Thursday Theology

Honestly, I sometimes read the bible from my current perspective and wonder how I ever could have read it any other way. I read this week's gospel passage in the lectionary schedule and all I can see is how religion is once again used to justify inaction.

You should probably read it for yourself -- Mark 2:23-3:6.

If you've ever wondered how someone can go from preacher boy to non-religious, it pretty much comes down to today's religious community being too similar to the religious community of Jesus' day. Where Jesus used love and compassion to guide his actions, religion used rules and laws. Where love says you can, religion says you can't.
Not much has changed in 2,000 years, even for those that claim to follow Jesus. It's why I refrain from identifying as a Christian. Most Christians don't seem to be very Christ-like.

Today there are even communities that pass laws that make it illegal to give water, food, or money to people that are in need. These aren't religions making rules, these are governments making laws.
How have we become so unloving as a people? How has letting this happen in our communities become so normal?
Wouldn't it be better if Love became our normal response instead of rules (religion).

I want to share a story about one of my friends -- one of my people.
He found himself on the governing board of his homeowners association and there was a particular lot in their subdivision that was badly neglected. The person living there was renting and neither the renter nor the homeowner was responding to letters to take care of the property and clean up the mess. While they were discussing what action they should take against the responsible parties, my friend suggested that maybe they just need some help. He said that where he goes to church (The Venues) they teach that we should love our neighbors and help them when needed. 
And so he and some others that he recruited went and took care of the property.
That is why he is one of my people!
That is what following Jesus looks like!

I know that loving your neighbor can be difficult. Sometimes it's hard work. Maybe that's why we make rules and religions so we don't have to.
What if we just let love be our guide?
What if we really asked ourselves -- What Would Jesus Do (WWJD)?

John

Wednesday Wisdom -- a question

A recent Facebook post asked the question -- What is the first thing you notice about someone?

So -- What is the first thing you notice about someone?

It's weird, but for me it is their energy.
I've never really considered myself to be an empath. I certainly am not very empathetic. But as I have become more contemplative I have also become more aware of the energy that comes off of other people. I don't see it in weird colors or anything like that, it's just a feeling -- like a frequency vibration. Some frequencies resonate in a very positive, uplifting way; some are more negative. Some are healing, while others are hurting. Some are very guarded and cautious, some are afraid.

Oftentimes I can sense when a person's energy level is low and needs to be recharged. Some people are energy thieves -- they steal energy from others without consent. There are always takers, givers, and those that simply share with others.
I think there are energy frequencies that go well together like sound frequencies that harmonize to make chords or musical patterns. Some, not so much.

Some people make you feel better just by being around them. 
Others you tend to avoid.
Sometimes you can feel that energy just by reading their words, sensing their virtual presence, or even thinking about them. When those are positive experiences, you have found your people.

On a side note,
I know there is a difference between sensing feelings like an empath and understanding feelings as in having empathy. And I don't really know if this energy thing is a characteristic of an empath or just some bullshit that I've made up in my head to explain why I am drawn to certain people and not to others.

Anyway, that was my answer. It probably wasn't what they were expecting.
What's yours?
What is the first thing you notice about someone?

John

Who Am I (2024 version)

So I've been thinking...

I know most of my current readers come from my Facebook friends. I don't think many come from my Twitter (does anyone really call it X?) followers. And I doubt that I have any that just follow my blog.

If you are one of the most from Facebook you know that I have been struggling to put together a bio for a collective that will launch in a couple of weeks. It is a group of people that are flipping the tables on traditional religion that has hurt, disenfranchised, and abandoned so many people. For many years I was a part of such a religious organization.
Damn, I hope that I didn't hurt too many people. I know that I led some in a different direction than I now travel and hope that they can find their way out without too much trauma. The few years that have past since then seem like an entirely different life.

In fact, one friend recently mentioned to me that he had been talking to people in our current church community and not many people know that I used to do magic. 
That's probably not a bad thing.

Anyway, I've been thinking about this bio thing and this is what I've come up with.
There are few (if any) people from my previous evangelical life that will read this. For those of you that know me well or have known me for a long time -- your comments are welcome.

My name is John Hill.

I spent my career as a full-time air traffic controller and a part-time Southern Baptist Evangelist. I spent more than twenty years preaching revivals, crusades, or filling pulpits throughout Missouri. I used magic to share the gospel at camps, schools, and family events. I served as Camp Pastor for kids’ camps, youth camps, and a couple of college retreats.
I also preached or performed in Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, South Dakota, and Florida.
I served as an officer and a deacon in a local Southern Baptist church and on the Associational Executive Committee.
I was a member and officer of the Fellowship of Missouri Baptists Evangelists, even serving as Vice President and President, and I spoke at many evangelism conferences around the state.

When my beliefs of God loving all people began to clash with the evangelical belief of God condemning everyone that didn’t see things exactly their way, I was forced to part ways.

To be clear -- I am still a follower of Jesus and a believer in what he taught.
I unashamedly believe in God, but that doesn’t mean I have all of the answers.
I struggle to be a good guy. I struggle to make good choices. And I struggle to love all of the people that God has created -- some more so than others.

Although I still attend a church occasionally, I am much less religious than I once was. I no longer feel the need to convert anyone to think like I do. In fact, I am more interested in hearing others' life guiding thoughts and philosophies than sharing my own.

Perhaps there is still value in sharing my past experiences and perspectives on life, religion, the bible, etc. With all of my heart I believe that this collective of people and perspectives will help others that have been hurt by churches or religious people, or are just trying to navigate our God given spiritual desire to connect with our Creator. John

P.S. The Who Am I (2024 version) title comes from having two previous posts Who Am I and Who Am I (again), as well as other posts that gave a glimpse into my being. Here is a more recent (4yrs ago) version of a past John.

Thursday Theology

This week's gospel reading is a familiar one for most of us. John 3:1-17 is the story of one of the day's religious leaders coming to Jesus in secret to ask questions.

When I read this passage today I think, "Some things never change."
Even 2,000 years ago you couldn't ask questions that challenged what was the accepted belief! Nicodemus was a "teacher of Israel" and had to come to Jesus in secret to ask his questions and find out what Jesus meant by his teaching.

I guess that's what religion does. It establishes what you have to believe in and is not open to learning anything else. It is not to be questioned nor debated any longer. There is nothing new to learn.

I wonder if this was the beginning of Nicodemus's deconstruction. I wonder if he began to question what he had been taught and what he had been teaching. I wonder if he ever voiced his questions and concerns out loud. I wonder if he was ever told you can no longer be a teacher; you can no longer be trusted to teach The Law. 

A place where it is not safe to ask questions is not a safe place.
Here is some BREAKING NEWS: Most churches are not safe places!
It's probably safe to say that most religions are not safe places.
I think it is safe to say that not one liturgical church will be preaching about the deconstruction of Nicodemus this weekend. 

It's funny how we can read a passage of the bible over and over without questioning what we know about it and then life happens and we interpret it differently or see it from a different perspective. Maybe the best practice would be to read it from Jesus' perspective. He recognized that Nicodemus was trying to understand heavenly things from an earthly perspective. Even as mere mortals, we have to try to see things from God's perspective.

What is God's perspective?
Love.
Love is God's perspective.
That changes a lot of what I've learned about the bible.

Maybe this picture from artist David Hayward will help:

You can find or purchase more of David's art here.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 Perspective matters

But people can still be wrong

John

The Value of Presence

I received a pretty cool text message yesterday morning. It came from a friend that missed seeing me at church yesterday morning. The thing is, I was there and had actually been looking to see if he was there, as well. I had slipped out at the end of the Q & A time, but was waiting to see him as he exited when I read his text.

There are a few people that I really do enjoy being in their presence. There seems to be a healing or uplifting energy about them that impacts the people around them (at least it does that for me). I think that maybe there is a kind of frequency harmony between their energy vibe and mine that just feels right. 
Do you have people like that in your life?
Maybe you are that person to someone else?

It isn't always easy to know what kind of impact your presence has on other people. (And by impact it might be something small like just feeling a little better after a brief encounter.) Although there have been a few people that have expressed something like that to me, it is nice to think that there may be others, too.
And maybe it isn't an energy thing. Maybe it has more to do with being kind or just having a gentle and loving spirit. Maybe it has to do with listening and caring. 
Maybe not. Gentle, loving, and caring aren't typically listed in my strong suits.

I am a hugger. I think that hugging is the best way to share, give, or even take energy if that's what's needed. Not everyone feels that way. Sometimes a simple handshake, fist bump or pat on the back will do, or even just a nod or smile to acknowledge each other's presence.

Sometimes the downside to presence is just having to be around people.
sigh

John

Something different

I decided to have my morning coffee on the front porch this morning. It's a pretty quiet street and still an enjoyable morning coffee spot. The lots across the street are wider and not as deep as the lots on our side. That means the houses are a little farther apart and the trees at the back of the property are much closer to the street. It also means there are more audible bird sounds sitting on the front porch vs the deck in back.

I'm not sure if school is out yet or not. I think they have one more week. This morning (Saturday) seems to be absent of kids and adults on our quiet little street. The weather is going to be much warmer (mid 80s, 29-30c) for the next few days, so I need to make an earlier start to get some yard work in while it's not uncomfortable. There is plenty to do. I could work a few hours every morning and never be finished, but I think I'm okay with that. The extremely poor soil here is quite challenging when it comes to decorative gardening. It also ends up being a little expensive.

I'm looking for an area in the back to start a native grasses and flowers meadow. It should be pretty. It should be weather resistant. And it will be less to mow. My hope is to start a relatively small area that spreads naturally, year by year. It will be good for all of the pollinators. It will provide some cover for the little critters like rabbits, and field mice. And it will provide food for the birds.
Longer grasses and natural meadows also keep the ground temperature a little cooler and that's good for the environment, too.

I doubt that I'll make the front porch coffee a regular morning thing, but I might try spending more time where I can see and be seen by the neighbors as they make their way up and down our street. A cool drink and an afternoon cigar on the front porch doesn't sound bad.
And it gives me the opportunity to yell, "Get off my lawn!" should kids or pets stray onto our little slice of the Ozarks.

John

Friday Morning at Mudhouse

I decided to venture out to the local (Ozark) Mudhouse coffee shop for this morning's coffee. I have a library book and a half charged Chromebook that is connected to my phone's hotspot. The local wifi wasn't connecting well and it's probably better using my own hotspot anyway.

It would appear (as in magically) that I've let myself be talked into a magic gig for the kids at church. The date is yet to be set, but I'm pretty sure it's happening. Time to dig out the old stuff and work on a kids' show.
Sacrebleu!

Magic has been a fun hobby in the past. After leaving the evangelical world I haven't really had a venue for performing and so I have let those skills and my fondness for performing fade away. It's time to start practicing again, at least for this one gig. I am not up to the marketing and promoting that would be necessary to get the paying gigs again. If I were to re-enter the field in any way, it would likely be through doing school programs around science and math stuff, or using some of the making good choices stuff I've used in the past.

For now it is still a couple of months away and I can plan something simple and entertaining without having to do the whole evangelical thing. 
(heavy sigh)

I'm not sure if this qualifies as something good or not, but that is what is going on in my world this morning. Tell me something good that is going on in your world.
Let's make it a Good Friday!

John 

Wednesday Wisdom

 

An attitude of gratitude can make a big difference in our perspective of life.
Be well, my friends!

John

Monday Meditation

Learning to quiet the mind and engage in fruitful meditation takes practice. The link between mind and body is real. A stressed body can make meditation more difficult and a strong mind can relieve the stresses that impact the health of the body.
The Eastern world has been aware of this for centuries, while the West is just learning that the two practices go hand in hand. From the East we get mindful physical practices (like yoga and Tai chi) that bring the body and mind into a harmonious practice.

My thoughts this morning seemed to be focused on the fact that I have greatly neglected the physical part of my health and need to do something about it. Just being more active would be a step in the right direction. 
Speaking of steps, my past practice of daily walking has long since vanished and I find it difficult to motivate myself to re-engage in it, An old friend used to tell me that movement is motivation -- you just have to get started. Maybe I'll go with that.
Walking and meditation work well together. I could bring my mala and make it a mindful practice or just pop in my earbuds and listen to some good music while I walk my way to better health.

That's it.
I'll finish my writing, finish my coffee, and I'll take a walk and continue my meditation.

Do you have a regular practice for your physical health?
Do tell.

John