Inmates and Intimates (Does That Bother You? IV)

Isn't it funny how one or two letters can make such a huge difference? Abortion, Capital Punishment, Taxes, the economy... how about education!? Religiously not everyone is on the same page. Nowhere is everyone on the same page completely, or at least not in the same book. Some have books, others have blood given covenants. So morally can't we find that common ground? Men and women argue everyday about what needs to happen, rather that make it happen. Did you watch the GOP Presidential debates last week? Did you observe or think about President Obama's hitting the campaign trail, to try and bid for his second term? You say you support the death penalty, one group of friends labels you as a diehard conservative. You say you somewhat support it, and they call you a hypocrite. If you do not support it, you are a yuppie scum liberal, and if you are uncertain, do not totally support it, then again you are a hypocrite!

The imperfect Christian passed a fellow cyclist on the road side and thought about Jesus' parable of the "Good" Samaritan. The imperfect one turned and went back to check on him, and you know, he didn't ask the imperfect one what had taken him so long! Amazing huh? In my grandparents generation, and generations before, society "learned" to be patient. Patience was a discipline, that served us well. Then along came my mothers generation, and we learned to pressure patience, and wanted an answer, or delivery in just a few minutes. Well good people, we now live in the iGeneration, and no longer the Microwave, or Last of the Good-ones Society! So cheer on your favorite liar, and blame anyone you can except for self, in what's wrong with our society today. Abortion, Capital Punishment, the economy, and taxes would not be an issue, nor would education if we followed two rules...
Not my two rules, but Jesus':
1. "Love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,"
2. "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Luke 10:25-37 

And behold, a certain lawyer (an expert in the law) stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
He (Jesus) said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
And He (Jesus) said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live (eternally).”
But he (the expert in the law), wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal (most likely a donkey), brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii (enough loot to foot the bill in most cases, he was not worried about having to come back and give more, he had my man covered!), gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend (any extra expense the man costs), when I come again, I will repay (reimburse) you.’
So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”
And he (the expert in the law) said, “He who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” 

Prevention is better than cure! If we loved one another and taught love instead of hate, we would not have to worry about prisons, and rest homes! Here's a nicety little scenario for ya:

Place the elderly in prisons. They will get a shower a day video surveillance in case of problems, three meals a day, access to a library, computer, TV, gym ... Put criminals in nursing homes. They have cold meals lights off at 8pm, one bath a week, live in a smaller room and pay 4,000 a month !!!!! It's Pretty damn sad that we treat prisoners better than the elderly!!!!

Where are the real Christians!? All that say lord, lord, are not saved, but those that know the Lord, are. Some politicians say that they are Christians. Some people you meet everyday say they are Christians, but when they are after something for themselves, they will show you the devil. So again my Christian brothers and sisters, have you treated one another and nonbelievers as well as yourself? Where are you Christians?

Signing off, the imperfect Christian.

Peace, Blessings, and Joy... that real PB&J

Work It Out!

All eyes on seem to be on Brett Favre in the sports world this week. Packer fans hate him for now... wait until some Packer or Favre tragedy takes place, and most will forget about the happenings of 2008 & 2009...I did say most.

Those that hate the Packers are either ecstatic about his last two seasons, and if the Packers are a bust again this season with Aaron Rogers at the helm then the haters again will have reason to talk and smile among themselves.

The loyal Favre fans, cheer him on wherever he goes, and just wish for one more glorious season and a happy ending for a somewhat brilliant career. My take on this: If he can play I ain't mad at him! Let the Wilf Bros. call me and say, "Hey old man, we hear you still have decent hands, and your speed is not great, but on the other hand your routes are not bad, and you're not slow by any means, just not as fast as you once were, so how about a one year, one point six?"

My reply is: "I need sometime to pray about this Mister's Wilf, OK done God said to ask you where I sign, He already knows but I do not, so where do I sign? and thank you."

I am a Raiders fan, I bleed an imperfect Christian Black and Platinum when I am football cut, but let KC, Denver, San Diego, and all out of conference rivals call me with a contract...chi-ching I'm in! So we can say what we want, and I am certain Mr. Favre listens to some of us, but he has his own decision to make. Speaking on decisions, what if he listened to the media? What would happen? What if we as Christians listened to the media? Well I for one being the imperfect Christian would tell you that the nauseating roller coaster ride would have had more ups and downs than Rush Limbaughs gums... a whole lot of movement and nothing good coming out!

"You are only human," so many say. Matthew 26:41 Jesus said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Therefore, the imperfect reminds himself that he is a three part being, spirit, mind, and body. Yes, I occupy a fleshy temple, and the flesh is weak, but the spirit is willing indeed. I just need to keep focused on a cohesiveness with His spirit, to maintain my spirit's willingness. I can't depend on anyone but Him. No need to run to the neighbor, the priest, or my rabbi, He (Christ) is right there/here.

So getting my spirit right is key. How do I learn about getting my spirit right? Through the Holy Spirit, and through His Word. So who do we read our bibles for? The Word says, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;" (Philippians 2:12) Well Eastside Work It Out, Southside Work It Out, Northside Work It Out, Leftside Work It Out!!! OK to much hip-hop and caffeine!

Some of us (our perfect Christian brothers and sisters) have nothing better to do than to try and work out everybody else's salvation, when we need to be concerned with our own!

Back to football... does it really matter that Favre plays or not? To some a great deal, but who does Brett focus on? Hopefully, God, his wife, and his children! The media haters and everyone else makes little or no difference. He feels that he has some game left. The flesh and some of the Packers staff convinced him that his flesh was not able to play anymore, but his spirit being willing said, "Brett ol' boy (in a Southern drawl that's not as thick as it once was) I think you stil have a few in the tank!" He led the very quiet NY Jets to a somewhat decent season, wasn't stellar, but they weren't the Lions! Sorry Motor City Kitty fans. Then there is Plaxico "You're under-arrest" Burress! Got to give props and thank Heather Marie, for this: He should have shot someone besides himself, it would have been less painful, and he would have probably got less time! The NFL = Lots of $, plenty of fame, and fortune, but "Not For Long." OK enough with the NFL...

The imperfect one asks, do we preach the gospel or the gossip? Do we spread the good news, Christ can save you from sin, or spread the sin news you will not change and you're going to hell? Now bad talking Brett Favre is not going to send you to hell, if it would I would have been struck by lightning every time Sunny and the aunt talked football!

Well every individual is different, as I have said before and will say it again, "in every body there is a different person." The bible is not a legal weapon to be used like a crooked lawyer or a Pharisee would use, it is a love letter, and a guide in the form of the Holy Spirit shows us how to avoid sin in our own lives and pray for others, not condemn others, that is not our place. Nor is it a place that God wants to be in either. If we believe, we are saved. If we do not believe we condemned ourselves according to the Word. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved... John 3:17 We know 16, but how many remember 17?

The Bible is so much better when we read it in love, read all of it, and read it all with His divine guidance!

Peace, Blessings, & Joy...