Dreams and Visions

Being part of Acts 2:17 can be a bit disconcerting sometimes. God doesn't warm me when a vision or bit of knowledge will be dropped into my head. Usually its quiet but on occasion, its shocking and takes me by such surprise I not really sure I wanted to know.

For those who aren't familiar with the verse. (KJV)
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams.

Granted the verse says men. Not uncommon in an era when men ruled. However, the Bible also tells us that God is no respecter of persons. Why else would one of the judges, Deborah, have been placed in her position. Or Ruth married into the line of King David, or Queen Esther saved her people.

So, here I am, one of those being told or show things that will be happening in the future. Scary sure, But also very exciting.

Where has the US failed its men?

There's an epidemic in the United States that isn't even passing over Christian men. It's obvious everywhere if you talk to the women. In the place where the blogger works, most are single moms working to support themselves and their children on salaries that are barely above poverty level and often having to take their former spouses back to court time and again to get the financial support they were promised.

Problem is, this epidemic is not confined to nonbelievers. Even Christian men are leaving their wives despite what the church teaches about marriage. They are all moving on to other relationships, new spouses, moving back in with their parents or setting up bachelor pads.

Where is this country failing its men? What has happened to committing to a relationship and staying in it, even when everything goes bad? Or did the men only get married to be with their wives in the good times? How can it be that when times are hard, these men run for the hills rather than standing beside their mate and battling it together? Or have the courts just made it too easy for men to tuck their tails and run?

The Bible instructs men to stay with their wife from their youth, so it can be speculated that this has been a problem for centuries. Do men have some natural instinct to dump on older woman and move on to a younger one?

Unfortunately there are more questions than answers. Perhaps the churches need to stop concentrating on making money to build a larger building and concentrate on teaching men to stay with their wives and children. This would be a far more fruitful use of their time.

Yes, it's good to have divorce recovery groups. Yet, in these groups, folks need to be taught how to weather the storms of life and stay together since many of them do remarry and get divorced a second time.

'Where are you men of courage?' Courageous. Yes, where are these men of courage? I think they all need to take a forty day journey and take the love dare. Fireproof. Maybe then they can battle the giants of fear and defeat in their lives. Facing the Giants. And do the right thing. Flywheel.

(If you don't know the movie references, I highly suggest all four of these Christian films.)



 

Appearances Vs Heart

It is interesting that the Bible continually says that God looks at the heart - not outward appearance. Yet, American society worships youth and beauty and have turned both into something very ugly.

Older Americans are thrown to the wayside and employers will only look at them for commission sales jobs and low paying service positions.

Inexperienced young people are placed in good paying jobs and promoted over older workers.

Ugly women are made fun of - even if their hearts are golden.

Men chase young things and the very rich have 'trophy' wives who are often selfish and only concerned with 'how' they look. When they loose their appeal, the wife is cast aside and replaced with yet another 'young' thing.

Most romance novels feature younger characters in their twenties and thirties.

Most movies and TV shows feature youthful and attractive actors.

Oddly enough, one of the most successful TV shows, Murder She Wrote, starred an older actress and featured many of the oldie stars.

With an aging population, it seems odd that the emphasis is allowed to stay on the young. The older generation has learned much and many still believe in God. Their knowledge should be shared, not tossed aside like an oily rag.

Good thing God does look at the heart and not the outside. How many of us wouldn't make the grade?

A great example of this is in the New Testament, when the pharisee made a huge example of his extravagant prayer and exhibition, while the true sinner when quietly to God and confessed his sin.

Which one did Christ say was the truth? The one who quietly went to God.

America has a lot to learn by this example.

 

Buttons and Sayings : Part 4

 This is the final week of Buttons and Sayings. Some of these were purchased during a very dark time in the blogger's life, so please, keep that in mind.

Misc.
1. No Whining!
2. You couldn't afford me.
3. Ask me about your free plane tickets.
4. Computers run on smoke; If it leaks out, the don't work.
5. Remember, No matter where you go...there you are!
5. Before anyone passes judgement may I remind you we ARE at a Media Con.
6. Barney, we'd like for you to meet this weeks special guest, Mr. Velociraptor!
(No, still don't like the big purple dinosaur. In fact, spouse offered to teach blogger to shoot by purchasing a stuffed Barney and using it as a target. It never happened though.)
7. You can have the next mutant.
8. We're not exactly proper channels.

Insanity
1. gone crazy back later.
2. Preoccupied with fringe matters.
3. I don't suffer from Insanity. I revel in it!

Men
1. The way to man's heart is between the ribs and slightly downward.
2. If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.
3. Rape. Pillage. Burn. Let's see if we can get it right this time.
4. If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?
5. If at first you don't succeed, change the rules!

Toys
1. My toys! Where are my toys?? I can't do this job without my toys!
2. Some people have children to buy toys. I feel it's cheaper and more dignified to cut out the middle man and buy toys for myself.

Religion
1. Crucifiction? Good.
2. If your God is dead, try one of mine.
3. If God hadn't wanted me to be paranoid, He wouldn't have given me such a vivid imagination.
4. Beware of the vampire Jesus. He gave his blood for you and he wants it back Right Now!
5. The only problem with Baptists is they don't hold under water long enough.
(The vendor who sold #5 said this was his best seller. Seems there was a SF con in the same hotel as a Baptist convention. Someone from the BC say a fan wearing the saying and asked the vendor to make enough for all the attendees of the BC.)

Vampires
1. Save the vampires. Help protect an endangering species.

Work
1. Idiot!
2. Stupid people shouldn't breed.
3. You make me very, very angry Earthling!
4. There is intelligent life here, but I'm just visiting.
5. Running around trying to look important.
6. Wage Slave.
7. My job is so SECRET...Even I don't know what I'm doing.
8. Service may vary according to my mood and your attitude.
9. I'll do it tomorrow.
10. Watch your back.


Credit given to various vendors, true stories and purchases at Waldenbooks.