Indestructible People? Tidbits.

That's my tree, which (except for the top foot or so) my kids decorated with wooden, plastic, and fabric ornaments. The few glass ornaments are up top. You like birds, I love angels! All the angels HAVE to go up on the top part of the tree... they have to!! :) I don't have a theme tree, I have a "here are the boxes of ornaments, have at it". Dread to think about any projects requiring needle and thread with the littles... or actual food on my tree (dog would eat it if they didn't).

Indestructible people. Yes, we're all supposed to be sooo careful now. At least those of us protecting children are supposed to be on watch at all times lest they get a papercut. Helicopter parents... never underestimate the power of peer pressure. I'm a pretty laid-back gal, but I get plenty of it. "Oh you let your kids outside without you?" (My kids are 7 and 3, and "outside" is a tiny little yard). When my daughter cut her lip this fall, I had to explain the cause of the accident to no less than three people in the ER. Last year, they felt that my son had been out sick too much, and I got a nasty-gram threatening me with CPS if things didn't turn around (yes, but don't send your child to school sick... but send him... but don't). UGH. It's horrible. If I put candles on my tree my neighbors would probably report me to the fire marshal. :/ Okay, kidding on the last, but my husband would never go for it.

God's holiness and "Jeez". I think we have a problem, as humans, holding holiness in our heads as a concept. I'll agree wholeheartedly with you that the evangelical church goes way too far on the familiarity route - but how else to manage things? Facets of the Truth include Jesus as husband to the church, God as Father to each individual Christian and to the nation of Israel as a whole, us being "no longer servants, but sons". I am very familiar with Him in my prayer life - especially when I'm really praying hard. At the same time, I shy away from thinking of being with Him in Heaven, except from afar. The concept of being near that much holiness frightens me (I think it's supposed to). I'd like to talk further about this...

Prosperity preachers: Oh, I think going over the top with material comforts is sinful (how much is the church paying you vs. how much does it send to missions... how many cars does one person need?) but I meant more that they will push and push for more gifts and not disclose that it's going in their pockets and not to the church or outreach or ... whathave you. Lying about God's money is a bad thing. At the same time, I think paying preachers frees them to get deeply into the study of the Word of God and to do the "pastor stuff". Pay them a reasonable, professional salary - enough so their wives can stay home (pastor's wife is a hard job) and their kids can get braces, not so much that they're wearing Armani suits. There's a line there... and that's what church boards are for.

Balaam: No, Dr. McGee didn't get the info on Balaam from that book, I remember the sermon vaguely... he got it from different places in the Bible. See Numbers 25, where the people promptly intermarried (and intergodded) with the daughters of Moab as soon as Balaam left Balak. Numbers 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague amongst the congregation of the Lord. Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. Israel had continuing problem with marrying foreigners and then taking their gods - including Solomon. Now, is the modern day "god" maybe the love of money? I could definitely go there.

Okay proper well thought out posts coming soon... :) I want to get into the holiness discussion deeply, it's something well worth thinking on in my personal life. Hope your Christmas was bright!

Hearth