notes from lisa...

 I wish we could be a color-blind society; acknowledging and accepting of all cultures. Skin color has nothing to do with who any of us are. Unfortunately, that reality is not a lived experience in this nation. Skin color tells nothing of the heart within any of God’s children.  Black Americans (others, too, but I'm speaking about the experience that I know, at the moment) have longed to fit in, but were never invited. Whenever we have shown up, we're reminded that we cannot be a full participant. There's no permanent seat for us at the table. Our "seat" is brought in and removed, based on our adherence to the (invisible, but very real) line that has been drawn for us in America.  (Please don't stop reading--this isn’t a post about race). It's about how we must be reconciled to God and one another [ 1 John 3:10 GNT  " Here is the clear difference between God's children and the Devil's children: those who do not do what is right or do not l...

 Let me start by saying, if that's the way you choose to give that's totally up to you. Tithing (or not tithing), isn't a Heaven or hell issue.  Tithing according to the Mosaic Law was always agricultural unless the giver had to travel a great distance. Then, money was acceptable. Money existed long before the Law was given. If God meant for money to be tithed, wouldn't He have required that rather than agriculture when He gave Moses laws regarding the tithe? Money was used as early as Genesis 23, by Abraham...so, well before Moses. Grace (or New Covenant) giving is sacrificial.  There's no mention of continued tithing after Jesus died, buried and rose. And, when Jesus talked about the tithe in Matthew 23:23, He wasn't speaking in positive terms. He was talking about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who liked to make a show of everything they (supposedly) did for God. The Pharisees were over the top in everything-- just read that chapter as Jesus rebuked them. H...

 I think I must have dreamt about Stephen last night. You know, the first Christian martyr--that Stephen. The name Stephen, means "crown". What a heavy crown to wear, or what a majestic crown to wear; it's all about perspective.  Of course, I had to read about Stephen when I got a chance today. Before I could read about his martyrdom, or even what led to it, I got caught up in the description of this newly appointed deacon. The Book of the Acts of the Apostles says, "...Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit...". I got stuck right there. I've been pondering how to share the Word of God concerning the Holy Spirit (Ghost) for quite some time, so it isn't strange to me that I'd get stuck there. You know, there's something about the Holy Ghost that makes people take notice when nothing else will.  This Spirit that we so often speak of--and claim to possess within, is not simple, or light, or easily overlooked. The Holy Ghost makes His Pr...

      There are so many points to the argument that loom ludicrous; it’s hard to know where to begin. I’ll start with the most common “Christian” viewpoint. Most Christians believe firmly that homosexuality and lesbianism are wrong, and an “abomination” to God. However, the abomination isn’t in being homosexual—it is acting on the homosexuality (or lesbianism). The Bible says this: “ Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination . ” [Leviticus 18:22]. This verse and all of the others in the Word of God (Genesis 19:4, 5; Leviticus 20:13; Judges 19:22; 1 Kings 14:24, 15:12; Romans 1:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:9; 1 Timothy 1:10; Jude 1:7) deal with the practice of homosexuality, not merely being homosexual. For too long, we have shunned, abused and mistreated homosexual’s and lesbian’s as being an abomination when in fact, it is homosexual and lesbian behavior that is the abomination, according to Scripture.    ...