Outside the Pigeon Holes

When I read the promotional blurb for this book I thought that it would be primarily a book about adoring Jesus using Mary of Bethany (sister of the oft maligned Martha) as an example. I enjoy reading the ways that other people love on Jesus and relate with him. The book does offer this, but I was disappointed that it seemed to largely be the same old compare/contrast model of "will you be a Mary or a Martha in your faith?"Maybe it's just because in my own faith I have moved on from the need to compare myself to other people. Or maybe it's that I see a lot more depth to the characters of the Bible than the black and white 'she's doing it wrong, she is doing it right, BE LIKE HER!' but I was disappointed in the overall thesis of the book. The author is careful to note that we have all 'been' both Martha's and Mary's, and that she has as well, so it's not a self-righteous tone. It just isn't what I had hoped. I did like the stanza

From a recent discussion I had on Facebook:  I completely agree with Holli here: "Stop kicking broken people out of your churches. For real. You look like a complete and total ass for doing this and it doesn't help your church at all. I would dare to go so far as to say this angers God - Jesus sp oke about the mistreatment of those He loves pretty harshly." And I would also go so far as to say that another fear to guard against is not the world or what the world thinks, but what OTHER CHRISTIANS think. I'm so blasted sick of anti-homosexualists who spend their God given talents and energy in condemning, working against and judging gay people. And I am no longer afraid to stand up and say to my fellows, 'that's not OK and it's damaging people's spirits who might be greatly in need ((whether or not that pertains to their sexuality) of the love of Christ.' For me it's not an issue of whether homosexual behavior is a sin or not. I d