The Appearance of Evil

Appearance: outward aspect; outward indication ; a sense impression or aspect of a thing

of:used as a function word to indicate the object of an action denoted or implied by the preceding noun

evil:morally reprehensible

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Us as Christians need to be aware of the above when going about life. Now obviously I know that ...

--But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." -- I Samuel 16:7

We also need to remember this though...

--But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become astumbling blockto the weak. For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food causes my brother tostumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother tostumble.--I Corinthians 8:9-13 Also Romans 14:20-22

Even if our actions aren't bad, we definately need to be aware of how other parties close to situation could be affected or perceiving the situation.

I was thinking about this lately because of a young man who just got married. He came up to me at camp and started talking to me. He wanted to 'reconnect' because he hadn't seen me in awhile. His wife was sitting on the other side of the room watching. Guy who used to have interest in me but is now married talking to a single female. NOT APPROPRIATE. Call me a prude if you wish. You won't change my oppinion. I also have been witnessing something simular to this. At least in regards to a married individual being friends with a single individual. Unfortunately the single individual wasn't aware of the affects this relationship would have.

Here is something that I just wrote the other day while thinking about this... "Guys might not get how women are wired sometimes. Sometimes internal insecurities lead to irrational jealousies that lead to perceived actual reality that leads to mistrust that leads to.... well you name it. Whether there is any actual basis for those thoughts or not.... if you are a woman... it probably has/is/will happen. Like it or not there is a little thing called HORMONES."

Watch what you do. Is it your life or Christ's life?? Treat every interaction as if it will have eternal consequences.

Anna Nichole Smith

Personally I'm really saddened by her death. She was sucked in to a lie (the sex industry) and it took her life. I was reading the AP stories about this and I ran across something disturbing. There was a story centering around Mexia, TX. This is the small town of 6,900 people that Anna Nicole considered to be her hometown. They interviewed a local pastor...

"Anna Nicole is not somebody we consider one of our own, one of the great citizens we're proud of," said the Rev. Marcus Sheffield, pastor of First Baptist Church, who did not know Smith. "If people connect her with what Mexia is, I'm not proud of that."

That really saddens me. Either the media really "fussy cut" his comments to make them fit what they wanted or the Christian compassion was not expressed as it should have been. He had such an opportunity to make a statement that would be carried around the world. Marcus, you are in my prayers.

Pray for those stuck in the lie of the sex industry (producing and consuming).

Quote of the Day

"A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her"

Amen to that. This goes along the lines with things I have been thinking about lately. So yes, God wants me to wait for the perfect guy. Not as in perfect= Tall, dark and handsome. But perfect as in= Loves God with all of His heart, wants to serve Him in ministry, knows he isn't perfect but admits his weaknesses and is striving towards Godly perfection with the Holy Spirit as his guide. Then again, who knows... God may have in His plan for me to remain single. I shall rest my trust in Him with this, as with all things. So Valentine's Day is coming up. My one friend calls it "Single Awareness Day". It used to really bother me too. But I'm content with where God has me. He is my husband. Isaiah 54:5

Tony Dungy is the counterculture!!

From the news tonight with the Colts winning the Super Bowl.

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Thus ended a historic meeting between Dungy and Lovie Smith of the Bears, the first black head coaches to lead teams to the Super Bowl.

They also made it notable by the way they conducted themselves- two quiet, churchgoing, kindhearted men who proved they could succeed and lead without shouting, intimidating, bullying or humiliating players to do it.

"I really wanted to show people that you can win all kinds of ways," Dungy said in the leadup to Sunday's game. "It's a good thing to see guys have success when it maybe goes against the grain, against the culture."

Their relationship dates to 1996, when Dungy hired Smith to coach linebackers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They were a page-one story throughout Super Bowl week, discussing daily the laid-back personalities and Christian faith they share, as well as their groundbreaking success.

"I'm proud to be the first African-American coach to win this," Dungy said during the trophy ceremony. "But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."

Fittingly, Dungy's postgame celebration included a long embrace with Smith at midfield and a few whispered words, as they closed out their week together, but apart.