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Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts

Friday, 22 June 2012

Bullying - In the news, an elderly lady

I think by now, most of us who watch the news will have heard the awful story of the elderly lady who got verbally and physically abused on a school bus. This is an utterly disgusting story, but I might add that it seems to be a sign of the times - that we are living in what the Bible calls the last days. 2 Timothy 3: 1-3 pretty much describes those kids on that bus . It says -But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good.

The question that I have is - How much of this sort of stuff is going on?? We should be thankful that a fellow student was able to capture the whole ordeal on his cellphone. Without that - would these children be facing any disciplinary actions at all?? Perhaps the bus driver could have somehow shown his support for this bus monitor lady and together they could have contronted those kids right there on the bus. I like the line the lady used when she said to the kids that if they don't have anything nice to say then to not say anything at all. That was how I was brought up also and what I have tried to teach my own children. Those placed in authority must speak up and take action.

We may wonder where such violence and bullying has its roots. One answer would be that we have all been born with a fallen sin nature and without the love of Christ we can only act on that sinful nature. But I think there is more to the answer than that. It is plain to see that as nations in general, God is being pushed out of our lives,  out of schools and government. People want to live their lives separate from God and the principles taught in the Bible. Many people would rather live the way of the world.  I believe that when we saturate our minds or the minds of our children with the garbage that is on television, in the movies and magazines etc,  this garbage grows within a person and becomes the natural way for a person to behave. It is the sowing and reaping principle on which I posted an article on this blog. You can find it on my blog titled " My Vegetable Garden - Sowing and Reaping".

What ever a person puts in his or her mind is a tool that has been given to satan that he will then  use against us. It might involve entertainment - watching a violent or sexual arousing movie, pornography, unwholesome language, lust, listening to secular music that stirs up the flesh, living beyond one's financial means, desires for things that are not ours. Whatever evil we put in our minds will work its way into action eventually. You plant the seed and it will grow.

Of course if we fill our minds with the things of the Lord and dwell on Him, this too is a seed that will produce fruit. Good fruit that the Lord is able to reward. Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

We can see that the seed the entertainment business has been sowing now  for the last twenty - thirty years now with our culture has produced its fruit. The fruit is ripe now. We see it in the violence, the homosexual movement, the way women are dressing very immodestly even in the Christian community - showing their breasts, skin, etc with no shame at all. These are grievous evils in the sight of our Father in Heaven and people and nations will face the consequences of their actions. God will not be mocked in this way. He has given us his Word , the Bible where it teaches us to live in a pure and undefiled way.

Galatians 6:7-8
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Dressed for battle - Armour of God

In our world today there is much evil around us. We see how the devil is working overtime trying to entice people to walk in the ways of the world. We see the fallout of this on the evening news everyday, violence, immorality, murder, cheating and theft. Commercials on television, in magazines and on the internet suggest we should spend money we don't have on things we don't need. We are bombarded with lies that suggest  that we are not going to be successful unless we look a certain way, wear certain clothes, drive a certain car, hang out with a certain crowd. It is a downward spiral that many fall into constantly. All the while God is looking into our hearts to see if we will seek Him first and live in obedience to Him as He has outlined in the Bible. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The Bible encourages us to STAND strong against the devil and his lying evil schemes. In Ephesians 6: 10 and 11 it says:
" be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

So what is this armour of God that will help us to stand and not fall?

Verse 13 -13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  In Ephesians chapter 6 is a list of the six pieces of armour that we need for this war.  In our mind  we can picture a soldier dressed for battle.
1) -loins girt about with truth, - The magazine or TV commercial that tells us to look and act like a certain famous person is a lie.  God made you to be you and live for Him.
2) -breastplate of righteousness - Is that thing we desire  pure and right in the eyes of God? Does it honor Christ?
3) -feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; - Will it hurt someone or help someone?
4) -taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  - Believe that Christ will meet all your real needs.
5) - helmet of salvation, - We are reconciled to God by faith in Jesus and repenting of our sin.
6) -the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: - God's word in our heart, in our thoughts and in our mind all the day and night. Waking or sleeping I belong to Jesus.

God has provided this armour to each of us as believers. Let's put it on and stand against the evil around us. Say "NO" to the devil as he goes about seeking to deceive.