24-Feb  2007

Discussion class: Proverbs 27:4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? How do we deal with someone's insecurity that has caused jealousy?

Scripture Reading: #676

Vespers: We call them 'parables' but to those listening they were 'riddles.' What is the meaning of this one? Parable of the lighted lamp: Mark 4.21-25 & Luke 8.16-18.

Wednesday evening 7-8 p.m.: Leadership roles and responsibilities - “Character: Act – don’t react.” Effectiveness is somewhat proportional to accessibility and emotional availability. If we are given to pettiness and retaliation we will not be perceived as being accessible or available without threat or danger - our effectiveness is lost. (i.e.. if they are afraid - they will not follow)

I am irritated by people who blame the victim.

Humanity hates weakness. That’s why Jesus has called us to the weak and infirm among us.

When I was a teenager I was always on the lookout for jobs. In rural America those were usually one-day chores where a farmer or the co-op would need some extra 'hands' and would hire available teens. Due to the high production of poultry in the Ozarks, I would frequently find jobs 'de-beaking' turkeys. Turkeys and chickens peck the weak birds among them until the weak ones are destroyed...dead.

In that regard, humanity isn't much different from those 'bird-brained' turkeys and chickens. That old book, "Lord of the Flies" comes to mind...what a commentary on human nature as exhibited in kids who don't have the constraints of moral and ethical perspective.

People want the trappings and associations of success and strength. This gives them identity by association…a façade.

Christians are to find their identity in Jesus, not in organized religion or political power. Nowhere is the identity of Jesus revealed any more clearly than in listening to His Words in the Sermon on the Mount…

Matthew 5:1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2. and he began to teach them, saying: 3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 10. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

15. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

• In doing this we are to enable people to become Children of a Living God
• Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
• We are to empower people to develop their individual talents as strengths
• Romans 14:1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
• We are to affirm people despite their limitations
• Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
• I Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

As there will always be those with vulnerability, so there will always be bullies. We must never side with the bully, the predator. We must always have compassion for the vulnerable.

And, we should make certain that our national policies will not victimize the weak.

If you will allow me a bit of ‘moral outrage’ – we should adamantly oppose embargos as those do not work against tyrants but only victimize the weak. If they worked, we would not have seen 50 years of Fidel Castro. If they worked we wouldn’t have Kim Jong-il in North Korea.

China only began to open up for Christianity when we pursued open trade relations with them. Their country is now beginning to enjoy prosperity. China is making huge strides in feeding the masses, millions of whom were barely surviving subsistence living.

We see people in North Korea, Cuba, and other places which we have targeted with embargos who are smaller than others of their same genetic heredity (such as South Koreans, or in the case of Cubans – Dominicans) because of dietary deficiencies.

It isn’t just 3^rd World countries; we have regions and inner cities where children are going to bed hungry every night. This is un-Godly! We have enough food produced in our world to adequately feed every person on earth (U.N. statistics available from Jenise’s office at Millennium Promise).

James 1:27 The Christian who is pure and without fault, from God the Father's point of view, is the one who takes care of orphans and widows, and who remains true to the Lord--not soiled and dirtied by his contacts with the world.

Unfortunately, many Christians have allowed the policies of the political world to replace the image of Christ in their lives.

Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.