Here is some more blogona from Joel.
Today's Scripture
"'Well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21)
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
The law of the harvest says that you have to sow in order to reap. Whether you realize it or not, God has blessed you with certain gifts, abilities and talents that He wants you to use for His kingdom. These things are a blessing from God, but they are not for safekeeping; they're for using daily! Put your gifts to work and start sowing seeds of goodness, love and compassion. And don't forget that others are sowing as well, so make sure to allow them opportunities to sow their seeds, and you'll both be blessed beyond imagination. God will multiply your harvest in ways that you could not even possibly imagine. Give of yourself, and make a lasting deposit today."
Correct me if I am wrong but what Joel has to say has nothing to do with what Matthew 25:21 says. This section of Matthew talks about being faithful to God, not multiplying and sowing seed. Matthew 25:22-25 : 22 And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me: behold I have gained other two. 23 His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 But he that had received the one talent, came and said: Lord, I know that thou art a hard man; thou reapest where thou hast not sown, and gatherest where thou hast not strewed. 25 And being afraid I went and hid thy talent in the earth: behold here thou hast that which is thine using you talents to spread the Kingdom of God, but still does say what Joel says ( no where does it say God gives us talents "to use in his kingdom")
If we spread God's Kingdom and serve Him, He will provide for us. It is good to spread goodness,love, and compassion but we must also be faithful to God.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Scary Abortion Article
The other day I read a horrifying story in the San Antonio Express News on Abortion in China.
The article talked about that one clinic in China(keep in mind this clinic also focus on the "reproductive health of single women") had 65 abortions in the month of March, and 42 of those abortions were second abortions. The most horrifying out of those 65 was a woman who had her 6th abortion. The article also mention a young girl (22), had her second abortion in 18 months.
Being only 23 myself, I could not imagine going through two abortions, much less one abortion( I can't ever imagine going through an abortion). From this article, it seems like abortion has become a routine for young women in China, both single and married. Not saying this is how the women feel but it seems like they have a "it is okay if I get pregnant..I will just have an abortion"
There rising number of single or teenage women having abortions, and most of the abortions in parts of Beijing and Shanghai are unmarried or teenagers. The article blames this on the "new generation" is increasing "unmoored from the values--inhibitions--of traditional culture." The government is at partially blame as well; while they pay great attention to the reproductive lives of married couples, less attention has been paid to educating single women on sex.
The article mentions that premarital sex is becoming more common, because there is a lack of sex education. Single women "lack basic understanding about reproductive health and contraception." It seems like there is a night and day differences between what the U.S. teaching about sex and abortion, and what China teaches.
The U.S. has governmental figures fighting to minimize abortion and teach women that abortion is wrong, and basically gives out contraception(at some colleges contraception is given freely for sexually active students). On the other hand China is not teaching young women about contraception or the wrongs of abortion. In fact, China is contributing to abortion by limiting the number of children women can have.
One thing this article did not mention was the % abortions that are girls vs. boys. I am willing to say that almost 60% or more are girls, due to the value that is placed on males in China.
The article talked about that one clinic in China(keep in mind this clinic also focus on the "reproductive health of single women") had 65 abortions in the month of March, and 42 of those abortions were second abortions. The most horrifying out of those 65 was a woman who had her 6th abortion. The article also mention a young girl (22), had her second abortion in 18 months.
Being only 23 myself, I could not imagine going through two abortions, much less one abortion( I can't ever imagine going through an abortion). From this article, it seems like abortion has become a routine for young women in China, both single and married. Not saying this is how the women feel but it seems like they have a "it is okay if I get pregnant..I will just have an abortion"
There rising number of single or teenage women having abortions, and most of the abortions in parts of Beijing and Shanghai are unmarried or teenagers. The article blames this on the "new generation" is increasing "unmoored from the values--inhibitions--of traditional culture." The government is at partially blame as well; while they pay great attention to the reproductive lives of married couples, less attention has been paid to educating single women on sex.
The article mentions that premarital sex is becoming more common, because there is a lack of sex education. Single women "lack basic understanding about reproductive health and contraception." It seems like there is a night and day differences between what the U.S. teaching about sex and abortion, and what China teaches.
The U.S. has governmental figures fighting to minimize abortion and teach women that abortion is wrong, and basically gives out contraception(at some colleges contraception is given freely for sexually active students). On the other hand China is not teaching young women about contraception or the wrongs of abortion. In fact, China is contributing to abortion by limiting the number of children women can have.
One thing this article did not mention was the % abortions that are girls vs. boys. I am willing to say that almost 60% or more are girls, due to the value that is placed on males in China.
Friday, May 11, 2007
What Are You Sowing?
My friend who attends Lakewood Church sends me these about once or twice a month.
Today's Scripture
"Other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13:8)
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
You should be living with expectancy because God is using what you're sowing for His good and perfect will. There are many kinds of seeds, but only one kind of seed is a good seed that produces a crop according to Matthew 13. This is the seed of God's Word, and as you sow good seeds for Jesus Christ into a field of hurting and desperate people, people who have no other hope for life, they will find something firm to believe in. Jesus Himself promises that if you sow good seed, you will reap a harvest that is beyond your expectations. Plant good seeds in the lives of other people. There is plenty of soil to sow in, and a lot of it is right where you live and work!
You should be living with expectancy because God is using what you're sowing for His good and perfect will. Can anyone tell me what the heck this means?
Mathew 13:4-8 4 And whilst he soweth some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate them up. 5 And other some fell upon stony ground, where they had not much earth: and they sprung up immediately, because they had no deepness of earth.
6 And when the sun was up they were scorched: and because they had not root, they withered away. 7 And others fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 And others fell upon good ground: and they brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.
The seeds were not bad, the ground they landed on was caused them not to bare fruit. Essentially all the seeds were good,but because some landed on stone, in the sun, or in thorns, they did not bare fruit. I think what Joel should of said is that if we choose a good ground for our seeds will bare fruit.
Today's Scripture
"Other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Matthew 13:8)
Today's Word from Joel and Victoria
You should be living with expectancy because God is using what you're sowing for His good and perfect will. There are many kinds of seeds, but only one kind of seed is a good seed that produces a crop according to Matthew 13. This is the seed of God's Word, and as you sow good seeds for Jesus Christ into a field of hurting and desperate people, people who have no other hope for life, they will find something firm to believe in. Jesus Himself promises that if you sow good seed, you will reap a harvest that is beyond your expectations. Plant good seeds in the lives of other people. There is plenty of soil to sow in, and a lot of it is right where you live and work!
You should be living with expectancy because God is using what you're sowing for His good and perfect will. Can anyone tell me what the heck this means?
Mathew 13:4-8 4 And whilst he soweth some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate them up. 5 And other some fell upon stony ground, where they had not much earth: and they sprung up immediately, because they had no deepness of earth.
6 And when the sun was up they were scorched: and because they had not root, they withered away. 7 And others fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 And others fell upon good ground: and they brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold.
The seeds were not bad, the ground they landed on was caused them not to bare fruit. Essentially all the seeds were good,but because some landed on stone, in the sun, or in thorns, they did not bare fruit. I think what Joel should of said is that if we choose a good ground for our seeds will bare fruit.
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