Flirting or Friendship? 

If you have a friend of the opposite sex that you are close too, here are some ways to know it has progressed into a budding affair. 

The friendship starts to influence each individual's mood. When they receive a digital, visual, written, or verbal exchange, they will have a mood-altering reaction. That reaction creates a rise in interest, distracts from pressing needs, lifts the spirit, and brightens their day. In other words, they feel better, lighter, and happier. Pressures disappear, discouragement vanishes, stress is gone. 

This is the "bright spot" in the midst of the mundane, the "sweet spot" where everything comes together. The individuals involved will actually start to think about this relationship when they need a boost, feel overwhelmed, or are just plain down. It becomes a highly addictive medication of choice that is easily available and doesn't create guilt (yet!).

This paragraph is from Dave Carder's book, "Anatomy Of An Affair" one of the best books I've read on how and why affairs, attractions, addictions happen, and how they make the offended spouse feel; and how long it takes to get over being betrayed, and what behaviors to expect.   

  

  "The true teachings of Christianity, I believe, is that just in proportion as a person rises in the scale of intelligence and virtue, he becomes knit by tenderer sympathy with inferior orders of beings. In truth, he rises above the idea of different orders. 

He regards all beings, who possess thought, conscience, and the power of knowing God, as his Brethren. He respects them as essentially his Equals, in consequence of their capacity of indefinite improvement. He recognizes his own nature in the lowest human creature; and is most eager and concerned to raise the most fallen. 

Yes! My belief is, that the beings who sympathize most with human infirmity and sorrow, and who feel most deeply for human guilt, are the beings who understand most. That's when I learn to know and feel the Mind of Jesus. It is when I see Christ associating with the ignorant and lowly, and conforming Himself to their lot, that He might more effectually bring great truths within the reach of their intelligence, and might enrich them with new virtues and hopes. 

  To this comprehension of the Mind and Character of Jesus Christ, I attach infinite importance. To me, it is the greatest good received from Him. 

In so saying, I know that I differ from many Christians, who rejoice in Christ's birth chiefly because He came, as they think, to purchase by His sufferings, the pardon of their sins. I rejoice in His birth, chiefly because He came to reveal, by His suffering, His Celestial Love -- to lay open to us His Soul, and thus to regenerate the human soul. To regenerate and exalt human souls was Christ's ultimate end. And by what means could He more effectually have ministered to this end, than by manifesting, as He did, His own excellence, unselfishness, and Divine Love?

This seems to me more and more to be the great good which we derive from the birth of Jesus. His inmost Spirit was thus laid open to us. Nothing has wrought so powerfully on the human soul, as the Mind and Character of Jesus Christ. 

  You see then, why I delight in the human and the humble birth of Jesus. It lays open to me His Character, His Mind, His Spirit, His Divine goodness. 

Others are more interested in studying Christianity under different aspects. Not a few attach supreme importance to understanding the times and the seasons, interpreting the essence of repentance, or what Rank Jesus holds in the universe. Such inquiries it is in no way my wish to discourage; for all truth his its value. But for myself I ask to comprehend the CHARACTER of Jesus. I ask to approach His pure Spirit, to learn His thoughts, feelings, emotions, principles and purposes. I ask to comprehend more and more of that Love, which was so calm, yet so intense, within His heart. 

These are the mysteries I am most anxious to explore. To understand all theology, I should esteem a privilege, yet I may know this, and be no better and happier for the truth. But to discern the beauty, loveliness, harmony, and grandeur of His Mind, this is a knowledge which cannot but exert a creative and purifying power on every one who can attain to it." 

William Ellery Channing.   

 

Foundational Truth

I began reading in Proverbs and came across this verse 

“One who gets “heart” loves his own soul;

One who keeps understanding will find good.”  Pr. 19:8

In the text it said the word heart is the literal translation of “wisdom” which they used. I looked for some other scriptures that used the word “heart” and came to 2 Kings 10:30

“Yet the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in performing what is right in My eyes, and have done everything that was in My Heart, your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”

It struck me that Jehu had done “well according to everything that was in God’s heart.” How rare it is to hear that message.

 Our goal is to learn and seek “everything that is right in God’s eyes and in God’s heart.” How does one reduce that down? How can it be summarized? I ran across this quote years ago and I think it describes the answer as well as can be. --  

“The principle of God’s Universal love, which is embraced in true Christianity, 

and is indeed its Essence, 

inspires the mind to the most enlarged thinking, 

and at the same time makes knowledge active and practical, thus converting it into Wisdom, by directing it to the promotion of the highest good in the service of mankind.”

If my love for all mankind is not growing and expanding,

I have been distracted from the heart of God. 

“Go into ALL nations..”   

 

 

   Why is it we don't resist those who exhort us to seek personal purity, which is beyond our power; but we do resist those who exhort us to earnestly seek to do good works, which are within our power?

Seeking to be pure and seeking to do good works are both equally important. They both require God's power and anointing, they both take vision and dedication and desire, but they aren't both considered the same by many Evangelicals.   

I think the Grace message has been emphasized so strongly that many think Good Works are incidental. The verse below shows the expectations Paul had for the believers to press ahead in faith and "Their every desire for goodness, and every Deed prompted by faith. 

"...We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, 

and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith." 2 Thess. 1:11

 

  I love this photo! Not because I promote militant feminism, but because in my counsel to women, and men, that are survivors of domestic violence, many find themselves trapped because they weren't raised to be independent and self-sufficient. 

No one should be caught in circumstances that are abusive with no resources, faith or inner belief that they can change it. 

Good parenting demands we rear our children in an environment where they are cherished, respected, and equipped to face life's strongest gales. 

Strengthening the child inwardly, as well as outwardly, is the utmost of importance. 

Far easier to teach them to do a mechanical task than to teach them to believe they deserve to be appreciated, honored, loved and valued. 

Prevention, of course, is of prime importance, carefully evaluating anyone they have a romantic interest in. But even the "best laid plans of mice and men" can fail, and if they do, they must believe they can and will find solutions.  

  I was reading G. Campbell Morgan this morning about the "Unjust servant, the "Ten Virgins," and "The Talents."

After a lengthy commentary he summarized with this --- 

  "It is important that we keep these three parables in connection with each other. They reveal the threefold responsibility of the Church.

  First, communal responsibility, right behavior among its members, the ending of all malice and unkindness; - to use the figure - beating one another. 

Then the personal responsibility, that we have far more than a name, far more than a torch, far more than a wick which can be dim, if it has become encrusted. We must have oil that keeps the light burning. 

Finally, imperial responsibility, our responsibility for the goods of the Lord, for the enterprises of Christ in the world. 

In each case the responsibility is defined by our relationship with Him. True to Him, the household is always at peace. Waiting for Him, the lamps are always burning. Working for Him, the Kingdom is hastened, and the glory is brought to His name. 

 

 

Whether we work with our next door neighbor, 

or in inner city missions, with survivors of abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence, 

or with those in recovery from substance abuse or pornography, or just the tyranny of circumstances that can overwhelm us; 

loving people "cheek to jowl" will cause our hearts to bleed, struggle and suffer. Be that as it may, our hearts also leap for joy over every victory, every step and movement forward! 

Spiritual battles anointed with Christ's love and grace, 

take us where we tread on snakes and scorpions, and battle to crush the jaws of wickedness, and it ain't always easy. 

Though always rewarding. Praise Him!

 We live in a world where darkness has almost extinguished the light,

so I share this email to motivate others, and so I don't forget her, and to recognize the urgency of the times in which we live,

and truly try and live like Jesus did, He is the only answer.

Here's her story -- 

"I've never really had a mom. Since I was born, my mom has basically always been addicted to hard drugs.

When I was little I always thought she was such a good person, and so funny and spontaneous.

As I grew up I realized that she would ditch out for months at a time,

come back married,

or with a shaved head,

or get her whole body tattooed in a two day span,

or I would sit in the dark for days with her while she was going through withdrawals and would just be getting sick and shaking and crying, or I would find her thinking she was dead because of withdrawals.

I was constantly being around druggies,

and her friends stealing my stuff,

or she would be in jail.

The more time went on, she brought a lot of abusive men around and chose drugs and men over me, and my siblings.

And then my siblings got adopted by other family members,

while I stayed with my dad mostly,

but also off and on with my mom,

watching her struggle with addiction and taking a lot of it out on me.

When I was younger I felt numb to it.

It felt normal.

I genuinely didn't think it affected me.

Now that I'm older and have kids of my own, I see other women who have their moms to lean on, or be their best fried; and it honestly breaks my heart.

My mom is so far gone; she is not normal even she she isn't on drugs.

She is a thief,

a pathological liar,

and mentally slow.

I don't ever like being around her. I feel like I'm grieving somebody who died."