Is Pride the Number One Sin?

"You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty." ~ Psa. 18:27(NIV)

I didn't want to state the title as a matter of fact; but from a personal Bible study on the matter, I'm beginning to see that pride is the nucleus of all other sins. That's a no-brainer for things such as vanity and greed, but I believe it leads to other transgressions as well. The reason I say that it's perhaps the number one sin is because it throws up a brick wall and won't let God in at all. Pride is a very anti-God mindset. It says that we are our own god and can do no wrong. You simply cannot have a relationship with God with your pride acting as bouncer at the entrance of your heart. It makes it impossible to be humble enough to acknowledge wrongdoing, so it's also a hindrance to repentance because you must die to self before you can live for Christ.

This pride I'm speaking of is not in the spirit of you're being proud of your family's or your own accomplishments. We can be "happy" in that sense without being too full of ourselves. Of course you are proud of your families or your own accomplishments. It's when people come to think of themselves as invincible that they're treading on thin ice with God. That's dangerous pride. That takes you back to the little "g" god thing. We can become idolatrous to the person in the mirror. I think about the rich farmer. He was very self-satisfied and didn't give God the glory for his bumper crop (Luk. 12: 16-21). In every sentence of the parable where the man is speaking he's saying, "I" or "my." However, in verse 20 God speaks and he says, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" Verse 21 follows with, "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself and is not rich toward God." Likewise, in Acts 12: 23, King Herod failed to give God the praise when he delivered a successful speech and he fell dead and was eaten by worms. You might say he was rotten from the inside out. That's what pride does. It's spiritual cancer.

Pride keeps a record of checks and balances. The more pride one has, the more he or she detests it in others. It is very competitive with everyone else's pride and it is insatiable as well. It derives no pleasure from acquiring or having nice things or having done well at something. It wants to do more and better than the next person. It's not enough to be smart, wealthy, pretty, or good-looking. You've got to be more of all those things than the next person. In that respect, pride should be too frustrating to maintain. Pride is a power thing--to feel superior to others. It creates a feeling of hostility or animosity not just between people, but between man and God as well. Think about it. If one is always looking down their nose at others, they cannot cast their eyes up towards Him.

There is only one place in the Bible where pride is mentioned in a positive manner. In Galatians 6: 4 it says, "Each should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to someone else, for each should carry his own load." That is about pride in a job well done.

Love Ya,
God Bless!

A Moral Absolute Standard

I marvel at all the scrapping that goes on between politicians and everyday people with different ideaologies. Those of us who are conservatives feel we have something to conserve, such as assets we've worked all our lives to attain and are generally capitalists (we enjoy the rewards of our labor). We also hold to standards of behavior that we deem morally acceptable. Liberals believe "You're okay, I'm okay, and it doesn't matter what you do because there are no moral absolutes." At least that's the basic premise they claim to believe. However, they prove their own disbelief in this premise, as I will illustrate in the third paragraph. Also, liberals believe that those who have worked and sacrificed to provide for themselves and their families should keep up those who won't work, and how dare you suggest it.

Keep up. Here's where matters get switched. Conservatives are significantly more benevolent towards the needy than liberals are. The whole time, liberals are screaming at us and call us capitalist pigs. Conservatives believe in small government--let us do for ourselves with our own means and don't tax us to death. However, liberals believe in big government--that you should tax everyone who earns a paycheck for more complex and expensive programs to benefit those too lazy to work. Don't get me wrong, I'm for helping those who are down on their luck for a short span, but I don't believe living on the public dole should be a lifestyle.

Now, remember where I said that liberals claim to believe in no moral absolutes? They're not being truthful. Turn on your TV, if you can stomach it, and watch any news program where they're having debating sides. The liberal on that panel will argue that his opposition is being "unfair." Excuse me? Fairness based on what exactly? If there are no moral absolutes then there is no such thing as fairness either. They have shot their own premise in the foot whether they realize it or not.

Truth be told, all basic human decency is based on God-given moral principles that even the so-called non-believers claim don't exist. Yeah, I know it sounds mean, but the next time you get someone arguing in favor of the liberal topic du jour of the day, apply this to them when they screech about fairness. Ask them, "You say there are no moral absolutes. So what do you basis your idea of fairness on?" You're sure to get either a deer-in-the-headlights look or a sputtering, spitting, confused rage from them. Then smile and say, "Have a nice day."

I know I haven't laden this post with scriptural references, but there really wouldn't be room for them anyway. This is just a point to ponder.

Love Ya,
God Bless!

Father's Day (Sigh...)

I'm not a very good daughter. I love Daddy but don't go see him nearly enough. I have no idea what to do with him. The older I get, the more like him I become, which is sometimes amusing and sometimes alarming. He's compassionate and a roughneck. So am I. He's outspoken. So am I. We just kind of sit around and act awkward together. There's nothing I can get him that he doesn't already have or that he actually wants. Our schedules almost never jive and that makes even getting together a feat in and of itself. Friday and Saturday he'll stay out in the field until bedtime. Maybe I can catch him Sunday. I think he knows I love him in my own weird way. He feels weird about me too, I'm sure.

Those of you who can, go hug your daddies. If it feels weird, do it anyway.

Love ya,
God Bless!

Answered Prayers and Counted Blessings

Several years ago, over five to be exact, I had a falling out with my sister-in-law, Carol. It was surreal because we had such a great rapport and had spent so many fun years together. This just seemed to boil up like a sleeping volcano. It broke my heart. We were both hurting said things to each other we shouldn't have in anger, and it seemed as if that relationship was gone forever. I asked her forgiveness, but exactly for what, I don't know. I just wanted to establish familial peace. She was not ready and she didn't feel like making nice with me. She said, "Things will never be as they were before." Kevin and I lost lots of sleep over it. We love her. We didn't like this. We also didn't want Mom and Dad to suffer. Truth is, we all suffered awkwardly through family events for a few years. There was a minimum of contact between us during those years. But prayers too numerous to mention went up. Kevin and I met with an elder and his wife at the Pleasant Hill congregation where we used to attend. We respected this couple and they had reared a large family. They could relate inasmuch as they had had something similar happen among their children. They said to us, "You've done all you can do. The ball's in her court. You've just got to have faith and keep on praying about it. We did for a few more years. Then, one night just before the Christmas holiday 2006, I was getting ready to attend a family event by myself. Kevin had to work and couldn't get loose. I had begged and pleaded with God to have the Holy Spirit work on her heart and mine; that all I ever really wanted for Christmas was a peaceful reunion with her. It had been a harrowing year for other family members. Kevin's cousin, Tracy, had successfully battled breast cancer, and that really hit home with me and I'm sure it did Carol too because we're not that far apart in years. It was just so wonderful to know that that prayer had been answered and she was in full remission. We all hugged each other. There was closeness where before their had been a hint of animosity. I asked Carol about their new house they had just moved in the week prior. Some of the old, comfortable familiarity was there. A spark of kindness was there. I was so relieved at the night's outcome, that I cried happy tears when I got home. I slept with a peace that had eluded me for years. God gave me the gift I most coveted. He gave me my Carol Ann back.

This past Christmas, I got another prayer answered. My Aunt Marie (Aunt Ree to me) was having severe complications due to a benign brain tumor. She lost her cognitive and motor skill abilities and was going down hill fast. She required emergency double brain surgery the day before we had planned my grandmother's surprise 90th birthday party. The whole family was panic-stricken. Aunt Ree had her surgery November 2nd. My mother had died May 4 seven years earlier. Grandma was a basketcase. We didn't find out the outcome of Aunt Ree's surgery until the day before the party. God gave our family two reasons to celebrate. My aunt's life was spared and her chances for full recovery were great, and Grandma was so excited and thrilled to see her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her brothers, nieces and nephews! It was a day to rejoice! I told Aunt Ree this past Christmas that she was the finest Christmas present I could have ever received. Santa doesn't bring my gifts. God does, and His gifts whip Santa Clause's goodies to the curb!

Some blessings are robed in crisis. Kevin losing his job from Tower was a difficult readjustment period for our marriage. There were times when I lost patience with him; but yet there were other times that I had a chance to re-acquaint myself with him that we wouldn't have had if our world hadn't stopped spinning. I have learned to love and appreciate him on a whole new level. It tested my ability to move within my God-given role as wife and treat him as I should despite my anxiety over our situation at that time. I learned that he's in this marriage for the long haul too; that he's devoted to me. I realize that that level of love makes me the richest woman in the world. He doesn't know that I put my hand in the middle of his back at night and pray over him. I ask God to strengthen our bond, and He's been faithful to do that.

What are some of your answered prayers, blessings, etc.? I'd love to hear them.

Love Ya,
God Bless!

WYSIWYG - What You See Is What You Get

I remember the term WYSIWYG ("wizzy-wig") from my (ancient) computer class days. What you see is what you get. When I remember that old terminology, I think you should always be deep down what you are on the surface of what people are getting. If they don't like what they see, at least you're not misrepresenting. I think WYSIWYG is a good description of what character should be. It's been said by someone I can't recall that, "Reputation is who people think you are. Character is who you are when no one else is looking." I would only change it to say, "when no one else but God is looking."

I would never cop to being perfect, but I'll say that I'm always consistently exactly who I am 24/7. I have to be unapologetically who I am because I don't know any other way to be. I grew up pretty much alone so I never had to conform to societal pressures like some of my peers. I always did my own thing and I still do.

Character building begins in the heart. Proverbs 23: 7 talks about misrepresentation. It says, "for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you." It guides our actions. As Christians, our character should be shaped into the likeness of Christ because he came to earth to serve as our example. A few years back, young people were wearing the "WWJD" - what-would-Jesus-do bands around their wrists. Some people scorned them, I suppose, because they considered them irreverent. I didn't. I thought they were a great way to ping the conscience and remind folks of Christ's character and how they should imitate him.

Yes, we're all mere mortals and we sin; but we can pick ourselves right back up and carry on in a corrected path. We can make character adustments, as it were. We never achieve sinless perfection; but we can still CHOOSE to conduct ourselves in a right manner, even though we've failed in performance in the past. Apostle Paul owned his shortcomings, but he didn't let himself get bogged down with his past once he repented of it. He sought to advance in a more positive direction (Phil 3: 12-14).

I've had to make character adjustments through the years. While I've always been consistently who I really am, I've had to realign myself with Christ's teachings. I think of that old John Anderson song where he sings, "I'm just an old chunk of coal, but I'll be a diamond someday." Sermons and people stepped on my toes to get me to move, but as the old saying goes, "The hit dog is the one that yelps." I'm glad they made me yelp.

Love Ya,
God Bless!

A Conversation with my Father-in-Law

Summer will soon be upon us. Church attendance is usually down this time of year due to families vacationing, but mostly, due to young people playing travel ball. I must confess, I hate, hate, hate travel ball just because of that reason. (Okay, that's not totally true. I hate baseball, period, because I think it's a boring game.) While I believe it's good for young people to be involved in athletics, I don't think it should supercede the weekly worship services of the church. I wish I could say that I know they're attending elsewhere during these times away, but I know that would be a false assumption because I see how they've turned away from the church during the rest of the year.

I had this conversation with my father-in-law yesterday. He used to be an elder in our congregation. He felt my pain, as it were. He admitted that one of the reasons he resigned from the eldership was that he got depressed from peoples' apathy in regard to their spiritual lives. In essence, he said that you can't make someone care. He's right, of course. You just do the best you can to provide services and programs for the perceived need. If they choose not to participate it won't be because you didn't strive to accommodate them.

I take no pleasure in watching people run their lives off the rails, but you can only do so much in the way of personal evangelism in trying to restore them before they become irritated with you. It really is a very fine line that you have to walk. You can't afford to misstep or misspeak or it just pushes them further, and sometimes permanently, away. I expect to be villified because I do care and I'm willing to take the heat. I can't stand the thought of people being eternally lost. Faithful friends are the only people you can take to Heaven with you--not the McMansion, not the trappings of success, etc. If I don't try to restore people, their blood is on my hands and I will have to answer to God for my own passivity. Christ and his apostles couldn't stand to see people lost either and they paid with their lives, so any wrath I incur should be of little consequence.

Love Ya,
God Bless!

Time for a Bath!

Ever since babyhood, according to my late mother, I've loved my bath. I just enjoyed a nice, hot soak not a half hour ago. There's nothing like scrubbing the nastiness accumulated during the day from your body to reveal soft, seemingly new skin. I then coddle that freshly cleaned skin with lotions to try to extend the luxuriousness of the feeling. As I was bathing, I was thinking of the account of Naaman in the Bible (2 Kings 5). He was a man of great status, but he was unclean due to his leprous condition. He really wanted to be clean, but he first rebelled against Elisha's instructions go to dip seven times in the Jordan River. Surely that was too simple a solution. He was expecting a great show of pomp and circumstance, and anyway, the Jordan was such a muddy old river. He was complicating the answer Elisha, the man of God, gave him. He finally got over his hard-headedness and did what he was bidden and his skin was restored good as new!

"Clean" is such an exhilirating feeling. We can be squeaky clean on our exterior, but are our souls--our hearts and minds--clean as well? It's a simple matter, really, cleaning the soul of sin. All we have to do is ask God for it. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their outward appearance of cleanliness, because inside they were full of greed and self-indulgence (Mt. 23:25). Do you know someone who fits that description? Hopefully it's not yourself. Like I said though, you can do something about it. Those who receive His word are clean (Jno. 15:3). Only those who betray or reject Christ are unclean (Jno. 13: 10-11).

I can understand knee-jerk mistakes, normal human shortcomings, etc.; but what I cannot understand are people who seem to take pleasure in flagrantly disobeying God and neglecting their service to Him. Truly, some people do get pulled back into he filthiness of the world. God doesn't leave them. They leave Him. Nothing's scarier to me because 2 Peter 2: 19-22 says that their end is worse than their beginning; that to turn your back on your salvation puts you in a worse position than you were as an ignorant, yet unsaved person. There will be degrees of punishment for sinfulness (Mt. 13: 11-14); but those who were once saved will pay a greater price than those who never knew Him (Mt. 25: 16-28). At the very end in verse 22 it gives the disgusting description of a dog turning to consume it's own vomit and a pig back to wallowing in the mud. Ewwww!

The Bible says such people who fall away are like the seed that fell on the rock. They initially received it joyfully, but it took no root (Luk. 8:13). Hebrews 6:6 warns us against "crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." (NIV)

If you haven't had your bath yet tonight, think on these things during that personal quiet time. Bring any need for personal correction to God in prayer in the privacy of the closet of your heart.

Love Ya (It's good to be back!),
God Bless!