"Harsh Words"

    There are  passages in The Holy Bible that are quite harsh or even hard to deal with. To begin with let me mention Holy Communion being the Body and Blood of Jesus. Even in his day when people heard this they
thought that such an idea was disgusting. But when you look at Jesus being The Bread of Life and The Living Water then it isn't so bad.
     St. Paul also said some things that to this day stir people up. The most famous of these was when he said wives be submissive to your husbands. Again let me suggest a more modern take. Because when you add the very next verse which says Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church. So in other words live for each other. Be willing to make sacrifices for each other and the health of your marriage. Jesus gave his life for all who believe in him. In a sense we give up our former lives for each other. We should be faithful to each other as Jesus was faithful to the will of his father in Heaven.
    So far as The Bible is concerned every book from Genesis to Revelation is full of challenging instructions and images. Does that mean that we should allow such verses to shake faith?
     I don't know about other Holy text but I'm certain they may include sayings that people may question. In fact some sacred scripture may scare some people away.
      But what are you looking for? Are you looking for God or religion? Are you looking for rules and regulations or a life in The Spirit? We are to be transformed into The Image of God. We are all called to the Kingdom of God.
     Life is hard. The world is full of harsh words. Surely they don't all come from Holy books. In fact most don't. They come from people who have endless backgrounds, past experiences, cultures, traditions,and so on. But God encompasses all humanity.
      For in The Spirit is life. It's from the heart that the mouth speaks. The Lord is the great physician. Allow God to heal the words that have so damaged you and watch what you say. Because words can hurt. But words can heal.  

"All Saints Day (Not just for Catholics)"

     Many people see All Saints Day as a Catholic celebration. Others would go further to say that glorifying some people above others (As in the veneration of saints) is wrong.
      Let me address these issues. First of all the original definition of saint was friend of Jesus or a more inclusive way to put it, Friend of God.
     Second The Catholic Church doesn't have a monopoly on the world of saints. Many religions have claims of ordinary people being involved in extraordinary events. People who have endured extreme situations only to see miraculous results.
    Divine intervention has come to play when someone is able to lift a car off of someone. People without any training whatsoever have run into burning homes to save a neighbor or even a cherished pet.
      Nurses have saved lives when they notice a symptom others may have missed. Doctors can be heroes when a patient has a complaint that other ignore and that doctor takes it seriously and saves a life.
      Ordinary people who may never end up with having a church named for them or even being written in the history books.
     And the idea that saints are virtuous and without sin well let me tell you that is not the case. If you read about the life of St. Augustine then you'll see a man who lived in sin and still had a great impact on the world.
       Princess Dianna could be seen as a saint. She was a beautiful person doing whatever she could to make this a better world for those less fortunate than herself. Surely she was a friend of God.
      You may never be involved with healing the sick or raising the dead or maybe you will. The main thing to keep in mind is that the power to do so comes from God.
     You can be remembered as a friend not only of God but that of your fellow men and women.   

"The Importance of God In Every Relationship"

     What type of relationships are you in? Are you a parent dealing with children? Are you a grown child caring for an adult who may be infirm? What gets you through? Is it hope? Is it faith?
      Hope that you will raise your child/children right. Raising a child is not easy. Especially in these chaotic days. It seems that telling right from wrong has become a blurry and abstract subject.
       We're in a "whatever makes it easier" society. If your child would rather sit in front of a TV screen instead of doing chores or homework it's OK as long as they're quiet. Buy your kids the latest video game just so they won't throw a temper tantrum. We're too busy to check homework and moniter entertainment choices. Let alone ask how our children are doing or to tell them we love them.
     Jesus wasn't too busy for children. He said "Let the children come unto me." Those of us who have a childlike innocence inherit the kingdom. To be in awe of God. Childlike NOT childish.
     Jesus had a close relationship with His Father in Heaven. Jesus did as he saw his father doing in heaven. The Our Father Prayer is a testament to that. "Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven."
Jesus followed The Father's will even unto death.
     The followers of Jesus were disapointed in the fact that thier leader had been killed. Nonetheless God's plans were not put to death. The death and burial of Jesus lead to his ressurection. The mission of Jesus was continued and continues to this day.
      So maybe your married. And you have an amazing spouse. Your love for each other runs deep. You can't face the idea that one day you will lose your beloved. What if it were to happen? Will you
yell and scream at God and ask why?
     If God has a strong place in your relationship and if he is the glue that holds everything together then if and or when your beloved is wisked away into heaven then knowing that God is by your side his strength can see you through.
      If you put God in the drivers seat and rely on him all the days of your life he can become your spiritual spouse.
    Look I know that these words may sound silly and absurd that's okay. Faith in an invisible God may seem rediculous. But what have you got to loose by at least reach out to the Great Spirit?
    Life is not without pain and loss. It's a gaurantee. Another promise is that there is a higher power out there. Someone created you. Every life has a purpose. That may be hard to swallow but I believe it to be true.
    I tried to deny this as being fact but God is truly everywhere. Look hard ennough (even if you have to squint) and you will find the truth and the truth will set you free.
    Men and women fail each other. But God never does.
       The more importance you place on God in your life the more evident his assistance will be even if the people that reside in flesh and blood let us down, get sick, or even die.
    They say that there will always be death and taxes but there will also always be the promise of our father in heaven and the fact that the gates of heaven are open 24/7/365 That the lifeline to God's ears to hear us and our prayers never lose reception or ever become out of range.
    What relationship do you have with the One creating us in  his image?

"Hands To Yourself"

In California there has been a law passed against being forced to undergo "laying on of hands" or what some call exorcisms.
    One of the top reasons this was deemed necessary is that parents of teenagers were trying to "pray the gay away."
I know that St. Paul went Old Testament on everyone when he singled out homosexuality.
Jesus on the other hand spoke of a broader sense of right and wrong when it came to sexual immorality.
   "If anyone so much as looks at an other person in lust it's as if you have committed adultery with them in your heart."
     I think the key words here are "in your heart."
       If your heart is where your treasure is supposed to be then what condition is your heart in if it's full of lust?
     Gay or straight lust is lust. And hate is hate.
Love your neighbor as you love yourself. How much do you love yourself if you hate anyone else, for any reason? Not so much I tend to think.
    How will they know we are children of God? By our love.
Not by judging each other.
      I would even say that if you are part of the LGBT community then try not to hate those who hate you. Especially when it's out in the open or in your very own home.
      I don't know what other religious text say on the subject but I say,
'Does it matter?'
        In a sense I guess it does. But it doesn't have to.
           If you are a parent who is concerned about a child who may be gay and your beliefs say that homosexuality is a sin just let it be.
         Don't be so concerned with what gender your child is attracted to or even if your child is questioning what gender they are inside. Be concerned with the safety of your child.
     Teach your child about safe sex.
Teach your kids to respect themselves in order to be in a safe and healthy relationship.
    Don't you want your child to have happy memories of not only childhood but any associations they come to have with you and God? No matter what church, mosque, or temple you go to. Perhaps you don't attend religious services. Don't you want your house to be a home and not just a shelter.
     After all hate and lack of acceptance do not make a happy home.
God created us ALL in his image. God is love. God is everywhere.
   God is love.
          Let us reflect God by being loving.
    

"All This Work For Nothing?"

"Unless The Lord builds the house, the workers labor in vain."
     The forefathers of The United States believed that their labor to build a great land would not be in vain.
What do you think our forefathers would think of The U.S.A now?
I suppose they would be disappointed at best.
     Moral decay is a growing problem. Violence fills not only the news, but countless TV shows. Some people have just given up.
     The economy is a mess. Even Middle Class families need to go to food pantries. Unemployment effects everyone in one sense or another.
    The presidential election is quickly approaching and the candidates are flinging mud again. Yesterday in church I heard quite the notion; why split the the nation in a contest of of Democrat VS. Republican and instead come together as a nation united.
    Let's become we the people.
 One Nation under God, not one nation under religion.
    Perhaps the idea is to stop ignoring the crumbling ground as a nation divided against itself. It shouldn't matter who's right or wrong but how do we fix the problems.
  The song "Imagine" by John Lennon has lyrics that say, "No need for greed or hunger. The brotherhood of man."
   The song "Come Together" by The Beatles has a line that goes, "Come together right now over me."
We could replace "me" in this section of the lyrics with God and even and maybe this a solution to any problem. It wouldn't to try.
    Some of the words of The Our Father prayer are as follows, "To be forgiven our trespasses we forgive those who trespass against us." We may not be able to forget but forgiveness and leads to healing.
    Truly getting together could join us to rebuild our broken down country.
In church we may share the sign of peace with each other is good but actions speak louder than words.
Flashing the peace sign though comforting needs validation which comes with the practice of actually spreading peace.
1st Corinthians 15:58 (Paraphrase)
" Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters be firm, steadfast to the work of God, knowing in the creator your labor is not in vain." 

"The 1%" (Messages From The Pulpit)

"The poor you will have with you always"

"Easier is it for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than it is for a rich man to pass into the

kingdom of heaven."

"The good shepherd will leave the 99 to go after the the one lost sheep"

 

Through all of human history the gap between the rich and the poor has been a great fuel for the fire

of human conflict.

Those who have little or nothing have adopted a "it's not fair" attitude toward life.

And I can see why.

Especially here in the United States.

A great throw away society.

People have lost jobs at restaurants for saving discarded food for those who go hungry most of their

days.

Often people with wealth throw away perfectly good furniture simply because they have grown bored

with it.

In order to save a few dollars company’s send jobs overseas while people here lose job opportunities.

A quote from a song by Silverchair says, "You say money isn't everything but I'd love to see you live without it."

But doesn't The Bible teach us that "You cannot serve God and money (paraphrase). "

In recent news there has been The Occupy Movement. It seems that Occupy Wall Street got the fire started.

By occupying Wall Street which is the hub of economic power in The United States.

A large group of disenfranchised young people took up residence on the streets of New York City in what was to be a peaceful protest against how unfair it is that the rich catch all the breaks and refuse to

share the wealth.

The poor are downtrodden and crushed under the feet of "the ruling class." The 1% who own most of

the worlds resources with seeming no regard for those who either struggle to make ends meet.

"If you're not outraged you're not paying attention."

Sadly what was to be a peaceful protest made headlines for stirring up trouble.

The voice of the oppressed turned into a hateful scream. The Occupy movement soon became counter

productive.

The cry of injustice had once again fallen on deaf ears.

But who's fault is it?

The bigger question may be, "Does it matter?"

What is accomplished when we fight for peace with acts of war?

People see that often the rich are godless people relying on their wealth.

But that isn't always the case.

What of people who rely on intellect to save them?

Maybe we should rely on faith.

Jesus left the riches of heaven to walk amongst us to teach us what is truly important.

He asked his followers to follow him without money. Without extra clothing. To follow in faith alone.

In the end we all must make an account of our lives.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Like sheep we have all gone astray. Rich or poor there is none righteous, no not one.

In the end whether rich or poor will mean nothing. It's what you did with your life that will count.

You can take that to the bank.

"Ebarassment"

Something happened today that I didn't see coming.
Unfortunately God witnessed the whole thing.
I went to church. I enjoyed the message.
I received Communion.
I went to the library.
Then it happened.
There was a group of "street preachers" right near the entrance of Rite Aid where I planned to buy a few items.
These preachers weren't passive. They were "screamers." In other words these men who happen to be large men( who could go toe to toe with any fit defensive lineman in the NFL) . Intimidation not only in stature but how they share The Gospel.
I happened to be wearing a t-shirt proclaiming that Jesus is our best hope in life.
In my head I began to feel that people would associate me with the screaming preachers. So much that I considered going to a different store which is more crowded and in my opinion a somewhat inferior store.
I left the crowded store to shop at Rite Aid despite the proximity of the screaming preachers.
All went well. But when I left the store I felt that every eye were upon me.
I didn't want to be lumped together with the screaming preachers. 'I'm not like them. I'm not one of those Christians.'
Shame.
It got worse.
While on the bus I noticed a man I knew years ago that was a bit outspoken as a Christian. He is fond of me.
He also brings quite a bit of attention to himself. He'll hear a bit of conversation and if it goes against what The Evangelical Church teaches he'll surely speak up. He can quote scripture chapter and verse.
Again. Shame.
Am I ashamed of The Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Surely not I was wearing a Christian t-shirt.
But what about "being seen" with Christians that are loud and proud.
I ask God to bring people to me to witness to but maybe this was the wake up call I needed to show that I'm not quite as ready as I claim.
I will not give up or beat myself up for this weakness.
God knows my heart. He knows my weakness.
But in Christ my weakness is His strength. And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The same can be true for you as well.
Do you know of Jesus but don't really know him?
Do you go to church but aren't sure of whom it is that the church celebrates?
Or maybe like me you know Jesus but would die of embarrassment if a stranger would to start up a conversation began to talk of Heaven and how to avoid Hell?
Open up to God.
You know you have done wrong even if you're unsure of God and who God really is.
Ask forgiveness for your wrong doing. Be humble. Go to a quiet place and cry out to God. He hears us all. He turns NO ONE AWAY.
You may not understand God's ways but I assure you that no one on this planet past, present, or future has all the answers.
With forgiveness you don't need to go to a confessional and ask a priest for absolution.
You can go right to God.
Allow God into your life, into your heart and allow God to cleanse and heal you. To make a new creation.
Allow God to guide you. After you bring Jesus into your life He sends The Holy Spirit as your guide.
A great place in The Bible to start is The Gospel of John and The Book of Romans.
Get to know God via The Holy Spirit. Ask for bravery to share what God is telling you.
This is a prayer I pray every day.
Working with God I will get there.
Someday people will know :
I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
For God's Glory, Not mine.