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     Carey AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 2142 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: |
God Must Have A Layaway Plan Or I Need My 3D Glasses. Who Found The Get Out Of Hell Card?  Marshall's and K mart are now offering a layaway plan. They said the economy has necessitated that move. It appears that God has followed suit. When I didn't have enough money or wasn't convinced I really wanted an item, I'd put it on layaway. You know, drop 5 or ten dollars on an item and later, if I didn't want it, no love lost. I mean, isn't that what we do? You know, pay a little now and go back around Christmas. Does God have a layaway plan? I wrote a post on cussing. I think I 'll call that post a pot of Gumbo. I threw the sink in there. I put in a pinch of lying, a cup of cursing and a dash of Christianity. Now that was a nice little stew. But when I departed the kitchen, I left the top off my pot. Well, a few of my friends dropped by. Unbeknown to me, they added a few more ingredients. When I came back, I noticed a few questionable things floating in my Gumbo. Nope, I am not talking about okra and chicken gizzards. I saw a few vulgarities and a little justification. But what really caught my eye was a Bible that was peeking above the rim of my savory stew. Close by, there was a bag of rationalizations. It was tied together by 2 thin ribbons. The writng on one said "God knows my heart". The other one said, "we all fall down". I wonder what that means? I wonder if that means anytime we don't have enough faith or strong convictions to avoid the most rudimentary temptations, we can give it to our heart and while we are at it, throw God a layaway payment. I didn't know where the post would go but quite a few people stopped by and gave spirited opinions. Rich, from The Rich House stopped by. A few years ago he wrote a post http://the-rich-house.blogspot.com/2006/11/cuss-words-attraction.html that was eerily similar to mine. After reading his post and the comments, I knew what I had to do. Well, it seems like the lines of division are deep on this issue. I'll be the first one to raise my hand and say I have not arrived, so we can close that door. But, although I may not be the top winner in a Jeopardy game of the Bible, I believe I would be in the race. Here's my point. I am so taken aback by some individuals that quote scriptures or give the illusion that they are referencing scripture when trying to justify an act that in no way can be rationalized by using the Bible as a reference source. There's nothing wrong with quoting scripture, it has it's place but many Bible Thumpers (we all know what that means) are quick to quote a passage from the Bible that speaks to the evil ways of others but they fail miserably when trying to do the same to justify a misstep of their own. Nothing in the Bible tells us to do wrong. Nothing, not ever, no never! We all have titles. For instance there's the titles of mother, father, sister and brother. There's son, daughter, nephew and niece. On a professional level there's Doctors, Lawyers and Indian Chiefs. All those titles conjure a certain image - right? Then there are descriptive names that some would consider self proclaimed titles such as diva, lover, stud and HNIC. To some degree there's an implied responsibility that goes along with all the aforementioned names - right? Come with me, I think you know where I am going. If I called myself a blogger, a father or a Christian, would that speak to the quality of my participation in those roles? Would the title alone, tell others if I was a good father? I could be a sorry blogger that couldn't convey a complete thought. I could be a dead beat dad. I could also be a part time Christian. I could be absent of all the qualities necessary to call myself a good blogger, a good father or a good christian. I hear the voices of the cynics as they raise from their seat, but hold on. It's possible that I could never fill the role of a good father or a good blogger but that's beside the point. Do I have a responsibility to those that may use me as a role model? Someone, somewhere, might think that I am a good father and ask me to mentor their child, especially if I proclaim to be one. Another person might enjoy a few of my posts and ask me to give them a tip or two on this blogging thang, blinded of the fact that I know little or nothing about blogging. But I do consider myself a blogger. Well, I do blog. The point is, we have a responsibility to watch what we say - don't we? We are almost home. I wonder if those of us that call ourselves Christian have a responsibility when uttering those words. I wonder if we should qualify that proclamation by putting a few adjective in front of that title. There are some self proclaimed Christians that I wouldn't follow to a dog fight. There are others that I would follow without reservations. But what if I was an unsuspecting sole that didn't know the real spirit of the individual until after the fact. Who's fault would it be if I found myself hanging on the wrong words? Surely the scales of justice swings in both directions. Before I raise my hand and declare myself a Christian, should I be concerned with who's listening? Should I be concerned with the messages I send? If I am being responsible and truly honest with myself and others, should I let others know the type of Christian I am. Wait a minute ...is this the time that someone reaches for the bible and says we all sin? Please, spare me, that Trump Card is dead. It's not in this deck, the layaway counter is closed. Sure, it's my belief that God knows our heart but he also hears what we are saying and sees what we are doing. Profanity is showing a disregard or contempt for sacred things. It is NOT displaying reverence. So maybe we should all qualify before we represent. I wonder if we'd all be better off if we called ourselves part-time Christians or bargain Christian or maybe keep it to ourselves. Maybe we should just live it and walk it. Is there a title like, sort of a Christian? How does quasi Christian sound? Can we say we are Christians .....most of the time? Don't our actions speak louder than our words. There is no doubt there are wonderful Christians. But if I can step-out and use a proverb ..."Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied". I love going to convenience stores - in and out. I also shop at Marshall's, I've put a few thangs on layaway. I wonder if God has a layaway plan? I wonder if he will take a Get-Out-Of-Hell-Card? I wonder if he is a God of convenience - quick and easy - in and out? You know, get what I need and leave the rest behind. God knows my heart and who really has the right to judge? Well, I believe God does and he ain't going for the Okey Doke. We may say one thing but that does not mean it's right. Could we be listening to the wrong message while listening to ourselves? Is it possible that we are listening to nothing more than simple temptations and thus fooling no one --but ourselves? | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 13985 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: |
I started reading this post but I didn't finish it because I felt as though I was butting in on a personal conversation between you and God. Not only that, it was so well-written and that I figured you had used a ghost rider.  | ||
| Troy AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Troy Post Number: 1919 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: |
Carey, Dick Gregory once say; he would know most Christians unless they told him they were. Hey is something for you:  Don't waste it. | ||
| Carey AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 2144 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Troy ....BINGO! Dick Gregory's comment was exactly what my post was about. As I mentioned in that post, my previous one was on cussing. Well, there was 27 loooong comments on that one. But what caught my eye was those that justified their cussing ways by referencing God and what "he" knows. Others said they didn't think it was ever right. In the link, the arguments were the same. But what really caught my eye were those that testified that they were Christains. I thought, Okay, why did they have a need to tell us that. So, I wrote that post. Well, some folks got offended. I was merely asking the questions but it appears some took it personally. Truth be told, as Cynique so cleverly noted, I was asking myself those questions. Not that I go around and tell others that I am a Christain, I poised the original question/post to see if others thought we could separate ourselves from our spiritual beliefs and our craft (written words). Well, after receiving 20 plus comments on the lying post. Only 4 showed up after this one landed. Maybe the silence is similar to what I see when my pastor says something that hits home. @ Cynique ....I know that was hard for you to say but Thank You. The first draft read much like my other mess. For the most part, I write like I talk and sometimes that just don't get it. And of course, as you always remind me, my spelling sucks. Well, I bet I made over 50 edits to that post. For real, every time I read it ....it stunk! I even changed the title several times - it stunk too. Even after I read it today, I see some things that I might go back and change. I think I might even use Troy's card. I can always use a good proof reader ...whatcha think? | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 13986 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
I need a proof reader, myself. I meant to say ghost "writer", not "rider". My attention span has grown too short to plow through other people's drafts. It's all I can do to re-read what I compose. Everybody is not hyper-critical like me. If a person isn't a professional writer, readers will forgive him for making a few mistakes. | ||
| Carey AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 2145 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
Yeah, I hear you on not being a professional writer. For me it's about time, effort and purpose. I don't know about others but since I know little about sentence structure I have to play it by ear. It is what it is and it sure ain't Shakespeare. So it takes me hours to write a post. Then, after I post it, I usually cringe and then I find myself editing it for a few more hours. I am never satisfied but after time I just give up. I say I am not a writer but I write. In such, I have a little responsibility. Writing is not easy, so many elements of communication/speech are missing. Again it depends on the purpose/message and rather or not I care to spend hours with it. All in all, it's about the message. Well, just like here, it doesn't matter how sloppy my writing is, I ve found myself in a heap of trouble after a few of my posts. It's seems like I can't help but get in beefs with women. http://careycarey-carrymehome.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-low-can-you-blow-your-tru mpet-lisa.html I must be doing something wrong *lol* |
