Read the fine print....

EVERYONE WELCOME!!

Not valid if you don't agree with EVERYTHING we believe

Have you noticed the coupon craze?

People everywhere are clipping coupons and looking for the best deal--I think there's even a reality show that features people who have become experts at finding these great deals. But you always have to read the fine print or when it comes time to check out you will find that what you believed to be the deal of a lifetime is no longer valid....
This generally happens when you try to combine 2 different deals...


Have you ever noticed how people change throughout their lives?

We all go through life picking up new ideas and holding fast to old ones. We meet new people, and we tend to "pick up" things about that person that we admire and we apply them to our own life. I have often found myself "picking up" words or mannerisms from the people who pass through. [Its made me a better person] I think we all do this; we go through life picking up great things from different people and YES even different cultures, until we have created a beautifully diverse work of art that we call ME.

I have picked up so many great things from so many great people...I have also picked up some not so great things. But I as walk through this life I have learned that sometimes I have to let go of some pretty deep imbedded ideas. Some of these ideas have been so deeply engrained into who I am that the thought of even thinking they might be wrong is almost overwhelmingly terrifying....BUT

Jesus was a radical revolutionary in that He came to reconcile ALL cultures and ALL people unto Him. He even used the most unlikely person to do so...Paul who was the Pharisee of Pharisees Saul, who was a zealous young man with ambitions of being great in the Temple. He was so passionate about the things that had been indoctrinated  into his very being (The Law) that he went out persecuting EVERYONE whose beliefs challenged his. Then one day Jesus knocked Paul off of his high horse and sent him out to the Gentiles. [People that even the Christians didn't want to touch]

Jesus is always trying to reconcile ALL people unto Himself, whether you agree with them or not. He said, "Let the little children come unto me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." SUCH as these (Matt 19:4)...what did He mean by "such as these"? Most people will probably say because children are innocent...but the truth is we are all born into sin and a child learns to lie and manipulate before their 2nd birthday, so innocence is probably not the answer.




It's probably because children have no prejudice or bias. They haven't had a chance to be contaminated with the ideas of their particular culture or society. They just want to play with each other and enjoy one another's company. Jesus also said a few verses before in Matt 18:3.. "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

It is time that we get off of our "high horse" and let go of some deep rooted ideas and just love people as Christ loves people. Just accept one another despite our differences, and yes maybe even celebrate our diversity-- Heck we may even become "better" for it.

I love people...ALL people

I know its a tad cliche but I'm asking you WWJD? I believe that He would LOVE people...and if He finds things in their lives that He wants them to change He will deal with that person personally through their own relationship with Him...You see I believe the the church has gotten so tied up in trying to "change" people to fit into their culture that they have forgotten to love people and let God do the changing. If I won't validate someone because they're a different deal than I, then I miss a huge opportunity to grow and become better...and they will never have a chance to learn from me either--WE BOTH LOSE!!

Church signs say things like:

"Everyone Welcome"

"Reaching for those that nobody wants"

"No one turned away"

But what does the fine print say?

Just Bb

What is discrimination?

dis-crim--i-na-tion
[dih-skrim-uh-ney-shuhn]

1) treatment or or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor or against, a person or thing based   on a group, class, or category to which that person belongs rather than individual merit.
2) the power of making fine distinctions; discriminating; judgement
3) something that serves to differentiate

I was talking with a friend the other day about this very subject and I was somewhat on a soapbox about how I had recently been discriminated against and she said, "Before long you're going to be defending Muslims, Buddhist and..." I quickly interrupted her by shaking my head no... and she said, "So it's ok to discriminate against someone for their religious beliefs?" I immediately felt the shame of my own double standard-- I now see that each of us have "opinions" of people based on all sorts of things whether it be race, social status, sexual orientation, and yes even religion...

Why do I have this intolerance for a people based on their religion??? I'm glad you asked... It is in my heart for the same reason it's in yours..(9/11) We all have a mind-set against people because of a deep hurt--a tragedy that we as a nation suffered through... So just like every other human we look for someone to blame--a place to aim our anger and hurt, as a way to overcome our FEARS... So we pass judgement on an entire people...This is how discrimination is born

I have recently found myself developing a new bias--and unfortunately it's the church that has sparked this new prejudice. I have a just experienced a deep hurt (by way of discrimination, judgement, & rejection) and I have found myself aiming my pain directly at the church as a whole... Which makes me just as guilty of discrimination as the next guy.

As I was talking with my friend the other day I quickly found something in my heart that is COMPLETELY unacceptable and I'm so thankful that it was exposed... now I can make the necessary adjustments and change those preconceptions and become a better person. The truth is there are "religious zealots" in EVERY religion and I cannot base my opinion on those who induce harm as opposed to the many more who actually operate in love....I see that now


WE (yes this includes you) reject those that we don't understand or agree with and that is discrimination at it's best--Not to mention it's mean as hell. 

Who do you discriminate against?
__Blacks
__Whites
__Hispanics
__LGBT
__HIV/AIDS patients
__Muslims
__Christians
__Other
(check all that apply)

Just Bb

Boycott people?....seriously

 One of the teachers of the law came and heard the Sadducees arguing. He noticed that Jesus had given the Sadducees a good answer. So he asked him, "Which is the most important of all the commandments?"

 Jesus answered, "Here is the most important one. Moses said, 'Israel, listen to me. The Lord is our God. The Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind and with all your strength.'—(Deuteronomy 6:4,5) And here is the second one. 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'—(Leviticus 19:18) There is no commandment more important than these."

 "You have spoken well, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one. There is no other God but him. To love God with all your heart and mind and strength is very important. So is loving your neighbor as you love yourself. These things are more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."--Mark 12:28-33

I read an article posted on Fb this morning, and this article was about JC Penney's Father's day ad that featured 2 gay men and their children, and according to this "christian" blog THE END IS NEAR!!! This "christian" blog suggested that ALL "christians" everywhere should boycott all the JC Penney stores, and return all the catalogs because of their support of homosexuality.

I responded to this by simply saying, "boycott people...yeah that's what Jesus would do!" and of course this spawned an interesting debate (to say the least)--- I immediately got the "spiritually correct" response of: This is not a boycott against people, but against perversion and immorality. 

I replied, "If you're gonna boycott perversion and immorality I suggest that you sit at home because MOST PEOPLE on this earth are perverted or immoral (ESPECIALLY according to your standards) in some shape form or fashion!! You can't buy gas you can't walk into wal mart you can't eat a burger without coming into contact with someone who you consider "immoral" or "perverted' WHY do you think Jesus died? HE died so that EVERYONE could be saved.... UNMERITED FAVOR....have you forgotten about that?...I haven't it's called...GRACE 

I know what the Bible says and I understand the Church's beliefs in his matter... (I was a Pastor for 8 years) I'm not asking anyone to change what they believe... I'm convinced that it's our beliefs that make us who we are and I respect that and expect you to stand firm on those beliefs. 

I'm not out to change anyone's mind (maybe open it a little) but not change it. I believe each person has a RIGHT to their own beliefs...I'm not asking anyone  to accept or agree with my beliefs... all I'm asking is that you not beat me up, or those I love with those beliefs. This is not about what anyone believes to be "right" or "wrong" it's about people...believe it or not the LGBT community are people...people with a heart...people with feelings...people who love and want to be loved!!! 

If you want to "win" people you must love them...PERIOD---WWJD?

When you make comments like.. "All Christians should boycott these people because of their 'perverted policies'" and saying that you're boycotting perversion and immorality not people, when you're referring to the gay community, it's absurd to think that you're operating in the love that Christ spoke of in Mark 12...you might want to examine those verses and see who it is that you're reflecting...is it Christ or the Sadducees. 

I respect your beliefs... I just don't appreciate being beat up and criticized by them! 

Please respect mine!!! 

Don't change what you believe...Change how you love

You don't have to love my life--to love ME

I'm not arguing with your beliefs...whats making me so angry is the injustice and condemnation that the church is putting on a people... its discrimination PERIOD!!! Stop beating people with your Bible and love them your heart we are NOT called to CHANGE people God does that we are called to LOVE them... and boycotting people is HATE PERIOD!! 

Jesus' love for me has not nor will it change...why did yours? 

Just Bb

The "least of these" (part 2)

Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry. He wanted something to eat. While the meal was being prepared, Peter had a vision. He saw heaven open up. There he saw something that looked like a large sheet. It was being let down to earth by its four corners. It had all kinds of four-footed animals in it. It also had reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
 "No, Lord! I will not!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything that is not pure and 'clean.' "
The voice spoke to him a second time. "Do not say anything is not pure that God has made 'clean,' " it said.
This happened three times. Right away the sheet was taken back up to heaven.--Acts 10:9-16



Peter had a vision-- a very scary vision-- All the things that the Lord was asking him to digest, was completely against everything that he believed...The Lord was stretching him and opening his mind to something new, and Peter was VERY reluctant. He tried to be super spiritual and say just the right thing, but the Lord said, "DO NOT say that what God has made clean is not pure"

In Acts 10 Peter came to the realization that Jesus never showed favorites; He was the original and radical... Equal Rights Activist! The Jews considered the Gentiles unclean, undeserving and well "the least of these" (Matt 25:40) of all humanity. But Jesus showed Peter differently through a life-changing...revolutionary vision...

Jesus radically changed Peter from a religious bigot to an all inclusive Christian (Christ like)... Now remember that it had been pounded into Peter's head that to even associate with the Gentiles would cause him to be unclean...the stigma that was attached to "these people" would effect his life in such a way that  his social status would forever be damaged... But Jesus showed him the error of his ways!

Unfortunately, we Christians tend to be very exclusive because of our strong beliefs. We have a tendency to reject people because of what we believe makes them "unclean" and unacceptable... Jesus on the other hand clearly says, "What I have made clean--I have made clean, and your opinion doesn't void the power of My blood and My perfecting--unconditional love."

Who are we to say someone is "unclean" or unacceptable or even abominable... When Christ lives on the inside of a person, they are saved--regardless of our opinion! If Jesus saved someone, He saved them completly--forever--He doesn't take that back.


I believe that God is trying to show the church something--BUT you cannot have a life changing vision if you won't open your eyes--

We are called to love people--ALL people

 Jesus NEVER excluded anyone..not even Judas--He called him friend

Just Bb

So who is this "enemy"

Every person has a life that is all their own to do with what, they believe, is best and what will bring them true happiness. Each person has their own pursuit and journey to find the life that best suits them to bring them this happiness. This is God's gift to everyone...He came that we may have an abundant life. (John 10:10) now the rest of that verse says that the "thief" came to steal, kill, and to destroy and that too is true-- the thief came to steal the happiness that every person strives for... the thief came to destroy the life that each person tries to build and the thief came to kill every relationship that each person holds dear.

That word "thief" means embezzler--someone who takes something that doesn't belong to them for their own personal use-- So who exactly is this "thief" that comes into our OWN lives to steal, kill, and destroy?... I'm SO glad you asked?

This thief is anyone who tries to come into YOUR life and steal your happiness by imparting, what they believe, is best and will bring you true happiness. This thief is anyone who tries to take over your pursuit and they decide which direction you should go on in your journey to find that happiness. The thief is anyone who cast you away because you won't allow them to take what belongs to you for their own personal use.

The Word says, "The steps of a righteous man are ordered by God (psalm 37:23)...I am righteous because He is righteous, not because I take the path that you or any other thief thinks is right...I'm on my own journey and I know that God has ordered my steps. I'm not asking anyone to approve or support my journey or join me in my pursuit, but I will say this--NO ONE will steal, kill or destroy my happiness.

Your journey is your own, I don't even begin to know what God has in store for anyone but I do trust that in His, NOT YOUR, infinite wisdom that He is guiding all of us to the same place. A place where we love like He loves... unconditionally.

Your journey is different from mine, thats what makes it yours...I will never try to take that from you, nor will I turn my back on you because you take a left turn when I think you should go right. I'm still walking (in the steps ordered by Him) and I'm still a Christian--Jesus is a friend of mine, and He doesn't have a delete button and neither do I.

So maybe what I'm trying to say is this... Have you been like Jesus... Are you loving people and enhancing their lives or...have you been the "enemy"?

Just Bb

The "least" of these....(part 1)

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’--Matt 25:41-45

Who are "the least of these"?


In Matt 25 when Jesus uses the term "least of these" He's not expressing His opinion of any one people or culture...He's trying to expose the human nature. He's showing the disciples (us) that somehow they have exalted themselves and excluded VERY important people because of opinion, social status and the stigma that comes along with "those people" It is these opinions that exclude a lot of people from the love of Christ...

If you want to know who the "least of these" are just examine your heart check your own prejudices...Is there a people that you believe are less because of their color, social status or sexual orientation? What do you think? Who deserves the love of Christ--that WE are called to give them...and who doesn't--

Right there...the ones that came into your mind....those are "the least of these"

Just Bb