say something

here’s the thing, it’s really simple: Jesus said love everyone unconditionally, pray for those who hurt you. God is the only executor of justice or consequences, not me. if i pass judgement on someone it’s going to be given to me in the same measure, i don’t want that, and i don’t think you do either. it doesn’t make sense to let people die, but Jesus never promised us anything would make sense, that’s why following him is radical. we’re killing innocent people too. i just don’t think that it’s my place to make that judgement. maybe george bush felt it was his. i can’t judge him either. i believe he is a godly man who did what he felt was right. i just don’t see anywhere in the teachings of Christ where killing anyone, even your enemy, even someone evil, is justified. i don’t have the final say, and if i’m wrong, so be it. but if i’m wrong, no one was killed because of it. shane told a story at ecclesia about this little boy who was getting beat up at school and came home and told him about it. so, shane ased him what he was going to do and he said: “well, i always say” (this kid is like eleven) “two wrongs don’t make a right…” they’re our brothers over there. every one of them are made in the image of GOD. i think it’s wrong to kill anyone ever.

this morning i woke up at 7:45 and couldnt go back to sleep, my mind has been wandering ever since.

epiphany #1- 1cor 4.10 We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! we are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless….” and it goes on–back to verse 9 “it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena.” does this not sound to you like Paul is talking to the modern church? where on this earth did we get the idea that God would make our lives good?!!??!? we are called to be put on display as fools. “i met Jesus, and he messed me up.”-shane claibourne

epiphany #2- “be still and know that I am God” (and you are not)….what a new perspective fatalism puts on this verse. we rush around like the little plate spinning man in Terminal, trying to keep all of our plates in the air, when guess what?! we arent keeping them there at all, God is. quit rushing around and know that you cannot accomplish anything,only God can.

this particular epiphany inspired the first song i have ever written:

lay down
be still
and know that You’re God
and i am not
if every piece will fall without me
let them fall
as an offering at your feet
lay down
be still
and know that You’re God
and i am not
you hold my life
in the palm of your hand
and only when i quit trying
can i stand
lay down
be still
and know that You’re God
and i am not
lay down
be still
and know that You’re God
and i am not

so there it is…

now a whole series on epiphanies from the sermon on the mount…

are you aware that three of the eight beatitudes are anti-war?
.7 blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy
.9 blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God
.10 blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

5:23 says dont offer a sacrifice to God unless you are reconciled to your brother (you know the ones we are bombing in iraq)

38-48 says turn the other cheek, pray for your enemies, and give more than is expected of you.

6:19-24 says store up treasures in heaven not here.

and 25-34 says dont worry about what you wear or eat. we know that one right. seek first the kingdom. well we play at seeking the kingdom, but do we quit worrying about what to wear?

so here’s my idea. when i am very sick i am miserable, and i take medicine that works contrary to my body to relieve the symptoms, but mostly the doctor says to rest and get a lot of liquids. so i was thinking, Jesus said the law and the prophets rest on the two greatest commandments; love God, love your neighbor. if we spend our energy on loving our neighbor perfectly (like our Father is perfect) and tackle any imperfection in that area tenaciously with prayer i propose that we wont have to worry as much about not killing him, stealing from him, or having sex with him. likewise, and perhaps more practical; if we wholeheartedly on conquering our fleshly temptation to worry about our wordly physical needs we wont even have to think about staying abstinate, or not being hateful.

here is the plan, and where the title of this post comes in: next time you go out to buy a lovely piece of clothing to refill your wardrobe (which i am not denying is from time to time necessary) instead of paying 35 dollars for a pair of jeans that you will take off as soon as you get home everyday, instead buy a pair of five to ten dollar black scrubs pants. they will match everything, they will be inifinitely comfortable, and they are not revealing in any way. if you need a shirt go to the little boys (or mens) undershirt section and buy a package of 4 black, gray or white tshirts for 6.48. they are shaped best anyway, and any design you can find on the internet and trace onto a piece of stencil paper you can paint on it. if you need to look nicer, instead of rushing to find the trendiest silk camisole, go to the pajama department at walmart and for 1/3 of the price get a cotton one (much more comfortable) that looks essentially the same only longer. if you need nicer bottoms, buy a twin sheet in the back (doesnt even have to be the requisite 200 thread count; sew the ends together foldover a waistband and put a drawstring in it. dont buy another pair of blister rubbing black heels!!!! splurge and spend seven more dollars at payless to get a pair of genuine leather almost skin coloered capezio ballet slippers that are just like the feet God gave you only tougher on the bottom. i refuse to buy into the new age philosophy that one needs a two hundred dollar pair of highly supportive shoes to be a steward of the body that God gave you. every three or so generations a brilliant man does 20 years worth of research and becomes famous by putting out a book that says the human body is the most flawless design in the universe. i think that our feet can take care of themselves if we quit babying them.

-josephine

i found an article on what is called natalism this summer and was so happy to discover that there is a subculture of people who are making their home and family their priority. then yesterday i put the word into google to research this topic a little more, and what did i find? nothing but negative reviews about how natalism means the belief that  a persons purpose in life is to reproduce, and they are only selfishly contributing to the overpopulation of the planet. i was really upset by this.

first of all, the purpose of natalism is not to reproduce but as diognetus would put it; to not destroy one’s offspring. natalists aren’t the only people having children, and they aren’t doing it just for the sake of reproduction. natalists are those who choose to care for their children, and actually raise them instead of asking the school system or youth group to do so. a lot of people are having families, the difference is who makes them a priority.

secondly, the problem of overpopulation of the globe is that we are not producing enough resources to meet everyone’s needs. the cause of this is not the amount of people as much as our wasteful, unsustainable, and consumeristic lifestyles. if you want to control population growth get the catholic church to quit putting contracts out on people’s lives for passing out condoms to homeless families in third world countries, and teach high school kids to keep their pants on. the problem is not people who want children having them, its people who dont want children but have them anyways.

if you’re not going to raise your kids, don’t get pregnant, and quit complaining about people who are raising productive members of society.

 -josephine