These are prayers I'm incorporating more into my every day life.
1. The priest who gave me this prayer said it's the prayer of the desert monks and it's a direct line to Jesus. It has become my new mantra to calm me down when I'm upset...
Breathe in: Jesus Son of the Living God
Breathe out: Have mercy on me, a sinner.
2. I have been trying to pray for my guardian angel more. So this is what I've been saying in prayer. It's simple, I know.
Dear Lord, please give my angel strength, take away his pain, and guide him to do your Will. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.
3. I have also been trying to pray for my demons as well. This is what I've started praying for them.
Dear Lord, please let my demons know your light. Let them feel its warmth, and let them taste all the colors. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Thursday, July 24, 2014
What if nothing really is free?
I understand most of the stories in the OT of the Bible, if not the entire Bible, went down the exact same way it was written, but what was written got the main point of the story I'm sure. I seriously think the emotions were the same.
Last night I made the kids watch Prince of Egypt, the cartoon movie. They had more questions than they watched of the movie, like the story really touches on things my kids aren't quite used to dealing with, like death. Why did he kill all the babies? Why did she put her baby in the river?
One of my favorites that stood out to me... On the subject of what slavery was, I explained that the Egyptians didn't want to do all the hard work themselves so they had slaves. And they needed the slaves because they wouldn't know how to build all their buildings. And God wanted to free His people. He did. He freed the Hebrews from Egypt. Then he did it again when he was freeing black African people from the Christians. It's so weird how the two stories relate and the role religion played in them. But I made the American Slavery reference to explain to the kids that God doesn't discriminate. He didn't free His people just because they were His people. He freed people who were suffering because they were suffering.
So anyway, I got to thinking, Why did God take so long to free His people? They were to a point where they were giving up faith. So why so long? And I think what happened was God knew what it was going to take to free those people. Remember Jesus WAS, before the invention of man just the same as He IS. So everything He preached about love, tolerance, and peace was still a deal in heaven. God knew it would take "smiting," something He didn't want to do, to free His people, but He knew it was inevitable in order for life to evolve.
I wonder how often do our prayers involve some sort of sacrifice, especially on God's part. I think we too often believe He is God, He is magical and can make anything happen at the word of "Let there be Light," and I'm thinking, there's a lot more to His intervention than the word. There's sacrifices being made, large ones, beyond our comprehension, and if we knew all that was involved in answering our prayers, we'd probably find contentment in our lives naturally. God won't do anything God doesn't want to do, but I think at some point, we get too narcissistic in our prayers where we have a hard time seeing passed the physical realm of things, and maybe that's why not all our prayers are answered fast enough, or the way we think it should be. Maybe that's why a lot of times, we ask for something and God gives us not what we ask, but what we really needed. Many of us learn that His plan is better than ours, for our sake, and it takes a lot of faith to believe that, but I think there's more to it. There's other lives and other things going on beyond our understanding, and God has to make our prayers jive with that.
Anyway, just something to think about when asking for things and finding faith in unresolved prayers.
Last night I made the kids watch Prince of Egypt, the cartoon movie. They had more questions than they watched of the movie, like the story really touches on things my kids aren't quite used to dealing with, like death. Why did he kill all the babies? Why did she put her baby in the river?
One of my favorites that stood out to me... On the subject of what slavery was, I explained that the Egyptians didn't want to do all the hard work themselves so they had slaves. And they needed the slaves because they wouldn't know how to build all their buildings. And God wanted to free His people. He did. He freed the Hebrews from Egypt. Then he did it again when he was freeing black African people from the Christians. It's so weird how the two stories relate and the role religion played in them. But I made the American Slavery reference to explain to the kids that God doesn't discriminate. He didn't free His people just because they were His people. He freed people who were suffering because they were suffering.
So anyway, I got to thinking, Why did God take so long to free His people? They were to a point where they were giving up faith. So why so long? And I think what happened was God knew what it was going to take to free those people. Remember Jesus WAS, before the invention of man just the same as He IS. So everything He preached about love, tolerance, and peace was still a deal in heaven. God knew it would take "smiting," something He didn't want to do, to free His people, but He knew it was inevitable in order for life to evolve.
I wonder how often do our prayers involve some sort of sacrifice, especially on God's part. I think we too often believe He is God, He is magical and can make anything happen at the word of "Let there be Light," and I'm thinking, there's a lot more to His intervention than the word. There's sacrifices being made, large ones, beyond our comprehension, and if we knew all that was involved in answering our prayers, we'd probably find contentment in our lives naturally. God won't do anything God doesn't want to do, but I think at some point, we get too narcissistic in our prayers where we have a hard time seeing passed the physical realm of things, and maybe that's why not all our prayers are answered fast enough, or the way we think it should be. Maybe that's why a lot of times, we ask for something and God gives us not what we ask, but what we really needed. Many of us learn that His plan is better than ours, for our sake, and it takes a lot of faith to believe that, but I think there's more to it. There's other lives and other things going on beyond our understanding, and God has to make our prayers jive with that.
Anyway, just something to think about when asking for things and finding faith in unresolved prayers.
Friday, May 16, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Is Homosexuality a Sin?
Are you debating Christians about the topic of homosexuality? If so, I have the best argument for you. An argument that came from the Bible, one no Christian can deny.
Are you of the homosexual persuasion worried about your soul? Are you a Christian wondering if you got the homosexuality thing all wrong? You've come to the right place.
People want to know if homosexuality is actually a sin. It's really of great debate, especially among Rabbis. The Bible translates more toward sexual immorality to be the sin, in context with all sorts of heinous acts that MIGHT include homosexual sex aka sodomy; however, it was in context with immorality. Homosexuals in love are a different story.
So to answer question 1...
Is Homosexuality a sin?
All sins are forgiven for those who believe.
It doesn't matter if it is a sin. What matters most is if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you believe in Love and that Love conquers all.
What does it take to follow Jesus? Well I'm sure it's not much different than what you are already doing.
Christians please hear my plea. Condemning homosexuality isn't helping the world. We are all equally sinners. We all equally need mercy. And those who believe shall receive it. Spread love, not hate. Spread the love Christ preached about. Jesus Christ is their savior, not their judgment. He is your savior. He is our savior. That was His message.
Are you of the homosexual persuasion worried about your soul? Are you a Christian wondering if you got the homosexuality thing all wrong? You've come to the right place.
People want to know if homosexuality is actually a sin. It's really of great debate, especially among Rabbis. The Bible translates more toward sexual immorality to be the sin, in context with all sorts of heinous acts that MIGHT include homosexual sex aka sodomy; however, it was in context with immorality. Homosexuals in love are a different story.
So to answer question 1...
Is Homosexuality a sin?
All sins are forgiven for those who believe.
It doesn't matter if it is a sin. What matters most is if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior. If you believe in Love and that Love conquers all.
What does it take to follow Jesus? Well I'm sure it's not much different than what you are already doing.
Christians please hear my plea. Condemning homosexuality isn't helping the world. We are all equally sinners. We all equally need mercy. And those who believe shall receive it. Spread love, not hate. Spread the love Christ preached about. Jesus Christ is their savior, not their judgment. He is your savior. He is our savior. That was His message.
Matthew 6:14-15
New International Version (NIV)
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Accepting Christ Accepting Myself Accepting Others: My Sunday Sermon to Myself
Imagine if Christ were among us again, in the Flesh, would He be invited into your home despite that he might smell like a homeless person from wandering the hot streets for days? Would you provide Him a good meal despite that He might not have any means to pay for it? Or would you tempt Him into performing a miracle for his meal? Did you feed the homeless vet you drove passed yesterday because that was Christ.
If He went to prison, would you write Him letters and send him money for the commissary? Would you vote to give prisoners better facilities and programs to help them to a better life? Would He be a friend despite that He is different from you and thinks differently and behaves differently? Would you tell Him not to say anything embarrassing because your boss is there? Would you tear down the burning cross in his yard that the KKK put there because He is a non-white Jew? Even if that entails ripping off your own hood to do?
Would you truly ACCEPT Him into your life? Would you ACCEPT His messages of Love and Charity and Forgiveness? Even if that means helping out a gay person? Or adopting the baby someone wanted to abort? Would you ACCEPT His tasking you to be greater than who you are now? Even if that means you have to sacrifice what you want for what the world needs? Would you ACCEPT the teachings He has given you? Even if that means admitting you were wrong? Or would you attack him with Bible verses that say otherwise?
For those who have answered yes at some point in their life, this message is more for us. For those who haven't, you should read anyway because I want you to know what Christians were meant to be, and maybe it's possible you already are a Christian and didn't realize it yet. I bet you didn't see that one coming. You thought this was for the heathens. Didn't you?
Accepting Christ doesn't mean going to church and be like, "Yeah, Gsus is my Homy," and a quick dip you are now a member of the Jesus Christ Association, meetings held every Sunday, bring money. It sure seems that way when you talk to some people, not by what they say, but the example they live. I'm not that person in this case ONLY because I miss most of the meetings and I don't usually bring money.
Christ is your VIP pass to heaven. That's not exactly the most noble reason to be someone's friend. My father always said, "Choose your friends wisely," and I'd say for networking purposes alone, Jesus would be the guy I'd bring home to papa and be like, "Ha, you can't get better than this." I mean, here's a first class ticket to happily ever after is He not? Isn't that what we seek to achieve in our relationship with Christ? Happiness? Peace? Everything we seek from heaven?
There's more to Christ than His connections. Christ is kind of awesome. Kind of? My bad. Christ is fantastically awesome on epic scales. He is the best role model the earth has ever provided us, wait, the best role model God ever provided us, who has ever conquered the earth. His Words are like Lucky Charms, they are magically delicious, and his Message should not be ignored. And the fact that He not only died for us, but also resurrected for us (which I'm sure is more work than dying) should be the most honest indicator to the kind of friend He is. He's not pretending to love you, that's for sure. He actually, legitimately, sincerely loves you. In the words of the John Legend...
Christians don't always follow Christ, and for the most part, most don't. We don't seem to notice CHRISTians, that Christ is in that name, that that is the guy we are supposed to be following. Nope, sometimes, a lot of times, we are caught up on Levite Jews from ancient days, Deuteronomic historians, prophets, and Paul. I'm not saying these other sources should be discarded completely, but if I had the power to recompile the Bible, I would eliminate all but the life of Christ to avoid confusion because people cannot be trusted with the extra information. We follow it when it's really there to be a guide, something to help us get the bigger picture. Jesus is the one we were supposed to be following. I know Paul was trying to help, but Jesus Christ, he is not.
Christ came to earth. He preached. He healed. He performed miracles. He turned water into wine (that's a little more epic than your average miracle). The thing is, He was Here. He carved it with big letters on the earth with His blood. While He was here, he left an imprint on the hearts of many. It's His stories, His words, and His message we should, as CHRISTians, be following. Every thing else is everything else. The moment everything else contradicts Christ's message, that's when Christ's message trumps everything else.
The Bible as a whole is God's message, and it's something that should be taken as a WHOLE.
To sum up the Bible... The world was dark and nasty scary. God fixed that. He created the world. Then it became a terrible place to live, so he destroyed it and started over. Then that started to become a terrible place to live on account of the world, so then he sent his Son to fix things. Then that started to be terrible again, but at least there's hope in the after life now. In fact, the Bible is full of stories, as well as the whole big picture story, where things stunk and then God makes it better. There are storms, and then there are rainbows following the storm. This too shall pass. The Lord He giveth and then he taketh away. Most of the cliches come from this theme.
Do not confuse the Biblical accounts of when time stunk to be God's Law. God isn't ordering us to be the world. He's ordering us to read how it stunk, and then read how He made things better. He wants us to know that oppressing women like property and raping them and stuff like that led to times that wasn't so good, so please stop raping women and oppressing them. That the decisions we make influence the world around us, so be conscious of how your choices affect others.
I don't understand how so many see that message to be "homosexuals made the world an awful place to live, so stop being homosexual" when homosexuality wasn't really mentioned unless you interpret sexual immorality to include homosexuality. But really, there's like the rest of the book that tells you all the things that made the world stink for that moment, and it's the lack of love for humanity that destroyed the earth. That lust, superficial wants and desires cloaked as love, is what destroyed the innocence we had going.
And the overall message also states, that even though we stink, we still get to bask in happily ever after via grace. God's message is about making the earth better. Making us better. But also that we are forgiven when we don't.
And if all else fails in the deciphering of what is Christ and what is Man... God is Love. Christ preached about Love. So if it's about true love, real love, the man lay down his life for a friend kind of love, patience, kindness, never boasting... then it's of God. If it's about the opposite, the hatred, the envy, the ego boasting... then that's the Man or the darker side of the Force.
Again, God is Love. Christ taught about Love as His number 1 message. To fully accept Christ, one must accept love. This comes in two forms... Give and Take.
You must accept Love in your life.
You must Love.
It really helps to know what Love is. Love is walking together. Love is...
Christ died to give us Grace. He was tortured, humiliated, spat on, skin ripped inside out, nailed to a cross and left to bake in the heat so that WE can have grace. And we mess that up with, "You can't be gay it's a sin." Yes you can. Jesus died on that cross so that you can be gay.
By accepting Grace, we first have to accept that our sins are forgiven. We have to forgive ourselves at some point for our flaws and past mistakes. The number one reason people pass judgment and criticism on others is their own insecurity. The moment you look yourself dead in the eye in that mirror and face your ghosts that haunt you, the moment you will become a better person. That moment, you will discover Grace.
By accepting Grace, we also have to accept that other people's sins are forgiven. It doesn't matter if homosexuality is a sin. It doesn't matter if HATING homosexuality is a sin. Both are forgiven. Why? Because you know not what you do. None of us know what we do. We really have no idea what we are doing... we are just doing it like Nike. Just like you, everyone else is entitled to be wrong.
By accepting Christ, we are accepting more than His English Name. We are accepting more than believing He is the Son of God. We are accepting his light, and letting it shine on us, flaws exposed. We stop hiding in the darkness, and we stop cloaking our imperfections with denial. We accept His Message because we believe in Him, not that we believe He was, but that we believe in Him to save the world, and we know living by His Words will make the world a better place. Even an atheist can do this, embrace the light for what it is, the truth, the justice, the love, the warmth... The essence of Christ is who our spirits must accept.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
I now pronounce you man and wife; now kiss the bride... Haha I'm kidding. You did not just cyber marry Jesus. Or did you?
Buttercup: Oh, Wesley, will you ever forgive me?
Westley: What hideous sin have you committed lately?
Buttercup: I got married. I didn't want to - it all happened so fast.
Westley: Never happened.
Buttercup: What?
Westley: Never happened.
Buttercup: But it did I was there; this old man said 'man and wife.'
Westley: Did you say 'I do?'
Buttercup: Um, no... we sort of skipped that part.
Westley: Then you're not married. You didn't say it; you didn't do it.
There's actually more truth to this jest if you look deep enough.
If He went to prison, would you write Him letters and send him money for the commissary? Would you vote to give prisoners better facilities and programs to help them to a better life? Would He be a friend despite that He is different from you and thinks differently and behaves differently? Would you tell Him not to say anything embarrassing because your boss is there? Would you tear down the burning cross in his yard that the KKK put there because He is a non-white Jew? Even if that entails ripping off your own hood to do?
Would you truly ACCEPT Him into your life? Would you ACCEPT His messages of Love and Charity and Forgiveness? Even if that means helping out a gay person? Or adopting the baby someone wanted to abort? Would you ACCEPT His tasking you to be greater than who you are now? Even if that means you have to sacrifice what you want for what the world needs? Would you ACCEPT the teachings He has given you? Even if that means admitting you were wrong? Or would you attack him with Bible verses that say otherwise?
Would you ACCEPT the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior?
For those who have answered yes at some point in their life, this message is more for us. For those who haven't, you should read anyway because I want you to know what Christians were meant to be, and maybe it's possible you already are a Christian and didn't realize it yet. I bet you didn't see that one coming. You thought this was for the heathens. Didn't you?
Accepting Christ doesn't mean going to church and be like, "Yeah, Gsus is my Homy," and a quick dip you are now a member of the Jesus Christ Association, meetings held every Sunday, bring money. It sure seems that way when you talk to some people, not by what they say, but the example they live. I'm not that person in this case ONLY because I miss most of the meetings and I don't usually bring money.
Christ is your VIP pass to heaven. That's not exactly the most noble reason to be someone's friend. My father always said, "Choose your friends wisely," and I'd say for networking purposes alone, Jesus would be the guy I'd bring home to papa and be like, "Ha, you can't get better than this." I mean, here's a first class ticket to happily ever after is He not? Isn't that what we seek to achieve in our relationship with Christ? Happiness? Peace? Everything we seek from heaven?
There's more to Christ than His connections. Christ is kind of awesome. Kind of? My bad. Christ is fantastically awesome on epic scales. He is the best role model the earth has ever provided us, wait, the best role model God ever provided us, who has ever conquered the earth. His Words are like Lucky Charms, they are magically delicious, and his Message should not be ignored. And the fact that He not only died for us, but also resurrected for us (which I'm sure is more work than dying) should be the most honest indicator to the kind of friend He is. He's not pretending to love you, that's for sure. He actually, legitimately, sincerely loves you. In the words of the John Legend...
'Cause all of me loves all of you.The rest of this post gets a little preachy. I'm preaching to myself here, but you too. Nobody is perfect. So don't expect this to be one of those, "I don't have to worry about this" moments because I do at least.
By Accepting Christ, would you follow Him?
Christians don't always follow Christ, and for the most part, most don't. We don't seem to notice CHRISTians, that Christ is in that name, that that is the guy we are supposed to be following. Nope, sometimes, a lot of times, we are caught up on Levite Jews from ancient days, Deuteronomic historians, prophets, and Paul. I'm not saying these other sources should be discarded completely, but if I had the power to recompile the Bible, I would eliminate all but the life of Christ to avoid confusion because people cannot be trusted with the extra information. We follow it when it's really there to be a guide, something to help us get the bigger picture. Jesus is the one we were supposed to be following. I know Paul was trying to help, but Jesus Christ, he is not.
Christ came to earth. He preached. He healed. He performed miracles. He turned water into wine (that's a little more epic than your average miracle). The thing is, He was Here. He carved it with big letters on the earth with His blood. While He was here, he left an imprint on the hearts of many. It's His stories, His words, and His message we should, as CHRISTians, be following. Every thing else is everything else. The moment everything else contradicts Christ's message, that's when Christ's message trumps everything else.
The Bible as a whole is God's message, and it's something that should be taken as a WHOLE.
To sum up the Bible... The world was dark and nasty scary. God fixed that. He created the world. Then it became a terrible place to live, so he destroyed it and started over. Then that started to become a terrible place to live on account of the world, so then he sent his Son to fix things. Then that started to be terrible again, but at least there's hope in the after life now. In fact, the Bible is full of stories, as well as the whole big picture story, where things stunk and then God makes it better. There are storms, and then there are rainbows following the storm. This too shall pass. The Lord He giveth and then he taketh away. Most of the cliches come from this theme.
Do not confuse the Biblical accounts of when time stunk to be God's Law. God isn't ordering us to be the world. He's ordering us to read how it stunk, and then read how He made things better. He wants us to know that oppressing women like property and raping them and stuff like that led to times that wasn't so good, so please stop raping women and oppressing them. That the decisions we make influence the world around us, so be conscious of how your choices affect others.
I don't understand how so many see that message to be "homosexuals made the world an awful place to live, so stop being homosexual" when homosexuality wasn't really mentioned unless you interpret sexual immorality to include homosexuality. But really, there's like the rest of the book that tells you all the things that made the world stink for that moment, and it's the lack of love for humanity that destroyed the earth. That lust, superficial wants and desires cloaked as love, is what destroyed the innocence we had going.
And the overall message also states, that even though we stink, we still get to bask in happily ever after via grace. God's message is about making the earth better. Making us better. But also that we are forgiven when we don't.
And if all else fails in the deciphering of what is Christ and what is Man... God is Love. Christ preached about Love. So if it's about true love, real love, the man lay down his life for a friend kind of love, patience, kindness, never boasting... then it's of God. If it's about the opposite, the hatred, the envy, the ego boasting... then that's the Man or the darker side of the Force.
Do you accept Love in your life? Because that's what it means to accept Jesus.
Again, God is Love. Christ taught about Love as His number 1 message. To fully accept Christ, one must accept love. This comes in two forms... Give and Take.
You must accept Love in your life.
You must Love.
It really helps to know what Love is. Love is walking together. Love is...
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (ESV) 1 Corinthians 13:4-8AAnother definition of love...
Let me not to the marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments. Love is not loveWhich alters when it alteration finds,Or bends with the remover to remove:O no; it is an ever-fixed mark, That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;It is the star to every wandering bark,Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickle's compass come; Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom. If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved. Sonnet 116 William ShakespeareAnd finally Noah Webster's original definition...
LOVE, v.t. luv. [L. libeo, lubeo. See Lief. The sense is probably to be prompt, free, willing, from leaning, advancing, or drawing forward.] |
Do you accept Grace in your life? Because that's what it means to accept Jesus as your savior.
Christ died to give us Grace. He was tortured, humiliated, spat on, skin ripped inside out, nailed to a cross and left to bake in the heat so that WE can have grace. And we mess that up with, "You can't be gay it's a sin." Yes you can. Jesus died on that cross so that you can be gay.
By accepting Grace, we first have to accept that our sins are forgiven. We have to forgive ourselves at some point for our flaws and past mistakes. The number one reason people pass judgment and criticism on others is their own insecurity. The moment you look yourself dead in the eye in that mirror and face your ghosts that haunt you, the moment you will become a better person. That moment, you will discover Grace.
By accepting Grace, we also have to accept that other people's sins are forgiven. It doesn't matter if homosexuality is a sin. It doesn't matter if HATING homosexuality is a sin. Both are forgiven. Why? Because you know not what you do. None of us know what we do. We really have no idea what we are doing... we are just doing it like Nike. Just like you, everyone else is entitled to be wrong.
By accepting Christ, we are accepting more than His English Name. We are accepting more than believing He is the Son of God. We are accepting his light, and letting it shine on us, flaws exposed. We stop hiding in the darkness, and we stop cloaking our imperfections with denial. We accept His Message because we believe in Him, not that we believe He was, but that we believe in Him to save the world, and we know living by His Words will make the world a better place. Even an atheist can do this, embrace the light for what it is, the truth, the justice, the love, the warmth... The essence of Christ is who our spirits must accept.
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
I now pronounce you man and wife; now kiss the bride... Haha I'm kidding. You did not just cyber marry Jesus. Or did you?
Buttercup: Oh, Wesley, will you ever forgive me?
Westley: What hideous sin have you committed lately?
Buttercup: I got married. I didn't want to - it all happened so fast.
Westley: Never happened.
Buttercup: What?
Westley: Never happened.
Buttercup: But it did I was there; this old man said 'man and wife.'
Westley: Did you say 'I do?'
Buttercup: Um, no... we sort of skipped that part.
Westley: Then you're not married. You didn't say it; you didn't do it.
There's actually more truth to this jest if you look deep enough.
Things I would Ask Jesus
I posted this on my Facebook and other blog. So who would I sit with on a bench and chat for an hour. Anyone from past or present. Who would it be?
I know you are all thinking, "She'd so pick her dad," and while I'd love to chat with my father (may he rest in peace) on that bench, as well as my mother (she's more fun, sorry dad, but she'd bring cocktails, and she's alive and well), I would have to say Jesus. Not Rafael's cousin, Hey Zeus, no, the one who's mom was a virgin. Wait, all moms were a virgin once. You know which Jesus I mean. Jee Zuss. That Jesus.
And questions I'd ask where I can hear the answers and there's no confusing things...
1. Is Mary Magdalene your baby's mama? The world is freaking out about it ever since Tom Hanks.
2. Do you and God get into arguments? If so, about what?
3. Why on earth would you want to forgive all of us? Like what gave you the idea for Grace?
I am starting to sound like Oprah and Barbara Walters. Maybe I do have a future in television show hosting...
4. Why did your dad make us?
5. How old is the earth?
6. Did your dad make dinosaurs?
7. Do you happen to have an Uncle Gosh?
8. How do you feel about homosexuals? I might charge people to hear your answer on this one is that OK?
9. Where am I going when I die?
10. Where do atheists go when they die? This is important. I love some atheists and I haven't been reaming them about their soul yet. Should I be?
11. Where is Westboro going when they die?
12. Why do males have nipples?
Even male dogs have nipples. That is truly one of the most mysterious things about the universe. Did they use to have babies? Or were they made in a woman's image? And if men were made first, while I know babies gender are formed at conception, they all still start off with female sex organs and males organs form from the chemical stimulation of the female organs, so men were made in our image were they not? And that's why they have nipples isn't it? Why does the Bible spin this to the man's favor like they were first when Eve plainly means BEFORE?
13. Is there a way to reduce the pain of period cramps and child birth naturally? Like what do we women have to do to make up for Eve? Is there a correlation between Eve's fruit picking and the fact that women make more pies than men?
14. Why did the fallen fall? Do you still love them? Will there be redemption for them some day? This is actually the one I am most curious about besides the males having nipples.
I got more but this is long I'm done. I only get an hour, so I think I covered the important ones.
I got more but this is long I'm done. I only get an hour, so I think I covered the important ones.
On the serious, I'd love to get into a discussion about Love and Eternity, and there'd be a lot of me kissing his scars and hugging him. An hour would not be enough.
15 Preposterous Reasons To Believe in God
1. The aliens do. Most abductees state that not only do the aliens believe in a higher power, but they are closer to the "God Head" than we are, like messengers (or angels). People abducted by aliens cannot be wrong.
2. Have you ever seen me drive? My kids frequently yell, "Wee,"when I'm driving through town. Divine Intervention is the ONLY reason I'm able to write this blog.
3. Tenacious D met the devil (shiny demon) once hitchhiking on the long and lonesome road. The devil told them to "Play, the best song, in the world..." and they did. They totally forget the best song in the world, but they do have a tribute. Anyway, if the devil exists, the opposite must exist.
4. Jesus turned water into wine. When you figure out how to do that with the snap of your fingers, let me know. Seriously, let me know, I'll invite you to every party.
5. Carl Jung. He was some guy who studied a bunch of different cultures/tribes and all seemed to have some depiction of good vs evil, like it's an inherent truth given to us all at birth. He also did a lot of research on dream symbols. To dream of the devil means, according to Betty Bethards who based her dream dictionary on a log of Jung's research, "Lower ignorant side of self that tempts you not to accept self responsibility, to blame others, procrastinate, dwell in negative thoughts and actions."
6. The Bible is the best selling book of all time. Bet you didn't know that. I think it's because of all the sex and violence, but you know, if the stories were completely fictional, then why is it still selling like hotcakes? And if God was created to control the population, then why do we have laws?
7. Prayer helps. No matter what's going on in my life, I feel better after I pray.
8. There's a reason people call His name when climaxing under some sheets.
9. Basic Mathematics Proves it. The Bible says God is Love. Well I do know Love exists so if God is Love, and Love exists, then God exists. If a = b and b = c, then a = c. And Love conquers all. So if God is love, and love conquers all, then God conquers all. But a square is a rectangle and a rectangle isn't a square. However if a square is a rectangle, and rectangles exist, then squares must exist too. Something like that.
10. Noah Webster believed in God. He was the guy who started schools and compiled the dictionary. He's like America's best teacher, from Yale, so we have expert credibility here.
11. You have to either believe God exists or intelligent aliens who love people and want to help us do because someone invented the cell phone, and we know humans can't do such things on their own volition.
12. God is the light, and the speed of light scientifically happens to be constant, meaning space and time are relative. So God's existence, scientifically, shouldn't be in question. It's your existence, scientifically, that's questionable.
13. The Catholic Church claims more gold than National Geographic has configured to ever be dug from the earth. Bet you didn't know that fun fact. I got it from some British Parliament guy on the British version of C-Span. Or maybe it was the Ancient Alien guy... Anyway, money talks and bull shit walks.
14. Do you really think marijuana was an accident? Someone had to invent that, someone who can invent life. Same with sex. Not only is the invention of sex too genius for coincidence, but the notion that it makes life, wait God is Love and God created Life... Ah, now you are starting to figure out why people call His name in the bedroom.
15. And you know what? God is all about love. Jesus preached about love, wine and eating when hungry. They are about a love that is deeper than lust, a love that is kind, never envies or boasts, a selfless love where no greater love is a man who lays down his life for a friend. A man who did lay down his life and tormented in endless suffering just so you can sin. Like what the eff exactly is wrong with this story? If you can't believe such a love exists in this world, maybe you need some wine in your life. It's the Blood of Christ, drink it up.
This post was originally written for my regular blog Crumpets and Bollocks.
2. Have you ever seen me drive? My kids frequently yell, "Wee,"when I'm driving through town. Divine Intervention is the ONLY reason I'm able to write this blog.
3. Tenacious D met the devil (shiny demon) once hitchhiking on the long and lonesome road. The devil told them to "Play, the best song, in the world..." and they did. They totally forget the best song in the world, but they do have a tribute. Anyway, if the devil exists, the opposite must exist.
4. Jesus turned water into wine. When you figure out how to do that with the snap of your fingers, let me know. Seriously, let me know, I'll invite you to every party.
5. Carl Jung. He was some guy who studied a bunch of different cultures/tribes and all seemed to have some depiction of good vs evil, like it's an inherent truth given to us all at birth. He also did a lot of research on dream symbols. To dream of the devil means, according to Betty Bethards who based her dream dictionary on a log of Jung's research, "Lower ignorant side of self that tempts you not to accept self responsibility, to blame others, procrastinate, dwell in negative thoughts and actions."
6. The Bible is the best selling book of all time. Bet you didn't know that. I think it's because of all the sex and violence, but you know, if the stories were completely fictional, then why is it still selling like hotcakes? And if God was created to control the population, then why do we have laws?
7. Prayer helps. No matter what's going on in my life, I feel better after I pray.
8. There's a reason people call His name when climaxing under some sheets.
9. Basic Mathematics Proves it. The Bible says God is Love. Well I do know Love exists so if God is Love, and Love exists, then God exists. If a = b and b = c, then a = c. And Love conquers all. So if God is love, and love conquers all, then God conquers all. But a square is a rectangle and a rectangle isn't a square. However if a square is a rectangle, and rectangles exist, then squares must exist too. Something like that.
10. Noah Webster believed in God. He was the guy who started schools and compiled the dictionary. He's like America's best teacher, from Yale, so we have expert credibility here.
11. You have to either believe God exists or intelligent aliens who love people and want to help us do because someone invented the cell phone, and we know humans can't do such things on their own volition.
12. God is the light, and the speed of light scientifically happens to be constant, meaning space and time are relative. So God's existence, scientifically, shouldn't be in question. It's your existence, scientifically, that's questionable.
13. The Catholic Church claims more gold than National Geographic has configured to ever be dug from the earth. Bet you didn't know that fun fact. I got it from some British Parliament guy on the British version of C-Span. Or maybe it was the Ancient Alien guy... Anyway, money talks and bull shit walks.
14. Do you really think marijuana was an accident? Someone had to invent that, someone who can invent life. Same with sex. Not only is the invention of sex too genius for coincidence, but the notion that it makes life, wait God is Love and God created Life... Ah, now you are starting to figure out why people call His name in the bedroom.
15. And you know what? God is all about love. Jesus preached about love, wine and eating when hungry. They are about a love that is deeper than lust, a love that is kind, never envies or boasts, a selfless love where no greater love is a man who lays down his life for a friend. A man who did lay down his life and tormented in endless suffering just so you can sin. Like what the eff exactly is wrong with this story? If you can't believe such a love exists in this world, maybe you need some wine in your life. It's the Blood of Christ, drink it up.
This post was originally written for my regular blog Crumpets and Bollocks.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
What does From Dust to Essence mean?
The mind, body and soul make us who we are. It is the trinity of our being here on earth, the Father (mind), the Son (body) and the Holy Spirit (soul).
Christianity upholds the belief that our bodies were made from dust when God first made Adam. Science proves that our bodies return to dust when we die. The dust symbolizes all that we are of the earth. The superficiality of the things we do. The material things we possess. The dirt we should regularly clean out of our being; the dirt that we someday will leave behind.
When we die, it is believed that our soul will carry forward to another life. Science has attempted to prove this phenomenon with a paranormal science that studies death and the body during death. Some have seen an electromagnetic spectrum of a soul exiting the body, if you wish to believe that's what it is. I read once that Hitler performed death studies and documented that the body loses some weight upon death, something they thought to be the soul leaving the body. People who have witnessed ghostly encounters believe there is a soul haunting the earth for whatever reason. There is definitely some sort of essence about all of us that we just cannot prove exists. This is where faith comes into play.
It is my belief that the soul travels to its destination upon death. Heaven or hell. I also think it's a choice we make in life, where we end up. The mind is the transition factor. The mind connects the soul and the body. The body cannot operate without the mind telling it what to do. The body also tells the mind everything it sees, feels, smells, tastes, and hears. Then our mind processes that information and perceives. It is with that perception that our mind connects to the soul. It tells the soul about its experiences and the soul in turns tells the mind about its essence. The mind tries to relay it back to the body. They are all interconnected with the mind being the middle man playing messenger between the two shells.
I think our destination is decided between the values the soul desires, the things our minds focus on, and the trials our bodies endure. All of these factor into the overall essence that leaves the body upon death. It is by the decisions you make and the way you live your life that determines whether your overall essence is good, or evil. BUT, the essence you are affects the decisions you make and the way you live your life.
So this blog is about my experiences between my dust and my essence. It's about how I try to live my life for God. How I try to embrace His Love and how I walk through that valley of the shadows of death with God as my light.
I am a Christian, but I'm not your average Christian. I am definitely not the Sheeple type. Everything I believe, I searched to believe it. Some of my beliefs change as I grow, and others remain the same. I also believe in science. I think educating the brain is one of the most important things we can do for society and for ourselves. Not all of science is fact. Most of science is experimenting with ideas and beliefs to find truth. Instead of prayer, science uses the earth and mind, tools God gave us. I also believe in the freedom to believe whatever you want. God gave us all free will. I think he wants your decision to be with Him to be your decision. I think the person who knocks on His door is going to find so much more than the person who answered a door and listened to someone spreading the gospel.
So with all that said, welcome to my blog.
Christianity upholds the belief that our bodies were made from dust when God first made Adam. Science proves that our bodies return to dust when we die. The dust symbolizes all that we are of the earth. The superficiality of the things we do. The material things we possess. The dirt we should regularly clean out of our being; the dirt that we someday will leave behind.
When we die, it is believed that our soul will carry forward to another life. Science has attempted to prove this phenomenon with a paranormal science that studies death and the body during death. Some have seen an electromagnetic spectrum of a soul exiting the body, if you wish to believe that's what it is. I read once that Hitler performed death studies and documented that the body loses some weight upon death, something they thought to be the soul leaving the body. People who have witnessed ghostly encounters believe there is a soul haunting the earth for whatever reason. There is definitely some sort of essence about all of us that we just cannot prove exists. This is where faith comes into play.
It is my belief that the soul travels to its destination upon death. Heaven or hell. I also think it's a choice we make in life, where we end up. The mind is the transition factor. The mind connects the soul and the body. The body cannot operate without the mind telling it what to do. The body also tells the mind everything it sees, feels, smells, tastes, and hears. Then our mind processes that information and perceives. It is with that perception that our mind connects to the soul. It tells the soul about its experiences and the soul in turns tells the mind about its essence. The mind tries to relay it back to the body. They are all interconnected with the mind being the middle man playing messenger between the two shells.
I think our destination is decided between the values the soul desires, the things our minds focus on, and the trials our bodies endure. All of these factor into the overall essence that leaves the body upon death. It is by the decisions you make and the way you live your life that determines whether your overall essence is good, or evil. BUT, the essence you are affects the decisions you make and the way you live your life.
So this blog is about my experiences between my dust and my essence. It's about how I try to live my life for God. How I try to embrace His Love and how I walk through that valley of the shadows of death with God as my light.
I am a Christian, but I'm not your average Christian. I am definitely not the Sheeple type. Everything I believe, I searched to believe it. Some of my beliefs change as I grow, and others remain the same. I also believe in science. I think educating the brain is one of the most important things we can do for society and for ourselves. Not all of science is fact. Most of science is experimenting with ideas and beliefs to find truth. Instead of prayer, science uses the earth and mind, tools God gave us. I also believe in the freedom to believe whatever you want. God gave us all free will. I think he wants your decision to be with Him to be your decision. I think the person who knocks on His door is going to find so much more than the person who answered a door and listened to someone spreading the gospel.
So with all that said, welcome to my blog.
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