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Written by Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.
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Friday, 10 May 2013 13:12 |
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When God's people pray and praise in the presence of unbelievers, the very foundation of prison shakes and bondage breaks. Acts 16:16-34
"The Lord reigns. Let the earth rejoice. Let the many islands be glad." I wonder why the islands are especially called on to be glad. Psalm 97
"Surely I come quickly," twice stated in Revelation 22:12-21, Jesus' words from 2000 years ago, and we're still here. Do you believe it?
In Jesus' prayer for my generation, "one" and "love" each appears five times, as the way He wished us to be with one another. John 17:20-26 |
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Matthew 7:12: Puzzling Out the Golden Rule |
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Written by Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.
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Wednesday, 01 May 2013 13:18 |
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"Do unto others as you would have them do to you." As a child I learned this as the "Golden Rule," and I keep on learning more about it.
First, the Golden Rule went this way: "Here's what I like. I give it to you."
Second, I thought a little deeper and went by the Golden Rule this way: "I know what's best for you, exactly the same thing as what I like. I think you would want to receive what's best for you. So I will help you receive what I like and think best for you, whether or not it's what you want."
Third, I rejected the first two ways and learned the Golden Rule this way: "I want to receive what I like and want whether or not it's what someone else thinks is best for me. This, then, is the gift I will give you: I will seek to understand what you like and want and help you receive that whether or not it is good for me or you."
Fourth, I think there is yet another way to do the Golden Rule: "I do NOT want someone giving to me while resenting the giving, and I'm assuming you feel similarly. Therefore, I will seek to understand what you like and want and help you receive that if possible. However, if I believe it would not be good for me or you, I will say NO to helping you receive it."
Underlying all this is the additional factor that in order to do the Golden Rule, one must figure out what it is that he or she really likes and wants. I believe that quest is deeper than most people think. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 09 May 2013 13:24 |
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Written by Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.
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Friday, 03 May 2013 09:13 |
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Love at first sight, Paul's interaction with the God-fearers in Philippi was warmly welcoming, in a dream, by the river, in prayer,... Acs 16:9-15
God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine on us. God lift up the light of His countenance on us and give us peace. Psalm 67:1; 4:6; Numbers 6:24-26
In the New Holy City: No temple, no night, no need of sun, no wrongdoing, no lie, no more curse, no night, no need of candle. Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
Jesus said, "I go, but the Father will come to you.... I go but the Holy Spirit will come.... I go away and come again to you...." John 14:23-29
What commended to Jesus' attention for healing the one man among so many? The Bible states only that he was lying there and had been for a long time. John 5:1-9 |
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Unselfishness: What Is It? |
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Written by Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.
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Wednesday, 01 May 2013 13:05 |
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"Selfish" and "unselfish" are words most English speakers heard at about age two.
I have a long history of input on the merits of being one and not being the other. Because of my deeply embedded training in other people's ideas of what the words mean, I have needed to search and work hard to know what I think about them as my own adult.
I will offer here some ways I now describe the kind of unselfishness I want and some contrasting descriptions of some things I have seen and will label "false unselfishness." Some of these ideas come from David Seabury's book, The Art of Selfishness (New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1964).
- Unselfishness is to give of myself to defy and ignore all predatory greed. False unselfishness is to overwork or "sacrifice self" for the pleasure or consequences that belong to someone else.
- Unselfishness is to give of myself to understand truth. False unselfishness is to talk about "the truth" so piously as to repress other adults in their search, doubt, or choice.
- Unselfishness is to give of myself to share my own growth and truth. False unselfishness is to make myself the warden of another person's personal truth.
- Unselfishness gives of myself to my own life tasks. False unselfishness might "deny myself" and become a burden on others.
- Unselfishness gives of myself to eliminate predatory competition. False unselfishness might talk about "good sportsmanship" or "teamwork" while preying on the weaknesses or losses of others.
- Unselfishness gives of myself to increase listening and cooperation. False unselfishness might listen to or otherwise cooperate with predators.
- Unselfishness gives of myself to protect for every human the right of choice. False unselfishness might protect other adults from growth through their own pain.
- Unselfishness gives things away to fight the build-up of materialism in my own life. False unselfishness might "give to the poor" while continuing to benefit from their poverty or need.
- Unselfishness gives of myself and my reputation to practice a NO whenever a YES would compromise any of the boundaries we've been describing. False unselfishness might give whatever is asked, being concerned for "What will people think?"
- Unselfishness gives first, gives money, time, smiles, and God's praise as seed, BEFORE starting a project or a prayer. False unselfishness might give money, time, or things only from a sense of duty, or as thanks AFTER the help.
- Unselfishness gives of myself to expect and talk about miracles from God. False unselfishness might withdraw oneself into prayers that focus on needs and impossibilities.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 09 May 2013 13:15 |
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