Satan Bleeds Green and . . . Green

I know a bunch of Aggies. If you cut 'em open, they'd bleed maroon and white. Some of them even admit to it. Do you have a favorite 'team' that you root for? Most of us do.

Today's readings include the 'golden calf' story. It's in chapter 32 of Exodus. We don't worship false idols, right? That's crazy talk. Wouldn't even think of it.

Have you ever made a decision based solely upon financial reasons? Do you plan things based entirely upon how much you benefit financially? Join the club. We're cheering for Satan's team. Bleeding green.

It seems as though we always look at the 'golden calf' story through judgemental eyes. Here these people are just hand delivered from the land of Egypt by the One True God and they are worshipping something else!?!? And there it is. We worry so much about what everybody else is doing when we should be looking within. They were doing it back then, and we're doing it now. They didn't even realize, and niether do we.

Only now, it's the dollar. The devil gets into your life whether you know it or not. Recognizing him is hard, but it's the easy part. Overcoming him and removing him is the hard part. Satan's lifeblood is something you'll recognize pretty easily. It's the green-back. The American Dollar.

Married folk - How many fights have you had with your spouse that turned out to really be about money? Single folk - How many times have you been guided somewhere you know you shouldn't be because of money?

It doesn't matter how much we spend. That's not the point. We can be high rollers if we want, but it's how the money is spent that matters. You can't buy the things in life that matter. Relationships, Time, Peace, Love. You can, however, spend money that benefits those things in life that matter. If you ask Our Lord how to spend, he'll let you know. And you'll be surprised by His answer.

Do you depend on money?

Today's the feast day of Saint Scholastica. I would call her the patron saint of the weather. You should read up on her though. Fascinating individual. There's a lot more to her than just the weather.

The reason I bring her up though is because she founded the nunnery. She was WAY ahead of her time, educating women and operating things as the head person in charge. This was unheard of back then for a woman. And what did it all need. MONEY. She didn't depend on money though, she depended upon God.

Today's reading is from Mark and I would just like to pull from it the part about corban. What a wonderful example of satan slipping into our lives under the cover of finances. So many people depend so much upon money that they use it to make their decisions.

I beg you to reconsider. I know, you have a mortgage, kids, etc. Guess what. You're not special. Everybody has financial issues. The poor, the rich, everybody. Use your financial situation to make your decisions and you'll continue to have those issues.

- Depend on the Lord to lead you. Read your bible. His Word Will Never Lead You Astray.
- Depend on people who are in the position you want to be in. Stop letting naysayers and pescimists poison your thought process. Sometimes this includes family and friends. Don't shut them out, but understand that they don't understand what they are perpetuating. In fact, you may be their influence. Lead by example.
- Depend on prayer. You'll be surprised by what He'll share with you. All you have to do is ask.

Do I depend on You Lord? What should I be doing more?

Man is More Careful with Money than Principles

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "A man is usually more careful of his money than he is of his principles."

Why is that? People don't set out to compromise their principles.

I was thinking about faith recently because of the Fear and Faith post from Tuesday. Well, I had an invigorating conversation with my bride, Tonni, on the way to the ranch yesterday about how I think people should think of their faith just as they think of their money. Most people that I know who feel as though they have a weak faith, or need to work on their faith, or have no faith are missing the boat.