Honda Shadow

Okay, I haven't posted in a while, but I'm okay with that! Because sometimes life comes at you so fast it's all you can do to keep up. So, let's see here. I recently purchased a 2009 Honda rebel, rode it for three months and traded it in a a 2005 Honda Shadow. My best friend rides a Goldwing, and the Rebel could barely hit 65 miles per hour on a down hill run with the wind at my back. Needles to say, it made it extremely hard to keep up with him. My Shadow, on the other hand, keeps up on road trips quite nicely. Besides that, I was getting tired of the incessant teasing I received for riding such a small bike. It seems a forty year old man looks a little odd on a small 250 motorcycle! Oh well, live and learn, right?

Answers

The realization that everyone has scars is the first sign of maturity. I used to think that I was somehow special because I faced certain challenges that I perceived as unique to my personal situation. The truth is we all fight (and yes lose) our own battles. The reality is that life is tough, and there are times that we just don’t have the answers, and maybe that’s okay! Maybe the excitement is not in the destination but the journey. Maybe life is more exciting living in the questions! In fact, if you know someone that has the answers run away as fast as you can. They are either lying, delusional or both! Buddha said believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. I think that is good advice don’t you? Sure it’s a little scary questioning the traditions and dogma of our faith. But it must be done if humanity is to evolve beyond our self centered lifestyles. It’s really not that hard when you think about it. Jesus said love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself. If we do this then we will be free to ask the tough questions even if there might not be a simple answer.

Introspective (The Frozen Chosen)

Over the past couple of weeks my best friend and I have been discussing the nature of God and how that relates to our lives personally. It’s probably not all that unusual considering I just turned forty and he’s knocking heavy on the door. It does seem, however, that the older you get the more introspective you become. It’s not that I mind asking questions. In fact, I thrive on it! But the reality is there are no solid answers when it comes to matters of faith. Of course, I realize there are those that will tell you they have the inside track to God, but they’re just lying to themselves. God doesn’t make himself readily known; he must be sought out. Anyone that seeks an easy path to enlightenment is sure to find discouragement. The whole idea of taking up your cross is not an easy proposition. It’s a path of death and resurrection. I’m speaking figuratively here, although men and women have literally laid down their lives, the way of the cross is about dying to yourself and being resurrected into a new person. It isn’t about an adherence to any religion or doctrine. It’s about following your conscience as it leads you into a deeper understanding of God’s love for all his children! Not just the frozen chosen!!!

So, What Do You Believe?

So, what so you believe, Chris? As long as you believe (insert religious dogma here) I can overlook everything else. It seems that in order to call myself a Christian, I must acquiesce to a list of non-negotiable doctrines that defy common sense. When did learning to think mean leaving faith behind? Seriously, not once in my life have I needed to torture and kill anything in order to bestow forgiveness. Why then do we portray God in such a sadistic light? Why does the death and resurrection of Jesus need to be portrayed as an act of sacrifice to appease an angry God? Is God incapable of Forgiveness without retribution? Is God bipolar? One minute he is portrayed as unconditional love and the next he is sending all but a chosen few to an eternal torment. I guess if you count yourself among the “chosen few” it’s easy to look past anything incongruent in your faith, especially when eternal damnation hangs in the balance! So where does that leave me? If calling myself a Christian means I must believe the concepts of hell, sacrificial atonement and a God of fear and retribution count me out! If, on the other hand, calling myself a Christian means believing in a God of unconditional love, as portrayed through Jesus, then count me in.

Everyone Welcome!

I guess you could say I have always been somewhat of a seeker. The problem is I always asking questions that can’t be answered without an element of faith. It’s not that I am against faith in and of itself, but I just want to know the truth! Is that such a bad thing? Lately I’ve been reading every book I can get my hands on about the historical Jesus, and I have learned much about the political situation of the time. But no matter how much knowledge I gain, I will never now exactly what happened over two thousand years ago because I wasn’t there! Of course I know everyone says it’s a matter of faith, and that may be so. But isn’t that just an easy way to side step any intelligent questioning of the Christian faith? Why must Christianity be narrowed down to a very specific set of beliefs? Why do we allow the minority to dictate what is considered orthodox belief? Following the herd mentality may foster feelings of acceptance from the inn crowd; but it does nothing to stimulate true spiritual growth. If your belief system fosters an exclusionary mentality, it is not only wrong it’s sinful! The kingdom of God is open to all without prerequisite or prejudice!

The Garden

In my life there is sometimes a great divergence between belief and practice. For instance, I have been known to lose my composure in certain situations acting like an angry, spoiled brat instead of a forty-year-old man. It’s not that I don’t believe (and try to into practice) grace, mercy and self-control. It’s just that my emotions sometimes overwhelm my intellect. Still, if I never had to battle with anger, bitterness, depression and all of the other negative vices humanity as a whole must battle on a daily basis; I would never experience the love, grace and forgiveness that I so desperately need. If you think about it there really is very little difference between the “upright” citizen and the convicted felon sitting on death row. The fact is no matter how hard we try you cannot live life without scars. Life is hard, and we are going to get hurt! That’s just the way it is! The difference is how we respond to life’s injuries. If we choose to internalize all of our anger and disappointment, we will no doubt become what we hate the most. If, on the other hand, we work through our shortcomings with grace and forgiveness we will become candle in the darkness. Yes, you reap what you sow. But if we allow weeds to enter our garden unattended, they will eventually choke out everything until all that is left is worthless. I don’t know about you but that’s not where I want to be!

It's Just That Simple!

God loves you! We hear that statement so much that it has become almost trite. The fact is that most - if not every time - we hear it there are conditions attached. God loves you if you believe, do or say the right things. If, on the other hand, you’re human and incapable of living up to such high standards then God’s wrath will surely fall. Now tell me, does that sound like love to you? If so, you are probably lying to yourself or in need of some serious therapy. Maybe both, who knows? Either way, it‘s just not healthy. How about this: God loves you period! There are no strings attached! You don’t even have to reciprocate. The fact is you don’t even have to believe. It just doesn’t matter! God Loves you! It's just that simple!