The meaning of "Good-bye"

  Within our English language there is an interesting phrase. It is often said when concluding a conversation. The word is "goodbye". If you happen to be an atheist or an agnostic, you might want to consider another word to use when parting...just sayin.'

 Going into the 16th century there were many changes going on in various cultures throughout the known world. The Renaissance had arrived, and plays were being written by a man named William Shakespeare. The plays he wrote were much different from the religious themes of  past centuries. He wrote on the vanities and the humanism of man himself, giving way to a new era that challenged the authority of the Roman church.
 The Roman Catholic church, an organization that had dominant influence on mankind in western Europe, was now under question in reference to the fate of man. Where does one go when he/she passes into the hereafter. Even the great artists of this period seem to paint God in a more human form rather than the saintly halos and "mystics of the Holy." New and beautiful paintings like that of Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in 1543 were being created for public view.

 Numerous historians regard the 16th century as "the rise of Renaissance" or "the rise of the West" and its presence became very much apparent. Early on both Spain and Portugal had discovered and established new ocean trade routes to lands far to the west of the Roman Europe. One of the leaders of these new discoveries was Christopher Columbus, had passed away in Spain in 1506.
 While places like the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East continued expansion, the Roman Catholic church was now facing the rise of the Protestant Reformation including kings like Henry VIII  breaking away from the Roman church while the leaders of the church of Rome were now focused on the Middle East like the city of Jerusalem. Along with centuries of war with Muslims in the region, the Jewish community seemed to be getting on the nerves of the Roman Catholic papacy. In 1593, Pope Clement VIII proclaimed: " All the world suffers from the usury of the Jews." It appears the control of money was the real motive behind the various dissensions. The ideas of Christendom were being shaken at its core, as were the fears and faith of those who embraced the centuries long beliefs taught by the Roman church. Equally, death gripped the hearts of many with various plagues on society, including the black plague in the mid-1400's.
 For over two centuries famines and plagues had taken heavy tolls on the lives of many occupying western Europe and now 1/2 of all infants born died before the age of 12 months. The poor rarely lived beyond the age of 40 while the rich might make it to age 48.

 So, what does all this have to do with the word "good-bye"?

 The word "good-bye" dates back to this era and is short for the phrase "God be with ye". The phrases "good-night" or "good-morning" also come with the same implications. The intent of this fare well was to express good wishes to another through the blessings of almighty God.
 Why was it said in this matter? No one really knows for sure, perhaps saying the word God out loud might stir controversy or harm depending on a person's belief, whether it be of Roman catholic origin, those of the Protestant Reformation, or another religion altogether. Maybe it was a similar form of communication like Christians of the 1st century who made the sign of a fish to identify them as Christians.
 At any rate, remember when you choose to use phrases like "good-night, good-morning, or good-bye", you are wishing a blessing upon another from a God you believe in.

"Good-bye!" 

"A dear friend decided it was time to leave"

I have a friend from my childhood years.We really had some fun times, innocent and full of laughter. We both went our separate ways as we volunteered for manhood to enjoy a season of being adults. As the decades passed, we found ourselves engaged in various phases of life including watching our children play in the sand, pursuing careers that demanded much of our time, and having someone love you like no other (well, my friend was actually better at experiencing this than I was. I had a couple of "crash and burn" relationships that has marked certain periods of my adulthood as...let's say "less poetic"). Both my friend and I even met Jesus along the way during some of our various experiences. Then one day I read where my dear childhood friend had hung himself...in a room... all alone. His season of adulthood suddenly came to a close.  At the funeral there was sincere comfort given to everyone who came to weep; losing a friend or loved one is hard enough in life, yet seems especially hard when it "back doors you",  a person never seems quite ready for events like this.  
 At the funeral people took solace knowing my friend had been introduced to Jesus earlier in his adult life. Now he was able to find true peace and joy because my friend was now with Jesus, best friends forever... at least that is what people were saying as many came to pay their final respects that day. This season of adulthood had done some terrible things to my friend, much of the damage appeared to be in his own heart and mind, discouraging thoughts that kept creeping around his adult life. Apparently his battles within became monumental, to the point he thought it best to leave.

 What exactly justifies suicide and if it is not the best choice, why do people continue to do it?

 Judaism, Islam, and Christianity all frown on suicide stating it is not the way God intended for us to leave this earth. Is it a crime? Is it a humble gesture, like participating in a hunger strike because others are being persecuted... which might lead to death? Is it for a cause or of national interest that drives a suicide bomber or a pilot to sacrifice their own life and the lives of others, often times their own religion declaring suicide is wrong? 
 Adding to these opinions of suicide are biblical stories themselves like the story of Samson recorded in the book of Judges, chapter sixteen. In this passage Samson put an end to his life by pushing aside large support pillars that caused an entire public structure to collapse, killing him along with many others. Although there is strong argument this event was not a suicidal one, it is factual Samson premeditated his own death. Later in the New Testament in the letter to the Hebrews chapter eleven, verse thirty two, Samson is listed as a man who died in faith.
 Many various and interesting thoughts have been given to why a suicide happens. Equally, many reasons are given to why people choose suicide as a viable option to problems in life.The bible itself writes of seven different individuals who died by suicide (although the Scriptures do not condone these examples), and yet today mental health studies conclude suicide is not a healthy option with a strong emphasis on getting help at the first sign of suicidal thoughts entering one's mind. 

 For myself, I had to clarify a few things in my mind in reference to suicide, first being the definition of this word we refer to as: suicide. The Oxford dictionary describes suicide as " the act of killing oneself intentionally. It is a violent act carried out by a person who does not expect to survive it." The word suicide has a Latin origin, suicidium, which simply means to kill oneself.
 Secondly, I need to refine the word a bit and conclude suicide has two basic forms, selfish and unselfish acts. Unselfish acts to me is sacrificing one's life for the sake of others. Selfish acts are ones that are done because life has got too overwhelming and the rationale becomes it is the only option left. It is these selfish acts of suicide I would like to address.

 How does it happen? How does one get so overwhelmed with problems and issues they are facing that they choose to end it all. I realize this is a large amount of territory to cover and there are exceptions to either reason for this choice. I would like to focus on the why, why most suicides seem to take place.
 After personal research for the last few weeks (some have dedicated their entire lives to suicide prevention etc.), I have found a lot of truth in this statement: Suicide is a denial of hope.
 I think anytime individuals begin to replace healthy emotions like contentment, peace of mind, the simple joys of life, and gratitude for what we have, with unhealthy emotions like worry, shame, confusion, disappointments which leads to more toxic emotions like fear, despair, anxiety, or to give up on our dreams, we are in the beginning stages of possible dangers. Further studies indicate if one continues on this downward spiral path it can lead to discouragement and eventually into chronic depression.
  I read a quote relating to discouragement describing the devil as a type of surgeon: "Discouragement is simply an anesthetic the devil uses before he reaches in and carves out your heart."

 As I continued to refine this search I am on, this "denial of hope" became foremost in my mind. Since I embrace the Christian faith and continue to put my trust in my friendship with Christ Jesus, I thought what do the Scriptures write  in reference to hope and how could it help to turn one away from this downward path.  Although there are a number of passages of Scripture in reference to hope, the verse that seemed to grip me the most is from 1 Corinthians 13:13.  From the Living Bible Translation it reads: " Three things will last forever---faith, hope, and love---and the greatest of these is love."
 In a personal gleaning format, I read this verse like this: " There are three things that are not only for the now...but will be here forever. They are faith, hope, and love. Love is the most powerful of these three virtues because it becomes the fresh and mature fruit nurtured by faith and hope. Love satisfies the hunger within us and has plenty to share among your friends."

 For many when they hear this verse of Scripture read, the impression is left that love is more important than faith and hope. I don't find that to be true. Each virtue has a purpose and love is the vehicle to distribute these virtues, staring in ourselves and reaching out to others.
 I live in a home and small acreage that has been passed down through almost three generations of my family. Over the years we all have changed or added to the landscape of the home. What I noticed many years ago were the choices of plants and bushes planted by my great grandparents, my grandparents, and what choices I had made in recent years. My former generation of relatives planted a variety of bushes that still bloom colorful leaves in certain intervals throughout the year. The thing I notice most, each bush seems to have its turn. There are red bushes in the early year, followed by the white and yellow flowers of honeysuckle bushes, ground cover bringing forth purple flowers, and crab apple trees bringing white flowers, all over lapping or coming into bloom in their own separate times. After that, the Bradford pear tree burst out into white blossoms, then when the pear tree has concluded, the pink dogwood blossoms begin to appear, followed by tiger and Asian lilies. The daffodils have come and gone by the time lilies blossom, and the rose bushes are beginning to bloom everywhere. I don't want to forget about three lilac bushes that produce beautiful scents as their blooms come forth in spring. As summer wears on and fall begins its entrance, the rich red firebushes begin show off their colors while evergreen trees and bushes remain different shades of green throughout the entire year.  
 I think of those virtues written in 1 Corinthians 13 as I watch the various colors of plant life throughout the year. There are no plants, bushes, or trees that I can honestly say are more important than another, rather it is each one has their appointed time and purpose. I think faith, hope, and love are like that, each one having its special and unique purpose.

Like I had mentioned earlier in reference to a quote on how the devil uses discouragement as an anesthetic before he carves out a person's heart, I think God's anesthetic is hope...and hope has the power to promote healing in the human heart, not allowing thoughts of suicide to find any room to destroy the individual.
Hope has some unique qualities of its own. It can liberate, encourage, motivate, urge one to follow their dreams, and unleash compassion, beginning with one's self and sharing it with others.

 So, where does one find some hope?...it's in there...the Sacred Scripture. Actually there are numerous verses sprinkled throughout and as one reads a certain passage and allows it to blossom in the heart, mixing it with a little faith, love can come. Just like the various plants, bushes, and trees on my homestead, you can read another passage, then another, throughout the year and allow hope to blossom in different colors throughout life.

As for my friend?...I am confident he is with Him, yet I will miss him. I can learn from this, and even though his decision to go out this way was horrible, his death has got me thinking...  discovering new ways hope can have more influence in my life.  


   

The Power in our Words: "How odd is that."

As I became drowsy and started to fall asleep, my mind kept going over what my thoughts had been dwelling on throughout the day, the thought of  words we choose to speak and what true identity lies within.

 And I began to dream...

 I found myself in a rather large park, a city park filled with park benches, various areas of manicured grass to have picnics, a small pond with a fountain in the middle, large trees encircling the entire park area, a walking and jogging path, small barbecue grills, and geese followed by their young waddling behind them in various areas of this park. There seemed to be people everywhere, the clouds a powder blue and the sun bursting between them with a faint southerly wind to make the day seem so fresh with the feelings of early summer.

 I began to enter this park to see if I knew anyone there. There were many there that day with  sounds of laughter, excitement, kids running to and fro, and the smell of hamburgers and chicken on the grill. Yet, I did not recognize anyone.
 As I continued, I noticed a family all together on a summer blanket preparing to eat. They appeared orderly in their demeanor, the father sitting at one end while the mother and children were lined on each side. They all bowed their head in prayer and as I began to listen to the words the father spoke, his lips did not match up with the words he spoke. His lips seemed to indicate he was expressing gratefulness for what God provided, yet his voice, so loud and clear, was saying "I have the power to manipulate your thoughts with a coldness that will give you a chill. Amen"
 I thought to myself, "How odd is that."

 I walked around a large oak tree and continued on my journey in the park still hoping to find someone I might know. Suddenly a couple walked by me, a man and woman in their thirties, and it appeared she was quite upset. The man, listening with intent while trying to calm her down, I could hear the words she was speaking to this man. It happened again! Her lips did not match up with the words she spoke. Her lips were expressing her deep desire to buy a particular home and the need for this man to pursue it with all costs. Yet, her voice, again so loud and clear, was saying " I am controlling and possessive as well, and will inflict a choice of words until you feel pain." I kind of shook my head and once again thought, "How odd is that."

 As I passed by this couple so deep in their own thoughts, a young girl maybe twelve or thirteen years of age came jogging by me with her headphones snuggly on her head playing her favorite music, when a smaller girl whom I concluded to be her sister, perhaps the age of eight, ran up with her arms open and tears in her eyes. The girl who was jogging stopped and welcomed the little girl. As she began to comfort the small child, her lips expressed sympathy and concern, yet  this time it appeared to me her lips seemed to hide the pretty words she spoke. The little girl had been scared by a bee and when the older sister spoke it appeared she was saying: "Everything will be alright, the bee is gone." Yet her voice, which was again so loud and clear to me. spoke these words: " I love to express myself through music and yet my love to express kindness toward others and quiet a tear is equally amazing."
 Again I thought "How odd is that", and found a park bench to sit on and collect my thoughts.

 As I sorted out what I had just observed, I then noticed two elderly ladies sitting on a park bench not far away. I could hear their conversation as they gossiped of another's plight, rationalizing the consequence of a decision this person had made in life. The one lady had a bonnet on, her posture straight and bold, and with her head erect made this statement of judgment with no comfort in her tone, " Well, that is what happens when you don't do things right". Once again her lips did not match the words she had so directly spoke. Her voice was clear to me as I looked directly at her face, saying " I have become so hard-hearted I am able destroy any tenderness of emotion, and my bitterness is strong enough to prevent any forgiveness for what others may have done."  Once again I thought: "How odd is that",  and located a vending area, perhaps a little food and drink will snap me out of these weird scenarios I find myself in. 

 The bottled water was cold and refreshing and a granola bar complimented my thirst. I stood to the side of the vending machine enjoying my little meal when a young couple came to purchase water and see what items were there to eat. It appeared to me they had been jogging and the girl was expressing an idea. She had a thought on improving the work environment she was in and it was apparent the young man worked at the same place as well. He seemed quite genuine as he listened to her speak, yet it came again  ...  his lips did not match the words he spoke. This time however it was quite different. His lips spoke encouraging words, yet his voice that was again very clear to me went far beyond the words his lips had formed, boldly declaring " I believe in what you are saying and want to inspire your creative thoughts. Thoughts like this can invoke a good change and bring benefits to all." As I listened to his voice, the girl paused and smiled.
 The refreshing cold drink could not prevent me from saying once again: "How odd is that."

 As I wandered away from the vending area, I walked toward this pond that had a sign stating it was a lake. I saw a couple sitting on the grass, admiring the water with two children close at hand. The man appeared anxious and really wanted to leave, mentioning there was a game on TV that for him was more important to see. His wife was sympathetic as she asked for a little more time...time to enjoy the surroundings, to enjoy their children, to enjoy each other as she cuddled to his side. As I watched this man earnestly respond to her request, once again his lips do not match the words I heard him speak. His lips formed words that said "We can do this right at home.", yet his voice was clear to me saying: " I am strong enough to break your will and selfish enough to starve you and our children of any hunger you might have to want me." No sooner had I heard these words, they had packed and were gone.  "How odd is that" I again thought, with a tear as to what I had just seen.

 As I walked around this lake, a young man with an elderly lady appeared. The conversation was delightful, expressing joys of days gone by. The young man in his twenties, inquired as the elderly lady spoke, offering her words of tenderness induced with mercy bound by his heart's interest, making her words secure and safe to share. This time I found this scenario quite  different, for his lips and voice were in sync. His lips matched the sounds of his voice, a sense of harmony as his words flowed from his heart. I paused and remembered my grandfather and how we shared our lives, sitting together on an old swing for hours and speaking of many things. As I looked at the young man and the elderly lady, another tear appeared, rolling down my cheek.

 As I strolled through the park that day many conversations were all around me. Some spoke with the movement of their lips far from the words I heard so loud and clear yet coming from the very same lips on the very same face. As I continued walking through this park every once in a while I beheld people whose lips and voice were in perfect sync, a blended match sounding so pleasant to my ears.
 Still, there were others in the park whose harsh words caused injury as they burst forth in the air, with very large tears giving birth as the cold words bitterly swept in on this warm summer day. Other words interrupted another's thoughts, some condemning enough to belittle, and some words were so cruel and calculated they simply buried the thoughts of others.

 Yet those words that went beyond their lips in a joyful harmony, those lips and voices in  rhythm holding hands in perfect sync, are parts of the dream I have kept in remembrance within my heart the most. Words that cause others to be inspired without the fear of painful sorrow or a possessiveness it might induce, words that embrace the thoughts of others without fear of chains or rope. This dream became a mandate and demanded my solemn oath. 

 As I awoke from the dream I had found myself in, I had a startling thought: "Be careful on what words I say this day, for my words have a power within. I can assist others on their journey in life, or cause harm along their way."

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."
                                                                                              Rudyard Kipling

How odd is that? 

A Broken heart and a visit to the Cave of Adullam Psalm 34:18

A broken heart to the ancient Jewish culture meant to be hurting in the mind as well as the  heart. The extent of the hurt within can reach an extreme state, a sadness which often leads to depression.....

 In this passage of Sacred Scripture the phrase "the Lord being near" is used. In the Hebrew format, these words not only reflects God is willing to listen to our words and heartfelt cries, He is equally ready to hear the words we choose in describing the painful feelings resounding within our hearts. His response to us is written by the prophet Isaiah a few centuries later in the Old Testament,  addressing the people of Israel by saying: " Come and sit down, let us look and find a solution to all this struggling you find yourself in...and let us do it together. Yes I am aware the ways our friendship has been damaged by decisions that has brought you harm. I see the depths of your pain through a color, this deep scarlet red that so permeates your life at the moment. Yet I can honestly tell you even now if you will spend time with Me and deal with the painful hurts it has caused you and your relationships with one another, and return to our commitment to friendship, I will cause the wrongs you have done toward Me and to others to be forgiven and make your lives as clean and fresh like new fallen snow. I will do as I have promised." ( A Gleaning format from Isaiah 1:18 )


 Often we hear the words "broken heart" interchanged with "contrite spirit", yet in the ancient language this was not so. A broken heart describes the present agony you might be in while a contrite spirit extends a hope in a painful state you might find yourself in life, through the help of His favor, grace, and mercy. 
  Two other words which are used interchangeably yet have different definitions that offer more support to this train of thought are:  1) guilt and 2) conviction. 
 The Oxford Dictionary describes guilt as having a feeling of done wrong or sense of failure. Often times the motive energizing guilt is to induce and control the life of another. This definition becomes more apparent in verb form.
  Conviction is a formal declaration describing a trespass(es) that has already occurred. There is no need to further induce a feeling of shame, pain, or guilt, the hurt has been done and is now quite prevalent in your life. Conviction in the Scriptural sense begins with God...He actually initiates an appeal in favor of us who are in desperate straits whether we might presently experience a crushed dream, a bottomless pit of sorrow, or a sense of hopelessness. The Good News through the Christian message is God has proclaimed a verdict through His Son Christ Jesus, and His verdict offers to us the very essence of Hope in a hopeless situation. 

  Benson's Commentary points out God is near to all men, yet there are those moments His unique Presence is made manifest, particularly in times when the heart of a person is broken.
 Matthew Henry writes in his commentary  true Christianity is not just an avoidance of hurting whether it be within ourselves or what we may have done to one another. Numerous religions can offer a rationale that improves our behavior which is characterized by self achievement, as can self help books, or even various therapies. Christianity offers a different ingredient and purpose to our lives which enables us to see ourselves useful, both within the heart of the person experiencing pain as well as any hurts we may have caused others. It also allows us the tranquility of knowing we have made our peace with God and in so doing our peace with fellow man. 
  A key ingredient to a Christian's relationship to God seems to be the willingness to deny themselves. Dependence of pain killers found in life through things like alcohol or a variety of drugs and medications are often found in both non-Christians and Christians alike, as is refusal to give up the right to be first or voluntarily giving up our right to exist over the rights of others, or when situations demand us to remain silent and listen to the pain of another, becoming a part of them as their story of life unfolds. The difference between a true Christian and a non-Christian's belief seems to lie in their visit to "the cave of Adullam."

 In this passage of Sacred Scripture found in Psalm 34, it was a time in history  900 years before the birth of Christ Jesus. Saul was the king of Israel and he was after David, he simply wanted David dead. David fled from Saul and Saul pursued him. David makes a decision to hide from Saul by travelling to Gath and finding safety there. Gath was a Philistine city and the king of Gath, Abimelech, had no love for David. Why would that be? Well, the village of Gath was the hometown of another individual, his name being...Goliath. David, a few years before had did a number on Goliath, including putting a rock to his head and then cutting his head off. 
 So, Abimelech finds out David is "in the house" and was going to have him killed. David then came up with an idea to act crazy because in that time various cultures considered it wrong to kill anyone with mental challenges simply because many of  the gods of that general time period did not take kindly to anyone killing a "crazy person." A person choosing to do so might invoke a curse from their god(s) instead; upon themselves, their families, and even the entire community. Fortunately, David's idea worked.
 King Abimelech of Gath then kicks David out of the village of Gath and David hides a few miles outside the village in a cave named Adullam. It turns out over 400 people come and join David running from Saul because of the pressures many within the Jewish nation of Judah were facing during Saul's rule.

 {Note: Psalm 34 is an alphabet Psalm...22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet...22 verses in Psalm 34. Each verse begins with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, verse one being "aleph", verse two being "bet", etc. etc. Sometimes a translation will move verses around and put some in front of others to make it easier to understand to the language they are translating.
 Other alphabetic Psalms include 9,10,25,37,111,112,119, and 145.

                                            A Gleaning form Psalm 34:18

" The Lord is uniquely close to those whose hearts are broken or contrite, He has come to listen and rescue the discouraged, those who might be crushed under their sin, and still others who feel like they have just been punched in the gut."

 What happened to David after his experience at the cave of Adullam? David had several opportunities to kill Saul, but never did out of respect. David entered the cave of Adullam in despair and depression. He left with confidence because he had been given time to get rest, focus on his friendship to this God of Israel, and to regain his trust in this God he so passionately believed in. Some bible historians conclude he may have written the 94th Psalm while in this cave of refuge.
 The 400 men that showed up at the cave looking for David? Well, part of this group became known as "David and his Mighty Men." It is also written David became their captain.
 Oh, David did return with his "Mighty Men" to the village of Gath with King Abimelech. This time King Abimelech was not able to throw him out of Gath, the king ran into a little problem,
  the story being written in the book of Samuel.  

 "Long live the King!"  

Do "Crappy Meals" come with jalapenos? Part Two

Continuing on with the subject of loving God with all our hearts and loving one another based on how well we love ourselves, here are some questions I have asked myself:

1. As a child, did things you wanted to do make you cry?

 It wasn't until my late forties I realized my desire to write was a passion I had not adequately pursued. Questions arose within me like: "Am I any good at it?", "Would anyone read the stuff I wrote?", "Other than time, could I afford this passion to write?", or "How can I write with no real experience, formal training, or a recognized ability to do so?" 

 It was at this point in life the child in me began to cry. 

2. Would pursuing a passion in life advance more embarrassment from past failures that life has incurred?

 The first step in learning to develop a particular interest or passion is the sheer recognition I  am extremely vulnerable as to what I am about to do.  It becomes a rather devious scenario I find myself in because if it turns out I really suck at writing, the end result is the same as other interests I have seemingly failed in...embarrassment. 
 It appears my desires in life have a well guarded wall that protects me from embarrassment: avoid the issue altogether. Feeling vulnerable to "faith-like" projects have stopped me in the past from achieving things that are important and passionate to me. Questions begin to pop up in my mind such as: " If I fail at this I will look like an idiot...again," or "If I focus on writing (for example), other things important to me in life will be neglected like my career, my kids, or my wife," or " I simply don't have the expertise to pursue this deep-hearted passion."

It was at this point in life I realized I am no longer going to fight the feelings of embarrassment, instead I will embrace embarrassment and let it be a strength in pursuing my passion(s) in life. Embarrassment isn't as big a character as it appears, kind of like the wizard in "The Wizard of Oz", you remember?..."I am the great wizard!", when it reality it was a small man behind a curtain. And here is something else I discovered, innocent embarrassment is a form of humility that leads to...admiration. 

3. What is my favorite flavor in a "Crappy Meal" and does it come with jalapenos?

 I have learned through the lives of others everything one pursues in life has a cost and is accompanied with sacrifice. In my own life I have found not everything in life is happy, pleasurable, and uplifting all the time.
 Stories of success in others are often filled with works of an almost endless series of rejections, disappointments, and failures, yet real success is found in the evolvement of a particular passion, the drive to continue on and focus on what your after, sometimes not even clear as to what that is, yet the passion keeps pushing one forward. 

 It was at this point in life I realized life and the pursuit of a passion is not always "tasty", yet if one likes jalapenos, put them in there and make the unpleasurable stuff as enjoyable as you can.

4. What kind of influence do I want to be?

 There is a rather crude reality that inhibits the minds of many: the world is messed up and we are all going to die. What can anyone do about it? It seems it is simply a matter of picking your poison and drinking it slowly.
 Yet from a Christian viewpoint in life it doesn't have to end there. There is a power available to us that can provide a positive swing through any unique passion we have in our lives. It's our choice and this journey begins  in the examination of our own hearts. Our success in any passion we might pursue can not be measured monetarily, by popularity, or the sense of accomplishment. Real success is measured by how well it helps our fellow man. 

 One of my favorite passages of Scripture is from Hebrews 12:2. I have never found the Sacred Scriptures to promise happiness to a believer in Christ Jesus because happiness is based on circumstantial evidence. Yet the Scriptures do offer joy to every believer and is available to us even when we are facing the most adverse circumstance in life. 
 As I consider the life of Jesus when He was one of us during His time on earth, there are two things I would like to address in reference to this passage out of Hebrews 12:2.
 First,  it is He who must be given the credit to being the originator or author of our passions in life. The Greek word used in the New Testament has the meaning of "our captain" or "our prince." 
Second, the word for perfecter is used only once in the entire New Testament from the original Greek, and it is located here in this verse. It has the literal meaning of one who entirely finishes or completes...our passions in life.
 Pursuing a passion in life includes a discipline and a mindset much like running a long distance race.

                                               A Gleaning from Hebrews 12:2

" How do we pursue our passions in life? We do this by looking away from things that might distract us or rob us of our God-given gifts. Instead, we focus our thoughts on Him, who is both our captain and our only true leader in regards to the source of our faith. He is equally the finisher and will complete any passions in life He has deposited within us. He will bring to maturity those heart felt desires we have...yet this can only be accomplished through Him.
 Study closely how He did it!
He never lost sight of His passion, which is each one of us. He actually considered His life a joy because of what the outcome would bring, full restoration in relationships between Himself, His Father, and...each one of us. He went as far as to endure a horrible death on a Roman cross, disregarding the shame and embarrassment it might bring, because His heart of passion for us knew, He really knew, He would return to His Father and placed in a seat of honor beside His Father. Yet, He would not take that seat...unless each one of us were able to come with Him."

 I have a few more questions about passions....

"Crappy Meals or Happy Meals" in Life Part One

The Sacred Scriptures write of an event that happened during the time Jesus roamed on earth. The leaders of the Jewish sect, the Pharisees, had gotten word Jesus had just "manhandled" the other sect of Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, the Sadducees, in their attempt to trap Jesus in His own words. The had tried to do this through interpretation of a Scripture passage but it ended up backfiring on them.
 So, the Pharisees came up with an idea of their own. They gathered their forces together including one of their best religious lawyers to pose a question to Jesus in hopes they might stifle Him. This Pharisee lawyer approached Jesus along with some other Pharisee leaders and asked Him this question: "Teacher, which commandments in the Scripture are of greater value than others? Don't You find some commandments carrying more of a purpose in life regards of obedience to God while others are of lesser value simply stating what items or areas of life we simply need to avoid?" Jesus then answered this question: " Actually there are two commandments that need our attention. The first being is to love the Lord your God with all your soul including your passions, purpose, and prayers given in this life, even our learning abilities and increasing in knowledge is based on this command. This command is by far the most important command of all the commands to follow. Yet, there is a second command that is equally demanding and must be included as part of the first. This command requires us to love one another in the same way we love ourselves. If you follow these two commands, the rest of all the commands given to us will be followed including the very words of the prophets themselves." (Matthew 22: 36-39)
 {Note: The Pharisees were careful students of the Law, some even obeying the Law to the point of death for the sake of the heritage of Israel. Along with the Scriptural law of the written Torah as quoted by Jesus here in this passage from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, the Pharisees had numerous customs and by-laws as a guide to obeying these commands in the written Torah through expanded editions referred to as the "oral" Torah in which their  613 additional laws. Jesus did not recognize these 613 additional laws because He was fully aware simple obedience to a law cannot constitute a real relationship with God and the 613 additional applications caused people to move farther away from God rather than closer to Him, the oral Torah being more self-righteous vs. being godly. The God to man friendship Jesus offers is simply more of a personal matter that goes beyond the "letter of the law".}

 So, with this thought in mind, I conclude if we do not love ourselves, then is it even possible to have the capabilities to love one another or even truly love God? This where I begin....   

 Psychology has noted if we are to like ourselves we first have to have a self respect. Self respect in its truest form is not based on extraordinary physical attractiveness or personal accomplishments, rather it is found in having an extraordinary character. Various surveys seem to indicate when people are asked what attracts one to another, it is overwhelming clear it is in the way people treat each other. This type of behavior encourages trust for the other person and in so doing encourages a recipient to like themselves.
 Self respect is a key variable to having a healthy self esteem or a "love for ourselves" as stated in the Scriptures. Psychology indicates the fastest path to a healthy self esteem is based on how we treat those around us which in turn is often an indicator on how well we accept our own thoughts and behaviors with an enjoyment of who we are. Each one of us have negative qualities in our personal development in life yet depending on our outlook will reflect on how we treat others.

 The way I see it we are on this earth for an undetermined period of time. Some things in life are important while other things are not. The important things in life give us purpose, value, and meaning including a joy for life itself, both within ourselves and for others. The unimportant stuff has only one result, it simply kills time through our journey in life.
 Even age does not always have the answer to self acceptance. I hear of people in their late 50's still not sure of what their purpose in life is. For some the passion of life is still in an embryonic stage yet with a determination to give birth, while others contemplate the thought but are easily distracted by "2 eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, and a slice of toast", and all is forgotten.

 I would like to ask 7 questions about life and see if you agree. That will require a part 2.

Why We Need Structure In Our Lives

We go through life hoping for that one "big break", a time when we receive all the money we will ever need, a time when we wake up each morning and feel the excitement of a new day, or a time we are in a romantic relationship that flourishes at the mere mention of his/her name. 
  We are not alone with this type of thought. There are those who have experienced these type of enjoyments in life: Fiver, Daffy Duck, Woody, Mickey Mouse, Bambi and many more. The only problem; the characters that often experience and benefit from these "big breaks" are not real, they are cartoon characters who equally never experience the sufferings and pains in real life. 
 One element we do not see in Walt Disney films yet contains vital ingredients we need to have in order to experience a "big break" in life like those of Disney cartoon characters... is structure.
Structure: what is it?, why do we need it?, and most importantly, how will it help us?
 The Oxford Dictionary defines structure in verb form as: "the arrangement and relations of various parts and elements needed in something complex. It can include extremely hard objects (or objectives) to ensure the quality and discipline of a desired result. Phrases such as "hard as flint" or "tough as diamonds" are referred to when structure is being applied in a person's life." The word structure has a Latin origin "struere" which means to build.

 In social science circles the phrase "Life Chances" is taught in relation to obtaining desired results through the use of structure being applied in life's plans, whether it be short term or long term. The main objective in bringing structure to our lives is to create opportunities that has potential to improve the quality of life. Structure is often a progress and rarely an overnight phenomenon and reaches a zenith if coupled with discipline that produces these opportunities at key moments when advancement is favorable,  regardless of race, gender, age, social class, social status, or political thought.

 So, the question I have today: Do Christians need structure in their lives?

 One thing I have noticed in my own life as a Christian is although I may have the talent, knowledge, or even passion to pursue a particular objective in life, without structure accompanied with discipline I find myself appearing as an octopus on roller skates. I may have plenty of movement going on within me with various ideas and thoughts to pursue, yet it is unclear whether I am going forward, backwards, or sideways.
 Saint Augustine once wrote: " Do you want to be great? Then begin by being. Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric? Think first about the foundation of humility. The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation."

  Structure allows others to follow the way of godliness without the fear of being consumed. People can approach the great throne of Grace with a humility and innocence that allows one to ask God Why? How? or What must I do? in reference to purpose in life without fear of His wrath. Tom Watson once said in reference to various fires he has faced : " I'd rather fight 100 structure fires than a wildfire. With a structure fire, you know where your flames are, but in the woods it can move anywhere, it can come up right behind you." Structure in life gives an assurance God is working with you as you construct a vast fabric with His aid, rather than having to guess what you are to do in life only to think He might sneak up behind you and seemingly destroy the tangled threads of what you have seemingly failed to accomplish.

 The book of Ruth is a good example of the benefit of structure. The story begins with a famine in the land of Israel. As a result a Hebrew family moves to the nearby country of Moab. Eventually the father of this family Elimelech along with his two sons Mahlon and Chilion all pass away in Moab with the two sons marrying two Moabite women who were now widows.
 Meanwhile Naomi the wife of Elimelech makes a decision she should return to Bethlehem-judah in Israel and seek her family's support since she now is an older widow. 
 The two daughter-n-laws from Moab beg to go with Naomi to Israel yet Naomi explains she has no more sons to offer to be their husbands and as a result it would be best for her to return home alone. One daughter-n-law decides then to remain in Moab while the other one, her name being Ruth, desired to remain with Naomi. As Naomi and Ruth return to Bethlehem, Naomi was both financially and emotionally empty. yet her family receives them with joy.
 Ruth then went to work in the fields to gather any grain available to have food for both her and Naomi, and it was here she meets Boaz and the story goes on to explain the "big break" Naomi and Ruth received when Ruth met and eventually married Boaz. 

 I think the story shows how Naomi followed a structure and gave purpose to both her and Ruth as they carried on with their lives.