If you want to display something like the 10 Commandments in public, study them, live them, make them manifest physically. If you want prayer in schools, just pray anytime when others aren’t looking. If you want your faith to matter in the world make it worth believing. If you want people to embrace your faith share it in practical, meaningful, simple ways that will bring people to the table. If you want there to be more love in the world do it like Jesus, Ghandi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr and Pope John Paul II did. Remember the greatest thing you can do is to love and love fiercely.
Tag Archives: religion
Sometimes I Blog About Religious Stuff
Friends I sometimes blog about religious stuff. It’s to share my opinion and experiences in which to inform and not to bash anyone over the head. I consider myself a fairly positive and inclusive person and I hope my posts reflect that. You will never see me beat someone over the head with scripture, its not my style. The world is big enough for many perspectives on faith and their traditions. Don’t stop believing if that is what you chose to do.
A Ramble About The Church and LGBTQ Stuff
I have thought the problem with the church universal is that people know what it’s against versus what it’s for. There is the problem a lack of grace and love among its believers. There is also a problem with some seeing people as sinful before getting to know them. I know many gay and lesbians who are some of the best people of faith who have a calling on their lives too. One man I know is one of the best scholars on scripture I know.
There is also the problem with many in the church thinking they are above sin and can cast judgement on the lives of others and they see no speck in their eyes. I personally think the church needs to figure out inclusion because the LGBTQ community isn’t going away and the church could be stronger with some diversity. I am of the opinion that everyone is imperfect and there are loads of people who aren’t doing what they need to do to live with others in a faithful community. Jesus prime directive was to love one another as I loved you.
A Reflection on This Day of Equality
I am seeing the LGBTQ community today and their elation of the events of the day and I see the joy and love happening here…then I compare that to the Christian community and I don’t see that so much. Many are so mired down in their dogma and the things they have been taught from time and memorial and they just seem so sad. They feel that what is happening is the downfall of society and that wrath will be unleashed.
I am a believer in God’s story being written daily and that maybe love is more important than theology or doctrine so perhaps we should celebrate that fact. People get to love who they choose and I know God has brought them together for a purpose to change the world for the better. Maybe Christians should learn from the LGBTQ community and figure out how to find joy like that so they too can do amazing things like inclusion and justice.
Just my two cents worth.
Freedom To Worship
I stepped into a house of worship today to celebrate Father’s Day with my father and grandfather today. I felt no fear or trepidation. However some who seek to worship their higher power did so under suspicion, fear and threat from individuals and institutions. Religious freedom is about worshiping in the customs and traditions you embrace and allowing others to do the same to do the same in theirs. I am humbled to be a believer in Christ but I want my Jewish, Muslim and friends of other faiths to have the ability to seek comfort, grace and love in their communities.
The people of Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal worshiped as a community days after the shootings of last week. They are showing grace, strength, love and forgiveness in all they are doing to make a difference in the lives of others.
Why I Use The Term “Higher Power”
In many of my posts I choose to use the term “Higher Power”. This is not to deny my own faith but to acknowledge the faith of others.
Faith and spirituality are deeply personal things and as a blogger and social media commentator I think it’s a more inclusive language. Some of my fellow Christians would blast me for using such a term and wondering why not use the word “God” (which I do) and my previous posts show that. I just think there are several world religions with their own deity and their own traditions and customs. I believe in sharing the love of Jesus Christ in different ways but I know that there is a Buddha too among other gods and goddesses from other faith systems. I am interested in building bridges of understanding and encouraging all people to find a system of belief that offers them connection, community and comfort.
Yes I know there are some folks out there who don’t believe in anything or have their doubts and to my atheist and agnostic friends I hope you have people in your life to share the journey with. To me that is important for anyone, no matter what they believe or choose to not believe.
I am commanded by my faith to love my neighbor as myself so perhaps starting with that is a great way to have dialogue and fellowship with people who are different from me.
In future posts I hope to expand on this. But for now may you all have grace, peace and much love.
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