After watching Joe Biden give his speech at the DNC last night, I think that Obama may lose my vote. He's now has a ton of work to do in order to get my vote now. Oh I'm sure that some are wondering what Biden said that has gotten me to change my mind on Obama, but he didn't say a thing to make me think that Obama has done anything wrong, but he talked about someone who this country and the world needs to lead us. The person that currently is going to get my vote as a write-in.
During the primaries, I was going to vote for John Edwards. Now I like Hillary and Obama, but Edwards was the only one of the main three who seemed to want to actually talk about the important issues. After he pulled out, I switched back and forth between Clinton and Obama, so I asked the youth group at my church who I should vote for, and in unison said Obama. Obama got my vote.
But I know that you really don't want to read my views on Obama or McCain at the moment, but you are wondering who I am going to vote for.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
I may not vote for Obama
Friday, August 22, 2008
Who do you relate to in the Bible? - Part II
Someone left a comment about my last posing, and it got me thinking. The one person in the Bible that I think that we all can relate to is Peter. How can we all relate to Peter? Think about it. How many times have you denied something that was true? We deny things many times to get out of something. Think back to your childhood, when you would blame someone else for something that you did. You would say over and over again how it was some other person who did the wrong, but you knew that it was really you.
Not accepting responsibility for ones action is something that we all learn without being really taught that is something that should be done. We did it as a child in order to avoid a spanking or punishment, and as adults to get out of a ticket or other things. We have people in prison and jail who will tell you that they didn't do something, when in reality they really did.
We can all relate to at least one person in the Bible, but most likely we can relate to a large number of people in it in some way. Peter could relate to Adam and Eve, in that he didn't accept responsibility in being one of Christ's followers and the actions that Christ did, just like Adam and Eve didn't accept responsibility for their actions by eating of the forbidden fruit. They all attempted to “pass the buck (blame)” onto someone else.
Off and on throughout history, people have been placed in situations in which they had a choice of saying that they are Christians, or denying that they are. This is an action that occurs even today. Check out the news stories that come out of some of the countries where another religion basically rules. You will find stories of people being killed because they are Christians. But I wonder how many people were not killed because they denied that they were Christians. I am sure that in some of these countries the number of Christians killed would drop if all who claim Christ wouldn't deny it. If millions upon millions of people were killed because of their religious beliefs, the world would do something. The Nazis killed millions of Jews, and the world came to their rescue. A friend of my mom's just died a few weeks ago who was put into a concentration camp because he was a Jew. I had the honor of meeting him a number of years ago, and even though we never talked about what happened to him, he had my respect because he stood for his beliefs.
We need to stop denying who we are and the actions that we have done. Christ never denied who he was or the things that he did, so why should we?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Who do you relate to in the Bible?
I'm not sure where the question or even how the question ever came into my mind, but it is a question that I have often asked myself, and it is a question that I ask others. I think that the question came from a sermon that a priest gave in a church that my family was in when I was a small child, but I'm not sure. I now pose the question to you. Other than Jesus and the Holy Triune, who do you relate to in the Bible and why?
For a period of time I found myself relating very much to Jonah, in the story of Jonah and the Whale. For me, even though I was born into a Christian family that went to the Episcopal Church, after I moved to California, I felt it was time to attend another denomination. I had thought about joining the Quakers, as I had gone to a Quaker school for a few years, and if it wasn't for that experience, I don't think that I would of turned out the way that I have. I think that I would of used far more drugs than I did, and would have gotten into trouble resulting in me going to prison for something, but luckily for me that between the Quakers, my friends and family, and my Christian faith, I have lead a Christian life as much as possible.
I attended Lutheran, Pentecostal and other denominations services, and maybe it they weren't the right places, but I found myself back in the Episcopal Church. I have tried this over and over again, and each and every time something kept pulling me back. The last time that I recall that I was going to leave, my Bishop requested that I become a member of one of the commissions in the diocese. Him and others kept calling upon me to do more and more in the Episcopal Church, and I have come to the point where I realize that I am going to be a member throughout the rest of my life.
Not to long ago, I watched Jesus Christ Superstar 2000. Now I love the original film version, and it is one of my favorite films, but after seeing the newer film version, I haven't been able to watch it. I sat and watched the extras, and one of them as an interview with the guy who wrote the play in which the films are based on. It was through the interview that I learned that Superstar is their way of looking at the last days of Christ through the eyes of Judas. When I watched the film through that aspect, I have come to love it even more.
Judas has been someone that has been of interest to me for a number of years. I don't know why, but unlike others I don't think of him as being a “Bad Guy.” Judas was in my eyes a “Good Guy.” Judas was the one that watched and paid attention to what was going on, really listened to the words and teachings of Jesus, along with paying attention to the actions of Christ. I believe that Judas was the one that saw the “Big Picture.” Judas was the one that “Got it.”
I find myself more and more relating to Judas. I'm not saying that I “Get It”, but I find myself in the role that Judas was in so that the things that were to happen came into being. I have found that I am having to do things in order to get things going and done. Yes many of the things that I have had to do has caused others to dislike my actions, but I realize that it for the better in my opinion. I have seen the Judas actions that I have done actually have effect for both the better and the worse. In my heart, I truly believe that Judas will be in Heaven.
In one of the events in the Gospels is about a mother asking that her two sons be seated next to Jesus at the great banquet in heaven. I think that those who enter into that banquet hall will all be surprised to find sitting next to Jesus will be Judas.
I am sure that some may read this and say something like, “But Judas doesn't deserve that seat, for he sold out Jesus. If it wasn't for his actions, Jesus would of lived.” But I ask you, do you think that Christianity would exist today if this hadn't happened and Jesus lived to be an old man and died peacefully in his sleep? Why symbol would we have in our churches since we remember Christ death with the thing that he died on, that being the cross. As much as we want to only look upon Judas as a bad person, I think that we should be giving him thanks.
I find myself relating to Judas because of the congregation that I am in. At times I need to get others not within the congregation in order to get things done it seems. It upsets my pastor and others in the congregation when I do such things. They say how wrong I am because of my actions and words, and they don't quite understand that what I am trying to do is to save the church from a sure death. Over a period of a few years, the vestry put together two committees to work on our usage rules and forms, and neither one did a thing. Over a period of a few months, I put together the new rules and forms. The second group met once to go over what I had put together, and it was presented to the vestry. All of the credit was given to the committee for the work, and when it was pointed out that I should be given credit also, I hear the words that it wasn't important and that the committee should be given the credit. Funny, we have churches named after all of the apostles except for Judas. Judas has been vilified by the world. If Judas hadn't done what he did, when he did, in my view I don't think that we would have Christianity now. Yes the apostles went out and spread the good news, but would they have if Jesus had simply died in his sleep? What would our symbol be if he had died that way? Would we really understand the important of Jesus like we do now?
There are a large number of theories as to why Judas did what he did, and I think that we must remember that he was a man who wanted action and understood the importance of what he was paid to do. I believe that he understood what the Torah said about the Messiah, and that Jesus was the Messiah. I believe that Jesus knew that Judas was had to be an Apostle because Judas would do what is the correct thing that would cause us all to follow the commandments that had been laid down.
Like Judas, in my view, I try to do what it takes to get people to follow the Lord. Just because one goes to church, does not make one a Christian. I think that Judas was a Christian in the purest sense of the word. Yes Judas took his own life, but I think that at the time of the great judgment, he will be forgiven and praised for bringing trillions and trillions into the Love of the Holy Trinity like no other has. Now I am not saying that I is what I am trying to do, but if my action helps to bring even just one or two to the Lord, then I think that I will have done good work. Yes I would love to bring in trillions, and will do my best, but if it means that I will be vilified like Judas, then it will be worth it in the end.
I hope and pray that you spend time over and over again though your life understanding who in the Bible that you relate to, other than Jesus. Jesus is the easy answer, so try and figure out who else there is.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Just a simple Thank You -Part II
I was going through some stuff on my computer at work, and came across a reply to an email that I had written in a word processor. As I read it, a previous post that I had written here came to mind, and I thought that I should email some folks and thank them for the work and things that they have done. These are all great people in the Episcopal Church and are trying to make a difference. Now I could name many more, but I wanted to let these people know that I appreciate them.
Rev. David Ota – Thank you for all of the work that you have done when it comes to Multicultural and trying to help bring us all together as one in this diocese. It has been an honor to get to know you and to see and be involved with some of the things that you have been involved in.
Rev. Barbara Bender-Breck - I want to thank you for all of the work that you do when it comes to Anti-Racism issues in this diocese. Even though I have taken Anti-Racism in the past, and was even trained to lead such sessions, I know that I need to take it through the diocese. If it wasn't for you, I would not of gotten involved in the Afro-Anglican Commission, where I have gotten to know other black Episcopalians in the church outside of my own congregation. To me, you are part of what I call my Holy Triune, who are the three people in this diocese that I honor by doing whatever they request.
Bishop Marc Andrus – Even though I was routing for another person to become our Bishop, I am proud to call you my Bishop. With knowing very little about me, you have taken chances in having me become involved in different aspects of the diocese. With your request for me to be a member of the CoM, and my involvement on it, it has helped me grow in Christian ways that I don't think that I would of if I hadn't been on it. It has helped me to discern not only my relationship with the Holy Trinity, but my own life. I would of never thought that I would have been asked to write a guest blog for anyone, let alone a Bishop.
Rev. John Rawlinson – Yes I know that at times I am hard on you with my comments and criticism, I know that without you having belief in me that I would not be involved so much in other aspects of the diocese. Even though I know that you don't like some of the things that I have said, just remember that I am trying to make sure that amongst the plaques on the walls of the church is one that has your name on it, that shines above the rest. I want the history of the church to reflex more than you were a pastor of the Hispanics, but of all regardless of race. I am trying to get the thought from people's minds that believe that your goal is to make the church a place just for Hispanics, but that you are a pastor for all. I appreciate the hard work and time that you have put in for no money. I want to see us grow to be able to give you the kind of moneys that you deserve.
E.J. Hillard & Rev. Katherine Ward – You two, with Rev. Barbara bender-Breck are what I think of as the rest of my Holy Triune. I think that each of you are shining examples to the church, and to the Black Community of what we Black Episcopalians strive to be. I think of all three of you as being living prophets in the church. It has been an honor to get to know all of you.
Now I could go on and on thanking people from within this diocese for the things that they have done not only for me, but for the greater church, but I am sure that you could spend your time doing other things on the internet.
I would like to recommend a site for all of you to visit. http://www.experienceproject.com . I LOVE this site, and hope that you all will not only read the stuff that is there, but also get involved.
Thank You All
Friday, August 1, 2008
The Stations of the Cross
Those who know me, know that I enjoy doing The Stations of the Cross all year round. I have found many different versions on the internet that are really great. These just don't deal with the traditional readings, but have themes. I figured that it would be fun to create a Stations website that deals strictly with them, so others can come to a site that contains a large group of them. I have found it interesting that the domain name(s) is taken by people who are trying to make money off of them. How sad that is. Maybe I will make a subdomain off of my site.
Hope that all are doing great.