A CHRISTIAN SPEAKS OUT

I NEED TO SAY THIS…

I'm going to say it once, so read this closely. If you do, I can promise you revelation and understanding. You will have knowledge, good knowledge, foundational knowledge to form your opinions with instead of speaking or talking without knowing.

Good? Here we go.

I am a "born again", evangelical Christian, totally sold out Jesus Freak. I believe that God is real and loves all of us desperately more than we can possibly comprehend and wants to have a one to one relationship with each of us.

Contrary to the popular stereotype foisted upon "Christians", "the radical right" or whatever else other people tend to call people that believe as I do,  I'm well educated (two degrees, one in Business Administration and one in Computer Science), I was raised in the bastion of liberality called the North East, I'm a self confessed "Progressive Libertarian" and I work in technology and design.

I have been a Jesus Freak for 30 years. I stopped counting how many times I've read the Bible cover to cover after the 35th time. I have studied the scripture and read commentaries. I have taught Children's Church, youth groups, Adult Sunday School and have preached from a pulpit more times than I can recount. I've lead worship, sung and testified to the goodness of God in front thousands of people.

In all that time never once did I ever read, hear anyone say or preach or teach myself that God tells Christians to HATE anyone. In fact, the two core commandments that Jesus taught when he was asked were to LOVE the Lord your God, and to LOVE your neighbor as yourself.

NOT HATE - LOVE.

Let me say that again.

LOVE.

Make a note here. Important. That INCLUDES people that have a homosexual sexual preference - otherwise known as gays and lesbians.

GOT IT?  We're commanded to LOVE. Everybody. Without exception.  And if in theory they're our "enemy" - we're told to LOVE them more.  Not hate, LOVE.

Now, I know this is crazy and you'll be amazed when you hear this, but I love gay people. I have friends, DEAR friends that are gay.

CRAZY MAN - yup that's me.

OK. I know what's coming next. BUT you think that being Gay is a sin!

Let me clarify for you, I think that sex outside of marriage is a sin. In the Bible, it's called fornication.  That's anyone. PERIOD.

Let me ask you - do think I'm going off on a tirade every time I run in someone that is having sex?

NO.

Nor do I go off on people that are sinning in any other way. Whether it's pride, lack of self control, anger, greed, covetousness  or any other popular sin.

WHY?  

Cause I'm a sinner too. The only difference between me an you (according to the Bible - read: what I believe) is that Jesus died to take away my sin.  It doesn't make me perfect, it doesn't make me morally superior. It just means that I'm forgiven and that every morning I have God's mercy anew.

WAIT A MINUTE! You're probably asking how I can LOVE anyone that I think is in "sin" right?  Easy. I love myself, I love my wife, I love my kids. And you guessed it... they all sin too! Crazy.  And I still love them. 

I do hold Christians to a higher standard, because that's what the Bible tells me to do - BUT - that's other Christians only. Not anybody else. 

UNDERSTAND?

Christianity is not about hate, it's about love. It says in that crazy Bible (that all of you think is filled with all that hate speech) that...

"God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten son so that all who believe in him might not perish but have eternal life."

What does it say there?  That God so loved only the people that identify themselves as Christians that he gave... NOOOOO. It says that God so LOVED the WORLD.

In southern talk - that means "all y'all"

Earlier I mentioned that our command was to LOVE our neighbor as ourself.  Right, that means ALL Y'ALL too.

I can go through a lot of other scriptures with you if you'd like (though I doubt you'd really want to go through them all - but you know - that's what Google Hangouts are for if you really want to discuss this) but I think you have the gist.

So please, let's end the foolishness. Stop pointing at Christians and saying we're haters. We're not.  

Are there some idiots that are Christians?  Damn straight there are.  Heck, being a self admitted sinner, bone head, goof ball and moron is the qualification to get INTO the club for goodness sake.

Do Christians sometimes say the STUPIDEST things? Oh yes.  You know why?

WE (Christians) suffer from the exact same condition (humanity) that all YOU do. 

Now you know why we do such silly things too.  

I HOPE that I've been able to entertain and inform you.

I HOPE that you have a better understanding about what the scripture says.

I HOPE that you understand that even if you completely disagree with me, vilify me, call me names and other such things that 

I LOVE YOU TOO

Why? Because that's what my leader - Jesus Christ - has taught me to do. Just like he loved everyone that spit on him, whipped him and then put him on a cross to kill him.

The GOOD NEWS? The gospel truth? Jesus rose from the grave three days later. He appeared to over 500 witnesses. Yes 500!

He did that so that I - that's right.. me - could share eternal life in paradise with him. I got the same promise and same offer as he gave the thief that was hanging on the cross with him.  Just like that thief - a man who was being put to death because he deserved it (yes, the thief himself said that)  - I took the offer.

You know what? You can too.  All because of

LOVE

Thanks for reading.

PS Share this (or the link to this) with your social network if you think you know someone that might benefit.

Bend, Stretch, Reach for the Stars!

"Bend, Stretch, Reach for the Stars"

Some of you may recognize the line - if I remember correctly it's from Romper Room. Yah, you'd need to be old enough to remember the kids morning show that was popular in the 50's and 60's in the Rhode Island and Southern, MA area. But that isn't the point. What I get out of it, more than a simple little stretching exercise for the kiddies, is a great way to attack every day of your life. Strategic and tactical actions for great living!

Bend

Be flexible. Physically because you don't want to get as achy. Mentally because life changes minute to minute. Yes, have goals, but be willing to bend and take new avenues of opportunity as they come along. Flex when heavy winds (adversity of any kind from you blowhard boss to a call saying you didn't get a new job, contract or whatever) blow your way.

Stretch

Exapand! Lengthen! Physically because it promotes blood flow and flexibility. Mentally? Don't stay inside your current boundaries! Move outside what you currently deal with, work on , read of. Get outside of your head, get into other people's points of view, learn more, dream more, go BIG!

Reach for the Stars

Aim high! Physically it lengthens you. Really! Well, not like you're going to grow, but it's still good. Mentally: Sure, you're not working in NASA on the space program but reaching for the stars is something that starts mentally and moves physically! Aim high, set big goals. If you shoot for the stars and miss you still end up in the sky. If you aim low and miss, you end up in the ant hills.

So, for this Monday and any day. Bend, Stretch, Reach for the stars! You'll be surprised what happens when you do!

It's not Social Media - it's SPAM.

@JPTrenn and @ckieff have been having this great discussion about flogging and astroturfing. According to a focus group (of one) the decision was reached that we shouldn't be upset because it's just advertising or marketing (depending on if you choose JP's or Chris' side of the argument).

From there Chris arrived at the conclusion that because we - the digerati - are purists about our social media - we get offended at these marketers and advertisers but really we need to just get acclimated and learn how to recognize them. All (including the first part of the argument) to which I say

BOLDERDASH!

What a steaming pile of spare parts that is! (of course, I don't mean that in a *bad* way*) And to think, they almost had me taken in too. HA!

So, why are they wrong? What is the fatal premise? Simple. It's the premise that these floggers are advertisements. They are not, they are SPAM.

I know, you may be saying that I'm a purist so I don't want these marketing and advertising type people on. WRONG. I know a LOT of people on twitter that are on there *AS* their brand. I'm grateful for it, I appreciate their contribution. Yes, everything they say comes through a filter - which is OK because in reality we have a filter on everything that everyone says to us anyway.

BUT these floggers, these so called advertisers are not those things. They are simply SPAM. I've already decoded which accounts these people have. There are several tells that give it away. And for those lucky people that make the mistake of following me - I block them. I know - I'm a cold hearted SOB ain't I? I mean, I'm blocking these people even though they're just trying to make a living right? They're just trying to drive traffic to their site in hope of getting sales, or ad-clicks or whatever. You can't blame them, they're just trying to make a digital buck!

WRONG people. WRONG! They're spammers! And in fact they are such annoying damn spammers that I think they have as a group done something that Seth Godin never anticipated - they abused his permission marketing platform so thoroughly they've have permanently associated his Squiddo brand with SPAM in my mind. Way to go!

Wait though. I've made an assertion and I've ranted about it, but I haven't provided the reason *why* I think these people are spammers. And the answer is... Because they are NOT permission marketing, because they certainly are not part of the social media discussion. What they are is a bunch of accounts that do nothing but follow thousands of people in the hope that the people who follow the link back to their page to see who they are will click on their sole tweet to whatever their product is. Sure, some people create a feed to their twitter page that tweet every link they put up on their sites creating a mini link-farm. Again, they follow thousands of people (with next to no followers) and they only thing they're doing by following you is hoping that you'll click on their link.

THAT boys and girls is spam. Mass quantities of unwilling participants being hit with a message that they do NOT want. Bingo! We have Bingo!

So, with respect to my friends JP and Chris, it's not advertising or marketing. I *don't* need to get used to it. I need to block as many of these annoying twits (and I don't mean that in a twitter sense) as possible, not give them access to have my content draw people to their streams, and hopefully have them shrivel up and die as soon as possible (was that harsh?).

Hey, I may be The Most Enthusiastic Person on Earth (tm) but that doesn't mean that I have to allow these booger-heads to waste my time with their spam. I am however looking forward with great enthusiasm and delight to the solution of being rid of them while other people with brand integrity continue to tweet, blog, ping, plurk, pownce and friendfeed about their services and create the village square of the internet.

Seven Spectacular Ways to Make Monday ROCK!

Hey tweeps, phritters, phriends and all others :-) Here are seven *spectacular* ways to make your Monday rock - and I bet they get you off to such a great start the whole week will rock too!

1. Take time to set your mind. A little time in prayer, meditation or just reflecting on all the amazing blessings you have does *marvelous* things for setting your mind and spirit in a great state to start the week.

2. Stretch! Stretching does *great* stuff for body. It promotes blood flow, it works out kinks and aches and it makes you feel more flexible. And really, when we're more flexible and we feel good our minds are more flexible too!

3. Do a bit of exercise. You bet. Strong bodies help build strong minds. Get those endorphins flowing, build muscle, feel buff.

4. Picture your week. Create the image of the week that you're starting - and see it all going GREAT! See it just the way it should be. Don't worry, even if things come up, you'd be amazed at how easily you can adapt those surprises in and help make them part of how great the week is!

5. Make today's to do list. If you haven't already done it the night before, do one now. Don't make it exhaustive and don't make it for the rest of the month. Today's list is fine. Then find one thing you can get done straight away and get your first check mark!

6. Smile and say hello to everyone (yes, even "them") that you work with on the way into your desk/office/cube/work station. You'd be surprised at how much starting with a smile will make both their week and yours better!

7. Be *positive*! For realz. This is pithy, but true. Look at things with a glass half full - heck - even go 3/4 full! - mentality. Sure, stuff happens, but look at it as an opportunity! Yes, I hear some of you thinking that you're a "realist" or " too pragmatic" for that. Well, guess what! The most pragmatic thing you can do is to change the reality by going after those opportunities by unleashing your creative mind with a positive outlook for creative solutions with enthusiasm!

There you go, seven spectacular, sure fire ways to make your Mondays (and your week) ROCK. Have more? Let me know in the comments!

I can't take it anymore! Now it's my turn.

The kids singing at children's day

Mobile post sent by PhillyMac using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3

Four Things About Me - A Different Twist

I'd love to start having this go around. The only change to the instructions? Make sure every person that you ping - and responds with an email, blog post, YouTube video or whatever - pings me too!

FOUR THINGS ABOUT ME!!!!!
Well, it starts with me, but I really want to know about YOU!

This one is a bit different from others we've seen go around. Four things about me that you may or may not have known in no particular order.

Four jobs I have had in my life:

1. Making shakes at McDonalds
2. Pushing carriages /cashier/ front-end supervisor in a grocery store
3. Program Director/DJ at the college radio station
4. Domino's delivery


Four movies I've watched more than once:
1. A Knight's Tale
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. When Harry Met Sally
4. All Six Star Wars movies

Honorable mention: Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (only because it's so new. Only 3 times so far)
I FORGOT! Legally Blonde (had to add it for full disclosure)


Four places I have lived:
1. Coventry, RI
2. Atlanta, GA (really Buckhead and Dunwoody - but they're both part of Atlanta now)
3. Fall River, MA
4. East Taunton, MA


Four T. V. Shows that I watch:
1. American Idol
2. House Hunters International
3. Chuck
4. BSG


Four places I have been:
1. Haiti
2. Hawaii
3. Cali
4. Virginia


People who e-mail me
1. Shanna
2. Halle
3. Kevin
4. BACN! (it's a meme - look it up ;-)


Four of my favorite foods:
1. My father's lasagna
2. My mother's meatballs
3. My wife's Chicken Scampi (with the salt amount adjusted)
4. Bang Bang Chicken & Shrimp @ The Cheesecake Factory


Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Cali
2. Florida
3. London
4. France
(I know - France? What kind of an Italian/American am I?)


Four friends I think will respond:
1. Ed
2. Karina
3. B
4. Annie


Things I am looking forward to this year:
1. Explosive spiritual growth
2. Impacting people - one person at a time
3. Missions trip
4. Vacation - in a van - with four little girls.

ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS
Hit forward, delete my answers and type in Your answers. Then send this to some people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The Theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about those who know you. Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you.


My Addendums
- send me a link to your blog post, YouTube/Viddler/Seesmic video, etc.
- have anyone that answers you via email include me on the distribution
- feel free to answer in the comments

YOU ROCK. Never forget it.