Struggling Patriot

Its been over a year since my last post so I doubt that anyone still looks here anymore. But Here it goes anyway.

I am a patriot -I bleed red, white, and blue. I was raised on Air Force bases across our Country. As a child growing up on the headquarters of Tactical Air Command, every day was like an air show. All I had to do was look up into the sky and there would be multiple F-15's doing cool things in tight formation. My dad was an influential scientist / developer known as the Czar of SAR (synthetic aperture radar, I could explain but then I'd have to kill you.)

I am a patriot - but for a couple years now I have been struggling with the possible conflict between my patriotism and where and how God wants to direct my life. As most of you know I am on a journey attempting to follow The Way of Christ as he reveals it to me.

Christ was apolitical and could certainly not be called a patriot. I have previously dismissed the divergence between myself and Christ in this respect, because I live in the frigin' US of A. I mean those Romans were evil, bad dudes and our country was founded by Christians right?

At my church we are talking about the Kingdom of God and this has renewed my struggle. Can I be a patriot concerned about the USA's Kingdom and at the same time be 100% sold out to God's Kingdom. There was a time when I thought they (the two kingdoms) could not be in conflict so it doesn't matter, but I have a tough time believing that anymore. It even seems to be similar to serving two masters.

As always I'm more interested in your thoughts than mine - what about civic duties? Civil obedience? the military? so many questions

Christian Leadership

Who speaks for you?
Who speaks for Jesus?
Who is Leading Authentic Christianity?

Please watch the following You-Tube videos in full.


A. Bono - U2







B. Dr.Nina Gunter Nazarene General

If you choose "B", Please read the Gospels and return to quiz, Repeat as necessary.


I'd love to hear your thoughts - Steve

Chastity and Self Control

Those of you who know me, understand that I should not come at this in a pedantic manor. In fact my lack of self-control hangs over my size 40" belt for all the world to see.

With my fundamentalist background, it is very hard for me to not see things in black and white. Is it sin or not. If it is not sin, it is permissible - lets do it.

There is another line of thought that is of some interest to me. If we cannot control these earthly vessels, which are certainly capable of being controlled, how is the Creator to entrust us with a heavenly body. Similarly if we cannot handle our current financial situation, how are we to be trusted with untold riches. (for more on this point see Matthew 25:14-28)

So if we are to abstain from alcohol, trans-fat, or a wild spending spree, maybe we should do it with the above paragraph in mind. Not because a Pizza, a Rum & coke, or a designer suit are sin.

As always - I'm interested in your thoughts.

Thanks for the Comments

Sorry I begged

I WANT COMMENTS

I spent a lot of time thinking about the 4/13 post - I must have a friend or two that has a thought or opinion!!!!

Protest Me?

Just a quick thought. My daughter went to an all weekend Concert and Teaching time that was targeted at teen age Christians. About 30K of them met up in Detroit. On the way in my Daughter saw picketers outside with signs the read "We don't want your Theocracy!!"

My first thought was "How can these people picket us, when there are Muslim extremists out there who really do want a theocracy. What is wrong with America these days?" Just about as soon as I thought it, I realized - that it was the easy thought - the lazy thought - the unintellectual thought - the unimportant question.

Here's the important question: What have we been doing as Christians that would give even the most critical the idea that we want to do anything but love one another and share the amazing truth of the Way of Christ to those that we do love?

Just a thought.

Particism, Patriotism, Pacifism, and GOD

I was raised in a basic right-wing middle class republican household. The kind of household where you might hear " How can anyone who calls himself a Christian vote for a person that................"

My father in law and I have been having an ongoing discussion about pacifism. He has been doing some research including spending time with a Mennonite pastor.

My final ;) thoughts, as of 12:40 on April 13th are these:

Satan doesn't care if you are a hawk or a dove as long as you confuse it with your religion. As long as you're spending time, energy, and money on rallies & volunteering, Satan doesn't care if its for the Young Republicans or Greenpeace.
He is just pleased that you have found a "cause" and one that is not showing The Way of Christ to the people with whom he plans to spend a rather unpleasant eternity.
As long as he can keep you wrapped up in being a conservative christian, a liberal christian, or even a vegetarian christian - the more time you will spend in discussion, rallies, and protests and the less time you will spend on Charity & Prayer,what Satan most despises.

I write in the above format as it seems a bit easier to sit and say what I think Satan believes. I have a little harder time pulling together the hootspa to say what God wants. But here it is.

I believe God wants us to have interests and passions while we are here on earth.He has placed passion and opinions within us. It is at the point that we confuse them with our relationship with God by using religion to justify this or that - that we move into dangerous ground that can compromise our relation to Christ.

Humbly submitted with some help from my favorite author C.S. Lewis