tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post8472101133684584579..comments2024-02-13T08:49:07.287-04:00Comments on 'Thought & Humor!': How Can I Know God?Professor Howdyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-30683785369731707052022-03-31T06:41:32.463-03:002022-03-31T06:41:32.463-03:00William Hill Betting Locations | Mapyro
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BetRivers.com. <a href="https://www.casino-roll.com/" rel="nofollow">casino-roll.com</a>valunaborhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10010090443555366027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-42449200431242444532008-03-21T17:32:00.000-03:002008-03-21T17:32:00.000-03:00Easter: Celebrating What We Don't DeserveLori Borg...Easter: Celebrating What We Don't Deserve<BR/>Lori Borgman<BR/><BR/>We are a people concerned with getting what we deserve.<BR/><BR/>We deserve child care, health care, good schools, good jobs, easy commutes <BR/>and a comfortable retirement.<BR/><BR/>We deserve smoke-free air, a strong stock market, happiness in our marriages <BR/>and children who always remember our birthdays.<BR/><BR/>Lobbying groups and professional organizations around the country exist <BR/>solely for the purpose of seeing that we get what we deserve. Well, that and <BR/>to line their pockets in the process.<BR/><BR/>When you listen closely, you hear the many things we deserve sprinkled <BR/>throughout conversations: We deserve our money’s worth. We deserve to be <BR/>treated respectfully. We deserve good customer service.<BR/><BR/>With all that work at getting what we deserve, it’s no small wonder we also <BR/>feel we deserve a vacation.<BR/><BR/>Kind-hearted as we are, we are not only concerned about getting what we <BR/>deserve; we are concerned that others get what they deserve as well. Like <BR/>the nutcase on the interstate blasting by at 90, zipping in and out of <BR/>traffic, cutting off cars, tailgating. What a pleasure to see red and blue <BR/>flashing lights and that Mr. Road Rage has been pulled over by an officer. <BR/>He got what he deserved. Or as we like to say, he had it coming.<BR/><BR/>After a big awards show, or a sports tournament, we debate whether the <BR/>winners deserved to win and whether the losers deserved to lose. We have a <BR/>keen sense of deservedness.<BR/><BR/>Last week I deserved a mini-van. Ours is going to the body shop after being <BR/>rear-ended. I told the claims agent that since one of their insured took our <BR/>mini-van out, it seemed that we deserved a mini-van for a rental. She said, <BR/>according to state law, all they were required to do was put us in a tuna <BR/>fish can with wheels. Hmmpf.<BR/><BR/>We deserve the right to eat and not grow fat, the right to speak, the right <BR/>to be heard and the right to have all of our questions promptly answered.<BR/><BR/>Recently, 12 American tourists on a B'nai B'rith trip to South America were <BR/>killed when their bus fell down a mountainside. A reporter asked a rabbi if <BR/>he questioned why God allowed such a bad thing to happen. The rabbi <BR/>answered, I do not question God for the bad things that happen, just as I do <BR/>not question God for the joyful things that happen. What a rare breed. A man <BR/>who did not believe he deserved an answer.<BR/><BR/>It is no small irony that though we often live life pursuing what we may <BR/>falsely or rightly believe we deserve, the holiest holiday on the Christian <BR/>calendar celebrates not getting what we deserved.<BR/><BR/>We deserved something all right. Wrath. We richly deserved the penalty for <BR/>sin, self-centeredness, arrogance, pride, greed, gluttony, hard hearts, mean <BR/>spiritedness and all the rest. But, the thing is, we didn’t get it.<BR/><BR/>Christ did.<BR/><BR/>He took what I deserved, every lash, every hit, every piercing. He took what <BR/>I had coming. He paid the price I deserved to pay, was crucified, dead and <BR/>buried, and on the third day rose again.<BR/><BR/>They say a good way to distinguish between grace and mercy is to remember <BR/>that grace is getting what you DIDN’T have coming, and mercy is NOT getting <BR/>what you DID have coming.<BR/><BR/>Easter is the celebration of mercy.<BR/><BR/>The next time I open my mouth about something I deserve, may God freeze my <BR/>speech mid-air and bring to mind the joy and thanksgiving of not getting <BR/>that which I deserved the most of all.<BR/><BR/>Columnist and speaker Lori Borgman is the author of several books including <BR/>Pass the Faith, Please (Waterbrook Press) and All Stressed Up and No Place <BR/>to Go (Emmis Books). Comments may be sent to her at lori@loriborgman.com.<BR/>Find this article at: http://www.crosswalk.com/spirituallife/1389657/Professor Howdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-437964542052755799.post-27305634027912439292008-03-21T17:29:00.000-03:002008-03-21T17:29:00.000-03:00And when they had come to the place called Calvary...And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified <BR/>Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 <BR/>Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." <BR/>And they divided His garments and cast lots. 35 And the people stood looking <BR/>on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him <BR/>save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." 36 The soldiers also <BR/>mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If You are <BR/>the King of the Jews, save Yourself." 38 And an inscription also was written <BR/>over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE <BR/>JEWS. 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, <BR/>"If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." 40 But the other, answering, <BR/>rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the <BR/>same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of <BR/>our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said to Jesus, <BR/>"Lord, F157 remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said <BR/>to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."<BR/><BR/>44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the <BR/>earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of <BR/>the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud <BR/>voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said <BR/>this, He breathed His last. 47 So when the centurion saw what had happened, <BR/>he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" 48 And the <BR/>whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat <BR/>their breasts and returned. 49 But all His acquaintances, and the women who <BR/>followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.<BR/><BR/>50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and <BR/>just man. 51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from <BR/>Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom <BR/>of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then <BR/>he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn <BR/>out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. 54 That day was the <BR/>Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. 55 And the women who had come with <BR/>Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body <BR/>was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And <BR/>they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.<BR/><BR/>Luke 23Professor Howdyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189934292678757335noreply@blogger.com