Larry Lilly Live
Add text
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Berean Baptist Church of Terre Haute
  • Journal December 2019
  • Journal November 2019
  • Journal October 2019
  • Journal September 2019
  • Journal August 2019
  • Journal July 2019
  • Journal May 2019
  • Journal April 2019
  • Journal February 2019
  • Journal January 2019
  • Journal December 2018
  • Journal October 2018
  • Journal September 2018
  • Journal August 2018
  • Journal June 2018
  • Journal April 2018
  • Journal March 2018
  • Journal February 2018
  • Journal December 2017
  • Journal November 2017
  • Journal October 2017
  • Journal September 2017
  • Journal August 2017
  • Journal July 2017
  • Journal June 2017
  • Journal May 2017
  • Journal April 2017
  • Journal March 2017
  • Journal February 2017
  • Journal January 2017
  • Journal December 2016
  • Journal October 2016
  • Journal Sept 2016
  • Journal August 2016
  • Journal July 2016
  • Journal June 2016
  • Journal May 2016
  • Journal April 2016
  • Journal March 2016
  • Journal February 2016
  • Journal November 2015
  • Journal October 2015
  • Journal September 2015
  • Journal August 2015
  • Journal July 2015
  • Journal June 2015
  • Journal May 2015
  • Journal April 2015
  • Journal March 2015
  • Journal February 2015
  • Journal January 2015
  • Outrageous Forgiveness
  • Making it Thru The Holidays
  • About Walls, Pope & Trump
  • Sunday at Berean 2/19/2017
  • Prison Ministry Update
  • Journal November 2018
    • Amazing Grace Booklet
  • Untitled
  • Blog
  • Blog
  • Blog
  • Blog

Possible Beauty in Humble Places. Baltimore

5/7/2015

0 Comments

 
PictureMother of The Year!
As did most people I watched an inordinate amount of news coverage of the trouble in Baltimore, MD. Having Matriarchcal roots there (my mother was born there), and in later years I was an assistant pastor nearby, I was drawn as a moth to the flame. As I watched many disgusting actions and heard many words that make no contribution to the discussion or make any progress toward solving any of the problems facing the four hundred thousand plus people living in the immediate area, I recalled a statement by Camille Pissarro, a Danish artist:

 “Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing."

The thought rushed across my mind, not a long journey, that many viewers are appalled at what they are seeing and hearing, yet without understanding. The demographics of that part of Baltimore are worlds removed from the supposed problems of Ferguson, MO. Yet everyone seems to insist on some sort of racial basis as the catalyst of the explosion that has been smoldering for years. Certainly the social gospel advocates are in the area in droves, and race oriented politicos abound, yet, near as I can tell, a paltry few simple gospel preachers and groups. It is comforting to watch a coalition of all sorts of religious people stand between the police and the mob, attempting to calm people down at least until all the facts are in.

Being from a town near Baltimore that was segregated to the max when I was a child, I observed the humiliating treatment of blacks. Many from our town overcame this and progressed to outstanding success as fully accepted Americans.

One of the evidences that Christ sent to John the Baptist when he was in prison, is found in Matthew 11:5, “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

Christ put the gospel being preached to the poor right up there with miracles, including some being raised from the dead. Those who watched the gospel at work in people’s lives know the awesome wonders worked thereby. Many of the 400,000 people in West Baltimore need a heart change almost as desperately as the fine and dandy inhabitants of Beverly Hills. The acceptance of the true gospel of Christ delivers men and women from the curse of sin, the destiny of Adam and the grist mill of poverty. True Christ salvation breaks the chains of sin, and puts a desire to please the Lord into the heart and this divine desire works its way into practical action. I know people who drank their life away, who would not work in a pie factory smelling the pies, who, when Christ came into their hearts, bought into the broader truth of moral responsibility, raised the family, worked and learned to live a quiet and contented life at home. All colors are represented in this story. The problem is not the color of skin, but the condition of the heart.

 I really should mention the heart of leaders who permit very good jobs to leave our fair country and make enormous profits overseas etc., all the while poor families are doomed to the dole and minimum wages. Perhaps some other than the poor blacks also need a heart change via Jesus Christ and the need for good jobs would be solved. Could be some beautiful possibilities.

 Copyright © 2015 Larry Lilly

Need IT work? Click Oral Deckard


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly