by Kimberly | Jan 21, 2014 | Bible, World Events
There is so much heart ache in this world. As I’ve been reading the Old Testament this morning, specifically Genesis and Exodus so far – there is much death in those books. However, one key theme I see run across all those pages – and even the pages of my life today: the faithfulness of God. There is hurt, there is weeping. Those are right responses. Death is traumatic because we weren’t created (in the beginning) to face it. But…
He promises.
He keeps.
He covenants.
He remembers.
He is the same.
He never changes.
He is the giver of life.
He is the taker of life.
He is good. He is faithful. When all else fails. Including Death.
by Kimberly | Apr 12, 2013 | ethics, World Events
Yesterday, my husband, son, and I had the pleasure of seeing our next child on a television screen (an ultrasound machine). Waving arms, moving head, kicking feet, beating heart. These things told us this little baby was alive and well. But, we also know that this little baby is a gift of God and life is precious. There is no way that we would ever intentionally hurt this baby.
The reports of Gosnell, the abortion doctor in Pennsylvania, doesn’t seem to have the same regard for the human life. I’ll spare you on the details, but they are gruesome and horrendous. If you haven’t read any of the reports, trust me on that one. I’ve read half an article and my husband stopped me this morning, “why are you reading this” – tears flowed as I started talking about it, wondering how anyone could do this to helpless babies or women.
But, I’m not here to point fingers at Gosnell. He has done wrong. He will either trust the Gospel on this earth or face the judgment and wrath of God in the next life. That is for certain. The wrath of God goes out to those who aren’t under the salvation of Jesus Christ.
However, we are in the same boat. So many times we can cry over the sin of Gosnell or point fingers or call him a sinner, but how often do we look at ourselves and say the same thing. The sin that we have committed and will commit is also under the need of the blood of Christ. Just this week let me tell you the sins that I’ve committed: anger, pride, contempt, argumentativeness, the “silent treatment”, impatience, idolatry, gluttony, and probably many more. Why aren’t I weeping over my sing – more often then not I justify it? Do I really think that those sins are also in need of repentance and the gospel?
So before we go pointing fingers at the hideous, inhumane actions of Gosnell, let us also remember the truth of Romans when Paul says:
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
And let us also remember our Hope:
“And are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24)
by Kimberly | Aug 1, 2012 | World Events
I wasn’t going to enter this conversation, but thought I would after reading a few of the blogs out there on it.
1. I go to CFA a few days a week. The town I live in has 2 CFAs and the busiest fast food restaurant in our town is the CFA closest to our home. I go there because they have CF Diet Coke, a fabulous unsweet tea, and the best chocolate chunk cookies. And they have free wifi. They have free refills. Need I say more? I don’t go there because the food is cheap (because it isn’t, in fact I think it is overpriced for the most part). I don’t go there because I will only support “Christian” companies. I go there because it has what I need and it is convenient.
2. I love listening to the workers interact with each other and the patrons. Tony, the manager at the one I frequent, was having a training conversation with an employee the other day and was sharing life-leadership lessons from his own life, not just what was in the CFA manual. I love hearing management pour into their workers life-long lessons that can be used outside of the workplace. That’s just good management and leadership.
3. I have known several CFA employees and I know every CFA is different, but I hear things about what goes on and what is said and there seems to be just as much disrespect for authority in CFAs as there is in any fast food restaurant. And not every employee they hire is a Christian who lives a Christ-centered life. They may be the majority – but it isn’t the exact way it should be.
4. I am not going to CFA today. I went yesterday. Does that make me a person who doesn’t believe in what they are doing? Ha – I support CFA. But, I just don’t like crowds or bandwagons.
5. What is this boycott really about? Here are some ideas: 1. Some business leaders don’t like the success of other companies above their own. 2. No one likes being told they are wrong (any one not in favor of biblical family values would not agree with Dan Cathy’s statement). 3. One leadership of one company should not be able to influence city management on whether or not to have or build new CFAs in their towns. 4. This whole thing will blow over. 5. CFA may take some hit on their books for July – but they are still standing behind what they said. 6. We have no reason to discriminate against gays and lesbians or folks who just don’t like other people telling anyone else they are wrong. Truth will win out (and that truth is found in the Word of God). 7. As far as I know and have read Scripture, having unbiblical family values or a different sexual orientation isn’t the unpardonable sin. There are many other sins mentioned in the Bible – ones that I do and many other believers who are eating 3 meals at CFA today do: lie, gossip, gluttony, pornography, not go to church, not witness to their neighbors (eating 3 meals at CFA today and not mentioning Jesus is not witnessing in my opinion), debt, consumerism, etc.
6. If you are eating 3 meals at CFA today, think about these things: what are your motives (is it to be right or is it done out of love and faith – since things done without faith is sin), are you spending more than you have budgeted for your food this week, is it gluttonous for you to be eating 3 meals there, and have you told anyone that Jesus loves sinners. We were made to glorify God – not Eat Mor Chikn.
