I awoke this morning to the familiar sound of the alarm clock. Once again it was freezing in my bedroom, and once again, I was just too tired to get up beyond the point of reaching and turning off the alarm. So, I fell back to sleep. I did not arise again until around 9am... woops... work was supposed to start at 7am again. Oh well. So I stay in bed for another fifteen minutes, after which I finally drag my self to my closet, and pick something out for the day. I then take a shower, beat my self up for being late again, when over and over I swear to my self and to God that I won�t continue doing this. Then I leave for work.
I decide that I am going to begin listening to worship music again, so I trade out a bunch of the CDs in my player and put in worship CDs. All the way to work, I am at least thankful I didn�t fall into the sin trap I had the day before, so I decide I�m going to work on one problem in my life for now on, it�s just too much to try and stop three bad habits, I�ll go for one, for now.
Once at work, I encounter a happy group of Cedarcrest High staff. Most are just excited that a four day weekend is coming up. At lunch I run into some hostility, the very bad subject of politics (this is a public school), which in an environment like this, is usually very educational, although I don�t agree with many of their ideas (since many of them are liberal, and just laugh at anything else, and they say they are open to all suggestions), I do learn from much the discussions.
Today though, I decided to join in on the fun after them talking about how President Bush, since day one, has been after Iraq. I decided to speak up, and said, �I don�t think we are going to go to war�, and so they erupted in laughter and told me that I was �soooo� na�ve� w/o letting me finish my thought, they then drill me how like every other American, who doesn�t know anything and pay attention to only the mainstream media. Then they referred to this stupid article @ here of which I believe is just right-wing paranoia. First of all, we (the people I work with) all work for the Government, and know how hard it is to do anything with out everyone knowing. Second, we know that in our little educational world, we know what is going on, and we do things for a reason; so if you were in charge of the United States (although the president isn�t really fully in charge, read the constitution if you don�t believe me), I would assume that you know the details of what is going on, therefore you make the decisions. Fourth, every single one of us is human, so we all make mistakes, maybe President Bush made some mistakes, in some peoples opinion, but the majority of people have no real idea why our Government makes the decisions they do, I would assume, just like you and I, they know the information to make those choices. The Government is not going to collect all the information from every single person in the US, first of all this is just impossible, and second you can�t keep accurate details even a single person over the course of one year. I almost wanted to ask them if they had something to hide. So, anyway now I know their true opinion of me, and how fake a lot of people are. Of course maybe our Government is fake, maybe� but people in large groups with power, are dumb, unless they are seeking the will of Jesus Christ.
I will continue to explain my self on this topic as the days and weeks go on, for now, I�m tired.
One thing I learned today: Worship God in everything you do, even when your insulted, you�ll come out ahead, they wanted a reaction, and ended up apologizing.
.: prayers, prayer requests :.
Lord, I lift your name on high! Our God is an amazing God!
I continue for your guidance with my trip to Poland, start to use me now. Help me to remember the tasks I need to do. Thank you Lord.
I lift my friends to you Lord, that they continue to seek and to know that you ARE GOD. I ask for direction in their lives and I praise you for all you have done in their lives.
I lift four special friends of Christ to you lord, One in China, One in Antarctica, One in Austrailia and the other in Canada. They are four very special brothers and sisters of Christ� I ask for you to make them feel at home as much as possible, and I ask for you to give the opportunity to reach many for you with your love.
I ask for you to remove the sin that I am bound to. Thank you Lord.
I ask for wisdom when speaking with my co-workers, I ask for YOUR LIGHT to shine through me and all the Christians in our organization! May YOU be glorified.
I ask for change, change in our schools and in the hearts of all who work for them, I ask for the students to show your love and for the students to shine with your love. You are the most accepting one of all, you do not condemn people for what they can not control, and everyone can control their sins and their heart.
I must repent, change, of my sins, and I ask for you to help me in these three areas� sexual desires/thoughts, honesty/attention wanting, and work ethic/laziness. Thank you Lord.
I give you THANKS for everything! Friends, Family, Co-workers, my job, my life, my clothes, my cat, my car, my apartment, my mom, my dad, my brother, my brothers and sisters of Christ Jesus.
Repsect for Authority... [Romans 13:1-7]
Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. So those who refues to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorties are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience.
Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid so they can keep on doing the work God intended them to do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.
-= foot notes =-
13:1 Are there times when we should not obey the government? We should never allow government to force us to disobey God. Jesus and his apostles never disobeyed the government for personal reasons; when they disobeyed, it was in order to follow God's moral standards. Their disobedience was not cheap: They were threatened, beaten, thrown into jail, tortured, and executed for their convictions. Like them, if we are compelled to disobey, we must be ready to accept the consequences.
13:1ff Christians understand Romans 13 in different ways. All Christians agree that we are to live at peace with the state as long as the state allows us to live by our religious convictions. For hundreds of years, however, there have been at least three interpretations of how we are to do this:
1 Some Christians believe that the state is so corrupt that Christians should have as little to do with it as possible. Although they shoudl be good citizens as long as they can do so without compromising their beliefs, they should not work for the government, vote in elections, or serve in the military.
2 Others believe that God has given the state authority in certain areas and the church authrotiy in others. Christians can be loyal to both and can work for either. They should not, however, confuse the two. In this view, church and state are concerned with two totally different spheres -- the spiritual and the physical -- and thus complement each other but do not work togehter.
3 Still others believe that Christians have a responsibility to make the state better. They can do this politically, be electing Chrstian or other high-principled leaders. they can also do this morally, by serving as an influence for good in society. In this view, church and state ideally work together for the good of all.
None of these views advocate rebelling against or refusing to obey the government's laws or regulations unless those laws clearly require you to violate the moral standards revealed by God. Whereever we find ourselves, we must be responsible citizens, as well as responsible Chrsitians.
