Process

At this point in my life, some pretty serious things have happened.  Its hard to say whether I really want to share all the gory details here.  For now just trust me when I say, its been a long journey, most of it has been pretty ugly, and plenty of it has been my own doing.

Truth be told, I think I have to take a little time to create a plan for what to say and when.  Planning is a good thing for writers such as myself who have the tendency to ramble.  For now, there are a few things I want to declare.

First, I am absolutely without a doubt a believer in The Lord, Jesus Christ and what all christ-walkers believe He did.  There, you know the truth of it, and you probably already knew this but its important to be right out with it.

Second, I have no desire to make another pretty blog or whatever I end up doing with this of some perfect christian who never does anything wrong, who has every answer, or who did everything right.  I am what many would call born-again.  I lived plenty of life and made a LOT of bad choices along the way, frankly at some points even after accepting Christ into my life and my heart.  This will absolutely be something I am open about.  Because frankly, no one cares for a liar, and no one needs a perfect specimen of how to do everything perfect.  I don't trust those who act that way.  With good reason, too.  They are most likely not being honest.  That or they simply don't wish to share their life with the world, and that's fair.  Truly, not everyone wants the world to know every dirty detail of their life, and that is alright, too.  My experience is that the more you try to keep things quiet or secret, however, the less you control those things and the more they control you.

So, a lot of ugly things may end up being shared here, stories and history.  The prevailing tone I would like you all to keep in mind, however, is that the point is things can be different, even if bad things and stupid choices are made.  What I hope for is that the over arching point that will shine through is that no matter what has gone on, there is a chance for home and a new choice to be made right now, in the moment, and that entirely resides with YOU.

Third, I am opinionated and I will express that opinion in rather flat and unforgiving terms sometimes.  Be that as it may, I want people to understand that the biggest point ever is the celebrate God's creation!  YOU! ME!  The whole place we reside here.  However harsh an opinion may seem, I want you, the reader, to understand that the fact is Love will prevail, and it should prevail.  That I do not mean to ostracize anyone, and I do not mean offense.  I want you all to take a long look at yourself if you find yourself offended at something said and examine what you have to in yourself.  I ask this because offense and anger are far more to do with the person feeling the emotion than the person saying whatever it is that has triggered the response.  Basic psychology, nothing more.

Perhaps not the last thing ever, but certainly the last thing for now; I am on a mission.  Right now, it is through healing.  My intention is to help people who read, and it is to bring a different light to how people approach the whole idea of faith and Jesus.  There are a lot of things that are not really addressed or talked about and it would be amazing to offer that up here.

Things will get messy.  I won't be perfect.  I'm making a firm decision and statement here saying that I will not apologize for things being messy or imperfect.  I will not apologize for stating things as they are.  If you're plan is to have an idol, you will want to choose someone else, because the fact is, I am no marble statue of perfect anything, I am very human and very broken and very flawed in my very nature.  Nevertheless, I am also a person of logic and reason.  I do not condone violence, and I don't condone ignorance.  I don't agree with a lot of things going on today.  I disagree with they way so many people have us out there chasing our tails instead of being real and true.  I have no intention of hiding my life or my past.  I won't say I'm sorry for it.  Although I will very likely express some regret at times.  I won't say I'm proud of everything.  Not ever.  But I own no one anything but God.  I don't say this out of pride or haughtiness.  I say this because I will not answer to any reader for my life.  It happened and it is what it is.

It is my hope that all I put down here will be genuine, it will be honest, and it will help people.  It will teach people.  That is my fondest hope.  Nothing more or less.  As the plan develops, you may hear more from me.

For God, and His glory. (I pray)

Many blessings.

The difference between Creator and created

Reality tells us that creation is never perfect.  It tends to fall short.  The more so when that creation is given a will of its own.  Sometimes it finds it way to the intent and desire of the creator.  For us, the best inventions are those that do as we tell them to do, not as they want to do.  Light bulbs are great because they give light to any who flip the switch, not because they have a mind of their own to give life to who ever they choose.

Human beings are not simple machines.

Human beings are very complex, intricate and delicate machines with will and desire and soul all their own, and unique to each and every one of them.

There are literally no two alike.  

We are imperfect and flawed, human beings.  And it is for this very simple fact that we must take so many things into consideration when dealing with one another.

As believers, we must take a good many things into consideration when we deal with our fellow man, and we are meant to display supernatural patients.  We do not always.  As non-believers, you see us act so non-christian.  You wonder why or who we can act so.  Remember, we are not perfect because our faith, and those who do act so are suffering under some severe misconceptions of what it is to be Christian.  

The bottom line is and will always be that we are flawed to our core and we seek the face of God because it will some how make us better, but we do have to be humble, and we do need to admit to our flaws, or it is pride in ourselves, and not God working in us.  

There are so many radical factions, there have been so many people over the centuries who have twisted the fabric of our faith.  I do not wish to be one of these people.  I want to be clear, I am of Christ, but I an not Him.  Every day of my life I wish to be closer and closer to Him, but I will never be Him.  

While I do hope to be an ambassador for Him and His word, for His vision and Kingdom, I am not Him.  I am flawed and I have been through a lot.  It is not my desire to hurt others with the things I say here, but it will happen from time to time.  Because like it or not, sin is real, and it will be a matter to discuss from time to time.  Understand, recognizing sin and calling it thus, this does not make me perfect, and it does not mean that I am perfect, or that I am above the problem sited.  

My mission is not one of hate, but of love, and life.  We are taught that the word of the Bible is the very breath of God, and to take the Bible in hand is to have a manual for a better life, but it does not always mean that those who sin are damned.  In point of fact, the Bible, indeed Jesus Himself, teaches that all, ALL, who believe are saved.  It teaches us to seek His face, and to go and sin no more, and it does this knowing full well this will and can be an uphill battle the whole way.

I am not perfect, and I do not want to give the impression that I can be.  It is in my flaws and weaknesses that I am made beautiful and perfect to Him, and that is the case for all of us.  Understanding is the key.  And we do not have to like everyone, but it is best that we do our best to set aside our difference for His glory as we are lead.  

This is a calling.  And we will see how it goes.  But it is a mission of a life time.  

A fresh start

Not every fresh start is willingly done.  Sometimes we start fresh because we have no other option.  I think that these can happen and still become good things.

I have a mission in life, and in no small part, it has to do with my own faith.  I have a hope that eventually I will gain ground and I will gain in wisdom that I will be fortunate enough to share.  This can come in many forms.  The end result is the same.  Its often the journey that is unique.

Often in my life I have gone through difficult times.  In some cases, those situations that were laid in my lap that I had no control over.  Other times, these were situations I brought on myself and had to handle the aftermath as best I could.  In any event, it doesn't change the fact that we are often put in situations of adversity, and it is shocking to me how often we do not recognize the difference between what had been done to us and what we have done to ourselves.  What's more, I am often rather shocked at the lack of desire most people have for examining it and seeing what they can do better, or how they might have brought something about themselves in some ways.  It happens.

For my part, I am a firm believer in this world that if people will start looking inward more often than outward for the answers, we will be a better world.  There is a healthy balance of both that is required.

Balance is different from one person to the next.  And we all have to seek that balance for ourselves.  We need to have a measure of understanding for what other's need, as well as ourselves.  We need to get a grip on what is reasonable to ask of other people, and what is not.  Asking someone else to save us is not reasonable.  Asking someone to be there as they are able, to be supportive and loving as they can, that is reasonable.

I suppose, through my own faith, and through writing about a lot of different things, I hope for this to be one focal point of this blog.  As well as teaching, to some degree, the difference between faith, a relationship with Jesus, and religion, being a bunch of rules and if we follow those rules then we are some how better than everyone else, which is simply not the case.

What I won't do is sweep sin under the rug.  What I will do is emphasize that sin and sinner are not always to be taken as one and the same, that it is possible sometimes to separate the two.  It is also possible that sinners are hanging on to sin willingly and choosing it.  Even then, these are people who deserve mercy and pity, even if they are not safe to be out in the world...

How we all face day to day life is a matter we must all decide on.  I only hope to be of some aid to those seeking.