Like A Fridge: Overeating

There is a propensity for Christian people to be overweight. Look around churches and it seems that both men and women have just given up! Some say to change, "it must be for oneself". I say "true change is for someone you love better". For instance I never quit smoking for "Me" because "I" enjoyed smoking! However, with my young son placing blame on me for his bad habits, I was able to quit immediately by "changing for a person that I love"! That person was my son. I wish that I could say that I did it for God, but I didn't. However, God did something for me! God made change easy!

Why did God help me? The focus came off the "I" and onto another. It's sort of like the Golden Rule. God knows that we all love ourselves, but he's not so impressed with how much we care for others! People don't change because having to change IS a sacrifice. Guess what? We are the ultimate sacrifice:

Romans 12:1 ""I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

No! We're not to change for ourselves. In fact we are to sacrifice ourselves to God. (And part of loving God is loving others!). Not only does God ask us to sacrifice ourselves, he tells us that the request is reasonable. Furthermore, we are never alone in making changes:

 Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Why do people fail? People do it alone! We are to" let our requests be known to God".  It's done by prayer (asking and praising an all-powerful God), by supplication (asking in humility and faith) and with thanksgiving (thanking God because he's about to help). God already knows what you need, but your part is to acknowledge to God that you know too!

Therefore, as Christians, we are to sacrifice ourselves. The Old Testament sacrifices were to be the prime cut:

Leviticus 4:26 "And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings..."

Whereas the priests burned the fat of animals in thanksgiving to the Lord, we're now the "living sacrifice"! The burning of the fat was a free-will offering thanking God for what he has done and will do! It's an offering of faith because God has shown to his people that he is faithful! By making a "peace-offering" to God by burning the fat of the offering, we are showing love for God!

Let's move back to now! We no longer sacrifice animals. Thanks to Jesus making that sacrifice one time for all, animals are spared. No more physical killing is necessary. However, we are to kill the old nature. The nature where we worship "Self". What better way for a Christian to demonstrate peace with God than to be a living sacrifice! For some that means we change what we hold dear. It's not a true sacrifice to sacrifice what's easy. We must sacrifice what's hard for us to give up!

Now let's get back to weight. Most of us overeat. It's a very negative word, probably not in Joel Osteen's lexicon, but many of us are gluttons. (I recognize that others may have the opposite eating disorder, but for now it's "gluttony"). Gluttony does not specifically mean "obese". It mans that people overeat. I'm not overweight, but at times I overeat. I'm a glutton at times. For me when I overeat I burn it off because God keeps me healthy enough to do that. Others may not be able to for various reasons and therefore gain weight.

There are those who can be gluttons and never gain a pound. I remember that time, but age caught up with me. My body no longer has the metabolic activity to burn calories so I have to work harder to even keep from gaining. However, that is my reasonable sacrifice. Now for the part that "hurts", but my intention is to help! We are to reprove those who do wrong. We are to correct those who curse, lust and fail to love others. Likewise, we are to tell others about less offensive sins:

Philippians 3:18 "(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"

I'm not sure that our God is our belly! That's a colloquial expression. However, it's our taste buds which desire pleasure. People don't eat to stuff themselves. They stuff themselves because they are overindulgent. They are sacrificing themselves to themselves! People who have a lifestyle of wanton overeating are sacrificing themselves, not to God, but to Molech!  If you recall what was loved most (children) were sacrificed to that idol. Overeaters are bringing the fat of their living sacrifice and giving it to the wrong god!

Before one can feel sorrow and repent they must be convinced that what  they do is wrong: Her goes:

Galatians 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."

We think of sexual lust when we read this verse, but it's a general lust. It applies to food if we crave it! It is a sin to crave food if the craving leads to overeating and obesity. The craving is the devil tempting; the overeating is the sin!

1 Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

When we walk into a room and see obesity, it's unlike sins of the heart, because it cannot be hidden. It's there for all to see. We can eat in secret, but it's no secret that we overeat. It's as Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-tale Heart; our own sin announces itself to all! People can't hear our "heart" as they did in Poe's tale, but they can "see" what we think is hidden!

When we walk into God's house and see obesity, there is even more trouble there! As Christians we are to present ourselves as a reasonable sacrifice. That's not happening! The temple which should be filled with God's Holy Spirit has a "squatter" crowding out the joy the person should have. Knowing that we overeat does steal our joy and with a "reasonable sacrifice" joy can be had! It's not reasonable to acquire a perfect body, but to present to God a healthy body. That fat on you can be presented to God as a reasonable living sacrifice! Let's look again at what the Old Testament sacrifice was:

Leviticus 3:3 "And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards..."

Yes, the fat inside the belly and the fat upon the belly was sacrificed. That was a "reasonable sacrifice" for the priest to make for the sins of the people with their killed sacrifice, and it's reasonable for you "the living sacrifice"!

Now an apology! It hurts when we are corrected whatever our sin may be! My own friend called me out on a grievous sin and I was angry. However, weighing what he said, I knew that I had just been reproved of my sin. I was guilty as charged! It took someone who really loved me to correct me. I appreciate that. It's called "tough-love" by psychologists and is really taking a chance. Most people reject correction because of pride and emotion. The Christian must weigh the judgment and if it's not condemning, but helpful, then change one must!

Scripture says "therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's". You are not your own! Don't practice self-control in eating to please the "Self". Do it to please God! Few change for the Self, since the Self is selfish, but they will change for someone they love. Show God that you love him. Present to him a "living sacrifice" and let others see the change because temperate eating is a sacrifice for those who overeat!

He Was There All Along!

Alone in the Garden he stood.
Rejected by those like him.
His love traded for food.
Food that led them to sin!

The Voice was in the garden
he walked in the evening cool.
Jesus had come to pardon
on earth this King will rule!

With Jacob he wrestled at night.
It was God Jacob fought.
Then ended the match with the light.
'Twas Jesus who our souls bought!

Then Abraham brought  his child.
His only son to give.
That mankind who are defiled
might for eternity live!

It was Jesus who can save!
But Abraham had the faith.
It was God's own son he gave...
so that we face not death!

Abraham met the Priest.
Mechizedek king of Salem.
He was king of the least...
'twas Jesus who never failed them!

Then Shadrack and the other two
were forlorn in the mire.
But there along with the few...
there was another in the fire!

It was Jesus standing tall.
Saving those with his grace.
It was Jesus the royal saw...
defeating death in the  face!

Yes, the Word was always here.
It was Him all along.
He stood with those in fear
and sang the angel's song!

Then John came to announce
that the Word was now incarnate
Sin he came to renounce
and men's souls to rejuvenate!

The man who is the Tree of Life
was nailed onto a tree.
Then ended all the strife
because men were now made free!

That Tree of Life is still standing.
In Paradise the Tree lives still.
grace all free sin still handling
it happened upon the hill!

The Cross is empty and bare.
The Tree died upon the tree.
Now no longer death we fear
and soon that Tree we'll see!

Political: Dr. Tim Hulsey on America and the United Nations

Why does the United States of America continue to belong to and host the United Nations?

The United Nations has increasingly become antagonistic to and critical of this country. They have become a bastion of anti-semitism, decrying everything that our staunchest ally in the Middle East and only real democracy does.

The UN has had little to say about the ongoing murder, torture, and displacement of Christians in the Middle East for fear of being seen as “islamophobic.”

UN Ambassadors disrespect our laws under “diplomatic immunity”, committing crimes from parking violations to murder without consequence.

The UN has turned a blind eye to the human rights violations of countries like Iran, electing that country to the UN Commission on the Status of Women, prompting even progressive US Ambassador Samantha Power to say, "The unopposed candidacy of Iran, where authorities regularly detain human rights defenders, subjecting many to torture, abuse, and violations of due process, is a particularly troubling outcome of today's election.”

The UN has adopted a progressive, leftwing stance on everything from US guilt on the world stage to anthropogenic global warming (although no warming has occurred in 18 years) to global taxation and porous borders.

They commit eco-imperialism in Africa by denying Africans the ability to develop cheap electricity derived from fossil fuels, the quintessential ingredient for modern advancement in every society.

Truly, the UN thinks that it should rule the world. It chafes at the thought that countries have the ability to ignore its mandates.

In fact, it mirrors almost exactly the progressive, American-is-guilty, lawless, antisemitic, pro-muslim, anti-Christian, socialist attitudes of Barack Obama.

Obama and the UN are a bad combination for the well-being of the United States of America!

Thin Skin

I love the saying attributed to Dorothy Parker which is: "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to he bone."  I know people so beautiful that it goes "clean to the bone" and is most dense in the heart! That's true beauty! Indeed beauty resides in the heart!

How can an ugly organ have beauty? How can beauty exist inside? External perfection without inner glow is much like a lamp globe blackened by what's inside. We've all seen that, if we're old enough anyway. We light a lamp which emits soot. The lamp so appealing on the outside throws a dim light because of what's inside. It doesn't matter that there are no flaws in the lamp and that it has ornate design and precious metals, it's that inner impurity which flaws the beauty that could be if all inside was right!

People are that way! Some of the most beautiful people have the same flaw. Some pretenders to beauty paint that lamp of skin and apply expensive decorations, but the soot is seen in the dim light which passes through a dirty heart. On the other hand I know people, whether beautiful or common, which almost glow!  I think of a friend of mine who radiates. She's the epitome of a pure inside which makes her outwardly shine. That person is a Christian, not just in name, but practice. When she sings of the joy of God it's as if the knob of the lamp is adjusted for a even brighter light.

1 Peter 3:3 "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

Peter said it well! It's inner beauty which adorns and the adorning of the flesh is vanity. Those most vain are thin-skinned! Those with "thin skin" fail to take criticism well! They are ugly inside!

A beautiful person, inside, is the one who has these characteristics:

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance..."

Those who love aren't quick to scorn. Unloving people think they're always right and never have the grace to admit that they can ever be wrong. Those who love listen and empathize. They are genuinely interested in how people are feeling and hurt when others are in pain.

Joyful people are never thin-skinned. The two just can't go together. They just can't readily be defensive of others who are merely trying to befriend them. The best compliment a person can have is when a person teases them. It's like "roasting" the main guest at a banquet. We tease those who we like! If people dislike another, they avoid them.

Long-suffering means that one person is patient with another. Long-suffering people are slow to anger and in general seldom loses their temper. People love long-suffering people because they get along well and aren't argumentative!

Thin-skinned people aren't gentle. They respond readily with anger. They not only get "mad", but also get even. They lay in wait for revenge!

Meek people are those who easily accept criticism because they are well aware of their own imperfections. Meek people handle criticism well because they don't have to be "perfect" or great in the eyes of another!

Temperate people react with appropriateness. Their actions aren't excessive for the the offense they perceive. They reason and resolve. They are even-keeled and never explode.

Think on those people whom you admire. They aren't thin-skinned. The people you like are loving, kind, considerate, gentle, good, meek and temperate. I didn't mention faithful, but you can depend on people who you claim as loving friends.

People have a hard time loving thin-skinned people. If you want to be loved, don't be thin-skinned!

Political: Dr. Tim Hulsey on the President Ignoring Problems

Obama’s press team frequently says, “President Obama only learned about this from the news media.” Now, if this was the final score in an NBA game, that’s plausible.

Frequently, however, this is in response to world affairs that affect our country and our security daily. This should not happen.

The President has access to daily updates on what is occurring globally, if he takes an interest. Besides his close advisers, he has the entire resources of the federal agencies under his purview.

Traditionally, the President has a “Daily Intelligence Briefing” which can be a presentation and discussion with appropriate intelligence personnel which should make him the most informed, up-to-date individual on the planet. The key word is “daily”.

Despite an occasional failure to connect the dots, this is an evaluation of the world situation that is second to none.

The intelligence community also reports to Congress both in open and closed session both as an informative and an oversight function. Congress has received information from the intelligence community that IS was becoming a significant threat for about a year.

If a President doesn’t fail to stay informed, there is nothing of international consequence he won’t know well ahead of the news media.

If the President and his minions don’t put an ideological filter on what he is told, there is nothing of international consequence he won’t know well ahead of the news media.

However, when a President ignores problems because they are not on his ideological agenda, and/or because he is physically present at only 42% of his Daily Intelligence Briefings, the rapid rise of the Islamic State (IS) might be underestimated.

Is it more likely that the intelligence community did not share this with Obama, or that he ignored or failed to access that information?

We all do what we want to do!

Most people today will do one of two things: 1) They'll do what they're obligated to do, or 2) They'll do what they want to do! Many people will go to work today. It's an obligation. Their role assignment is to support themselves and their families. Some people work because they desire material things beyond he necessities. They may dread working, but they obligate themselves by the lifestyles they choose. Others will go to work today because they get satisfaction out of work. It completes them as an individual. They all are doing what they really want to do!

Some people today wake up and wish they had a job. For some reason they didn't get properly trained, hadn't the motivation to prepare themselves or the job market isn't ripe. If they did what they wanted to do they would go to work! Others stay at home today and have little motivation to do anything. Either they're frustrated with life or are just plain lazy. They may be the ones who were never motivated or are living drug induced lifestyles so they don't have to face reality. Those people are parasites. Given too many with entitlements that we have today, an overabundance of parasites will destroy the foundation of our economy! That's why we're at where we are today. Although there are multitudes of jobs in any city newspaper, still people sit at home. Americans have been spoiled by having had choices resulting from a great economy.

Why do people fail to do what they are obligated to do this day? There are numerous excuses. The sincere people offer one excuse, but those who are sluggards offer numerous! It's as if one excuse isn't enough to satisfy themselves, so they think of many! When I have invited people over sometimes they cancel the engagement. I seldom hear one reason, but may hear numerous excuses. They know inside that they can come if they want to, but one excuse doesn't provide the protection they need for their guilt. Therefore, people think of multiple excuses to rationalize their actions. My contention is "people do what they want to do!"

Yes, there are obligations, but people obligate themselves! By making obligations people are choosing by evaluating. "Would I rather have this new car or more leisure time?" Most people choose the new car. In effect they are doing what they want to do!

There is more to life than the decision to work or not to work. This example applies to all aspects of life!  Why do I dress the way I do? Because I'm doing what I want to do! I may not have the money to buy better clothes, but again, choices are made. A person is satisfied with what they have and how they live. They are living how they want to live!

In effect we are all doing what we want to do, barring unfortunate circumstances. People in desert Africa are enduring what they have to endure. People who work hard for sustenance because of their chances in life, desire to do things differently. However, most Americans are doing what they want to do. There is poverty, but much of the poverty in America is because dreams of better were never dreamed at the right time or people trapped in a cycle never had a dream!

It's the same with our spiritual life!  Some people never taste of spiritual desire because of their place in life. I was blessed! My parents were Christians and I knew before I was a Christian the satisfaction in having hope. My parents were poor, but hardworking, but they had hope of a better life. With hard work, they did have it somewhat better, but still struggled, but they did what they wanted to do! They worked hard because they enjoyed survival and at the time they struggled there were few entitlements. The lack of entitlements actually propelled their work ethic. They enjoyed a full belly and a place to live. No one was there to give it to them, so they worked hard. They made a choice. They chose meeting needs over just existing!

You see those who do the right thing because they know it's right have assistance whether they realize it or not. My dad did well with hard work because he had work ethic. That means that dad did what he wanted to do although the alternatives were more pleasurable! He could have let others worry about his family while he did drugs, drank alcohol and ran around. Those things are, to the world, more fun than working, but dad did what he wanted to do! What was that? Dad had a desire to take care of his family, himself and to do what is right; what is commanded and encouraged by God!

Today I sit at home. I'm retired and did retire young. I did things to make that happen although pleasure would have been the easy way, but I did what I wanted to do! I planned, not only for my family, but also for my retirement and future gratification! Immediate gratification on the other hand steals from future rewards. By satisfying now the "self" most people inflict future punishment on themselves! They do what they want to do, but there are consequences for doing things you want to do. Excuses are rationalizing and multiple excuses are denial. People do what they want to do!

When I was a teenager I had a choice to make. I did what I wanted to do!  My parents, although Christians, never seemed to find a church which satisfied them. At fourteen I went out and found the church which satisfied me! I did what I wanted to do! After a time my parents settled in to my church because it met their needs and doctrine as it did mine. They did what they wanted to do under the influence of a fourteen year-old boy. Dad and Mom were faithful to God and their denomination until parted by death. They did what they wanted to do!

For myself, I made a decision. I chose wisely, but in the end I did what I wanted to do! I was happy in church, with Christian friends and with the  promise of eternity in Paradise. Just as those who delay immediate gratification for later rewards, that's what I did. Sin is more pleasurable than righteousness, but there is more joy in security. I delayed pleasure now for eternal joy! I did what I wanted to do and never looked back!

I prayed (how boring!) and God had the grace to hear me and heal me. With that I went to church faithfully most of my life even all three weekly services (again, how boring!). I did what I wanted to do! It was boring to others, but fulfilling for me. Although I still sinned my goal was, and still is, to please God! I want to please God because I'm doing what I want to do! With that commitment I admit that I'm missing out much in life. I could be promiscuous, a drunk, a partier, have my priorities on leisure or whatever, but with discernment and a desire to please God, I'm doing what I want to do! When I do wrong, I again am "doing what I want to do!"

The devil never makes any person do anything! We do things because that's what we want to do! When I chose Christianity I did what I wanted to do. What was that? I wanted to stay out of hell and go to heaven, which at fourteen by the way didn't seem too awfully exciting! I had faith that heaven is perfect and did what I wanted to do. I chose to protect myself from eternal hell and I will soon enjoy that long-term decision. That's my lifetime hope. "Hope" is the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Hope is what encourages me to make right spiritual decisions. Hope changes what I would do, and allows me to do what is right for me. With "hope" I do what I want to do!

Some chose sin. They are doing what they want to do. Even some Christians neglect worship, skip church and fail to pray. They are doing what they want to do in spite of God encouraging them to do what is right. In their hearts the Spirit has not been allowed to work and they haven't a changed heart. The things they do are what they have always done. With a changed heart people change and the things they want to do are righteous things. Sure, they're tempted, but when they choose sin over righteousness, they're doing what they want to do regardless of what's in their own best interests. People do what they want to do!

Proverbs 21:2 "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts."

Let's rephrase this a little to amplify: "Every person does what that person wants to do, but the Lord looks at the hearts of men."  That statement offers two alternatives: 1) People choose wrongly and God sees an unrighteous heart, or 2) people choose righteousness and God sees a heart after him. With David it was the latter. David was a man after God's own heart! Yes, he did wrong and did what he wanted to do, but he repented (Psalm 51). By repenting David did what he wanted to do! Most people too do what they want to do and there is much written on that:

Jeremiah 18:12 "And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart."

With "hope" there is a reason to do what's right! We still are doing what we ant to do, but it is what God wants us to do. We are in harmony with God. He doesn't force us to do it his way, but we do it out of love and respect for God. We are doing what we want to do because we have a right heart. On the other hand most people "walk after our own devices" (i.e., they do what they want to do without regard for what God would have for them). Man is predisposed to behave a wrong way. I guess that is "wrongeousness". They "do the imagination of his evil heart". They are doing what they want to do, but the devil deceives them! He puts an imbalance in the scales of what's right.

 People do what they want to do, but they are merely pawns in the hands of a liar. They believe they are only doing what they want to do, but they are doing exactly what the devil wants them to do! Satan puts a carrot, so to speak, out there. Those who fall for the trick only see the carrot. They close their eyes when they look beyond the carrot because they want to believe they are doing what they want to do, not what they are being deceived into doing!

So here we have it! Yes, people do what they want to do. However, there is a cause/effect scenario. Beyond our five senses there is a war going on. It's a war between evil and God. The author of evil tempts everyone, even Jesus. God,. because he gave us free will, allows the principalities to tempt so that we can show our love for him, or on the other hand, reveal our true desires. We go ahead and do what we want to do. People like Job and Abraham chose righteousness. They did what they wanted to do and that was to please God!

Adam, Judas, Herod and the other villains of the Bible chose another road. It's the road most traveled! They did what they wanted to do! They chose to sin and chose unwisely because with their death there was long-term consequences. With sin we don;t even have to wait! With Herod his body was eaten up by some type of disease while he was still alive! Modern medicine has examined the evidence and gave a cause:

“Herod the Great expired from chronic kidney disease probably complicated by Fournier’s gangrene,” according to the medical investigative work of Jan Hirschmann, M.D., staff physician at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and professor of medicine at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine."

In short, he suffered a terminal disease because of wrong decisions. He was plagued because he did wrong. He did what he wanted to do and there were consequences!

How about you! I know that overall you are doing what you want to do, but are you doing what's right or are you merely a pawn in the hand of an evil being whose greatest desire is to see you do what you want to do; to do his will! There is another road which few take. It's the road with a narrow gate. If we delay pleasure and wait for joy this road leads to eternal prosperity! Why do people choose the road most taken? They are doing what they want to do!

Politics: Dr. Tim Hulsey on Impeachable Offenses

What could be a more compelling reason for impeachment of a President of the United States than failure to uphold, defend, and follow the US Constitution, the only sworn duty of that office  (“I do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”), the necessary technical precision of which resulted in Chief Justice John Roberts re-administering the oath to Obama because of erroneous wording initially?

What could be more treasonous than to ignore Constitutional mandates? What could excuse someone who professes to be a Constitutional scholar for acting unconstitutionally?

Congressionally, the oath is similar, but adds “that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion.” If Congress fails to impeach a President who has committed impeachable offenses they might be considered felonious themselves.

Failing to perform their Congressional duty because it is politically unfeasible or because the President is of your own party trashes the basis of our Constitutional Republic.

Democrats wouldn’t vote for impeachment, because Obama’s “their man.” Republicans won’t, because it would be political suicide to impeach the first President of color.

When we have our first female President, she will likely be unimpeachable because of her gender.

Thus, race and gender can mean that a President cannot be held accountable.

An elected official at no level should be elected who cannot be held responsible by the voters and Congress.

Therefore, I suggest that we remove the obstacle of race and gender to accountability so that white male Presidents won’t be the only ones electable. Unless we do so, we have lost the value of many potential office holders for whom we could vote.