Ugly Pride

I went to a tech training session this week with an all male classroom. It is sad to see how the world gains status and position. If my classmates understood the lesson, they hurried through it, sat back, and literally looked smug. The smug look says, "My speed and knowledge proved that I'm better than you." No one asks questions for fear that they might look like they don't know it all.

I heard a program on Catholic radio today. The talk show shrink was commenting on how girls and boys are wired differently. Girls like to be involved in activities that include socializing. Boys prefer agressive competitive games and like to do things together. I believe there is validity to his point, however; the girls socializing becomes sin when gossip and catty games that exclude others run rampant. The boys aggressiveness becomes sin when the strong survive and the week die, wolf pack mentality rules.

I listened on the way in to work to another christian radio station. The guest speaker's topic was pride and how it affects you. Pride causes depression because, you are in your own little universe and the whole world is all about you. When something doesn't go your way you are depressed. Prideful people are not good listeners because they want to talk only about themselves. Pride doesn't think it is wrong. The speaker related a story of a teacher who told a student that he spelled a word wrong. She had the student look up in a dictionary the mis-spelled word. When the dictionary proved otherwise; this student declared, "The dictionary is wrong."
All I can say is WOW. It seems the student is so full of SELF-esteem that there is no way he could have made a mistake. Or so full of pride that he couldn't admit the mistake.

SELF-esteem, SELFish ambition, and pride are the same animal...untamed, unbridled irreponsibility that will step on the head of the innocent to gain a few crumbs and then justify it's actions by saying, "I have to survive, don't I?" This beast is blind as a bat to the truth with a heart void of real love.

The bible says to die to SELF and to consider others before myself. This is in complete opposition to the world's way of doing things. But imagine, if there was heaven on earth and we treated one another as the golden rule states, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." It would truly be heaven on earth.

Lord, Help me to remember that I am your servant here, sent to do that which you have prepared ahead of time for me to do. May the chains of selfish ambition and vain conceit fall from my heart. Let me see as you see and not be blind to truth nor love.

Compromise of the Soul

I dined today with the regional manager of the large media company where I'm employed. This was one of those public relation events which is intended to give employees a voice and to give high management a feel for what's really happening at your work place. Your boss is decisively not there. The conversation was dominated by flattering praises for our office and critical remarks of another area which had recently received help in the form of tempory manpower from my office. My boss in our standard morning meeting coached our group to feel free to discuss our complaints but, to also mention the good things that go on at our office....(Hint, Hint... a.k.a. put in a good word for me guys.) Those who dominated the conversation and also have high level job positions used this meeting to gain favor with high management and brownie points with their direct supervisor. I tried to make a couple of honest suggestions but, to be honest I think this really was a ruse for an open forum. This really was a stroke my ego session for the regional manager. If honest dialog really flowed, profits would follow. Truth would be found.

The scriptures tell us that the poor are shunned even by their neighbors and the rich have many friends(Proverbs14:20.) Jude1:16 mentions ungodly men who are faultfinders and boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. These verses describe what I experienced today. God says to be rich in good deeds. (1Tim6:18) Godliness with contentment is great gain and those who want to get rich fall into temptation. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1Tim. 6:10.)

I pray for those chasing the temporal things of this world and are truly missing the riches of Christ. I also pray for myself that I stay an alien in this world and don't desire worldly power and influence.

There are times when a part of me would like to fit in and also gain a more influential and financially rewarding employment position. But thank God I can not bring myself to compromise my soul. Children of the light live in the light. I will respect authority as God has put those in authority in their positions. But I can't play the world's social game with it's dishonest strategies and self- serving agendas.

Jesus says, " If you want to be great, you must be a servant." Jesus the "real" king of kings served mankind with the literal laying down of his life for those (us) who didn't deserve his ultimate act of sacrifice. As Christians, myself included, we make decisions on what interests us and gives us the greastest joy and pleasure. Am I really laying down my life for my brothers in Christ? Am I promoting the love of Christ or love of self by my actions?


Last Sunday, as I carried my crying grand-baby into the nursery so the church service wouldn't be disrupted, a young lady walked into the empty nursery and offered to watch the baby so I could enjoy the service. I declined her offer even though she repeatedly and sincerely insisted that she would love to care for this little one who was over-tired, cranky, and vocal. Crying babies and dirty diapers isn't glamourous work. That is why the nursery is always in need of volunteers. It is so much more convenient to enjoy the service and let mom ( it is usually mom) take care of her own burden. This lovely young woman gladened my heart. The presence of the spirit of the living king Jesus was evident in her willingness to sacrifice comfort in order to serve another.

The comparison of the secular men at my workplace who had as their audience a leader in a powerful position and, the young woman who had as her audience a tired worn-out grandma with a distressed infant is quite interesting; the former self-serving in their actions, the later sacrificing. The point often overlooked is the unseen audience that is always there in each and every situation, judging the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.

First Blog

I am trying to hear and obey God's voice. I often fail to recognize and distinguish the Holy Spirit's voice from my own inner voice. Then, I precede to reason with myself instead of with God. "Come reason with me," says the Lord. I have so much to learn. Will I ever get it right?