This list will grow, as I recall and hear things to add to it....but the more I listen to radio preaching, or even talk with other Christians (around here)...there are cultural phrases in our Christian language that drive me crazy. Granted, it's all semantics, but I'm curious what effect (affect) this has on people w/o anyone even realizing it. Except me of course, because I'm a friggin genius ;)
Backsliding-where did this term come from?? I understand it's used to explain a Christian who has "walked away from the Lord", but I'm concerned, and confused as to it's effects. Is it generally simply better to say about ones life "there were times (a time) after I accepted the Lord I chose not to live according to His word".....or even something shorter if they wished...but backsliding gives to the idea that while following the Lord we are forward sliding..and I don't think anyone would describe their "walk" with the Lord "sliding". You see how we have way too many words??? Walking,sliding...UF!
Saved (getting, praying for someone to be)- to my understanding, we are re-born. To quote the bible anyway..another way of metaphorically speaking (but better) would be to say when someone was to accept salvation (which I've heard sued). The day Jesus died for our sins as the sacrifice was the day we were saved essentially. I do understand the point someone has attempted to make, but it's been taken far out of context for far too long. People have wondered from what actually happened when Jesus took the cross.
I think another thing that bothers me is the talk of the resurrection. I hope what I say doesn't sound blasphemous or something-but to my knowledge, it wasn't that Jesus was risen from the dead (because He did this while on earth and to my understanding said the apostles would be given the ability to be used in similar ways). The idea, perhaps, is more that Jesus raised HIMSELF from the dead.....whereas others were under the power of the very God he stood in place of on earth (don't misunderstand that statement please). I don't know if anyone has been raised since the resurrection....and I'm not too worried, God does what God chooses. Also, Jesus did not stay on earth and live a second life, as we can assume the others did....which is also wonderful.
I just think Christians in this culture need to dive deeper into what was actually done/said in the Bible rather than spit the same old sermon's over and over just using new anecdotes. Perhaps I'm wrong on this, and that's okay....but I feel comfortable I'm not too far off.,
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
It aint over no more!
I love the history channel...granted it's gotten about 80% military....planes, tanks...blah blah blah....but for the most part, it's been a great medium for where this world has come from. They've gotten quite tech savvy as well, using digital images to animate what happened at battles, give us a glimpse of what things may or may not have looked like. Quite cool.
HOWEVER what the hell do aliens and doomsday have to do with the Roman Empire, Queen Victoria, and the Cuban Missile Crisis??? Regularly they have programs that discuss the reality/myth of aliens, and ufo's. Stories of the Mayan calender dictating the end of the world on 12/12/2012, or something like that.....Nostradamus's' prophecies of the end of days...etc. etc. etc. I'm so tired of it. I'm sad this has become the new priority of the History Channel. I much preferred learning the location of Ghandi's underwear and Nepolian's high soled boots.
HOWEVER what the hell do aliens and doomsday have to do with the Roman Empire, Queen Victoria, and the Cuban Missile Crisis??? Regularly they have programs that discuss the reality/myth of aliens, and ufo's. Stories of the Mayan calender dictating the end of the world on 12/12/2012, or something like that.....Nostradamus's' prophecies of the end of days...etc. etc. etc. I'm so tired of it. I'm sad this has become the new priority of the History Channel. I much preferred learning the location of Ghandi's underwear and Nepolian's high soled boots.
BOO!
It's that time of year again. When children of all ages will pick a character and attempt to spend time adhereing to this character's personality. Some will dawn the being of the "black" spider man, others will try to be silly like sponge bob. Little girls will show off their princess skills, and the brave ones will put the fangs and fake blood in their mouth's and attempt to convince the neighborhood they are only out at night. Most of them will do this all for a bag, pillowcase, or plastic pumpkin of candy. That's right, it's Halloween!
Now, many many Christians forbid the joining in of this "holiday". It's a pagan holiday. Evil is represented from past to present on this very day. Nasty evil things take place specifically the 31st of Oct year after year, and Christians choose not to succumb to this behavior. Good point. However, here are mine:
Christmas, Easter, and a plethora of others actually all came from or are at the same time of "pagan" holidays. It has even been widely agreed upon (if not a fact by now) Jesus was not actually born in what we understand as December. Easter has long been a celebration of spiritualism and the new season. (among other things). Now, why or why not these are also now Christian holidays is really no concern for me....I don't really mind that we share, so long as people are willing to accept the point. Why is halloween any different? Is it because Christians haven't found a "spiritual" connection to hijack it over? Since the birth of the "house of horror" type places (the not so haunted haunted house) I would argue Halloween has become the "scare the hell out of people (literally) night" And, like other holidays, you can be a Christian and still adopt/celebrate other versions of the shared holiday. For instance, Christians exchange gifts, which is arguably not connected to the wise men brining gifts to the baby savior. Many hunt easter eggs...witch has NOTHING to do with the death or resurrection of Jesus.
SO, accept the fact that we can hijack pagan holidays, give them our own meaning, and do with them what we want, so long as we throw a church service in there ;) I'm going to dress my daughter up like a monkey and hit the methodist church!
Now, many many Christians forbid the joining in of this "holiday". It's a pagan holiday. Evil is represented from past to present on this very day. Nasty evil things take place specifically the 31st of Oct year after year, and Christians choose not to succumb to this behavior. Good point. However, here are mine:
Christmas, Easter, and a plethora of others actually all came from or are at the same time of "pagan" holidays. It has even been widely agreed upon (if not a fact by now) Jesus was not actually born in what we understand as December. Easter has long been a celebration of spiritualism and the new season. (among other things). Now, why or why not these are also now Christian holidays is really no concern for me....I don't really mind that we share, so long as people are willing to accept the point. Why is halloween any different? Is it because Christians haven't found a "spiritual" connection to hijack it over? Since the birth of the "house of horror" type places (the not so haunted haunted house) I would argue Halloween has become the "scare the hell out of people (literally) night" And, like other holidays, you can be a Christian and still adopt/celebrate other versions of the shared holiday. For instance, Christians exchange gifts, which is arguably not connected to the wise men brining gifts to the baby savior. Many hunt easter eggs...witch has NOTHING to do with the death or resurrection of Jesus.
SO, accept the fact that we can hijack pagan holidays, give them our own meaning, and do with them what we want, so long as we throw a church service in there ;) I'm going to dress my daughter up like a monkey and hit the methodist church!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Unto Idols?
I pose this question for those who know or don't know me....I feel anyone can offer their opinion on this matter....however, please do not choose to be offended by what I am about to say.
For those that read the Bible, we know about the meat that was eaten after being sacrificed unto idols, and how that was not good. But, we know it was happening. I believe that it was probably also being sold in the markets and such-and give me a bit and I'll find where it was I found whatever I found to imply this idea. Now, I've also heard that when Peter had the vision of the animals being ok'd to eat, it wasn't that God was permitting those animals that were not meant to be eaten to therefore be eaten (pig, certain fish, etc.). Rather, he was permitting the partaking of the animals that weren't forbidden to eat on face value, but those that had been used as sacrifice for pegans/idols. I heard this being spoken on, and it raised an interesting thought into my mind. It may or may not be affected by the above information, I haven't come to that conclusion as of yet.
Here's my question. It is okay that someone (me for instance) eats meat that is "halal". Halal meat, for those that don't know, is basically the Islamic version of Kosher. In Islam, how an animal is butchered as well as what is said during the butchering is what determines if the meat is halal. What is said during the butchering (in arabic) basically is saying they are butchering that animal in the name of Allah. Sort of how Christians pray that God blesses their meal before they partake. Now....first, does butchering fall under sacrafice? Second, does butchering an animal under "Allah's" name or, in God's name under the umbrella of a different religion, mean that the animal has been butchered under a pagan religion...what is the definition of a pagan god?
I would appreciate any thoughts on this matter...even if you don't know specifics about Islam...just based on what you know, or what this explains, would you constitute eating "halal" meat forbidden?
If you don't have an answer, but have some thoughts on the idea in general, I welcome those as well.
For those that read the Bible, we know about the meat that was eaten after being sacrificed unto idols, and how that was not good. But, we know it was happening. I believe that it was probably also being sold in the markets and such-and give me a bit and I'll find where it was I found whatever I found to imply this idea. Now, I've also heard that when Peter had the vision of the animals being ok'd to eat, it wasn't that God was permitting those animals that were not meant to be eaten to therefore be eaten (pig, certain fish, etc.). Rather, he was permitting the partaking of the animals that weren't forbidden to eat on face value, but those that had been used as sacrifice for pegans/idols. I heard this being spoken on, and it raised an interesting thought into my mind. It may or may not be affected by the above information, I haven't come to that conclusion as of yet.
Here's my question. It is okay that someone (me for instance) eats meat that is "halal". Halal meat, for those that don't know, is basically the Islamic version of Kosher. In Islam, how an animal is butchered as well as what is said during the butchering is what determines if the meat is halal. What is said during the butchering (in arabic) basically is saying they are butchering that animal in the name of Allah. Sort of how Christians pray that God blesses their meal before they partake. Now....first, does butchering fall under sacrafice? Second, does butchering an animal under "Allah's" name or, in God's name under the umbrella of a different religion, mean that the animal has been butchered under a pagan religion...what is the definition of a pagan god?
I would appreciate any thoughts on this matter...even if you don't know specifics about Islam...just based on what you know, or what this explains, would you constitute eating "halal" meat forbidden?
If you don't have an answer, but have some thoughts on the idea in general, I welcome those as well.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Share crops
It's interesting to find where you are now....and compared to where you used to be when it comes to one's ideologies...about anything really. I will comment specifically on growing spiritually, however, and this may shock some people.
I've come to the conclusion (and it's about time probably) that nothing matters. I don't mean that in a "just kill me now" mentality. I mean that in the sense that I look around me and feel like we are WAY off as a society...but it doesn't surprise me, because I believe it all stems from the garden on eden when Even thought she needed to know it all. We live in a society that feels it needs to know and understand EVERYTHING. Even if we don't care to understand it, we think we need to weigh in with our opinion. We have 24 hour "news" channels that not only keep us up to date on what is going on with OUR involvement in Iraq, but also with what is going on with OJ Simpson, Brittany Spears, and what food the airline will be serving this Christmas. We have gossip channels, food channels, court tv channels.....to name a few. There's no lack of some sort of information out there. But it's not the secular I am concerned with...because they don't follow the same rules and understandings the Christians do. It is, therefore, the church getting as involved that concerns me. I've mentioned this to some respect in previous posts and therefore will attempt to not repeat myself.
The latest in my searching is understanding other faiths and lifestyles. Christians (scholars and laymen) write books, give speeches, hold training seminars and all but create churches based on their expertise of a religion or lifestyle of others. Now, I am also guilty of this having spent years studying Islam and creating a certain knowledge base of other non-Christian ways of life. Now, let me say, for those that are training to be, or training others to be, ministers/missionaries it is understandable to a degree to know how to respect a culture. However, I am not really speaking of those. I am speaking about the average joe...who listens to the radio guy, or watches the TV guy claim to know the ends and outs of this or that.
It is not the seeking of knowledge that I am most against quite frankly. It is the appearance that we 1. put ALL into such knowledge when it comes to dealing with someone of said lifestyle or religion. 2. Many times it is people OUTSIDE of such religion or lifestyle who are the "experts" and therefore I find many things contradicting...or just plain pointless. Example-there are SOOO MANY said experts on Islam (who are Christians)....and some will tell you Jihad means this...Jihad means that...this is why they say this...etc. etc. (you get me)...yet, really IT DOESN'T MATTER. It doesn't matter what Jihad means, because it's not going change how the Muslim is to be treated by us. It doesn't change the fact that the Muslim has not accepted Jesus as the Messiah and therefore his/her personal savior. It means nothing, really. It doesn't matter WHY someone had an abortion....simply that they are in need of grace, and therefore deserve our love and compassion. Would someone deserve less grace or love if they had an abortion because they were scared rather than selfish....think about it from spiritual terms.
If we concentrate on learning to love one another and learning all the fruits of such love.....knowledge or none of a certain religion or lifestyle will have no affect (effect?) Rather, we will come to understand what the Bible says anyway....we are either going to be planting a seed, watering a seed, or harvesting....but NEVER are we the life to that seed. We are simply the farmer.
I've come to the conclusion (and it's about time probably) that nothing matters. I don't mean that in a "just kill me now" mentality. I mean that in the sense that I look around me and feel like we are WAY off as a society...but it doesn't surprise me, because I believe it all stems from the garden on eden when Even thought she needed to know it all. We live in a society that feels it needs to know and understand EVERYTHING. Even if we don't care to understand it, we think we need to weigh in with our opinion. We have 24 hour "news" channels that not only keep us up to date on what is going on with OUR involvement in Iraq, but also with what is going on with OJ Simpson, Brittany Spears, and what food the airline will be serving this Christmas. We have gossip channels, food channels, court tv channels.....to name a few. There's no lack of some sort of information out there. But it's not the secular I am concerned with...because they don't follow the same rules and understandings the Christians do. It is, therefore, the church getting as involved that concerns me. I've mentioned this to some respect in previous posts and therefore will attempt to not repeat myself.
The latest in my searching is understanding other faiths and lifestyles. Christians (scholars and laymen) write books, give speeches, hold training seminars and all but create churches based on their expertise of a religion or lifestyle of others. Now, I am also guilty of this having spent years studying Islam and creating a certain knowledge base of other non-Christian ways of life. Now, let me say, for those that are training to be, or training others to be, ministers/missionaries it is understandable to a degree to know how to respect a culture. However, I am not really speaking of those. I am speaking about the average joe...who listens to the radio guy, or watches the TV guy claim to know the ends and outs of this or that.
It is not the seeking of knowledge that I am most against quite frankly. It is the appearance that we 1. put ALL into such knowledge when it comes to dealing with someone of said lifestyle or religion. 2. Many times it is people OUTSIDE of such religion or lifestyle who are the "experts" and therefore I find many things contradicting...or just plain pointless. Example-there are SOOO MANY said experts on Islam (who are Christians)....and some will tell you Jihad means this...Jihad means that...this is why they say this...etc. etc. (you get me)...yet, really IT DOESN'T MATTER. It doesn't matter what Jihad means, because it's not going change how the Muslim is to be treated by us. It doesn't change the fact that the Muslim has not accepted Jesus as the Messiah and therefore his/her personal savior. It means nothing, really. It doesn't matter WHY someone had an abortion....simply that they are in need of grace, and therefore deserve our love and compassion. Would someone deserve less grace or love if they had an abortion because they were scared rather than selfish....think about it from spiritual terms.
If we concentrate on learning to love one another and learning all the fruits of such love.....knowledge or none of a certain religion or lifestyle will have no affect (effect?) Rather, we will come to understand what the Bible says anyway....we are either going to be planting a seed, watering a seed, or harvesting....but NEVER are we the life to that seed. We are simply the farmer.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
And the bags get packed.....again
For those of you that know me well...this will come as no surprise. I am currently in the process of planning my next visit to that wonderful land of terrorist camps and scary guys with beards.....that's right, going back to Pakistan. Now, for those that don't know me well.....I'm SOOOOO excited. First, I don't view Pakistan through the same lens that Fox News and CNN do-and therefore I am not going to fear my life every waking moment. Second-it's only for a visit. Ezzah will be turning a year and having no real job (or hardly any job at all for that matter), and not doing much with my life, and I have the opportunity....I'm going to grab at it happily.
There are several reasons this is a great thing to do. First, how awesome will Ezzah's pictures be while she's toddling around Lahore???? (obviously not the most important reason). Second, Usama has missed EVERYTHING in our daughter's first year of life. He's followed her happenings the same way most everyone has....via her blog page. I think it will be GREAT for him to be part of this celebration. Which....I'm a little confused sometimes as to why the first year is such a big deal-not like she's been hanging on by a thin string or something...but I digress. Third, (and one of the most important reasons) her Grandmother and Aunt will be able to see her...which is not something that will happen as often once Usama gets over here. Sometimes I feel really badly for them as they live away from all of the children and miss seeing them grow.....and of course Ezzah is the favorite! :) I realize this is part of being with someone from a different country...for both sides.
Yes, I am excited also, because I really enjoy visiting Pakistan. There always seems to be something new for me to do, learn, experience. I am also planning on doing further research from my original trip (if anyone remembers what took me there to begin with!) This is fun for me because I love research, and I fell in love with what I did before. Not because I was so good, but because I learned so much. I came away with such a different viewpoint on Pakistan and learned so much about the issue I studied. I met so many wonderful people doing my studies, and while I don't need to walk away with another husband....I wouldn't mind walking away with more acquaintances.
So, I will be going through my suitcases, emptying them out, and getting things in order. Let's hope Ezzah is as good a traveler as a one year old as she was as a one month old!!!
There are several reasons this is a great thing to do. First, how awesome will Ezzah's pictures be while she's toddling around Lahore???? (obviously not the most important reason). Second, Usama has missed EVERYTHING in our daughter's first year of life. He's followed her happenings the same way most everyone has....via her blog page. I think it will be GREAT for him to be part of this celebration. Which....I'm a little confused sometimes as to why the first year is such a big deal-not like she's been hanging on by a thin string or something...but I digress. Third, (and one of the most important reasons) her Grandmother and Aunt will be able to see her...which is not something that will happen as often once Usama gets over here. Sometimes I feel really badly for them as they live away from all of the children and miss seeing them grow.....and of course Ezzah is the favorite! :) I realize this is part of being with someone from a different country...for both sides.
Yes, I am excited also, because I really enjoy visiting Pakistan. There always seems to be something new for me to do, learn, experience. I am also planning on doing further research from my original trip (if anyone remembers what took me there to begin with!) This is fun for me because I love research, and I fell in love with what I did before. Not because I was so good, but because I learned so much. I came away with such a different viewpoint on Pakistan and learned so much about the issue I studied. I met so many wonderful people doing my studies, and while I don't need to walk away with another husband....I wouldn't mind walking away with more acquaintances.
So, I will be going through my suitcases, emptying them out, and getting things in order. Let's hope Ezzah is as good a traveler as a one year old as she was as a one month old!!!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Eye opener
Most are aware of one of my jobs being at a coffee shop. It's not even quite that cool-it's a college coffee shop...and not a cool college. Not the point though.
I see all sorts of people, and the fact the public aid/dept.of human services office is in the same complex-some of these people need to be educated, but all of them need to be loved. It's probably the next depressing daily allowance of reality I've gotten since living in a "developing" country. I'm serious. From babies born to women who are incredibly unfit and obviously don't care about having such a gift (and I can understand not thinking it such a "gift")-to older people who have a hard time just making it out of bed daily. It's just person after person who break my heart each shift. I've seen all this one at a time.....an uncaring parent at the grocery store, and elderly person struggling over how to write a check at the checkout line.....it's all over.
Then there's this one woman. She's got Parkinson's disease.......and it's BAD! I've seen people with hand shakes and stuff.....and it's minimal to medium. This poor woman, however, I just....I don't know how she still functions-and sometimes I can tell she doesn't. She has the hardest time keeping anything in grasp, and watching her walk, you can see she manages by the grace of God. I've never seen anything like this. My heart melts every time I see her. I'm amazed at what this disease is capable of doing to someone. Unlike certain situations....those who feel like failures, or unloved, you can offer them kind words, develop a relationship....etc. etc. For those who struggle due to age or other disabilities, you can offer assistance physically-helping them with their chores, etc. For this woman....I was at a loss. What do you do for someone in this condition. Obviously you pray-but your heart breaks and you don't feel like that's enough.
I think of the second coming-end of the world-whatever is going to happen first, and honestly, sometimes my heart is saddened. I realize this isn't a Christian way to think-and I'll admit it's the "carnal" part of me who can't fathom being in the presence of God, not missing my family/friends, not even realizing what I've left. Then, I realize it's incredible selfish of me to wish for a second for another moment w/o Jesus' return, when there are so many who just await that moment for their life to be not hell. (no joke intended).
I miss my husband, and I think daily of the possibility of never seeing him again. Perhaps it'll be due to being called home...perhaps something sad.....I love my daughter-and am thankful for the joy she's brought into my life. I can't imagine getting up everyday and facing what so many people who have horrible parents, disabling diseases, living in sever poverty.....I just can't imagine how they get up and go about their day.
I see all sorts of people, and the fact the public aid/dept.of human services office is in the same complex-some of these people need to be educated, but all of them need to be loved. It's probably the next depressing daily allowance of reality I've gotten since living in a "developing" country. I'm serious. From babies born to women who are incredibly unfit and obviously don't care about having such a gift (and I can understand not thinking it such a "gift")-to older people who have a hard time just making it out of bed daily. It's just person after person who break my heart each shift. I've seen all this one at a time.....an uncaring parent at the grocery store, and elderly person struggling over how to write a check at the checkout line.....it's all over.
Then there's this one woman. She's got Parkinson's disease.......and it's BAD! I've seen people with hand shakes and stuff.....and it's minimal to medium. This poor woman, however, I just....I don't know how she still functions-and sometimes I can tell she doesn't. She has the hardest time keeping anything in grasp, and watching her walk, you can see she manages by the grace of God. I've never seen anything like this. My heart melts every time I see her. I'm amazed at what this disease is capable of doing to someone. Unlike certain situations....those who feel like failures, or unloved, you can offer them kind words, develop a relationship....etc. etc. For those who struggle due to age or other disabilities, you can offer assistance physically-helping them with their chores, etc. For this woman....I was at a loss. What do you do for someone in this condition. Obviously you pray-but your heart breaks and you don't feel like that's enough.
I think of the second coming-end of the world-whatever is going to happen first, and honestly, sometimes my heart is saddened. I realize this isn't a Christian way to think-and I'll admit it's the "carnal" part of me who can't fathom being in the presence of God, not missing my family/friends, not even realizing what I've left. Then, I realize it's incredible selfish of me to wish for a second for another moment w/o Jesus' return, when there are so many who just await that moment for their life to be not hell. (no joke intended).
I miss my husband, and I think daily of the possibility of never seeing him again. Perhaps it'll be due to being called home...perhaps something sad.....I love my daughter-and am thankful for the joy she's brought into my life. I can't imagine getting up everyday and facing what so many people who have horrible parents, disabling diseases, living in sever poverty.....I just can't imagine how they get up and go about their day.
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