I haven't posted anything in regards to the Horrible shootings in OR, and I don’t usually post things when tragedies like this happen; because I know it will just create arguments based on initial "knee Jerk" reactions; somewhat based on Party lines (Conservative vs. Liberal), and how someone interprets the Law (strict or Loose constructionism) I won’t go into a history lesson, but some of you will know what I mean. So, instead of actually listening, instead of disregarding whether someone is conservative or liberal, we lash out with hateful words, Anger, and sometimes-misguided responses. If that is something that happens because of this post, so be it, this is my Choice, and I will accept the Consequences, good, bad, or indifferent. Sometimes Silence is used to hide from conflict, but the conflict already exists, it just a matter of whether you can stand there and bare the weight of your beliefs; if you’re courageous enough to stand in the middle while stones are thrown. If you are humbled enough to not lash back; and are a person of integrity, you willing to listen to someone else without loosing sight of your own convictions.
It's sad, that we put the focus on the guns, when the issue at hand really seemed to be Christianity and the hurt and anger of a young man. I was raised Christian, and I've had my doubts, issues, even hated God at points in my life, but not once did I forget that this Nation was founded on The principles taught in the Bible. You see I don’t fit the “Christian” face, of what some people would normally see. In fact I’m The one other Christians regard as a “sinner” “unworthy” etc. , but you can’t be a Christian without knowing a TRUE Christian follows principles, of love, not hate, of acceptance, not judging, of helping, not pushing away.
So, if you don’t like the term Christianity, how about the term Humanity. Christianity is a religion, and you can be religious or spiritual without following the agenda of False Christianity, (and yes it exsists), just like it does in any other major Religion. We know not all Muslims are bad, Yet many put all Muslims who follow the Religion of Islam into a category of “bad”….they take the Humanity out of it. It’s not the Faith, the Spirituality that is bad (whether you agree with the teaching is irrelevant) it’s the few who Misconstrue it, who put themselves above others, and their faith. Who decide others must die, if they don’t believe Exactly what they believe. People are quick to point out, the “crazy Christians” who push their agenda on others, tell you you’re going to hell for things beyond your control, and forget that they are sinners too. A real Christian KNOWS they have sinned and will continue to do so, that judging others and casting them out is the complete opposite of what Jesus taught, of what true Christianity is. Because Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other religions all have one thing in common….they are all followed by Humans, looking for something to believe in, something to follow, to belong to, and for guidance. HUMANITY, and the ability to Love one another, even amongst our differences; that is what true religion/faith, and spirituality is.
In fact, that is why this country was founded; to escape Religious Persecution. I will say I'm deeply saddened by the response of our President, who thinks "Guns" are the problem. Who fails to acknowledge that this country is Based on CHRISTIAN principles; and Fails to acknowledge that we are now a corrupt country who is more concerned with party lines, than with the common good, more concerned with helping other countries, than the people inside our own country suffering. He, along with previous presidents and cabinets, have pushed God, The 10 Commandments, and other Christian based values out of Schools, out of government, out of the policies and ideas that brought this country together. Maybe if some of these values were still in our schools, we wouldn’t see the devastation of acts like this, maybe people would again value one another.
9-11-2001, is a prime example of how when push comes to shove, and our country is put to the test, we band together under the values of our forefathers. I'm not forcing an agenda, because I don't have one. In fact I go back and forth with many things I was taught or have learned in adulthood. I can’t tell you why bad things happen, Believe me I question this daily. I question why would God make me “wrong”, but I’ve never questioned whether there is a Higher power. I’ve questioned religions, I learned about all of them, and thought of “converting” but I would never persecute someone else based on my beliefs. I’ve stuck with God, and Christianity, because the overall message of love, acceptance and honesty is one I believe in. I’m not asking you to change your beliefs or faith; So, please don't tell me my rights aren't as important as others. I have freedom of speech and free will too.
So, now again we face a tragedy; and some will blame God, and ask where was He. I can't answer that. I get angry about things like this, and when children die from diseases, I get mad, and ask “Why”? But I’ve also seen things that don’t make sense without having some sort of higher power intervening. So yes, I get angry and question, and I rarely get answers….but maybe they aren’t mine to have. I’m not Entitled to anything, and that includes Knowledge of why things like this happen. I could blame others; I could do all the things many are doing right now, blame things they can control, or at least seemingly control. But it won’t fix anything. Until we start valuing life, Each other, and the humanity of one another; and understanding that we are all in need of help at sometime in our lives, then the cycle will continue.
Now people send prayers, hold candlelight vigils and ask God to take the pain away.....where was the prayer and belief before the tragedy? It doesn't just have to be this tragedy either. How about the Drunk Driver who kills a family, because he/she decided to get behind the wheel. It wasn’t the Car’s fault; it was the actions of an individual. So lets be clear, we all have Freedoms afforded to us by the Constitution, if you haven't read it in a while you should. All our Money says "In God we Trust", (obviously we don't). Only when tragedies happen do we bring God back into the picture….seems a bit contradictory to me. You can’t have good without the bad, that is the essence of life. No one is perfect, nor is anyone’s life, it would be nice, and man Do I Try, thinking maybe I can be the first PERFECT Human. (Ok I fully know this is impossible, yet I strive for it; why?) We are taught to strive for Perfection in everything we do, and then we wonder why so many people feel like failures, and lash out. Grief, anger, hatred, not just for others, but for our own self is what triggers these kind of tragedies. Some take it out on others in some form, others just end their own lives, all of them though are tragedies caused by Doubt, by hurt, by PAIN. How about striving for compassion, for Acceptance, and Love. The problem isn't Guns (as the President and others would push for you to believe), The people killed were killed because they said they were Christians, it was an act by a PERSON with an agenda. I don't know why, or even what it really was, all I know is Families are now broken, including his own. The Country sends out condolences and prayers to the families, victims, and those recovering from the tragedy. But for how long, it seems our memories are short, until another act of violence is carried out. Lives are changed forever, and our prayers or Caring thoughts should be forever as well.
So, after careful consideration of the backlash I might receive, I decided to post this: This is not a Gun issue, not a 2nd amendment issue. Just as a Gun cannot commit a crime, neither can a Car. We don't all the sudden blame a vehicle when a drunk driver gets behind the wheel and kills a family. Cars don't kill people. People Kill People, People Sin and Hurt People. People, take others rights, while putting theirs above someone else’s based on false lies. If you have less; less money, less religious conviction, different Religious convictions, different Political agendas then you are wrong. This is such a backwards way of thinking I wonder how “leaders” can even come up with some of these ideas. Last time I looked we were all Americans, a part of The United States of America, but even beyond that we are all Human! So lets act United, and help those in need, in our country, get kids off the streets, eradicate abuse in all forms, start teaching that we are all responsible for our own actions, we have choices, and consequences based on those decisions. The consequences may be good or bad, but they are still a result of our own actions. We are NOT ENTITLED to anything, some people have it better than others or so it may seem, but having all the money in the world does not make someone rich. Helping those who have less than us, giving the little money I might have to help someone else, that is what being a Christian is, that is what being Human is and as close to Perfection as I will ever get. I ask that you don’t make this about guns, make it about people, and make it about loving those around us even if their ideas differ from ours. Make it about acceptance; about taking responsibility for our own actions, (no one else can make you do anything). By uniting to show America is a nation who helps it’s own, just as much as we tend to help other countries. Lets take care of each other, put the blame down, and truly just Love someone for being.
It's sad, that we put the focus on the guns, when the issue at hand really seemed to be Christianity and the hurt and anger of a young man. I was raised Christian, and I've had my doubts, issues, even hated God at points in my life, but not once did I forget that this Nation was founded on The principles taught in the Bible. You see I don’t fit the “Christian” face, of what some people would normally see. In fact I’m The one other Christians regard as a “sinner” “unworthy” etc. , but you can’t be a Christian without knowing a TRUE Christian follows principles, of love, not hate, of acceptance, not judging, of helping, not pushing away.
So, if you don’t like the term Christianity, how about the term Humanity. Christianity is a religion, and you can be religious or spiritual without following the agenda of False Christianity, (and yes it exsists), just like it does in any other major Religion. We know not all Muslims are bad, Yet many put all Muslims who follow the Religion of Islam into a category of “bad”….they take the Humanity out of it. It’s not the Faith, the Spirituality that is bad (whether you agree with the teaching is irrelevant) it’s the few who Misconstrue it, who put themselves above others, and their faith. Who decide others must die, if they don’t believe Exactly what they believe. People are quick to point out, the “crazy Christians” who push their agenda on others, tell you you’re going to hell for things beyond your control, and forget that they are sinners too. A real Christian KNOWS they have sinned and will continue to do so, that judging others and casting them out is the complete opposite of what Jesus taught, of what true Christianity is. Because Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other religions all have one thing in common….they are all followed by Humans, looking for something to believe in, something to follow, to belong to, and for guidance. HUMANITY, and the ability to Love one another, even amongst our differences; that is what true religion/faith, and spirituality is.
In fact, that is why this country was founded; to escape Religious Persecution. I will say I'm deeply saddened by the response of our President, who thinks "Guns" are the problem. Who fails to acknowledge that this country is Based on CHRISTIAN principles; and Fails to acknowledge that we are now a corrupt country who is more concerned with party lines, than with the common good, more concerned with helping other countries, than the people inside our own country suffering. He, along with previous presidents and cabinets, have pushed God, The 10 Commandments, and other Christian based values out of Schools, out of government, out of the policies and ideas that brought this country together. Maybe if some of these values were still in our schools, we wouldn’t see the devastation of acts like this, maybe people would again value one another.
9-11-2001, is a prime example of how when push comes to shove, and our country is put to the test, we band together under the values of our forefathers. I'm not forcing an agenda, because I don't have one. In fact I go back and forth with many things I was taught or have learned in adulthood. I can’t tell you why bad things happen, Believe me I question this daily. I question why would God make me “wrong”, but I’ve never questioned whether there is a Higher power. I’ve questioned religions, I learned about all of them, and thought of “converting” but I would never persecute someone else based on my beliefs. I’ve stuck with God, and Christianity, because the overall message of love, acceptance and honesty is one I believe in. I’m not asking you to change your beliefs or faith; So, please don't tell me my rights aren't as important as others. I have freedom of speech and free will too.
So, now again we face a tragedy; and some will blame God, and ask where was He. I can't answer that. I get angry about things like this, and when children die from diseases, I get mad, and ask “Why”? But I’ve also seen things that don’t make sense without having some sort of higher power intervening. So yes, I get angry and question, and I rarely get answers….but maybe they aren’t mine to have. I’m not Entitled to anything, and that includes Knowledge of why things like this happen. I could blame others; I could do all the things many are doing right now, blame things they can control, or at least seemingly control. But it won’t fix anything. Until we start valuing life, Each other, and the humanity of one another; and understanding that we are all in need of help at sometime in our lives, then the cycle will continue.
Now people send prayers, hold candlelight vigils and ask God to take the pain away.....where was the prayer and belief before the tragedy? It doesn't just have to be this tragedy either. How about the Drunk Driver who kills a family, because he/she decided to get behind the wheel. It wasn’t the Car’s fault; it was the actions of an individual. So lets be clear, we all have Freedoms afforded to us by the Constitution, if you haven't read it in a while you should. All our Money says "In God we Trust", (obviously we don't). Only when tragedies happen do we bring God back into the picture….seems a bit contradictory to me. You can’t have good without the bad, that is the essence of life. No one is perfect, nor is anyone’s life, it would be nice, and man Do I Try, thinking maybe I can be the first PERFECT Human. (Ok I fully know this is impossible, yet I strive for it; why?) We are taught to strive for Perfection in everything we do, and then we wonder why so many people feel like failures, and lash out. Grief, anger, hatred, not just for others, but for our own self is what triggers these kind of tragedies. Some take it out on others in some form, others just end their own lives, all of them though are tragedies caused by Doubt, by hurt, by PAIN. How about striving for compassion, for Acceptance, and Love. The problem isn't Guns (as the President and others would push for you to believe), The people killed were killed because they said they were Christians, it was an act by a PERSON with an agenda. I don't know why, or even what it really was, all I know is Families are now broken, including his own. The Country sends out condolences and prayers to the families, victims, and those recovering from the tragedy. But for how long, it seems our memories are short, until another act of violence is carried out. Lives are changed forever, and our prayers or Caring thoughts should be forever as well.
So, after careful consideration of the backlash I might receive, I decided to post this: This is not a Gun issue, not a 2nd amendment issue. Just as a Gun cannot commit a crime, neither can a Car. We don't all the sudden blame a vehicle when a drunk driver gets behind the wheel and kills a family. Cars don't kill people. People Kill People, People Sin and Hurt People. People, take others rights, while putting theirs above someone else’s based on false lies. If you have less; less money, less religious conviction, different Religious convictions, different Political agendas then you are wrong. This is such a backwards way of thinking I wonder how “leaders” can even come up with some of these ideas. Last time I looked we were all Americans, a part of The United States of America, but even beyond that we are all Human! So lets act United, and help those in need, in our country, get kids off the streets, eradicate abuse in all forms, start teaching that we are all responsible for our own actions, we have choices, and consequences based on those decisions. The consequences may be good or bad, but they are still a result of our own actions. We are NOT ENTITLED to anything, some people have it better than others or so it may seem, but having all the money in the world does not make someone rich. Helping those who have less than us, giving the little money I might have to help someone else, that is what being a Christian is, that is what being Human is and as close to Perfection as I will ever get. I ask that you don’t make this about guns, make it about people, and make it about loving those around us even if their ideas differ from ours. Make it about acceptance; about taking responsibility for our own actions, (no one else can make you do anything). By uniting to show America is a nation who helps it’s own, just as much as we tend to help other countries. Lets take care of each other, put the blame down, and truly just Love someone for being.
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