Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

Here is the scenario: Bama just kicked a field goal on their overtime possession. This is Saban’s first year as Bama Coach. The Bulldogs took the field for their turn and on-air conversation between Patrick and Todd Blackledge turned to Britney Spears!

Mike: “I have an important question for you.”
Todd: “Yes?”
Mike: “What is Britney doing with her life?”
Todd: “Who?”
Mike: “Britney!”
Todd: (confused) “Britney who?”
Mike: “Spears! What is she doing with her career?”
Todd: (still confused) “Why do we care at this point? Is she here?”
Mike: “I don’t think so.”
Todd: (even more confused) “Is she a football fan?”
Mike: “Oh, I’m sure she is.”

Huh?

[Houston Chronicle]

Sister Deenan Hubbard has never met the Katy man who struck it big last week in the Mega Millions jackpot, but she figures William Kiefer must be “a really, really good man with a big heart.” Kiefer plans to donate the bulk of the $144 million he won in the Jan. 29 drawing to charity, including to retired Catholic nuns.

“The greatest gift my parents gave me was to be raised a Christian. I plan to give 60 percent of all after-tax winnings to charity,” Kiefer, 59, said in a statement released Friday by the Texas Lottery Commission.

He could not be reached for comment. Hubbard, of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, said she believed Catholic nuns probably played a positive role in Kiefer’s life at some point.

“To see him want to be generous with women who have spent their life trying to be generous to others is a good thing,” Hubbard said. “Whatever it is that the sisters did for him before he won the lottery, it worked.”

Read more here.

[From me]

Do you think God had something to do with this man winning? I’m sure there are some churches that wouldn’t accept the money. I heard someone once say that the devil has had the money long enough.

[CBS News]
Oregon couple Jeff and Marci Beagley testified they did everything they could for their 16-year-old son before he died, but a jury decided that anointing oils and prayer were not enough.

The couple, who practices faith healing, was convicted of criminally negligent homicide on Tuesday after prosecutors argued they failed in their duty to get medical help for their son, Neil, in June 2008.

Neil Beagley died of complications from a congenital urinary tract blockage. Doctors testified the he could have been treated up until the day he died.

His death came just months after the death of their granddaughter, Ava Worthington, who died under similar circumstances.

The 15-month-old passed away March 2008 of pneumonia and a blood infection. Like Neil, she was given oils and prayer instead of medicine.

Read more here.

[From me]

I’m Pro prayer but God does give us Physicians, Nurses and care givers for our help. Pray yes, but use the resources God has given us. Simple medicine would have saved this boy.

This sad story reminds me of the story of the guy who was in his house when his town flooded. The Sheriff came by to get him out of the house and he said he was waiting on God to rescue him. Then the floods rose and he was forced to go on his roof and a rescue boat came to save him. He refused and said that he was waiting on God to save him. Then the waters rose even higher and he had to cling to the chimney when a Helicopter came to rescue him. He again refused because he said God was going to save him.

He drowned a short time later and when he went to Heaven he asked God why He didn’t save him. God said I sent you the Sheriff, a rescue boat and a helicopter–what more were you looking for?

[News 10]

A Paradise man claims he discovered a miracle in the produce section of his local grocery.

In a letter to News10, Mike Zachweija said he went shopping to buy bananas a few days before Christmas. He glanced at a bunch of coconuts and noticed one that looked like it had a silhouette of a face on it.

Impressed with the image Zachweija bought the coconut.

On Christmas Day Zachweija said he decided to take some pictures of the coconut before the image faded away.

In his letter he wrote:

“As the first picture I took appeared on my small digital camera, I could hardly believe what I was looking at. The silhouette face now had some color and much more detail, with added Christmas sunlight. The face looked very much like that of Jesus.”

Read more here.

[From me]

So is that what was on the Coconut on Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

[HT] Steve Thompson

Joel Osteen wrote a book a few years ago called “Your Best Life Now.” I read it and it actually inspired me to be even more positive than I am. I had began to think that I could will my way into success. I actually began to think that my attitude and outlook on life could change my life. But you know what happened? Life.

I will continue to think positive but I will also be “REALISTIC.” Just because I believe something will come true or even pray it will does not mean it is going to happen. The older I get and the more I experience life I realize that we as followers of Jesus have been selling unbelievers a bill of goods. I used to use a tract that said “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” Really? Does God have a “WONDERFUL” plan for everyone’s life? All of the Apostles but John were executed. Would you consider that to be wonderful? Job was considered righteous before God but he lost everything. Is that the “WONDERFUL” life that we promised when I shared my faith?

Jesus said in Luke 9:23:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Taking up one’s Cross meant one thing to the 1st Century Jew–Death! That doesn’t sound too “WONDERFUL” to me.

The longer I live the life of a Follower of Jesus I become more realistic. God’s plan for most of us is not “wonderful” in the view of a Suburban American. God’s plan may include a whole lot of suffering. God’s plan may include pain.

I Peter 4:12 says:

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.

Maybe my life is different than others. Maybe I’m not optimistic enough or I’m not sowing enough seeds of faith. Or maybe I’m coming to the realization that God never promised me a Rose Garden. God only promised that He would be with me always. I may not get the Best Life Now–but I will get it when I leave this world.