So, I have Twitter on my mobile phone and I don’t post to it all that often. The idea of posting “Watching SpongeBob,” and then two hours later tweeting “Still watching SpongeBob,” just doesn’t seem all that interesting. It is kind of cool to read other people’s posts though. It’s almost a kind of voyeurism. One real attraction is that you’re only one step removed from anyone you follow, including celebrities. Kevin Smith responded to me once, it was super cool.
Lately, I’ve been following Megan Phelps and Shirley Phelps-Roper, both of the Westboro Baptist Church. These are the folks who protest the funerals of servicemen killed in action, have declared Barack Obama the antichrist, and picket anything gay related or that they consider sinful. More on this later.
For anyone who’s interested, I was raised a Roman Catholic. It never spoke to my soul. Never once in all the time I was a Catholic, did I feel moved in any way. That’s not to say that they’re wrong or anything like that, just their message, as I said didn’t speak to my soul. So I became an Episcopalian. Episcopalians, interestingly enough (at least at my church), described themselves as “Catholic Light.” For me though, the light version wasn’t any more insightful than full calorie Catholicism. This concerned me a little. I would see other people moved by their faith, but I was not, at all.
I didn’t understand why. I’m really a pretty emotional being, why was none of this connecting with me? Maybe, because it’s all crap. God, faith, Jesus, all of it is just an elaborate lie for those who need a crutch in life. For those of us who are not so weak, science and reason eclipse such foolishness. The problem was that something inside my guts told me otherwise; I simply couldn’t not believe.
So one day, my boss invites me to Promise Keepers. I was Episcopalian at the time and had set my mind to simply believing the theology I was being given, whether or not it spoke to my heart. In this mindset, Promise Keepers seemed like a good idea, a great, big pep rally for God. This is exactly what Promise Keepers is. So I’m standing in front of my seat, clapping along and doing the things I’m supposed to do at God’s pep rally and a video comes on. The video was by a group called Nooma, it was called Dust, and I started watching with a great deal of skepticism because the guy in the video seemed too young to know anything but in less than fifteen, that’s 1-5, minutes, my life, my worldview, my notion of my relationship with God, and my heart had changed. If you’ve never had that kind of an experience, I hope you do some day. It was like some bit of truth, something real and eternal, and more than anything else, something BIG, really BIG, had collided with my most unused part, specifically my soul. I still watch Dust when I feel the need to, which is frequently.
The guy in the video, turns out he’s a year younger than I am, was Rob Bell. He preaches at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also writes books, goes on speaking tours, does Nooma videos, and much more than that, I’m sure. Anyway, I started listening to his podcasts, not just his but others as well, and a whole new concept of Jesus exists for me now. One that speaks to me. One that feels true. One that challenges me. One that doesn’t make me feel evil for listening to Eminem. One that is with me when I’m conflicted. Most of all, a Jesus that is worth believing in and having a relationship with.
So back to the Phelps pholks. Their message doesn’t speak to me. My feelings toward them alternate between confusion on how they got that message out of the same bible I read, and quite frankly, a little pity. Love is such a more powerful force than condemnation and far more enjoyable but seems from their Twitter posts, that they don’t find much of it. Also, as may people as it seems they declare God hates, well if it were me… I don’t know, I guess I wouldn’t want to have to defend those statements to Jesus. Now don’t get me wrong, Jesus loves them as much as he loves me or Rob Bell or anybody else, and I don’t think God would send them to hell for the things they do and say. That’s kind of ridiculous and the height of pride to think that I would know the mind of God. But, I wonder if they’re creating their own hell in separating themselves from people who, like it or not, are brothers and sisters. That’s entirely their bag though, and for all I know, they may be right. But their message doesn’t touch my soul or resonate with me.
Here’s the thing though, they shame me. They’re out there acting on their faith, the most I’ve done is write a little bit. It’s easy to make excuses, and I do. My kids are young, I have this to do, that to do, and on and on.
I believe that God is acting in an effort to reconcile the world, to bring heaven to earth. We all have a part in that work. As much as I think the Phelps pholks may be hindering this, I’m doing very little. One billion people in the world don’t have access to clean water. It’s the single largest killer there is. To this massive issue, I’ve donated $10. That’s it.
Now as much as I don’t want to have to defend the Phelps position to Jesus, I don’t know that mine is any better. I can hear it now:
Jesus: “Now, you got the message, I saw you watch the video, where was the action?”
Me: “I donated $10 to Charity:Water and wrote a couple blogs.”
Fortunately, I think both interviews end with Jesus laughing and giving us a noogie before saying “Welcome home, knucklehead.”
I understand that we don’t all paint in broad strokes, but I don’t know that I’ve picked up a brush.
To be honest, I’m kind of a chicken shit. To some extent, the Phelps pholks have it easy. Condemnation is simple. Reconciliation is hard and scary, so much unknown to it. I may need some help from the rest of you.
I guess all I can say right now is that I’m want to be a part of it all. I’m not sure where or how, though the answer to that is wherever and however. The good thing is that Jesus is with all of us in the process.
Anyway, I wish you all Grace and Peace, and you know I love ya.
© Carl Mealie, 2011
Lately, I’ve been following Megan Phelps and Shirley Phelps-Roper, both of the Westboro Baptist Church. These are the folks who protest the funerals of servicemen killed in action, have declared Barack Obama the antichrist, and picket anything gay related or that they consider sinful. More on this later.
For anyone who’s interested, I was raised a Roman Catholic. It never spoke to my soul. Never once in all the time I was a Catholic, did I feel moved in any way. That’s not to say that they’re wrong or anything like that, just their message, as I said didn’t speak to my soul. So I became an Episcopalian. Episcopalians, interestingly enough (at least at my church), described themselves as “Catholic Light.” For me though, the light version wasn’t any more insightful than full calorie Catholicism. This concerned me a little. I would see other people moved by their faith, but I was not, at all.
I didn’t understand why. I’m really a pretty emotional being, why was none of this connecting with me? Maybe, because it’s all crap. God, faith, Jesus, all of it is just an elaborate lie for those who need a crutch in life. For those of us who are not so weak, science and reason eclipse such foolishness. The problem was that something inside my guts told me otherwise; I simply couldn’t not believe.
So one day, my boss invites me to Promise Keepers. I was Episcopalian at the time and had set my mind to simply believing the theology I was being given, whether or not it spoke to my heart. In this mindset, Promise Keepers seemed like a good idea, a great, big pep rally for God. This is exactly what Promise Keepers is. So I’m standing in front of my seat, clapping along and doing the things I’m supposed to do at God’s pep rally and a video comes on. The video was by a group called Nooma, it was called Dust, and I started watching with a great deal of skepticism because the guy in the video seemed too young to know anything but in less than fifteen, that’s 1-5, minutes, my life, my worldview, my notion of my relationship with God, and my heart had changed. If you’ve never had that kind of an experience, I hope you do some day. It was like some bit of truth, something real and eternal, and more than anything else, something BIG, really BIG, had collided with my most unused part, specifically my soul. I still watch Dust when I feel the need to, which is frequently.
The guy in the video, turns out he’s a year younger than I am, was Rob Bell. He preaches at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also writes books, goes on speaking tours, does Nooma videos, and much more than that, I’m sure. Anyway, I started listening to his podcasts, not just his but others as well, and a whole new concept of Jesus exists for me now. One that speaks to me. One that feels true. One that challenges me. One that doesn’t make me feel evil for listening to Eminem. One that is with me when I’m conflicted. Most of all, a Jesus that is worth believing in and having a relationship with.
So back to the Phelps pholks. Their message doesn’t speak to me. My feelings toward them alternate between confusion on how they got that message out of the same bible I read, and quite frankly, a little pity. Love is such a more powerful force than condemnation and far more enjoyable but seems from their Twitter posts, that they don’t find much of it. Also, as may people as it seems they declare God hates, well if it were me… I don’t know, I guess I wouldn’t want to have to defend those statements to Jesus. Now don’t get me wrong, Jesus loves them as much as he loves me or Rob Bell or anybody else, and I don’t think God would send them to hell for the things they do and say. That’s kind of ridiculous and the height of pride to think that I would know the mind of God. But, I wonder if they’re creating their own hell in separating themselves from people who, like it or not, are brothers and sisters. That’s entirely their bag though, and for all I know, they may be right. But their message doesn’t touch my soul or resonate with me.
Here’s the thing though, they shame me. They’re out there acting on their faith, the most I’ve done is write a little bit. It’s easy to make excuses, and I do. My kids are young, I have this to do, that to do, and on and on.
I believe that God is acting in an effort to reconcile the world, to bring heaven to earth. We all have a part in that work. As much as I think the Phelps pholks may be hindering this, I’m doing very little. One billion people in the world don’t have access to clean water. It’s the single largest killer there is. To this massive issue, I’ve donated $10. That’s it.
Now as much as I don’t want to have to defend the Phelps position to Jesus, I don’t know that mine is any better. I can hear it now:
Jesus: “Now, you got the message, I saw you watch the video, where was the action?”
Me: “I donated $10 to Charity:Water and wrote a couple blogs.”
Fortunately, I think both interviews end with Jesus laughing and giving us a noogie before saying “Welcome home, knucklehead.”
I understand that we don’t all paint in broad strokes, but I don’t know that I’ve picked up a brush.
To be honest, I’m kind of a chicken shit. To some extent, the Phelps pholks have it easy. Condemnation is simple. Reconciliation is hard and scary, so much unknown to it. I may need some help from the rest of you.
I guess all I can say right now is that I’m want to be a part of it all. I’m not sure where or how, though the answer to that is wherever and however. The good thing is that Jesus is with all of us in the process.
Anyway, I wish you all Grace and Peace, and you know I love ya.
© Carl Mealie, 2011
Love the laughing and the noogie and the honesty, big guy! (I don't even know how to tweet yet, erg...)
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteThe Mark of the Beast of 666 is needed to identify the Antichrist and the RFID chip is said to be on line a a few years only, not now.
Honestly, if there's no Mark of 66 upon Obama, no one can claim off hand Obama's the Antichrist.
But there is one Mark of 666 on him which is discounted. On the day of his victory newspaper issue, the Lottery of Page 2 back-to-back with his headline front page victory-news, was 666. Now, the make that perfectly clear I've got the pictures of the newspaper which was seen by dozens of millions in the three Great Lake states next to Illinois where obama's Senator, (and that play the Illinois State Lottery.) Dozens of millions saw this in their morning paper.
Now this is being overlooked and misrated because people say the lottery is frivolous and insignificant to speak with heaven's voice.
In the Bible, heaven spoke through the "craziest" zaniest things. By order, let's quote: a "burning bush" (not GWBush!), "a speaking ass", "a flowering rod", "a speaking rod" etc....
Now, if we acccept this is heaven speaking and ushering in prophecy (which means Obama's the Antichrist and thus that this is the Apocalypse)well the meaning is deep, it's Christian and it's the Bible itself speaking.
Indeed, what deos the lottery mean?
It's money which Jesus threw out of the Temple in the Bible. Now, let's get back to our 666 on the lottery. Indeed, against the meaning is there. What does the bible tell us about that numerb which is the Mark of the Beast?
Bible words are: "Refuse the Antichrist Mark on your hand and forehead" which means "don't take the Antichrist's money nor entertain coveting that money in your mind (forehead)".
In our modern world that means to instantly spread the good news of the number of the Beast discovered in this newspaper (but everyone in those three states saw it on that day) and to "Refuse the Mark" which is to then refuse all Obama's stolen money that he hands out as if he owned it. How? By repealing him, annulling his deeds in government and gathering all that money back again in the Treasury to annul by that the debt he's run up.
But fighting the Antichrist will also mean jailing, trying etc....this Great Deceiver of the bible, the Antichrist, because he accessed thes ecrets of National Defense using a forged and fake birth certificate.
"All things hidden will be revealed in the Apocalypse" says the Bible and we will know all things hidden about Obama and also the coverups of Bush and the secrets hidden for long about the USA history.
To see newspaper's number of 666, Google the exact words:
The Illinois Lottery and Barack Obama
or here also: http://members.beforeitsnews.com/story/510/032/Obamas_666_Mark_Of_Beast_Spread_To_All.html
If ou are convinced this is really heaven's deed then you must spread it instantly as if your life depended upon it; as in the Abomination of Desolation in the Book of Daliel which says "Run to the mountain." It says further that alone those who are messengers of the Apocalypse will be saved, so it means "To go out and spread the word fast."
Corrected version.
ReplyDeleteHi,
The Mark of the Beast of 666 is needed to identify the Antichrist and the RFID chip is said to be going online in a few years only, not now.
Honestly, if there's no Mark of 666 upon Obama, no one can claim offhand that Obama's the Antichrist.
But there is one Mark of 666 on him which is discounted. On the day of his victory newspaper issue, the Lottery of Page 2 back-to-back with his headline front page victory-news, was 666. Now, to make that perfectly clear, I've got the pictures of the newspaper which was seen by dozens of millions in the three Great Lake states next to Illinois where obama's Senator, (and that play the Illinois State Lottery.) Dozens of millions saw this in their morning paper.
Now this is being overlooked and misrated, because people say the lottery is frivolous and insignificant to speak with heaven's voice.
In the Bible, heaven spoke through the "craziest" zaniest things. By order, let's quote: a "burning bush" (not GWBush!), "a speaking ass", "a flowering rod", "a speaking rod" etc....
Now, if we accept this is heaven speaking and ushering in prophecy (which means Obama's the Antichrist and thus that this is the Apocalypse), well the meaning is deep: it's Christian and it's the Bible itself, speaking.
Indeed, what does the lottery mean?
It's money which Jesus threw out of the Temple (the merchants were thrown out) in the Bible. Now, let's get back to our 666 on the lottery. Indeed, again the meaning is there. What does the Bible tell us about that number 666, the Mark of the Beast?
Bible words are: "Refuse the Antichrist Mark on your hand and forehead" which means "don't take the Antichrist's money nor entertain coveting that money in your mind (forehead)".
In our modern world, that means to instantly spread the good news of the number of the Beast discovered in this newspaper (but everyone in those three states saw it on that day) and to "Refuse the Mark" which is to then refuse all Obama's stolen money that he hands out as if he owned it. How? By repealing him, annulling his deeds in government and gathering all that money back again in the Treasury to annul by that the debt he's run up.
But fighting the Antichrist will also mean jailing, trying etc....this Great Deceiver of the bible, the Antichrist, because he accessed thes ecrets of National Defense using a forged and fake birth certificate.
"All things hidden will be revealed in the Apocalypse" says the Bible and we will know all things hidden about Obama and also the coverups of Bush and the secrets hidden for long about the USA history.
To see newspaper's number of 666, Google the exact words:
The Illinois Lottery and Barack Obama
or here also: http://members.beforeitsnews.com/story/510/032/Obamas_666_Mark_Of_Beast_Spread_To_All.html
If you are convinced this is really heaven's deed then you must spread it instantly as if your life depended upon it; as in the Abomination of Desolation in the Book of Daniel which says "Run to the mountain." It says further that alone those who are messengers of the Apocalypse will be saved, so it means "To go out and spread the word fast."