There are many forms of persecution, including subtle sarcasm. Last Friday I had difficulty getting on the Internet and our high-speed service provider gave me guidance over the phone that ended with our wireless router going out. This is what enables our church computer to be connected and makes it possible for me to work from home. After several hours talking to some very nice people and going and getting a new router they suggested they send out a person who arrived within an hour and replaced our wireless adapter for an hour and a half, which they had claimed would work with the new router. Saturday morning I got on the Internet and then it ceased. I call the ISP and followed instruction like the day before of unplugging stuff and final she said I can send a person out tomorrow. My reaction was shock because tomorrow was Sunday. Then she gave me a lecture stating that "even though we are in the Bible Belt people work on Sunday". I was still hoping for later on Saturday as she was scheduling me on Monday. I purposely didn't tell her my occupation, as I wanted to see how others are treated who worship on Sunday. Her final comment was something sarcastic about me "spending all day at church on Sunday". I never told her that frequently I do spend over 12 hours at church on Sunday. I got the impression that she considered going to church less important than her appointment for a tech. I encourage people where possible to have a day of rest like God commanded which for most people in our city is on Sunday. Sometimes I ride my bike the 10 miles to church on Sunday and there is less than half the traffic on Sunday as on weekdays. (yes, people who claim to be in the Bible Belt do not go to church on Sunday) If I conduct business on Sunday, I am being hypocritical. No waitresses would have to work on Sunday, if no one came to eat in restaurants on Sunday.

To refresh what you have learned in our Workshop or entice you to experience our Workshop

As couples are committed to each other, there can be personal dedication and constraint commitment. At first glance, constraint commitment which includes such things as social pressures, financial pressures, concern for the children or partner's welfare, termination procedures, moral factors, poorer alternative quality, etc. may appear to be lousy reasons for staying married but anything that helps you stay together is good, if it results in you working on your marriage. Research has shown that even in a very poor marriage the children usually benefit from their parents staying together. God said in Malachi 2:16, "I hate divorce …". Regarding poorer alternative quality, Jesus discourages checking out what else is available when He says, in Matthew 5:29 not to look at someone else "lustfully". If thinking that your partner will starve to death if you don't stay married, helps you stay married, I will not discourage you by suggesting anything to the contrary. The important thing as you stay married is to work on your marriage and the best way is to learn how to communicate better and resolve your problems with the skills you will learn in our Marriage Workshop.

The Better Half "When your partner won't support your efforts to make your marriage better" As you recognize that constraint commitment is helping you stay together, make use of that time by praying. Without your spouse's support to improve your marriage, you can still pray daily for God's will to be done in each of your lives and your marriage ("all things are possible with God", Mark 10:27 NIV). Also make use of the opportunity of staying together by living in a manner that will improve your marriage like Jesus recommends in Luke 6:31 (TLB) "Treat others as you want them to treat you".

A Psalm for reflection "Lord, our protector, do not kill them . . . With Your power scatter them and defeat them". Ps 59:11 (IC)

Understanding the Teaching: What I share in the teaching is what I believe God wants me to share. All the direct quotes from God are highlighted in royal purple. Of course the words of Jesus are in red. Rather than follow some made up doctrine, remember that Jesus said that every thing He said (Jn 12:49) and everything He did (Jn 14:31) comes from God. All teachings and all opinions should be supported by what we learn from God or Jesus (see the scripture referred to in the footnote). For those who prefer not to take the time to look up a scripture, click on the underlined hyper link to read the scripture. Example, click here for a teaching about love.

Jesus tells us "the time will come when those who kill you will think that by doing this they are serving God"1. The early followers of Jesus soon discovered this was reality as the religious Jews stoned Stephen to death. Stephen gave us a good example to follow by not being "ashamed" of Jesus or denying being a follower of Jesus even though it ultimately meant his death. While they were killing him by throwing stones at him in his final words he asked God to "not hold this sin against them" 2. Unfortunately as the followers of Jesus grew stronger and developed the Christian religion, they were guilty of thinking they were serving God by killing Jews. This has been going on for almost 2,000 years and last century in the early 1940 some people who considered themselves Christians tried to exterminate Jews by killing millions. The Christian heritage of these people included theological leaders who had writings encouraging violence towards Jews. Not only did people in the Christian religion kill Jews thinking they were serving God, they also killed many Christians who didn't agree with their religious doctrines, often by using words to discredit them such as calling them heretics for committing heresy which was saying things that were different than their religious doctrines. We still justify harm to fellow citizens and followers of Jesus after re-labeling them as political extremists or as a religious cult or as terrorists, etc.. For many centuries the main method Christians used for killing followers of Jesus was burning them alive while tied to a stake. There is a children's saying, "stick and stones may hurt my bones but words will never hurt me". Words can hurt if they result in death. Killing an alive person by stoning or by fire seems very unpleasant. In our current century both Jews and Christians are targets for another religion, Mohammadanists. Their most well publicized method of killing for their god is to cut off someone's head. It is interesting that people persecuted by being beheaded is revealed by Jesus to John concerning end time details over 1900 years ago3. (note: beheading was also the popular method in the 1800s for many thousands of Christian martyrs in Korea)

How do we stop people being killed by religious people? In today's society, it is more difficult to kill people for religious reasons in most civilized countries. Freedom of speech certainly discourages religious persecution and allows people to think they can get away with insulting God. Regarding people who follow the one, true God who Jesus describes as "the God of Abraham… Isaac…Jacob"9, remember God said, "I will punish those who do wrong. I will repay them"4 so people who love God do not have to try to punish others who are perceived as offending God. We can let God do the punishing if He decides it is necessary. We also need to remember that God said, "love your neighbor as yourself" and "You shall not murder"5. For those of us who follow Jesus who refers to Himself as "the Son of God", remember Jesus said, "love your neighbor as yourself" and "Do not murder"6. The best way to encourage religious Christians or Jews to turn away from their desire to punish others who do not agree with them is for them to follow Jesus and God. Then when someone says or does something different than what is popularly believed and it is different than what God teaches, it becomes God's problem. Regarding religious persecution from people who follow false gods or Satan, the solution is for them to follow the one true God. For protection, remember Jesus teaches us to pray daily, "rescue us from the evil one"7. Also is good to remember there is something greater that this life, as God speaks well of people who "did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death"8.

"God, help us to follow what You and Jesus teach. Helps us to not try to mistreat others while thinking we are serving You. If we are mistreated, help us to not retaliate. Help us to be guided by what You want us to do and remember the good examples Jesus and Stephen gave us. Thank You for your help, in Jesus' name, amen."

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