Israel's Foolish Leader

If a leader today was to try and pull a stunt like Joshua did in the Bible, the world would surely condemn him as very arrogant and foolish! I mean how can you divide up nations you haven’t even conquered yet? But that is exactly what Joshua did.

Joshua’s actions, as recorded in the Bible, would have earned him the title “arrogant fool” if he was a leader in today’s world. In the middle of the book of Joshua, he describes the dividing up of the land of Canaan that will become the country of Israel. Why would this make him a fool you say? Often conquering people will reorganize the boundaries of a land; change the names of cities and so forth. But you need to understand is that in this point in time most of the land being divvied up had not even been conquered yet! (Joshua 13:1-6a) If a leader was to try and pull a stunt like that today, he would be looked down on as very arrogant and foolish. The world would have condemned it as an absurd move by Joshua. How could you divvy up property you don’t even own yet? It makes no sense!

However, it was really a very smart move on Joshua’s part, because Joshua believed and trusted God to do what He had promised. In his entire life, he had already seen a myriad of miracles, and what the power of God could accomplish, many of them in just that past few months time (ex. Joshua 10: 12-13). Now, in Joshua 13:1, 6b, 7 (KJV) we see these words: “Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the LORD said to him: “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed… them I will drive out from before the children of Israel; only, divide it by lot to Israel as an inheritance, as I have commanded you. Now therefore, divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh.” Now Joshua’s action before the land was conquered makes more sense. He was obeying God (see Joshua chapters 14-21).

Joshua’s faith was not in the strength of the people of Israel, but in the strength of the LORD, God of Israel. Joshua believed what God promised He would accomplish. And, if you read further in the books of the Old Testament, you find, that God did keep His promise, the land was conquered in proportion to the obedience of the people of Israel (Joshua 21:43-45). In accordance to God’s promise He gave the complete land of Canaan to the Israelites. To the world today, Joshua’s actions may seem cocky, but in reality it was his well positioned faith in the LORD, God of Israel, and his obedience to God that made this bold move possible. The LORD, God of Israel is in control!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!

Happy birthday Katie! You are 7 years old as of yesterday! Wow, I bet you are getting big. I hope you had a wonderful day on your birthday, and are safe, happy and well fed. Mark and I are praying for you and you mom every day! We love you sweetie! -Dawn

Visiting Old Friends

This afternoon my husband and I went to visit an old friend and see her new baby. Well, not new anymore, she is 7 months old now. She was such a cute baby, I am happy for her that her first daughter is so healthy. It was also an o.k. time of visiting. You see, my friend is Katie's aunt, the little girl my husband and I took care of for five months last year. you can see the previous post here entitled "Remembering Last Winter".
We talked some about Katie and how she might be doing in Alabama, which is always a sad topic. You see, we have no contact with her now and do not know for sure if her mother will take care of her properly or not. My friend told me that she will not talk to her sister anymore, because of how she treated us, coming to get Katie with no notice. This really troubles me and breaks my heart. I feel like I have helped break up a family by helping a little girl. How can this be?
My friend is still mad at her sister for what she did to us. I wish it was not this way. I decided awhile ago to forgive Katie's mom. God is helping my feelings follow. I wish I could explain to my friend how my husband and I have forgiven Katie's mom, and ask her and her family not to hold a grudge for us.
I guess I could say it here. If any of Katie's family reads this. Mark and I have forgiven Katie's mom. Please, do not continue to ostracize of her on our behalf. We don't want to break up your family. Also, it does not help Katie's safety to cut off all contact. Please do not hold a grudge because of us. I do not know what else to say here.

Boycott the Olympics in 2008?

I have heard recently in the news that presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are advocating a United States boycott of the 2008 Olympic games if they Chinese government does not take steps to secure human rights to the Tibetan people and to stop the genocide in Darfur. I am happy to see the candidates taking up the cause for human rights in China.

However, why were these same candidates silent on the Tibetan issue before? Why did they wait until the Tibetan people protested even to mention it? Why, back when the Olympics location was being chosen did the human rights of China not become and issue then? It seems to me this is one of the thing that is wrong with our politicians today. They only deal with the important issues, when the citizenship becomes aware of them. It seems to me, if we the people, are unaware of a human rights problem in a country, then they can get away with not dealing with the issue. I do not understand this. Is it that the Tibetan people were treated just great up to a few months ago? We know this is not true, violations of human right have been going on for a LONG TIME in China, now all of the sudden, the candidates and the politicians are talking about it. I doubt they would even be talking about it now, accept that the Olympics is only a few months away.

The Tibetans are not the only one suffering under Chinese rule by the way. There is no religious freedom in China. Have you heard about that? China used a system of "re-education through labor" that detains hundreds of thousands of its own citizens each year in work camps without even any of them getting their day in court. Christian persecution is also high in this country. Registered "Christian" churches are required to preach and teach the the things of the Bible that the government deems acceptable. As a result there is an underground house church movement so that Christians there can learn the whole counsel of God's word. According to Voice of the Martyrs, "More Christians are in prison or under detention in China than any other country...China's Christians, endure unimaginable persecution..." To learn about just some of the Christians suffering for their faith in China, you can visit the Prisoner Alert page. Browse through this site and you will see the stories of some of the many Christians persecuted for there faith, in many countries, including China.

Let us remember in this year of the summer Olympics, not only to keep our eye on human rights for the Tibetans, but also for other Christians around the world.

Lord God, I pray you remind us to pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ being persecuted around the world, to remember them in our prayers, and to encourage them when we are able. Amen.

By Chance

"By Chance"
Written by me.

Sand and petals,
of the softest gold.
Stars in the darkness,
such beauty they hold.

Shapes that are perfect,
fragrances that entrance,
and they say this came to be,
by chance?

The flowers that bloom,
and the birds that sing,
I believe that God
made all of these things.

But still they insist,
still they believe,
these came to be,
by chance.

They are shown perfect beauty,
in the life on earth,
but still they are blind,
to the simple fact,
that none of it came to be
by chance.

Thanks for reading my poem. Please feel free to leave your comments below, and have a great day!!

Modesty in Public

Last week at work, out of the blue two of my coworkers thought it would be fun to rib me about the clothes I was wearing that day. It really surprised me, and confused me at the same time. They teased me for dressing too modestly. It was like the twilight zone. I defended myself by mentioning that I am married, not looking for a guy. They told me in a joking way that "were all mostly girls here" and the guys working there have "seen the equipment before."

I tried to brush off the tease and just fun, which it was, but it also got me thinking... what are the arguments for, and against dressing in a modest way when a women is out in public? Is "were all girls here" and the guy have "seen the equipment before" really valid arguments?

But before that question, I have to ask myself one more, will I look at the arguments from a Biblical world view, or a secular world view? My answer is to look at these arguments from a Biblical world view.

First, the argument the men have "seen the equipment before." This argument seems to suggest that men only lust the very first time they see a women, and after that, they have "seen it all" and will never lust again. This, of course does not make any sense. Also, as far as it is has to do with me, I want to keep myself out of other men's minds, other than my husband. Oh and there's still the Biblical reasons. I can think of two Bible passages that directly or indirectly deal with this topic.

1. Exodus 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery."
2. Matthew 5: 27,28 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. "

The first verse is a command from God, the second is an expanding of the fist command by Jesus Christ in the New Testament. To dress immodestly is to help the men/women around you heap sin and condemnation on themselves. I do not want to be apart of causing more guilt on my fellow human being. We each sin enough on our own without extra help!

The second argument mentioned was "were all girls here." That of course, may be true in some offices but it is this really a legitimate argument. I mean, in an office with all women working and visiting, could everyone sit around working in just underwear? No, of course not. Also, personally, an immodestly dressed person of the same gender can just as distracting as one from the opposite gender. It can be uncomfortable in public to be around a person who is dressed immodestly, and make it hard to concentrate on the task at hand. So in order to keep my mind on my tasks, so I can keep my job, and other's can keep theirs, I think it is better to keep a modest appearance at work.

What do you think about my coworkers arguments? Are they valid? Are there other arguments I can use in favor of modest dress at work? Please send me your "thoughts" and let me know what you think. Thanks! -Dawn <><

For more articles on this subject, please feel free to visit past and present Carnivals on Modesty. Thanks for reading!

He Has Risen!

Luke 24

"On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened."

For more information GO HERE. Have a Happy Easter!!