Jesus and God must weep

Perhaps you will understand how it is that I have a problem with most Christmas and Easter celebrations. Jesus did a lot more for the poor, hungry, naked, sick and imprisoned than to just be born and crucified; or even than to be raised from the dead.

IMO, Jesus and God must weep deeply when we put so much emphasis on those two events, and yet do not "do unto the least of these," Jesus' brothers and sisters as he taught us in the parable of The Sheep and the Goats.

The interesting thing to me about modern Christianity is how seriously we take what has been called the Great commandment (the Great Commission) and turn it into the only obligation on Christian people. I have literally been told by Christians that we aren't required to feed the hungry and clothe and naked, but that we are required first to save their souls so they can go to heaven.

My big question I have is how can you get him to slow down and listen to you if their stomachs are growling so loud I can't hear you? How can you get them to slow down and listen to you when they're ashamed of the way they look because they're naked?

Jesus told us to keep all of his Commandments not just one.

Punished by our sins

We are not so much punished for our sins as by our sins. Through our sins, we punish ourselves.

Incidentally, the Bible's word for "sin" is an archery term meaning "to miss the mark." It assumes a “good” intent for accuracy. The archer has taken an arrow from its quiver; has struck it to the bow, drawn the string, aimed and let the arrow fly. Unfortunately, the aim may be off slightly or totally off, with the result of not hitting the “bullseye,” the dead-middle of the target zone. Some make a BIG issue of a small miss, but even if we hit the outer ring on the target we get a few points. If, on the other hand, we miss the target completely, remember that the arrows are made by God, who always has another arrow for us to use.

God deals with us only in honesty, and cannot penetrate the lies we tell ourselves. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:32) By the lies we tell ourselves we block our receptive understanding of that truth, and we bind ourselves to our own lies.

We all make mistakes; sometimes such big ones that we cannot undo the damage we’ve done. Then we often tell ourselves another lie to cover the previous damaging one. When that happens, it takes a course correction of being brutally honest with ourselves. Sometimes our correction requires only a very small movement. Sometimes it is a complete about face of 180°.

What course correction do you need; 5°, 45°, 180°?

FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

It's not that I object to people who praise God. I appreciate them; I really do. 

My problem with Doug Pederson's comments during presentation of the Vince Lombardi trophy on February 4, 2018, came with him saying "This is why God put me here." (Probably highly paraphrased) I actually have no question on whether or not God placed him there. However, I can safely say that God really cares very little about the game itself. Assuming that God did, indeed, place Pederson in that position, there was likely some reason that is not so public. 

Since my teen-years, I have known that one of my primary responsibilities as a Christian is to walk this way every day in so as to make this world better for “someone” just by my presence. I may know that person well, or not at all. Such a one may be someone I truly like/love or someone who is a thorn in my side who has sworn to be my life-long enemy; whether I like it or not. (I need not buy into such a game.)

Coach Pederson may be sent; rather, likely has been sent to one such person somewhere in the most obscure position of the Eagles organization, or to one of his star players who desperately needs his influence today (or sometime soon). Perhaps he has been sent for someone down the block from his home that he will never know, but who admires him as an unattainable example. Such a role for the Coach is a far greater responsibility than any conceivable single win or championship trophy. The February 4, 2018, euphoria over the Eagles’ monumental win just may cause him and all of the lesser “Doug Pederson’s” to miss the moment for those who need them the most.

I trust that God will lead Pederson AND the whole Eagles organization to those who need them.