Righteousness’ Bad Wrap

If I were asked what true religion looks like, honestly, I might paraphrase half a scripture from James 1 about caring for orphans and widows.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress . . .”

“Right on!” many would say. As I took another look at James this morning I realized that this response is both half the scripture and half of James’ message.

He continues, “To look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Sadly, a righteous life has gotten a bad wrap among many Christian circles. To guard yourself from spiritual pollution is to be ignorant, uncultured, and out of touch.

I pray that we all would value holiness more and more and that we might recognize that religion accepted by God is more than one dimensional.

San An Tone, here we come!

Sulphur Springs High School (my high school) is heading to the Texas Class 4A Division II state championship!

The Cats have had an incredible season and they are one win away from their first ever title. You might recall a post earlier this season regarding their spotlight game on ESPN 2.

Jump on the Blue and Gold bandwagon and let's cheer them on!

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***Update***

Wildcats win! 69-49

How spiritual are you?

Recently I learned that a good test of your spirituality is whether or not you can read the various Bible genealogies and be touched. Boy do I have a long way to go!

Our First Christmas Tree

We now have our very own Christmas tree!





Last Christmas we were treeless, aside from the miniature decor tree that set a towering foot tall on an end table in the cozy space we started in. We are thankful to be able to celebrate this Christmas, our second married Christmas, in style.

I realized recently that if our plans and dreams continue to unfold as they have been, we have only two additional holiday seasons with our families before traveling south. It is kind of a gloomy thought but even more exciting as we realize that this long awaited moment is quickly approaching.

Maybe next year we can place presents below the tree without fear of the Blanconator.

For the Love of the Gain

There is a part of me that longs for wealth. Not just any small fraction of my being but a big part, too big a part. I want luxury, security, and pleasure. The thoughts of comforting insurance policies, smart financial investments, and higher salaries float around in my head too regularly.

I’m facing a very difficult tension. A Christian society that says most of these things are good and wise to pursue. In fact, this is often termed good stewardship, a godly trait. And the other side, a radical lifestyle of poverty, sacrifice, and selflessness that Christ’s own life portrayed.

I attempt to filter our culture’s espoused needs with the values of scripture and it exhausts me. Isn’t it a good thing to be concerned with retirement and children’s education funds? Was Christ not worried about such things only because he knew he would die at the age of 33 and that he would father no children and leave behind no wife?

I’ve been reading through the New Testament books that follow the Gospels and this morning concluded I Timothy. Here is the passage that continued my wrestling over this matter.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Why am I not content with just knowing that I will be clothed and fed till the end of my days? Oh, and does this assurance entail name brands, large wardrobes, and fun dates to our favorite restaurants?

Some seem content with their answers to these questions but for us it is an ongoing battle. We are striving to make wise decisions with the provisions we are given without falling in love with the safety and material possessions we can purchase with it, remembering that we take nothing with us.

It seems that my longing needs to shift to contentment.