Brian Williams Affair. Mardi Gras. Valentine’s Day. LOVE! Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

The Brian Williams Affair

"Sooner or later the truth will come out. Make sure you are telling the truth.

http://youtu.be/kaJj8kx0Hew

Transcript: [Darris McNeely] "By now, you’ve probably heard the sad story of Brian Williams, the anchor of the NBC Nightly News, and his suspension for six months from that program for misstating the role that he played twelve years ago in Iraq, where he had said for many years that he was involved in a chopper being hit by an RPG during the Iraq War of 2003. And the reality’s come out now that his chopper was not hit, his helicopter was not hit, and that he was misstating the story through all these years, which was recently just found out.

It’s a sad situation to see anyone get caught up in something like that and then fall from grace, if you will, from a high-profile media job such as this. But I think there’s a lesson for every one of us to consider as we look at Mr. Williams and consider that – not that we should gloat or take any pleasure in what has happened, because in one sense, any of us who work in media in any position of trust and responsibility take a hit from something like this, and it causes people to look at us with perhaps a bit more critical eye – “Can I trust this person?”, “Are they telling me the truth?”. And I think that it – regardless of whether we’re in media or any walk of life, one lesson from this is important. And it’s a lesson that I was talking to a group of students with this morning, regarding what God says in Numbers:32:23, where He says that, “If you have sinned against the Lord, be sure your sin will find you out.” That’s such a stark principle from God’s word, that our sins will find us out.

I happened to be teaching the book of Acts and I was taking them through the story in Acts chapter 5 of two people in the book of Acts called Ananias and Sapphira, who had lied to the Holy Spirit, to God, and they were both struck down in that dramatic story in the book of Acts, because in their desire to look important or to look more generous than they really were, by money that they had given to the church, they’d actually postured and lied. And they paid a very, very stiff penalty for it. That story in Acts is an amazing story, and it’s a very sobering one.

And so, with this one in the headlines for us today, and still playing out, it’s a good morality lesson for each one of us, to recognize that sin has a cost – that any transgression of God’s law has a way, in time, of eventually coming out. The lesson? Don’t sin. And if we do, repent or to change or to admit, and not perpetuate a mistake that we might be making, whatever that might be. It’s a very important lesson. God’s word is a very powerful and sharp two-edged sword.  From: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/brian-williams-affair

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Mardi Gras: Should It Be on the Christian Calendar?

" Mardi Gras is marked by wild parades and raucous parties in places like New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro. So in what way is it connected to Christianity?

How much do you know about all the various holidays and celebrations throughout the year? If you study into them, you’ll find a lot of them have religious roots in the ancient pagan world and several more have a circuitous connection to paganism.

What about Mardi Gras?

Mardi Gras is considered to be the culmination of a festive season leading up to what the mainline Christian community refers to as Lent. Mardi Gras is purposely designed to commemorate frivolity, carousing and sin, but is considered in many quarters to be part of the Christian calendar."  More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/holy-days-vs-holidays/mardi-gras/

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3 Romantic Alternatives to Valentine’s Day

"Valentine’s Day draws near, many will celebrate romantic love. But what about true love? Here are three ways to escape the superficiality of Valentine’s Day.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, millions of people have already made plans for romantic getaways, ordered flowers or chocolates and started writing valentines. For the holiday that is supposed to epitomize romantic love, it is very materially based and commercialized."  More at:  http://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/blog/3-romantic-alternatives-to-valentines-day/

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Dear Friends,
What is the most misunderstood word in the English language? Some have made a strong case for words such as unique, literally and ironic.
But I think the most misunderstood word is one that carries many definitions, some of them contradictory. That word is love.

Too often when we hear the word love in popular culture, it doesn’t mean a selfless caring for another person that makes us willing to sacrifice and be patient and gentle and kind. No, it’s too often a code word for unbridled sexual lust and selfish desire.

Valentine’s Day is generally considered a celebration of love. But what kind of love? Mardi Gras celebrates free love—but it’s a shallow substitute for the real thing, and it brings painful baggage.

God’s festivals, the seven listed in the Bible, truly are based on love—godly love, outgoing love. They show us how God loved us, and how we should love Him and our fellow humans. You can learn more about them in our free booklet:  From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You.
With warm regards and in Christian love,
The Life, Hope & Truth team."   

And also: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/holy-days-vs-holidays/valentines-day/

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Update:

The weather is still chilly in the mornings, but is lovely in the afternoons.  The birds are still happy that I refill the feeder, and Nala, my foster cat likes to watch them from the screen porch.

Jay and I went to a yard sale at a storage place, and I bought a real solid wood 15-light exterior door, and a very lovely ceiling fan and light.  It's always good to upgrade stuff.

I had bought a NIV Bible at a thrift shop and it had the Bible book tabs stuck on it.  I can usually find the scriptures pretty fast, but the tabs sure made it quicker.  I had some tabs, so I have started to put them on the KJ Study Bible that I use the most. It takes time and concentration to do it right.

Ray and I went to church, Jay wasn't feeling well. The readings were Psalm 103, 104, Exodus 21:1-24:15, Jer. 34:8-22, and 33:25, then Matt. 15:1-20.   The teaching was about being no longer foreigners, but being fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, Eph. 2-1-22.

The potluck was great, and I took a mess of veggies.  One of the elders has been sick and is now on an all vegan diet, so I made them especially for him.  Spaghetti squash with herbs, onions and orange peppers;  all veggie and tomato spaghetti sauce;  green and red seasoned cabbage with onions done in virgin coconut oil; and an apple trifle.  I never knew that cabbage could be so popular!!  After I had sautéed each part, green cabbage, onions, and red cabbage, I layered it in a square Pyrex dish and then covered it with shredded mozzarella.  It just had to be warmed in the dining hall oven so that the cheese would melt. The spaghetti squash was a change for everyone, too, and they liked it. There were a lot more dishes brought by others to enjoy.  I don't have anyone to cook for anymore, so I like to spend my Friday afternoons (Preparation Day) cooking stuff for the church potluck.

After I got home I took my foster dog, BabyGirl, a black/white lab, to a neighbor's, also another foster mom, for playtime as they have acreage.  Even though BabyGirl was a little confused at first, she had a good time.  She gets so bored hanging around here, so they offered to let her play with their dogs.  She really warmed up to the two little dogs.  They also have 5 big dogs, bigger than she is, but she preferred the little ones. When she was brought home she ate her dinner and crashed.  So everyone had a great day.