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A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 


Change – 11 May 2007
By Mary T. Hoffman

Speaking to Nicodemus, a Pharisee who was a ruler of the Jews, Jesus said "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he [or she] cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3 ~ New American Standard Bible)

Being “born again” takes commitment and produces positive change. It requires a decision to rise to a new level by examining ones life and abandoning those things that are not of God. In this spiritual journey, the Holy Spirit is there to inform a believer through his or her spirit and conscience. There is no excuse for complacency, pride, stagnation, tradition, culture, et cetera – anything that holds one back. As Paul says in his letter to the Romans:

Romans 1:20 –

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
~ New American Standard Bible

Paul is saying that there are no excuses; that God makes it plain to everyone, if they choose to look and observe. Even before Jesus was born, there were a few who sought the truth. Socrates, the Greek philosopher (469 BC - 399 BC), who said that “The unexamined life is not worth living,” was one of those few searchers.

Unfortunately, positive change that makes this world a kinder, gentler place for all of creation is still rarely found in or promoted by the very ones who should be at the forefront of such activity – churches and those who claim to be born again. As I’ve said before, Christianity has been hijacked and, in most instances, asking a pastor about kindness to other animals is, in most cases, like asking for verbal abuse and ridicule.

Go on to: Holidays – 12 May 2007
Return to: Begonias – 10 May 2007
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