I totally agree with Greg’s blog.
Fantasize with me won’t you? Since God has created all things including children, would it make cense that children are the most recent creations that saw the Father prior to being created? In my experience, children already comprehend community much better at it than we adults do. Perhaps they are masters at it and we teach them to turn away from deep community all in the name of education, bigotry, fanatical moves, etc. (you know grown up reasons). In turn, I ponder what we would learn by genuinely observing our children in a pure, innocent atmosphere. To see them interact with a new kid with out all the hesitations that have been instilled in them from us. If one gets hurt in any way, what would be their reaction? Would it be to isolate themselves from the broken child? Would they say that I am too good for you and therefore I will take my ball and go home? I know that Jesus was dead on when he spoke about children. I think that he knew more about the matter than was written.
In other news…..
Check this site out about the
Chernobyl disaster. It’s pretty sad but very real.
The news recently…. Some guy was executed for the pointless killing of an elderly man. I am for the death penalty but only because our current prison system does not serve as a deterrent to other would be criminals. Not that lethal injection is a deterrent as well. This guy was simply board and so he wanted to shorten up the process. He walked in to the chamber, laid down and was put to sleep - so peacfully. So in the end he actually got what he wanted – an end to a pathetic life. In my opinion, there should be a real deterrent in the correctional system that is very similar to the military stocade. I am all for a pathetic existence, but not just sitting there waiting for your end. My suggestion: if you murder, rape or are otherwise seriously violent, you get a one way trip to Alaska. In the middle of nowhere 200 miles form any life. You are forced to grow your own food etc. because I ain’t payin’ a damn dime for your well being. If you are not growing food or maintaining the facility that day, you are placed into two groups A and B. Group A gets to dig a trench around the facility at a minimum of 3’ wide and 3’ deep. Group B gets to go behind group A and fill the trench back up. No arts, TV, magazines, news, education, basketball, weightlifting, - NOTHING!!! You will not get the benefit that free people get. You will not be aware of current events at all. This will be your life for a minimum of 10 years or more. If you survive and have served your time, you are allowed to go and spread the great news of the fun that you had to all your would-be-criminal friends. Now I am not a brain surgeon, but if I was convicted of a violent crime, I would choose death over this any day. However, our current system gives rights to those who have so devastatedly taken them away from those who were innocent. Our current system is glamorized in songs and TV.
To my friend Ramon –
Ass Gas Makes Me Giggle!! Behold the power of an Arby's beef and cheddar.
Currently, my son clay is the honored one that retains the stink. He damn near cleared out Sav-On last night. We promptly scurried over to the pool chlorine aisle. It is strong but very effective. My poor wife. Three boys, dinner at Baja Fresh, one house... priceless.
“I am becoming more and more convinced that the organized church is the absolute worst thing for a disciple of Jesus.”
My wife agreed as we headed towards Phoenix. I love driving with my wife but I hate traveling. I seem to get things out of my head easier when I am going 80 mph down the freeway. This weekend was great – sort of. We got to see our families and we even got to go see “eternal sunshine for the spotless mind (?)”. It was great by the way.
As I was there, I started to see how our old life was. I started to see the grip that the organization had around our ankles. I started to realize how unattractive I was to a “sinner”. It was no wander that I never used to fit in with the normal secular people. I was too good for them. I was too intellectual and spiritual minded to mingle with them. After all, I had my own friends…. at church that I was real close to. I mean we saw each other 15 minutes a week and let me tell you, they were a very spiritual 15 minutes.
As I was there, I started to realize how much freedom I have experienced since those times of oppression and how I longed to tell those that were there about my freedom. I now understand that my passion is for those people who are stuck in a religious organization, for I was one of those people. Maybe that is why I feel so strongly about Mormons and even legalist churches. I think that if you are going to an organized church, no mater what they call themselves, they are in one form or another legalists. I have yet to converse with a “sinner” and tell him how much fuller my life is now that I have found Him. Honestly, I can’t remember my sin bound life – I was 6-8 years old. If I can’t remember that, I wonder what I sound like to them? Anyway, I am grateful for my background that I had and I think that I should use that to my advantage.
As I sat there, I started to see that my newfound freedom has left me yearning to draw closer to the Father. To cuddle up in His arms and listen to Him tell me a story. I ache for Him. I think that my freedom has let me test Him to see that if I didn’t do the religious exercises (read, pray, etc.), would I still see Him and feel His presence. I have that answer now and I need Him more than ever. But this time it is different. This time I know how much He loves me. This time I don’t walk in the torment of not spending time with Him. This time there is passion blurred with peace.
Passionate??
O.K. – I saw the movie (“The Passion”). Passion is originally defined as suffering – appropriate.
I am a fan of Gibson’s acting and directing, particularly Shakespeare’s Hamlet. I went to see the movie with that mindset. I loved it. It was done very well and it seemed very authentic. However, it didn’t show much of his life and I left feeling like something was missing. If your going to see the movie to prove a point to the secular audience, why? Save some money and hit your head against a brick wall instead. If you go and see it and leave feeling that you must read, pray, give and go to church more, why? Why torment yourself with more religious attempts to show that you love God? For me, the movie put pictures in my mind; so when I recall the stories, I can imagine the dress, atmosphere, the Pharisees, the disciples etc. True, his suffering was great. So were Peter’s, Andrew’s, and Paul’s. However, we as God’s people know that we do not rejoice in a dead God. Let’s leave that to the other religions. I would rather focus on his life and resurrection and more importantly his love for me. Any man can die. I have yet to meet a man that has been slaughtered and then get up in three days.
Christians vs. Jesus
Jesus went from town to town speaking about the Kingdom
Christians go from church to church looking to be served and to serve by participating in childcare once every two months (this includes house churches).
Jesus showed each individual person that he met what it was like to be loved perfectly.
Christians walk out the door of Starbucks and say “Hi” to a stranger and hope it has spiritual undertones.
Jesus lived his life within arms length of his closest friends.
Christians see their friends once a week at Sunday school and ask “how’s work?”
Jesus ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with people who were poor, sick, stunk, and who were full of malice.
Christians eat with themselves every fifth Sunday with their kids.
Jesus spoke to his Father openly and naturally.
Christians ask for money and forgiveness every day and once a week respectively.
Jesus walked and talked mostly about the Kingdom of God.
Christians hardly understand the Sermon on the Mount let alone the kingdom.
Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament.
Christians don’t know the prophecies of the Old Testament nor do they care to.
Jesus broke all religious traditions and customs.
Christians do A and B to get God to do C only to get disappointed and say that he has a better plan.
Jesus asked us to follow him – I am the way, truth and life…...
Christians follow a pastor and a worship team until they find something better.
Don’t agree with me? That’s ok, I’ve done all of this myself. I am venting – can’t you tell?
