posted by Tera @ 7:49 PM
Comments: 2
Exposing Myself on a Regular Basis
“All this is flashy rhetoric about loving you. I never had a selfless thought since I was born. I am mercenary and self-seeking through and through: I want God, you, all friends, merely to serve my turn. Peace, re-assurance, pleasure, are the goals I seek, I cannot crawl one inch outside my proper skin: I talk of love -a scholar's parrot may talk Greek- But, self-imprisoned, always end where I begin." - C S Lewis
Monday, July 31, 2006
There is something about the Cubs that brings out the best in the Diamondbacks.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Reading my friend Greg's post got me thinking a bit and so I'll ramble a bit about the things that I have been pondering for a while.
I was listening to Bill O'riley one afternoon and he was stating the Christian philosophy (Jesus is God) is not a religion. Going to church – be it protestant or catholic – and following their rules (i.e. conforming your beliefs to match that of one particular denomination or group) is the essence of religion. Without conformity of the group, man's church will not exist. Therefore the “Christian” way is not a religion at all it is a philosophy. This tickled my head for a while. I'm not sure why.
There are some folks around here who are scared shitless of the adventure of Harry Potter. They will not admit this but I see them run from any discussion of it. I think there is something much deeper going on here than such superficial topics. I'm not positive on exactly what this is but it is floating in my head every so often. Having a conversation with a Mormon, a homeless man, Harry Potter, Rock and Roll, gay and lesbian issues and all of the rest of the little quirks that Christian type folks go to great lengths to avoid make me wonder if something is misunderstood.
I have read all about Jesus and I distinctly remember who He hung out with. Sadly, it wasn't us. The clean cut smell good folks, the somewhat financially struggling middle class family who are in debt to show people that they really are not poor, those who hope that people don't see them enjoying an adult beverage – I think you get the point. I am wondering if we as God's people do not comprehend what is alive in us. The unknown power that is within.
I have seen books written about Mormons and others that leaves me sad. The Christian “leaders” treat them as prizes to be had or sub-human. They can not comprehend that these people are just as human as we are. They too have learned things we have not. They too have a story to tell. Same as the homeless. By subconsciously seeing them as a prize to be won over, you will never fully open up to them and let them see the real you.
I was listening to Bill O'riley one afternoon and he was stating the Christian philosophy (Jesus is God) is not a religion. Going to church – be it protestant or catholic – and following their rules (i.e. conforming your beliefs to match that of one particular denomination or group) is the essence of religion. Without conformity of the group, man's church will not exist. Therefore the “Christian” way is not a religion at all it is a philosophy. This tickled my head for a while. I'm not sure why.
There are some folks around here who are scared shitless of the adventure of Harry Potter. They will not admit this but I see them run from any discussion of it. I think there is something much deeper going on here than such superficial topics. I'm not positive on exactly what this is but it is floating in my head every so often. Having a conversation with a Mormon, a homeless man, Harry Potter, Rock and Roll, gay and lesbian issues and all of the rest of the little quirks that Christian type folks go to great lengths to avoid make me wonder if something is misunderstood.
I have read all about Jesus and I distinctly remember who He hung out with. Sadly, it wasn't us. The clean cut smell good folks, the somewhat financially struggling middle class family who are in debt to show people that they really are not poor, those who hope that people don't see them enjoying an adult beverage – I think you get the point. I am wondering if we as God's people do not comprehend what is alive in us. The unknown power that is within.
I have seen books written about Mormons and others that leaves me sad. The Christian “leaders” treat them as prizes to be had or sub-human. They can not comprehend that these people are just as human as we are. They too have learned things we have not. They too have a story to tell. Same as the homeless. By subconsciously seeing them as a prize to be won over, you will never fully open up to them and let them see the real you.
posted by Tera @ 3:46 PM
Comments: 0
I wrote this the other week and forgot to post it.
Warriors and Skirts
There is a subtle difference.
My wife said the other day that when she cleaned out my boys toy box she stopped counting at 35 weapons. God bless them!! Now I'm not the guy that mounts anything that you killed on the wall for all to see. I grew up with those men and I have a great deal of appreciation for them but it ain't my style. However, I am going to raise my kids gender appropriate – meaning my boys will not have their warrior instincts suppressed and my girl will remain a princess.
Too often today I see a great deal of kids who are more confused than ever. Unisex parenting has rendered feminine boys that wear more padding than a hockey goalie when it comes to riding a bike.....in the park....on the grass. See, my parents taught me that when a bike and a car meet, the car is going to win every flippin' time – so stay away from the 4,000 lb beast that will make you about a 1/2” thin. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't wear a helmet but my gosh at least try to make it as not gay looking as possible.
Where was I.... oh, I guess what I'm saying is that those boys have instincts deep inside them. They, as well as the husband you married, dream of slaying dragons of a large variety – bugs to robbers. You take away the plastic swords, they will make new ones. Take away projectile weapons, they have rubber bands. You try to keep them safe from a bloody knee, they will be timid and bland. Women are drawn to masculinity and men are drawn to femininity. That is the way Father made us. To suppress it will create less of a man that He desires.
Think about it, where in the Bible (the greatest story ever told) have you read an inspiring story about a man without a spine? OK except Jonah.
Warriors and Skirts
There is a subtle difference.
My wife said the other day that when she cleaned out my boys toy box she stopped counting at 35 weapons. God bless them!! Now I'm not the guy that mounts anything that you killed on the wall for all to see. I grew up with those men and I have a great deal of appreciation for them but it ain't my style. However, I am going to raise my kids gender appropriate – meaning my boys will not have their warrior instincts suppressed and my girl will remain a princess.
Too often today I see a great deal of kids who are more confused than ever. Unisex parenting has rendered feminine boys that wear more padding than a hockey goalie when it comes to riding a bike.....in the park....on the grass. See, my parents taught me that when a bike and a car meet, the car is going to win every flippin' time – so stay away from the 4,000 lb beast that will make you about a 1/2” thin. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't wear a helmet but my gosh at least try to make it as not gay looking as possible.
Where was I.... oh, I guess what I'm saying is that those boys have instincts deep inside them. They, as well as the husband you married, dream of slaying dragons of a large variety – bugs to robbers. You take away the plastic swords, they will make new ones. Take away projectile weapons, they have rubber bands. You try to keep them safe from a bloody knee, they will be timid and bland. Women are drawn to masculinity and men are drawn to femininity. That is the way Father made us. To suppress it will create less of a man that He desires.
Think about it, where in the Bible (the greatest story ever told) have you read an inspiring story about a man without a spine? OK except Jonah.
posted by Tera @ 2:51 PM
Comments: 0
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
“The wages of sin are death, but after taxes are taken out, it's just a tired feeling.” - Paula Poundstone
We went to a park to watch fireworks last night. We and about 10,000 other people of Prescott Valley. I walked past a guy handing out oversized $100 bills that had a nice little message on the back. After reading it I would have cried if I hadn't know better. Apparently I am a murder, rapist, a fornicator and whatever else you might fit in here unless... I confess my sins to God and put your faith in Jesus Christ. If I do not I will burn forever.
Funny, I don't recall ever hearing those words come out of Jesus' mouth. They have no idea who my Father really is.
We went to a park to watch fireworks last night. We and about 10,000 other people of Prescott Valley. I walked past a guy handing out oversized $100 bills that had a nice little message on the back. After reading it I would have cried if I hadn't know better. Apparently I am a murder, rapist, a fornicator and whatever else you might fit in here unless... I confess my sins to God and put your faith in Jesus Christ. If I do not I will burn forever.
Funny, I don't recall ever hearing those words come out of Jesus' mouth. They have no idea who my Father really is.
posted by Tera @ 10:07 AM
Comments: 1
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
All we need is a little bit more doubt.
Do I believe all this because I have been taught it? Do I believe in the correct form of “religion”? If I am not successful, am I believing in the wrong thing?
There was a guy not long ago that told me that, “I don't believe in Jesus because the Bible tells me so”. I wanted to get out of my chair and whack him for saying such things. To make things worse, he started going off on America and politics. My blood boiled. This scrawny little know-it-all! How dare he question the Christianity of the Republican party! Didn't he get the emails I forwarded him? Sad.
Sad, not because of what he said but sad that it was what I thought five years ago. Liberal thinking still bothers me, but only because it doesn't make good business sense. Everything has changed. All my thinking about religion, politics, and money – the three things you should never bring up in a conversation.
Religion – all forms of it are designed for man to control man. That is what I believe now after searching for the truth. I have doubted many times but one thing remains – Father. No matter how many times I start to doubt that all this stuff may not exist, the one thing that remains consistent is His hand. I can see it everywhere and I can't pass this beating heart of mine off as a mathematical probability. Love, creation, joy – they all come from something and they all have similar stings running throughout – a fingerprint. The most impressive thing that Jesus did for me was not the miracles, but the trust he had in his Father. Everything that he did was what he saw the Father doing and everything that he said was what the Father said. I can't get past this.
Politics – I love listening to debates about one thing or another but it needs to stop there. I am a part of His kingdom and shall remain that way. Therefore, it only stands to reason that I shouldn't get caught up in the way man rules man rather I should be observant to my Father's voice and go where he is. Keeping my foot in politics will only allow me to have a conversation with fifty percent of the people that I meet and will blur my perception of the others.
Money – Be it luck or skill, the money or success I have or had wasn't even mine to begin with. I have struggled financially for over 4 years and I have been happier than ever. I have learned valuable lessons when it comes to jobs and such through my struggling. I have learned to be happy in good times and bad. Prosperous times and poor, Father is still with me regardless of how much I make. I no longer doubt Him when trials come my way – the word faith doesn't fit here – trust fits better. To God be the glory in everything not just the stuff that benefits me.
I'll never forget that conversation that I had with Greg Hubbard at our cabin. The conversation didn't particularly change my life, but it was a foreshadow of things to come. I praise Father for the relationship I have with Greg and I am very proud to know him.
posted by Tera @ 5:59 PM
Comments: 0