Thursday, June 4, 2020

But I Don't Like Cats

Let me start this by saying, I am not a cat person. I like dogs. (I did like the musical Catsbut that is another thing all together.) I don’t want to offend my cat-loving friends but I have always thought cats are not real pets. They do what they want and ignore you most of the time…dogs do not. Dogs sit in your lap and get excited when you come home after a 3-minute exit of the premises.  Cats glance at you, allowing you into their presence. That is what I thought until this morning.

A couple of days after Easter, my daughter came over (yes, we broke quarantine…sue me!) and we heard a sound from a deep hollow in a tree in our yard. Last summer we discovered this hollow to be a snake’s nest so we approached it slowly. From the deep bowels emerged a tiny gray kitten begging for food. We took it out and found that there was another, smaller, stripped kitten in the hollow and a less fortunate littermate who had not survived. The mother obviously had abandoned them to the snakes, but these two had survived. What were we to do? I couldn’t just let these kittens fend for themselves at just a little over a week old (their eyes had just opened) We hoped that my elder granddaughter’s cat, who had just had kittens, would adopt them. My daughter took the kittens to her house and Kayce’s cat adopted them and the two kittens thrived.  All was well. I had done my duty and saved these little creatures…I patted myself on the back. In reality, I had done nothing but agree that my daughter should take the kittens home. I promised I would visit them.  

Sunday, that all changed as my daughter called and said it was time for the kittens to come “home!” To her this meant MY house. If you know my daughter, she can be very convincing so on Sunday afternoon, after braving Wal-Mart for litter box and food, I begrudgingly became a “cat mama.” I put them in our back sun-room along with all my younger grandchildren’s toys and a seldom used treadmill. I sat down and waited to make sure they knew how to use the litter box. That was my only intent.  I was going to leave them alone to fend for themselves with an American Girl doll as company. But something happened…they began to play with my toes. They slept on my toes. They nibbled on my toes. Then they looked at me as only cats can. I told myself I was not going to fall for it. I was going to keep them until I found someone else who would take them…but then one reared-up on my leg and begged me to pick her up. As I did, I heard this noise from somewhere deep…a purr. I picked the other up and it curled in my hand contented. I was trapped.

We did the next horrible thing—we gave them names. The larger gray one—the one who climbed out of the hollow to ask for help—we named “Steel Magnolia” because of her will to survive. The much smaller little brother we named “Drew Brees”—who was small and never thought to amount to anything. So, there. They were named and began a life of luxury in our home. 

Last night, during some thunder and lightning and while watching reruns of Chicago Fire, I heard a desperate cry…Magnolia was scared and wanted her “mommy.” I climbed over the barrier to get to her and held her for a moment, sat with her and then laid her in her bed. She was content and went to sleep. She needed me to console her and let her know it was going to be alright…that snake was not coming back and you are safe now, little gray kitty. 
This morning, I sat drinking my coffee, feeling little claws on my toes, thinking about how my heart had softened once I got to know these kittens…not all cats…but these kittens. I began to think perhaps that is the way many of us are in our society…grouping all people together and deciding things about them on information that may or may not be true. It wasn’t an accident we found those kittens. They were desperate and we were nearby. They cried out the only way they knew how. What if we began to listen to the desperate cries of those around us and put ourselves in a place where we can help. What if we got to know individuals instead of a group. We will find is that no one fits into the boxes we created. No one. Not whites, not blacks not Asians, not Native Americans, nor Latinos. Each individual has hopes and fears. Each one has trusts issues that need to be dealt with. Each one truly wants to be loved and accepted. We are more alike than different. All the things I want in myself, I find are things others want as well. I learned this lesson many years ago on a trip to China. God spoke clearly to me that people are people. We discover that once people have names. Names clarify who people are. Names give us someone to intercede for, to care for, to laugh with, to live life with, to calm fears. 

I truly believe God sent Magnolia and Brees to remind me to look individually at those around me. In reality, not everyone will be happy to know we now have cats and I get that. To be honest, I am still more comfortable with dogs, but I am willing to step out and see that not all cats are aloof and uncaring…and neither should I be, for perhaps my OWN aloofness and apathy was what I didn’t want to see when I looked into the eyes of my kittens. Thank you, God for the reminder. 

Monday, April 27, 2020

Why Do You Go to Church?


This week my pastor asked us why we went to church. With not being able to meet except online, the question was for us to clarify our purpose for attending when we are able to return. Immediately I had the answer and knew it was the correct one. I would get the gold star for the day! Of course, the answer was “to worship and have fellowship with other believers.”  Then the voice of God prodded me and I began to ponder…should my worship of Him only happen when we gather in a building? Don’t I worship Him daily as I walk and see how majestic He is in all the earth?  Why do I need to go to a building to do that?

BUT as our pastor’s sermon continued and he began to talk about “inward thinking” and “missional thinking” reasons, I continued to make my list of whys. These are some I came up with: 

·      So I can hear the Word (as long as I like what the preacher is saying)
·      So I can sing praises to God (as long as we are singing songs I like in the style I like.)
·      So can fellowship with others (as long as they like me and pay attention to me)
·      So I can share my prayer needs (as long as people care about me)
·      So I can have a place where my children can be taught about God. (not the church’s responsibility according to Deuteronomy 6)

Our reasons need to go deeper and the early church knew that.  They were being persecuted because of their faith and needed to join together for encouragement and to pray for God’s direction as they continued sharing the Good News of Christ. Their faith was firmly planted in knowing the belief of the risen Christ was something worth dying for. They were passionate about sharing.

So, what were some of the differences between the early church and today’s church? The scriptures cited were from Acts 11 and 13. 

·      They were filled with the Holy Spirit who gave them the words to say and showed them their purpose. (Acts 11: 18) They were compelled to share what God had done and the Holy Spirit gave them power and purpose.
·      They wanted everyone to hear. Barnabus was compelled to leave his group to encourage others. It wasn’t about his comfort. As he left, it is said of him, “He was a good man, full of the Spirit and of faith, and large numbers were being added to the Lord. Acts 11: 23-24 Please note, they were not added to a congregation but to the Lord. 
·      They encouraged others in the faith.  Barnabus went to Saul…a former enemy of The Way. He saw Saul’s potential and discipled him without a thought that Saul might steal some of this thunder or followers…So many times in our inward thinking, we become jealous of someone and often try to discredit them. We need to see other’s gifting’s and encourage them to use them for the kingdom. (Acts 11:25) 
·      The early believers helped other believers who had needs (Acts 11:28-30) Too often, congregations compete with each other. The early church shared what they had to other churches so that all could be equipped for the mission. 
·      They were a praying people (Acts 13: 1-3)  Yes, they sang and listened to the teachings from those who taught, but then they spent much time in prayer and fasting, seeking God’s will for them. How much time do we as a congregation spend in earnest prayer seeking God’s will?  Have we merely appointed committees to do that? Even mores, how much time after the service do you spend in prayer asking God what He wants you to do with what you have just heard? (ouch)
·      They sent people from their own to spread the Word as the Holy Spirit lead. They laid hands on them to give assurance of their continued support. They were willing to let go of those they loved, so that the Gospel could spread. This church loved Barnabus—he was their encourager—but they let him go and did not get mad that he was leaving. The mission was more important than their own congregation. 


So, how are we doing? I am not painting with a large brush all congregations, for there are many who are doing incredible things for the Kingdom. But if we are honest, for most of us, our inwardly focused thinking has resulted in a program-led church not a Holy Spirit-led church. I love the church... the body of Christ…the Bride. As a matter of fact I am the church. So, this leads me to the original question: Why do you go to church (meeting)? Why do I go to church (meeting)? Where are we in this list? Do we:

·      Seek to be filled by the Holy Spirit so He can lead, or are we afraid of Him and what He will require? 
·      Do we desire everyone to know the good news? Even that next door neighbor with the barking dog? Or are we afraid of the persecution and keep silent? 
·      Do we encourage others to develop their gifts or are we jealous? Have we done a good job of mentoring the next generation? 
·      Do we help others in their need even if they are in another church?
·      Are we teaching our own household how to follow God or expecting the church to?  
·      Are we willing to send those we love or do we want to hold onto them for our sake? 

The bottom line—this is God’s church not ours. He established it so that the good news would spread. He did not intend it to be a huddled group inside walls doing programs. Perhaps that is why we have been taken out of our walls. His true church will blaze new, uncharted trails, unafraid, knowing He will guide them. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”  John 14:15 His final commandment is in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go and make disciples of ALL men…teaching them to obey all I have commanded. Remember, I am with you to the end.” 

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So, let me ask again, “Why do you go to church?” 

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Don't Listen to the Lies

Yesterday one of my high school classmates posted on Facebook that he was being chased by the police who pulled him over. They asked if he had been in a fight at a gas station moments before. Of course, my classmate said, “no,” but then heard the other officer calling the dispatch saying, “No, this is an elderly man.” It was a slap of cold water in his face—and mine since we graduated the same year. Earlier in the week I read of a pastor who asked the older people in his congregation to worship somewhere else so they could draw more young people into the crowd. That also slapped me in the face. 

I love younger people and mentor them to take over after I am gone, but we live in a youth-oriented culture where age is a liability. To be truthful, some seniors have added to the fire by becoming bitter and angry—demanding that nothing change from the way they have always done things. But we can’t sweep with a wide brush nor generalize! 

I was in senior in high school and in college during the Jesus Movement of the 70’s. This was the Christian’s answer to the Hippy, Flower Child movement happening in our world.  We loved everything about Jesus and proclaimed He was the One Way. Groups like Andre Crouch and the Disciples, Dove, Keith Green and many more used music to display their beliefs and we sang loudly. Yes, our songs were different than our parents but still proclaimed the truth of the gospel. The problem was that we sang accompanied by guitars and wore jeans (shock.) It was more than many of the congregations could handle and they alienated the youth of that day. Many left the local church and began non-denominational congregations. I didn’t leave but I did make a commitment to myself and God that I would never be an “old person like that!” What I meant was, that I would be open to new music and new ways of doing things as long as the message and the doctrine of the Bible was not altered in the process. I have kept my word. 

Just today, sitting at my piano, I played and sang (for His enjoyment only,) Leeland’s, Way Maker, and my heart was stirred to know that God is always working. Then from somewhere this thought came: “You are too old to sing this song or to speak into the hearts of younger people the truth of the Bible.” The enemy used the things I had read this week to cause doubt in my calling. I was devastated to say the least. I began to wonder if I was only fit to take trips to Branson and be satisfied with monthly luncheons. 

There is nothing wrong with Branson or lunches but any of you who know me, know I do not fit in that category or any category. God gave me skill sets that are different and has used these skill sets my whole life. God reminded me today as I sat in private worship, my fingers still ran across the ivory keys as well as they always did…my voice was still strong, albeit those really high notes don’t come like they used to. (so, I avoid them!) God reminded me He continues to give me messages to share and teachings from His word to encourage and urge others to stay in the fight. Tears fell. I knew all of this in my heart but my mind went to the lies of the enemy and I asked God if it was time to hang up my podium and piano.  Not three seconds later, my phone rang. I answered only to discover I was speaking with a ladies team looking for a speaker for their Hope Rally in September. The name of the rally was not lost on me. God was not finished. He answered immediately that I was still useful for the kingdom. 

Perhaps you have felt useless, as well, because your church only looks to the youthful for leading. Hold on. God has given those of us who have been around the sun many times, wisdom and patience, and persistence. These are things we only achieve with age. Don’t fall for the lies and don’t “settle” in your church if they think it is time to send you to pasture. Stand up and say you are not ready to retire from God’s army. 

As for me, encouraged once again by God,  I will not retire until someone leans over my coffin and says, “Don’t she look natural!”

Saturday, August 10, 2019

he's Cooking with Gas!


This week I heard a Hollywood starlet (can’t remember her name) apologizing for being white.  Her tears were evident and she sounded very sincere. I don’t know what she plans to do with her whiteness but others are following her example. 

I think I understand what she was saying…in the course of US history, there have been whites who had slaves. There have been whites who abused people of color, there are currently whites who treat others (including other whites) with distain. These are all horrible acts done by evil people, and I grieve deeply because of them. BUT is it the whiteness of the person that caused these egregious acts? When a white child exits the birth canal, does something attach to the skin causing he or she to have preconceived ideas about race?  Of course not. 

This ploy is the next step in satan’s attempt to destroy human beings. He wants us to forget that we all were once slaves to his cunning. He wants us to forget that God freed us from his power. He wants us to believe we are just like him. He has used his ploys throughout the history of the world. There have been Egyptians, Chinese, Cambodian, Arians, and even Africans who enslaved their fellow humans causing great harm and abuse. However, these groups are not apologizing for their skin color. Why is that? Because the problem isn’t with our melanin. 

I do believe we should grieve and apologize for the acts of our ancestors. Apologizing for our skin color, however, is saying God made a mistake in our creation. No, friend, it is not the color of our skin we should be apologizing for but the condition of our hearts and the actions our hearts cause. The unregenerate heart desires power and dominance over others. The unrepentant heart will do whatever it takes to achieve these goals. They will lie, abuse, and prevent reasonable discussions in order to get their way. 

The enemy invented and is using a physiological method called gas lighting. Gas lighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or in members of a targeted group, making them question their own memory, perception, and sanity.

This manipulation is mostly seen in abusive relationships but we are seeing on a large scale upon our society. People with evil agendas are using this method to cause us to doubt everything about us…our color, our nationality, even our family. None of us had any control over these things, yet we need to be ashamed of them. You see, if you are told something over and over by someone you trust, you begin to believe what they are telling you is true. The enemy can be very persuasive. 

Gas lighting is not new. The enemy has used this trick for thousands of years. He used it in the garden: “…Did God really say?...” Genesis 3: 1  He sowed seeds of doubt into Eve’s mind and she became confused.  The logic he presented was so clear…so she fell for his lies. We know how that turned out!  We are being told over and over if we are a certain color, if we are a certain gender, or if we have values that differ from those gas lighting us, we are worthless and should no longer exist. Sadly, many are believing this to be true as evidenced by this starlet’s confession. 

What is our defense? Believer, remember who you are in Christ. Galatians 3:28 states:There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.” When Christ comes into our lives, He makes us new creations…our color doesn’t change but our hearts do. When our hearts change, we see others as Christ sees them; we see people who need the saving blood of Jesus.  satan doesn’t want us to know or see this because once we know the truth we are free from his abusive lies. 

We begin to love all, have compassion for all, see all as valuable creations of God. We begin to love because we have been set free. Galatians 5:1 says, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” We have a choice, Believer. We can once again be enslaved by the lies of our enemy, or realize the freedom Christ has given us. 


Tuesday, October 16, 2018

When that Boulder Won't Move

  
There is a line in Lauren Daigle’s popular song, Trust in You, that says, “If you don’t move that mountain, I’m wanting you to move…” I have pondered that line as I compare it with the verse in Matthew that says, “With a little faith, you can move mountains.” (Matt 17:20) If mountains in our lives aren’t moved, does it mean we don’t have faith? Perhaps you are pondering that, as well. 

Some of us have mountains…things in front of us that seem to impair our journey. We want it gone so we can move forward. Mountains are huge! But the truth is, most of us only have boulders in our way. We seem to be blocked by a person or situation we cannot see our way around. Our prayer is, “God, please move it.” Yet it remains. We sit in the boulder’s shadow, and lose faith and hope that we will ever see the victory. 

Right now, I am dealing with a huge boulder in my life. I know deeply that God wants to move me in a particular direction, but there is this obstruction I cannot get around. As I prayed, God showed me several scriptures, none of which talked about moving large rocks!  He showed me scriptures about water and the power water has. He reminded me of living water. In John 4, Jesus said to the woman at the well in John 4:10:  “Jesus answered,If you knew the gift of God, and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would ask him, and he would give you living water.”

 

Living water. God also reminded me of a trip several years ago, when my husband and I did a white-water-rafting excursion on the Colorado River. At first I wasn’t sure I wanted to get on the raft because I knew there were many rapids--which are created by large boulders in the river. Many of the rapids were very dangerous. The thing that changed my mind was our guide. He was an NFL linebacker and a massive man! Not only was he huge, he knew how to maneuver our raft through the rapids to keep us safe; he had done this many times.  The obligatory picture, which was taken on our journey, showed our faces filled with fear mixed with excitement. It was so much fun…not because it wasn’t dangerous, it was fun because we trusted this huge human being to keep us safe. 

 

At one time, the boulders in the Colorado River might have impeded the flow of water, but now they were merely detours. It was a lesson I needed to remember. Living water moves forward...always. It doesn’t stagnant and become stinky. Boulders thrive in stagnant water and that is where I have found myself.  I had forgotten that living water, like a river, can wear down a mountain (the Grand Canyon) but I also had forgotten it can move over boulders until the river’s path is no longer hindered. The more living water, the deeper the flow. 

 

The same is true of God’s river in our lives. “If you knew…you 

would ask and He would give you living water.” Perhaps, I have 

been asking for the wrong thing. Perhaps, I have been asking for 

the barrier to be removed instead of Jesus showing Himself faithful 

over the barrier. There most likely will always be boulders causing 

hindrances to my journey, but I have a guide who knows how to 

flow over those boulders while the river runs forward. God’s voice 

clearly said I need to pray for more of Him, the living water. “If I 

knew Him…I would ask and He would give.” 


Friday, October 5, 2018

The Benefit of Stepping Back

There are situations in life when we have an opportunity to become angry, fearful and bitter OR peaceful, trusting, and better.  I am sure you have been in that place sometime in your life. God lead me to a very familiar passage in I Kings 18-19 about Elijah. You might remember this lesson: Elijah was told to go and show God's power to the prophets of Baal. God did an amazing miracle and many pagans turned toward the One True God. This did not make the evil leaders, Ahab and Jezebel very happy, and Elijah's life was threatened. He ran.

I am a runner...no not the kind a Fit-Bit would monitor, but the kind who runs from controversy when things get a little rough. Usually, running happens right after a time of great victory...a time when God's presence was so heavy I could touch it. The enemy craftily takes this particular time to present an attack. I want to run away.  This passage gives some points to ponder when we are in a similar situation.

  • After a great victory, we are physically tired. 
  • When we are tired, we allow our thoughts to run away 
  • When we let our thoughts run away, we become fearful
  • When we become fearful, we begin to think that we are all alone
  • When we are all alone, we begin to think even God doesn't care
  • When we think God doesn't care, we hide away from the world.

Does this sound familiar? As I read, I saw God in each situation:

  • God gave rest to Elijah and brought him food to replenish
  • God allowed Elijah to run and hide for awhile
  • God spoke. 

God wasn't angry at Elijah for being human. We need to understand that. But God also wasn't going to let Elijah remain in a cave believing the lies of his fearful heart. He had called Elijah for a great work and that was more important than Elijah's feelings so He called to Elijah. Eventually, Elijah came out of hiding and heard the voice of the God who loved him.

"What are you doing here, Elijah?" I Kings 19:9 When God asks us a question, He expects honest answers and Elijah told Him everything he was feeling.  God patiently listened to every whine of His servant. When Elijah finished, God spoke truth to each of Elijah's complaints. Eventually, truth brought rest to all the fears. Elijah finally saw things from God's perspective.

I needed to hear that today as I am tempted to run from a situation. Sometimes, merely stepping back from a situation is OK. It doesn't mean I am giving up, it means I am willing to rest and allow God to show me a proper perspective of the situation.

Today, my encouragement to you is, instead of quitting, step away and listen to God's voice which will always be in a still small voice spoken deeply into your heart. That is when you know He is speaking a word only to you.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Does the Women's Movement Have Another Agenda?



In 2003, I took a course in seminary entitled, “Feminist Theology.” I had no idea what that was. I only took it because all the seminaries in our denomination joined together to hear the author of the book, The Feminist Mistake, teach the course. That, along with the fact I could visit my son, who was also in seminary at the time, convinced me to take this class. Those were not very good reasons, but I am so glad I went. God wanted to give me insight as to the agenda of the women’s movement.

The teacher, Mary Kassian, had done extensive research into the history of feminism. Her lectures taught us that feminism began long before 1963, when Betty Friedan’s book, The Feminine Mystique, was published. But it was this book which began the talking points of what would eventually be known as “The Women’s Movement,” and NOW. [National Organization of Women]

The premise of Betty Friedan’s book, suggested to women there was no way they could be happy cleaning, cooking, and taking care of their children in their homes. She gave convincing arguments that having children was the cause of the powerlessness women have, adding if a woman stayed at home taking care of children, she would never reach her full potential. 

Fast forward a couple of years and we see the appearance of the birth control pill. That surely would be the answer to our freedom. We could now decide when and if we got pregnant. The problem was, sometimes the pill did not work. So, there began a campaign to change abortion laws so women could be free from this plague called motherhood. In 1973, she and her followers succeeded when Roe vs. Wade passed in the Supreme Court.

Many in my generation, latched on to this and went around singing, “I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar.” I was completely oblivious to what was happening spiritually to my country.

While “equal rights,” and “abortion” is what generally is associated with feminism, the hidden agenda is seldom spoken about. Before Friedan’s book, feminism was based upon an idea called, “renaming,” and refers to the time when God had Adam name things. The question posed was, “Why would Adam and God get to do the naming?  We have every right to name ourselves anyway we like.” When I heard this part of the lecture, I have to admit, it made no sense to me.  Calling myself by another name, doesn’t change what I am…oh, boy was I naïve! 

In order to “rename” successfully, there needed to be some mind-changing steps or society would never agree. I cannot teach this whole course, but may I point out things a few “mind-changes” that have happened since I took that course in 2003?  

  • Men are the enemy. We must destroy men to succeed. In today’s society men are shamed by terms like “toxic masculinity,” and “patriarchy,” which takes the very essence of what God intended man to be and renames it as evil. They rename the very essence of men. We see commercials portraying men as buffoons and comedy shows highlighting the superiority of women. Slowly but surely, men are being destroyed in our society.
  • All men are immoral cannot be sexually pure. If they say they are, they are lying.
  • There is renamingof anyone who disagrees with this agenda: bigot, racist, homophobic, old white men, and the list goes on.  There doesn’t have to be any evidence to these claims because "they" have the power to rename any person. Many are cowering because they don’t want this renamed title attached to themselves. 
  • Make men more like women. Do this in many ways…convince men to get “in touch with their feminine side.”  If that doesn’t work, encourage men in the gay lifestyle so they will side with feminist feelings. 
  • The latest renaming tactic is Trans-sexualism. Individuals decide, or rename, what sex they are. Please note, the vast number of people who claim they are transsexual are men wanting to be women…not the other way around. If we cannot destroy men, we will rename them "women."
  • Convince society they get to decide what sex they are from the get-go. Believe it or not, birth certificates in some places do not “name” the sex of a baby until that child decides what it wants to be later in life. God no longer has a say. 
  • Insist on sexual freedom. Women want to be as free sexually as they feel men are, but want no repercussions of their poor choices. They however, will hold men to higher standards than they hold and destroy them in the process. 
  • Above all else, never get rid of “child sacrifice,” (abortion) for that would put women back in the dark ages of when they were prisoners in their homes. Of course, they soften the term by calling it Women’s Health. This is the main issue today and underlies many women movements and marches. 

At the end of the course, Mary Kassian, showed pictures of women involved in the Feminist movement from the start to where they ended up. Each one of the women looked more like a man than a woman.  I was shocked. Genesis 3:16b came to mind. “Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.”  I had always thought that verse meant women would always desire a husband but the more I see what is going on today, I think it meant, you will want to be your husband; renaming what God intended. I am both shocked and saddened by this and also that so many are being taken in by it. 

Many will take issue with what is written in this blog and that is your prerogative but if you are a Christian, I ask that you open your eyes and see what is going on in our nation.  Read both of the books mentioned. See from a new spiritual perspective that possibly there is more going on in the heavenlies than we can see.  God’s enemy, satan, has always wanted to rename himself as God. In destroying all that God holds dear, perhaps, he is accomplishing his goal. But may I remind all of us, God wins in the end and we are called upon to trust the living, holy God of the universe.  

I want to end this controversial blog, by stating how God originally named us: 
·     Women are beautiful creations with the ability to feel deeply and to care for others. We alone are given the opportunity to feel life growing inside us and to birth a new baby. 
·     Women are equal in God’s eyes. Jesus honored women.
·     Women were the first ones given the opportunity to share the good news of the gospel. 


We should continue to do that and that only.