  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Becky Simpson  
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A few months ago I wrote about what your relationship is supposed to be with God, therein suggesting that it is similar to that of a husband and wife. This I firmly believe, yet there is an aspect of even that relationship I feel we should look at. This second look can be attributed to a radio broadcast I heard on PBS in which a young authoress from a Muslim country was discussing her religion as it related to her mother’s and mother-in-law’s beliefs. It gave a new perspective to my view that perhaps I had not considered.
At the same time that I was considering this new dimension something else in the news caught my attention. It was an article about a man name De Jesus. He is a South American who lays claim to being the Son of God reincarnate. I found this oddly disturbing and with a voracious spirit born of the sincere desire to understand his claim and determine for myself his righteousness I read the article closely. Then in a flash of insight I discovered something I am sure all the readers of this newsletter already know. Interested? Let’s explore the workings of my mind together. – Becky Simpson
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John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
First let’s look at that relationship: The young author I mentioned was of the Muslim faith as was her mother and her mother-in-law. She had chosen to write a book that some Muslim’s found offensive and had been for months persecuted by authorities who accused her of being blasphemous and anti-Muslim. They had questioned her in police departments and subjected her friends to similar treatment. In addition they had placed her under surveillance. For all of this she simply kept repeating the same statement over and over again. She claimed that she was not anti-Muslim nor was she blasphemous, and that her writings were not meant to reflect badly on the Muslim religion or government. She had no fear.
Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
Now came the startling revelation; at least for me it was eye-opening. As she related her story she began to speak of her mother and mother-in-law. The story began to tumble out of her in response to the interviewer’s questions concerning the author’s fearing for her life. As it turns out her mother and mother-in-law are both devout Muslims. The author’s mom viewed her relationship with Allah (pbuh) as one of love, in which her every action was dictated by her love for her God. The mother-in-law rather than seeing Allah as a loving being, feared His retribution. The mother-in-law’s life was dictated by her fear of angering God. As you read the next verse maybe you can understand how these two individuals can have diametrically opposing points of view.
Nahum 1:2
The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies.
Does that make it easier to understand the difference between these two women? Perhaps not, and by the way (you may very well ask) what does this have to do with De Jesus? The answer is “nothing” and “everything.” What dawned on me, as I read the article about this self proclaimed Messiah, was that we are all motivated by the same things: the need for food, clothing, housing, and a desire for love. Add to this list one last little item freedom of fear. So I found myself thinking of these two women described by a brave author, one whose life was controlled by fear and the second whose life was controlled by love. Something nagged at me about these two stories, and I had to consider them for some time before I finally understood.
First there was the matter of control. The movie about Jim Jones flashed through my mind and a piece of my puzzle fell into place. This man De Jesus had control over the people that he called his followers, just as surely as Jim Jones had control of his followers and the Muslims who advocate terrorism have control over their willing walking bombs. Some controlled by fear, some controlled by love, and some by the promise of better things to come. So what is the problem here? Why do these people permit themselves to be used by the unscrupulous? The answer is two-fold I believe. First let’s look at the following:
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Here is the first key to controlling your own future. Study, study the Bible, study the Koran, study secular history. Know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Corny, huh? Nevertheless it is true. Through study you will know God. Is He the avenging terrible exacting judge we all imagine Him to be (from time to time)? I believe the truth is He is more like the father of the prodigal son: wishing for just a glimpse of his child who has turned away from those things which are bad for him to return home. An example of a verse easily misinterpreted is this:
Mark 9:47
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,
Taken literally this verse would support self mutilation. Yet we also have the following verse:
1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
How can we now understand these verses? It ought to be obvious that the Lord does not desire that you mutilate a temple of the Holy Spirit. The problem here is that the first verse is figurative not literal. In Matthew 18, Jesus is speaking to self-control. He desires us to learn to control our minds, so that we do not sin carelessly. Yes we do need to fear something in our relationship with God: not understanding what He desires of us. How does this apply to those who are not Christians?
I have said it before, and I say it again. The Muslim faith is not about the letter of the law. It is about the intent of the words spoken by the prophet. It is as God would have it because He does not want us to merely look upon His testament as law to be obeyed unequivocally. He wants us to understand Him and His intent for us. This also applies to any other religion or spiritual pursuit where a higher being has made his will known. We must UNDERSTAND what is desired of us by that being…not by the men who at times use the word in an attempt to control us or rob us.
John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
The real danger for us in our relationship with God is if we do not study His word. If we are slack in this then people like De Jesus can and will control us. They will control us in our ignorance and vain desires to better ourselves or to be loved. Want some examples of how we are controlled every day? Do you eat fish on Friday? Do you celebrate the birth of Jesus in December? Do you celebrate his death in April? Let’s pick one example and then will finish up. The nativity scene we so often replicate and often pay good money for. Read in Matthew, about the visit by the three wise man. Did you not notice that they did not find the baby in the manger? It says He was in the house.
Okay, so why doesn’t God just pour this stuff into our heads when we are born? The answer is simple; freedom of choice. It is up to us to decide whether we will honestly try to follow God’s will. That being said there is something else you should know…
Isaiah 66:4
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
In other places the Bible says God will allow us to believe strong delusions and that He will give us over to these delusions. It does not mean that He has given up on us. Far from it because we also have this verse:
Matthew 9:13
But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
For those that would deceive us into doing their will I say, “You have already reaped your reward and Heaven holds nothing for you.” The connection between husband and wife is of the same nature and has the same pitfalls. Do we submit to our spouse because we fear them or because we love them? I hope my words have not offended you, they are not meant to do so. I write them out of love and caring for you and yours. Now for something from one of our Writing.Com authors.
"In God's Hands"
This is not written easily. It is about something that happened last Sunday morning just as I was sitting down to breakfast in a hotel. It is a tribute to the man whom I met briefly but who will stay in my memory for ever.
Someone I didn't know I met suddenly to-day,
Oh God stay here with me, I silently pray,
But I must clear all things from my mind,
Must act with what I have, with what I find.
Oh God these skills you have entrusted to me,
Let me know what to do, help me Lord to see.
Guide my hands please to do only what is right,
Dear Lord stay with me, help me win this fight.
My whole world becomes the man on the floor,
There's no pulse or breath, help me to be sure.
Lord focus my eyes and help them to truly see,
Take control completely, I will remember ABC.
Airway, Breathing Circulation, I know what to do,
Come on God, give me strength I really need you
To be in my thinking, to be within my every act,
Help me to concentrate, to get the timing exact.
I have to shut out all thoughts, the sobs of his wife,
Who is willing me to bring her darling back to life,
Thirty heart compressions, two breaths and then
Try to clear his airway and start it all over again.
His pulse returns, I watch his chest rise and fall,
Only God knows if this is to be Tim's final call.
Whatever happens, I hope everyone understands
Tim is not in mine, Tim is safe in God's hands.
I carried out CPR on this gentleman for 35 minutes until the ambulance arrived and then I assisted them to intubate and cannulate him. We managed to get his heart going twice. Unfortunately Tim died in the ambulance of a massive heart attack.
He was 74. Rest In Peace Tim. God Bless.
Thank you anticipation for a wonderful story.
As always I am at your service.
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Questions and comments from last month; my thanks to those who wrote in. If you wish to comment this month feel free; I shall answer them individually.
Submitted By: Vivian Gilbert Zabel
Submitted Comment:
Hi, Becky. I was glad to pitch in last month and do a Spiritual Newsletter. I'm not sure that I could ever match yours, though. It's good to see you back. ~~ Mom
Mom, you do so much for me that I could hardly ever thank you enough. I try but there are not words to express what I feel. Hugs– Becky
May God bless you all who have read this newsletter and to the rest of you kind readers who made comments about last month’s newsletter; thank you. If it were not for your kind words, I would be inclined to find another way to spend the time I spend here.
If you have a question, comment or just an observation concerning this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter, please feel free to send it to me. I would also like our newsletter readers to send me their favorite work. Please include the writer’s name. I prefer works from Writing.Com.
Next weeks editor:Puditat
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Spiritual: May 02, 2007 Issue [#1689]
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