Musing, writing and such

I am sitting here watching a couple of college football games, none of which actually matter to me so I decided I would take this opportunity to drop a few lines on my blog.  After attempting to sign in a few times I realized just how long it has been since I have logged on and dropped a blog.  My “remember password” had gone on vacation and there were bits of dust and cobwebs strewn about once I finally password recovered.  Brilliant!!  It was not for lack of desire to blog that I have stayed away, it was for the lack of topics that I felt strongly enough to blog about.  I have done two types of post on this here blog, either religious/theological or MMA/sports and I am slightly afraid my blog will become type cast.

However, with that being said, the first portion of this particular blog will indeed be something out of the religion section to be followed by something in the sports section.

One of my dear friends, Brett Tilford (follow him on twitter @bretttilford) has just written a blog that I have been working through in my brain.  Here it is.  Hopefully you have just read this blog so you will not be lost.  If not I will attempt to summarize the blog here:  He loathes the phrase, “We don’t have religion, we have relationship.”  It comes across as arrogant and presents a “we” vs. “they” mentality.    Shortly following his post a few others have commented and they seem to all agree.  I say seem because I don’t understand some of the phrases that are used by the “…look at me I went to seminary…” types.  Honestly, that upset me more than anything, but hell, that isn’t the point… …what was the point, oh yeah, religion vs. relationship.

I often use this phrase and to me it makes perfect sense.  Here is religion at its best:  “Do this, don’t do that and give me money… ….blah blah, sing some songs… …give me more money, the red convertible I already drive isn’t good enough I need the new one…”  Religion is based on Do’s and Do not’s.  And it is universal; it is Catholic, Methodist, Buddhist, Hindu and Islam.  Religion is “I am right, you are wrong, good luck with the afterlife…”

I don’t say that I have relationship because it makes me feel like I have finally reached the pinnacle of my spiritual life.  I say it because to me, having a personal relationship with my creator and savior and walking in that relationship is far more important than following the do’s and do not’s of the local “Church”.  (Which today has been turned into a building and is no longer the people, no matter what the average “minister” tells you?)

B, grab your bucket.  I have relationship, I don’t have religion.  Does this make me better then “them?” No!

This does not mean that I have figured out all of the mysteries of the world, nor does it mean that I have or have not been more enlighten then you.  It simply means that I refuse to believe that Christ’s goal in walking on this earth and meeting with the prostitutes and tax collectors in their homes was so he could give them a bunch of rules.  Maybe we should revisit the beatitudes and maybe we should follow along in the gospels as Christ walks through life ministering and loving on those he was around.  Sure there was some hard love, but I don’t remember him calling anyone to “…follow me and all these rules and regulations that I will put forth. Oh and don’t forget to tip your pastors..”