LaVrai – The Truth

Rev. Thelma Dephas takes part in the 20th annual Bible Reading Marathon on May 6, 2009, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in D.C. (Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images)

See more Photos For Thought here…

It’s beautiful to see the LORD’s word manifest in the physical. It’s sad, however, to see the conditions under which they are manifest.

Leviticus 19:9 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

From AP via the L.A. Times:

A growing army of needy people and volunteers are descending on farms, fields and backyards across the nation in search of leftover produce that might otherwise go to waste.

The tradition known as gleaning has gone on for centuries, but pickers and organizers say the stakes are higher these days as families struggle against the recession and try to maintain healthy diets amid a national epidemic of obesity.

Read the full article here…

I really wonder what is going on in England that a Christian can’t carry their faith on the job — and I’m not talking about proselytizing, I mean simply maintaining one’s lifestyle and values without encroaching on another’s way of life. In this case, some Christian workers at a school opted to walk out of a homosexuality sensitivity session and one of them was suspended (with pay at least) after writing a letter about his objections to the mandatory meeting. In this particular case, I cannot “side” with any particular party since it appears both parties were a bit “zealous” in their approach.

Excerpts:

A senior teacher has been suspended from his £50,000-a-year (about $73,000) job after he complained that a training day for staff was used to promote gay rights.

Kwabena Peat, 54, was one of several Christian staff who walked out of the compulsory session at a North London school after an invited speaker questioned why people thought heterosexuality was natural.

The presentation was given by Sue Sanders, a co-founder of the Schools Out organisation which campaigns for gay equality in education.According to Mr Peat, Ms Sanders, herself a lesbian, said that staff who did not accept that being gay was normal had ‘issues’ they had to deal with.

Mr Peat, a history teacher who is also a head of year, said he was upset that people who disagreed on religious grounds had no chance to respond.

He wrote privately to the three staff members who organised the session, complaining about Ms Sanders’ ‘aggressive’ presentation. In his letter, he cited the Bible and warned that practising homosexuals risked God’s ‘wrath’.

But the staff complained to the school’s principal that they felt ‘harassed and intimidated’ by the letter and, after an investigation, Mr Peat was placed on paid leave. He is now being supported by the Christian Legal Centre.

A(secular?) place of business is not the appropriate setting for people to work out matters of theology or to tell someone they need “fixing” because they disagree with your stance.

Read the full article here…

UPDATE (04/28/09): Apparently this so-called “artist” has caught a clue (click here)

"The Truth" by Michael D'Antuono

This hardly needs any commentary, so I’ll just give you some info from the press release about this “art work” that’s to be installed in New York City’s Union Squared:

The 30″ x 54″ acrylic painting on canvas depicts President Obama appearing much like Jesus Christ on the Cross; atop his head, a crown of thorns. Behind him, the dark veil being lifted (or lowered) on the Presidential Seal. But is he revealing or concealing and is he being crucified or glorified?

D’Antuono insists that this piece is a mirror; reflecting the personal opinions and emotions of the viewer; that “The Truth” like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. D’Antuono expects that individual interpretations will vary as widely as they do in the political arena. The work will be seen by one viewer at a time behind a voting booth-inspired public installation.

[poll id="17"]

The truth? Glorified or crucified? What’s to be interpreted when the image of President Barack Obama is clearly smiling and is in no distress. What a joke. When will the man-worship end? I am convinced this has to be some kind of practice run for the anti-Christ, whom the Holy Bible says the whole world will worship (Revelation 13).

Live tweeting Osteen’s Night of Hope event at NYC’s Yankees Stadium off the fly… Let’s see how this goes… and how long I can bear it from the comfort of my couch. (Sorry, but this post doesn’t have my opening tweets from when the program started 20 minutes ago…) DON’T FORGET TO REFRESH the page once in a while to see the new tweets.

5:25:03 PM: Osteen: “GOD’s gonna take you places… Victory is in your future.” I guess everyone in the audience is saved.

5:27:09 PM: Victoria: “Tonight is all about the goodness of GOD. …(quoting Bible) I am longing to be good to those who are looking for MY goodness”

5:32:44 PM: Osteen says prayer for Yankees, choir/band now performing “I Am Redeemed”

5:34:31 PM: This Twitter LiveBlog WordPress plugin is pretty neat… visitors can follow on my blog http://www.lavrai.com/blogs and see updates in a post.
5:45:32 PM: Wikipedia: Osteen Lakewood broadcast reaches 7 million… Osteen says that he chooses to focus on the goodness of God rather than sin.

5:46:50 PM: Osteen: “Start your day off believing something good is going to happen… GOD’s plans for you are to bless you, to prosper you.”

5:50:51 PM: Osteen’s mother giving her cancer survival testimony… “Given few weeks to live in 1981…” Given up for dead I guess.

5:53:29 PM: Osteen’s mother: “All you need to do is… believe GOD and don’t give up too soon”

5:55:28 PM: Osteen praying again for perhaps the 5th time in about 40 minutes…

5:57:00 PM: Phil1:15Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife and some also from goodwill…whether in pretense or in truth Christ is preached

5:59:24 PM: Joel Osteen prayer: “I thank YOU that we are anointed, equipped… We believe favor is following us… We believe… we receive it by faith”

5:59:46 PM: Choir: How Great Is Our GOD… one of my favorites

6:02:23 PM: You can watch it live on TBN’s Web site http://www.tbn.org/index.php/2.html

6:04:41 PM: Joel Osteen reading 2 Chron 20… wonderful passage. GOD always fights for HIS people. HE does the hard parts, we just have to let HIM work
6:07:26 PM: Choir again: GOD Is Good… I love this one, too. LORD YOU ARE good and YOUR mercy endures forever.

6:10:50 PM: Joel Osteen’s back: “I’ve found that some people don’t like to go to church is because there’s no joy… we’re not going to GOD’s funeral”

6:11:10 PM: Hmm… I guess preaching repentance of sin is depressing at church.

6:12:44 PM: But I know what Joel Osteen means about dead churches. I’ve been at a few of those.

6:15:48 PM: Osteen talking about taking over ministry for his father

6:17:11 PM: Osteen giving praise to GOD for bringing him thus far

6:18:38 PM: I really wish Osteen would preach repentance publicly ONCE IN A WHILE, but the LORD can still use him. People sure need hope nowadays.

6:22:39 PM: Osteen: “Sometimes GOD uses difficult times for good… GOD will get you to your final destination”

6:23:17 PM: Oh boy! Osteen’s re-telling how he met his wife Victoria again. Battery store for his watch. “She’s been taking my money ever since then.”

6:24:14 PM: Victoria standing next to Osteen… can’t tell how amused she is…

6:25:01 PM: V. Osteen has the stage now, talking about marriage and what keeps it going for 22 years.

6:26:54 PM: No matter your opinion of Joel Osteen’s preaching, there are some folks who need to hear his words tonight… Yankee is Stadium packed!

6:28:08 PM: V. Osteen talking about forgiving others, blessing not cursing, letting go of grudges, not speaking negative words, etc.

6:30:58 PM: V. Osteen: “GOD wants to help you make your relationships better… quoting Philipians about love abounding…

6:33:44 PM: I know prayer is important, but how many times can you pray in one hour? V. Osteen praying now… finally crowd shots, too.

6:34:15 PM: Looks like a great mix of people turned out to Yankees Stadium to hear Joel Osteen and company’s message on Night of Hope.

6:35:48 PM: Osteen gives stage to gentleman from Feed the Children organization. Giving a testimony it sounds like

6:47:06 PM: Wow Joel Osteen asking people to donate money to his ministry. I thought he didn’t ask for money on TV — Yikes TBN’s Crouch buts in to beg!

6:50:39 PM: Some live tweets from folks at Yankees Stadium saying Osteen is preaching Gospel, but I’m watching, too and haven’t heard it preached yet.

6:52:58 PM: Lord forgive me, but I wonder if the story Crouch is saying is even true…

6:53:54 PM: Crouch asks Yankees Stadium audience to do a “love wave” for others watching who don’t understand English.

6:55:32 PM: Joel Osteen’s got his Bible, I guess he’s about ready to preach… now shouting out “supporting pastors”

6:56:41 PM: Osteen is now bigging up his children, Johnathan and Alexandria… and they’re all smiling. I guess it is infectious…

6:58:02 PM: Uh-oh… Osteen is starting… opening with a joke “they’re not doctrinally correct… we’re in Yankees Stadium, not church… OK to laugh”

6:59:09 PM: Eh, on the 1st joke… now Osteen’s on another.

6:59:57 PM: 2nd joke, worse than 1st… now Joel Osteen’s on 3rd: “I know they’re corny, but you laugh”

7:00:53 PM: Jokes over! Asks folks to stand up and hold up Bible: “This is my Bible I am what it says I am I have what it says I have I can do…”

7:02:09 PM: Osteen starting with Deut1:6?? “I’m not going to speak long. Blessed are the shortwinded, they’ll be invited back”

7:04:32 PM: Joel Osteen: “Quit despising what you have… you are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

7:06:12 PM: Joel Osteen:”When we try being something that we’re not, that’s when life gets frustrating… I can be a better me than anyone else…”

7:07:45 PM: Joel Osteen to crowd: “I am a fully loaded person” … stop desiring what others have and be content with all GOD has given us.

7:10:59 PM: Joel Osteen and all of this pep talk… I wonder what exactly it is that people take home after Osteen’s message about prospering?

7:11:31 PM: Joel Osteen: “You are a can-do purpose, fully loaded, totally equipped.” … Still waiting to hear how Jesus Christ figures into this…

7:13:28 PM: Nothing wrong with Joel Osteen’s message, but what if the ears listening don’t truly know Jesus Christ? The parable of the sower? Matt 13

7:16:46 PM: Joel Osteen is starting to wear me down with his “fully loaded” message… but won’t change the channel yet…

7:21:33 PM: Joel Osteen talking about having faith that GOD will empower us… but are we aiming to do HIS will or our own (my question)?

7:22:43 PM: I know GOD the FATHER and GOD the SON are one… but I am really waiting for Joel Osteen to start talking about the SAVIOR Jesus Christ.

7:23:33 PM: Joel Osteen keeps saying “the Master” … “the Master” … “the Master”

7:24:39 PM: I used to listen to Joel Osteen and enjoy his messages, but soon got tired of hearing the same thing over and over again… he’s losing me

7:25:50 PM: Joel Osteen Bible quote: “No good thing will GOD withhold when you walk upright”

7:26:32 PM: Joel Osteen’s most used words: “The Master” “fully loaded” totally equipped” “divine destiny” “vic-tor not vic-tum” … Oh boy.

7:30:45 PM: Joel Osteen finally wrapped message… now praying. Will there be an altar call?

7:31:19 PM: The Gospel isn’t about having confidence or believing in OURSELVES…the Good News is that Salvation is in Jesus Christ.

7:32:20 PM: Joel Osteen: “Are you at peace with Almighty GOD” … “I’m not here to convict anybody” speaking of personal relationship with Jesus Christ

7:33:49 PM: Osteen: “GOD is not mad at you. You’re sins have already been forgiven.” Speaking Salvation in Jesus. FINALLY! Hope they’re not tuned out.

7:35:58 PM: Osteen praying again… really trying to get some folks to turn it over to Jesus Christ. Calling unsaved and Christians…

7:36:29 PM: Osteen telling people not to put it off, not to be ashamed… but he didn’t tell them about Jesus Christ? Do they know what they are doing?

7:37:05 PM: These people standing for Jesus Christ… do they know who He is? Here comes a “sinner’s prayer”

7:37:57 PM: Well, GOD IS Sovereign… HE knows who’s walking out of that stadium with HIM really on their heart and mind, seeking Jesus Christ.

7:38:18 PM: Joel Osteen encourages folks to find a good Bible-based church, to avoid negative friends or bring them to church.

7:39:50 PM: Osteen telling people to pray, to repent when we mess up. “If you keep your heart open and honest before GOD, HE’ll take you places…”

7:40:32 PM: Joel Osteen’s A Historic Night of Hope is almost a wrap. Osteen speaking a blessing over the audience.

7:44:34 PM: Joel Osteen declares audience blessed. Choir sings “I Am A Friend of GOD”.. Joel Osteen is CRYING!!!

7:45:24 PM: Aw the camera broke away to a super wide shot… and back — Osteen is really getting emotional.

7:46:01 PM: Joel Osteen: “We pray for you every single day whether we know you by name or not.”

7:46:18 PM: Osteen giving plug for Lakewood Church: “If you’re ever in the Houston area…”

7:50:39 PM: Crouch has Osteens give final word. Osteen: “I feel honored that they’ve taken the time to come… who knows what GOD’s gonna do for (them)”

7:52:16 PM: Crouch: “Nothing motivates us but to save souls” … Sure, TBN, sure.

7:53:43 PM: Watching this event has kind of changed my opinion of Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Chruch.

7:55:11 PM: I still wish Osteen would have a spine on TV and stop worrying about offending people. GOD using Joel Osteen somehow Philippians 1:12-

7:56:15 PM: Oh boy, Crouch brings out Holy Land “Jesus” Their “Jesus” needs a hair cut… I don’t know who told them Jesus has long hair.

7:58:56 PM: And Joel Osteen’s Night of Hope in NYC’s Yankees Stadium is over. I am actually glad I watched… it wasn’t too painful after all.