Oxy’s Ponderings

Today I was troubled inside my mind…   Lawlessness.   In our area we just received a letter stating our City is cutting (again) police and firefighter positions.   For some reason I started talking to God and asking Him “why is it God that people only get worse and not actually change if they (by society standards) are growing in knowledge; understanding the past, and realizing their errors?    After talking aloud to God (and not just that voice inside my head) I began to visualize the man named Noah.  No not an actual picture of Noah, but rather the idea of Noah.

Can one imagine this man named Noah, living in an area where rain was a Luxury and so it isn’t as if rain came often, nor does it seem that the idea of a Flood would suddenly appear inside the imagination of mankind; yet here is Noah listening to God (apparently not the voice inside his head), and God tells him there is going to be a Flood and he needs to build an Ark.

Amazingly enough after God gives him instructions I would gather to say he most likely was … how Bush put it… in shock and awe.    He believed God and went ahead with the instructions.     It did not seem to matter how Foolish it looked to others around him in building the Ark… he believed God.

During this time it is said that Noah preached or began warning others about this Flood which was to come, and since Noah lived hundreds of years I am wondering if  there had been times when he actually pondered over whether or not the  Huge Ark would actually be used.   I also wondered if he was ever fearful of what was coming upon this people, and did he realize just how Huge the disaster would be?

As I sat there talking to the Lord, explaining what was going on inside of my head I began to look around me and see pictures of people’s faces… over the internet, TV, and people in my own surroundings.    Sad, but true I had a hard time seeing much good.  I began to ponder over my own well intended ideas I had put into place; even wondering just how many of those well intended ideas were actually of God and how many of those ideas to which I thought were good… were they actually good?    Then Noah came back to mind.

In the days of Noah Lawlessness Abounded.  Here we are living in an age where Jesus is one of the most controversial figures.  Religion and Politics are so woven together they remind me of the scales of Leviathan… spoken of in Job.   I am sure most people on this planet know of, or have heard of a God.   Whether they believe or do not believe, they still have heard of a God.    Both Religion and Politics use God, or the name of God for their own corrupt purposes and people always murder under the direction of another; yet they who direct typically aren’t the ones who actually commit the murders.   They who follow generally will do their best to protect the one they are following; even if it means to die in their place.

I understand that the Lord God is a Long-Suffering Spirit and too He is more patient than any man or woman on this earth.  Yet, His patience must have been tested to the limit during Noah’s time.    No one really Listened to Noah.  No one responded to his call.   No one took what he said seriously.   And apparently no one believed God.   That is no one but Noah.

As I speak with my sister I hear the tone rejection to which she uses to inform me ‘I have decided that if I want to go to church I will go to the catholic religion’.  It was odd the way she said it.   As if she was trying to appease me that she was going to involve herself in some way with God, and yet there was something else going on with how she expounded on why she chose the religion of choice.   Isn’t that what happens too often, people act as if they want to do what is right, but really do not take care of what is most important… getting the heart right with God.

My odd christian friend says to me that she went to a young man who was living with a young woman, who also has three babies by her.  She is an unbeliever and he is a believer.  They both attend church.    She (the odd friend) says:  I had to go to him and tell him that he needed to marry the gal and get it right before God”.   Then she felt ashamed that she told him this and appologized and yet brought it up before the church board.  The church board thinks she should love him and her into heaven.    So she is going to love him and her into heaven.    I told her she did what she thought was right, yet for him to marry the young woman wasn’t actually making it right before God.   Sure this marriage may appease family and friends and look good to the church members, but what does it do for the soul?   So we love him into heaven… yet that isn’t actually scriptural.     No one is going to love him enough to tell him of the need for reconciliation?   Alright, so the woman is an unbeliever, but he is a believer and should understand marrying her won’t reconcile his relationship with God.   In light of this, the two did get married, became church members soon (very soon) afterward and had their new baby.  All children were dedicated to the Lord in service and they are still trying to love them into Heaven.

I actually said no the other day to someone who was asking for money.   It has been a year now and with each passing it is the same… lies, lies,  and more promises.     He wanted to prostitute himself with me and I had to be firm in saying:   get off of my property now, I am finished!    Now some things were stolen off my porch.

I am trying to extend my fence in the yard… the neighbor for some reason who at first liked the idea I was getting a fence now suddenly is making statements that if I interrupt certain portions of the area near his fence line he will own my driveway and house.   Reminding him that I allowed him to build his fence on part of my property why would he make such a statement.   He then says:   your drive is on my property and I could park my car there if I wanted to.    Thus it is in my best interest to have the property measured.

Inside the walls of church I am invisible to many.   I have accepted this.   Cruel remarks and misleading statements have led me to keeping to myself; unless the children are around.   Still, one has to be careful even with hugs and play while in the company of children.   Everyone had to prove themselves by obtaining a file  which would indicate whether or not you have ever been arrested.   Now each week in class there are those who walk by and look in… some even stop inside to look around and obviously to check on us.    Yet the looks are dead, without smile, and such a coldness toward the children.   I am beginning to wonder if I should quietly remove myself.

Such is life these days.   Lawlessness abounds.  Corruption is infiltrated everywhere.   Believers say one thing and do another.   Catholic bumper stickers with errors in print… example:  John 1:53.     It is suppose to say that Eternal Life is found in the Eucharist.    Yes I looked it up… and found what they wanted to say, but it is not in chapter one.    Once again misleading, and misapplied.   Then I wondered how many cars bear the marks of that misprint and how many people who drive those cars actually took notice.

The young lady next to me thinks Jesus was a sinner too…  ” If he got to heaven then there is hope for everyone else… why judge anyone”.   She really does believe Jesus was a sinner.  

Where on earth are we headed?   I am reminded today… just as Noah and his family were like the scrapings off of the bottom of a shoe… a remnant… so shall the days which lead up the Lord’s return.