Let's Celebrate, It's All Right!

Isn't it funny how we like to tell God what He can and cannot do?

On the way home from work I was struck by something that was said on the radio. People often say they would come to Christ if only God would show them that He loved them.

Apparently the cross wasn't a big enough sign (I'm sure Jesus would say it was BIG ENOUGH).

It got me thinking of they old saying "Wanna hear God laugh? Tell Him your plans." It amazes me how many people think they can run things better than God. Telling God that his rules don't work for today's culture, or that HE DOESN'T KNOW what is really going on in the World much less some one's personal life.

God is either God of all or He's not much of a God. People want to put Him in a box and bring him out on special occasions. And normally those occasions are filled with bunnies or twinkle lights. It's inconvenient to think that we aren't number one in the grand scheme of things. We blame God for all of the problems, and yet when someone says take those problems to God we make every excuse to prove He's not powerful enough.

The God who created the universe, the earth, and every 'act of God' known to man (or blamed by man) is also the God of little itty bitty ol' you and me. He's been there, done that, got the nail scars to prove it.

Some of us - arguably most of us - are doubting Thomases. We have to put our hands in the nail scarred hands. But to say God has never shown how much He loved you is just not true. God Himself came down as a Man and died on a cross for sins of which he was blameless. He didn't just do it for kicks, and he sure as heck didn't do it because he deserved it or didn't want to. He didn't HAVE to do any of it. But because He loved EVERYONE He did it.

It doesn't end there. There's a catch - in order to GET a GIFT you have to receive and ACCEPT it. It's not just "God loves good people." Yes, God loves good people... but He also loves the not so good. Do you realize Jesus died for people like Osama Bin Laden and Hitler? He knew those acts of hate and terror would happen, and He still extended the gift.

Do you realize there's not spiritual difference between me and the men mentioned above? The only difference is I've received the gift, I've repented and turned and am looking at Christ. That's the difference.

God's love is extended and given to all. He wants his forgiveness to be the same, but you have to ask for it. You have to be willing to sacrifice yourself for it. You have to show God you mean it.

You don't get into Heaven for the good you do. You get to Heaven based on belief... the good stuff you do as a believer isn't to rack up points, it's BECAUSE you are working to be MORE LIKE CHRIST... again, not for goodies on earth or in Heaven... but because you want to share Christ's love with all.

That's what the Love of God is - selfless...



again just the ramblings in my head...

Flo - sorry for going all ranty in your journal entry. I know you didn't need to hear me vent... but it got my blood flowing big time so I'll continue it in here... I'm warning you all now. These are my opinions, take them or leave them. I know of only one or two people on my flist that will even try to agree with me on this, so I know I'm not popular in my thinking. But I haven't been popular since grammer school

I am a Christian. Southern Baptist by denomination, but at the end of the day my relationship is with Jesus Christ, what denomination I am a part of is pretty much irrelevant.

Being a Christian does not mean I am incapable of forming a well educated opinion or preference. I was raised to educate myself on the facts of an issue, and then weigh it against the Bible. The constitution never said that I could not or should not vote my religious beliefs. The Constitution was protecting the CHURCH from GOVERNMENT. They did not believe a political establishment should have reign over the body of believers. They didn't want a "Church of England" fiasco. They wanted to freely worship their God without worrying about having to be 'politically correct.'

It is my RIGHT to worship, practice, and believe as I do. To ask me to chuck it out the door when I enter the polling station is wrong and not American. I don't ask a Muslim, Hindu, or other religious group to do it - why am I the one that gets singled out because of MY beliefs?

I am a Christian. That doesn't mean I'm a bigot, racist, gay basher, abortion clinic bomber. I believe the Bible is 100% true and accurate. It does not contradict. It is the Word of God. I take it to be litteral. That means there are certain things that just aren't done. I don't make exceptions for "Christians" who do the "equibilant Christian sin" and I don't judge. I do vote for the Biblical principles. It's not popular, I get that, but I'm not doing it out of hate.

Believe me, if I could - I would. But I take my relationship, my "religion", seriously. If I have to choose between America or God, God wins EVERYTIME.


As a Christian American I am very proud to be in this country. We have - somewhat - religious freedoms that a lot of the World doesn't. I don't believe we had a perfect 8 years with Bush, I don't think he did everything the "Christian way" and I didn't vote for him just because he hung a cross on his wall. I don't know him personally and so I cannot judge him and say he is or he isn't. Just as I cannot with McCain or Obama - I have my opinions, but I cannot come out and proclaim them one way or the other.


In the last 48 to 72 hours I have seen a LOT of hate spewed my way because I'm a whining conservative Christian who wanted to vote in hate, war, and death. No, I'm not. I do stand behind what I said about America getting what she wanted. I do believe that God allowed Obama to win. I do believe that this is all ordained. Jury's still out on why. I was called a bigot by multiple people yesterday for a bill's passing that I had nothing to do with. I was called a racist just for being an outspoken Christian.

So far the change I've seen in this country is not bringing hope or peace or union. All it's brought is hate, and judgement, and frustration. This is not Obama's fault, but it certainly brings out the true colors of some.


I am pro-life. This does not mean that I have all the answers on abortion. I know that the Bible says it's wrong, that a life is a life the moment it's concieved and that taking a life without just cause is wrong. In my finite mind I cannot fathom having to make that choice as a woman raped, or choosing one life over the other. But = Jesus' example of dying on the cross for me is enough for me to know that sacrificing my body, my earthly life, so my child could live. With rape I know what the good answer is, but I cannot in my 'right mind' feel qualified to have that answer. In a perfect world the answer would be simple - then again in a perfect world rape wouldn't happen.

Pro-Life also goes along with the war issue and the death penalty. For me I think if war is justified then it's one of those nessecary evils. Same with the death penalty. Those who have yelled at me about these issues over the last 8 or so years screaming God hates _____ are right to some extent, but he didn't exclude them from His plans, or his laws. I do believe that the Iraq war could have been handled better. I think on some level it would be justified (as did both sides of government before they voted against it) I don't think we went at the right time. The war in Afganistan needed to be fought, we should have focussed on that.



I don't think any politico has all the answers. The only place I've found that does is the Bible, and even then I don't understand everything I'm reading. The Bible says that I won't be able to until the end of days. I will support the President elect, and I will certainly pray for him. That God gives him the strength and wisdom to lead our country. I was told yesterday on a certain message board that I was not allowed to do that - because I didn't vote for Obama. Obama said that he would be my President too. I am not going to take up the same approach that so many did with Bush with the "not my president" campaign. Because that seems silly. You're in the country this man is leading whether or not you like him. I know there are quite a few angry republicans out there who have already started that. Ok, we all get angry when our guy loses. But I think for any leader to really succeed he needs to know he has support.

I know in the coming weeks, months, and years I will not agree with everything our new leader does, says, or puts forth. I haven't done that with Bush either. I'm weary of where my life will change. I worry about certain freedoms. Not so much because it's Obama but because of who controls DC now. I'll speak out with what I don't agree with - as is my right - but Barack Obama was voted in by the people, and he is the one chosen to lead for the next 4 to 8 years. He has my support and my prayers.

...he always hits me square between the eyes.

This whole "Live Like You Were Dying" series at church has been kicking my butt. Talk about making one re-evaluate their walk with God and making one feel convicted! It's like Preacher KNOWS... He's like Santa Claus or something.

Actually, not really. It's God speaking through Preacher, and in a Mighty way. I am so thankful I have a pastor who is willing and ready to smack his congregation upside the head time and again with the Word of God. He's not seeker friendly, he's about building a strong and healthy foundation in Christ for all of his sheep.

But yeah... ( wow )

In other, non religious related news, I just raked part of the back yard, I smell really bad now because the back yard smells horrible! lol. I worked on the church website this morning, gotta make a lot of changes in the next two weeks, but it will be worth it in the long run. Pastor Davis is so different from Pastor Dean when it comes to this website, so the website will be getting a face lift soon.

I also got 'commissioned' to be one of two photographers (Pastor Davis wil be the other one) to shoot the new Church directory. We'll be doing that in the late fall (September/October) I may have him bump it up as work ends september 1 (for the life of me I couldn't remember how far into Sept. we were planned to go lol) and I'm worried I'll be working full time in Kenai during weekends when I need to be writing and studying. We'll see.

I somehow rubbed a blood blister on the palm of my right hand, typing hurts!

I think that's pretty much all that is going on with me. I gotta hit the shower and get ready for a wedding rehearsal dinner. For a wedding for family, that didn't even think to ask me to shoot the wedding. But then they called yesterday and asked if I could shoot the rehearsal and getting ready. I said no. If they'd asked earlier in the year I would have, but I don't have the card/disk space at the moment, and I'm not going to stress about it. I have already committed this time for the website and just some ME time when I'm not travelling to Kenai (will be there for mom's bday next weekend). *sigh*

The days are going by way too fast, btw. Anyway gonna jump in the shower in about 15 minutes and I still have email to go through so I'm gonna quit rambling here! Hope everyone's early summer is going well...

( cut to save space )

Anchorage Baptist Temple is going through a 30 day committment to live like we were dying. Inspired by Tim McGraw's song by the same title, the thirty day devotional will take the different subjects expressed within the song and look at the Biblical principles we can take from it!

We will be getting an email every weekday with a devotional that we can take a look at and definitely share... I am very excited about this series, and wanted to share with my f-lists. I know this isn't for everyone, but this IS my journal and you can always skip over me on your friends list. My relationship with Christ (or religion if you'd ather) is part of who I am, I'm not FORCING it on you, it's just a part of me. And even if you do see it as differently, think of it this way - whether you believe in it or not, I do. I share because I care about each and every one of my friends. I believe the Bible to be 100% true - that means that I am concerned about those who don't. I 'Bible thump' because I CARE about you. I don't want to force anyone into the decision. In all honesty I can't MAKE anyone CHOOSE to do ANYTHING. All I'm called to do is share.


*whew* so with no more chatting... ( STARING DOWN DEATH - click here )

I also want to add that I've been told I should lock more of my entries because they could offend. Yes, my relious topics can and probably do offend, but this is the journal that my non-virtual family and friends come to read. As such, I try not to lock many of my posts.

I am watching MSNBC this morning, and me not being Catholic I forgot that The Pope would be the main topic as he spoke at Mass. So I'm stuck watching the 'worship' of the Pope.


I don't get it. I honestly don't. Protestant and Catholic Christians alike are falling all over this man like he's Christ. Believing if they just touch his cloak their lives will be all the better.

I hate to break it to you, folks, but he's not Christ, and he ain't Holy. There is none but ONE who is, and He hasn't come back yet. He might be leader of a big group of churches but he is not THE Church. The Church is the BODY of BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, not the Pope. The Pope cannot redeem you or save you or forgive you - only God through Christ can. It's CHRIST'S blood that was on that cross, not Pope Benedict, or John Paul or Mother Teresa.

The Virgin Mary did not stay a virgin, either. She had other children apart from Christ and they weren't all miracles. Joseph was the true father of the other children, not the 'adoptive father'. She also is not a deity and she's not God, so she is NOT a window to forgiveness. Praying to her to be your messanger is futile. We get to God through ONE PERSON, and that is Jesus Christ.

Jesus had to die for his mother, too, lest we forget. He died for the Pope, btw, just in case you didn't know.

The Pope is just as much a sinful being as you and me. He cannot save you, he cannot be Holy (that doesn't happen until he gets his new body in Heaven), he cannot do anything but bring God's word to the people. Don't kid yourself into thinking otherwise.

When religious tradition gets in the way of the relationship with Christ, something is truly wrong.