Anti-Against

So many times we define ourselves by what we are against, when the real challenge is in finding out what we are for…. because when you are truly for something, everyone will know what you are against without you having to say it, force it or beat them over the head with it.  The best form of protest is not in standing against something, but in standing for something better.    

In standing for something, we are highlighting a positive.  In standing against something, we are illuminating a negative.  Which position will be better received by others?  The negative or the positive?  Which stance will promote growth and healing and birth new perspective?  The negative or the positive? 

When you live for something, you promote a positive energy, whereas, when you stand against something, you generate a negative energy.  Actively standing against something makes others feel condemned, while simply living for something promotes a certain sense of peace and respect in the foundational faith in which you have chosen to live your life.   Some people call this “tolerance” and frown upon it.  Some even say it is a “sin” to not take an active stance against certain things.  I smile and nod and walk away from those people.  For, to me, intolerance and judgment are far more damaging and, dare I say, “sinful.”  

Who am I to judge sin?  Who are you to label what is sin and what is not sin?  We are all mere humans, interpreting the Bible in many different ways; and in the process, sadly missing the truth.  The truth is simple:  No one is without sin.  That means you nor I have the right to stand against anyone else and the choices they have made for their life.  Before you raise that hate sign in the name of God or plaster duct tape across your lips in the name of God, go look in the mirror.  

 

Let the man or woman without sin cast the first stone.

Religion makes rules.  God wants relationship.  There is no human being on the planet worthy of labeling any action “sinful.”  Only God has the right, the power, the authority and the ability to label sin.  Not even the Pope, viewed as the godliest man in the world, possesses that right.

We need to stop the negativity. We need to stop the Anti-Anti-  Anti-  and start promoting the Pro- Pro- Pro-.   Isn’t it ironic that the Anti-, as in Anti-Christ, can so violently squelch the Pro-, as in Pro-mise of Christ?   Isn't it amazing how negative energy seems to spread so much faster than positive energy?  What would happen if we all stopped standing against something and started, instead, to stand for something better in our lives?  What would happen if we stopped judging one another and started loving each other?  What would happen if we stopped focusing on the bad stuff and started promoting the good stuff?  Could it be that positive energy would spread faster than the negative if we only gave it a chance?  What would happen if we stopped pointing fingers and started shaking hands?

Live in relationship with God and one another.  Love God.  Love others.  Be thankful for the gift of life and the blessings that befall you.  If we all stand for love, goodness, kindness, mercy and truth, there will not be a need to stand against anything.

Start living for something today. ~

Big Idiot Gone Off Track

I am a heterosexual, Caucasian woman, married to a heterosexual, Caucasian man.  We have friends of all shapes and sizes. Some are Caucasian, African American, Asian, Mexican and Indian, some are heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, some Christian, some are Jewish, some are religious and some are not.  The point is our friendships are based on each individual person and not on color, race, religion, sexual preference or affiliation to any particular group.

That being said, I want to share what happened to me the other day.  I was speaking with a woman I had just met and she was asking me questions about where my children take lessons, on which teams they play, etc.  It was a typical mom-to-mom type of discussion.  At least, it started out that way…

When I mentioned one of the affiliations we have, her expression changed.  It was as if her emotions flat-lined and a disapproving glare filled her eyes.  She leaned in closer to me and whispered.  “Doesn’t it bother you to have your children exposed to a homosexual lifestyle?  Don’t you feel that’s setting a bad example for them?”

All I could do was step back in shock.  I was utterly amazed at the bigotry that faced me.  We were in public so making a big scene wasn’t an option.  I smiled politely and said, “No, these particular people are not only my friends, but they are a wonderful influence on me and my children.”  I excused myself and left; but it got me thinking…

I remember years ago when a very close friend of mine was told that she couldn’t work with a church youth group because of her sexual orientation.  I was livid then, and I’m still livid now.  This woman is one of the godliest people I know.  She’s unpretentious, she’s honest, she’s open and trustworthy.  I consider her to be one of my most reliable prayer warriors.  In fact, on 9/11 when for seven long minutes I didn’t know if my husband was on one of the United flights out of Boston, she was the first phone call I made.   I love her to death and the pastor who denied her the ability to work in the youth group made a terrible mistake.  There would have been no greater influence on those teenage lives than this woman.

Bigotry comes in many packages, but is most commonly wrapped up with a big, bright bow of religious righteousness.  What the bigot doesn’t understand is that there is nothing righteous in the condemnation or judgment of others. 

Jesus said to love others.  He didn’t say to love them only if they fit into your close-minded box of what you deem is right or good.  He simply said to love one another.  And here’s a statement that should get the right-wing religious panties in a wad:  Jesus didn’t say to try to change others.  He said only to love them.  Some religious people become arrogant about their ability to befriend a homosexual, as if the very fact that they are embracing what they consider to be a “sinner” makes them godlier.  In reality, their arrogance makes them less godly.

People…we are equal in God’s eyes.  Color, religion, race, sexual orientation…none of it matters.  We’re equal.  We all have our challenges and we all face our own demons.  Life is difficult enough without judging one another on top of it. 

What is a Bigot?  Big. Idiot. Gone. Off. Track.

I think we need to stop grouping people together and start looking at individual hearts.  ALL homosexuals aren’t bad influences any more than ALL heterosexuals are good influences.  Truth be told, I’d rather have my kids exposed to a loving relationship between two people of the same sex than a violent, hateful relationship between two people of the opposite sex.  Which one better teaches them the meaning of love and commitment?

Choose who will be in your life based on the connection you feel on the inside, not on the exterior pre-judgments of a religious society that has ironically condemned, degraded and abused more people throughout history than any other group.  

 

Love God.  Love others. It’s really that simple.  ~

 

 

 

Gender Line

I have to share a portion of a letter I received from a woman whom I have never met in person, but have been virtual friends with for the past several years.  She has given me permission to discuss this topic because we have grown to a place where we are now able to laugh about it; but I will not be using her name.

This is what she wrote:

I’d like to meet you face to face because I find myself strangely drawn to you.  I know you’re married but I can’t stop thinking about you and I’d like us to be closer.  There’s something deeper in you that draws me and attracts me and I want to know you better.

The rest of the letter is more personal and doesn’t need to be exposed.  Suffice to say, had this letter come from a man I would have disregarded it; but, since it was written by a woman, I felt compelled to respond.

This isn’t the first time I’ve been confronted by a woman, but this time was different.  This particular person wasn’t “hitting” on me in the context of some sexual innuendo, she was reaching toward me because she felt (in her words) “comfortably close” to me.

This got me thinking…

Whether male or female we don’t control to whom we find ourselves attracted.  Our only control is over actions taken on the basis of that attraction.  Sometimes even gender lines can blur.  Now, I realize in making that statement that I’ve just angered every evangelical, right-winger out there…I’m sorry.  Still, a soul attraction can occur and that isn’t based on the exterior, but forms from something that shines and connects from the inside.

 

 

There are people on the planet that simply make you feel good, that make you feel loved and appreciated and even adored.  There are human beings with whom you connect, and we don’t get to choose who they are…sometimes they just find each other, as if magnetically drawn.  Loving someone doesn’t mean the relationship has to be sexual…sometimes just being closely knit is powerful enough.  There exists a magic in being “comfortably close” to another person and I’ve come to realize that that magic cannot always be determined or defined by a concrete gender line. ~

 

 

WBC: May You All Be Gay

Did you know that the website for Westboro Baptist Church is www.godhatesfags.com?  I suppose I shouldn’t be shocked and yet, when I saw it, I found myself utterly speechless.  How deep must hate run in order to choose this name as your “church” website?  I cannot even fathom it.

 

Westboro has a history of repulsive behavior, none of which is Christ-like nor glorifies God in any way, shape or form.  They should not be allowed to bear the title of “church” as they are not a House of God, but rather a house of hate. 

They picket soldier’s funerals and hold signs that not only proclaim hatred toward homosexuals, but blame the homosexual community for terrorist activity and natural disasters; claiming it is the homosexual that causes God’s wrath upon the earth. 

This is the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard…but the scary thing is, there are people who actually believe it.  How shallow is their soul!  How empty must they be to scarf up this type of filth and believe it holds some form of spiritual nutrition? 

Westboro tweeted that they plan to picket the funerals of the victims lost in the Boston Marathon bombings.  They also wrote:

“GOD SENT THE BOMBS IN FURY OVER FAG MARRIAGE!"

It got me thinking… if I could have one Superhero power for one hour, I’d make all of the terrorists in the world spontaneously combust and I’d turn all of the Westboro Baptist Church members into homosexuals.  (Though that wouldn't be a very nice turn of events for the homosexual community.)

I wonder if they would carry their “God Hates Fags” signs then?  I wonder if they would blame every hurricane, tornado, bombing and shooting on themselves?  I wonder… 

On that happy note

I will leave you with this hope

This simple prayer I pray

Let Westboro all be gay.  ~

 

 

 

Mail of Malice

As I’m wading through mounds of emails I thought I would take a moment and share with my readers some of the expressions of malice I have received as a result of my novel, House ofLies.  I don’t have any proof that these were sent to me by International House of Prayer (IHOP) members, however, my gut tells me they were, as previous emails of this nature have been from IHOP members; so I’m going to proceed in that manner.

 

“You have chosen to befriend homosexuals instead of the Lord and have mocked His people in House of Lies.  You mock our prophetic understanding and may God make an example of you and strike you down with the lightning of justice.”

 

“You would be better off dead than to cross the Lord’s work.  Read Acts and be warned.”

 

“If I were you I would watch my back.”

 

“Mike Bickle is a chosen apostle of the Lord and you are a fool to stand against him. Gods favor rests upon the godly.”

 

Yes, I am friends with homosexuals, heterosexuals, bisexuals and metrosexuals.  I don’t befriend nor defriend people based on their sexuality.  I don’t judge.  It isn’t my job.  It isn’t my calling. It isn’t the way I want to live my life.  Furthermore, if you want to pull out your Bible I’m quite certain you’ll find several verses in the New Testament that specifically tell you NOT to judge.

 

As far as the accusation of mocking God’s people in House of Lies, I do not see how this is relevant.  I don’t mock your “prophetic understanding” because there is no understanding to mock.  The prophecies upon which your cult group (IHOP) is built have been proven false.  (* Look up the KC Prophets, The Blueprint Prophesy, The Ernie Gruen Report) Your leader has openly admitted to the fact that the majority of prophesies coming out of IHOP are not accurate and he preaches that inaccurate prophetic words are acceptable.  For me to say this practice of false prophesy is bogus is not me mocking you….it is simply me stating a fact.  It is my personal belief that any prophetic word that comes from the Lord will be 100% accurate.  If there is even the slightest inaccuracy than the so-called prophetic word is not from God.  It's either all right or all wrong.  God doesn't deal in half-truths.

In addition, and not to tread on your arrogance, House of Lies wasn’t written about YOU.  It’s a fictional cult group with a fictional leader.  (The only reason IHOP members believe the book is about them is because an IHOP member's [Bethany Deaton] murder was striking similar to the story.)

Second, I’m not crossing the Lord’s work, nor would I ever.  I know it and He knows it and that's all that matters. 

Third, I have read the book of Acts and my backside is being watched...but thank you for your concern.

As for Mike Bickle… he is a self-proclaimed apostle of the Lord.  I don’t stand against him on a personal level.  I stand against ANY cult leader who manipulates Scripture, spews bigotry, spreads lies in the name of God and deceives the youth in an attempt to build an end-times army that has destroyed families, taken lives and has the potential to become ever-more dangerous.  I stand against that, not against one man.

You can continue to email me with your words of warning, but it would better behoove you to  spend your time researching IHOP for yourself, instead of settling for being spoon-fed lies simply because the acceptance of it all "feels" good.  Drugs "feel" good too, but they destroy you from the inside out.

 

Instead of pointing a finger at me, it sounds like you have some very tough questions to ask yourself...

...and to ask God.  Good luck.  ~