I've been trying really hard to keep quiet, but I just can't do it. I woke up this morning and my mind was racing. Politics can be a very divisive topic. Why is that? Are people so offended by difference that you cannot even respect another person who you don't agree with? I cannot figure it out...I cannot...
Sarah Palin has been holding her campaign rallies...good for her. You know what isn't good? Not to worry, I'll tell yah. This...when the issues aren't working, when they aren't getting you ahead in the poles, start trying to make people afraid...that my friends, is not good. Start saying things like, "His friends are terrorists, His name is Barack Hussein Obama" Is that all you have? The latest kicker for me is the audience of the rallies saying things like "Kill Obama" with no head shakes from her... This is so sad. Is this where we are? That because you aren't voting for someone you have to shout "Kill Obama." I do not understand this!!! This, from the people who are having her autograph their Bibles...Wow... Is Jesus proud of this?
I'm tired. I'm tired of all the reports... I'm tired of my mom sending me all her really weird (not to mention false) forwards via email. I'm tired of people saying Barack Obama is "evil" but when I ask why, they can't tell me.
People just don't understand what they are doing... Jesus said it best, Father forgive them, they know not what they do. They murder Dr's because they murder babies, they kill homosexuals because they are sinners, they hate difference so much that it makes me wonder...if Jesus came to this earth now, just as He was when He was here, an advocate for peace, a lover of mercy, the ultimate show-er of Gods love, a voice for "the least", a shout against religion, would they kill Him again?
I watched this video and cried...my heart literally mourns...how can Jesus, who did not come to create a religion, have His name slapped on the hearts of those who profess such things... It seems that he is lost all together, just forgotten... its heartbreaking...
Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peace. Show all posts
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Jesus and John
John The Baptist...what an amazing man to look to for advise. The guy wears camel skin, eats locusts and tells it like it is. I was reading that the beginning of Matthew today, where he is basically introduced. Matthew basically says, "Here is this wandering strange weirdo, eating bizarre things, wear funky clothes, probably a little stanky...but with all the courage in the world!!" Up walk the Pharisees (which I research today, they kept all the OT laws and traditions that were passed down verbally, they put the focus on keeping the law instead of focusing on the intent of the law. They wanted everyone who was different from them to be far and separated from them. They were all classes of people.) Sadducee's (which believed that only Gen-Deut were God's word and they were usually from a line of nobility.)and John just says, "Who do you think you are??? There is no fruit in your life. You are walking around using religion to further your political agenda!!!" (these are NOT my words, although I wish they were. This is what the commentary said after every verse that I was reading...I was really shocked/excited to see this!!!) Then he proceeds to say, "You will see, the Messiah is coming, He will show you the way and hopefully you will let go of your legalism, and open your eyes so that you can see the Way he will offer you...but I, I am not even worthy to carry His sandals." Wow!!! Next things you know, Jesus is requesting John to baptize him. Quite a testament to, well, many things.
Jesus' life is such a shining example of how to achieve a fulfilling life that is pleasing to God. Often times we get caught up in feeling "better" as if we have found "the way" to heaven. Others are just misled. This is something I grew up hearing in church...the pastor would so much utter the words, "Mormon, Jehovah's witness, Darwinist or homosexual" and the whole church would roar in laughter...as if the joke were on them, because, we "Christians" found the way...har har har poor lost souls...??? What??? Show me, where does Jesus act like this. For instance, look what John says (above). He doesn't say, "You are screwed because you are a Pharisee...!!!" He says, "Hopefully you will lose the labels, you will embrace God, open your eyes and STOP BEING THE JUDGER OF SOULS!!!!" Now THIS is something that I never heard growing up. We were always the "better" followers of God, higher, more enlightened, not a "cult" because we said we were Christians. This divisive behaviour, was not attractive to me...which is why I now happily label myself as a red-letter Christian...
The words of Jesus have become a powerful tool in my life. It's funny because my family and lots of friends that I have, get (literally) offended when I bring up the words of Jesus. They say, "Well PAUL said...blah blah blah..." As if to negate the words of Christ, the one who they have named themselves after. I have to just chuckle, because when someone is talking "in their sleep" how can you expect logic."
I know I am rambling, but I do have some points. I hope that I have made a few already.
The next part that really jolted me when reading was the part about "using religion to further political agenda." Wow, aren't we there right now. I feel very strongly about my political stand point, however, I do not look down upon others if they feel differently. We have, currently, a man who says "I am a Christian man of God" leading our country. I can't judge that...I can only look at the "fruit" to use John's words, and see if his life backs that up. So lets see, Jesus says that the most important things are to care for the poor, the orphaned, the widows, love your neighbor as yourself." Ok so, bombing Iraq...I don't see up bombing ourselves, one down. The poor, the party that he is apart of leans toward, keeping our money to ourselves, not funding health care as much as is needed (or in my opinion free health care should be available to all, but that is an entirely different blog!!!), not giving to make sure that the less fortunate are taken care of...two down. And currently, rather than caring for orphans and widows, as a country, we are creating more. Three down...so far, all I can see is...well...not much. What is our president and his party for. There is the abortion issue (which just requires you saying "I'm prolife" but no movement toward actually changing anything)...which I am extremely passionate about...but I am not just anti-abortion, I am PROLIFE, all life, not just American unborn babies lives. Then there is homosexuality. I think that we get so carried away with forcing religious beliefs down the throats of people who life in American BECAUSE of religious freedom, that we often don't know how to separate "civil rights" with spiritual beliefs. Then, there is this illegal war that America is indulging in. All I can do is quote a few verse...the Bible says it, not me.
"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword."
"From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence."
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you"
2 things: if you want the references, ask. There are tons more...but I think I made my point.
Now to kind of tie this all together. I notice that whenever I talk about this, people, at least the people in my"circle" get ancy. The feel as if because I am saying something slightly different that, perhaps they have been taught, that I am "falling away," "being influenced by new age, secular, 'worldly' things" "becoming too liberal." Well, Jesus was a good example of liberal. And I want to be one to. He wasn't conservative in anyway...especially his love, and I would have to say, I am happy to follow his example. I want to be able to be proud of my life, of my heart, and what I believe. I don't want to have to avoid certain topics just because I'm afraid that people are going to think I'm "back-sliding" "turning away" "being tolerant." I want to be tolerant. I want to teach tolerance, love, peace, selflessness to my children. I want them to know Jesus, to defend His words and to be forever grateful for his sacrifice...
To tie it all together, John paved a way, set an example. He said it was important to lose labels (be it religious, political, racial etc.) and have your eyes open, to not remove the INTENT from the Word of God, to not exonerate ourselves, but to live like Jesus, walk like Him, view the world as He did. And that my friends...is definitely where I want to be...
Peace...
Jesus' life is such a shining example of how to achieve a fulfilling life that is pleasing to God. Often times we get caught up in feeling "better" as if we have found "the way" to heaven. Others are just misled. This is something I grew up hearing in church...the pastor would so much utter the words, "Mormon, Jehovah's witness, Darwinist or homosexual" and the whole church would roar in laughter...as if the joke were on them, because, we "Christians" found the way...har har har poor lost souls...??? What??? Show me, where does Jesus act like this. For instance, look what John says (above). He doesn't say, "You are screwed because you are a Pharisee...!!!" He says, "Hopefully you will lose the labels, you will embrace God, open your eyes and STOP BEING THE JUDGER OF SOULS!!!!" Now THIS is something that I never heard growing up. We were always the "better" followers of God, higher, more enlightened, not a "cult" because we said we were Christians. This divisive behaviour, was not attractive to me...which is why I now happily label myself as a red-letter Christian...
The words of Jesus have become a powerful tool in my life. It's funny because my family and lots of friends that I have, get (literally) offended when I bring up the words of Jesus. They say, "Well PAUL said...blah blah blah..." As if to negate the words of Christ, the one who they have named themselves after. I have to just chuckle, because when someone is talking "in their sleep" how can you expect logic."
I know I am rambling, but I do have some points. I hope that I have made a few already.
The next part that really jolted me when reading was the part about "using religion to further political agenda." Wow, aren't we there right now. I feel very strongly about my political stand point, however, I do not look down upon others if they feel differently. We have, currently, a man who says "I am a Christian man of God" leading our country. I can't judge that...I can only look at the "fruit" to use John's words, and see if his life backs that up. So lets see, Jesus says that the most important things are to care for the poor, the orphaned, the widows, love your neighbor as yourself." Ok so, bombing Iraq...I don't see up bombing ourselves, one down. The poor, the party that he is apart of leans toward, keeping our money to ourselves, not funding health care as much as is needed (or in my opinion free health care should be available to all, but that is an entirely different blog!!!), not giving to make sure that the less fortunate are taken care of...two down. And currently, rather than caring for orphans and widows, as a country, we are creating more. Three down...so far, all I can see is...well...not much. What is our president and his party for. There is the abortion issue (which just requires you saying "I'm prolife" but no movement toward actually changing anything)...which I am extremely passionate about...but I am not just anti-abortion, I am PROLIFE, all life, not just American unborn babies lives. Then there is homosexuality. I think that we get so carried away with forcing religious beliefs down the throats of people who life in American BECAUSE of religious freedom, that we often don't know how to separate "civil rights" with spiritual beliefs. Then, there is this illegal war that America is indulging in. All I can do is quote a few verse...the Bible says it, not me.
"Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword."
"From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence."
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you"
2 things: if you want the references, ask. There are tons more...but I think I made my point.
Now to kind of tie this all together. I notice that whenever I talk about this, people, at least the people in my"circle" get ancy. The feel as if because I am saying something slightly different that, perhaps they have been taught, that I am "falling away," "being influenced by new age, secular, 'worldly' things" "becoming too liberal." Well, Jesus was a good example of liberal. And I want to be one to. He wasn't conservative in anyway...especially his love, and I would have to say, I am happy to follow his example. I want to be able to be proud of my life, of my heart, and what I believe. I don't want to have to avoid certain topics just because I'm afraid that people are going to think I'm "back-sliding" "turning away" "being tolerant." I want to be tolerant. I want to teach tolerance, love, peace, selflessness to my children. I want them to know Jesus, to defend His words and to be forever grateful for his sacrifice...
To tie it all together, John paved a way, set an example. He said it was important to lose labels (be it religious, political, racial etc.) and have your eyes open, to not remove the INTENT from the Word of God, to not exonerate ourselves, but to live like Jesus, walk like Him, view the world as He did. And that my friends...is definitely where I want to be...
Peace...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
War War and More War
My dreaming last night was just awful. I need acupuncture!!! It really helps with nightmares!
I feel like the entire night was just dream after dream of me and some portion of my family being in the midst of war torn territory. It was horrible. Constant fear, constant hiding, constant running. I kept waking myself up and trying to stay awake so that I wouldn't have to continue the nightmare...but I just kept falling back into.
I woke up just feeling heavy. I have brought a child into the world amidst the wars that are going on and it has me passionate to do something about it. Collectively, as people, as a country, as a world, as a whole, we can bring about peace by just shifting our consciousness and being present. We can bring ourselves to now individually and in turn make world wide changes. I need this. Our world needs this on so many levels. I just don't know how to channel my passion and my mission into "convincing" others that peace is a necessity. All I can do is be present I suppose, set a standard and let my life shine. Lord help me...
Solomon woke up in a hissy this morning. I brought him home this cool "Mack" truck and motorcycle from Disneyland yesterday. He woke up crying, which isn't normal, but was yelling, through tears, "MACK!!!!! CYCLE!!!!!!!!!!!" So I went to get him up and he started thrashing and kicking saying, "NOOOO DADDY DO IT!!!!!" Ugh...good morning to you too sunshine! It's like he senses that Will has work/school and just doesn't want anything to do with me! He does all that he can to distract Will to keep him here. I feel sad for him because I know it is really hard to have such a good daddy who is gone so much. At the same time, I always feel like chopped liver, whatever that means. I spend my whole day with him giving him every ounce I can...and I get the daddy-do-it-card every single day!
Silence is now here, ah nap time. I must go indulge in the sickness that is watching the bachelorette...(cringes! yet is secretly excited)
I feel like the entire night was just dream after dream of me and some portion of my family being in the midst of war torn territory. It was horrible. Constant fear, constant hiding, constant running. I kept waking myself up and trying to stay awake so that I wouldn't have to continue the nightmare...but I just kept falling back into.
I woke up just feeling heavy. I have brought a child into the world amidst the wars that are going on and it has me passionate to do something about it. Collectively, as people, as a country, as a world, as a whole, we can bring about peace by just shifting our consciousness and being present. We can bring ourselves to now individually and in turn make world wide changes. I need this. Our world needs this on so many levels. I just don't know how to channel my passion and my mission into "convincing" others that peace is a necessity. All I can do is be present I suppose, set a standard and let my life shine. Lord help me...
Solomon woke up in a hissy this morning. I brought him home this cool "Mack" truck and motorcycle from Disneyland yesterday. He woke up crying, which isn't normal, but was yelling, through tears, "MACK!!!!! CYCLE!!!!!!!!!!!" So I went to get him up and he started thrashing and kicking saying, "NOOOO DADDY DO IT!!!!!" Ugh...good morning to you too sunshine! It's like he senses that Will has work/school and just doesn't want anything to do with me! He does all that he can to distract Will to keep him here. I feel sad for him because I know it is really hard to have such a good daddy who is gone so much. At the same time, I always feel like chopped liver, whatever that means. I spend my whole day with him giving him every ounce I can...and I get the daddy-do-it-card every single day!
Silence is now here, ah nap time. I must go indulge in the sickness that is watching the bachelorette...(cringes! yet is secretly excited)
Friday, May 2, 2008
In The Words of My Husband...
Deconditioning: A Process
by will
There is a difference between deconditioning and propaganda. when the people around you all are asleep and you wake someone up out of fragmentation, of "we are better", of hate, of war, that is deconditioning. propaganda is the status quo. the norm to quiet the masses.
amber and I were at disney land with my mom and solomon this past week, and we over heard on different occasions parents telling their kids, people telling people about "terrorists"..this was not a coincidence, its an integral part to the consciousness of society...if you tell someone over and over again of terror and terrorists thats propaganda. if you wake them up and realize fear is an illusion, and the powers of this world have created an illusory monster, you decondition.
if you are taught to fear and demonize the gay community because you are taught to give freedom only to people like yourself because i mean, God forbid if all people have a right to freedom under the constitution to love and solidify that love under the law of this counry. if you use (weakly) a few scriptures to pervert its intent while ignoring thousands of other verses applicable to your life. when you read the scripture in a consciousness of vendetta and contempt you will see only vendetta and contempt while blinded to internal change. always pointing the finger anywhere but inward. if you are woken up from this fragmented dream, you are awake not propagandized.
rich mullens, the author of the worship song "awesome God", who was killed in a car crash years ago said something very profound, ill paraphrase. He said to a church, you guys are into the born again thing, which is great, becaue jesus told a guy that you must be, but if you tell me I have to be in order to get into heaven, ill tell you you have to sell all of your belongings because jesus said this to another guy. But I guess thats why God created high lighters, so we can underline the parts we like and ignore the parts we dont.
brothers and sisters, deconditioning ourselves to a place of unconditonal love should be our objective and not feared. a love that knows no conditions. transcending illusory externalities. throwing away the politicising of random verses while missing the point. Seeing the good in others is very hard for me, but its also necessary for me. I have been forgiven and given much. so i should forgive and give much. without love, i have nothing. Jesus says in Revelations his followers had "abandoned the Love you had"
Some our threatened and fear Love (for others not for themselves) because they think its weak and wimpy and the other L word (liberal), in effect proverbially spitting on their Creator. Love is a dynamic force of power. Love is pervading and intense. Love is revolutionary. The "world" (by that I mean physicality and everyone who puts their faith in it) hates Love. Of course their is a time for judgement. But its about balance, and we are so out of balance with Love, we have alot of balancing to do and we are not even called to judge but only to Love.
Fear causes blockages my friends. it causes war in our hearts which causes war in our homes which causes war globally. When we realize this fear (or pride/hate etc which are all manifestations of the ego/flesh) that we say is us but is not, when we realize it is divisive, we will shine. When we realize this fear which we worship is satanic and not even real, we will learn to let go and not be defined by something we think is a part of our being but in truth does not exist. we shall be set free.
amen.selah.
by will
There is a difference between deconditioning and propaganda. when the people around you all are asleep and you wake someone up out of fragmentation, of "we are better", of hate, of war, that is deconditioning. propaganda is the status quo. the norm to quiet the masses.
amber and I were at disney land with my mom and solomon this past week, and we over heard on different occasions parents telling their kids, people telling people about "terrorists"..this was not a coincidence, its an integral part to the consciousness of society...if you tell someone over and over again of terror and terrorists thats propaganda. if you wake them up and realize fear is an illusion, and the powers of this world have created an illusory monster, you decondition.
if you are taught to fear and demonize the gay community because you are taught to give freedom only to people like yourself because i mean, God forbid if all people have a right to freedom under the constitution to love and solidify that love under the law of this counry. if you use (weakly) a few scriptures to pervert its intent while ignoring thousands of other verses applicable to your life. when you read the scripture in a consciousness of vendetta and contempt you will see only vendetta and contempt while blinded to internal change. always pointing the finger anywhere but inward. if you are woken up from this fragmented dream, you are awake not propagandized.
rich mullens, the author of the worship song "awesome God", who was killed in a car crash years ago said something very profound, ill paraphrase. He said to a church, you guys are into the born again thing, which is great, becaue jesus told a guy that you must be, but if you tell me I have to be in order to get into heaven, ill tell you you have to sell all of your belongings because jesus said this to another guy. But I guess thats why God created high lighters, so we can underline the parts we like and ignore the parts we dont.
brothers and sisters, deconditioning ourselves to a place of unconditonal love should be our objective and not feared. a love that knows no conditions. transcending illusory externalities. throwing away the politicising of random verses while missing the point. Seeing the good in others is very hard for me, but its also necessary for me. I have been forgiven and given much. so i should forgive and give much. without love, i have nothing. Jesus says in Revelations his followers had "abandoned the Love you had"
Some our threatened and fear Love (for others not for themselves) because they think its weak and wimpy and the other L word (liberal), in effect proverbially spitting on their Creator. Love is a dynamic force of power. Love is pervading and intense. Love is revolutionary. The "world" (by that I mean physicality and everyone who puts their faith in it) hates Love. Of course their is a time for judgement. But its about balance, and we are so out of balance with Love, we have alot of balancing to do and we are not even called to judge but only to Love.
Fear causes blockages my friends. it causes war in our hearts which causes war in our homes which causes war globally. When we realize this fear (or pride/hate etc which are all manifestations of the ego/flesh) that we say is us but is not, when we realize it is divisive, we will shine. When we realize this fear which we worship is satanic and not even real, we will learn to let go and not be defined by something we think is a part of our being but in truth does not exist. we shall be set free.
amen.selah.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Joy...and Peace
I am indeed, feel better. A bit ago, I came across a blog that I really love. She is quite amazing, definately someone whose life I would like to learn from. She has this Pride vs. Brokenness enrty that really touched me. It made things a lot more simple. It just awoken the joy that is deep in my heart, the joy that my pessimistic self tries to supress. AND THEN, oh goodness, and THEN, I found The Temple and I know I didn't necessarily take away exactly what she was saying, but I did have this revelation of sorts. I don't need to do some strict regimented diet, and I don't really need to run for 2 hours at the gym, what I need to do is learn to care for my body as if it were borrowed from God. Wow...it's a powerful concept for me. For me it's usually all abou tthe number on the scale. Weighing 7-8 times a day, weighing in the middle of the night, it's serious. It is not about that...and while it's oh so easy to say, I need to keep my focus on just caring for God's temple. So that is my goal for today. I am taking it one day at a time and I am hoping that the joy's of my heart will be fully restored to the front line!
This weekend we got to go to Will and KelliAnn's house for dinner. I think it is the first time since Solomons birth, almost two years ago, that we have gone to comeone's house for dinner who also has a child, or at all really (dad's house not counting). (Maybe once or twice, but I can't think of any really). It was SOOOO nice! Solomon did whomp poor 9 month old Kaitlyn on the nogging twice but other than that it was quite nice. We had a yummy dinner and I made the best brownies on the planet with the best frosting EVER!! It was just an all around good time. We kind of felt like adults again :)
In the oven right now, is a coffe cake from Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious cookbook. It looks fantastic, and in 30 mins we will see how it tastes. It has buttternut squash in it. I hope it's good!
Solomon and I are going to the library today for a tiny bit. He always freaks out there whenever I take him because there are these fountains there, with tons of kiddo's playing in then, and it seems as though ten million years of playing in them would never be enough for him! He always get's so mad when we leave! Hopefully not today...
Peace, peace be in my heart. Peace overflow to others. Peace be in our world. Peace be among friends, peace create friends here and internationally. Peace, be here.
This weekend we got to go to Will and KelliAnn's house for dinner. I think it is the first time since Solomons birth, almost two years ago, that we have gone to comeone's house for dinner who also has a child, or at all really (dad's house not counting). (Maybe once or twice, but I can't think of any really). It was SOOOO nice! Solomon did whomp poor 9 month old Kaitlyn on the nogging twice but other than that it was quite nice. We had a yummy dinner and I made the best brownies on the planet with the best frosting EVER!! It was just an all around good time. We kind of felt like adults again :)
In the oven right now, is a coffe cake from Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious cookbook. It looks fantastic, and in 30 mins we will see how it tastes. It has buttternut squash in it. I hope it's good!
Solomon and I are going to the library today for a tiny bit. He always freaks out there whenever I take him because there are these fountains there, with tons of kiddo's playing in then, and it seems as though ten million years of playing in them would never be enough for him! He always get's so mad when we leave! Hopefully not today...
Peace, peace be in my heart. Peace overflow to others. Peace be in our world. Peace be among friends, peace create friends here and internationally. Peace, be here.
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