Hello My Friends;
I'm sorry to have been so dry in my posting. Frankly, I just haven't had a lot to say - or, perhaps it would be better to say that I just haven't had a lot I
know how to say. And, to a fair extent, I still don't. So, if you will forgive me, I'm going to think through some things with you here.
But first, I am excited to tell you that we had a great day with the rescue dogs today. I was a small part of it, but am proud to tell you that a very small part of our success today was I overcame my withdrawing behavior and stepped forward to people coming in and really try to sell the concept of adopting a wonderful dog. I was very proud to find it - at least in part - translate to a wider conversation with the professionals in the organization and adoption applications filled out!
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For the majority of my life, I've considered myself a Christian. I was raised in the Lutheran faith, and when my life's troubles came too much I found myself praying to find relief and understanding, to even have someone who I could cry out to and believe they listened and
cared.
Why is it that I had a tendency to only pray when I was in trouble? Such is life. We seem to think that we can do anything right up to the point when life laughs in our face. Then, we really really need someone who is more powerful than life to cry to and who will make it all better. Fortunate people have a Dad who is that all-powerful being when they are little children. It's sort of like that.
I don't know what I classify myself as anymore. Do I believe in God? The Ultimate being? Yep. Do I classify myself as a Christian? ?
There is a certain degree of the incredible - not the good kind, either - with the way Christian groups are behaving lately. It reminds me of the phrase "Those who don't learn their history are doomed to repeat it". I now hear a lot of Pharisee wanna-be's. In fact, if one were to sit back and listen, their constant rants are quite ridiculous and hilarious - except that they seem to be influencing some who have far too much power. How is it that these men and women who claim to be loving, Christ-like people have become so judgemental, self-righteous bigots? Ironic as it may seem, those who believe in Christ and, by happenstance, are homosexual, are likely closer to the original Christians that these hate mongers who believe gays are the ruin of the world. Going further, that was also the saying about Christians then. Go figure, huh?
The problem I'm having, though, is that now I am having real problems thinking about myself as a Christian. I find the word shameful. I feel beaten up, degraded, defiled and reviled by these people, and I find the concept of Christ difficult to believe when the concept of Christian has become so shallow, judgemental and hating. Who do they believe they are? Who do they think gave them power to judge me?
Somewhere deep inside, where little randy still lives, is that small voice that tells me that one day someone very high up, if you get my drift, will tell such "Get away from me. You never knew me." That someday, the end - at least for some - will come and they will be face to face with that one who they've been "representing" for so long and be told quite clearly - enough!
