Ridiculousness Is Not Joy

There is a television show called "Ridiculousness." It's apparently a hit since it has been running for a few years. I find it most ridiculous. I do not find watching people get hurt very funny. When a child falls down trying to ride their bike, it is cruel to laugh. When someone slips on the ice and falls, it is disrespectful to laugh.

 

I have nothing against laughing. But, as the Preacher wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:4: There is "a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." Laughter comes with joy. Joy comes from goodness. It comes from the goodness of God. God shows us the path of life. In his presence there is fullness of joy; in his right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Prov 16:11)

 

On the other hand, to ridicule means to make fun of or, in more contemporary terms, to bully someone. Ridiculing someone else or yourself is not a Christian virtue. I know that it's 2016 and times have changed. But, I'm thinking that they probably haven't changed for the better when watching people get hurt or hurt themselves is suppose to be humorous entertainment.

 

God loves you. Love yourself. Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself. Please, don't sully that love with hurtful ridiculousness to either yourself or anyone else. Hurtfulness is not funny. It is folly. "Folly is a joy to one who has no sense, but a person of understanding walks straight ahead." (Prov 15:21)  That is, we walk straight ahead into a more glorious future when we walk in The Way of the Lord. That is where you will find real joy!

 

"There is a time to weep; and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a dance." May God grant us the wisdom to discern the times.

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Prayers: Curses and Blessings

"He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!”  When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys." 2 King 2:23-24 NRSV

Listening to people curse usually causes me to get one of those little knots in my stomach. Hearing God's name used recklessly makes me a little more than anxious. I hear words come out of people's mouths and I wonder if they realize that God is listening. When we desire that someone be harmed and we think or speak it; they are not just harmless words. Every word, whether it is a blessing or a curse, is like a prayer before God.

The story of Elisha cursing the boys and the bears coming to retaliate against them for disrespecting and bullying God's prophet is fascinating. It can even make one a bit uncomfortable to think that God would answer this prayer (curse) in such a devastating fashion. It causes me to wonder if Elisha had any clue that God would respond in such a dramatic fashion or did the curse simply slip from his lips in a moment of anger or fear?

God doesn't normally send bears to protect His prophets. But, there is no doubt that He is with all who serve Him and He listens to their pleas. Be careful then of what words slip through your teeth. It is up to you whether they be the words of a bully, a curse in God's name, or if they be the words of a blessing; God hears it all. Be careful of what you pray for.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Romans 9:19-29 God is Patient

Romans 9:19-29 NIV
God, indeed, has shown us much patience. My patience wears thin at times. It sometimes just boggles my mind that so much bullying occurs. The love of God is rejected. The love of God through others is rejected; insults returned instead of love. When things don't go our way; when we don't get to be the center of things; we don't consider that maybe it is God's good will for us for that moment in time. We consider it an affront to us and do everything to get our own way even if it means negatively affecting others.

We are sinful human beings. Yet, God is patient with us; way more patient than we deserve. He does not want to execute His judgment upon us. But, ultimately the day will come when it will be done. In the meantime; let us consider His patience with us. We still live! We still have the opportunity to repent (to turn around) and follow Jesus into the Kingdom of God where there will be much more joy and peace than can be found by following in the ways of the world.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 9:20-31 Trust Saul?

Acts 9:19b-31 NIV
The saying that it's easier to forgive than to forget seems to apply to Saul (Paul). As soon as he is baptized, Saul begins to preach that Jesus is the Son of God. Some of the people want to kill him for his preaching; others do not trust him.

God can change anyone's heart. But, after so zealously persecuting (mega bullying) others, followers of Jesus are not so sure that he could have made such a drastic change. Simply put, they did not trust him. In Jerusalem, Barnabas had to witness to Saul's conversion so that Saul could freely witness to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God; so that the people would trust and listen to him.

It took only a few moments for God to change Saul's heart; but, it took much longer for the people to understand that he had really changed. Be careful then how we treat one another in order that our witness might be believable and accepted.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 15:18-25 Bullied for Jesus

John 15:18-25 NIV
It is tough for Christians who desire to be faithful. You may have friends. But, you will also in all likelihood have a lot of enemies as well if your first love is Jesus. The world did not (does not) love Jesus and will not love his followers, either.

When my granddaughter was in elementary school (about 3rd grade) she had a friend who belonged to a Christian group that thinks females should wear long dresses or skirts all of the time.  Wearing a dress has actually become a symbol of faith in Jesus for that particular faith community to the people in the larger community. A woman who dresses in this manner is easily recognized as a dedicated Christian. This young girl wore dresses to school all of the time. To put it bluntly; she was bullied quite a lot because of it. Now, my granddaughter is not a big fan of dresses. She usually only wears them for special occasions. One morning she donned a dress for school so that her friend would have "company." My granddaughter thought this might help others to accept her friend. When she got home that day I asked what the kids in school thought about her dress. She replied that when she got off of the school bus some kids pushed her in the snow bank along with her friend. But, she was ok with that. She was in good company.

There will be those who definitely don't like you if you don't conform to the standards of the world around you. Even the tiniest hint that you might be a faithful follower of our Lord, Jesus Christ, can get you bullied and persecuted.

May God help us to not judge other Christians based on adiaphora; but support them in their desire to serve; as they strive to be reflections of Jesus to the world. If the world hates them; if it hates you; remember that the world hated Jesus first for no reason. You are in good, real good, company.

God's Peace - Pr. J  

John 15:9-17 Love Each Other

John 15:9-17 NIV
"Love each other." It is as simple as that. Love fulfills the law. If we have love; then we will do all that we can not to do anything to hurt the people around us. If we have love; we don't need to know and memorize every minute detail of every law; because the law is written upon our hearts. (Psalm 37:31, Jer 31:33, Heb 8:10, Heb 10:15)

In giving his life for us, Jesus showed us how much he truly loves each of us. If we remain in his love we will love even as he loves. Love isn't going to worry about who is going to make it in first at anything. Love tells us it is not only good to be the last in line; the last to receive; sometimes, it is way more preferable for all of our sakes.

Be a friend. Be a good neighbor. Do nothing that might cause any harm or danger to come to others. Do all things for their good that God might be glorified. Love each other. This is the command of Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. Today is the first day of the school year; may God help our children to love one another and to leave the bullying behind them.

Isaiah 39 - Compromise For Temporary Peace?

Shall we compromise for temporary peace? Hezekiah does in today's reading. He has revealed all that he has to the enemy bearing gifts and in the end they will most likely pay dearly for this.

I do believe that Merodach Baladan has not acted with integrity and Hezekiah has fallen for it  with hopes they can be friends at peace with one another. How often do our governments play this same game so that they can say "Peace, peace, when there is no peace."? How about our churches? How about us? Have we been playing games, compromising, what we believe, who and whose we are for the sake of a friend or ally?

I'm thinking maybe we have. Where else would our children have learned it? Who could have taught them to use one another and to be used (bullied) by others for the sake of a feigned friendship and no.entry peace?

Truth is: it feels good to be liked or to be popular. But, it is good to be able to live as a child of God, according to His will. Compromising His will may give you a sense of momentary peace, but the only real peace comes from being Hid friend, living in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J

P.S. In the woods, blogging from a SMART phone so please forgive errors and typos.

Psalm 17 - Vindication

David pleas for the LORD to vindicate him; to confront them. David has planned no evil for them. He has not spoken evil by verbally attacking them. He places his vindication; even his vengeance, in God's hands.

For most of us, that is much easier said than done. When we are being persecuted or bullied, as we would say in the language of today, it is very difficult not to attack back. But, I'm thinking that it would be better not to open our lips and attack bullies back; not to plan an all out assault on them. Do we really want to waste our days arguing and fighting? Do we really want to fall into a trap becoming like those who persecute us?

David writes: "Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled." (vs 4-5 NIV) Sometimes, the best course of action when we are being bullied is just to step back - ignore them - let God's will be done. Allow the LORD to vindicate you.

On occasions, when my granddaughter has gotten herself involved in "spitting matches" with others her age, I have advised her to have nothing to do with them. Back off and let God take care of it. Quit "spitting" back. God knows what He's doing, she doesn't. He knows what is really going on, while her vision is limited. Nothing she can do can match the way God can save and vindicate her. I also, usually, have to remind her that this is not "karma." It is the work of God protecting and keeping His children.

May God keep you in His peace - Pr. J
 

1 Chronicles 20 - More Bullies

Seems I get to talk about big bullies, again, today. 

There was man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.  He was descended from the giants.  Just a little intimidating!  David's brother, Jonathan, struck him down when he taunted Israel.

I am only 5'1" and shrinking... Years ago, I had this boss who was an ex-pro-football player.  He was quite intimidating to many, especially to many of the youth at the correctional facility we worked at.  I was told that his stature was quite large.  I always thought he was pretty average.  Others saw him as a larger than life football player.  I never saw him that way (for one thing - I'm not into football).  I always saw him as pretty average.  I remember talking to him about his over-use of assertiveness (he was my boss - but he was also a bully) when dealing with the teenage boys we were suppose to be helping.  He was sitting at his desk.  I was standing in front of it, looking down at him.  He didn't seem so large to me.  His bullishness didn't work for too much longer.  He lost his job not long after that, for excessive use of force with one of the teens.  Bullies really don't win.  They may appear to have the upperhand for awhile.  But, they are really smaller in stature than one would think and they normally lose in the end.

May God help us always to remember that it is not size that matters, but what is right in His eyes.  May God help those who resort to bullying live in peace with their neighbors.