardrobe, daycare, maybe even expenses of a second car and fast food out on the go - it adds up to not a great bang for your buck invested having a second income.  Sometimes less really does add up to more.
Dump the attitude, Ms. Rosen - it's archaic.  Americans are suffering by those ideals from a distant past and many contemporaries are now rethinking a viable career in home management.