The Ultimate Giver

I don't know why it still amazes me so, but it amazes me how the Holy Spirit uses Scripture to encourage...even using verses that in my tiny little human mind don't fit.

Most recently it has been John 3:16.

If you are unaware of this verse, this is how it goes:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (Forgive the KJV; modern translations still don't sound "right" to me lol)

A couple of weeks ago I felt that I needed to spend some time in the Gospel of John, just sort of getting back to basics.  I recommend this to everyone once in awhile, as our growth tends to lead us into more and more complicated matters.  It is good to occasionally just get back to basics and reacquaint ourselves with Jesus.

In the beginning was the Word....the Word was made flesh...behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world... all awesome verses and concepts in their own right.

And then I got to chapter 3, and as I got closer to verse 16 I had to stop. And think. And pray. And think some more.

Then this morning on Facebook, I found this video clip, calling the verse "the greatest verse in the bible":

This one, simple verse has hit me over the head in many ways the past few days, and now I'm starting to think I might understand why.

And I think it has to do with healthcare.

If you have been in a coma in the last couple of days, you may have missed the historic US Supreme Court ruling that allows the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare" to more forward.

When I read the news, my initial reaction was a combination of dismay, disgust, and anger.  I thought, and still do, that the court's reasoning allows the government virtually unlimited power, and though the opinion offered by Chief Justice Roberts left some vagueness to allow for a future reigning in, I'm unclear how anyone can make the argument to reign in Congress' now unlimited ability to regulate behavior via the US Tax Code.

John 3:16

The government may now be allowed to deny us rights that in the past we thought we had by virtue of being citizens, and the government may now position itself to give us all sort of benefits, but as a Christian I cannot forget that the ultimate Giver is God Himself.  He gave His son.  Why?  So that His death would provide me with eternal life.  How?  By believing in Him.

Whatever the future holds for this nation, let us not stop believing in Him.

Facebook: the 21st Century Rescue Note

I'll send an SOS to the world
I'll send an SOS to the world
I hope that someone gets my
Message in a bottle ~ Sting

OK, first, any chance to refer to lyrics from the Police is a good thing.

Second, I wonder if Mark Zuckerberg had any idea that one of the primary purposes of his invention would be as our 21st century, high tech version of the proverbial message in a bottle.

For my younger readers (if there are any), the message in the bottle idea is that when stranded on a deserted island, one would write their plea for help on a note, stick it inside a bottle, seal the bottle, throw it in the ocean, and wait until the bottle washed up on shore somewhere.  Then when it did, it would then be found, and the finder would immediately send help.

This medium has been replaced by Siri.

Or by Facebook, for those who refuse to give their life to the giant fruit deathstar.

I confess that occasionally I have been guilty of this too, my heart's cry finding no other outlet but my status update, silently urging the world (or at least my "friends") to laugh with me, cry with me, express outrage with me, or confirm my sometimes narrow view of things.

Why is this? 

How have we become a society that is too guarded to share with our most intimate friends and family, yet open enough to share the same things with strangers?

Why do we feel comfortable ranting and raving about issues with others who have no involvement, yet refuse to confront or discuss the matter with those with whom we have the issue?

When exactly did the invisibility of the internet replace the healing power of conversation?

Is this blog just another example?

I'll let you be the judge.