Scott Freeman

If you noticed I added a plug-in that shows what I am listening to on last.fm. If you use last.fm, add me as a friend. My user name is sfree96.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I am out of the office for the most part of the day. I thought I would re-run an article I wrote several months back. Several of you mentioned it as one of your favorites. I know it is one of mine.

I Had a Blog Post Today…

…but I deleted it.

Therefore, I will not blog today.

I was going to blog about the anger I feel about the injustice, hatred and mean-spiritedness I witness all too often in the world today.

But, I removed it, because it seemed too angry and mean-spirited on my part.

So, I’ll just keep quiet and lay low. I’ll remain quiet out of the fear of offending. I’ll still my voice in order to avoid stirring the waters of public debate and frustration.

Nope, no blogging today.

I’m probably wrong anyway.

* I’m probably wrong to care less about the USA than I do the Kingdom of God.
* I’m probably wrong to believe that war is wrong and violence is never the answer.
* I’m probably wrong to view children of Iraqi’s to be as precious as my own.
* I’m probably wrong to want my children to go to public school (even though I support Private education and have benefited from it) so they can learn at an early age to be salt and light.
* I’m probably wrong to believe that laws are often misguided and the health of a nation depends upon dissent against civil rights abuses. Maybe Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr shouldn’t be heroes of mine.
* I’m probably wrong to believe that it means something that the one time Jesus talked about judgment He did so in regards to how we treat the poor and the forgotten.
* I’m probably wrong to interpret grace into Old Testament laws of dealing with sojourners and aliens.
* I’m probably wrong to worry about genocide and AIDS in other lands when there is so much here to be concerned about like Brangelina’s baby.
* I’m probably wrong to want to love more than I judge.
* I’m probably wrong to believe that hatred runs deep into the fabric of American society–against gays, illegal immigrants, the French, Democrats, Republicans, minorities, or whatever group catches our ire at this particular point in time.
* I’m probably wrong about worrying about having too much “stuff.” I should just suck it up and buy a new car since the one I’m driving doesn’t have air conditioning in this Texas heat.
* I’m probably wrong to believe that the words of Jesus should propel us to make peace, love enemies, and deny self.
* I’m probably wrong to believe that political parties cannot be champions of the Kingdom due to differing agendas.
* I’m probably wrong to feel so discontent with the state of the church’s compassion, love and humanity for the lost, disaffected, poor and foreigner.
* I’m probably wrong to feel so much regret for all the times I’ve harbored hatred, hurled ethnic slurs, branded sinful people with vitriolic names, and supported agendas that suited me at the expense of others.
* I’m probably wrong to believe that being stewards of God’s creation means care for the creation and not just domination of it.
* I’m probably wrong to believe the greatest terrorist threat is not one of flesh and blood.
* I’m probably wrong to believe that it is a travesty that so many cannot afford insurance.
* I’m probably wrong to believe that liberals can be Christians despite what some might say.

So, instead of blogging today, I’ll just keep my mouth shut. I’ll not unburden my heart.

Cause, I’m probably wrong.

Although I sure don’t feel like I am.

In fact, I feel like I’m getting closer to the heart of Jesus.

And I really pray I’m not wrong about that.

My blogging buddy Phil Wilson has already written a great post about this sign, so I won’t repeat what he has already said.

However, I want to tip my hat to several churches in Australia who are tapping into the subversive and life-transforming power of the gospel.

In a world that is so prone to fear, where the lines of demarcation between “enemies” and “friends” are so sharply drawn, we need the continual reminder of the words of Jesus to “love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

The prospect of praying for someone like Osama is one I reflexively flinch at. He hates me, those I love and my faith.

And yet, I am reminded of another terrorist. Another man who wanted nothing more than to see the deaths of believers in Christ.

But an encounter on the road to Damascus changed all that. And although he considered himself to be “the foremost of sinners” he knew that Christ died for him.

It’s a tough message. But, honestly, it’s a tough gospel. A stumbling block.

I have benefited greatly from the community that has sprung up in my blog world. I love the comments and discussion that takes place here. However, I know that often I give rather than take.
I made the commitment that I would comment more on other blogs to spread the discussion elsewhere. But one thing I have noticed is that using an RSS reader, although time-saving, limits my comment frequency.
As a result I am making some changes to my link section. Those who blog frequently (can’t stress that enough) and are a part of the discussion here I am in the process of adding to my “community.” If you are not on there and would like to be a part of my “discussion family” let me know and I’ll add you. I’m not done because blogger is being finicky today so don’t be alarmed if I haven’t added you yet (and for the life of me I don’t understand why people use blogger instead of wordpress but that’s a different subject).
Here’s to continuing the discussion.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Our study this week is in the book of Philemon. By now, most of us know the story of Paul’s call to mercy and grace for the runaway slave, Onesimus.
But what jumped out at me this week was Paul’s greeting to Philemon. Paul greets him by extolling his faith and love. He even goes so far to say that “the hearts of the saints have been refreshed” because of the love of Philemon.

But wait, he’s a slave-holder. Now, I don’t know about you but owning a slave is fairly high up on my moral reprehensibility chart. It’s up there with murder and blue-tooth in my book.
But Paul doesn’t define him as a slave-owner. Instead he views Philemon with all of his faults as his “beloved fellow worker.”
How often do we define people based upon their worst moments or greatest sins? How often is the way we look at people determined by their weakness or shortcomings.
But that is not the way of Christ. And Paul gets that.
So should we.