TODAY's MESSAGE by VK: Beware of the people who paint themselves as nice down-to-earth good ol' boys

Beware of the people who paint themselves as nice down-to-earth good ol' boys & girls AT THE EXPENSE of others...for them to be good ol' boys & girls they have to CREATE bad ol' boys & girls. Too often this is done at the expense of decent people. And in southern california, some of the EXCESSIVE working class (clerks,cops,et al) do this intentionally. Its their only way of justifying their existence...they have to create a "bad guy".

At fuller seminary it may have happened to me via "letters of recomendation",whereby somebody may have tried to paint the picture of me as "rich kid",even though it didn't fit. I grew up middle-class...not in poverty,but definitely NOT like a Robert Schuller son or grandson. I had a wealthy gandfather but gained nothing materially because of it. He was very stingy.

I've worked all my life,and continue to do so,even if its not evidenced by the kind of "working class" bullshit we see in front of our faces every day whereby they maintain the pretense of "working hard" to justify getting paid (been there,done that,I know the games you play,working class people). My work today is for God and making any pretense is self-defeating. GOD Knows all.

For you working class people,you are NOT WINNING any points from God just for work itself. You could a skyscraper with your bare hands all by yourself and NOT make God even a tiny bit happier. He doesn't care how HARD u work just for the sake of work itself. He cares about you BELIEVING in Him w/ All Your HEART,MIND,& SOUL!

And then,that FAITH will translate into GOOD WORKS for the kingdom,none of which,however,by themselves,give you any points. If you earned points for good works,it would be contrary to the character of God who wants you to BELIEVE AND LOVE HIM,and once that truly happens,good works simply FLOW from your good will,and your good heart,but not for the sake of earning salvation.

Frank