Morning Musings-Negatives and Positives

Morning Musings With the Boys at Breakfast...



 

 It can seem like there are often more negatives than positives in our lives and in the world and that we pray about those negatives.  We forget the positives.  Pray about the negatives, for sure, BUT remember to thank our Heavenly Father, God, for the positives.  Thank Him especially for all the answers to the prayers of the many who do pray for us.  (2 Corinthians 1:3-11)
                                    
                                                                    ~ERC 2015~                                                                                                                                                                                  
   

Morning Musings-Stingy or Generous?

Morning Musings With the Boys at Breakfast....



Just a few questions pop into my mind after reading 1 Corinthians 16:1-4.  Questions such as:  Are we being stingy or generous in giving?  Are we cheerful when giving?  Are we giving in keeping with our income and means?    

Now, I'm talking to my boys who don't earn much of anything at this point in time but there's giving of $$ and cents and there's giving of time, and energy and the like.  The principles are the same.  In 2 Corinthians 8:10 it says to give but also with the desire to do so with willingness.  These verses are quite literally dealing with the $$ and cents aspect.  However, when you look at 2 Cor 8:5, you'll see the Corinthians gave themselves first and foremost; this was their mindset and attitude, from there the monetary gifts would follow.  

The spiritual gifts were used too without any withholding and in keeping with how Jesus told those who asked Him on the subject; "what belongs to God, give to God and what belongs to Caesar, give to Caesar.  Similarly, that which belongs to our family we give to our family.  

This could mean our immediate family but also to those of God's family as we see the needs arise.  God Himself was all out generous with us in sending His one and only Son Jesus to earth;  even to the sacrifice of death upon the cross to earn salvation for any and all who wish it.  Jesus is our Supreme example in giving.

So let us "set aside a sum of money in keeping with our income" so we have something to give at a moment's notice and so that our attitudes can be ongoing in generosity, and in cheerfulness. Make those gifts acceptable by giving according to your means, not to what you do not have.  Decide to give.  Decide how much to give, not sparingly, and give cheerfully.

The key is willingness to give.  Let us reach others with that same limitless grace of giving, that God in His act of grace, reached and gave to us.  Let us excel in the grace of giving.

"Oh, Lord, help!  Thank you for your Holy Spirit's help.  Give me that willing, generous heart and mindset and attitude.  Amen.

Happy giving everybody!

                                                               ~ERC  2015~

Morning Musings-Spirit Gifts

 


   Morning Musings With the Boys At Breakfast...



 
BINGO!  "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy" (1 Corinthians 14:1).  I really like this verse as it sums up the previous two chapters so succinctly.  The various spiritual gifts given to the various believers in Chapter 12 and then LOVE the best gift to be used liberally to cover over all the other gifts.  On top of all that Paul says to especially desire the "gift of prophecy" which would, again, work best smothered in, and operating from, love; God's love, that is.

Many Christians imply that speaking in tongues is the most desirable gift and if you don't have this you may well not really be a Christian.  That kind of thinking negates what's said in chapter 12 about different people getting different gifts.  Not everyone will have the gift of tongues but all should have love coupled with whatever gift one does have.


These gifts were given to the believer to be used for the good and benefit of helping to build up and edify the other brothers and sisters in the Church.  And when we pray we need to pray with the Spirit and pray with the mind.  Similarly we need to sing with the Spirit and sing with the mind.  Not mindless but full of the Spirit and of the renewed mind; this, rather than with supposed tongues.


If you look at Chapter 14:22 (Corinthians) you'll see that tongues are for sharing the message of Jesus with unbelievers; those who don't yet know Jesus as Savior and Lord.  Look at the book of Acts (esp Chap 2) at the astonishing time of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit first came to indwell the believers.  Uneducated men and women could suddenly speak in the tongues (languages) of those merchants and of whoever had come from far and near to trade and/or live in the area.  These 'foreigners" could then suddenly hear the message of Jesus in their own respective languages.  What a marvelously astounding time!

Paul concludes Chap 14 though that both gifts can and should be used in an appropriate way.  

Lord, whatever gifts you've given us help us to use them and use them in love and in an appropriate  manner for the edifying of your children in the church.  Amen.

                           ~ERC 2015~

P.S.  Anyone reading this may feel free to comment constructively.  TQ.

Morning Musings-The Love Chapter

                                  

 



  Morning Musings with the boys at breakfast...


                                                                                              
 Most people know the "love chapter" is considered to be 1 Corinthians 13.  In this chapter God's love is described and is that type of love which we, all followers of Jesus Christ, need to have and use in all we do.  It's the type of love that "oils" all our relationships, so lubricate liberally with it by God's grace.

Get that glimpse of God's love.  How He was/is always reaching out to mankind.  From the Garden of Eden where He came down to walk there and to spend time with Adam and Eve, communing with them; to the Israelites roaming through the wilderness all the way from Egypt to Canaan:  God being in their midst the whole time in the pillar of cloud and fire, in the Tabernacle, and later in the Temple; residing in various Old Testament individuals temporarily so they could complete specialized tasks; to King Saul once being indwelt by the Holy Spirit yet due to Saul's disobedience, the Spirit had to leave...God was really trying His best to get His love message across.

King David was also indwelt by the Holy Spirit and he must have remembered what had happened to King Saul and at one point begged and pleaded with God not to remove the Holy Spirit from him when he had committed some terrible sins (Psalm 51:11).  David valued God's presence within him.

There were four hundred silent years between the Old Testament and the New Testament where there appeared to be no interest from God towards His human beings.  This must have been a painful time on God's part, so to speak--heartbroken over His people who hadn't much interest in Him.

God does go on to prove His love to human kind by sending Jesus to earth.  Jesus death and resurrection and taking that punishment for the sins of earth's people was God's way of speaking loudly and clearly.  Furthermore when Jesus went back to Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to live in His children permanently while they (we) reside on Earth.  He went to great lengths so He could establish and maintain (if we so choose), that relationship of communion with Him.  He wants us.  Let us delight ourselves in Him and His presence and His love.

Speaking of this love we are to extend it to our fellow human beings. In 1 John 4:7-11, God the Source of love shows and gives His love, and we ought to love one another.  When we do this, His love is made complete in us.  Don't keep His love to yourself.

This love can make us kinder, gentler, more good.  We can show greater grace to others, through the Holy Spirit's help as we learn to be more patient, kind, to show no envy, not to boast, not to be proud, not to be rude or self-seeking, not to be easily angered, not to keep records of wrongs, not to delight in evil, to rejoice in the truth, to protect, to always trust, hope and persevere, and to never fail.  God's kind of love is the greatest thing.

                                                              ~ERC 2015~

P.S. Do feel free to comment constructively.  TQ.

Morning Musings-Hello Beautiful!

Morning musings with the boys at breakfast...

Hello Beautiful! 

Aren't you something!!  Yes, really!  But not due to what you might think.   Now what could that be!?  Hmmm.  Well, guess what!?  True beauty is not necessarily from the outward appearance as we are reminded in Proverbs 31:30..."Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised.

Match and compare that to 1 Peter 3:4, 5.  There is unfading beauty to be had; isn't that splendid!!?  I'll take it!  How about you?  That "gentle and quiet spirit" from the inner self bespoken through the power of the Holy Spirit's being allowed to work in our lives.  Those of us who are married can also work on our beauty by being, ahem...there's that word that gets folks in a dither...submissiveness, to our own husband.  Again, these verses remind us that the fear of the Lord also brings about this desirable beauty.  When we fear the Lord we are able to submit and let the Holy Spirit do His work in the character and conduct of our lives.  Instead of a vicious cycle we will have a cycle of beauty:  fear the Lord > submit to Him and our husband (if we have one) > gentle and quiet spirit > beauty radiating from our countenance > fear the Lord some more.... Beauty from God guaranteed!   Awesome!


                                                          ~ERC  2015~  

Morning Musings-Singleness

Morning Musings at Breakfast With the Boys... 


Was the Apostle Paul a woman hater?  Not really.  Look at Scripture in context, even 1 Corinthians 7:25-28.  The epistle to the Corinthians was partly written due to incest and other possible sexual immorality and bad morals such as greed that was among them.   He was trying to admonish and exhort and tell them to stop it as that is NOT God's way.

He's telling them ways to be pure and holy in God's sight.  Helping them distinguish what is right in God's eyes and what is not.  To get all this sorted out he tells them it's good to remain single (if they are).  Better to remain single and moral than married and immoral.

Another advantage of singleness was so the follower of Jesus Christ could concentrate on serving the Lord.

So saying, as to the full interpretation and application of 1 Cor 7:29-30 one knows it wouldn't be license for immorality and excesses.   Rather for a concentrated effort on proclaiming the gospel and perfecting of God's people.

Compare this singleness to what the married person's time management needs to be.  Read 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35 for starters.  Look specifically at the married Christian man's work.  It is as equally important as is his service to the Lord and the church he is in.  This in turn is as equally important as his 'home work'; this is, to his wife and children-family life.  His interests will be divided:  1/3   +   1/3   +   1/3   =   3/3

His time will be divided yet not separated; they will often overlap as he develops himself as a spiritual man and a spiritual leader.  In essence he is a spiritual man who is "in Christ".  This can be seen as follows:

HOME (FAMILY)                                            
Spiritual leader at home  n before God first then in the church.  Pray for unsaved family members: straying ones or for those in the path to stay on the path (in God's will). 

 GOD (CHURCH)
Spiritual life before God, then can function in this leader capacity:  at home first then among the people of God.  
Pray for church members for their physical as well as spiritual welfare.

WORK/SCHOOL      
Transform your workplace; have integrity on the job.  Pray for co-workers and your boss.  Pray for teachers and fellow students.  Our spiritual condition will help/hinder our own witness for our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.    Singles, start now.                                                               

 IN many ways this is like having 3 careers yet each area overlaps and feeds into each other.  Deuteronomy 6:4-9  mandates that the spiritual leader of the home be ever vigilant to speak of God and His ways at every opportunity such as "when walking along the way; sitting down or rising up; and even "writing them on the door frames of the houses" and so on.   

Malachi 4:6 wants the "heart of the father to turn towards the son and the heart of the son to turn towards the father".   A relationship that takes time and effort and energy.  God our Heavenly Father wants the same with each and every one of us.  This is first and foremost so that we can then be of service to our family, to our fellow believers in Christ and among our work mates.  The single man (or woman) has fewer responsibilities.

However, we see Paul mentored so many other brothers in Christ.  He was a single man yet "father" to many.  He was "father" to Timothy, Titus, Ephroditis, Silas, Sosthenes, to name a few.  They in turn each became spiritual leaders under his mentoring and became leaders in various churches.  (Just read the New Testament and you will see.)

It is not known (by me, at least)  if any of those became husbands/fathers or even what their vocations were yet they took their spiritual leadership seriously and did not shirk those responsibilities.  We know from Scripture that Paul did keep at his tent-making career to support himself in order not to be a burden on others to support him financially.

It is good to note though that for married Christian men that order in the home is of first priority and of utmost importance over the other two spheres.  Look at the requirements for elders and deacons that Paul gave to Timothy and Titus when helping to establish the assemblies under their respective care.  Such instructions as:  "husbands of one wife; children in order at home" otherwise how would they know how to manage leadership within the church?   

I suppose that is somewhat ironic seeing as Paul was single and likely so were Timothy and Titus.  However they were to set up overseers in those assemblies for local leadership and thus the various criteria. 

So singles, while you are young and free of family responsibility use the extra time you have to build up not only your career but of  that which is of eternal value.  Build up your knowledge of God and of God's Word; your understanding of God and God's Word; of God's will and ways.  As you gain more of this knowledge and understanding, then obey.  In so doing you will come alive spiritually and in turn become a spiritual leader which is the brothers' great responsibility.  People will know, recognize and respect the power of God in you.

BUT, married brothers, make sure you are a spiritual leader in your own home first and foremost.  This cannot be said enough.  You are the "priest" of the family, to your wife and children.  Be not proud but humbly serve the Lord at home, at work and when He calls, at church.  When you are faithful in 'little' our Heavenly Father will then help you to be faithful in much.

Single Christian men, you have a slight advantage over the married ones  as you can concentrate more fully on building up and establishing your spiritual life without the distraction of family responsibilities.  Take advantage of your time to treasure God's Word and to make treasure in Heaven.  Be ready for that day, should it come, to be husband, father and "priest"--that all important spiritual leader in the home and beyond.

Even if a person has no spiritual leadership role model as Timothy and Titus did in Paul, they are still responsible before God to be spiritually alive in Christ and able to lead others.

Timothy had his mother and grandmother and then the Apostle Paul took over.  The twelve disciples had Jesus.  BUT there will be times when those who could, and SHOULD be the role model do not take up the baton.  Sad.  Sad.  Sad.  However, each person will come before God in the end and are responsible to answer to Him.  People of Christ, let's make a good report!

Don't be a disappointment to your parents, wife, children, church, workplace, nor to God Himself!  Wake up!  Rise up to the challenge oh men of God!!  

Listen to this:   

Rise Up Oh Men of God  

                                                                ~ERC  2015~ 

P.S.  Do feel free to comment constructively.  TQ.



                                    




                                                           

Morning Musings--Mastered

Who or What is your master?

Don't be mastered by anything or anyone EXCEPT by Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit alone.  Whoever or whatever masters you will be your god.  In Jesus Christ we can have the victory over sin, over addictions such as computer games, smoking, eating disorders or even over making a loved one your focal point of life before God.  Let Him help.  Let Him be your Master.

Please read 1 Corinthians 6:12;  19-20
                    1 Corinthians 7:23
                     Genesis 4:7

                                                                   ~ERC 2015~

Testing God

Do you really dare!?  Dare to test God, that is?  

Hmmmm.

It's good to have faith in God but we need to balance our faith by not putting God to the test.  When people of the Bible tested God or His Holy Spirit there were dire consequences.

There is need to examine our faith...is it really faith or is it willfulness to persist in something in the name of faith?  Do we persist even when God sends many advisers and folks of wisdom into our path who would lead and guide us in a better direction?

This is where

"testing the spirits to see if they be of God" (1 John 4:1-3) 

or not, comes in.  This is definitely a subtle thing with our human minds, thoughts, hearts, and nature.  However God has given us the Holy Spirit to help lead and guide us.  We also have God's Word, the Bible, plus our brother's and sister's in Christ who have earthly knowledge and expertise in the area in which we are purportedly engaging our faith.  Seek Him and them out and be in prayer.

This brings us back to, is it true faith or has it been misguided?

Speakers often give the example of the guy sitting in his armchair in his living room whilst his house is burning down around him.  He's praying that God will come in and make the situation right.

We obviously shout at him, "GET OUT of the house!!"

But he blithely replies, "I have faith in God that He'll help me out of this situation without me being harmed."

God did not send a rainstorm or miraculously spirit the man out of the house.  The dire consequences of the man's misguided faith was to be burnt to death.  Foolishness.

A friend in Canada once quoted to me, "God helps those who help themselves".  Another saying, an Arabic one I believe, is, "Trust God and tie your camel."  God does His part but we must also do ours.  He's given us brains and earthly wisdom; we must use them wisely.   He'll partner with us if we'll partner with Him.  He is so gracious and kind.

In an area in which I once lived there was a well known story of a Christian lady who had breast cancer.  In the middle of one of her chemo sessions she pulled out the IV and declared herself miraculously healed by God.  This was well published about and boasted of in Christian circles, and I'm not sure of, in how many non-Christian circles.

She was not healed.  Her misguided faith killed her and left behind a heartbroken husband and two very young, then motherless, children.  Chemo treatments despite the aggressiveness of some of them, may well have bought her time to see those young children mature into the teen years and/or beyond.

God's reputation was besmirched and the Christians made to look like fools.  Can we spread the message of Jesus with the consequences of misguided faith in our listeners' minds?

God's Word is quick and powerful but we Christians will have to overcome the negativity towards us and Jesus and God due to the bumblings of fellow believers (and of our own selves).  Let us live wisely and not be one of the bumblers.

Again, God gives human beings good brains so that doctors can use their knowledge and experience to help heal and/or give "borrowed" time for our general good and benefit.  We balance these things with our prayers and faith in God that He will bring the best result for us when we act on the earthly wisdom He's allowed us to have.  We then can leave the results of the combined teamwork: faith in God plus our human action, to God.

God treats this as a very serious matter.  Look at His dealings with the children of Israel time and again.  (Read the Old Testament.)  He warned, 

"Do not test the Lord your God..." (Deuteronomy 6:16-18).  

Psalm 78:18-20 shows that they 

"willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved..."  

Another time they got themselves into trouble with snakes because of their grumbling.  1 Corinthians 10:9 reiterates, 

"We should not test the Lord as some of them did...and were killed by snakes...grumbling."  

Even grumbling was considered as "testing God"!

Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:9 were asked,  

"How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?"  

How could they dare?!  

How could we?! 

Jesus is our ultimate perfect example of NOT putting God to the test.  In Luke 4:12 Jesus answered Satan, 

"It says (in the Old Testament):  "Do not put the Lord your God to the test..." 

 Jesus said this in His answer to Satan's asking Him to throw Himself down from the highest pinnacle of the temple.  Jesus did not kowtow to Satan one tiny little bit and neither should we.  Memorize and remember Deuteronomy 6:16 as your 'weapon' and shield against compromising your faith in a misguided manner.

Another small example from my own jungle trekking experience while helping with some charity work.  Minor surgery was done on several villagers.  One of the surgery sites began to bleed and bleed during a sharing session.  The speaker interrupted his talk and all prayed that the bleeding would stop.  It did.  But that also didn't stop us from calling the doctor to come and have a look.  The doc redressed the areas, restated the do's and don'ts of post op care and then left the results to God.  Action as well as prayer and reliance upon God our Healer.  He delights in our partnership.  I delight in His, for that matter.

Yes, we've all heard miraculous stories from the Bible times and also from our own time.  I do have faith in our God.  Think of the case of my husband and my own daughter Hannah.  She had leukemia.  We took her for treatment.  We prayed for healing.  We believed that God can and does heal.  But God had other plans.   Our faith did have action...we took her for treatment.  Yes, we were disappointed and maybe even angry that God didn't bring the desired healing but we had to leave those results up to Him knowing He was (and still is) working for our good.

Other times, God does heal as we ask but, again, we need to put feet to our faith.  And when in very deep rural areas of the world (are there still some of those left?---yes), far from human expertise, I believe that God does do more work "on His own" in His miraculous ways.   His human workers are, sadly, not yet available to 'help' Him so God is His own witness.  He loves, He cares.  He wants relationship even with those not yet modernized.

Those places where workers of medical or engineering, etc expertise are lacking or are only 'a few', the faith and prayer of those who do "GO," combined with those of those who "SEND" the workers, in alliance with God, may see God's mighty acts more readily in those more interior regions.  These act as a display of God's power over sickness and death and evil spirits for the people to be astounded and "arrested" by God to "bring many sons to glory".

So the mission worker prays.  The mission worker places his or her faith in God.  God does the work in the hearts.  BUT...But when His people of knowledge and skillfulness are present  God often lets them do the work.  Our faith must have action.

Act on the knowledge and wisdom given from the earthly experts and counselors God places in our lives.  Have faith that God will also do His part but whatever you do, 

"Do not put the Lord your God to the test." (Deut 6:16) 

 Let God get the glory through our properly guided faith evidenced in appropriate action.  Amen.

                                                               


 Working in tandem with God creates a beautiful picture.

                                                                                                                                            

                                                            ~ERC 2015~

Morning Musings-Who's Better?

 Mornings' musings for my sons' breakfast times...

 READ 1 Corinthians 4:14, 18-21 (esp 20, 21) and connect with 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 (esp 23, 24) and connect again with James 4:1-3
 
 
Re:  quarrels and fights among the recipients of the letters "Who's better?" they ask.   Whom?  All are servants of the Lord, are they not equal in God's eyes?  Each must do his/her God-given responsibility.  Don't criticize those in places of authority.  We can appeal to the wrongs in their life that don't line up with God's Word.  My own parents upon occasion told us that if we ever saw something in their life that did not add up according to Scripture that we could bring it up to their attention.


In Exodus 16:4-8 The Israelites were not grumbling against Moses and Aaron but against the Lord God Almighty Himself.

Leaders of the church will be judged two times as much as those under their authority but we must always remember that God puts those people in authority over us so if we criticize them we are criticizing the Lord.  Again, appeal to authority directly through proper channels.  Don't grumble, grumble to everyone and anyone who will listen and twitter it on to others.

Let us not take sides with one leader over another for whatever reason.  Each is God's servant and put in place for God's purposes to be achieved. 

                                                                ~ERC~Oct 2015~

Morning Musings-Money Talks

Morning Musings at Breakfast With My Sons...

Money talks.  It talks in many ways.  It talks and tells us of many ways to 'earn' it; some good and some bad.  Among the bad are:  gambling:  quick money (eg. lottery or casinos); dishonest gain:  eg. bribes; stealing in one form or another: eg. embezzlement; and casting lots, bets, and chance.  Among the good of course, is plain ole hard work.

 
To gamble or not to gamble, that is another question.  Is it for Christians?  There is no absolute black and white answer in God's Word.  There is no, "Thou shalt not gamble!"  The Bible is, however, loaded with oodles of guiding principles regarding money.  If the reader here cares to have a look at them, coupled with secular knowledge of gambling and other such pursuits, its effects on individuals, families and society in general, keep reading.

I DO NOT purport to have all the answers.  This little 'sermonette'  is just a culmination of many mini morning devotionals on the subject with my sons at breakfast.  Them eating their physical food and me feeding them some spiritual nuggets simultaneously.  

 The book of the Bible called Proverbs is a treasure trove of wisdom regarding money and wealth and its seductions.  Solomon, the author of most of the Proverbs was the richest man that ever lived in his time and quite possibly of all time; he was laden with gold and silver.  Coupled with his material wealth was his extra anointing of God-bestowed wisdom, thus his credentials to speak to us in this day and age.  For as Solomon recorded in Ecclesiastes 1:9, "What has been will be again, there is nothing new under the sun".


So, if money talks, how does a Christian differentiate between the 'right' and the 'wrong' way to 'listen' to 'talking money'?  How can one let money be one's servant but not one's master or god? 

God told Adam (see Genesis 3:19) he'd have to "work by the sweat of his brow"; that is, effort for reward.  So much, then, for get-rich-quick schemes; lottery buyers & casino goers.  Solomon tells us that "an inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end" (Proverbs 20:21).  Note that these can and do cause one's family trouble; thus the lack of end blessing. 

Lump gambling, betting and chance together and note again, that they feed the lure of winning big money, fast, but that there are warnings against such.  "A man lacking in judgement strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor."  (Prov 17:18).  There are several verses in this line.  Proverbs 7:6-27 also warns about the "simple man" who lacked judgement.  He was enticed in a different way, nevertheless the victims of getting rich quickly are similarly "brought down".

A Googled guy said that "gambling's get-rich-quick appeal mocks capitalism's core values."  Those values being, it was said:  disciplined work habits; thrift, prudence, adherence to routine" and as aforementioned, "the relationship between effort and reward". Sound familiar to what God told Adam?  This is good Christian practice you'll notice frequently when reading through God's Word for yourself.  The article went on to say that gambling replaces all the above with:  greed, selfishness and the dependence on luck and chance.

Straight away, we followers of Jesus will say, "we are to trust in God and depend on Him!"  That's right; otherwise money will talk a person into making it their god.  A person can't serve two masters.  They must choose between God or money (see Matthew 6:24).

Come back to the greed bit.  Greedy men bring trouble to their families and stir up dissensions says Solomon (Proverbs 15:27 and 28:25).  Also, "He who brings trouble on his family will inherit the wind and the fool will be servant to the wise." (Proverbs 11:29)  How is it that greed does this?  How does the greed feed more greed to cause the family trouble?

Apparently, gambling, betting and "trying your luck" bring out the greediness aspect of the human nature.  Especially, as one of the Googled guys said about the "effects of gambling," if there had been an "early win", with that "beginner's luck" opportune flash, the euphoria creates almost instant addiction to gambling and those appeals to greed.  Thence begins that "coveting greedily all the day long" (Proverbs 21:26-KJV) affliction.

If one does happen to work but then spends ones' earnings on such addictions, the family doesn't get much provision, if any, for food, clothing, decent shelter or education.  This, in turn, may bring family members to feel shame and have low self-esteem, to name a few woes.  This is trouble, is it not?  Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:8, "a person who refuses to look after his family is worse than an infidel."   He also told the Corinthian believers in 2 Corinthians 12:14--"parents must provide for children".  Neglect of family destroys family.

When greedy people are determined to get their big, selfish share, or more than share, of whatever they want, they "stir up dissension".  Maybe the 'gamble game' didn't go in their favor; imagine the ruckus.   The Corinthians were told not to associate with a person who called himself a Christian but was greedy.  Christians in those early days shared their possessions.  How do you think that would work out with a greedy chap in their midst?  Dissension.

Some may argue that, "oh, I only gamble at certain festive times of the year" or "a little bit won't hurt".  Maybe.  Maybe not.  However, God's Word instructs us to "avoid all kinds of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22).  That same verse in the KJV reads "abstain from all appearance of evil"; I believe the message is clear to those wise enough to want to hear.

As mentioned earlier--"an early win could develop an addiction".  An addiction once entrenched can become chronic and bring a lifetime of trouble to the family.  Trouble of lack of basic necessities but also cause trouble for oneself--divorce; alienation of children; more dissension.  If striking hands in pledge for higher stakes and the gambler lost his bet-poverty may well ensue.  Thus trouble many never stop troubling you or your family (Proverbs 1:19).  The picture isn't pretty.

We are to honor the Lord with our wealth (Proverbs 3:9); storing up legally when and where we can.  Refuse to strike hands in pledge (Proverbs 11:15).  If a person is prudent, faithful, trusts in the Lord, is diligent and gathers his money "little by little" by good plain ole hard work he will gain wisdom and understanding and knowledge.  This person will prosper richly in his soul.  Solomon told us to look at the ants.  They are an excellent example of this.  They stored up food diligently and little by little so they had enough to last themselves throughout the long winter (Proverbs 30:25).

It was said that the gambling addiction may eventually become a disorder.  The person continues in a vicious cycle of willingness "to risk something he or she values in hope of getting something of even greater value".  This mostly does not happen; the WIN, that is.  Yet that hopeless hope dangles out there continually like the proverbial carrot leading the donkey on to its destination.  He can never quite attain it.

The early or the once-in-a-while win, I read, "stimulates the brain's reward system like drugs or alcohol, thus fuel towards an entrenched addiction.  The poor soul then "coveteth greedily all the day long.." (Proverbs 21:26 KJV).  This is a very sad condition to find a person in and this person will need a great deal of compassion and patience from the body of Christ to help him or her overcome such a predicament.

What causes people to get 'into' the gambling scene in the first place?  My Google source said:  "early wins; a person is more likely to be male; a stressful life event such as the death of a loved one; a divorce; depression/anxiety;  a family history of gambling; and alcoholism.  As people who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ we need to guard against those things with the help of the Holy Spirit and of the body of Christ.  Brothers and sisters-in-Christ, help your brother or sister-in-Christ learn to be accountable to God's better way of living.

We who belong to Jesus have Help.  First of all, "Read your Bible!  Source out all relating verses and meditate upon them; Proverbs is chock full.  We also have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us and one of the fruit of the Spirit is "self-control"; exercise the fruit into maturity.  Seek out the body of Christ to help hold you accountable; to strengthen, admonish and help and pray for each other.  We in turn can warn and help them.  This can be true for anyone's addiction, not just for the gambling gambit.

A person can guard against gambling and other addictions by seeking alternatives such as:  sports; reading books; spending time with family or friends doing things that help others (charities, church work, service to the Lord).  Train oneself to use time in more healthy and beneficial pursuits.

There are such things as legalized state-sponsered greed producers such as casinos and lotteries.  These should be ashamed of themselves.  Further googled info led to Romans 13:17 but especially verse 4 which says that authority "is God's servant to do you good..."  If the authorities cause those under their rule to suffer, or as individuals making up the fabric of society, to become greedy &/or a plethora of other negative things through these avenues; they'll have a lot to answer for.

The article stated that "bad social, economic and government policy undermines moral foundations of society and invites corruption in government," and elsewhere, no doubt.  It certainly invites greed into a man's heart.  It was noted that the 'life' around casinos and gambling areas, often has associated "rise in crime rates, vice and corruption".  Do we as followers of Jesus Christ even want to dabble in such and take the risk of eventual involvement even if inadvertently or unintentionally? Christians need to stand up against this not frivolously flirt with it even if only for seasonal entertainment.

A "little leaven, leavens the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9).  As alluded to earlier, some folks may say, "it's just good fun and entertainment once or twice a year" or "I know my limit."  I repeat what God's Word says, "avoid every kind of evil" (1 Thessalonians 5:22) and that was said to Christians.

One John MacArthur has said that gambling builds on irresponsible stewardship...throwing God's resources away at the altar of a god called "Chance' or 'Luck'.  Idolatry.  See rather where ones' treasure is better placed by reading Matthew 6:19-21.

Many of us have done the "scissors, paper, rock" or the "coin toss...heads you win/tails you lose" or the "short straw" thing to choose who goes first, etc, to start a game.  That could be viewed similarly as "casting lots" which action is found in the Bible.  The soldiers cast lots to see who'd inherit Jesus' clothes; for instance.

The Old Testament people would cast lots for finding out God's will in a matter.  "God would intervene with His sovereignty and cause lots to fall in such a way that His followers would know what He wanted.  Did he want them to go into battle or not, is one example; so explained John Mac Arthur. 

But this casting of lots was not to get quick money nor to help the greedy become more greedy.  Note it was not for gaining further wealth but to find, accept and to do God's will!  How much better it is to get wisdom and understanding than to get gold and silver so says Solomon in Proverbs 16:16.  Have good stewardship over your resources.  The fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God is the beginning of such wisdom.  Ask of God, He'll give that wisdom (James 1:5) to you and the wisdom for discipline and self-control building.

These ideas spill into working diligently and earning little by little to gain reward; financially as well as in character and conduct.  "All hard work brings a profit." (Proverbs 14:23).  Chance "erodes the work ethic" which again, as God told Adam, he'd have to "earn bread by the sweat of his brows" (Genesis 3:19).  John MacArthur further points out that "the addictive wagering process saps the good that a decent salary can afford".  The acts of betting, lotteries, and gambling all knock hard against God's Word.  Our Almighty God and Father wants us to learn the price of  honest work and hard-earned cash and not to gain it as scoundrels and villains do with "winks of the eye", "signals with the feet" and "motions with fingers"; the ways in which these things often happen to the detriment of others (Proverbs 6:12, 13).

God has a plan for our life and when we, as His children, would try to live by 'chance' we may well circumvent that good plan.  Be willing to do His will.  When we have situations in life, list out the pros and cons and lay them before Him.  Pray over the situation.  Tell Him.  See how His Holy Spirit will lead, guide and direct you, not only in earning and spending money but in all of life.  Be willing to follow that guidance.

John Mac Arthur notates that "when driven by the sin of covetousness a person often ends up gambling.  Whether that is at the casinos or in a friend's home, God's 10th commandment is violated (Exodus 20:17)".  We have seen that gambling feeds greediness and so more often than not ends up in a vicious cycle becoming a chronic addiction.  He goes on to say that this covetousness "assumes God hasn't given us what we ought to have and that there is somehow more wealth that will finally make us happy."  Money has become ones' god and not God our God.  This violates the 1st and 2nd commandments.

Another observation indicated by John MacArthur is that gambling in one form or another, "builds on the exploitation of others very often of those who can least afford it.  This violates the 8th commandment, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15).  For everyone who wins, there are millions of losers duped into throwing money away in large sums."  We followers of Jesus Christ are supposed to help the poor not exploit them.

"The Lord condemns a crafty man" (Proverbs 12:2).  Granted it's most often the rich that go to casinos and those with less income generally more apt to go for the lottery.  No matter.  The issue is still the same.  Let us not allow ourselves lured, no matter what our income, into "dedicating something rashly" (Proverbs 20:25); that's more Solomon wisdom.  Don't let yourself be stolen from following after God's ways to follow after these degrading ways.

Arcades, slot machines, mahjong, cards, lottery, chance, gambling, horse racing, soccor game results, betting--Christian, tear yourself away from all of these.  "Honor the Lord and serve Him with your wealth" (Proverbs 3:9).

Talking about stealing from others, Solomon says that "Dishonest money dwindles away but he who gathers little by little makes it grow."  Bribes, embezzlement of funds; many or few items brought sneakily home from work because "the boss won't miss it, in fact he'll never know"' just should not characterize someone who claims to belong to Christ.  "Walk circumspectly before the Lord..." (Ephesians 5:15 KJV).  Let us be reminded that "ill-gotten treasures are of no value" (Proverbs 11:18) and that "a wicked man earns deceptive wages but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward" (Proverbs 11:18). 

Speaking of righteousness..."Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice".  In the classic book (and movie thereof) entitled Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin, the fellow renounces his inheritance to honor a promise (he had made rashly) to marry a girl from a lower echelon of wealth.  This promise he made in his younger more foolish days.  It came back to haunt him but he did plan to honor that promise; that was the noble thing to do.  The girl was actually after that wealth and when she realized she couldn't have it she relinquished the hold she had on that chap through the promise.  He was then free to marry the girl who would actually marry him for love.  

There is however, provision and wisdom again from Solomon who recommends that if we do find ourselves in a bind due to rash action, what can be done to extricate ourselves.  Desperate situations, and /or having struck our hands in pledge, call for desperate action as per the prescription of Proverbs 6:1-5.  So all will not be lost.

How would someone get themselves into a bind in the first place?  Succumbing to peer pressure.  Pressure of the moment from playing foolish games such as "Truth or Dare"; or since every one else is doing it "I'll feel like a fool or spoil sport if I don't join" are some reasons.  These are strong forces to stand against even if fortified with a promise made to oneself in the past to NOT to be so entrapped.  "Pressure of the moment," is often seen in one's mind to force one to decide something in a hurry; that one must do it.  A feeling that one must vow or promise away one's possessions, cash, or even one's life in such a situation can be brutal.  In the emotion of the moment in gambling or even in playing Truth or Dare, for instance, one could bomb out one's life in one fell swoop.

Praise the Lord we have God's Word to keep us out of trouble.  Let us read and heed it and preserve our lives for better things such as serving Him; glorifying and honoring Him.  Seek to bring peace and life to ourselves and our family.

In light of all this enlightening about money and how, when it 'talks', it can affect us in regards to greed and covetousness; affecting our family and our society negatively; I really praise God for what He did for me long ago.

When I was about 8 or 9 years old I was visiting a friend whose parents allowed us to go to the fair nearby her house.  My parents would never ever have given me any money for it much less even let me go to such a place.  So you can imagine my glee to be "let loose" and given a quarter (.25 Canadian) to spend however I wished.  Together, both the freedom and the quarter, were like having been served a million bucks on a golden platter.

Having looked the  fair over I decided my best bet for spending that precious quarter would be that dazzling little machine one could operate, excavator style, to grab hold of an enticing looking doll inside the enclosed glass case, lift that doll up and over to the 'slide-out-into-your-hands' slot and presto!  That dear little doll would be mine!!  It looked ever so simple, but alas, it wasn't.

Oh, I was so indignant at the loss!  I felt so cheated!  No doll and now no quarter!  Oh, I was so angry!  But there was nothing I could do about it.  Furious and discontented I went home.

It was a good lesson and I vowed there and then at that young age, never to be cheated by such a machine ever again.  This was a blessing in disguise and why I now praise the Lord for not letting me have that 'early win'!!  Isn't God good?!

God's grace is sufficient for us.  Have confidence in Him.  Let your motivations in life be to please Him.  Let the desire of your heart be to honor God, help your family, and help your brothers and sisters-in-Christ.  Let God be your God and the Master of your life and money.  When money talks, don't listen, listen instead to God.

                                                                ERC 2015

                                                                      ~*~

Variety is the Spice of Life

English language (lg) varieties have spread widely throughout the world.  There are main varieties that have emerged throughout history, for example that are seen as:  American; Canadian, British and Australian English.  From those there are diverse sub-varieties.


Sub-varieties have often come about from former English-speaking conquerors in various areas of the world.  For example, the British English has influenced India; American English has left its mark on Korean and Philippine English in ways of accent, pronunciations and spelling of words.  This is known as 'indigenized variety'.


 Some English lg varieties have come about while functioning as a bridge of communication between two different lg groups.  A 'variety' that is shared by the two, likely becomes the second lg of the country.  This type is often referred to as 'pidgin'.  Nigeria has such a bridge among its peoples.

When the pidgin variety becomes the L1 (first language) of children, it will eventually become its own distinct lg with unrestricted use among the general populace.  Such 'pidgin' is then termed 'creole'.  A good example of this is the Hawaii Creole English.

Minority groups like to get into the mix by adding their own identity within their particular ethnic group such as the African-Americans.  Some call it "Ebonics"--the lingo they generally only speak among themselves yet in addition to the more 'standard language' of their country.  This is termed, 'minority dialect'.

Coming back to the indigenized variety in my local community...Sabah, Malaysia was colonized by the British prior to WWII so that the English spoken here was/is, of course influenced greatly by them.  However, it is now a far cry from 'proper and standard' British English.

One does not know what to call the local English.  It is different from nearby Singapore's 'Singlish'.  It is different even from West Malaysian English.  It is more like 'Manglish'; that is, mangled English to ones' delicate mother tongued North American English ears.  Again it is a far cry from the good Queen's English of Britian.

Okay, okay, it's not 'incorrect' it is 'different' (refer to article re: English's Many Flavors for this definition).  How did it become so, "different"? 

When I first came to this community, the English was "all Greek to me" as it was liberally sprinkled with Malay, Chinese and dialects of Chinese and even spiced with tribal group speak.  Once in a while a truly "English' word would be spoken and then the thread of the conversation could be somewhat comprehended.  In addition, direct translations into English from the above mentioned lgs were also interjected; carry over accents and pronunciations definitely interfered with the way the English was spoken.  

Written works were also affected.  Just a glance at almost any of the daily newspapers...grammar was thrown out of whack, again by gross interference of the L1 (mother tongue) into the L2 (second language) English resulting with a fossilization of errors in print.  "You say me" and "Where got, ah?" are interesting samples.

As English native-speaker teachers were replaced by locals whose English was learned as a second lg, much interference of the L1 came into play until the Sabah English devolved to what it is today.

Unfortunately, a whole generation of students was severely cut off from English when the medium of teaching all subjects in schools was switched from English to the national lg.  It's been a tough road for the general populace to regain even a semblance of communicative competence in English.

Fortunately, science and mathematics being taught in the English medium was re-introduced several years ago.  Unfortunately, recent decisions are to revert those subjects back to the national lg once again.  A great deal of confusion ensues among teacher and student masses alike with predictable scrambling of English in its wake.

Summing up, the development of English in Sabah had an excellent start.  The many years of adverse ups and downs left it very different from the original model.  However, despite all the 'distorted' input, a person can still get by once attuned to the 'Sabah Indigenized Variety' of English used by today's generation.  After all, is not variety the 'spice of life'?

                                                                        ~ERC-2010~

                                                                           

English's Many Flavors

"Varieties of English" have emerged due to historical, geographical and social influences of particular environments.  Some varieties are tangents away from what society highly values as being "correct".  Yet are not 'incorrect' per se, just, different.  Let's take a look at some of the variables producing the varieties.

Over the years of history, vocabulary and grammar have changed.  Harkening back to the 1600's, for instance, vocabulary was peppered with 'thee's' and 'thou's'; '-eth's' such as 'loveth' and 'cometh'; 'shalt' instead of 'shall' and were the then norm of standard language.

Written works of that time reflected the oral communication.  Peruse some excerpts from the King James Version Bible's preface.  "For whereas it was the expectation of many, who wished not well unto our Scion..."  or "Then not to suffer this to fall to the ground...nay, to go forward."  Reading along further, "their eye doth behold You with comfort..." and "every day increaseth and taketh strength" is very delicious literary style and wordage.

Shakespeare lived in the mid-1500's to early 1600's.  His language was similar but likely difficult for present day deciphering.  An easier specimen noted from Romeo and Juliet, would be "Wherefore art thou..." or "Gregory:  But thou aren't quickly moved to strike.";  from Mac Beth, "Duncan-"so well thy words become thee as thy wounds" and from the "First Witch" "Where hast thou been, sister?" This is  such a fascinating display of archaic language; by today's standards, that is.

Moving on to Mother's generation, 'gay' meant "happy and carefree"; that compared to what it refers to today.  The word 'awesome' no longer describes God and His unique handiwork but is bandied about by teenagers to describe, for example, how they may feel about a peer's green hair!  Such morph-ing of words comes in and out of fashion with one generation to the next. 

In more recent history, the age of computers has expropriated a lorry load of vocabulary from traditional usage.  A 'virus' used to be a human sickness; a byte (bite) once meant to take a chunk of food with one's teeth; a cursor (er) was likely one who cursed a lot; "the net" was what one fished with while "the web" was a spider's home.  All those to name a few.

Colonization has left an indelible language mark  upon their conquests.  English got "spread" to a new country or location, the locals added their 'flavor'; infusing some of their own foreign words, accents and pronunciations into the concoction.

Even within the geography of a country where English is the national language, eg. USA, there are variations thereof.  This usually depends on which part of the country one hales from be it a southern drawl, Brooklyn or New England accents, or from western USA.  These divisions can often be further divided into districts or even down to specific villages.

Other times, due to increase in travel and residing in other areas from one's own birthplace, it may be difficult to distinguish where exactly a person may have originated.  The traveler having picked up an assortment of vocabulary, grammar, accents and pronunciations from the meanderings flavors his own unique command of English. 

The social aspect lends zest to the variety equation.  Different classes of people will often use differing vocabulary and grammar.  To say, "I ain't got no..." may well be looked upon with disdain in preference for, "I haven't got any...".

Accent and pronunciation often reflect social position with upper class folks speaking the "better variety".  Think of, was it Eliza, the Cockney lady, in My Fair Lady being trained to parrot, "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain." with a more "standard", acceptable norm. 

In conclusion, the varieties of English have ebbed and flowed since whenever English was birthed.  Although English is generally thought to be a "stabilized" language it does continue to change in many varied ways to suit the users in various times and sundry places to aid and abet what language is all about in the first place...communication. 

                                                                      ~ERC-2010~