[My opinion post from Facebook regarding the article "EX-DISNEY STAR RENOUNCED CHRISTIANITY AND BECAME A PAGAN – BUT THAT’S NOT THE END OF THE STORY" by Billy Hollowell, about Matt Morris/Teo Bishop, a former Disney star who left Christianity several years ago to become a Druid.  Read the article here (http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/11/25/ex-disney-star-renounced-christianity-and-became-a-pagan-but-thats-not-the-end-of-the-story/)]

“I’m overwhelmed with thoughts of Jesus,” he wrote. “Jesus and God and Christianity and the Lord’s Prayer and compassion and forgiveness and hope and judgement and freedom from judgement and all of the things which made (and make) me feel connected to the Sacred." ~Teo Bishop

That simple description, of compassion & forgiveness & hope... & freedom from judgement -- to me, THAT is what Christ brought us. Those who focus on the judgmental side of the people who call themselves "Christians" are missing the point of what Christ taught. Unfortunately, people (Christians included!) are imperfect. We are called to love the unlovable, and to be kind and compassionate, forgiving as we have been forgiven. We can have opinions, but opinions are not necessarily "judging."

Regardless of what he does with his new-found confusion-of-faith, this is an interesting read, and should challenge many of us to do a bit of navel-gazing, as we search out the meaning of our OWN faith. "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (1 Pet. 3: 15b-16)

Once again, I find myself only posting things I've written on Facebook.  Perhaps I would be better off posting here, first, then linking to it on my FB page?  Is that too much pride and/or self-promotion? Whatever it is, this is my not-all-that-humble opinion.  On that note...

Back on the ol' soapbox...

Originally posted October 18, 2013

Hmmmm....  Just mulling over my soapbox speeches of the past.... I'm naively disappointed that some of my more liberal friends have not understood my point, that the hatred they display towards the right is highly offensive to me. 


Why are those on the right objectified as "white" and "christian," as though being either of those two things are bad? Especially when the majority of said liberal friends are one of those two things themselves? Yep -- I'm saying it here -- I am disgusted at how many of my WHITE liberal friends rip on white conservatives. WHAT is WRONG with you people?! I didn't choose my skin color, but I DID choose my religion -- as an educated adult, mind you! -- AND my politics. I don't like Obama's policies or politics, and his skin color has NEVER been an issue for me -- this is the first time I've ever even addressed it! So stop putting words into the mouths of conservatives, and SHUT UP. You think I'm being naive about race? Actually, it's quite the opposite. I've been the "victim" of prejudice, and I worked VERY hard to earn the respect of those who didn't trust me because of my skin color. I get it. I don't like it.  But YOU need to leave race out of your comments, because the only racist here is YOU.

When you post inflammatory comments, like "If you vote republican you're voting against women, clean air, babies and starving pandas," you're telling me that I'm against those things. How would you even KNOW what I'm for or against? Have you ASKED a conservative what they are for/against? Or are you just repeating the slander the media spins? Frankly, I'm sick of it. 

We all need to take a good, hard look in the mirror, and determine what it is we stand for; then, take a step back and think about how you come off to your "friends." Are you showing no respect for others by basically posting that they are idiots because they don't share your opinion? If so, you sound like a pompous windbag, and really need to put a sock in it. It would be one thing if you were posting opinions about issues facing our nation, but just spouting off about how awful an entire group of people are, and how it's so "funny that they are imploding! hahahaha!" is about as mature as a baby on a dating site. C'mon -- stop generalizing, and start showing the intelligence that I know you have. I work hard to try to understand where the "other side" is coming from, and it's time that you get down off your high horse and try to do the same. You show absolutely NO compassion or generosity or love by being flat-out MEAN. I don't have to agree with you to show you that I respect you; there are ways to disagree yet show love. 

So, yea, I will keep posting that I think that Obamacare is a colossal failure, and that the debt ceiling should NOT be raised -- we need to live within our means as a nation, just like many of us try to do at home. I will continue to post my opinion that our POTUS is the most divisive President our nation has ever seen, and that I think our media needs to get out of the opinion business and back in to the FACT-reporting business. I also will tell you that I am tired of being told that I'm "against the poor" because I am against a thinly veiled socialist agenda -- NO, I AM NOT; I just have a different idea of how the problem could be solved without breaking the bank. I'm not against immigration -- but I am against breaking the law to get here, and against a blanket-amnesty for all. I am not ashamed of our nation's EXCEPTIONAL past -- but I am sick of hearing from our media and many liberal "leaders" how it's wrong for us to be exceptional. How ridiculous is that? Isn't it what we supposedly are pushing for in schools? An exceptional education? How about on the job -- don't you want to shine? 

There was a reason, for hundreds of years, that people have risked life and limb to immigrate to our EXCEPTIONAL country -- their desire for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our free market society -- yes, friends, much to your chagrin our country became great largely because of capitalism! -- our rights to keep and bear arms, to pursue education, to vote, to choose whether or not we have health insurance, and the freedom to practice religion without interference from the government -- these are all things that have made our country one of the most exceptional places in the world to live.

I think it's time we all do a little research into where our country came from, what our forefathers INTENDED, and learn from the mistakes of other countries and societies who once excelled, but now suck. Take time to educate yourself about what the "other" side REALLY believes and desires, and stop spreading the hate-filled lies your friends and the media are spinning. And if, after reading this little rant of mine, you no longer want to be friends, that's OK, too; I'm still good enough, smart enough, and, doggone it, at least SOME people still like me! 

I've cleared my conscience; it's time for a good-night's sleep. Pleasant dreams of world peace, my friends....

But Moooooooommmm! I don't WANT to be a bug zapper!

Note: I am reposting this from my Facebook page, and have made a few minor edits.  This has been on my heart since I woke up today, and I feel a strong desire to share it publicly.  I do find it rather humorous that the only time I seem to post is when something political has been going on.  I've recently been told by a liberal "friend" that "you're the only conservative with half a brain that I've ever met."  Uhhhhhhhh.... Should I feel complimented, or insulted?

Anywhooooo, thank you for your time & understanding!  

I've been thinking a lot about the diversity of my friends; I think I have Facebook to thank for that. We’re all so unique, in so many ways. Many of my FB friends are people I knew in high school, but I wasn't necessarily friends with them. As an adult, I've found that I actually LIKE people more – there isn't any of that teenage angst or hormonal craziness mucking up the waters. In high school, few people took the time to get to know the REAL ME – I couldn't look them in the eye, let alone tell them my opinion or speak to them at all. If I did get the guts to have an opinion of my own, I would have DIED if my friend disagreed with me or told me I was wrong! Same goes for college (unless I was drinking -- then I had no trouble chatting!) and early adult-hood.  I suppose I'm more comfortable now in my own skin -- after all, it's all stretched out -- than I was when I was young.

As I stated earlier, I've been thinking about the diversity of my friends:

Some are older than me. Some are younger. Some are even my age (29!). Some are “white,” and some are NOT “white” (most are a mix of some sort – do your genealogy!) Some are blonde or brunette or gingers; some WERE blonde or brunette or ginger, but are now growing platinum like I am (we should be rich, by the way!) Some dye their hair “normal” colors, and others dye theirs “weird” colors; some don’t dye theirs at all. Some have long or curly or straight or short hair; some don’t have hair at all. Some did, but lost it. Some are tall. Some are short. Some are thin. Some are fat. Some were fat but are now thin, and some were thin but are now fat (or “fluffy,” like me!). Some are male, some are female, and some haven’t made up their minds. Some are married, some are single, and some have been both at different times, many times over. Some have worked in law enforcement, and some have been in jail/prison. Some are from abroad, living in the USA; some are from the USA, living abroad. (I’m totally jealous of those of you in Italy or New Zealand, by the way!) All speak some form of English, but some speak other languages at different fluency rates. Some have jobs; some did but lost them for many different reasons. Some are stay-at- home moms; some are stay-at- home dads. Some home-school, some attend public school, some attend private school, and some attend charter schools. Some are in college, some are too young for college, and some didn't/don’t want to go to college; some have graduated, and some couldn't make their minds up about what they wanted to be when they grew up. ;) Some consider themselves successful; others are insecure. Some are wealthy, some are not, and most are wealthy in ways that the “world” doesn't understand. Some are teachers, some are students, some are public servants, some are office workers, and some are still looking. Some dress up; some dress down (I hope you all “dress” at some point before going into public!). Some are omnivores, some are herbivores. Some have real teeth, some have fake, and some have a combination of the two. Some have crooked teeth, some have straight. Some play sports. Some coach. Some drink. Some smoke. Some rat their hair. Some get ill from one cigarette. ;) Some do drugs; some are in recovery. Some have been molested, some work with those who have been molested, and some work with the molesters. Some live in small towns; some in big cities. Some of my friends have run for Congress, and some have testified before Congress; some are still trying to figure out if Congress is the same as the House of Representatives or not, and some just don’t care (but probably should). Some are liberal, some are conservative, and some just don’t know what that means (or don’t care). Some are on the right, and some are on the wrong (I mean LEFT, lol!), and some are somewhere in the middle. Some are Christians (from many different churches), some are Buddhists, some are agnostic, and some are new age. Some hike. Some bike. Some run. Some walk. Some skip. Some swim. Some dive. Some ride horses or skateboards or bikes or trikes or motorcycles or mopeds or other scooters; some sit on their couches and eat bon-bons (or carrots). Some are doctors, nurses, receptionists, bill collectors, cable/satellite-TV people, phone people, accountants, IT-gurus, yoga-gurus, MMA instructors/fighters, Pilates instructors, Zumba instructors, personal trainers, bartenders, cab drivers, worship leaders, musicians, actors, babysitters, landscapers, architects, builders, developers, Realtors, travel agents, pilots, flight attendants, dog washers, dog walkers, chefs, and more. Some are “dog” people, some are “cat” people, some are “horse” people, and some are “chicken” people; some are all, and some are NONE. Some are “black-and-white” rule followers, and some toe the line. Some are just out and out rebellious. Some are close to their families, some are not, and some don’t have families. I could go on and on and on and on…..

Here’s my point: we are ALL UNIQUE, and that is what I love about you all. I don’t care about whether or not you look like me, act like me, dress like me, or believe what I do – I only care about how you treat me, and how you treat those I love. I don't care about whether we listen to the same music or read the same books – I just hope you can respect my heart.  We all bleed (close to) the same color. We live, we die, and we all will experience loss and prosperity. My journey is not going to follow the exact same path as yours; I do not expect yours to follow mine, either. We will have differing rocks in our paths – some will be the same type, but different sizes or shapes, and we may have different ideas on how to deal with them. You move yours, and I'll go around mine; whatever works best, that’s fine with me. I may even pause and help you on your journey, just as I hope you will help me with mine. Your path may take you uphill, and mine might take me the long route; either way, it's OK, and we can meet up at the end.

I simply ask that you respect me for who I am. I hope that, whether you agree with my religious or political persuasions or not, you will see that I sincerely love people and want to help. I hope my life will be the proverbial light on a hill – not a neon “closed” sign, but a pleasant light that draws you in (and not a bug zapper, either!). It never has been, nor will it ever be, my intention to alienate people. Yes, I have my opinions, and it is my right to share them on my page, or blog; likewise, it is your right to ignore me, or block me, or “unfriend” me. I hope we can have open, civil, non-condescending dialogues, and that at the end of the day a clear conscience will be our bed-fellow. I hope you all understand that I poke fun at different things, but that it’s intended to be just that. I respect each of you, and can appreciate our differences (it's the reason you're my friend here to begin with!), even when I don't agree.

Bottom line (and then I’ll go): Our hearts all beat in rhythm, creating this beautiful symphony of humanity that I call my friends. Let’s just enjoy the music, all right?