Know what I'm tired of? The partriarchy. The ignorant about the patriarchy. The extreme right seeing pedophilia when it comes to offenses against boys, but turning a blind eye to the same or more appalling behavior when the victim is female. Then cover it in the sauce of Christianity.
Right now our country is more embroiled in the whole "Christian nation" rhetoric than I can ever remember before. I know that Christians have always cried about separation of church and state and have cried "unfair" for as long as I can remember. "They take Jesus out of the schools but not all the other religions?" Okay, let's look at that for just a second. First of all, NO ONE has the power to take God out of the schools. So when Christians cry about this, I get pretty sour.
My thought when I hear Christians whine about God getting kicked out of schools: What kind of simple, small god do you serve? Obviously you don't know the same King and savior I know, his name is Jesus Christ. No four walls or laws can keep me from praying, from carrying Jesus with me everywhere I go, because He's in me. Part of me.
Do I have think that this gives me the right to force others to believe the same as I do? Well, that is where you get into separation of church and state. But I can pray for myself, my students, and those I work with. I probably should not pick up a PA and announce my prayers. Because, again, that would be cramming my religion down someone else's throat. Not to mention bad ethics. This isn't something that has been "taken away" from Christians. It's a way to show respect for other religions.
I heard you all say, "why should I respect some other religion?" I heard that. I guess my ask would be this... what is the draw you have to present to others about your religion? Because you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar. What is attractive about your religion? What do you have to offer to seekers that will make them want what you have?
I'm going to be honest.... If you're set on being arrogant, mad that other religions would dream of wanting respect from you, you don't have much to sell. I try not to sell what I have received. I believe in attraction, not promotion. If there's nothing about my God that you want, it's probably not something I'm going to pursue. I am going to go before God and talk to Him. About me. My big ego, my arrogance, my inability to show others what Jesus means to me. I'm going to seek out that verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." I am going to ask God to humble me and forgive me and heal me and change me.
God is in the schools. From the construction worker clinging to his salvation as the building was assembled, to the adminstrators who walk the halls and pray for all their kids, to the teachers, janitors, building maintenance, and more. He's everywhere. And there's nothing your whining can do to stop His presence. So maybe stop being the problem and join the solution. Just a thought.
I have so many. Thoughts. The political jargon and jockeying is absolutely crazy. I have been surprised at the dirty scandal campaigning. It's no secrect that I am blue, through and through. And the two hot button races in our state are for the Senate, and the governorship.
Dirty dirty political ads flood our airways right now. In Kansas, Marshall heaps shame on Hamilton for crimes against boys, that I was surprised he had the audacity to bring up in light of all the millions he's accepted from pedophiles in campaign finance and contributions. And the cover ups. I could not believe the crazy ballsy-ness of it all. It was a harsh reminder that the patriarchy is alive and well, and the fact that crimes against women aren't even registering. And supposed good people, Christian people, are still sweeping this stuff under the rug. We have become a Duggar nation. Shame on us.
Women. Pray. Seek Jesus and god's sakes.... VOTE! God does not want this crazy, sick patriarchy. He is a good God. And He created women from Adam's ribs. Not his foot to be crushed. His side, to be an equal. The bible says a "help mate." If being a helpmate to your significant other somehow means you have to be less of yourself, something is wrong. This isn't what God asked of us. Be careful not to succumb to a whole culture that puts women down because we are supposed to "submit." Remember, men have an obligation to love their spouse as Christ loved the church, and if they don't, I'm not submitting. Just sayin....
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| I don't own this photo. It is a picture off of facebook. |
