Oh ye of little faith

 Taking a break from politics with this post and wanting to focus on the religion or no religion debate.  I recently had a friend on social media return to the platform after many years with a dead page.  In the absence found his faith and began sharing it with others.  He restarted the page and daily shares interesting stories, personal struggles, and positive messages.  The other day he shared a story about a founding member of the Satanic church leaving his position after finding God and realizing he made a mistake.  Long story short this week he has had an overwhelming amount of negative, rude, violent, and all other forms of crap against his sharing of the post.  Comments like "Why do you keep pushing you religion on others", "Stop spreading your lies about Christ, and here is why you are wrong", and others that just hate someone sharing something that brings them peace.  I have often pondered, as I myself have been subjected to such comments and discussions, why people who are Atheist or have no belief in God feel the need to bring someone who is religious down?  Why do they feel it necessary to "prove" to the faithful that God doesn't or cannot exist?

When someone who has belief or faith it can be very hard to show it for fear of being shouted down.  Often the response to the negative reaction is to "prove" God does exist.  This is a mistake.  Just as they cannot prove he doesn't exist we cannot prove that he does.  I had a workmate who was an Atheist and we often had deep intellectual discussions about the topic.  We are both intelligent, both can articulate our positions, and both can know in the end we most likely will not change the other person's mind.  He once asked me if I believed in free will or agency, of course I said yes.  He followed it up by asking if I believed God was also all knowing, of course I said yes.  He then had the gotcha look in his eye.  He said, "If God knows every single choice you will make, is it really your choice?"  This question made me think.  In the end I said both could exist because although he knows what our choices will be he also gives us the freedom to make the choice ourselves.  The idea he would direct every single choice everyone on Earth made is far out there to me.  But the question is still one I contemplate from time to time.

Towards the end of our time working together we had a conversation.  He asked how I knew or could prove with evidence God existed.  I told him I could not provide physical evidence as it was something I just felt.  He chuckled and said, "If there is no evidence then it cannot be true or exist."  After thinking about his position, I had a response.  I said, "You have a wife and two daughters, right?"  He said yes.  I then asked, "Do you love them?" He said, "Of course I do!"  I responded with "Well how do you know you love them?"  He said, "I don't know I just feel it."  And it was that moment he got a look in his eye and knew what I was getting at.  He knew at that moment there was no evidence or proof he loved his wife and daughters, but he felt it.  Shortly after that he came to me and let me know he and his wife had attended a Christian marriage retreat and were looking for a church to attend.  Funny enough his "lack of evidence" argument disappeared when he realized some things on this earth we cannot prove or disprove.  Some things we need to feel and trust they exist.

As a Christian I often get approached by those of little or no faith and asked why I am so convinced and think of my old workmate.  I respond with telling that story.  It is important as people of Faith we remember it is our duty to love everyone as our brothers and sisters.  To treat everyone with respect.  But most of all to share our testimony of the gospel and be willing to withstand the anger, hate and arguments we may face.  Please don't misunderstand by loving and respecting everyone we are not required to agree their lifestyle or try to prove to them why they are wrong.  It is our duty to love them and pray for them, period.  It is ok for someone to have no faith, have faith, question their faith, etc.  What isn't ok is telling people they are going to hell because they haven't found God or have no faith.  In the end we all have agency and the freedom to choose.  As I have told many of my Atheist friends, I would much rather follow a faith and have a church then get to the end and have it be black and nothing than live as though God doesnt exist and get to the end and find out he does.

And now a musical interlude

 On this lazy Sunday I decided instead of my usual political thoughts and feelings I would share a little about another side of me, Music!  For me music has always been a safe space for processing and expressing feelings.  I cannot tell you how often as I am driving a song comes on the radio and my mind immediately relays an important life event or situation from my past.  On days when I am battling depression, anger, stress, etc. I find solace and comfort in music.  Music is the one thing in my life which has never let me down or made me feel like I wasn't worth it.  It has always been there.  In my darkest times and my brightest days, it is there.  My head has a constant running soundtrack in it.  

Have any of you ever been having a terrible day and then that 1 song comes on and everything aligns in your world?  Every single time my Spotify playlist knows what my mind needs to realign.  The energy that music emits has a very unique way of working with our brain waves and leveling us out.

Another thing I do with music is host concerts and shows.  I had the opportunity to go out for a 2-week tour and ended up being the emcee each night.  I had a blast.  The shows I have hosted have felt like home.  If I had one wish it would be to be in a financial position to own a music venue and host shows every single day!  Music is my happy place.  Yes planning, organizing, paying for it and all the rest is super stressful but the night of the show when all the work pays off there is nothing like it!  No feeling in the world compares to live music.  The energy, lights and vibe all put my energy in line.  

I am going to try and take a post once a month or so and go off script from politics.  Hopefully you guys enjoy these and those as I enjoy it all.  Please share and like the blog so I can increase views and participation in this effort.

What is faith?

 

    Yesterday was Easter Sunday.  When I was a kid it is one of two days I would attend church willingly, the other was Christmas eve.  When I think back on why those were the two days it doesn't even take a sec to make the connection on why, Jesus.  We as people of faith celebrate Christmas as a way to remember the birth of Christ and the amazing gift he was to this world.  At Christmas we as Americans tend to get caught up in the glitz and glamor and forget that the reason for the holiday and I personally think the reason for the Christmas Spirit is Jesus.  That feeling we all get when the seasons change, the lights and trees start to go up, and we begin smiling more and looking forward to those days spent close to our families, that is the love Christ had and gave to those around him.  So it makes sense that we fondly think of that time of year as mostly positive and enjoyable.  This weekend the faithful take time to remember his ultimate sacrifice.  But most of all his willingness to suffer for all of mankind.  

    Often when I think of the story of Jesus and his crucifixion I have a very hard time thinking of him as ever being human.  Throughout the bible we see him performing miracles, loving unconditionally, and most of all never making human mistakes.  In paintings he is shown in his glory and outlined with a white glow or descending from the heavens with hosts of angels.  People glorify him and rightfully so.  But when it is Easter and people are focusing on his agony I find my self focused on one of the few times in the scriptures he is very human, the Garden of Gethsemane.  As this glorified being went to the garden before ultimately being captured, tortured and killed he knelt in prayer to his father.  He knew by this time what his destiny and purpose was yet he went and "Fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I but as thou wilt."  He was asking God to stop his death, pleading for something he knew was not possible.  He then went to his disciples before returning a second time and praying "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."  A third time he prayed saying the same words.  So three separate times he expressed fear and doubt, both very human emotions.  When I think of this part of the bible it stands alone as the one time Jesus is human.  After that he is taken and the rest is history.  

    Just the other day I was discussing our current times and faith after seeing an article which said for the first time in our countries history less than 50% of people say they are religious or have some sort of faith.  That got me thinking of all the things today that I see in movies, music, tv, and all other forms of entertainment.  It was then that I made a connection to the Garden of Eden and how Satan has not changed his method in attempts to cause the fall of man.  In the Garden he tempts Adam and Eve by saying "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." To put it in more modern terms Satan is saying God is telling them not to eat it because then they will have all he has.  That God has established that rule to prevent them from something.  When I remembered that it was quickly apparent that Satan has not changed his tactics at all. Today world leaders, rich elites, and the most powerful people in the world are using the exact same tactics to maintain their wealth and power over others.  The ruling elites tell the poor that their problems are because the rich are holding them down.  They tell the rich the poor are trying to take what they have earned.  They tell the minority populations it is the majorities fault they cannot succeed.  They tell the majority the minorities are below them and should be pushed back down.  As you can see the tactic is the same.  Unfortunately the result will be the same in the end as well.  We are becoming a society of self centered and jealous cry babies who are not willing to accept that our own actions have caused all of our issues.  We are unwilling to teach our youth that decisions have consequences. We are unwilling to uplift those who are struggling just as much as they are unwilling to realize they can do it and need to put in the efforts to make change.  I see this as the beginning of the end.

    This weekend made me think long and hard about my life, my faith and my current struggles in finding that joy.  It was a very nice way to end the weekend watching the two hour Sunday morning session of conference.  It made me realize I need to find ways everyday to strengthen my faith and help to build that "Christmas feeling" in my everyday life.  So I am going to find a way to be more like Christ in my everyday.  For a few years I would gather people and food and create lunch bags and then distribute them to the homeless in my city.  After every event I would feel so much joy and happiness.  Since then I have been fostering dogs and helping them find new homes.  But I can and will do more.  So if you have any suggestions or ideas please let me know.

    I know this has not been my typical blog post but I am much deeper than just my politics!  If you enjoyed this please let me know and maybe I will include more of my personal side in this thing.

Non-Political post #1- Entertainement

 

As promised this is my first post of 2021 that breaks up the monotony of politics with something fun to discuss.  For those who enjoy my pithy commentary have no fear I will be posting as usual very soon!  So what can we discuss today that people might be interested in?  I have thought long and hard about what would be interesting for most of you and then it hit me, entertainment!  So here is what I was thinking, what do you do for entertainment and why?

For me I enjoy a lot of different forms of entertainment.  But the most enjoyable thing I like to do is attend concerts and hockey games!  2020 prevented both of those things but hockey season recently started and my wife agreed to let me order the Center Ice package on Direct TV which allows me to watch every single Colorado Avalanche game this season!!!  So while that does not have the same energy as being there live I have really enjoyed being able to watch my team.  Hockey has an energy live that I have never felt at any other sporting event.  It is a very enjoyable way to spend a few hours and it gives me a great feeling no matter if the team I am rooting for wins or loses.  Here in Tucson we have 2 hockey teams, the University of Arizona and the AHL club team for the Coyotes the Tucson Roadrunners.  Both of these teams are awesome to watch live and I really miss being there with my family and friends.

The other thing I truly miss is live concert events.  Since 2012 I have worked with a website called Faygoluvers which covers the genre of Underground rap and hip hop mostly.  I do music reviews, show reviews, and some interviews for them and it has allowed me to get deeply involved in something that brings me relaxation and enjoyment.  I have gotten to interview some amazing artists and review a ton of amazing albums.  But the thing I enjoy most is being at live shows.  Nothing gives me the ability to escape the realities of life for a short time like being there.  For that few hours I can give myself entirely to the vibe and energy in the building and let the outside world disappear.  Toward the end of 2020 I began writing music reviews again and found while immersing myself in the music I found some of that same feeling.  It will never be the same as live event but until that can begin again I am going to work hard to provide new reviews and start to make the review section of the site very active!

So in the end here I would like to know what kinds of things do you enjoy for entertainment and how do those things make you feel?  I know for some movies or tv shows give that ability to relax.  For others it is reading.  What is it that feeds your soul?