#Jesus Is Coming Soon

 I rarely use Twitter because I get annoyed by the unorganized clutter of information. So I use the platform for very specific needs. This morning I logged in to DM the USPS about a bad delivery attempt and noticed that one of the Trending Topics is #JesusIsComingSoon. 

The Bible teaches that no one knows the day or hour of Jesus's return. However, whether or not he returns in your lifetime (or mine), we are going to see him when we die. I don't know if people think about that. We don't know how long we have to live. 

As I've mentioned in my blogs, my 36-year-old niece died unexpectedly. On the day she died, she woke up with plans to prepare for an upcoming visit from her twin brother. She had breakfast and fed her dogs and checked her email and logged into her social media accounts. Later, she walked her dogs before going off the part-time job she'd recently started. Her full-time job paid well but she was trying to earn extra money for achieving some additional life goals. A few hours later, she was dead.

We think that we have so much control over everything. We plan and worry and fret and anticipate. Yet we cannot control whether or not we take our next breath, What every one of us will eventually learn is that God is in control.

There are people who stand in pulpits and teach that God is a genie in a bottle that we can "sow seeds" at to get money and healing. They will stand before God and they will know.

There are people who think that they can pray to various "saints" and idols for their salvation and safety and earthly well-being. They will stand before God and they will know.

There are scientists who argue against a Creator and teach that we exist because of a cosmic accident or that we were birthed by stardust or some such nonsense. They will stand before God and they will know.

There are Atheists who perform wonderfully in their debates against those who believe in a Creator. they will stand before God and they will know.

There are Christians who sometimes get weary and discouraged. They too will stand before God and they will know.

You are going to see God and know. I am going to see God and know. We don't make something true or not by believing or disbelieving. What is, is. We have been told and it will be. 

So when I saw that such a truth was "trending" on a social media platform, I was both happy and sad. I worry for the people who refuse to believe what is true.

For it is written: “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, TO ME EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, AND EVERY TONGUE WILL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” (Romans 14:11)

Accepting Christ is not hard, although living for him can be. All you have to do is sincerely ask him to come into your heart and your life. Ask him to forgive you of your sins

That's it. Once you trust in him - truly trust in him - you have made the first step. You will learn to read the Bible and pray for guidance. Pray to find other Bible-believing Christians to connect with. 

None of us know how much time we have to live - whether we live for the world or live for Christ. But we do need to choose. Please think of eternity. Consider carefully what you believe and why.

Peace

--Free 

No Govt Representation for Me

 Republican, Democrat, Independent... blah, blah, blah.

I'm not someone who obsesses over politics. I scan the news and try to be aware of major issues but... I really just cannot cope anymore with the distractions, disorganization, and disinformation that have escalated in the political world.

To be honest, I think the last time I paid attention to politics was a couple of years before Obama ran for the first time. That wore me out. I became so fatigued with all the hype and ADHD energy of voters who were so "for" or "against" one party or another. It was exhausting. 

My family has never been very "political". While growing up, I don't remember passionate discussions about politics in my home. Of course, my parents and their friends were interested, concerned with, and affected by the Civil Rights movement and the issues surrounding equality in the everyday lives of black people. I heard the adults discussing these things but I never heard them arguing with each other. 

For years, I was registered as Democrat. Not because I was very educated about every issue concerning citizens but because my parents had been Democrats. Shallowly, I always thought of Democrats as being for equality and fairness while I saw Republicans as being for pure capitalism and not concerned about anyone with brown or red skin.

I don't think it was until I was in my late 30s that I began to see how blurred - and at the same time, how clear - the lines are between the two major parties. I'm not sure when I began to feel - as an individual - not represented. It was during the rise of MAGA Republicans and the "squads" of progressive Democrats that I knew I was not well-represented.

As a citizen with only a layperson's understanding of politics, I am:

• Both pro-life and pro-choice. As a Christian, I know that every life is precious and that abortion is wrong. Also, I know that God gave us free will. I don't want people to sin but I know that they will (as I do). If someone murders - takes a life in any way that is not in justice - they are going to face divine judgment if they don't repent.
• Against gay marriage and special rights for LGBTQ+ citizens. If someone wants to live a gay lifestyle and suffer God's judgment, that's on them. However, I don't think that they should have the right to legally impact the education system. I don't think there should be such a thing as "drag queen story time". I don't think that we should legitimize or normalize sinful lifestyles. (And I once lived with a man I was not married to. I had to repent for that.) 
• Against the entire "trans" movement. If someone wants to be trans, fine. However, I should not have to be legally forced to figure out the confusion of pronouns because someone is confused about their sexuality or identity.
• Against movements about which lives matter more or less. We are all precious in God's eyes and by fighting over who is more or less valued, we are denying that. Black lives do matter - so do white lives and red lives and brown and whatever other color there is. How about "everybody with skin matters"? There. I fixed it for you.
• For programs that some people consider "socialist" - the programs that help feed the poor, provide school lunches and assist with housing, education, and healthcare. I am for those who cannot help themselves due to addiction, mental or physical disabilities, or poor parental situations.
• Fair working wages and compensation. 
• Against free and unlimited welfare for people who are able to be trained to work or provide a service in exchange for help.
• Support for Israel because God promised to "bless those who bless" Israel and "curse those who curse" her.

I was asked during a heated discussion in some online forum or the other if I would rather have a "doddering" Biden as president versus a more decisive if "lacking in decorum" Trump. That's an unfair choice. I don't know anyone in their right mind who wants Trump who stirs up so much division and hate. Also, I'm not crazy about Biden who, in my limited understanding, is very much for many of the things I think are sinful. And that's my problem. There is no one representing sane Christians. I don't think there ever will be and - to be honest - I don't think there is supposed to be.

There. I said it. 

This nation is not God's kingdom. This is a nation, like any other, that makes its policies based on mostly secular reasoning and viewpoints. I would like a nation that ran on totally Christian morals but I know that never will be. Just as Jesus wanted the people in his time here on earth to understand: his kingdom is the one to come. 

But back to this earthly "kingdom". I'm not right-wing or left-wing. I'm not even really a centrist. I'm a Christian and that's not a recognized party in the political system of the USA. 

Speaking of "socialist" programs, what is wrong with giving as much as we get - as a nation taking care of its citizens? The government talks about money like it's unlimited when it comes to things that benefit the wealthy or powerful. We can fund wars, no problem. We can let the big corporations find tax loopholes, no problem. But Medicare and Medicaid for those lazy peasants or housing and care for the mentally ill or veterans of wars? Oh boy, we might need to discuss that...

I heard someone once mention some of the ridiculous things that are in some of the government bills. There was money allocated for things like observing the mating habits of such and such an animal. Again, I'm ignorant about many things so here is a link to a list of some of the ridiculousness of federal spending. Even if a list such as this is exaggerated, it's not the only example.

Basically, as a Christian, this world is not my "paradise". Politicians are not my friends. Political parties don't really matter. We will be fighting each other until the end of time if we think that we can change that. How about we try to have our differences without violence?

What if we all learn to be civil? Not in agreement, of course, but civil in both our agreements and disagreements? Just because I am not pro-gay, I'm not going to be hateful to a gay or trans or MAGA or Progressive person. Just because I'm not for what they are for, I'm not going to be hateful to them. I'm going to pray for them and I will advocate that they - or any other person promoting sin - not be allowed to affect my rights to be and live a Christian life. If they can promote drag time story hour in school, why shouldn't prayer in school be allowed?

The bottom line: we are never going to have peace in this world until God's kingdom comes. In the meantime, I just want to be decent and kind and to be treated with decency and kindness. 

Okay. Now I'm just starting to rant. I think I've made my point. Basically, as a Christian, I will not have true representation under a man-made government. That's what Heaven is for.

Peace

--Free

Distraction Junkie (and Breaking the Habit)

 Like many Americans, I am a distraction junkie. There are some things I avoid because they are not healthy or helpful. But there is so much to avoid!

One day, I took the time to think about all the ways I spend my free time in a day. Reading or listening to the news and checking my phone; scanning social media and blog posting; watching entertainment (via online videos and streaming services); thinking about things that are not useful to my mental health or growth as a Christian; and doing Bible study. Sadly, Bible study came in last place.

I've been spending my free time in such an unbalanced and unhealthy way - for a Christian.

Here's how I know any of my time should be spent - sort of a daily to-do list:

1. Prayer and Bible study.
2. Critically thinking about any news I read or listen to.
3. Sharing my faith in some way.
4. Checking up with (or in on) friends and family.
5. Glancing at the news - just to know what major things are going on.

If there is time after that, I could write blog posts and scan social media - and that last part is not and should not be a loss if I don't get around to it.

I have allowed myself to become conditioned to live my life the way society doesn't mind. "Going along to get along", as my mother used to say. She would tell me that when I was in high school and wanted to do something because "all the other kids get to". It's not that she didn't want me to enjoy my teenage years. She just wanted me to have good reasons for why I wanted to do things.

These past few days, as I think about time and how little of it we have, I am trying to remember to ask myself why I want to do whatever it is I'm thinking of doing. I need to make that a habit.

Not only should I want to understand why I want to do something at a given time - read the news or scan social media, etc. - but also is it good for me at that moment. 

One blessing of having sarcoidosis is that I do have to think so much sometimes about how to do something. A lot of simple tasks take more concentration and focus. There was a time when I could knock out 3 or 4 blog posts at a time and schedule them to publish through the week. Now, on a good day, I can do one blog post and make sure it's clear and (mostly) free of glaring grammatical errors. (By the way, "big ups" to Grammarly!) 

Part of my problem is that I feel a bit ADHD and yet sluggish-minded. At the same time. LOL. It's a real thing, people. 

So. What does all of this mean?

I guess I'm trying to say that I have become aware of a problem and am trying to solve it. The problem is that I'm not spending enough time on the things that matter the most. The solution is so very simple: spend more time on the things that matter the most. 

I have come up with a plan. I need to create a habit of putting first things first. Bible study and prayer before anything else and then the other 4 things on my daily "to-do" list.

Putting the news last might be the biggest benefit to my mental health. That is where the biggest distractions are. The news these days if full of the worst of the worst and I'm not even talking about the natural disasters or crimes but politicians acting like unruly children and celebrities doing "the most" and some for more attention.

God is in control. Of everything that is going on around us. My worrying about it all can't change men's hearts or behaviors. But I can pray. I can study God's Word to understand why things are the way they are. I can read His Word to fortify myself with the promises He's given to those of us who follow Jesus. 

I'm trying to stop being a distraction junkie and become a more prayerful and mature Christian.

Peace

--Free