Duck Dogers

A many years ago, I was listening to G. Gordon Liddy's  radio show. Someone made the statement that they refused to buy a ticket to an Alanta Braves baseball game because they disliked Braves owner Ted Turner's wife Jane Fonda. Maybe that would matter if you though that going to a baseball game will change the world, but I have never believed very much in the "personal is political" nonsense. Politics to me is nothing but an unruly mob that accomplishes little if anything constructive.

Personally I don't really care about Duck Dynasty or what Phil Robertson believes. I really do not think the people who watch Phil's show are bothered by his political views. Like many of his supporters I am more concerned by the "thought police". Political correctness is not a sign of an enlightened culture.

It does bother me though how many people seem to equate worship of Jesus with hating gay. What about the things Jesus said about taking the log out of your eye, before you try to remove the speck from someone else's? What about the part where Jesus equated hatred with murder? Lust with the act of adultery?

I have much more to be concerned about than someone else being gay. Of course that's what this is all about. Its so much easier to point the finger at someone else

ENDA

Recently the Senate passed the Employment Non Discrimination Act which if enacted would outlaw employment discrimination against Gays. Even I am not totally in favor creating another “protected class”. I have always believed that discrimination against anyone without cause, is wrong and it is nonsense to constantly argue over who gets protection and who doesn’t.

Yet that isn’t what bothers me. You would think that churches would think this is a good thing. They don’t. Somewhere they got this idea that God doesn’t want churches to treat outsiders fairly. Recently here in Columbus Oh a beloved teacher was fired from a Catholic school because it was revealed she was a lesbian.

I am sure there must be something in scripture commanding this, but I really don’t know where to look. Its probably hidden somewhere under the passages where Jesus ate with sinners and outcasts. Maybe it was in Acts where Peter received a vision from God showing him no one is to be considered unclean. Oh I know, it has to be in Matthew 23 where Jesus blasted the religious leaders of His day for neglecting justice and mercy.

I just have to ask. Did Jesus die on the cross so “Christians” could yell “God Hates Fags”? Does the church exist to promote discrimination and hatred?  Wasn’t what I signed up for. Somehow I don’t think it is what Jesus gave His life for either

11-8-13

Yes, November 8 came last Friday, not today, but I decided to try and revive my old habit of remembering the day I was baptized.  Again, I would think it more important to remember the date Jesus came into my life, but that is not something I can't pin down to a particular date.

It is important to remember some things. We remember the Lords Supper and some of going to church is about remembering Christ. Funny how even important things get pushed out of our minds by everyday life. November 8 is a reminder of a time when Jesus made Himself known to me when it was the last thing I would have expected. Something I consider worth remembering.

Yes, I am all for remembering things of the past that are important. Yet I am wondering if sometimes we place too much emphasis on history and not enough on current events. As beautiful as that special time in my life was, what about today? All the stories of the Bible are frozen in time. They can comfort us and guide us, and help us get a better view of God, but many of  the stories that matter to us are being written today. We need to focus on where we are going as well as where we have been.

Finding God on 11/8/80 was easy. Finding Him on 11/10/13 isn't so easy. Maybe that is why I am trying to restore my old practice. Its a place to start, but its not my goal. I really need a faith that can  deal with my current struggles and take me in the direction I need to be going.

An Unexpected Friday

Today I got a call from my minister. He was preparing a lesson on The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. He had not seen the movie and since I had the DVD...

Its a very interesting movie. Bilbo Baggins is a Hobbit who has been enlisted by a group of Dwarves who lost their home to a nasty dragon. Bilbo is not a Dwarf and soon he decides to leave the group and return to the comfort of his Hobbit hole. The leader is kind of upset with him anyway. Bilbo realizes that the Dwarves have no comfortable home as he does and decides to stay with their quest.

Kind of a nice parallel to the Christian life. We love others because we have been loved. Thats our motivation.  Nothing more simple or more basic.

Finding Faith of the Heart

The late Gene Roddenberry, Great Bird of the Galaxy and creator of Star Trek was a humanist and an optimist. He believed that humanity would one day put aside its prejudices and take its place among whatever intelligent peace-loving races of the universe there may be.

Unfortunately, optimism has been in short supply these days. Even Star Trek itself has been infected by the Dark Side. Yes, we have suffered many tragedies of late. Yet I cannot believe it is a good thing that we continue to wallow in the darkness, especially if we are to be believers.

Imagination is the first step of any journey. I cannot help but believe that it has been one of Satan's goal of late to destroy our faith in the future. Along with the immediate suffering it produces the new pessimism make us easy to be manipulated, even those of us who are supposed believe in the victory Christ promises us. Satan knows that if we cannot envision the goal we will never reach it.

Regrettably I am not an optimist like Mr. Roddenberry. I have battled depression most of my life. To be honest there are times when my faith in God seems totally meaningless. I don't deny the bad things that are going on around me, but I know that to embrace the darkness is deadly. I also know that if there remains anything worth living for it will be found in Jesus.

Your God is Too Large

Many people know of my love for the music of Amy Grant. In fact her music is more comforting to me than the usual songs sung in church. The reason is that much of her music is of a more personal nature.

I honestly do not know how other Christians feel about this. Sometimes I sit in church and listen to the songs about how great God is and how He is over everything. Nothing really wrong here except some times when I am hurting all the talk of God’s power and glory and all the words simply means nothing to  me.

Obviously, God is beyond human understanding, but sometimes that is precisely the problem. How does a transcendent God fit into our daily lives, much less offer comfort and direction. We are like Moses, who wanted to see God’s glory but as a mortal could not hope to comprehend it.

A God too large cannot offer us comfort and for some is often quite intimidating and tends to invoke fear not love. There are times I really don’t need a God who is “Over and Above All”. I need one who is over and above my fears and weaknesses and who calls me to conquer them. I need a God small enough for me to call “Father”

We're All In This Togeather

Yesterday I was at a study when I heard a remark that rubbed me the wrong way. Someone said that nonbelievers had no basis for determining right and wrong. Really? Just what does it take to know murder, theft, adultery and telling lies is a bad thing. I don't have to know the 10 commandments to know that. These things are fairly self-evident.

What bothers me is how this argument sets up the Us vs Them philosophy. People who go to church are automatically better than those who don't. No wonder fewer people claim to be Christian. There are times I am ashamed of the word "Christian".

Unlike the religious people of His day, Jesus didn't have a problem associating with sinners. I am a Transwoman who has a certain degree acceptance where I worship. What if I were a Lesbian? Would that make a difference? Would I be one of those "unclean" individuals that didn't belong in the house of God? If I am outside the love of God, what makes anyone else believe they are on the inside?

We are all in this together. The only thing that separates us from nonbelievers is that our lives are pointed in a different direction. Otherwise we are the same sort of people and share the same problems and enjoy the same love of the Father.

Jesus Loves Me?

Love is a curious word. We love our boyfriends / girlfriends. We love sports. We love our friends. We "make love". In each case the context determines the meaning of the word "love". Were we to use the original language of the scriptures, we would have five different words that are commonly translated as "love". Notice what happens in Peter's dialog with Jesus when the words are changed slightly account for what was actually being said.

Jesus: Do you love me Peter?
Peter: I am your friend.
Jesus: Do you love me Peter?
Peter: You know I am your friend.
Jesus: Are you really  my friend?

From childhood I heard "Jesus Love Me", but there are too many times I cannot believe it. It just seem inconceivable at times that I would experience the degree of loneliness and pain I do if God really cared. No Jesus, you don't love me. There, I have said what I have felt all too often.

Of course, I am not going to get away that easily. Jesus, you know I am right. You are not a good parent. You don't protect me from bad things and you don't rush in to comfort me when I need it. You're not a good friend either. I mean why couldn't you have been around those time when I needed someone to talk to, someone who talks back that is. As far as being a companion... I don't even want to go there.

What did you say? You never promised me any of these things? What do you mean I don't understand what you are trying to say to me? What about Peter? Well, when you said "love", I thought you meant... At least that is what I wanted Well, I don't know if I can do that. Its kind of hard and... You will? Maybe I was wrong, sorry... What? I'm not sure.  We'll see.