God welcomes people without getting stuck in a web of sin. He wants us to do likewise. God the Son Jesus Christ is Wisdom and Power that He gives to creyentes (believers) for living the good life He promised us. "Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power" (1 Corinthians 6:12 Amplified Bible.)
A Chinese proverb says, "No one's ten fingers are all the same length" meaning "You cannot expect that everyone will be like you." Paul, an apostle of God, was a keen observer of people who found multiple things in the way people are and act to show and tell them about God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit and to unite them into the family of God which has love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Paul celebrated diversity without practicing Biblical disobedience.
Patience is about cultivating consistent godly character not about putting off godly action. Un dicho (a proverb) says, "No hay tiempo como el presente" ("There is no time like the present.") Christian Minister and Civil Rights Activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said in his August 28, 1963, I Have A Dream speech given at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., "Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood .... There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights." 1 Corinthians 13:6 New Living Translation Bible says about love, "It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out." Another word for injustice is wrongdoing. 1 Corinthians 13:6 English Standard Version Bible says about love, "It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." The truth is God created equal people of all races, sexes, ethnicity, ages and abilities; He expects us to love Him and to love all people not make exemptions for wrongdoing.
While racial and other wrongdoing still exists today, legal segregation doesn't; also African Americans are more fully enjoying citizenship rights than in 1963. What are some wonderful ways from African American heritage to lead people to Jesus Christ and to more fully enjoy American citizenship? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on http://www.Twitter.com/Michelelove30.
Showing posts with label Diversity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diversity. Show all posts
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Enlightened Sex
Ethiopian Queen Sheba said about wisdom in Kebra Negast (Glory of Kings), "I received a lamp which lighteth me." God Himself is Wisdom, and God gives His creyentes (believers) wisdom. Wisdom shows us the way to live wonderfully.
One quality does not define God. One quality does not define creyentes.
Some like to limit sexuality to genitals. However, God is limitless. God suggests sexuality is limitless in Genesis 1:27 by connecting sexuality to Himself. Sexual human beings are like God. Genesis 1:27 Amplified Bible says, "So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan wrote a book Out Of A Far Country A gay son's journey to God. A broken mother's search for hope. Christopher Yuan indicated in a speech at Yale University, "Some people believe that sexual orientation is innate and fixed, however, sexual orientation develops across a person's lifetime."
The more we interact with God and grow in our relationship with Him, the more He reveals Himself and ourselves including our sexuality. Learning to live wonderfully is a life-time process that starts with a relationship with God. John 4:24 Amplified Bible says, "God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality)."
It's a mistake to try to segregate sexuality from spirituality. The qualities of God are integrated and intense. God is not a lukewarm person. God is also a perfect personality. We cannot be perfect, but through God and the Bible He gave us, we can mature enjoying the good and leaving out the evil.
Are the most spiritual people also the most sexual? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, VA 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
One quality does not define God. One quality does not define creyentes.
Some like to limit sexuality to genitals. However, God is limitless. God suggests sexuality is limitless in Genesis 1:27 by connecting sexuality to Himself. Sexual human beings are like God. Genesis 1:27 Amplified Bible says, "So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan wrote a book Out Of A Far Country A gay son's journey to God. A broken mother's search for hope. Christopher Yuan indicated in a speech at Yale University, "Some people believe that sexual orientation is innate and fixed, however, sexual orientation develops across a person's lifetime."
The more we interact with God and grow in our relationship with Him, the more He reveals Himself and ourselves including our sexuality. Learning to live wonderfully is a life-time process that starts with a relationship with God. John 4:24 Amplified Bible says, "God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality)."
It's a mistake to try to segregate sexuality from spirituality. The qualities of God are integrated and intense. God is not a lukewarm person. God is also a perfect personality. We cannot be perfect, but through God and the Bible He gave us, we can mature enjoying the good and leaving out the evil.
Are the most spiritual people also the most sexual? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, VA 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Laughter And Living
An African proverb from Tanzania says, "Without craziness, one does not live." It's not a reference to mental illness, arrogance or the spirit of fear. It's a reference to the celebration of life.
Recently I bought a comedy DVD hoping to celebrate some Tanzanian-like craziness. My hopes were soon dashed; instead I saw the irrational mind of Satan. In one skit network television was critiqued for failing to hire diverse people. However, from the start of the DVD until I cut it off it spewed sexism, racism and religious hatred.
Comedians are supposed to make us laugh while teaching us something about human nature. Everyone shouldn't be a teacher. James 3:1-2 Amplified Bible says, "Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation]. For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature."
God does not give mistreated people the right to mistreat others. Levitico 19:18 Biblia Bilingue Version Reina-Valera 1960 dice, "No te vengaras, ni guardaras rencor a los hijos de tu pueblo, sino amaras a tu projimo como a ti mismo. Yo Jehova." Leviticus 19:18 Bilingual Bible New King James Version says, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord."
The Japanese invented DVDs. Technology can be used for good or for evil. What are some good comedy DVDs? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
The Chinese invented paper money. Diverse people should be on network television and everywhere earning money for doing good deeds. God made females and males of a wide variety of races, ethnicity, abilities and other characteristics to do good.
Being good to people brings prosperity. Becoming intimate with the Word of God teaches us how to treat people well. Joshua 1:8 Amplified Bible says, "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."
John Maxwell, minister, leadership expert, speaker, author and entrepreneur, writes in the May 2013 Success magazine article, "Taking the Leap Is it time for your big, bold venture?," ""Between 70 percent and 90 percent of decisions not to repeat a purchase of anything are not about product or price. They are about some dimension of service," author and former Burger King CEO Barry Gibbons once noted. . . . Your understanding of people will help you build your business. Your treatment of people will help you build your business. If you can build relationships, your reputation will help you build your business."
Recently I bought a comedy DVD hoping to celebrate some Tanzanian-like craziness. My hopes were soon dashed; instead I saw the irrational mind of Satan. In one skit network television was critiqued for failing to hire diverse people. However, from the start of the DVD until I cut it off it spewed sexism, racism and religious hatred.
Comedians are supposed to make us laugh while teaching us something about human nature. Everyone shouldn't be a teacher. James 3:1-2 Amplified Bible says, "Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation]. For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature."
God does not give mistreated people the right to mistreat others. Levitico 19:18 Biblia Bilingue Version Reina-Valera 1960 dice, "No te vengaras, ni guardaras rencor a los hijos de tu pueblo, sino amaras a tu projimo como a ti mismo. Yo Jehova." Leviticus 19:18 Bilingual Bible New King James Version says, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord."
The Japanese invented DVDs. Technology can be used for good or for evil. What are some good comedy DVDs? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
The Chinese invented paper money. Diverse people should be on network television and everywhere earning money for doing good deeds. God made females and males of a wide variety of races, ethnicity, abilities and other characteristics to do good.
Being good to people brings prosperity. Becoming intimate with the Word of God teaches us how to treat people well. Joshua 1:8 Amplified Bible says, "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."
John Maxwell, minister, leadership expert, speaker, author and entrepreneur, writes in the May 2013 Success magazine article, "Taking the Leap Is it time for your big, bold venture?," ""Between 70 percent and 90 percent of decisions not to repeat a purchase of anything are not about product or price. They are about some dimension of service," author and former Burger King CEO Barry Gibbons once noted. . . . Your understanding of people will help you build your business. Your treatment of people will help you build your business. If you can build relationships, your reputation will help you build your business."
Friday, June 21, 2013
Stop Excluding People. Reform Immigration Now!
1 Peter 2:9 New Living Translation Bible says, "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." God wants creyentes (believers) to do good like He does good. God also wants creyentes to enjoy the best of this earthly life without idolizing things or people.
One good thing to have is citizenship. The Apostle Paul, a Jew who had Roman citizenship, wrote most of the New Testament. African Americans gained American citizenship via the 14th amendment to the US constitution. Rafael Damani Fowler and I are African Americans, and we value and enjoy our US citizenship.
We also pray that as our legislature is considering immigration reform that many others who are currently being denied US citizenship but value and desire to enjoy it will be granted US citizenship. Diversity in America is good for Americans and people globally. Diversity in America is a world witness as America is the world's leading nation.
Nick Vujicic is of Serbian heritage but born in Australia. Later in life he moved to the United States of America. Vujicic was born without arms and legs not because of a botched abortion but because of tetra-amelia syndrome. Ana Rosa Rodriguez was born without an arm because of a botched abortion. Vujicic, a husband, a father, an evangelist, a motivational speaker, head of the non-profit organization Life Without Limbs and author, writes in his book Limitless Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life, "Researchers found that many who successfully deal with physical adversity actually grow in positive ways, including these:
* They realize they are stronger than they thought, and they tend to recover more quickly from future challenges.
* They discover who truly cares about them, and those relationships grow stronger.
* They put greater value on each day and on the good things in their lives.
* They become stronger spiritually."
Rafael Damani Fowler and I enjoy listening to CDs which were invented by the Japanese. Gospel singer Andrea Helms says in her song "Changed" on the CD Ultimate Gospel vol. 2 Women of Gospel Spirit Rising that she was not supposed to be born. She says about the time before she was born, "The doctors said that I would never walk that I would never talk that I would be nothing ... but I was born healthy." Doctors and other medical professionals know a lot, but they are not all-knowing like God. Doctors and others were not able to tell me that my son, Rafael, has autism, but it's okay. Rafael is glad to be alive instead of aborted.
Un dicho (a proverb) says, "No hay tiempo como el presente ("There is no time like the present.") Now is a good time to pass immigration reform not like the wicked US Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 but a law that welcomes people, doesn't burden them financially and treats them with equality.
One good thing to have is citizenship. The Apostle Paul, a Jew who had Roman citizenship, wrote most of the New Testament. African Americans gained American citizenship via the 14th amendment to the US constitution. Rafael Damani Fowler and I are African Americans, and we value and enjoy our US citizenship.
We also pray that as our legislature is considering immigration reform that many others who are currently being denied US citizenship but value and desire to enjoy it will be granted US citizenship. Diversity in America is good for Americans and people globally. Diversity in America is a world witness as America is the world's leading nation.
Nick Vujicic is of Serbian heritage but born in Australia. Later in life he moved to the United States of America. Vujicic was born without arms and legs not because of a botched abortion but because of tetra-amelia syndrome. Ana Rosa Rodriguez was born without an arm because of a botched abortion. Vujicic, a husband, a father, an evangelist, a motivational speaker, head of the non-profit organization Life Without Limbs and author, writes in his book Limitless Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life, "Researchers found that many who successfully deal with physical adversity actually grow in positive ways, including these:
* They realize they are stronger than they thought, and they tend to recover more quickly from future challenges.
* They discover who truly cares about them, and those relationships grow stronger.
* They put greater value on each day and on the good things in their lives.
* They become stronger spiritually."
Rafael Damani Fowler and I enjoy listening to CDs which were invented by the Japanese. Gospel singer Andrea Helms says in her song "Changed" on the CD Ultimate Gospel vol. 2 Women of Gospel Spirit Rising that she was not supposed to be born. She says about the time before she was born, "The doctors said that I would never walk that I would never talk that I would be nothing ... but I was born healthy." Doctors and other medical professionals know a lot, but they are not all-knowing like God. Doctors and others were not able to tell me that my son, Rafael, has autism, but it's okay. Rafael is glad to be alive instead of aborted.
Un dicho (a proverb) says, "No hay tiempo como el presente ("There is no time like the present.") Now is a good time to pass immigration reform not like the wicked US Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 but a law that welcomes people, doesn't burden them financially and treats them with equality.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Balanced, Beautiful, Biblical Living
Hebrews 13:20-21 Amplified Bible says, "Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it)." God wants all good things for His creyentes (believers). Former Mexican President Benito Juarez said, "The respect for the rights of others is peace."
Slavery and peace are incompatible. June 19th is Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day in the United States of America. Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of African-American slavery in the United States of America.
On June 18, 2013, the United States House of Representatives voted in favor of H.R. 1797 the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act which puts a national prohibition on abortions of unborn girls and unborn boys aged 20 weeks and older. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act respects the rights of the unborn who are people too deserving of peace, freedom and other good gifts from God.
God knows how to give good gifts. In addition to giving creyentes eternal life, God gave creyentes sabbaths to worship Him and to keep economic activity as a balanced part of our lives instead of consuming our lives. One sabbath God gave lasts for one year in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is a foreshadow of better things to come in the New Testament. Dads, moms, children, singles and everyone benefits when a one-year-and-more of paid leave is a global employment reality. Biblical living is beautiful, balanced living.
The Chinese invented the toothbrush. A clean mouth promotes dental health, beautiful teeth and fresh breath. May we be cleansed from the unhealthy, ugly disrespect of people through slavery, abortion and excessive economic work. May we celebrate God and the good life He gave us.
Slavery and peace are incompatible. June 19th is Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day in the United States of America. Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of African-American slavery in the United States of America.
On June 18, 2013, the United States House of Representatives voted in favor of H.R. 1797 the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act which puts a national prohibition on abortions of unborn girls and unborn boys aged 20 weeks and older. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act respects the rights of the unborn who are people too deserving of peace, freedom and other good gifts from God.
God knows how to give good gifts. In addition to giving creyentes eternal life, God gave creyentes sabbaths to worship Him and to keep economic activity as a balanced part of our lives instead of consuming our lives. One sabbath God gave lasts for one year in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is a foreshadow of better things to come in the New Testament. Dads, moms, children, singles and everyone benefits when a one-year-and-more of paid leave is a global employment reality. Biblical living is beautiful, balanced living.
The Chinese invented the toothbrush. A clean mouth promotes dental health, beautiful teeth and fresh breath. May we be cleansed from the unhealthy, ugly disrespect of people through slavery, abortion and excessive economic work. May we celebrate God and the good life He gave us.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Do We Believe In Proper Parenting?
"Honduras" means "depth" and is also the name of a country in Central America. Jesus Christ went to great depths to preach publicly and to practice good deeds publicly. He also went to great depths to get away from the public regularly to talk with God privately and to spend private time with his apostolic family.
God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is intensely good. Satan is intensely evil. Satan seeks to split families in various ways. Jesus Chris says in Mark 3:25 Amplified Bible, "And if a house is divided (split into factions and rebelling) against itself, that house will not be able to last."
What are some lies Satan tells to motivate employers to demand too much time from employees? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
We need copious time with God, family and friends.
Ephesians 6:4 Amplified Bible says, "Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord." If dad is rarely present in relationships, how can he train, discipline and counsel his children?
Satan working through the Iranian government put Pastor and US Citizen Saeed Abedini in jail for his Christian faith and works. Pastor Saeed would like to be present with his family and serving as a Biblical father. We can help him by praying and by doing deeds to pressure Iran to release Pastor Saeed Abedini from Evin prison in Tehran, Iran.
A Chinese proverb says, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." Sign the petition and write a letter to Pastor Abedini at the website http://www.savesaeed.org.
Workplace flexibility, such as one-year or more of paid leave, and global freedom to parent properly are possible. Proverbs 4:23 Amplified Bible says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." Saint Augustine, a North African bishop, said, "What can be hoped for which is not believed?"
God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is intensely good. Satan is intensely evil. Satan seeks to split families in various ways. Jesus Chris says in Mark 3:25 Amplified Bible, "And if a house is divided (split into factions and rebelling) against itself, that house will not be able to last."
What are some lies Satan tells to motivate employers to demand too much time from employees? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
We need copious time with God, family and friends.
Ephesians 6:4 Amplified Bible says, "Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord." If dad is rarely present in relationships, how can he train, discipline and counsel his children?
Satan working through the Iranian government put Pastor and US Citizen Saeed Abedini in jail for his Christian faith and works. Pastor Saeed would like to be present with his family and serving as a Biblical father. We can help him by praying and by doing deeds to pressure Iran to release Pastor Saeed Abedini from Evin prison in Tehran, Iran.
A Chinese proverb says, "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." Sign the petition and write a letter to Pastor Abedini at the website http://www.savesaeed.org.
Workplace flexibility, such as one-year or more of paid leave, and global freedom to parent properly are possible. Proverbs 4:23 Amplified Bible says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life." Saint Augustine, a North African bishop, said, "What can be hoped for which is not believed?"
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Going Beyond Our Expectations
Ephesians 5:1-2 Amplified Bible says, "Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance."
We serve the God of more than enough. Jesus Christ did not do the minimum to try to help people. God gave his life.
Creyentes (believers) will not always be called to physically die for someone else. We are all called to give our lives completely to God, so that He can show His love for people through us in all ways possible.
A Twi African proverb says, "Love is the greatest of all virtues."
Sometimes God may call us to show love at a level way higher than we expected. Jesus Christ and His apostles had been healing and helping people for a long while. Yet His apostles were offended when a woman poured expensive perfume on Him. Jesus Christ praised the woman because He is interested in healing and helping the poor and everyone else in magnanimous ways.
God wants us to be extremely good to strangers and especially to family. 1 Timothy 5:8 Amplified Bible says, "If anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and especially for those of his own family, he has disowned the faith [by failing to accompany it with fruits] and is worse than an unbeliever [who performs his obligation in these matters]."
God is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is concerned with our whole person, spirit, mind, physical body and financial life from conception all the way through death and the next life. Creyentes are to imitate God.
The Chinese invented the mechanical clock. God isn't watching a clock to figure out when we will turn 18, so that he can stop being our Father.
What are some ways that you have had to help strangers and/or family that were beyond your expectations? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30. Happy Father's Day!
We serve the God of more than enough. Jesus Christ did not do the minimum to try to help people. God gave his life.
Creyentes (believers) will not always be called to physically die for someone else. We are all called to give our lives completely to God, so that He can show His love for people through us in all ways possible.
A Twi African proverb says, "Love is the greatest of all virtues."
Sometimes God may call us to show love at a level way higher than we expected. Jesus Christ and His apostles had been healing and helping people for a long while. Yet His apostles were offended when a woman poured expensive perfume on Him. Jesus Christ praised the woman because He is interested in healing and helping the poor and everyone else in magnanimous ways.
God wants us to be extremely good to strangers and especially to family. 1 Timothy 5:8 Amplified Bible says, "If anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and especially for those of his own family, he has disowned the faith [by failing to accompany it with fruits] and is worse than an unbeliever [who performs his obligation in these matters]."
God is the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is concerned with our whole person, spirit, mind, physical body and financial life from conception all the way through death and the next life. Creyentes are to imitate God.
The Chinese invented the mechanical clock. God isn't watching a clock to figure out when we will turn 18, so that he can stop being our Father.
What are some ways that you have had to help strangers and/or family that were beyond your expectations? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30. Happy Father's Day!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Spitting In The Face Of God Or Service?
Proverbs 14:21 Amplified Bible says, "He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor." Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa said, "When you treat any human being as if they were less than a child of God, you are not just doing wrong--you are being sacrilegious. You are desecrating someting that is holy. You are like someone who spits in the face of God."
Low expectations of people are a way of spitting in the face of God. China spits in the face of God with its one-child policy that includes forced abortions and forced sterilizations.
In 2005 Chen Guangcheng filed a class-action lawsuit against local government officials involved in forced abortions and forced sterilizations. For his efforts Guangcheng, who is blind, ended up in jail for five years and in house arrest for two years.
He escaped on foot. Then he connected with He Peirong who drove him to the United States embassy in Beijing, China. A deal was negotiated between China and the United States, and Guangcheng came to live with his wife, Yuan Weijung, and two children in New York. Guangcheng has been a visiting scholar at New York University's U.S.-Asia Law Institute since May 2012.
Sophia Hollander writes in The Wall Street Journal June 13, 2013, article, "Chinese Dissident to Leave NYU," that New York University Spokesman John Beckman said that the university had provided Chen Guangcheng with housing, health insurance, food, clothing and electronic equipment, along with an office and language translation support.
Now New York University is requiring Chen Guangcheng to leave the university by the end of June 2013 while New York University denies that Chen Guangcheng's departure is connected to their opening of a university campus in Shanghai, China.
Creyentes (believers) are called to treat all people non-disabled and disabled well.
Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs not because of a botched abortion but because of tetra-amelia syndrome. Vujicic, who is an evangelist, motivational speaker, head of the nonprofit organization Life Without Limbs and author of multiple books, writes in his book Limitless Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life, "I may be disabled, but God is abled." Vujicic is also married to Kanae Loida Vujicic-Miyahara. On February 13, 2013, this married couple celebrated the birth of Kiyoshi James Vujicic, their son and first child, and they hope to have at least four children.
Some think that the disabled are destined to live a ridiculously bad life and recommend that those who are disabled or may be disabled be killed before birth via abortion. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act seeks to place a national prohibition on abortions of non-disabled and disabled unborn girls and boys 20 weeks and older. Twenty weeks is the age when the unborn begin to feel pain. Instead of spitting in the face of God, serve Him and humanity by praying for Chen Guangcheng, the Chen family, New York University officials and the unborn and by sending an email to your member of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 1797 the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and to support the bill as is without changes: http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/issues/alert/?alertid=62650516&type=CO.
Low expectations of people are a way of spitting in the face of God. China spits in the face of God with its one-child policy that includes forced abortions and forced sterilizations.
In 2005 Chen Guangcheng filed a class-action lawsuit against local government officials involved in forced abortions and forced sterilizations. For his efforts Guangcheng, who is blind, ended up in jail for five years and in house arrest for two years.
He escaped on foot. Then he connected with He Peirong who drove him to the United States embassy in Beijing, China. A deal was negotiated between China and the United States, and Guangcheng came to live with his wife, Yuan Weijung, and two children in New York. Guangcheng has been a visiting scholar at New York University's U.S.-Asia Law Institute since May 2012.
Sophia Hollander writes in The Wall Street Journal June 13, 2013, article, "Chinese Dissident to Leave NYU," that New York University Spokesman John Beckman said that the university had provided Chen Guangcheng with housing, health insurance, food, clothing and electronic equipment, along with an office and language translation support.
Now New York University is requiring Chen Guangcheng to leave the university by the end of June 2013 while New York University denies that Chen Guangcheng's departure is connected to their opening of a university campus in Shanghai, China.
Creyentes (believers) are called to treat all people non-disabled and disabled well.
Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs not because of a botched abortion but because of tetra-amelia syndrome. Vujicic, who is an evangelist, motivational speaker, head of the nonprofit organization Life Without Limbs and author of multiple books, writes in his book Limitless Devotions for a Ridiculously Good Life, "I may be disabled, but God is abled." Vujicic is also married to Kanae Loida Vujicic-Miyahara. On February 13, 2013, this married couple celebrated the birth of Kiyoshi James Vujicic, their son and first child, and they hope to have at least four children.
Some think that the disabled are destined to live a ridiculously bad life and recommend that those who are disabled or may be disabled be killed before birth via abortion. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act seeks to place a national prohibition on abortions of non-disabled and disabled unborn girls and boys 20 weeks and older. Twenty weeks is the age when the unborn begin to feel pain. Instead of spitting in the face of God, serve Him and humanity by praying for Chen Guangcheng, the Chen family, New York University officials and the unborn and by sending an email to your member of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 1797 the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and to support the bill as is without changes: http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/issues/alert/?alertid=62650516&type=CO.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Enthusiastically Inclusive
When African American slavery was legal in America it was evil. At the time other evils were legal too. One of those evils was that women of all races could not vote in America. Some were active only in the fight against slavery. Others were active in the fight for equality and other goodness for both African Americans and women.
Some people limited their activism to slavery because of ignorance. God wants us to have a comprehensive understanding of the Bible. The things that we do not know can cause us and others harm. God is concerned about all people.
Acts 18:24-26 New Living Translation Bible says, "Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately."
Priscilla and Aquila were a wife and a husband who were creyentes (believers). They worked together to share a relationship with God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit with many people. When Priscilla and Aquila encountered Apollos they didn't get angry with Apollos because of his limited understanding. Instead they loved Apollos and shared with him more revelation of who God is.
Apollos accepted the Word of God delivered to him via Priscilla and Aquila. Apollos also became a leader in the early Christian church.
How do you view people who have a different understanding than yours? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
Priscilla and Aquila saw potential in Apollos even though he wasn't a part of their worship group initially and had less understanding of the Bible. 1 Corinthians 13:7 Amplified Bible says, "Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]."
The Chinese invented the fishing reel. Priscilla and Aquila weren't afraid to fish for Apollos who was different from them. God wants all kinds of people in His kingdom, and He wants us to continuously grow in our understanding of who God is and what pleases Him.
Some people limited their activism to slavery because of ignorance. God wants us to have a comprehensive understanding of the Bible. The things that we do not know can cause us and others harm. God is concerned about all people.
Acts 18:24-26 New Living Translation Bible says, "Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, an eloquent speaker who knew the Scriptures well, had arrived in Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He had been taught the way of the Lord, and he taught others about Jesus with an enthusiastic spirit and with accuracy. However, he knew only about John’s baptism. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately."
Priscilla and Aquila were a wife and a husband who were creyentes (believers). They worked together to share a relationship with God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ and God the Holy Spirit with many people. When Priscilla and Aquila encountered Apollos they didn't get angry with Apollos because of his limited understanding. Instead they loved Apollos and shared with him more revelation of who God is.
Apollos accepted the Word of God delivered to him via Priscilla and Aquila. Apollos also became a leader in the early Christian church.
How do you view people who have a different understanding than yours? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
Priscilla and Aquila saw potential in Apollos even though he wasn't a part of their worship group initially and had less understanding of the Bible. 1 Corinthians 13:7 Amplified Bible says, "Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]."
The Chinese invented the fishing reel. Priscilla and Aquila weren't afraid to fish for Apollos who was different from them. God wants all kinds of people in His kingdom, and He wants us to continuously grow in our understanding of who God is and what pleases Him.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Un Corrido Nuevo (A New Ballad)
Zacchaeus was a rich government worker who had cheated people financially. Then he met Jesus Christ, entered into a relationship with Christ and restored by four times the things he had stole as a chief tax collector. Luke 19:1-10 Amplified Bible says, "And [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through it. And there was a man called Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, and [he was] rich. And he was trying to see Jesus, which One He was, but he could not on account of the crowd, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass that way. And when Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today. So he hurried and came down, and he received and welcomed Him joyfully. And when the people saw it, they all muttered among themselves and indignantly complained, He has gone in to be the guest of and lodge with a man who is devoted to sin and preeminently a sinner. So then Zacchaeus stood up and solemnly declared to the Lord, See, Lord, the half of my goods I [now] give [by way of restoration] to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I [now] restore four times as much. And Jesus said to him, Today is [Messianic and spiritual] salvation come to [all the members of] this household, since Zacchaeus too is a [real spiritual] son of Abraham; For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost."
America has benefited greatly from the labor of voluntary and involuntary immigrants without always treating them well. Now is a good time to begin to right the wrongs. Immigrants shouldn't have to pay to become citizens nor should they be denied tax benefits available to others.
God wants all people to be treated well no matter where they live or who they are. Desmond Tutu of South Africa said in a sermon delivered in Norway, "At home in South Africa I have sometimes said in big meetings where you have black and white together: "Raise your hands!" Then I've said, "Move your hands," and I've said, "Look at your hands--different colors representing different people. You are the rainbow people of God."
And you remember the rainbow in the Bible is the sign of peace. The rainbow is the sign of prosperity. We want peace, prosperity and justice and we can have it when all the people of God, the rainbow people of God, work together."
Jesus Christ wants us to have spiritual, psychological, physical and financial prosperity.
The Chinese invented paper money. God teaches us in the Bible book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 that when we do right money comes. Let's make a new corrido (a ballad) about America doing spiritually, psychologically, physically and financially right by immigrants.
America has benefited greatly from the labor of voluntary and involuntary immigrants without always treating them well. Now is a good time to begin to right the wrongs. Immigrants shouldn't have to pay to become citizens nor should they be denied tax benefits available to others.
God wants all people to be treated well no matter where they live or who they are. Desmond Tutu of South Africa said in a sermon delivered in Norway, "At home in South Africa I have sometimes said in big meetings where you have black and white together: "Raise your hands!" Then I've said, "Move your hands," and I've said, "Look at your hands--different colors representing different people. You are the rainbow people of God."
And you remember the rainbow in the Bible is the sign of peace. The rainbow is the sign of prosperity. We want peace, prosperity and justice and we can have it when all the people of God, the rainbow people of God, work together."
Jesus Christ wants us to have spiritual, psychological, physical and financial prosperity.
The Chinese invented paper money. God teaches us in the Bible book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 that when we do right money comes. Let's make a new corrido (a ballad) about America doing spiritually, psychologically, physically and financially right by immigrants.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Isn't It A Blessing To Have American Citizenship?
In the United States the second Sunday in June is National Puerto Rican Day. A few years ago Rafael and I paid tribute to Puerto Rican heritage, culture and traditions when we vacationed in the US commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
For many Christians Sundays are a vacation to love God.
The Chinese invented matches. The Bible can be used as a match to strike a fire burning up the idea that one can love God without loving people. Mark 12:29-31 Amplified Bible says, "Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
An African proverb from Zaire says, "A kind person is the one who is kind to strangers."
The United States is a country mostly founded by strangers who voluntarily and involuntarily immigrated from other countries. Immigrants have come to the United States throughout our history. It is wrong that they have not always been treated well.
Let's welcome strangers/immigrants and treat them well like we want to be treated well. Isn't it a blessing to have American citizenship?
Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virgina 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
For many Christians Sundays are a vacation to love God.
The Chinese invented matches. The Bible can be used as a match to strike a fire burning up the idea that one can love God without loving people. Mark 12:29-31 Amplified Bible says, "Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
An African proverb from Zaire says, "A kind person is the one who is kind to strangers."
The United States is a country mostly founded by strangers who voluntarily and involuntarily immigrated from other countries. Immigrants have come to the United States throughout our history. It is wrong that they have not always been treated well.
Let's welcome strangers/immigrants and treat them well like we want to be treated well. Isn't it a blessing to have American citizenship?
Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virgina 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Balancing Relationships
An African proverb says, "Work is good, provided you do not forget to live."
One thing Soledad O'Brien writes about in her book Latino In America is about the clash between Latino culture's high value on the family and American culture's idolizing economic independence.
1 John 5:21 Amplified Bible says, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)—[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be)." With God number one in our life God inspires us to prioritize and cherish relationships with people while taking care of all aspects of living.
Neither Latino culture nor American culture nor any human culture is perfect. Culture should be checked against the Bible to cultivate the good and chuck the bad.
Watchman Nee writes in his book Sit Walk Stand The Process of Christian Maturity, "Let us be clear that the body of Christ is not something remote and unreal, to be expressed only in heavenly terms. It is very present and practical, finding the real test of our conduct in our relations with others."
Economic independence is desirable because it can be a tool to taking care of responsibilities and desires. It must never replace or became a hindrance to our relationships with God and family.
Watch and pray about all of your life. The devil works to get us out of balance. For example, if we spend too much time on economic activity we will spend too little time with God and family.
What are some other tricks of the devil to get us out of balance? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
One thing Soledad O'Brien writes about in her book Latino In America is about the clash between Latino culture's high value on the family and American culture's idolizing economic independence.
1 John 5:21 Amplified Bible says, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)—[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be)." With God number one in our life God inspires us to prioritize and cherish relationships with people while taking care of all aspects of living.
Neither Latino culture nor American culture nor any human culture is perfect. Culture should be checked against the Bible to cultivate the good and chuck the bad.
Watchman Nee writes in his book Sit Walk Stand The Process of Christian Maturity, "Let us be clear that the body of Christ is not something remote and unreal, to be expressed only in heavenly terms. It is very present and practical, finding the real test of our conduct in our relations with others."
Economic independence is desirable because it can be a tool to taking care of responsibilities and desires. It must never replace or became a hindrance to our relationships with God and family.
Watch and pray about all of your life. The devil works to get us out of balance. For example, if we spend too much time on economic activity we will spend too little time with God and family.
What are some other tricks of the devil to get us out of balance? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Autism And A Desire For A Variety Of Human Relationships
Rafael and I were recently shopping at Whole Foods grocery store. We love to sample products.
I was talking to Suzanne who was presenting samples of coffees roasted by developmentally disabled employees in Maryland, which is a state bordering Virginia where Rafael and I live. When I was talking too long with Suzanne according to Rafael, Rafael kissed and hugged me to indicate that we should move on.
This morning though Rafael did not want to move on from drinking the blend of Ethiopian and Indian coffee we purchased from Suzanne.
Rafael and I enjoy going out to a variety of public places. I think if I looked into it I would find African and Native American nomad blood in our heritage.
People with autism enjoy living fully even with social and communication challenges. Rafael has autism. Sometimes he has crying spells. He cannot explain why he cries. Some have tried to tell me that people with autism cry sometimes for no reason. I think just because we don't know the reason does not mean that a reason(s) do not exist.
The movie Ocean Heaven is about a single father who has liver cancer and his son who has autism. Dad, Mr. Wang played by actor Jet Li, can't figure out why his son would walk off to a McDonald's and lay his head on a statue of Ronald McDonald. Unknown to dad, his son, Dafu played by actor Wen Zhang, met a girl who is a traveling acrobat who dresses similar to Ronald McDonald for her job. During her stay in town, Dafu and Lingling become friends. When Lingling has to leave town because of her traveling acrobat job, the friends are separated. Dafu is laying his head on Ronald McDonald because he misses Lingling.
It doesn't take long for people to attach to other people. Rafael and I were inspired by a sermon on Sunday from Dr. Samuel R. Chand at Grace church in Dumfries, Virginia. Dr. Chand is from India and now lives in America. When one of his daughters named Rachel was pregnant, Rachel and her husband named the baby Jude. Dr. Chand was so excited about Jude that he talked to Jude and laid hands on Rachel's belly to pray for her and Jude.
When it was time for Jude to leave his womb home, Rachel went to the hospital. But Jude's heart stopped beating, and he died.
Jude hadn't even lived one year, but his grandfather, Dr. Chand, was attached to Jude. When Jude died, Dr. Chand cried a lot and not always tiny tears sometimes heaving tears.
In Genesis chapter 2 God said it is not good for man to be alone. This doesn't just mean that women and men will desire to get married, it also means that God created us with a desire to be in a variety of human relationships. People with autism and other people are not exempt from being made with a desire for a variety of human relationships.
God has also created us male and female. We are conceived in sexuality, and we desire sexuality from the beginning. From the time I could talk I had questions about sex, but adults didn't like to talk to me about sex.
God made sex. What God makes is good. God talks about sex in His Bible with love and respect. God is not tense or out of balance when discussing sex. Creyentes (believers) should imitate God.
What are some ways you have been surprised at the depth and breath of desire for human relationships? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
I was talking to Suzanne who was presenting samples of coffees roasted by developmentally disabled employees in Maryland, which is a state bordering Virginia where Rafael and I live. When I was talking too long with Suzanne according to Rafael, Rafael kissed and hugged me to indicate that we should move on.
This morning though Rafael did not want to move on from drinking the blend of Ethiopian and Indian coffee we purchased from Suzanne.
Rafael and I enjoy going out to a variety of public places. I think if I looked into it I would find African and Native American nomad blood in our heritage.
People with autism enjoy living fully even with social and communication challenges. Rafael has autism. Sometimes he has crying spells. He cannot explain why he cries. Some have tried to tell me that people with autism cry sometimes for no reason. I think just because we don't know the reason does not mean that a reason(s) do not exist.
The movie Ocean Heaven is about a single father who has liver cancer and his son who has autism. Dad, Mr. Wang played by actor Jet Li, can't figure out why his son would walk off to a McDonald's and lay his head on a statue of Ronald McDonald. Unknown to dad, his son, Dafu played by actor Wen Zhang, met a girl who is a traveling acrobat who dresses similar to Ronald McDonald for her job. During her stay in town, Dafu and Lingling become friends. When Lingling has to leave town because of her traveling acrobat job, the friends are separated. Dafu is laying his head on Ronald McDonald because he misses Lingling.
It doesn't take long for people to attach to other people. Rafael and I were inspired by a sermon on Sunday from Dr. Samuel R. Chand at Grace church in Dumfries, Virginia. Dr. Chand is from India and now lives in America. When one of his daughters named Rachel was pregnant, Rachel and her husband named the baby Jude. Dr. Chand was so excited about Jude that he talked to Jude and laid hands on Rachel's belly to pray for her and Jude.
When it was time for Jude to leave his womb home, Rachel went to the hospital. But Jude's heart stopped beating, and he died.
Jude hadn't even lived one year, but his grandfather, Dr. Chand, was attached to Jude. When Jude died, Dr. Chand cried a lot and not always tiny tears sometimes heaving tears.
In Genesis chapter 2 God said it is not good for man to be alone. This doesn't just mean that women and men will desire to get married, it also means that God created us with a desire to be in a variety of human relationships. People with autism and other people are not exempt from being made with a desire for a variety of human relationships.
God has also created us male and female. We are conceived in sexuality, and we desire sexuality from the beginning. From the time I could talk I had questions about sex, but adults didn't like to talk to me about sex.
God made sex. What God makes is good. God talks about sex in His Bible with love and respect. God is not tense or out of balance when discussing sex. Creyentes (believers) should imitate God.
What are some ways you have been surprised at the depth and breath of desire for human relationships? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Cultivating Love
Most Ethiopians make their living by farming. Farmers cultivate things. God is a farmer. God cultivates people. Jesus Christ says in John 15:4 Amplified Bible, "Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me."
Love is fruit God wants creyentes (believers) to bear. In Matthew 22:39 Complete Jewish Bible Jesus Christ says, "...You are to love your neighbor as yourself."
In China people are being taught to hate themselves and their neighbor through China's one child policy with forced abortions and forced sterilizations. Ma Jian writes in her May 22, 2013 The New York Times editorial "China's Brutal One-Child Policy," "Village family-planning officers vigilantly chart the menstrual cycle and pelvic-exam results of every woman of childbearing age in their area. If a woman gets pregnant without permission and is unable to pay the often exorbitant fine for violating the policy, she risks being subjected to a forced abortion.
According to Chinese Health Ministry data released in March, 336 million abortions and 222 million sterilizations have been carried out since 1971. (Though the one-child policy was introduced in 1979, other, less-stringent family planning policies were in place before it.) ...
Almost every one of the pregnant women I spoke to had suffered a mandatory abortion. One woman told me how, when she was eight months pregnant with an illegal second child and was unable to pay the 20,000 yuan fine (about $3,200), family planning officers dragged her to the local clinic, bound her to a surgical table and injected a lethal drug into her abdomen.
For two days she writhed on the table, her hands and feet still bound with rope, waiting for her body to eject the murdered baby. In the final stage of labor, a male doctor yanked the dead fetus out by the foot, then dropped it into a garbage can. She had no money for a cab. She had to hobble home, blood dripping down her legs and staining her white sandals red."
Whether an abortion is forced or not, a baby boy or a baby girl dies and the child's parents and family are affected by the abortion. Hannah Rose Allen was an American teenager who got involved in sex outside of marriage and a baby was conceived. She thought that abortion was the simple solution and learned through experience about the emotional turmoil abortion causes parents. Allen writes in a May 28, 2013, editorial for LifeNews.com "Planned Parenthood Lied: My Abortion Destroyed Me; But Jesus Saved Me," "On February 6, 2009, I took the RU-486 pill, and after a night of darkness, it was over. I was relieved to get back to my normal life. I wanted to move on, as if the nightmare had never happened, and forget the immense pain. I was deceived into thinking that I could forget about it. The counselor at Planned Parenthood had told me that some initial sadness after my abortion would be normal, but after a couple days, if I was still feeling depressed, that wouldn’t be normal, and I should seek help. How wrong she was. Much of those days before and after my abortion are a blur of heartbreak and tears. Sleepless nights were spent, with agony at the depths of my heart and soul, rattling me to the core. There was nothing “wrong” with me for feeling that way.
Trying to forget what I had done, over the next few months, I sought comfort for my wounded, aching heart through partying, drinking, and living promiscuously. I was digging myself deeper and deeper into a pit of destruction and despair. Four months after my abortion, I was pregnant…again."
The death of an unborn child by abortion or miscarriage hurts. Allen didn't choose abortion for her second child, but her second child's heart stopped beating near the end of her pregnancy. God, a farmer who cultivates people, used the death of both her babies to bring Allen into a close relationship with Him and to speak out for the lives of the unborn.
God cultivates both women and men. Bob Fu is a Christian who experienced China's one child policy. When Fu and his wife lived in China they were pregnant without a pregnancy permission card. They left China, and their son, Daniel, was born in Hong Kong. Eventually, the Fu family came to America where Bob Fu is founder and president of ChinaAid which fights for religious freedom and an end to China's one child policy.
Wherever creyentes are, God is cultivating us to love ourselves and other people.
Love is fruit God wants creyentes (believers) to bear. In Matthew 22:39 Complete Jewish Bible Jesus Christ says, "...You are to love your neighbor as yourself."
In China people are being taught to hate themselves and their neighbor through China's one child policy with forced abortions and forced sterilizations. Ma Jian writes in her May 22, 2013 The New York Times editorial "China's Brutal One-Child Policy," "Village family-planning officers vigilantly chart the menstrual cycle and pelvic-exam results of every woman of childbearing age in their area. If a woman gets pregnant without permission and is unable to pay the often exorbitant fine for violating the policy, she risks being subjected to a forced abortion.
According to Chinese Health Ministry data released in March, 336 million abortions and 222 million sterilizations have been carried out since 1971. (Though the one-child policy was introduced in 1979, other, less-stringent family planning policies were in place before it.) ...
Almost every one of the pregnant women I spoke to had suffered a mandatory abortion. One woman told me how, when she was eight months pregnant with an illegal second child and was unable to pay the 20,000 yuan fine (about $3,200), family planning officers dragged her to the local clinic, bound her to a surgical table and injected a lethal drug into her abdomen.
For two days she writhed on the table, her hands and feet still bound with rope, waiting for her body to eject the murdered baby. In the final stage of labor, a male doctor yanked the dead fetus out by the foot, then dropped it into a garbage can. She had no money for a cab. She had to hobble home, blood dripping down her legs and staining her white sandals red."
Whether an abortion is forced or not, a baby boy or a baby girl dies and the child's parents and family are affected by the abortion. Hannah Rose Allen was an American teenager who got involved in sex outside of marriage and a baby was conceived. She thought that abortion was the simple solution and learned through experience about the emotional turmoil abortion causes parents. Allen writes in a May 28, 2013, editorial for LifeNews.com "Planned Parenthood Lied: My Abortion Destroyed Me; But Jesus Saved Me," "On February 6, 2009, I took the RU-486 pill, and after a night of darkness, it was over. I was relieved to get back to my normal life. I wanted to move on, as if the nightmare had never happened, and forget the immense pain. I was deceived into thinking that I could forget about it. The counselor at Planned Parenthood had told me that some initial sadness after my abortion would be normal, but after a couple days, if I was still feeling depressed, that wouldn’t be normal, and I should seek help. How wrong she was. Much of those days before and after my abortion are a blur of heartbreak and tears. Sleepless nights were spent, with agony at the depths of my heart and soul, rattling me to the core. There was nothing “wrong” with me for feeling that way.
Trying to forget what I had done, over the next few months, I sought comfort for my wounded, aching heart through partying, drinking, and living promiscuously. I was digging myself deeper and deeper into a pit of destruction and despair. Four months after my abortion, I was pregnant…again."
The death of an unborn child by abortion or miscarriage hurts. Allen didn't choose abortion for her second child, but her second child's heart stopped beating near the end of her pregnancy. God, a farmer who cultivates people, used the death of both her babies to bring Allen into a close relationship with Him and to speak out for the lives of the unborn.
God cultivates both women and men. Bob Fu is a Christian who experienced China's one child policy. When Fu and his wife lived in China they were pregnant without a pregnancy permission card. They left China, and their son, Daniel, was born in Hong Kong. Eventually, the Fu family came to America where Bob Fu is founder and president of ChinaAid which fights for religious freedom and an end to China's one child policy.
Wherever creyentes are, God is cultivating us to love ourselves and other people.
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Are Disabilities From God Or The Devil?
King Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty in Ethiopia had eleven churches built by carving them out of volcanic rock. Creyentes (believers) are supposed to build their life on rock. Jesus Christ says in Matthew 7:24-27 English Standard Version Bible, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
God created us. Genesis chapter one doesn't give a detailed description of Adam's and Eve's bodies. Throughout human history some people have ten fingers and ten toes. Others have six fingers and/or six toes. Bollywood Actor Hrithik Roshan has a double thumb. Some people are born blind. Others are born with eyesight.
Helen Keller was blind and deaf. Keller said, "I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God." Exodus 4:11 Amplified Bible says, "And the Lord said to him, Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord?"
All disabilities are not designed by God. Luke 13:11 New Living Translation Bible says, "He saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight."
God is willing and able to heal. So ask Him, and keep on asking Him. God is good. He knows how to give good things to creyentes. When God doesn't answer prayers the way we want, He has reasons, and His ways are always better than ours.
Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs. Yes, he still asks God for those. In the meantime he is using what he has to live a life that pleases God.
The Chinese invented the fishing reel. Vujicic is a fisherman reeling in people for Jesus Christ. Vujicic is an evangelist, motivational speaker, author and head of the nonprofit organization Life Without Limbs. He is also married to Kanae Loida Vujicic-Miyahara. On February 13, 2013, this married couple celebrated the birth of Kiyoshi James Vujicic, their son and first child. They hope to have at least four children.
God created us. Genesis chapter one doesn't give a detailed description of Adam's and Eve's bodies. Throughout human history some people have ten fingers and ten toes. Others have six fingers and/or six toes. Bollywood Actor Hrithik Roshan has a double thumb. Some people are born blind. Others are born with eyesight.
Helen Keller was blind and deaf. Keller said, "I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God." Exodus 4:11 Amplified Bible says, "And the Lord said to him, Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the dumb, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord?"
All disabilities are not designed by God. Luke 13:11 New Living Translation Bible says, "He saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight."
God is willing and able to heal. So ask Him, and keep on asking Him. God is good. He knows how to give good things to creyentes. When God doesn't answer prayers the way we want, He has reasons, and His ways are always better than ours.
Nick Vujicic was born without arms and legs. Yes, he still asks God for those. In the meantime he is using what he has to live a life that pleases God.
The Chinese invented the fishing reel. Vujicic is a fisherman reeling in people for Jesus Christ. Vujicic is an evangelist, motivational speaker, author and head of the nonprofit organization Life Without Limbs. He is also married to Kanae Loida Vujicic-Miyahara. On February 13, 2013, this married couple celebrated the birth of Kiyoshi James Vujicic, their son and first child. They hope to have at least four children.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Invitation To Love
Rafael and I enjoyed some Chinese food today. My fortune cookie said, "You have the ability to touch the lives of many people."
A loving touch comes from a divine source.
Saint Augustine of Hippo, which is in present-day Algeria, said, "There is no greater invitation to love than loving first." God loved us before we were born. Ephesians 1:4 Amplified Bible says, "Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love."
Sometimes our feelings are helpful to living in love. Sometimes they are not. Don't wait to feel love to live in love. Just do it. God desires for creyentes (believers) to share His invitation to love. 1 John 4:7-11 Amplified Bible says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]. He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another."
Before doing large acts of love, little acts of love need to be mastered. Tradition can be a useful tool. In Ethiopia some greet people with a three cheek kiss -- right, left then right. In America smiles and saying "hello" work well. What are some little acts that invite love? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
A loving touch comes from a divine source.
Saint Augustine of Hippo, which is in present-day Algeria, said, "There is no greater invitation to love than loving first." God loved us before we were born. Ephesians 1:4 Amplified Bible says, "Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love."
Sometimes our feelings are helpful to living in love. Sometimes they are not. Don't wait to feel love to live in love. Just do it. God desires for creyentes (believers) to share His invitation to love. 1 John 4:7-11 Amplified Bible says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]. He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins. Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another."
Before doing large acts of love, little acts of love need to be mastered. Tradition can be a useful tool. In Ethiopia some greet people with a three cheek kiss -- right, left then right. In America smiles and saying "hello" work well. What are some little acts that invite love? Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, Virginia 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Imagine Opening Our Arms To Immigrants And The Disabled
Kaldi and the Dancing Goats is a story from Ethiopia. Kaldi was a goatherd, who one day was grazing his goats on a mountain side, but by the end of the day he could not find them.
Kaldi searched, and he searched, and he searched. Finally, he found them dancing around a bush whose red berries they had been feasting on. Kaldi decided to try the berries and found himself inspired to dance.
Kaldi took the red-berry treasure to some monks in a nearby monastery. One monk felt the red berries were a work of the devil and flung them into the fire. The fire brought out such an exquisite aroma from the red berries that the monks rescued the berries, ground them and made the hot, black drink we know as coffee. What they at first thought was a work of the devil, they later decided was a gift from God because coffee kept people awake during their prayers.
Some people feel that allowing a short, easy path to citizenship without economic burden for immigrants is a work of the devil. However, many immigrants are Christians fleeing from places of persecution and/or poverty to places that treasure things like freedom, equality and economic opportunity.
Religious freedom is not a reality in northern Nigeria. Also other parts of Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, have absorbed about as many people fleeing from northern Nigeria as they can help. Nigeria is about 50 percent Islam, 40 percent Christian and 10 percent other faiths.
One tradition says that the reason Abraham of the Bible had to immigrate from Ur of the Chaldees to Canaan is because he was being persecuted. God will use persecution and other situations to move us from one place to another for a good purpose. Genesis 12 records that Abraham coming to Canaan would be a part of his family being a global blessing to people.
The Brazos River flows through the middle of the American state of Texas. This river was originally named Los Brazos de Dios (In the Arms of God). Creyentes (believers) serve a big God whose arms are so big that they could never be too many people for Him to hug. Creyentes are God's physical arms on earth. Hugging immigrants is a blessing to us and to them.
Christian Minister and Civil Rights Activist Martin Luther King, Jr., says, "[People] often hate each other because they fear each other; they fear each other because they do not know each other; they do not know each other because they cannot communicate; they cannot communicate because they are separated." Demonic fear is designed to divide and to destroy people.
An East African proverb says, "When minds are the same, that which is far off will come." If we stay in fear, we cannot unify and do the great works God said we are to do.
Demonic fear produces irrational thinking. Imagine the extensive psychiatric problems in China due to China's one child policy with forced abortion and forced sterilization. Inflicting psychiatric problems reduces productivity. Productivity is essential for people to survive and thrive.
The idea of killing people and/or disfiguring them for social advancement is ancient and modern. In America and in other countries abortionists kill unborn baby girls and baby boys. Sometimes abortionists also kill babies born alive after botched abortions, adolescents and women. Abortionist LeRoy Carhart killed Christin Gilbert, a 19-year-old who had Down syndrome, and her baby. Gilbert is not the only woman killed by Carhart, who does late-term abortions. People with disabilities are discriminated against in the womb and out of the womb. Robert Ethan Saylor, was a young man killed in a movie theater because people didn't understand someone with Down syndrome.
We must learn to distinguish among foreign invaders/enemies and the potential friends of immigrants and people with disabilities.
Share some stories of immigrants and persons with disabilities overcoming discrimination. Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, VA 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30. Recommend this article on Google.
Enjoy Memorial Day on Monday.
Kaldi searched, and he searched, and he searched. Finally, he found them dancing around a bush whose red berries they had been feasting on. Kaldi decided to try the berries and found himself inspired to dance.
Kaldi took the red-berry treasure to some monks in a nearby monastery. One monk felt the red berries were a work of the devil and flung them into the fire. The fire brought out such an exquisite aroma from the red berries that the monks rescued the berries, ground them and made the hot, black drink we know as coffee. What they at first thought was a work of the devil, they later decided was a gift from God because coffee kept people awake during their prayers.
Some people feel that allowing a short, easy path to citizenship without economic burden for immigrants is a work of the devil. However, many immigrants are Christians fleeing from places of persecution and/or poverty to places that treasure things like freedom, equality and economic opportunity.
Religious freedom is not a reality in northern Nigeria. Also other parts of Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, have absorbed about as many people fleeing from northern Nigeria as they can help. Nigeria is about 50 percent Islam, 40 percent Christian and 10 percent other faiths.
One tradition says that the reason Abraham of the Bible had to immigrate from Ur of the Chaldees to Canaan is because he was being persecuted. God will use persecution and other situations to move us from one place to another for a good purpose. Genesis 12 records that Abraham coming to Canaan would be a part of his family being a global blessing to people.
The Brazos River flows through the middle of the American state of Texas. This river was originally named Los Brazos de Dios (In the Arms of God). Creyentes (believers) serve a big God whose arms are so big that they could never be too many people for Him to hug. Creyentes are God's physical arms on earth. Hugging immigrants is a blessing to us and to them.
Christian Minister and Civil Rights Activist Martin Luther King, Jr., says, "[People] often hate each other because they fear each other; they fear each other because they do not know each other; they do not know each other because they cannot communicate; they cannot communicate because they are separated." Demonic fear is designed to divide and to destroy people.
An East African proverb says, "When minds are the same, that which is far off will come." If we stay in fear, we cannot unify and do the great works God said we are to do.
Demonic fear produces irrational thinking. Imagine the extensive psychiatric problems in China due to China's one child policy with forced abortion and forced sterilization. Inflicting psychiatric problems reduces productivity. Productivity is essential for people to survive and thrive.
The idea of killing people and/or disfiguring them for social advancement is ancient and modern. In America and in other countries abortionists kill unborn baby girls and baby boys. Sometimes abortionists also kill babies born alive after botched abortions, adolescents and women. Abortionist LeRoy Carhart killed Christin Gilbert, a 19-year-old who had Down syndrome, and her baby. Gilbert is not the only woman killed by Carhart, who does late-term abortions. People with disabilities are discriminated against in the womb and out of the womb. Robert Ethan Saylor, was a young man killed in a movie theater because people didn't understand someone with Down syndrome.
We must learn to distinguish among foreign invaders/enemies and the potential friends of immigrants and people with disabilities.
Share some stories of immigrants and persons with disabilities overcoming discrimination. Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P. O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, VA 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30. Recommend this article on Google.
Enjoy Memorial Day on Monday.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
For with God, Nothing Is Impossible
"Blessed are the common people. God loves them: that is why he made millions of them," says Nnamdi Azikiwe, first president of independent Nigeria. Sometimes what God makes others destroy through abortion. Abortion kills baby girls and baby boys. Abortion also harms all members of a family.
A ChinaAid News March 24, 2013, "With ChinaAid's Help, Two Victims of China's One-Child Policy Granted UNHCR Refugee Status" article reports that in 1995, when Guo Yanling was eight months pregnant, she was forced to have an abortion. In 1999, she was forcibly sterilized. In 2006, she was imprisoned for not being able to pay a fine for having more than one child. The Chinese government also refused to issue household registrations to her and to her husband, Du Yiliang's, three children without which they are unable to attend school or to receive government benefits. Guo Yanling's and Du Yiliang's abortion, sterilization, educational and economic terror experience is typical in China. What isn't nearly as typical is that with ChinaAid’s help, Guo Yanling and Du Yiliang have been granted refugee status by the UN High Commission on Refugees. Notes of encouragement to Du Yiliang and Guo Yanling, requests for interviews and financial contributions to ChinaAid's Emergency Relief Fund can all be submitted to ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu at http://www.chinaaid.org/2013/03/with-chinaaid-help-two-victims-of-china.html.
Bob Fu himself has gone through the refugee experience. Fu was born in China. When Bob Fu, and his wife, Heidi, were pregnant with their first child without a pregnancy permission card required by China's one child policy, they were facing a forced abortion if caught. So the couple left China, went to Thailand and then Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, their son Daniel was born as a refugee and later the family was granted permission to live in the United States.
That's pretty incredible, but creyentes (believers) serve an incredible God who likes to do extraordinary things for creyentes. Luke 1:37 Complete Jewish Bible says, "For with God, nothing is impossible.”
Whether an abortion is forced or not anywhere in the world, a baby girl or a baby boy still is killed. Killing and kindness just don't go together. A comprehensive investigation of the abortion industry is needed.
Fifteen-year old Denise Montoya hemorrhaged and died after a 26-week abortion done by Douglas Karpen. "“When he did an abortion, especially an over 20 week abortion, most of the time the fetus would come completely out before he cut the spinal cord or he introduced one of the instruments into the soft spot of the fetus, in order to kill the fetus,” said Deborah Edge, who worked as a surgical assistant for Karpen for about 15 years until leaving in March, 2011;" read more at http://www.lifenews.com/2013/05/15/another-gosnell-report-shows-texas-abortion-doc-kills-babies-born-alive/.
Kermit Gosnell, another abortionist who performed abortions in all trimesters of pregnancy, killed babies born alive after botched abortions and killed women, is now in jail. Douglas Karpen is not. How many Douglas Karpen's and Kermit Gosnell's are there?
Nothing is impossible; abortion and abortionists can be stopped.
A ChinaAid News March 24, 2013, "With ChinaAid's Help, Two Victims of China's One-Child Policy Granted UNHCR Refugee Status" article reports that in 1995, when Guo Yanling was eight months pregnant, she was forced to have an abortion. In 1999, she was forcibly sterilized. In 2006, she was imprisoned for not being able to pay a fine for having more than one child. The Chinese government also refused to issue household registrations to her and to her husband, Du Yiliang's, three children without which they are unable to attend school or to receive government benefits. Guo Yanling's and Du Yiliang's abortion, sterilization, educational and economic terror experience is typical in China. What isn't nearly as typical is that with ChinaAid’s help, Guo Yanling and Du Yiliang have been granted refugee status by the UN High Commission on Refugees. Notes of encouragement to Du Yiliang and Guo Yanling, requests for interviews and financial contributions to ChinaAid's Emergency Relief Fund can all be submitted to ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu at http://www.chinaaid.org/2013/03/with-chinaaid-help-two-victims-of-china.html.
Bob Fu himself has gone through the refugee experience. Fu was born in China. When Bob Fu, and his wife, Heidi, were pregnant with their first child without a pregnancy permission card required by China's one child policy, they were facing a forced abortion if caught. So the couple left China, went to Thailand and then Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, their son Daniel was born as a refugee and later the family was granted permission to live in the United States.
That's pretty incredible, but creyentes (believers) serve an incredible God who likes to do extraordinary things for creyentes. Luke 1:37 Complete Jewish Bible says, "For with God, nothing is impossible.”
Whether an abortion is forced or not anywhere in the world, a baby girl or a baby boy still is killed. Killing and kindness just don't go together. A comprehensive investigation of the abortion industry is needed.
Fifteen-year old Denise Montoya hemorrhaged and died after a 26-week abortion done by Douglas Karpen. "“When he did an abortion, especially an over 20 week abortion, most of the time the fetus would come completely out before he cut the spinal cord or he introduced one of the instruments into the soft spot of the fetus, in order to kill the fetus,” said Deborah Edge, who worked as a surgical assistant for Karpen for about 15 years until leaving in March, 2011;" read more at http://www.lifenews.com/2013/05/15/another-gosnell-report-shows-texas-abortion-doc-kills-babies-born-alive/.
Kermit Gosnell, another abortionist who performed abortions in all trimesters of pregnancy, killed babies born alive after botched abortions and killed women, is now in jail. Douglas Karpen is not. How many Douglas Karpen's and Kermit Gosnell's are there?
Nothing is impossible; abortion and abortionists can be stopped.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Generous, Big-Hearted and Open-Minded
Quincy Jones turned 80 years old in March 2013. In America he could have retired about two decades ago. Instead he has chosen to take his career focus from performer and producer to manager of new musical talent. He is managing Blush, a five-member, Asian, girl band, Emily Bear, an 11-year-old piano prodigy, Alfredo RodrÃguez, a jazz pianist, Justin Kauflin, a blind jazz pianist and others (James C. McKinley Jr., May 22, 2013, The New York Times article "Latest in His Hyphenate? Manager Quincy Jones, After Years as a Performer-Producer, Now Scouts Young Talent.")
Permanent retirement of the elderly is not Biblical. God teaches us to fight the good fight of faith for all of life and to take periodic rest periods of worshiping Him through service. One Sabbath is to take place for one year every seven years. Leviticus 25:3-7 New Living Translation says, "For six years you may plant your fields and prune your vineyards and harvest your crops, but during the seventh year the land must have a Sabbath year of complete rest. It is the Lord’s Sabbath. Do not plant your fields or prune your vineyards during that year. And don’t store away the crops that grow on their own or gather the grapes from your unpruned vines. The land must have a year of complete rest. But you may eat whatever the land produces on its own during its Sabbath. This applies to you, your male and female servants, your hired workers, and the temporary residents who live with you. Your livestock and the wild animals in your land will also be allowed to eat what the land produces."
Jesus interprets the Mosaic Law and the Prophets in a way that gives God the highest glory and people the greatest good. If they had a one-year Sabbath in the Old Testament, how much better should it be since the birth of the Christian Church?
How to pay for one-year and more of paid employment leave? Here's some ideas:
** All leave balances accrued should be portable from one place of employment to the next.
** Some may prefer increased paid-leave benefits instead of a 401K match.
** Some may prefer increased paid-leave instead of a monetary increase for merit performance.
** Some may desire a customized benefit package.
Elderly people should not be discriminated against or forced out of the workforce nor should elderly who are no longer able to work be denied the help they need to live well. Governor Mary Fallin signed into law HB 1403 The Nondiscrimination in Treatment Act of Oklahoma which protects the elderly, seriously ill and disabled by preventing medical providers from denying individuals life-saving treatment based on their quality of life. The Nondiscrimination in Treatment Act of Oklahoma will take effect November 1, 2013.
Elderly people have more life experience than other human beings. An African proverb says, "When an elder dies it is as if a whole library had burned down."
God wants our library to be full of a life well lived. John 10:10 Amplified Bible says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
Perhaps if we listened to and obeyed God about the one-year or more Sabbath, more creative and compassionate solutions to social problems would be found and implemented. Families need more quantity and quality time together. Singles and others need to serve people more. Perhaps we would see more diversity in everyday life. For example, perhaps a way to build more restaurants with African food and food from the peoples of the African diaspora would be in suburb and rural places. More consistent and comprehensive coverage would be found in the media of the disability community, African countries and peoples of the African diaspora. One in six Africans is a Nigerian, but media coverage of Nigeria is rare. Way more coverage exists of the European Union than the African Union.
A Chinese proverb praises the "generous, big-hearted and open-minded." Paid employment leave and diversity exemplify these qualities and are good for everyone.
Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P.O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, VA 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
Permanent retirement of the elderly is not Biblical. God teaches us to fight the good fight of faith for all of life and to take periodic rest periods of worshiping Him through service. One Sabbath is to take place for one year every seven years. Leviticus 25:3-7 New Living Translation says, "For six years you may plant your fields and prune your vineyards and harvest your crops, but during the seventh year the land must have a Sabbath year of complete rest. It is the Lord’s Sabbath. Do not plant your fields or prune your vineyards during that year. And don’t store away the crops that grow on their own or gather the grapes from your unpruned vines. The land must have a year of complete rest. But you may eat whatever the land produces on its own during its Sabbath. This applies to you, your male and female servants, your hired workers, and the temporary residents who live with you. Your livestock and the wild animals in your land will also be allowed to eat what the land produces."
Jesus interprets the Mosaic Law and the Prophets in a way that gives God the highest glory and people the greatest good. If they had a one-year Sabbath in the Old Testament, how much better should it be since the birth of the Christian Church?
How to pay for one-year and more of paid employment leave? Here's some ideas:
** All leave balances accrued should be portable from one place of employment to the next.
** Some may prefer increased paid-leave benefits instead of a 401K match.
** Some may prefer increased paid-leave instead of a monetary increase for merit performance.
** Some may desire a customized benefit package.
Elderly people should not be discriminated against or forced out of the workforce nor should elderly who are no longer able to work be denied the help they need to live well. Governor Mary Fallin signed into law HB 1403 The Nondiscrimination in Treatment Act of Oklahoma which protects the elderly, seriously ill and disabled by preventing medical providers from denying individuals life-saving treatment based on their quality of life. The Nondiscrimination in Treatment Act of Oklahoma will take effect November 1, 2013.
Elderly people have more life experience than other human beings. An African proverb says, "When an elder dies it is as if a whole library had burned down."
God wants our library to be full of a life well lived. John 10:10 Amplified Bible says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
Perhaps if we listened to and obeyed God about the one-year or more Sabbath, more creative and compassionate solutions to social problems would be found and implemented. Families need more quantity and quality time together. Singles and others need to serve people more. Perhaps we would see more diversity in everyday life. For example, perhaps a way to build more restaurants with African food and food from the peoples of the African diaspora would be in suburb and rural places. More consistent and comprehensive coverage would be found in the media of the disability community, African countries and peoples of the African diaspora. One in six Africans is a Nigerian, but media coverage of Nigeria is rare. Way more coverage exists of the European Union than the African Union.
A Chinese proverb praises the "generous, big-hearted and open-minded." Paid employment leave and diversity exemplify these qualities and are good for everyone.
Write to:
Michele F. Jackson
P.O. Box 2106
Woodbridge, VA 22195
Follow Michele F. Jackson on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/michelelove30.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Embrace People. Erase the Spirit of Fear.
Jesus Christ sweated blood in the garden of Gethsemane knowing He was going to be beaten, crucified and killed for the sins of creyentes (believers.) After He was beaten, crucified and resurrected from the dead in three days, Jesus Christ had paid the debt owed God the Father for sin.
As creyentes we have a new life as reyes y reinas (kings and queens) empowered by God the Holy Ghost, who is love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, kindness, goodness and self-control. Having peace and the other qualities does not mean that we will not work hard to live in peace and in the other qualities which are interconnected.
"The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war," says Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the first woman president of the United Nations. Some succumb to the spirit of fear and refuse to sweat in peace.
The spirit of fear is the greatest threat to love and to peace. 1 John 4:18 Complete Jewish Bible says, "There is no fear in love. On the contrary, love that has achieved its goal gets rid of fear, because fear has to do with punishment; the person who keeps fearing has not been brought to maturity in regard to love."
Because the Chinese government is afraid of people, they punish pro-creation. China's one child policy has killed more than 330 million baby boys and baby girls via abortion and more than 190 million people have been sterilized.
How many adolescent and adult women and men have been killed by China's one child policy? ChinaAid News reports in the May 18, 2013, article "Family Planning Officials in Jiangsu Province Beat Farmer to Near Death for Unauthorized Births," "Zhang Futao, of Group Five, Nangou Village, in the town of Beigou, in Xinyi city, is now hospitalized in critical condition and fighting for his life after suffering severe head injuries from the beating by the family planning officials who burst into his home at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday (May 15). They then kidnapped Zhang to Tashan Brigade and made his family pay a ransom." Zhang Futao and his wife have three children, a girl age 12, a boy age six and another girl age 4. Read the full story at http://www.chinaaid.org/2013/05/family-planning-officials-in-jiangsu.html.
America's sexuality policies are not as soaked in fear as China's sexuality policies. We cannot take comfort or congratulate ourselves. More than 55 million baby girls and baby boys have been killed via abortion in America. Adolescent and adult women die from abortion. Tonya Reaves, a 24-year-old African-American woman, died July 20, 2012, on the operating table of a Chicago, Illinois, Planned Parenthood as a result of an abortion-induced hemorrhage reported a local CBS television station.
The following LifeNews.com link shows that Kermit Gosnell is not the only abortionists killing late-term unborn babies, babies born live after botched abortions and women: http://www.lifenews.com/2013/05/15/another-gosnell-report-shows-texas-abortion-doc-kills-babies-born-alive/.
Some Nigerians share kola nuts to signify friendship. The global and American national media can show women and men friendship by thoroughly investigating abortionist Douglas Karpen and the entire abortion industry.
Late-term abortions can be done to kill baby girls and baby boys suspected of being disabled. Why should being disabled be a death sentence? Helen Keller, who is blind and death, says, "I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God."
After a speaking tour in the 1930s in Japan to improve conditions for the blind there, the Japanese gave Helen Keller an Akita dog. The Japanese and many other people enjoy and are enhanced by Helen Keller.
Embrace people. Erase the spirit of fear. A Persian proverb says, "Human beings are part of each other, they are created from the same clay."
As creyentes we have a new life as reyes y reinas (kings and queens) empowered by God the Holy Ghost, who is love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, gentleness, kindness, goodness and self-control. Having peace and the other qualities does not mean that we will not work hard to live in peace and in the other qualities which are interconnected.
"The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war," says Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the first woman president of the United Nations. Some succumb to the spirit of fear and refuse to sweat in peace.
The spirit of fear is the greatest threat to love and to peace. 1 John 4:18 Complete Jewish Bible says, "There is no fear in love. On the contrary, love that has achieved its goal gets rid of fear, because fear has to do with punishment; the person who keeps fearing has not been brought to maturity in regard to love."
Because the Chinese government is afraid of people, they punish pro-creation. China's one child policy has killed more than 330 million baby boys and baby girls via abortion and more than 190 million people have been sterilized.
How many adolescent and adult women and men have been killed by China's one child policy? ChinaAid News reports in the May 18, 2013, article "Family Planning Officials in Jiangsu Province Beat Farmer to Near Death for Unauthorized Births," "Zhang Futao, of Group Five, Nangou Village, in the town of Beigou, in Xinyi city, is now hospitalized in critical condition and fighting for his life after suffering severe head injuries from the beating by the family planning officials who burst into his home at about 8 p.m. on Wednesday (May 15). They then kidnapped Zhang to Tashan Brigade and made his family pay a ransom." Zhang Futao and his wife have three children, a girl age 12, a boy age six and another girl age 4. Read the full story at http://www.chinaaid.org/2013/05/family-planning-officials-in-jiangsu.html.
America's sexuality policies are not as soaked in fear as China's sexuality policies. We cannot take comfort or congratulate ourselves. More than 55 million baby girls and baby boys have been killed via abortion in America. Adolescent and adult women die from abortion. Tonya Reaves, a 24-year-old African-American woman, died July 20, 2012, on the operating table of a Chicago, Illinois, Planned Parenthood as a result of an abortion-induced hemorrhage reported a local CBS television station.
The following LifeNews.com link shows that Kermit Gosnell is not the only abortionists killing late-term unborn babies, babies born live after botched abortions and women: http://www.lifenews.com/2013/05/15/another-gosnell-report-shows-texas-abortion-doc-kills-babies-born-alive/.
Some Nigerians share kola nuts to signify friendship. The global and American national media can show women and men friendship by thoroughly investigating abortionist Douglas Karpen and the entire abortion industry.
Late-term abortions can be done to kill baby girls and baby boys suspected of being disabled. Why should being disabled be a death sentence? Helen Keller, who is blind and death, says, "I thank God for my handicaps, for through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God."
After a speaking tour in the 1930s in Japan to improve conditions for the blind there, the Japanese gave Helen Keller an Akita dog. The Japanese and many other people enjoy and are enhanced by Helen Keller.
Embrace people. Erase the spirit of fear. A Persian proverb says, "Human beings are part of each other, they are created from the same clay."
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