Lori Alexandersaid…
I have been mentoring women for over 8 years. Every time I start with them all they do is tell me how terrible their husband is and what he has done wrong. my greatest task is to get them to admit to their part in the destruction of their marriage, repent, start loving their husbands as God commands them to and every single time they have done this, their marriages have been healed. may I use several of the paragraphs of this post on my blog? just email me at laalex2@aol.com if it is alright. Thank you, Lori
10:49 AM
Anonymoussaid…
As my journey teaches me more and more every day, I'm almost concluded that the Church of Jesus Christ can't survive well in a prosperous nation. Of course, only He know, because it is His Church. but christians do eventually weaken, water down, because the temptations of a wealthy, hedonistic society tampers us down. It's true that it's hard for a rich man to enter heaven. All the garbage that goes with exceptionalism, wealthy, security, materialism, success, ambition, idolatry of those who succeed, blinds us every day, every hour. we are bombarded on all sides by stories of excess, entertainment, travel to exotic places, retirees who should place their nest eggs in investments, etc. Everything we hear and see on tv is about clawing and clawing for more, more. And when it's payday next week, and we've no more grocery money til then, our hearts get heavy and we feel victimized. we want God to fix it for us, like He fixes it for the "others" that we hear about. we ask, how come we never get 'blessed' like all the others. This attitude turns us into unthankful, entitled, depressed, anxious, desperate christians who want their fair share. I've fought this attitude and can say that if I could live a very modest life, being content to pick oranges for $4/hour on a tropical island and live in a small apartment with my extended family, that it would be much BETTER for my soul. the truth is, we are trapped by the trappings of the West and it's very hard to break free from those things. I just pray that we all find contentment, and moderation, and not be influenced by the world around us, so we can be worthy to share the good fruit and gifts of the Spirit.
Amen Anonymous, I have felt the same things. I began by turning off the voices of the world so I can hear the voice of the Lord. Actually, I felt in the Spirit He was telling me to stop listening to those voices and fast from them for a while. I cancelled cable, stopped listening to talk radio. while I do watch some programming these days, it's much less and I am more focused on non-entertainment things with Christ first. great Post Rick, thanks for sharing what's on your heart. God Bless all!
1:50 PM Anonymoussaid…
Your observations are accurate and alarming. I myself have fallen far from the consecrated, intercessory, witnessing, separated lifestyle I lived by the Holy Spirit for years after conversion. A little compromise on a conviction leads to more and more, and a dulling of the conscience, and to a cold heart. after feeding the flesh for years, it is hard to crucify it with its many screaming wants and indulgences. It is hard when you cannot find others to help keep you in that lifestyle, and accountable, though i know that is not an excuse. please pray for us, I sincerely ask, as I need to, "remember from whence you have fallen, and go back and do the things you did at the first." by grace, through faith, to overcome sin and the carnal nature in the Holy Spirit–yes! Thank you Brother and Pastor.Victoria
8:51 AM Anonymoussaid…
The strong delusion has been sent. And it may be spread to the rest of the world. This delusion is, I believe, not even a secret delusion anymore. It's exposed for all to see, and many christians don't want to see it. This delusion stems from 'trusting' men too much. we, as christians, have always given the benefit of the doubt to leaders who claim they are christian. but, today, corruption, greed, and wolves in sheep's clothing are everywhere. we can't be asleep and believe their 'talk' without looking for the 'walk' and fruit of the Spirit. the fruit of the Spirit is not on display at all by our role models. And idols; America loves it's idols. God can't work where idols are in the way. There are many 'church' idols, political idols, and pundit idols. There are news channel 'idols', entertainment idols, reality tv idols, sports, patriotic, gun-loving, evangelist, christian family advocacy idols, statesmen idols and with so much flesh in the way, how can the Lord be lifted up? Women's conventions idealize other women. they pay thousands of dollars to have any idol, musician idols and guest idols walk their halls for pay. in fact, all these above idols all get paid extravagantly for their public deeds shown to all men. the secret deeds of the humble always go unnoticed. the U.S. glorifies strength, health, survival of the fittest, beauty, splendor, monetary success. And the church goes along with it. another thing that quenches the Spirit of God is vanity. Kids today are tormented by their appearance. they are set up by parents to get their teeth straightened, more and more are being given plastic surgery gift certificates for their 18th birthdays. they are given the green light and told it's acceptable to be obsessed with looks. I notice how many self-proclaimed christian men and women who are in the spotlight all look absolutely beautiful on the outside. they won't reveal their secrets about cosmetic surgeries, but they pride themselves that they are disciplined with their outside temple, giving advice on how to stay trim, youthful, energetic. these are the idols, the golden calfs that get in the way in the US and the west. Beauty and sexuality are a priority to many christians nowadays. these same love to criticize the unbelieving politicians on their objectives in helping the poor and middle class. Yet, they, as self-proclaimed christians, sit high, lifted up, rich, and have need of nothing pointing the finger and slandering. Can't others see this? is this what Jesus would do? He died for all men, unbelievers and those who trust in mammon, so it should be a christian's heart to love and pray for these that they come to know Christ. How can they WANT to know Christ if they are being knocked down and called names? And we lift these banners up, high, proudly, with patriotic symbols. these same proudly wear chains with crosses, but rarely do we see any mention of the cross and repentence. And, I need to seek repentence as well. Pride and arrogance, vanity that is in the world has taken over many in the church. There was a subtle reversal that's happened the last few decades and we never even noticed it, like the frogs in boiling water. This is an hour where man cannot be trusted anymore. No man, especially those who claim they are of Christ. I think this is a day to beware of christians publicly speaking things, rather it's a day and hour that the 'acting the good fruit' in private is what will draw men to Jesus. Thank you for letting me write down what's been on my mind these days. I have to keep myself from idols too. may the Lord keep us and preserve us in these deceptive times.
12:18 PMRick Fruehsaid…This comment has been removed by the author.1:56 PMRick Fruehsaid…
Since adolatry and didivded allegiances are prevelant, the conscious "moral" church continuse to submit that moral deviations are wholesale within our community.Do we continue to shoot at our enemies?Oh well,, stay on this page.
3:46 PM korriesaid…
I have enjoyed this post and all the comments.Anonymous number one said it for me. we have grown into a land of entitlements…from the richest to the poorest there are things folk just feel they have a 'right' to.we don't have time to be alone with our Lord so He can talk to us, we just hurriedly tell him what we want and need then we are off to whatever is next. That island picking oranges would no doubt be good for us all.