Just passing by...

Hello! No I didn't forget about this place. I have just been so very busy over at deviant art. I have done a few more wallpapers and created a second account to put my photography in, which I have been doing a lot of lately. It's taking a while to figure out how to get the pictures I want but when I do it's like throwing gass on the fire. Last Satudray my living room looked like a poormans photo-studio with lights and stuff everywhere. So anyhow, I have lots to talk about but untill then I wanted to post up some pictures to look at. Just click on the images and a larger version will pop up. Their are plenty more and newer ones at the main account HERE

And away we go!

Yay! Today is a good day. Today it finally dawned on me that I am coming back to center within myself again. To me the term back to center is a way of saying I ma not overwhelmed or lacking in any particular department. When I am centered I tend to be more observant and quick to giggle. I tend to reflect more about things and my desire to learn or grow is greatly increased. It would be nice to turn my OSnap on and walk away if you know what I mean so I stay this way. (It's a CAD joke...center, hehe.) The right mentality and emotional state is so very important you know....of course you do. The issue is, if anything, I don't know where to start. Hopefully it lasts long enough to get some things accomplished this time. I have so much I want to try and learn that I am excited about I can't sleep sometimes. The blogs are backing up in the little "bloggies.txt" file I keep my thoughts in and the dA site is basically in the same shape.

Speaking of shape, I went to the GYM twice this week and I am loving it. It's so comfortable and theirs always equipment open. I figure the plan will be to spend a few months just getting my heart and overall stamina back in shape and then maybe after that I'll shift to the weights also. Gettign bulky is not nearly as important as being healthy but it would be nice to look good again as well. (Personall opinion)

I finally got to write back to Pam this week and will send it on Monday. Tomorrow I want to take a picture of myself that doesn't look terrible and drop it on a nice background picture from somewhere. Also, I would like to draw something for her this weekend. Not like the dA stuff but more like I used to do when I was a kid. It probably won't work as I haven't exerrcised those muscles in a decade, but I suppose it's worth a shot. Something Christmasy would be nice as it will get to her around that time.

Um...yup. Catch you all later.

Oh boy, this can't be good

So it seems that this Pastor of a United Methodist Church has made the bold move of denying a person who wanted to become part of the church becasue the person was Gay and had no intention of changing. The story continues that the associate Pastor dissaproved of the act and called for backup. The Pastor was then relieved of his duties as repremand for his actions.

Personally, I don't see how any man can turn away a person who is seeking Christ and salvation. I understand that it is not a simple matter and I will address that as needed, but no man/woman who comes to the church is coming without a chip on thier shoulder so to speak. Most who come don't even realize they are up to their waist in sins and so may not be fully capable of repentance of their sins on the spot to gain acceptance into a church. Irregardless of that matter, no Pastor has eyes that can see a persons soul (or honest intentions) and even if they did no Pastor has the authority under God to deny membership to the Gods church (or salvation). If that is anyones job it is His job and should be left to Him.

Beyond that I don't really get where the Pastor is coming from. Not in that he dissaporves of homosexuality but that he thought that by denying the man to be part of the church he was effectively closing him out of Gods plan. (Even if he didn't think that it would look as such to th enon-believing populace and the gay community.) Being a member of church and attending it is important, yes, but the church is the body of believers not the gathering of believers in a building or the building itself. This man, who is already a Christian and was transfering from a different church, was not removeing the gay man from the body of believers with his actions nor could he have hoped to. I understand that perhaps the Pastor was trying to avoid having to deal with the accusations of being to soft in his ideals, but he may have made a greater error in his efforts on this one. Another simple log on a complexe fire.

Don't missunderstand where I am coming from. I do believe homosexuallity to be a sin much in the same fashion as pornography or adultery are sins and it is important for a believer to face their sins in repentance, at least to accept salvation with the understanding that they are in sin and then face it,if not immediatly, over time. Once a person goes to God for salvation He begins to work on them and...well lets be honest some of us aren't quick to addmit defeat or accept change. As such it is important for the person to know they are doing wrong but not to disclude them from the church or to attack them with their sins. Most of us who come to the church are not assulted despite the baggage we carry in. Why be so spiritually brutal in this case? Maybe I'm wrong here, but I doubt the man didn't know what he was doing in his sex life was against Gods decrees. At that point his fight is between him and God despite our interests in the matter or our interests in public opinion.

Ok, I'll stop droneing on.

Contrasting Comparisons

Recently the topic of reincarnation and resurection came up in another blog that I like to visit some times. In addition I had recently watched a horror flick which included the spiritual system of reincarnation. Also, I remember having had it come up in conversations prior to these events. So anyway, I though about things and here is what I came up with concerning the question/statement...for now.

"Aren't reincarnation supported in scripture? They both deal with rebirth. Aren't they the same? Can't they be used to link the two ancient "religions"?"

Their are only two types of instances in scripture where reincarnation might have been applicable. The first being in reference to being reborn of the Holy Spirit. The second being instances of resurections such as Lazarus, Jesus, or the kid that fell asleep and then fell out of the window, I can't remember which story that was. Possibly even certain verses in Revelations in regards to resurection could be used to attempt a match between the two concepts.

In John 3:3-6 it says, "In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born from above." "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."

To be "reborn" in a scripture sense is to be reborn of the spirit not of the body. Specifically the Holy Spirit which is God comes to live with and within us. Our old "dirty" spirits are then essentially owned (and over time cleaned up and operated by) the Holy Spirit. Giving us a new life and one that is closer to God. The initial rebirth (including salvation) is instantainous while the change itself can be rather slow. The requirement stated is that one must be reborn of the Spirit not of his/her own spirit and not of flesh in any sense.

Now, as for the issue of the resurrection the difference would be, essentially, that reincarnation dictates that you will basically be recycled according to your life and then set back in place in a new form/body while resurection states that you will not come back as another person or thing on earth. That you are, upon death, to be passed to the next state of life which is for all intent and purpose the last one. In this instance the definition of the two concepts alone should be enough to seperate the them so I haven't provided scripture. If I have missed something or have not been thorough enough please say so. I just didn't want to get another uber long post like the one a few days ago.

(I'd like to be more versed in larger spiritual ideas like karma verses salvation and though I could just take a crack at it I don't feel ready to do so with any accuracy. Some other time.)

Generalized Conclusions

So recently I have had a couple conversations where the concept of every "religion" (or ancient faith system) is the same or equally reliable. Generally we deny such a claim before we think about why, which is not to say that we are wrong to do so. So I spent a little time thinking about the subject and how to deal with it all. It is true that their are widespread records of events like the flood. It is true their are similarities between names and even spiritual rule sets in some cases (but the deeper you look the less they match). I think people have a tendency to see a similarity and either immediatly take it as if it were a dead on match or they reject it outright from fear. That's really not the way to do it, IMO, as it helps no body in terms of clarity.

Anyway, after thinking about it for a while it all seemed to boil down to about three very basic options, maybe four, as to why things in different faiths overlap at times.

A. Satan has had his hands deep in the spiritual lives of those not of the chosen people and all those who have chosen to step away from Gods original design. (True and can be diagramed)

B. Many if not most of these ancient religions have been created by the same God but on different terms for the different peoples. Different teachings mixed with similarities. Different events, visions, and prophecies which all lead to the same God. (False and can be defended)

C. That the reason for the similarities is that all people came from one line and one God originaly so each time a group divides away from the main they take with them essentially the same history. Likewise they would all be effected by things such as the Flood and would consequently have some form of record of them. (Likely considering the history of the world)

*D. This is the holding pen for those ancient religions which do not share any real link to the main topic. Those which worship nature, self, incarnate deities, or other worldly entities. These are sort of out of the discussion as they were never really in the discussion. (N/A)

In the end, each ancient faith and event must be excruciatingly scrutinized over for accuracy and intent before drawing conclusions and the truth of the matter is their are very few of us who are truly capable of this task. Whether because of a lack of accurate resources or natural ability. None the less if we, the normal folk, are to develop our own opinion on a topic like this we need to invest some time in understanding the other faiths as well as how to discern truth from fiction. Not an easy task on either account.