Unconditional Love by Guest Blogger, Nelle

My Reflection

Standing in the mirror getting ready for the day I feel as if I am applying my façade. I look up and tell myself how old, how inadequate, how ugly a reflection I see. Not just on the outside but on the inside too.

Then I ask, “How God? How can you as almighty as you are love me? How can you continue to have confidence in me?”

Then suddenly my daughter comes beaming around the corner and says, “Mom, may I borrow your eye liner?”

As I watch her applying liner by my side I am filled with awe. Although I have just moments before scolded her for running late and not planning ahead, she doesn’t back away but joins me in our preparation for the day.

She is beautiful! She is a part of me. She is a part of my husband. She is a part of God!

Then I am reminded. That’s how He does it. That’s how He loves me. As a mother loves her child, unconditionally.

Loving you with the love of Christ,
Nelle
September 29,2009

YHWH beats shiva, Every time

How's that belief system working for you?

The truth is simple; it's the lies that are complicated. Challenge: when you feel the most hopeless, say out loud, "Jesus Christ of Nazareth, help me. God, give me the faith to believe." That's it. That's all you have to say.

I'm not talking about the evangelical movement, or political affiliation, or doctrine, or dogma, blah, blah, blah. I'm talking about your getting real with the one Person who can give you hope and get you unstuck. No strings attached.

This eastern religion/new age/lemur ancestry/occultism will eff your sh*t up, and maybe it already has done. I can say this to you because I have been there. Majored in English and Philosophy, got grad school degrees, blah, blah, blah. And still wanted to frickin die everyday, because a person needs HOPE to live.

(Concept of SHIVA in Hinduism, that DEATH wins over all life in the end). Take it from one who knows, it does not have to be that way. You have a choice, and only you can make it.

I don't typically proselytize because I am completely disgusted with the hypocrisy of "mainstream Christianity" and its congregations full of superficial showdogs. That's not for me. I hate superficial relationships and choose not to have them.

But when I feel a kinship with a genuine person, like those who read this blog, then I care. That's why you're being lectured to rather sternly at the moment. I care. I really, really do.

So if you are ready to live in every sense of the word, then man up, and say two simple sentences. "Jesus Christ of Nazareth, help me. God, give me the faith to believe." That's it. That's all you have to say.

Someone stronger than you are will do the rest.

Guaranteed. Way it is.

EvanHELLical

If you ever read my story you'll note that I came to know Jesus, in spite of, not because of His followers.

The Bible calls Jesus Christ of Nazareth the Great Physician and the Good Shepherd. Reflecting back on my church experiences, I realize this is intentional on God's part; this believer is covered with third degree scorch marks, the majority of them aquired from being burned by religious folk. (And I'm not talking about Buddhists, Hindus, or Bahai's. I am talking about self-proclaimed evangelical Christians.)

Having watched my fair share of animal documentaries, I can honestly say I have never seen wild animals turn and tear each other to pieces with the pure bloodlust and zeal with which Christians attack each other.

Interestingly, Christians attack with subtlety, mostly via remarks and rules that are shame-based. From what I've read of the New Testament, Jesus invites those without sin themselves to cast stones.

Word to the smug: if you're going to cast stones, you'd better bring back-up, because not everyone is going to roll over and play dead.

Christians who mistake me for the weak member of the herd, for example, bring it. You can blacklist me from your church, shun me socially, and even--in the case of formerly longstanding friends--give me the silent treatment; after that, present your victory at the altar.

I wonder how God feels about seeing someone He has invited into His temple for healing being hastened to their death? Wonder how he feels about the perfect people rejecting brothers and sisters because we have failed to live up to their expectations?

The metaphor that comes to mind is the Protestant church as the Roman Coliseum: bring us the lost, the unbelievers, the unsaved, and let them watch--and even participate themselves--as we rip each other to shreds, and congratulate ourselves over lunch after the show.

I'll never be done with Jesus. He is the reason I've survived this long. But I'm pretty sure I'm done with Evangelicals.

I can't seem to find an unscorched square inch of skin. Next...