Soap Box Jockey

Call me crazy, but I'm going to risk it, I'm going to attempt to beat a dead horse. I think I've mentioned before that I grew up in a false church full of theives and robbers. I've seen and heard of unspeakable injustices done in the name of God. I was taught to believe things that have no biblical basis and have nothing to do with Jesus. I did not know who he was, what he did, or who his is now. People do and say all manner of insane things in the name of religion. Let me be the first to say, if you've had these experiences, if you've seen or heard things that just don't jive with what a Christian should do and say, I'm sorry, and you're not alone.

I'd like to continue by saying, if you continue to harbor bitterness or anger at others or at God for these things, you need to stop. God did not do these things or say these things, in fact, the bible says that many will come in his name, many will claim false things and do all sorts of things in the name of Christ. He warned us through his word to not be surprised that these things happen. Anything of value always has a counterfeit, check out e-bay and any gucci purse. Always a counterfeit. They seek to fool others for their own gain.

Yes, God allows it. He allows all sorts of things in order to allow each of us to make our own decisions. That doesn't mean he isn't just or doesn't care. People will face the consequences for these things. Catholic priests who molest children will face justice. People who start cult churches because they desire power and money will all stand face to face with God and be held accountable.

If you've been burned by people, don't blame God. If anyone has a reason to not trust God, it would be me. I missed out on a childhood, no Christmas, no birthdays, no Friday night football games, etc. I had friends who were beaten by their fathers or step fathers and had the church look the other way. I've seen women portrayed as the villian because they left abusive relationships. I could go on and on but I won't. Some of you will use these things as proof that God doesn't care or isn't real, But I don't.

Despite all these things, I have found that God is true and faithful. He never lies and never fails. He is always good, always loving, always available. He hates anyone who harms a child. He despises people lying or cheating in his name. He will not leave these things unaddressed. He has offered us eternal life and forgiveness of all of our sins. For anyone who just wishes they could start over, be someone new, he offers this. If anyone belongs to Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.

Here's the challenge. Don't use the things I mentioned as an excuse to turn your back on God. If you had a really bad experience with a dental assistant as a child, does that mean that the dentist is evil or does it change your need for a dentist? No, it means that someone who claimed to be representing the dentist was a creep. You still need some fillings, and lets face it, some of us need the full veneer package.

And so, I have, maybe needlessly, beaten the dead horse. Maybe I'm just preaching to the choir. Maybe I've used one too many idoms. I'll leave that to you to decide.

A Harry Potter Disclaimer

Disclaimer: The following post may be a spoiler for anyone who has yet to read the last installment of the Harry Potter series. Please use caution.

Also, my apologies to anyone who may be caught off guard by the fact that I do, indeed, read Harry Potter. I do not let my children read or watch Harry Potter, but as I am an adult, I really enjoy them from a literary perspective. I do not condone or promote witchcraft in any way shape or form and I do not see these books as doing so either any more than the Lord of the Rings or A Wrinkle in Time or anything by Rhoald Dahl does. They are truly fantasy. I'm not debating, this is my opinion and The Lord and I are OK between the two of us.

These things being said, please continue on and read my thoughts on Harry Potter 7 and the application of the Lord's truth to concepts mentioned in it.

The Death of Literature.

I am concerned that we are about to face the immanent death of literature as we know it. The story, novel, epic, whatever the mode of tale we look to, there are common archetypes, common themes. There is a battle between good an evil. This presumes that there is, indeed, a good and evil. There is hubris verses humility, love verses hate, self sacrifice verses self gain. I am afraid, because I know that there are many nowadays cheering for Voldemort insead of Harry. You prefer Darth Vader over Luke, and flagrantly deny that Vader turned back to the force when faced with his demise. There are those who look to whatever their ears want to hear and trade the truth for lies. These people say bad is good, and good is bad. They distort truth and make it relative and in this way nullify any faith at all other than the religion of self. They call those with absolutes intolerant and ignorant, if fact, they'll label anyone intolerant who is not just like them. I am astounded at the irony.

I am amazed when many question why characters like Voldemort have to be destroyed completely. One cannot remain while the other one lives. In the end, something has to give. One has to win out. This is the epic struggle of eternity. We are enthralled by it, transfixed on characters like Harry and Voldemort and yet we miss that we too are in this epic battle.

J.K. Rowling uses two epitaphs in her last Harry Potter book, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:21) and "The Last Enemy that will be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:26)

Christians are told to store up their treasures in heaven because this earth is not our final destination. Like the curtain the Harry's uncle falls through and dies, there is just a thin veil that separates us from eternity, and what we do here has eternal significance. We can live for ourselves and self gain, or we can trust that what we give of ourselves and the lives of integrity that we live are of epic importance. There is any enemy who seeks to kill and destroy all that is good. He thinks only of himself. He seeks his own best interest and yet he can come as an angel of light.

Christ, on the other hand, willingly gave up his life for each of us. He laid his life down, and then, three days later, raised from the dead. Research it yourself if you don't believe me.

Christ will reign until he puts all enemies under his feet, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death. It will be swallowed up forever and he will wipe away every tear. There is an end to this epic battle, and when the King of Kings returns, what side will you be on? Just because you may not choose to believe, doesn't mean you won't be held accountable. Jesus said he would take the penalty for your sin if you choose to follow him. He is the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through him.

We love Harry and Ron and Hermione because they are courageous, they have faith in the midst of persecution and disdain from others like them. They have courage, they believe that there is something bigger going on than what they can see. We wish our lives held that kind of purpose and destiny.

My friends, they do. The number of our days was ordained by God, and for those who have chosen him, he has an eternity we cannot imagine. Will you take the challenge? If the sorting hat were placed on your head, which house would you be in? When Jesus himself separates the sheep from the goats, which side will you be found on?


Do not be deceived. There is a right and wrong. There are standards and there is a holy and righteous God who is faithful. He is faithful to save those who call upon him, he is faithful to punish those who choose to follow the religion of self and love their latte more than their Lord.

The bible says that we fight not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world that we cannot see. We may not have the Sword of Gryffindor but this is what we have been given:

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Eph. 6:13-18)

There is good and evil. There is an epic battle. Count me on the side of Lion of Judah, the King of Kings, the one who was, and is, and is to come. The one who will put even death under his feet.

Back in a Flash...

I should have pictures coming soon of my kiddos, but I have to have them DEVELOPED...Yes, the old fashioned way. My Dad was gracious enough to give me a better camera, our digital point and click is, lets just say, a disappointment at best. The 35mm Canon Rebel, on the other hand, may be "old fashioned" but man, it takes much better pictures. Because I'm working on delayed gratification, I thought this would be a good exercise for me. Maybe for some of you too because you have to WAIT to see my darlings.

I heard rumor that some of you are MOVING to Spokane. You know who you are. I sure hope we'll get to see you once in a while!!

Singing off!

Kacey