Sarah Holman's Blog, page 62
October 24, 2016
Peter's Stand
When is it okay to stand against authority?
Obviously, from Scripture, it isn’t because of corruption or immorality. As we read in 1 Samuel and in Romans, God calls us to honor, respect, and even obey the authorities that are corrupt. So is it ever okay to say no to authorities? Yes, and I think Scriptures provide a wonderful example in Acts chapter 4.
Peter and John where brought before the Sanhedrin. We know that Peter was full of the Holy Spirit at this point (verse 8) and spoke with great boldness. Peter even recognized their position of authority (verse 8), and they only asked him to do one thing and he refused.
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:18 NIV
One request, but this was the one they could not comply with.
But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20 NIV
So can we take a stand against authority? Can we refuse their requests? Yes! If they ask us to deny our faith, stop telling others about Jesus, or ask us to do something directly against God, we are supposed to refuse.
One of my favorite modern examples of this is Brother Andrew. I was reading the other day in his wonderful book The Exodus Mandate about authority. While in a county, he would obey the speed limits, taxing laws, etc. all while smuggling illegal Bibles to people. He refused to obey the laws that would keep him from preaching the good news, but followed all other laws.
When the government demands that we discard our faith and the morals it teaches, we must disobey those orders. Yet, we should not allow ourselves to go so far as to disregard the other laws (speed limits and such) or speak against the authorities.
Don’t take my word for it, read your Bible and come to your own conclusions. Join my next week for the final post in this series.
October 22, 2016
In A Different Light
I love this song! It often reminds me that When things are confusing to me now, I will one day see it clearly.
Buy it here.
October 18, 2016
Silver blog tour!
Hello and welcome to The Sound of Silver birthday blog tour! I’m posting today about Rachelle Rea Cobb’s second installment in the Steadfast Love series, an inspirational historical romance set during the 16th century!
Rachelle is also the author of The Sound of Diamonds, the first book in the series, and a newlywed! This summer, she married a man with the same first name as the hero of the series! I’m joining in this blog tour to tell you a little more about Silver and spread the news about the rocking giveaway Rachelle is hosting—make sure you enter using the Rafflecopter form to win the lovely necklace pictured and your choice of any of the Steadfast Love titles!ABOUT The Steadfast Love SERIES
In 16th-century Europe, the Reformation rages between Protestants and Catholics. Gwyneth, half-Dutch, flees from England to Holland to escape the man who murdered her parents. When he follows her there and insists he came to rescue her, will she trust this man called Dirk? When tragedy strikes, will their steadfast love erode?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Times gone by snatch Rachelle Rea Cobb close, so she reads and writes about years long ago--her passions include the Reformation, Revolutions, and romance. Rachelle wrote the Steadfast Love series during college. Five months after she graduated, she signed a three-book deal with her dream publisher, WhiteFire. She's a homeschool grad, Oreo addict, and plots her novels while driving around her dream car, a pick-up truck. In June 2016, she married a man with the same name as her fictional hero, and they live happily ever after in Small Town, South.
AUTHOR LINKS
Website: http://RachelleReaCobb.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/RachelleReaCobb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelleReaCobb
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/RachelleReaCobb/
Instagram: @RachelleReaCobb
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachelle-Rea/e/B00RZHIL1Q
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8144149.Rachelle_Rea_Cobb
ABOUT The Sound of Silver
The stalwart saint and the redeemed rebel. One fights for faith, the other for honor…
After Dirk rescues Gwyneth from the Iconoclastic Fury, she discovers that faith is sometimes fragile—and hope is not as easy as it may seem. Gwyneth continues her quest to learn more about the love of God preached by Protestants she once distrusted.
Meanwhile, Dirk’s quest is to prevent his sullied name from staining hers. Will his choice to protect her prove the undoing of her first faltering steps toward a Father God? Once separated, will Dirk and Gwyneth’s searching hearts ever sing the same song?
Find The Sound of Silver on…
Amazon Paperback: http://is.gd/1HwJoi
Kindle: http://is.gd/EZ7DJ1
Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/qhoCTc
Books a Million: http://is.gd/M2y5P2
Goodreads: http://is.gd/iBE2lJ
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below to win a beautiful necklace created by Baubles, Beads, and Stuff and your choice of any one of Rachelle’s three books (the series begins in Book One, of course, but in case you have one or two of her books already, Rachelle will gladly send you the next one to read!).
a Rafflecopter giveaway2017 Planning Session
Today was one of my favorite days of the year: Planning day. It is when I sit down and make my plans for the next writing year. Normally, I do this in December, but this year, I had to figure out some of the things that I need to wrap up this year to be ready for next year. To start with, I made up some basic goals (the white paper) and then I broke it down (blue squares).
The next step? Break it down into weekly goals. This took most of the day. I had to open documents, consult planners, and look at calendars.
I put the weekly goals on little blue sticky sheets and stuck them at the beginning of the appropriate week of my calendar.
As you can see, I am going to have to reprint my 2017 goal sheets as I had to make a few changes. But everything is looking good.
October 16, 2016
Words in Romans
Rome. If you study anything about it at the time of Jesus you will find it was a corrupted society and government. Evil leaders, assassinations, immorality praised, rampant bribery, a lawless army, and many perversions of justice. This was the kind of government in place when Paul penned his letter to the Romans. Yet, in spite of all this, we find a section in chapter 13 verses 1-7.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
It sounds so odd doesn’t it? Paul commanding those in Rome to submit and honor a government that was corrupted, spending tax money on a murdering army and its own immoral pleasures. Yet, Paul does. Why? I think that the last verse of chapter 12 might give us a hint
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 NIV
Now there are exceptions (see next week’s post) but not many. Obviously, just because a government is corrupt does not negate these rules, as Rome was about as corrupt as they come. So what does this mean for us in a practical sense? How are we to apply this to how we live today?
We are to pay our taxes (which I admit I grumbled about when I realized I owed 15% of what I made last year)We are to respect (hold them in high regard) those in authority, and treat them with respect. This includes how we talk about them in person and our social media accounts (I am guilty of failing in this.) We are to honor (treat with deference) them. This can be even harder than respecting them, because some of them are nor honorable people. But still, God has called us to treat them with honor. If you met with the president that you think has been worse for this country, you still would need to treat them with deference as God commanded.
Yes, chapter is not an easy one to apply. I know that I have often made up excuses for when I disrespect the president or another elected official. It is so easy to see their faults and so easy to complain. I have failed so many times to obey this part of scripture. However, I refuse to give myself that excuse any longer. I will strive, in God’s strength, to speak with respect about those in authority. I will honor even those who I do not feel are honorable, as God has commanded.
October 15, 2016
October 11, 2016
Adventure Between the Pages: 2 Christian Holmes stories
Buy it Here
Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 10-18
Description: An interloper arrives at the CBI, claiming to be a data-collector from headquarters. Christian Holmes, together with Greg Belden, is assigned to help him. As they work with the outsider, their doubts grow. Who is he, and what did he really come for? More than one man will be tested, when inspection comes. Christian Holmes is a detective series, offering humor and moral themes.
I am getting into the habit of listening to books on my Kindle while I work on things. I like shorter books because I can enjoy a whole story in one task. This was one of the books I listened to and enjoyed.
I have never been big into Sherlock Holmes, but I do enjoy his stories that I have read. This is an obvious play on Sherlock Holmes, and it made it so interesting. The story was well structured and the plot was very interesting. It was free from violence and objectionable material that one normally finds in mystery stories.
My favorite part? The story did a good job at teaching a moral lesson without sounding like a sermon; a hard accomplishment for a short story. The message was not just tacked on at the end, it was woven into the story.
I recommend this short story for those who love light mysteries, short stories, and moral stories.
Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon.
Buy it HereAge Appropriate For: All AgesBest for Ages: 10-18Description: Christian Holmes is on the trail of a thief. It's another day in the life of his private detective agency—until he's shown a picture of the thief's accomplice, and recognizes his own cousin. So he partners with his cousin in pursuit of a thief and the more elusive truth. All sorts of lies are told, when the reward is sweet green paper. Christian Holmes is a detective series, offering humor and moral themes.
After reading the first story in the series, I was eager to read the second. This second story was even more interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what was next.
I have never been big into Sherlock Holmes, but I do enjoy his stories that I have read. This is an obvious play on Sherlock Holmes, and it made it so interesting. The story was well structured, and the plot was very interesting. It was free from violence and objectionable material that one normally finds in mystery stories
My favorite part? The story did a good job at teaching a moral lesson without sounding like a sermon; a hard accomplishment for a short story. The message was not just tacked on at the end, it was woven into the story.
I recommend this short story for those who love light mysteries, short stories, and moral stories.
Was this helpful? Please vote it up on Amazon.
A New Short Story
While there have been many setbacks on my work. I have some updates for you guys.After working exclusively on editing Courage and Corruption for the last few days, it is almost ready to go back out to the beta readers. We will see if the corrections and additions to the story fixed some of the issues. The new release date for the book is November 15th.
I am also happy to say that Befriended is available for Preorder!October 10, 2016
Honoring Authority: A Story After God's Own Heart
The authorities were after him. He had done nothing either legally or morally wrong. In fact, He was standing for his faith. Now, the government was after him, a corrupted one that perverted justice, and refused to follow even its own laws.
Then one amazing day, this man had a golden opportunity. The leader of this corrupted government fell into his hands. Those around him said that God had given him this day. He could kill this leader, or at least put him in prison. This would be the end of the godless leader and the corrupted government.
But he didn’t do it.
David said; “I cannot lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed one.
I have had a lot of conversations with people over the last year about honoring the governing authorities. What I am hearing has disturbed my heart. Many I have talked to have made fun of our president, joke about assassination, and ignore minor laws like speed limits because they say that the government is corrupt so we don’t have to honor or obey it.
The story above comes from 1 Samuel and you probably recognized it. David twice had the opportunity to kill or capture Saul. However, both time, he refused, even when everyone around him encouraged it. Why? Because Saul was God’s anointed.
Even after his death, when perhaps he should have been rejoicing that he would no longer have to run, he mourned for Saul and grew angry with the man who claimed to have killed him.
David was a man after his own heart and I think that this story is one of the reasons why. David refused to give in to the temptations to take matters into his own hands. He believed that God had raised Saul up and God and only God had the right to depose him.
In reading 1 and 2 Samuel, here is what I was reminded about authority.
• We like David should always speak and act in a honoring manner toward those in authority.
• We should not lift our hand against those in authority
• In God’s time, corrupted rulers will meet their end.
I urge you to open up your Bible and read the story for yourself. Don’t take my word for this, open up your Bible and discover it for yourself.
Join me next week for part 2 of this study.
