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Germany, Buffy, and holiness. *weg* (2003-03-25 - 3:59 p.m.)

Heheh...I just got a look at a headline on my internet news that said that Germany is boycotting American goods over the Iraq war. Once again, America gets slapped in the face by a country that we saved. I think it's high time that the USA stopped helping the rest of the world for a week or two. Just for a couple of weeks. Sheesh. Almost every country that we have ever rescued from any kind of trial, be it financial, political, or military (same thing, I guess), has turned around and thumbed there proverbial nose at us. I'm kind of tired of that. I know. That's not a very Christlike attitude. So I'll work on that. But you gotta admit; Germany has a lot of nerve. On the other hand, I should probably read more than just the headline before getting so bent out of shape. The media have a way of distorting news with slightly misleading headlines just to get reactions out of people.

Woohoo!! There is finally a new Buffy tonight! Supposedly, there are only 6 more episodes left in the series. Yes, it's true, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is winding down to an ending of apocolyptic proportions. We're probably talking book of Revelation type stuff, here. And if it can get any worse than Willow trying to destroy the world in season six, yow! Xander saved the day in season six, who will be the big savior in this season? Or will there be a hero? Many of us (at least in my house) hope that Spike will be the big hero at the end of the series. But some of us are also deathly afraid that Angel and Buffy will wind up together. *shudder!!* Aaauugghhhh!! *Can't...process...that...thought! LOL...all in good fun, it is.

Chambers waxes profoundly today: "If my holiness is not drawing towards Him [Christ], it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection and lead souls away into side eddies. A beautiful saint may be a hindrance if he does not present Jesus Christ but only what Christ has done for him." Read that last sentence again. Back to the verse from yesterday, John 3:30. "This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines." (The Message) Our "holiness" should never draw attention to ourselves. "...the greater part of life is not conscious obedience but the maintenance of this relationship--the friend of the Bridegroom." Sometimes there is nothing to obey. Sometimes the work gets in the way of the relationship. I mean, look at it this way. If I spent all of my time doing chores around the house for my wife and never sat down and just talked with her or hugged her or...well, let's don't go there, ok? Anyway, *blush*, you get the idea. Intimacy is not doing the work. It is spending the time. It is the relationship, not the work, that is the most important. And the worst case scenario? we "may work against Him whilst we use His weapons." Ouch. Yes, that is possible.

I'm going to start suggesting that we pray for everyone that we meet on Sunday morning as we go into the meeting place. I don't like to call it a "church," because the "church" isn't a building. The "church" is a group of believers in Jesus Christ. The "church" does not exist in one place. It is spread all over the world. But I wonder what effect it would have if we, instead of murmuring or gossiping or talking about the weather...if we just greeted each other and said a silent prayer for each one as we walked away. And then, if, instead of having conversations with each other about meaningless stuff as we enter the "sanctuary," what if we had conversations with God? What level of magnitude would our worship reach?

Romans 12

9Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. 10Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, 12cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. 13Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

14Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. 15Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. 16Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

17Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. 18If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. 19Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

20Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. 21Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. (From The Message)

Father, please help me to exhibit all of these qualities. It is so difficult because of my humanity, because of my flesh. But I know that, in your Spirit, I can do it. If we all would concentrate on these kinds of things, what a change would happen in the world.

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