Gasoline prices and travel expenses. Following a rise in crude oil prices, the cost of gaoline is rising once again heading into the summer travel season. Prices are not expected to reach last year's $4.00/gallon prices. Meanwhile, airlines are expected to continue to slash prices and reduce seat availability in an effort to endure the worst economic environment for airline travel since 9/11.
The rising fuel costs are the worst possible thing that could happen to our already failing economy. This tells me that the greedy oil giants care nothing about the state of our economy.
1-3 God! Please hurry to my rescue! God, come quickly to my side!
Those who are out to get me�
let them fall all over themselves.
Those who relish my downfall�
send them down a blind alley.
Give them a taste of their own medicine,
those gossips off clucking their tongues.
4 Let those on the hunt for you
sing and celebrate.
Let all who love your saving way
say over and over, "God is mighty!"
5 But I've lost it. I'm wasted.
God�quickly, quickly!
Quick to my side, quick to my rescue!
God, don't lose a minute. (The Message)
"[David] prays that God would gladden the hearts of all the saints, or afford them all common cause of rejoicing: so that, assured of his readiness to help them, they may have recourse to him with greater alacrity.
"We may infer from this, that our faith is only proved to be genuine when we neither expect nor desire preservation otherwise than from God alone. If any individual would depend wholly upon God, and desire to be saved by his grace, he must renounce every vain hope, and employ all his thoughts towards the reception of his strength."
I looked up "alacrity." It means "cheerful readiness" or "willingness."
"Character Qualifications"
Weekend Reading
After describing a typical "Presbyterian session" as being filled with prominent businessmen and community leaders, the author of the article points this out. "The single outstanding feature of the qualities listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 is the complete absence of any concern for a potential officer's success in the world." There does seem to be a concern for the reputation in the world, which deals solely with the world's opinion of one's character. "But wealth, success, status, and power in the world are completely ignored."
The criteria are those of character, which is revealed by behavior. A good leader should demonstrate self-mastery. This is made evident by "temperance, prudence, respectability, moderation, gentleness, and self-control." Hm...sounds a lot like the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. A good leader is to be "above reproach," or above accusation. The kind of person of whom, when accused, is said, "They would never do that." They should be able to teach. They are to be faithful in their marriage and manage their households well. And they must have experience. No novices in the church leadership!
Character is the criterion and the church, family and world are the proving ground.
Some would object that no one can fill all of those qualifications, therefore, we should back off of Paul's unreasonable requirements.
"No, the qualifications are there to qualify. The apostles gave the church these standards because they must be fulfilled by officers, though imperfectly. We insist that there is a difference between fulfilling the qualifications imperfectly and not fulfilling them at all."
"A church will rise no higher than its leadership. Devout, mature, wise leadership is crucial for the health and fruitfulness fo the church and its ministry."
"Grace Teaches Us"
Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, (ESV)
When we are younger Christians (and even before becoming so), the Bible appears to be more of a rule book. I've heard many objections over the years that the Bible is just a list of "Thou shall nots."
"The practical precepts of the Bible were to me no more than statements of the Law of God. They commanded but gave no ability to obey." The more we try, the more we fail. Just as importantly, we understand very little of the grace of God that enables us to live this life. Nor are we totally understanding of the forgiving grace through Christ's blood. We feel both guilty and helpless.
This is a very typical experience for many. And it is why we must understand that it is grace--not law--that disciplines us. "God's parental training of His children is based on the principles of grace and administered in the realm of grace."
"What are the principles of grace? Basically there are two. The first is the forgiveness of all our sins and the undconditional acceptance of our persons through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. The second is the deliverance from the dominion of sin and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit in us through our union with Christ."
Unconditional acceptance. Did you catch that? I don't know about you, but that has always been the most difficult truth about God for me to accept.
Grace and peace, friends.