Sent: 9/22/2002 5:44 PM
Do you remember that song? If you were happy and you knew it then you clapped your hands. If you were happy and you knew it then you stomped your feet. If you were happy and you knew it you said "Amen".
Clap, stomp, "Amen!" =)
I never hear it much anymore. A funny thing seems to have happened to us. Here at that somewhere along the way in history, humanity seems to be stuck in 'complacent', and oddly relishing in its complacency, people have chosen to stop Knowing. In not Knowing, no one is doing much of anything.
Stagnant air.
There are no claps no stomps no "Amens" to be heard. Sad confused silence looms across the plains of
Politically, the U.S. Congress is pledging its allegiance to the Bush Administration, transforming our government into a militant aggressor, a "we'll get you first" mentality, a thou shalt not kill UNLESS society that, I must frankly say, is NOT Christian. God's Prince of Peace invited all to live. God would want that no man should die. Therefore this leaves the will to us.
Choose wisely.
Despairingly ironic in a demographically Christian nation, 80% of you think that going to war is the right thing to do. I shudder in your not knowing, and just as I charged George Bush to remember his place, I charge you to examine your heart. Long ago and far away are the days when war was fought like a chess match; when the killer was forced to look into the eyes of his foe as he took his life. In the 21st century, nations aren't nearly as personal. Countries don't have to actually see anyone that they kill. Flips of words then buttons can destroy mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers of all nationalities, all countries, all peoples. Dangerous games when God is watching.
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Simon Peter was enraged when he saw them take Jesus Christ into custody. His face filled with anger at the injustice. He couldn't imagine that this was really about to happen. They were going to take Him away. Jesus was going to be killed? Igniting, he felt he needed to stop them. Raging, he wanted to act first. Loving, He wanted to protect his Jesus. Drawing his sword, Simon Peter lunged toward one of the servants of the priests who came to get Jesus. The servant's ear was severed. Suddenly the soldiers drew their swords in a heat, and growled at their scowling aggressors.
Jesus touched Malchus's ear and the blood stopped flowing. Jesus smiled as He looked in Malchus's scared, perplexed eyes. It was going to be okay. Jesus turned and rebuked Simon Peter for taking God's will into his own human hands. Faith in God means believing He alone knows what is best. And God's will was and is Jesus Christ's Love for humanity.
***
If you are in the 80% who thinks that going to war is the realistic, practical thing to do, I implore you to search for the god you are serving and what it is providing you in that reality. Yes, now is a very good time for some real soul searching. If you really want to see the Truth, see the earth's souls through God's eyes. Existing in a place of global power holds the
No matter what, say SOMETHING!
The
God bless the world.
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FWD:
And listen guys, we forward chain letters and "my favorite things" and jokes all the time. Why not forward along something that touched your heart or made you think or maybe just annoyed the hell out of you? I'm not talking about my stuff alone either! =) I would love to read some of your sharings that I could forward along as well. Technology today enables us to have some really wonderful connections with one another.
Share God’s blessings! Don't just read and delete. It only takes a spark to get the fire of God’s Love going, so pass it on. Change must start with us. Complacency is over. Let’s communicate about some things so the world our children inherit will not be the world of death and destruction we live in today.
Thanks for letting me get some things off my chest.
I love you all.
Sent: 9/18/2002 10:22 PM
I'm actually not sorry if the poem "You'll have to excuse me" sounds a little arrogant.
Honestly, I'm tired of apologizing for being your "idealistic". I'm tired of apologizing for believing in something beyond myself. I'm tired of apologizing for having faith.
I'm tired of apologizing for being Christian. I'm tired of apologizing for all the wrong that has been done in the name of Christianity. I'm tired of apologizing for respecting you no matter what your beliefs. I'm tired of apologizing for loving you exactly as you are. Golly, I guess I'm just tired of apologizing for being me.
...so...
No more apologies. Write me or don't. Call me or don't. Like me or don't. Criticize me or don't. Pity me or don't. Laugh at me or don't. Judge me or don't. Understand me or don't. Know me or don't. Believe me or don't. Kill me or don't. Love me or don't.
...for...
It doesn't really matter.
I love you no matter what.
That's my Reality.
Sent: 9/5/2002 3:49 PM
We had a hornet's nest in our storage room just off the garage when I was growing up. Every summer, it would appear and grow, while its inhabitants sought to terrorize anyone that walked in the room to grab a shovel or the lawn mower or another stored item. It seemed that weekly, my dad would go in, knock the nest down, stomp on it, break out the Raid and kill all the hornets that he could. He hoped that he could make the room safe for us by simply eliminating the problem. Nevertheless, he could never kill ALL the hornets. For the next week we would see the nest begin to grow again, and before we knew it, our storage room once again buzzed with angry hornets guarding their position.
It was not until after a harsh cold winter blew into our town did the hornets stop terrorizing our storage room. That spring after, we were surprised to see an empty place where the hornets historically built their nests all the summers before. I found myself amazed by the experience. As I stared at the oddly quiet room I thought, "Dad couldn't do it, so it took God to rid us of those pests."
Have faith in God and
Sent: 9/2/2002 4:03 PM
Alright Generation Xers, I think we can do this. Feeling God alive motivating us, we're going to make a really positive impact on the world. Yes, even with the responsibility of inheriting nuclear weapons. In fact, I truly believe He's depending on us to succeed.
It makes me laugh to think about when we were first labeled. We were the generation that they thought was hopeless and wasn't going to come to anything. We were thought slothful and heady. Well, the internet was our first go. Came out of that a little bruised, but reaping amazing benefits of short success. What's next?
Hello again.
Playschool ago. Puberty later. Adulthood is here, and we're going to do this right. We're going to do this Happy. I smile. You know, they have no idea the ultimate promise of Generation X. America's artists will Sonfully shine. Creative geniuses around every corner. Yes, God bless it, for we're going to start saying a few things based upon what we've observed down here so far. Remember; you fortunately schooled us to be intellectuals.
Some things have to change, and we're going to be it.
Sent: 9/2/2002 3:42 PM
God's blessings are overflowing this weekend with showers both outside my window and on my soul. I feel like the little child I saw catching drops on his pink outstretched tongue.
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It was an Unbelievable Honor to read Scripture in
God bless you Joan.
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So many more in addition. I can't thank you enough, Eternal Loving Father. Praise Your Amazing Name.
In Jesus Christ's name.
***
Christ is giving you great benefits. You're worthy of accepting them. Promise.
Sent: 9/2/2002 3:41 PM
The human touch
It amazes me how fearful we remain over touching one another. It is kind to pet our animals. We give them affection freely. I am reminded that we far more valuable in God's eyes than our pets. Yet our hugs go undone, touches only fantasy. Reservations later, we feel cold and alone and long for another human being to hold us. Life is hard. Reality is we need those supportive connections. Touch is good.
I have been telling a lot of my friends lately that I've really been missing the touch of a lover. Weary in time waiting. That touch that is healing, another caressing while tracing your skin. A pull close into a tightly secure hug. Giggles, play and love. I was blessed with a gift this weekend of a beautiful man who understood. We tenderly loving cared. It was wonderful to me.
And a further blessing, gladly surprised, I noticed today that it seems to have opened the floodgate of repressed human touch as I find myself kissing and hugging all I know. Suddenly
Yes, for your information, sometimes it's pretty depressing that I can't physically touch God. A big hug from Christ would be really nice every now and again. Someday.
Until then, can I depend on you?
Sent: 9/2/2002 3:38 PM
He stands and preaches.
It's finally time to take up my cross and Truly follow Christ on this path God is guiding. I am to become a preacher. Funny that I acted blind to all the direction God has offered throughout my life. Sweet memories of being a thoughtful child, playing "church", inviting all my stuffed animals into the holy living room for morning services. The sun traced the floor as I looked out from my makeshift pulpit, a cross in magic marker on the front. Joey my teddy bear looked up with brown eyes attentive and listening. Yes, I guess I've been practicing for this for a long time.
Of course, it's also taken me a long time to accept it. Humanly flawed, I never thought I could even try to represent the perfection that is Jesus Christ, and as a preacher of His Word, that is exactly what I want to do no matter its impossibility. Afraid that my human would fail Him. I felt so caught in between. Felt not worthy to receive God's call. Told Him to call back later. Smile. God never fails. He kept on calling and calling and calling. I'm so unbelievably glad I finally picked up.
Worthy? Well, it's breathtaking that Christ's grace through God's Plan frees me from being so sadly anchored by my own feelings of self-worthlessness that I would keep myself from flying. We are all precious in His sight. It takes us both. That it includes me.
With Christ carrying me, I will succeed in His Love.
Pray for me! =)