5 more days until the new bed!!!

Yep- it's a countdown. We flipped the mattress to "survive" the next week. Alas, it's just as uncomfy. I am way looking forward to the bed. Five days and counting......

In other news...I am trying to design Big River. It's HUGE. I think, if I can pull it off, it will be fantastic...but I have to get it designed first. I am hoping I can balance the size, the logistics and the artistry of it all. Prayers appreciated. I shall have no life until mid- July.

I miss the sun. Boo rain. Poor Mickey doesn't understand it's too chilly for him to hang out on the porch.

I am reading "Grand Theft Jesus." I was intrigued by the book at the library. It's very challenging and interesting. It's supposed to be funny, but I think the author just sounds angry most of the time. He has a right to be... I think.... or should he love his enemies.... the religious right, megachurches and their pastors, republicans? Things that make you go hmmmm....

I don't agree with everything this guy says- but he has A LOT of good points to think about- particularly, how the religious right seems to completely disregard the actual teachings of Jesus, which has led me to start studying the red letters in my Bible. If we really follow the teachings of Jesus, yikes. The author, Robert S. McElvaine, does seem to repeat himself quite a bit in the book, and he has his "pet" people and issues he picks on. I don't necessarily disagree with what he has to say about them, I understand his frustration, but I feel he must be careful that his heart is pure before God. I will trust that he does have a pure heart. He does have valid points about social issues that Jesus paid attention to (the poor) that the "church/religious right" doesn't actually support. He talks about how the "church" has lost sight of "good works." I think there might be some validity to that. In our society, we'll do "good works," if it doesn't cost us anything or require any sort of sacrifice of time, energy and emotion on our part. I am also intrigued by his notion of "Christianity-lite"- and how he likens it to a miracle diet, LOSE 50 POUNDS AND EAT WHAT YOU WANT!!! YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO EXERCISE! It's a really interesting concept. NAME JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR AND YOU CAN STILL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!! It's interesting, I believe that we are saved by grace, and grace alone, and that you can't "work out" your salvation, but I think we need to grow as followers of Christ and that good works are a part of that journey. I don't think all "christians" think the way he talks about, he even admits that himself. But there are the loud "christians," that make a lot of noise, do a lot of damage and cause people like me to call ourselves "followers of Jesus" because we don't want to be associated with the loud and unloving crowd. I tell you what, it's a thinker of a book. But it does bring up some of the issues that I ponder and wonder, was that teaching I received and bought into for awhile in the past truthful? It challenges some leaders that I have looked up to in the past, but you know what? My faith can handle it. My God can handle it. But I want to know the TRUTH. So, I seek the truth in the words of Jesus Himself. I'll keep y'all posted on how that goes.

I've been studying for 3 days and have barely made it through the beatitudes. Talk about things that make you go hmmmm....those beatitudes pretty much go against the american dream. But so far, as I look around at astronomical housing, gas and food prices, we're destroying our economy, our earth- we have a crappy government, healthcare system and a TERRIBLE social security set-up....I think I am vastly UNIMPRESSED with the "American dream."

It boggles my mind to think there are folks out there who don't even think about this stuff. They don't want to take responsibility for our world. I think sometimes, people think that when it says God gave man dominion over the earth in Genesis, it means they can trash it and do whatever the hell they feel like. When really, it means we're responsible for taking care of our earth. We're responsible for taking care of each other, for feeding people, for taking care of the sick and the elderly...for loving one another. I am thankful that some parts of the earth are still untouched and beautiful. I am thankful for acts of love that I see. But many folks don't do even the little things to help the environment-let alone helping people. No, we live in a ME-ME-ME, CONSUME-CONSUME-CONSUME society. The age of reality TV.

Sadly, I think many (I am NOT saying all) churches buy into the whole american dream society thing as well. "Jesus died so I could have an SUV, $300 jeans and a summer home" mentality. Grrrr... I am very discouraged right now. A friend told me that another woman was praying for me, a woman I have never met, and that this woman felt that I was surrounded by sorrow. I think I am surrounded by sorrow. Deep sorrow for a broken world that can't look up from it's selfish and self-centered ways. I know that I am selfish and self-centered at times, many times- but I try to be aware that I am, even though I am quite imperfect at walking out an unselfish life.

Well, it's time to get off my soap box. It's a big jump down. I haven't been blogging because I've been so busy THINKING- about life, about Jesus, about society, about being "green," about conflict resolution, about all those crazy costumes in Big River. My brain is TIRED. It HURTS. I am going to my uncomfy bed and try to sleep it OFF.

I am so thankful that His mercies are new everyday.