statueman's Blog

You know what real Christianity is?  Real Christianity is porta potties and bed bugs.  We all know that but when the rubber hits the road we like to pick on those that chose it.  We say to them... "Hey... don't you know God owns the Cattle on a Thousand Hills?"    Then if we like them we slip them a half pence and a condescending "I'll pray for you." 

Wait... what did I title this blog?  Oh...  OK so the best way to address sometimes even the most flagrant of injustices in your local area is through what I like to call "The Quiet Media".  Local News Papers and radio shows... local TV News stations even.  I knew that before something happened to me and executed a darned if you do and darned if you don't hail Mary local media blitz when I had a very bad problem once.  And ... it worked I believe because my cause was right.  I'm afraid I can't talk anymore about that... Momma always said, "oh... forget it..."

Anywho, you know what real Christianity really is?  Real Christianity is in your face blood, sweat and tears.  We all know that but when the rubber hits the road we like to pick on those that chose it.  We say to them "Hey... Don't you know that God told us to be ye separate?"  Then if we like them we slip them a dollar and a go home and take a bath.

Wait... what did I title this blog?  Oh... yeah sometimes it is best to do the greatest things and keep quiet about it.  I mean folks who show off how wonderful they are usually aren't really so wonderful unless you know... they're like... special... very special.  And those of Gods children that are really special give us pause, gratitude, strength and a smile that comes from the quietest media of all... that faithful advocate of the mercy buried deep within our own hearts... that city on a hill that will not be kept hid... that place real Christians look to in the face of porta potties and bed bugs.

You know every once and awhile I check out the myfoxphilly site cause for a time I was blogging here with you folks and it got alittle heated over the police beating those suspects.  Then I tried to write from a more comedic viewpoint using movies and popular history and television... you know... those shared experiences that we can all relate to?  For my part though I do what I do with my blogging cause I got faith.  I'm not just talking about faith in Christ as our Savior but faith in people.  Sometimes it seems to me like some of us have lost faith in some folks in this country... some of those folks we've lost faith in do indeed seem to have lost faith in themselves... and to make things worse some of those who have lost faith in themselves have lost faith altogether.

Sometimes like everyone else I just wonder what it is I can do to help.  For my part I think the answer is simple... so simple that we would... faith or no faith...just quiet down and ask our God or our conscience what we can do to make things better then we might actually get an answer.  Then of course it's either we act on it or we don't.  I think that for some of us it will be as simple as asking God if what we are thinking and saying about our fellow humans is the right?  Are we calling people animals and having no faith in them?  Are we thinking rightly about one another or have we got a mindset that is allowing the cycle of violence and neglect to continue? 

According to New Testament scripture "we all fall short" of the glory or God.  We don't earn the grace we recieve... none of us.  So what does it profit us to have an attitude that others don't want to change when we won't even change the way we're thinking about them?   If we claim to love the God we don't see how can we hate or otherwise lack faith in the folks we do see unless we think God did not create all humans in his image. 

Are some of us working so hard that we take the time to notice how everyone else isn't working as hard as we are?  Don't be that one who lets sound bite or tid bits of gossip or news form your whole opinion of a person or a group.  Don't be that one who idolizes one man over another since judging others is not good in either direction since everyone can let you down and everyone can suprise you. 

Be that one who takes the time to breath deep and instead of cursing that driver who cut you off says a prayer for them.  Be that  one who has faith that with God all things are possible and be ready to help do the impossible.  Be that one who has faith in yourself because you have faith in your God, faith in your family and faith in those who you have direct influence on and faith in your country.   Ask God today to show you something you can do, say or even just think that will give good faith for all the folks in Philly.

I've been to all kinds of Christian Churches in America.  One idea that came into my mind as I sat in an all (or mostly) 'white' church and then in an all (or mostly) 'black' church is that wouldn't it be great if one Sunday they switched Choirs?

I don't know how to bring Americans closer together but I do know that music sung by the human voice is one of the most shared and positive human experiences we all can relate to on a spiritual or hear felt level.

In my travels I've also been to Asian and Latino Christian Churches and thought it best not to finish this without mentioning them.  I've never been to an Islamic Temple or a Jewish Synagogue but they too are Americans and I think it best to mention them as well.  Oddly enough I remember the idea today as I watched a PBS broadcast of 'Celtic Women'.  I was living in Wood River at the time and remembered thinking about buying a ticket to see them in St Louis but couldn't quite fit them into the budget.

Perhaps it's one idea that might bring us all closer together.  Not a time of politics, race or even religion but a time of celebrating life through song and gratitude for what we all share no matter what... a beating heart.

The Choir Exchange Program.