On my exercise walks I’ve become
semi-acquainted with an older woman who sits on the back step of her apartment.
We wave at one another when I pass by and on one encounter she gave me a verbal
pat on the back by recognizing I’d lost weight. She went on to say that she too
had been working on her weight and had lost 20 lbs. We now have this
encouragement thing going on and she recently said, “You’re looking good!” I appreciate
the support from a total stranger, but I’m now feeling guilty for not acknowledging
Christian attributes in others when I see them. It would take so little effort
to say to another believer, “You’re looking good!” Jesus said, “In the same
way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and
praise your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16 NIV).
3 comments:
Gail;
-----It is interesting that the Nobel Peace Prize is handed out in honor of the man who invented dynamite, not for mining or ditching, but for war. He founded and ran several companies for inventing, manufacturing, and selling cannons and other wartime goodies. When criticized late in his life, he bequeathed his fortune to the establishment of the Nobel prize system. In a liberal’s way of thinking, he lived off the fat of crime and died in glory.
-----And do the liberals love the platform of glory he established! The list of Nobel Peace Prize winners reads like the who’s who of lefties and miscreants, including the likes of Obama, Gore, Arafat, etc. A gem or two does glitter amongst this rabble, specifically, Lech Walesa who was a key part of the Reagan, Thatcher, John Paul II, Walesa consortium which cracked and crumbled the Iron Curtain, and the brave Malala Yousafzai who refused to give up her seat in school though being shot in the head by Arafat-like thugs (odd how things work.) To liberals, Malala’s redeeming quality was being Muslim; Walesa’s was in leading a labor union -that sort of association sewn in the soil of oppression to sprout improved working conditions then grow into great power and finally blossom as communism and socialism. Whallah! Malala and Walesa, but no Reagan, Thatcher, or Paul II who crumbled a regime built upon the dead bodies of 30 million murdered and starved to death Russians. Oh well, they had no redeeming, liberal qualities for recognition.
-----The fact that Obama had his Nobel Peace Prize before lifting a little finger as President well illustrates the elephant in the Nobel Peace Prize kitchen. It is for patting the backs of exemplary figures so the less studious hordes will know who to mimic and who not to mimic in forming their little opinions. Granted, the Nobel prize is rather obscure, but I assure you, the Grammys and Emmys are not. The Grammys sport a few country music categories and a Gospel one, but there’s no “good ole US of A” recognition amongst the Emmys. Overall, the Grammys and Emmys are just more patting-on- the-back for who’s displaying the correct PC to be mindlessly mimicked.
-----This is the way culture works. It sets up icons. It sees icons. It mimics icons. It doesn’t know why it mimics. It just mimics. And amongst all the mimickers of the patted-on-the-backers are many safe friends, as long as nobody except the patted-on-the-backers express anything thought up themselves (kind of like a Presbyterian church.)
-----Amongst the living is the need to think yourself, but not for yourself. We are to think for the truth, seeking the wisdom of the Word of God and His knowledge, and to think for His body, discerning what is right and true to do, feel, and speak to one another. Although each church has a pat-on-the-back-platform, it needs just what you‘ve noted -people girding one another with appropriate recognition. The most important “platforms” for this are the ones between each of us. Thank you for that gem of insight.
-----“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another; the LORD heeded and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the LORD and thought on His name. ‘They shall be Mine, says the LORD of hosts, My special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.’” (Malachi 3:16-18) Way to go, Gail!
Love you all,
Steve Corey
Thanks Steve!
Gail;
-----That was no pat-on-the-back, but rather, it was very appropriate recognition. You’re welcome. Go shine amongst His people.
Steve
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