Stumbling Through Life

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Please, God – Don’t strike me with lightning! I’m just trying to figure this world out. Sometimes I think and say things that are stupid. But sometimes, too, You tell me things that are so meaningful that I simply have to write them down. This blog is nothing more than a diary of some of these thoughts.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Pat Robertson Told Me to Love my Neighbor

…well, actually, he didn’t.
But now I feel it’s more important than ever, as a Christian, to show compassion without judgment. It doesn’t matter to me what color a person’s skin is, or what their culture is, or what I think they believe. I’ve always felt it was Christian to help people, and un-Christian to judge them. If you judge someone, you’d darn well better know your words are straight from God himself! (Judge not, lest you be judged – Matthew 7)

By helping people, I don’t mean handing cash to an alcoholic so he or she can get another drink. It’s important to find ways to help people out of the hole they’re in, even if they dug it themselves.
As a Christian, I won’t argue over a statement made by another Christian. Let’s just say he doesn’t speak for all of us. In fact, I won’t judge him either. I disagree, but I won’t waste my time on it. I’m in no place to judge anyone; even Pat. I’m no theologian, and I'm certainly no prophet.

I’ll just put my money where my mouth is. I hope you do the same. The people of Haiti are in great need right now.
This is one way to help: https://community.elca.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=538

(Jesus,after telling the story of the good Samaritan:) "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10: 36-37

Let no man pull you low enough to hate him. ~ Martin Luther King

Peace, love & compassion

Monday, January 4, 2010

You Are the 100 Watt Bulb of the World?


"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5 14-15

When reading this, I’ve always pictured a fire on a hill at night; soft, warm, inviting. People are attracted to it. Or a house that’s warm and cozy, the light shining out through the windows.

I just got a picture in my head of the way many Christians try to be the “light of the world.” It’s a picture from those old police TV shows. An interrogation. A criminal (the bad guy) is kept in a chair, against his will of course, and the “Christians” (the good guys) shine a bare light bulb in his face. He squints and tries to shield himself from it. The “Christians” hope he’ll break down and say, “Okay, okay, I want to be a Christian too!” (Then they all get on their knees and help him pray the sinner’s prayer and everybody’s happy.) How appealing is that?
You might know some of these people. You might even be one. They’re especially common on the web. They barge in, telling others that they’re sinners and need to be saved. They don’t try to get to know people first; just tag them:
Sinner – going to hell. Target and save. Next…

I want to be the light on the hill. I want to be the warm, inviting light that attracts people, because they say, “I want what she’s got.” I don’t have a quota of people to save, so there’s no need to go out and wrestle sinners to the ground. There are plenty of people around me in my life. It’s no secret that I’m a Christian. I “do good deeds;” not to show people what a great Christian I am, but because it’s the right thing to do. I’ve never cornered anyone and started a theological argument, but I’m open to discussion if someone wants to.
I’ve talked to many atheists and agnostics who hate Christians… and Christ! Why? Because their image of Christ is wholly negative. They can’t even see Jesus past that glaring bulb!

I urge all Christians to turn off the ugly bulb and light a candle.

Peace, love and light

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year

Maybe it’s time to try something different. We all want to be HAPPY. Who knows? Today could be the right time to do something NEW, shake things up a little, and make a fresh start. Since the YEAR is young, this could be the perfect time. Let’s make 2010 the best ever!