DIARY COUNTDOWN: DAY 179

Weight:   138.4 kilograms

"And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

(Galatians 5:24)

I suspect that the weight is under 138 kilograms as I weighed myself with different shoes, lot heavier. No matter what, it is obvious that I have lost some weight. Not as much as I wanted to but still.

I guess it is not only about dieting anymore. have to start the morning walks again, as much as I hate doing it on this chilly weather. I don't really enjoy putting more gear on, but I have to get passed that barrier too. Or maybe start doing it later, although I would not enjoy the crowded pathways...

Can't start tomorrow. I have an exam to pass. Yeap. An exam. As in school exams. I do believe education is important. It gives you a strong set of values. It was education that helped Paul the apostle to bring the word of Gospel to the gentiles, although he said humbled himself with those words:

"For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."

(1 Corinthians 15:9)

Education is important. It gives you a higher set of values. brings higher standards in our lives. Make no mistake: education is to be valued. The political correctness has induced the false idea that ignorance is as good as knowledge. that is absolutely not true and incorrect!

It is actually the knowledge that gives us a better understanding of things. Even when we are talking about being a Christian one can not become a Christian without KNOWING who is Jesus, what he has done for us, and how God's plan worked through us.

Apostle Paul had a refined education. And true, part of his training he had to give up. But he never gave up others. He was flexible. He was creating opportunities. And all his knowledge was used by the Holy Spirit to fullfil God's plan of spreading the Gospel.

Yes. Education is very important. Even when it comes to being a Christian. Actually Jesus was a teacher. He was the ultimate teacher! And he is the leader of the HEAD OF THE CHURCH. I don't think anyone would want leaders that do not know what they are doing. 

It is of outmost importance who leads. You can't have a doctor managing a factory. It would not be impossible but it would definitely be difficult to get results. He would have to lean on the counsel of a board of engineers and economists that the company would have to pay extra money and he would waste valuable time in making a decision.

A leader must always be well equipped for the leadership. See, Paul was the best in bringing the word to the gentiles, while Peter was better at bringing the word to his nation. So they had the same knowledge and they were working for the same goal in different ways because their skills were different.

Somebody once told me that GOOD IS THE ENEMY OF THE BEST. I will never forget those words. So few words state such a powerful truth. So never give in for less. People will try to make you adopt lower standards sometimes. Will try to push you into things that are in conflict with your standards. Never give up the standards even if that means that you will get hurt yourself in the process. Maintaining a highs standard in all that we do is not wrong.

Education is important. Training your skills is important. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21 it is actually written: 

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." 

We don't have the same set of skills but that is just because so we could help each other. Under no circumstances are we to disregard the skills and training of the others just because we have our own ideas about things we know nothing or less about. 

As a Christian I deeply believe that only the scientific knowledge is not enough. The faith in Christ is there to complete our education. But under no circumstances are we to FORCE anyone into something that he or she feels it is not right according to their standards and set of values at a particular moment. 

That is the moment when we need to compromise our personal plans and needs. To evaluate the situation and create opportunities if possible. Even the Bible explicitly tell us so. We are all work in progress. Therefore we are at different stages or educational levels. Therefore we have different levels of understanding at a particular moment in time.

I have a good example at hand: all of us who have been brought up behind the iron curtain know what that type of conduct brings along: system failure. The Socialist Republic of Romania for instance had a shoemaker leading the country for almost thirty years as a dictator. His name was Ceausescu. What happened in those days is history for many, but to me it is still a reality and there are many lessons to be learned from what happened back then.

I find this to be true: only Christ was perfect. And we are called to be saints. Our God is a God of the second chances. He gave His only son to give us that second chance. That is why I don't think we need to stretch that chance to a third, and fourth chance. When Paul wrote to the saints of the churches, while greeting the leaders and all of those who lead a life in Christ, so they could help the others around them, regardless if they were members of the church or not, he himself was aware of his personal conflict between the flesh and the spirit.

Wow! That was kinda' long! Just got carried away in the Spirit I guess. May all the blessings of the Lord be upon you! Ciao for now!