Another Look At Freedom - The March on Washington

English: Dr. Martin Luther King giving his "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington in Washington, D.C., on 28 August 1963. Español: Dr. Martin Luther King dando su discurso "Yo tengo un sueño" durante la Marcha sobre Washington por el trabajo y la libertad en Washington, D.C., 28 de agosto de 1963. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I took a break from my weekly post to view the march commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's historic march on Washington. Just as happened then, this march that took place on Saturday was a peaceful one. Of the estimated quarter million people who participated in 1963, only four arrests were made. So far this year no incidents have been reported. This is a true testimony of the proper use of freedom and an honor to the man who fought so hard for freedom and equality.

A few years ago I wrote a post on a similar topic. You can read it here.

Related articles

• Throngs to mark 'Dream' anniversary
• 50th anniversary of March on Washington
• March to focus on continued fight for civil rights

Get Rid Of It Completely

About two weeks ago, I wrote about my computer being infected by a virus. I told you how devastating this was for me to experience my computer being sick, even for a short while. I told you that I called the computer's manufacturer and he got my computer up and running again. But not for long! I didn't use my PC for a couple days and when I went back to use it, the virus was still present.

I called up the manufacturer again and this time I got a different technician. After several hours on the phone, the virus was finally eradicated. What happened the first time? The technician failed to completely remove the virus before he restarted my computer, and I suffered the consequences.

A similar fate befell Saul, king of Israel, after God told him "totally destroy everything that belongs to them (the Amalekites). Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys" (1 Samuel 15 : 3). " But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs--everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed" (v 9). 
 
Saul did not totally destroy the Amalekites as God had commanded him to. So it is with us. We hold on to the sin that seems good to us. Even though it is destroying our relationship with God, we may relinquish a part of it, but are reluctant to get rid of it completely. Verse 22 says, "To obey is better than sacrifice." 

If  there is sin in your life, you need to confess your sin before God and ask Him to forgive you and help you lead a new life. Do not allow sin to come between you and God. The consequences can be dire.

The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1 : 9). 

Do You Know How Special You Are?

As an occupational therapist working in a behavioral health unit, one of the questions I sometimes ask my clients is, "What special qualities do you possess?" Or, "Say something positive about yourself." Many of them would lower their eyes and refuse to answer, and those who do would say something like, "I don't know."

Why is it so difficult for us to see the good in ourselves? We may admire and look up to others while looking down on ourselves. Psychiatrist patients are not the only ones who think this way. I've heard self-deprecatory comments from beautiful celebrities. Gorgeous women who receive the adulation of people everywhere would say things like, I hate my nose; my lips are too small, too large; my hair is too this or too that.

Do you realize that you are created in the image and likeness of God Himself? You are His most prized creation. He created you after Himself.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1 : 27

Of all the billions of people in the world, there is no one like you. No one has your fingerprint, or your shadow or your uniqueness. Granted, there will always be someone more beautiful, smarter or slimmer than you. But that does not make you any less special. You are important to God and you ought to be important to yourself.

Enjoy the video below, then look yourself in the mirror and say, "I'm special."

Beware Of The Worm

I almost didn't get this week's post in because a worm infected my computer. I remember the first time I heard the term 'computer virus' I thought, would it make my computer sneeze? And I was serious. Because if I sneeze, it doesn't bother me that much. I actually enjoy sneezing sometimes, as a matter of fact. It seems to clear my nasal passages and relieves me of any stuffiness. So I thought if my computer sneezed, then it would be no big deal.

During my journey in cyberspace, I have experienced a few sneezes. Nothing major. But yesterday I foolishly opened an email and received a worm. I pictured it just as the dictionary described it: any of numerous small creeping animals with more or less slender, elongated bodies, and without limbs or with very short ones ... creeping, crawling or advancing slowly or stealthily. Sounds pretty yucky, doesn't it? I could not access anything, and the worm kept urging me to purchase a certain software and warning me of the dire consequences that would follow if I didn't. No matter what I tried, it kept attacking my computer. 

No legs ... advancing slowly, stealthily, when you least expect it.

The Bible speaks of one other creature who fits this picture. He belongs to the same family, only bigger. He is called a serpent, Satan, the devil, Lucifer. One day you are functioning as a happy Christian, the next, the serpent has infiltrated himself into your system and crashed it. You become a pawn in his hands as he urges you to do this and do that, go here and go there, say this or say that. You want to get out from under his influence, but you are powerless to do so.

What can you do? Like me, you may have unwittingly invited the serpent into your system. But you can do what I did. I wasted no time calling the maker of my computer. We have a Maker too and His name is God. He made you. 

 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1 : 27.

He has the software to clean out all of your infected files and restore you to your proper working condition. He can make you whole again. You do not have to be under the influence of the worm anymore. The representative who cleaned up my computer recommended that I purchase a warranty so if I ever have similar problems in the future, all I have to do is call for help. God purchased our warranty through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for us. When we have a problem, all we have to do is call. Call on your Maker right now.