What the world needs now...

As I was getting ready for work today I thought back to something my Father-in-law said yesterday. He was talking about a new commercial that A&E Productions has released with many of the reality stars and actors/actresses that are on their networks talking about being accepting of all no matter who they love or what they look like. My Father-in-law made the point that the stars of Duck Dynasty do not make an appearance in this commercial and how he thought that was funny. I don't know the true cause of this video but I can really only assume that it is a reactionary video to the backlash that A&E received after Phil Robertson's, from Duck Dynasty, interview with GQ. If you are not sure what I am talking about stick around.
In this article Phil Robertson, who is the patriarch of his family, was quoted saying that he doesn't agree with homosexuality. He said that he believes it is against the principles of God and that it is wrong for two men to love each other. When this came out people were outraged. They were mad at the Robertson family, they were mad at A&E and they were mad that anyone could possibly like their show or their company.
Now, I love Duck Dynasty. I think it is hilarious and overall has a great message of loving family and friends through the craziness of life. Sure, it is reality and probably some of it is not real, although who knows. That is really not the point. The point is, they have always advertised themselves as a conservative Christian family. When this article with Phil came out, I was not surprised in the least about what he had said. Even if the situations are fake on Duck Dynasty, they have always been real about their faith and what they believe. It is did not shock me in the least to hear that they believed the homosexuality is wrong.
I am not here this morning to debate that one way or the other, what I am here to discuss is what was created in the wake of these comments. Intolerance.
It is so interesting to me that we get so mad at people for voicing different opinions that we become ignorant at times. We bred intolerance in our fight against intolerance. In the situation with Phil Robertson, people were calling for him to be fired from his show, for a boycott of Duck Commander products for A&E to kick them off their network. They were saying the Robertson family was being a horrible representation of Christianity and should be shut down for their horrible beliefs...
We created an environment of intolerance. The Robertson family has made a point before all this controversy and since that they love all people because they believe they are all God's people. They just don't agree with the actions of some, such as homosexuality. Instead of being tolerant of their beliefs, and trying to open a dialogue about what others believe we created a hostel environment where no dialogue is welcome.
The Phil Robertson controversy is just one example of how we do this, and trust me we are all guilty of doing this same thing at one time or another. We all have friends that do things that we don't agree with or have beliefs that are different from ours, or at least I hope you do. The only way things change is when people with differing opinions get together and have dialogue. But the internet has created a place where we can become intolerant of others beliefs anonymously. We can say whatever we want to people and be as mean as we want and not think about the consequences. We forget that our words hold merit and can invoke emotions from others. Think of all the good that could be done if instead of creating an internet of intolerance, we created an internet of dialogue. Maybe we would have less teen suicides, or have more awareness of world issues. Maybe people would be able to better live with each other in their differences then living in segregation. Trust me we live in a segregated world, it may not be segregation against blacks anymore, although in some places it is, but we are segregated in different ways too. Our intolerance of others causes us to segregate.
I believe that God's hope for us was to be able to live in a world that is tolerant and has an open dialogue, and is a world of love not hate. We don't have to agree with everything that other believe in or everything that others do. But we can be tolerant enough to have dialogue. When dialogue happens things change, and a better world is created.
We are all a work in progress, don't let your intolerance write someone off today as your enemy when they could be the best friend that you need tomorrow.

Where's Emerson

Have you ever played the game Peek-a-boo with a baby? They are so happy to see your face again, they start giggling. The simplicity of the game is outstanding. I mean all you are doing is covering their eyes, or your eyes, or hiding in plain sight but as soon as you come out or uncover their eyes it triggers complete joy! I love playing with game with Emerson, it is like he has never seen my face before and is just so happy, it distracts him from his unhappy states and his giggles are infectious.

God is very much the same way. I mean you are probably not going to play a game of Peek-a-boo with God, although I suppose anything is possible. But what I really mean is that God is always so happy with we show our faces again. As humans we deviate from the path that God has set before us, at least I know I have. Yet every time I find my way back, God is right there elated that I am back.

As Christians we are charged to bring others into the fold, to expand the reach of God and show others how awesome it is to have God in our hearts. Every time someone new comes to go or someone returns to God there is a celebration in Heaven! We should be having a celebration on Earth as well! Worship should be a party. We should be thanking God for letting us praise him but we should also be celebrating that people are there and that we have returned.

Whether we live every week in the path of God, or we stumble and have found our way back, we need to celebrate that we are here and that others have found God as well because we know that God is celebrating in Heaven. Why are we letting him eat all the ice cream?!?

A New Beginning

Here we are, the start of a new month. July brings many things, the celebration of our independence, vacations, family reunions, and the hot hot days of summer. With every new month the possibilities of things to come is full. The work we are doing at the New Visions Community is also full of possibilities and I can honestly say that it is not going in the direction that I thought it might but that is is an exciting one. Yes sometimes things fail, and not every idea or activity or plan is a good one but from every failure comes with more knowledge, and more possibilities. Who knows were the adventures of New Visions will take us but it promises to be one wild ride. So jump on the party bus and let's get going!