I Want Your Vote!

I wrote this "almost post" sometime within the past two years - but I never posted it. I just found it in my notebook (actual paper, spiral bound notebook) this evening and thought, "hmmm, how appropriate, I forgot I wrote this - I should post this, it goes with what I've just written".

So, here it is, except I'll shape it up a bit better because I like my posts to be well edited (snort snort).

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Tonight my hubby and I rented a movie from Redbox (march is free movie Wednesdays). Hubby told me I could pick the movie (don't be too surprised - it wasn't too big of a risk for him. He made me pick from the comedy genre.) It was slim pickins to be sure, but I found one I thought I could make it through without feeling the need to also read a book during it. Which is a good thing due to my temporary book banishment. I chose Swing Vote. No death, drugs, depression - well, maybe just a teenie bit. It was slightly boring and in the beginning I thought, "I'm not even going to be able to pull out any spiritual applications from this!" But i kept watching, and something about the movie made me feel uneasy.

The movie, for those who chose not to see it, (you're not missing much) is about a man who, quite remarkably, has the responsibility of choosing the next president of the United States. It all came down to his vote, which he had yet to cast. So these two candidates woo him and make promises to him and even turn from their convictions to match this man's. They create an atmosphere around him that entices, making him feel at home. His concerns are their concerns, his interest are their interests. All, only to get his vote.

And here's where the spiritual application comes in. Here's the reason I'm so uneasy. What if we Christians, what if I, am trying to change my persona, my convictions, in order to not only win the "vote" of others, but of God? Am I trying to prove that I'm "right?" Why?

I read a book my Sista D lent me not too long ago. It's called, Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller. In this book, Miller describes the lifeboat theory. He says we act like we're all in a lifeboat together, except it's getting too full and we feel we must throw someone overboard in order for the boat to stay afloat. We think it would make most sense for us to throw the most worthless person overboard. So we are all trying to prove to each other how valuable we are - what do we have to offer to those around us? Don't throw me overboard, I'm a doctor! I'm worthy because I've got an MBA, I'm a professional, and I run my home smoothly and lovingly with happy children and content husband. I'm the proverbs 31 wife. I'm a PK, MK, and POW!

I've got my own reasons why I shouldn't be kicked out - you've got yours.

And I guess this movie kind of reminded me that God can't be won. That God is above all that. That if you're Catholic, Pentecostal, Brethren, Emergent, Independent, Democrat, Republican ... it really doesn't matter.

I used to ask my dad, "what does that church believe?" as we'd drive by them when I was a kid. It interested me what the differences were. And I'd feel sorry for them for not getting it right. I'd try to convince my Catholic friends that you don't need to confess to a priest - cause that's what Jesus was for. I'd get so frustrated! (Who do those priests think they are?) A handful of years back a dear friend broke it to me that we weren't getting actual mansions in heaven - that verse in the bible wasn't meant to be taken literal. I was heartbroken! (I don't believe her though). Of course we are getting mansions in heaven - haven't I been giving God updated blueprints every few years? And don't get me started on Creation! If I get up to heaven and God tells me everything was made in billions and trillions of years - let's just say there will be tears in heaven! I'll be so disappointed! And then I'll look over at my dear friend P and she'll shrug her shoulders as if to say, "I told you it could be a possibility!"

That's one of the things I love about my church. There are people of all backgrounds and beliefs. We've got our Lutherans & Methodists, our Catholics and I even hear we have a Jew! I'm sure we have unbelievers too. Maybe even some atheists.

And I must admit it has been kind of challenging to me at times. the Lord's humbled me more than once. I've just got to learn to hold those 5 foundations of the Christian faith close, and be able to say of all the other things, "this is what I believe to be true - but someday I may feel differently". I won't be kicked out of the boat. Because Donald Miller says that Jesus says there is no boat to begin with.

Jesus and Donald Miller are right - there is no boat. So there is no vote.

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That's it for tonight - it's past 11pm again. This topic has a tendency to flow into others. So in true rambling fashion, I just might follow a few in the next few posts.

Update On Rambler Girl

I'm disapointed in her blog. She has 1 post from over a year ago. She took my blog address for only 1 post. I wonder if she stuck it out with the 4th college transfer? What a cliff-hanger!

New Blog Title/New Address

I have been wanting to do this for a while now, just haven't taken the time to figure out how to do it, which really wasn't that hard to figure out it turns out.

Yes, I'm finally going to change that very long blog address and title! But now I'm a little sad about it - I feel like I'm leaving behind a good friend!

I thought I'd better warn you - and for all my friends who are taking a summer blogging break, I hope you get this message.

My new name will be "Rambler Girl". There is a song by Eileen Jewel (folk/swing/bluesy/hint of old rock-n-roll) with the phrase Rambler Girl - it's my theme song (I know, I have so many).

The new blog address will be 1ramblergirl.blogspot.com (as long as it's not taken by then) - can you believe somebody else had ramblergirl.blogspot.com? That's where I'm headed to next. See what kind of girl this girl is.

So I'll make the appropriate changes at the end of the month. Unless it's going to be a pain in the butt for everyone to find it - but it's not like I have very many readers to lose. But if you're worried, email me (you can find my email up above), and leave me your email address and I'll leave you my new address when I get rid of my old address. Okay.

What's Your Reaction?

Reacting to Anne Rice.

The above is a link to Jon Acuff's post on Anne Rice's statesments about being (or not being) called a christain and belonging to the group. I found it very interesting - especially the comments. Thought I'd pass it on to you and maybe get your reaction to it. This kind of goes along with my last post. I really need to write more on that someday:)

Duty Faith

I've got a few pet peeves - turn signal turned on when you aren't turning, stupid questions (because no matter what that teacher said, there is too such a thing as a stupid question), people who have too many pet peeves, children, cornhole & exercise in general, (did I just write children?) ...

My biggest pet peeve are people who portray a perfect package - they've got it all together, they're kind, good, well disciplined, read their bible everyday, go on missions trips, and have never questioned their faith. I especially can't stand mothers of perfect children. Plu-ease.

At least that's what they want everyone to believe about them.

You want to know what draws me to people? People who have more than one dimension to them. People who don't have all the answers and don't need to. People who have experienced hard times and struggled, who wrestled with God yet lived to tell about it. People who are joyous, not just happy.

Do I dare write further? I'm passionate about this subject - but I'm fearful I'll be a hypocrite if I write down the thoughts that I think.

Because I know exactly how to put that good christian mask on. I've worn it well, and it's still my default mode in certain situations. I've been a kid of a pastor, and so there is a certain pressure to preform as one should as a PK. And in a church era of following God out of duty, performance was key.

Ouch. I can hear some of you cringe. (Some of you are just wondering what I'm talking about - "where is she going with this?")

A couple years ago (I can't believe it's been that long!), my dad and I talked about the Church. He told me that throughout it's history, the church has swung from one extreme to the other. Growing up, phrases like "experiencing God's love," or even just "experiencing", was a big no-no. Emotion in faith was to be limited. You can't base your faith on emotion (emotions come and go), and experiencing God was just too charismatic (I'm brethren). I used to pity anybody who were guest musicians at our church - we never clapped for them.

Anyway, (where am I going with this?), I think the pendulum is swinging towards the other side now. Experiencing God's love, experiencing all of God and your faith, is now starting to be encouraged at the pulpit. And not just at the charismatic churches!

Why can't we just stay in the middle? Why does the pendulum have to swing at all?

The benefit of duty faith is that it can easily be measured. By all. The problem of duty faith is that it can deceive you - like it did me. I became arrogant, thinking I knew just about all I could learn about God and the bible. (oh my goodness - did I just admit that?) And didn't my talk and walk just prove that Sunday after Wednesday after Sunday all the days of my life? Surely there is a special placed marked out in heaven for the pastor's sweet daughter who plays classical guitar during special music? (I beat out the kid who played the organ - oh yes I did!)

I don't want to diminish the importance of duty, of work. The bible talks a lot about work (I looked the word up in a concordance), that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). And of course, it would be a scary thing to base my faith and walk with the Lord on only emotion (I'm not sista insane for nothing!).

For me, duty faith was easy. It was predictable. It was in my control. I was doing all the right things. I proved to God and everyone else that I was worth saving.

I held God to the side, locked him up and and desired that he not grow any bigger then the box I put him in. He was much more manageable there. And life was too.

Until.

Until I got married and life took on more dimension. It wasn't all about me. And I realized that nothing is in my control. But that's a lesson he continues to teach me time and time again, and I've even given him a bigger a box! Each struggle we come through, God and I, his box grows bigger and bigger.

The fact is, we're fooling ourselves. And in fooling ourselves we hold God at a distance.

And that's my pet peeve - clinging onto the damn mask instead of onto God.

I'm not done writing on this subject (unless I get a lot of hate mail by good christain masked people). It's already 11pm and I've got to go to work tomorrow. I need my pillow time. I'll continue when the mood strikes again.

(I can't believe I don't own one of their CD's by now - it's a sad thing really. Jack Johnson won out this past purchasing time).

Change

There are some things that I need to change often, like my underwear and the background for this blog. I like change then. So you can always count on me to always change up my underwear and the look of this blog - because change in these cases are good.

I used to always love when we moved into a new house as a kid too - I loved changing houses. I wonder if I would like it as much now?

What about you? Do you like change?

The Sistas Go To Annapolis!

 

  And this was the cute Inn where we stayed – right in the middle of the historical section on State Street.  Isn’t it lovely?

What a fun road trip we had!  We left Saturday morning.  Road trips with my sistas, no matter how short or far away, are always hysterically scary.  The night before, while I was tucking her in, Noel prayed for our trip – that no cars would crash into us.  So it seemed like a foreshadowing of an ill event when we’d find ourselves driving along side of an ambulance from time to time to time.  

I was never to Annapolis before and didn’t realize how much I’d LOVE it!  There’s so much history there!  The roads are so narrow and the houses along side the narrow roads are just adorably OLD.  One historian told us that Annapolis had the most houses (1500) within a 1/3 mile of each other which date back a couple hundred years that are still operational.

This is Main Street.  Besides having such wonderful architecture, Annapolis has many wonderful little shops.  We spent most of yesterday exploring these shops and eating in the restaurants. 

 

 

 

 

We were told that back in the day, when the master of the house wanted to know the news and any information regarding the Revolution, they’d call their servant or slave over and give him a penny, telling him to “go –sip” at the tavern.  He’d have enough money to nurse one drink while overhearing all kinds of information.  Over the decades the term “go – sip” changed to “gossip”. Isn’t that cool?  We learned a lot about the history of where we got our sayings and words.  I absolutely loved it.

 

This was the State building which State Street circles around.  Our Inn is located right across from it.  We toured it this afternoon before we left for home.  I think it is still in use today.  This is where George Washington gave his presidential resignation speech.  We saw the final copy of his speech – he had very nice handwriting. 

My Sistas

This was the back door to the State building.

 

This trip was not only a Sista get-away, but it was the last time the Sistas will all be together until after Christmas.  Sista Speedracer has joined the National Guard with her husband and they go to boot camp for 10 weeks on Monday.  I am so proud of my Sista.