I always have considered myself and Evangelical Christian. Now, I am really, really doubting that.
This week, yet again, there has been a big debate, or controversy over the attitude of the Church in America.
Why? A group, World Vision, which supports needy children around the world announced that they would hire Gay and Lesbians. The right Evangelical Church went crazy in condemnation causing thousands of children to lose their sponsors. It is absolutely heartbreaking and beyond my comprehension. Whatever, the argument is on that lifestyle what is total incontrovertible is the truth that as Christians we are supposed to love everyone, take care of Children, not judge, be kind etc... The teaching of Jesus is clear in all this. I think a reading of the fruits of The Spirit Galatians shows characteristics Christians should have. What the Evangelical Church showed this week was the antithesis of Paul's teaching.
The definition should be Bible, Christ believing, following Christ's example. Around the rest of the world this is more the case. Here in the US it has morphed to a right-wing, political fundamentalism that is unrecognizable from the teaching of Christ. The sad thing is this is the representation that non-believers in this Country and the world see. The Bible teaches that those that cause those to leave Christ should will be thrown into Hell and yet these are the ones condemning everyone else.
I don't like labels at all. That's why I will never say I am a Democrat or Republican for example, but, I've always been proud to say that I am a Bible believing Evangelical Christian. Now I am embarrassed to use that label. Now, all I will say I am follower of Jesus Christ, His example of peace, acceptance, forgiveness and love.
-Richard
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Saturday
It’s
Saturday
Another
week gone.
Time
to look forward.
To
what?
Twelve-fifteen
Time
for Grandstand
Anxiously
waiting
For
the results
A
win will mean
A
good week ahead.
A
loss – unthinkable.
Seven-fifty
Time
for the lottery
Hoping,
praying, waiting
Will
it be me
Then
life will be sorted.
Saturday’s
over
Tomorrow’s
Sunday
Then
Monday and another week.
25th
March 1995, North Acton, London, England.
-Richard
Failing
– Again
Open
to temptation
So
many ways.
Sometimes
being strong
Sometimes
being weak.
Why
we fail
I
do not know.
Perhaps
tiredness,
Or
lack of faith
We
should follow
Out
Lord and Master
Living
within?
And
many times
Fought
and won
As
only God’s Son
Could
have done
To
go to the Cross
And
die for our failings
So
at least
When
we do fall
There
is a way back
Through
is love kindness
Time
and time again
He
forgives
If
only we ask
And
believe
And
try and get it right.
7th
March 1995, Uxbridge, England.
-Richard
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Football
It’s
called our national game.
But
perhaps it should be
Our
national disgrace.
We
watch in horror
The
pictures on T.V.
Of
maniacal fans
Tearing
Dublin apart
And
those fans from Millwall
Marauding
across the pitch.
It’s
not just the fans that go astray
But,
the players, the heroes
For
so many young and old alike.
Eric
Cantona’s kung fu
In
front of children too.
Vinny
Jones thriving in violence.
Sport
or not
It
just shows how much
Societies
are crumbling.
18th
February 1995, Uxbridge, England.
-Richard
The
Library
A stony
silence greets
All
who enter within
The
confines and labyrinths
Of
mysteries to be unfurled.
The
rows of books look down
Watching
and waiting
For
a customer to grab and browse
To
learn the secret inside.
A
girl sits in the corner typing
Confidential
information
That
only she knows
But,
one day her mystery too will be revealed.
10th
January 1995, North Acton, London, England.
-Richard
Stock
take
The
Strong room is opened.
Hundreds
of plastic bins
Full
of solid residue
Or
perhaps a wet slush.
Each
one has on it
With
an air of dignity
A
bright red sticker.
Everyone
must be recorded,
Its
gross tare and net weight
And
given a number:
Its
own distinctive place
In
this year’s stock take.
In Rwanda and Zaire
The
refugee camps are full
Of thousands of homeless victims
Of
war, of genocide.
They
are also counted:
The number of people,
The number of corpses,
The number of cholera victims,
The number of orphaned children
In
this year’s stock take.
31st July 1994, Uxbridge,
England.
Why?
Why,
Can’t
a three year old girl
Go
to buy an ice cream?
Why,
Can’t
a new born baby
Be
safe in her mother’s arms?
Even,
Lister
(of Red Dwarf fame)
Has
been done for rape.
And,
Football
players
Are
smashing others faces.
How
Can
man survive
Without
a care of morals?
13th
July 1994, Uxbridge, England.
-Richard
Polzeath
A relentless
drive
As
each wave builds
Growing,
growing
Reaching
a crescendo
Of
Noise,
Of
power,
Of
Majesty
Trying
to destroy all in its way:
Until
a crash
Followed
by a cascading spray
Leads
to its finale,
It’s
destruction.
But….
The
sea tries again.
4th July 1994, Polzeath,
England.
-Richard
The
Wedding
I
arrived at the church
A
few moments to spare
A
crowd already gathered
With
a mounting excitement in the air.
The
grooms all alone hoping not be left in the lurch.
As
the moments tick by
The
brides late again.
I’m
feeling restless, read the order twice
And
starting to think about the bloody rain!
Suddenly
a commotion. “She’s here” they cry.
All
the heads turn in unison
To
see the glory of the bride
Shining
with radiance and beauty
By
her side her father swelling with pride.
He’s
lost a daughter, but, gained a son.
At
last it’s all over, legally wed
As
I sit there waiting, the organ grinding away,
A
friend turns to me and says with a smile
“Just
you wait it’ll be you one day!”
“I
doubt it.” I said.
Outside
the church the cameras are flashing
Picture
after picture so that everyone’s taken.
By
now it’s raining again and is very cold
And
I’m so hungry that my belly is aching’
I’m
definitely not going through this kind of thing.
On
to the reception I go.
I’ve
never seen such a posh gaff
And
to be welcomed as “Sir”
By
a poker faced usher I had to laugh
And
say “You only reap what you sow!”
There’s
so many people milling us around
All
seemingly some distant relative or friend.
I
don’t want to drink, don’t want to talk:
I
just want to eat, will this waiting ever end?
Anyway
the toilets much be found.
Sitting
down with food at last
An
aroma so nice and pleasing to the eye
But,
it’s been so long I can only look
A
say to my companion with a wry
Smile
“Don’t mind me, I’m on a fast.”
The
speeches start, some in prose, some in poesy.
I
think again “I’m never going through this”.
As
the toasts go on I can only think
Of
my fear of speeches. Yes I’ll definitely
give it a miss.
“Raise
your glasses to the couple, for a future so rosy!”
Three
years later and all alone
At
the front of a church stomach all churning
So,
what I said on that date above,
I
look down the aisle, my bride now coming
And
suddenly my stomach begins to groan!
23rd
March 1994, London, England.
-Richard
The
Church Goer
I
go to church every Sunday:
Aren't I good?
Looking
good?
Singing
hymns with a smile
A
beautific expression
Impressing
those around:
“He
is so Holy
Look
at his joy”.
That
was a nice service
But
what is about?
Does
anyone care?
I've had a good natter
Done
my duty
As
I walk out with pride
So
others can see
That
I’m a church goer.
11th
February 1994, Uxbridge, England.
-Richard
A
Week at Work
Monday.
A
new week begins
Leaving
the weekend behind
With
the singing of hymns
Just
to wake up to find
We’re
back into the mundane routine
-At
work.
Tuesday.
There
seems to be no end
Of
the tunnel when the alarm
Rings
wanting to send
One
form a sleeping calm,
To
the hassle, pressure and run
-At
work.
Wednesday.
A
bit more enthusiasm
As
we find ourselves crossing
A
mysterious chasm
We’re
over half way to surviving
In
a sane frame of mind a week
-At
work.
Thursday.
Four
days of an early start
We
are starting to feel tired
But,
we must show great heart
Or
we’re sure to be fired
And
what would we do if we didn’t have a day
-At
work.
Friday.
The
weekend starts here
Time
to start living again
For
fun without fear
We’re
into the sun from the rain
Unless
a cloud casts a shadow: Saturday
-At
work!
15th
January 1994, Uxbridge, England.
-Richard
Christmas
in the Salvation Army
Greedily
collecting money.
Sparkling
instruments,
Joyful
Carols,
Bright
lights,
Men
in dark uniforms,
Ladies
in hats or bonnets.
Good
King Wenceslas,
Freezing
in the street.
Christmas
in the Salvation Army.
Old
dears serving mince pies,
Timbrels
ringing
Father
Christmas enters:
The
Manger scene?
Gloria!
Christmas
in the Salvation Army.
20th
December 1993, Greenford, London, England.
-Richard
Winter
A
cold dark night
Brings
down a hard frost
Just
like a heart that’s cold
And
freezing fast.
A
cold wind blows
Chilling
right to the bone
Just
like a heart that’s cold
Cuts
right through the soul.
The
sun can melt the frost
Showing
hidden joys
Just
like a heart that’s warm
Can
give rays of happiness!
21st
October 1993, North Acton, London, England.
-Richard
D*******
You
must feel that the world is so cruel
It
treats you like dirt
A
non-entity
A
nobody with nothing to offer.
People
mock
Behind
your back
And
to your face
Hurting
you, crushing you.
But,
You
will show them.
You
will succeed
With
you head held high.
You've so much to offer;
Beauty,
kindness, joy
And
abilities in abundance.
Soon,
They
will be jealous
As
you can look down
From
a loftier position
Not
with laughing and scorn,
But,
with sadness and pride.
Because,
You
are somebody,
A
very important
Valuable
person.
Let
them see!
Let
them see!
4th
September 1993, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
-Richard
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