Month: August 2016

Like Martha

The idea came to me during Jiujitsu class, that I should start posting short devotionals. My hope with these small entries is that people will be spiritual stirred  to draw closer to God and even work out where they might be in their daily lives.

Luke 10:38-42jesus-mary-martha-396319-print-do-not-copy-notice

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus[a] entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.[b] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

I’m a type A personality, I like to get things done in a timely manner. And when things don’t, I tend to freak out. My anxiety sky rockets and I am anything but a peace. In fact saying that I’m a grump just doesn’t do it.

Martha is one that I would relate to, one can easily tell that she is stressed out. And probably wants to leave a good impression, especially when you have someone like Jesus in your home. Martha is obviously frustrated with her sister Marry for choosing to not help her with all that needs to be done. If I was her, I’d probably be cussing her out quietly in my heart and mind.

Yet Marry chooses to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to every word he utters. What Marry chooses to do is stunning to my soul, yes she knows things need to be done. No, I don’t believe that she is simply shunning her sister. I think what is happening is she knows that for the moment, it is better to sit at the feet of Jesus. To simply be still in his presence.

We should do the same, why? Because the more we learn to be in the Lords presence, the less our anxiety wraps it’s arms around us. The more joyful and peaceful we will be. We won’t be so let down by others, for we will know that God is the one that provides us with all we need.

 

 

My Thoughts on Guns and Gun Control

Growing up as a kid, I had an obsession with guns, toys guns more likely. My father was a military man and even captain of an S.WA.T. team. I could even name most real life guns that I saw in movies. Yet, the distinction was guns in my life is that my father raised me correctly  in how to view them.

He would tell me things like:

“Real guns are for self-protection”

or

“You should never point a gun at someone unless you truly have to”.

The point in which someone is informed about guns makes a big difference, for instance, many on the left believe that guns should be taken away from people.  Or that guns should be much more difficult to get access. This way fewer shootings would happen like that which happened in Orlando and various other shootings that have taken place in our world.

I’d like to clarify one simple fact: Guns, even though they can be scary and take the life of another human being are not the primary issue. The real issue at hand is the intentions of human beings that have access to them. There is a vast difference between the terrorist that shoots up a night club and an off-duty police officer or civilian who decides to pull out their firearm.

The terrorist’s heart is filled with evil of many kinds, his objective is to take life. While the officer or civilians objective is to save a life. Do you see the difference? Yes in events such as this lives are lost. But I’d much rather have someone deploy their sidearm in the name of saving others than from having no way of fending off a wolf.

I fully understand that some in our society may not like guns or have any desire to fire them or learn about them. That is their own opinion and mindset. Yet in  no way should that disqualify others from having a concealed carry weapon on their person, simply because guns are seen as “dangerous”. That is silly… After all, even though a person might not admit it. When danger strikes surely they will be thankful when a person with a weapon on them saves their lives.

Since the very first Jason Bourne came out, I’ve been a fan. Even Matt Damon, until this meme is posted:

safe_image

So even though the guy makes millions of dollars playing the role of Jason Bourne, he’s fine shooting weapons in movies. And yet he is not for them in real life? If he really did oppose them he probably should have turned down those million dollar roles. All I’m saying that one should honor their convictions to the best of their human ability.

All in all, my message is this. The more we educate ourselves on the subject of guns. The more I believe that a lot of the fears concerning guns will vanish. Take a firearms class, see how you like it. If you still are not for them in the end, that is fine. But do not hold to the understanding that guns are scary. I am more scared about the wickedness that lives in the human heart.