An End to the Beginning

Much to my shame I must admit that I do in fact watch Adam Sandler movies. I think the best of them all is Reign Over Me, but for sheer laughter I rather enjoy Happy Gilmore. In the movie Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler’s character is having trouble putting because he is a former “hockey player” and can’t quite get used to the adjustments necessary for going from a slap-shot to a putt. One piece of advice given to Happy Gilmore is for him to enter a “happy place.”

We all have “Happy Places.” For some it’s a comfortable room; for others it’s a darkened movie theater. As for me, my “happy place” has always been a coffee shop. That is why I write this post. My happy place is no more. What do I mean?

Gratitude for MLK Jr.

Monday was Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. It’s nationally recognized as a day of service to the community. There were some folks that occupied the sidewalks in front of banks, there was graffiti removal, and parks were cleaned. All this was to celebrate the memory of a truly remarkable man.

My son Elijah is in Kindergarten and this is the first year that he was taught about Martin Luther King Jr. When my wife and I picked him up from school he was wearing a crown with the words, “I have a dream that…” emblazoned on the front. The rest of the crown were lines that each kindergartener was able to write about what they dream about. Elijah wrote, “that people would help each other up.” My son and his friends fall down…a lot! Watch the speech below...

Early on Monday, we took a trip to Costco to buy some much needed house supplies. We were successful in getting all that we needed…and, of course, a trip to the food court. On the way home we tuned in to National Public Radio (NPR). My wife and I listen to NPR most of the time that we’re in the car to keep abreast of what’s going on in the world and in our country. It was not surprising then, that NPR was airing Martin Luther King Jr’s “I have a dream speech.” We all listened intently – including Elijah.

Why I don't hate religion

I’ve recently been asked to watch a YouTube video that pits religion against Jesus. The reason I was asked to watch it is because it so clearly describes what is expected of people who follow Jesus and stands in direct conflict with much of what is taught in churches. I liked the video. The production style is very well done. But what about the content? See below.

I think, by and large, the content is solid. However, the biggest problem I have with the video is that it contrasts two things, which aren’t necessarily at odds. Is religion and Jesus at odds?

I don’t think so. I think the major conflict we see throughout scripture (Old Testament and New Testament) is between true religion and false religion. When God sets forth various prohibitions to the worship of Baal, gods of the philistines, Ammonites, and Amalekites, and the setting up of “high places,” He does so because they are wrong, and false. Consistently, God is calling His people to turn from false idols because in them there is no life, which results in the worshiper having no life. For, you become like what you worship; if you worship lifeless idols, you become lifeless. The conflict is always between what is right and what is wrong; what is true and what is false.

Religion is simply beliefs that humans hold regarding the supernatural and the actions appropriate for such beliefs. If you have beliefs about the supernatural and that leads you to live a particular way, then you are religious, strictly speaking.