Note from the Universe

so I posted my 'stumble' post and then I check my email...
this was today's note from the universe

It's got nothing to do with being a perfect, goody-goody, selfless, sacrificing, spiritual saint, Babetta. Blah! That whole characterization was meant for a different audience at a different time, and they really had issues.


It's got everything to do with being yourself, trusting the magic, following your heart, dreaming big, and having fun.

Hosanna in the highest,
The Universe

I guess maybe I'm on to something here :)

What If I Stumble

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today


Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips

Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.

That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable
(What If I Stumble ~ DC TALK)
 
This post Summer does not like Christians, reminded me of a DC Talk song I love so very much
It convicts me each time and reminds me why I'm really here
I've often toyed with changing my "belief" statement to "follower of the Way" rather than Christian
so sad that a religious label can have such a negative connotation...but they all can in someone's eyes.
 
I am not the image you would find in a contemporary dictionary under the heading "Christian" leader
I'm female
I'm tattooed
I'm pierced (although I don't wear many of them anymore)
I believe in equality for everyone regardless of race, creed, sex, sexual orientation, belief system, etc
 
I think one of the most poignant represenations of the negative connotation of Christianity was displayed in Borat (oh yeah, add that to my list...I saw, and enjoyed the movie Borat...I think it's a dead on represenation of American society.)...they took him in to 'save' him  but once he offended them...they kicked him to the curb.
Yes it was extreme...it was a movie folks, but the point was definitely made.
 
I believe in God
I go to church
I call myself a Christian
and I follow HIS way...hopefully we are on the verge of a tipping point and the Summer's of the world will start to see us more often
And even more so...hopefully when we 'followers' are the masses, we don't change what we believe in exchange for haugtiness or status
Keep me humble
lest I stumble

I Heart Goodwill

Check out this awesome bedspread I found!

wait for it...wait for it...

$4.26

A new Spiritual Paradigm

Jesus began his ministry introducing a new spiritual paradigm ... 

This is a line from a book I'm re-reading - Sacred Contracts by Caroline Myss

It got me to thinking

It's so very true

Jesus came and turned ministry on it's ear and told those practicing at the time they were doing it wrong...what good is it to follow the letter of the law if you miss the intent?

He 'called out' the Pharisees and the Sadducee and told them there was more to their beliefs than just the laws...what good is it to follow the letter of the law if you miss the intent?

He encouraged compassion and love and inclusion

He ate with tax collectors and prostitutes

He and his band of disciples were probably a rather motley crew...traveling from place to place on foot or by boat

ne'er stopping for a haircut or a daily shower and always living off a hand out or the generosity of those he visited...it wasn't until well into his ministry that he fed the 5,000.

He challenged their thinking...in return some of his followers left, some of them betrayed him...but some of them continued to follow.

Then...he challenged them more

just as he was preparing to leave them...he told them to spread the news, share the Gospel...with everyone

even the (gasp) Gentiles

What would that look like today

The last thing any self respecting Jew in Jesus' day would do is associate with Gentiles

eat with them, share with them...NO

They were different, they were dirty,  they were disrespectful in a nutshell...they were hated

Who would that be today?

Jesus began his ministry introducing a new spiritual paradigm  every bit as important as that initiated by Abraham 2000 years earlier.

If Jesus began his ministry today, introducing a new spiritual paradigm...just as he shifted the thinking of the laws of the old testament...how would he present his Way today?

The last thing any self-respecting Christian would do today is associate with...

Who does that look like for you?

Black? Hispanic? White? Gay? Lesbian? Transgender? Male? Female? Muslim? Buddhist? Atheist? Agnostic?

Aryan? 

If scholars interpret so many of Jesus' words to have such breadth and depth of meaning...why not the use of the word Gentiles when speaking with the Jews

What if he was saying...share the word and include everyone...even those you don't think are deserving...because I want everyone ...everyone is worthy...everyone is good.

I needed this again today...a reminder

While working on my next message series...I was going through some old posts and stumbled across this...
I am Divine (link)
I like it, I think I need to print it or create it in a physical medium so I can look on it daily

Homosexuality

This article is a great read! Approach it with an open mind and ask the important questions...then share!

Follow this link for the full article -> What the Bible does, and doesn't say about homosexuality

Alignment

"When you are in alignment with who-you-really-are, you cannot help but uplift those with whom you come into contact. Your value to those around you hinges upon only one thing: your personal alignment with Source. And the only thing you have to give to another is an example of that alignment—which they may observe, then desire, and then work to achieve—but you cannot give it to them. Everyone is responsible for the thoughts they think and the things that they choose as their objects of attention."


Words that ring so true for me today, from several perspectives...
I cannot bring them with me and I cannot give my alignment to another
Sigh
that is hard
I can only hope that it rubs off


and their alignment doesn't rub off on me
Sigh
that one is harder


Some days it is hard just to keep my own alignment; my Spirit led heart and mind remind my frustrated flesh to stay in line
My flesh just wants to scream a crooked scream


It is probably also as good to remember

"When you are in dis-alignment with who-you-really-are, you cannot help but deflate those with whom you come into contact. Your value to those around you hinges upon only one thing: your personal alignment with Source. And the only thing you have to give to another is an example of that alignment—which they may observe, then desire, and then work to achieve—but you cannot give it to them. Everyone is responsible for the thoughts they think and the things that they choose as their objects of attention."

I CHOOSE TODAY TO NOT BE DEFLATED
MY BODY WILL KICK AND SCREAM
MY THOUGHTS WILL TRY TO CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE
BUT MY SPIRIT GENTLY REMINDS ME THAT I AM IN ALIGNMENT IN A CROOKED WORLD
AND A CROOKED TREE ONLY BECOMES STRAIGHT WHEN IT WEATHERS THE STORM AND FOLLOWS THE SUN