Peace Child

My daughter just finished a novel about missionaries in Papua New Guinea. I do not think you need to have read Peace Child to appreciate this video. 

Never the Same from Pioneers-USA on Vimeo.

I Used to Go to This Church

Prayer For Trump?

I remember thinking as I read Obama derangement syndrome posts in my Facebook feed last year, don't they know what the Bible teaches about the relationship of Christians to their rulers? The same thoughts are occurring today as I look in my Facebook feed with regard to Trump. 

I remember the scene from Fiddler on the Roof where the rabbi is asked about prayer for the Czar. The suggested prayer was along the lines of "keep the czar safe, and far away from us."

While because of various pogroms against the Jews this is understandable, it does not fit the spirit of the Hebrew Scriptures. 

Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,

or curse the rich in your bedroom,

because a bird in the sky may carry your words,

and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Eccl 10 20

While this is more advice than a command, it is good advice. If you say negative things in private, it may spill over at a time you don't want it too. 

Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people. Ex 22:28 (KJV)

There is some ambiguity about the word "gods" here. The word is Elohim and can mean the true God, gods in general or judges. I lean toward the latter interpretation. This is why David, who was fleeing from King Saul, never condemned Saul. Saul wanted David dead, responding in kind would seem normal, yet David did not do so. 

The Greek scriptures continue this pattern. 

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, I Tim 2. 22

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.1 Peter 2:17

It must be remembered that the king or emperor referenced was the Roman emperor who had the authors of these passages killed. Yet, they were to be honored and prayed for. 

I tend to have an anabaptist approach to religion-so structure is suspect.  As a result I personally have not done too well in this area. I remember praying for Obama on occasion, but never for Bush! As for Trump, it has not been that long since he became president, even though it seems like an eternity. I prayed for him on his inauguration, but not since. The Orthodox Church seems to have it more correct. They build such prayers right into their liturgy. 

I imagine that people blog for different reasons. Mostly I blog for myself. If you happen to come along for the ride, well the more the merrier. This particular blog post, if it actually appears, will be set to post some time in the future. If it appears that will mean I have prayed for Trump for a while and recommend it. 

Remember that while God can and does intervene, the purpose of prayer is not that. Prayer is good because it changes us as people. Are you up to having some changes in your life? It might even change what you post on Facebook. 

I Refuse

This song really hit me hard. What have you left undone? 

A Personal Rant

I live in a state where marijuana is legal, but plastic bags aren't. Where in order to help the poor, the state raises the price that the poor pay for cigarettes. Where the more roads they build, the worse the traffic gets. Where your salary is not bad, but you spend it all on rent.  Where people who did not bother to vote protest the election they did not participate in by riots. Where big corporation are hated, but yet they control the economy. Where they build mass transit that doesn't go anywhere. A state where everyone hates Walmart, but everyone shops there, riding in carts because they are too fat to walk. A state that prides itself on organic food, but is filled with MacDonalds. A state that is the porn capital of the world, but the issue recently on the ballot was not should you "do it" in films, but should the actors wear condoms when they do. (They don't have to, the measure failed.)

I live in a nation where the best and cheapest way to get gender reassignment surgery is to join the military. A nation where the president agrees to a ceasefire, and the military "accidentally" breaks it. A nation that is happy when its president only drones a few people, and only supports wars that kill hundreds of thousands, but does not directly participate. A nation that subsidizes large corporations while singing the praises of a free enterprise system. I live in the most prosperous and wealthiest nation in the history of the world, but yet it can't pay its bills.

I live in a nation that thinks that a politician can save them from themselves. As the Bible says, you reap what you sow. Get ready for some karma.