The following is a blogpost from the pastor, Mark Driscoll, of Mars Hill Church in Seattle Washington.
Westboro Baptist Church, This False Prophet and His Blind Lemmings Welcome You to Our Whore House for God’s Grace and Free Donuts The Mars Hill Blog
I feel kind of lame for just reposting some dudes own blog, but I really really enjoyed it, and I think it has many more than just one grain of truth.
I know many people who absolutly despise the Westboro Baptist Church, and I can easily see why they would. Looking at pictures of their children wearing tie-dye t-shirts with phrases like "GOD HATES FAGS" etc on it is one of the more disturbing things in life.
But when you begin to fight hatred (their hatred) with more hatred (your own hatred), all you're doing is adding to the problem. You're literally fueling them.
Unfortunatly I am guilty of being a 'hate mongerer' myself. I used to despise them. I really did. I thought they gave Christians a terrible name and it absolutly disgusted me that they were even considered to be in the same realm of 'religion' as me.
But! Then I got older and wiser and I learned that everything has two sides. By hating the 'religious people' I became a 'relgious person' myself. I forgot I was called to love every single person. No matter what they do or say, that's what I'm called to do. And I'm only just now starting to actually do it.
If people stopped reporting their pickets. If people stopped becoming enraged at their half-formed and single minded arguments. If people people never even glanced their way, they would fade into complete obscurity.
They would be starved of the attention they seek and then their influence and power they hold over us would be obliterated.
If we just learn to love unconditionally, that's when they'll truly lose.
I just thought what Mars Hill did was an interesting and refreshing twist on other reactions that have been known to occur!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Heaven meets earth in a sloppy wet kiss
I'm sitting on a big rock that conveniently just fits the shape of my butt. I have coffee breath. I kinda jumped a fence to get here. I see birds and I can hear the train.
Awesome, moving right along.
Whenever I think of Virginia, the state as a whole, a big blanket of green lushness comes to mind.
Not like a literal blanket, I'm talking metaphorically here.
(this isn't some ad campaign for virginia, I promise)
But just being in that green, that metaphorical blanket if you will, is just so comforting to me. I can rest in the knowledge that all of it, the trees, the birds even the train was created for my enjoyment and for me to marvel in.
I could now go into detail about how we all need to slow down in our lives and actually do some of that marveling, bit I'm going to try to stay away from that because it's far too overused. (Oh look, I kinda just fail-boated didn't I?)
The earth was made for us to rule over. And I intend to do so with a steady hand and a kind heart. I don't mean that I'm going to become a crazy environmentalist or whatever, but I'm going to fulfill my purpose in life, whatever it may be.
Awesome, moving right along.
Whenever I think of Virginia, the state as a whole, a big blanket of green lushness comes to mind.
Not like a literal blanket, I'm talking metaphorically here.
(this isn't some ad campaign for virginia, I promise)
But just being in that green, that metaphorical blanket if you will, is just so comforting to me. I can rest in the knowledge that all of it, the trees, the birds even the train was created for my enjoyment and for me to marvel in.
I could now go into detail about how we all need to slow down in our lives and actually do some of that marveling, bit I'm going to try to stay away from that because it's far too overused. (Oh look, I kinda just fail-boated didn't I?)
The earth was made for us to rule over. And I intend to do so with a steady hand and a kind heart. I don't mean that I'm going to become a crazy environmentalist or whatever, but I'm going to fulfill my purpose in life, whatever it may be.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The greatest day in history
Some of you may have already seen this video, it's made its rounds on the internet, but please humor me!
Now, I ask you to pretend that this woman legitimitly loves cats this much and this video is not an actress. (I assume this video is fake, but for this situation we're going to pretend otherwise).
Would that kind of passion and love for something not be absolutely amazing?
I know she's pretty much a complete crazy face for freaking out and crying over something like homeless cats...but her heart is in the right place.
Just think! A world filled with people who are so passionate and loving about something, be it orphans, the poverty stricken, the homeless!
Lives could and would be impacted beyond our imagination. Movements would be started. Barriers would be broken down.
Maybe I'm a crazy face for trying to make a viral video like this something profound or worth more than a second thought, but it just struck me that if there were more people like her, (remember, we're assuming this is not an actress here...) with their passions directed in a sensible direction, so much more would get done!
Guys! If we could only take this crazy persons mentality and apply it to our own lives!
If every individual person had something, anythting; homeless cute cats or little orphen children, that just really rankled us, we could start movements (plural).
I know, it's crazy. This is just some stupid little video somebody put up because they wanted to earn a few extra page views etc. But if you just think about it!
Find your passion and stick to its guns.
Cry over it, rage over it and post amusing youtube videos about it.
That just means it's worth it!
Now, I ask you to pretend that this woman legitimitly loves cats this much and this video is not an actress. (I assume this video is fake, but for this situation we're going to pretend otherwise).
Would that kind of passion and love for something not be absolutely amazing?
I know she's pretty much a complete crazy face for freaking out and crying over something like homeless cats...but her heart is in the right place.
Just think! A world filled with people who are so passionate and loving about something, be it orphans, the poverty stricken, the homeless!
Lives could and would be impacted beyond our imagination. Movements would be started. Barriers would be broken down.
Maybe I'm a crazy face for trying to make a viral video like this something profound or worth more than a second thought, but it just struck me that if there were more people like her, (remember, we're assuming this is not an actress here...) with their passions directed in a sensible direction, so much more would get done!
Guys! If we could only take this crazy persons mentality and apply it to our own lives!
If every individual person had something, anythting; homeless cute cats or little orphen children, that just really rankled us, we could start movements (plural).
I know, it's crazy. This is just some stupid little video somebody put up because they wanted to earn a few extra page views etc. But if you just think about it!
Find your passion and stick to its guns.
Cry over it, rage over it and post amusing youtube videos about it.
That just means it's worth it!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Simple Math
Today was a bit of a throwback to old times.
I and my best friend, Kori, went to go visit some old teachers at our middle school.
It was honestly a near fail because I apparently had had the privilidge of having all the old teachers, so when I went to go visit today they had all retired! So that was a huge bummer.
We ended up walking the halls and reminiscing. We ended up running into two of the janitors which we both had remembered.
Now, I had always kinda liked them for some reason. I had been kinda drawn to them (maybe that just makes me a creepy middle schooler?) but it's pretty much the way it works.
One of them is named James, and quite honestly when I was in sixth grade I was scared out of my pants of him. He was really really nice, no doubt about that, but he just always looked...off...you know? Picture the stereo-type of the crazy janitor but then make him the nicest guy ever and you have James. (I eventually warmed up to him, no worries there.)
But today was the first time that I had ever actually had a genuine conversation with him beyond the friendly "Hello" etc. We both learned that he actually used to attend my church Fairview Baptist church and that was where he was baptized etc. May I take a moment to just appreciate the connections that unqwittingly bond people together?
I also learned that he had been born blind and deaf and should have died at the age of 18 because of the condition he was born with. That to me was just amazing! Maybe not specifically because he survived all that, it certainly is a feat, but just that it actually happend!
And under other circumstances I may have never known about it.
Today I really began to appreciate other peoples life stories. Because every single one of us has one. They define who we are and who we want to be, and until we have at least a general understanding of another persons story, or at least the willingness to understand someones story, we'll never truly connect with them.
New life goal: Connect with a new person every day.
I and my best friend, Kori, went to go visit some old teachers at our middle school.
It was honestly a near fail because I apparently had had the privilidge of having all the old teachers, so when I went to go visit today they had all retired! So that was a huge bummer.
We ended up walking the halls and reminiscing. We ended up running into two of the janitors which we both had remembered.
Now, I had always kinda liked them for some reason. I had been kinda drawn to them (maybe that just makes me a creepy middle schooler?) but it's pretty much the way it works.
One of them is named James, and quite honestly when I was in sixth grade I was scared out of my pants of him. He was really really nice, no doubt about that, but he just always looked...off...you know? Picture the stereo-type of the crazy janitor but then make him the nicest guy ever and you have James. (I eventually warmed up to him, no worries there.)
But today was the first time that I had ever actually had a genuine conversation with him beyond the friendly "Hello" etc. We both learned that he actually used to attend my church Fairview Baptist church and that was where he was baptized etc. May I take a moment to just appreciate the connections that unqwittingly bond people together?
I also learned that he had been born blind and deaf and should have died at the age of 18 because of the condition he was born with. That to me was just amazing! Maybe not specifically because he survived all that, it certainly is a feat, but just that it actually happend!
And under other circumstances I may have never known about it.
Today I really began to appreciate other peoples life stories. Because every single one of us has one. They define who we are and who we want to be, and until we have at least a general understanding of another persons story, or at least the willingness to understand someones story, we'll never truly connect with them.
New life goal: Connect with a new person every day.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
it's the little things
Tonight I had my first 'homeless person experience'.
I was at a cookout/dinner event with some friends in the downtown area and a homeless woman had caught a ride with one of my good friends, and she eventually needed a ride back to a gas station so that later that evening she could go sit in a hospital lobby where she is apparently allowed to stay at.
These past couple weeks and months I've been really searching for ways to reach out to the world. For a while I was dead set that it had to be somewhere foreign and exotic. I suppose I forgot about the hurt and need in our own community. It recently dawned on me I didn't have to travel to Peru or Mexico or some other such place to make a difference in someones life, and that there was more than enough work that needed to be done here.
So, my past paycheck I tucked away a few dollars in cash so that I may hand it out freely to anyone who God had pressed upon my heart, and finally this evening those few dollars and few words of prayer really payed off.
A friend and I (this friend happened to be a big strong male, worry not. =P) gave her a ride in my car. We drove her to the gas station of her choosing, and while there were the occasional awkward silences during the ride I could just feel, and I just knew that what we were doing was right.
We prayed over her; she mentioned she had arthritis in her back (I'm not sure if that was merely a tale she wove...she was not quite right in the head.) and was in some pain, and sent her off a few dollars richer.
(YAY STUPID NARRATIVE NOW ENTER REALLY DUMB PART WHERE I TRY TO TELL THE INTRONET ABOUT WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE EXPERIENCE!!!)
She was quite crazy. Not to be stereotypical. Not to be harsh. But she really truly was. And there is absolutly no blame in that whatsosever, she's probably led a rather solitary life etc. and eventually it wears you down. But I learned, or at least, my eyes were opened to the fact, that I need to be more understanding and not filled with so much condemnation.
It's not my place to judge, it's not my place to condescend. It's my place, and my duty, to lend a hand and a loving heart.
It's the little things that make a difference. And it's the little things that show love.
Show love.
Do the little things.
Even if you have to sacrifice.
Just to know that you made another individual comfortable or happy or even just smile, thtat should just be the best thing ever for you. Every single person in this world needs someone to love them.
So love the loveless.
I was at a cookout/dinner event with some friends in the downtown area and a homeless woman had caught a ride with one of my good friends, and she eventually needed a ride back to a gas station so that later that evening she could go sit in a hospital lobby where she is apparently allowed to stay at.
These past couple weeks and months I've been really searching for ways to reach out to the world. For a while I was dead set that it had to be somewhere foreign and exotic. I suppose I forgot about the hurt and need in our own community. It recently dawned on me I didn't have to travel to Peru or Mexico or some other such place to make a difference in someones life, and that there was more than enough work that needed to be done here.
So, my past paycheck I tucked away a few dollars in cash so that I may hand it out freely to anyone who God had pressed upon my heart, and finally this evening those few dollars and few words of prayer really payed off.
A friend and I (this friend happened to be a big strong male, worry not. =P) gave her a ride in my car. We drove her to the gas station of her choosing, and while there were the occasional awkward silences during the ride I could just feel, and I just knew that what we were doing was right.
We prayed over her; she mentioned she had arthritis in her back (I'm not sure if that was merely a tale she wove...she was not quite right in the head.) and was in some pain, and sent her off a few dollars richer.
(YAY STUPID NARRATIVE NOW ENTER REALLY DUMB PART WHERE I TRY TO TELL THE INTRONET ABOUT WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE EXPERIENCE!!!)
She was quite crazy. Not to be stereotypical. Not to be harsh. But she really truly was. And there is absolutly no blame in that whatsosever, she's probably led a rather solitary life etc. and eventually it wears you down. But I learned, or at least, my eyes were opened to the fact, that I need to be more understanding and not filled with so much condemnation.
It's not my place to judge, it's not my place to condescend. It's my place, and my duty, to lend a hand and a loving heart.
It's the little things that make a difference. And it's the little things that show love.
Show love.
Do the little things.
Even if you have to sacrifice.
Just to know that you made another individual comfortable or happy or even just smile, thtat should just be the best thing ever for you. Every single person in this world needs someone to love them.
So love the loveless.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
whimsy
It just struck me a few minutes ago that I have a nasty habit of turning to others instead of Christ.
If I'm faced with a personal problem or I'm feeling down I'll bust out the cell phone and go through my list of contacts wondering who would most likely be there to listen to my drivel and la de da. If I don't get an answer I sit there dazed with my 'misery' and wallow. (It's not like I wouldn't be wallowing if I weren't talking to a friend anyhow. =P)
I suppose the point is, instead of turning to Christ, who fulfills all my needs, I turn to the flesh, which almost always lets me down.
Point taken, God.
If I'm faced with a personal problem or I'm feeling down I'll bust out the cell phone and go through my list of contacts wondering who would most likely be there to listen to my drivel and la de da. If I don't get an answer I sit there dazed with my 'misery' and wallow. (It's not like I wouldn't be wallowing if I weren't talking to a friend anyhow. =P)
I suppose the point is, instead of turning to Christ, who fulfills all my needs, I turn to the flesh, which almost always lets me down.
Point taken, God.
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