Stone Throwers

Our modern stone throwers are out and ready to cast their judgements.

Christians that will void what Jesus said or did and act only among their political agenda.

What if everything we did was acted out of love? Would we be there protesting?

Jesus in all His perfection did not condemn you. Who are you to do that to another?

I am not going to justify nor condemn homosexuality. 

As a Christian, I am not against the government allowing same-sex marriage.

 In saying that I am against my church doing so. 

We are NOT called to push our law on to others. Law is not the beginning of our faith. Jesus wants to meet everyone where they are at. 

If your ministry is preaching to non-believers what they are doing wrong, then you are doing what the Pharisees were doing while Jesus was walking the earth. Remember who Jesus spoke up against the most?

It is once you are of the faith when you use the law as a bumper, not prior. So don't push our laws on to non-believers. Love them no matter what they are going through, show them Christ and allow their character to build from then on.

I would like my Christian brothers and sisters that struggle with homosexuality, to know the struggle is not a sin, it is when you act on it.

Just like I might find many women attractive it does not make me a man-whore, unless I act on it. The sin is not the struggle it is the succumbing.

Fight the good fight. Henri Nouwen a great writer of the Christian faith struggled with homosexuallity and never acted on it. You can do the same.

We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Accept his grace and repent.

You without sin pick up your picket and protest.  

Are we in focus?

"Your problems amplify when you focus on things you want.
Yet they seem to vanish when you focus on others' needs." 

There is a trail on Turkey Mountain that I would bike when I lived in Tulsa. At one point in the trail there are two trees that are separated just enough to fit my bike through, leaving an inch or so on either side of the handlebars. With the fear that I might hit one or the other trees, I put all my attention on not hitting them. As a result I hit a tree. When I went through focusing on the path, I made it through without skimming the trees. The difference between making it through cleanly or skimming/hitting the tree, wasn't being aware of the obstacle; but where my focus was. 

Likewise, we aren't necessarily supposed to be ignorant of wrongful things, but focus on the path that is set before us. If we are not aware of unjustness in this world, we would not develop solutions. Now, if we are fixated on what is wrong, rather than on a solution - nothing would happen.

Let unjustness fuel us to make it right. Let obstacles drive us to focus what needs to be done.

The obstacle of the thin path is making the course more difficult to complete. Let it not hinder us from continuing, rather that we might use it to sharpen our focus on where we need to go.

Fear of doing evil is or could be the reason we focus on evil. Giving it more power than it should have. It can make us go left or right, stop or go backwards - when there is a straight path for us going forward. It so easily can slow down the plans and desires of our hearts. We can't allow fear to be a deciding factor of where we go in life.  

As Christians we are not called to be indifferent. Which is doing neither good nor bad. If we concentrate on not doing wrong, instead of fixing our minds on doing right, we may quickly become exactly that, indifferent. 

I like what Paul wrote to the church of Philippi, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." 

How much better would our lives be if we did fill our thoughts with these things? 

Imagine having joy if we only focused on what was wrong in our lives, or love when we only looked how that person should be. 

It can be so easy to view the evils of this world, and put our main priority on not doing them. A person who is indifferent is not bringing heavenly things to earth nor causing any harm. We are called to do good tho. Being a light in the darkness and salt to the earth; being love and hope to others in this unjust world. 

Let our desires determine where our focus is. Rather than chasing little things here and there.

I want to fill my life with positive things. I want to center my life on doing right when it might not be the "popular thing". I want my thoughts, my words and my actions to be aimed at making this world a better place for everyone.

Not afraid to get dirty!

There is one thing that always seems to turn my stomach. This thing irritates me to the core. I completely understand why people feel this way but don't understand why Christians are so often this way.

 I am talking about people that are involved with non-profits that can't get there hands dirty. I'm talking about the one that say, "I do this or that and I make this happen, but I can't stand the sight or smell of that, so I refuse to be around it." These respected people that run a charity for homeless people and can't stand to be around the homeless. People that want recognition for something they actually despise. Pastors that fly in their private jets, in their expensive suits and look like they are doing a lot for their faith but won't give the poor, underprivileged, even small time pastors the time of day. Who are these people and who do they think they are?

(This rant is for christians)

Did not Jesus in all of his glory come to earth? Did He not come out of woman and was he not born in a manger? He certainly could have come from the sky with all of His glory and most certainly could have had angels surround Him to keep your filth away, but NO! He came as a human being. He got dirty. He lived a righteous life so we would know how to live. The Christ in all of His perfection laid down his life for us. And on that cross He took our sins and suffered for you who can't stomach the "dirty", sick or poor.

Damn, it is a tough life when everything was given for you and you are too good for anything that doesn't profit you.

My grandfather is one of my heroes. Great man that seemed to loved everyone. He would open his doors to the homeless and he was extremely talented at everything he applied himself to (Sports, preaching, socially and so on). In the later days of his life, he suffered from Parkinson's disease. and for the last years of his life due to falls and many visits to the ICU; he needed someone with him 24/7. I could not stand to see him like that, because I wanted my last memories of him being that guy great at everything instead of being dependent. I ended up being his caregiver (despite not really wanting to take on that roll). I would wash him, wipe him, feed him through his tube, clean his catheter,  suction his mouth and everything else. At first it was very hard to take in. I have a weaker stomach when it comes to smells. It was a struggle at points. There were days when he was doing good that we would go out to the park or just for a drive. I was in awe of how grateful he was. I grew closer to him through the last year with him. Doing that stuff for someone I love became something I would not trade for anything. I cherish the times I got to spend with him, and I feel very blessed to have been able to be with him on his last days. My only regrets are the times I did not give him my all. I feel like there was so much more I could have done. 

NOW! To finish my rant. I understand the lack of desire to see hurting people; likewise, nobody should want to see another suffer. Let's imagine for a moment that we are one of these people that are hurting. One that so many don't want to see. Where is the love? If you truly have "compassion" for people and "love" these people as we are called to love, then get your ass off your high horse and get your fancy suits a little dirty. Jesus showed us how to live. Let us follow His example. Be love to someone!

Side note... I am not saying this to discourage someone that has this mindset, but to hopefully have a little breakthrough. May this encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and be His hands and feet. 

Grace & Peace!

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1:27

 My God, help me be a servant to your people. Put me in positions to show love and give hope to the ones in despair. I am not worthy to be called your son , but You called me out of this world to take part in Your plan. Give me strength to take on the task ahead of me. I am weak and you are strong. I rely on you, because apart from you I am nothing. I don't know your thoughts for Your are infinite and mine are limited, but may my will reflect Your will. May my heart break for things that break Yours. I stand in awe of Your flawless love. THANK YOU! Now let me be a light that shines bright. I ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.