Disheartened by Christians

Lately I have had a couple of people who are not related in any way, shape, or form talk about how a person who calls themself a christian has judged them. 

Now, before I go own I have to say that asking someone to obey rules in your home is different from judging a person.  Many people establish rules in their home which create boundaries and safety as well as confirm their values.  This is not what I am talking about.  I am talking about people not having a relationship with someone, or telling you not to do something or talk about something you do in church.  Asking others to behave and follow what they believe to be christian behavioral standards when the people they are asking aren't even christian to begin with.

Also, if anyone actually reads the Bible, the whole Bible, even just the whole New Testament, they will find out that Jesus came to tell these very people (the ones imposing the behavioral rules) to take a hike and straighten up.  See, Jesus came for those who needed love and forgiveness, and he died at the hands of the people telling him to "obey their rules".  Jesus was crucified because he refused to obey silly rules, and instead chose the heart of what God wanted.

Jesus hung out with lepers, prostitutes, insane people, seedy extortionists, and he dared to talk to a woman who was ousted by her community because she had had so many husbands that she had to avoid the gossip and gather water when everyone else was avoiding the hot sun. The man even touched dead people when that made you an outsider.  He gathered the children to him when others tried to shoo them away. 

So, if you DARE stop talking to someone because you don't like what they do- SHAME ON YOU!  Its one thing to keep unsafe people from being alone with you or your children, its another thing to not even talk to them.  (and if you cut off the relationship, shame on you for being just as closed minded!)

If you don't want someone to talk about who they are or what they do when they come to church, SHAME ON YOU!!! Seriously, because I think Jesus just shed another tear.  Jesus doesn't want us to be clean and shiny on the outside, but dirty and contaminated on the inside, the wants clean from the inside out.

Perhaps the day when people use religion as just another way of judging will never come to an end.

My friends, I say to you that Jesus loves you.

Jesus loves you if you are gay, straight, black, white, green, purple, broken, infested, misdirected, sick, toreup, built up, ugly, pretty, sane, insane, fun, boring, dead, stealing, hiding, sinning, judging, fumbling, fat, skinny, weak, strong, angry, sad, confused, irritated, hurting, smelly, lame, retarded, addicted, screwed up, messed up, f'd up, nuts, lonely, busy, sorry, mad, happy, sore, crazy, sane, average, American, African, Chinese, whatever.  Jesus loves you - not because of who you are, but because of who He is. 

And on behalf of everyone who ever judged you or hurt you in the name of Jesus, I apologize.  Especially for what I have done. 

Oh yeah, one more thing.  Just because you are "christian" doesn't mean you are perfect. No one is perfect.  So quit expecting us to be perfect, and call us out when we are acting un-Christ-like.  Instead of judging us, you might help us to be more like Jesus, which is really our goal. 

I want to know you, and love you for who you are, and have a relationship with you.  I want you to know and have a relationship with Jesus.  If you can start with the first sentence, and realize I might screw up, then let's be friends.  I want to show you what the grace of God has done for me. 

Its beggining to look a lot like Christmas

So guess I gave in and we got a REAL LIVE tree! 

Ever since Thanksgiving week, I have been waking Jeramy up for school.  It has been very rewarding as I have been able to see him and be more involved in his life.  We are really starting to bond.  Just the other night he said he maybe wanted to be an x-ray tech when he grows up.  That just makes me grin from ear to ear.  Not that he wants to be an x-ray tech, but that he wants to be like me. =D

I have given so much of myself to bring him home, and although we are got going to have "Christmas" Day with Jeramy(he will be with his mom), I really am enjoying our first Christmas together.  I never knew that Christmas could be so wonderful, at least my adult self never did. 

I truly look forward to opening gifts and singing carols and decking the halls and all that.  I assure you that no one has slipped anything in my drink!  I think perhaps that my Christmas wishes have all been met.  I have a wonderful husband, whom I respect and cherish.  And now, this year... a beautiful, bouncy, loving, smart, fun 7 year old boy.

Today when we were driving home with the tree, we were talking about my mom, and then her song came on the radio.  I knew then that Mom was smiling down on us, and she was being a part of this Christmas after all.  I told Jeramy my mom would have really loved him.  I just think he is the neatest kid ever.

Also, we are working on a gingerbread house (I need to get an ingredient to fix the icing) which is really cool because I have never done it before.  I also got Jeramy an advent calender, which is fun, and I don't remember having one. 

Tonight I read him "The Littlest Angel" which I don't remember much other than it was a book I drew a picture from in kindergarten.  It was about a gift for baby Jesus.  So then Jeramy wanted me to read him some stuff about Jesus.  I got out "The Voice" version of the Bible, and read from Luke.  The Christmas story... actually I think I got all the way through Luke 5 before he fell asleep.  The Voice is wonderful to read aloud, and it really makes the story understandable as well as beautiful. I see Jeramy starting to get it, and understand the story, which is cool.

I am just so excited with how much we are growing as a family, and hope that it never stops.  I also hope to always delight in it!

Love you so much Jeramy. 

Now Dave, get better and this Christmas will be great!

The One Way Plate: Ponderings on Jesus and scripture and me

 So, I am trying to get back into the habit of connecting with God and scripture on a daily basis.  One of the ways I will do this is by reading a handy dandy devotional I got at Goodwill.  "Praying with Jesus" by Eugene Peterson.  I like how its small and short, and while I never really got into devotionals that aren't down-right deep studies before, this one seems to fit my plate. 

For those of you who know me, you know that I have had a very full plate lately.  Very full.  So full in fact it kind of upset my psychiatrist, or at least that is what I saw.  I had been doing so well, and I was taking on too much.  So much so that I was losing control of my life.  Now  I have read somewhere that God is supposed to be the plate, not just something I put on the plate.  This is an attempt for me to remember the plate is still there underneath all the other stuff.  I want to gnaw on it all day, remember scripture as the plate gets hard to carry.

Some days I cannot even fathom to connect or understand what I read.  Its like I read the words, but they went in one eye and out the other, I just can't remember them.  Some days it hits me over the head again and again and again.  I want to connect so desperately to my God, my Creator and Sustainer.  Lord help me to always remember you.

today's verse to chew on:

John 16: 8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;"

Oh how too often the world tells us how things should be and who did what wrong and how.  Oh how I am always so very guilty in assuming I know what is right and judging people at first glance.  I am the secret psycho analyst, analyzing everyone and why they have the problems they do.  (Not that I know how to fix it other than lots of therapy with a professional, and possible pharmaceutical intervention.)

I need to be reminded daily that the world will be judged by the standard of God, and the only ones to excape the punishment are the ones that have Jesus taking on their sins.

No matter what you believe, I know this is true, one way statement: the only way to Heaven is through Christ Jesus, and I am not afraid to say it.  I am afraid that you might try to persecute me, but I will just have to deal.  Its not me you are persecuting, its my God, so whom shall I fear? 

Me, yes, I need to change my ways.  I am supposed to reflect Christ, and so I beg for help and forgiveness.  But I also know that since God is the plate, He is not just carrying my load, he is carrying me... I am on that plate.  I know that I need to stop trying to play waitress and just enjoy the feast.

There is so much in this world that needs love and yet thinks they are all alone, or that they are the plate.  And you know that just brings no answers, no hope.  But there is hope.  Never give up, never surrender... except to the Lord.