I was just thinking about how many of us have pets that make us happy, well, maybe not all the time. We have a dog that is kind of old, and she is pretty much ok as long as she gets fed, and has a nice walk every now and then. Our cat on the other hand is young and restless...moreover, he has already had his pelvis broken in three places because he ran away and was accidentally hit by a car. To make it even worse, after a month of healing in a cage so that he would not run away and endanger his life, he still tries to run away when he can.
How does this foregoing personal story relate to Judeo-Christian theology? Well, sometimes our pets can make us angry, but I think God has certain expectations from us with relevance to our relationship with our animals. Proverbs 12:10 says:
"Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel."
If you have a greater number of animals, Proverbs 27:23 says:
"Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds."
In closing, I am aware that this is not a major theological revelation, but however, be good to your pets and to other human beings as well...God bless you.
Reference:
ESV Bible
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Giving
I never went back to the congregation which made people go up and give offering before they could participate in communion( Eucharist). This foregoing statement is relevant to a comment I made on my previous tithing posting. I never went back because anyone that had perhaps given all they had on the previous week, and had nothing on this week, would not be able to participate from a communion, but instead be humbled in their seats as they watched all those givers that did things to be seen in public ( you know them, they parade in front of others with the expensive suits, and jewelry). I am very happy at my present congregation because they just keep boxes in the rear of the building, and one is free to give whenever. Moreover, this method of giving must be working because they are one of the top 10 largest congregations in the U.S.
I said all this before because Jesus told us to give in the following manner:
Mathew 6:2 says "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward."
Mathew 6:3 says "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
The foregoing is making a very clear emphasis on being very private about our giving....
Mathew 5:42 says "Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."
We definitely need to give, Jesus told us to give.
Luke 6:38 says "give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
Reference:
ESV Bible
I said all this before because Jesus told us to give in the following manner:
Mathew 6:2 says "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward."
Mathew 6:3 says "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing."
The foregoing is making a very clear emphasis on being very private about our giving....
Mathew 5:42 says "Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."
We definitely need to give, Jesus told us to give.
Luke 6:38 says "give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."
Reference:
ESV Bible