Marturo’s blog

I was watching CNN earlier, and they were talking about why the gas prices are going up.  I was wondering that just the other day, myself.  Especially since I'd understood that the prices were up before because the seller was against Bush, and everything going on in the Middle East at that time.

So get this.  CNN said that the reason for the spike in gas & energy prices is because of all the corporate bailouts.  See, since the government borrowed money from other countries in order to bail out companies like GM and banks, the tax brokers, etc. are all paranoid and worried about the economy's health, so the prices have gone up.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong here, but aren't our tax dollars part of the money used for the corporate bailouts?
Also, last I checked, we didn't get a say in the matter of the bailouts, we were just told that they were getting money.  And it's like the only time the government lifted their eyebrow was when AIG continued to abuse the money given them.

Honestly, in my opinion, I think GM and the banks out there that got the bailouts, should've been allowed to go out of business.  Granted, it may've put a bigger hole in the economy, as well as laid off thousands of workers, but think about it, when Venture stores went out of business, did anybody help them?  No.  Kmart was doing so well for a while that they opened stores like a monopoly player who owned Park Place & Boardwalk.  But when they had to close a huge percentage of their stores later, did the government step in?  No.  And Walmart was happy to move up.  When United Airlines claimed bankruptcy (the first time), did the government chime in?  No.  And what ever happened to that car brand, AMC (American Made Cars)?

My point is that when a company makes a mistake or does poorly with their buisiness/marketing, it's their fault and they should take whatever fall is needed.  GM is a huge company, sure, but they messed up and should have to face the consequences of bad business.  If they close, we still have Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Saturn (they've been talking of going on their own again), Mitsubishi, Suzuki, BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Sterling, Maserati, Audi, Volvo, Saab, VW...does it look like we'll lost without GM?
  Bank of America, Citibank, etc...oops.  They gave out too many loans and made some bad business choices, like trusting AIG, for instance.  Yet instead of going out of business, like they should've had to do, they got a bailout.  Fair?  Did we get a say in it?  I didn't.  Did you?

So now, even though the government decided (against our will) to bail out these tycoons, we now have to suffer spikes in our energy prices.  Why?  Because others are worried about the economy, due to the government's decision to bail out?  That seems hardly fair.

Today, one of the big news stories is about N. Korea and the advancement of their nuclear missile technology.  So let's see now...

• Bush jumped into Iraq because he claimed they had nuclear missiles (showed our breaking point the rest of the world).  Since then:
  
• Iran has been working on and threatening nuclear advancements
• China has been basically spreading their form of terrorism with lead-tainted child and dog toys, poison in food, etc.
• For some time, N. Korea has been shooting missiles over Japan, and now have successfully launched and detonated a nuclear missile.

I was watching "Hardball with Chris Matthews" on MSNBC this evening, where I saw Political Analysts Pat Buchanan & Lawrence O'Donnell, "discussing" (more like arguing) "some" Republicans' outrage about Obama's response to Chavez's insults.

  As I understand, Obama visited Venezuela today, where during a summit, Chavez gave a long talk on his opinions, and supposed experiences, with the U.S.A.  Though I haven't heard the speech personally, it's understood that Chavez was very insulting, especially in the presence of our very own Commander in Chief.  But as the story goes, instead of becoming infuriated in offense by the remarks, or even doing anything to defend our country's honor, Obama just sat there and listened.  But the real discussion topic of all this was that, upon meeting with Chavez, Obama shook hands with Chavez, then began to peacefully discuss the future.

So now, to no surprise, "some" republicans are mocking Obama as being a traitor (though indirectly), a coward, and unfit for leadership. Why?  Because, as argued on Hardball, Obama didn't stand up, make a scene, defended our country's honor against the obviously incorrect remarks, and above all, definitely shook hands with Chavez's ("that damn left-hander", as they say).  Maybe Obama should've thrown his shoe?

I have to admit that I too am disappointed, though not at Obama, but at the Republicans.  For this only shows how the Republicans have been doing things for so long: if somebody insults us, we need to stand up and put them in their place...who do they think they are?  We're the Americans! They can't say that about us!

  I'm reminded of a film clip shown in a history class (I don't know when, high school, college?) of Hitler (it had subtitles).  He was giving a speech to the multitudes about how some group of people were saying things about him, insults and lies, and that they have no right to do such.  In fact, because of their words, he & all of Nazi Germany "will show them".  Then he segued into a pep-rally where everybody agreed and hailed Hitler.

Don't get me wrong...I neither claim to be a Democrat, nor comparing the "some" Republicans to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is that the "some" Republicans' arguments against Obama's response (which were actually his tactics) can be compared to that of a paranoid crazy man who loves power, and who believes that those who oppose him should be either destroyed or defamed.  I'm also saying that their response to Obama shows that such behavior is actually what has gotten us to the point where we are today.  Also in each situation, such tactics have proven to fail, and will continue to, especially when change and peace are the goal.

Now what do I mean when I say that Obama's response was actually his tactics? If you ever take a class or learn anything about conflict management, you'll recognize just what I'm saying:
  Obama talks of change and peace.  Republicans so far strong-armed countries like Venezuela.  Chavez wants to know if Obama is for real or just fronting, so he gives a speech that's insulting and "in your face".  Was Obama insulted?  Possibly, and who wouldn't be?  But that's not what matters.  It's how Obama reacts to the isults that decides where we go from here. Remember, actions speak louder than words...if you're really for peace, then you'll respond to such insults with peace. But if you talk of peace, and respond in violence or anger, then you're obviously not really for peace.  As for the handshake, if Obama had refused his hand, no talks would take place, now or ever during his time in office.

Obama's a wise man...more so than we give him credit.  And if you'll look at his facial expressions when talking about his meeting...he wasn't fooled. He caught on a long time ago, possibly no later than the first insult. But he has a mission, and knows that the mission can't (and won't) succeed if he takes words personally.  We're a small continent, but a "big" country...we can't let insults get in the way of the mission...we're bigger than that.

Wow, I didn't realize how long it's been since I posted...until I saw the title for my last one. Sorry about that.  Anyway, Happy Lent! :)
What is Lent, anyway?  Well, it's a Christian thing that begins on Ash Wednesday, and goes 40 days until Easter.  Ash Wednesday is always on Wednesday, is 40 days before Easter Sunday, and the ashes used, which are smeared onto our foreheads, are from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday.  (Still with me?)

Miriam Webster defines "Lent", if I understand correctly, as "Spring" or "Springtime", which "includes a time of penitence & fasting, and is dated back to the 13th Century".  So no, it's not something that was practiced by the early church, nor is it in the Bible, nor something that Jesus told His followers to do, so you're not doomed to Hell if you don't fast from something for these 40 days.  Yet, it is a good spiritual discipline.

So what is this fasting time about, and from what are we to fast?  Many choose something like chocolate or pop (soda). But they don't replace it with a spiritual discipline...they just diet from the certain food for 40 days and tell everybody it's for Lent.  Some choose to fast from Television, and replace it with reading a book, or for youth, doing their homework instead. And though reading is a nice habit to replace TV with, unless it's the Bible they're reading, I don't see how it becomes a spiritual discipline.

Fasting is mentioned all throughout the Bible, and though it's most often associated with fasting from food, there are other things to fast from. Numbers 6, for instance, tells us about the voluntary vow of the Nazarite, which included fasting from anything off the vine (grapes, wine, grape juice, etc.), no shaving or hair cuts, and staying away from dead bodies (I'm sure the last one would be the easiest). But the whole point was “to separate themselves unto the LORD” for a determined amount of time, and during these days of separation, the person is to be "holy unto the LORD”.  So refraining from junk food for the body is good, but if there's no health food for the spirit, then how is one "holy unto the Lord"?

A few years back, I discovered more on this when I decided to fast from lunch, and replace my lunch breaks with prayer. Such was great for my spiritual journey, for my prayer time was more constant, as well as longer, but it also took a toll on my health, for I lost a lot of weight, which also lowered my immune system, and also caused some migraines. So this year, I thought I'd try something new...I'm fasting from worrying and stress. I got the idea because, for a few weeks before Lent, I was stressed out and worrying so much about something that it gave me chest pains, and it wasn't until the migraine that I realized something needs to change. Jesus even said that, medically speaking, worrying and stress can actually kill you.  Then He tells us to stop worrying, and give it up to the Father who knows our needs before we ask for them.  I think the hardest part of this though is that, well, you know like when you pray for patience, instead of giving you patience, the Lord puts you into situations where you'll have to train in patience? Or when you pray to be a better driver, and the Lord allows you to get into, or come close to getting into, accidents so that you'll learn quickly what not to do?  I'm finding more things to be worried and stressed about. 

But hey, nobody said fasting was easy.  And if it was, then it wouldn't be a very good spiritual discipline, would it?

While in seminary, I had this idea that denominations are sinful, for they separate the members of the Body of Christ.  But when talking with my late professor, he’d mentioned that denominations in themselves are not sinful, for they promote differences…denominations only become sinful when they do separate.

In the 17^th chapter of John, Jesus gives excellent examples, first of how to pray for ourselves, each other, and then also for the Church.  But in each prayer, notice how strongly Jesus stressed the importance of unity within the Church (Body of Christ).  Of all the things that Jesus could have prayed for (boldness in sharing the message, lack of persecution, prosperity, etc), what’s the importance of unity?  So that the world may believe that the Father sent Him.  But when we look at the Church today, is it really united?  How will the world know about Jesus through our unity?  How will/can this ever manifest?

I think that one of the reasons I so much enjoy playing soccer is because, I’m reminded of the great fellowship we developed through it while in seminary, which also reminds me of how I imagine the Church:

We’d gather together several mornings a week just for the love of the game. Newer players were encouraged and mentored by more experienced players in order to sharpen their skills, and so they might become better at the game. When somebody didn’t show up for practices, everybody was disappointed, and several people were sure to inform them of how they were missed.

Out on the field/court, though competitive, the way we played gave evidence to our love for the game.  We’d communicate regularly, set each other up for passes and shots, encourage one another when we made a bad play, congratulate for good plays, and do the same for the other teams. We played as a team, subbing-in often so everybody had a chance to play their best as often as possible, backed each other up, and worked together in unity for the common goal (no pun intended).  And ball-hogs were not an issue as long as our focus remained on the game. Sure there was danger, and injuries almost always occurred.  But our love for the game trumped every pain, bruise, sprain, or break that ever occurred.

Now, re-read this, replacing the underlined words with the following:

• “The game”                          with  “The Lord”
• “Players”                             with  “Christians”
• “sharpen their skills”            with  “be encouraged in the Word / become better familiar with the Word”
• “Become better at”              with  “Grow closer to”
• “Practices”                         with  “Bible study, Sunday service, church events, ministries, etc.”
• “people”                             with  “Brothers / Sisters in Christ”
• “On the field”                      with  “In the field/world”
• “Played”                             with  “lived / shared the Good News”
• “Playing”                            with  “discipling / ministering to”
• “other teams”                     with  “non-Christians”
• “We played as a team”       with  “We were united in Christ”
• “Backed each other up”      with  “prayed for one another”
• “ball-hogs”                         with  “pride was”
• “injuries”                            with “rejection, persecution, etc.”

I believe that when Jesus prayed in John 17, He knew the future formation (or fate) of the Church, and so prayed that it…we, Christians everywhere, would be united, just as He and the Father are united. If a soccer team is united, then it has a better chance of making it to (and possibly winning) the championships, than if it’s not.

This is the beginning of a new year, a time when improvement is promised.  Can you imagine if we of the Church was on the same page, following ultimately the same mission & vision, praying for each other and our congregations, gathering regularly, communicating, helping where needed, being of like mind & spirit, and working towards the same goal?  Just imagine the Church’s testimony to the world!  No wonder Jesus stressed unity so strongly!

---Marturo

  I can remember as a child, each Christmas, waiting for Santa to arrive. I’d put cookies out on a plate, a glass of milk, and a note, in case Santa didn’t know that the snack was for him. As I grew older (but not too old to stop believing in Santa), I’d stay up late, excited about my hopes in seeing him! Then I’d wake up learning that I’d missed him.  Yes, Christmas Eve is about waiting.

  After the Israelites returned from Babylon, God promised to send them a Messiah. All throughout the Israelite history, the only people known as Messiahs were Priests, Kings, and Prophets (Jesus was/is all 3!)  But He never gave them a real warning as of when…just that He was coming soon. So the Israelites, by then known as Jews, kept watch.  For 400 years, people waited, and waited, and waited.  A few times, people would give off the image of a Messiah raised up, getting the people all excited, only to become disappointed.  Can you imagine 400 years of hearing “Ahhhhh? ….awwww…”?  Hundreds of thousands of people waiting for God’s Messiah, only to be continuously disappointed when they learned that the person in whom they’d put their trust, wasn’t the Messiah at all.  But you see, they were waiting for a human, and humans continued to fail them.  They were looking for a Messiah from God, and expecting him to be human. And they weren’t too far off, but God wasn’t talking about sending a simple human…He was talking about something so much more!

Today, we’re in a similar position as the Israelites of the time.  Only for us, it’s not when the long awaited Messiah will come the first time…now, we’re waiting for Jesus to return…to come a second time.  So like the Israelites, we are waiting for the promised coming of God’s Messiah, we don’t know when He’s coming back (like a thief in the night), though we have been commanded to “Watch”, while at the same time, given landmarks to watch for, and even when we do, we remember that Jesus said they’re simply pangs that have to happen before He can return.  So in a sense we’re in the same position as the Jews of Jesus’ time.

  Wait…same?  Are we really in the same position as the early Jews?  Have we not been commanded to do more than simply wait for His arrival? 

The Jews then were called to:                                        Christians today are called to:

1.  Be a nation of God’s holy priests.                                1. Be a nation of God's holy Priests

2.  Testify of God’s history and presence among them       2.Testify to the nations about Christ's first coming

3.  Wait & keep watch for the Messiah’s first coming      3. Wait & keep watch for the Messiah's second coming.

Christmas Eve then was about waiting for Jesus, God’s Messiah, to finally come.

Christmas Eve is now about waiting for Jesus to come…to return.

Christmas Eve is about waiting.

---Marturo

While talking with a high school friend, I learned some things about myself. Actually, I don’t know if I learned something new, realized something old, or just remembered. But either way, it’s made me rethink the details about my conversion story. When asked, I’d always reflect on the fact that when I’d “given Jesus the chance” to take hold of me, I was coming to the realization that I couldn’t be right with God without Jesus.  This is still true.

But in terms of “being churched”, even though my mother brought me to church every Sunday; has a recording of me singing a hymn to the Lord in my toddler years; and even though I’d attended Sunday school as a child; gone to pre-school in our church; attended VBS every year that I was able and helped out when too old to attend; was a regular member of the youth group (until high school sophomore year); graduated confirmation; was involved with events within the church; and attended youth and family retreats, I’d always looked at the fact that I was neither taught nor encouraged to read the Bible (other than from my parents), felt like an outcast in youth group, and often daydreamed or slept during the Sunday morning sermons. And so I considered myself “un-churched”, or that I didn’t “grow up in” the Church, or that I grew up going to church but never came to know Jesus there. Why? Because since I’d come to know Jesus at age 21, and I mean really know Jesus, all I can say is that I must not have known Him before. But now, after the conversation with my friend, I realize that I actually had, and can only figure or understand that sometime in my life, I just fell away from Him for a while. But then, was my realization of needing Christ a real conversion experience that finally happened for the first time, or just a personal experience in sync with the parable of the Prodigal Son?

So that next Sunday morning, my wife & I went to church, and the topic of the Pastor’s sermon was the foundation on which our faith was built, and about how when we’re tested with fire, that’s when our true self comes out, and whatever foundation we’re actually built upon is revealed. During it, I envisioned a crack in the stone…the stone that was formed around my heart, and a bright, yellow light shining through this crack, breaking it open. 

I thank God for using my friend to remind me that my foundation, not just from my young-adult conversion, but from the foundation laid upon me as a child and throughout my childhood, is Jesus Christ. And since this light has been revealed, breaking forth, the rock can no longer hold it back.  I felt…renewed.  See, before serving here, I was enduring a time of healing, where I backed off some and began following Jesus from a distance…like a wounded soldier. But then, like Superman coming back to life, I felt ready to get back in and fight for what was lost during my time-out.

So often we continue to look forward for our answers, sort of like there’s a “don’t look back” syndrome. Maybe we get it from Jesus’ reply that "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” But that was in the context of somebody wavering on their call to follow, not somebody already on the journey.

I think that when we’re feeling lost, we need to look at the map, retrace our steps, remember where we’ve been and how we got here, who we were, and even ask our friends/family who remember who we were back then, and let the fire reveal who the Lord created as and brought us up to be.

Any thoughts?

-Marturo

Check out this link to understand this post: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/07/nepal.living.godess.ap/index.html?section=cnn_latest

This past Tuesday, Hindu and Buddhist priests in Nepal named a 3-year-old girl as a living goddess.  But there are a lot of interesting issues included in this.  For instance,

1. The article said, "She will be worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists as an incarnation of the powerful Hindu deity Taleju."  Now,whenever I hear from or learn about Buddhists, they continue to say that they don’t worship anything, but that it’s about “world peace” and “being at peace with yourself”, also enlightenment and Nirvana.  Yet here, it says they’ll be worshiping her.
2. When she reaches puberty, she loses her divine status...and at that time, a new "goddess" will be named to replace her: Dude, either she’s the incarnation of the goddess or she's not...I think this is a good example of many people using another person for your their personal needs, then throwing her away when they're done with her, or when she’s no longer the perfect image they thought she was (like rape).
3. "the child will stay in almost complete isolation at the temple": I remember a story about an ancient king who wanted to know what the original language of mankind was.  So he isolated 2 babies from all people except for food…no love or sounds were communicated…and they soon died.  Babies and children cannot survive in isolation. So here, the child will stay in almost complete isolation, and at the temple, not at home.  In fact, she cannot see her family (unless they come to worship her) until puberty sets in.  So this 3 year old will survive in almost total isolation. They’re not showing her genuine love, they’re building her up to be something she’s not and plan to drop her as such at a certain age.  Talk about destroying somebody’s life.  When she gets out, she’ll have grown up to be an image of worship, but then be nothing to anybody else anymore? She won’t know love, she won’t know how to communicate, she won’t have or know anything, not even her parents for then next 9-10 years.  Why would her parents even allow this?  Is this another example of child stars?  Will they get paid for it?  Will she be like another Gary Coleman when she gets out?  I’ll be interested to see how messed up she is at that age.
4. Her parents said: "I feel a bit sad, but since my child has become a living goddess I feel proud."  I still have a problem with this whole "has become" part.  Either she is or she's not...either she's the incarnation of the goddess or she's not...there's no "becoming" of it, especially since she "loses" it later in life.  This sounds a little like the "Go-ah-oold" in Stargate SG-1...people becoming something due to the reputation of their symbiote, then possibly losing it when they're no longer needed.  But that's not the issue here...the issue is the parents. These kids are going to be SO messed up when they return home.  And what loving parent allows this to be done to their child?                       

5. Folklore tells of the men who later marry a former “goddess”, and says that they will most often die young.  Therefore, many girls instead remain unmarried, “and face a life of hardship”.  Ya don’t say?  That’s what I’ve been getting at.  These women grow up never knowing anything about love, friendship, relationships, sacrifice (personal sacrifice for another), respect, let alone who she is, or life on the outside…of course the men die young.

"You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans. Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots. Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. So man will be brought low and mankind humbled--do not raise them up."

As I was reading through Isaiah today, I came across this passage, and was reminded of the United States, believe it or not.  For example, the reason people (not the Native Americans) came to this land in the first place was for religious freedom.  But as more people came, and trades among other nations grew, so did other religions, beliefs, wives' tales, "stupid-stitions", etc, and this new land that was based on the worship of the Lord God had soon become as the land of Canaan before it vomited out its inhabitants...or as David's kingdom during the reign of Solomon...most admirable and great to look at, but no grounding in the Lord

America has been looked up to by nations upon nations.  Our Dollar was once the standard for the rest of the world's currencies.  Though a small country in comparison, our land was once filled with silver and gold, and no end to our treasures.  We were filled with strong pride in our military, "nobody can beat us," we said.  People escaped to the USA during wars in order to help us win. This was once the country that stood above the rest.  Many even saw it as being the land where dreams come true, sidewalks of gold, land of opportunity, and some even dared call it "The New Jerusalem".  But then it was also full of idols...like the Israelites of old, we lost our focus.  People began to bow to the work of their hands, claiming their deeds as their means of salvation.  The rich are held high in the clouds, as heroes to hopefully become like one day.  New ideas and twisted theologies emerged: "God helps those whom help themselves" (which was actually taken from a fable of Aesop, from Greek Mythology, not the Holy Bible).  Idols took on new forms, not just statues, but superstitious beliefs; lies; money and wealth; prosperity; fame; glory; jobs; relationships; material items that break, rust, and burn; busyness; sexualities; identities; "happiness"; whatever one could focus themselves after, and put above their worship of the Lord Almighty, became their idols.

Jesus said that those who are exalted will be humbled.  History has continued to show us this among nations and kingdoms: Egypt, Babylon, Alexander the Great, Persia, Greece, Satan, Rome, China, Germany, England.  Is it now time for the U.S.A. to join its predecessors?
Our dollar is no longer the world's standard and economy is plummeting. Our country is losing its desired image. People have turned away from the Lord and to demons in hopes for happiness and salvation: New Age, Witchcraft, religious cults, atheism, "feel-good messages", they've traded Absolute Truth for "whatever they think is right and makes them happy"; Holiness for Heresy; Grace that cost the life of Jesus for "cheap grace"; Kingdom and Body for personal and individual.  "...they practice divination like the Philistines, and clasp hands with pagans."    No longer is it about holiness and being set apart as God's people, for now the focus of the world has been on "coexisting"..."what I think is truth, is"..."what makes me feel good"..."whatever makes you happy, makes me happy", yet in this "co-existence", REAL Christians are not among the invites (not that we want to be). 

Before entering the Promised Land, the Lord told the Israelites: "You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, neither any of your own nation nor any stranger whom dwells among you, (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, whom were before you, and thus the land is defiled),  lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you." (Leviticus 18:26-28)

The USA has been held high for a long time. Is it now time for America to suffer the same fate as its fellow countries, as has been predicted by so many for so long?  When looking at the roots of this country, one looks to its fore-fathers...those whom had escaped here in order to worship the Lord (as the Israelites did from Egypt in the great Exodus).  They sought out freedom to worship the Lord Almighty, the God of Jacob, as members of the House of Jacob through faith in Jesus Christ.  Looking at the USA today, has it abandoned these people? Has the time arrived where "man will be brought low and mankind humbled"?