We are Who we hang with

Have you ever heard the saying, "You are who you hang with" ?

There is so much truth to that.

I love people. All kinds of people.

When i was in college, I hung with my peers Etc....

It's true, we are the company we keep.

It can be a double edged sword though.

Once again, I love people. But not all of them are close. As a matter of fact, most people I know i am not close to.

I only have a small group of people that I am close to. Even a smaller group that I "hang" with.

When i am at work, church, etc. it is easy to take on the attitude of the energy of those groups.

So, with that daily challenge, I hope to take on my own God given daily developed attitude. I would in short, like to be the best me I can be and be the example not the follower.

Dancing with Chaos

There is a theory called "Social Entropy". Its basically another phrase for Dancing with Chaos. Another key phrase is "being fluid"

There is nothing "wrong" with having principals to stand on, but being "non-fluid" is.

With ANY social gathering and or event there MUST be a leader that is willing to dance with Chaos. Why? Because anywhere there are more than one person gathered THERE WILL BE CHAOS. There must be a person, leader that is willing to ALLOW the tension in the room create a rhythm to dance too.

No, i do not like chaos. However, I do like to try and be fluid enough to hear ALL sides of the story to try and come to a resolve.

Its tough, very tough. But someone has to dance. Someone has to "hear the song" and dance. Its the only way to be the agent of change.

At the office, factory, school, or where ever there are people.

CAN DESTINY HAPPEN IN A VACUUM?

Remember the story of Macbeth? He tried to change his own destiny only to see the "prophesies" about him come true. To make a long story short he tried to avoid his foretold death only to be beheaded as his "fate".

Question: Can destiny happen in a vacuum?

I was talking to a coupe of co-workers on my break today and asked them this question. I posed the question in the form of what I call, "Plinko in a sealed room' Go with me on this.......

Remember the game 'Plinko" on the game show "The Price Is Right"? The game was all about the luck of the way a large poker looking chip would be dropped along the top of strategically placed pegs. When a person would drop the chip down the plinko board it would bounce along the pegs, and if "luck" was on their side it could land in the 10,000 money slot.

When the chip would land in a large money slot, the contestant would try from the very same spot with different results only to be frustrated.

Why?

I have been told that if you try the same thing you will get the same results. tell the contestant that. Maybe it is the atmosphere of the room. Maybe its the air coming from the vents blowing it. Maybe it is the rumble of the audience cheering vibrating it in a different direction. Maybe.

So, lets change the atmosphere.

A vacuumed room - sealed tight - plinko - a machine that is programed to drop the chip at the same place with the pegs, board, and all aspects with NO variables to change it.

Can destiny be changed in a vacuum? A sealed off room?

My co-workers said No. I asked, why? they said because its impossible to create that atmosphere.

Hmmmm.

As is life. THERE IS NOT A "ONE FORMULA" that can work EVERY TIME... Enter, the Cross. Jesus. The Messiah. YHWH. GOD.

He (Jesus) said, "I am the (Only) way, the (only) truth the (Only) Life"

That, is destiny.

That IS a cure all.

So, from the moment we accept Christ, does our destiny begin? Free will VS. Unconditional Election.

Macbeth. Was that "supposed" to happened? Could it have changed?

Judas (who betrayed Jesus), was that "Supposed" to happened? Could it have been changed?

The plinko chip. In a sealed environment - could it fall in the same place every time?

Me and You, In a sealed environment - does that effect us?

Or, does God drop us on earth like plinko chips (with a Bible) and say "I'll see you on the other side."

What do you think?

Intollerance of modern christianity

The Christmas season is upon us, which means the Christians are gettin' mad.

Oh, yeah, I'm a Christian. Should I be mad right now?

Evidently I should. I should be very angry about these Atheists Holiday adds, which promote a secular approach to Christmas the holidays.

Silly, hugh?

Why are some Christians so intolerant?

Who is right?

We study God (Theology) really?? God? we study Him? We have Him figured out?

Is he a "Southern God"?

Is He a "Yankee" God?

No, No I Got it He is an American God.... Wrong!

What denomination is He?

Cmon, admit it. We all think we are "right" and they (they being other religions) are wrong.

Growing up i spent most of the weekends at my Grandma's house. I would sleep on a pallet on the floor and she would talk to me about God with a since of colorful love. She was so real, so authentic. She was a "Jehovah's Witness".

Later when I became a "christian" I was told they (my Grandma and her "cult") were wrong and going to hell.

I even remember saying that behind a pulpit while preaching one time.

I was... Intollerant.

I was a bigot.

Do I agree with their belief system? Nope.

Do I think they are wrong? Nope.

Think about it. When you worship God on the day that you set aside to worship Him, what does He see?

Once again. I believe in God. I believe that he knows me inside and out. he loves me a whole lot more than I love Him. The rest.... its up to Him.

My Grandma? Yep, He loved her too. :)

I was a narrow minded bigot!

Before I write this I want to establish a couple of facts

First, I used to be a bigot! A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices.

Secondly it is my own personal opinion that I believe there is a God and that He loves me. I know that Jesus Christ is His Son and that He died for me. I know that there is NOTHING that will stop God from loving me, nothing.

Now that I said that I want to rant just a little.

I am a guy who has been graced with a gift to love people NO MATTER WHAT or WHO they are.

For the last 20 years i tried to keep my self "separated from the world". Because that is what narrow minded "christians" do.

I was taught and taught others that basically God was ticked. I was taught and taught others that there is a standard to live by.

I was told and told others that gay people were going to hell.

I was told that if a person does not go to church they are not really "saved"

I was told and I preached that "our way was it".

Sad hugh? Sad that I was such a judge. Such an arrogant jerk.

Sad that I was all about trying to be cool.

Sad that i looked down on "smokers, drinkers, non believers, other religions, etc.

No I am not some ticked of preacher ticked off at other preachers. I am a Man who Knows there is a God that loves us a whole lot more than we love Him.

He does not care how many were at your church last Sunday. he does not care how small your church is.

From my own perspective, I believe that "christians" need to stop being bigots and stop asking for so much when many give out so little.

If you call yourself a "christian" then please, for the love of God, smile!! (pun intended)

Just get out of your little shell and laugh!!!!!

Check your narrow mind at the door and look at mankind and say to yourself, "I am just as screwed up as everyone else"

No creed can "save" you.

No church can "save" you.

No man can "save" you.

God chose, ALL BY HIMSELF, to love us.

If you disagree, please let me know. If you agree, let me know.