Happy Birthday to my sweet husband...who is 25 today. (We are "only a year apart" for 5 months haha) He's been so sweet today. I've been trying to give him a break today, but I was feeling really ill this morning. As I started feeling better I started cleaning up our breakfast, doing dishes and the like. I dropped his favorite mug, it shattered!!! On its way to the bottom of the sink, I tried to save it, but instead just sliced my finger opened and it was bleeding forever! Its throbbing now and I'm trying to not use it...poor guy is tidying up the house and being so wonderful! We are going to get Lebanese food for lunch but I think that's all we are doing...I'm so glad I'm married to Will...Happy Birthday sweet love!
So I was poking around on facebook...and one of my "facebook-friends" commented on a picture of her friends picture (which allowed me to see the picture and the comment). I noticed that the picture was of Sarah Palin and being the politics freak (not Sarah Palin freak...just politics freak) that I am, I took a look...There was a little rally type thing in Carson, CA, which is about 20 minutes from where I live. I guess this person, who I don't know at all, went to this rally. She had tons of really close up pictures of Gov Palin, and I was thinking, "Wow what an awesome experience for this person." Then I got extremely disturbed!! This person had Sarah Palin autograph her Bible... I am so taken aback by this act that I cannot even articulate my feelings... I find it totally inappropriate and disturbing and even blasphemous. I don't know the person, I don't know what they thought they were achieving but I just found it kind of a reflexion of the strange attitude that a lot of Christians feel about politics...that you have to, in a sense, "worship" the republican candidate, even if most of their stances on politics are totally anti-Christ and His message...I think I'm going to sit on it for awhile and digest it...it was just very strange and gave me a bit of a sick feeling that Jesus came to this earth and gave all that He gave, for us, and people have so perverted it all...
Happy Birthday Will!!!
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religion. Show all posts
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Spill The Beans
Lately I have had so many things on my mind. I type out (in my head) entire blogs, that are brilliant, I might add, while I'm desperately trying to sleep.
Sometimes my mom really cares about what other people think of her. Here's the catch. She doesn't care if people think she is poor. In fact, she wallows in the pity. A good example? Here's one. She told a huge sob story to my little brother Aaron's friends mom...said they had no money for school supplies and school clothes (the truth of the matter was my dad, had taken him out the week before and bought him TONS of new things...Aaron was completely prepared for school) and she didn't know how she was going to make ends meet. Imagine the horror on 15 year old Aaron's face when said friends mother tells his friend, and his friend gives him $100 of his hard earned cash to purchase the supposed needed items!!! He was livid and was going to give it back...my mom said he couldn't give it back and that he needed to give her the money. Thank goodness he didn't listen though...wow... My point in all this is that I try to find a balance. I do NOT like to tell people about financial struggles but I also don't want to be consumed with what others think. So I have a story, but the reason I tell it is to boast of God's mercy and grace in the life of my little family...
We have been doing a Sermon On The Mount Study at church. It has been really challenging and has moved Will and I to do some things we normal do not do. One of the things that really spoke to us us eliminating lots of our stuff, and giving money away until it was physically painful. We did a lot of that. We knew it was enough when we would have trembling hands and a sick feeling in the pit of our stomach...it hurt! Now I know I have shared that Will is a full time Chiropractic student and we live primarily off of the living expenses part of his school loans. He works part time (aside from the FULL TIME internship he has which pays a whopping $0.00 per hour) and I nanny very occasionally and try to sell things online. When we heard that giving ourselves away was going to be hard and life changing, we didn't understand that to the fullest capacity. We were getting the next loan check on September 2nd. We gave where we felt called, as much as we could...and then we found ourselves with $15 in our savings account and just a matter of time before the last check cleared and our checking account was overdrawn. I was crying. I was so stressed. I didn't know how to suppress my fear. It was a matter of a week but all signs were pointing to us really being in a major hole! So...what now. Will and I had been eating canned soup while Solomon enjoyed noodles with pizza sauce on them and oatmeal for a few weeks now. The fridge, cupboards and freezer and empty. I just felt ill. I called will on August 28th crying hysterically. "We have no money, no food, I have nothing to give Solomon for a snack!!! I can't take this anymore!!" He said, "Calm down. We will be ok...it's not even a week away and then I get my check." I sobbed...no consolation there. August 29th, we get an envelope from Will's mom with his new car registration, insurance proof and the title to his car (it's still registered in PA so she takes car of all that for us)...and a check! Wow...ok...that covered the last check that could clear any day. My sister gets home from work and writes me an early check for her phone bill (she is on my plan)...ok...we can make it to Tuesday. Friends, I cannot tell you how I have fretted this month...the tears I have shed. I had no thought in my head that God would actually provide... Can you imagine? He clothes the lilies, cares for the sparrows, and I cannot even THINK that because Will and I tried to obey what we felt God calling us to do, that God would in turn provide for us...wow. This is where my heart is? It was shocking....shocking. God is so much more than I ever even think He will be. I want to remember this in December if/when we are in this same place...but how? I have never been homeless. I have never been starving. My child hasn't cried himself to sleep in hunger. And somehow, I am arrogant enough to think and I am the one he will let go unnoticed. Oh God, let me remember your faithfulness. Let me trust you...fully.
So much is going on right now, what with the election that is coming up. Things are really on edge for me. I feel very passionate about my convictions, and while it is sad to say, I do not think there will ever be the perfect candidate for me to vote for, there is one this year that FAR out weighs the other. My ideal choice initially on the Republican side was Ron Paul. We still disagreed on a few things but he was a good choice. Obviously, he is no longer a choice for me. But I have made my decision, even more so now that he chose as awesome VP. What I can't understand is why people hate Sen. Obama so much. I watched the open forum at Saddelback church last week. Rick Warren interviewed Sen Obama and Sen McCain and I was just so pleased with what Sen Obama said. He is passionate about his relationship with Christ. He is passionate about caring for "the least of these." He is passionate about getting our country closer to the values it was founded on. He wants to secure our place in the world and try to calm some of the flames that have currently been fanned and fanned again by our current administration. I am elated that he takes no money from lobbyists. (Note: John McCain takes money from lobbyists, namely the AMA, who is the biggest contributor to abortions that there is). The only place that I really disagree with him is on abortion. I wish he were anti-abortion. But even the "anti-abortion" candidate is taking money to vote with/for/however the AMA (thanks to all that campaign money), which thrives because of abortion, so in that area, its a lose lose situation. Why do people hate Sen Obama SO much? I have heard so many people talk about watching Michelle Obama's speech at the DNC (which was AWESOME) , "I hate that woman...I just HATE her!!! I don't trust a word she says." Why I wonder? I cannot figure out why. Michelle Obama comes from a working class family, she is educated, well spoken, and beautiful...maybe that's why she is hated. Barack Obama is kind, he is not quick to anger, he rallies for the "lowly" and he has a plan to get this country out of the crapper. Is that why they hate him? My mom thinks he is evil, inexperienced (cue my chiming in with Sarah Palin having NO resume whatsoever. She has passed one bill as Governor of Alaska for off shore drilling, and her husband works for an oil company...oh and she is anti-abortion...thats her resume) for all I know she probably still thinks he's a Muslim, you know...because of his name...(Barack, an old testament name, he assisted Deborah in delivering the Israelites). But here's the thing...why don't people just DISAGREE with him. Why don't they just disagree with his politics? Why don't they disagree with his proposals...Why hate him? I just do not understand this. Jen and I were talking about how people literally say hurtful mean things if we suggest we are voting for him, which I am? They are acting like John McCain is their dad or something. I disagree with a lot of things that John McCain is for. But I don't hate him. I don't like the things he stands for. But I do not hate him. I just line up what he is for, the money he takes, the stabs he makes at people, the names he calls him wife, the life he is living in the public up, with what I believe spiritually. But my goodness, I don't hate him. I would have never imagined the backlash of a voting choice. Friends send me childish messages like "EWWWW sick!!!" and "You can't be serious" and just really strange things like that. I am responsible for my actions and I am doing what I feel is right...so how is this anyone elses business. I would just never go and seek someone out to tell them how "gross" I thought their choices were...but more than that, why all the hatred? Why? My only guess is this. I was raised in a church that kind of taught that difference was bad and something to look down upon...hate the poor people, hate the non Christians, hate the Mormons or Jehovah's witnesses (slam the door in their faces), hate the democrats, just hate difference... I am thankful that I sought the Scriptures independently, so find that the Jesus who was taught to me is not Jesus at all. The verse that says "I have not come to bring peace, but the sword" (which no, is not to prove that Jesus loves war...research the meaning). And is followed by Jesus continuing to tell people that mothers will hate their child and brothers will hate their sisters, because his message is not loved by the masses, or more specifically by the religious people... So perhaps that is the reason for all the hatred...its the only thing I can think of.
Next on the agenda...
I have been having so much mommy guilt. It is eating me alive. My patience has been non existent lately. I have been doing things that I never thought I would do as a mother. It's interesting what a humbling experience motherhood is. No matter how good you think you will be at it, no matter how many times you think you will not hurt your kids the way your mom hurt you...you are just so wrong. I'm praying that God helps me truly understand that I can tap into His compassion and love and when I completely fail, He is there, just like I am for Solomon, wanting His best for me and ready to move forward.
A bragging moment. We went to a gathering a few weeks ago. There were boys that were at least six months older than Solomon. They were hitting and kicking and shoving and full on punching each other in the face. Solomon, he didn't raise a finger! There were mom's that were hauling off and whacking their kids (for whacking other kids I might add...this one confuses me thoroughly!) and they would just cry their little eyes out, and there goes my little guy...he walks right up to them and hunches down a bit (as if he weren't the same height) and says, "Are you ok?" It was a little traumatic for him. He went home talking about the "mommies hitting". But Will and I were so proud of him. So much of that little boy is just his sweet soul and spirit, which we cannot take credit for. He is just such a gem and is truly caring for other people...it was a wonderful thing to experience.
I must add this...tonight, my sweet sweet Solomon, who always disses me for other people, made my night. My mom asked me tonight if she could put Solomon to sleep. First I said no, simply because he is a routine kinda' kid and it never works but then I felt guilty (Im a guilt-a-holic) so I said she could. Well I made his little bottle and my mom took it and Solomon starts repeating very adamantly, "NOOOO, momma feed bottle, momma rock!!!" SCORE!!! She finally gave up because he didn't want her to touch him!! Which is totally not typical. He doesnt see her a ton so he LOVES time with her!!
There are a few other things that I want to share but can't at the moment...soon to come :)
Sometimes my mom really cares about what other people think of her. Here's the catch. She doesn't care if people think she is poor. In fact, she wallows in the pity. A good example? Here's one. She told a huge sob story to my little brother Aaron's friends mom...said they had no money for school supplies and school clothes (the truth of the matter was my dad, had taken him out the week before and bought him TONS of new things...Aaron was completely prepared for school) and she didn't know how she was going to make ends meet. Imagine the horror on 15 year old Aaron's face when said friends mother tells his friend, and his friend gives him $100 of his hard earned cash to purchase the supposed needed items!!! He was livid and was going to give it back...my mom said he couldn't give it back and that he needed to give her the money. Thank goodness he didn't listen though...wow... My point in all this is that I try to find a balance. I do NOT like to tell people about financial struggles but I also don't want to be consumed with what others think. So I have a story, but the reason I tell it is to boast of God's mercy and grace in the life of my little family...
We have been doing a Sermon On The Mount Study at church. It has been really challenging and has moved Will and I to do some things we normal do not do. One of the things that really spoke to us us eliminating lots of our stuff, and giving money away until it was physically painful. We did a lot of that. We knew it was enough when we would have trembling hands and a sick feeling in the pit of our stomach...it hurt! Now I know I have shared that Will is a full time Chiropractic student and we live primarily off of the living expenses part of his school loans. He works part time (aside from the FULL TIME internship he has which pays a whopping $0.00 per hour) and I nanny very occasionally and try to sell things online. When we heard that giving ourselves away was going to be hard and life changing, we didn't understand that to the fullest capacity. We were getting the next loan check on September 2nd. We gave where we felt called, as much as we could...and then we found ourselves with $15 in our savings account and just a matter of time before the last check cleared and our checking account was overdrawn. I was crying. I was so stressed. I didn't know how to suppress my fear. It was a matter of a week but all signs were pointing to us really being in a major hole! So...what now. Will and I had been eating canned soup while Solomon enjoyed noodles with pizza sauce on them and oatmeal for a few weeks now. The fridge, cupboards and freezer and empty. I just felt ill. I called will on August 28th crying hysterically. "We have no money, no food, I have nothing to give Solomon for a snack!!! I can't take this anymore!!" He said, "Calm down. We will be ok...it's not even a week away and then I get my check." I sobbed...no consolation there. August 29th, we get an envelope from Will's mom with his new car registration, insurance proof and the title to his car (it's still registered in PA so she takes car of all that for us)...and a check! Wow...ok...that covered the last check that could clear any day. My sister gets home from work and writes me an early check for her phone bill (she is on my plan)...ok...we can make it to Tuesday. Friends, I cannot tell you how I have fretted this month...the tears I have shed. I had no thought in my head that God would actually provide... Can you imagine? He clothes the lilies, cares for the sparrows, and I cannot even THINK that because Will and I tried to obey what we felt God calling us to do, that God would in turn provide for us...wow. This is where my heart is? It was shocking....shocking. God is so much more than I ever even think He will be. I want to remember this in December if/when we are in this same place...but how? I have never been homeless. I have never been starving. My child hasn't cried himself to sleep in hunger. And somehow, I am arrogant enough to think and I am the one he will let go unnoticed. Oh God, let me remember your faithfulness. Let me trust you...fully.
So much is going on right now, what with the election that is coming up. Things are really on edge for me. I feel very passionate about my convictions, and while it is sad to say, I do not think there will ever be the perfect candidate for me to vote for, there is one this year that FAR out weighs the other. My ideal choice initially on the Republican side was Ron Paul. We still disagreed on a few things but he was a good choice. Obviously, he is no longer a choice for me. But I have made my decision, even more so now that he chose as awesome VP. What I can't understand is why people hate Sen. Obama so much. I watched the open forum at Saddelback church last week. Rick Warren interviewed Sen Obama and Sen McCain and I was just so pleased with what Sen Obama said. He is passionate about his relationship with Christ. He is passionate about caring for "the least of these." He is passionate about getting our country closer to the values it was founded on. He wants to secure our place in the world and try to calm some of the flames that have currently been fanned and fanned again by our current administration. I am elated that he takes no money from lobbyists. (Note: John McCain takes money from lobbyists, namely the AMA, who is the biggest contributor to abortions that there is). The only place that I really disagree with him is on abortion. I wish he were anti-abortion. But even the "anti-abortion" candidate is taking money to vote with/for/however the AMA (thanks to all that campaign money), which thrives because of abortion, so in that area, its a lose lose situation. Why do people hate Sen Obama SO much? I have heard so many people talk about watching Michelle Obama's speech at the DNC (which was AWESOME) , "I hate that woman...I just HATE her!!! I don't trust a word she says." Why I wonder? I cannot figure out why. Michelle Obama comes from a working class family, she is educated, well spoken, and beautiful...maybe that's why she is hated. Barack Obama is kind, he is not quick to anger, he rallies for the "lowly" and he has a plan to get this country out of the crapper. Is that why they hate him? My mom thinks he is evil, inexperienced (cue my chiming in with Sarah Palin having NO resume whatsoever. She has passed one bill as Governor of Alaska for off shore drilling, and her husband works for an oil company...oh and she is anti-abortion...thats her resume) for all I know she probably still thinks he's a Muslim, you know...because of his name...(Barack, an old testament name, he assisted Deborah in delivering the Israelites). But here's the thing...why don't people just DISAGREE with him. Why don't they just disagree with his politics? Why don't they disagree with his proposals...Why hate him? I just do not understand this. Jen and I were talking about how people literally say hurtful mean things if we suggest we are voting for him, which I am? They are acting like John McCain is their dad or something. I disagree with a lot of things that John McCain is for. But I don't hate him. I don't like the things he stands for. But I do not hate him. I just line up what he is for, the money he takes, the stabs he makes at people, the names he calls him wife, the life he is living in the public up, with what I believe spiritually. But my goodness, I don't hate him. I would have never imagined the backlash of a voting choice. Friends send me childish messages like "EWWWW sick!!!" and "You can't be serious" and just really strange things like that. I am responsible for my actions and I am doing what I feel is right...so how is this anyone elses business. I would just never go and seek someone out to tell them how "gross" I thought their choices were...but more than that, why all the hatred? Why? My only guess is this. I was raised in a church that kind of taught that difference was bad and something to look down upon...hate the poor people, hate the non Christians, hate the Mormons or Jehovah's witnesses (slam the door in their faces), hate the democrats, just hate difference... I am thankful that I sought the Scriptures independently, so find that the Jesus who was taught to me is not Jesus at all. The verse that says "I have not come to bring peace, but the sword" (which no, is not to prove that Jesus loves war...research the meaning). And is followed by Jesus continuing to tell people that mothers will hate their child and brothers will hate their sisters, because his message is not loved by the masses, or more specifically by the religious people... So perhaps that is the reason for all the hatred...its the only thing I can think of.
Next on the agenda...
I have been having so much mommy guilt. It is eating me alive. My patience has been non existent lately. I have been doing things that I never thought I would do as a mother. It's interesting what a humbling experience motherhood is. No matter how good you think you will be at it, no matter how many times you think you will not hurt your kids the way your mom hurt you...you are just so wrong. I'm praying that God helps me truly understand that I can tap into His compassion and love and when I completely fail, He is there, just like I am for Solomon, wanting His best for me and ready to move forward.
A bragging moment. We went to a gathering a few weeks ago. There were boys that were at least six months older than Solomon. They were hitting and kicking and shoving and full on punching each other in the face. Solomon, he didn't raise a finger! There were mom's that were hauling off and whacking their kids (for whacking other kids I might add...this one confuses me thoroughly!) and they would just cry their little eyes out, and there goes my little guy...he walks right up to them and hunches down a bit (as if he weren't the same height) and says, "Are you ok?" It was a little traumatic for him. He went home talking about the "mommies hitting". But Will and I were so proud of him. So much of that little boy is just his sweet soul and spirit, which we cannot take credit for. He is just such a gem and is truly caring for other people...it was a wonderful thing to experience.
I must add this...tonight, my sweet sweet Solomon, who always disses me for other people, made my night. My mom asked me tonight if she could put Solomon to sleep. First I said no, simply because he is a routine kinda' kid and it never works but then I felt guilty (Im a guilt-a-holic) so I said she could. Well I made his little bottle and my mom took it and Solomon starts repeating very adamantly, "NOOOO, momma feed bottle, momma rock!!!" SCORE!!! She finally gave up because he didn't want her to touch him!! Which is totally not typical. He doesnt see her a ton so he LOVES time with her!!
There are a few other things that I want to share but can't at the moment...soon to come :)
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...
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