Controversial For Christians

I have been conflicted all day about what to write.  Then I read a story about a woman who committed suicide after battling MS for forty years.  My mind went back to when I had a similar conversation with my sister a couple of months before cancer took her life.  

My sister felt that anyone who took their own life committed the unpardonable sin and would not be allowed into heaven.  I do not believe that.  I asked my sister why she believed the way she did and she replied, "How can you ask God to forgive you if you are already dead?"  My reply was that He had already forgiven you. She asked, "When?"  I said "when he died on the cross all your sins were in the future.  You couldn't ask him for forgiveness then.  And when you asked him to save you and forgive your sins, He forgave the past, present, and future sins."

The question has come up "Can a true Christian take  his own life?"  Let's divide that question in two and examine it.  "Can a true Christian..."  First I'm not going to judge anyone's relationship with Christ.  We could ask a lot of questions about 'true Christians' if we wanted, but that's very dangerous ground.  No one knows another person's heart.  I can testify to that because I lived as a 'Christian' for years before I actually trusted Christ as my savior.  Many people thought I was saved, but I knew my heart.

The next part of the equation is "take his own life."   I can't judge anyone for taking their own life.  I can't measure their pain.  I don't know their pain tolerance or their outlook for the future.  How bad is their pain level?  How long have they been suffering?  What is required to manage their pain? Will their pain end?    What are their options?

I'm not saying that I believe in suicide.  I am saying that I do not judge anyone who chooses to end their pain.  I also do not believe that God is unable to forgive the person.  I choose to allow God to do the judging, forgiving, and saving.

Around the World and Back In Seven Days

Where have I been?  Although I never left the states, I feel like I literally went around the world.  The trip began Tuesday evening about 8:30 p.m. and ended Monday morning at 7:30 a.m.   By 8:00 a.m. I was back in bed and slept most of the day.   After a wonderful nap, I felt better, however, my feet still hurt and my legs are still swollen from hours of standing.  I am sleep deprived from doing laundry late in the night for six boys and two men.  I'm getting used to beginning breakfast by 5:00 a.m.  Afternoon and evening meals have been for thirty to fifty people.

I would do it all over again. 

 What did I do?  My home church decided to host the Matsiko World Orphan's Choir for the second year in a row.  Our music director is responsible for two vacation bible schools in row, so I decided I would be the coordinator for the week Matskio visited. 

Who is Matsiko?  International Children’s Network (ICN) exists to augment and support the great work being performed by established "in-country" organizations. ICN teams up with reputable, effective, and established overseas partners to obtain U.S-based financial support to help provide an education for orphaned and at-risk children - an education that continues all the way through the university or trade school levels. This concept is key in ending the cycle of poverty within third-world nations. In addition to educational support, funding is also committed for food, clothing, school supplies, medicine and other needs for these children so schooling effectiveness can be maximized.http://www.icnchildren.net/

The group blessed our hearts as they performed, but getting to know the children individually touched our hearts.  Reading their profiles that includes their background plus their hopes for the future made us appreciate our blessings even more.  Listening to them tell about the first time they went into a public library or a large grocery store allowed us to see something old in a new way.

The director of the Matsiko introduced us to two young people traveling with the group.  Lawrence was sponsored as a child.  He is now a second year petroleum engineering student.  Merta just graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration.  The director shared information about sponsoring a child.  Sponsorship is a commitment of $35.00 a month for a specific child through university.  After graduation these students give back to their community.  The first child ever sponsored is now a heart surgeon in Ghana.  Please enjoy the video below and look around their website for information about sponsorship and hearing the choir.   http://www.icnchildren.net/

 

Worst Form of Government

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day--the day we set aside to remember those who died to protect our country.  With the events in my life over the last two weeks, I must say they died for more than our physical country.  Winston Churchill said, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others."

Is our country perfect?  Absolutely not. 

• We have far too many people waiting on the government to take care of them.  Apparently they forget what Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysburg:  "that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish."  Who do they think the government is?  
• At the same time we have just as many people who require help and aren't receiving it.  
• Both food and medical care are way overpriced.  
• Our morals have never been lower and we don't even have the good graces to apologize for them.  
• Our education system needs to be revamped but no one seems to know the answer.  
• We have an abundance of  'deadbeat dads' who refuse to personally or financially take care of their children.  
• We have an unbelievable number of registered sex offenders, yet we don't know where 20% of them are.

So what is so great about our country?  Here are a few things I've experienced in the last two weeks. 

• I have written this posting criticizing our nation.  
• I have asked you to pray for my grandson, born prematurely weighing 1.4 lbs.  Literally hundreds of you sent me messages that you were praying.  Dozens sent messages about similar situations where the child grew to be a strong healthy person.  
• My son and daughter-in-law were able to choose a hospital with a great Neonatal Care Unit. 
• I've asked prayer for my sister who is battling cancer.  Many responded--some writing their prayer, making them public for all the world to see.  
• My sister and brother-in-law are able to choose a hospital and treatment plan for her.  
• My mother and I traveled to help care for my sister without passing a checkpoint or obtaining permission.

Updates:  My sister is doing a little better.  My brother-in-law took her to the ER Saturday night and they determined she had an infection--UTI--which my sister and brother-in-law had been telling them.  Antibiotics are helping.  My grandson is breathing on his own and now weighs 1.10 lbs.  He is growing, doing well, and definitely leaving his mark in this world.

Please take time to focus on the privileges and freedoms you have and thank God for those willing to sacrifice their lives for those freedoms.  Our government is not perfect.  If you feel that there are more negatives than positives and you can't standing living here, please remember you have the freedom to leave this country anytime you want.