Recently a couple and their children went on a trip with a church group. They all had a great weekend. The children played and everyone enjoyed fellowship with each other. All the participants felt blessed for a peaceful and enlightening weekend. New friendships were forged and new bonds created. But as the weekend came to an end and the families packed up to go home, the devil injected himself into their camaraderie, fellowship and all around good time. As is often the way of the devil, he sneaked in when no one was looking and convinced these people of God that much more had gone on over the weekend than the fellowship and Bible study. Before long these people carried home bad feelings, accusations and hard feelings. Then the devil injected himself in their home life causing disruption and doubt, nurturing hate and mistrust, and general discontent between family members and friends. The devil won another one.
There was a company in the area where all the staff were friendly and worked together in a cooperative and pleasant manner. Most of the staff were Christians. I know it is not correct to discuss religion in the workplace, but Christians don't have to discuss religion - they live it. Everything was going really well and progress was being made until the old devil moved in. Actions speak louder than words. The same words were being spoken, but the actions had changed. And you know, those words were spoken in a different tone, a different volume, a different look on the face from which they were spoken and everyone knew, the devil could not stand the wonderful things that had been happening. Not only did the atmosphere in the office change, the outlook of the whole company changed and there was no stopping the discontent, hatred, jealousy and accusations that now flowed from every employee. The devil won another one.
Two young men were starting a business. They had been getting small orders, but not enough to pay themselves a salary and pay the overhead too. Their start up cushion was almost gone and they had to make the decision to stay open and not draw a salary or close the doors. Just as they were about to give up, a huge order came in. Unless they worked night and day they couldn't deliver on time without hiring additional help which they could ill afford to do. They worked and worked and got the order out, but were exhausted. They made enough money to stay open for at least another year and still draw salaries for themselves. They thanked God for their good fortune as more orders started flowing into the office. The devil sneaked in and set the two men against each other. They two could not agree on anything and slowly the business collapsed. So sad that the devil won another one.
Don't you just hate that old devil!
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Happy 4th of July
Freedom
A big Thank You to the men and women who made this country different some 235 years ago. People flock to our country by the millions to participate in the freedoms the country of America offers as they have done for two hundred years. America offers to one and all the security, protection and freedom not found in any other country.
When this country was founded the fathers saw unlimited space for the millions they anticipated escaping the tyranny of the governing bodies of other lands. Not just England, but all of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and so many more. The founding fathers had found a land that could accommodate all and developed a governing body to represent all these different people.
Everyone would have a say in how the government would be run and no body would be told what they could or could not do unless it infringed on the rights of others. The government offered each and every person the protection of life and property.
Freedom of speech was guaranteed as was religion. Everyone could worship as they saw fit - Mormon, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Muslim, Holiness, Lutheran and all the others - and churches abounded. Following the guidelines of the Ten Commandments, laws were made for the inhabitants of America. Each and every person had input into the making and passing of these laws. The leaders of the country listened to the people and voted, not by what they felt, but what the people expressed to them.
This was a new country, built to escape the power seeking tyranny of old. These people were happy to have a place to escape the threats and control of their old governments. They wanted a place to build new lives and didn't mind working hard. They had worked hard before to line the pockets of previous rulers and governments, while their families did without and suffered greatly.
New businesses were built to trade goods and provide for the new inhabitants of this vast new land. Explorers expanded the boundaries of the new land and people slowly filled the vast spaces of this America while the original inhabitants were pushed into smaller and smaller spaces in an effort to survive.
Where are we today? After only two hundred some years has this America become that which the founding fathers and the first immigrants escaped? Is not the government lining its own pockets at the expense of the working people? How can businesses survive with the taxes required by the government to employ people? What services are needed that require such heavy funding and are those services necessary? Is it necessary for government to take over businesses even if the fail? If a person cannot run a business in a profitable manner, why should the government take them over? Are the people so dependent on working for someone else, they no longer know how to survive by hard work and thinking for themselves? Has government made it so hard for people to start a business, they become frustrated and give up?
This country was founded by people who wanted a chance of making a life without government control. Can we find our way back? Are we looking at a future where a single leader controls our life, our liberty? People, get control of yourself first and then look to having a voice in the running of this country. Don't five up your freedoms on which this vast land of America was founded.
I say yea to the Tea Parties, to the activist who voices their concerns, to anyone who stands up and voices their beliefs. Let's start making the right changes in our own country and quit focusing on the civil uprising on those people who are fighting the tyranny in other countries. There are no new vast lands to which we can escape. There must be a change first in the hearts and minds of each individual and then as a nation.
Thank you to those founding fathers who had a unique concept and had the courage and stamina to go forth and develop the Constitution that establish this great country. Happy fourth of July - the birthday of our nations independence and freedom.
A big Thank You to the men and women who made this country different some 235 years ago. People flock to our country by the millions to participate in the freedoms the country of America offers as they have done for two hundred years. America offers to one and all the security, protection and freedom not found in any other country.
When this country was founded the fathers saw unlimited space for the millions they anticipated escaping the tyranny of the governing bodies of other lands. Not just England, but all of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and so many more. The founding fathers had found a land that could accommodate all and developed a governing body to represent all these different people.
Everyone would have a say in how the government would be run and no body would be told what they could or could not do unless it infringed on the rights of others. The government offered each and every person the protection of life and property.
Freedom of speech was guaranteed as was religion. Everyone could worship as they saw fit - Mormon, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Muslim, Holiness, Lutheran and all the others - and churches abounded. Following the guidelines of the Ten Commandments, laws were made for the inhabitants of America. Each and every person had input into the making and passing of these laws. The leaders of the country listened to the people and voted, not by what they felt, but what the people expressed to them.
This was a new country, built to escape the power seeking tyranny of old. These people were happy to have a place to escape the threats and control of their old governments. They wanted a place to build new lives and didn't mind working hard. They had worked hard before to line the pockets of previous rulers and governments, while their families did without and suffered greatly.
New businesses were built to trade goods and provide for the new inhabitants of this vast new land. Explorers expanded the boundaries of the new land and people slowly filled the vast spaces of this America while the original inhabitants were pushed into smaller and smaller spaces in an effort to survive.
Where are we today? After only two hundred some years has this America become that which the founding fathers and the first immigrants escaped? Is not the government lining its own pockets at the expense of the working people? How can businesses survive with the taxes required by the government to employ people? What services are needed that require such heavy funding and are those services necessary? Is it necessary for government to take over businesses even if the fail? If a person cannot run a business in a profitable manner, why should the government take them over? Are the people so dependent on working for someone else, they no longer know how to survive by hard work and thinking for themselves? Has government made it so hard for people to start a business, they become frustrated and give up?
This country was founded by people who wanted a chance of making a life without government control. Can we find our way back? Are we looking at a future where a single leader controls our life, our liberty? People, get control of yourself first and then look to having a voice in the running of this country. Don't five up your freedoms on which this vast land of America was founded.
I say yea to the Tea Parties, to the activist who voices their concerns, to anyone who stands up and voices their beliefs. Let's start making the right changes in our own country and quit focusing on the civil uprising on those people who are fighting the tyranny in other countries. There are no new vast lands to which we can escape. There must be a change first in the hearts and minds of each individual and then as a nation.
Thank you to those founding fathers who had a unique concept and had the courage and stamina to go forth and develop the Constitution that establish this great country. Happy fourth of July - the birthday of our nations independence and freedom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
