REALIZE OR RATIONALIZE?
Webster defines rationalization as “to attribute (one’s actions) to rational and creditable motives without analysis of true and especially unconscious motives, to create an excuse or more attractive explanation for, to provide plausible but untrue reasons for conduct.” When someone tries to rationalize his or her actions, by definition, much of the time the reasoning could be true, but most likely isn’t. I liken it to a child who has done something contrary to his parent’s instructions and, when asked for an explanation, offers something plausible. If asked, “Is that what really happened,” the response is something like, “Well, it could have happened that way.” The parent then knows could in this case means didn’t.
No one, not even little children, likes to make mistakes, to make bad decisions and be held accountable for them. It seems to be inherent in human nature to offer explanations for why one’s behavior was opposite or different from what was expected, instead of “fessin’ up.” This usually does not achieve the desires results, but typically just places one in great difficulty, as stating what could have happened, but indeed didn’t, falls in the category of lying. I wonder if a dog has ever really eaten anyone’s homework, even though, in theory, it could? Perhaps just as interesting is if any parent ever believed such?
This attitude carries over into the spiritual, as well. For example, no one denies Scripture exhorts us not to “stay away from our meetings, as some habitually do” (Heb. 10:25, HCSB).No one would also deny there are times when this is not possible, as when one is genuinely ill, and getting out would pose not only a health risk to the person sick, but to others who would be exposed and risk becoming ill themselves. However, how many times do people excuse themselves when it was really a matter of choice, of desire? I heard one person say she couldn’t attend Bible class on Sunday morning, as that is the only day of the week she could pick out her clothes in the morning, instead of the night before. Company visiting, expected or unexpected, is often another rationalization given. It’s rare to hear someone say, “I just don’t want to come.” To assembling to worship we could add giving as one has been prospered, using one’s talents for the kingdom by being involved in good works, speaking to others about the gospel, and many more aspects of Christian living.
Certainly God wants us involved in living the Christian life, in serving in the kingdom, as Scripture overflows with passages that contain both his commands and encouragement to do so. Verses such as Matt. 6:33 and Eph. 2:10 come to mind. So why don’t we? Motives can vary, but rationalizations are as numerous as the sand of the seashore or stars in the heavens. Like the dog eating the homework, I wonder who is being deceived. Perhaps preachers, elders, or other concerned members may be, but surely not God. He is a heart knower (Acts 15:8), and will not be mocked by such (Gal. 6:7). He has also equipped us with his word, which can also discern the motives of our hearts for us (Heb. 4:12-13). Self deception is an oft practiced reality, but should not be, as we have no legitimate excuse for not knowing our true motives.
How you choose to live, or not live, the Christian life, is entirely up to you. Whether you deal truthfully with your actions, or rationalize, again, is your choice. Realize, however, that God knows the truth, and I truly believe, deep down inside, so does each one of us. So the real issue isn’t who we can fool, but are we willing to live, and answer, for the choices we make. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10).
Robert Johnson
==========================================
2 Peter 1:10-11
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
========================================
Prayer List
Augustina Vasquez was in Meth Central for some tests but is now home & that is good.
Wes & Alma Faye Price – Wes is improving.
Mildred Head has fallen twice this week but thankfully has no broken bones.
Estell Lee is having knee pain and other problems.
Jimmy Mooney has 93% blockage in his right kidney.
Nancy Spurgeon is sick at home.
Royal Smith is improving.
Ann Miller, twin sister of Fran Womelsdorff, has been diagnosed with diabetes.
———-
Bill Hinton, Catherine Coronado, Carmen McMillion, Urbanelle Cox, Mary Dunn, Grady Theobalt, Mary Ruth Percival, Mary Jean Calvert, Tom Dipprey’s brother- in- law; Marie Works, Ed Horn, Larry Reynolds, Henrietta Pummill, Edna Faye Johnston,Mary Taylor, Dorothy Mooney, Ada Couch, Dorothy Jackson, Tommy & Treva Traylor, Jack & Oleta Armstrong, Doris Henry, Roger Schrum, Mary Catherine Jayroe, Angie Sabedra, Vertie Lee Stanley, Billie Morgan, Bea Dipprey, Ruby Faas, Lois Rodriquez, Weldon Siler, Holly Lee, Ida Smith,Joe Benedick, Marjorie Moore, Geraldine Hurley, Dr.J & Dorothy Coats.
———-
Schedule for Sunday, February 22, 2009:
Roger Owen will conduct Wes’ Bible Class and preach the Morning Worship
Service.
Karl Jones will preach the Afternoon Worship Service.
———-
The Tuesday Morning Bible Classes will meet Tuesday, 02/17/09 @ 10:30 a.m.
———-
You are invited to see our weekly bulletin on the church’s web site at
jeffersonblvd.org
———-
VITAL SIGNS: Feb 8
Bible Study 54 Offering $3,412.50
Morning Worship 85 Budget $ 3,410.46
Afternoon Worship 48 Wed. Feb 4 37
———–
Church of Christ Area-Wide Programs
“Let’s Do It Christ’s Way” Sundays 6:30 a.m. KFWD (TV) Channel 52
“In Search of the Lord’s Way Sundays 7:00 a.m. KDFI (TV)Channel 27
“The Truth In Love: Sundays 7:30 a.m. KFWD (TV) Channel 52
===============================================================
Reflections
by Jack Armstrong
If you don’t already know, it’s tough when you get to the time of your life that your old memory starts to play out on you, and you start to repeat stories to folks because you don’t know if you’ve already told them and too embarrassared to ask if you have! I think Jo Morris has the right idea, “she says she thinks the old noggin gets full after all the years and there just isn’t room for new stuff”! It falls out.
I mention this again to tell you a story. Awhile back I wrote a letter to one of our fine servicemen, and when he wrote back thanking me, I couldn’t remember why it was I wrote to this particular fellow, and it dawned on me to ask Maurine Fleming because she always bails me out when I’m in a guandary and she did it again. She said she thought Roy Rutledge was the grandson of Charlie & Nadine Brown, the son of Becky, and she was right.
He thanked me for sending him pictures, and I remembered I had cut some old pictures out of one of our pictorial directories of Charlie & Nadine and sent them to him. I called Nadine and she said the only think about it was why did he write to me and not her. He also sent pictures of his beautiful wife and children.
I know from past experience how very important it is for our service- men to get a letter from home, because sometimes it is the only connection they have between us and them. Please get an address and drop them a line. I promise you will brighten up their lives! Roy’s address will change because he is coming home soon, if not already. We can check with Nadine for his new address. I could tell he loves his grandparents very much!
We talked to Wes one day this week and he says he is getting stronger each day, and if the doctor releases him for light duty he will be in church on Sunday, February 8. We sure hope things work out and he can make it then. He will also have the pleasure of hearing our ‘ol friend, George Bailey in the pulpit. That’s the fellow I got the ending for my columns. “When Duty Becomes Desire”. We will also have the pleasure of seeing Alma Faye too, because we’ve missed both of them very much!
It was so good to see David Calvert back last Lord’s Day. He is another that we miss when he is gone. We also want to tell Grady Theobalt how sorry we are about the loss of his daughter-in-law, Elaine, last week. We love you Grady and all our hearts go out to you and Ricky. We all pray our sweet Carmen McMillion is doing a lot better over at Grace Presbyterian. She’s in good hands I know because our daughter Angie and granddaughter, Meagan work there. Besides all that it is a wonderful place to be, with a lot of real nice folks there. We are also glad our Mary Dunn is back home. We have really missed all of you who have been out.
REMEMBER… “When Duty Becomes Desire”
REALIZE OR RATIONALIZE?
Webster defines rationalization as “to attribute (one’s actions) to rational and creditable motives without analysis of true and especially unconscious motives, to create an excuse or more attractive explanation for, to provide plausible but untrue reasons for conduct.” When someone tries to rationalize his or her actions, by definition, much of the time the reasoning could be true, but most likely isn’t. I liken it to a child who has done something contrary to his parent’s instructions and, when asked for an explanation, offers something plausible. If asked, “Is that what really happened,” the response is something like, “Well, it could have happened that way.” The parent then knows could in this case means didn’t.
No one, not even little children, likes to make mistakes, to make bad decisions and be held accountable for them. It seems to be inherent in human nature to offer explanations for why one’s behavior was opposite or different from what was expected, instead of “fessin’ up.” This usually does not achieve the desires results, but typically just places one in great difficulty, as stating what could have happened, but indeed didn’t, falls in the category of lying. I wonder if a dog has ever really eaten anyone’s homework, even though, in theory, it could? Perhaps just as interesting is if any parent ever believed such?
This attitude carries over into the spiritual, as well. For example, no one denies Scripture exhorts us not to “stay away from our meetings, as some habitually do” (Heb. 10:25, HCSB).No one would also deny there are times when this is not possible, as when one is genuinely ill, and getting out would pose not only a health risk to the person sick, but to others who would be exposed and risk becoming ill themselves. However, how many times do people excuse themselves when it was really a matter of choice, of desire? I heard one person say she couldn’t attend Bible class on Sunday morning, as that is the only day of the week she could pick out her clothes in the morning, instead of the night before. Company visiting, expected or unexpected, is often another rationalization given. It’s rare to hear someone say, “I just don’t want to come.” To assembling to worship we could add giving as one has been prospered, using one’s talents for the kingdom by being involved in good works, speaking to others about the gospel, and many more aspects of Christian living.
Certainly God wants us involved in living the Christian life, in serving in the kingdom, as Scripture overflows with passages that contain both his commands and encouragement to do so. Verses such as Matt. 6:33 and Eph. 2:10 come to mind. So why don’t we? Motives can vary, but rationalizations are as numerous as the sand of the seashore or stars in the heavens. Like the dog eating the homework, I wonder who is being deceived. Perhaps preachers, elders, or other concerned members may be, but surely not God. He is a heart knower (Acts 15:8), and will not be mocked by such (Gal. 6:7). He has also equipped us with his word, which can also discern the motives of our hearts for us (Heb. 4:12-13). Self deception is an oft practiced reality, but should not be, as we have no legitimate excuse for not knowing our true motives.
How you choose to live, or not live, the Christian life, is entirely up to you. Whether you deal truthfully with your actions, or rationalize, again, is your choice. Realize, however, that God knows the truth, and I truly believe, deep down inside, so does each one of us. So the real issue isn’t who we can fool, but are we willing to live, and answer, for the choices we make. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5:10).
Robert Johnson
==========================================
2 Peter 1:10-11
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
========================================
Men to Serve
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Prayers for Lord’s Supper & Giving – Rick Ramsey
Dan Talbott Steve Kloetzli
Jimmy Morris Domingo Martinez
Serving at Back
Jimmy Mooney Terry Crossland
Afternoon Service – Charlie Brown
Prayer List
Augustina Vasquez was in Meth Central for some tests but is now home & that
is good.
Wes & Alma Faye Price – Wes is improving.
Mildred Head has fallen twice this week but thankfully has no broken bones.
Estell Lee is having knee pain and other problems.
Jimmy Mooney has 93% blockage in his right kidney.
Nancy Spurgeon is sick at home.
Royal Smith is improving.
Ann Miller, twin sister of Fran Womelsdorff, has been diagnosed with diabetes.
———-
Bill Hinton, Catherine Coronado, Carmen McMillion, Urbanelle Cox, Mary Dunn,
Grady Theobalt, Mary Ruth Percival, Mary Jean Calvert, Tom Dipprey’s brother-
in- law; Marie Works, Ed Horn, Larry Reynolds, Henrietta Pummill, Edna Faye
Johnston,Mary Taylor, Dorothy Mooney, Ada Couch, Dorothy Jackson, Tommy &
Treva Traylor, Jack & Oleta Armstrong, Doris Henry, Roger Schrum, Mary
Catherine Jayroe, Angie Sabedra, Vertie Lee Stanley, Billie Morgan, Bea Dipprey,
Ruby Faas, Lois Rodriquez, Weldon Siler, Holly Lee, Ida Smith,Joe Benedick,
Marjorie Moore, Geraldine Hurley, Dr.J & Dorothy Coats.
———-
Schedule for Sunday, February 22, 2009:
Roger Owen will conduct Wes’ Bible Class and preach the Morning Worship
Service.
Karl Jones will preach the Afternoon Worship Service.
———-
The Tuesday Morning Bible Classes will meet Tuesday, 02/17/09 @ 10:30 a.m.
———-
You are invited to see our weekly bulletin on the church’s web site at
jeffersonblvd.org
———-
VITAL SIGNS: Feb 8
Bible Study 54 Offering $ 3,412.50
Morning Worship 85 Budget $ 3,410.46
Afternoon Worship 48 Wed. Feb 4 37
———–
Church of Christ Area-Wide Programs
“Let’s Do It Christ’s Way” Sundays 6:30 a.m. KFWD (TV) Channel 52
“In Search of the Lord’s Way Sundays 7:00 a.m. KDFI (TV) Channel 27
“The Truth In Love: Sundays 7:30 a.m. KFWD (TV) Channel 52
===============================================================
Parking Lot Monitors
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A.M. Josh Whitaker – P.M. Richard Perkins
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 – Rodolfo Gonzalez
Reflections
by Jack Armstrong
If you don’t already know, it’s tough when you get to the time of your life that your old memory starts to play out on you, and you start to repeat stories to folks because you don’t know if you’ve already told them and too embarrassared to ask if you have! I think Jo Morris has the right idea, “she says she thinks the old noggin gets full after all the years and there just isn’t room for new stuff”! It falls out.
I mention this again to tell you a story. Awhile back I wrote a letter to one of our fine servicemen, and when he wrote back thanking me, I couldn’t remember why it was I wrote to this particular fellow, and it dawned on me to ask Maurine Fleming because she always bails me out when I’m in a guandary and she did it again. She said she thought Roy Rutledge was the grandson of Charlie & Nadine Brown, the son of Becky, and she was right.
He thanked me for sending him pictures, and I remembered I had cut some old pictures out of one of our pictorial directories of Charlie & Nadine and sent them to him. I called Nadine and she said the only think about it was why did he write to me and not her. He also sent pictures of his beautiful wife and children.
I know from past experience how very important it is for our service- men to get a letter from home, because sometimes it is the only connection they have between us and them. Please get an address and drop them a line. I promise you will brighten up their lives! Roy’s address will change because he is coming home soon, if not already. We can check with Nadine for his new address. I could tell he loves his grandparents very much!
We talked to Wes one day this week and he says he is getting stronger each day, and if the doctor releases him for light duty he will be in church on Sunday, February 8. We sure hope things work out and he can make it then. He will also have the pleasure of hearing our ‘ol friend, George Bailey in the pulpit. That’s the fellow I got the ending for my columns. “When Duty Becomes Desire”. We will also have the pleasure of seeing Alma Faye too, because we’ve missed both of them very much!
It was so good to see David Calvert back last Lord’s Day. He is another that we miss when he is gone. We also want to tell Grady Theobalt how sorry we are about the loss of his daughter-in-law, Elaine, last week. We love you Grady and all our hearts go out to you and Ricky. We all pray our sweet Carmen McMillion is doing a lot better over at Grace Presbyterian. She’s in good hands I know because our daughter Angie and granddaughter, Meagan work there. Besides all that it is a wonderful place to be, with a lot of real nice folks there. We are also glad our Mary Dunn is back home. We have really missed all of you who have been out.
REMEMBER… “When Duty Becomes Desire”