Hearing the Word
To hear, you have to listen
The mind is cluttered with obstructions to prevent hearing at times
The listening requires many things, all taking effort and perseverance
Solitude is a discipline and a gateway to hearing
Open your mind to the light – listen and hear the Word
DDB
Finding a Church 2018-39
Well what a thought! Many people of many faiths go to a religious place to get involved in many things there. They go to pray, learn, congregate, hospitality, serve, and so many other things. This is true for any religion, faith, or location.
First, let me state that I DO go to a Christian church nearby where I live! I do so for many reasons and because of one reason in particular. The fact that I believe in one God of the Universe, the Triune God, that includes Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is paramount to my going to church.
Because of my belief, I feel I want to know God better, to get closer to God in my relationship with Him and to learn more about His son Jesus Christ. Church is a great place to learn and become closer; simple as that.
What I do know is Jesus was all about love… His teachings show this as His way of life and how He felt we should portray our way of life also. Church is a good way to talk about this love and His love for us.
OK, we are believers in God; let’s say…. The why we could go to church has to be our decision. What will we get out of going? What will we look for by going? Decent questions, that we could look for answers as to the why to go to church!!!!
Let us think we have an idea on why we will go – then what!!??
I suggest we look for a church of any denomination that offers us to get closer to God spiritually and have something to do that will help others in the community. Look for a church that has a goal of what God and Jesus wants us to do and not just to get new members.
I was attending a Sunday School session and asked the question, “What or how do we in this church identify ourselves as to what our church is all about?” Some people stared, some mumbled something, and the Pastor, who was there at the time, said, “Dennis, it is in our Mission Statement, stating “To connect people to people and to connect people to Christ”. That is somewhat easy to understand, comprehend and absorb into my mind.
When I go to church, I feel the presence of God around and within me (like I do outside of church) and that feeling should prevail for anyone going to church. When you go to a church, does it teach the teachings of Jesus by having a study or Bible group to explain what point Jesus was making at the time? That is important also, as an example!
Money you can give to the church is NOT the driving force as to why you join, go to church or what the church is all about. Yes, it is important, just like paying taxes is for a government to be able to give back to the people and to exist.
Also, if you have children, this is not a factor for going, by itself, just to have more bodies to attend, new and in the future. Growth of the church is important also, but bucks and bodies are not the answer. The true, or at least, a great reason is for ALL to get closer to God in the process of going.
Our church made a decision to reduce our mortgage debt down considerably and we did so, and, in the process, we now have a smaller monthly mortgage payment and now have the funds to give back to the community in so many ways. Church is for that reason also, to serve others in some way.
To find a church that offers many things that are important can be a chore or at least be an effort to find one that meets the criteria of what YOU want. You can church hop; go from one to another and see how they operate, what they believe in, what their mission is overall.
I would suggest that a list be made on what you DO NOT want in a church also. If you attend one and go to a service, and you hear things in the sermon you don’t like from the Pastor or Priest, check it off and continue onward, for instance. If nobody greets you and says hello or even asks if you are new or so, that may not be a good recommendation either. Things like that are important.
A church should be inviting, be caring, be accepting, be considerate and not the dreaded word — one of a hypocritical nature. Yes, they are out there, and that is sad to a degree.
The main thing, it may take work on your part. Finding God or getting closer to Him is a goal that you may want to pursue, and I wish you well.
Peace,
Den Betts bettsden@gmail.com
To do or not to do, that is the question or is it? How many times have I planned on doing something, but gee, it doesn’t get done? Or, are we all, or most of us guilty of this lack of prioritizing things? Oh, well, let me do something now, or later, or not at all; will see!!!!
To Prioritize 2018-35
A list made in order for things to be done today,
But which to do first or last or not – I can’t say
To do or not to do is not the question, but
More important, which to do first – Perhaps
The hard ones up front, easy ones last – I guess
OR, the important ones now, the least later – I digress
A list can be made in random order to
Accomplish or succeed before things get worse
The key is not the way I put them down on paper
A real test of my list is how I do them proper
To prioritize, to put in order, logically and
With the best timing and expenditure of effort
But, what good is a list, if I don’t get them done
And, say to myself, at best, I would rather read the list
Than do the list, and make an excuse to others
Why I don’t prioritize, if you get the gist…..
Den Betts bettsden@gmail.com
INSPIRED THOUGHTS OF EXISTENCE 2017-55
What is the purpose of our existence on Earth? What are we supposed to do (or are we required to do) while living our lives in this wonderful place called home? Do YOU think we should be active about living out our lives in a way that precludes going forward to another level of existence? I guess these are idle thoughts that came to mind, so will pass them on……
Could it be that we are given the chance to expose ourselves as we are today that will foretell if we have an extended tomorrow, therefore making our today a preamble of life with, again, a purpose?
As a U.S. Marine, I went through basic recruit boot camp training, and learned many things that trained me for my existence in the Corps for four years. There were rules and regulations to follow, guidelines to adhere to, and disciplines dictated that made us tow the line while in uniform.
Is our life on Earth as a child of God similar?
As a Christian, we had a teacher that showed us the way in life. Before Him, long ago, Commandants set the standard as to how to behave, how to act, and not act, and overall, how to be the child of God in everyday life.
Jesus, the teacher, the Christ or Messiah, had a short time to give us the many instructions on what it takes to be called a child of God for eternal life.
Therefore, we are on a daily regimen of how to present ourselves and how to live up to expectations of how God dictates this life. Call it a “boot camp” of life for a future life of living.
This is NOT an easy take for granted experience. We WILL make mistakes! We Will fall down, we WILL stumble again and again, BUT we are to know that here on Earth, is where we are to make the earthly dumb mistakes, over and over and over. When we graduate from the trail of life here, we get the graduation to eternal life as a reward.
Our lives NOW, are a precursor to the future. The purpose of living now, is to prepare ourselves to living for eternity in a way that is acceptable to where we will be going.
Are we up to this? Time will tell!!!
Peace,
Den Betts bettsden@GMAIL.COM
Life 2014-44
Sometimes, life SUCKS!
Peace,
Den Betts
My World – Your World 2017-43
How many of us live only in our own little world? My World is the one that I exist in and Your World is where you inhabit on a regular basis.
Normal? YES!!! Could we drift over to each other’s world? HMMMMmmmm!!
Do we put up barriers to keep others out of our domain and in doing so are we isolating ourselves from each other? Do we ignore the joys we could share, and do we evade the tribulations we could have helped with others?
All good questions in life, but made to think about….
When we take a chance to “go over” to the other’s space, we gamble that it will be taken with graciousness and not be resented. Of course, if it is a joyful thing, I would imagine that it will be appreciated. But, if it is a trial or tribulation, it might be resented.
How can we KNOW when, what we do, will be taken as a help and not a hindrance or something of a begrudging nature of interference?
Well, if we try, perhaps it is better than not trying at all, to help those we love or care about. To do nothing may be a terrible thing and something we will regret later. “Oh, if only I would have said something, or done something”, may be the statement we make of the non-reaching out that we COULD have done.
It could be that the words or actions we might have done would have been the “something” that made a difference. Just the words, “Hey, I care about you and am thinking about you” is all it would take to make someone feel uplifted.
Don’t be afraid to try. Don’t be hesitant to be there when you think you are needed. Rejection on their part does not mean you are rejected overall. Maybe, they are stalling, but WANT your input.
Peace
Den Betts
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Unconditional Love of God 2016-51
I made a recent posting on my blog and mentioned “Unconditional love of God”. I usually thank God for his unconditional love when I pray and then thought about this love. WHAT is “unconditional love”? Well, using the thoughts of Mr. Webster, uncondiltio0nal means (1) not limited by conditions, absolute, such as an unconditional promise.
So, if God gives us a promise, a promise that states He loves us absolutely, unqualified, categorically and completely, and does not have conditions attached, is that unconditional and is it so?
Wow, that is somewhat hard to understand such a love. No strings attached, regardless of the facts. No hidden clauses. No maybe’s………. Any questions?
I have plenty of questions regarding this type of love by God to and for us.
First off, it sounds like He loves us irrespective of what we do! Now, I have done some pretty stupid things in my life. I will just stick with those that might have upset God. When I think of them, I will keep those ancient Ten Commandments in mind for now. Oh, they are old, but still in effect.
Thou Shalt NOT do this and that and in between. I get that. They are somewhat straightforward in what they say, even though I have struggled with some of them in the past in really understanding the content as written. Like, “Honor your mother and father”. What if the father was a nasty SOB and was NOT a good guy to his children; should they honor him; really? Yeh, I guess so, but I would think it would be hard to do in some cases. My parents were great and I think I did honor them in life and now.
There are MANY examples of what unconditional love means and various scenarios of the subject can be imagined.
BUT, does God have unconditional love for us? The Bible, which is the Holy Scriptures, is usually used as a reference for guidance toward many subjects. Does it SAY or USE the word unconditional in relation to love? NO, it does not! Therefore is the word, unconditional, to be used describing the love of God for His children?
I admit I am not that experienced in the realm of theology, but I DO have MY opinions. What do I think?
Well, in reality, the word UNCONDITIONAL means exactly that, and it cannot be used just because it sounds great or in our mind “right”. Maybe, another word would be better or a couple of thoughts overall. What are YOUR thoughts?
One source (1 John 4:8) states “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love”. Sounds neat, but does that love move Him toward benevolent action? Perhaps another issue…
Another verse: (Romans 5:6-8) states, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This really brings us to considering Jesus as God and as God, He died for us……………… Now that is love, and really means something…. Is it unconditional though; maybe.
One more (of many). (1 John 4:9-10) “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” I would like to think that God so loved us that he DID show His love by doing what He did, “Having Jesus Christ come into our lives, and with the ultimate sacrifice, show His love for us, which is fairly unconditional.”
To the diehard, naysayer, you are correct, it does not say so in the Bible, but I believe He does love us pretty dang much and I will STILL use the word UNCONDITIONAL in MY prayers; period………………………
I would think that the love of God is one that initiates and does not come from a response of ours. That is what would make it unconditional. If it were conditional, we would have to do something to earn the love of God or to merit the love, but that is NOT the case. We would be expected to appease His Holy wrath or become clean of our sins before God would love us and that is also not the case. God motivated by love, moved unconditionally to save His people from their sin, through Jesus Christ that becomes, once again, unconditional love being shown by God…… So Be It!
This being 6-24-2016 we as citizens of the world and the U.S. have experienced a horrible act recently, by a person who killed over 4 dozen people in a nightclub in Orlando. I ask, does God also LOVE the person that did this terrible act. OR, did He despise the gay’s that were at that club, having fun? Makes one think, but I believe He loves and loved every one of them, good and bad. Then, I ask, why did God NOT do something if he loved the gays too? This world is full of terrible people that do terrible things. Then, this brings up the thought of “free will”, but that is another blog in the future… Comments?
I would also think that I would NOT be surprised or upset if God decided to eradicate the people of Earth and experiment somewhere else on another planet to see if His plan would work there. We, as a whole, do not follow Him the way He wants and it may be time for a change on His part……………….. Maybe a KILLER comet is what we need………………. That is scary!!!
Den Betts
First Blog Post 2014-1
Hello, welcome to the blog of Den Betts! I hope you enjoy this blog, and come back. It is somewhat new so don’t judge a blog by its cover sheet and get to know it better as time rolls along.
I am not going to make this blog a specialized one, where I am always on the same subject. I intend to vary it and have different categories that will interest you.
Blog Title!!!
This blog, called TheBettsDen is ambiguous and doesn’t give any indication of what it means and that is done on purpose. They are thoughts coming from me while sitting in my den at home, which could be called my “man cave”. It sort of looks like an unruly, junky, cave of a man whose wife allows him to live like he does, just so she doesn’t have to clean it up. She also likes the door to remain closed so that others do not know just how he habitats in there. Love her for that!!!!
What to Blog?
Well, I have to admit there will be a trend of Religious thoughts for you to think about. I intend to write most of the blog myself, but may include articles from sources that will be enjoyable and of interest; perhaps.
I am also a poet, so will have a category of various poems that I have written in the past. I have a bunch of them that vary in type, so will try to mix and match them. Some will be funny, some sad (?), and some dark (sort of) and maybe a little that are just plain weird.
There may be a category on what I will call, “Messages”. This is where I have written “Messages” or monthly writings to a group I belong to and am in charge of, somewhat, on subjects that I arrived at the day I wrote them. Well, maybe not, it depends on how I can redact them to make sense. I will see on how that fleshes out.
I like to comment on Current Events, so will include that type of blog. I will TRY to be objective, but relish the chance of being completely honest and upfront in my thinking. I will not promise to be “politically correct” but will be truthful in my thoughts on the blog.
Ok, Religion, Poems, Messages, and Current Events. That is a start, and I will go from there. One thing though, I am not looking for others to agree with me. You have a mind, so I welcome you to comment and tell me what you think about what I write. Hey, if you like a certain blog let me know that also.
Comments?
I look forward to blogging and hope you like what you read or you might have input about the words I write down. If you like this blog, tell others, and if not, try to tell me, OK! I may or may not comment on your comment, but I will have at least read them and look forward to any you write.
Welcome again, and let us begin. Den Betts
thebettsden 