But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Luke 6:35-36).
How is God kind to ungrateful and evil men? They enjoy the benefits of the sunshine and the rain. They enjoy talents, abilities, good looks, and the privileges that seem to go with them. God allows them to take another breath even though they use all they have in unGodly ways. Most important, God shows his love for the ungrateful and evil by becoming flesh, dying on the cross for our sins and conquering the grave in his resurrection.
What makes the righteous different from the evil? Perhaps not much except they are thankful for God's blessings and sacrifice for their sins. The righteous are very aware of their sinfulness and take time to thank God for the greatest gift and celebrate the Lord's Supper. The wicked do not care and therefore will be lost for eternity.
Our Father's Love,
Tom
Monday, June 23, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
DO NOT LET THE CLIMATE PHOBES RULE
Learn not the ways of nations, nor be dismayed at the signs in the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are false (Jeremiah 10:2).
The wicked flee when no one is pursuing (Proverbs 28:1).
Climate change will be one of the major themes of election year politics for the foreseeable future. The purpose of making "climate change" a political issue is to elect politicians who will be extremely sympathetic to using unConstitutional means to stop the the "global climate emergency." There are a lot of climate phobes out there who are true believers that there is a climate crisis. Yes, there are horrendous storms, as we have seen in our area recently, but, statistically, we are no more likely to experience a severe weather event now than they were 50 to 100 years ago.
The century-long trend in hurricanes is slightly down, not up, according to the national hurricane center. As for tornadoes, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration says there has been no change in severe tornado activity over the past 55 years. Regarding extreme heat and cold temperatures, NOAA's U.S. Climate Extremes Index of unusually hot or cold temperatures finds that over the last 10 years, five years have been below the historical mean and five years above the mean (Dave Bierman, Wallaces Farmer letter to the editor, June 2014).
America has always been "The land of the free and the home of the brave." This is no time to be frightened by the climatephobes, the pseudoscientists and the freedom-grabbing politicians. Certainly, we must always care for the environment, but in a way that guards the freedoms and jobs of the American people. Do not panic, the climate will be doing just fine when the Lord returns in 2060!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
The wicked flee when no one is pursuing (Proverbs 28:1).
Climate change will be one of the major themes of election year politics for the foreseeable future. The purpose of making "climate change" a political issue is to elect politicians who will be extremely sympathetic to using unConstitutional means to stop the the "global climate emergency." There are a lot of climate phobes out there who are true believers that there is a climate crisis. Yes, there are horrendous storms, as we have seen in our area recently, but, statistically, we are no more likely to experience a severe weather event now than they were 50 to 100 years ago.
The century-long trend in hurricanes is slightly down, not up, according to the national hurricane center. As for tornadoes, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration says there has been no change in severe tornado activity over the past 55 years. Regarding extreme heat and cold temperatures, NOAA's U.S. Climate Extremes Index of unusually hot or cold temperatures finds that over the last 10 years, five years have been below the historical mean and five years above the mean (Dave Bierman, Wallaces Farmer letter to the editor, June 2014).
America has always been "The land of the free and the home of the brave." This is no time to be frightened by the climatephobes, the pseudoscientists and the freedom-grabbing politicians. Certainly, we must always care for the environment, but in a way that guards the freedoms and jobs of the American people. Do not panic, the climate will be doing just fine when the Lord returns in 2060!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
KEEPING YOUR LOVER
I am my lover's and my lover is mine . . . (Song of Songs 6:3).
It is often said that the "causes" of marital conflict are disagreements over such things as children, sex, and money. If no issues surfaces in any of these areas, people would probably get along better. However, people do not have trouble getting along because of issues in these areas. These issues tend to bring out the emotional immaturity of people and it is that immaturity, not the issues, that creates the conflict (Family Evaluation, Kerr/Bowen, 188).
Change is not easy because it means changing who we are. Emotional maturity/immaturity is something we are born with--it is in our genes. Emotional maturity/immaturity is also something that is learned. One of the things I learned from ranching cattle was to select for temperament. To keep a highly reactive cow in the herd would make the whole heard reactive, so we would put wheels under the wild cow and would take her to market.
People are not animals. While I recognize that, because of genetics, it is harder for some to behave than others, I also know that God has made us as beings who can make choices and be responsible for those choices.
So what does this have to do with making marriage work? Emotional reactivity is destructive to a marriage. If there is constant anger and criticism it will be almost impossible to have a successful marriage. Your lover will not remain your lover very long if you are constantly trying to change his flaws--only he can change his flaws.
Remember these things that are true:
1. You are responsible for much of the conflict.
2. Listen. Listening is for understanding--not for emotional reactivity. With conflicted couples emotional reactions block understanding. Recognize the effect of your emotional reactions on your lover and yourself.
3. There are no perfect relationships. Be THANKFUL for the good things your lover brings into the relationship.
4. Find a new voice. Nagging, angry voices are destructive. A positive, peaceful yet assertive voice is good.
5. Acknowledge good-faith efforts of your lover to contribute to relationship success. Maybe flowers and candy do not do much for you, but at least thank him for trying.
6. Have a team spirit--it is not all about you and your feelings. What can we accomplish together better than we can do apart?
Doing these things go a long way to keeping your lover as your lover.
Our Father's love,
Tom
It is often said that the "causes" of marital conflict are disagreements over such things as children, sex, and money. If no issues surfaces in any of these areas, people would probably get along better. However, people do not have trouble getting along because of issues in these areas. These issues tend to bring out the emotional immaturity of people and it is that immaturity, not the issues, that creates the conflict (Family Evaluation, Kerr/Bowen, 188).
Change is not easy because it means changing who we are. Emotional maturity/immaturity is something we are born with--it is in our genes. Emotional maturity/immaturity is also something that is learned. One of the things I learned from ranching cattle was to select for temperament. To keep a highly reactive cow in the herd would make the whole heard reactive, so we would put wheels under the wild cow and would take her to market.
People are not animals. While I recognize that, because of genetics, it is harder for some to behave than others, I also know that God has made us as beings who can make choices and be responsible for those choices.
So what does this have to do with making marriage work? Emotional reactivity is destructive to a marriage. If there is constant anger and criticism it will be almost impossible to have a successful marriage. Your lover will not remain your lover very long if you are constantly trying to change his flaws--only he can change his flaws.
Remember these things that are true:
1. You are responsible for much of the conflict.
2. Listen. Listening is for understanding--not for emotional reactivity. With conflicted couples emotional reactions block understanding. Recognize the effect of your emotional reactions on your lover and yourself.
3. There are no perfect relationships. Be THANKFUL for the good things your lover brings into the relationship.
4. Find a new voice. Nagging, angry voices are destructive. A positive, peaceful yet assertive voice is good.
5. Acknowledge good-faith efforts of your lover to contribute to relationship success. Maybe flowers and candy do not do much for you, but at least thank him for trying.
6. Have a team spirit--it is not all about you and your feelings. What can we accomplish together better than we can do apart?
Doing these things go a long way to keeping your lover as your lover.
Our Father's love,
Tom
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