It's in Titus (song)

 Everyone needs someone to help them in this life. No man is an island, as John Donne said. (Though I do still like to think of myself as an island mon, who is dependent on God and others. :-)) Some of the great heroes had sidekicks to help them. The Lone Ranger and Tonto. Batman and Robin. Paul and Silas. Of course, Paul had chosen Titus to help establish the church in Crete. And through the Holy Spirit's inspiration, he wrote a letter to help him with choosing qualified elders to help in the church and to assure sound doctrine was being taught and to be wary of false teachers. He also reminded Cretan believers that some of the top picks on the list of the best ways to live for Christ include living Godly, upright self-controlled lives so that others can see the grace of God through us. If you want help in God's Word in these things, pray and ask Him for help and read this letter- it's in Titus. 

"It's in Titus" 

(Parody of "Kiss on my List" by Hall & Oates; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 5/11/2020)

(The book of Titus; especially Titus 1:2, 1:15, 2:5, 2:10-14 and 3:5-7)

My friend, son of mine I call you 

Paul's true child in common faith

Please don't be deceived; fakes lead some Cretans astray

Appoint elders- you need help; above reproach kinda guys of 1 wife

Bishops/overseers- not given to violence or pride

No greed to be rich, but holy, disciplined

Holds sound doctrine

So they can go show fakes Truth, rebuking them

Their minds' defiled- nothing's pure- to pure, all things pure

Read what Titus, Titus 1:15 prints

You must silence professing hypocrites

The false prophets teach Jewish myths but Jesus never lies!

Because Titus 1:2- it tells us this

From false prophets you keep social distance

Teach what keeps with all sound doctrine- then you'll turn down the lies 

Well, God's grace has come bringing salvation for all the peeps

Live upright and wait up for Christ- gave His all to redeem

Sober minds, steadfastness in older men; In older women, reverence is sought

Train up girls when young to be pure, kind women of God 

To husbands submit and love him and kids

2:5 Titus

If you want to know what the reason is

No one reviles word of Christ when our lives align 

Likewise, young men- goodness is on my list

Teach with soundness- no one can condemn this

Because witness adorns doctrine of Jesus- 2:10 line

So bondservants submit in all Boss says

Pleasing service, not given to arguments

Because goodness is our witness we're reborn now in Christ

Now read Titus 3, babe

Because us kids were just all once foolish

Slaves to passions, malice, disobedience

But when goodness, lovingkindness of Jesus came- verse 5

We're saved because Your gift paid sins- His mercy's rich

Because our righteousness- it can't do this

Washed by Spirit- Grace justifies- we've eternal life!

You can trust this, Titus, on this insist

Because goodness profits Christians- ya dig?

Because foolish rifts, arguments are worthless and divide

Ohh- please come! Nicopolis- my snowbird nest

Zenas- please come!

How Now Shall We Live?

     How do you separate church and state? If The Bible and all other religious books are not utilized to form or at least inform law, then what moral basis is used? Who even defines what morality is and if it's a good thing? Perhaps immorality would be better? Perhaps some things religion has called moral are really immoral and vice versa? Who can say?

    I think President Obama was right in recognizing that America does still have a very large Christian population, but there are also Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and other faiths- and people of no faith.

   Yet the thing that America has to recognize in its history is that many of its laws in place echo the commands of religious texts, primarily The Bible because there were many Christians who helped found the country, alongside Deists and others who at least had a general respect for The Bible and Christianity, even if they themselves were not Christ followers.

   (This is not to suggest that America has had a good record of consistently following The Bible in its decisions because all are sinners and fall short of God's glory. In any case, I don't like the term "Christian nation" because a nation can't follow Christ- only individuals. One of the main points of America's founding is freedom of religion, which allows for anyone to worship God in any faith they choose or to not do so at all. It is always a voluntary choice- never forced upon people by government. In that sense, separation of church and state certainly exists.)

    That said, it must be clarified that here I am speaking of people forced to follow a religion, of which there are a number of countries that practice this, with harsh penalties in place for anyone following or promoting anything other than the state religion. Thankfully, America does not have this system in place. Yet there are some laws that certainly comport with Christianity's tenets (along with a number of other religions) that inhabitants are compelled to follow or face consequences.

    Laws against theft and murder would certainly resonate with religious texts- should these laws be overturned because of their religious nature? The main value behind such laws is a respect for human life and property of human beings. Why do we regard human life with such supreme value? For the Christian, it's because human beings are made in the image of God and are the pinnacle of His creation. God commands us to respect and value human life because He loves us eternally and holds us in a status of infinite importance in His kingdom. To steal from someone or murder someone would not only be a grave evil to the person, it would also be a besmirchment to God and His creation.

    I think most would agree, regardless of their religious status, that these are good laws that should stay in place. I recognize some would offer vastly different reasons for valuing and upholding such laws but we would still be agreed on their worth and need to be in place. Is that the solution then? Should we establish laws by consensus? Perhaps within the election cycle for leaders there should also be moral surveys in place to determine the nation's general consensus on morality.

Otherwise it could just be left to each individual to determine what is right in their eyes and live accordingly.

(Of course, at least one society did that for a while in history and it didn't work out well for them. See Judges 17:6 and 21:25 in The Bible.)

   In the end, it comes back to the question, "How should we live?" We must then address the question, "Why should we live that way?" Who is the ultimate authority in governing the affairs of men and women?

In order to build a building, you must have a foundation. If the foundation is not sure, the building falls. The same is true for nations.

Manic Sunday (song)

      Unfortunately, I am often known for being late to things. It's not like I'm trying to but it just seems to happen that way. Sometimes I feel like the prince of being late. I'd like to think I could be known for being punctual all the time but then I'm also the king of wishful thinking at times. ;-) And of course, it always seems like it can be a hassle some days on Sundays just to get me to the church on time. Imagine how much worse it can be for the preacher! This is just a little ditty to give a picture of the craziness of Sunday mornings for pastors (and as a pastor's kid myself, I know how this goes a bit)- and a reminder that every day is the day The Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. So bang a drum a little and praise The Lord!

"Manic Sunday"
(parody of "Manic Monday" by The Bangles and written by Prince)
(copyright by Nathan Ludwick 8/14/2018)
(Hebrews 6:10, Colossians 1 and 4:2-6, Psalms 118:24)

6 o'clock already- I was just in the middle of a dream
I was dissing Tarantino's new picture on the silver screen
And I can't be late or else I guess (the) pianist just keeps playing
These are the days when you wish you had a pastoral aide

(Chorus 1)
It was just another panicked Sunday (Ohh!)
And this is my Monday!
And that's what some say-
Why, I don't work but one day!
It was just another manic Sunday

Have to preach to early saints
Got to leave the church to dine
And if I had a chair, they're 'fraid
I still would be making point 9
'Cause it takes me so long just to figure out what I'm gonna share
Play that old refrain
Crank that "Just As I Am" 'til prayer

(Chorus 2)
It was just another Baptist Sunday
I wish we had liturgy
But that's not Fundie
'Cause we don't have it done that way
Not part of our systematic theology

Saturday night! Why'd my computer have to pick that night to shut down?
Doesn't it matter that I have to feed the flock, Jesus?
I'm going to drown!
He tells me in 6:10 Hebrews
C'mon- trust Me! God sees all you do!
Christ- He holds you fast (in Colossians 1)

(Chorus 3)
(When) it's just another frantic Sunday
I wish I was Sunday
Preach that fervently!
Get on Water Wagon- hey!
That's just another man's sermon, 'kay?
I preach- Jesus runs things!
Got that joy coming!
It's just an automatic Lord's Day!
.............................................................................

Season for the Reason: Lifting Rocks and Rolling Stones

             There is an age-old paradox that is asked at times regarding the existence of an omnipotent God. "If an omnipotent being has the power to create a stone He cannot lift, how can He be omnipotent?" Of course, the inherent problem with the wording in this question is that it ignores the fact that God's thoughts and ways are above our own and in fact, are not our own. (Isaiah 55:8-9) God is capable of doing anything He wants- including, if He so desired, creating a stone that He could not lift and still be omnipotent. How could this be done? Since the definition of omnipotence means being all-powerful, God would have to lower Himself and limit Himself in order to perform this feat. Just because we can't understand something doesn't mean it can't be done. In the case of creating and lifting a stone heavier than an omnipotent being can lift, the Omnipotent God did this when He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Though Jesus was fully God, He was also fully human. "...though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:6-11)
     Though Jesus often showed displays of His power as God (see Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for accounts of the numerous miracles He did of healing the sick, miraculously changing water into wine, feeding 5000+ with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread, walking on water, raising Lazarus and others from the dead, etc.), He also limited Himself and did not use all His power. Jesus tells Peter to put away his sword in the garden of Gethsemane when He was arrested and reminds him of His power. "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father, and He will at once send Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" (Matthew 26:53-54)
        Because of the heart of stone in our flesh that we all have that is bent towards sin, God needed to do a heart transplant for all of us to give us a heart of flesh instead. (Ezekiel 36:26) He accomplished that by having His own heart broken for us (figuratively and literally) when Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for all our sins. He then was buried in a tomb with a huge stone to guard the entrance. Mary Magdalene and other women wondered to each other who would roll away the stone for them, in order for them to anoint Jesus' body with spices. (see Mark 16:1-7) But, of course, they didn't have to worry about that because God used His power to roll the stone back via one of His angels, as Matthew 28:1-10 talks about.
          Beyond the physical, the greatest stone God lifts is a spiritual one. As 2 Corinthians 3:3 talks about, people's lives changed by Christ are the greatest testimony to His power, as written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tables of stone but on tables of human hearts. The stone tablets of The Ten Commandments Moses received brought us the ministry of death because the Law condemns us, as we have all broken it many times over- and our hearts are already tainted by the sin nature handed down from Adam and Eve from the start. We have all been condemned to Hell as a result, "for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) However, the ministry of the Spirit has even more glory than the Law's ministry of condemnation. Moses had a glow on his face because of The Lord's glory shining through that Old Testament covenant of the Law that he had to put a veil on. That veil still lies on people's hearts today because they are hardened. When one turns to The Lord, it is removed. With unveiled face, we behold the glory of Christ and begin the process of being transformed into His image (more so than our physical creation in His image) from one degree of glory to another. (see all of Exodus 34 and 2 Corinthians 3.)
            This spiritual stone is one that God moves when we ask Him to do so- He doesn't force it upon us. "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12) Somewhat ironically, when that spiritual stone is removed- after we make the choice to call on the Name of The Lord to save us (Romans 10:9, Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32)- we then become a living stone that God uses to build up His church. (2 Peter 2:4-10) Of course, Jesus is the Stone the builders rejected Who became the cornerstone. Whoever believes in this cornerstone laid in Zion will not be put to shame. (see Isaiah 40:6-8, Isaiah 28:16, Isaiah 8:14 and Psalms 118:22) And as 1 Corinthians 3:11 tells us, this Cornerstone Jesus is the foundation laid that God builds His church upon. Those of whose who are living stones get built and molded together upon that Foundation- the church's one foundation, in fact, as the hymn says. 　
         And as Jesus says in Matthew 16:18 to another living stone (Simon Bar-Jonah, nicknamed Peter by Jesus- which means rock)- He's going to build His church upon the rock of Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. And as Revelation 21 tells us, The Lord has 12 precious stones that He uses to adorn the wall of New Jerusalem in Heaven. The only way to get to see those stones in a kingdom that can never be shaken is to put faith in the Cornerstone Jesus and build your life upon His foundation. That requires having a stone of blindness and doubt moved from our hearts, which we can't do on our own, but God can do for us if we'll let Him. All we need do is ask.

Separated- I cut myself clean

[Another (slightly updated) entry from the archives- March 17, 2008 to be exact. Some of the references in here are from one of my previous workplaces- and the experiences related here are fairly typical of me. LOL. :-) And yes- of course that's a DC Talk reference in the subject line. :-)]

Another weekend has ended and another week has begun. Tomorrow is our prayer meeting at work. I always look forward to that! :-) I managed to get lost not once, but twice this weekend!!! LOL- Friday night I wound up driving all through Maudlin and Simpsonville and out towards Belton and Honea Path before I finally turned around and got back home.  So that was an interesting drive.  Then on Sunday afternoon/evening/night I drove way out towards Marietta and Cleveland (the one in SC, apparently- not Ohio!) and eventually out by Table Rock- which is a beautiful state park, by the way.  My uncle and aunt’s family go there for vacation fairly often.  And so I wound up going to Rocky Creek Baptist Church Sunday morning and had a great sermon taken mainly from Joshua 23, all about following God’s call to be holy and separate from the world.  And then in the evening, in a totally different county (I was somewhere near Pickens or Pumpkintown or something by this point)- I visited at Holly Springs Baptist Church and heard a great sermon taken mainly from 1 Peter 1:13-16, all about following God’s call to be holy and separate from the world.  Talk about deja vu, huh?
Wow! I just find it so awesome how God weaves together stuff like that to flow together so smoothly- even though I wasn’t even at the church I’d intended to go to that evening- but instead got way lost and went to a church in another county- and yet both messages I’d heard that day were very much on the same lines of being holy.  It was also interesting talking about being separate from the world- note that Jesus said we were to be "in the world- but not of". (See John 17:15-17)  We don’t have a choice about being in the world, obviously (I mean, unless you’re dead or you volunteer for that NASA mission to Mars or something ;-)) - BUT, we don’t have to be of the world- and if you’re in Christ, then you’re not of this world! (as Petra pointed out in an awesome 1983 album and song! :-))
In fact, as both sermons talked about, Christians need to be separate from the world and its influence and instead surround ourselves with friends who will help build us up in the faith.  But there is a slight caveat here.  This verse came to mind during church on Sunday- and I’ve just now been able to track down where it’s located (as I’d been trying to remember and racking through the New Testament)-
"I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world." (1 Corinthians 5:9-10)   Right- there’s no way you can fully get away from the immoral people in the world because as it says here, you’d have to leave this world to do that!  But if you read on in verse 11, it says to not associate with someone who calls himself a "brother" (i.e. Christian) but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. In fact, it says with such a man, do not even eat.  God will judge those outside the church- but expel the wicked man from among you (within the church).  But as one pastor pointed out, we should love everyone because God loves everyone.  The example of homosexuals was brought up, as it’s continuing to be a big issue in America today- yes, we should love those who identify as homosexual because God loves them [and of course, we should love everyone because God loves everyone] - but we can’t condone their lifestyle because God doesn’t. [i.e. Just to clarify, while I do believe, due to our fallen world, people can be and are born with homosexual tendencies- but the sin comes in when people choose to act on these tendencies and engage in lust, same sex relationships and sexual encounters.] And we should definitely befriend unsaved gay people and all lost people so that we can share the Gospel with them. [Also to note: I specifically mentioned gay people here because of the example raised in the service, but also to address a tendency some Christians have of avoiding those with particular temptations to sins that we perhaps may not deal with nearly as strongly or just don't understand and perhaps feel uncertain of how to relate with them as a friend. Of course, I think this is exactly how we should relate to all people- in a manner of friendship driven by a sincere love of Christ, which in turn drives us to sincerely love one another.]  (Now I know my brother Kevin would probably interject at this point- so let me clarify. I don’t think that you should ever establish a superficial relationship for the sole reason of "converting" someone to Christ. People can (and will) see right through that. People are people- not prizes. Establish friendships with people to be friends with them- and through that window, by all means show the love of Christ to them- and as God opens up opportunities- share with them about Christ.  And always remember that it’s the Holy Spirit who does the work of converting- we just share the Good News.)
Anyway- I just thought both sermons were great- and that it was cool to hear some of the things that one pastor mentioned- because it’s some that I must admit don’t always get addressed very often in Southern Baptist churches- but at least one pastor went there!  We looked at 1 Corinthians 6:17-20 to focus on sexual purity in particular, and also the Biblical prohibitions we have in place via The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17 or Deuteronomy 5:1-21 - it’s in both places!) - And it’s also good to remember that they are prohibitions in some aspects, but there’s also things that we should do as well.  And ultimately, the laws enable us to truly live the good life that God wants us to live if we follow them as we should.  So they only prohibit us from destruction and woe.
We also hit on 1 Corinthians 8:8-13 (talking about being careful not to be a stumbling block to a weaker brother) and 1 Peter 5:8-9 (watch out for the devil- a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour!)
And we looked at 2 Corinthians 6:14-18- and here, let me get back to what the pastor mentioned that doesn’t always get addressed too often.  Smoking is harmful to the body- so don’t do it!  God tells us to take care of our bodies because they’re His temple- so smoking, drugs, alcohol and any other substances or lifestyles that are destructive to our bodies should be avoided. (The pastor said- "I know some of you will say, ’I have an uncle who smoked all his life and he lived to be 90.’  Well, he might have lived to be 100 if he hadn’t smoked!"- :-))  And the pastor also talked about gluttony- which is eating too much.  And it’s a sin just as much as anything else. Americans are killing themselves because of eating too much.  People are getting heart attacks because they’re too fat. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s the truth- and that’s why I need to be careful myself of being gluttonous and making sure to get out and get some exercise!
Well- I know I’ve been going on for a while here- I just thought there was a lot of good stuff in there.
So anyway- be separate from the world- not by "shunning all evildoers"- but by not allowing the world’s influence to be your main influence- that should be God and His Word.  Let your life stand out so starkly from the rest of the world that people take notice- and as the Sanhedrin noted of Peter and John, let the world take note that "these men had been with Jesus".  I trust that everyone can say of us who follow Christ that we have been with Jesus and are walking with Him

What Music Honors God?

[Note: Another addition from the archives on a topic that still continues to be a hot topic of contention for some churches and Christians at times. And I'm a big fan of music in general and so I wanted to repost this one particularly. I may do a follow-up piece at some point about Christian music in general and some of my thoughts on that. Enjoy and rock (or Gregorian chant) on- for Jesus! :-)]

Okay- whoa! I ran across this video on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LQTP6Ad5Og&mode=related&search=
(Now to be fair, this is a 10 minute video that's edited down from a 45 minute sermon- so apparently all the Scriptural references are somewhere in those other 35 minutes...)
But this was interesting to watch.  I  have experienced many styles of worship at churches, especially considering the church I grew up going to (good old Chaguanas Evangelical Bible Church in Trinidad [http://cebctt.com/])- the one I was at for most of my teen years (http://web.archive.org/web/20070502183429/http://www.pelionbaptist.com/)- and the "megachurch" Newspring (www.newspring.cc) that I went to for a while and my current church, which offers a blend of classic and contemporary styles. (www.brushycreek.org)
I don't agree with the views in the video- because I think it's most important that your heart is truly worshipping Jesus and I don't think He really cares what kind of music you're playing- (and you know He must be God if He can stand country music and actually enjoy it when it's praising Him! )
Yeah, I'm definitely NOT God.  I can stand country music when it's praising God- but enjoy it? ....I don't think so! (lol- I've learned to put up with it a little more over the years- still one of my least favorite styles of music, but there are a few country songs that I like.)
I recently read through a book at the library called "Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement".  Very interesting read- written by a guy who was into secular rock music, led worship at a church that did a lot of contemporary Christian music- and is now at a very traditional church that only uses traditional music- i.e. hymns.
http://www.amazon.com/Left-Contemporary-Christian-Music-Movement/dp/0852345178/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-6198925-3183029?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174948872&sr=8-1
Anyway, I guess this is to say that I've been to both ends of the spectrum to some degree.  I've been at churches that stick closely to traditional hymns (and by the way- "And Can It Be?" by Charles Wesley still rocks my socks off! :-))  and my current church likes to use more recent worship music (like that great song that goes "And I know that You're alive- You came to fix my broken life- And I will sing to glorify- Your Holy Name- Jesus Christ!" :-))
And I wanted to be fair and listen to the author's points.  And the author of the book at least, does have some valid points.  He does bring out 1 Thessalonians 5:22 "Avoid every kind of evil." - Absolutely! We should definitely do this because we should do everything in The Bible.  Of course, if you read the verse right before that it says this - "Test everything. Hold on to the good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
I guess I grew up as a kid singing hymns in church, along with worship choruses (like Rich Mullins' "Awesome God", "What a Mighty God We Serve", "Seek Ye First", and lots of others you probably don't know for geographic reasons ...)
Of course, as a kid we also sang the hymns A LOT faster than the way they're sung in some of the churches I've been to in the USA. 
What I don't get is where these guys see that The Bible ever says rock and roll is evil?  I've yet to find that verse.  (And not to brag, but I have read them all at least twice- working on the third go round now....)
Who decided what was God's style of music? 
I think the heart of worship is WAY more important to God than the style of music.  This is the same reason God doesn't care if you sing like a nightingale or crow like a...well, crow.  The important thing is not so much how pretty your voice sounds- but how pretty your heart looks.  If you're truly worshipping God, I really don't think He cares beans about what style of music you're using.  I mean, this is the God who created like a gazillion kinds of bugs!  He made people different shades of skin.  I mean, the same style of music (yes, even that beloved country-rap ) does get boring after a while.  So I don't personally have any problem with different styles of music- as long as it's truly worshipping God.  The lyrics really make the song for me- not the music (though having good fun music you can rock out to is cool too)
Now keep in mind that I fully believe you can sing "How Great Thou Art" every single Sunday and God would never get tired of it.  I never get tired of singing it- it ROCKS!!!  Because God ROCKS!!!!!
But there's nothing wrong with playing blue's licks!  As Larry Norman put it "Why should the devil have all the good music?"
I can also sing "What's In a Name?" by Petra and totally rock out to it- and it definitely praises Jesus- Name above all names!
    I think we do need to not be a stumbling block to our brothers and sisters (1 Corinthians 10:32- "Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God")- but at the same time Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 9:22 "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."
And then there's the Psalms.
"Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with tambourine and harp." (Psalms 149:3)
"Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and the lyre, praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord."  (Psalms 150)
Note that "Praise Him" is the most frequently repeated phrase here.  That's the most important thing. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ- with the Gregorian chants, with the pipe organs, with the baby grand piano, with the acoustic guitar, with the electric guitar, with the harp, with the drums, with the violin, with the flute, with the trumpet, with the tambourine, with your own dancing- and most importantly with your life!  Praise God with everything you've got! 
If hymns are reaching people and bringing them to salvation in Christ- AWESOME!  If Gregorian chants are reaching people and bringing them to salvation in Christ-AWESOME! If rock and roll is reaching people and bringing them to Christ-AWESOME!
Because ultimately it really doesn't matter what music you use or if you use any at all.  The Holy Spirit is what draws people to Jesus and brings them to salvation.  Not the music, the pews, carpet, pastor's preaching or anything else.  Just the Holy Spirit.  We get the awesome privilege of being His tools to witness for Him - and when we just share the Good News that Jesus Christ loves you to death- (literally on His part- but don't worry- He rose again! Talk about a love that really reaches from beyond the grave! ) then that's all that matters.  The Holy Spirit uses us and helps us get the right words out and brings people to salvation.  And we see that everything is about God- and we are used by Him for His purposes if we're open to Him.
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Diversity and your cup of tea...

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/time-be-candid-google-admits-lack-workplace-diversity-n116866

           Why does the article treat this like it's a problem? Why can't it just be that the demographics are simply how the numbers worked out for... Google? Why must it be perceived like Google has some nefarious plot to mainly hire Caucasian men and snub others? Why are Caucasian males not considered "diverse" in and of themselves? (As if they all think exactly the same and have the same backgrounds, etc. As if that's true of any group of people...) And why are churches with predominantly African-American congregations and clergy not considered to be lacking in diversity? Why are Native American reservations not considered to be lacking in diversity? Why is it an issue at all? Why can't we just see people as human beings made in the image of God who are all infinitely important and loved by Him?
          I got the impression the attitude adopted by the company was saying that if we don't have this much quotient for this race, and this much for this gender and this much for whatever other category one wants to list- we must be racist, sexist, etc.. and thus, there must be a problem. I agree that if a company like Google is actually consciously or subconsciously discouraging anyone from applying (other than reasons of not being qualified- i.e. not having a computer science degree)- then, yes- there is a problem that needs to be corrected. But if that's just how the numbers played out, that's okay too. I think society at large tends to steer men and women to certain professions and that's not any one company's fault. Certainly things can be done to improve that so all boys and girls are encouraged to pursue whatever career they feel God has prepared them for. I only mentioned churches and reservations as examples- I don't consider them racist (unless they are actively discouraging others from coming- with a race-predominant church, that's a huge issue because The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone! With the reservations, I understand the desire for Native Americans to practice their way of life in seclusion and having spoken with a full blooded Native American who has lived on a reservation, I have learned some more about them in recent times. (At least some reservations do have a deal about not allowing American Indian/non-American Indian marriages to live on a reservation together though- which is a bummer, but that's their thing if they choose to be separate.)         Why should a business pick a minority out of two equally qualified candidates? I understand that's the goal of affirmative action, but I find that equally racist. I don't think hiring someone "because we need a black guy to meet racial quotas" is a good reason to hire someone. I think that's more patronizing than anything.
          I didn't say predominantly black membership churches and Native American reservations are being racist or anything of the sort and I definitely do not mean to imply that. I understand the historical reasons for their existence. The 1964 Civil Rights Act is a great achievement that needed to happen and I applaud it. (I just wish its ideals had been applied back around 1620 or so and that America and all other countries had never gotten into the slave trade to begin with, as it is obviously morally wrong and a sin to treat anyone as less than a human being made in the image of God and eternally loved by Him. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.)
My comparison with them and Google was just to point out that no one criticizes these groups for not being "diverse" (even though they are diverse by virtue of having more than one person there), but Google is criticized for not being "diverse". I don't see why that is a concern, unless of course, they are actively trying to discriminate against and discourage any particular group of people from getting jobs there (outside of the unqualified applicants who don't have the necessary Computer Science degrees of course.)
        I have also been to different churches that have predominantly African-American congregations and I have been totally welcomed in The Name of The Lord. :-) (There is certainly a different style though from Caucasian-predominant Baptist churches- but that's cool. Diversity in that sense is good. We all worship the same Lord God Christ for all His followers. And Jesus prayed that we would be one in John 17. And Galatians 3:26-29 says that there is no Jew or Greek or male or female in Christ; rather, we are all one in Christ. :-))
Anyway, that's mainly what I was trying to say. I also disagree with the thinking that says that a bunch of people of the same race, gender, age, religious background, etc. are all the same in thinking and thus, not diverse. I tend to think that's rather prejudiced in itself. We are all unique with our own thoughts and we all add something of value because God made us all in His image. (Genesis 1:26-27) That's why I like to say that God thinks we are all infinitely important and so do I. He proved that by sending Jesus to die for all our wrongdoings and failures and rise again so that we could put our faith in Him for salvation! The Bible says He has loved us with an everlasting love! (Jeremiah 31:3) And He commands all who follow Him to show that same love to everyone. (John 15:12 - Jesus says it quite a few times in this chapter. They will know we are Christians by our love- that's what Jesus says.)
*As to the example of Native American reservations and single race-predominant churches, they are just examples. As C.S. Lewis (more or less) said once, if they are helpful- cool. If not- discard them. 
        

Take Me Home To Christ (song)

For those of us who know Him, He’s the sweet aroma of life- the power of salvation through God. And we want everyone else to come to know Him. So while I’m thankful for the ways He uses me for those ends while on Earth- and while there are things I’d like to see Him do here in my life still- ultimately, I just want to be with my Savior and family in The Lord in Heaven for all eternity. All the money in the world couldn’t keep me away. You can have all this world affords- just give me Jesus.

Take Me Home To Christ
(parody of “Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money; copyright by Nathan Ludwick 4/17/2014)
(Romans 8:9-27, Philippians 1:21-26 and 2:1-11, Song of Songs 8:6-7, Romans 5:8, Romans 10:8-21, Romans 15:20-21, 2 Peter 3:8-9, Colossians 3:1-4, Psalms 16:11, Psalms 73:23-28, John 6:25-58 (particularly 6:35), Acts 26:28-29, Romans 1:16-17)

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Yeah, yeah-eeh, yeah-eeh, yeah

You feel a hunger- it’s a hunger
That tries the meaning we attach to life
I tell you The Answer- the signs and wonders
When you feel they whet your appetite

With Spirit power, sharing Jesus
For Heaven’s sake ‘cause all the cities are His alone
Emancipation’s coming through Him
‘Cause Christ’s the key Who turns this engine on

If you will believe
He can seal your heart (for) hereafter

Chorus 1
Take the road to Christ
I don’t want to let you go ‘til you see The Light
Take 10 Romans 9
Listen honey
Just like Romans said
Believe on Christ The Savior
Oh, oh, oh!

Christ has brightened me from all darkness
To live is Christ and I long to see God’s throne
Colossians chapter 3- In God’s my real self
I’ve been reborn and The Lord lives in me now

Phil. 1:23
I wanna leave; but church needs me here

Chorus 2
Take me Home to Christ
I just want to let it go and be in Paradise
Take me Home tonight
Listen honey
Just like Romans said
Read in 8:23
Jesus, we are waiting!

Just like what it says
In Psalms 73- it says
He fulfills my cravings
Jesus- my everything! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!
He feeds my hunger
6:35 [six three five] John- yeah!

(Repeat Chorus 1 twice)
(Repeat Chorus 2 [with background vocal- “He’s my everything”])

Chorus 3
Take this world- leave Christ!
I just want to let it go and stay at His side
Take me Home to Christ
Listen honey
Just like Romans 7
He’s my loving Savior
Jesus- You’re all to me!

…………………………………………………………