Heres a question to ponder: Would Jesus have eaten at Chick-fil-a yesterday?
Ok, this whole Chick-fil-a thing... I think Christians missed the boat on this BIG TIME. I've been thinking about this for a few days now, seeing all the posts on FB about supporting Chick-fil-a, hearing it on all the radio and all I've go to say is SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE!???!!! I mean come on! Christians all over America jumped on some bandwagon that I don't even think the president of Chick-fil-a, Dan Cathy, meant to create. He stated his opinion about gay marriage in a very honest and non-condemning way. Other peeps stated their opinion in response and all of a sudden it was a "war" about the 1st amendment and freedom of speech, fighting for family values, etc. etc..Then, Mike Huckabee created his "Support Chick-fil-a day" yesterday and thousands of people went and ate chicken. Don't get me wrong. Chick-fil-a does make good chicken. There used to be one at Lloyd Center. I remember eating there as a kid, but I still don't get it. Am I missing something?? When did loving a moral stand become more important than loving on people? Oh wait, that's right. That IS what the general population thinks about Christians. That we are more about rules of what to do and not do and pointing our fingers at all that is wrong, instead of meeting people where they are at, building relationships and sharing with them the Good News of Jesus. In addtion, we don't help by continually giving them SO much ammunition. Is this how we as Christians are meant to share Christ's love with the world? We walk around talking about "loving people to Christ" and yet we post hateful statements on various social media outlets. Hateful? May be a little strong. So, not hateful - but sure as heck not loving. Even if under the guise of supporting some one's 1st amendment right of free speech. OK, then, let's turn the table. What if Mr. Cathy wasn't a Christian and in an interview made a statement against the Christian faith? Would you be so fast at protecting his 1st amendment right? Street goes both ways people. If Mr. Cathy has the right to say he doesn't believe in gay marriage, someone else has the right to say they don't believe in Jesus. And the mayor of whatever town has the right to say what they want.
Here's my last and final thought - shall we say this is me exercising my 1st amendment right... (and I may tick some peeps off with this, but here goes) Christ followers, lovers of Jesus, Adopted Children of the Almighty God - let's get our heads out of our behinds. Let's actually do what Christ calls us to do - LOVE people as He loved people. Let's remember, it's not about us. It's not about us pushing some agenda. It's not about picking various "sins" to rally against. Let's give the non-Christians something to talk about other than how we're against the LGBT community. This all has been very reminiscent to me... Something about pharisees and tax collectors... and Jesus.
To answer my first question. If Jesus went to Chick-fil-a yesterday, it's because He just wanted some chicken,.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Getting a lil more excited...
Today - well, actually yesterday as it is 4 o'clock in the morning - the first Africa team made it back to Portland. I love going to greet people at the airport after trips, especially mission trips. No matter how kicked or how much a shower is needed - everyone always is so stoked to see their loved ones. And those waiting for them are just as stoked, just as giddy. It always reminds me of the beginning narrative of the movie Love Actually - Hugh Grant as the "Prime Minister" says,
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinions starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around"
Everyone is all huggy and smiles. It's infectious. I love it most because they are just amped to tell everyone what the Father did, what awesome things they saw and did.
This time though, my excitement was even more personal, as the team was coming back from the place I will be headed to in 10 short days. It's new for me - headed to a different place than my two previous trips. Let me be honest, I've done little thinking about Africa - Between work, Centrifuge and life in general - I really haven't put much thought into getting ready. Other than finding my journal from the first trip (see previous post) and doing some of the necessary prep - getting ready has been on the back burner. For me, this is odd. Normally, my bags would be out, mostly packed - with only those last minute items left. For that reason, today was so good. Seeing the team, with their bright faces, bubbling over with tales to tell... AWESOME! Even more encouraging was not 1, not 2, but 3 of the team members (including my pastor) said to me you are SO going to love it. I believe my pastor's words were, "Right up your alley." I got really giddy... actually, I think I got teared up a little. (so says Jeremy anyway).
Leaving the airport, I realized I a little more spring in my step... Excitement was building. It was like a little love note from the Father. Don't you just love it when the Father gives you those? Now I'm excited. Now I'm giddy. Just 10 short days away...
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinions starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around"
Everyone is all huggy and smiles. It's infectious. I love it most because they are just amped to tell everyone what the Father did, what awesome things they saw and did.
This time though, my excitement was even more personal, as the team was coming back from the place I will be headed to in 10 short days. It's new for me - headed to a different place than my two previous trips. Let me be honest, I've done little thinking about Africa - Between work, Centrifuge and life in general - I really haven't put much thought into getting ready. Other than finding my journal from the first trip (see previous post) and doing some of the necessary prep - getting ready has been on the back burner. For me, this is odd. Normally, my bags would be out, mostly packed - with only those last minute items left. For that reason, today was so good. Seeing the team, with their bright faces, bubbling over with tales to tell... AWESOME! Even more encouraging was not 1, not 2, but 3 of the team members (including my pastor) said to me you are SO going to love it. I believe my pastor's words were, "Right up your alley." I got really giddy... actually, I think I got teared up a little. (so says Jeremy anyway).
Leaving the airport, I realized I a little more spring in my step... Excitement was building. It was like a little love note from the Father. Don't you just love it when the Father gives you those? Now I'm excited. Now I'm giddy. Just 10 short days away...
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