2x4s and Sawdust

ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME...This has become the motto of this generation. It's amazing how a generation of people who only know about God but don't follow His ways can say this. I think it's because they use it as an excuse to do whatever they want without a difference of opinion or accountability. It amazes me how many times someone tells me a story and then when I comment on something they've done or said the immediate response is, "Don't judge me". I am convinced that half the time when people say that, they have no idea what it means. Saying "Only God Can Judge Me" is not a licensce to do whatever you want and get away with it. Many even misuse the Matthew 7 scripture that says

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Let's not forget that the Word also calls us to "speak the truth in love" (Eph 4:15), "carry each other's burdens" (Gal 6:2), and "restore [each other] gently" if our brother/sister is caught in sin (Gal 6:1). The problem is that we try to translate the Word of God into meaning something that we want it to mean when it pertains to us and our lives.
     If you look closely at the Scripture it doesn't say not to address the person who has the speck in their eye. This Scripture is encouraging accountability but in the proper order. We must take care of ourselves first before we can address anyone else. What do they tell you on an airplane? In the case of emergency the oxygen mask will fall from above. Put your mask on first THEN help others. It's not saying not to help others. It's saying help yourself first. The Scripture is saying to make every effort to clean up your own life first and then deal with the issue your brother may have. Once that happens then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
      There is such a double standard when it comes to this and my question is: are we Christians feeding into this or are we doing our best to change it. It seems that we as the body are doing the former. We are to build up and not tear down. If we as the body who are connected don't work together in the healing and restoration of the other parts, who is going to do so? When one of us hurts, ALL of us hurts. Let's keep that in mind before we are quick to judge each other.

"I want you to want me"

     So I got a message 2 weeks ago on Facebook from CPYU (http://www.cpyu.org/) that said to watch Oprah because it had to do with women and pornography/erotica. It was so sad. So very sad. My heart broke because I realized how love deprived our society is today and how they will do anything to fill that void inside of them.

     Jenna Jameson spoke about the fact that she entered into the industry wanting to change it. She wanted women to have more power and say in the things they were doing. She talked about how people had this misconception of her being with so many men when that was not the case at all. She said that she knew that she was going to make a lot of money and wanted to do it "her way". It was interesting though how when she spoke during the show, her attitude was about empowering women and having them take control of their careers. Then they showed a video interview.
     They showed her at her huge house in the huge foyer and the luxury cars parked out front. They showed her enormous kitchen and boat in the backyard and how she was living her dream. She said how she's always wanted all the things she has and now she is able to enjoy them because she was able to retire early from her lucratice career. She is now a mother of 7 month old twin boys Jesse and Journey and is living as a housewife. Then it went deeper. In her interview she talked about the maintenance of being a porn star- breast augmentations, waxing, shaving, eyebrow tattoo, and everything else that was required to remain employed. She said that no matter how old she is, she would always be known as a porn star and she didn't know how she would be able to explain that to her boys one day. She talked about the concerns she has when her kids grow up and other moms won't want to have their children play with her boys because of who she is. She began to cry as she thought about how her lifestyle choice affects her children. Even though she was raving about the success of her career she said that there was not one day that went by that she didn't think to herself, "Did I make the right decision?" She talked about how she could have chosen other options and no matter what choice she would have made, she knew she would have been successful. As she spoke I began to think of what happened to her that would cause her to want to enter into the industry. She then touched on the fact that she had a traumatic experience when she was younger but she didn't want to talk about. When she said that I thought, isn't that the usual story. Someone robbed a young child of their innocence and they are scarred for life in some way, shape, or form.
    Unfortunately we live in a sexually saturated society that is fueled by people's fears and insecurities. No matter what, everyone wants to be loved. No one wants to be alone and there are many people who are desperate enough to do anything that it takes to fill the void inside of them. No matter who they are - celebrity or vagabond - they want to wanted and society has used this as a foundation for a multi-billion dollar business. It feeds on the ebbs and tides of our emotions and our self-esteem. In the August edition of People Magazine Serena Williams said

"I think every female does that. We think we look good one day, and then the next day – or the next minute – we're insecure about something. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and am like, 'I want to lose my inner thigh. I've got to do an hour of cardio today,' or whatever. I try not to do it, but the insecurity comes back sometimes. I do want to look good still; I do want to be healthy."

I believe one of the cries of this society is found in this Cheap Trick Song

I want you to want me

I need you to need me

I'd love you to love me

And I'm begging you to beg me

I want you to want me

I need you to need me

And I'd love you to love me

I'll shine up my old brown shoes

I put on a brand new shirt

I get home early from work

If you say that you love me

It's sad to know that there are people willin to do whatever it takes to look for other people to fill the void that only God can fill. What greater love is there than the unconditional love the Father has shown and given to us! It is up to us to allow the love of God compel us to tell others about Who He is and what He's done.

What happened?!

This video of Stefani Germanotta (AKA Lady Gaga) in 2005 was just recently released on YouTube and when I saw it I was blown away at what I heard. I think you will be too.



This is a video of Katy Hudson (AKA Katy Perry) singing a song called "Faith Won't Fail". It talks about how no matter what she goes through, whether thrown in the fire or in prison, her faith will stand the test of time. (Start from about 1:10)

So WHAT HAPPENED?! How does Lady Gaga go from

to

And how does Katy Perry go from to 

It is so sad to know that 2 Cor 4:4 is so true "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

O Lord, help us who believe in You to shine Your light so that others may believe in You too. Help us to nurture those who are growing up in the faith to be all You have created them to be so that they will not be so easily distracted and tempted to do things that are not of You.

I know that there are many more that have converted to Christ and do wonderful things for the glory of Christ and this is not to disregard that. I wanted to shed light on how money changes people. It can happen to anyone especially those who think that they are the exception. We as the body need to make sure that continue to let Christ's love compel us to share the gospel with those who don't believe and nurture the gifts and talents of those who do. It is only then that the will of God can be released on this earth because His people will be living out their destinies and callings.