"WHY?"
"Why?"
I know you thought that the theme of this blog is "Why Did This Happen To Me?" In a way it is. Why Does Some Christians Not Show Love?" so that indirectly relates to what we are all trying to accomplish.
I am gullible. I am vulnerable because I choose to not clam up, bottle up, and allow my life to remain unproductive and stagnant only becuase I was stiffed, cheated, abused, locked out of the family will becuase I speak the truth about abuse and because my hair is a little longer than most ministers and wear a tatoo of a cross on my arm. People ask me, "What are you?" I tell them, "I'm different." That's why I got up out of my circumstances, and as Susan Murphy-Milano's book title syas, Moving Out Moving On, I moved out and moved on with my life and bult my fold for Jesus with me, my immediate family, and now hundreds of prayer warriors. I chose to Move out and Move on including relocating to another state. I changed my phone number and told those who wanted to stay down on thier luck, rag tag me with poverty and the ilk of self-pity that I loved them but to never call me again unless they radically changed.
I smile alot. In church, work, play, court, wherever. I get ugly remarks from the paranoid and unhappy souls in restraunts who think I am coming onto them becuase I say...Hi...
Man, this world has changed when you cannot even shake hands the wrong way without someone thinking you want to go bed with them!
I located a job yesterday for a family to whom we took diapers and milk to the other day. To God be the glory. I love and hug and I taught my children to love, hug, and shake it off. So we probably are mistaken for being weak or even stupid because we are not paranoid or do not ultra-examine everything others say or what they do to us. We just keep on happily serving the Lord, chasing child support absconders, filing forma pauperis for indigents, filing pro se contempts, and making dead beat dads support their kids. After all, when we are finished with them in the alter of attitude adjustment they are convinced that if they do not want kids then from now on they need to keep it in their pants and just bay at the moon.
I've been cussed (cursed), cut, hit, busted up from ribs to manhood, black listed from jobs, sniped at with words and weapons, Carolyn and i have had our share of mysytery vehicles and stalkers in the middle of the night, oour pets have been killed, and my family has paid a gallant price for my stand for children suffering from cancers and mom's miscarriages from polluted waste by greedy corporations in my neck of the woods. I cannot place a Santa Claus on my lawn else he will get shot. I cannot walk in the evenings without a concealed weapon because of my stand against corruption. Perhaps I am the only minister alive who has to carry a weapon to the church, wedding, or cemetary to bury someone. I've been scolded and told I have no faith. I have faith and I'll use it to protect myself, spouse of 32 years, family, and friends.
But these things do not bother me. "Why" not? I don't know and do not have time to examine "why" not.
But if these important things do not bother me then "why" does something much simpler bother me?
I thought Christians who have the name Reverand, minister, brother or sister in front of their name or organizations with "ministry", "outreach", or "church" were supposed to be different? Remember, I am gullible. I thought, though, they were not supposed to connive, conspire, and walk on you to get what they want. I though that all of us in god's family were on the same page, writing with the same pen, playing the same tune, and if not then I thought were all at least going in the same direction and share the same purpose. Love and hope for all.
Why is it then that we get ugly mail like "please-do-not-send-me-any-more-stuff-about-battered women-missing persons-or child-support-for-babies and they follow it with...because I am tired of praying for people who got themselves into it and now they must get themselves out of it.
Even ministries and organizatinos i have never heard of who spam me recieve a fair look from me. That's the only way to find out if i need their services. Obviously, there are people who don't think they need anyone yet they want God to bless them when God uses people to bless us.
I wish we all could read a letter we recieved from an inmate in Missouri from a 19 year young man who was defending his mother's and his attempts to survive. This young man does not want a hand out. He acknowledge his crimes and asks for someone to teach him life's principles for when he gets out to take care of his mother never having had the love and directoin of a father. (Our ministry will not even continue correspondence with an inmate until we can lead him to acknowledge his sins and actions and accept Jesus then we teach him in plain English what it takes.
Is it cold in here or is it just me?
It's not just me. I've talked with ministries, organization leaders, and advocates who get more reception from those who have a need, and from "Joe-on-cellblock-A and sweetiepie-corner-mama that from many professing Christians and email recipients who tout phrases like I-love-Jesus-so-much-forever-and-ever-dot-next. Of course the address has been changed. What did you think I would place the real one there?
We recieve the ugliest responses sometimes from self-righteous necklaces, bracelets, and gold watch religionists like Laugh-for-Jesus-so-loud-you-cough-up-your-wallet-ministries, The right-Rev-hit-me-with-jesus, Sunday-morning-smack-down-church-of-what's-happening-now, I-am-so-amazing-to-myself, and hit-me-with-your-best-check-church.
I don't get it. Unless, now, get this tiny revelation or assumption. Unless, these same individuals who shout Jesus and wear the jewelry are harboring little secrets themselves of domestic violence inside the confines of the parsonage or home and our little songs on domestic violence, battery, responsibility, or giving provokes conviction from them.
Or is it that those who are so critical of advocacies and organizations like Peace4 who are striving to find and save lives, feed children, and level the playing grounds for the disadvantaged are advocates for not supporting their children. Maybe those are are like some of the people where I come from who have the attitude that if-you-aint-a-Christian-in-my-crib-you-aint-a-Christian at all. They pick Scriptures that are to their advantage and forget those that says...I have sheep who are not of this fold..." Jesus. Jesus has sheep in other folds and none of them look the same or have the same color of ink but all are sharing the same purpose andthat is to contribute wool to warm the cold and meat to feed the hungry.
You and I are living sheep who contribute cover and food in physical and spiritual ways perpetually every day of ourselves unselfishly and we have our reward.
An email from a minister said to me..."I don't know anything about you so please remove me from your list." Well, heck, I do not know half the people i go to court for but if the seed falls on good ground it will produce for me but I am not going to the trouble to screen every sheep who i do not know.
I thought that was the thing about social networking to get to know people. Maybe it is the key words like battered, women, children, support, absconders, beaten, death, missing, murder, need-clothing supplies, donations, or maybe it is that some people just have the gift of knowing from thousands of miles away who I am. I pity these poor souls who are rich in wealth and wear rags of self-righteousness.
Or maybe, I touched a raw nerve in their sanctimonious life cloaked in hypocrisy choking on the red meat of selfishness and pride to the point that their only vocabuary is "leave me alone."
I hope so because as much as "LOVE" is the name of the game the BIBLE teaches us that faith and love without our works is what...? Dead. We are walking dead if we say we love Jesus and yet have a disobedient and rebellious attitude toward the Scriptures that teach us that helping others is part of the faith-works plan to have God's blessings in our lives.
When we stand before God the most important thing is are we a member of His crib? The crib of faith, hope, peace, and love with works of faith. If we are not then He is going to ask "Why Not?"
The word for today is "support". Support one another with coverings of righteousness and meat and potatoes of love, kindness, patience, meekness, faith, works, temperance, encouragement, and hope.
Every work of hope we all sow will spring in its time.
Love;
Jim
I know you thought that the theme of this blog is "Why Did This Happen To Me?" In a way it is. Why Does Some Christians Not Show Love?" so that indirectly relates to what we are all trying to accomplish.
I am gullible. I am vulnerable because I choose to not clam up, bottle up, and allow my life to remain unproductive and stagnant only becuase I was stiffed, cheated, abused, locked out of the family will becuase I speak the truth about abuse and because my hair is a little longer than most ministers and wear a tatoo of a cross on my arm. People ask me, "What are you?" I tell them, "I'm different." That's why I got up out of my circumstances, and as Susan Murphy-Milano's book title syas, Moving Out Moving On, I moved out and moved on with my life and bult my fold for Jesus with me, my immediate family, and now hundreds of prayer warriors. I chose to Move out and Move on including relocating to another state. I changed my phone number and told those who wanted to stay down on thier luck, rag tag me with poverty and the ilk of self-pity that I loved them but to never call me again unless they radically changed.
I smile alot. In church, work, play, court, wherever. I get ugly remarks from the paranoid and unhappy souls in restraunts who think I am coming onto them becuase I say...Hi...
Man, this world has changed when you cannot even shake hands the wrong way without someone thinking you want to go bed with them!
I located a job yesterday for a family to whom we took diapers and milk to the other day. To God be the glory. I love and hug and I taught my children to love, hug, and shake it off. So we probably are mistaken for being weak or even stupid because we are not paranoid or do not ultra-examine everything others say or what they do to us. We just keep on happily serving the Lord, chasing child support absconders, filing forma pauperis for indigents, filing pro se contempts, and making dead beat dads support their kids. After all, when we are finished with them in the alter of attitude adjustment they are convinced that if they do not want kids then from now on they need to keep it in their pants and just bay at the moon.
I've been cussed (cursed), cut, hit, busted up from ribs to manhood, black listed from jobs, sniped at with words and weapons, Carolyn and i have had our share of mysytery vehicles and stalkers in the middle of the night, oour pets have been killed, and my family has paid a gallant price for my stand for children suffering from cancers and mom's miscarriages from polluted waste by greedy corporations in my neck of the woods. I cannot place a Santa Claus on my lawn else he will get shot. I cannot walk in the evenings without a concealed weapon because of my stand against corruption. Perhaps I am the only minister alive who has to carry a weapon to the church, wedding, or cemetary to bury someone. I've been scolded and told I have no faith. I have faith and I'll use it to protect myself, spouse of 32 years, family, and friends.
But these things do not bother me. "Why" not? I don't know and do not have time to examine "why" not.
But if these important things do not bother me then "why" does something much simpler bother me?
I thought Christians who have the name Reverand, minister, brother or sister in front of their name or organizations with "ministry", "outreach", or "church" were supposed to be different? Remember, I am gullible. I thought, though, they were not supposed to connive, conspire, and walk on you to get what they want. I though that all of us in god's family were on the same page, writing with the same pen, playing the same tune, and if not then I thought were all at least going in the same direction and share the same purpose. Love and hope for all.
Why is it then that we get ugly mail like "please-do-not-send-me-any-more-stuff-about-battered women-missing persons-or child-support-for-babies and they follow it with...because I am tired of praying for people who got themselves into it and now they must get themselves out of it.
Even ministries and organizatinos i have never heard of who spam me recieve a fair look from me. That's the only way to find out if i need their services. Obviously, there are people who don't think they need anyone yet they want God to bless them when God uses people to bless us.
I wish we all could read a letter we recieved from an inmate in Missouri from a 19 year young man who was defending his mother's and his attempts to survive. This young man does not want a hand out. He acknowledge his crimes and asks for someone to teach him life's principles for when he gets out to take care of his mother never having had the love and directoin of a father. (Our ministry will not even continue correspondence with an inmate until we can lead him to acknowledge his sins and actions and accept Jesus then we teach him in plain English what it takes.
Is it cold in here or is it just me?
It's not just me. I've talked with ministries, organization leaders, and advocates who get more reception from those who have a need, and from "Joe-on-cellblock-A and sweetiepie-corner-mama that from many professing Christians and email recipients who tout phrases like I-love-Jesus-so-much-forever-and-ever-dot-next. Of course the address has been changed. What did you think I would place the real one there?
We recieve the ugliest responses sometimes from self-righteous necklaces, bracelets, and gold watch religionists like Laugh-for-Jesus-so-loud-you-cough-up-your-wallet-ministries, The right-Rev-hit-me-with-jesus, Sunday-morning-smack-down-church-of-what's-happening-now, I-am-so-amazing-to-myself, and hit-me-with-your-best-check-church.
I don't get it. Unless, now, get this tiny revelation or assumption. Unless, these same individuals who shout Jesus and wear the jewelry are harboring little secrets themselves of domestic violence inside the confines of the parsonage or home and our little songs on domestic violence, battery, responsibility, or giving provokes conviction from them.
Or is it that those who are so critical of advocacies and organizations like Peace4 who are striving to find and save lives, feed children, and level the playing grounds for the disadvantaged are advocates for not supporting their children. Maybe those are are like some of the people where I come from who have the attitude that if-you-aint-a-Christian-in-my-crib-you-aint-a-Christian at all. They pick Scriptures that are to their advantage and forget those that says...I have sheep who are not of this fold..." Jesus. Jesus has sheep in other folds and none of them look the same or have the same color of ink but all are sharing the same purpose andthat is to contribute wool to warm the cold and meat to feed the hungry.
You and I are living sheep who contribute cover and food in physical and spiritual ways perpetually every day of ourselves unselfishly and we have our reward.
An email from a minister said to me..."I don't know anything about you so please remove me from your list." Well, heck, I do not know half the people i go to court for but if the seed falls on good ground it will produce for me but I am not going to the trouble to screen every sheep who i do not know.
I thought that was the thing about social networking to get to know people. Maybe it is the key words like battered, women, children, support, absconders, beaten, death, missing, murder, need-clothing supplies, donations, or maybe it is that some people just have the gift of knowing from thousands of miles away who I am. I pity these poor souls who are rich in wealth and wear rags of self-righteousness.
Or maybe, I touched a raw nerve in their sanctimonious life cloaked in hypocrisy choking on the red meat of selfishness and pride to the point that their only vocabuary is "leave me alone."
I hope so because as much as "LOVE" is the name of the game the BIBLE teaches us that faith and love without our works is what...? Dead. We are walking dead if we say we love Jesus and yet have a disobedient and rebellious attitude toward the Scriptures that teach us that helping others is part of the faith-works plan to have God's blessings in our lives.
When we stand before God the most important thing is are we a member of His crib? The crib of faith, hope, peace, and love with works of faith. If we are not then He is going to ask "Why Not?"
The word for today is "support". Support one another with coverings of righteousness and meat and potatoes of love, kindness, patience, meekness, faith, works, temperance, encouragement, and hope.
Every work of hope we all sow will spring in its time.
Love;
Jim
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Comment by GWENNIE J on April 17, 2009 at 12:50pm -
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Comment by Jim Harnage on April 17, 2009 at 12:59pm -
You are so welcome. i love the graphics. My wife loves roses.
Love
Jim
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Comment by Delilah on April 17, 2009 at 3:15pm -
Excellent post, Jim. This is one reason I disconnected myself from "church" several years ago. God and I come to many more understandings of each other without the egos, politics, and money changing hands with hypocrites. That was my experience, and I'm not saying that church is bad, not by any means, maybe my drum beats differently than those who I "churched" with.
Since that time my life took a lot of turns, some I shouldn't have gone down, but I have so much more peace within myself when I know I can "church" with God anywhere and anytime of our choosing, not just Sunday mornings and Wednesday night.
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Comment by Maureen on April 17, 2009 at 3:18pm -
Jim you said 'I hope so because as much as "LOVE" is the name of the game the BIBLE teaches us that faith and love without our works is what...? Dead. ' And, I say how true!
Words are useless without action. What good is it to read God's words and bellow them to others but never follow through on what God really wants us to be .... people of action.
Maureen
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Comment by Jim Harnage on April 17, 2009 at 9:24pm
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Maureen, I love your phrase, people of action.
Love and Peace
Jim
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Comment by Jim Harnage on April 18, 2009 at 9:46am
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Delilah;
Thank you. Delilah, i hope to encourage you to continue on the path of peace. No one individual, "church", ministry, or entity has all of the answers for any of us. and you are correct in the fact that it is not limited to Wednesdays and Sunday morning. I love and go to church when I can. My ministry is unique and I fought it for years because it didn't comply with the strict traditional type of religion I come from. But when I allowed myself to be used of God in His ways for me then I began to find peace. I love to teach, minister, organie, and conduct seminars. But if you placed me in a situation that is not my calling then I would flop. That is why God made the "church" the people. That way we are not lmited and are not limiting God to one set of doors or any four walls.
We are the church the body of Christ and Christ is the Head of the church the leader. Jesus said we have the kingdom of God within us. That elminates us from having to scamper for fulfillment every time someones says "Oh, Jesus is only in there or He is only "way over yonder." Delilah, Jesus is within you and that is why you have found peace. You are on the right path and I encourage you to carry Christ wherever you go.
Love
Jim
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Comment by Maureen on April 18, 2009 at 11:21am
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Jim,
I agree with you. No church has all the answers. And, a building doesn't make for holy people. Because I'm Catholic I do attend Mass but it is not so I can hear a minister bellow his thoughts at me it's because I believe in the sacraments. The Catholic Mass is liturgically based, scripture based, Eucharistic based, sacrament based, tradition based with the priest's sermon being just a small, small, small part of the Mass not the focus of the Mass. The focus is on the Word of God and the Eucharist. I can attend Mass anywhere in the world and even though I may not understand what a priest is saying in a different dialect it doesn't matter as I would know exactly what is taking place in the Mass. Comforting for me.
Do I have the Bible memorized from cover to cover? Heck no. Does this mean I don't know God? HECK NO! I know God better than most because for me it's a relationship that never ends. God is in me, with me and through me. Even when I question God, get mad at God, if you will, He is still in me, with me and through me. Can't shake Him and don't want to!
And, Delilah if you have peace with yourself then you are doing what God wants you to do.
Maureen
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Comment by Jim Harnage on April 19, 2009 at 9:50am
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Maureen, like you...I can't and don't want to shake Him. According to Scripture He is in me and I am in Him. That provides the ultimate peace in every question, every storm, and every phase of life.
Love you all;
Jim
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19 Year-old LaQuanta Riley was last seen by relatives in Montgomery, Alabama on December 7, 2003, at approximately 11:30pm. She was getting into a green car, which may be either a Taurus or Caprice.
She was wearing a yellow and green Ecko shirt...
I will call, and respond here, probably tomorrow.
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For those forced to endure the devastation of having your family member or close loved one missing as well as those who desire to support them.
As Christians we are obligated to not only share concern but become involved in the welfare, safety, and health of our children missing or home.
This conference is also posted on Peace4 at the following link:
http://peace4missing.ning.com/forum/topics/missing-and-unidentified
Make sure you check there also to see any comments.
The draft of the Agenda is what sold me on this. That's an amazing agenda, an amazing group of presenters. Todd is even on there on page 3.
Thanks for bringing the information here, Maureen. It looks like an informative experience for every one.
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Can't go to Wisconsin, but do you know if conference papers will be available for download??
Thanks...Doc
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