Mornin’, 2nd Cup friend. I’m glad you’re out there even if your response did show up in the spam queue from yesterday’s mail. It’s a God thing that I even glanced through this morning’s list; there are usually hundreds.
First, thank you for responding. Most read, consider, and go on about their day’s work. Everybody’s busy. Therefore, I know when someone stops long enough to write a response to this blog, it means something hit your heart, mind and spirit with sufficient velocity to slow you down a little.
Good deal!
That’s been a major tenet of 2nd Cup of Coffee since the early days when I had my heart on your monitor, because at the time I thought I was dying. I said way back there that my goal, my ‘contract’ with you the reader was to lift, encourage, edify and challenge toward personal and spiritual excellence.
Back then I said there were only two rules to be part of this group:
- Respect the opinions and views of others, agree or not.
- Do your own thinking.
Only one person across the dozen or so years has requested to be dropped from the original email list of group members. I counted him a solid friend, told him I wished he’d reconsider, but assured him I’d honor his request as soon as I finished reading his response.
With a blog it’s a much simpler disconnect.
Quit reading. That’s why blogging is more demanding and challenging than email. With email, all you had to do was click and delete. I’m sure many did. With a blog, you as reader have more responsibility. You have to intentionally want to read 2nd Cup. You have to make the effort to join me for a refill of fresh, hot joe and sit a spell.
You did. I am grateful.
Your response was to Musings for August 1, 2014 – “GAMING GOD”. As I received it this morning, it reads, “You’re a brainwashed idiot. What does Christianity have to do with Judaism?”
When I said “Thank you” for responding, I meant it. You’ve the courage to speak what’s on your heart, which means something I wrote that day made an impact and got you thinking.
Excellent!
By now everyone who’s read more than one ‘Musings’ or other 2nd Cup knows I try to encapsulate it into a title that draws the reader to think, “Hunh? What’s he mean by that?” This one refers to what Jesus says in Revelation 3 to folks who are so ‘here’ in their thinking they put out little effort in thinking at all.
You know–back by popular, well, whatever’s popular right now. Go with the flow. Consummate metromentalist. In vogue? Count me in. Slightest bit out of sync with those who give me what I want, make me feel good and keep me dulled and asking no hard questions? Down with it!
Values on demand, generated by this morning’s headlines. Or the latest discussion at Starbucks. Or Dutch Bros. Civilization in Tremont. Meade’s Corner. You get the drift.
From The Message: “I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot–far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit.” (Revelation 3:15-16) Interesting, isn’t it? God says those who think themselves right on the cutting edge of contemporary social and (ir)religious thought and habit aren’t anything new at all.
Perhaps you’re reconsidering your reply, thinking it wasn’t quite harsh or rude enough, since I’m blithely bopping on down the sunny sidewalk, seemingly ignorant that I’ve been summarily insulted.
God is not bothered by honest questions. I believe it honors Him when you and I choose to take a hard look at His Word and are transparent in where we are in response to it. Remember Mark Twain? “It’s not the parts of the Bible I don’t understand that bother me.”
I don’t know who you are, and don’t need to. I do welcome you to the group. Your thoughts and responses are just as important as any other. I really am not immune to criticism. Don’t like rejection any more than you or anyone else does. Yet I realize your response isn’t aimed at me.
Your question is a tremendous one: “What does Christianity have to do with Judaism?”
Keep asking it. Keep seeking the answer. As long as your search is an honest one, at some point when you’re ready to receive it, God will reveal the answer to you.
It will transform your life!
© D. Dean Boone, August 2014