"Because your are a Christian........."

A friend related a story to me the other day.

She owns a building downtown that she rents out the upstairs to the local AA chapter. They had been renting the upstairs of this particular facility before she and her husband purchased the property, and they simply extended the lease. They did make a few changes, one of them, not allowing smoking anywhere on the premises.

Now when she told me this, I knew immediately that she was going to catch A LOT of flack about it. You see I have an uncle who is a recovering alcoholic, and I know that one addiction can sometimes replace another, or they just become more dependent on a present addiction. If they smoked before, they might and sometimes will smoke even more when they give up the alcohol.

My friend was approached by a member of the group telling her that the smoking ban might be a little harsh for a group of people who are already trying to break free from one addiction, to be forced to give up another.

Let’s just say the conversation didn’t go to well, and when my friend told her the smoking rule stood, the lady from AA finally pulled out the big guns when she said, “Well, I just thought, because you’re a Christian, you would understand and might make an exception?”

What does that mean? I’m not asking “What does THAT mean?” I’m simply asking “What does that mean?”

Because you’re a Christian………….

After I heard this story, the words kept going over and over in my mind.
You know when Jesus came and started telling everyone that he was the fulfillment of prophecy they had a hard time believing that he was who he said he was. Some of his behaviors, and habits just didn’t fit people’s expectations. The people had their assumptions, and ideas of what the Messiah was going to be like, and how he was going to behave. Jesus didn’t fit the bill for many of them. I’m thinking that many Christians today don’t fit the idea of what many people expect either.
I have been reading the gospels, AGAIN, and I was marveling at Jesus’ response to questions, requests, accusations, demands. I don’t think I know anyone who responds like Christ. He never seemed to give an answer that anyone expected, let alone had an argument for. He spoke the truth always. He answered some questions with a question, or a parable. He didn’t hesitate to point fingers when they needed to be pointed, and he always knew just the right thing to say at the right time.
You know the saying “What would Jesus do?” well I wonder what Jesus would have said in response to this woman’s remark, “because you’re a Christian……”.
First, I think, He would have known the intention of her heart-and maybe addressed that.
Second, He would have spoken truth to her, not necessarily what she wanted to hear; but it would have been the truth.
Third, He would have had compassion on her, and given her the opportunity to change her life. (She wouldn’t have needed cigarettes or alcohol when Jesus got through with her)
Forth and most of all, He would have loved her.
Jesus didn’t let others expectations control who he was. He knew the answers, and he gave them; always with the love and compassion or rebuke that person needed. Jesus knew why he was here, what he was doing, and where he was going.
Do you suppose anyone ever approached Jesus with the remark, “Well, because you are the Messiah……….” with their expectations showing? All the time! That is why people brought him the sick, and dying, crippled, and blind, because he was the Messiah, or at least their idea of who the Messiah was going to be; to a point. Until he quit acting all “messiah” like, and started acting like just another prophet; and allowing them to crucify him.
My son’s boss watched The Passion, and told Nic the next day, “I don’t get it!! The guy got his butt kicked!” Pretty much sums up the astonishment of people then and now. The behavior of Christians, just like that of the Christ they follow, will sometimes leave people scratching their heads, and asking themselves, “but I thought because you are a Christian?????"

Instruction Manuels

The weather is changing, and with it a whole new set of instructions on how to cope with this season. I am equipped with some of the hardware, lawn mower, rake, hoe, lawn furniture, etc.etc. I'm just getting anxious to start using some of it. It is rainy and chilly here, cloudy. I believe the word my mother used to use is dreary. Yep, that pretty well sums it up. I told my sister the other day that I am so tired of cold weather and winter that I am actually LOOKING FORWARD to mowing my lawn--can you believe. Someone will remind me of this in the heat of August I am sure, but in the mean time I'll be reading up.

Happy Easter!

We were gone over Easter, but I think this video pretty much expresses how GLAD I am that Jesus came!

Blogging.....what it means........to me

I realized as I read Serenity’s blog spot’s “Love Me, Love My Friends”, that I have been welcomed into a community of people I don’t know at all, and can only glean information about them by reading what they post on their blog, which if they are like me is a fraction of their life.
That is OK I still feel honored to be included on that list, and hope I can live up to the mention of our name there.
Most of my thoughts expressed on my blog are ramblings by comparison to others I’ve read, then I realize that with the MILLIONS of blogs out there, I am a pin prick on the face of the blog world, and thus, just as insignificant as I can feel if I think about that right about now.
I have been a housewife and a stay at home mom for the past 31 years, who for 8 of those years homeschooled our two children. I have worked at various part time jobs outside the home the longest being a cleaning lady for various people. I cared for my mother the last three and one half years of her life while she underwent dialysis treatments. My life has been one of wife, mother, friend, companion, lover, teacher, maid, housekeeper, launderer, nurse, gardener, yard person, chauffer, etc. etc. etc……………the list goes on and on. I am as they say “a jack of all trades-master of none”.
I note that there seems to be a pervasive atmosphere in the world today that you must be “qualified” to do something. This involves a listing of accomplishments, initials after your name, and usually accompanied by a high dollar salary. Thus your opinion is valid, noteworthy, and worth listening to or reading.
I graduated from college with a degree in Interpersonal Communications, and did nothing with it—or didn’t I? I don’t have initials after my name, and I haven’t done anything that would be considered in certain circles as noteworthy, and my salary has been measured in hugs, kisses, “thanks you’s”, complaints, loads of laundry, meals cooked, gray hair, and an aging body. My life, by many, is considered mundane, and for those who count worth in dollars and cents, not worth much.
Am I qualified to give my opinion on politics, religion, sex, society or life in general? Some would say no, but others would give a resounding yes!
So I blog, I put my thoughts, ramblings’, musings, opinions, out there for my sake, because I NEED to write them down. I learned ALONG time ago that my value as a person didn’t come from what people think of me, but of what I think of them. The way I view and think of others says much more about me and who I am, than how I am thought of.
I enjoy this “blogging”, and reading others thoughts. I love that there are people out there like Serenity who can make me laugh out loud, or wipe a tear because I’ve known her all her life, and reading how she has let cancer impact her, encourages me that she is “getting it.” Or reading “I Come Undone”s picture of his hair upon arising in “Love Child”, and grinning from ear to ear, because as Greg Kinner character says to Jack Nicholson’s character in “As Good As It Gets”, “the biggest thing you have going for you is your not afraid to make a fool of yourself.” These are a few of the reasons I am enjoying this “blogging” thing, just reading, watching, and being a part of it all.

Not Perfect, Just Forgiven

I was doing my daily surfing where I check my bank accounts, check my e-mails, read my favorite blogs, and check in on my friends “my space” spots, read the news, check the weather, and of course read my favorite comic strip, (For Better or For Worse, if you are interested) and am ready to start my day.

As I was re-reading a friends blog, she referred to a time in her life when she was involved in Christian Cult. I found this interesting, because I was there right along with her, and I don’t remember thinking of it as a cult, during, or after. I saw it as one man who had completely misunderstood God’s calling on his life, and the misdirection it took in so many other people’s lives as well. I guess you could call that a cult.

But the word “cult” seems so strong-definitely something to be feared, avoided.

I learned a lot during those years. The Bible training was intense I will admit, but I came away with a much deeper knowledge and understanding of Scripture than I had ever had in my life, and I had been “raised” in the church. I learned what God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were NOT. God is not a bully with a ball bat ready to smash us when we screw up, and Jesus is coming again to take us to live with him because he LOVES us, not just because he wants to judge us. The Holy Spirit is not to be feared. He is a “comforter, helper in times of trouble”, and he will be present with us until Jesus returns.

I learned about Grace, something that wasn’t practiced readily in that particular church setting, as most of the people in that particular church at that particular time were searching for discipline and structure, and the leadership was more than happy to give it to them.

As I sit in the church we attend now, I am struck by the differences. Grace is preached, love is practiced, and forgiveness is administered; not perfectly, but attempted. All with the hope that these things will encourage and inspire the recipients’ to WANT to live a life where they will be hungry for the word of God, where they will seek to be more like Jesus all the time, and to be receptive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.

We are not perfect, I wouldn’t be there if we were, but we are trying. We fail continually, that is where grace comes in, but we keep trying. That is what it is all about.

I am not a denominationalist, so I won’t mention the church we attend, as I truly believe the Holy Spirit can manifest your faith through your life in any church setting as long as you are open. I believe that if you love the Lord, you will continue to attend a house of worship for the fellowship, encouragement, and motivation to keep at it, and to help you realize that we are all on the same road, headed the same direction, but are at different stages in our journey, thus, the opportunity to lend a helping hand, or grasp one that is extended to you.

I am reminded of the line “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven”. I have forgiven the people involved in that part of my life, and moved on, because I know God is greater than anything or anyone that may come across my path, so I just keep travelin’ on.