When Did You Receive Your Soul?

The US Supreme Court ruled that a woman has the right to abort a pregnancy. That is now law.

People argue as to when during the development of a fetus does it have the legal right to exist has a human. In the extremes some say only once it is born alive or opposite claim is at conception. Other in between arguments range from in the first through second trimester’s human rights. One church goes so far as to say no contraception to hinder sperm from meeting ovum. 

If humans are just soulless animals perhaps it does not matter all that much. I do not believe that we are soulless so to me it matters. So the theological question is at what point does the mass of dividing cells receive a soul and become a child of God? This is not a matter of law or rights it is theology that people of faith in God must consider for them selves. All of the world’s religions must grapple with this theological question and teach their perspective. Those who do not believe in God consider us only animals so this theological question does not matter.

My personal theological point of view is that when sperm and ovum meet successfully a soul is given by God.  What faith must teach young women is theology and then let the woman make her choice based on her relationship with God.

The Parade

Lets have a ticker tape or these days a confetti parade! We have watched those kind of parades on TV, like when the first astronauts werewelcomed back more than 40 years ago. They splashed down the day my eldest darling daughter was born, so I do remember. Excitement in the air and wonder for the hero's of the day. 

That is how it was when Jesus was welcomed into the city of Jerusalem. Instead of confetti it was palm branches. What a glorious day to enjoy. People went home and told their family and friends and then you know what? They went about their business as usual. Yes that was a bit of fun and excitement but then work had to be done.

Is it business as usual for us too? Do we welcome Jesus into our lives on Sunday and the rest of the week we act as if it makes no difference? I am thankful that Jesus came into my life and changed the way I do business every day.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Psalm 118:26

Near Death Experience

I had been visiting with my family over the week-end to celebrate my mother’s 90^th birthday. I was headed home and detoured to Oklahoma City to see an archaeology exhibit. On Monday I got to the airport early and boarded my flight to Memphis I would have an hour to change planes there. 

Our flight was a 50 seat jet that was full. As we took off we all heard a loud bang and the whole plane shuddered. We became distressed to say the least. After a bit the pilot announced that something had happened on takeoff and that we were returning to Oklahoma City for inspection. This was both good news and bad news. We all knew that we would miss our connecting flights.

We did a low fly over of the airport so the Delta ground crew could check the belly of the plane. It was decided that a tire had blown and the under carriage needed to be inspected. We would have to land. We had a full tank of fuel and a missing tire.  Not a good combination. So we flew in circles around Oklahoma City staying in the air past the time we would have landed in Memphis.

As we cam in for a landing there were fire trucks lining the side of the runway and they followed us in. We were instructed in crash landing positions for that aircraft. As we touched down and began to roll to the gate a cheer went up that we were safe.

Delta had a lot of staff working to get us new flights. Most of the planes leaving that evening were full already. I was given boarding passes to Atlanta and then Louisville for 6:30 Tuesday morning. We were also given meal vouchers and hotel rooms on Deltas dime.

It was an interesting feeling to realize that there was the possibility of the plane crashing when we touched down. Accidental death is always possible but to be that close to the reality of it had a lot of us praying while our heads were bowed in the crash position.

Flying Woes

I use to enjoy flying and still do the flying part but the TSA part is not fun at all.

Long lines at the TSA Check point - full body scans and searches - they take your stuff away from you.

I had a bottle of water and they took it/ I was told I could buy a bottle just like it at the counter and take that on the flight. It was $4  something wrong there.
I know that we must be protected for evil people but some of this is way too much.

Thanks for letting me rant.

Things My other Taught Me

My mother taught me many wonderful things that shaped my life Here are the four that are most important to me.

First is to love Jesus with ll my heart all the time.

Second to love others more than my self.

Third to always do my best.

Fourth to keep learning all my life.

My mother is about to have her 90th birthday and her children are gathering to celelberate.
God bless Dorothy Ida Waddell Groh

In the Matter of Forgiveness

Forgiveness

In Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus taught us about forgiveness when Peter asked him how many times he should forgive someone. The Law of Moses said to forgive four times so Peter who knew that Jesus always went beyond the law ask if the number should be seven. Thinking that he would be praised for more than doubling what the law said, Peter must have been shocked when Jesus said seventy times seven.

Four Steps to Forgiveness:

1.     Recognize the underserved HURT for what it is and own it. Understanding the nature of what happened is important. Was the hurt intentional or unintentional? Was it personal or general? For example a slap in the face is personal while the 9/11 attack was general.

2.     Recognize your ANGER/HATE as the result of the hurt and know that holding on to anger and or hate is an acid that destroys the vessel that contains it. It will eat away at your soul unless you deal with it soon.

3.     Seek in prayer your SPIRITUAL INETRNAL HEALING. Remembering that Jesus taught us to pray “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. You goal is spiritual peace and wholeness as a child of God and a Disciple of Jesus.

4.     Proclaim your FREEDOM and RELEASE from your hurt, pain, anger and hate. The one who caused the hurt may not know that they hurt you and it may have been on purpose. What ever it is forgiving that person will release you from your bondage to the hate. It may even restore  a relationship.

Six Points of Prayer

1.     Prayer is internal not external. 

2.     Prayer seeks inner fulfillment, rather that outer manipulation. 

3.     Prayer is standing at attention before God. 

4.     If we really pray in God’s name, we shall ask only for those things which are consistent with the love of God.

5.     The goal of praying is not the fulfilling of our request; it is the glorification of God. 

6.     In prayer we don’t tell God what to do,  rather we seek to find out what God’s message is for us.