An Innocent Man Was Tortured And Murdered, So Let’s Celebrate!

( ) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s not too often that anyone would actually rejoice and celebrate whenever someone loses their life in a gruesome way, especially undeservedly.  Worst yet, no one commemorates the day that the person die by calling it ‘A Good Day’.  Well Good Friday is just that.  It’s almost oxymoronic that the day Jesus was crucified is referred to as Good Friday.  Some might ask, “What’s so good about him suffering on a cross after being beaten and humiliated?”  Well the reason he did it makes it a celebratory occasion.  He died so we might live.  Yes, we do not necessarily condone the method he chose to obliterate our sins but it was his choice and because he did it, we have hope.  Isn’t that good? Good nuff for me.

So as we celebrate Easter and Good Friday, let’s remember what transpired on that fateful day.  It wasn’t just about HIM dying on a cross but what it symbolized.  Our sins were put on that cross.  Let’s celebrate and have a Happy Easter!

What Are You Giving Up For Lent?

I don’t believe in giving anything up for Lent.  Or any other day for that matter.  Well unless you or someone else can convince me otherwise.

My mom was telling me in a proud voice that she gave up eating meat for the Lenten period.  She is Catholic.  I said to her,  ”Mom, it’s really not what you eat or don’t eat for Lent.  God sent his Son to die for us in the ultimate sacrifice.  There’s nothing you or I could give up or sacrifice that could begin to equal this.  In my opinion, God didn’t do this for us to pay him back by giving up the stuff we enjoy, even temporarily.  He wants our hearts, not our food.  I think that being good people and helping others is what he wants from us”.

That’s what I said to her but she was not deterred.  I could be wrong but it’s the way I see it. I seriously can’t see how giving up something could trump say, helping the poor.  How about for Lent, praying more earnestly?  Or, adding praying for your friends and family?  Sounds more effective to me than not eating meat.  (I am not in any way trying to belittle or question any religion and their practices.  If you subscribe to this practice, good for you. As they say, ‘to each his own’).

Yesterday, my mom ate meat.  The temptation was too much I guess…Oh and for the couple of weeks she didn’t eat meat, I didn’t see any changes in her.

Love you mama! Meat eater or not.

Just my take.

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• Lead us not into temptation (fsdm.org.uk)
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If faith without works is dead, how about works without faith?

Many of us believe that all we need to do is believe in God and study the bible and this should be good enough to make us  candidates for Heavenly rewards.  What we ignore is the part of the Bible that states  ’Faith without works is dead.’   To me, that means that I can believe until I’m blue in the face but if I do nothing about it, then my faith is useless.   Dead.  Which makes sense.  Why it makes sense?  Well with genuine faith and belief in Him comes the need to be like Him.  If we want to be like him then we have to exhibit good works.

Now if my faith is dead because I have no works to back it up,  how about if I do good works BUT I have no faith and/or belief in God?  I am a good person, right?  My works show that I am, so where do I stand?  That’s a good one.  One that we hear often.   I think that indeed if I go out and do good deeds, without a doubt, I am a good person.  Not Godly, but good.  So don’t I get some sort of reward for doing good? Maybe a free pass to Heaven?  Well consider this, you have a son who you love very much.  You give him whatever he wants and treat him as good as any kid would want to be treated.   Unfortunately, your son does not acknowledge you or love you.  He couldn’t care if you live or die.  But on the flip side, he is great doing his chores and homework.  He is otherwise a good boy.  Would you be satisfied?  Would his works be good enough to make you ignore the fact that he couldn’t care less about you?

My take.   And you, keep up the good work.

 

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• Faith Without Works is Dead (selfeducatedconservative.wordpress.com)
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Anti-Christ But Pro-Christmas

Is it possible to be an atheist but take part in the Christmas celebrations?  The reason I asked is that I see and hear of people who are outspoken in their beliefs, or disbelief.  They professed to be atheists but when it comes to Christmas and other Christian-related holidays, they are all over it like a cheap suit.

I am not passing judgement on who should and should not attend their work Christmas parties, accept presents and enjoy the Christmas experience.  What’s not to enjoy about Christmas?  We celebrate the birth the most high while engaging in fun activities.   So like I said, what’s not to celebrate?   But if the Klu Klux Klan had a holiday that was widely celebrated by people of like thoughts and beliefs, would I feel inclined to be a part of the festivities just because it seemed like a fun time?  I think not.  I don’t like parties that much

So now, does this mean that such a person is either a hypocrite or confused?  Or maybe just loves a good party?  You tell me.  I do think that most people who professed to be atheists are usually just confused or feeling their need to be radical.

Just my opinion, everyone has one.  What’s yours?

Merry Christmas to all!

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• 12 Christmas Traditions Even a Black-hearted Grinch of an Atheist Can Celebrate (new.exchristian.net)
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The Lord's Prayer with a unique twist

Reblogged from Musings Of A Daddy:

I really love this:

"Our Father Who Art In Heaven.

Yes?

Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.

But -- you called ME!

Called you?
No, I didn't call you..
I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.

There -- you did it again!

Did what?

Called ME.
You said,
"Our Father who art in Heaven"
Well, here I am..
What's on your mind?

Read more… 891 more words

I just had to reblog, especially since I have been blogging on The Lord's Prayer lately

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Lead us not into temptation…we can get there on our own.

Lord’s Prayer rock, detail (Photo credit: jessamyn)

I recently blogged about the impact of the line from The Lord’s Prayer,  ’Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’   Read here.  I blogged about how we say it loosely and never really think of how it is applied in our lives.   Another such line that I think is bloggable is the line ‘Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil’.

In The Lord’s Prayer, we are asking God not to lead us into temptation but since we go there all on our own,  this makes me wonder if we are actually saying, Lord, you don’t have to come with me as I go down the road of temptation.  You stay back here while I dabble for a bit.  Hey, but be sure to stay in the getaway car so you could deliver me from the evil that I encounter.  

So if we pray to God not to lead us into temptation, who is responsible for leading us into the daily temptations we allow ourselves to succumb to?  Not HIM because I doubt he finds any delight in taking his children by the hands and leading them into any form of temptation.  He was mad when Adam and Eve allowed themselves to be tempted in the garden so that would confirm this.   Hmm….so maybe we are the culprit.  We wade into temptation all on our own, sometimes a bit too happily.    Maybe we just don’t want him around to see us enjoying the evil fruit but we sure want him around to forgive us after, right?

Lord, deliver us from the evils that tempt us.

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• “Teach Us How to…Live”, An Early Church Fathers Take on “The Lord’s Prayer III (notforitchingears.com)
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And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…

The Lord’s Prayer in a Cemetery in Henderson, Kentucky (Photo credit: Lori SR)

How deep is that line taken from The Lord’s Prayer?  Until a while ago, I never paid any mind to the words of that prayer.  Ever since I started uttering words, I was taught it but it had become more of an automatic recital.  It was ‘the automatic pray’.

As my faith matured, I started to seek deeper prayer sessions with my prayers focusing more on depth and meaning.  I also started to meditate, if you can call it that, on the words of The Lord’s Prayer.  I realized then that instead of being ‘The automatic pray’ it was instead ‘The ultimate prayer’.

‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’ was a very poignant line that stood out in the prayer.  I often ponder on it and it makes me search myself.  Am I really forgiving others for trespassing against me, thereby warranting God’s forgiveness?  Sadly, often the answer is a resounding no.

So saying that, should I omit that line until I could say it without crossing my fingers?  How could I in all honesty, ask God’s forgiveness while I carry around a suitcase of memories?  Memories of the trespasses against me and those who perpetrated them?  I can’t.  We can’t.

Even if you are a non-christian, this can also apply to you.  Forgiving is not based on a belief.  Forgiving relieves us of the burden of hate and animosity that we carry around because we have the person in our mind and maybe plotting revenge.  With forgiveness comes great inner peace.  If you are a christian,  forgiving brings forgiveness.  It is wrong to think that one would need to be God fearing to even thing about forgiving.  It’s like saying I can’t be good because I don’t believe in God.

If you haven’t done so yet, next time you say the Lord’s Prayer, meditate on every line and feel it.  You will see why it is the ultimate pray.

Lord teach me how to forgive others so that I in turn could receive your forgiveness.  Amen

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Calm down, it’s only a T-shirt!

A Grade 12 student in Nova Scotia was suspended for wearing a T-shirt with ‘Life is Wasted Without Jesus’ written on it.  Read here.  I totally agree with that sentiment BUT that’s my opinion that reflects my beliefs.

Now here is my take on this growing censorship of religious freedom by schools.  Schools are places where children of all race and culture mingle.  There are many beliefs and practices that must be respected and appreciated unless forced upon another.  Wearing a shirt that publicize ones beliefs is much the same as wearing a turban that reflects the wearer is a Sikh, which is also a religious group.

Have you seen some of the T-shirts worn by students lately?  They advertise everything, sex, drugs, guns, etc.  The schools seem to be ok with this.  And how about the attire worn by some of the school girls?  Too revealing, too short, too sexy but it’s ok as long as they show no visible signs of religious affiliation.  Right?

Why the increasing crackdown on christian-based practices in schools and public places?  Smothering the truth does not make it go away, it in fact makes it more relevant.

So who are the real bullies here?

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• Canadian student suspended from school for wearing a ‘Jesus’ T-shirt (mysteryworshipers.wordpress.com)
• Jesus lobs a controversy bomb into the Nova Scotia school system, leaves, says, “Deal with it, people.” (cafewitteveen.wordpress.com)

‘Playing’ Jesus

A mega church in Winnipeg is attempting to make church more appealing by re-enacting biblical events in a contemporary form.  Their Easter messages are delivered using props and costumes of popular figures and movies.   This past Easter, their Message was entitled ‘Batman: The Dark Night’.  The ‘actors’ including the pastor, were all in full and authentic costumes.

Now I am not sure how I feel about this.  Reading the comments, not too many are ready for something such as this.  Blasphemy is used a lot to describe it.  I can see how something like this could attract people to the church but what happens next Sunday when the biblical stories are delivered raw, uncut and without the trimmings?

I am old school.  To a point.  Tell me the story of Jesus the way it is.  Don’t package it in colorful wrappings.  I don’t want to imagine him as the Dark Knight, no matter the good intentions.  But that’s just me.  Like I said, I am old school.  I do however, enjoy contemporary worship over the traditional hum-drum hymns singing.

On the flipside, Jesus did use parables to drive home his points.  The Bible is filled with stories that he used to make us understand.  So maybe what the church is doing is not all that bad.  If even one soul is gained through this, then who am I or you to talk?

Read all about it here

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Confessions of a Tebow-er

Image by Jeffrey Beall via Flickr

On a recent episode of Saturday Night Live, there was a skit poking fun of Tim Tebow and his Christian practices.  My first response was to laugh at the humor of it. I failed to see it for what it was, an unacceptable mockery of someone’s religious beliefs and practices.

Tim Tebow is an NFL Quarterback who is garnering praises for his late game heroics.  Lately, his unwavering faith in God has been the topic of discussion.  Tebow celebrates his on-field successes by dropping to one knee in a praying position.  He does this despite criticism from fans and players alike.  He also never fails to give God all the credit for his wins.

Back to the skit.  The skit had an actor portraying Jesus.  ‘Jesus’ enters the locker room and confronts Tim Tebow (another actor) and his team.  He takes credit for their last win and told him to ‘tone it down a notch’. (his christian practices).  Suffice to say, it was of poor taste.  It is wrong on all fronts, to poke fun of other people’s beliefs. Could you imagine the fallout if this had been another religion, say Muslim, that was made fun of? There would have been world-wide protests.

As a fellow Christian, I find it very noble when Christians fearlessly practice their faith publicly.  It is not an easy thing for someone in Tim Tebow’s profession to stand up for what he believes in.  How much easier it is for an atheist to tell the world that there is no God yet the voice of the Christian is muted?

I am a Tebow-er and this is MY TAKE.

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• http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/12/15/2-riverhead-high-school-students-suspended-for-tebowing/