- Apr 17, 2022
- 56
- 63
- 56
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Non-Denom
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Libertarian
Hello everyone! Here's a story for y'all from the fine state of Texas on this Easter Sunday.
The summer of 2020, I found myself lost and reaching for something real and powerful. Something better and more compassionate, more forgiving than the insanity I was surrounded by. We all know what happened that summer, so the less said the better on that end. So, after decades of ignoring Him, of running from Him...I finally stopped, turned around, and began listening. For the first time in my life, it made sense. I said, "Oh? You still love me even though I'm a total screw up who reviled You for so long? Even though I have no idea where to start with knowing You?! Um...wow." So then I began getting my head into the Bible seriously for the first time in my life and a ton of it is coming home and making sense to me, now. Of course, I've also long since discovered that there are just as many people on the right side of the fence (speaking as someone who was left wing for ages and currently swings more center right than I've ever been in my life) who are just as messed up as the ones on the left side. So I'm still finding my place in this whole thing, this realm of followers of Christ, and not in a huge rush to find it. I'm learning and thinking and growing.
I don't go to church for a couple of reasons. Chiefly? The woke virus has infected churches terribly. I don't do "woke" or "progressive" or "politically correct". Also? Too many "prosperity gospel" types like Joel Osteen and too many hateful sorts hiding behind Scripture as an excuse to be generally awful people are frequently found in churches, and I've heard my share of horror stories about church people being pretty awful underneath the constant smiles and cheer. I don't hate anybody; I've no problem with Jewish people or with LGBT people (the new generation of "activists" are another story altogether) or most any people, really. At worst, I feel pity for them. So until further notice? I prefer to not have a middle man between me and the LORD, thank you very much.
Another thing; I still enjoy my share of secular music. Just not American secular music, as I find most of it to be not worth my time for any number of reasons. I listen to Japanese bands and singers mostly, since their lyrical content is often deeper and more interesting than what we have in America (not to mention amazing musicians). Also? I am a die hard Motorhead fan, since 1984, and the late, great Lemmy Kilmister is one of my earthly heroes (more on that in another post). Contrary to what you might think, he didn't hate God Himself; the machinery of organized religion was his problem, and I find myself in that same boat; I love God and Christ, but the machinery of organized religion? Different story. Lemmy himself was renowned as a classy and kind gentleman, and again, more on that in another post.
Also? Die hard Godzilla fan and anime/tokusatsu fan, here. There's just something about J-dramas that draws me in more profoundly than most anything on American TV. Maybe it's because it doesn't insult my intelligence.
So yes. Here I am, at the point where I feel it's time to start reaching out and contacting more like minded people to enhance my learning. To bounce ideas off of. To figure out where the heck I stand, in general. I hope to have some good discussions and learn more in general, on here, and thank any of you who take the time to read this post.
Happy Easter, for He is Risen!
The summer of 2020, I found myself lost and reaching for something real and powerful. Something better and more compassionate, more forgiving than the insanity I was surrounded by. We all know what happened that summer, so the less said the better on that end. So, after decades of ignoring Him, of running from Him...I finally stopped, turned around, and began listening. For the first time in my life, it made sense. I said, "Oh? You still love me even though I'm a total screw up who reviled You for so long? Even though I have no idea where to start with knowing You?! Um...wow." So then I began getting my head into the Bible seriously for the first time in my life and a ton of it is coming home and making sense to me, now. Of course, I've also long since discovered that there are just as many people on the right side of the fence (speaking as someone who was left wing for ages and currently swings more center right than I've ever been in my life) who are just as messed up as the ones on the left side. So I'm still finding my place in this whole thing, this realm of followers of Christ, and not in a huge rush to find it. I'm learning and thinking and growing.
I don't go to church for a couple of reasons. Chiefly? The woke virus has infected churches terribly. I don't do "woke" or "progressive" or "politically correct". Also? Too many "prosperity gospel" types like Joel Osteen and too many hateful sorts hiding behind Scripture as an excuse to be generally awful people are frequently found in churches, and I've heard my share of horror stories about church people being pretty awful underneath the constant smiles and cheer. I don't hate anybody; I've no problem with Jewish people or with LGBT people (the new generation of "activists" are another story altogether) or most any people, really. At worst, I feel pity for them. So until further notice? I prefer to not have a middle man between me and the LORD, thank you very much.
Another thing; I still enjoy my share of secular music. Just not American secular music, as I find most of it to be not worth my time for any number of reasons. I listen to Japanese bands and singers mostly, since their lyrical content is often deeper and more interesting than what we have in America (not to mention amazing musicians). Also? I am a die hard Motorhead fan, since 1984, and the late, great Lemmy Kilmister is one of my earthly heroes (more on that in another post). Contrary to what you might think, he didn't hate God Himself; the machinery of organized religion was his problem, and I find myself in that same boat; I love God and Christ, but the machinery of organized religion? Different story. Lemmy himself was renowned as a classy and kind gentleman, and again, more on that in another post.
Also? Die hard Godzilla fan and anime/tokusatsu fan, here. There's just something about J-dramas that draws me in more profoundly than most anything on American TV. Maybe it's because it doesn't insult my intelligence.
So yes. Here I am, at the point where I feel it's time to start reaching out and contacting more like minded people to enhance my learning. To bounce ideas off of. To figure out where the heck I stand, in general. I hope to have some good discussions and learn more in general, on here, and thank any of you who take the time to read this post.
Happy Easter, for He is Risen!