Outside the Pigeon Holes

Just a pondering in my ponderous journey of faith... A fictional example of man-made doctrine: Church of the Vine ** is the exclusive representation of the Kingdom of God on Earth...No one comes to the Father except through it...Here's how that works: 1. 32.3% of your earnings must be given to the Church of the Vine . Anything less is mortal sin, for God needs your money. 2. Homage must be paid to Papal Majesty Tim**...For he is the exclusive representation of Christ on earth... 3. To request forgiveness of sin, we must make restitution first to Tim...Tim then mediates for us to Mary who mediates to Joseph (a woman could never of course have free access to the Lord. She must speak through her husband) who mediates to Jesus who mediates to God. 4. If we have paid our 32.3% faithfully and have given at least a tenth of our time to serving the church of the vine, then we will be restored to right standing. 5. If we follow this process all the days of our lives we will earn eternal sa

I'm scratching my head here... From People Magazine in an article about Mel Gibson's faith (mind you - I like Mel)... "There is no salvation for those outside the Church," (Mel Gibson) said. "I believe it." He explained: "Put it this way. My wife is a saint. She's a much better person than I am. Honestly. She's, like, Episcopalian, Church of England. She prays, she believes in God, she knows Jesus, she believes in that stuff. And it's just not fair if she doesn't make it, she's better than I am. But that is a pronouncement from the chair. I go with it." HUH? She prays, believes in God and knows Jesus .. How is she missing the boat????

So many things are changing in my life...So many things coming at me to navigate and steer through. Things that challenge and stretch me. Things that are forcing me to rely on the grace and direction of God; Things that I have no idea for certain if they are the right things or not...But I believe them to be when I'm not bogged down in anxiety. But I am finding myself in a really scary place where I am also able to say: "I may be wrong, I may be right, I may be crazy (isnt that a Billy Joel song??), but I have grace. I am covered. I have a God who will never leave me or forsake me. NEVER. Neither death nor life can separate me from His love...Because of Jesus." I will stumble and I will fall no matter how hard I try to stay on my feet, but I will always be safe. And as crazy as all of this is, as scary and as wild, I feel alive again.... ...And maybe that tells me enough.