Category Archives: Bible Talk

SIN: WHAT IS IT?

Bible Talk, Humanity & Sin, Spiritual Distress, , , , ,

God’s Word Tells Us:
1. It is something that we must strive to keep out of any ecclesia- out of any gathering of two or more in the name of Christ Jesus.
2. It is something God hates.
3. It is something that will bring us pain.
4. It is something that brings pain and illness to those we claim to love.
5. It is something that wills to kill us.
6. It can be blatant or subtle.
7. It loves the dark.
8. It hates the light.
9. It loves a lie.
10. It hates the truth.
11. It is self-seeking.
12. It puts self over others.
13. Its source is pride.
14. It is something that will not remain hidden indefinitely.
15. It is something that every man knows is wrong by the power of his own conscience.
16. It is something that the Believer knows is wrong by his conscience and the indwelling power of The Holy Spirit.
17. It is something that should be confessed to God and to other Believers daily to deprive it of its power.
18. It is something that will only grow in power if it be professed to the wrong person or people.
19. It is the thing that makes us unequally yoked with another.
20. It is something that we must repent of (turn away from) to permanently discourage it.
21. It is something worth our efforts to atone for here on earth. (Heavenly perfect atonement has been made for the Believer by Jesus Christ.)
22. It is the thing that has the power to destroy us to send us to Hell, and to separate us from God and from others who love God forever.

Copyright  2023.   L.L.  Shelton.

On Generational Trauma and Parenting With Grace

Bible Talk, Church Culture, Essay and Prose, Family Life, , , , , , ,

As healthy parents, we long to intervene in the suffering of our children.  We want them to be well and comfortable.  In infancy, this is good and ensures that their basic needs for food, shelter, and love will be met; however we should begin to allow some autonomy as our children try and assert themselves.  When they begin to walk, we must allow the occasional fall.  On the other hand, we must not be so over-bearing as to engineer circumstances to bring about their suffering, and at any rate it is hardly necessary as every created thing is groaning in pain under the weight of The Fall.

It is our task to provide them with the whole truth while shielding them from evil to the best of our abilities.  It is not our work to prevent their suffering.  Personal suffering to some degree is the very thing that leads one to God at the point of justification, and later at the various points of sanctification.  It is ordained that each and every Christian will suffer at the point of glorification due to the death of the physical body, the actual separation of spirit from flesh.  Though, we may cite an instance when a person is said to have “walked away with God,” this does not mean there was no pain in the metamorphosis that had to take place, and salvation is complete when it has passed through these three stages.  We may be sure the thief on the cross passed through them; albeit in an unusually rapid manner.

Scripture does not allow that we make personal peace and prosperity our goal in life, and as parents we are on occasion unhappy in our own suffering.  We occasionally desire, though it be momentary, to escape our hardship.  We may attempt this in a variety of ways- some seemingly benign and others completely unhealthy.  We may influence our children to attempt their own flight.  Also, in this we may inspire our children, though unwittingly, to go forth and right the wrongs that we’ve suffered within the roles and circumstances that God has designed and allowed  for us.  This we must strive against as suffering is ordained for the Christian.  The Christian by very definition, is the one attempting to navigate this fallen world in a manner that is pleasing to His Father God.  A Christian is one who has recognized his own offenses before God (his sin) and has purposed to live in a fight against further offense.  Therefore, to ignite in our children a desire to escape this difficulty is to inspire our children to abandon God.  May it never be!  

Copyright 2023.    L. L. Shelton.

On Revival

Bible Talk, Church Culture, Current Events, Spiritual Health, , , , , ,

What is revival in a religious or spiritual sense? First, a revival by this definition is a renewal of something and/or a return to it with new fervor.  What is revival in a Biblical sense? Simply put, it is a renewed and conscious focus on my First Love, coupled with a sincere longing for His Holiness in my life; a desire for my sanctification.  This is a different work than justification; that is my initial coming to Jesus, The Christ, beseeching Him to save me from my sin and become my Lord and Master.  Justification is the saving event that begins my journey as a Christian, literally a little Christ.  Sanctification is the continual process of being saved by my cooperation with The Holy Spirit of God who now indwells me, guiding and directing me in my new life with my Lord, and who has sealed me for the day of the final phase- my glorification.  Yet, in some sense all three phases are continual.  Salvation, like the trinity, is three-in-one.

When the people of God (Christ’s body the church) are functioning appropriately, according to instruction from The Word of God, cooperating with their sanctification- others from outside the body and imposters residing inside the body will be justified. People will be delivered from their sin and spiritually healed.  Prayers of praise and thanksgiving will be plentiful.  There will be a hunger for Scripture and an active interest in and emphasis on its application in our lives.

Revival may occur corporately in the sense that many people are experiencing personal revival together, in other words, a group of people in congregation are having separate personal revival as individuals.  This may be what is now occurring on the campuses of Asbury College, Lee University, and other American institutions of higher education.  As my Granny was fond of saying, “the proof is in the pudding.”  We shall see if this has been the case by the fruit  (See Matthew 13: 18-30).

If you are unable to be a part of a corporate revival event, but are experiencing an intense desire for God to do a new work in your life, pray for personal revival.  I have done it and have experienced it.

The elements of personal revival are simply outlined for us in The Word of God.  Apply them now:

  1. Prayer:  Offered In sincerity and humility, requesting that God make known to me my specific sin or pattern of sin (Ps. 139:23-24).
  2. Confession:  With discretion, of that particular sin or pattern of sin to another Christian or Christians (James 5:16).
  3.  Atonement:  With discernment and in compassion, seek forgiveness of anyone directly offended by me due to that sin or pattern of sin (Matthew  5:23-24).
  4.  Repentance:  An obvious turning away from that sin or pattern of sin to live apart from (separated from) that sin or sin pattern (Acts 3:19).
  5.  Witness:  Become a living testimony to the power of the event in your life, to The Saving Gospel of Jesus Christ; to the continual saving power of God’s Word actively lived, to sanctification in the life of a Believer (Ephesians 5:25-27).

May GOD bless us as we continue the journey of our salvation- saved and being saved and ultimately saved by His great love, mercy, and grace!

Copyright 2023.    L. L.  Shelton

Litmus Test

Bible Talk

Characteristics of The People of The Way:  The Way of Love and Light and of Jesus Christ, Son of God:

  • They are devoted to The Scriptural Truth.
  • They love one another and have a habit of meeting regularly together.
  • Their life’s emphasis will remain on Jesus Christ and sharing the message of hope they have  found in Him, their Lord and Savior.
  • They want all that is good and right, and they actively seek it.
  • They do not wish for hidden things, or for things to remain hidden.
  • They move in light rather than darkness, and are given to and practice truth rather than lies.
  • They will consistently, though imperfectly, display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
  • They revere all life.
  • They are kind to the earth- recognizing it as a gift from The Creator, while knowing that a created thing must never be worshipped, as worship is due The Creator alone. 
  • They recognize sin and evil coming from within and oppressing from without, and desire to be delivered from it.
  • They are discreet and they are authentic- come what may.
  • They have loved and they long for The Day of His Appearing.

Copyright 2023.     L.L. Shelton.

On Women Preachers

Bible Talk, Church Culture, , ,

I am a mother.  I have sons and daughters and love them absolutely and equally.  But according to Scripture, they have different positions before God, and their assignments are not the same.

Both men and women are at fault for where we are in the church, today.  If men were leading as they should; there would be no question as to the role of a woman in church or in society.  Men had to abdicate for there to be openings in leadership for women.

Eve did not usurp Adam’s position of headship; Adam willingly gave it up.  However, Eve did influence Adam to do evil, as Satan influenced her.  We, men and women, must willingly accept and embrace the responsibilities God has given us; to carry out our particular directives toward God and toward each other, and to resist or to flee evil.

Women and children are not animals- that they should be used according to men’s fancy or need- and should never be treated as such, and men are not pieces on a game board to be manipulated according to their weakness.  All are human beings subject to God’s authority.  Do not be further deceived.  Love one another as Christ in God has loved you.  Speak Truth to one another in Love.

Women are not the problem.  Men are not the problem.  Others are not the problem.  SIN is the problem.  Sin is disobedience to God as He has revealed Himself to be in His Word.  One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, and judgement will follow, and that day may be very soon.

Copyright 2022.     L. L. Shelton.

On Sheep and Goats

Bible Talk, Church Culture, Essay and Prose, Family Life, Personal


Some may know that we graduated from our suburban Itty Bitty Farm a few years ago to our rural homestead property, Little Bigger Farm, where we are able to produce more- still on a small scale.  We happily raise some of our own fruits, berries, and vegetables, as well as ducks, geese, American Guinea Hogs, a small flock of Dorper-Katahdin sheep and a few dairy goats.  My mother resides on the property with us and she cheerfully raises chickens.  We are learning and loving more everyday.

Being in this position has given me an excellent opportunity to study the behavior of both sheep and goats, to become aware of their commonalities and to note where they are truly unique.  I easily appreciate these wonderful animals and find each species a joy to raise, however there are stark differences.  I thought some of you, particularly those of you who are practicing Christians, would be interested in my careful and sincere observations; as Christ so often contrasted the goat with the sheep, and while never stating a dislike for goats, claimed the sheep as analogous to his own brothers and sisters.  These are my discoveries thus far:

Goats are excessively curious about the world.  Sheep are mildly inquisitive regarding the world.

Goats are usually flamboyant.  Sheep are generally reserved.

Goats are bold and quickly into everyone’s  business.  Sheep are wary and hesitant to involve themselves in the affairs of others.

Goats crave attention and prefer to be the center of it.  Sheep prefer to be inconspicuous.

Goats are particular and express a great variety of preference.  Sheep are easily satisfied.

Goats are flirtatious and often without appropriate boundaries.  Sheep are carefully friendly.

Goats are boisterous partiers.  Sheep are pleasant.

Goats will stand on their heads any time to make you laugh.  Sheep will wonder at your easy frivolity.

Goats are chatty and sometimes carry-on unduly.  Sheep are quiet until it is absolutely fitting to raise a  voice.

Goats will interrupt peasant or King and possibly trample him, no matter the solemnity of the occasion.  Sheep stay near and maintain a respectable stance.

Goats are affectionate and indulgent with their off-spring.  Sheep are tender toward their young, yet command their respect.

Goats appreciate it when their humans occasionally help out by kidsitting, and are completely trusting that they will have the best interest of their little ones at heart.  Sheep are pleased to take care of their own little ones ninety percent of the time, and when the situation demands it, care only to pass them off to another sheep.

Goats are quite happy to include any merry-maker and appear to be open to accepting all as family.  Sheep are kind to others and spend time with all, but remain truly interested in flocking and maintaining relationship with one another on a separate and primary level, which on occasion annoys the goats.

Goats are rowdy.  Sheep are gentle.

Goats are clever.  Sheep are thoughtful.

Goats are immediately attractive.  Sheep will grow on you.

As I continue to care for both goats and sheep, I hope to remain astute and to capture further information of a similar nature to impart to you, my dear readers.  Perhaps the next entry will offer a comparison of the two species.

Copyright 2022.     L. L.  Shelton.

RESIST OR FLEE

Bible Talk, Current Events, Health & Dis-ease, Health & Disease, Holistic Distress, Holistic Health, Humanity & Sin, Living the Word, Mental-Physical-Spiritual Health, Politics


I always taught my children to remember their three things:

  1. Keep your eyes on Jesus.
  2. Obey your authorities- IN THE LORD.
  3. Use good manners.

I taught them who Jesus was and who Jesus is.  I taught them the definition of authority and that some authority is good and of GOD and that some is evil; as every good thing fell in the beginning and can now be perverted.  I told them to follow authority ONLY when authority did not ask them to sin or to go against THE GOD of THE BIBLE.  I taught them that though manners and customs can be very specific as pertaining to different societies, ultimately manners are a way of behaving that does not offend another, and that good manners are defined in the Golden rule.  The Golden rule reminds us to do to others only that we would in our reasonable mind do or want done to ourselves.

In this present world, It is becoming increasingly difficult to know when the authority is in opposition to GOD and to HIS good.  Yet, as always, we must be able to recognize sin, and sin is anything that is displeasing to GOD, and to resist sin or flee from it.  I ask now that my children and all people pray for discernment- BEG for wisdom- and resist any authority in opposition to the good that is GOD.
https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/68/80/73/6a17a66e9ec8c5/US11107588.pdf

Copyright 2021.    L.L. Shelton.

Some Will Dream

Bible Talk, Church Culture, Current Events, Essay and Prose, Living the Word, Natural Disaster, , , , ,


For Tricia Mikkelsen

By way of introduction, may I tell you that this is the truest account of my own extraordinary and personal experience that I am able to render.

To begin:  Reasoning, following the careful study of God’s Word, that I, being a pitiful sinner, would most likely find it overwhelming to focus on both the necessity of avoiding my personal sin in the here and now, and giving attention to the magnificent scope of the future; I largely put away any emphasis on eschatology.  Were I not to do so, to my way of thinking, I would surely fail in the primarily important endeavor to pursue the near maddeningly elusive business of holiness.  However, I have  lovely friends in the fellowship who have found it not only challenging to study the things to come, but invigorating, as it further encourages their own faiths and thrills their souls and I’m delighted to tell you that while I’ve avoided such, I was not foolish enough to turn a deaf ear to their joy and have therefore been privileged to listen to many interesting briefings on the subject, and I did form a loose opinion of the end (or if you prefer, the beginning, or starting over, the second coming, etc.) as it did appear as a formidable part of the whole.

All of this is a preface to my decision to tell you of a possibly prophetic dream I experienced.  Because this dream appeared especially vivid and significant, I noted it in my journal, as I’ve had a habit of keeping a diary since becoming a Christian as a young woman.  (Now, it is another story, but I will tell you that many would not have my testimony as I give it because I walked an aisle and professed faith as a child then later believed I had been mistaken.   Again, knowing as I do that I am “chief of sinners,”  I had no more desire to continue in such argument then as now, as it was and is apparent to me that I had best be about the job of cooperating in the challenging process of my sanctification.) Also, as it was especially brilliant, I relayed this particular dream to my eldest son on the morning following its happening.  It was not customary for me to tell others of my dreams and certainly not for me to write of them.  Over the years, I believe I have written of only two- possibly three- and this is the one dream I have felt pressed to consider as a word for the future.

While I am accomplished at communication, my preferred manner of lending a hand to a fellow is that of listening skillfully and asking thoughtful questions, thereby trusting both the individual and God Himself with the conclusion, and I have never considered myself any kind of prophet.  Though I have wondered at the supernatural, I have known and preferred the greatest knowledge and power available to man which is found in devotion to God and to His Word, and ultimately culminates in wisdom.  I have actively sought for Him to reveal Himself to me by communion with His Holy Spirit made possible by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ; through His written Word, communion with the saints, and the evidence of His existence and will in the natural world.  I have had no occasion of which to remark that I have felt myself to possess some sort of psychic power.

These things recognized, let us move to the heart of the matter:  As related to my son, who was drawing close to his twelfth birthday that particular morning, this is how it transpired:  I was aware of myself cleaning an apartment on the upper level of a building.  The sublet was small and neat, sparsely furnished, reminding me of an economy hotel suite. There were large plate glass windows on one wall and the drapes were pulled revealing a view of the sky.  I knew that I had my little ones- Anna, Jonathan, and Alexander with me (Jaxon was there “in the secret place” though I am not sure I knew it and Madelyn was still only a thought in the mind of God.).  As I was on my knees busily completing a task, I felt someone staring at me and l looked up and toward the window, simultaneously I heard something startling and tremendously loud and realized that a plane had crashed into the end of the building where I labored.

Standing before the window and to the right was a stunningly attractive woman, very neatly groomed, in a chic dark business suit.  She had short, closely clipped, glossy black hair and fair skin.  Her hair was parted to one side.  I am not sure, I suppose oddly, of the color of her eyes, however her gaze was penetrating and her tone commanding.  As I looked to her, she gestured toward the scene outside the window and stated plainly, “This is how you can always know that a storm is coming.”

I turned my attention from her to what was to be seen through the looking glass; and there presented was a scene I can not yet find sufficient words to describe.  I tried once a few years past to paint the scene and could not nearly reproduce it, but yet I am no great artist.  The best I have been able to report is that it seemed as though,as noted in my journal, “the sun had exploded and was consuming the sky” (and I was aware of the occurrence being of an explosive nature).  There was a great deal of light, warm color, and possibly flame- all against an expanse of black (I wonder if I should be ashamed of having shared such a thing with my child and would not normally have done it, but a sense of urgency prevailed.).

Less than a week after relating the pressing dream to my son, and having nearly forgotten it amid the daily bustle of life in our home of many children, other creatures that come along with them, and a high volume of traffic, I answered the persistent alarm of our landline (in those days we still had one) and heard my husband, Lee, who is so consistently even tempered to my regular displays of terrific passion that I am continually vexed, with an uncharacteristic urgency ask me to immediately turn on the television.

Our phone was cordless and the TV located in our finished walk-out basement.  I hurried downstairs from the kitchen to where the children were gathered to begin school, and did as I was asked.  The children quietened in response to my evidently anxious mood,  and together we watched in shocked silence as a plane flew directly into one of our World Trade Towers located at One Financial Center, Wall Street in New York City, New York.  We watched aghast as the horrific events of what would quickly become etched in the memories of all Americans as 9/11, unfolded before us on live television.  Understandably, I temporarily forgot my dream until some time after when my son reminded me of it and of the odd coincidence.

It had been several years and a move to a new state before I revisited my old journals and was prompted to consider my dream, the message, and the incredible timing, once more.  As I sat with my old journal in my hands wondering anew at those days of upset and unrest, at the tumultuous state of the world and at the odd coucidence of my peculiar, pressing dream, I realized that I had included something else in the entry- the end.   In my dream, I eventually turned away from the compelling site in front of me and grabbed little people shouting for children to run along with me to where I had parked our over-sized green van.  It seemed to take an eternity to traverse what was truly a brief distance and I remember thinking that we might not make it in time.  In time for what? I clearly recall that as we drew closer to our vehicle, I noted that my two oldest children, Emily and Donald, were not with me as they had been cleaning a different apartment at the opposite end of the building.  I was disturbed at our being separated and awakened feeling agitated.

Until that day of rediscovery, I did not think to question GOD concerning the details.  Now, I immediately wondered why the sense of urgency related to the dream, that I had felt at the time, had suddenly returned as I sat with the book of my collected messy musings open in  my lap.  In His Presence, I wondered, and after a time, three things were made clear to me.  First, I knew that the storm was not the events of 9/11, but that the events of 9/11 were a precursor to the storm and second that the storm would involve the entire globe, and third that it would arrive prior to Anna leaving our family to begin a life of her own.

I soon reminded my family of my dream and shared fully my further thoughts regarding it.  I cautioned them not to tell anyone else what I had disclosed and one child rolled her eyes in exaggerated fashion, giggled and quickly exclaimed,  “Don’t worry, Mom!” The others nodded their agreement and their terrific contagious laughter enveloped me as well.  Can you blame me for being unwilling to risk being committed to an institution for those not-quite-right-in-the-head? Seriously, I was concerned that I may be obsessing a bit, but I was well assured that I was as sane as the next guy, and was, after some prayer, content to put it away and to rest in Jesus- until recently.

Only our youngest two children live at home with us now, as the others are pursuing higher education or working and living with a roommate or a sibling   Our oldest is a young widow with a son- our first grandchild, and our second child is  married.  My mother and I, along with the two still living at home, were at her river cabin this year, the week of March eighth, observing the first presidential address to the nation concerning the novel coronavirus since February the twenty-ninth.  My brother and his wife were with us there as we gathered around the television and heard our President suggest that no one go to work if he or she felt unwell and that schools should consider closing.  That night, I marveled at this new turn of events for a considerable time before sleep claimed my restless mind.  In the morning, as I was preparing to enjoy a cup of coffee with my mom on the spacious front porch overlooking the exquisitely beautiful river, my dream returned- slamming into my consciousness with a force akin to a plane crashing into a building, nearly knocking me sideways.  I reminded my mother of my dream.  Of further interest, when we returned to our home from the river, Anna was engaged to be married.

I am sharing with you, with my readers, now as I believe GOD is prompting me to do so and to trust Him with the outcome, as for my own journey in His Spirit, this experience, this dream and all that has surrounded it, encourages my faith and thrills my soul! But I do not profess anything beyond what I have told you.  I have no idea if the second coming of Christ will be tomorrow, or ten years from now, or ten thousand years from now, but this has been for me greater evidence of the reality that is His Existence and Truth, and of the fact that He truly loves His children and communicates with us still.

May God continually manifest Himself to you, to me, and to a world continually in need of His Presence through Jesus Christ Our Lord,

Amen.

Please see The Book of Acts, 2: 14-21

Copyright 5/1/2020.    L.L. Shelton,

It’s A Small World After All

Academics & The Arts, Bible Talk, Family Life

Guys! Can we talk? I have participated in a couple of conversations recently that served to bring about an awareness, again, of the ease with which we are strikingly self-centered. In each conversation, I noticed as my friend struggled to place the blame for something outside his or her reach on the self. This response appeared overdue.

First and foremost, our God is generous beyond compare. He designed His systems within systems so perfectly as to be admired without ceasing by any thinking person. I find my rest in it.

Please consider: Each of us is the product biologically, genetically, and environmentally of many others, as well as of our own choices and responses to outer stimuli; therefore comments filled with negative connotations, meant as criticisms, that we are all guilty of slinging have no place in Truth. They will at most be only partially accurate. For example:

1. Get YOUR kids out of the kitchen.
2. Stop YOUR kid from climbing on that car.
3. He gets THAT from his mother.
4. He is JUST like you.
5. Your channeling your father, AGAIN.
6. There’s my DAD in him.
7. You’re just like your father.
8. You’re just like your mother.
9. There’s no helping her- she’s just like her grandmother!
10. He’s a product of his environment.
11. It happened because he spent so much time in those public schools.
12. It was that messed up church that did it to her.
13. The demands placed on him at that private academy would have killed anyone.
14. You looked JUST like him from the day you were born- I should have known.
15. That afternoon with that one family down the street- kid was never the same.
16. They said that summer camp was all about Jesus- but we know better now!
17. Darn that quack doctor!
18. If only I had specifically laid out the plan of salvation…
19. If only we hadn’t homeschooled.
20. If only we had homeschooled.

How freeing to realize that one traumatic event or even a series of traumatic events, or my DNA or my husband’s DNA or anyone else’s DNA, or a grandparent’s or a teacher’s negative influence, or any other isolated thing is not the sole cause of an outcome in reference to the character of another!

How humbling to know that not I, nor anyone else, nor any environment, nor any single event is solely responsible for any achievement or successful venture on this earth!

How good of God to allow that HE will bring to heaven any and all He had determined to bring- with or without our particular help; to know that we only need live out our LOVE of HIM to the best of our understanding and abilities and ALL will be well.

How gracious is our God! How worthy of ALL praise, glory, and gratitude! And how wonderful to know how small while yet significant are we!

Copyright 2019. L.L. Shelton.

35 WAYS FOR THE CHURCH TO HELP MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN:

Bible Talk, Church Culture, Current Events, Family Life, Living the Word, Mental-Physical-Spiritual Health, Poetry

1. Stop expecting, worse desiring, for our government to do everything.
2. For all of our sakes STOP asking our government to do it all.
3. Eat and drink carefully and healthily, exercise twenty minutes, and study God’s Word each day in an attempt to keep ourselves in optimal health, to be of service to others.
4. Grow a portion of our own food.
5. If we are able to grow extra food- share it with our neighbors.
6. Buy from local food sources and producers.
7. Eat out at restaurants that serve only what is grown locally.
8. Start a local food pantry to collect from those who have much and redistribute to those who have little.
9. If we are fortunate enough to have opportunity and funding for regular preventative medical care, avail ourselves of the services.
10. If we are healthy and another is not, do what we can personally, to alleviate the person’s discomfort- particularly if this person is our own family member, but certainly do not limit our love and provision to our own.
11. Do our good works among our own and expand outward to others.
12. Start a medical fund in our local church and use it to help those in health crisis, within and outside the Body, who have no (or insufficient) medical coverage.
13. If we have an extra room, share it with someone who has no home of his or her own- particularly if this is a person (or family unit) from our own tribe, and certainly if the person is not in need of constant care or medical attention.
14. If we can afford to hire someone or to offer private care ourselves, open our home to someone needing constant care or who is dependent on medical aid. If the person has a home, supply care in his or her place of residence.
15. If we have an extra house or property of some kind… do we really need to talk about this?
16. Insist that able-bodied-minded persons work for their room and board.
17. If we have a dependable vehicle that is not fully and usefully employed- share it! At the least consider offering someone who is dependent on public transportation a regular ride.
18. Better yet- ditch our gas guzzling vehicle that helps to keep us dependent on foreign oil and/or fracking at home with the possibility of helping to create earthquakes, and cheerfully support public transportation with our tax dollars and our voluntary commitment to it.
19. Support alternative energy research and development.
20. Repair, re-use, recycle!
21. Turn our A/C up and our heat down 2-3 degrees. Give the money we save to someone who has less than we do.
22. Build a lending library of some kind and be sharers! Do this with our local church body and share with the community at large.
23. Educate our own children well.
24. Anytime we have opportunity, faithfully tutor someone else’s child. This can be done simply by seizing a teachable moment, or on a formal schedule of some kind.
25. If we are an employer, provide for the NEEDS of our own family members and those of our employees BEFORE providing extravagances for our family and those closest to us.
26. When someone from our own small society becomes pregnant outside of marriage- particularly with no criminal offense having taken place, assist the person ourselves in managing the pregnancy, the birth, and the rearing of the child, hopefully with the aid of our local church body.
27. Start an adoption fund in our local church and offer financial aid to Christians willing and desiring to open their homes to orphaned children.
28. Be especially supportive of widows, and encourage young widows OF THE FAITH to marry again.
29. Stop insisting that people get married for reasons that are unbiblical. Marriage is for Believers.
30. Stop penalizing people for being unmarried. Support the single members of your group in their choice to remain single. Support Civil Unions.
31. Offer singles and those choosing civil unions, family time with our families in our homes. If they are not Christian, so much the better, we can be like Jesus and offer a witness to The Gospel. (If you are strong, go into their territory when invited and enjoy them while offering a witness to The Gospel. This is not fellowship. Fellowship assumes like-mindedness.)
32. Stop expecting unbelievers to think and behave like we do.
33. Understand that those who are born into suffering are there, in part, to teach us selflessness and patience, and to help us learn to be servant-hearted.
34. As a rule, where and when possible, share with those outside the Church, and faithfully share The Gospel along the way.
35. Set an example of being kind to anyone and anything living- in this way we will nurture life and discourage a culture of death.

At the least, let our speech be encouraging, building up those around us rather than tearing them down. May GOD help us to make America great, and please LORD, let it begin in me.

Copyright 2018. L. L. Shelton.