This one would get me kicked out of some churches…

So I’ve been thinking this for a long time and even tried to share it with a bible study group only to receive blank stares, but I read something last night that validated my thoughts, so I’ll blog it.

I do not like reading alot of “Christian” bible studies/books. To me, most say the same thing over and over. You know, variations of the basics. “Trust in God. He has a plan. etc, etc.” All of which I already know and understand and I feel like I am constantly applying to my life. I think in my bible study I said something to the effect of, “This is boring. I already know what the author’s saying. The Spirit’s constantly making me aware of what I need to fix and how to fix it…and not through these studies.” I hate saying I know it all, because that’s the exact opposite of how I feel. There’s so much we don’t know that we pretend to know with nice, easy answers. But I know the basics. I can pretty much predict what the author is going to say next, and probably how s/he’s gonna say it.

It gets frustrating re-learning the basics when there’s sooo much else out there to discover. How ’bout a bible study on the different interpretations of those basics. Why some denominations believe something totally opposite about Christ/God/Hell/Salvation, etc, but we’re all reading the same Bible. And not just who’s “orthodox” and who’s not. But teach us the different views and let us discern/discuss. That’s a bible study to me.

I know I shouldn’t expect everyone to think like me. My good friend says she doesn’t like reading new stuff because she knows she’s susceptible to just believing everything. (It took me a while to grasp that. I’m one who learns by playing the what if game.) But I really believe that much of our current day culture is also not out to get easy answers to tough questions. We’re in a time of think-for-yourself-ers.

So I’ll play along with the basic, easy answers (which I believe, I just think there’s so much more out there.) But anytime anyone want to really hash stuff out, I’m here. We may have to wait till the kids are fed and asleep, but I’m ready!

Oops…

So Aidan got his 1st set of stitches 2 weeks ago. He fell off his spring horse…you know, like the old Wonder Horse…backwards and gashed the back of his head open on the tile step in our living room. Had he been riding it like it was made to be ridden, he may have prolonged the time till his 1st scar. But noooo…he needed to put his feet on top of the stirrups and jump up and down around in the saddle. Oops…

Then, this week he’s been driving me insane!!!!!!!! with his inability to act anything other than like a 2 year old. (Which btw, he is.) Now, he’s an exceptionally good speaker for his age and has a huge vocabulary, but lately, “Momma. Momma. Momma. Momma…” is about the only thing he can remember. (Well, not counting, “Mine” and “let Aidan do it!”) I called a friend to remind me why I should continue to take care of him, and we decided to take the kid to the dr to have his ears checked for infection. I was the happiest a mother’s ever been to find out her son has an ear infection! Something treatable! Hallelujiah! At least this time he didn’t go for 2 or 3 weeks before we caught the infection. Oops…

So I’ve been thinking (oops…) about a phrase I’ve heard over and over again in previous churches. “You need to know exactly what you believe and be able to defend it.” Now, on a very basic level (Jesus died and rose again, and by faith, through grace we will be reunited with Him) I agree. However; it’s often taken to a much greater level to a fault. The whole being of God is simply too big for us to comprehend. And when we claim to completely understand all of it together, we end up forcing biblical text to mean what we need it to mean. To, in essence, fit it into our own box of who we think God is. The more variations I’ve read on biblical interpretations, the less concrete answers I have for knowing exactly what I believe. Then, faith is all that’s left. =)

24 Starts Tonight!!!

I absolutely cannot wait!!! The only thing I’m worried about is getting the boys to bed. They go to bed at 7:30 (24 starts at 7.) That means we need to think of something for them to do for 30 minutes. Man, I sound like an awful parent! =) We don’t have a DVR, and I sure don’t want them to watch it. ugh! At the beginning of the last season they pretty much killed off my favorites. (Except Jack, of course.) I’m just waiting for Jack and Chloe to fall in love. =)

I hear we may get some ice here in the next few days. While I doubt there will be alot, I don’t want to chance it with the boys. That means I need to make a quick food menu and pick up some stuff to eat. I think chili sounds great!

I just looked at a Passion pic on Jason’s blog, and I saw Jerry Kerr! (If you know of him, you’re laughing.) =)

I just started rereading “A new Kind of Christian” by Brian McLaren. Yes, I’ve read it before, but so much of it went over my head, I thought I’d give it another shot. I love books that make you think. I also recently read “Velvet Elvis” by Rob Bell. That was a great book that was much easier to follow. you know, short sentences, short mono-syllabic words. =) In the last few years, I’ve wanted to question the thinking that’s being taught in a lot of churches, and these books pretty much freed me up to do that. Not doubting the truthfulness of the Bible, but the truthfulness of certain interpretations of it.

We had a great, simple conversation over dinner last night with some new friends. (Yes, Christians, and “prominent” in the church.) The husband put great words to what I’d been thinking. He said something along the line of, “When people [in our "becoming postmodern" culture] ask tough questions, they are way more OK with you saying, ‘I don’t know the answer,’ than you giving them a church sounding response that doesn’t really answer their question.”

Uh oh, baby woke up…Have a great one!

Happy Holidays!!!

OK, what is sooo wrong with saying this?  For anyone who doesn’t know me (though I doubt you’re reading this =)), I am a Christian, a follower and lover of Christ.  My family celebrates Christmas as a national holiday as well as the birth of Jesus Christ. 

It bothers me so much when “Christians” make a huge deal out of a store or other establishment not saying, “Merry Christmas.”  (and likewise for ones that makes a huge deal of displaying Merry Christmas signs all over to make a point.) 

Sure, I wish everyone could realize the passionate love God has for each and every one of us, however not everyone does yet.   They should be allowed to celebrate their own holiday season how they choose.  I don’t find it offensive when someone wishes me a Happy Hannukah, not that it happens very often in the area of the US I live. =)  And I’m NOT going to stop shopping somewhere because they don’t recognize the birth of Christ as important. 

While I’m at it, it is NOT OK for a “Christian” to point out the specific sins of an unbeliever!  I’ve heard story after story of believers expecting a nonbeliever to live by biblical standards.   That does nothing but tell people they are not good enough to be a part of Christ’s kingdom.  WHO IS????  None of us on our own!!!  I recently heard of a unbelieving student in a ministry being commented to about outward signs of poor life choices.   Just b/c others could tell he had sinned against God he was called out.  I am 100% certain the Christian calling him had sinned and probably as recently as the hour before.  We tend to put certain sins as “worse” than others, though ALL sins are ugly to God.  Whether it be killing someone physically or killing someone’s character with gossip or killing our love for them in our minds.

 It just makes me sick to know that we are turning people away from knowing God’s love b/c we are setting standards that ONLY Christ could (and did) stick to.  Who is without sin?  Let them be the ones to judge.  We are called to love.

 b/c = because

Millenial worship?

If I even spelled that right… So, during the 1000 year earthly reign of Christ, will we worship God any differently?  OK, I’ve got a baby fussing in the background so this won’t be too deep or anything, but I was wondering.  And in “worship music” will we all sing to Jesus like face to face or continue to sing to the God we’ll be facing soon?  Will Jesus pick the Worship Leader, or will we all just kind of know what to sing? =)  And, Wow! what a responsibility that would be!  I suppose Jesus will be worshiping right along with us.   I doubt He’d think the drums are too loud. =)  Unless Romack was playing.   jk! 

Darn!  I had some other thoughts, but after changing a diaper, putting baby to sleep, and spanking another one, I’ve forgotten. 

jk= Just Kidding