I never listened to any of Amy Winehouse's music. But, I understand that she was quite talented. Her family, friends and fans are still reeling from her sudden death and my prayers go out to all of them.
I also pray that all of us--whether we listened to her music or not--heed the warning that was clearly evident in her self-destructive lifestyle, the same warning bell that sounded off through the lives of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Anna Nicole Smith, Michael Jackson, and an exhaustive list of other celebrities.
Most news stories about Winehouse's death center on her age, which eerily matches that of other musicians who lived and died from similar excessive, reckless lifestyles. However, in focusing on her age at death, we risk missing the wider and more broad-reaching warning that has been ringing throughout the ages.
That warning is against making fame, fortune or free will our gods. It is only when we remain anchored and centered in the true and living God that we have the proper perspective on fame, fortune, and free will. These are not inherently bad things, but without God, they will have us believing we are invincible and answer to no one.
Without God's Holy Spirit leading and guiding us into all truth, we will believe the lie that we can abuse our minds, bodies and spirits with intoxicating substances, unlimited sexual partners, and do whatever else we crave to excess.
The celebrities whom we watch succumb to that lie actually mirror what some of us or our children are either already doing or secretly craving to do at home.
Sure, we love the Lord, but some of us have never outgrown the desire to "party like a rock star." Sadly, we don't even realize that the hand sign that is displayed for "rock" is essentially the silhouette of the goat-like figure associated with the devil.
We stubbornly refuse to deal with the reality that things like illicit sex and drugs create emotional and spiritual strongholds on us, sometimes long before they take their toll on our physical bodies.
In 1 Corinthians 10 the Bible explains how our ancestors worshipped idols, did shameful sexual things and grumbled against the Lord. These actions all lead to their deaths. In verse 11, we find that "These things happened to them as a warning to us. All this was written in the Scriptures to teach us who live in these last days" (Contemporary English Version).
Just because the media often promotes celebrity excesses, or even though we may have members in our own family who live recklessly and appear to get away with it, we must heed the warning and NOT follow in their footsteps.
To put it more plainly, "Warning! Do NOT try this at home!"
We have to be careful about what we allow into our home--into our personal space. When we are out "partying like a rock star" with our tongues hanging out and hand signs thrust in the air, who are we pledging allegiance to? Who are we welcoming into our hearts, minds and homes? It just might be an idol.
Some of us think we can handle a little of this or a little of that. However, 1 Corinthians 10:12 warns us, "Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall." Think about it. How many times have we or someone else said, "one thing just led to another and...the next thing you know...." when we are trying to figure out how things got so out of control.
We are not to be envious of or overly enamored by celebrities or people we know who appear to live the secular definition of the "good life" while we sometimes suffer for doing good. Read Psalm 73 for inspiration to hold on when it seems that others are prospering for the wrong reasons.
Verse 27 of Psalm 73 provides a powerful reminder of why it pays to stand firm: "Powerful God, all who stay far from you will be lost, and you will destroy those who are unfaithful. It is good for me to be near you. I choose you as my protector, and I will tell about your wonderful deeds."
Please. Let's heed the repeated warnings. And, let's love our friends and family enough to tell them about God's wonderful deeds--especially sending Jesus Christ as our provision for eternal life--and tell them that when it comes to some of the things society tries to tempt them with, they should NOT try them at home.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
A weekly posting of encouraging and challenging thoughts about life from Rev. Karen W. Curry, a pastor's wife and mother of two who is also --in her "spare time"-- a dynamic preacher, teacher, motivational speaker, facilitator, writer, reviewer, poet, MC, liturgical dance/drama consultant and storyteller. Contact Rev. Karen at BNcouraged247@msn.com to speak at your next service or retreat.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
No Doubt About It
Why is it that some of us who call ourselves believers seem to have the hardest time actually believing the promises of God?
We believe that God is real and that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Yet, when life gets rough and when God seems quiet, our actions speak much louder than words.
Too often we panic, or become angry, impatient, frustrated or doubtful about things that don't appear to be working out as we planned. This is often evidenced by our use of negative words such as "never", "can't", "won't", "shouldn't", "don't" or "why" in reference to the timing or direction of the circumstances in our lives.
Things only get worse when we begin second-guessing God instead of seeking the wisdom required to wait in faith. In the book of James 1:5–7 we find these words—"But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."
Sometimes God is silent because He has already told us what we need to know. We just have to learn to hold on during the time between the promise and the manifestation of the promise. Time is not our enemy when we are waiting on the Lord. Time, in fact, is often a very good friend to us, giving us time to be not only eager to receive the promises of God, but actually ready to receive them.
God does not operate in chronos time, but in kairos time. That means, God does not watch the clock with regard to the circumstances in our lives, but moves only when the time is right.
We must understand that we are simply too close to our own situations to be able to see the big picture like God can. That's why it's so easy for us to forget that a divine delay is not a denial.
Either we believe God has the best in store for us--or not. Either we believe that God knows what He is doing--or not. Either we believe God is a deliverer--or not. The only reasonable reason for doubting someone is if their track record showed signs of inconsistency, lack of ability, or lack of experience.
When we look back over our lives and the lives of those around us--including our cloud of biblical witnesses--do we see God as faithful and well able to do what He said He would do? No doubt about it! So... regardless of what things look or feel like right now, know that it's not over until it's over and God has the best in store for you--No Doubt About It!
We believe that God is real and that He sent His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Yet, when life gets rough and when God seems quiet, our actions speak much louder than words.
Too often we panic, or become angry, impatient, frustrated or doubtful about things that don't appear to be working out as we planned. This is often evidenced by our use of negative words such as "never", "can't", "won't", "shouldn't", "don't" or "why" in reference to the timing or direction of the circumstances in our lives.
Things only get worse when we begin second-guessing God instead of seeking the wisdom required to wait in faith. In the book of James 1:5–7 we find these words—"But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord."
Sometimes God is silent because He has already told us what we need to know. We just have to learn to hold on during the time between the promise and the manifestation of the promise. Time is not our enemy when we are waiting on the Lord. Time, in fact, is often a very good friend to us, giving us time to be not only eager to receive the promises of God, but actually ready to receive them.
God does not operate in chronos time, but in kairos time. That means, God does not watch the clock with regard to the circumstances in our lives, but moves only when the time is right.
We must understand that we are simply too close to our own situations to be able to see the big picture like God can. That's why it's so easy for us to forget that a divine delay is not a denial.
Either we believe God has the best in store for us--or not. Either we believe that God knows what He is doing--or not. Either we believe God is a deliverer--or not. The only reasonable reason for doubting someone is if their track record showed signs of inconsistency, lack of ability, or lack of experience.
When we look back over our lives and the lives of those around us--including our cloud of biblical witnesses--do we see God as faithful and well able to do what He said He would do? No doubt about it! So... regardless of what things look or feel like right now, know that it's not over until it's over and God has the best in store for you--No Doubt About It!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Father Knows Best
Some of you may remember the old sitcom, "Father Knows Best." It was just a basic story about a basic family--or at least what was considered "basic" back then--and their everyday lives.
The show debuted in 1954 and you can watch episodes of it on the internet via Hulu. As Hulu describes it, "in episode after episode, Jim and Margaret treated their children’s youthful transgressions with authority, empathy and wisdom. By the end of each half hour, we’d all learned our lesson."
There definitely were many lessons to be learned from that series. Two of the most important ones that I recall are that children fare best with the constant presence of their mother and father, and the entire family fares best with a strong, loving, actively involved, Godly father at the helm of it.
Our church distributes a devotional entitled, "The Word for You Today." One of the entries detailed a story in Genesis 35 where just before Rachel died in childbirth she named her son Ben-Oni, which means "son of my sorrow." His father Jacob, however declared "He shall not be called Ben-Oni, the son of my sorrow; he shall be called Benjamin, the son of the right hand" (which means son of power).
Here was a situation where a mother placed the weight of her sorrow on the shoulders of her newborn child, who never asked to be brought into this world. Her baby was not the source of her sorrow, it was her own choices and other circumstances that contributed to her sorrow.
Yet, Rachel's anger, disappointment and frustration--perhaps due to what could have been an unexpected pregnancy, perhaps due to the possibility of unresolved issues with the father of the child, perhaps due to resentment of the sacrifices required of a wife and mother, in this case her very life--all manifested in the very name she chose for her child.
If Rachel had her way, her son would have been forced to live his entire life with a daily reminder that he was considered the source of his mother's sorrow.
Thank God that in this case, his father knew best.
Jacob was a Godly man who knew the importance of a name. His name, which meant trickster, had actually been changed by God--his heavenly Father-- to Israel. Instead of a trickster, he became known as one who wrestled with God and became the father of many nations.
Human fathers are subject to the same frailties as the rest of us, so I understand that they do not always literally know what is best. However, our heavenly Father always knows what's best. And, when earthly fathers stay intimately connected with their heavenly Father, they will always be able to discern what is best.
Also, when we follow God's original plan for the family unit and honor the important roles that God has given to every member in the family, we find unequivocally that Father knows best.
Some of us want to believe that as long as a child has love coming from at least one parent that they will be alright. Those who work with children on a regular basis--teachers, youth ministers, police officers, medical professionals, etc., will tell you otherwise. We see and hear what some parents don't ever see at home--or don't want to see. Even among those who are academically bright, we see far too many angry, depressed, confused children who perfect those traits when they become adults, even if outwardly they appear to have achieved success.
This is in no way a denigration of single parents or those of us who grew up without our biological fathers. It is simply an acknowledgement that God made THE recipe for human growth and development. When we deviate from the original recipe, we inevitably end up with less than what was originally intended.
We can easily follow that logic when thinking of something like Colonel Sanders' recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken. If we don't follow his recipe exactly (from the list of ingredients to every piece of required equipment), we cannot call what we have produced Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC. We couldn't even legally put up a KFC sign outside our establishment without being accused of fraud.
Family, we have got to stop accepting the fraud with regard to what is required for a family. That means we got to stop accepting the fraud of the "free love" movement and all other movements that moved us away from God's plan and toward a self-centered plan that says, "if it feels good do it."
It felt good for Rachel to project her pain onto her baby, but at what price to her son and the generations to come forth from him? Some of us not only base our decisions on what feels good, but what makes us feel "bad."
Some of us reject the notion of God as "Father," but have we ever explored the source of our feelings about the matter? What makes the image of God as a father negative? Certainly God is not limited to the image of a father, for God has many attributes. So, why can't "Father" be one of them?
Regardless of how we feel about the matter, no mother would ever be able to give birth without the help of a father--even if he is nothing more than an anonymous sperm donor.
When we embrace God as the ultimate, infinitely loving, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Father whose plans for us are good and not evil, perhaps the eyes of our hearts and minds will truly be open to see that Father Knows Best.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
The show debuted in 1954 and you can watch episodes of it on the internet via Hulu. As Hulu describes it, "in episode after episode, Jim and Margaret treated their children’s youthful transgressions with authority, empathy and wisdom. By the end of each half hour, we’d all learned our lesson."
There definitely were many lessons to be learned from that series. Two of the most important ones that I recall are that children fare best with the constant presence of their mother and father, and the entire family fares best with a strong, loving, actively involved, Godly father at the helm of it.
Our church distributes a devotional entitled, "The Word for You Today." One of the entries detailed a story in Genesis 35 where just before Rachel died in childbirth she named her son Ben-Oni, which means "son of my sorrow." His father Jacob, however declared "He shall not be called Ben-Oni, the son of my sorrow; he shall be called Benjamin, the son of the right hand" (which means son of power).
Here was a situation where a mother placed the weight of her sorrow on the shoulders of her newborn child, who never asked to be brought into this world. Her baby was not the source of her sorrow, it was her own choices and other circumstances that contributed to her sorrow.
Yet, Rachel's anger, disappointment and frustration--perhaps due to what could have been an unexpected pregnancy, perhaps due to the possibility of unresolved issues with the father of the child, perhaps due to resentment of the sacrifices required of a wife and mother, in this case her very life--all manifested in the very name she chose for her child.
If Rachel had her way, her son would have been forced to live his entire life with a daily reminder that he was considered the source of his mother's sorrow.
Thank God that in this case, his father knew best.
Jacob was a Godly man who knew the importance of a name. His name, which meant trickster, had actually been changed by God--his heavenly Father-- to Israel. Instead of a trickster, he became known as one who wrestled with God and became the father of many nations.
Human fathers are subject to the same frailties as the rest of us, so I understand that they do not always literally know what is best. However, our heavenly Father always knows what's best. And, when earthly fathers stay intimately connected with their heavenly Father, they will always be able to discern what is best.
Also, when we follow God's original plan for the family unit and honor the important roles that God has given to every member in the family, we find unequivocally that Father knows best.
Some of us want to believe that as long as a child has love coming from at least one parent that they will be alright. Those who work with children on a regular basis--teachers, youth ministers, police officers, medical professionals, etc., will tell you otherwise. We see and hear what some parents don't ever see at home--or don't want to see. Even among those who are academically bright, we see far too many angry, depressed, confused children who perfect those traits when they become adults, even if outwardly they appear to have achieved success.
This is in no way a denigration of single parents or those of us who grew up without our biological fathers. It is simply an acknowledgement that God made THE recipe for human growth and development. When we deviate from the original recipe, we inevitably end up with less than what was originally intended.
We can easily follow that logic when thinking of something like Colonel Sanders' recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken. If we don't follow his recipe exactly (from the list of ingredients to every piece of required equipment), we cannot call what we have produced Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC. We couldn't even legally put up a KFC sign outside our establishment without being accused of fraud.
Family, we have got to stop accepting the fraud with regard to what is required for a family. That means we got to stop accepting the fraud of the "free love" movement and all other movements that moved us away from God's plan and toward a self-centered plan that says, "if it feels good do it."
It felt good for Rachel to project her pain onto her baby, but at what price to her son and the generations to come forth from him? Some of us not only base our decisions on what feels good, but what makes us feel "bad."
Some of us reject the notion of God as "Father," but have we ever explored the source of our feelings about the matter? What makes the image of God as a father negative? Certainly God is not limited to the image of a father, for God has many attributes. So, why can't "Father" be one of them?
Regardless of how we feel about the matter, no mother would ever be able to give birth without the help of a father--even if he is nothing more than an anonymous sperm donor.
When we embrace God as the ultimate, infinitely loving, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Father whose plans for us are good and not evil, perhaps the eyes of our hearts and minds will truly be open to see that Father Knows Best.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Now Hear This!
"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32
Unfortunately, some of us never want to see, hear or face the truth, which essentially means we would rather embrace the bondage of a lie. Think about it. If knowing the truth equals freedom, then denying the truth equals the opposite of freedom--bondage.
Why do we prefer to live and believe a lie? Perhaps it's because sometimes, the truth isn't pretty. When we look at the state of our families today, I hate to say it, but it isn't so pretty.
We pay more for kiddie pedicures and fly haircuts than we pay attention to the hearts and minds of our children. And, what happens to the children when they grow up without sitting at the knee of their parents and family elders to learn about living lives that are Godly and meaningful? They take their lessons from the music videos, movies and TV shows and embrace the glamorization of "thug life" and "video ho's."
Families, we're quick to get loud over trivial, temporary matters and fight for our right to cuss and cut up. But we are eerily silent when it comes to speaking up about generational curses and other issues that plague generations of families.
Now Hear This! Enough is enough!
If you live in the DC area and are willing to join my husband and me in countering the downward spiral of our families, please come out this Saturday, July 9 to our Annual Family Summit.
When we look at the state of today's families, it's not enough just to shake our heads and say, "What a shame!" We've got to put our heads, hearts, resources and energies together to help us move forward, in Jesus' name!
This year's Summit is entitled, "MOVING FORWARD! Hearing the Heart of a Man." Men, women and teens will meet separately to openly address the impact of absentee parenting, child abuse, neglect and other dysfunctions that many adults faced while growing up. We will focus especially on how these things have affected our men, the ones whom God has called to be the head of the family.
Just like a tragedy can change a life for the worst in just one minute, we believe that God can heal, set free and answer the prayers of his sons in daughters in this one special moment in time.
We ask your prayers because what God has called us at The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church to do is not to start an event, but a movement. Now Hear This!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
Unfortunately, some of us never want to see, hear or face the truth, which essentially means we would rather embrace the bondage of a lie. Think about it. If knowing the truth equals freedom, then denying the truth equals the opposite of freedom--bondage.
Why do we prefer to live and believe a lie? Perhaps it's because sometimes, the truth isn't pretty. When we look at the state of our families today, I hate to say it, but it isn't so pretty.
We pay more for kiddie pedicures and fly haircuts than we pay attention to the hearts and minds of our children. And, what happens to the children when they grow up without sitting at the knee of their parents and family elders to learn about living lives that are Godly and meaningful? They take their lessons from the music videos, movies and TV shows and embrace the glamorization of "thug life" and "video ho's."
Families, we're quick to get loud over trivial, temporary matters and fight for our right to cuss and cut up. But we are eerily silent when it comes to speaking up about generational curses and other issues that plague generations of families.
Now Hear This! Enough is enough!
If you live in the DC area and are willing to join my husband and me in countering the downward spiral of our families, please come out this Saturday, July 9 to our Annual Family Summit.
When we look at the state of today's families, it's not enough just to shake our heads and say, "What a shame!" We've got to put our heads, hearts, resources and energies together to help us move forward, in Jesus' name!
This year's Summit is entitled, "MOVING FORWARD! Hearing the Heart of a Man." Men, women and teens will meet separately to openly address the impact of absentee parenting, child abuse, neglect and other dysfunctions that many adults faced while growing up. We will focus especially on how these things have affected our men, the ones whom God has called to be the head of the family.
Just like a tragedy can change a life for the worst in just one minute, we believe that God can heal, set free and answer the prayers of his sons in daughters in this one special moment in time.
We ask your prayers because what God has called us at The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church to do is not to start an event, but a movement. Now Hear This!
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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