Outside the Pigeon Holes

I recently discovered this song: Brian Doerksen - Father I Want You to Hold Me Powered by mp3ye.eu I believe the relationship described in this simple piece is what everything evil in the world seeks to separate people from. If anyone EVER tries to tell you that you can't know God unless you do something first, or because of your past, your present or your future, your political views, your race, your sexuality, your gender, your mistakes, your successes, ANYTHING, they are lying . This relationship is there, all the time, at anytime, for everyone . It's for Christians and Buddhists, Israelites and Palestinians, Preachers and Felons, Nuns and Atheists. If the word "Father" creates issues for you, replace it with 'Spirit' or 'Mother' or whatever. It's not the label that is important. It is the communication between Creator and created. Yes, I am a Christ follower. I believe Jesus died to share this message with the world...

So, last night I dreamt that I had a baby and her name was Eve...I had had her in college, and it seems like she was mature in wisdom but still physically a baby. I knew who the father was and he visited her, but I never insisted on or thought to ask him to support her. Anyone wanna take a stab at that one?! Or was it just because last night I was talking to an old college friend about mutual friends' kids??

Not that I am surprised, but this excerpt from Kurt Willems http://www.redletterchristians.org/evangelical-reject/   confirms it...  "In so far that evangelical means the belief in repentance and conversion into a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, the term  ('evangelical') describes me .  What I continue to find, is that such a central conviction is  NOT  enough to appease those who want the term to mean other things.  So, based on my experiences, I want to let you know that:  You Might Be an Evangelical Reject If… You’re uncomfortable calling  other branches of Christianity “apostate.” You worry that those who cling to terms like “ orthodox ” often do so because they believe it to be synonymous with “ Neo-Calvinism .” You have significant questions about controversial theological “hot button” issues of the day and are  some-what comfortable with the subsequent cognitive di...

I used to be blindly pro-Israel in my opinions of what was happening between Israel and Palestine. I was so because I largely took my faith cues from my Conservative Evangelical upbringing...I didn't understand what was really happening over there. I just knew that I had been told that God chose Israel and therefore, they were entitled to certain land, priveleges and blessings. I was also taught that as a Christian I should support all of their military efforts against their enemies. I was taught that in the book of Revelation, Israel is the winner and God was on their side all the way. I had questions in the back of my mind as I purchased Israel pins and 'liked' Israel on my Faecebook page; Like the fact that Jesus didn't seem to promote this way of thinking. That he says many times that loving enemies and seeking peace is the way of the Kingdom. But I am just a wee little Christian, I don't understand these big issues. So I defaulted to believing and behaving the...

There's a line of thought among Christians that we are just 'passing through' this world and that our real home is Heaven...I used to believe this, too, although deep down I knew I loved this life and loved earth (in spite of the troubles that happen in this life). I no longer live this way or believe this way. In response to a blog post I read recently I was able to articulate my beliefs on this... I   believe that Earth is my home, and that God created me to live here in relationship with Him and in community with others, honoring them and creation. I believe that Jesus' work on the cross freed me from (among other things) religious strictures that placed man's ideas of how to be close to God with a recalibration of God's original intention (direct relationship with Him)...I don't believe that my focus should be on what happens after I 'pass through' this life (and yes, I do also believe that people go to heaven when they die). I believe that I ...

At Monday group, we were watching a teaching by one of our favorite Bethel boy's, Kris Valloton. Inspired by part of his message in which God talked to him about making flowers just because they were pretty, I wrote the following: Flowers Are Pretty So often I seek for profound insight I'm certain you live to share wisdom's light - The sound of your voice brings me to my knees. Ready for you to speak everything deep. But sometimes you just want to talk About pretty flowers and waterfalls. To tell me you love me on a summer walk. Put me on your shoulders and make me tall. My prayers are bound in churchy words Finding the lost and standing in for sinners. My knowledge, I know, is what makes me yours. I don't see that I’ve missed something richer. 'Cause sometimes you say you'd rather talk about why you made color and seagull flocks. You long to hold me so I hear you grin When I stumble around and try to be big. Papa, Papa, I see you now. I will wear your f...