Even those who have never read the Bible will recognize it. Revered by the occult and feared by the superstitious, it’s a number forever linked with infamy. It is the number six hundred sixty-six. For over two millennia, this number has been used as a proxy for Satan himself. It’s been the subject of endless speculation, hearsay, and confusion.
And during this time, it’s been used to justify the false identification of hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of individuals as the Antichrist. These false identifications have only served to confuse people as to the original Biblical meaning of the number 666, and unfortunately, they also cause many to dismiss bible prophecy as a mere superstition of crackpots and conspiracy theorists.
So where does the number 666 come from? And what does it mean?
All the speculation concerning 666 comes from a single verse in the Book of Revelation. In a passage describing the Antichrist and his world empire, we learn the following:
“He required everyone – great and small, rich and poor, slave and free – to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. And no one could buy or sell anything without that mark, which was either the name of the beast or the number representing his name. Wisdom is needed to understand this. Let the one who has understanding solve the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.” Revelation 13:16-18 (NLT)
During the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist will require everyone on the earth to be given a mark on the right hand or the forehead. Those who refuse this mark will be unable to buy or sell anything, effectively cutting them off from all economic activity – the purchase and sale of food, water, shelter, and the basic necessities of life.
This mark will have the following characteristics:
1) It will be the name of the beast
2) It will be the number representing his name
3) It will be the number of a man
and
4) The number is 666
Let’s address each of these aspects individually in order to gain a firm grasp of their intended meaning:
The Name of the Beast
Who is the beast? Traditionally, “the name of the beast” is interpreted as being the name of the Antichrist, who is clearly referenced in verses 11-18 of Revelation Chapter 13 (this topic will be addressed in-depth in a later article). However, in these verses, the Antichrist is described as a second beast who exercises “all the authority of the first beast.” The first beast is described in verses 1-10 of the same chapter, but this beast does not represent the Antichrist as some believe, but rather the world empire the Antichrist will rule.
We know this because the first beast has “seven heads and ten horns” (verse 1), and this is a beast students of bible prophecy have seen before.
In the Book of Daniel, we are introduced to him as “the fourth beast,” a global empire that will destroy everything in its path:
“Then he said to me, ‘This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling everything in its path. Its ten horns are ten kings that will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. He will defy the Most High and wear down the holy people of the Most High.’” Daniel 7:23-25 (NLT)
Does this fourth world power sound familiar? It has “ten horns” (Rev 13:1) and will trample everything in its path, probably prompting people to ask “Is there anyone as great as the beast? Who is able to fight against him?” (Rev 13:4). It will also devour “the whole world,” gaining authority over “every tribe and people and language and nation” (Rev 13:7)
We also learn that the Antichrist will “require all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the first beast, whose death wound had been healed” (Rev 13:12). Who is this beast whose death wound has been healed? The wounded beast who will be resurrected is the fourth beast in Daniel 7 – the world empire of ancient Rome, which was never completely destroyed like previous world empires. In the last days, the Roman Empire will appear once again, and the world will marvel at its appearance.
Daniel confirms this when he states that the Antichrist will be a ruler from the people who destroy the Temple in A.D. 70 (Daniel 9:26). The Romans destroyed the Temple, and they will have a ruler once again in the last days, confirming that the Roman Empire must once again exist.
The Book of Revelation also predicts this resurrection of Rome:
“Five kings have already fallen, the sixth now reigns, and the seventh is yet to come, but his reign will be brief.” Revelation 17:10 (NLT)
The angel reveals to John that 5 of the kingdoms have fallen:
1) Egypt
2) Assyria
3) Babylonia
4) Medo-Persia
5) Greece
The sixth kingdom “now reigns”:
6) Rome (John’s vision occurred in the 1st Century, when Rome still ruled the known world)
And the seventh “is yet to come”:
7) The Revived Roman Empire
In the last days, this resurrected Roman Empire will rule all of humanity. Its reign will be brief, but it will be like no other kingdom before it.
The Antichrist will require all the earth and those who belong to this world to worship the revived Roman Empire, a global government that will rule “over every tribe and people and language and nation” (Rev 13:7)
So the “name of the beast” described in Revelation 13:17 is not the name of the Antichrist as widely believed, but instead, it will be a name associated with the world empire he requires the world to worship.
The Number Representing His Name
If the mark of the beast is “the name of the beast,” how can it also be “the number representing his name”? Ancient Greek and Hebrew, the two languages most associated with the Book of Revelation, both used an alphanumeric system in which each letter of the alphabet correlates with a number. What verse 18 reveals is that the mark, which is the name of the beast, will have a numeric value that can be calculated as the number 666. The only way to “calculate” this number is if it appears as letters that need to be interpreted in a numerical form. Therefore, we can say with certainty that the mark of the beast will not be a literal brand of “666,” but rather it will be a word or a phrase which when converted into its numerical equivalent will represent the number 666.
How this is properly calculated depends on whether or not John originally wrote the Book of Revelation in Greek or Hebrew. Tradition says he originally wrote the book in Greek. However, a strong case has been made that the book was originally written in Hebrew, then quickly translated into Greek. Not knowing for sure multiplies the difficulty of calculating the number of the beast, because each letter of the Greek and Hebrew alphabet is associated with a different numerical value.
The Number of a Man
If the number 666 represents the revived Roman Empire and not a man (the Antichrist) as traditionally believed, then why does verse 18 say, “…for it is the number of a man”? The answer is that some translations interpret this verse as “…for it is the number of humanity.” Either way, in both cases, the verse can be interpreted as “mankind” or the “entirety of the human race.” If this is the case, it tells us that the number 666 will not only be the name of the beast (the revived Roman Empire), but it will also be reflective of the entire human race, especially those who freely chose to accept it on their right hand or forehead.
When Daniel conveys God’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the empires of the world are symbolized in the form of a statue – a statue of a man.
“Your Majesty, in your vision you saw in front of you a huge and powerful statue of a man, shining brilliantly, frightening and awesome.” Daniel 2:31 (NLT)
The association of this statue with mankind and world government provides a strong indication that the mark of the beast is more akin to the number of humanity, rather than any particular individual.
The Number is 666
>From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible associates certain numbers with an overall theme. The number six is often associated with mankind. For instance, man was created on the sixth day. Similarly, the number seven is often associated with perfection and rest. For instance, God rested on the seventh day.
In contrast to the number seven, six is viewed as highly symbolic of incompletion or imperfection. Just as man has “fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), the number six is symbolic of man’s shortfall of the perfection of God’s seven.
When the number six is repeated three times in the number 666, many believe it’s indicative of Satan’s attempt to imitate the trinity.
The Price of Accepting the Mark of the Beast
The Antichrist and his followers will pay a hefty price for accepting the mark of the beast. The Bible tells us that ALL who accept the mark of the beast will face eternal judgment for their decision. The following verses reveal the consequences of this rebellion against God:
“Then a third angel followed them, shouting, ‘Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or the hand must drink the wine of God’s wrath. It is poured out undiluted into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb. The smoke of their torment rises forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9-11 (NLT)
“So the first angel left the Temple and poured out his bowl over the earth, and horrible, malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.” Revelation 16:2 (NLT)
“And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast – miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue.” Revelation 19:20 (NLT)
Acceptance of the mark is not a matter to be taken lightly. Anyone who accepts the mark denies Christ in favor of a false god. This decision, once made, is irrevocable, and the consequences are everlasting.
However, for those who refuse the mark, a future of eternal bliss awaits. Although they will suffer persecution to the point of death, their steadfast faithfulness in honor of Jesus Christ, will open the door to an eternity in the presence of God.
“Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus, for proclaiming the word of God. And I saw the souls of those who had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or their hands.” Revelation 20:4 (NLT)
These verses are clear. Under no circumstances should anyone, especially a believer in Christ, accept the mark of the beast. To do so, leads only to ruin.
Superstition Surrounding the Number 666
The world is filled with superstition, especially when it comes to numbers. Some feel the number 13 is unlucky, and they avoid anything associated with the number. For a lot of people, the number 666 has the same effect. But God makes it clear that we are not to fear this number. Having a license plate, a sales receipt, or a street address will the number 666 is nothing to be concerned about. Anyone who thinks so it attributing supernatural power to a number, and the Bible clearly states that believers should fear God, and God only:
“Do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else.” Isaiah 8:13 (NLT)
Jesus underscores this command while teaching his disciples not to fear persecution:
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 (NLT)
The things of this world are fleeting, but the Lord Almighty, and He only, will determine our eternal destiny. Therefore, don’t be concerned with such trivial superstitions as the random occurrence of the number 666.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the true meaning of the number 666 will not become apparent until the Great Tribulation, when the Antichrist forces the world population to accept the number as a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. Contemporary attempts to calculate this number ahead of time as either the name of a person, human beings, or the revived Roman Empire, will only lead to frustration. Even worse, these attempts may end up having a negative impact in that, once proved false, they will damage the credibility of those who teach end times bible prophecy in general. If the devil can convince the world that bible prophecy is the exclusive domain of crackpots and conspiracy theorists, then he can snatch away a valuable tool for spreading the Gospel of Christ.
In the end, it is the duty of our generation to carefully examine the meaning of Revelation 13:16-18 and convey an accurate historical interpretation of these verses for others. If we succeed, the end times generation will have the ability to properly interpret the number of the beast. Because once the Antichrist arrives on the world scene and announces his intention to require the mark, it will become clear to everyone on earth what acceptance of this number really means. Whether the number of an individual, a kingdom, or mankind itself, acceptance of the number 666 will be tantamount to a public rejection of Jesus Christ.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Why Does God Permit Evil?
It’s not a new question, of course. Those believing in God want an answer that supports rather than dissolves their faith. Atheists offer this conundrum as an evidence that the ‘god’ their philosophical opponents postulate cannot exist. In their minds, an all-powerful God who is good would hate evil, and would use His power to eradicate it. Of course, this position has some theological problems for the theist, but apparently not for the atheist.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I received an invitation to download an ebook that dealt with this question. It was offered by a group calling itself the Orlando Bible Students (formerly the Dawn Bible Students Association) and I think it fairly reflects the position that many ‘conservative Christian’ people take on the question. I thought it lacked depth, but I think many church-goers are enamored of rock music and fellowship, and likewise lack depth. Still, after this effort, I felt a cogent answer was not offered. And I wrote to suggest a dialog. They have not yet written back.
This being the case, I will post this article and send them the link, and we shall see what happens.
Their approach started by discussing natural disasters. “If God hated evil, why would He allow volcanos and tsunamis and earthquakes?” I think this question misses the point entirely. Because natural disasters aren’t evil.
Unpleasant, certainly. But there is nothing in God’s moral law against hurricanes and tornadoes, even if property is destroyed or people get killed. It is simply not a moral issue. God owns the property and God owns the people. Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3) And He is not accountable to us.
Suppose there is a major baseball game. It’s the bottom of the sixth, and the pitcher on the mound is having the best game of his life. A mile away, a farmer is watching his parched crops wither away. Suddenly, a rainstorm blows in, ending the game but bringing the rain the farmer so desperately needed.
Was this evil? Obviously not. It simply didn’t suit the preferences of one person subject to it. Now, let’s add a tornado to the mix. It tears through the ballpark and kills the pitcher and 19 people in the stands, including a 1-year-old child. Is this evil? Can we lay this monstrous sin at the feet of Adam and Eve? Or God? Who sinned? Whose fault was it?
I have maintained, and I think the Bible supports, the idea that there is a connection between the moral universe and the physical universe. But it would be an unwarranted leap to suggest that our specific transgressions trigger earthquakes or tornadoes or anything else. God only knows whether that one-year-old would have grown up to be a brilliant doctor or a mass-murderer. In this case, God sovereignly decided otherwise. In any event, it is God’s prerogative to decide who lives where and for how long, and how their time on earth will be ended.
God has given us this world to live in. It may not suit all of our preferences, but He is not required to accommodate us with gentle breezes, balmy weather, and geologic stability. This is where we live, and we’re allowed by His grace to live here.
* * * * *
This leads to the next part of the issue. Suppose this one-year-old had not been brought to the game, but had been left with a care-giver who turned out to be a psychopathic child-killer. Since I have taken the position that it’s God’s prerogative to decide, is the psychopath innocent because he was just doing what God obviously ordained? That is, if God wanted the child to grow up, it would have been impossible for anyone to kill him. Either that, or God really has no sovereignty, just some strongly held preferences.
I think this gets closer to the real issue, and this is where I wish to clarify. To do so, we must begin by clarifying how profound and pervasive sin is in the human heart. And these thoughts are not pleasant.
I begin with an indictment against the consumer-driven mentality and theology of the modern American evangelical churches. I believe they have seriously trivialized sin and, as a result, have necessarily trivialized salvation. Nowhere in the scriptures do you see someone getting saved by opening the door of their heart and inviting Jesus to come in and be their personal savior. People are never described as being ‘basically good’ or as well-intentioned but imperfect. We are consistently described as deceitful, desperately wicked, undeserving, self-centered, brutish, vile, loathsome, having a lust for evil. We are not even a teensy-weensy bit good. We are totally depraved.
Now, is this ‘total depravity’ something that we just inherited from Adam, over which we had no control? I mean, a pig can’t help being a pig: both its parents were pigs. And pigs by nature will roll in the mud. Can you blame them? And if our parents were both sinners, and their parents before them, can we be blamed for just being what we are?
That’s a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer. But the straight answer is a little more metaphysical than most people are used to considering. Let me start with a question: If God ceased His creative activity 6,000 years ago, then where have you been?
There is an interesting clue in the 7th chapter of Hebrews. In this passage, the argument is presented that Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek while he was still in the loins of Abraham. This is presented as part of a substantive argument for the superiority of Christ the High Priest over the Levitical priesthood. The point is that Levi had personhood, and moral capacity, before his grandfather was even born. This wasn’t a theoretical, imaginary, or metaphorical construct. The author (Paul, I believe, but we can discuss that later) was laying out a concrete theological argument. Levi paid a tithe.
Levi was credited with an act of subservience. Let’s look at another example: God stated His love for Jacob and his contempt for Esau before either was born (they were fraternal twins) according to Romans 9:11. Another suggestion of pre-embrionic existence and moral culpability is in Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:9, 2 Kings 10:30 and 2 Kings 15:12. In each of these passages, the reach of God’s judgment or blessing reaches to the fourth generation.
Saul of Tarsus was consenting in the matter of the death of Stephen, and even though he threw no stones, he had Stephen’s blood on his hands from that day forward, and he knew it. Similarly, though I did not actively cause or even participate in the sins of my great-grandfather, it appears that I was consenting or in some other way participating. And with that comes a measure of culpability. God would be unjust to judge an innocent person, or to visit the consequences of sin on someone who had no sin.
The disciples apparently understood this. In John chapter 9 they asked if a man’s sin had caused him to be born blind. Reincarnationists like to mis-apply this verse, but it is clear that Jewish theology never had any support for reincarnation. But they were familiar with the verses previously cited. Was the man who was born blind simply receiving judgment for pre-embrionic transgression?
Jesus said ‘no’ but did not discount their question.
God limits His judgment to four generations, but we read in Romans 5 that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In other words, I was a sinner when Christ died for me. I was a sinner before I was even born. And where was I? In the loins of my forebear. I was in Adam when he transgressed and, because of that, I became subject to death. I was, by nature a child of wrath. In some sense, I participated.
* * * * *
Besides the sci-fi flavor of an argument like this is the question of implications. Certainly we can’t put newborns on trial for the sins of their fathers. And my intention is not to deal with ‘sins’ but with sin. The point is that we are not innocent, and haven’t been for 6,000 years. Similarly, we can’t properly argue that a child just needs a little bit of Jesus because his sins are few and minor, whereas a 40-year-old man might need ‘a whole lotta Jesus’ because he’s been screwing up so much more seriously. And we certainly can’t reason (though some do) that we just need Christ to supplement our righteousness, or to make up a shortfall or pay the part of our debt that we can’t manage.
We wonder how a just God could send that dear little old lady who did so many nice things to the same place of torments He sends Hitler. But this simply betrays our ignorance of both sin and God’s holiness. So let’s consider for a moment the case of a homeowner who owns two dogs.
One is a rather large dog, perhaps a German Shepherd. Fido the Shepherd is not housebroken. The other is a Chihuahua named Spot. Spot is not housebroken either. Both dogs will, by nature, relieve themselves whenever and where ever they have the urge.
Both unload on the living room carpet. Clearly, Fido makes a bigger mess. Is he, therefore, less housebroken than Spot?
Both are placed in the kitchen, where there is a linoleum floor. The mess this time is easier to clean up. Would you conclude that they are more housebroken in the kitchen than in the rest of the house?
There is a folding gate between the kitchen and the living room which Fido can jump over, but Spot can’t. So Fido makes another mess in the living room. Or – the homeowner sees both dogs sniffing and circling and rightly guesses that the time is coming. He is able to hustle Spot out into the back yard, but Fido makes his mess on the floor. Was Spot a ‘good dog’ for going outside?
All we bring to our relationship with God is rebelliousness, recalcitrance, wickedness and iniquity. That’s it. We are, as noted in Ephesians 2, natural children of wrath. We are, therefore, totally culpable for not only the sins we consummate, but the sin in our hearts. Read your Bible: the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Jesus’ judgment for the one who has committed adultery with her already in his heart by just a lustful gaze. We’re a lot worse than we like to think, and a lot worse than most pastors are willing to tell us.
We don’t know what awful thoughts the little old lady had. However, we can affirm with some confidence that the only difference between her and Hitler was opportunity.
And where is God in all this? He shapes our lives, limits our opportunities, constrains our evil. Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 5 when he writes the love of Christ constrains us. “Constrain” means ‘to force by imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation.’ What is in us that requires imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation? Is it our natural tendency to love one another? I would suggest that it is our inherent wickedness.
Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him. God constrained their evil and preserved Joseph alive and, as Joseph told his brothers later, You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. Even the finest ‘good’ deeds are tainted unless they are done completely out of love for God. Half-hearted love for God or luke-warm ‘commitment’ to Him is abominable.
We need a SAVIOR, not self-improvement classes, self-esteem enhancement, or a good example.
* * * * *
My indictment continues, because the ‘churches’ that dot the landscape have given us a soft and gentle, meek and mild “Jesus” who comes to us oh so humbly and asks … no, BEGS us to please please open the door and let him come in. I find it nauseating, as should any true Christian. We’re not doing God any favors and, as a matter of fact, we need to be dragged by the Holy Spirit to the feet of Christ and saved as an act of His sovereign grace. The only ‘free will’ responses we have toward God or the Gospel of His Kingdom is resistance and contempt.
In the grand scheme, it appears to me that ‘free will’ is a singularity rather than an ongoing series of choices. Rather like a mortgage (or a marriage), in that one makes a singular decision at a point in time and then lives out the consequences. At a point in time, I decide as a matter of free will to sign a mortgage. The lender then pre-scribed the outworking of my decision. The outworking may run for 30 years and my performance is mandated.
Another example may be someone who makes a ‘free will’ decision to take a part in a play. His participation is then scripted by the Director. For us, our ‘free will’ decision was to set ourselves in rebellion against God. Subsequently, God in his sovereign mercy, has mapped out the consequences of our decision.
Psalm 139 points this out: “In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. ” (verse 16). The King James language is rather obscure but fortunately, some modern versions are clearer. This is consistent with both the scriptures and the sovereignty of God. Just consider: the Word of God is eternal. The scripture cannot be broken. Judas Iscariot (like the rest of us) had sin and rebellion in his heart. In His sovereignty, and to accomplish His purpose, God allowed Judas the opportunity to manifest his character at a point in history. In love, God constrained most of the evil in Judas’ life, as He does in ours. But not all. This particular transgression was not only allowed, but it was scripted. This day appointed for Judas was written in God’s book before it had come to pass.
David’s sin with Bathsheba was written in God’s eternal word. David committed the act as a divinely-allowed outworking of his sinful nature and expression of his ‘free will.’ But God was not sitting in heaven with His stylus poised, waiting to see what David would do so He would know what to include in His eternal Word. God scripted the naming of Cyrus and the events in Daniel.
* * * * *
Here, for the time being, my indictment ends. Our good God takes our iniquity, which is all we bring into this experience, and shapes it for His ends. We are living in a world of restrained evil. Our contribution is the evil, and God’s is the restraint. He allows transgressions of His moral law because He is sovereign. He allows the consequences of others’ sin to fall on us because He is gracious. Were He to allow us unrestrained free will, we would quickly realize that the wrath of man is much more unpleasant than the mercy and grace that God daily visits upon us.
Why does God permit evil? Because He loves us. We are so essentially evil that, were He to destroy evil, he would have to destroy us. Our sin is not superficial, but is at the very core of who we are. The presence of evil is not inconsistent with the existence or omnipotence of God. Rather, it is evidence of His compassion and grace. It simply needs to be seen in the light of our desperate and unreformable wickedness.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I received an invitation to download an ebook that dealt with this question. It was offered by a group calling itself the Orlando Bible Students (formerly the Dawn Bible Students Association) and I think it fairly reflects the position that many ‘conservative Christian’ people take on the question. I thought it lacked depth, but I think many church-goers are enamored of rock music and fellowship, and likewise lack depth. Still, after this effort, I felt a cogent answer was not offered. And I wrote to suggest a dialog. They have not yet written back.
This being the case, I will post this article and send them the link, and we shall see what happens.
Their approach started by discussing natural disasters. “If God hated evil, why would He allow volcanos and tsunamis and earthquakes?” I think this question misses the point entirely. Because natural disasters aren’t evil.
Unpleasant, certainly. But there is nothing in God’s moral law against hurricanes and tornadoes, even if property is destroyed or people get killed. It is simply not a moral issue. God owns the property and God owns the people. Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3) And He is not accountable to us.
Suppose there is a major baseball game. It’s the bottom of the sixth, and the pitcher on the mound is having the best game of his life. A mile away, a farmer is watching his parched crops wither away. Suddenly, a rainstorm blows in, ending the game but bringing the rain the farmer so desperately needed.
Was this evil? Obviously not. It simply didn’t suit the preferences of one person subject to it. Now, let’s add a tornado to the mix. It tears through the ballpark and kills the pitcher and 19 people in the stands, including a 1-year-old child. Is this evil? Can we lay this monstrous sin at the feet of Adam and Eve? Or God? Who sinned? Whose fault was it?
I have maintained, and I think the Bible supports, the idea that there is a connection between the moral universe and the physical universe. But it would be an unwarranted leap to suggest that our specific transgressions trigger earthquakes or tornadoes or anything else. God only knows whether that one-year-old would have grown up to be a brilliant doctor or a mass-murderer. In this case, God sovereignly decided otherwise. In any event, it is God’s prerogative to decide who lives where and for how long, and how their time on earth will be ended.
God has given us this world to live in. It may not suit all of our preferences, but He is not required to accommodate us with gentle breezes, balmy weather, and geologic stability. This is where we live, and we’re allowed by His grace to live here.
* * * * *
This leads to the next part of the issue. Suppose this one-year-old had not been brought to the game, but had been left with a care-giver who turned out to be a psychopathic child-killer. Since I have taken the position that it’s God’s prerogative to decide, is the psychopath innocent because he was just doing what God obviously ordained? That is, if God wanted the child to grow up, it would have been impossible for anyone to kill him. Either that, or God really has no sovereignty, just some strongly held preferences.
I think this gets closer to the real issue, and this is where I wish to clarify. To do so, we must begin by clarifying how profound and pervasive sin is in the human heart. And these thoughts are not pleasant.
I begin with an indictment against the consumer-driven mentality and theology of the modern American evangelical churches. I believe they have seriously trivialized sin and, as a result, have necessarily trivialized salvation. Nowhere in the scriptures do you see someone getting saved by opening the door of their heart and inviting Jesus to come in and be their personal savior. People are never described as being ‘basically good’ or as well-intentioned but imperfect. We are consistently described as deceitful, desperately wicked, undeserving, self-centered, brutish, vile, loathsome, having a lust for evil. We are not even a teensy-weensy bit good. We are totally depraved.
Now, is this ‘total depravity’ something that we just inherited from Adam, over which we had no control? I mean, a pig can’t help being a pig: both its parents were pigs. And pigs by nature will roll in the mud. Can you blame them? And if our parents were both sinners, and their parents before them, can we be blamed for just being what we are?
That’s a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer. But the straight answer is a little more metaphysical than most people are used to considering. Let me start with a question: If God ceased His creative activity 6,000 years ago, then where have you been?
There is an interesting clue in the 7th chapter of Hebrews. In this passage, the argument is presented that Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek while he was still in the loins of Abraham. This is presented as part of a substantive argument for the superiority of Christ the High Priest over the Levitical priesthood. The point is that Levi had personhood, and moral capacity, before his grandfather was even born. This wasn’t a theoretical, imaginary, or metaphorical construct. The author (Paul, I believe, but we can discuss that later) was laying out a concrete theological argument. Levi paid a tithe.
Levi was credited with an act of subservience. Let’s look at another example: God stated His love for Jacob and his contempt for Esau before either was born (they were fraternal twins) according to Romans 9:11. Another suggestion of pre-embrionic existence and moral culpability is in Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:9, 2 Kings 10:30 and 2 Kings 15:12. In each of these passages, the reach of God’s judgment or blessing reaches to the fourth generation.
Saul of Tarsus was consenting in the matter of the death of Stephen, and even though he threw no stones, he had Stephen’s blood on his hands from that day forward, and he knew it. Similarly, though I did not actively cause or even participate in the sins of my great-grandfather, it appears that I was consenting or in some other way participating. And with that comes a measure of culpability. God would be unjust to judge an innocent person, or to visit the consequences of sin on someone who had no sin.
The disciples apparently understood this. In John chapter 9 they asked if a man’s sin had caused him to be born blind. Reincarnationists like to mis-apply this verse, but it is clear that Jewish theology never had any support for reincarnation. But they were familiar with the verses previously cited. Was the man who was born blind simply receiving judgment for pre-embrionic transgression?
Jesus said ‘no’ but did not discount their question.
God limits His judgment to four generations, but we read in Romans 5 that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In other words, I was a sinner when Christ died for me. I was a sinner before I was even born. And where was I? In the loins of my forebear. I was in Adam when he transgressed and, because of that, I became subject to death. I was, by nature a child of wrath. In some sense, I participated.
* * * * *
Besides the sci-fi flavor of an argument like this is the question of implications. Certainly we can’t put newborns on trial for the sins of their fathers. And my intention is not to deal with ‘sins’ but with sin. The point is that we are not innocent, and haven’t been for 6,000 years. Similarly, we can’t properly argue that a child just needs a little bit of Jesus because his sins are few and minor, whereas a 40-year-old man might need ‘a whole lotta Jesus’ because he’s been screwing up so much more seriously. And we certainly can’t reason (though some do) that we just need Christ to supplement our righteousness, or to make up a shortfall or pay the part of our debt that we can’t manage.
We wonder how a just God could send that dear little old lady who did so many nice things to the same place of torments He sends Hitler. But this simply betrays our ignorance of both sin and God’s holiness. So let’s consider for a moment the case of a homeowner who owns two dogs.
One is a rather large dog, perhaps a German Shepherd. Fido the Shepherd is not housebroken. The other is a Chihuahua named Spot. Spot is not housebroken either. Both dogs will, by nature, relieve themselves whenever and where ever they have the urge.
Both unload on the living room carpet. Clearly, Fido makes a bigger mess. Is he, therefore, less housebroken than Spot?
Both are placed in the kitchen, where there is a linoleum floor. The mess this time is easier to clean up. Would you conclude that they are more housebroken in the kitchen than in the rest of the house?
There is a folding gate between the kitchen and the living room which Fido can jump over, but Spot can’t. So Fido makes another mess in the living room. Or – the homeowner sees both dogs sniffing and circling and rightly guesses that the time is coming. He is able to hustle Spot out into the back yard, but Fido makes his mess on the floor. Was Spot a ‘good dog’ for going outside?
All we bring to our relationship with God is rebelliousness, recalcitrance, wickedness and iniquity. That’s it. We are, as noted in Ephesians 2, natural children of wrath. We are, therefore, totally culpable for not only the sins we consummate, but the sin in our hearts. Read your Bible: the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Jesus’ judgment for the one who has committed adultery with her already in his heart by just a lustful gaze. We’re a lot worse than we like to think, and a lot worse than most pastors are willing to tell us.
We don’t know what awful thoughts the little old lady had. However, we can affirm with some confidence that the only difference between her and Hitler was opportunity.
And where is God in all this? He shapes our lives, limits our opportunities, constrains our evil. Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 5 when he writes the love of Christ constrains us. “Constrain” means ‘to force by imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation.’ What is in us that requires imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation? Is it our natural tendency to love one another? I would suggest that it is our inherent wickedness.
Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him. God constrained their evil and preserved Joseph alive and, as Joseph told his brothers later, You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. Even the finest ‘good’ deeds are tainted unless they are done completely out of love for God. Half-hearted love for God or luke-warm ‘commitment’ to Him is abominable.
We need a SAVIOR, not self-improvement classes, self-esteem enhancement, or a good example.
* * * * *
My indictment continues, because the ‘churches’ that dot the landscape have given us a soft and gentle, meek and mild “Jesus” who comes to us oh so humbly and asks … no, BEGS us to please please open the door and let him come in. I find it nauseating, as should any true Christian. We’re not doing God any favors and, as a matter of fact, we need to be dragged by the Holy Spirit to the feet of Christ and saved as an act of His sovereign grace. The only ‘free will’ responses we have toward God or the Gospel of His Kingdom is resistance and contempt.
In the grand scheme, it appears to me that ‘free will’ is a singularity rather than an ongoing series of choices. Rather like a mortgage (or a marriage), in that one makes a singular decision at a point in time and then lives out the consequences. At a point in time, I decide as a matter of free will to sign a mortgage. The lender then pre-scribed the outworking of my decision. The outworking may run for 30 years and my performance is mandated.
Another example may be someone who makes a ‘free will’ decision to take a part in a play. His participation is then scripted by the Director. For us, our ‘free will’ decision was to set ourselves in rebellion against God. Subsequently, God in his sovereign mercy, has mapped out the consequences of our decision.
Psalm 139 points this out: “In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. ” (verse 16). The King James language is rather obscure but fortunately, some modern versions are clearer. This is consistent with both the scriptures and the sovereignty of God. Just consider: the Word of God is eternal. The scripture cannot be broken. Judas Iscariot (like the rest of us) had sin and rebellion in his heart. In His sovereignty, and to accomplish His purpose, God allowed Judas the opportunity to manifest his character at a point in history. In love, God constrained most of the evil in Judas’ life, as He does in ours. But not all. This particular transgression was not only allowed, but it was scripted. This day appointed for Judas was written in God’s book before it had come to pass.
David’s sin with Bathsheba was written in God’s eternal word. David committed the act as a divinely-allowed outworking of his sinful nature and expression of his ‘free will.’ But God was not sitting in heaven with His stylus poised, waiting to see what David would do so He would know what to include in His eternal Word. God scripted the naming of Cyrus and the events in Daniel.
* * * * *
Here, for the time being, my indictment ends. Our good God takes our iniquity, which is all we bring into this experience, and shapes it for His ends. We are living in a world of restrained evil. Our contribution is the evil, and God’s is the restraint. He allows transgressions of His moral law because He is sovereign. He allows the consequences of others’ sin to fall on us because He is gracious. Were He to allow us unrestrained free will, we would quickly realize that the wrath of man is much more unpleasant than the mercy and grace that God daily visits upon us.
Why does God permit evil? Because He loves us. We are so essentially evil that, were He to destroy evil, he would have to destroy us. Our sin is not superficial, but is at the very core of who we are. The presence of evil is not inconsistent with the existence or omnipotence of God. Rather, it is evidence of His compassion and grace. It simply needs to be seen in the light of our desperate and unreformable wickedness.
Why Does God Permit Evil?
It’s not a new question, of course. Those believing in God want an answer that supports rather than dissolves their faith. Atheists offer this conundrum as an evidence that the ‘god’ their philosophical opponents postulate cannot exist. In their minds, an all-powerful God who is good would hate evil, and would use His power to eradicate it. Of course, this position has some theological problems for the theist, but apparently not for the atheist.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I received an invitation to download an ebook that dealt with this question. It was offered by a group calling itself the Orlando Bible Students (formerly the Dawn Bible Students Association) and I think it fairly reflects the position that many ‘conservative Christian’ people take on the question. I thought it lacked depth, but I think many church-goers are enamored of rock music and fellowship, and likewise lack depth. Still, after this effort, I felt a cogent answer was not offered. And I wrote to suggest a dialog. They have not yet written back.
This being the case, I will post this article and send them the link, and we shall see what happens.
Their approach started by discussing natural disasters. “If God hated evil, why would He allow volcanos and tsunamis and earthquakes?” I think this question misses the point entirely. Because natural disasters aren’t evil.
Unpleasant, certainly. But there is nothing in God’s moral law against hurricanes and tornadoes, even if property is destroyed or people get killed. It is simply not a moral issue. God owns the property and God owns the people. Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3) And He is not accountable to us.
Suppose there is a major baseball game. It’s the bottom of the sixth, and the pitcher on the mound is having the best game of his life. A mile away, a farmer is watching his parched crops wither away. Suddenly, a rainstorm blows in, ending the game but bringing the rain the farmer so desperately needed.
Was this evil? Obviously not. It simply didn’t suit the preferences of one person subject to it. Now, let’s add a tornado to the mix. It tears through the ballpark and kills the pitcher and 19 people in the stands, including a 1-year-old child. Is this evil? Can we lay this monstrous sin at the feet of Adam and Eve? Or God? Who sinned? Whose fault was it?
I have maintained, and I think the Bible supports, the idea that there is a connection between the moral universe and the physical universe. But it would be an unwarranted leap to suggest that our specific transgressions trigger earthquakes or tornadoes or anything else. God only knows whether that one-year-old would have grown up to be a brilliant doctor or a mass-murderer. In this case, God sovereignly decided otherwise. In any event, it is God’s prerogative to decide who lives where and for how long, and how their time on earth will be ended.
God has given us this world to live in. It may not suit all of our preferences, but He is not required to accommodate us with gentle breezes, balmy weather, and geologic stability. This is where we live, and we’re allowed by His grace to live here.
* * * * *
This leads to the next part of the issue. Suppose this one-year-old had not been brought to the game, but had been left with a care-giver who turned out to be a psychopathic child-killer. Since I have taken the position that it’s God’s prerogative to decide, is the psychopath innocent because he was just doing what God obviously ordained? That is, if God wanted the child to grow up, it would have been impossible for anyone to kill him. Either that, or God really has no sovereignty, just some strongly held preferences.
I think this gets closer to the real issue, and this is where I wish to clarify. To do so, we must begin by clarifying how profound and pervasive sin is in the human heart. And these thoughts are not pleasant.
I begin with an indictment against the consumer-driven mentality and theology of the modern American evangelical churches. I believe they have seriously trivialized sin and, as a result, have necessarily trivialized salvation. Nowhere in the scriptures do you see someone getting saved by opening the door of their heart and inviting Jesus to come in and be their personal savior. People are never described as being ‘basically good’ or as well-intentioned but imperfect. We are consistently described as deceitful, desperately wicked, undeserving, self-centered, brutish, vile, loathsome, having a lust for evil. We are not even a teensy-weensy bit good. We are totally depraved.
Now, is this ‘total depravity’ something that we just inherited from Adam, over which we had no control? I mean, a pig can’t help being a pig: both its parents were pigs. And pigs by nature will roll in the mud. Can you blame them? And if our parents were both sinners, and their parents before them, can we be blamed for just being what we are?
That’s a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer. But the straight answer is a little more metaphysical than most people are used to considering. Let me start with a question: If God ceased His creative activity 6,000 years ago, then where have you been?
There is an interesting clue in the 7th chapter of Hebrews. In this passage, the argument is presented that Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek while he was still in the loins of Abraham. This is presented as part of a substantive argument for the superiority of Christ the High Priest over the Levitical priesthood. The point is that Levi had personhood, and moral capacity, before his grandfather was even born. This wasn’t a theoretical, imaginary, or metaphorical construct. The author (Paul, I believe, but we can discuss that later) was laying out a concrete theological argument. Levi paid a tithe.
Levi was credited with an act of subservience. Let’s look at another example: God stated His love for Jacob and his contempt for Esau before either was born (they were fraternal twins) according to Romans 9:11. Another suggestion of pre-embrionic existence and moral culpability is in Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:9, 2 Kings 10:30 and 2 Kings 15:12. In each of these passages, the reach of God’s judgment or blessing reaches to the fourth generation.
Saul of Tarsus was consenting in the matter of the death of Stephen, and even though he threw no stones, he had Stephen’s blood on his hands from that day forward, and he knew it. Similarly, though I did not actively cause or even participate in the sins of my great-grandfather, it appears that I was consenting or in some other way participating. And with that comes a measure of culpability. God would be unjust to judge an innocent person, or to visit the consequences of sin on someone who had no sin.
The disciples apparently understood this. In John chapter 9 they asked if a man’s sin had caused him to be born blind. Reincarnationists like to mis-apply this verse, but it is clear that Jewish theology never had any support for reincarnation. But they were familiar with the verses previously cited. Was the man who was born blind simply receiving judgment for pre-embrionic transgression?
Jesus said ‘no’ but did not discount their question.
God limits His judgment to four generations, but we read in Romans 5 that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In other words, I was a sinner when Christ died for me. I was a sinner before I was even born. And where was I? In the loins of my forebear. I was in Adam when he transgressed and, because of that, I became subject to death. I was, by nature a child of wrath. In some sense, I participated.
* * * * *
Besides the sci-fi flavor of an argument like this is the question of implications. Certainly we can’t put newborns on trial for the sins of their fathers. And my intention is not to deal with ‘sins’ but with sin. The point is that we are not innocent, and haven’t been for 6,000 years. Similarly, we can’t properly argue that a child just needs a little bit of Jesus because his sins are few and minor, whereas a 40-year-old man might need ‘a whole lotta Jesus’ because he’s been screwing up so much more seriously. And we certainly can’t reason (though some do) that we just need Christ to supplement our righteousness, or to make up a shortfall or pay the part of our debt that we can’t manage.
We wonder how a just God could send that dear little old lady who did so many nice things to the same place of torments He sends Hitler. But this simply betrays our ignorance of both sin and God’s holiness. So let’s consider for a moment the case of a homeowner who owns two dogs.
One is a rather large dog, perhaps a German Shepherd. Fido the Shepherd is not housebroken. The other is a Chihuahua named Spot. Spot is not housebroken either. Both dogs will, by nature, relieve themselves whenever and where ever they have the urge.
Both unload on the living room carpet. Clearly, Fido makes a bigger mess. Is he, therefore, less housebroken than Spot?
Both are placed in the kitchen, where there is a linoleum floor. The mess this time is easier to clean up. Would you conclude that they are more housebroken in the kitchen than in the rest of the house?
There is a folding gate between the kitchen and the living room which Fido can jump over, but Spot can’t. So Fido makes another mess in the living room. Or – the homeowner sees both dogs sniffing and circling and rightly guesses that the time is coming. He is able to hustle Spot out into the back yard, but Fido makes his mess on the floor. Was Spot a ‘good dog’ for going outside?
All we bring to our relationship with God is rebelliousness, recalcitrance, wickedness and iniquity. That’s it. We are, as noted in Ephesians 2, natural children of wrath. We are, therefore, totally culpable for not only the sins we consummate, but the sin in our hearts. Read your Bible: the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Jesus’ judgment for the one who has committed adultery with her already in his heart by just a lustful gaze. We’re a lot worse than we like to think, and a lot worse than most pastors are willing to tell us.
We don’t know what awful thoughts the little old lady had. However, we can affirm with some confidence that the only difference between her and Hitler was opportunity.
And where is God in all this? He shapes our lives, limits our opportunities, constrains our evil. Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 5 when he writes the love of Christ constrains us. “Constrain” means ‘to force by imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation.’ What is in us that requires imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation? Is it our natural tendency to love one another? I would suggest that it is our inherent wickedness.
Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him. God constrained their evil and preserved Joseph alive and, as Joseph told his brothers later, You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. Even the finest ‘good’ deeds are tainted unless they are done completely out of love for God. Half-hearted love for God or luke-warm ‘commitment’ to Him is abominable.
We need a SAVIOR, not self-improvement classes, self-esteem enhancement, or a good example.
* * * * *
My indictment continues, because the ‘churches’ that dot the landscape have given us a soft and gentle, meek and mild “Jesus” who comes to us oh so humbly and asks … no, BEGS us to please please open the door and let him come in. I find it nauseating, as should any true Christian. We’re not doing God any favors and, as a matter of fact, we need to be dragged by the Holy Spirit to the feet of Christ and saved as an act of His sovereign grace. The only ‘free will’ responses we have toward God or the Gospel of His Kingdom is resistance and contempt.
In the grand scheme, it appears to me that ‘free will’ is a singularity rather than an ongoing series of choices. Rather like a mortgage (or a marriage), in that one makes a singular decision at a point in time and then lives out the consequences. At a point in time, I decide as a matter of free will to sign a mortgage. The lender then pre-scribed the outworking of my decision. The outworking may run for 30 years and my performance is mandated.
Another example may be someone who makes a ‘free will’ decision to take a part in a play. His participation is then scripted by the Director. For us, our ‘free will’ decision was to set ourselves in rebellion against God. Subsequently, God in his sovereign mercy, has mapped out the consequences of our decision.
Psalm 139 points this out: “In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. ” (verse 16). The King James language is rather obscure but fortunately, some modern versions are clearer. This is consistent with both the scriptures and the sovereignty of God. Just consider: the Word of God is eternal. The scripture cannot be broken. Judas Iscariot (like the rest of us) had sin and rebellion in his heart. In His sovereignty, and to accomplish His purpose, God allowed Judas the opportunity to manifest his character at a point in history. In love, God constrained most of the evil in Judas’ life, as He does in ours. But not all. This particular transgression was not only allowed, but it was scripted. This day appointed for Judas was written in God’s book before it had come to pass.
David’s sin with Bathsheba was written in God’s eternal word. David committed the act as a divinely-allowed outworking of his sinful nature and expression of his ‘free will.’ But God was not sitting in heaven with His stylus poised, waiting to see what David would do so He would know what to include in His eternal Word. God scripted the naming of Cyrus and the events in Daniel.
* * * * *
Here, for the time being, my indictment ends. Our good God takes our iniquity, which is all we bring into this experience, and shapes it for His ends. We are living in a world of restrained evil. Our contribution is the evil, and God’s is the restraint. He allows transgressions of His moral law because He is sovereign. He allows the consequences of others’ sin to fall on us because He is gracious. Were He to allow us unrestrained free will, we would quickly realize that the wrath of man is much more unpleasant than the mercy and grace that God daily visits upon us.
Why does God permit evil? Because He loves us. We are so essentially evil that, were He to destroy evil, he would have to destroy us. Our sin is not superficial, but is at the very core of who we are. The presence of evil is not inconsistent with the existence or omnipotence of God. Rather, it is evidence of His compassion and grace. It simply needs to be seen in the light of our desperate and unreformable wickedness.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. I received an invitation to download an ebook that dealt with this question. It was offered by a group calling itself the Orlando Bible Students (formerly the Dawn Bible Students Association) and I think it fairly reflects the position that many ‘conservative Christian’ people take on the question. I thought it lacked depth, but I think many church-goers are enamored of rock music and fellowship, and likewise lack depth. Still, after this effort, I felt a cogent answer was not offered. And I wrote to suggest a dialog. They have not yet written back.
This being the case, I will post this article and send them the link, and we shall see what happens.
Their approach started by discussing natural disasters. “If God hated evil, why would He allow volcanos and tsunamis and earthquakes?” I think this question misses the point entirely. Because natural disasters aren’t evil.
Unpleasant, certainly. But there is nothing in God’s moral law against hurricanes and tornadoes, even if property is destroyed or people get killed. It is simply not a moral issue. God owns the property and God owns the people. Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. (Psalm 115:3) And He is not accountable to us.
Suppose there is a major baseball game. It’s the bottom of the sixth, and the pitcher on the mound is having the best game of his life. A mile away, a farmer is watching his parched crops wither away. Suddenly, a rainstorm blows in, ending the game but bringing the rain the farmer so desperately needed.
Was this evil? Obviously not. It simply didn’t suit the preferences of one person subject to it. Now, let’s add a tornado to the mix. It tears through the ballpark and kills the pitcher and 19 people in the stands, including a 1-year-old child. Is this evil? Can we lay this monstrous sin at the feet of Adam and Eve? Or God? Who sinned? Whose fault was it?
I have maintained, and I think the Bible supports, the idea that there is a connection between the moral universe and the physical universe. But it would be an unwarranted leap to suggest that our specific transgressions trigger earthquakes or tornadoes or anything else. God only knows whether that one-year-old would have grown up to be a brilliant doctor or a mass-murderer. In this case, God sovereignly decided otherwise. In any event, it is God’s prerogative to decide who lives where and for how long, and how their time on earth will be ended.
God has given us this world to live in. It may not suit all of our preferences, but He is not required to accommodate us with gentle breezes, balmy weather, and geologic stability. This is where we live, and we’re allowed by His grace to live here.
* * * * *
This leads to the next part of the issue. Suppose this one-year-old had not been brought to the game, but had been left with a care-giver who turned out to be a psychopathic child-killer. Since I have taken the position that it’s God’s prerogative to decide, is the psychopath innocent because he was just doing what God obviously ordained? That is, if God wanted the child to grow up, it would have been impossible for anyone to kill him. Either that, or God really has no sovereignty, just some strongly held preferences.
I think this gets closer to the real issue, and this is where I wish to clarify. To do so, we must begin by clarifying how profound and pervasive sin is in the human heart. And these thoughts are not pleasant.
I begin with an indictment against the consumer-driven mentality and theology of the modern American evangelical churches. I believe they have seriously trivialized sin and, as a result, have necessarily trivialized salvation. Nowhere in the scriptures do you see someone getting saved by opening the door of their heart and inviting Jesus to come in and be their personal savior. People are never described as being ‘basically good’ or as well-intentioned but imperfect. We are consistently described as deceitful, desperately wicked, undeserving, self-centered, brutish, vile, loathsome, having a lust for evil. We are not even a teensy-weensy bit good. We are totally depraved.
Now, is this ‘total depravity’ something that we just inherited from Adam, over which we had no control? I mean, a pig can’t help being a pig: both its parents were pigs. And pigs by nature will roll in the mud. Can you blame them? And if our parents were both sinners, and their parents before them, can we be blamed for just being what we are?
That’s a fair question, and it deserves a straight answer. But the straight answer is a little more metaphysical than most people are used to considering. Let me start with a question: If God ceased His creative activity 6,000 years ago, then where have you been?
There is an interesting clue in the 7th chapter of Hebrews. In this passage, the argument is presented that Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek while he was still in the loins of Abraham. This is presented as part of a substantive argument for the superiority of Christ the High Priest over the Levitical priesthood. The point is that Levi had personhood, and moral capacity, before his grandfather was even born. This wasn’t a theoretical, imaginary, or metaphorical construct. The author (Paul, I believe, but we can discuss that later) was laying out a concrete theological argument. Levi paid a tithe.
Levi was credited with an act of subservience. Let’s look at another example: God stated His love for Jacob and his contempt for Esau before either was born (they were fraternal twins) according to Romans 9:11. Another suggestion of pre-embrionic existence and moral culpability is in Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:9, 2 Kings 10:30 and 2 Kings 15:12. In each of these passages, the reach of God’s judgment or blessing reaches to the fourth generation.
Saul of Tarsus was consenting in the matter of the death of Stephen, and even though he threw no stones, he had Stephen’s blood on his hands from that day forward, and he knew it. Similarly, though I did not actively cause or even participate in the sins of my great-grandfather, it appears that I was consenting or in some other way participating. And with that comes a measure of culpability. God would be unjust to judge an innocent person, or to visit the consequences of sin on someone who had no sin.
The disciples apparently understood this. In John chapter 9 they asked if a man’s sin had caused him to be born blind. Reincarnationists like to mis-apply this verse, but it is clear that Jewish theology never had any support for reincarnation. But they were familiar with the verses previously cited. Was the man who was born blind simply receiving judgment for pre-embrionic transgression?
Jesus said ‘no’ but did not discount their question.
God limits His judgment to four generations, but we read in Romans 5 that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” In other words, I was a sinner when Christ died for me. I was a sinner before I was even born. And where was I? In the loins of my forebear. I was in Adam when he transgressed and, because of that, I became subject to death. I was, by nature a child of wrath. In some sense, I participated.
* * * * *
Besides the sci-fi flavor of an argument like this is the question of implications. Certainly we can’t put newborns on trial for the sins of their fathers. And my intention is not to deal with ‘sins’ but with sin. The point is that we are not innocent, and haven’t been for 6,000 years. Similarly, we can’t properly argue that a child just needs a little bit of Jesus because his sins are few and minor, whereas a 40-year-old man might need ‘a whole lotta Jesus’ because he’s been screwing up so much more seriously. And we certainly can’t reason (though some do) that we just need Christ to supplement our righteousness, or to make up a shortfall or pay the part of our debt that we can’t manage.
We wonder how a just God could send that dear little old lady who did so many nice things to the same place of torments He sends Hitler. But this simply betrays our ignorance of both sin and God’s holiness. So let’s consider for a moment the case of a homeowner who owns two dogs.
One is a rather large dog, perhaps a German Shepherd. Fido the Shepherd is not housebroken. The other is a Chihuahua named Spot. Spot is not housebroken either. Both dogs will, by nature, relieve themselves whenever and where ever they have the urge.
Both unload on the living room carpet. Clearly, Fido makes a bigger mess. Is he, therefore, less housebroken than Spot?
Both are placed in the kitchen, where there is a linoleum floor. The mess this time is easier to clean up. Would you conclude that they are more housebroken in the kitchen than in the rest of the house?
There is a folding gate between the kitchen and the living room which Fido can jump over, but Spot can’t. So Fido makes another mess in the living room. Or – the homeowner sees both dogs sniffing and circling and rightly guesses that the time is coming. He is able to hustle Spot out into the back yard, but Fido makes his mess on the floor. Was Spot a ‘good dog’ for going outside?
All we bring to our relationship with God is rebelliousness, recalcitrance, wickedness and iniquity. That’s it. We are, as noted in Ephesians 2, natural children of wrath. We are, therefore, totally culpable for not only the sins we consummate, but the sin in our hearts. Read your Bible: the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Jesus’ judgment for the one who has committed adultery with her already in his heart by just a lustful gaze. We’re a lot worse than we like to think, and a lot worse than most pastors are willing to tell us.
We don’t know what awful thoughts the little old lady had. However, we can affirm with some confidence that the only difference between her and Hitler was opportunity.
And where is God in all this? He shapes our lives, limits our opportunities, constrains our evil. Paul says this in 2 Corinthians 5 when he writes the love of Christ constrains us. “Constrain” means ‘to force by imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation.’ What is in us that requires imposed stricture, restriction, or limitation? Is it our natural tendency to love one another? I would suggest that it is our inherent wickedness.
Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him. God constrained their evil and preserved Joseph alive and, as Joseph told his brothers later, You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good. Even the finest ‘good’ deeds are tainted unless they are done completely out of love for God. Half-hearted love for God or luke-warm ‘commitment’ to Him is abominable.
We need a SAVIOR, not self-improvement classes, self-esteem enhancement, or a good example.
* * * * *
My indictment continues, because the ‘churches’ that dot the landscape have given us a soft and gentle, meek and mild “Jesus” who comes to us oh so humbly and asks … no, BEGS us to please please open the door and let him come in. I find it nauseating, as should any true Christian. We’re not doing God any favors and, as a matter of fact, we need to be dragged by the Holy Spirit to the feet of Christ and saved as an act of His sovereign grace. The only ‘free will’ responses we have toward God or the Gospel of His Kingdom is resistance and contempt.
In the grand scheme, it appears to me that ‘free will’ is a singularity rather than an ongoing series of choices. Rather like a mortgage (or a marriage), in that one makes a singular decision at a point in time and then lives out the consequences. At a point in time, I decide as a matter of free will to sign a mortgage. The lender then pre-scribed the outworking of my decision. The outworking may run for 30 years and my performance is mandated.
Another example may be someone who makes a ‘free will’ decision to take a part in a play. His participation is then scripted by the Director. For us, our ‘free will’ decision was to set ourselves in rebellion against God. Subsequently, God in his sovereign mercy, has mapped out the consequences of our decision.
Psalm 139 points this out: “In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. ” (verse 16). The King James language is rather obscure but fortunately, some modern versions are clearer. This is consistent with both the scriptures and the sovereignty of God. Just consider: the Word of God is eternal. The scripture cannot be broken. Judas Iscariot (like the rest of us) had sin and rebellion in his heart. In His sovereignty, and to accomplish His purpose, God allowed Judas the opportunity to manifest his character at a point in history. In love, God constrained most of the evil in Judas’ life, as He does in ours. But not all. This particular transgression was not only allowed, but it was scripted. This day appointed for Judas was written in God’s book before it had come to pass.
David’s sin with Bathsheba was written in God’s eternal word. David committed the act as a divinely-allowed outworking of his sinful nature and expression of his ‘free will.’ But God was not sitting in heaven with His stylus poised, waiting to see what David would do so He would know what to include in His eternal Word. God scripted the naming of Cyrus and the events in Daniel.
* * * * *
Here, for the time being, my indictment ends. Our good God takes our iniquity, which is all we bring into this experience, and shapes it for His ends. We are living in a world of restrained evil. Our contribution is the evil, and God’s is the restraint. He allows transgressions of His moral law because He is sovereign. He allows the consequences of others’ sin to fall on us because He is gracious. Were He to allow us unrestrained free will, we would quickly realize that the wrath of man is much more unpleasant than the mercy and grace that God daily visits upon us.
Why does God permit evil? Because He loves us. We are so essentially evil that, were He to destroy evil, he would have to destroy us. Our sin is not superficial, but is at the very core of who we are. The presence of evil is not inconsistent with the existence or omnipotence of God. Rather, it is evidence of His compassion and grace. It simply needs to be seen in the light of our desperate and unreformable wickedness.
Experience Versus Truth - Which Do We Choose?
Something that we all come to recognize at some point is that experience is a very powerful teacher. The things that we have heard and seen may touch our lives, but our experiences, which combine hearing, seeing, and feeling, have a much deeper impact on us.
My wife is sometimes amazed, but usually confounded and even frustrated, that I have difficulty remembering things we've done together, but that I can remember lines from a movie I haven't seen in thirty years. I've even wondered myself why that is, and the best answer that I've come up with isn't because the movie has music playing in the background, although I think that really helps stimulate our emotions. Instead I believe that it's because I focused my attention on the movie, I wasn't distracted by other thoughts, and in many cases I had the opportunity to see it more than once.
Our experiences are often like movies in our lives. We can play them over and over again in our minds as we remember them, and many of them even get repeated throughout our lives. I don't mean that we experience the exact same thing, but we often have very similar experiences.
The things that happened to us growing up; what we observed in our parents, teachers, and others, are experiences that affect us for the rest of our lives. What those memories end up becoming are beliefs about the way things "are" or how life is supposed to work. A bad experience becomes a fear, the belief that something will hurt us, which we will then try to avoid at all costs. On the other hand, a good experience can become a conviction about what makes us happy and we may spend the rest of our lives trying to relive it.
The Reader's Digest did a survey some years ago about people's greatest fears. Oddly enough, the number one fear wasn't death. The greatest fear for most people is speaking in public.
How about you? Do you get butterflies in your tummy at just the thought of speaking in front of a group of people?
What may have caused that fear was an experience, probably in either kindergarten or first grade, when you had to take part in something called "show and tell". It's likely that you said or did something that made the other kids laugh, which hurt, and that memory has been like a broken record in your head ever since. It just keeps playing again and again and you are convinced that you're no good at doing presentations for groups.
As bad as that may be for some of us, there are instances in our lives that can be devastating, especially in the effect that they have on our faith. For example, have you ever prayed for something and then not gotten an answer?
Just like when the kids laughed in school, the memory of the disappointment over unanswered prayer may be repeating in your mind every time you just think about prayer. Those bad experiences have become a fear, the belief that God doesn't love you, won't listen to you, and never gives you what you ask for.
Luke 11:9-10 says, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Even when Hebrews 6:18 tells us that it is impossible for God to lie, we have all experienced what it's like to ask and then not receive.
But should we let our experience tell us what's true and what we're supposed to believe? Or should we look to the Bible to teach us the truth?
As powerful as our experiences and the beliefs they helped us form may be, the truth of God's word is even stronger. But in order to take what the Bible says and make it a belief, something that has been repeated and become firmly lodged in our minds, we have to make a conscious effort to meditate on and obey His word.
Joshua 1:8 says, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
The word "meditate" means to mumble or mutter. It means that we need to speak God's word out loud to ourselves. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, in his book "Spiritual Depression" asks us, "Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?"
We can either let our past experiences tell us what we should believe, or we can decide to change our beliefs. The way to do that is to continually talk to ourselves about the promises of God. When we pray we should remind ourselves of Jesus' promise "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:14)
So the next time you go to God in prayer, and begin to wonder if He will answer you, just say to yourself, "In the past I may have felt like God didn't hear me, but I now choose to believe what He said in His word. I choose to believe the truth that as long as I desire to remain in Him, and to let His word remain in me, I can ask for whatever I wish, and it will be given to me (John 15:7)."
Along with the assurance that God will answer us, we need the flexibility to receive His answer. God will rarely answer us in the way that we expect because He has promised to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Our expectation needs to be that He will give us an answer that is bigger and better than what we asked for, and we need to start looking for God to surprise us with His goodness.
My wife is sometimes amazed, but usually confounded and even frustrated, that I have difficulty remembering things we've done together, but that I can remember lines from a movie I haven't seen in thirty years. I've even wondered myself why that is, and the best answer that I've come up with isn't because the movie has music playing in the background, although I think that really helps stimulate our emotions. Instead I believe that it's because I focused my attention on the movie, I wasn't distracted by other thoughts, and in many cases I had the opportunity to see it more than once.
Our experiences are often like movies in our lives. We can play them over and over again in our minds as we remember them, and many of them even get repeated throughout our lives. I don't mean that we experience the exact same thing, but we often have very similar experiences.
The things that happened to us growing up; what we observed in our parents, teachers, and others, are experiences that affect us for the rest of our lives. What those memories end up becoming are beliefs about the way things "are" or how life is supposed to work. A bad experience becomes a fear, the belief that something will hurt us, which we will then try to avoid at all costs. On the other hand, a good experience can become a conviction about what makes us happy and we may spend the rest of our lives trying to relive it.
The Reader's Digest did a survey some years ago about people's greatest fears. Oddly enough, the number one fear wasn't death. The greatest fear for most people is speaking in public.
How about you? Do you get butterflies in your tummy at just the thought of speaking in front of a group of people?
What may have caused that fear was an experience, probably in either kindergarten or first grade, when you had to take part in something called "show and tell". It's likely that you said or did something that made the other kids laugh, which hurt, and that memory has been like a broken record in your head ever since. It just keeps playing again and again and you are convinced that you're no good at doing presentations for groups.
As bad as that may be for some of us, there are instances in our lives that can be devastating, especially in the effect that they have on our faith. For example, have you ever prayed for something and then not gotten an answer?
Just like when the kids laughed in school, the memory of the disappointment over unanswered prayer may be repeating in your mind every time you just think about prayer. Those bad experiences have become a fear, the belief that God doesn't love you, won't listen to you, and never gives you what you ask for.
Luke 11:9-10 says, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Even when Hebrews 6:18 tells us that it is impossible for God to lie, we have all experienced what it's like to ask and then not receive.
But should we let our experience tell us what's true and what we're supposed to believe? Or should we look to the Bible to teach us the truth?
As powerful as our experiences and the beliefs they helped us form may be, the truth of God's word is even stronger. But in order to take what the Bible says and make it a belief, something that has been repeated and become firmly lodged in our minds, we have to make a conscious effort to meditate on and obey His word.
Joshua 1:8 says, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
The word "meditate" means to mumble or mutter. It means that we need to speak God's word out loud to ourselves. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, in his book "Spiritual Depression" asks us, "Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?"
We can either let our past experiences tell us what we should believe, or we can decide to change our beliefs. The way to do that is to continually talk to ourselves about the promises of God. When we pray we should remind ourselves of Jesus' promise "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." (John 14:14)
So the next time you go to God in prayer, and begin to wonder if He will answer you, just say to yourself, "In the past I may have felt like God didn't hear me, but I now choose to believe what He said in His word. I choose to believe the truth that as long as I desire to remain in Him, and to let His word remain in me, I can ask for whatever I wish, and it will be given to me (John 15:7)."
Along with the assurance that God will answer us, we need the flexibility to receive His answer. God will rarely answer us in the way that we expect because He has promised to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Our expectation needs to be that He will give us an answer that is bigger and better than what we asked for, and we need to start looking for God to surprise us with His goodness.
Stopping the Blind
Between immigration laws and new passport regulations, some people can't get into the United States and others are having a hard time leaving. President Bush's immigration bill, the center of his remaining domestic policy agenda, came apart at the seams yesterday and will most likely not be revisited any time soon. The bipartisan bill seems to have been dismantled by an even stronger bipartisan effort, perhaps redefining the term "business as usual," even by Washington standards. Meanwhile, Homeland Security and the State Department are engaged in a turf war over implementing new measures for passports use by U.S. citizens, resulting in a backlog of unprocessed documents for people ready to travel. Those measures have been temporarily relaxed for those traveling by air to Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Mexico who have already applied for their passports and have a receipt for the transaction. God help you if you have travel plans in the next few months and you delayed applying because you may be stuck. Or, as Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) so succinctly put it, "To say people must have a passport to travel and not give people a passport is right up there in the stupid column."
Interesting that these two issues sat side by side on the front page of my local newspaper this morning. Interesting, and not all that coincidental. We are at odds with ourselves these days over who should be allowed into our country and for what reasons. So it is not surprising that the desire to know where all of our own people are at any given moment would come back to haunt us in such a basic way. Some might call this passport nightmare a bit of political karma, or even poetic justice in the "what goes around, comes around" school of thought. We want to control who has access to the wealth and opportunities our country has to offer, but we are now potentially either held captive or not allowed back in if we leave because our government can't keep up with its own paperwork. One could also make a good case here for bitter irony.
The gospels contain a number of stories surrounding Jesus' interactions with his followers that speak of this same human need to present their own interests while shoving others aside in the process. One such case was while Jesus was traveling with his disciples. "As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, 'Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.' And he cried, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!' And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him and when he came near, he asked him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' He said, 'Lord, let me receive my sight.' And Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sigh; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God (Luke 18:35-43)."
By the time Jesus encounters the blind beggar on the way to Jericho, he has begun talking with his disciples about what lies ahead for himself and for them. Needless to say, they aren't quite getting it, having become so wrapped up in the ongoing saga that had become their lives. Thinking past experiencing day-to-day events as they unfolded may have never occurred to them. But for the larger communities among which they traveled and worked, Jesus' arrival, and subsequent teaching, preaching and healing, would have potentially been a one time only event. It is more understandable in this context to see that some people would do anything in their power to be a a part of the moment, even telling a blind beggar to shut up while pushing him out of the way.
While understandable, it didn't pay off as expected. The blind beggar didn't comply, Jesus heard him, and he had his moment to state his request. Interesting that he asked to receive his sight , and Jesus used the same language in return, adding that the man's faith had made him well. Is this blind beggar our own vision of a pious, faithful believer? He was loud, insistent and completely uncaring of what anyone else thought of him. His entire focus was on laying claim to his opportunity to trust his faith and be healed by Jesus. But most importantly, he didn't limit or take away anyone else's chance to connect with Jesus or also be heard. He furthered his own cause at no one else's expense. Perhaps that is why Jesus heard his voice above so many others that day. In trying to subvert another's access to Jesus' presence and power, more than a few people likely left empty handed.
What does our own desire to control our borders to an unprecedented degree tell us about ourselves? What do we become when we think shutting people out of our country is a good thing, while expecting to be welcomed to other people's countries with open arms? When we make choices to exclude people or deny them access to the United States, what part of our faith are we suspending to shove people out of the way so our own interests will be protected?
The blind beggar's story ends on a happy note. He receives his sight, follows Jesus and glorifies God. And somehow the crowd which witnessed the miracle of new sight in one man was changed too, and praised God as well. Those who had scorned and disrespected someone more vulnerable than themselves were also healed and transformed. Perhaps we can be healed as well, lifted up from our bunkers of fear, back into the light of hope and grace. We just might be able to reclaim our strength as a country that invites people to become, and in the process, we may also reclaim our own freedom to come and go as we please, passports in hand.
Interesting that these two issues sat side by side on the front page of my local newspaper this morning. Interesting, and not all that coincidental. We are at odds with ourselves these days over who should be allowed into our country and for what reasons. So it is not surprising that the desire to know where all of our own people are at any given moment would come back to haunt us in such a basic way. Some might call this passport nightmare a bit of political karma, or even poetic justice in the "what goes around, comes around" school of thought. We want to control who has access to the wealth and opportunities our country has to offer, but we are now potentially either held captive or not allowed back in if we leave because our government can't keep up with its own paperwork. One could also make a good case here for bitter irony.
The gospels contain a number of stories surrounding Jesus' interactions with his followers that speak of this same human need to present their own interests while shoving others aside in the process. One such case was while Jesus was traveling with his disciples. "As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, 'Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.' And he cried, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!' And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him and when he came near, he asked him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' He said, 'Lord, let me receive my sight.' And Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sigh; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God (Luke 18:35-43)."
By the time Jesus encounters the blind beggar on the way to Jericho, he has begun talking with his disciples about what lies ahead for himself and for them. Needless to say, they aren't quite getting it, having become so wrapped up in the ongoing saga that had become their lives. Thinking past experiencing day-to-day events as they unfolded may have never occurred to them. But for the larger communities among which they traveled and worked, Jesus' arrival, and subsequent teaching, preaching and healing, would have potentially been a one time only event. It is more understandable in this context to see that some people would do anything in their power to be a a part of the moment, even telling a blind beggar to shut up while pushing him out of the way.
While understandable, it didn't pay off as expected. The blind beggar didn't comply, Jesus heard him, and he had his moment to state his request. Interesting that he asked to receive his sight , and Jesus used the same language in return, adding that the man's faith had made him well. Is this blind beggar our own vision of a pious, faithful believer? He was loud, insistent and completely uncaring of what anyone else thought of him. His entire focus was on laying claim to his opportunity to trust his faith and be healed by Jesus. But most importantly, he didn't limit or take away anyone else's chance to connect with Jesus or also be heard. He furthered his own cause at no one else's expense. Perhaps that is why Jesus heard his voice above so many others that day. In trying to subvert another's access to Jesus' presence and power, more than a few people likely left empty handed.
What does our own desire to control our borders to an unprecedented degree tell us about ourselves? What do we become when we think shutting people out of our country is a good thing, while expecting to be welcomed to other people's countries with open arms? When we make choices to exclude people or deny them access to the United States, what part of our faith are we suspending to shove people out of the way so our own interests will be protected?
The blind beggar's story ends on a happy note. He receives his sight, follows Jesus and glorifies God. And somehow the crowd which witnessed the miracle of new sight in one man was changed too, and praised God as well. Those who had scorned and disrespected someone more vulnerable than themselves were also healed and transformed. Perhaps we can be healed as well, lifted up from our bunkers of fear, back into the light of hope and grace. We just might be able to reclaim our strength as a country that invites people to become, and in the process, we may also reclaim our own freedom to come and go as we please, passports in hand.
This Place for Today
Packing is arduous business.
Finding myself relocating to a new city means participating in the age-old, time-honored practice of pulling up stakes, shutting off utilities and looking ahead to another part of my life as it unfolds. The packing is simply the physical rendition of sorting and filing memories, moments and hopes that evidence the truth of the time spent in any place we choose to call home. Having done this a few times before, I am familiar with the process, its delights and its pitfalls. Gathering one's life together, releasing its unneeded portions to the universe, fitting the remainder into a box on wheels and trusting it will be intact and ready to be welcomed into a new space at the other end of the road, is both an act of will and faith. This move calls forth a good measure of the former and a greater measure of the latter than any other move has required.
My mother's family started their journey in this country in upstate New York in the early nineteenth century. Eventually making their way through the Midwest, my great grandparents met in Iowa in the latter part of that era and continued their travels to Minnesota by way of South Dakota. My mother remembers that they returned to Iowa each year to help with the cattle drives, the women running the chuck wagon to provide home cooked meals for the cowboys. Their son carried on the tradition, moving his wife, son and daughter through Wisconsin and North Dakota before settling in Chicago. When my mother speaks of where she grew up, it is Chicago she remembers as home. While I know my grandfather moved his family to accommodate his work, I am not sure why his parents kept to the road for so long.
But what their movement across the land tells me is that they were strong people with dreams, willing to withstand endless days walking next to covered wagons containing their whole lives to the frontiers of a place completely unknown to them. Each generation pushed a little further West, following a hope for more than what they had or could envision for themselves where they were. What few pictures I have of these people I never met reveal great beauty and joy so poignantly real I can feel them with me, directing me to take my part in the adventure. The unknown didn't seem to phase them, which is a gift, like their faith, that they have passed down to me. My people are people of faith, courage and abundantly joyful creativity, an ancestry of which I am proud to share, a legacy I hope to embody with grace.
The heat of these last days spent in this place that has been my home for seven years also reminds me that I am not carrying out an Exodus journey of Biblical proportions. There will be no hot desert winds on my face or burning sand under my feet, no blazing sun relentlessly beating down on my head with each passing minute, hour or day. There is an address to which I am headed, unlike the Israelites, who would wander for forty years with only the hope of God's assurance that there would be a promised land.
There is progress in the journey. Years later Isaiah would go on to speak of a new Exodus for God's people, a journey to a new Eden-like place. "For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off (Isaiah 55: 12-13)." Sometimes what we can't see immediately is as important as what is within each task and step of the day. Within the tangible moments of living are housed the grace and mystery of God's purpose and promise. Herein lies our home, wherever we are.
Finding myself relocating to a new city means participating in the age-old, time-honored practice of pulling up stakes, shutting off utilities and looking ahead to another part of my life as it unfolds. The packing is simply the physical rendition of sorting and filing memories, moments and hopes that evidence the truth of the time spent in any place we choose to call home. Having done this a few times before, I am familiar with the process, its delights and its pitfalls. Gathering one's life together, releasing its unneeded portions to the universe, fitting the remainder into a box on wheels and trusting it will be intact and ready to be welcomed into a new space at the other end of the road, is both an act of will and faith. This move calls forth a good measure of the former and a greater measure of the latter than any other move has required.
My mother's family started their journey in this country in upstate New York in the early nineteenth century. Eventually making their way through the Midwest, my great grandparents met in Iowa in the latter part of that era and continued their travels to Minnesota by way of South Dakota. My mother remembers that they returned to Iowa each year to help with the cattle drives, the women running the chuck wagon to provide home cooked meals for the cowboys. Their son carried on the tradition, moving his wife, son and daughter through Wisconsin and North Dakota before settling in Chicago. When my mother speaks of where she grew up, it is Chicago she remembers as home. While I know my grandfather moved his family to accommodate his work, I am not sure why his parents kept to the road for so long.
But what their movement across the land tells me is that they were strong people with dreams, willing to withstand endless days walking next to covered wagons containing their whole lives to the frontiers of a place completely unknown to them. Each generation pushed a little further West, following a hope for more than what they had or could envision for themselves where they were. What few pictures I have of these people I never met reveal great beauty and joy so poignantly real I can feel them with me, directing me to take my part in the adventure. The unknown didn't seem to phase them, which is a gift, like their faith, that they have passed down to me. My people are people of faith, courage and abundantly joyful creativity, an ancestry of which I am proud to share, a legacy I hope to embody with grace.
The heat of these last days spent in this place that has been my home for seven years also reminds me that I am not carrying out an Exodus journey of Biblical proportions. There will be no hot desert winds on my face or burning sand under my feet, no blazing sun relentlessly beating down on my head with each passing minute, hour or day. There is an address to which I am headed, unlike the Israelites, who would wander for forty years with only the hope of God's assurance that there would be a promised land.
There is progress in the journey. Years later Isaiah would go on to speak of a new Exodus for God's people, a journey to a new Eden-like place. "For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off (Isaiah 55: 12-13)." Sometimes what we can't see immediately is as important as what is within each task and step of the day. Within the tangible moments of living are housed the grace and mystery of God's purpose and promise. Herein lies our home, wherever we are.
Discount Kingdom
his past holiday weekend, like every one on the calendar, provided endless opportunities to SAVE! SAVE! SAVE!. If Congress has legislated a postal holiday there is an equal and AMAZING BLOWOUT! or EXTRAVAGANZA! to spend money you would have otherwise been earning that day. Just in case you can't make the actual EXTREME SALES EVENT! you can take in a PRE-HOLIDAY or POST-HOLIDAY SALES EVENT! I believe I have actually seen the before/during/after television sales campaigns inadvertently converge late at night, creating a sort of time warp shopping wonderland in which people are always giddy with delight over FANTASTIC SAVINGS! I seriously wonder if, or why, anyone would pay full price for anything anymore.
But apparently there is a story, told long, long ago, from a time since past, about a soul who paid full price, and then some, for something so glorious that it could not be passed up. Matthew's gospel recounts Jesus' words in the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value. "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46)."
Today's shoppers would call this man a fool. Why pay full price when waiting a few days, maybe a few weeks at the most, will net you the same product and keep more money in your pocket to spend elsewhere. Only a fool would pay full price, and only a bigger fool, or a crazy person, would pay more than full price. That's the problem if you let a merchant know how much you want something. They take you for all you are worth. Never let your guard down when you are trying to be a savvy shopper.
But our Biblical shopper was probably as savvy as they come because he was a merchant himself, someone who knew the ins and outs of smart bargaining and smarter purchasing for resale better than most. It's quite clear that he was on the hunt for fine peals because he knew what he was looking for and was eager to find them. He'd had success on his quests before and intended this venture to be equally successful. This merchant was no novice, but a seasoned professional striking out on a trip designed to continue building his business and his professional reputation.
Imagine his surprise then, upon discovering this one, magnificent pearl of great worth, an unexpected treasure-among-treasures right there before his eyes, but in another merchant's possession. What should he do? How should he proceed with the situation? He knows this pearl is meant for him, but he doesn't have enough money with which to purchase it. He must go home, gather all his resources and pray that no one else purchases the pearl before he can return. His one hope rests on the merchant holding his pearl (for he has now come to regard the pearl as his own) seeming oblivious to the value of the treasure he holds in his stock.
So our merchant travels home as fast as he can, counts his money, sells literally everything he owns to make up the difference and hurries back to his fellow merchant to retrieve his pearl. The other merchant feels he has made an incredible deal, selling a single pearl for an outrageously large sum, much more than he would have ever expected. He is quite surprised that his colleague was willing to pay so much, but he doesn't question the fellow's motive or integrity.
It is an interesting sort of twist, to realize that the search for the kingdom of heaven isn't about making the best business deal or appearing wise in its transaction. The kingdom of heaven isn't about putting our nose to the grindstone, living in the real world or taking advantage of whatever life offers us either. The kingdom of heaven appears more to be about discovering the mystery and wonder of God's presence among us , for us, when we bump into it on an ordinary day, even during a simple shopping trip.
But apparently there is a story, told long, long ago, from a time since past, about a soul who paid full price, and then some, for something so glorious that it could not be passed up. Matthew's gospel recounts Jesus' words in the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value. "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it (Matthew 13:45-46)."
Today's shoppers would call this man a fool. Why pay full price when waiting a few days, maybe a few weeks at the most, will net you the same product and keep more money in your pocket to spend elsewhere. Only a fool would pay full price, and only a bigger fool, or a crazy person, would pay more than full price. That's the problem if you let a merchant know how much you want something. They take you for all you are worth. Never let your guard down when you are trying to be a savvy shopper.
But our Biblical shopper was probably as savvy as they come because he was a merchant himself, someone who knew the ins and outs of smart bargaining and smarter purchasing for resale better than most. It's quite clear that he was on the hunt for fine peals because he knew what he was looking for and was eager to find them. He'd had success on his quests before and intended this venture to be equally successful. This merchant was no novice, but a seasoned professional striking out on a trip designed to continue building his business and his professional reputation.
Imagine his surprise then, upon discovering this one, magnificent pearl of great worth, an unexpected treasure-among-treasures right there before his eyes, but in another merchant's possession. What should he do? How should he proceed with the situation? He knows this pearl is meant for him, but he doesn't have enough money with which to purchase it. He must go home, gather all his resources and pray that no one else purchases the pearl before he can return. His one hope rests on the merchant holding his pearl (for he has now come to regard the pearl as his own) seeming oblivious to the value of the treasure he holds in his stock.
So our merchant travels home as fast as he can, counts his money, sells literally everything he owns to make up the difference and hurries back to his fellow merchant to retrieve his pearl. The other merchant feels he has made an incredible deal, selling a single pearl for an outrageously large sum, much more than he would have ever expected. He is quite surprised that his colleague was willing to pay so much, but he doesn't question the fellow's motive or integrity.
It is an interesting sort of twist, to realize that the search for the kingdom of heaven isn't about making the best business deal or appearing wise in its transaction. The kingdom of heaven isn't about putting our nose to the grindstone, living in the real world or taking advantage of whatever life offers us either. The kingdom of heaven appears more to be about discovering the mystery and wonder of God's presence among us , for us, when we bump into it on an ordinary day, even during a simple shopping trip.
We Gather Together
Today marks the beginning of the Group of Eight, or G8 Summit, a meeting of leaders from the world's wealthiest industrialized nations to discuss global economic and development issues. Germany, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, hosts France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the United States, Canada and Russia, the countries that make up the G8 membership. The agenda for these meetings is growth and responsibility in the global community, as well as on the African Continent. Chancellor Merkel has clearly stated her belief that we need all global players to make this happen, implying a commitment to carry on the moral agenda set forth by the 2005 G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.
Although these Summits are held annually, it was the historic agenda at Gleneagles that drew the world's attention. That gathering settled on the reality that in order to help Africa move forward and heal, we the wealthiest countries of the world would need to increase aid, forgive the debt Africa owes to us and remove trade barriers that hinder African exports. These broad-based goals centered on the intent of eradicating extreme poverty in our world in this generation. Quite remarkable is that in this point/click/delete world we have not lost hope for ourselves that this vision can be made real. In that there is immeasurable grace.
Having grown up through the 1960's and 70's believing that anything was possible, many of my generation have held onto our idealism through personal and societal struggles, long enough to see the cycles with which life blesses us. We have enough of ourselves in place to be comfortable with what we don't know, but are equally grounded in what we do know, and what it can mean to live into that knowledge for all it is worth. From such places comes care for our communities, our country, our world, our people, and faith at how education, healthcare and housing can begin to make lives whole. From such places comes wisdom that recognizes that these problems of AIDS and malaria, polluted water and inadequate sanitation, trade injustice and poverty, are not new or easily solvable, but they are indeed able to be addressed and steadily diminished over time. Perhaps because of our idealism, or maybe because we are uniquely positioned as a generation between World War II and the Iraq War, with a thick layer of Vietnam sandwiched in for good measure, we recognize that some things never change, but that many,many more can and do with an investment of will and compassion. We are fortunate materially, more so than generations which preceded us, and perhaps even those following us, but we are also blessed with an embodied hope that cannot be denied.
My own memory of this kind of hope had fallen a bit dim, unbeknownst to me until I opened an alumni update bulletin from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay a few days ago. While leafing through its glossy pages I happened upon the familiar face of Julie Brickley, my favorite professor who had passed on almost ten years ago. Two of her close friends and colleagues had established a scholarship in her honor. You see, although Julie was my favorite professor, she was cherished by the university community as a whole. She was the first woman to receive the UW-Green Bay Founders Award for teaching excellence, and she founded and chaired the Women's Studies program of which I was a part. "Julie believed passionately that language lived at the heart of learning in every discipline," said her colleague. " She brought its joy and beauty to her daily teaching." This woman who had inspired me to connect with my own heart and dreams, with my hope for the future, was inspiring me again.
Perhaps the G8 Summits will function in this way for our world this year and for all the years to come. The Summits are no longer just a small group of white men (and the occasional woman) meeting for a couple of days each summer, ruminating on the world's ills and delivering heady economic solutions for them. Now the G8 Summits will always be linked to the simple hope, the ready belief that we can eradicate extreme poverty in our world in this generation. Our generation. It will not happen overnight, but the process is already begun. We are doing it, one step at a time. The Biblical concept of hope is deeply rooted here, it is strong and it grows in us each day. And, indeed, we are assured that, "Hope does not disappoint us (Romans 5:5)."
Although these Summits are held annually, it was the historic agenda at Gleneagles that drew the world's attention. That gathering settled on the reality that in order to help Africa move forward and heal, we the wealthiest countries of the world would need to increase aid, forgive the debt Africa owes to us and remove trade barriers that hinder African exports. These broad-based goals centered on the intent of eradicating extreme poverty in our world in this generation. Quite remarkable is that in this point/click/delete world we have not lost hope for ourselves that this vision can be made real. In that there is immeasurable grace.
Having grown up through the 1960's and 70's believing that anything was possible, many of my generation have held onto our idealism through personal and societal struggles, long enough to see the cycles with which life blesses us. We have enough of ourselves in place to be comfortable with what we don't know, but are equally grounded in what we do know, and what it can mean to live into that knowledge for all it is worth. From such places comes care for our communities, our country, our world, our people, and faith at how education, healthcare and housing can begin to make lives whole. From such places comes wisdom that recognizes that these problems of AIDS and malaria, polluted water and inadequate sanitation, trade injustice and poverty, are not new or easily solvable, but they are indeed able to be addressed and steadily diminished over time. Perhaps because of our idealism, or maybe because we are uniquely positioned as a generation between World War II and the Iraq War, with a thick layer of Vietnam sandwiched in for good measure, we recognize that some things never change, but that many,many more can and do with an investment of will and compassion. We are fortunate materially, more so than generations which preceded us, and perhaps even those following us, but we are also blessed with an embodied hope that cannot be denied.
My own memory of this kind of hope had fallen a bit dim, unbeknownst to me until I opened an alumni update bulletin from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay a few days ago. While leafing through its glossy pages I happened upon the familiar face of Julie Brickley, my favorite professor who had passed on almost ten years ago. Two of her close friends and colleagues had established a scholarship in her honor. You see, although Julie was my favorite professor, she was cherished by the university community as a whole. She was the first woman to receive the UW-Green Bay Founders Award for teaching excellence, and she founded and chaired the Women's Studies program of which I was a part. "Julie believed passionately that language lived at the heart of learning in every discipline," said her colleague. " She brought its joy and beauty to her daily teaching." This woman who had inspired me to connect with my own heart and dreams, with my hope for the future, was inspiring me again.
Perhaps the G8 Summits will function in this way for our world this year and for all the years to come. The Summits are no longer just a small group of white men (and the occasional woman) meeting for a couple of days each summer, ruminating on the world's ills and delivering heady economic solutions for them. Now the G8 Summits will always be linked to the simple hope, the ready belief that we can eradicate extreme poverty in our world in this generation. Our generation. It will not happen overnight, but the process is already begun. We are doing it, one step at a time. The Biblical concept of hope is deeply rooted here, it is strong and it grows in us each day. And, indeed, we are assured that, "Hope does not disappoint us (Romans 5:5)."
Angels In Your Life
If you've heard that angels are here to help you, improve and empower your life, then what you've heard is true. Angels are creations of God, the Divine Creator. They are loving, kind, gentle, wise and powerful. They are here to help and heal, to guide and support every one of us while we live our lives here on Earth. All they need is the request from you.
Angels follow a very important divine law, that of Free Will. The law of Free Will states that no being can interfere with. The law of Free Will means that the only way one being can help another, is after being asked to do so. The only way the angels can give you the help you desire, is after you have asked for their help. The only time this law is passed over is in the case of mortal danger, in which case the angels will interfere if it is not your time to die.
Another consideration the arises from the Free Will law, is that the angels will not respond to your request to interfere in another's free will. This means that if your request is to have someone fall in love with you, own something that belongs to another or take a job that is another's, it will not happen. You would do better to ask for the angels to bring to you your ideal true love and help you clear anything that stands in the way. You could also ask for the perfect job that meets your desires or something better - a wonderful proviso that allows the angels to improve upon your request to bring about something even more ideal.
So, how to engage the angels in your life. First, you call them to you. This is done by saying in your mind or out aloud, "Angels, I want to start working with you, please come to me now!". The instant you call them, they come to you whether you can feel them or not. You can then make your request.
When preparing your request make sure you are clear on what it is you want to bring about. Make certain that you know and feel you deserve it. If at some level you have doubts about your self worth or fear the outcome of the fruition of such a request, you can short circuit the process, and it won't work. If this so you will need to use affirmations and other tools to clear away any such negative issues. Wording for a request for a particular job, might be worded like this "I know that I am ready to move forward in my work to the next level. I call upon you, to bring to me the perfect job for me. The perfect job includes better pay, a great office with a wonderful view, greater responsibility in my area of expertise and wonderful people to work with! I ask you to create for me, this or something better!". Of course this wording is generalised, you can be more specific according to your needs.
The more you work with the angels, the more you will experience their power, love, generosity, willingness to help and guide.
Angels follow a very important divine law, that of Free Will. The law of Free Will states that no being can interfere with. The law of Free Will means that the only way one being can help another, is after being asked to do so. The only way the angels can give you the help you desire, is after you have asked for their help. The only time this law is passed over is in the case of mortal danger, in which case the angels will interfere if it is not your time to die.
Another consideration the arises from the Free Will law, is that the angels will not respond to your request to interfere in another's free will. This means that if your request is to have someone fall in love with you, own something that belongs to another or take a job that is another's, it will not happen. You would do better to ask for the angels to bring to you your ideal true love and help you clear anything that stands in the way. You could also ask for the perfect job that meets your desires or something better - a wonderful proviso that allows the angels to improve upon your request to bring about something even more ideal.
So, how to engage the angels in your life. First, you call them to you. This is done by saying in your mind or out aloud, "Angels, I want to start working with you, please come to me now!". The instant you call them, they come to you whether you can feel them or not. You can then make your request.
When preparing your request make sure you are clear on what it is you want to bring about. Make certain that you know and feel you deserve it. If at some level you have doubts about your self worth or fear the outcome of the fruition of such a request, you can short circuit the process, and it won't work. If this so you will need to use affirmations and other tools to clear away any such negative issues. Wording for a request for a particular job, might be worded like this "I know that I am ready to move forward in my work to the next level. I call upon you, to bring to me the perfect job for me. The perfect job includes better pay, a great office with a wonderful view, greater responsibility in my area of expertise and wonderful people to work with! I ask you to create for me, this or something better!". Of course this wording is generalised, you can be more specific according to your needs.
The more you work with the angels, the more you will experience their power, love, generosity, willingness to help and guide.
About The Author
Angels in Different Cultures and Religions
"Ever noticed how there seems to be angel sculptures or figurines in every home you go?
This is because many cultures in the world share the belief in the existence of this supernatural being.
In Judaism, angels, or malachim, serve as God’s messengers and “workers” here on Earth. It was for example, an angel who stopped Abraham just as he was about to kill his beloved son as a sacrifice to God. The angel Michael on the other hand, is viewed as the guardian and protector of the people of Israel.
With the roots of Christianity closely linked to Judaism, it comes as no surprise that Christians also hold angels in high-esteem. As in Judaism, angels also played great roles in many events viewed with great importance by Christians. It was the angel Gabriel who appeared to Mary and told her of how she was chosen by God to give birth to his son Jesus, who Christians believe is the savior of mankind. The Bible also recounts that Christ’s resurrection from the dead was announced by angels. Angels, Christians believe, are God’s link to man.
Angels also figure prominently in the Islam faith, one of their basic articles of faith being the “belief in angels”. Muslims believe that each person has four angels (which they call Malaa’ika, meaning, messengers) assigned to him who tallies his good and bad actions (two record the good while the other two take not of the bad). They also assign souls to newborns and are responsible for taking care of the environment.
One main difference between the Islamic and Christian/Jewish views on angels, is that for Muslims, it is not possible for angels to fall from grace, as they do cannot commit sin.
Hindus have their angels too. Called “devas”, these entities are responsible for natural elements like water, earth and fire. While angels are viewed as God’s workers in Christianity, Islam and Judaism and are not worshipped, the distinction between angels and the lesser gods are blurry.
Like these major religions, many minor belief systems also profess a belief in angels. Followers of Zoroastrianism (estimated at just around 200,000 worldwide), also believe that each one of us has a guardian angel—a Fravashi--- that protects and guides us.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints meanwhile, angels are heavenly beings in human form that help spread the work and word of God on earth. The church was established after an angel allegedly appeared to its founder Joseph Smith.
So why the ubiquity of these heavenly entities? Because the idea of angels—beings that guide us, protect us from harm and give us a more personal link to God—is comforting, reassuring and one that is thoroughly welcomed.
This is because many cultures in the world share the belief in the existence of this supernatural being.
In Judaism, angels, or malachim, serve as God’s messengers and “workers” here on Earth. It was for example, an angel who stopped Abraham just as he was about to kill his beloved son as a sacrifice to God. The angel Michael on the other hand, is viewed as the guardian and protector of the people of Israel.
With the roots of Christianity closely linked to Judaism, it comes as no surprise that Christians also hold angels in high-esteem. As in Judaism, angels also played great roles in many events viewed with great importance by Christians. It was the angel Gabriel who appeared to Mary and told her of how she was chosen by God to give birth to his son Jesus, who Christians believe is the savior of mankind. The Bible also recounts that Christ’s resurrection from the dead was announced by angels. Angels, Christians believe, are God’s link to man.
Angels also figure prominently in the Islam faith, one of their basic articles of faith being the “belief in angels”. Muslims believe that each person has four angels (which they call Malaa’ika, meaning, messengers) assigned to him who tallies his good and bad actions (two record the good while the other two take not of the bad). They also assign souls to newborns and are responsible for taking care of the environment.
One main difference between the Islamic and Christian/Jewish views on angels, is that for Muslims, it is not possible for angels to fall from grace, as they do cannot commit sin.
Hindus have their angels too. Called “devas”, these entities are responsible for natural elements like water, earth and fire. While angels are viewed as God’s workers in Christianity, Islam and Judaism and are not worshipped, the distinction between angels and the lesser gods are blurry.
Like these major religions, many minor belief systems also profess a belief in angels. Followers of Zoroastrianism (estimated at just around 200,000 worldwide), also believe that each one of us has a guardian angel—a Fravashi--- that protects and guides us.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints meanwhile, angels are heavenly beings in human form that help spread the work and word of God on earth. The church was established after an angel allegedly appeared to its founder Joseph Smith.
So why the ubiquity of these heavenly entities? Because the idea of angels—beings that guide us, protect us from harm and give us a more personal link to God—is comforting, reassuring and one that is thoroughly welcomed.
Go Ahead and Laugh...
Go ahead and laugh that we cling to our religious faith and proudly display religious items throughout our home.
Go ahead and laugh when you say that we don't seem to live in the 'real' world because things aren't done that way anymore.
Go ahead and laugh as you say, yes it's good to be religious but my family seems fanatical and a little weird.
Go ahead and laugh as you say just how uncomfortable you are around us because you fear that you might slip up and cuss.
Go ahead and laugh at how strange it is that my wife and I would rather spend time together,instead of with others.
Go ahead and laugh as you declare just how 'lucky' we must have been to make it through the tough times and to avoid divorce.
Go ahead and laugh as you say how easy it is to loath my children because they always seem to do just the 'right thing'.
Go ahead and laugh that my children appear to be happy and they have happy friends-no gloom and doom or dark clouds overhead.
Go ahead and laugh when our children dress up not as demons but rather as Biblical characters for halloween.
Go ahead and laugh at the fact that we have a sacred area of our home that we call our prayer closet.
Go ahead and laugh as you come up with excuses for not having family devotions and prayers together every night.
Go ahead and laugh and say just how silly we look while dinning out, because we pause to say grace aloud and together.
Go ahead and laugh because we strive to have a sit-down, around the table, family meal at least four nights a week.
Go ahead and laugh because we believe that 'our way' provides the very comfort and security that children need and want.
Go ahead and laugh because we claim to have discovered the true secret to happiness,and it's called being a Christian.
Go ahead and laugh because being a Christian isn't about what we do or don't do but rather about what Jesus has done for us.
Go ahead and laugh we will still pray that you will want to join in with us someday soon.
Go ahead and laugh for we will worship the Lord our God; because in Him we have all and are in need of nothing.
Go ahead and laugh and say that you think that 'all this' is okay for my family, but it wouldn't work for your family.
Go ahead and laugh it's okay because we believe that someday soon you will wish for your family to be as ours.
Go ahead and laugh my friend, for laughter is all you may have.
Go ahead and laugh when you say that we don't seem to live in the 'real' world because things aren't done that way anymore.
Go ahead and laugh as you say, yes it's good to be religious but my family seems fanatical and a little weird.
Go ahead and laugh as you say just how uncomfortable you are around us because you fear that you might slip up and cuss.
Go ahead and laugh at how strange it is that my wife and I would rather spend time together,instead of with others.
Go ahead and laugh as you declare just how 'lucky' we must have been to make it through the tough times and to avoid divorce.
Go ahead and laugh as you say how easy it is to loath my children because they always seem to do just the 'right thing'.
Go ahead and laugh that my children appear to be happy and they have happy friends-no gloom and doom or dark clouds overhead.
Go ahead and laugh when our children dress up not as demons but rather as Biblical characters for halloween.
Go ahead and laugh at the fact that we have a sacred area of our home that we call our prayer closet.
Go ahead and laugh as you come up with excuses for not having family devotions and prayers together every night.
Go ahead and laugh and say just how silly we look while dinning out, because we pause to say grace aloud and together.
Go ahead and laugh because we strive to have a sit-down, around the table, family meal at least four nights a week.
Go ahead and laugh because we believe that 'our way' provides the very comfort and security that children need and want.
Go ahead and laugh because we claim to have discovered the true secret to happiness,and it's called being a Christian.
Go ahead and laugh because being a Christian isn't about what we do or don't do but rather about what Jesus has done for us.
Go ahead and laugh we will still pray that you will want to join in with us someday soon.
Go ahead and laugh for we will worship the Lord our God; because in Him we have all and are in need of nothing.
Go ahead and laugh and say that you think that 'all this' is okay for my family, but it wouldn't work for your family.
Go ahead and laugh it's okay because we believe that someday soon you will wish for your family to be as ours.
Go ahead and laugh my friend, for laughter is all you may have.
Feel Good Naked - Natural Beauty Secrets
How confident are you when it comes to being naked? Sadly, a lot of women agonise about their bodies and revealing all can be a traumatic experience. If you are looking for tips, tricks and beauty secrets to help you make the most of your natural beauty and feel good naked, you've come to the right place.
Number one of all the beauty secrets is this, if you want to feel good naked you must be happy in your own skin.
To help you achieve this, look after your skin to bring out its natural beauty. Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells and give your circulation a boost, this will encourage new skin cells at the same time. Encouraging new skin cells will give your skin a younger, fresher look.
Always moisturise using a good moisturiser and pay special attention to dry areas such as elbows, knees and feet. Take your time and massage the moisturiser right into your skin. Massaging not only helps your circulation it also helps to smooth out bumps and wrinkles and will enhance your natural beauty. Olive oil, an old-fashioned beauty secret, will give your skin a luxurious look as well as making it soft and supple to touch. As the surface of your skin improves and you get to know your body better you will begin to feel good naked.
Remove unsightly hairs from your legs, under your arms and tidy up your bikini line, or go the whole hog and go for a Brazilian wax.
You probably already know that eating a balanced diet to maintain healthy skin from the inside will benefit your natural beauty. Oily fish and vegetables will do wonders for your nails, hair and teeth as well as providing fish oils and vitamins for your skin and is a beauty secret worth knowing.
Your hair is your crowning glory especially if you want to feel good naked, have it trimmed regularly and keep it clean, well conditioned and healthy.
A quick fix beauty secret to feel good naked is to decide which your best asset is and show it off to the best advantage. Stand naked in front of a tall mirror and take a good, long look at yourself.
Standing straight on is not always the best pose, experiment by turning slowly and watching how your contours change. Standing side on can be a lot more flattering and compliment your natural beauty. Stand up straight and lift your sternum (breastbone) arch your back slightly so that your bottom sticks out a little bit but not too much.
You can make yourself look slimmer by stretching your body into a bow shape and being careful not to stoop or scrunch yourself up. Or stand slightly side on to the mirror placing one leg in front of the other; this will give you a very sexy shapely outline indeed.
Or try lying on your stomach propped up by your elbows, this accentuates the curve of your back and the shape of your breasts and at the same time minimises your stomach.
The idea behind the above beauty secrets is to create an illusion, flatter your natural beauty and help you to feel good naked.
A good tip is to spend as much time as you can actually being naked, this will get you used to seeing yourself naked and the more you see yourself naked, the more being naked will feel natural to you.
Remember to stand up straight and stretch your body to make yourself look slimmer. It also helps if you master the art of walking by placing one foot in front of the other, as though you are walking a tight rope, and swing your legs from the hips. I've found this looks extremely elegant and it will do wonders for your confidence.
Another good beauty secret is to go for soft lighting, such as candles, tea lights or softly coloured light bulbs if you haven't got a dimmer switch, and make sure the lighting is behind you. This not only has a slimming effect - it will also help to soften your outline and give you a sexy glow.
A soft glow rather than harsh lighting will give your skin an even tone and minimise the appearance of any blemishes.
One of the best beauty secrets I know is taking regular exercise to help keep your body toned and supple, a thirty-minute walk three times a week will pay many benefits. Walk at a speed that gets your heart rate up, this will oxygenate your blood and improve your skin, as well as your muscles and heart. Don't walk so fast that you can't have a conversation at the same time.
A toned and balanced body is extremely beautiful and will make you look and feel good naked, and you don’t need an hourglass figure to achieve this. Add quality to your movements with muscles that are long and toned and you will appear more balanced and beautiful.
Finally, the best way to feel good naked is to have confidence in yourself. If you don't feel it, fake it until you do. Get to know your own body and accept yourself for who you are and how you look.
We are all individuals and there are no set rules for everyone. Watch other women and notice how they move, what looks good and what doesn't. You can learn a lot by watching others.
Someone who is happy in her own skin and behaves in a confident manner is extremely attractive and sexy, regardless of her body shape.
How you feel about yourself is what really counts because this will show in your eyes and natural beauty will radiate from you.
Relax and enjoy yourself - love the way you look - if you do then others will too.
Number one of all the beauty secrets is this, if you want to feel good naked you must be happy in your own skin.
To help you achieve this, look after your skin to bring out its natural beauty. Exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells and give your circulation a boost, this will encourage new skin cells at the same time. Encouraging new skin cells will give your skin a younger, fresher look.
Always moisturise using a good moisturiser and pay special attention to dry areas such as elbows, knees and feet. Take your time and massage the moisturiser right into your skin. Massaging not only helps your circulation it also helps to smooth out bumps and wrinkles and will enhance your natural beauty. Olive oil, an old-fashioned beauty secret, will give your skin a luxurious look as well as making it soft and supple to touch. As the surface of your skin improves and you get to know your body better you will begin to feel good naked.
Remove unsightly hairs from your legs, under your arms and tidy up your bikini line, or go the whole hog and go for a Brazilian wax.
You probably already know that eating a balanced diet to maintain healthy skin from the inside will benefit your natural beauty. Oily fish and vegetables will do wonders for your nails, hair and teeth as well as providing fish oils and vitamins for your skin and is a beauty secret worth knowing.
Your hair is your crowning glory especially if you want to feel good naked, have it trimmed regularly and keep it clean, well conditioned and healthy.
A quick fix beauty secret to feel good naked is to decide which your best asset is and show it off to the best advantage. Stand naked in front of a tall mirror and take a good, long look at yourself.
Standing straight on is not always the best pose, experiment by turning slowly and watching how your contours change. Standing side on can be a lot more flattering and compliment your natural beauty. Stand up straight and lift your sternum (breastbone) arch your back slightly so that your bottom sticks out a little bit but not too much.
You can make yourself look slimmer by stretching your body into a bow shape and being careful not to stoop or scrunch yourself up. Or stand slightly side on to the mirror placing one leg in front of the other; this will give you a very sexy shapely outline indeed.
Or try lying on your stomach propped up by your elbows, this accentuates the curve of your back and the shape of your breasts and at the same time minimises your stomach.
The idea behind the above beauty secrets is to create an illusion, flatter your natural beauty and help you to feel good naked.
A good tip is to spend as much time as you can actually being naked, this will get you used to seeing yourself naked and the more you see yourself naked, the more being naked will feel natural to you.
Remember to stand up straight and stretch your body to make yourself look slimmer. It also helps if you master the art of walking by placing one foot in front of the other, as though you are walking a tight rope, and swing your legs from the hips. I've found this looks extremely elegant and it will do wonders for your confidence.
Another good beauty secret is to go for soft lighting, such as candles, tea lights or softly coloured light bulbs if you haven't got a dimmer switch, and make sure the lighting is behind you. This not only has a slimming effect - it will also help to soften your outline and give you a sexy glow.
A soft glow rather than harsh lighting will give your skin an even tone and minimise the appearance of any blemishes.
One of the best beauty secrets I know is taking regular exercise to help keep your body toned and supple, a thirty-minute walk three times a week will pay many benefits. Walk at a speed that gets your heart rate up, this will oxygenate your blood and improve your skin, as well as your muscles and heart. Don't walk so fast that you can't have a conversation at the same time.
A toned and balanced body is extremely beautiful and will make you look and feel good naked, and you don’t need an hourglass figure to achieve this. Add quality to your movements with muscles that are long and toned and you will appear more balanced and beautiful.
Finally, the best way to feel good naked is to have confidence in yourself. If you don't feel it, fake it until you do. Get to know your own body and accept yourself for who you are and how you look.
We are all individuals and there are no set rules for everyone. Watch other women and notice how they move, what looks good and what doesn't. You can learn a lot by watching others.
Someone who is happy in her own skin and behaves in a confident manner is extremely attractive and sexy, regardless of her body shape.
How you feel about yourself is what really counts because this will show in your eyes and natural beauty will radiate from you.
Relax and enjoy yourself - love the way you look - if you do then others will too.
The Dos, Don'ts, and Common Mistakes of Dating Online
Now that you're about to enter into the foray that is online dating, what are the key things that everyone needs to know? What are the dos, don'ts, and common errors of many fist time online daters? Read on for a few ideas about how to take your first steps into the exciting world of dating online.
To start out with, pick an online dating service that is right for you. The good news is that there are a lot of free sites for dating online these days, so there are plenty of options for you to choose from, without having to worry about paying for multiple memberships. Select a service that looks like there are members who might interest you (but beware that not all the profiles used to tempt you to sign up are real!), and a site that looks like it will suit your online dating goals.
Next, it's time to make your profile. The importance of your profile cannot be stressed enough. This will be your introduction to the rest of the members on whichever dating service you sign up for. Lots of first time online daters are wary about posting pictures. If you're uncomfortable with it, you can wait, but remember to post a picture eventually (this will multiply the number of response you'll get). Also, keep your profile light and friendly and be honest with everything you write in your profile. If you embellish or lie (unless its obvious that you're joking), the truth will come out eventually if you meet someone special, so it's better to be truthful from the get-go. Even though your profile is important, don't take it too seriously. Remember that above all, you're here to have fun and hopefully that sentiment will come across to other people. Also, remember to be honest with people you're messaging back and forth with. There's nothing worse than thinking that you're getting to know someone, then meeting then and realizing that they misrepresented themselves. Try to make everyone's experience when dating online, whether yours or others, positive.
To start out with, pick an online dating service that is right for you. The good news is that there are a lot of free sites for dating online these days, so there are plenty of options for you to choose from, without having to worry about paying for multiple memberships. Select a service that looks like there are members who might interest you (but beware that not all the profiles used to tempt you to sign up are real!), and a site that looks like it will suit your online dating goals.
Next, it's time to make your profile. The importance of your profile cannot be stressed enough. This will be your introduction to the rest of the members on whichever dating service you sign up for. Lots of first time online daters are wary about posting pictures. If you're uncomfortable with it, you can wait, but remember to post a picture eventually (this will multiply the number of response you'll get). Also, keep your profile light and friendly and be honest with everything you write in your profile. If you embellish or lie (unless its obvious that you're joking), the truth will come out eventually if you meet someone special, so it's better to be truthful from the get-go. Even though your profile is important, don't take it too seriously. Remember that above all, you're here to have fun and hopefully that sentiment will come across to other people. Also, remember to be honest with people you're messaging back and forth with. There's nothing worse than thinking that you're getting to know someone, then meeting then and realizing that they misrepresented themselves. Try to make everyone's experience when dating online, whether yours or others, positive.
The Connection Between Fitness and Singles
What's the connection between dating and singles? It seems like gyms are often popular places to meet people, and fitness singles sites are cropping up to satisfy the needs and wants of online daters looking for partners to workout with and romance at the same time. Is there a significant connection between the fitness industry and single life?
One possible explanation for the connections made between fellow gym-goers is the desire to find like minded people who enjoy active lifestyles and staying in shape. Certainly, a part of this is a greater appreciation in general for people who are physically fit. While this is a broad generalization, it may be safe to assume that most people who want to keep themselves in shape also want that from their partner. For this reason, gyms attract like minded people, with similar lifestyles. Also, as has been proven by several psychological studies, similarity and proximity increase the likelihood of attraction. Therefore, if two people run into each other on a regular basis, and see each other participating in activities they both enjoy, the chances of meeting and making a connection are more likely.
Another psychological explanation may come from biological and neurological studies. Chemicals released into the brain during exercise are often associated with feelings of euphoria. These feelings are commonly seen as responsible for a 'runners high' that many consistent exercisers experience. As these feelings of euphoria are experienced, people are conditioned to associate those positive feelings with other stimulus that surround them. Like Pavlov's Classically conditioned dogs, a person who see something (like another attractive person) while experiencing a positive emotion (a runners high) begin associating these two things together. Eventually, people begin attributing their positive feelings to that person (he/she makes me feel good). As a result, many singles who are heavily into the fitness lifestyle, and regularly visit the gym, may begin to pair their positive feelings with other fit singles they see at their gym.
While these explanations may only be a part of the reason why singles and fitness are frequently paired together, ultimately, there is some sort of connection between the two. Whether these stem from psychological reasons or the desire to seek out other physically attractive or fit people, fitness and singles are frequently paired, and with good reason.
One possible explanation for the connections made between fellow gym-goers is the desire to find like minded people who enjoy active lifestyles and staying in shape. Certainly, a part of this is a greater appreciation in general for people who are physically fit. While this is a broad generalization, it may be safe to assume that most people who want to keep themselves in shape also want that from their partner. For this reason, gyms attract like minded people, with similar lifestyles. Also, as has been proven by several psychological studies, similarity and proximity increase the likelihood of attraction. Therefore, if two people run into each other on a regular basis, and see each other participating in activities they both enjoy, the chances of meeting and making a connection are more likely.
Another psychological explanation may come from biological and neurological studies. Chemicals released into the brain during exercise are often associated with feelings of euphoria. These feelings are commonly seen as responsible for a 'runners high' that many consistent exercisers experience. As these feelings of euphoria are experienced, people are conditioned to associate those positive feelings with other stimulus that surround them. Like Pavlov's Classically conditioned dogs, a person who see something (like another attractive person) while experiencing a positive emotion (a runners high) begin associating these two things together. Eventually, people begin attributing their positive feelings to that person (he/she makes me feel good). As a result, many singles who are heavily into the fitness lifestyle, and regularly visit the gym, may begin to pair their positive feelings with other fit singles they see at their gym.
While these explanations may only be a part of the reason why singles and fitness are frequently paired together, ultimately, there is some sort of connection between the two. Whether these stem from psychological reasons or the desire to seek out other physically attractive or fit people, fitness and singles are frequently paired, and with good reason.
Engagement Ring: Love Is Meant To Be Shared
In everybody’s life, getting engaged is one of most fruitful experiences that give intense joy, excitement, hope, and satisfaction. At such moments, promoting your engagement in creative and unique way may infuse your journey of life with great joviality, surprise, compassion, and realistic expectations. So, work with your own creative process that can make your engagement ceremony unforgettable. And the best thing that creates such magic is your engagement ring because it has so much more character and influences that other engagement accessories might not have.
It’s also believed that an engagement ring symbolizes an unbroken cycle and strengthens love and relationship. So it is vital to select engagement ring that best suits your lovely lady and make her ecstatic. By all accounts, the best way to buy her an engagement ring she'll love is to let her pick it out herself. But, you still want to go it alone to surprise her with a ring she’ll love, be sure to do some inspection about what jewelry she likes to wear. Watch her for a couple of weeks and take mental notes to size up her style. The bottom line is that choose engagement ring that she will wear this every day. It must feel good on her finger and it must suit her lifestyle. Besides that, if you want to add some extra sparkle and magic to your engagement ceremony then a graphic imagery, a soft romantic coverlet, earthy waves, or stars can be a better option.
Now there are lots of choices in engagement rings that can satisfy her wishes like diamond engagement ring, pearl studded ring and gold or platinum rings. Among all these, diamond ring is unquestionably more favored by people due to its unique physical properties and look. Diamond ring can be made of gold, silver or platinum. Hence you have enough choices to persuade and satisfy your would-be-bride. Women always like the luxurious gift and the engagement is a memorable event nobody wants to forget it. So make your day extra special with a special engagement ring that describes how much you love her as well as make her feel how romantic and sentimental you are.
To end with, the best place to select your engagement ring is no other than online jewelry stores. You can easily surf through different jewelry web sites that offer wide range of engagement rings at affordable prices. So don’t waste your precious time on brick-and-mortar shop during your engagement. You know sometimes it can take huge time trying on many shapes and setting styles to determine which engagement ring is truly best for you.
It’s also believed that an engagement ring symbolizes an unbroken cycle and strengthens love and relationship. So it is vital to select engagement ring that best suits your lovely lady and make her ecstatic. By all accounts, the best way to buy her an engagement ring she'll love is to let her pick it out herself. But, you still want to go it alone to surprise her with a ring she’ll love, be sure to do some inspection about what jewelry she likes to wear. Watch her for a couple of weeks and take mental notes to size up her style. The bottom line is that choose engagement ring that she will wear this every day. It must feel good on her finger and it must suit her lifestyle. Besides that, if you want to add some extra sparkle and magic to your engagement ceremony then a graphic imagery, a soft romantic coverlet, earthy waves, or stars can be a better option.
Now there are lots of choices in engagement rings that can satisfy her wishes like diamond engagement ring, pearl studded ring and gold or platinum rings. Among all these, diamond ring is unquestionably more favored by people due to its unique physical properties and look. Diamond ring can be made of gold, silver or platinum. Hence you have enough choices to persuade and satisfy your would-be-bride. Women always like the luxurious gift and the engagement is a memorable event nobody wants to forget it. So make your day extra special with a special engagement ring that describes how much you love her as well as make her feel how romantic and sentimental you are.
To end with, the best place to select your engagement ring is no other than online jewelry stores. You can easily surf through different jewelry web sites that offer wide range of engagement rings at affordable prices. So don’t waste your precious time on brick-and-mortar shop during your engagement. You know sometimes it can take huge time trying on many shapes and setting styles to determine which engagement ring is truly best for you.
Why Do You Want to "Communicate" With Your Partner?
When partners are having problems, they often say that the problem is communication. What exactly does this mean? What are they trying to communicate?
There are various reasons for communicating:
1. Sometimes we communicate to offer information about ourselves, such as, "I'm going out for a walk," or "The dinner reservations are for 7:00."
2. Sometimes we communicate to ask for help with tasks, such as, "I need to move the couch to clean under it and I can't lift it. Would you help me?"
3. Sometimes we communicate to learn something about the other person, such as "Please help me to understand why you are feeling upset with me. I care about you and I really want to understand."
4. Sometimes we communicate to ask for help regarding ourselves, such as, "I’m feeling very anxious and I don't know why. Would you talk with me for awhile? Maybe if I talk about it I will understand it."
For the most part, these forms of communication do not cause problems, unless there is an ulterior motive. An ulterior occurs when the intention of the communication is to have some control over the other person. When the intent of the above communications is to offer information, ask for help, or to learn, then there will likely not be problems. But these same communications can be spoken with an intent to control. The intent to control will be communicated through a harsh or judgmental tone of voice and through a hard, closed energy.
For example, "I'm going from a walk!" said with anger, has behind it an intent to control the other person through punishment. The real communication is "You have behaved in a way that is unacceptable to me so I am punishing you by withdrawing from you." "The dinner reservations are for 7:00," can be said in a tone that says, "…and you better be there."
Asking for help in moving the couch can be either a request or a demand, depending upon the intent. A request can be answered, "Sorry, I'm really busy right now. I will help you later," without repercussions. When the same thing is said as a demand, the other person is not allowed to say no without negative consequences.
You can ask someone why he or she is upset with you from a true desire to learn, or from an intent to control. When your intent is to control, you will likely argue with whatever the person says, trying to talk him or her out of the upset.
When you are upset, you can ask for help because you really do want to learn and take responsibility for your feelings, or because you want the other person to fix you, to take care of you, to rescue you. People often want to communicate their feelings to get the other person to change, rather than to learn and take responsibility for their feelings.
Problems with communication will always occur when the intent is to control. So when clients of mine say, "We can't communicate," I immediately know that one or both of them are coming from an intent to control in their communications. They are intent on trying to get the other person to change.
The intent to control often creates power struggles in relationships. While most people certainly want to be in control, they do not want to be controlled. So when one person is coming from the intent to control, the other person may respond with resistance. Power struggles result when one person behaves in a controlling way and the other person resists being controlled.
When one person is intent on controlling and the other gives in to keep the peace, it may seem like the relationship is working. However, the compliant person is often covertly angry and may resist in an other area, such as sexually. When you give yourself up to avoid conflict, you generally resent the person you give yourself up to, which doesn't create the emotional intimacy necessary to feel sexually intimate.
Next time you want to communicate with your partner, ask yourself, "Why do I want to communicate?" If you discover that you are wanting to get the other person to change, consider doing your own inner work instead - deciding how to take care of yourself instead of trying to get your partner to change. You might discover that you get a far better result!
There are various reasons for communicating:
1. Sometimes we communicate to offer information about ourselves, such as, "I'm going out for a walk," or "The dinner reservations are for 7:00."
2. Sometimes we communicate to ask for help with tasks, such as, "I need to move the couch to clean under it and I can't lift it. Would you help me?"
3. Sometimes we communicate to learn something about the other person, such as "Please help me to understand why you are feeling upset with me. I care about you and I really want to understand."
4. Sometimes we communicate to ask for help regarding ourselves, such as, "I’m feeling very anxious and I don't know why. Would you talk with me for awhile? Maybe if I talk about it I will understand it."
For the most part, these forms of communication do not cause problems, unless there is an ulterior motive. An ulterior occurs when the intention of the communication is to have some control over the other person. When the intent of the above communications is to offer information, ask for help, or to learn, then there will likely not be problems. But these same communications can be spoken with an intent to control. The intent to control will be communicated through a harsh or judgmental tone of voice and through a hard, closed energy.
For example, "I'm going from a walk!" said with anger, has behind it an intent to control the other person through punishment. The real communication is "You have behaved in a way that is unacceptable to me so I am punishing you by withdrawing from you." "The dinner reservations are for 7:00," can be said in a tone that says, "…and you better be there."
Asking for help in moving the couch can be either a request or a demand, depending upon the intent. A request can be answered, "Sorry, I'm really busy right now. I will help you later," without repercussions. When the same thing is said as a demand, the other person is not allowed to say no without negative consequences.
You can ask someone why he or she is upset with you from a true desire to learn, or from an intent to control. When your intent is to control, you will likely argue with whatever the person says, trying to talk him or her out of the upset.
When you are upset, you can ask for help because you really do want to learn and take responsibility for your feelings, or because you want the other person to fix you, to take care of you, to rescue you. People often want to communicate their feelings to get the other person to change, rather than to learn and take responsibility for their feelings.
Problems with communication will always occur when the intent is to control. So when clients of mine say, "We can't communicate," I immediately know that one or both of them are coming from an intent to control in their communications. They are intent on trying to get the other person to change.
The intent to control often creates power struggles in relationships. While most people certainly want to be in control, they do not want to be controlled. So when one person is coming from the intent to control, the other person may respond with resistance. Power struggles result when one person behaves in a controlling way and the other person resists being controlled.
When one person is intent on controlling and the other gives in to keep the peace, it may seem like the relationship is working. However, the compliant person is often covertly angry and may resist in an other area, such as sexually. When you give yourself up to avoid conflict, you generally resent the person you give yourself up to, which doesn't create the emotional intimacy necessary to feel sexually intimate.
Next time you want to communicate with your partner, ask yourself, "Why do I want to communicate?" If you discover that you are wanting to get the other person to change, consider doing your own inner work instead - deciding how to take care of yourself instead of trying to get your partner to change. You might discover that you get a far better result!
Keeping Romance Alive In A Relationship
That men are from Mars and women from Venus is a fact established by studies conducted on romance and relationship. The difference between what a man is and what a woman expects him to be is too vast to bridge.
However, a solid relationship requires acceptance of the partner with all his/her follies. The initial tender thoughts and trust in each other slowly lead to stronger passionate feelings. For romance and relationship to bloom, it is imperative to have self-respect as well as respect for each other. Being true to each other, honesty in every aspect of life and above all, effective communication between the two of you, will lay a strong foundation for your relationship.
The soft romantic feelings blossom into intense emotions and ultimately cross the realm of a mere need for each other to seek a better life together in the future. A commitment leads to greater responsibilities for one’s actions. At the same time, such people lead a happier, healthier and more satisfied life with a partner by the side to share the good times and show support through tough times.
Any relationship will have its fair share of arguments especially if there are two strong-headed persons with opposing views on issues. However, the manner of arguing will determine to a large extent the damage done to the relationship.
Be careful not to be contemptuous of your partner, hold a grudge or withdraw into a shell. Arguments should be healthy with some humour sprinkled to break the tension. Criticizing the action and not the person is seen in better perspective. Even if you do not agree with your partner, acknowledge that he is entitled to his own views and opinions. Most important, don’t break off communication between the two of you.
Romance and relationship can be nurtured with care for each other’s feelings, warm love and trust.
However, a solid relationship requires acceptance of the partner with all his/her follies. The initial tender thoughts and trust in each other slowly lead to stronger passionate feelings. For romance and relationship to bloom, it is imperative to have self-respect as well as respect for each other. Being true to each other, honesty in every aspect of life and above all, effective communication between the two of you, will lay a strong foundation for your relationship.
The soft romantic feelings blossom into intense emotions and ultimately cross the realm of a mere need for each other to seek a better life together in the future. A commitment leads to greater responsibilities for one’s actions. At the same time, such people lead a happier, healthier and more satisfied life with a partner by the side to share the good times and show support through tough times.
Any relationship will have its fair share of arguments especially if there are two strong-headed persons with opposing views on issues. However, the manner of arguing will determine to a large extent the damage done to the relationship.
Be careful not to be contemptuous of your partner, hold a grudge or withdraw into a shell. Arguments should be healthy with some humour sprinkled to break the tension. Criticizing the action and not the person is seen in better perspective. Even if you do not agree with your partner, acknowledge that he is entitled to his own views and opinions. Most important, don’t break off communication between the two of you.
Romance and relationship can be nurtured with care for each other’s feelings, warm love and trust.
Romantic Idea As A Gateway To Bliss
Food and romance:
There is a close bond between food and romance, which is why a candle-lit dinner with a sweetheart is much sought after.
A food related gift is also a good idea.
For the more enterprising ones, a plate engraved with a love message can be used to serve food either at home or you can ask a waiter to do so at a restaurant.
You can wrap a little surprise gift for your partner and keep it in his/her favourite food box.
Surprise your sweetheart with a delicious meal delivered from a restaurant right to her door.
You may even cook up a meal and serve it with roses and love poems to set the mood for romance and finally seal it with a kiss.
So, let your imagination run wild and cook up new ideas to tingle the taste buds and at the same time tug at the heartstrings.
Some of your romantic ideas could focus on celebrating special occasions together in a way so as to give romance a big boost. You may either share an intimate evening together or go out on a romantic date.
The basic tenet of romantic ideas is to strengthen the bond between two people. The love and passion felt for each other must be enhanced through these. That the idea is simple or elaborate is irrelevant because it is feelings and emotions that rule the heart. Pour your heart into the idea that you have thought of, giving adequate attention to the likes and desires of your partner and see your love life flower like a thousand blooms.
There is a close bond between food and romance, which is why a candle-lit dinner with a sweetheart is much sought after.
A food related gift is also a good idea.
For the more enterprising ones, a plate engraved with a love message can be used to serve food either at home or you can ask a waiter to do so at a restaurant.
You can wrap a little surprise gift for your partner and keep it in his/her favourite food box.
Surprise your sweetheart with a delicious meal delivered from a restaurant right to her door.
You may even cook up a meal and serve it with roses and love poems to set the mood for romance and finally seal it with a kiss.
So, let your imagination run wild and cook up new ideas to tingle the taste buds and at the same time tug at the heartstrings.
Some of your romantic ideas could focus on celebrating special occasions together in a way so as to give romance a big boost. You may either share an intimate evening together or go out on a romantic date.
The basic tenet of romantic ideas is to strengthen the bond between two people. The love and passion felt for each other must be enhanced through these. That the idea is simple or elaborate is irrelevant because it is feelings and emotions that rule the heart. Pour your heart into the idea that you have thought of, giving adequate attention to the likes and desires of your partner and see your love life flower like a thousand blooms.
Enhanced Houston Dating
There are a number of ways to enhance your Houston dating experience, and chief among these is to fight your urge to resort to the “dinner and a movie” standby date. Many of us fall into this trap because its simple, relatively affordable, and, best of all, it requires little to no forethought.
But anyone, anywhere, can do that. Singles in Houston have a wide range of entertainment, culture, and other venues to enjoy, so why waste your Houston dating life bogged down in the mundane?
So the first step in enhancing your Houston dating is getting to know your city. Find out when the sporting events are happening, where the historical locations are, or what other local attractions might provide an entertaining evening. There's always something new and unique to experience in Houston.
The next step is the more important one. Finding the right person to share in your Houston dating excursion. With the right person – someone who shares your goals, interests, and level of commitment – the most simple of activities can become memorable and meaningful experiences.
So how do you find that person? There are a number of ways, but lately online dating services have become a major source for finding your “soul mate” or “someone special”. In the early days, online dating was derided as the last resort for the “socially incapable”. But since technology has increased and the concept has gone mainstream, online dating has surpassed many of the traditional venues for singles to meet.
Some sites even offer you a way to get to know your potential matches before you even meet. The infamous personality test. If they're done right, this can be a powerful way to enhance your Houston dating life. What does that mean? It means that a computer can't tell you who to be attracted to, or who to fall in love with. It can, however, give you a perspective on whether or not it would be a good idea. Taking advantage of tools like these can help make your Houston dating more fun, romantic, and memorable.
Consider: how much time have you spent with people that turned out to be a poor match? How many times did it take you more than four or five dates to learn that you weren't as compatible as you originally though? These online personality profiles can help you avoid these mistakes and enhance your dating experience by helping you find the right people.
Just remember: this won't work when the online dating services doesn't give you the freedom to choose. Sites that send matches with the promise like: “This person is good for you. Trust me.” are a lot like overbearing parents who want to make sure you date the kind of person they like, which might be completely outside of your own preferences.
Once you've found the right people, and the best activities, you're ready to get on and experience Houston and all that it has to offer. Houston singles have an incredible array of possibilities to choose from, and with a little bit of forethought, planning, and research, you're time spent with other singles can be made into something specia
But anyone, anywhere, can do that. Singles in Houston have a wide range of entertainment, culture, and other venues to enjoy, so why waste your Houston dating life bogged down in the mundane?
So the first step in enhancing your Houston dating is getting to know your city. Find out when the sporting events are happening, where the historical locations are, or what other local attractions might provide an entertaining evening. There's always something new and unique to experience in Houston.
The next step is the more important one. Finding the right person to share in your Houston dating excursion. With the right person – someone who shares your goals, interests, and level of commitment – the most simple of activities can become memorable and meaningful experiences.
So how do you find that person? There are a number of ways, but lately online dating services have become a major source for finding your “soul mate” or “someone special”. In the early days, online dating was derided as the last resort for the “socially incapable”. But since technology has increased and the concept has gone mainstream, online dating has surpassed many of the traditional venues for singles to meet.
Some sites even offer you a way to get to know your potential matches before you even meet. The infamous personality test. If they're done right, this can be a powerful way to enhance your Houston dating life. What does that mean? It means that a computer can't tell you who to be attracted to, or who to fall in love with. It can, however, give you a perspective on whether or not it would be a good idea. Taking advantage of tools like these can help make your Houston dating more fun, romantic, and memorable.
Consider: how much time have you spent with people that turned out to be a poor match? How many times did it take you more than four or five dates to learn that you weren't as compatible as you originally though? These online personality profiles can help you avoid these mistakes and enhance your dating experience by helping you find the right people.
Just remember: this won't work when the online dating services doesn't give you the freedom to choose. Sites that send matches with the promise like: “This person is good for you. Trust me.” are a lot like overbearing parents who want to make sure you date the kind of person they like, which might be completely outside of your own preferences.
Once you've found the right people, and the best activities, you're ready to get on and experience Houston and all that it has to offer. Houston singles have an incredible array of possibilities to choose from, and with a little bit of forethought, planning, and research, you're time spent with other singles can be made into something specia
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