CONSTITUTIONAL OR MORAL?

I read an article today that angered me. Michael Salman, a pastor and Bible study leader in Phoenix, AZ was arrested a couple of years ago for holding a Bible study in his house. The city says that it was because his house was not zoned as a church so what he did was illegal. I was astonished at how they did it too. It took over a dozen police officers and city officials to bust in his house and arrest him. The story goes on though. He just begun serving a 60 day jail sentence for the “crime;” he will serve 3 years on probation afterwards; and he was given a fine over $12,000. Let’s face it though; this is religious persecution, which will merely increase in the good ‘ol US of A in the future. We all know it whether we admit it or not. We no longer live in the freest country in the world. Not only is what they did unconstitutional (as are so many things that happen in our country…even things that we take for granted every day), but it is also morally wrong. I am typically good about separating morals from the Constitution. I don’t believe you can look at them as one and the same. When you do, you begin to create laws based on religious morality, which soon becomes a theocracy. That is wrong, in and of itself, because Christianity is proposed, not imposed. Jesus set this example. This is why we see no example of him protesting things that were legal despite the fact that they were immoral. As Christians, we should stand for what is right, but we should never impose our morals on anyone else. This is why I have no problem with saying that something that is sin should not necessarily be illegal. I am a constitutionalist, and when we create laws based on religious convictions rather than the Constitution, we become a theocracy faster than we might think. Our country has become unrecognizable in many ways. We don’t know what we are anymore. Stick to the Constitution, and we won’t have that problem. Our freedoms are vanishing little by little, but one day, if we are not careful, they will all be gone; and it will be no one’s fault but our own.

NEW P.O.D SONG, "I AM"

Evidently P.O.D. is back and going strong. I read the lyrics to one of their songs today. I did notice the word, f**k, but it did not bother me. My opinion is that it actually added to the effect of the lyrics and represented the true thoughts and feelings about Christ that many hurting people have. I am glad to see artists being real with their lyrics and unashamed to approach their music in a way that represents the culture. The things they talk about in this particular song are real. The lyrics gripped me, and to answer the question they ask, yes, Jesus Christ died for all of these types of people. Read these lyrics carefully, and think of each of these types of people crying out for a real love, the love of Christ. Many of us are represented in this song, and even if you’re not, you know someone who is.

I Am The Murdered, The Pervert , Sick To The Core
I Am The Unclean, Dope Fiend, I Am The Whore)
I Am The Beat Down, Mistreated, Sexually Abused
I Have Violated, Fornicated and sexually Used
I Am The Con Artist, Cold Hearted, Smooth Preacher
Cash Stealer, Emotion Bleeder, The Soul Lecher
I Feed Off The Poor But I'm A Slave To The Rich
I'm In Depression So, This Reflection is Making Me Sick
Are You The One That's Come To Set Me Free ?
Cause If You Knew Who I Am, Would You Really Want To Die For Me ?
They Say You Are The Cursed Man, The One Who Hangs From This Tree
I Know This Is The One and only son of GOD But Tell Who the fuck is he!
So tell me!
I Am Fake, A fraud, A Phony, I'm Known Liar
Anorexic, Rejected Object of your desire
Suicidal Thoughts, Keep one in the chamber
I'm A turned out streetwalking Heroin Banger
I Am a secret cutter, Porn lover, The Town, Drunkard
Next Door, Neighborhood slut, I am Somebody's mother
Out casted arrogant bastard son
I am the talk of the town but this story's just begun
I am what you reaped, I am what you sewed
I am that guy talking to himself, I am alone
I'm the forgotten child ravaged and raped through sex traffic
And Since I'm a little strange, My daddy called me a faggot
I am insecure, Immature, Even I Discuss Me
In denial, Pill Pop'n, Prescription junkie
I see demons, Eyes Bleeding, My Soul Impure
Already know that I'm the disease, But tell me what's the cure?
This is me, We are him and i am you
Old things have passed away and all things become new!

LUBBOCK VISIT

I spent some time in Lubbock last weekend. It was a short but good visit. I took some time to look at the Texas Tech campus and check out the sports facilities. I Jones AT&T Stadium (football) and the baseball stadium. I am fascinated by stadiums. I spend time looking at pictures of stadiums online, as strange as that may be. Here is a picture of me at the football stadium.

NECHES BLUFF OVERLOOK AND 4C TRAIL

I had a great time today hiking the 4C Trail in Crockett. It begins at Ratcliff Lake and goes 19 miles to the Neches Bluff Overlook. I didn't hike the entire trail. In fact, I began at the Overlook (a beautiful site to see) and hiked only 5 miles. It was a pleasant hike though. Here are some pics from the trail and the overlook.

FUNNY BIBLE VERSES WE NORMALLY JUST BREEZE OVER

[27] But the Rabshakeh said to them, “Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the men sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and to drink their own urine?” (2 Kings 18:27)
[51] And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, [52] but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked. (Mark 4:51-52)
[19] But he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he commanded, “Silence.” And all his attendants went out from his presence. [20] And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” And he arose from his seat. [21] And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly. [22] And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out. [23] Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them. [24] When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” (Judges 3:19-24)
[1] No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 23:1)

LOVE AND MERCY: DO WE REALLY MEAN IT

We often say that we are not judgmental, that we love everyone, but when that is put to the test, it quickly becomes clear it is not the case at all. I, for one, have experienced judgment and have judged so I know what it is like to be on both sides of the coin. Most people will never go through 10% of what I have gone through in my life, and I do not wish that anyone ever does. However, I believe there is purpose in the difficulties I have had in my life (some of them my fault and some not). We all make mistakes, and perhaps the big reason for my difficulties, particularly in the past 3 years, is that I am now more merciful and compassionate than I ever have been and more so than most people are. I have apparent problems with society, American culture, government, and the church, but nevertheless, although I will never understand the fullness of God’s mercy, I understand it better than most people ever will because I have received it so much more than most. For that, I am thankful. Some people are meant to share their full story, and some aren’t. I don’t know that I’ll ever have the freedom to share my full story, but I believe I will. God is constantly working on me so if I screw up, just know that I make mistakes just like you. We are all one choice away from running our lives. I’ve learned that the more we screw up, the more we are merciful and loving to others, especially those who are outcasts. Perhaps what all of us need is to make drastic mistakes in order to know what love and mercy is. I know that is not what we all need, but I also know from experience that the effect of mistakes is mercy. On this road toward perfection (which we will not achieve), let us all take time to love everyone including those who most think do not deserve it.

BUSY COUPLE OF MONTHS

It has been a busy couple of months. Apart from personal issues I have going on in my life, my mother had what seemed to be a brain aneurysm rupture. She is doing well now, but it was a frightening time. My family is very glad she is ok though.
I have been writing more music lately. However, it has not been typical in the style and genre I write in that most music I have written has been worship music or at least Gospel music. The music I have been writing lately, however, has not been. That does not mean it is bad music, but it is simply different. I am considering pursuing my music more in hopes of putting it out and making it known.
I am excited about the Christmas season. It will not be as busy as it normally is for me, but hopefully it will be good. I have some shopping done, but my budget is much tighter this year than usual. It should be a good time with family though, and I am looking forward to it.